Document:

Exhibit 4.2

	
 
    
	
 
    

LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC

 

AND

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

 

As Depositary

 

AND

 

OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

Deposit Agreement

 

Dated as of                       , 2011

	
 
    
	
 
    

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
ARTICLE 1.
    	
DEFINITIONS
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.01
    	
American Depositary Shares
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.02
    	
Commission
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.03
    	
Company
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.04
    	
Custodian
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.05
    	
Deliver; Surrender
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.06
    	
Deposit Agreement
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.07
    	
Depositary; Corporate Trust Office
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.08
    	
Deposited Securities
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.09
    	
Dollars
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.10
    	
DTC
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.11
    	
Foreign Registrar
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.12
    	
Holder
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.13
    	
Owner
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.14
    	
Receipts
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.15
    	
Registrar
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.16
    	
Restricted Securities
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.17
    	
Securities Act of 1933
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 1.18
    	
Shares
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 2. 
    	
FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY,   TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.01
    	
Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of   American Depositary Shares
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.02
    	
Deposit of Shares
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.03
    	
Delivery of American Depositary Shares
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.04
    	
Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares;   Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and   Uncertificated American Depositary Shares
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.05
    	
Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of   Deposited Securities
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.06
    	
Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American   Depositary Shares
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.07
    	
Lost Receipts, etc.
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.08
    	
Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 2.09
    	
Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares
    	
12
    
					

 

ii

 

	
 
    	
SECTION 2.10
    	
DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification   System
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 3.
    	
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN   DEPOSITARY SHARES
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 3.01
    	
Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 3.02
    	
Liability of Owner for Taxes
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 3.03
    	
Warranties on Deposit of Shares
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 3.04
    	
Disclosure of Interests
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 4.
    	
THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.01
    	
Cash Distributions
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.02
    	
Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.03
    	
Distributions in Shares
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.04
    	
Rights
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.05
    	
Conversion of Foreign Currency
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.06
    	
Fixing of Record Date
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.07
    	
Voting of Deposited Securities
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.08
    	
Changes Affecting Deposited Securities
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.09
    	
Reports
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.10
    	
Lists of Owners
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 4.11
    	
Withholding
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 5.
    	
THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.01
    	
Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary
    	
22
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.02
    	
Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the   Company
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.03
    	
Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the   Company
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.04
    	
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary
    	
24
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.05
    	
The Custodians
    	
25
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.06
    	
Notices and Reports
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.07
    	
Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.08
    	
Indemnification
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.09
    	
Charges of Depositary
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.10
    	
Retention of Depositary Documents
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.11
    	
Exclusivity
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 5.12
    	
List of Restricted Securities Owners
    	
30
    
					

 

iii

 

	
ARTICLE 6.
    	
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 6.01
    	
Amendment
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 6.02
    	
Termination
    	
31
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 7.
    	
MISCELLANEOUS
    	
32
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.01
    	
Counterparts
    	
32
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.02
    	
No Third Party Beneficiaries
    	
32
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.03
    	
Severability
    	
32
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.04
    	
Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect
    	
32
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.05
    	
Notices
    	
32
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.06
    	
Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for   Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver
    	
33
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.07
    	
Waiver of Immunities
    	
34
    
	
 
    	
SECTION 7.08
    	
Governing Law
    	
34
    
					

 

iv

 

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

 

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of                     , 2011 among LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the Company), THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York banking corporation (herein called the Depositary), and all Owners and Holders (each as hereinafter defined) from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued hereunder.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company from time to time with the Depositary or with the Custodian (as hereinafter defined) as agent of the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the creation of American Depositary Shares representing the Shares so deposited and for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Receipts evidencing the American Depositary Shares; and

 

WHEREAS, the American Depositary Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1.       DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:

 

SECTION 1.01                American Depositary Shares.

 

The term “American Depositary Shares” shall mean the securities created under this Deposit Agreement representing rights with respect to the Deposited Securities. American Depositary Shares may be certificated securities evidenced by Receipts or uncertificated securities.  The form of Receipt annexed as Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement shall be the prospectus required under the Securities Act of 1933 for sales of both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares.  Except for those provisions of this Deposit Agreement that refer specifically to Receipts, all the provisions of this Deposit Agreement shall apply to both certificated and uncertificated American Depositary Shares.  Each American Depositary Share shall represent the number of Shares specified in Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement, until there shall occur a distribution upon Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.03 or a change in

 

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Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.08 with respect to which additional American Depositary Shares are not delivered, and thereafter American Depositary Shares shall represent the amount of Shares or Deposited Securities specified in such Sections.

 

SECTION 1.02                Commission.

 

The term “Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or any successor governmental agency in the United States.

 

SECTION 1.03                Company.

 

The term “Company” shall mean Luxfer Holdings PLC, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, and its successors.

 

SECTION 1.04                Custodian.

 

The term “Custodian” shall mean the principal London office of The Bank of New York Mellon, as agent of the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement, and any other firm or corporation which may hereafter be appointed by the Depositary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.05, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and shall also mean all of them collectively.

 

SECTION 1.05                Deliver; Surrender.

 

(a)           The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Shares or other Deposited Securities, shall mean (i) book-entry transfer of those Shares or other Deposited Securities to an account maintained by an institution authorized under applicable law to effect transfers of such securities designated by the person entitled to that delivery or (ii) physical transfer of certificates evidencing those Shares or other Deposited Securities registered in the name of, or duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer to, the person entitled to that delivery.

 

(b)           The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean (i) book-entry transfer of American Depositary Shares to an account at DTC designated by the person entitled to such delivery, evidencing American Depositary Shares registered in the name requested by that person,  (ii) registration of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt on the books of the Depositary in the name requested by the person entitled to such delivery and  mailing to that person of a statement confirming that registration or (iii) if requested by the person entitled to such delivery, delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary to the person entitled to such delivery of one or more Receipts.

 

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(c)           The term “surrender”, when used with respect to American Depositary Shares, shall mean (i) one or more book-entry transfers of American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of the Depositary, (ii) delivery to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of an instruction to surrender American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt or (iii) surrender to the Depositary at its Corporate Trust Office of one or more Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares.

 

SECTION 1.06                Deposit Agreement.

 

The term “Deposit Agreement” shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 1.07                Depositary; Corporate Trust Office.

 

The term “Depositary” shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, and any successor as depositary hereunder.  The term “Corporate Trust Office”, when used with respect to the Depositary, shall mean the office of the Depositary which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

SECTION 1.08                Deposited Securities.

 

The term “Deposited Securities” as of any time shall mean Shares at such time deposited or deemed to be deposited under this Deposit Agreement, including without limitation Shares that have not been successfully delivered upon surrender of American Depositary Shares, and any and all other securities, property and cash received by the Depositary or the Custodian in respect thereof and at such time held under this Deposit Agreement, subject as to cash to the provisions of Section 4.05.

 

SECTION 1.09                Dollars.

 

The term “Dollars” shall mean  United States dollars.

 

SECTION 1.10                DTC.

 

The term “DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company or its successor.

 

SECTION 1.11                Foreign Registrar.

 

The term “Foreign Registrar” shall mean the entity that presently carries out the duties of registrar for the Shares or any successor as registrar for the Shares and any other agent of the Company for the transfer and registration of Shares, including without limitation any securities depository for the Shares.

 

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SECTION 1.12                Holder.

 

The term “Holder” shall mean any person holding a Receipt or a security entitlement or other interest in American Depositary Shares, whether for its own account or for the account of another person, but that is not the Owner of that Receipt or those American Depositary Shares.

 

SECTION 1.13                Owner.

 

The term “Owner” shall mean the person in whose name American Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.

 

SECTION 1.14                Receipts.

 

The term “Receipts” shall mean the American Depositary Receipts issued hereunder evidencing certificated American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 1.15                Registrar.

 

The term “Registrar” shall mean any bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, that is appointed by the Depositary to register American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares as herein provided.

 

SECTION 1.16                Restricted Securities.

 

The term “Restricted Securities” shall mean Shares, or American Depositary Shares representing Shares, that are acquired directly or indirectly from the Company or its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933) in a transaction or chain of transactions not involving any public offering, or that are subject to resale limitations under Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 or both, or which are held by an officer, director (or persons performing similar functions) or other affiliate of the Company, or that would require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the offer and sale thereof in the United States, or that are subject to other restrictions on sale or deposit under the laws of the United States or the United Kingdom, or under a shareholder agreement or the articles of association or similar document of the Company.

 

SECTION 1.17                Securities Act of 1933.

 

The term “Securities Act of 1933” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended.

 

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SECTION 1.18                Shares.

 

The term “Shares” shall mean ordinary shares of the Company that are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid, nonassessable and that were not issued in violation of any pre-emptive or similar rights of the holders of outstanding securities of the Company; provided, however, that, if there shall occur any change in nominal value, a split-up or consolidation or any other reclassification or, upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.08, an exchange or conversion in respect of the Shares of the Company, the term “Shares” shall thereafter also mean the successor securities resulting from such change in nominal value, split-up or consolidation or such other reclassification or such exchange or conversion.

 

ARTICLE 2.       FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES, DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

SECTION 2.01                Form of Receipts; Registration and Transferability of American Depositary Shares.

 

Definitive Receipts shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided.  No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless such Receipt shall have been (i) executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or (ii) executed by the facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary or a Registrar.  The Depositary shall maintain books on which (x) each Receipt so executed and delivered as hereinafter provided and the transfer of each such Receipt shall be registered and (y) all American Depositary Shares delivered as hereinafter provided and all registrations of transfer of American Depositary Shares shall be registered.  A Receipt bearing the facsimile signature of a person that was at any time a proper officer of the Depositary shall, subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such person was not a proper officer of the Depositary on the date of issuance of that Receipt.

 

The Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or modifications not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be reasonably required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulations thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which American Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the underlying Deposited Securities or otherwise.

 

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American Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt, when properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York.  The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Holder of American Depositary Shares (but only to the Owner of those American Depositary Shares).

 

SECTION 2.02                Deposit of Shares.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, Shares or evidence of rights to receive Shares may be deposited by delivery thereof to any Custodian hereunder, accompanied by any appropriate instruments or instructions for transfer, or endorsement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Custodian, together with all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary or the Custodian in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and, if the Depositary reasonably requires, together with a written order directing the Depositary to deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order, the number of American Depositary Shares representing such deposit.

 

No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in the United Kingdom that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange. If required by the Depositary, Shares presented for deposit at any time, whether or not the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are closed, shall also be accompanied by an agreement or assignment, or other instrument satisfactory to the Depositary, which will provide for the prompt transfer to the Custodian of any dividend, or right to subscribe for additional Shares or to receive other property which any person in whose name the Shares are or have been recorded may thereafter receive upon or in respect of such deposited Shares, or in lieu thereof, such agreement of indemnity or other agreement as shall be satisfactory to the Depositary.

 

The Depositary will refuse to accept Shares for deposit whenever it has received written notice from the Company that the deposit of such Shares would violate applicable law or regulation.

 

At the request and risk and expense of any person proposing to deposit Shares, and for the account of such person, the Depositary may receive certificates for

 

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Shares to be deposited, together with the other instruments herein specified, for the purpose of forwarding such Share certificates to the Custodian for deposit hereunder.

 

Upon each delivery to a Custodian of a certificate or certificates for Shares to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents specified above, such Custodian shall, as soon as transfer and recordation can be accomplished, present such certificate or certificates to the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, for transfer and recordation of the Shares being deposited in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee.

 

Deposited Securities shall be held by the Depositary or by a Custodian for the account and to the order of the Depositary or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine.

 

SECTION 2.03                Delivery of American Depositary Shares.

 

Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.02 hereunder, together with the other documents required as specified above, such Custodian shall notify the Depositary of such deposit and the person or persons to whom or upon whose written order American Depositary Shares are deliverable in respect thereof and the number of American Depositary Shares to be so delivered. Such notification shall be made by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of the person making the deposit, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission (and in addition, if the transfer books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, are open, the Depositary may in its sole discretion require a proper acknowledgment or other evidence from the Company or the Foreign Registrar that any Deposited Securities have been recorded upon the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or such Custodian or its nominee).  Upon receiving such notice from such Custodian, or upon the receipt of Shares or evidence of the right to receive Shares by the Depositary, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto, the number of American Depositary Shares issuable in respect of that deposit, but only upon payment to the Depositary of the fees and expenses of the Depositary for the delivery of such American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.09, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited Securities.

 

SECTION 2.04                Registration of Transfer of American Depositary Shares; Combination and Split-up of Receipts; Interchange of Certificated and Uncertificated American Depositary Shares.

 

The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall register transfers of American Depositary Shares on its transfer books from time to time, upon (i) in the case of certificated American Depositary Shares, surrender of the Receipt evidencing those American Depositary Shares, by the Owner in

 

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person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer or (ii) in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, receipt from the Owner of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10), and, in either case, duly stamped as may be required by the laws of the State of New York and of the United States of America. Thereupon the Depositary shall deliver those American Depositary Shares to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.

 

The Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts for any authorized number of American Depositary Shares requested, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.

 

The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those certificated American Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the owner of the same number of uncertificated American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those uncertificated American Depositary Shares and deliver to the Owner the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.

 

The Depositary may appoint one or more co-transfer agents for the purpose of effecting registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares and combinations and split-ups of Receipts at designated transfer offices on behalf of the Depositary.  In carrying out its functions, a co-transfer agent may require evidence of authority and compliance with applicable laws and other requirements by Owners or persons entitled to American Depositary Shares and will be entitled to protection and indemnity to the same extent as the Depositary.

 

SECTION 2.05                Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities.

 

Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of American Depositary Shares for the purpose of withdrawal of the Deposited Securities represented thereby, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares as provided in Section 5.09 and payment of all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such surrender and withdrawal of the Deposited Securities, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares shall be entitled to delivery, to him or as instructed, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by those

 

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American Depositary Shares.  Such delivery shall be made, as hereinafter provided, without unreasonable delay.

 

A Receipt surrendered for such purposes may be required by the Depositary to be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer in blank. The Depositary may require the surrendering Owner to execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order directing the Depositary to cause the Deposited Securities being withdrawn to be delivered to or upon the written order of a person or persons designated in such order.  Thereupon the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to deliver at the office of such Custodian, subject to Sections 2.06, 3.01 and 3.02 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, to or upon the written order of the person or persons designated in the order delivered to the Depositary as above provided, the amount of Deposited Securities represented by the surrendered American Depositary Shares, except that the Depositary may make delivery to such person or persons at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of any dividends or distributions with respect to the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, or of any proceeds of sale of any dividends, distributions or rights, which may at the time be held by the Depositary.

 

At the request, risk and expense of any Owner so surrendering American Depositary Shares, and for the account of such Owner, the Depositary shall direct the Custodian to forward any cash or other property (other than rights) comprising, and forward a certificate or certificates, if applicable, and other proper documents of title for, the Deposited Securities represented by the surrendered American Depositary Shares to the Depositary for delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary.  Such direction shall be given by letter or, at the request, risk and expense of such Owner, by cable, telex or facsimile transmission.

 

Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall deliver Shares (other than to the Company or its agent as contemplated by Section 4.08), or otherwise permit Shares to be withdrawn from the facility created hereby, except upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares or in connection with a sale permitted under and subject to the provisions of Section 3.02, 4.03, 4.11 or 6.02.

 

SECTION 2.06                Limitations on Delivery, Transfer and Surrender of American Depositary Shares.

 

As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of transfer or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, Custodian or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or

 

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withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as herein provided, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 2.06.

 

The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deposit Agreement, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities.  Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 for public offer and sale in the United States unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares for such offer and sale.

 

SECTION 2.07                Lost Receipts, etc.

 

In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary shall deliver to the Owner the American Depositary Shares evidenced by that Receipt in uncertificated form or, if requested by the Owner, execute and deliver a new Receipt of like tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt.  Before the Depositary shall deliver American Depositary Shares in uncertificated form or execute and deliver a new Receipt, in substitution for a destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, the Owner thereof shall have (a) filed with the Depositary (i) a request for such execution and delivery before the Depositary has notice that the Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser and (ii) a sufficient indemnity bond and (b) satisfied any other reasonable requirements imposed by the Depositary.

 

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SECTION 2.08                Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.

 

All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary shall be cancelled by the Depositary.  The Depositary is authorized to destroy Receipts so cancelled.

 

The Depositary agrees to maintain records of all Receipts surrendered and Deposited Securities withdrawn under Section 2.05, of substitute Receipts delivered under Section 2.07, and of cancelled or destroyed Receipts under this Section, in keeping with procedures ordinarily followed by stock transfer agents located in The City of New York.

 

SECTION 2.09                Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares.

 

Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, notwithstanding Section 2.03 hereof, the Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 (a “Pre-Release”).  The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05, deliver Shares upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares that have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such American Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released.  The Depositary may receive American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release.  Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered (a “Pre-Releasee”), that such person, or its customer, (i) owns the Shares or American Depositary Shares to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) transfers all beneficial right, title and interest in such Shares or American Depositary Shares, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares or American Depositary Shares, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the transfer of ownership (including, without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares or American Depositary Shares, as the case may be, other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release), (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate.  The number of Shares represented by American Depositary Shares that are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited hereunder; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the Owners under the Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the Pre-Releasee’s obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Release transaction, including the Pre-Releasee’s obligation to deliver Shares or American Depositary Shares upon termination of a Pre-Release transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities).

 

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The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.

 

SECTION 2.10                DTC Direct Registration System and Profile Modification System.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04, the parties acknowledge that the Direct Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC.  DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto.  Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner of American Depositary Shares, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.

 

(b)           In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting a registration of transfer and delivery as described in subsection (a) has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code).  For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS.  The parties agree that the Depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with this Deposit Agreement shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.

 

ARTICLE 3.       CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

SECTION 3.01                Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.

 

Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Holder may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper.  The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of American Depositary Shares or the distribution of any dividend

 

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or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made.  If requested in writing, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, at the Company’s expense, provide the Company with copies of any such proofs, certificates or other information it receives pursuant to this Section 3.01, to the extent that disclosure is permitted under applicable law.

 

SECTION 3.02                Liability of Owner for Taxes.

 

If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by the Custodian or the Depositary with respect to any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner of such American Depositary Shares to the Depositary. The Depositary may refuse to register any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner thereof any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner of such American Depositary Shares shall remain liable for any deficiency.

 

SECTION 3.03                Warranties on Deposit of Shares.

 

Every person depositing Shares under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do.  Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933.  Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.

 

SECTION 3.04                Disclosure of Interests.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Deposit Agreement, each Owner and Holder agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law, the rules and requirements of any other stock exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, the rules and requirements of any other clearing system through which transactions in the American Depositary Shares may be settled or the Articles of Association of the Company to provide information, inter alia, as to the capacity in which such Owner or Holder owns American Depositary Shares (and Shares as the case may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such American Depositary Shares (and Shares, as the

 

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case may be) and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are Owners or Holders at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to forward, upon the written request of the Company and at the expense of the Company, any such written request from the Company to the Owners and to forward, as promptly as practicable, to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary. Unless otherwise agreed, if the Company requests information from the Depositary, as a registered Holder of Shares, the obligations of the Depositary shall be limited to disclosing to the Company the information contained in Depostiary’s register.

 

ARTICLE 4.       THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES

 

SECTION 4.01                Cash Distributions.

 

Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, subject to the provisions of Section 4.05, if applicable, convert such dividend or distribution into Dollars and shall distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively.  The Depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any Owner a fraction of one cent.  Any such fractional amounts shall be rounded to the nearest whole cent and so distributed to Owners entitled thereto.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Custodian or the Depositary shall be required by applicable law to withhold and does withhold from such cash dividend or such other cash distribution an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owner of the American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.  The applicable withholding agent (or its agent) will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in all amounts so withheld and owing to such agency.  The Depositary will, as promptly as practicable, forward to the Company or its agent such information from its records as the Company may reasonably request to enable the Company or its agent to file necessary reports with governmental agencies, and the Depositary or the Company or its agent may file any such reports necessary to obtain benefits under the applicable tax treaties for the Owners.

 

SECTION 4.02                Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights.

 

Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09, whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04, the Depositary shall, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, after deduction or upon payment of any fees and expenses of the Depositary or any taxes or other governmental charges imposed under applicable law, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited

 

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Securities held by them respectively, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners entitled thereto, or if for any other reason (including, but not limited to, any requirement under applicable law that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges or that such securities must be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 in order to be distributed to Owners or Holders) the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01.  The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.02 if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933.  The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this Section 4.02 that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.

 

SECTION 4.03                Distributions in Shares.

 

If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request in writing, deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively, an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and issuance of American Depositary Shares, including withholding of any tax or governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and deduction or and after deduction or upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of the Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution).  The Depositary may withhold any such delivery of American Depositary Shares if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933.  In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01.  If additional American Depositary Shares are not so delivered, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.

 

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SECTION 4.04                Rights.

 

In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse.  If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.

 

In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner hereunder, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.

 

If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner.  As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03, deliver American Depositary Shares to such Owner.  In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Section, such deposit shall be made, and depositary shares shall be delivered, under depositary arrangements which provide for issuance of depositary shares subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under applicable United States laws.

 

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If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.

 

The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement declared effective.  If an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.

 

The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.

 

SECTION 4.05                Conversion of Foreign Currency.

 

Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, convert or cause to be converted by sale or in any other manner that it may determine such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation.  Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other reasonably practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any

 

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expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09.

 

If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.

 

If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the judgment of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary in its judgment may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.

 

If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.

 

SECTION 4.06                Fixing of Record Date.

 

Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date shall be the same date, to the extent practicable, as the record date, if any, for the Deposited Securities or, if different, as close thereto as is practicable (the “ADS Record Date”) (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee or charge assessed by the Depositary pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.01 through 4.05 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on the ADS Record Date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with

 

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respect to such dividend or other distribution or such rights or the net proceeds of sale thereof in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively and to give voting instructions and to act in respect of any other such matter.

 

SECTION 4.07                Voting of Deposited Securities.

 

Upon receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting or solicitation of proxies or consents of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners a notice, the form of which notice shall be approved by the Company in advance, such approval not being unreasonably withheld, which shall contain (a) such information (including, without limitation, solicitation materials) as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of English law and of the articles of association or similar documents of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company.  Upon the written request of an Owner of American Depositary Shares on the ADS Record Date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request.  The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions or deemed instructions. If (i) the Company requested the Depositary to act under this paragraph and complied with the second following paragraph and (ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to an amount of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares of that Owner and a matter on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that amount of Deposited Securities and that matter and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote that amount of Deposited Securities as to that matter, except that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing, if applicable) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.

 

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There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction cutoff date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph.

 

In order to give Owners a reasonable opportunity to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to Deposited Securities, if the Company will request the Depositary to act under this Section 4.07, the Company shall   give the Depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon not less than 30 days prior to the meeting date.

 

SECTION 4.08                Changes Affecting Deposited Securities.

 

Upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the redemption or cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or property which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, in conversion of, in lieu of or in respect of Deposited Securities, shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under this Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so received, unless additional American Depositary Shares are delivered pursuant to the following sentence.  In any such case the Depositary may deliver additional American Depositary Shares as in the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.

 

SECTION 4.09                Reports.

 

The Depositary shall make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office any reports and communications, including any proxy solicitation material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company.  The Depositary shall also, upon written request by the Company, send to the Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06.  Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English, to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.

 

SECTION 4.10                Lists of Owners.

 

Promptly upon request by the Company, the Depositary shall, at the expense of the Company, furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses

 

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and holdings of American Depositary Shares by all persons in whose names American Depositary Shares are registered on the books of the Depositary.

 

SECTION 4.11                Withholding.

 

In the event that the Depositary determines in its reasonable judgment that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold under applicable law, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay such taxes or charges and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners entitled thereto in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by them respectively.

 

ARTICLE 5.       THE DEPOSITARY, THE CUSTODIANS AND THE COMPANY

 

SECTION 5.01                Maintenance of Office and Transfer Books by the Depositary.

 

Until termination of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfers and surrender of American Depositary Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

 

The Depositary shall keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners and the Company, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to this Deposit Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.

 

The Depositary may close the transfer books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed reasonably expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder or at the reasonable written request of the Company.

 

If any American Depositary Shares are listed on one or more stock exchanges in the United States, the Depositary shall act as Registrar or appoint a Registrar or one or more co-registrars for registry of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such exchange or exchanges.

 

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SECTION 5.02                Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary or the Company.

 

Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Holder (i) if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the articles of association or similar document of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from, or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement or the Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed, (ii) by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of this Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or Holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of this Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or Holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of this Deposit Agreement.  Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.

 

SECTION 5.03                Obligations of the Depositary, the Custodian and the Company.

 

Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any obligation nor shall it or any of them be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder, except that the Company agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.

 

Neither the Depositary nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any obligation nor shall any of them be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that the Depositary agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.

 

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Neither the Depositary nor the Company or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the American Depositary Shares on behalf of any Owner or Holder or any other person.

 

Neither the Depositary nor the Company or any of their respective  directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable for any action or nonaction by any of them in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by any of them in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.  The Depositary and the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other documents believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.

 

The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise.

 

The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.

 

No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this Deposit Agreement.

 

SECTION 5.04                Resignation and Removal of the Depositary.

 

The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

 

The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days prior written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 120th

 

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day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

 

In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having an office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.  Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor, nevertheless, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Deposited Securities to such successor and shall deliver to such successor a list of the Owners of all outstanding American Depositary Shares.  Any such successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the Owners.

 

Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged or consolidated shall be the successor of the Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act.

 

SECTION 5.05                The Custodians.

 

The Custodian shall be subject at all times and in all respects to the directions of the Depositary and shall be responsible solely to it.  Any Custodian may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder by notice of such resignation delivered to the Depositary at least 30 days prior to the date on which such resignation is to become effective.  If upon such resignation there shall be no Custodian acting hereunder, the Depositary shall, promptly after receiving such notice, appoint a substitute custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be a Custodian hereunder.  The Depositary in its discretion may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians, each of which shall thereafter be one of the Custodians hereunder.  Upon demand of the Depositary any Custodian shall deliver such of the Deposited Securities held by it as are requested of it to any other Custodian or such substitute or additional custodian or custodians.  Each such substitute or additional custodian shall deliver to the Depositary, forthwith upon its appointment, an acceptance of such appointment satisfactory in form and substance to the Depositary.  The Depositary shall notify the Company of the appointment of a substitute or additional Custodian as promptly as practicable and, if practicable, prior to the effectiveness of such appointment.

 

Upon the appointment of any successor depositary hereunder, each Custodian then acting hereunder shall forthwith become, without any further act or writing, the agent hereunder of such successor depositary and the appointment of such successor depositary shall in no way impair the authority of each Custodian hereunder;

 

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but the successor depositary so appointed shall, nevertheless, on the written request of any Custodian, execute and deliver to such Custodian all such instruments as may be proper to give to such Custodian full and complete power and authority as agent hereunder of such successor depositary.

 

SECTION 5.06                Notices and Reports.

 

On or before the first date on which the Company gives notice, by publication or otherwise, of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or of any adjourned meeting of such holders, or of the taking of any action in respect of any cash or other distributions or the offering of any rights, the Company agrees to transmit to the Depositary and the Custodian a copy of the notice thereof in the form given or to be given to holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities.

 

The Company will arrange for the translation into English, if not already in English, to the extent required pursuant to any regulations of the Commission, and the prompt transmittal by the Company to the Depositary and the Custodian of such notices and any other reports and communications which are made generally available by the Company to holders of its Shares.  If requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary will arrange for the mailing, at the Company’s expense, of copies of such notices, reports and communications to all Owners.  The Company will timely provide the Depositary with the quantity of such notices, reports, and communications, as requested by the Depositary from time to time, in order for the Depositary to effect such mailings.

 

SECTION 5.07                Distribution of Additional Shares, Rights, etc.

 

If the Company or any affiliate of the Company determines to make any issuance or distribution of (1) additional Shares, (2) rights to subscribe for Shares, (3) securities convertible into Shares, or (4) rights to subscribe for such securities (each a “Distribution”), the Company shall notify the Depositary in writing in English as promptly as practicable and in any event before the Distribution starts and, if requested in writing by the Depositary, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Depositary a written opinion from U.S. counsel for the Company that is reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, stating whether or not the Distribution requires, or, if made in the United States, would require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933.  If, in the opinion of that counsel, the Distribution requires, or, if made in the United States, would require, registration under the Securities Act of 1933, that counsel shall furnish to the Depositary a written opinion as to whether or not there is a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 in effect that will cover that Distribution.

 

The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with  the Company will at any time deposit any Shares, either originally issued or previously issued and reacquired by the Company or any such affiliate, unless a Registration Statement is in

 

26

 

effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Company delivers to the Depositary an opinion of United States counsel, satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that, upon deposit, those Shares will be eligible for public resale without restriction in the United States without further registration under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed to oblige the Company to file any registration statement in respect of any proposed transactions.

 

SECTION 5.08                Indemnification.

 

The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates and any Custodian against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability or expense (including, but not limited to any fees and expenses incurred in seeking, enforcing or collecting such indemnity and the fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of or in connection with (a) any registration with the Commission of American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or the offer or sale thereof in the United States or (b) acts performed or omitted, pursuant to the provisions of or in connection with this Deposit Agreement and the American Depositary Shares, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (i) by either the Depositary or a Custodian or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates, except for any liability or expense arising out of the negligence or bad faith of either of them, or (ii) by the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates.

 

The indemnities contained in the preceding paragraph shall not extend to any liability or expense to the extent such liability or expense arises solely and exclusively out of a Pre-Release (as defined in Section 2.09) of American Depositary Shares in accordance with Section 2.09 and which would not otherwise have arisen had those American Depositary Shares not been the subject of a Pre-Release pursuant to Section 2.09; provided, however, that the indemnities provided in the preceding paragraph shall apply to any such liability or expense (i) to the extent that such liability or expense would have arisen had those American Depositary Shares not be the subject of a Pre-Release, or (ii) which may arise out of any misstatement or alleged misstatement or omission or alleged omission in any registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus (or placement memorandum), or preliminary prospectus (or preliminary placement memorandum) relating to the offer or sale of American Depositary Shares, except to the extent any such liability or expense arises out of (x) information relating to the Depositary or any Custodian (other than the Company), as applicable, furnished in writing and not materially changed or altered by the Company expressly for use in any of the foregoing documents, or, (y) if such information is provided, the failure to state a material fact necessary to make the information provided not misleading.

 

The Depositary agrees to indemnify the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates and hold them harmless from any liability or expense

 

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(including, but not limited to any fees and expenses incurred in seeking, enforcing or collecting such indemnity and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) which may arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its Custodian or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates due to their negligence or bad faith.

 

If an action, proceeding (including, but not limited to, any governmental investigation), claim or dispute (collectively, a “Proceeding”) in respect of which indemnity may be sought by either party is brought or asserted against the other party, the party seeking indemnification (the “Indemnitee”) shall promptly (and in no event more than ten (10) days after receipt of notice of such Proceeding) notify the party obligated to provide such indemnification (the “Indemnitor”) of such Proceeding. The failure of the Indemnitee to so notify the Indemnitor shall not impair the Indemnitee’s ability to seek indemnification from the Indemnitor (but only for costs, expenses and liabilities incurred after such notice) unless such failure adversely affects the Indemnitor’s ability to adequately oppose or defend such Proceeding. Upon receipt of such notice from the Indemnitee, the Indemnitor shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and, to the extent that it shall so desire and provided no conflict of interest exists as specified in subparagraph (b) below or there are no other defenses available to Indemnitee as specified in subparagraph (d) below, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee (in which case all attorney’s fees and expenses shall be borne by the Indemnitor and the Indemnitor shall in good faith defend the Indemnitee). The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the Indemnitee unless (a) the Indemnitor agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (b) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably and in good faith concluded that there is a conflict of interest between the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, (c) the Indemnitor fails, within ten (10) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to be made in such Proceeding, to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (d) there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are different from or are in addition to those available to the Indemnitor. No compromise or settlement of such Proceeding may be effected by either party without the other party’s consent unless (i) there is no finding or admission of any violation of law and no effect on any other claims that may be made against such other party and (ii) the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the party seeking the settlement and for which the Indemnitee will not seek reimbursement of such amount from the Indemnitor. Neither party shall have any liability with respect to any compromise or settlement effected without its consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Indemnitor shall have no obligation to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitee from any loss, expense or liability incurred by the Indemnitee as a result of a default judgment entered against the Indemnitee unless such judgment was entered after the Indemnitor agreed, in writing, to assume the defense of such Proceeding.

 

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SECTION 5.09                Charges of Depositary.

 

The Company agrees to pay the fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Depositary and those of any Registrar only in accordance with agreements in writing entered into between the Depositary and the Company from time to time.

 

The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.03), or by Owners, as applicable:  (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals hereunder, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in this Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02, (6) a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to this Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04 hereof, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) in addition to any fee charged under clause 6, a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, and (9) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).

 

The Depositary, subject to Section 2.09 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.

 

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SECTION 5.10                Retention of Depositary Documents.

 

The Depositary is authorized to destroy those documents, records, bills and other data compiled during the term of this Deposit Agreement at the times permitted by the laws or regulations governing the Depositary unless the Company requests that such papers be retained for a longer period or turned over to the Company or to a successor depositary.

 

SECTION 5.11                Exclusivity.

 

The Company agrees not to appoint any other depositary for issuance of American or global depositary shares or receipts so long as The Bank of New York Mellon is acting as Depositary hereunder.

 

SECTION 5.12                List of Restricted Securities Owners.

 

From time to time, the Company shall provide to the Depositary a list setting forth, to the actual knowledge of the Company, those persons or entities who beneficially own Restricted Securities and the Company shall update that list on a regular basis.  The Company agrees to advise in writing each of the persons or entities so listed that such Restricted Securities are ineligible for deposit hereunder.  The Depositary may rely on such a list or update but shall not be liable for any action or omission made in reliance thereon.

 

ARTICLE 6.       AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

SECTION 6.01                Amendment.

 

The form of the Receipts and any provisions of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Holders in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable.  Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of 30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and Holder, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner to surrender American Depositary Shares and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.

 

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SECTION 6.02                Termination.

 

The Company may at any time terminate this Deposit Agreement by instructing the Depositary to mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date included in such notice.  The Depositary may likewise terminate this Deposit Agreement if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation notice and if a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04; in such case the Depositary shall mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date.  On and after the date of termination, the Owner of American Depositary Shares will, upon (a) surrender of such American Depositary Shares, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares.  If any American Depositary Shares shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in this Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, upon surrender of American Depositary Shares (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges).

 

At any time after the expiration of four months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under this Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it hereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the Owners of American Depositary Shares that have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds.  After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges).  Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be

 

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discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.08 and 5.09.

 

ARTICLE 7.       MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 7.01                Counterparts.

 

This Deposit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Custodians and shall be open to inspection by any Owner or Holder during business hours.

 

SECTION 7.02                No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim whatsoever to any other person.

 

SECTION 7.03                Severability.

 

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

 

SECTION 7.04                Owners and Holders as Parties; Binding Effect.

 

The Owners and Holders from time to time shall be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance of American Depositary Shares or any interest therein.

 

SECTION 7.05                Notices.

 

Any and all notices to be given to the Company shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to Luxfer Holdings PLC, Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay, Salford M50 3XE, England, Attention: Company Secretary, or any other place to which the Company may have transferred its principal office with notice to the Depositary.

 

Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary shall be deemed to have been duly given if in English and personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to The Bank of New York Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention:  American Depositary

 

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Receipt Administration, or any other place to which the Depositary may have transferred its Corporate Trust Office with notice to the Company.

 

Any and all notices to be given to any Owner shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission confirmed by letter, addressed to such Owner at the address of such Owner as it appears on the transfer books for American Depositary Shares of the Depositary, or, if such Owner shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such Owner be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.

 

Delivery of a notice sent by mail or cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a confirmation thereof in the case of a cable, telex or facsimile transmission) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post-office letter box.  The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any cable, telex or facsimile transmission received by it, notwithstanding that such cable, telex or facsimile transmission shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.

 

SECTION 7.06                Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver.

 

The Company hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints Corporation Service Company,                                                                                         , in the State of New York, as the Company’s authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Deposit Agreement, (ii) consents and submits to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted and (iii) agrees that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding.  The Company agrees to deliver, upon the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, a written acceptance by such agent of its appointment as such agent.  The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect for so long as any American Depositary Shares or Receipts remain outstanding or this Deposit Agreement remains in force.  In the event the Company fails to continue such designation and appointment in full force and effect, the Company hereby waives personal service of process upon it and consents that any such service of process may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the Company at its address last specified for notices hereunder, and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) business days after the same shall have been so mailed.

 

EACH PARTY TO THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) HEREBY

 

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IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THIS DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR  THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

SECTION 7.07                Waiver of Immunities.

 

To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.

 

SECTION 7.08                Governing Law.

 

This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts shall be interpreted and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, except with respect to its authorization and execution by the Company, which shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first set forth above and all Owners and Holders shall become parties hereto upon acceptance by them of American Depositary Shares or any interest therein.

 

	
 
    	
LUXFER   HOLDINGS PLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
THE   BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
    
	
 
    	
as Depositary
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

	
 
    	
AMERICAN   DEPOSITARY SHARES
    
	
 
    	
(Each   American Depositary Share represents
    
	
 
    	
one-half   of a deposited Share)
    

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT

FOR ORDINARY SHARES

OF

LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC

(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND AND WALES)

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary (hereinafter called the “Depositary”), hereby certifies that                                                        , or registered assigns IS THE OWNER OF                                                         

 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

representing deposited ordinary shares (herein called “Shares”) of Luxfer Holdings PLC, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (herein called the “Company”).  At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents one-half of a Share deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the principal London office of The Bank of New York Mellon, as a custodian for the Depositary (herein called the “Custodian”).  The Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office is located at a different address than its principal executive office.  Its Corporate Trust Office is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, N.Y. 10286, and its principal executive office is located at One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286.

 

THE DEPOSITARY’S CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE ADDRESS IS

101 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10286

 

 

1.             THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.

 

This American Depositary Receipt is one of an issue (herein called “Receipts”), all issued and to be issued upon the terms and conditions set forth in the deposit agreement dated as of                     , 2011 (herein called the “Deposit Agreement”) among the Company, the Depositary and all Owners and Holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder, each of whom by accepting American Depositary Shares agrees to become a party thereto and become bound by all the terms and conditions thereof.  The Deposit Agreement sets forth the rights of Owners and Holders and the rights and duties of the Depositary in respect of the Shares deposited thereunder and any and all other securities, property and cash from time to time received in respect of such Shares and held thereunder (such Shares, securities, property, and cash are herein called “Deposited Securities”).  Copies of the Deposit Agreement are on file at the Depositary’s Corporate Trust Office in New York City and at the office of the Custodian.

 

The statements made on the face and reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are qualified by and subject to the detailed provisions of the Deposit Agreement, to which reference is hereby made.  Capitalized terms defined in the Deposit Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Deposit Agreement.

 

2.             SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES AND WITHDRAWAL OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.

 

Upon surrender at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary of American Depositary Shares, and upon payment of the fee of the Depositary provided in this Receipt, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, the Owner of those American Depositary Shares is entitled to delivery, to him or as instructed, of the amount of Deposited Securities at the time represented by those American Depositary Shares.  Such delivery will be made at the option of the Owner hereof, either at the office of the Custodian or at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary, provided that the forwarding of certificates for Shares or other Deposited Securities for such delivery at the Corporate Trust Office of the Depositary shall be at the risk and expense of the Owner hereof.

 

3.             TRANSFERS, SPLIT-UPS, AND COMBINATIONS OF RECEIPTS.

 

Transfers of American Depositary Shares may be registered on the books of the Depositary by the Owner in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of those American Depositary Shares properly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, in the case of a Receipt, or pursuant to a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement), in the case of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, and funds sufficient to pay any applicable transfer taxes and the expenses of the Depositary and upon compliance with such regulations, if any, as the

 

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Depositary may establish for such purpose. This Receipt may be split into other such Receipts, or may be combined with other such Receipts into one Receipt, evidencing the same aggregate number of American Depositary Shares as the Receipt or Receipts surrendered. The Depositary, upon surrender of certificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for uncertificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those certificated American Depositary Shares and send the Owner a statement confirming that the Owner is the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares. The Depositary, upon receipt of a proper instruction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, instructions through DRS and Profile as provided in Section 2.10 of the Deposit Agreement) from the Owner of uncertificated American Depositary Shares for the purpose of exchanging for certificated American Depositary Shares, shall cancel those uncertificated American Depositary Shares and deliver to the Owner the same number of certificated American Depositary Shares.  As a condition precedent to the delivery, registration of transfer, or surrender of any American Depositary Shares or split-up or combination of any Receipt or withdrawal of any Deposited Securities, the Depositary, the Custodian, or Registrar may require payment from the depositor of the Shares or the presenter of the Receipt or instruction for registration of transfer or surrender of American Depositary Shares not evidenced by a Receipt of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or other governmental charge and any stock transfer or registration fee with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge and fee with respect to Shares being deposited or withdrawn) and payment of any applicable fees as provided in the Deposit Agreement, may require the production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with any regulations the Depositary may establish consistent with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.

 

The delivery of American Depositary Shares against deposit of Shares generally or against deposit of particular Shares may be suspended, or the transfer of American Depositary Shares in particular instances may be refused, or the registration of transfer of outstanding American Depositary Shares generally may be suspended, during any period when the transfer books of the Depositary are closed, or if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, subject to the provisions of the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt, the surrender of outstanding American Depositary Shares and withdrawal of Deposited Securities may not be suspended subject only to (i) temporary delays caused by closing the transfer books of the Depositary or the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, or the deposit of Shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any U.S. or foreign laws or governmental regulations relating to the American Depositary Shares or to the withdrawal of the Deposited Securities.  Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the Deposit Agreement any Shares which would be required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities

 

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Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares for such offer and sale.

 

4.             LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES.

 

If any tax or other governmental charge imposed by applicable law shall become payable with respect to any American Depositary Shares or any Deposited Securities represented by any American Depositary Shares, such tax or other governmental charge shall be payable by the Owner to the Depositary.  The Depositary may refuse to register any transfer of those American Depositary Shares or any withdrawal of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares until such payment is made, and may withhold any dividends or other distributions, or may sell for the account of the Owner any part or all of the Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares, and may apply such dividends or other distributions or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge and the Owner shall remain liable for any deficiency.

 

5.             WARRANTIES ON DEPOSIT OF SHARES.

 

Every person depositing Shares under the Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant, that such Shares and each certificate therefor, if applicable, are validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights of the holders of outstanding Shares and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized so to do.  Every such person shall also be deemed to represent that the deposit of such Shares and the sale of American Depositary Shares representing such Shares by that person are not restricted under the Securities Act of 1933.  Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of Shares and delivery of American Depositary Shares.

 

6.             FILING PROOFS, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER INFORMATION.

 

Any person presenting Shares for deposit or any Owner or Holder may be required from time to time to file with the Depositary or the Custodian such proof of citizenship or residence, exchange control approval, or such information relating to the registration on the books of the Company or the Foreign Registrar, if applicable, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties, as the Depositary may deem necessary or proper.  The Depositary may withhold the delivery or registration of transfer of any American Depositary Shares or the distribution of any dividend or sale or distribution of rights or of the proceeds thereof or the delivery of any Deposited Securities until such proof or other information is filed or such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties made.  If requested in writing, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, provide the Company, at the expense of the Company, with copies of any such proofs, certificates or other information it receives pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Deposit Agreement, to the extent that disclosure is permitted under applicable law.  No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless

 

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accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in the United Kingdom that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange.

 

7.             CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY.

 

The following charges shall be incurred by any party depositing or withdrawing Shares or by any party surrendering American Depositary Shares or to whom American Depositary Shares are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the American Depositary Shares or Deposited Securities or a delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement), or by Owners, as applicable:  (1) taxes and other governmental charges, (2) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of transfers of Shares generally on the Share register of the Company or Foreign Registrar and applicable to transfers of Shares to or from the name of the Depositary or its nominee or the Custodian or its nominee on the making of deposits or withdrawals under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, (3) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement, (4) such expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency pursuant to Section 4.05 of the Deposit Agreement, (5) a fee of $5.00 or less per 100 American Depositary Shares (or portion thereof) for the delivery of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.03, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.02 of the Deposit Agreement, (6) a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, including, but not limited to Sections 4.01 through 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of American Depositary Shares referred to above which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (for purposes of this clause 7 treating all such securities as if they were Shares) but which securities are instead distributed by the Depositary to Owners, (8) in addition to any fee charged under clause 6, a fee of $.05 or less per American Depositary Share (or portion thereof) per annum for depositary services, which will be payable as provided in clause 9 below, and (9) any other charges payable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s agents, including the Custodian, or the agents of the Depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of Shares or other Deposited Securities (which charge shall be assessed against Owners as of the date or dates set by the Depositary in accordance with Section 4.06 of the Deposit Agreement and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the Depositary by billing such Owners for such charge or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions).

 

The Depositary, subject to Article 8 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in American Depositary Shares.

 

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From time to time, the Depositary may make reimbursement payments to the Company for expenses relating to this American Depositary Shares program.

 

8.             PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS.

 

Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, notwithstanding Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement (a “Pre-Release”).  The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the surrender of American Depositary Shares that have been Pre-Released, whether or not such cancellation is prior to the termination of such Pre-Release or the Depositary knows that such American Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released.  The Depositary may receive American Depositary Shares in lieu of Shares in satisfaction of a Pre-Release.  Each Pre-Release will be (a) preceded or accompanied by a written representation from the person to whom American Depositary Shares or Shares are to be delivered (a “Pre-Releasee”), that such person, or its customer, (i) owns the Shares or American Depositary Shares to be remitted, as the case may be, (ii) transfers all beneficial right, title and interest in such Shares or American Depository Shares, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares or American Depository Shares, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the transfer of ownership (including, without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of Shares or American Depository Shares, as the case may be, other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release), (b) at all times fully collateralized with cash or such other collateral as the Depositary deems appropriate, (c) terminable by the Depositary on not more than five (5) business days notice, and (d) subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate.  The number of Shares represented by American Depositary Shares that are outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release will not normally exceed thirty percent (30%) of the Shares deposited under the Deposit Agreement; provided, however, that the Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate.     For purposes of enabling the Depositary to fulfill its obligations to the Owners under the Deposit Agreement, the collateral referred to in clause (b) above shall be held by the Depositary as security for the performance of the Pre-Releasee’s obligations to the Depositary in connection with a Pre-Release transaction, including the Pre-Releasee’s obligation to deliver Shares or American Depository Shares upon termination of a Pre-Release transaction (and shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, constitute Deposited Securities).

 

The Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in connection with the foregoing.

 

9.             TITLE TO RECEIPTS.

 

It is a condition of this Receipt and every successive Owner and Holder of this Receipt by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees that when properly

 

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endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, shall be transferable as certificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York. American Depositary Shares not evidenced by Receipts shall be transferable as uncertificated registered securities under the laws of the State of New York.  The Depositary, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the Owner of American Depositary Shares as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes, and neither the Depositary nor the Company shall have any obligation or be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any Holder of American Depositary Shares unless that Holder is the Owner of those American Depositary Shares.

 

10.           VALIDITY OF RECEIPT.

 

This Receipt shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless this Receipt shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar.

 

11.           REPORTS; INSPECTION OF TRANSFER BOOKS.

 

The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, files reports with the Commission.  Those reports will be available for inspection and copying through the Commission’s EDGAR system on the Internet at www.sec.gov or at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.

 

The Depositary will make available for inspection by Owners at its Corporate Trust Office any reports, notices and other communications, including any proxy soliciting material, received from the Company which are both (a) received by the Depositary as the holder of the Deposited Securities and (b) made generally available to the holders of such Deposited Securities by the Company.  The Depositary will also, upon written request by the Company, send to Owners copies of such reports when furnished by the Company pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.  Any such reports and communications, including any such proxy soliciting material, furnished to the Depositary by the Company shall be furnished in English to the extent such materials are required to be translated into English pursuant to any regulations of the Commission.

 

The Depositary will keep books, at its Corporate Trust Office, for the registration of American Depositary Shares and transfers of American Depositary Shares which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Owners, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with Owners in the interest of a

 

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business or object other than the business of the Company or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the American Depositary Shares.

 

12.           DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.

 

Whenever the Depositary receives any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities, the Depositary will, if at the time of receipt thereof any amounts received in a foreign currency can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into United States dollars transferable to the United States, and subject to the Deposit Agreement, as promptly as practicable, convert such dividend or distribution into dollars and will distribute the amount thus received (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners entitled thereto; provided, however, that in the event that the Custodian or the Depositary is required by applicable law to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of any Deposited Securities an amount on account of taxes or other governmental charges, the amount distributed to the Owners of the American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.01, 4.03 or 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, cause the securities or property received by it to be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution; provided, however, that if in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto, or if for any other reason the Depositary deems such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may adopt such method as it may deem equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including, but not limited to, the public or private sale of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, and the net proceeds of any such sale (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement) will be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement.  The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under Section 4.02 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that the distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933.  The Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of securities or other property it would otherwise distribute under this Article that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution.

 

If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and shall if the Company shall so request in writing, deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, an aggregate number of American Depositary Shares

 

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representing the amount of Shares received as such dividend or free distribution, subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement with respect to the deposit of Shares and issuance of American Depositary Shares, including withholding of any tax or governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of the Deposit Agreement and deduction or payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement (and the Depositary may sell, by public or private sale, an amount of Shares received sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that  distribution).  The Depositary may withhold any such delivery of American Depositary Shares if it has not received satisfactory assurances from the Company that such distribution does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933. In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary will sell the amount of Shares represented by the aggregate of such fractions and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.01 of the Deposit Agreement.  If additional American Depositary Shares are not so delivered, each American Depositary Share shall thenceforth also represent the additional Shares distributed upon the Deposited Securities represented thereby.

 

In the event that the Depositary determines that any distribution in property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) is subject to any tax or other governmental charge which the Depositary is obligated to withhold, the Depositary may by public or private sale dispose of all or a portion of such property (including Shares and rights to subscribe therefor) in such amounts and in such manner as the Depositary deems necessary and practicable to pay any such taxes or charges, and the Depositary shall distribute the net proceeds of any such sale after deduction of such taxes or charges to the Owners of Receipts entitled thereto.

 

13.           RIGHTS.

 

In the event that the Company shall offer or cause to be offered to the holders of any Deposited Securities any rights to subscribe for additional Shares or any rights of any other nature, the Depositary, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, shall have discretion as to the procedure to be followed in making such rights available to any Owners or in disposing of such rights on behalf of any Owners and making the net proceeds available to such Owners or, if by the terms of such rights offering or for any other reason, the Depositary may not either make such rights available to any Owners or dispose of such rights and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall allow the rights to lapse.  If at the time of the offering of any rights the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners but not to other Owners, the Depositary may distribute to any Owner to whom it determines the distribution to be lawful and feasible, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by such Owner, warrants or other instruments therefor in such form as it deems appropriate.

 

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In circumstances in which rights would otherwise not be distributed, if an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to the American Depositary Shares of such Owner under the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will make such rights available to such Owner upon written notice from the Company to the Depositary that (a) the Company has elected in its sole discretion to permit such rights to be exercised and (b) such Owner has executed such documents as the Company has determined in its sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law.

 

If the Depositary has distributed warrants or other instruments for rights to all or certain Owners, then upon instruction from such an Owner pursuant to such warrants or other instruments to the Depositary from such Owner to exercise such rights, upon payment by such Owner to the Depositary for the account of such Owner of an amount equal to the purchase price of the Shares to be received upon the exercise of the rights, and upon payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary and any other charges as set forth in such warrants or other instruments, the Depositary shall, on behalf of such Owner, exercise the rights and purchase the Shares, and the Company shall cause the Shares so purchased to be delivered to the Depositary on behalf of such Owner.  As agent for such Owner, the Depositary will cause the Shares so purchased to be deposited pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver American Depositary Shares to such Owner.  In the case of a distribution pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article 13, such deposit shall be made, and depositary shares shall be delivered, under depositary arrangements which provide for issuance of depositary shares subject to the appropriate restrictions on sale, deposit, cancellation, and transfer under applicable United States laws.

 

If the Depositary determines in its discretion that it is not lawful and feasible to make such rights available to all or certain Owners, it may sell the rights, warrants or other instruments in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares held by the Owners to whom it has determined it may not lawfully or feasibly make such rights available, and allocate the net proceeds of such sales (net of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement and all taxes and governmental charges payable in connection with such rights and subject to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement) for the account of such Owners otherwise entitled to such rights, warrants or other instruments, upon an averaged or other practical basis without regard to any distinctions among such Owners because of exchange restrictions or the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise.

 

The Depositary will not offer rights to Owners unless both the rights and the securities to which such rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to a distribution to all Owners or are registered under the provisions of such Act; provided, that nothing in the Deposit Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement

 

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declared effective.  If an Owner requests the distribution of warrants or other instruments, notwithstanding that there has been no such registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Depositary shall not effect such distribution unless it has received an opinion from recognized counsel in the United States for the Company upon which the Depositary may rely that such distribution to such Owner is exempt from such registration.

 

The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to determine that it may be lawful or feasible to make such rights available to Owners in general or any Owner in particular.

 

14.           CONVERSION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.

 

Whenever the Depositary or the Custodian shall receive foreign currency, by way of dividends or other distributions or the net proceeds from the sale of securities, property or rights, and if at the time of the receipt thereof the foreign currency so received can in the judgment of the Depositary be converted on a reasonable basis into Dollars and the resulting Dollars transferred to the United States, the Depositary shall, as promptly as practicable, convert or cause to be converted by sale or in any other manner that it may determine, such foreign currency into Dollars, and such Dollars shall be distributed to the Owners entitled thereto or, if the Depositary shall have distributed any warrants or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof to such Dollars, then to the holders of such warrants and/or instruments upon surrender thereof for cancellation.  Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other reasonably practicable basis without regard to any distinctions among Owners on account of exchange restrictions, the date of delivery of any American Depositary Shares or otherwise and shall be net of any expenses of conversion into Dollars incurred by the Depositary as provided in Section 5.09 of the Deposit Agreement.

 

If such conversion or distribution can be effected only with the approval or license of any government or agency thereof, the Depositary shall file such application for approval or license, if any, as it may deem desirable.

 

If at any time the Depositary shall determine that in its judgment any foreign currency received by the Depositary or the Custodian is not convertible on a reasonable basis into Dollars transferable to the United States, or if any approval or license of any government or agency thereof which is required for such conversion is denied or in the judgment of the Depositary is not obtainable, or if any such approval or license is not obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the Depositary, the Depositary may distribute the foreign currency (or an appropriate document evidencing the right to receive such foreign currency) received by the Depositary to, or in its discretion may hold such foreign currency uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled to receive the same.

 

If any such conversion of foreign currency, in whole or in part, cannot be effected for distribution to some of the Owners entitled thereto, the Depositary may in its

 

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discretion make such conversion and distribution in Dollars to the extent permissible to the Owners entitled thereto and may distribute the balance of the foreign currency received by the Depositary to, or hold such balance uninvested and without liability for interest thereon for the respective accounts of, the Owners entitled thereto.

 

15.           RECORD DATES.

 

Whenever any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or whenever rights shall be issued with respect to the Deposited Securities, or whenever the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, or whenever for any reason the Depositary causes a change in the number of Shares that are represented by each American Depositary Share, or whenever the Depositary shall find it necessary or convenient, the Depositary shall fix a record date, which date shall be the same date, to the extent practicable, as the record date, if any, for the Deposited Securities or, if different, as close thereto as practicable (the “ADS Record Date”) (a) for the determination of the Owners who shall be (i) entitled to receive such dividend, distribution or rights or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, (ii) entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or (iii) responsible for any fee assessed by the Depositary pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, or (b) on or after which each American Depositary Share will represent the changed number of Shares, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.

 

16.           VOTING OF DEPOSITED SECURITIES.

 

Upon receipt from the Company of notice of any meeting or solicitation of proxies or consents of holders of Shares or other Deposited Securities, if requested in writing by the Company, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Owners of Receipts a notice, the form of which notice shall be approved by the Company in advance, such approval not being unreasonably withheld, which shall contain (a) such information (including, without limitation, solicitation materials) as is contained in such notice of meeting received by the Depositary from the Company, (b) a statement that the Owners as of the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of law and of the articles of association or similar documents of the Company, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the amount of Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by their respective American Depositary Shares and (c) a statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given, including an express indication that such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company.  Upon the written request of an Owner of American Depositary Shares on such record date, received on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted the amount of Shares or other Deposited

 

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Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request.  The Depositary shall not vote or attempt to exercise the right to vote that attaches to the Shares or other Deposited Securities, other than in accordance with such instructions or deemed instructions. If (i) the Company requested the Depositary to act under this paragraph and complied with the second following paragraph and (ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to an amount of the Deposited Securities represented by the American Depositary Shares of that Owner and a matter on or before the date established by the Depositary for such purpose, the Depositary shall deem such Owner to have instructed the Depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that amount of Deposited Securities and that matter and the Depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote that amount of Deposited Securities as to that matter, except that no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary (and the Company agrees to provide such information as promptly as practicable in writing, if applicable) that (x) the Company does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists or (z) such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares.

 

There can be no assurance that Owners generally or any Owner in particular will receive the notice described in the preceding paragraph sufficiently prior to the instruction date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph.

 

In order to give Owners a reasonable opportunity to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to Deposited Securities, if the Company will request the Depositary to act under Section 4.07 of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall give the Depositary notice of any such meeting or solicitation and details concerning the matters to be voted upon not less than 30 days prior to the meeting date.

 

17.           CHANGES AFFECTING DEPOSITED SECURITIES.

 

Upon any change in nominal value, change in par value, split-up, consolidation, or any other reclassification of Deposited Securities, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale of assets affecting the Company or to which it is a party, or upon the redemption or cancellation by the Company of the Deposited Securities, any securities, cash or property which shall be received by the Depositary or a Custodian in exchange for, in conversion of, in lieu of or in respect of Deposited Securities shall be treated as new Deposited Securities under the Deposit Agreement, and American Depositary Shares shall thenceforth represent, in addition to the existing Deposited Securities, the right to receive the new Deposited Securities so received, unless additional Receipts are delivered pursuant to the following sentence.  In any such case the Depositary may deliver additional American Depositary Shares as in

 

12

 

the case of a dividend in Shares, or call for the surrender of outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new Deposited Securities.

 

18.           LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND DEPOSITARY.

 

None of the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability to any Owner or Holder, (i) if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any other country, or of any governmental or regulatory authority, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of the articles of association or any similar document of the Company, or by reason of any provision of any securities issued or distributed by the Company, or any offering or distribution thereof, or by reason of any act of God or war or terrorism or other circumstances beyond its control, the Depositary or the Company shall be prevented, delayed or forbidden from or be subject to any civil or criminal penalty on account of doing or performing any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement or Deposited Securities it is provided shall be done or performed, (ii) by reason of any non-performance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which by the terms of the Deposit Agreement it is provided shall or may be done or performed, (iii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement, (iv) for the inability of any Owner or Holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit which is made available to holders of Deposited Securities but is not, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, made available to Owners or Holders, or (v) for any special, consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the Deposit Agreement.  Where, by the terms of a distribution pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03 of the Deposit Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.04 of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason, such distribution or offering may not be made available to Owners of Receipts, and the Depositary may not dispose of such distribution or offering on behalf of such Owners and make the net proceeds available to such Owners, then the Depositary shall not make such distribution or offering, and shall allow any rights, if applicable, to lapse.  Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any obligation nor shall it or any of them be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder, except that the Company agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.  Neither the Depositary nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any obligation nor shall any of them be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to any Owner or Holder (including, without limitation, liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities), except that the Depositary agrees to perform its obligations specifically set forth in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.  Neither the Depositary nor the Company or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any Deposited Securities or in respect of the American Depositary Shares on behalf of any Owner or Holder or any other person.

 

13

 

Neither the Depositary nor the Company or any of their respective  directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable for any action or nonaction by any of them in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or any other person believed by any of them in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.  The Depositary and the Company and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other documents believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.  The Depositary shall not be liable for any acts or omissions made by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the Depositary or in connection with any matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the Depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which such potential liability arises the Depositary performed its obligations without negligence or bad faith while it acted as Depositary.  The Depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of Deposited Securities or otherwise.  The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which any such vote is cast or the effect of any such vote, provided that any such action or nonaction is in good faith.

 

No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of the Deposit Agreement.

 

19.            RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF THE DEPOSITARY; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN.

 

The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary under the Deposit Agreement by written notice of its election so to do delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement.  The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by 120 days prior written notice of such removal, to become effective upon the later of (i) the 120th day after delivery of the notice to the Depositary and (ii) the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement.  The Depositary in its discretion may appoint a substitute or additional custodian or custodians.

 

20.           AMENDMENT.

 

The form of the Receipts and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary without the consent of Owners or Holders in any respect which they may deem necessary or desirable.  Any amendment which shall impose or increase any fees or charges (other than taxes and other governmental charges, registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or which shall

 

14

 

otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall, however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of 30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been given to the Owners of outstanding American Depositary Shares. Every Owner and Holder of American Depositary Shares, at the time any amendment so becomes effective, shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such American Depositary Shares or any interest therein, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right of the Owner to surrender American Depositary Shares and receive therefor the Deposited Securities represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.

 

21.           TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT.

 

The Company may terminate the Deposit Agreement by instructing the Depositary to mail notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date included in such notice.  The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement, if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary delivered to the Company a written resignation notice and if a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement; in such case the Depositary shall mail a notice of termination to the Owners of all American Depositary Shares then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the termination date.  On and after the date of termination, the Owner of American Depositary Shares will, upon (a) surrender of such American Depositary Shares, (b) payment of the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares referred to in Section 2.05, and (c) payment of any applicable taxes or governmental charges, be entitled to delivery, to him or upon his order, of the amount of Deposited Securities represented by those American Depositary Shares.  If any American Depositary Shares shall remain outstanding after the date of termination, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the registration of transfers of American Depositary Shares, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the Owners thereof, and shall not give any further notices or perform any further acts under the Deposit Agreement, except that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Deposited Securities, shall sell rights and other property as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and shall continue to deliver Deposited Securities, together with any dividends or other distributions received with respect thereto and the net proceeds of the sale of any rights or other property, upon surrender of American Depositary Shares (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges). At any time after the expiration of four months from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell the Deposited Securities then held under the Deposit Agreement and may thereafter hold uninvested the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any other cash then held by it thereunder, unsegregated and without liability for interest, for the pro rata benefit of the

 

15

 

Owners of American Depositary Shares that have not theretofore been surrendered, such Owners thereupon becoming general creditors of the Depositary with respect to such net proceeds. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement, except to account for such net proceeds and other cash (after deducting, in each case, the fee of the Depositary for the surrender of American Depositary Shares, any expenses for the account of the Owner of such American Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, and any applicable taxes or governmental charges).  Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under the Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary with respect to indemnification, charges, and expenses.

 

22.            DTC DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND PROFILE MODIFICATION SYSTEM.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04 of the Deposit Agreement, the parties acknowledge that the Direct Registration System (“DRS”) and Profile Modification System (“Profile”) shall apply to uncertificated American Depositary Shares upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC.  DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the Depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated American Depositary Shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the Depositary to the Owners entitled thereto.  Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an Owner, to direct the Depositary to register a transfer of those American Depositary Shares to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those American Depositary Shares to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the Depositary of prior authorization from the Owner to register such transfer.

 

(b)           In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties understand that the Depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an Owner in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in subsection (a) has the actual authority to act on behalf of the Owner (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code).  For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.03 and 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement shall apply to the matters arising from the use of the DRS.  The parties agree that the Depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the Depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the Depositary.

 

23.            SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL WAIVER; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.

 

In the Deposit Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed Corporation Service Company,                                                                               , in the State of New York, as

 

16

 

the Company’s authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or this Agreement, (ii) consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the State of New York in which any such suit or proceeding may be instituted and (iii) agreed that service of process upon said authorized agent shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding.

 

EACH PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, EACH OWNER AND HOLDER) THEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SHARES OR OTHER DEPOSITED SECURITIES, THE AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES OR THE RECEIPTS, THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, OR THE BREACH HEREOF OR THEREOF, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY QUESTION REGARDING EXISTENCE, VALIDITY OR TERMINATION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any respect thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution or judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with the Shares or Deposited Securities, the American Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Deposit Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.

 

24.           DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Deposit Agreement, each Owner and holder agrees to comply with requests from the Company pursuant to applicable law the rules and requirements of any other stock exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, the rules and requirements of any other clearing system through which transactions in the American Depositary Shares may be settled or the Articles of Association to provide information, inter alia, as to the capacity in which such Owner or holder owns American Depositary Shares (and Shares as the case

 

17

 

may be) and regarding the identity of any other person(s) interested in such American Depositary Shares (and Shares, as the case may be) and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are Owners or holders at the time of such request. The Depositary agrees to use its reasonable efforts to forward, upon the written request of the Company and at the expense of the Company, any such written request from the Company to the Owners and to forward, as promptly as practicable, to the Company any such responses to such requests received by the Depositary. If the Company requests information from the Depositary, as the registered holder of the Shares, the obligations of the Depositary shall be limited to disclosing to the Company the information contained in the Depositary’s register.

 

18Exhibit 10.1

 

Dated 13 May 2011

 

LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC

 

LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC and CLYDESDALE BANK PLC (trading as Yorkshire 
 Bank)

 

as Mandated Lead Arrangers

 

The parties listed in part 1 of schedule 1

 

as Borrowers

 

The parties listed in part 2 of schedule 1

 

as Guarantors

 

LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC

 

as Agent

 

LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC

 

as Security Trustee

 

 

SENIOR FACILITIES AGREEMENT

 

 

ADDLESHAW GODDARD

 

 

Contents

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Clause
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1
    	
 
    	
Definitions and   interpretation
    	
 
    	
1
    
	
2
    	
 
    	
The Facilities
    	
 
    	
35
    
	
3
    	
 
    	
Purpose
    	
 
    	
38
    
	
4
    	
 
    	
Conditions of   utilisation
    	
 
    	
38
    
	
5
    	
 
    	
Utilisation
    	
 
    	
41
    
	
6
    	
 
    	
Optional   currencies
    	
 
    	
42
    
	
7
    	
 
    	
Ancillary   Facilities
    	
 
    	
43
    
	
8
    	
 
    	
Bilateral   Facilities
    	
 
    	
47
    
	
9
    	
 
    	
Repayment
    	
 
    	
48
    
	
10
    	
 
    	
Illegality,   voluntary prepayment and cancellation
    	
 
    	
50
    
	
11
    	
 
    	
Mandatory   prepayment
    	
 
    	
52
    
	
12
    	
 
    	
Restrictions
    	
 
    	
53
    
	
13
    	
 
    	
Interest
    	
 
    	
54
    
	
14
    	
 
    	
Interest Periods
    	
 
    	
55
    
	
15
    	
 
    	
Changes to the   calculation of interest
    	
 
    	
56
    
	
16
    	
 
    	
Fees
    	
 
    	
59
    
	
17
    	
 
    	
Tax gross up and   indemnities
    	
 
    	
60
    
	
18
    	
 
    	
Increased costs
    	
 
    	
69
    
	
19
    	
 
    	
Other   indemnities
    	
 
    	
70
    
	
20
    	
 
    	
Mitigation by   the Lenders
    	
 
    	
71
    
	
21
    	
 
    	
Costs and   expenses
    	
 
    	
72
    
	
22
    	
 
    	
Guarantee and   indemnity
    	
 
    	
72
    
	
23
    	
 
    	
Representations
    	
 
    	
77
    
	
24
    	
 
    	
Information   undertakings
    	
 
    	
87
    
	
25
    	
 
    	
Financial   covenants
    	
 
    	
91
    
	
26
    	
 
    	
General   undertakings
    	
 
    	
97
    
	
27
    	
 
    	
Events of   Default
    	
 
    	
107
    
	
28
    	
 
    	
Changes to the   Lenders
    	
 
    	
113
    
	
29
    	
 
    	
Restriction on   Debt Purchase Transactions
    	
 
    	
118
    
	
30
    	
 
    	
Changes to the   Obligors
    	
 
    	
119
    
	
31
    	
 
    	
Role of the   Agent, the Arrangers and others
    	
 
    	
122
    
	
32
    	
 
    	
Conduct of   business by the Finance Parties
    	
 
    	
129
    
	
33
    	
 
    	
Sharing among   the Finance Parties
    	
 
    	
130
    
	
34
    	
 
    	
Payment   mechanics
    	
 
    	
131
    
	
35
    	
 
    	
Set-off
    	
 
    	
135
    
	
36
    	
 
    	
Notices
    	
 
    	
135
    
	
37
    	
 
    	
Calculations and   certificates
    	
 
    	
137
    
	
38
    	
 
    	
Partial   invalidity
    	
 
    	
137
    
	
39
    	
 
    	
Remedies and   waivers
    	
 
    	
137
    
	
40
    	
 
    	
Amendments and   waivers
    	
 
    	
138
    
	
41
    	
 
    	
Confidentiality
    	
 
    	
141
    
	
42
    	
 
    	
Publicity
    	
 
    	
144
    
	
43
    	
 
    	
Counterparts
    	
 
    	
144
    
	
44
    	
 
    	
Governing law
    	
 
    	
145
    
	
45
    	
 
    	
Enforcement
    	
 
    	
145
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Schedule
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1
    	
 
    	
Part 1 -   Original Borrowers
    	
 
    	
146
    

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 2 -   Original Guarantors
    	
 
    	
146
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 3 -   The Original Lenders
    	
 
    	
147
    
	
2
    	
 
    	
Conditions   precedent
    	
 
    	
148
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 1 -   Conditions precedent to signing this Agreement
    	
 
    	
148
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 2 - Conditions   precedent to initial Utilisation
    	
 
    	
150
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 3 -   Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Obligor
    	
 
    	
154
    
	
3
    	
 
    	
Requests and   Notices
    	
 
    	
156
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 1 –   Utilisation Request
    	
 
    	
156
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 2 -   Selection Notice
    	
 
    	
158
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 3 -   Withdrawal Request
    	
 
    	
159
    
	
4
    	
 
    	
Mandatory Cost   Formula
    	
 
    	
160
    
	
5
    	
 
    	
Form of   Transfer Certificate
    	
 
    	
163
    
	
6
    	
 
    	
Form of   Assignment Agreement
    	
 
    	
167
    
	
7
    	
 
    	
Form of   Accession Deed
    	
 
    	
171
    
	
8
    	
 
    	
Form of   Resignation Letter
    	
 
    	
174
    
	
9
    	
 
    	
Form of   Compliance Certificate
    	
 
    	
175
    
	
10
    	
 
    	
Timetables
    	
 
    	
176
    
	
11
    	
 
    	
Form of   Increase Confirmation
    	
 
    	
177
    
	
12
    	
 
    	
Forms of   Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice
    	
 
    	
181
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 1 -   Form of Notice on Entering into Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction
    	
 
    	
181
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Part 2 - Form of Notice on Termination of   Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction / Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction   ceasing to be with Sponsor Affiliate
    	
 
    	
182
    

 

 

This Agreement dated 13 May 2011

 

Between

 

(1)           Luxfer Holdings PLC (registered in England and Wales with number 3690830)  (Company);

 

(2)           The parties listed in part 1 schedule 1 (Original Borrowers);

 

(3)           The parties listed in part 2 of schedule 1 (Original Guarantors);

 

(4)           Lloyds TSB Bank plc  and  Clydesdale Bank plc (trading as Yorkshire Bank) as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together the  Arrangers);

 

(5)           The Financial Institutions listed in part 3 (The Original Lenders) of schedule 1 as lenders (Original Lenders);

 

(6)           Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Clydesdale Bank PLC (trading as Yorkshire Bank) and Bank of America N.A. as ancillary facilities providers  (Original Ancillary Lenders);

 

(7)           Lloyds TSB Bank plc as agent of the other Finance Parties  (Agent); and

 

(8)           Lloyds TSB Bank plc as security trustee for the Finance Parties (Security Trustee). 

 

It is agreed

 

1              Definitions and interpretation

 

1.1           Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

ABL Facility  means the facility provided pursuant to the facility agreement dated 26 April 2006 between the Company and Bank of America. N.A (in various capacities)

 

Acceptable Bank  means:

 

(a)           a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, F(1) + or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency or

 

(b)           any other bank or financial institution approved by the Agent, or if the Agent is an Impaired Agent the Majority Lenders

 

Accession Deed means a document substantially in the form set out in schedule 7 (Form of Accession Deed)

 

Accounting Principles means the international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements

 

Accounting Reference Date has the meaning given to it in section 391 of the CA 2006

 

Additional Borrower means a company which becomes an Additional Borrower in accordance with clause 30.2 (Additional Borrowers)

 

1

 

Additional Cost Rate has the meaning given to it in schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost Formula)

 

Additional Guarantor means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with clause 30.4 (Additional Guarantors)

 

Additional Obligor means an Additional Borrower or an Additional Guarantor

 

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

 

Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange means the Agent’s spot rate of exchange for the purchase of the relevant currency with the Base Currency in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11.00 a.m. on a particular day

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ancillary Lender means any Lender which makes available an Ancillary Facility in accordance with clause 7 (Ancillary Facilities), initially being the Original Ancillary Lenders

 

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

 

(a)           the principal amount under each overdraft facility (net of any credit balances on any account of any Borrower of an Ancillary Facility with the Ancillary Lender making available that Ancillary Facility to the extent that the credit balances are freely available to be set off by that Ancillary Lender against liabilities owed to it by that Borrower under that Ancillary Facility)

 

(b)           the face amount of each letter of credit under that Ancillary Facility (less any amount prepaid or repaid in respect of such instrument and taking account of any decrease in the liability under such instrument as a consequence of a decrease in the underlying liability in respect of which such instrument was issued) and

 

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

 

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

 

2

 

Annual Financial Statements means the financial statements for a Financial Year delivered pursuant to clause 24.1(a) (Financial statements)

 

Anti-Terrorism Law means any US state or federal law relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Executive Order, the USA Patriot Act and the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, Public Law 99-570

 

Articles means the articles of association of the Company

 

Assignment Agreement means an agreement substantially in the form set out in schedule 6 (Form of Assignment Agreement) or any other form agreed between the relevant assignor and assignee provided that if that other form does not contain the undertaking set out in the form set out in schedule 6 (Form of Assignment Agreement) it shall not be a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking as defined in, and for the purposes of, the Intercreditor Deed

 

Auditors means one of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, KPMG Audit PLC, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Grant Thornton LLP,  Soren McAdam Christenson LLP or any other firm approved in advance by the Majority Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)

 

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

 

Availability Period means:

 

(a)           in relation to Facility A, the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the last day of the Certain Funds Period

 

(b)           in relation to the Revolving Facility, the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date falling 1 Month before the Termination Date of such facility

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3

 

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

 

Base Case Model means the financial model dated 4 April 2011 in agreed form prepared by the Company including profit and loss account, balance sheet and cashflow projections relating to the Group

 

Base Currency means sterling

 

Base Currency Amount means:

 

(a)           in relation to a Loan, the amount specified in the Utilisation Request delivered by a Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) for that Loan (or, if the amount requested is not denominated in the Base Currency, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date which is 3 Business Days before the Utilisation Date or, if later, on the date the Agent receives the Utilisation Request in accordance with the terms of this Agreement)

 

(b)           in relation to an Ancillary Commitment, the amount specified as such in the notice delivered to the Agent by the Company pursuant to clause 7.2 (Availability) or

 

(c)           if the amount specified is not denominated in the Base Currency, that amount converted into the Base Currency at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date which is 3 Business Days before the Ancillary Commencement Date for that Ancillary Facility or, if later, the date the Agent receives the notice of the Ancillary Commitment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement

 

as adjusted to reflect any repayment, prepayment or consolidation of a Loan, or (as the case may be) cancellation or reduction of an Ancillary Facility

 

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

 

(a)           in relation to LIBOR, as the rate at which the relevant Base Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market or

 

(b)           in relation to EURIBOR, as the rate at which the relevant Base Reference Bank could borrow funds in the European interbank market

 

in the relevant currency and for the relevant period, were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period

 

Base Reference Banks means, in relation to LIBOR, the principal London offices of Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Clydesdale Bank plc and Bank of America and, in relation to EURIBOR, the principal office in Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Clydesdale Bank plc and Bank of America or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Company

 

Bilateral Document means each document relating to or evidencing the terms of a Bilateral Facility

 

Bilateral Facility means a bilateral facility made available to an Obligor by a Bilateral Lender in accordance with clause 8 (Bilateral Facilities)

 

Bilateral Lender means each Lender

 

4

 

Bilateral Limit means in respect of each Bilateral Lender the amount set opposite its name under the heading Bilateral Limit in part 3 (The Original Lenders) of schedule 1 (or its equivalent in any currency) each Bilateral Lender’s exposure and limit being calculated in accordance with the relevant Bilateral Lender’s usual policy

 

Borrower means an Original Borrower or an Additional Borrower unless it has ceased to be a Borrower in accordance with clause 30 (Changes to the Obligors)

 

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

 

(a)           the interest 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 amount of the Loan or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period

 

exceeds:

 

(b)           the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the amount of the Loan 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

 

Budget means:

 

(a)           in relation to the period beginning on 1 January 2011 and ending on 31 December 2011, the Base Case Model to be delivered by the Company to the Agent pursuant to clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent) and

 

(b)           in relation to any other period, the budget delivered by the Company to the Agent in respect of that period pursuant to, and in accordance with, clause 24.4 (Budget)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

CA2006 means the Companies Act 2006

 

Cash Equivalent Investments means at any time:

 

(a)           certificates of deposit maturing within 3 Months after the relevant date of calculation and issued by an Acceptable Bank

 

(b)           any investment in marketable debt obligations issued or guaranteed by the government of the United States of America or any member state of the European Economic Area, or by an instrumentality or agency of any of them having an equivalent credit rating, maturing within 3 Months after the relevant date of calculation and not convertible or exchangeable to any other security

 

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

 

(i)            for which a recognised trading market exists

 

5

 

(ii)           issued by an issuer incorporated in the United States of America or any member State of the European Economic Area

 

(iii)          which matures within 3 Months after the relevant date of calculation and

 

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

 

(d)           any investment in money market funds which

 

(i)            have a credit rating of either A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, F-1 or higher by Fitch Ratings Ltd or P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service Limited

 

(ii)           invest substantially all their assets in securities of the types described in paragraphs (a) to (c) and

 

(iii)          can be turned into cash on not more than 30 days’ notice or

 

(e)           any other debt security approved by the Majority Lenders

 

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

 

Certain Funds Period means the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date falling:

 

(a)           5 Business Days after the date of this Agreement unless the Company has served a prepayment notice in respect of all the Existing Notes under clause Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the Existing Note Documents (Prepayment Notice) or

 

(b)           45 days after the date of the Prepayment Notice provided the Company has served the Prepayment Notice in accordance with the time period set out in limb (a) above

 

Change of Control means any person or group of persons acting in concert gains direct or indirect control of the Company. For the purposes of this definition:

 

(a)           control of the Company means:

 

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

 

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

 

(B)           appoint or remove all, or the majority, of the directors or other equivalent officers of the Company or

 

6

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           acting in concert means, a group of persons who, pursuant to an agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal), actively co-operate, through the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of shares in the Company by any of them, either directly or indirectly, to obtain or consolidate control of the Company

 

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

 

Closing Date means the date the Agent gives the notice to the Company pursuant to clause 4.1(c)

 

Commitment means a Facility A Commitment or the Revolving Facility Commitment

 

Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in schedule 9 (Form of Compliance Certificate)

 

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

 

(a)           any member of the Group, 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 41 (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 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

 

7

 

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

 

Contribution Notice means a contribution notice issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 38 or section 47 of the Pensions Act 2004

 

CTA means the Corporation Tax Act 2009

 

Czech Subsidiary means Magnesium Elektron Recycling CZ S.R.O.

 

Debenture means the debenture entered into by the Original Obligors pursuant to clause 4.1

 

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 27 (Events of Default) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default

 

Defaulting Lender means any Lender (other than Lender which is a Sponsor Affiliate):

 

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

 

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

 

unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above

 

(i)            its failure to pay is caused by

 

(A)          administrative or technical error or

 

(B)           a Disruption Event and

 

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

 

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

 

Defined Benefit Scheme means each of the following:

 

(a)           Luxfer Group Pension Plan

 

(b)           Luxfer Group Supplementary Pension Plan

 

8

 

(c)           BA Holdings inc. Defined Benefit Pension Plan

 

(d)           Pension Plan for Hourly Employees of Luxfer Inc

 

(e)           BA Holdings Inc. Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan

 

(f)            IPC Supplementary Pension scheme and

 

(g)           IDR Termination Indemnities

 

Delegate means any delegate, agent, nominee, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Security Trustee

 

Designated Gross Amount has the meaning given to that term in clause 7.2 (Availability)

 

Designated Net Amount has the meaning given to that term in clause 7.2 (Availability)

 

Designated Person means a person:

 

(a)           listed on the annex to the Executive Order

 

(b)           owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any person listed on the annex to the Executive Order

 

(c)           listed on the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by OFAC of the United States Department of the Treasury, as updated or amended from time to time

 

(d)           whose property has been blocked, or is subject to seizure, forfeiture or confiscation, under any applicable Anti-Terrorism Law or

 

(e)           that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or support “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order

 

Disruption Event means either or both of:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

9

 

Dormant Subsidiary means a member of the Group which does not trade (for itself or as agent for any person) and does not own, legally or beneficially, assets (including indebtedness owed to it) which in aggregate have a value of £20,000 or more or its equivalent in other currencies

 

Employee Plan means, at any time, an “employee pension benefit plan” as defined in section 3(2) of ERISA and subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) then or at any time during the previous six years maintained for, or contributed to (or to which there is or was an obligation to contribute) on behalf of, employees of any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate

 

Environment means humans, animals, plants and all other living organisms including the ecological systems of which they form part and the following media:

 

(a)                                  air (including, without limitation, air within natural or man made structures, whether above or below ground)

 

(b)                                 water (including, without limitation, territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or within land and water in drains and sewers) and

 

(c)                                  land (including, without limitation, land under water)

 

Environmental Claim means any claim, proceeding, formal notice or investigation by any person in respect of any Environmental Law

 

Environmental Law means any applicable law or regulation which relates to:

 

(a)                                  the pollution or protection of the Environment

 

(b)                                 the conditions of the workplace or

 

(c)                                  the generation, handling, storage, use, release or spillage of any substance which alone, or in combination with any other, is capable of causing harm to the Environment, including without limitation, any waste

 

Environmental Permits means any permit and other Authorisation and the filing of any notification, report or assessment required under any Environmental Law for the operation of the business of any member of the Group conducted on or from any Real Property owned or used by any member of the Group

 

ERISA means the US Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder

 

ERISA Affiliate means each person (as defined in section 3(9) of ERISA) that is a member of a controlled group of, or under common control with, any Obligor, within the meaning of section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code

 

ERISA Event means any of the following events:

 

(a)                                  any reportable event, as defined in section 4043(c) of ERISA, with respect to an Employee Plan as to which the PBGC has not by regulation waived the requirement of section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within thirty days of the occurrence of that event. However, a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or section 302 of ERISA shall be a reportable event for the purposes of this paragraph (a) regardless of the issuance of any waiver under said sections

 

10

 

(b)                                 the requirements of subsection (1) of section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection (2) of that section) are met with respect to a contributing sponsor, as defined in section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of an Employee Plan and an event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably expected to occur with respect to that Employee Plan within the following 30 days

 

(c)                                  the filing under section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate any Employee Plan

 

(d)                                 the termination of any Employee Plan under section 4041(c) of ERISA

 

(e)                                  the institution of proceedings under section 4042 of ERISA by the PBGC for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Employee Plan

 

(f)                                    the failure to make a required contribution to any Employee Plan that would result in the imposition of an encumbrance pursuant to section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or section 302 of ERISA or

 

(g)                                 engagement with an Employee Plan in a non-exempt prohibited transaction within the meaning of section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or section 406 of ERISA other than as a result of entering into this Agreement

 

ESOP means the Luxfer Group Employee Share Ownership Plan established by a deed of trust dated 3 November 1997

 

EURIBOR means, in relation to any Loan in euro:

 

(a)                                  the applicable Screen Rate or

 

(b)                                 if no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan, the Base Reference Bank Rate

 

as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day in euro and a period comparable to the Interest Period of that Loan

 

Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in clause 27 (Events of Default)

 

Excluded Deposit Account means each of the following deposit accounts:

 

(a)                                  any deposit account specially and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiary’s salaried employees

 

(b)                                 any deposit account credited at any time with an amount not exceeding $100,000 (or its equivalent in any currency) individually and, when aggregated with the amounts in all other such accounts, $500,000 (or its equivalent in any currency)

 

(c)                                  any deposit account, the balance of which consists solely of funds set aside in connection with tax, trust or similar accounts that are or are or will be promptly applied in the ordinary course of business toward valid applicable obligations of such Obligor

 

11

 

(d)                                 any “lock-box” deposit account the balance of which is swept on a daily basis into other deposit accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are deposit accounts as set forth under the preceding limbs (a) - (c) (inclusive)

 

Executive Order means Executive Order No. 13224 of September 23, 2001- Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism

 

Existing Notes means £71,850,977 floating rate notes due 2012 issued by the Company

 

Existing Note Documents means:

 

(a)                                  the indenture dated 6 February 2007 made between the Company and The Bank of New York; and

 

(b)                                 each note issued pursuant to the indenture referred to in limb (a) above

 

Facility means Facility A or the Revolving Facility

 

Facility A means the term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in clause 2.1(a)(i) (The Facilities)

 

Facility A Commitment means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in the Base Currency set opposite its name under the heading Facility A Commitment in part 3 (The Original Lenders) of schedule 1 and the amount of any other commitment relating to Facility A transferred to it in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with clause 2.2 (Increase) and

 

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

 

to the extent:

 

(i)                                     not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement and

 

(ii)                                  not deemed to be zero pursuant to clause 29.2 (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates)

 

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

 

Facility A Repayment Date means 30 June and 31 December in each year 

 

Facility Office means:

 

(a)                                  in respect of a Lender, the office or offices notified by that Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than 7 days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement or

 

(b)                                 in respect of any other Finance Party, the office in the jurisdiction in which it is resident for tax purposes

 

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Fee Letter means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement between:

 

(a)                                  the Original Lenders and the Company or

 

(b)                                 the Agent and the Company

 

setting out any of the fees referred to in clause 2.2(e) (Increase) or clause 16 (Fees)

 

Finance Document means this Agreement, any Accession Deed, any Ancillary Document, any Bilateral Document, any Compliance Certificate, any Fee Letter, any Hedging Agreement, the Intercreditor Deed, any Resignation Letter, any Selection Notice, any Transaction Security Document, any Utilisation Request and any other document designated as a Finance Document by the Agent and the Company

 

provided that where the term Finance Document is used in, and construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Intercreditor Deed, a Hedging Agreement shall be a Finance Document only for the purposes of:

 

(a)                                  the definition of Material Adverse Effect

 

(b)                                 paragraph (a) of the definition of Permitted Transaction

 

(c)                                  the definition of Transaction Document

 

(d)                                 the definition of Transaction Security Document

 

(e)                                  clause 1.2(a)(iv) (Interpretation)

 

(f)                                    clause 22 (Guarantee and indemnity) and

 

(g)                                 clause 27 (Events of Default) (other than clause 27.15 (Repudiation and rescission of agreements) and clause 27.20 (Acceleration))

 

provided that where the term Finance Document is used in, and construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Intercreditor Deed, a Bilateral Document shall be a Finance Document only for the purposes of clause 22 (Guarantee and indemnity)

 

Finance Lease means any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with the Accounting Principles, be treated as a finance or capital lease

 

Finance Party means the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Trustee, a Lender, a Hedge Counterparty, any Ancillary Lender or any Bilateral Lender

 

provided that where the term Finance Party is used in, and construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Intercreditor Deed, a Hedge Counterparty shall be a Finance Party only for the purposes of:

 

(a)                                  the definition of Secured Parties

 

(b)                                 clause 1.2(a)(i) (Interpretation)

 

(c)                                  paragraph (c) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect

 

(d)                                 clause 22 (Guarantee and indemnity) and

 

(e)                                  clause 32 (Conduct of business by the Finance Parties)

 

13

 

provided that where the term Finance Party is used in, and construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Intercreditor Deed, a Bilateral Lender shall be a Finance Party only for the purposes of clause 22 (Guarantee and indemnity)

 

Financial Indebtedness means, without double counting, any indebtedness for or in respect of:

 

(a)                                  monies borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions

 

(b)                                 acceptance under any acceptance credit or bill discounting facility (or dematerialised equivalent)

 

(c)                                  any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument

 

(d)                                 any Finance Leases

 

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

 

(f)                                    any Treasury Transaction (and, when calculating the value of that Treasury Transaction, only the marked to market value (or, if any actual amount is due as a result of the termination or close-out of that Treasury Transaction, that amount) shall be taken into account)

 

(g)                                 any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution in respect of (i) an underlying liability of an entity which is not a member of the Group which liability would fall within one of the other paragraphs of this definition

 

(h)                                 any amount of any liability under an advance or deferred purchase agreement if (i) one of the primary reasons behind entering into the agreement is to raise finance or to finance the acquisition or construction of the asset or service in question or (ii) the agreement is in respect of the supply of assets or services and payment is due more than 180 days after the date of supply

 

(i)                                     any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase sale and sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) having the commercial or economic effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under the Accounting Principles

 

(j)                                     any amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable (other than at the option of the issuer) before the Termination Date or are otherwise classified as borrowings under the Accounting Principles

 

(k)                                  the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (j)

 

Financial Quarter has the meaning given to that term in clause 25 (Financial covenants)

 

Financial Support Direction means a financial support direction issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 43 of the Pensions Act 2004

 

Financial Year has the meaning given to that term in clause 25 (Financial covenants)

 

14

 

Fraudulent Transfer Law means any applicable US Bankruptcy Law (including, without limitation, section 548 of Title 11 of the US Bankruptcy Law) or any US state fraudulent transfer or conveyance statute or any relevant case law

 

French Subsidiary means Luxfer Gas Cylinders S.A.S

 

Funds Flow Statement means a funds flow statement in agreed form 

 

Group means the Company and each of its Subsidiaries for the time being

 

Group Structure Chart means the group structure chart to be delivered by the Company to the Agent pursuant to clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent)

 

Guarantor means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor, unless it has ceased to be a Guarantor in accordance with clause 30 (Changes to the Obligors)

 

Hedge Counterparty means any person which has become a Party as a Hedge Counterparty in accordance with clause 0 (Accession of Hedge Counterparties) which has become, a party to the Intercreditor Deed as a Hedge Counterparty in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Deed

 

Hedging Agreement means any master agreement, confirmation, schedule or other agreement in agreed form entered into or to be entered into by the relevant Borrower and a Hedge Counterparty for the purpose of hedging the types of liabilities and/or risks in relation to Facility A which, at the time that that master agreement, confirmation, schedule or other agreement (as the case may be) is entered into, the Hedging Letter requires to be hedged

 

Hedging Letter means the letter dated on or before the date of this Agreement and made between the Agent and the Company describing the hedging arrangements to be entered into in respect of the interest rate liabilities of the Borrowers

 

Holding Company means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary

 

Impaired Agent means the Agent at any time when:

 

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

 

(b)                                 the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates as Finance Document

 

(c)                                  (if the Agent is also a Lender) it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of Defaulting Lender and, in the case of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraph (a), none of the exceptions apply to that paragraph or

 

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

 

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

 

(i)                                     its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(A)                              administrative or technical error, or

 

(B)                                a Disruption Event and

 

15

 

(ii)                                  payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date or

 

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

 

Increase Confirmation means a confirmation substantially in the form set out in schedule 11 (Form of Increase Confirmation)

 

Increase Lender has the meaning given to that term in clause 2.2 (Increase)

 

Internal Revenue Code means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any and all regulations and rulings issued thereunder

 

Information Memorandum means the document dated 7 January 2011 in the form approved by the Company concerning the Group which, at the request of the Company and on its behalf in relation to this transaction prior to the date of this Agreement in connection with the Facilities

 

Information Package means the Base Case Model and the Information Memorandum 

 

Insolvency Event means, in relation to a Finance Party:

 

(a)                                  any receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, liquidator, compulsory manager or other similar officer is appointed in respect of that Finance Party or all or substantially all of its assets

 

(b)                                 that Finance Party is subject to any event which has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraph (a) under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction or

 

(c)                                  that Finance Party suspends making payments on all or substantially all of its debts or publicly announces an intention to do so

 

Intellectual Property means:

 

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

 

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

 

Intercreditor Deed means the intercreditor deed dated the same date as this Deed and made between, among others, the Company, the Debtors (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), Lloyds TSB Bank plc as Security Trustee, Lloyds TSB Bank plc as senior agent, the Lenders (as Senior Lenders), the Arrangers (as Senior Arrangers), the Ancillary Lenders (as Senior Lenders), the Hedge Counterparties (each as defined in the Intercreditor Deed), each Bilateral Lender, the Noteholders and the Intra-Group Lenders (as defined in the Intercreditor Deed)

 

Interest Period means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with clause 14 (Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with clause 13.3 (Default interest)

 

ITA means the Income Tax Act 2007

 

16

 

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

 

Legal Reservations means:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)                                  the possibility that the courts may recharactarise any security purporting to be a fixed charge as a floating charge (or vice versa) and

 

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

 

Lender means:

 

(a)                                  any Original Lender and

 

(b)                                 any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party as a Lender in accordance with clause 2.2 (Increase) or clause 28 (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 the currency or Interest Period of that Loan) the Base Reference Bank Rate

 

as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Loan and a period comparable to the Interest Period of that Loan

 

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

 

LMA means the Loan Market Association

 

Loan means a Facility A Loan or a Revolving Facility Loan

 

Major Breach means any breach of:

 

(a)                                  clause 26.7 (Change of business)

 

(b)                                 clause 26.8 (Acquisitions)

 

(c)                                  clause 26.11 (Pari passu ranking)

 

(d)                                 clause 26.12 (Negative pledge)

 

(e)                                  clause 26.13 (Disposals)

 

17

 

(f)                                    clause 26.15 (Loans or credit)

 

(g)                                 clause 26.16 (No Guarantees or indemnities)

 

(h)                                 clause 26.17 (Dividends and share redemption)

 

(i)                                     clause 26.18 (Notes)

 

(j)                                     clause 26.19 (Financial Indebtedness) and

 

(k)                                  clause 26.21 (Insurance) 

 

Major Default means any of the following Events of Default:

 

(a)                                  clause 27.1 (Non-payment)

 

(b)                                 clause 27.2 (Financial covenants and other obligations)

 

(c)                                  clause 27.3 (Other obligations) but only insofar as it relates to a Major Breach

 

(d)                                 clause 27.4 (Misrepresentation) but only insofar as it relates to a Major Representation

 

(e)                                  clause 27.6 (Insolvency) and clause 27.7 (Insolvency proceedings) and

 

(f)                                    clause 27.9 (Unlawfulness and invalidity) and clause 27.15 (Repudiation and rescission of agreements) and

 

(g)                                 clause 27.19 (ERISA) 

 

Majority Lenders means:

 

(a)                                  (for the purposes of clause 40.2(a) (Required consents) in the context of a waiver in relation to a proposed Loan of the Revolving Facility (other than a Loan on the Closing Date) of the condition in clause 4.2 (Further conditions precedent)), a Lender or Lenders whose Revolving Facility Commitments aggregate more than 662/3 per cent of the Total Revolving Facility Commitments and

 

(b)                                 (in any other case), a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 662/3 per cent of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 662/3 per cent of the Total Commitments immediately prior to that reduction)

 

Major Representation means each of the representations set out in clause 23.2 (Status) to clause 23.6(a) (Validity and admissibility in evidence) inclusive, clause 23.25 (Obligors), clause 23.31 (US Regulations) and clause 23.32 (Sanctions)

 

Mandatory Cost means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Agent in accordance with schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost Formula)

 

Margin means:

 

(a)                                  subject to clause 15.1 (Margin adjustment), in relation to each Loan, 2.5% per annum

 

(b)                                 in relation to any Unpaid Sum relating or referable to a Facility, the rate per annum specified for that Facility and

 

18

 

(c)                                  in relation to any other Unpaid Sum, the highest rate specified above

 

Margin Stock shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Regulation U, Regulation T or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

 

Material Adverse Effect means in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders a material adverse effect on:

 

(a)                                  the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Group taken as a whole

 

(b)                                 the ability of an Obligor to perform its payment obligations under the Finance Documents (taking into account the financial resources available to that Obligor from other members of the Group) or

 

(c)                                  the validity or enforceability of, or the effectiveness or ranking of any Security granted or purporting to be granted pursuant to any of, the Finance Documents or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under any of the Finance Documents

 

Material Company means, at any time:

 

(a)                                  an Obligor

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Material Provision means each of clause 24.1 (Financial statements) to 24.3 (Requirements as to financial statements), clause 26.6 (Merger) to 26.8 (Acquisitions) (inclusive), clause 26.11 (Pari passu ranking), clause 26.12 (Negative pledge), clause 26.13 (Disposals), clauses 26.15 (Loans or credit) to 26.19 (Financial Indebtedness) (inclusive), clause 26.21 (Insurance) and clause 26.35 (ERISA)

 

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

 

(a)                                  (subject to paragraph (c)) 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

 

19

 

period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Monthly Financial Statements means the financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 24.1(b) (Financial statements)

 

Multiemployer Plan means, at any time, a multiemployer plan (as defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) then or at any time during the previous five years maintained for, or contributed to (or to which there is or was an obligation to contribute) on behalf of, employees of any Obligor or an ERISA Affiliate

 

New Lender has the meaning given to it in clause 28.1 (Assignments and transfers by the Lenders)

 

Notes means the notes issued pursuant to the Note Documents 

 

Note Documents means:

 

(a)                                  the note purchase agreement for up to US $65,000,000 entered into by BA Holdings Inc on or around the date of this Agreement

 

(b)                                 the guarantee entered into by each Obligor on or around the Closing Date in the form set out in the note purchase agreement referred to in limb (a) above and

 

(c)                                  each note issued pursuant to the note purchase agreement referred to in limb (a) above

 

(d)                                 the hedging letter issued pursuant to the note purchase agreement referred to in limb (a) above

 

(e)                                  a letter dated 21 March 2011 between the Company and Pricoa Capital Group and

 

(f)                                    any other Note Document as defined in the note purchase agreement referred to in limb (a) above

 

Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction has the meaning given to that term in clause 29.2 (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates)

 

Obligor means a Borrower or a Guarantor

 

OFAC means the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the US Department of the Treasury

 

Optional Currency means a currency (other than the Base Currency) which complies with the conditions set out in clause 4.3 (Conditions relating to Optional Currencies)

 

20

 

 

Original Financial Statements means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to the Company (i) in respect of any representation to be given on the date of this Agreement, its consolidated audited financial statements for its financial year ended 31 December 2009 and its consolidated unaudited financial statements for its financial year ended 31 December 2010 and (ii) in any other respect its consolidated audited financial statements for its financial year ended 31 December 2010

 

(b)                                 in relation to the Company the consolidated unaudited monthly management accounts for the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2011

 

(c)                                  in relation to each other member of the Group (other than BA Holdings Inc, Luxfer Australia Pty Limited, Hart Metals Inc, MEL Chemicals Inc, Magnesium Elektron North America Inc, Niagra Metallurgical Products Limited and Reade Manufacturing Company), its audited financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2009 and

 

(d)                                 in relation to any other Obligor, its audited financial statements delivered to the Agent as required by clause 30 (Changes to the Obligors)

 

Original Obligor means an Original Borrower or an Original Guarantor

 

Participating Member State means any member state of the European Communities that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union

 

Party means a party for the time being to this Agreement

 

PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of the US established pursuant to section 4002 of ERISA or any entity succeeding to all or any of its functions under ERISA

 

Pensions Regulator means the body corporate called the Pensions Regulator established under Part I of the Pensions Act 2004

 

Permitted Acquisition means:

 

(a)                                  an acquisition pursuant to a Permitted Share Issue

 

(b)                                 the incorporation of a company which on incorporation becomes a member of the Group, but only if:

 

(i)                                     that company is incorporated in England and Wales or the US with limited liability and

 

(ii)                                  if the shares in the company are owned by an Obligor, Security over the shares of that company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is created in favour of the Security Trustee on its incorporation

 

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

 

(d)                                 an acquisition (not being an acquisition by the Company), of (A) all of the issued share capital of a limited liability company or (B) (if the acquisition is made by a

 

21

 

limited liability company) a business or undertaking carried on as a going concern, but only if:

 

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

 

(ii)                                  the acquired company, business or undertaking is incorporated or established, and carries on its principal business in, the European Union, the United States of America or such other jurisdiction approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) (such approval to be provided unless (i) the jurisdiction is a jurisdiction that is on a restricted list for a Finance Party and/or (ii) the acquired company would under the terms of this Agreement have to accede as an Additional Guarantor and the security principles of the relevant jurisdiction prevent it providing the Security required by the Agent) and is engaged in a business substantially the same as that carried on by the Group; and

 

(iii)                               the consideration (including associated costs and expenses) for the acquisition and any Financial Indebtedness or other assumed actual or contingent liability, in each case remaining in the acquired company (or any such business) at the date of acquisition (when aggregated with the consideration (including associated costs and expenses) for any other Permitted Acquisition and any Financial Indebtedness or other assumed actual or contingent liability, in each case remaining in any such acquired companies or businesses at the time of acquisition (the “Total Purchase Price”)) does not exceed in aggregate £10,000,000 (or its equivalent) and only if such acquisition is not funded by a Revolving Facility Utilisation or

 

(e)                                  an acquisition permitted by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)) in writing

 

Permitted Cash Balance means £7,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency)

 

Permitted Disposal means any sale, lease, licence, transfer or other disposal which, except in the case of paragraph (b), is on arm’s length terms:

 

(a)                                  of trading stock or cash made by any member of the Group in the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity

 

(b)                                 of any asset by a member of the Group (Disposing Company) to another member of the Group (Acquiring Company), but if:

 

(i)                                     the Disposing Company is an Obligor, the Acquiring Company must also be an Obligor

 

(ii)                                  the Disposing Company had given Security over the asset, the Acquiring Company must give equivalent Security over that asset in form and substance satisfactory to the Security Trustee and

 

(iii)                               the Disposing Company is a Guarantor, the Acquiring Company must be a Guarantor guaranteeing at all times an amount no less than that guaranteed by the Disposing Company

 

(c)                                  of assets in exchange for other assets comparable or superior as to type, value or quality (provided that if the assets disposed of are subject to Security in favour of the

 

22

 

Security Trustee the exchanged assets are also subject to the same or similar Security in favour of the Security Trustee)

 

(d)                                 of assets (other than assets which are subject to a fixed charge in favour of the Security Trustee) to a Permitted Joint Venture

 

(e)                                  of obsolete or redundant vehicles, plant and equipment for cash

 

(f)                                    of Cash Equivalent Investments for cash or in immediate exchange for other Cash Equivalent Investments

 

(g)                                 constituted by a licence of intellectual property rights permitted by clause 26.24 (Intellectual Property)

 

(h)                                 arising as a result of any Permitted Security

 

(i)                                     of cash by way of a Permitted Loan 

 

(j)                                     of cash in order to complete a Permitted Acquisition

 

(k)                                  of assets for cash where the higher of the market value or the net consideration receivable in respect of such asset when aggregated with the higher of the market value or the net consideration receivable for any other sale, lease, licence, transfer or other disposal of an asset not allowed under the preceding paragraphs) does not exceed £8,000,000 (or its equivalent) in aggregate and does not exceed £2,000,000 (or its equivalent) in any Financial Year or

 

(L)                                 that is a Permitted Transaction

 

Permitted Distribution means:

 

(a)                                  the payment of a dividend to any member of the Group by any of that member of the Group’s Subsidiaries

 

(b)                                 the payment of a dividend by the Company provided:

 

(i)                                     no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such payment

(ii)                                  Leverage (as shown in latest Compliance Certificate) does not exceed 2.5:1 and

(iii)                               at the time the proposed dividend is made the forecasted Leverage for the next 12 month (assuming payment of any proposed dividends during that period) does not exceed 2.5:1

 

(c)                                  the redemption of up to £50,000 B preference shares at par value (plus any accrued dividend) issued by the Company to Brian Purves and Ian Mckinnon or

 

(d)                                 the payment of any other dividend agreed between the Company and the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders)

 

23

 

Permitted Financial Indebtedness means Financial Indebtedness:

 

(a)                                  arising under any of the Finance Documents, the Note Documents, in each case as in force on the date of this Agreement and amended from time to time in compliance with this Agreement and the lntercreditor Deed

 

(b)                                 arising under a Permitted Loan, a Permitted Guarantee or as permitted by clause 26.28 (Treasury transactions)

 

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

 

(d)                                 under finance or capital leases of vehicles, plant, equipment or computers, provided that the aggregate capital value of all such items so leased under outstanding leases by members of the Group does not exceed £2,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) at any time

 

(e)                                  of a company that becomes a member of the Group as a result of a Permitted Acquisition provided that the Financial Indebtedness is repaid in full within 45 days of that company becoming a member of the Group

 

(f)                                    arising under any Bilateral Facility

 

(g)                                 not permitted by the preceding paragraphs and the outstanding amount does not exceed £400,000 (or its equivalent) in aggregate for the Group at any time

 

(h)                                 performance bonds issued in the ordinary course of trading in respect of non-financial obligations

 

(i)                                     any Financial Indebtedness (existing as at the date of this Agreement) pursuant to the ABL Facility and/or the Existing Note Documents so long as the Financial Indebtedness is irrevocably discharged no later than the Closing Date and

 

(j)                                     permitted by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in writing

 

Permitted Guarantee means:

 

(a)                                  the endorsement of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of trade

 

(b)                                 any guarantee to a property landlord of which a member of the Group is a tenant

 

(c)                                  any performance or similar bond guaranteeing performance by a member of the Group under any contract entered into in the ordinary course of trade

 

(d)                                 any guarantee or indemnity arising under any Transaction Document

 

(e)                                  any indemnity given by a member of the Group for its liabilities in the ordinary course of trade

 

24

 

(f)                                    a guarantee in respect of Financial Indebtedness permitted under limb (h) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness

 

(g)                                 a guarantee of Financial Indebtedness as part of a Permitted Joint Venture

 

(h)                                 a guarantee in respect of obligations of an Obligor or a guarantee by a non-Obligor in respect of the obligations of another member of the Group made in the ordinary course of business

 

(i)                                     any guarantee given in respect of the netting or set-off arrangements permitted pursuant to paragraph (c) of the definition of Permitted Security

 

(j)                                     any guarantee or indemnity given by a member of the Group in respect of any obligations of an employee or officer of a member of the Group, which obligations shall not exceed £100,000 (or its equivalent) in aggregate for all such obligations supported by such guarantee or indemnity pursuant to this clause (j) outstanding at any time or

 

(k)                                  any guarantee (existing as at the date of this Agreement) given in respect of the Financial Indebtedness in relation to the ABL Facility or the Existing Note Documents so long as such guarantees are irrevocably released, removed or discharged no later than the Closing Date

 

Permitted Joint Venture means any investment by any member of the Group:

 

(a)                                  where the joint venture interest is held through an entity incorporated or formed with limited liability and

 

(i)                                     the joint venture is incorporated in, the European Union, the United States of America or such other jurisdiction approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) (such approval to be provided unless the jurisdiction is a jurisdiction that is on a restricted list for a Finance Party)

 

(ii)                                  the joint venture investment is made on arm’s length terms

 

(iii)                               that entity carries on or owns the same, a similar, complementary or related business to that carried on by the Group and

 

(iv)                              the aggregate (without double counting) of:

 

(A)                              all outstanding amounts lent, advances, contributed to or for equity in, or otherwise invested in, all such entities by members of the Group and

 

(B)                                the market value (at the date of transfer or contribution) of all assets transferred or contributed to all such entities by members of the Group to the extent exceeding the value of the consideration for such transfers or contributions and

 

(v)                                 all outstanding Financial Indebtedness incurred (whether by way of guarantee or otherwise) in relation to all such entities by members of the Group

 

shall not after the date of this Agreement, when taken together with any contingent liability of the Permitted Joint Venture, exceed £10,000,000 (or its equivalent) or

 

25

 

(b)                                 permitted by the Agent acting on the instruction of the Majority Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) in writing

 

Permitted Loan means:

 

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

 

(b)                                 Financial Indebtedness which is referred to in the definition of, or otherwise constitutes, Permitted Financial Indebtedness

 

(c)                                  any loan made to a Permitted Joint Venture

 

(d)                                 any loan or advance made to employees of any member of the Group which loans and advances shall not exceed £100,000 in aggregate for all loans to employees (or its equivalent) outstanding at any time

 

(e)                                  any loan, advance or other financial facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed £500,000 in any calendar year made available to the trustee of the ESOP, the trustee of any other employee share ownership plan or similar trust or to an employee whether for the purpose of acquiring ordinary, preference or deferred shares in the Company or any member of the Group, provided that such loan, advance or other financial facility may not exceed £5,000,000 at any one time outstanding

 

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

 

(g)                                 any loan made by an Obligor to a member of the Group which is not an Obligor so long as:

 

(i)                                     the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness under any such loans does not exceed £10,000,000 (or its equivalent) at any time or

 

(ii)                                  such loan is funded by the issue of shares pursuant to limb (a) of the definition of Permitted Share Issue or

 

(h)                            any loan (other than a loan that would fall within one of the limbs set out above) so long as the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness under any such loan does not exceed £500,000 (or its equivalent) at any time

 

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

 

Permitted Security means:

 

(a)                                  any lien arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading and not as a result of any default or omission by any member of the Group

 

(b)                                 any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by any member of the Group in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances of members of the Group but only so long as (i) such arrangement does not permit credit balances of Obligors to be netted or set off against debit balances of members of the Group which are not Obligors and (ii) such arrangement

 

26

 

does not give rise to other Security over the assets of Obligors in support of liabilities of members of the Group which are not Obligors

 

(c)                                  any payment or close out netting or set-off arrangement pursuant to any Treasury Transaction or foreign exchange transaction entered into by a member of the Group which constitutes Permitted Financial Indebtedness, excluding any Security or Quasi-Security under a credit support arrangement

 

(d)                                 any Security or Quasi-Security arising under any retention of title, hire purchase or conditional sale arrangement or arrangements having similar effect in respect of goods supplied to a member of the Group in the ordinary course of trading and on the supplier’s standard or usual terms and not arising as a result of any default or omission by any member of the Group

 

(e)                                  any Quasi-Security arising as a result of a disposal which is a Permitted Disposal

 

(f)                                    any Security or Quasi-Security arising as a consequence of any finance or capital lease permitted pursuant to paragraph (d) of the definition of “Permitted Financial Indebtedness”

 

(g)                                 any Security pursuant to the Security Documents or

 

(h)                                 any Security or Quasi-Security (existing as at the date of this Agreement) over the assets of the Group pursuant to the ABL Facility so long as the Security or Quasi-Security is irrevocably released, removed or discharged no later than the Closing Date

 

Permitted Share Issue means an issue of:

 

(a)                                  ordinary shares by the Company, paid for in full in cash upon issue and which by their terms are not redeemable and where such issue does not lead to a Change of Control of the Company

 

(b)                                 any shares issued in connection with the ESOP where such issue does not lead to a Change of Control and

 

(c)                                  shares by a member of the Group (other than the Company) which is a Subsidiary to any Holding Company where (if the existing shares of the Subsidiary are the subject of the Transaction Security) the newly-issued shares also become subject to the Transaction Security on the same terms

 

Permitted Transaction means:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

27

 

Qualifying Lender has the meaning given to that term in clause 17 (Tax gross up and indemnities)

 

Quarter Date means the last day of a Financial Quarter

 

Quarterly Financial Statements means the financial statements for each Financial Quarter delivered pursuant to clause 24.1 (Financial statements)

 

Quasi-Security has the meaning given to that term in clause 26.12 (Negative pledge) 

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                 if the currency is euro, 2 TARGET Days before the first day of that period or

 

(c)                                  for any other currency, 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 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 1 day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days)

 

Real Property means:

 

(a)                                  any freehold, leasehold, commonhold or immovable property and

 

(b)                                 any buildings, fixtures, fittings, fixed plant or machinery from time to time situated on or forming part of that freehold, leasehold, commonhold or immovable property

 

Receiver means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative receiver of the whole or any part of the Secured Assets

 

Receiving Agent means The Bank of New York

 

Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X means Regulation T, U or, as the case may be, X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the US (or any successor) as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof

 

Related Fund in relation to a fund (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 adviser is an Affiliate of the investment manager or investment adviser of the first fund

 

Relevant Interbank Market means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to euro, the European interbank market and

 

(b)                                 in relation to any other currency, the London interbank market 

 

Relevant Jurisdiction means, in relation to an Obligor:

 

(a)                                  its jurisdiction of incorporation

 

28

 

 

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

 

(c)                                  any jurisdiction where it conducts its business and

 

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

 

Relevant Period has the meaning given to that term in clause 25 (Financial covenants)

 

Repeating Representations means each of the representations set out in clause 23.2 (Status) to clause 23.7 (Governing law and enforcement) (inclusive), clause 23.11 (No default), clause 23.12(g) (No misleading information), clause 23.13 (f), (g) and (h) (Original Financial Statements), clause 23.19 (Ranking) to clause 23.21 (Legal and beneficial ownership) (inclusive), clause 23.27 (Centre of main interests and establishments) and clause 23.32 (Sanctions)

 

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

 

Resignation Letter means a letter substantially in the form set out in schedule 8 (Form of Resignation Letter)

 

Revolving Facility means the revolving credit facility made available under this Agreement as described in clause 2.1(a)(ii) (The Facilities)

 

Revolving Facility Commitment means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in the Base Currency set opposite its name under the heading Revolving Facility Commitment in part 3 (The Original Lenders) of schedule 1 and the amount of any other commitment relating to the Revolving Facility transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with clause 2.2 (Increase) and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Rollover Loan means one or more Revolving Facility Loans:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)                                  In the same currency as the maturing Revolving Facility Loan (unless it arose as a result of the operation of clause 6.2 (Unavailability of a currency)) and

 

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

 

Screen Rate means:

 

(a)                                  in relation to LIBOR, the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rate for the relevant currency and period and

 

(b)                                 in relation to EURIBOR, the percentage rate per annum determined by the Banking Federation of the European Union for the Relevant Period

 

displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters screen. If the agreed page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Company and the Lenders

 

Secured Assets means all of the assets of the Obligors which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security

 

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

 

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

 

Selection Notice means a notice substantially in the form set out in part 2 (Selection Notice) of schedule 3

 

Share Option Documents means each deed of agreement granting options pursuant to parts A and B of the ESOP

 

Specified Time means a time determined in accordance with schedule 10 (Timetables)

 

Sponsor Affiliate means Sponsor Management Company (Xco), each of its Affiliates, any trust of which XCo or any of its Affiliates is a trustee, any partnership of which XCo or any of its Affiliates is a partner and any trust, fund or other entity which is managed by, or is under the control of, XCo or any of its Affiliates provided that any such trust, fund or other entity which has been established for at least 6 months solely for the purpose of making, purchasing , or investing in loans or debt securities and which is managed or controlled independently from all other trusts, funds or other entities managed or controlled by XCo or any of its Affiliates which have been established for the primary or main purpose of investing in the share capital of companies shall not constitute a Sponsor Affiliate

 

Subsidiary means a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1162 of the CA2006

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Termination Date means 6 May 2015

 

Third Parties Act means the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999

 

Third Party Disposal means the disposal of an Obligor to a person which is not a member of the Group where that disposal is permitted under clause 26.13 (Disposals) or made with the approval of the Majority Lenders (and the Company has confirmed this is the case)

 

Total Commitments means the aggregate of the Total Facility A Commitments and the Total Revolving Facility Commitments

 

Total Facility A Commitments means the aggregate of the Facility A Commitments being £30,000,000 at the date of this Agreement

 

Total Revolving Facility Commitments means the aggregate of the Revolving Facility Commitments being £40,000,000 at the date of this Agreement

 

Trade Instruments means any performance bonds, advance payment bonds or documentary letters of credit issued in respect of the obligations of any member of the Group arising in the ordinary course of trading of that member of the Group

 

Transaction Costs means all fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Obligors in connection with the Transaction Documents as set out in the Funds Flow Statement

 

Transaction Documents means the Finance Documents, the Note Documents, the Articles and any other document designated as a Transaction Document by the Agent and the Company

 

Transaction Security means the Security created or expressed to be created in favour of the Security Trustee pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents

 

Transaction Security Documents means:

 

(a)          each of the documents, in agreed form, listed in paragraph 3(d) of part 2 (Conditions precedent to initial Utilisation) of schedule 2

 

(b)          any document required to be delivered to the Agent under paragraph 14 of part 3 (Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Obligor) of schedule 2 and

 

(c)          any other document entered into by any Obligor creating or expressed to create any Security over all or any part of its assets in respect of the obligations of any of the Obligors under any of the Finance Documents

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Treasury Transaction means any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price

 

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

 

USA Patriot Act means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 of the United States

 

US or United States means the United States of America

 

US Bankruptcy Law means the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978 or any other United States federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law

 

US Guarantor means a Guarantor incorporated or formed under the laws of, or of any state (including the District of Columbia) of, the US

 

US Obligor means an Obligor incorporated or formed under the laws of, or of any state (including the District of Columbia) of, the US

 

Utilisation means a Loan

 

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 relevant form set out in part 1 (Utilisation Request) of schedule 3

 

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

 

Withdrawal Request means a notice in substantially the form set out in part 3 (Withdrawal Request) of schedule 3

 

1.2         Interpretation

 

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

 

(i)           the Agent, the Arrangers, any Finance Party, any Lender, any Obligor, any Party, the Security Trustee, any Ancillary Lender, any Hedge Counterparty, any Bilateral Lender or any other person shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees and, in the case of the Security Trustee and the Agent any person for the time being appointed as Security Trustee or Agent (as the case may be) in accordance with the Finance Documents;

 

(ii)          a document in agreed form is a document which is previously agreed in writing by or on behalf of the Agent and the Company or, if not so agreed, is in the form specified by the Agent;

 

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(iii)         assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description (including any right to receive such revenues);

 

(iv)        a Finance Document or a Transaction Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or Transaction Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented or restated (however fundamentally) or (in the case of an Ancillary Document or a Bilateral Document) replaced;

 

(v)         guarantee means (other than in clause 22 (Guarantee and indemnity)) any guarantee, letter of credit, bond, indemnity or similar assurance against loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan to any person or to purchase assets of any person where, in each case, such obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such person to meet its indebtedness;

 

(vi)        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;

 

(vii)       a person includes any individual person, 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 any other entity or body of any description;

 

(viii)      a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law but if not having the force of law, then being a type with which persons to which it applies customarily comply) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;

 

(ix)         a provision of law is a reference to a provision, of any treaty, legislation, regulation, decree, order or by-law and any secondary legislation enacted under a power given by that provision, as amended, applied or re-enacted or replaced (whether with or without modification) whether before or after the date of this Agreement;

 

(x)          a time of day is a reference to London time;

 

(xi)         sterling and £ shall be construed as a reference to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom;

 

(xii)        euro and € shall be construed as a reference to the single currency of Participating Member States; and

 

(b)          Clause and schedule headings are for ease of reference only.

 

(c)          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.

 

(d)          Any word importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.

 

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

 

(i)           the account is with the Ancillary Lender;

 

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

 

(iii)         the Borrower has executed a Transaction Security Document over that account, in form and substance satisfactory to the Ancillary Lender with which that account is held, creating a first ranking Security over that account and its deposits.

 

(f)           A Default (other than an Event of Default) is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been waived, in both cases, to the satisfaction of the Agent acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders.

 

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

 

(i)           that Borrower providing cash cover for the Ancillary Outstandings;

 

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

 

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

 

and the amount by which the Ancillary Outstandings are, repaid or prepaid under clauses 1.2(g)(i) and 1.2(g)(ii) is the amount of the relevant cash cover or reduction.

 

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

 

(i)           Any certificate provided by a director of an Obligor pursuant to the terms of a Finance Document shall be given without incurring any personal liability.

 

1.3         Third party rights

 

(a)          Unless expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement a person (other than a Bilateral Lender or a Hedge Counterparty) who is not a Party has no right under the Third Parties Act to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.

 

(b)          Unless expressly provided to the contrary in any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this Agreement or any other Finance Document entered into under or in connection with it.

 

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2            The Facilities

 

2.1         The Facilities

 

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

 

(i)           a multicurrency term loan facility the Base Currency Amount of which is equal to the Total Facility A Commitments;

 

(ii)          a multicurrency revolving credit facility the Base Currency Amount of which is equal to the Total Revolving Facility Commitments.

 

(b)          Facility A will be available to all the Borrowers.

 

(c)          The Revolving Facility will be available to all the Borrowers.

 

(d)          Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, an Ancillary Lender may make available an Ancillary Facility to any of the Borrowers in place of all or part of its Revolving Facility Commitment.

 

(e)          Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Bilateral Documents, a Bilateral Lender may make available a Bilateral Facility to any of the Borrowers.

 

2.2        Increase

 

(a)          The Company may by giving prior notice to the Agent after the effective date of a cancellation of:

 

(i)           the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with clause 10.7 (Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender); or

 

(ii)          the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with clause 10.1 (Illegality),

 

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

 

(iii)         the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks, financial institutions, trusts, funds or other entities (each an Increase Lender) selected by the Company (each of which shall not be a Sponsor Affiliate or a member of the Group and which is further acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably)) and each of which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender;

 

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

 

(v)         each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a Lender and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase

 

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Lender and those Finance Parties would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;

 

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

 

(vii)       any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by the Company in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in clause 2.2(b) below are satisfied.

 

(b)          An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on:

 

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

 

(ii)          in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase:

 

(A)        the Increase Lender entering into the documentation required for it to accede as a party to the Intercreditor Deed; and

 

(B)         the performance by the Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Company and the Increase Lender.

 

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

 

(d)          The Company shall, on the date upon which the increase takes effect, promptly on demand pay the Agent and the Security Trustee the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees subject to any cap agreed in advance between the Company and the Agent) reasonably incurred by either of them and, in the case of the Security Trustee, by any Receiver or Delegate in connection with any increase in Commitments under this clause 2.2.

 

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

 

(f)           Clause 28.4 (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this clause 2.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that clause to:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)         a re-transfer and re-assignment were references to respectively a transfer and assignment.

 

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2.3        Finance Parties’ rights and obligations

 

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

 

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

 

2.4        Obligors’ agent

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)          Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment, supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the Obligors’ agent or given to the Obligors’ agent under any Finance Document on behalf of another Obligor or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to any other Obligor and whether occurring before or after such other Obligor became an Obligor under any Finance Document) shall be binding for all purposes on that Obligor as if that Obligor had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Obligors’ agent and any other Obligor, those of the Obligors’ agent shall prevail.

 

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3          Purpose

 

3.1        Purpose

 

(a)          Each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under Facility A and up to £10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency), borrowed under the Revolving Facility towards:

 

(i)           payment of the Transaction Costs (other than periodic fees);

 

(ii)          refinancing of the Existing Notes and any utilisations under the Obligor’s existing asset based lending facilities, as described, and in each case in the amounts specified, in the Funds Flow Statement; and

 

(iii)         towards general corporate purposes of the Obligors including payments towards the Company’s defined benefit pension scheme.

 

(b)          Each Borrower shall apply all amounts (other than any amounts referred to in clause 3.1(a) above) borrowed by it under the Revolving Facility and any utilisation of any Ancillary Facility towards the general corporate and working capital purposes of the Obligors and refinancing any utilisations under the Obligor’s existing asset based lending facilities (but not towards repayment or prepayment of any Facility A Loan or, in the case of any utilisation of any Ancillary Facility, towards repayment or prepayment of any Revolving Facility Loan).

 

3.2        Monitoring

 

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

 

4          Conditions of utilisation

 

4.1        Initial conditions precedent

 

(a)          The Company shall provide the Agent all the documents and other evidence in part 1 (Conditions precedent to signing the Agreement) of schedule 2 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent on or before the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)          The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with clause 5.4 (Lenders’ participation) in relation to any Loan if on or before the Utilisation Date for that Utilisation, the Agent has received all of the documents and other avidence listed in part 2 (Conditions precedent to be satisfied before initial Utilisation) of schedule 2 in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(c)          The Agent shall, in each case, notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied.

 

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4.2        Further conditions precedent

 

Subject to clause 4.1 and clause 4.5 the Lenders will only be obliged to comply with clause 5.4 (Lenders’ participation) if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date:

 

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

 

(b)          in relation to any Loan on the Closing Date, all the representations and warranties in clause 23 (Representations) or, in relation to any other Loan, the Repeating Representations, to be made by each Obligor are true.

 

4.3        Conditions relating to Optional Currencies

 

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

 

(i)           it is readily available in the amount and for the period required and freely convertible into the Base Currency in the Relevant Interbank Market on the Quotation Day and the Utilisation Date for that Loan; and

 

(ii)          it is Euro or US Dollar or has been approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders) on or prior to receipt by the Agent of the relevant Utilisation Request for that Loan.

 

(b)          If the Agent has received a written request from the Company for a currency to be approved under clause 4.3(a)(ii), the Agent will confirm to the Company by the Specified Time:

 

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

 

(ii)          if approval has been granted, the minimum amount for any subsequent Loan in that currency.

 

4.4        Maximum number of Loans

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)          more than 10 Revolving Facility Loans would be outstanding.

 

(b)          A Borrower may not request that a Facility A Loan be divided.

 

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

 

4.5        Loans during the Certain Funds Period

 

(a)          In this clause 4.5 Certain Funds Tranche shall mean that part of Facility A and the Revolving Facility that is required to repay the Existing Notes (as identified in the Funds Flow Statement) up to a maximum aggregate amount of £40,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency). Subject to clause 4.1 during the Certain Funds Period,

 

39

 

notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, no Lender is entitled to:

 

(i)           refuse to participate in or make available any Loan in respect of the Certain Funds Tranche only;

 

(ii)          cancel any Commitment for a Loan in respect of the Certain Funds Tranche only;

 

(iii)         take any of the actions described in clause 27.20 (Acceleration) or cause, or require, any repayment or prepayment of any Loan in respect of the Certain Funds Tranche only;

 

(iv)        exercise any right of rescission, cancellation, set off, repudiation or counterclaim or any similar right, or remedy, which it may have in relation to any Loan in respect of the Certain Funds Tranche only;

 

(v)         rescind, terminate or cancel this Agreement, rely on any rescission, termination or cancellation of this Agreement or make or enforce any claim it may have in any Finance Document, where to do so would prevent or limit the making of any Loan in respect of the Certain Funds Tranche only; or

 

(vi)        take any steps to enforce any Security Document so as to prevent or inhibit the refinance of the Existing Notes.

 

except as provided in clause 4.5(b).

 

(b)          Clause 4.5(a) does not apply if the entitlement arises because:

 

(i)           a Major Default is continuing or would result from the making of the proposed Loan; or

 

(ii)          it is unlawful for a Lender to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; or

 

(iii)         a Change of Control occurs; or

 

(iv)        the Agent has not received all of the documents and other evidence referred to in clause 4.1(b) in accordance with that clause; or

 

(v)         the Agent has not received a Utilisation Request served in accordance with clause 5 (Utilisation).

 

(c)          Nothing in this clause 4.5 operates as a waiver of any Default or will affect the rights of the Lenders in respect of any outstanding Default upon expiry of the Certain Funds Period, irrespective of whether that Default occurred during the Certain Funds Period or not, and the Lenders may exercise all or any of their rights and remedies set out in this Agreement in respect of any continuing Default upon expiry of the Certain Funds Period (including without limitation its rights under clause 27.20 (Acceleration)).

 

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5          Utilisation

 

5.1        Delivery of a Utilisation Request

 

A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may request a Loan by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time.

 

5.2        Completion of a Utilisation Request

 

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

 

(i)           it identifies the Borrower and the Facility to be utilised;

 

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

 

(iii)         the currency and amount of the Loan comply with clause 5.3; and

 

(iv)        the proposed Interest Period complies with clause 14 (Interest Periods).

 

(b)          Multiple Loans may be requested in a Utilisation Request where the proposed Utilisation Date is the Closing Date. Only 1 Loan may be requested in each subsequent Utilisation Request.

 

(c)          The amount of each Facility A Loan, or part, which is to be utilised to refinance the Existing Notes shall be transferred to the Receiving Agent to be dealt with in accordance with the redemption requirements set out in section 3 of the indenture referred to in the definition of Existing Note Documents.

 

5.3        Currency and amount

 

(a)          The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be the Base Currency or an Optional Currency.

 

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

 

(i)           in respect of Facility A, equal to or less than the Available Facility;

 

(ii)          in respect of the Revolving Facility:

 

(A)        if the currency selected is the Base Currency, a minimum of £1,500,000 (and a multiple of £500,000) or, if less, the Available Facility; or

 

(B)         if the currency selected is Euro, a minimum of Euro 2,000,000 (and a multiple of Euro 500,000) or, if less, the Available Facility; or

 

(C)         if the currency selected is US Dollar, a minimum of $2,000,000 (and a multiple of $500,000) or, if less, the Available Facility; or

 

(D)         if the currency selected is an Optional Currency other than Euro or US Dollar, the minimum amount specified by the Agent pursuant to clause 4.3(b)(ii) (Conditions relating to Optional Currencies) or, if less, the Available Facility.

 

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5.4        Lenders’ participation

 

(a)          If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met and subject to clause 9.2 (Repayment of Revolving Facility Loans), each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office.

 

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

 

(c)          The Agent shall determine the Base Currency Amount of each Loan which is to be made in an Optional Currency and notify each Lender of the amount, currency and the Base Currency Amount of each Loan and the amount of its participation in that Loan and, if different, the amount of that participation to be made available in cash, by the Specified Time.

 

5.5        Limitations on Loans

 

(a)          The Revolving Facility shall not be utilised unless Facility A has been fully utilised.

 

(b)          The maximum aggregate amount of the Ancillary Commitments of all the Lenders shall not at any time exceed £17,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency).

 

(c)          The maximum aggregate amount of the Ancillary Commitments of all the Lenders in respect of overdraft facilities and bilateral loan facilities shall not at any time exceed £10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency).

 

(d)          The maximum aggregate amount of the Ancillary Commitments of all the Lenders in respect of letters of credit facility shall not at any time exceed £7,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency).

 

5.6        Cancellation of Commitment

 

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

 

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

 

6          Optional currencies

 

6.1        Selection of currency

 

A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) shall select the currency of a Loan in a Utilisation Request.

 

6.2        Unavailability of a currency

 

If before the Specified Time on any Quotation Day a Lender notifies the Agent that:

 

(a)          the Optional Currency requested is not readily available to it in the amount and for the period required; or

 

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

 

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

 

6.3        Agent’s calculations

 

Each Lender’s participation in a Loan will be determined in accordance with clause 5.4 (Limitations on Loans).

 

7          Ancillary Facilities

 

7.1        Type of Facility

 

An Ancillary Facility may be by way of:

 

(a)          an overdraft facility;

 

(b)          a letter of credit facility; or

 

(c)          a bilateral loan facility.

 

7.2        Availability

 

(a)          If the Company and a Lender agree and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, that Lender may provide an Ancillary Facility on a bilateral basis in place of all or part of that Lender’s unutilised Revolving Facility Commitment (which shall (except for the purposes of determining the Majority Lenders and of clause 40.4 (Deemed consent)) be reduced by the amount of the Ancillary Commitment under that Ancillary Facility).

 

(b)          An Ancillary Facility shall not be made available unless, not later than 14 days prior to the Ancillary Commencement Date for an Ancillary Facility, the Agent has received from the Company:

 

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

 

(A)        the proposed Borrower(s) which may use the Ancillary Facility;

 

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

 

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

 

(D)         the proposed Ancillary Lender;

 

(E)         the proposed Ancillary Commitment, the maximum amount of the Ancillary Facility and, if the Ancillary Facility is an overdraft facility comprising more than one account, its maximum gross amount (that amount being Designated Gross Amount)  and its maximum net amount (that amount being Designated Net Amount);  and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d)

 

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

 

(ii)          The Company shall notify the Agent and provide details of any material amendment or waiver of a term of any Ancillary Facility which does not require the consent of any other Finance Party, no later than 14 days prior to the date of such amendment or waiver.

 

(e)          Subject to compliance with clause 7.2(b):

 

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

 

(ii)          the Ancillary Facility will be available,

 

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

 

7.3        Terms of Ancillary Facilities

 

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

 

(b)          However, those terms:

 

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

 

(ii)          may allow only Borrowers to use the Ancillary Facility;

 

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

 

(iv)        may not allow the Ancillary Commitment of a Lender to exceed the Available Commitment with respect to the Revolving Facility of that Lender; and

 

(v)         must require that the Ancillary Commitment is reduced to nil, and that all Ancillary Outstandings are repaid (or cash cover provided in respect of all the Ancillary Outstandings) not later than the Termination Date in relation to the Revolving Facility (or such earlier date as the Revolving Facility Commitment of the relevant Ancillary Lender is reduced to zero).

 

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(c)          If there is any inconsistency between any term of an Ancillary Facility and any term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail except for (i) clause 37.3 (Day count convention) which shall not prevail for the purposes of calculating fees, interest or commission relating to an Ancillary Facility and (ii) an Ancillary Facility comprising more than one account where the terms of the Ancillary Documents shall prevail to the extent required to permit the netting of balances on those accounts and (iii) where the relevant term of this Agreement would be contrary to, or inconsistent with, the law governing the relevant Ancillary Document, in which case that term of this Agreement shall not prevail.

 

7.4        Repayment of Ancillary Facility

 

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

 

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

 

(c)          No Ancillary Lender may demand repayment or prepayment of any amounts or demand cash cover for any liabilities made available or incurred by it under its Ancillary Facility (except where the Ancillary Facility is provided on a net limit basis to the extent required to bring any gross outstandings down to the net limit) unless:

 

(i)           the Total Revolving Facility Commitments have been cancelled in full, or all outstanding Loans under the Revolving Facility have become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or the Agent has declared all outstanding Loans under the Revolving Facility immediately due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or the expiry date of the Ancillary Facility occurs;

 

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

 

(iii)         the Ancillary Outstandings (if any) under that Ancillary Facility can be refinanced by a Revolving Facility Loan and the Ancillary Lender gives sufficient notice to enable a Loan of the Revolving Facility to be made to refinance those Ancillary Outstandings in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Other than demanding repayment, prepayment or cash cover, as the case may be, no Ancillary Lender may exercise any other right, remedy and/or power in connection with any amount or liability owed to it by any Borrower under any Ancillary Facility.

 

(d)          For the purposes of determining whether or not the Ancillary Outstandings under an Ancillary Facility mentioned in clause 7.4(c)(iii) can be refinanced by a Loan of the Revolving Facility: 

 

(i)           the Revolving Facility Commitment of that Lender will be increased by the amount of its Ancillary Commitment; and

 

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(ii)          the Loan may (so long as clause 7.4(c)(i) does not apply) be made irrespective of whether a Default is outstanding or any other applicable condition precedent is not satisfied (but only to the extent that the proceeds are applied in refinancing those Ancillary Outstandings) and irrespective of whether clause 4.4 (Maximum number of Loans) or clause 5.2(b) (Completion of a Utilisation Request) applies.

 

(e)          On the making of a Loan of the Revolving Facility to refinance Ancillary Outstandings:

 

(i)           each Lender will participate in that Loan in an amount (as determined by the Agent) which will result as nearly as possible in the aggregate amount of its participation in the Revolving Facility Loans then outstanding bearing the same proportion to the aggregate amount of the Revolving Facility Loans then outstanding as its Revolving Facility Commitment bears to the Total Revolving Facility Commitments; and

 

(ii)          the relevant Ancillary Facility shall be cancelled.

 

(f)           In relation to an Ancillary Facility which comprises an overdraft facility where a Designated Net Amount has been established, the Ancillary Lender providing that Ancillary Facility shall only be obliged to take into account for the purposes of calculating compliance with the Designated Net Amount those credit balances which it is permitted to take into account by the then current law and regulations in relation to its reporting of exposures to the Financial Services Authority as netted for capital adequacy purposes.

 

7.5        Ancillary Outstandings

 

Each Borrower and each Ancillary Lender agrees with and for the benefit of each Lender that:

 

(a)          the Ancillary Outstandings under any Ancillary Facility provided by that Ancillary Lender shall not exceed the Ancillary Commitment applicable to that Ancillary Facility and where the Ancillary Facility is an overdraft facility comprising more than one account, Ancillary Outstandings under that Ancillary Facility shall not exceed the Designated Net Amount in respect of that Ancillary Facility; and

 

(b)          where all or part of the Ancillary Facility is an overdraft facility comprising more than one account, the Ancillary Outstandings (calculated on the basis that the words in brackets paragraph (a) of the definition of that term were deleted) shall not exceed the Designated Gross Amount applicable to that Ancillary Facility.

 

7.6        Adjustment for Ancillary Facilities upon acceleration

 

In this clause 7.6:

 

Revolving Outstandings means, in relation to a Lender, the aggregate of the equivalent in the Base Currency of (i) its participation in each Revolving Facility Utilisation then outstanding (together with the aggregate amount of all accrued interest, fees and commission owed to it as a Lender under the Revolving Facility) and (ii) if the Lender is also an Ancillary Lender, the Ancillary Outstandings in respect of Ancillary Facilities provided by that Ancillary Lender (together with the aggregate amount of all accrued interest, fees and commission owed to it as an Ancillary Lender in respect of the Ancillary Facility).

 

Total Revolving Outstandings means the aggregate of all Revolving Outstandings.

 

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(a)          If a notice is served under clause 27.20 (Acceleration) (other than a notice declaring Utilisations to be due on demand), each Lender and each Ancillary Lender shall promptly adjust by corresponding transfers (to the extent necessary) their claims in respect of amounts outstanding to them under the Revolving Facility and each Ancillary Facility to ensure that after such transfers the Revolving Outstandings of each Lender bear the same proportion to the Total Revolving Outstandings as such Lender’s Revolving Facility Commitment bears to the Total Revolving Facility Commitments, each as at the date the notice is served under clause 27.20 (Acceleration).

 

(b)          If an amount outstanding under an Ancillary Facility is a contingent liability and that contingent liability becomes an actual liability or is reduced to zero after the original adjustment is made under paragraph (a) above, then each Lender and Ancillary Lender will make a further adjustment by corresponding transfers (to the extent necessary), to put themselves in the position they would have been in had the original adjustment been determined by reference to the actual liability or, as the case may be, zero liability and not the contingent liability.

 

(c)          Prior to the application of the provisions of paragraph (a) of this clause 7.6, an Ancillary Lender that has provided an overdraft comprising more than one account under an Ancillary Facility shall set-off any liabilities owing to it under such overdraft facility against credit balances on any account comprised in such overdraft facility.

 

(d)          All calculations to be made pursuant to this clause 7.6 shall be made by the Agent based upon information provided to it by the Lenders and Ancillary Lenders.

 

7.7        Information

 

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

 

7.8        Revolving Facility Commitment amounts

 

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

 

8          Bilateral Facilities

 

8.1        Type of Facility

 

A Bilateral Facility may be by way of:

 

(a)          a foreign exchange facility; or

 

(b)          any other facility or accommodation required in connection with the business of the Group (other than any facility or accommodation for the purpose of or having the effect of a term loan or a revolving credit facility) and which is agreed by  the Company with a Bilateral Lender.

 

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8.2        Availability

 

(a)          If a Borrower and a Bilateral Lender agree and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, that Bilateral Lender may provide a Bilateral Facility to that Borrower.

 

(b)          The aggregate amount of all Bilateral Facilities shall at no time exceed the relevant Bilateral Limit.

 

(c)          The Company shall promptly notify the Agent of the establishment of a Bilateral Facility.

 

(d)          No amendment or waiver of a term of a Bilateral Facility shall require the consent of any Finance Party other than the relevant Bilateral Lender unless such amendment or waiver itself relates to or gives rise to a matter which would require an amendment of or under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, under this clause). In such a case, the provisions of this Agreement with regard to amendments and waivers will apply.

 

(e)          The Company shall notify the Agent and provide details of any material amendment or waiver of a term of any Bilateral Facility which does not require the consent of any Finance Party, no later than 14 days prior to the date of such amendment or waiver.

 

(f)           No Security may be granted by a member of the Group to a Bilateral Lender except for the Security Documents entered into by the Obligors in favour of the Security Trustee.

 

8.3        Information

 

Each Borrower shall, promptly upon request by the Agent, supply the Agent with any information relating to the terms or operation of a Bilateral Facility as the Agent may reasonably request from time to time. Each Borrower consents to all such information being released to the Agent and the other Finance Parties.

 

9          Repayment

 

9.1        Repayment of Facility A Loans

 

(a)          The Company shall (or shall procure that the Borrowers shall) repay the Facility A Loans in instalments by repaying £1,000,000 on each Facility A Repayment Date falling on or after 30 June 2012.

 

(b)          The Company shall (or shall procure that the Borrower shall) ensure that all Facility A Loans are repaid in full on or before the Termination Date.

 

(c)          A Borrower may not reborrow any part of a Facility A which is repaid.

 

9.2        Repayment of Revolving Facility Loans

 

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

 

(b)          Without prejudice to each Borrower’s obligation under clause 9.2(a) above, if one or more Revolving Facility Loans are to be made available to a Borrower:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)         in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing Revolving Facility Loan;

 

the aggregate amount of the new Revolving Facility Loans shall be treated as if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Revolving Facility Loan so that:

 

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

 

1)           the relevant Borrower will only be required to pay an amount in cash in the relevant currency equal to that excess; and

 

2)           each Lender’s participation (if any) in the new Revolving Facility Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation (if any) in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan and that Lender will not be required to make its participation in the new Revolving Facility Loans available in cash; and

 

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

 

1)           the relevant Borrower will not be required to make any payment in cash; and

 

2)           each Lender will be required to make its participation in the new Revolving Facility Loans available in cash only to the extent that its participation (if any) in the new Revolving Facility Loans exceeds that Lender’s participation (if any) in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan and the remainder of that Lender’s participation in the new Revolving Facility Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lender’s participation in the maturing Revolving Facility Loan.

 

9.3        Effect of cancellation and prepayment on scheduled repayments and reductions

 

(a)          If a Borrower cancels the whole or any part of the Facility A Commitments in accordance with clause 10.3 (Voluntary cancellation) then (other than, in any relevant case, to the extent that any part of the relevant Commitments are subsequently increased pursuant to clause 2.2 (Increase)) in the case of the Facility A Commitments, the amount of the Repayment Instalment for each Facility A Repayment Date falling after that cancellation will reduce in such manner as the relevant Borrower may specify by the amount cancelled.

 

(b)          If the Facility A Commitment is reduced under clause 10.1 (Illegality), clause 10.6 (Right of cancellation and repayment in relation to a single Lender) or clause 10.7 (Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender) then (other than, in any relevant case, to the extent that any part of the relevant Commitments are

 

49

 

subsequently increased pursuant to clause 2.2 (Increase)) in the case of the Facility A Commitments, the amount of the Repayment Instalment for each Facility A Repayment Date falling after that cancellation will reduce pro rata by the amount cancelled.

 

(c)          If any of the Facility A Loans are prepaid in accordance with clause 10.4 (Voluntary prepayment of Facility A Loans) or clause 10.5 (Voluntary prepayment of Revolving Facility Loans) then in the case of Facility A, the amount of the Repayment Instalment for each Facility A Repayment Date falling after that prepayment will reduce in such manner as the relevant Borrower may specify by the amount of the Facility A Loan prepaid.

 

(d)          If any of the Facility A Loans are prepaid in accordance with clause 10.1 (Illegality), clause 11.2 (Disposal and Insurance) or clause 10.6 (Right of cancellation and repayment in relation to a single Lender) then in the case of Facility A, the amount of the Repayment Instalment for each Facility A Repayment Date falling after that prepayment will reduce pro rata by the amount of the Facility A Loan prepaid.

 

10        Illegality, voluntary prepayment and cancellation

 

10.1      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, issue or maintain its participation in any Loan:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)          each Borrower shall repay that Lender’s participation in the Loans made to that Borrower on the last day of the then current Interest Period for each Loan occurring after the Agent has notified the Company or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law).

 

10.2      Mandatory cancellation

 

All Available Commitments under a Facility shall automatically be cancelled at the end of the Availability Period in respect of that Facility.

 

10.3      Voluntary cancellation

 

(a)          Subject to clause 10.3(b) the Company may, if it gives the Agent not less than 3 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of $2,000,000, £1,500,000 or €2,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency) and a multiple of £250,000 (or its equivalent in any currency)) of an Available Facility. Any cancellation under this clause 10.3 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under that Facility.

 

(b)          Any notice of cancellation of the Available Commitments with respect to the Revolving Facility delivered at any time while Loans under Facility A remain outstanding and/or other Commitments remain uncancelled must be accompanied by

 

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evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to the Majority Lenders, that the Group will have sufficient working capital facilities available to it following such cancellation.

 

10.4         Voluntary prepayment of Facility A Loans

 

(a)           A Borrower may, if it gives the Agent not less than 3 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, prepay the whole or any part of that Facility A Loan (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces the Base Currency Amount of that Facility A Loan by a minimum amount of £2,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency) and a multiple of £250,000 (or its equivalent in any currency)).

 

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

 

10.5         Voluntary prepayment of Revolving Facility Loans

 

A Borrower to which a Revolving Facility Loan has been made may, if it or the Company gives the Agent not less than 3 Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior written notice, prepay the whole or any part of a Revolving Facility Loan (but if in part, being a minimum amount of £2,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency) and a multiple of £250,000 (or its equivalent in any currency)).

 

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

 

(a)           If:

 

(i)            any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under clause 17.2(c) (Tax gross-up); or

 

(ii)           any Lender claims indemnification from an Obligor under clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity) or clause 18.1 (Increased costs),

 

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

 

(b)           On receipt of a notice referred to in clause 10.6(a)  in relation to a Lender, the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

(c)           On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Company has given notice under clause 10.6(a) in relation to a Lender (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Company in that notice), each Borrower to which a Loan is outstanding shall repay that Lender’s participation in that Loan together with all interest and other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents.

 

10.7         Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender

 

(a)           If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Company may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent 10 Business Days’ notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.

 

(b)           On the notice referred to in clause 10.7(a) above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.

 

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(c)           The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in clause 10.7(a) above, notify all the Lenders.

 

10.8         Cash cover

 

To the extent that, under the terms of this Agreement, an Obligor is obliged to provide cash cover in respect of the Ancillary Facilities, it shall only be entitled to withdraw that cash cover if:

 

(a)           the Company delivers to the Agent a duly completed Withdrawal Request not later than 11am 14 days before the proposed date of withdrawal;

 

(b)           no Default is continuing; and

 

(c)           the amount so withdrawn is applied in immediate prepayment of the Ancillary Facilities.

 

11            Mandatory prepayment

 

11.1         Exit:

 

Upon the occurrence of:

 

(a)           a Change of Control; or

 

(b)           the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Group whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,

 

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

 

11.2         Disposal and Insurance

 

(a)           For the purposes of this clause 11.2

 

Disposal means a sale, lease or licence (other than an occupational rack rent lease or licence), transfer, loan or other disposal by a person of any asset, undertaking or business (whether by a voluntary or involuntary single transaction or series of transactions)

 

Disposal Proceeds means the consideration receivable by any member of the Group (including any amount receivable in repayment of intercompany debt) for any Disposal made by any member of the Group except for Excluded Disposal Proceeds

 

Excluded Disposal Proceeds means the proceeds of a Disposal from a Permitted Disposal

 

Excluded Insurance Proceeds  means any proceeds of an insurance claim which the Company notifies the Agent are, or are to be, applied:

 

(i)            to meet a third party claim

 

(ii)           to cover operating losses in respect of which the relevant insurance claim was made

 

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(iii)          to the replacement, reinstatement and/or repair of the assets or otherwise in amelioration of the loss in respect of which the relevant insurance claim was made

 

(iv)          by an Obligor to purchase assets useful to the business of the Obligors,

 

in each case as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt or

 

(iv)          which do not exceed £10,000,000 (or its equivalent) when aggregated together with the proceeds of all other insurance claims (excluding those referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) of this definition) during the term of this Agreement

 

Insurance Proceeds means the proceeds of any insurance claim under any insurance maintained by any member of the Group except for Excluded Insurance Proceeds and after deducting any reasonable expenses in relation to that claim which are incurred by any member of the Group to persons who are not members of the Group

 

(b)           Subject to the terms of the lntercreditor Deed, the Company shall ensure (unless the Agent agrees in writing otherwise) that the Borrowers cancel Commitments and prepay Loans in the following amounts at the times and in the order of application contemplated by clause 11.3:

 

(i)            the amount of Disposal Proceeds; and

 

(ii)           the amount of Insurance Proceeds.

 

11.3         Application

 

(a)           A prepayment and/or cancellation made under clause 11.2 shall be applied in the following order:

 

(i)            first pro rata in i) prepayment of the Facility A Loans as contemplated in clause 11.3(b) and ii) in cancellation of Available Commitments under the Revolving Facility (and the Available Commitment of the Lenders under the Revolving Facility will be cancelled rateably);

 

(ii)           second, in prepayment of Revolving Facility Loans and cancellation of Revolving Facility Commitments; and

 

(iii)          third, in repayment and cancellation of the Ancillary Outstandings and cancellation of Ancillary Commitments.

 

(b)           A prepayment relating to the amounts of Disposal Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds made under clause 11.2 shall be made promptly upon receipt of those proceeds.

 

12            Restrictions

 

12.1         Notices of Cancellation or Prepayment

 

Any notice of cancellation, prepayment, authorisation or other election given by any Party under clause 10 (Illegality, voluntary prepayment and cancellation) or clause 11 (Mandatory prepayment) shall (subject to the terms of those clauses) be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the

 

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relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.

 

12.2         Interest and other amounts

 

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

 

12.3         No reborrowing of Facility A

 

A Borrower may not reborrow any part of a Facility A which is prepaid.

 

12.4         Reborrowing of Revolving Facility

 

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

 

12.5         Prepayment in accordance with Agreement

 

Subject to clause 2.2 (Increase), no Borrower shall 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.

 

12.6         No reinstatement of Commitments

 

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

 

12.7         Agent’s receipt of Notices

 

If the Agent receives a notice or election under clause 10 (Illegality, voluntary prepayment and cancellation) or clause 11 (Mandatory prepayment) it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice or election to either the Company or the affected Lender, as appropriate.

 

12.8         Effect of Repayment and Prepayment on Commitments

 

If all or part of a Utilisation under a Facility is repaid or prepaid and is not available for redrawing (other than by operation of clause 4.2 (Further conditions precedent), an amount of the Commitments (equal to the Base Currency Amount of the amount of the Utilisation which is repaid or prepaid) in respect of that Facility will be deemed to be cancelled on the date of repayment or prepayment. Any cancellation under this clause 12.8 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under that Facility.

 

13            Interest

 

13.1         Calculation of interest

 

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

 

(a)          Margin;

 

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

 

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(c)           Mandatory Cost, if any.

 

13.2         Payment of interest

 

The Borrower to which a Loan has been made shall pay accrued interest on that Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than 6 Months, on the dates falling at 6 Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).

 

13.3         Default Interest

 

(a)           If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to clause 13.3(b), is 2% higher than the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this clause 13.3 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

13.4         Notification of rates of Interest

 

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

 

14            Interest Periods

 

14.1         Selection of Interest Periods and terms

 

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

 

(b)           Each Selection Notice for a Facility A Loan is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by a Borrower not later than the Specified Time.

 

(c)           If a Borrower fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in accordance with clause 14.1(b), the relevant Interest Period will, subject to clause 14.2, be 3 Months.

 

(d)           Subject to this clause 14, the Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may select an Interest Period of 1, 2, 3 or 6 Months or any other period agreed between the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders in relation to the relevant Loan) and the

 

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Company. In addition a Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may select an Interest Period of in relation to Facility A, a period of less than 1 Month, if necessary to ensure that there are Facility A Loans (with an aggregate Base Currency Amount equal to or greater than the Repayment Instalment) which have an Interest Period ending on a Facility A Repayment Date for the Company to make the Repayment Instalment due on that date.

 

(e)           No Interest Period for a Loan shall extend beyond the Termination Date applicable to its Facility.

 

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

 

(g)           A Revolving Facility Loan has 1 Interest Period only.

 

14.2         Changes to Interest Periods

 

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

 

(b)           If the Agent makes any of the changes to an Interest Period referred to in this clause 14.2, it shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders.

 

14.3         Non-Business Days

 

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

 

14.4         Consolidation of Loans

 

If 2 or more Interest Periods:

 

(a)          relate to Facility A Loans made to the same Borrower; and

 

(b)         end on the same date,

 

those Facility A Loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Facility A Loan on the last day of the Interest Period.

 

15            Changes to the calculation of interest

 

15.1         Margin adjustment

 

(a)           If:

 

(i)         no Default is continuing;

 

(ii)        a period of at least 12 Months has expired since the Closing Date; and

 

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(iii)          Leverage in respect of the most recently completed Relevant Period (as evidenced by the last Compliance Certificate) is within the range set out below,

 

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

 

	
Leverage
    	
 
    	
Margin % p.a.
    	
 
    
	
Greater than 2.5:1
    	
 
    	
2.75
    	
 
    
	
Less than or equal to   2.5:1, but greater than 2.0:1
    	
 
    	
2.50
    	
 
    
	
Less than or equal to   2.0:1, but greater than 1.5:1
    	
 
    	
2.25
    	
 
    
	
Less than or equal to   1.5:1 but greater than 1.0:1
    	
 
    	
2.00
    	
 
    
	
Less than or equal to   1.0:1
    	
 
    	
1.75
    	
 
    

 

(b)

 

(i)            Any increase or decrease in the Margin shall take effect on the date which is the first day of the next Interest Period for each Facility A Loan and each Revolving Facility Loan.

 

 

(ii)           If, following receipt by the Agent of the Annual Financial Statements of the Group and related Compliance Certificate, those statements and Compliance Certificate do not confirm the basis for a reduced Margin, then the provisions of clause 13.2 (Payment of interest) shall apply and the Margin for each Facility A Loan and each Revolving Facility Loan shall be the percentage per annum determined in accordance with clause 15.1(a) and the revised ratio of Leverage calculated using the figures in the Compliance Certificate and the Company shall (or shall ensure the relevant Borrower shall) promptly pay to the Agent any amounts necessary to put the Lenders in the position they would have been in had the reduced Margin not have been applied during such period.

 

(iii)          While a Default is continuing unremedied and unwaived, the Margin for each Facility A Loan and each Revolving Facility Loan shall be the highest percentage per annum set out in clause 15.1(a) for a Facility A Loan or a Revolving Facility Loan (as the case may be).

 

15.2         Absence of quotations

 

Subject to clause 15.3, if LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Base Reference Banks but a Base Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR or EURIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Base Reference Banks.

 

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15.3         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 percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:

 

(i)            the Margin;

 

(ii)           the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event by close of business on the date falling 2 Business Days after the Quotation Day (or, if earlier, on the date falling 2 Business Days prior to the date on which interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period), to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to 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.

 

(b)           If:

 

(i)            the percentage rate per annum notified by a Lender pursuant to clause 15.3(a)(ii) above is less than LIBOR or, in relation to any Loan in euro, EURIBOR; or

 

(ii)           a Lender has not notified the Agent of a percentage rate per annum pursuant to clause 15.3(a)(ii) above,

 

the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan for that Interest Period shall be deemed, for the purposes of clause 15.3(a) above, to be LIBOR in relation to a loan in euro, EURIBOR.

 

(c)           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 Base Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR for the relevant currency and Interest Period or

 

(i)            before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 14 per cent. of that Loan) that the cost to it of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in excess of LIBOR or, if applicable, EURIBOR

 

15.4         Alternative basis of interest or funding

 

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

 

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(b)           Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to clause 15.4(a) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Company, be binding on all Parties.

 

15.5         Break Costs

 

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

 

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

 

16            Fees

 

16.1         Commitment fee

 

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

 

(i)            45% of the applicable Margin on that Lender’s Available Commitment under Facility A for the Availability Period applicable to Facility A; and

 

(ii)           45% of the applicable Margin on that Lender’s Available Commitment under the Revolving Facility for the Availability Period applicable to the Revolving Facility.

 

(b)           The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of 3 Months which ends during the relevant Availability Period, on the Closing Date, on the last day of the relevant Availability Period and on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lender’s Available Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective.

 

16.2         Participation fee

 

The Company shall pay to the Original Lenders a participation fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.

 

16.3         Agency fee

 

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

 

16.4         Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities

 

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

 

16.5         Interest, commission and fees on Bilateral Facilities

 

The rate and time of payment of interest, commission, fees and any other remuneration in respect of each Bilateral Facility shall be determined by agreement between the relevant

 

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Bilateral Lender and the Borrower of that Bilateral Facility based upon normal market rates and terms.

 

17            Tax gross up and indemnities

 

17.1         Definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, and any regulations thereunder and official interpretations thereof

 

Non-US Finance Party means a Finance Party that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code

 

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 accruing (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable or accruing) under a Finance Document

 

Qualifying Lender means:

 

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

 

(A)          a Lender:

 

(1)           which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document or

 

(2)           in respect of an advance made under a Finance Document by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of ITA) at the time that that advance was made

 

and which is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance

 

(B)           a Lender which is:

 

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

 

(2)           a partnership each member of which is:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(C)           a Treaty Lender or

 

(ii)           a building society (as defined for the purposes of section 880 of the ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           a partnership each member of which is:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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 either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under clause 17.2 or a payment under clause 17.3

 

Treaty Lender means a Lender which:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)           fulfils any other conditions that must be fulfilled under the relevant Treaty by residents of that Treaty State for such residents to obtain exemption from taxation of interest imposed by the United Kingdom, assuming for these purposes that all relevant procedural steps and formalities have been duly completed.

 

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

 

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

 

Unless a contrary indication appears, in this clause 17 a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination, acting in good faith.

 

17.2         Tax gross-up

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           A payment shall not be increased under clause 17.2(c) by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom from a payment of interest on a Loan, or an amount treated as interest on a loan for Tax purposes, if on the date on which the payment falls due:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(B)           the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if the Lender had given a Tax Confirmation to the

 

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Company, on the basis that the Tax Confirmation would have enabled the Company to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an “excepted payment” for the purpose of section 930 of the ITA;

 

(iv)          the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Obligor making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under clause 17.2(g); or

 

(v)           the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Obligor making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender not granted a sub-participation to a person who, if that person had been a Lender, would not be a Qualifying Lender with regard to that payment but on that date that subparticipant is, if that person had been a Lender, not a Qualifying Lender (or, has ceased to be a Qualifying Lender) other than as a result of any change after the date it became a sub-participant in (or in the official interpretation, administration or application of) any law or treaty, or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority. For the avoidance of doubt there shall be no obligation on a Finance Party to disclose any sub-participation to any Obligor.

 

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

 

(f)            Within 28 days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment a statement under section 975 of the ITA or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.

 

(g)

 

(i)            Subject to clause 17.2(g)(ii) below, a Treaty Lender and each Obligor which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Obligor to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction

 

(ii)           Nothing in clause 17.2(g)(i) above shall require a Treaty Lender to:

 

(A)          register under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme;

 

(B)           apply the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to any Loan if it has so registered; or

 

(C)           file Treaty forms if it has included an indication to the effect that it wishes the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to apply to this Agreement in accordance with clause 17.2(i) below or clause 17.7(a), and the Obligor making that payment has not complied with its obligations under clause 17.2(j) or clause 17.7(b).

 

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

 

(i)            A Treaty Lender which becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall include an indication to that effect (for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor) by including its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence opposite its name in part 3 (The Original Lenders) of schedule 1.

 

(j)            Where a Lender includes the indication described in clause 17.2(i) above in part 3 (The Original Lenders) of schedule 1:

 

(i)            each Original Borrower shall, to the extent that that Lender is a Lender under a Facility made available to that Original Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities), file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date of this Agreement and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing; and

 

(ii)           each Additional Borrower shall, to the extent that that Lender is a Lender under a Facility made available to that Additional Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities), file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of becoming an Additional Borrower and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing.

 

(k)           If a Lender has not included an indication to the effect that it wishes the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to apply to this Agreement in accordance with clause 17.2(i) above or clause 17.7(a), no Obligor shall file any form relating to the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lender’s Commitments or its participation in any Loan.

(l)            A payment shall not be increased under clause 17.2(c) by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United States from a payment of a Loan (i) pursuant to FATCA or (ii) attributable to the failure by a Finance Party to deliver the applicable US tax forms in accordance with clause 17.9.

 

17.3         Tax indemnity

 

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

 

(b)           Clause 17.3(a) 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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(A)          is compensated for by an increased payment under clause 17.2; or

 

(B)           would have been compensated for by an increased payment under clause 17.2 but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in clause 17.2(d) or clause 17.2(1) applied.

 

(c)          A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under clause 17.3(a) shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, and will give details of the amount claimed following which the Agent shall notify the Company.

 

(d)         A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this clause 17.3, notify the Agent.

 

17.4         Tax Credit

 

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

 

(a)           a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part or to that Tax Payment; and

 

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

 

the Finance Party shall (provided that no Default is continuing) pay an amount to the Obligor as soon as reasonably practicable from the date on which it has acting reasonably determined that it has obtained, utilised and retained such Tax Credit which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor.

 

17.5         Refund of Tax Deduction

 

If a Borrower incorporated in the United Kingdom makes a Tax Deduction in respect of tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest from a payment of interest to a Treaty Lender, and Clause 17.2 (Tax Gross-up) applies to increase the amount of the payment due to that Treaty Lender from that Borrower, such Borrower shall promptly provide the Treaty Lender with an executed original certificate, in the form required by HM Revenue & Customs, evidencing the Tax Deduction. The Treaty Lender shall, within a reasonable period following receipt of such certificate, apply to HM Revenue & Customs for a refund of the amount of the Tax and following receipt of this refund shall inform the Borrower of such receipt within a reasonable period of such receipt. This Clause 17.5 shall not require a Treaty Lender to apply for a refund of the amount of the Tax Deduction if the procedural formalities required in relation to making such an application are materially more onerous or require the disclosure of materially more information than the procedural formalities required by HM Revenue & Customs as at the date of this Agreement in relation to such an application.

 

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17.6         Lender Status Confirmation

 

Each Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement after the date of this Agreement shall indicate, in the Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement or an Increase Confirmation which it executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, which of the following categories it falls in:

 

(a)          not a Qualifying Lender;

 

(b)         a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or

 

(c)          a Treaty Lender.

 

If a New Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this clause 17.6 then such New Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including each Obligor) as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Agent which category applies (and the Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Company). For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this clause 17.6.

 

17.7         HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme confirmation

 

(a)           A New Lender or an Increase Lender that is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall include an indication to that effect (for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor) in the Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation which it executes by including its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in that Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation.

 

(b)         Where a New Lender or an Increase Lender includes the indication described in clause 17.7(a) above in the relevant Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation:

 

(i)            each Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the relevant Transfer Date or the date on which the increase in Total Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect shall, to the extent that that New Lender or Increase Lender becomes a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities), file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of that Transfer Date or that date on which the increase in Total Commitments takes effect and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing; and

 

(ii)           each Additional Borrower which becomes an Additional Borrower after the relevant Transfer Date or the date on which the increase in Total Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect shall, to the extent that that New Lender or Increase Lender is a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Additional Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities), file a duly completed form DTTP2 in respect of such Lender with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of becoming an Additional Borrower and shall promptly provide the Lender with a copy of that filing.

 

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17.8         Co-operation

 

In the event that it is necessary for any procedural formalities to be completed to allow an Obligor to make a payment of interest on a Loan to a Treaty Lender without a Tax Deduction, the Obligor and the Treaty Lender shall co-operate to procure the filing of any relevant tax forms including (to the extent applicable and available under the prevailing law, and only where the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme does not apply to a Loan), an application form for an Obligor to obtain authorisation to pay interest to a Treaty Lender without a Tax Deduction in respect of tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest, and where reasonably practicable such filing shall be made before the end of the relevant Interest Period. Nothing in this clause shall require a Treaty Lender to:

 

(a)           register under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme; or

 

(b)           apply the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to any Loan if it has so registered; or

 

(c)           file Treaty forms if it has included an indication to the effect that it wishes the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme to apply to this Agreement in accordance with clause 17.2(i) or clause 17.7(a), and the Obligor making that payment has not complied with its obligations under clause 17.2(j) or clause 17.7(b).

 

17.9         US tax forms

 

(a)           Each Finance Party that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code shall deliver to each applicable Obligor and the Agent executed originals of US Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the applicable Obligor or the Agent as will enable such Obligor or the Agent, as the case may be, certifying to such Finance Party’s exemption from US backup withholding and/or information reporting requirements.

 

(b)           Each Non-US Finance Party shall deliver to each applicable Obligor and the Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) as soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which such Non-US Finance Party becomes a Finance Party under this Agreement, but no later than three Business Days prior to the date the first payment is due under the Finance Documents to that Non-US Finance Party (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of such Obligor or the Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)            properly completed and duly executed originals of US Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (claiming a complete exemption from United States withholding tax on payments made to such Non-US Finance Party pursuant to the Finance Documents under the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty);

 

(ii)           properly completed and duly executed originals of US Internal Revenue Service Form W-ECI (claiming a complete exemption from United States withholding tax because payments made to such Non-US Finance Party pursuant to the Finance Documents are effectively connected with a US trade or business);

 

(iii)          properly completed and duly executed originals of US Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting documentation (claiming a

 

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complete exemption from United States withholding tax because payments made to such Non-US Finance Party pursuant to the Finance Documents); or

 

(iv)          in the case of a Non-US Finance Party claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Sections 871(h) or 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Non-US Finance Party is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code and (y) properly completed and duly executed originals of US Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN.

 

(c)           If a payment made by any Obligor hereunder or under any other Finance Document would be subject to United States withholding tax imposed pursuant to FATCA (including those contained in Sections 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Finance Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to such Obligor and the Agent, as reasonably requested by such Obligor, (A) two properly completed and duly executed original certifications prescribed by applicable law and/or reasonably satisfactory to such Obligor and the Agent that establish that such payment is exempt from United States withholding tax imposed pursuant to FATCA and (B) any other documentation reasonably requested by such Obligor sufficient for such Obligor and the Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Finance Party has complied with such applicable reporting and other requirements of FATCA.

 

17.10       Stamp taxes

 

The Obligors shall pay and, within 3 Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party and Arrangers against any cost, loss or liability that Secured Party or Arrangers incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document provided that this clause 17.10 shall not apply in respect of any stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes which are payable in respect of an assignment transfer or other alienation of any kind by a Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under a Finance Document.

 

17.11       Value added tax

 

(a)           All amounts set out or expressed in a Finance Document to be payable by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to clause 17.11(b), if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, that Party shall pay to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Finance Party shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party).

 

(b)           If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (Supplier) to any other Finance Party (Recipient) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (Subject Party) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the Recipient in respect of that consideration), such Party shall also pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the

 

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same time as paying such amount) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The Recipient will promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the Recipient from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines is in respect of such VAT.

 

(c)           Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

(d)           Any reference in this clause 17.11 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term “representative member” to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act 1994).

 

18           Increased costs

 

18.1         Increased costs

 

(a)           Subject to clause 18.3 the Obligors shall, within 3 Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of:

 

(i)            the introduction or implementation, suspension or revocation of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation; or

 

(ii)           compliance with any law or regulation, 

 

occurring or made, as applicable, after the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)           In this Agreement Increased Costs means:

 

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

 

(ii)           an additional or increased cost,

 

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

 

18.2         Increased cost claims

 

(a)           A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to clause 18.1 shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Company.

 

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

 

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18.3         Exceptions

 

(a)           Clause 18.1 does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:

 

(i)            attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor;

 

(ii)           compensated for by clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity) (or would have been compensated for under clause 17.3 (Tax indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in clause 17.3(b) (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 18.3 reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term in clause 17.1 (Definitions).

 

19           Other indemnities

 

19.1         Currency indemnity

 

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

 

(i)            making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or

 

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

 

that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within 3 Business Days of demand by the Agent, 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)           Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable (or in which it is otherwise determined to be payable pursuant to clause 34.10 (Change of currency).

 

19.2         Other indemnities

 

(a)           The Company shall (or shall ensure that an Obligor will), within 3 Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it as a result of:

 

(i)            the occurrence of any Event of Default;

 

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(ii)           a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of clause 33 (Sharing among the Finance Parties);

 

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

 

(iv)          a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by a Borrower (or the Company on its behalf).

 

19.3         Indemnity to the Agent

 

Each Obligor will, within 3 Business Days of demand, indemnify the Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:

 

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

 

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

 

20           Mitigation by the Lenders

 

20.1         Mitigation

 

(a)           Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Company, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would:

 

(i)            result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of clause 10.1 (Illegality), clause 17 (Tax gross up and indemnities), clause 18 (Increased costs) or paragraph 2 of schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost Formula); or

 

(ii)           result in a Facility A Loan not being made available pursuant to clause 4.5(b)(ii) (Loans during the Certain Funds Period),

 

including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.

 

(b)           Clause 20.1(a) does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents or in any way limit the rights of the Lender under clauses 4.5(b)(i) and 4.5(b)(iii) (Loans during the Certain Funds Period).

 

20.2         Limitation of liability

 

(a)           The Company shall (or shall ensure that an Obligor will), within 3 Business Days of demand 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 20.1.

 

(b)           A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under clause 20.1. if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.

 

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21           Costs and expenses

 

21.1         Transaction expenses

 

The Company shall promptly on demand pay the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees subject to any cap previously agreed between the Company and the Agent) reasonably incurred by any of them (and, in the case of the Security Trustee, by any Receiver or Delegate) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, syndication and perfection of:

 

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

 

(b)           any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.

 

21.2         Amendment costs

 

If:

 

(a)           an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent; or

 

(b)           an amendment is required pursuant to:

 

(i)            clause 34.10 (Change of currency); or

 

(ii)           schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost Formula),

 

the Company shall, within 3 Business Days of demand, reimburse each of the Agent and the Security Trustee for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent and the Security Trustee (and, in the case of the Security Trustee, by any Receiver or Delegate) in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.

 

21.3         Enforcement and preservation costs

 

The Company shall, within 3 Business Days of 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 the Transaction Security and any proceedings instituted by or against the Security Trustee or any Receiver or Delegate as a consequence of taking or holding the Transaction Security or enforcing these rights.

 

22           Guarantee and indemnity

 

22.1         Guarantee and indemnity

 

Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally:

 

(a)           guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by each other Obligor of all that Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

(b)           undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever another Obligor does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Guarantor shall immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and

 

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(c)           agrees with each Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it incurs as a result of an Obligor not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by it under any Finance Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by a Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this clause 22 if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee.

 

22.2         Continuing Guarantee

 

This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.

 

22.3         Reinstatement

 

If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any Security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Finance Party in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of each Guarantor under this clause 22 will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.

 

22.4         Waiver of defences

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under this clause 22 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this clause 22, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this clause 22 (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Finance Party) including:

 

(a)           any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person;

 

(b)           the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group;

 

(c)           the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or Security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any Security;

 

(d)           any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person;

 

(e)           any amendment, novation, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of any Finance Document or any other document or Security including without limitation any change in the purpose of, any extension of or any increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or Security;

 

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(f)            any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or Security; or

 

(g)           any insolvency or similar proceedings.

 

22.5         Guarantor Intent

 

Without prejudice to the generality of clause 22.4, each Guarantor expressly confirms that it intends that this guarantee shall extend from time to time to any (however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Finance Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the Finance Documents for the purposes of or in connection with any of the following:

 

(a)           business acquisitions of any nature;

 

(b)           increasing working capital;

 

(c)           enabling investor distributions to be made;

 

(d)           carrying out restructurings;

 

(e)           refinancing existing facilities;

 

(f)            refinancing any other indebtedness;

 

(g)           making facilities available to new borrowers;

 

(h)           any other variation or extension of the purposes for which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and

 

(i)            any fees, costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing.

 

22.6         Immediate recourse

 

Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or Security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this clause 22. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary.

 

22.7         Appropriations

 

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:

 

(a)           refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, Security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and

 

(b)           hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantor’s liability under this clause 22.

 

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22.8         Deferral of Guarantors’ rights

 

Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising, under this clause 22:

 

(a)           to be indemnified by an Obligor;

 

(b)           to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligor’s obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

(c)           to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or Security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party;

 

(d)           to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under clause 22.1 (Guarantee and indemnity);

 

(e)           to exercise any right of set-off against any Obligor; and/or

 

(f)            to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Finance Party.

 

If a Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it shall hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all amounts which may be or become payable to the Finance Parties by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents to be repaid in full on trust for the Finance Parties and shall promptly pay or transfer the same to the Agent or as the Agent may direct for application in accordance with clause 34 (Payment mechanics).

 

22.9         Release of Guarantors’ right of contribution

 

If any Guarantor (Retiring Guarantor) ceases to be a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor:

 

(a)           that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and

 

(b)           each other Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its obligations under the Finance Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Finance Document or of any other Security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Finance Document where such rights or Security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the Retiring Guarantor.

 

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22.10       US Guarantors

 

(a)           Each US Guarantor acknowledges that:

 

(i)            it will receive valuable direct or indirect benefits as a result of the transactions financed by the Finance Documents;

 

(ii)           those benefits will constitute reasonably equivalent value and fair consideration for the purpose of any Fraudulent Transfer Law;

 

(iii)          each Lender has acted in good faith in connection with the guarantee given by that US Guarantor and the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents; and

 

(iv)          it has not incurred and does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay as they mature.

 

(b)           Each Lender agrees that each US Guarantor’s liability under this clause is limited to the extent (if any) necessary so that no obligation of, or payment by, any US Guarantor under this clause is subject to avoidance or turnover under any Fraudulent Transfer Law.

 

(c)           Each US Guarantor represents and warrants to each Lender that:

 

(i)            the aggregate amount of its debts (including its obligations under the Finance Documents (other than obligations that are, at the relevant time, wholly contingent or prospective)) is less than the aggregate value (being the lesser of fair valuation and present fair saleable value) of its assets;

 

(ii)           its capital is not unreasonably small to carry on its business as it is being conducted;

 

(iii)          it has not incurred and does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay as they become due; and

 

(iv)          it has not made a transfer or incurred any obligation under any Finance Document with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud any of its present or future creditors.

 

22.11       Additional security

 

This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or Security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party.

 

22.12       Guarantee Limitations

 

This guarantee does not apply to any liability to the extent that it would result in this guarantee constituting unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of sections 678 or 679 of the CA2006 or any equivalent and applicable provisions under the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant Guarantor and, with respect to any Additional Guarantor, is subject to any limitations set out in the Accession Deed applicable to such Additional Guarantor.

 

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23           Representations

 

23.1         General

 

Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this clause 23 to each Finance Party.

 

23.2         Status

 

(a)           It and each of its Subsidiaries is a limited liability corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

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

 

23.3         Binding obligations

 

Subject to the Legal Reservations:

 

(a)           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; and

 

(b)           (without limiting the generality of clause 23.3(a)), each Transaction Security Document to which it is a party creates the Security which that Transaction Security Document purports to create and that Security is valid and effective.

 

23.4         Non-conflict with other obligations

 

The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents and the granting of the Transaction Security do not and will not conflict with:

 

(a)           any law or regulation applicable to it;

 

(b)           the constitutional documents of any member of the Group; or

 

(c)           any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any member of the Group or any of its or any member of the Group’s assets or constitute a default or termination event (however described) under any such agreement or instrument unless such conflict, default or termination event would not have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

23.5         Power and authority

 

(a)           It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated by those Transaction Documents.

 

(b)           No limit on its powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowing, grant of Security or giving of guarantees or indemnities contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.

 

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23.6         Validity and admissibility in evidence

 

(a)           All Authorisations required:

 

(i)            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; and

 

(ii)           to make the Transaction Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its Relevant Jurisdictions,

 

have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect except any Authorisation referred to in clause 23.9 (No filing or stamp taxes).

 

(b)           All Authorisations necessary for the conduct of the business, trade and ordinary activities of the members of the Group have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect if failure to obtain or effect those Authorisations has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

23.7         Governing law and enforcement

 

(a)           The choice of governing law of the Finance Documents will be recognised and enforced in its Relevant Jurisdictions.

 

(b)           Any judgment obtained in relation to a Finance Document in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its Relevant Jurisdictions.

 

23.8         Insolvency

 

(a)           No:

 

(i)            corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in clause 27.7(a) (Insolvency proceedings); or

 

(ii)           creditors’ process described in clause 0 (Creditors’ process),

 

has been taken or, so far as it is aware, threatened in relation to a member of the Group.

 

(b)           No corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in clause 27.7(b) (Insolvency proceedings) has been taken or, so far as it is aware, threatened in relation to any member of the Group incorporated in the US.

 

(c)           None of the circumstances described in clause 27.6 (Insolvency) applies to a member of the Group.

 

23.9         No filing or stamp taxes

 

Under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdiction it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration, notarial or similar Taxes or fees be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents except for those registrations specifically set out in any legal opinion delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent).

 

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23.10       Deduction of Tax

 

It is not required to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to a Lender which is:

 

(a)           a Qualifying Lender:

 

(i)            falling within paragraph (i)(A) of the definition of Qualifying Lender;

 

(ii)           except where a Direction has been given under section 931 of the ITA in relation to the payment concerned, falling within paragraph (i)(B) of the definition of Qualifying Lender; or

 

(iii)          falling within paragraph (ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender or;

 

(b)           a Treaty Lender and the payment is one specified in a direction given by the Commissioners of Revenue & Customs under Regulation 2 of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (General) Regulations 1970 (SI 1970/488).

 

23.11       No default

 

(a)           No Event of Default and, on the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, no Default is continuing or is reasonably likely to result from the making of any Loan or the entry into, the performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, any Transaction Document.

 

(b)           No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes (or, with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or any combination of any of the foregoing, would constitute) a default or termination event (however described) 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 has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

23.12       No misleading information

 

(a)           All factual information contained in the Information Package was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the information or (as the case may be) as at the date the information is expressed to be given.

 

(b)           The Base Case Model has been prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles as applied to the Original Financial Statements of the Company, and the financial projections contained in the Base Case Model have been prepared on the basis of recent historical information, are fair and based on reasonable assumptions and have been approved by the board of directors of the Company.

 

(c)           Any financial projection or forecast contained in the Information Package has been prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions and was fair (as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the projection or forecast) and arrived at after careful consideration (it being acknowledged by the Finance Parties that financial projections or forecasts are subject to uncertainties and contingencies and no representation or warranty is given that such financial projections or forecasts will be realised).

 

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(d)           The expressions of opinion or intention provided by or on behalf of an Obligor for the purposes of the Information Package were made after careful consideration and (as at the date of the relevant report or document containing the expression of opinion or intention) were fair and based on reasonable grounds.

 

(e)           No event or circumstance has occurred or arisen and no information has been omitted from the Information Package and no information has been given or withheld that results in the information, opinions, intentions, forecasts or projections contained in the Information Package being untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

(f)            All material information provided to a Finance Party by or on behalf of the Group on or before the date of this Agreement and not superseded before that date (whether or not contained in the Information Package) is accurate and not misleading in any material respect and all projections provided to any Finance Party on or before the date of this Agreement have been prepared in good faith on the basis of assumptions which were reasonable at the time at which they were prepared and supplied.

 

(g)           All other written information provided by the Company to a Finance Party was true, complete and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not misleading in any material respect.

 

23.13       Original Financial Statements

 

(a)           Its Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles consistently applied.

 

(b)           Its unaudited Original Financial Statements fairly represent its financial condition and results of operations for the relevant period in accordance with basis of preparation and Accounting Principles unless expressly disclosed to the Agent in writing to the contrary prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)           Its audited Original Financial Statements give a true and fair view of its financial condition and results of operations during the relevant Financial Year.

 

(d)           There has been no material adverse change in its assets, business or financial condition (or the assets, business or consolidated financial condition of the Group, in the case of the Company) since 31 December 2010.

 

(e)           The Original Financial Statements of the Company do not consolidate the results, assets or liabilities of any person or business which does not form part of the Group (other than in respect of any joint venture) as at the Closing Date.

 

(f)            Its most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 24.1 (Financial statements):

 

(i)            have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles as applied to the Original Financial Statements and the Base Case Model; and

 

(i)            give a true and fair view of (if audited) or fairly present (if unaudited) its consolidated financial condition as at the end of, and consolidated results of operations for, the period to which they relate.

 

(g)           The budgets and forecasts supplied under this Agreement were arrived at after careful consideration and have been prepared in good faith on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of assumptions which were reasonable as at

 

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the date they were prepared and supplied (it being acknowledged by the Finance Parties that financial projections or forecasts are subject to uncertainties and contingencies and no representation or warranty is given that such financial projections or forecasts warranties will be realised).

 

(h)           Since the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 24.1 (Financial statements) there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets or financial condition of the Group.

 

23.14       No proceedings pending or threatened

 

(a)           No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigations of, or before, any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to result in liabilities to it or any of its Subsidiaries (whether actual or contingent) which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect have (so far as it is aware) been started or threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(b)           No labour disputes are current or, so far as it is aware, threatened against any member of the Group which have or are reasonably likely to result in liabilities to it or any of its Subsidiaries which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

23.15       No breach of laws

 

It has not (and none of its Subsidiaries has) breached any law or regulation which breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

23.16       Environmental laws

 

(a)           It and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with clause 26.3 (Environmental compliance) and, so far as it is aware, no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance in a manner or to an extent which has or is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           No Environmental Claim has been commenced or, so far as it is aware, is threatened against any member of the Group where that claim has or is reasonably likely, if determined against that member of the Group, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           The cost to the Group of compliance with Environmental Laws (including Environmental Permits) is, so far as it is aware, adequately provided for in the Base Case Model.

 

23.17       Taxation

 

(a)           It is not (and none of its Subsidiaries is) materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns and it is not (and none of its Subsidiaries is) overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax.

 

(b)           No claims or investigations are being, or are reasonably likely to be, made or conducted against it (or any of its Subsidiaries) with respect to Taxes such that a liability of, or claim against, any member of the Group which would have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           It is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

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23.18       Security and Financial Indebtedness

 

(a)           No Security or Quasi-Security exists over all or any of the present or future assets of any member of the Group other than as permitted by this Agreement.

 

(b)           No member of the Group has any Financial Indebtedness outstanding other than as permitted by this Agreement.

 

23.19       Ranking

 

The Transaction Security has or will have first ranking priority and it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Security.

 

23.20       Good title to assets

 

It and each of its Subsidiaries has a good, valid and marketable title to, or valid leases or licences of, and all appropriate Authorisations to use, the assets necessary to carry on its business as presently conducted.

 

23.21       Legal and beneficial ownership

 

It and each of its Subsidiaries is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective assets over which it purports to grant Security.

 

23.22       Shares

 

(a)           The shares of any member of the Group which are subject to the Transaction Security are fully paid.

 

(b)           The shares of any member of the Group which are subject to the Transaction Security and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights.

 

(c)           The constitutional documents of the companies whose shares are subject to the Transaction Security do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Transaction Security.

 

(d)           There are no agreements in force which provide for the issue, allotment or transfer of, or grant any person the right to call for the issue, allotment or transfer of, any share or loan capital of any member of the Group (including any option or right of pre-emption or conversion) other than pursuant to the Share Option Documents.

 

23.23       Intellectual Property

 

It and each of its Subsidiaries:

 

(a)           is the sole legal and beneficial owner of or has licensed to it on normal commercial terms all the Intellectual Property which is material in the context of its business and which is required by it in order to carry on its business as it is being conducted and as contemplated in the Base Case Model and where the Intellectual Property is licensed to it, that licence has not been breached in any material respect or terminated by any party;

 

(b)           does not, in carrying on its businesses, infringe any Intellectual Property of any third party in any respect which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

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(c)           has taken all formal or procedural actions (including payment of fees) required to maintain any Intellectual Property owned by it which is required by it in order to carry on its business as it is being conducted and as contemplated in the Base Case Model.

 

23.24       Group Structure Chart

 

The Group Structure Chart delivered to the Agent pursuant to part 1 (Conditions precedent to signing this Agreement) of schedule 2 is true, complete and accurate in all material respects.

 

23.25       Obligors

 

(a)           Each Subsidiary of the Company incorporated in the United Kingdom (other than a Dormant Subsidiary, LGL 1996 Limited and Biggleswick Limited) and each Material Company (other than the French Subsidiary and the Czech Subsidiary) incorporated in any other jurisdiction is an Obligor on or prior to the first Utilisation Date.

 

(b)           The aggregate:

 

(i)            earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as EBITA) of the Guarantors on the Closing Date (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all unrealised intra-Group profits of any member of the Group) exceeds 80% of EBITA of the Group; and

 

(ii)           gross assets of the Guarantors on the Closing Date (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-Group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 80 % of the consolidated gross assets of the Group.

 

23.26       Accounting reference date

 

The Accounting Reference Date of each member of the Group is 31 December.

 

23.27       Centre of main interests and establishments

 

For the purposes of The Council of the European Union Regulation No. 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings (Regulation),  its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation and it has no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(h) of the Regulation) in any other jurisdiction.

 

23.28       Dormant Companies

 

There are no Dormant Subsidiaries other than:

 

(a)           BAL 1996 Limited; and

 

(b)           Mel Chemicals China Limited.

 

23.29       Pensions

 

Except for the Defined Benefit Schemes:

 

(a)           neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has at any time been an employer (for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension

 

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scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pensions Schemes Act 1993); and

 

(b)           neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has at any time been connected with or an associate of (as those terms are used in sections 38 and 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) such an employer.

 

23.30       No adverse consequences

 

(a)           It is not necessary under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdictions:

 

(i)            in order to enable any Finance Party to enforce its rights under any Finance Document; or

 

(ii)           by reason of the execution of any Finance Document or the performance by it of its obligations under any Finance Document,

 

that any Finance Party should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry on business in any of its Relevant Jurisdictions.

 

(b)           No Finance Party is or will be deemed to be resident, domiciled or carrying on business in its Relevant Jurisdictions by reason only of the execution, performance and/or enforcement of any Finance Document.

 

23.31       US Regulations

 

(a)           Employee Benefit Plans

 

(i)            No Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has incurred during any time within the last six years or could be reasonably expected to incur any liability to, or on account of, a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a violation of section 515 of ERISA or pursuant to section 4201, 4204 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

(ii)           Each Employee Plan complies in form and operation in all material respects with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and all other applicable laws and regulations.

 

(iii)          The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Employee Plans (other than any Multiemployer Plan), determined as of the end of such plan’s most recently ended plan year on the basis of the actuarial methods and assumptions specified for funding purposes in such plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such plan allocable to such benefit liabilities by more than US$9,000,000 (or its equivalent) in the case of any single Employee Plan and by more than US$10,500,000 (or its equivalent) in the aggregate for all Employee Plans. The term “benefit liabilities” has the meaning specified in section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “current value” and “present value” have the meaning specified in section 3 of ERISA.

 

(iv)          There is (to the best of each Obligor’s and ERISA Affiliates’ knowledge and belief) no litigation, arbitration, administrative proceeding or claim pending or threatened against or with respect to any Employee Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) which has or, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(v)           Within the last 6 years, each Obligor and each ERISA Affiliate has made all material contributions to each Employee Plan and Multiemployer Plan required by law within the applicable time limits prescribed by law, the terms of that Plan and any contract or agreement requiring contributions to that Plan.

 

(vi)          No Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has ceased operations at a facility so as to be subject to the provisions of section 4062(e) of ERISA, withdrawn as a substantial employer so as to be subject to the provisions of section 4063 of ERISA, or ceased making contributions to any Employee Plan subject to section 4064(a) of ERISA to which it made contributions.

 

(vii)         No Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has incurred any material liability to the PBGC, which remains outstanding or could reasonably be expected to incur any material liability to the PBGC.

 

(viii)        No ERISA Event has occurred or, as at the date of this Agreement, is reasonably likely to occur that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Margin Regulations

 

(i)            The proceeds of any Utilisation will not be used, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, for purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or for any purpose which might (whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately) cause all or any part of the Facility to be a purpose credit within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X.

 

(ii)           Following the application of the proceeds of any Utilisation, not more than 25 per cent of the value of the assets of the Obligors, as a group (on a consolidated basis), will be invested in Margin Stock.

 

(iii)          Neither any Obligor nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause any document delivered under or in connection with the Facility to violate any regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (including Regulation T, U or X) or violate the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any applicable US federal or state securities law.

 

(c)           Other US Regulation

 

(i)            No Obligor or any Affiliate of an Obligor is:

 

(A)          a public utility within the meaning of, or subject to regulation under, the United States Federal Power Act of 1920

 

(B)           an investment company or a company controlled by an Investment company within the meaning of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 or

 

(C)           subject to regulation under any United States federal or state law or regulation that limits its ability to incur or guarantee indebtedness.

 

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(d)           Anti-Terrorism Law

 

No Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates or Holding Companies, or to its knowledge any of their respective brokers or other agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Facility:

 

(i)            is in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law or

 

(ii)           is a Designated Person.

 

23.32       Sanctions

 

The Company represents that neither the Company nor any member of the Group (collectively for the purpose of this clause only, the Company) or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company is an individual or entity (Person) currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions), nor is the Company located, organised or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. The Company represents and covenants that it will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the transaction, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan or in any other country or territory, that, at the time of such funding would result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

23.33       Times when representations made

 

(a)           All the representations and warranties in this clause 23 are made by each Obligor on the date of this Agreement except for the representations and warranties set out in clause 23.12 which are deemed to be made by each Obligor (i) with respect to the Information Memorandum, on the date the Information Memorandum is approved by the Company, (ii) with respect to the Information Package, on the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date and (iii) with respect to the Information Package (other than the Base Case Model), on the date of this Agreement and on any later date on which the Information Package (or part of it) is released to the Arrangers.

 

(b)           All the representations and warranties in this clause 23 are deemed to be made by each Obligor on the Closing Date.

 

(c)           The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor on the date of each Utilisation Request, on each Utilisation Date and on the first day of each Interest Period (except that those contained in clause 23.13(a) to 23.13(e) will cease to be so made once subsequent financial statements have been delivered under this Agreement).

 

(d)           All the representations and warranties in this clause 23 except clause 23.12, clause 23.24 and clause 23.28 are deemed to be made by each Additional Obligor on the day on which it becomes (or it is proposed that it becomes) an Additional Obligor.

 

(e)           Each representation or warranty deemed to be made after the date of this Agreement shall be deemed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances existing at the date the representation or warranty is deemed to be made.

 

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24                                  Information undertakings

 

The undertakings in this clause 24 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

24.1                           Financial statements

 

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

 

(a)                                  as soon as they are available, but in any event within 180 days after the end of each of its Financial Years:

 

(i)                                     its audited consolidated financial statements for that Financial Year; and

 

(ii)                                  the financial statements (consolidated if appropriate) of each Obligor (audited where required under the Relevant Jurisdiction) for that Financial Year;

 

(b)                                 as soon as they are available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each calendar month its management financial statements on a consolidated basis for that calendar month and for the Financial Year to date.

 

24.2                           Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate

 

(a)                                  The Company shall supply a Compliance Certificate to the Agent with each set of its Annual Financial Statements and each set of its Quarterly Financial Statements.

 

(b)                                 The Compliance Certificate shall, amongst other things, set out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with clause 25 (Financial covenants).

 

(c)                                  Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by two directors of the Company.

 

24.3                           Requirements as to financial statements

 

(a)                                  The Company shall procure that:

 

(i)                                     each set of Annual Financial Statements shall be audited by the auditors and shall include the audited profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and cashflow statements of each Obligor (prepared in the case of the Company on a consolidated basis); and

 

(ii)                                  each set of Monthly Financial Statements shall be in the form of the monthly management accounts supplied by the Company to the Agent pursuant to clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent).

 

(b)                                 Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to clause 24.1:

 

(i)                                     in the case of the Annual Financial Statements, shall be accompanied by any letter addressed to the management of the relevant company (to the extent the Company receives such a letter) by the auditors accompanying those Annual Financial Statements;

 

(ii)                                  in the case of the Monthly Financial Statements of the Company, shall be accompanied by a commentary by the finance director of the Company comparing actual performance for the period to which the financial statements relate to:

 

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(A)                              the projected performance for that period set out in the Budget; and

 

(B)                                the actual performance for the corresponding period in the preceding Financial Year; and

 

(iii)                               shall be prepared in accordance with Accounting Principles.

 

(iv)                              If after the date of this Agreement a change in the Accounting Principles (as at the date of this Agreement) or the accounting practices is such as to affect:

 

(A)                              the determination of the financial covenants contained in clause 25 (Financial covenants); and/or

 

(B)                                the determination of compliance with clause 26.33 (Guarantors) and/or clause 30.4(a) (Additional Guarantors); and/or

 

(C)                                the Margin,

 

the Company and the Agent shall, at the Agent’s request, negotiate in good faith with a view to agreeing such amendments as may be necessary to grant to the Lenders protection comparable to that granted on the date of this Agreement, and any amendments so agreed will take effect on the date agreed between the Company and the Agent; and if no such agreement is reached within 30 days of the Agent’s request, the Agent and the Company shall instruct independent accountants (and if the Agent and the Company cannot agree the identity of the independent accountant such independent accountant as the chair of the law society directs) to determine any amendments to those clauses or definitions which those accountants (acting as experts and not as arbitrators) consider appropriate to grant to the Lenders protection comparable to that granted on the date of this Agreement, which amendments shall take effect when so determined and notified to the Company. Any amendments determined by such accountants shall be binding on all the Parties.

 

(c)                                  If at any time a Default is continuing the Agent wishes to discuss the financial position of any member of the Group with the auditors, the Agent may notify the Company, stating the questions or issues which the Agent wishes to discuss with the auditors. In this event, the Company must ensure that the auditors are authorised (at the expense of the Company):

 

(i)                                     to discuss the financial position of each member of the Group with the Agent on request from the Agent; and

 

(ii)                                  to disclose to the Agent for the Finance Parties any information which the Agent may reasonably request.

 

24.4                           Budget

 

(a)                                  The Company shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, as soon as the same become available but in any event before the start of each of its Financial Years, an annual Budget for that Financial Year.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall ensure that each Budget:

 

(i)                                     is in a form acceptable to the Agent and includes:

 

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(A)                              a projected consolidated profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow statement for each principal division of the Group; and

 

(B)                                projected financial covenant calculations for that Financial Year;

 

(ii)                                  is prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles and the accounting practices and financial reference periods applied to financial statements under clause 24.1; and

 

(iii)                               has been approved by the board of directors of the Company.

 

24.5         Year-end

 

The Company shall procure that each Financial Year-end of each member of the Group falls on 31 December save where otherwise required by law in any Relevant Jurisdiction.

 

24.6         Information: miscellaneous

 

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

 

(a)                                  at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all documents dispatched by the Company to its shareholders generally (or any class of them) or dispatched by the Company or any Obligor to its creditors generally (or any class of them);

 

(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, if adversely determined, would involve a liability, or a potential or alleged liability, exceeding £1,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies);

 

(c)                                  promptly, such information as the Security Trustee may reasonably require about the Secured Assets and compliance by the Obligors with the terms of any Transaction Security Documents;

 

(d)                                 promptly on the reasonable request of the Agent, such further information regarding the financial condition, assets and operations of the Group and/or any member of the Group (including any requested amplification or explanation of any item in the financial statements, Budget or other material provided by any Obligor under this Agreement; and

 

(e)                                  any changes to the main board or the executive board of the Company and an up to date copy of its register of members (or equivalent in its jurisdiction of incorporation)) as any Finance Party through the Agent may reasonably request (provided that the Agent shall not request a copy of its register of members more frequently than twice in any Financial Year unless the Agent requires the register of members for know your customer requirements and/or if the Agent suspects that there has been a Change of Control).

 

24.7         Notification of default

 

(a)                                  Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless such a notification has already been provided by another Obligor).

 

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(b)                                 If the Agent reasonably suspects that a Default is continuing promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Company shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors 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).

 

24.8                           “Know your customer” checks

 

(a)                                  If:

 

(i)            the implementation or introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;

 

(ii)           any change in the status of an Obligor or the composition of the shareholders of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or

 

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

 

obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of clause 24.8(a)(iii), any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                 Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other checks on Lenders or prospective new Lenders pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                  The Company shall, by not less than ten Business Days prior written notice to the Agent, notify the Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) of its intention to request that one of its Subsidiaries becomes an Additional Obligor pursuant to clause 30 (Changes to the Obligors).

 

(d)                                 Following the giving of any notice pursuant to clause 24.8(c), if the accession of such Additional Obligor obliges the Agent or any Lender to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any relevant person pursuant to such Subsidiary becoming an Additional Obligor.

 

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24.9         ERISA

 

(a)                                  Each Obligor will:

 

(i)                                     promptly upon a request by the Lender, deliver to the Lender copies of the Annual Report (IRS form 5500 Series) together with all schedules and documentation reasonably requested by the Agent with respect to each Employee Plan; and

 

(ii)                                  within 21 Business Days after it or any ERISA Affiliate becomes aware that any ERISA Event has occurred or, in the case of any ERISA Event which requires advance notice under section 4043(b) of ERISA, will occur, deliver to the Lender a statement signed by a director, member or officer of the Obligor or ERISA Affiliate describing that ERISA Event and the action, if any, taken or proposed to be taken with respect to that ERISA Event.

 

25                                  Financial covenants

 

25.1         Financial definitions

 

In this Agreement:

 

Adjusted EBITDA means in respect of any Relevant Period, EBITDA for that Relevant Period after:

 

(a)                                  adding the amount of any cash receipts (and deducting the amount of any cash payments) during that Relevant Period in respect of any Exceptional Items not already taken account of in calculating EBITDA for any Relevant Period but excluding:

 

(i)                                     Exceptional Items relating to cash receipts or cash paid for finance costs or discontinued operations

 

(ii)                                  cash payments for Permitted Acquisitions and cash received for Permitted Disposals

 

(b)                                 adding the amount of any cash receipts during that Relevant Period in respect of any corporation tax rebates or credits and deducting the amount actually paid or due and payable in respect of corporation taxes during that Relevant Period by any member of the Group

 

(c)                                  adding the amount of any increase in provisions, which are not Current Assets or Current Liabilities and deducting the amount of any non-cash credits which are not Current Assets or Current Liabilities) in each case to the extent taken into account in establishing EBITDA

 

(d)                                 deducting the cash amount of any capital expenditure actually paid during that Relevant Period by any member of the Group except (in each case) to the extent funded from the proceeds of Permitted Disposals, third party grants, third party contributions or Insurance Proceeds, and

 

(e)                                  deducting the amount of any cash costs of Pension Items during that Relevant Period to the extent not taken into account in establishing EBITDA and 

 

and so that no amount shall be added (or deducted) more than once

 

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Average Exchange Rate means the 12 month average of the month end exchange rates as referenced to Reuters

 

Cashflow means cashflow for that Relevant Period taking Adjusted EBITDA for the same period and

 

(a)                                  adding the amount of any decrease (and deducting the amount of any increase) in Working Capital for that Relevant Period (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, non-cash movements in Working Capital as a result of translation exchange rates);

 

(b)                                 adding the amount of any increase in other non-cash debits and other non-cash charges (which are not Current Assets or Current Liabilities) in each case taking into account in establishing EBITDA

 

so that no amount shall be added (or deducted) more than once

 

Cash Service Cover means the ratio of Cashflow to Debt Service in respect of any Relevant Period

 

Current Assets means the aggregate (on a consolidated basis) of all inventory, work in progress, trade and other receivables of each member of the Group including prepayments in relation to operating items and sundry debtors (but excluding cash and Cash Equivalent Investments) maturing within 12 Months from the date of computation but excluding amounts in respect of:

 

(a)                                  receivables in relation to corporation and deferred Tax

 

(b)                                 Exceptional Items and other non-operating items

 

(c)                                  insurance claims and

 

(d)                                 any interest owing to any member of the Group

 

Current Liabilities means the aggregate (on a consolidated basis) of all liabilities (including trade creditors, accruals and provisions) of each member of the Group falling due within 12 Months from the date of computation but excluding amounts in respect of:

 

(a)                                  liabilities for Financial Indebtedness and Finance Charges

 

(b)                                 liabilities for corporation and deferred Tax

 

(c)                                  Exceptional Items and other non-operating items

 

(d)                                 insurance claims and

 

(e)                                  liabilities in relation to dividends declared but not paid by the Company or by a member of the Group in favour of a person which is not a member of the Group

 

Debt Service means in respect of any Relevant Period the aggregate of:

 

(a)                                  Net Finance Charges for that Relevant Period

 

(b)                                 the aggregate of all scheduled repayments of Financial Indebtedness falling due during that Relevant Period but excluding

 

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(i)                                     any amounts repaid or falling due under any overdraft or revolving facility (including, without limitation, the Revolving Facility and any Ancillary Facility) and which were available for simultaneous redrawing according to the terms of that facility

 

(ii)                                  any such obligations owed to any member of the Group

 

(iii)                               any prepayment of Financial Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date which is required to be repaid under the terms of this Agreement

 

(c)                                  the amount of any cash dividends or distributions paid or made by the Company in respect of that Relevant Period and

 

(d)                                 the amount of the capital element of any payments in respect of that Relevant Period payable under any Finance Lease entered into by any member of the Group

 

and so that no amount shall be included more than once

 

Debt Service Cover means the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to Debt Service in respect of any Relevant Period

 

EBIT means in respect of any Relevant Period the consolidated operating profit of the Company before taxation (excluding the results from discontinued operations):

 

(a)                                  before deducting any interest, commission, fees, discounts, prepayment fees, premiums or charges, gains or losses on Financial Indebtedness and other finance payments whether paid, payable or capitalised by any member of the Group (calculated on a consolidated basis) in respect of that Relevant Period

 

(b)                                 not including any accrued interest owing or paid to any member of the Group

 

(c)                                  before taking into account any Exceptional Items

 

(d)                                 before deducting any Transaction Costs

 

(e)                                  before taking into account any gain or loss arising from an upward or downward revaluation of any other asset except for the impairment of working capital items

 

(f)                                    after deducting the amount of any profit (or adding back the amount of any loss) of any member of the Group which is attributable to minority interests;

 

(g)                                 before taking into account any unrealised gains or losses on any derivative instrument (other than any derivative instrument which is accounted for on a hedge accounting basis)

 

(h)                                 before taking into account any Pension Payment to the extent made after the date of this Agreement but before the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement and

 

(i)                                     excluding any profit or loss arising from the disposal of fixed assets

 

in each case to the extent added, deducted or taken into account, as the case may be, for the purposes of determining operating profits of the Group before taxation

 

EBITA means in respect of any Relevant Period, EBIT for that Relevant Period after adding back any amount attributable to the impairment or amortisation of assets or impairment of

 

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members of the Group and non-cash based charges and amortisation costs associated with equity stock-based compensation schemes for that Relevant Period

 

EBITDA means in respect of any Relevant Period, EBITA for that Relevant Period after adding back any amount attributable to the depreciation of assets of members of the Group for that Relevant Period

 

Exceptional Items means any exceptional, one-off or non-recurring items which represent gains or losses including (without limitation) those arising on:

 

(a)                                  the restructuring of the activities of an entity, including the associated redundancy programme costs and reversals of any provisions for the cost of restructuring

 

(b)                                 disposals, revaluations or impairment of non-current assets

 

(c)                                  disposals of assets associated with discontinued operations and acquisition costs in relation to the acquisition of new operations

 

(d)                                 Environmental remediation costs and provisions — not in the ordinary course of business

 

(e)                                  one-off gains and losses recognised on the early termination, curtailment or change in employee retirement defined benefits

 

(f)                                    disposal of a business operation whereby this is not classified as a discontinued operation for accounting purposes

 

Finance Charges means for any Relevant Period the aggregate amount of the accrued interest, commission, fees, discounts, prepayment fees, premiums or charges and other finance payments in respect of Financial Indebtedness whether paid payable or capitalised by any member of the Group (calculated on a consolidated basis) in respect of that Relevant Period:

 

(a)                                  excluding any upfront fees or costs

 

(b)                                 including the interest (but not the capital) element of payments in respect of Finance Leases;

 

(c)                                  including any commission, fees, discounts and other finance payments payable by (and deducting any such amounts payable to) any member of the Group under any interest rate hedging arrangement

 

(d)                                 taking no account of any unrealised gains or losses on any financial instruments other than any derivative investments which are accounted for on a hedge accounting basis

 

(e)                                  excluding any Transaction Costs and

 

(f)                                    excluding any interest cost or expected return on plan assets in relation to any post employment benefit schemes

 

so that no amount shall be added (or deducted) more than once

 

Financial Quarter means a 3 calendar months period ending on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September or 31 December in any Financial Year

 

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Financial Year means a financial year of the Company

 

Interest Cover means the ratio of EBITDA to Net Finance Charges in respect of any Relevant Period

 

Leverage means in respect of any Relevant Period the ratio of Total Net Debt on the last day of that Relevant Period to EBITDA in respect of that Relevant Period

 

Net Finance Charges means, for any Relevant Period, the Finance Charges for that Relevant Period after deducting any interest payable in that Relevant Period to any member of the Group on any Cash or Cash Equivalent investment

 

Non-Group Entity means any investment or entity (which is not itself a member of the Group (including associates) in which any member of the Group has an ownership interest

 

Pension Items means any income or charge attributable to an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pensions Schemes Act 1993) other than the current service costs and any past service costs and curtailments and settlements attributable to the scheme

 

Pension Payment means a payment of up to £5,000,000 as set out in the Base Case Model

 

Relevant Period means:

 

(a)                                  in respect of Leverage and Interest Cover each 12 Month period ending on the most recent Quarter Date ending on or after 30 September 2011 and

 

(b)                                 in respect of Cash Service Cover and Debt Service Cover, prior to 30 June 2012, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the most recent Quarter Date ending on or after 30 September 2011 and after such period each 12 Month period ending on the most recent Quarter Date

 

Relevant Proceeds means Disposal Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds (each as defined in clause 11 (Mandatory prepayment)

 

Total Debt means at any time the aggregate amount of all obligations of members of the Group for or in respect of Financial Indebtedness at that time but:

 

(a)                                  excluding any such obligations to any other member of the Group

 

(b)                                 including in the case of Finance Leases only their capitalised value

 

(c)                                  excluding unrealised gains and losses on Treasury Transactions (including currency exchange gains and losses)

 

(d)                                 excluding any obligations in respect of performance bonds issued in the ordinary course of trading in respect of non-financial obligations to the extent such performance bonds are not called or enforced

 

and so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once

 

Total Net Debt means Total Debt less the aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalent Investments held by an Obligor at that time and so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once

 

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Working Capital means on any date Current Assets less Current Liabilities

 

25.2                           Financial Condition

 

The Company shall ensure that:

 

(a)                                  Debt Service Cover: Debt Service Cover in respect of any Relevant Period specified in column 1 below shall not be less than the ratio set out in column 2 below opposite that Relevant Period:

 

	
Column 1
    	
 
    	
Column 2
    
	
Relevant Period
    	
 
    	
Ratio
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Relevant Period ending 30 September 2011
    	
 
    	
1.25:1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Relevant Period ending 31 December 2011
    	
 
    	
1.25:1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Thereafter each Relevant Period ending on a Quarter Date
    	
 
    	
1.50:1
    

 

(b)                                 Cash Service Cover. Cash Service Cover in respect of any Relevant Period shall not be less than 1.20:1.

 

(c)                                  Interest Cover: Interest Cover in respect of any Relevant Period shall not be less than 4.0:1.

 

(d)                                 Leverage: Leverage in respect of any Relevant Period shall not exceed 3.0:1.

 

25.3                           Financial testing

 

(a)                                  The financial covenants set out in clause 25.2 shall be calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles and tested by reference to:

 

(i)                                     the Annual Financial Statements; and

 

(ii)                                  the Quarterly Financial Statements for the Relevant Period.

 

(b)                                 If in respect of any period there is a discrepancy between the information set out in the Quarterly Financial Statements for such period and that set out in the Annual Financial Statements for such period, the information in the Annual Financial Statements shall prevail.

 

(c)                                  In respect of any Relevant Period, the exchange rate used to calculate Total Net Debt shall be the Average Exchange Rate for that Relevant Period.

 

(d)                                 Any breach of clause 25.2(b) (Cash Service Cover) shall not be a Default or an Event of Default. If a breach of clause 25.2(b) (Cash Service Cover) occurs, the Company shall (and shall procure that each member of the Group shall (if the Agent so requests)) attend a meeting with the Lenders to discuss and explain the causes of such breach and shall provide such further information as the Lenders may require.

 

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26                                  General undertakings

 

The undertakings in this clause 26 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

26.1                           Authorisations

 

Each Obligor shall promptly:

 

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

 

(b)                                 supply certified copies to the Agent of,

 

any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to:

 

(i)                                     enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents;

 

(ii)                                  ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document; and

 

(iii)                               carry on its business where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

26.2                           Compliance with laws

 

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) comply in all respects with all laws to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

26.3                           Environmental compliance

 

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will):

 

(a)                                  comply with all Environmental Law;

 

(b)                                 obtain, maintain and ensure compliance with all requisite Environmental Permits; and

 

(c)                                  implement procedures to monitor compliance with and to prevent liability under any Environmental Law,

 

where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

26.4                           Environmental claims

 

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of:

 

(a)                                  any Environmental Claim against any member of the Group which is current, pending or threatened; and

 

(b)                                 any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against any member of the Group,

 

where the claim, if determined against that member of the Group, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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26.5                           Taxation

 

(a)                                  Each Obligor shall pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:

 

(i)                                     such payment is being contested in good faith;

 

(ii)                                  adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements delivered to the Agent under clause 24.1 (Financial statements); and

 

(iii)                               such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes does not have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                 No Obligor may change its residence for Tax purposes.

 

26.6                           Merger

 

No Obligor shall enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction without the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)).

 

26.7                           Change of business

 

The Company shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Company, the Obligors or the Group taken as a whole from that carried on by the Group at the date of this Agreement.

 

26.8                           Acquisitions

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will):

 

(i)                                     acquire a company or any shares or securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them); or

 

(ii)                                  incorporate a company.

 

(b)                                 Clause 26.8(a) does not apply to an acquisition of a company, of shares, securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them) or the incorporation of a company which is a Permitted Acquisition.

 

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26.9                           Joint ventures

 

No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group will):

 

(a)                                  enter into, invest in or acquire (or agree to acquire) any shares, stocks, securities or other interest in any Joint Venture; or

 

(b)                                 transfer any assets or lend to or guarantee or give an indemnity for or give Security for the obligations of a Joint Venture or maintain the solvency of or provide working capital to any Joint Venture (or agree to do any of the foregoing).

 

Clause 26.9(a) and (b) above does not apply to any Joint Venture with is a Permitted Joint Venture.

 

26.10                     Preservation of Assets

 

Each Obligor shall maintain in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its assets necessary in the conduct of its business.

 

26.11                     Pari passu ranking

 

Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a Finance Party or Hedge Counterparty against it under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are mandatorily preferred by laws of general application to companies.

 

26.12                     Negative pledge

 

In this Agreement, Quasi-Security means an arrangement or transaction described in clause 26.12(b).

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets.

 

(b)                                 No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will):

 

(i)                                     sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by an Obligor 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.

 

99

 

(c)                                  Clauses 26.12(a) and 26.12(b) do not apply to any Security or (as the case may be) Quasi-Security, which is Permitted Security.

 

26.13                     Disposals

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no 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)                                 Clause 26.13(a) above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal which is:

 

(i)                                     a Permitted Disposal; or

 

(ii)                                  a Permitted Transaction.

 

26.14                     Arm’s length basis

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure no member of the Group will) enter into any transaction with any person except on arm’s length terms and for full market value.

 

(b)                                 Clause 26.14(a) does not apply to:

 

(i)                                     intra-Group loans permitted under clause 26.15;

 

(ii)                                  fees, costs and expenses payable under the Transaction Documents in the amounts set out in the Transaction Documents delivered to the Agent under clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent) or agreed by the Agent;

 

(iii)                               any Permitted Transaction; or

 

(iv)                              the sale and/or licensing by Revere Graphics Worldwide of certain Intellectual Property for a nominal amount to a third party as approved by the Federal Trade Commission in the US as set out in the Information Memorandum.

 

26.15                     Loans or credit

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group will) be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness.

 

(b)                                 Clause 26.15(a) does not apply to a Permitted Loan.

 

26.16                     No Guarantees or indemnities

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any guarantee in respect of any obligation of any person.

 

(b)                                 Clause 26.16(a) does not apply to a Permitted Guarantee.

 

100

 

26.17                     Dividends and share redemption

 

(a)                                  Except as permitted under the Intercreditor Deed, the Company shall not (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group will):

 

(i)                                     declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid dividend, charge, fee or other distribution) (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its share capital);

 

(ii)                                  repay or distribute any dividend or share premium reserve;

 

(iii)                               pay or allow any member of the Group to pay any management, advisory or other fee to or to the order of any of the shareholders of the Company; or

 

(iv)                              redeem, repurchase, defease, retire or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so.

 

(b)                                 Clause 26.17(a) does not apply to a Permitted Distribution.

 

26.18                     Notes

 

Except as permitted under the Intercreditor Deed, the Company shall not (and will ensure that no other member of the Group will):

 

(a)                                  repay or prepay any principal amount (or capitalised interest) outstanding under the Notes;

 

(b)                                 pay any interest, fee or charge accrued or due under the Note Documents; or

 

(c)                                  purchase, redeem, defease or discharge any of the loan notes outstanding under the Notes.

 

26.19                     Financial Indebtedness

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group will) incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness.

 

(b)                                 Clause 26.19(a) does not apply to Permitted Financial Indebtedness.

 

26.20                     Share capital

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure no member of the Group will) issue any shares.

 

(b)                                 Clause 26.20(a) does not apply to a Permitted Share Issue.

 

26.21                     Insurance

 

(a)                                  Each Obligor shall effect and maintain, in a form and amount such insurance on and in respect of its business and its assets as a prudent company carrying on the same or substantially similar business as such Obligor would effect.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall within 10 Business Days of each anniversary of the date of this Agreement provide to the Security Trustee either:

 

101

 

(i)                                     copies of each insurance policy in which that Obligor has an interest; or

 

(ii)                                  a letter from an insurance broker confirming the requirements of clause 26.21(a) are being compiled with.

 

26.22                Pensions

 

(a)                                  The Company shall ensure that all pension schemes operated by or maintained for the benefit of members of the Group and/or any of its employees are funded in accordance with the statutory funding objective under sections 221 and 222 of the Pensions Act 2004 and that no action or omission is taken by any member of the Group in relation to such a pension scheme which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (including, without limitation, the termination or commencement of winding-up proceedings of any such pension scheme or any member of the Group ceasing to employ any member of such a pension scheme).

 

(b)                                 Except for the Defined Benefit Schemes, the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group is or has been at any time an employer (for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 1993) or connected with or an associate of (as those terms are used in sections 38 or 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) such an employer.

 

(c)                                  If requested, the Company shall deliver to the Agent at such times as those reports are prepared in order to comply with the then current statutory or auditing requirements (as applicable either to the trustees of any relevant schemes or to the Company), the actuarial reports in relation to all pension schemes mentioned in clause 26.22(a).

 

(d)                                 The Company shall promptly notify the Agent of any material change in the rate of contributions to any pension schemes mentioned in clause 26.22(a) above paid or recommended to be paid (whether by the scheme actuary or otherwise) or required (by law or otherwise).

 

(e)                                  Each Obligor shall as soon as it becomes aware of it immediately notify the Agent of any investigation or proposed investigation by the Pensions Regulator which may lead to the issue of a Financial Support Direction or a Contribution Notice to any member of the Group.

 

(f)                                    Each Obligor shall immediately notify the Agent if it receives a Financial Support Direction or a Contribution Notice from the Pensions Regulator.

 

26.23                     Access

 

If a Default is continuing each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) (not more than once in every Financial Year unless the Agent reasonably suspects a Default is continuing or may occur) permit the Agent and/or the Security Trustee and/or accountants or other professional advisers and contractors of the Agent or Security Trustee free access at all reasonable times and on reasonable notice at the risk and cost of the Obligor or the Company to:

 

(a)                                  the premises, assets, books, accounts and records of each member of the Group; and

 

102

 

(b)                                 meet and discuss matters with the directors.

 

26.24                     Intellectual Property

 

Each Obligor shall:

 

(a)                                  preserve and maintain the subsistence and validity of the Intellectual Property necessary for the business of the relevant Obligor;

 

(b)                                 use reasonable endeavours to prevent any infringement in any material respect of the Intellectual Property;

 

(c)                                  make registrations and pay all registration fees and Taxes necessary to maintain the Intellectual Property that the relevant Obligor is required to maintain under clause 26.24(a) above in full force and effect and record its interest in that Intellectual Property;

 

(d)                                 not use or permit the Intellectual Property to be used in a way or take any step or omit to take any step in respect of that Intellectual Property which may materially and adversely affect the existence or value of the Intellectual Property or imperil the right of any Obligor to use such property; and

 

(e)                                  not discontinue the use of the Intellectual Property,

 

where failure to do so, in the case of clause 26.24(a) and clause 26.24(b) or, in the case of clause 26.24(d) and clause 26.24(e), such use, permission to use, omission or discontinuation is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

26.25                Transaction Documents

 

(a)                                  No Obligor shall amend, vary, novate, supplement, supersede, waive or terminate any term of a Transaction Document or any other document delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 4.1 (Initial conditions precedent) or clause 30 (Changes to the Obligors) or enter into any agreement with any shareholders of the Company or any of their Affiliates which is not a member of the Group except in writing:

 

(i)                                     in accordance with the provisions of clause 40 (Amendments and waivers);

 

(ii)                                  to the extent that that amendment, variation, novation, supplement, superseding, waiver or termination is permitted by the Intercreditor Deed;

 

(iii)                               prior to or on the Closing Date, with the prior written consent of the Original Lenders; or

 

(iv)                              after the Closing Date, in a way which:

 

(A)                              could not be reasonably expected materially and adversely to affect the interests of the Lenders; and

 

(B)                                would not change the date, amount or method of payment of interest or principal on the Notes.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall promptly supply to the Agent a copy of any document relating to any of the matters referred to in clause 26.25(a)(i) to 26.25(a)(iv) above.

 

103

 

(c)                                  Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) comply with the material terms of all Transaction Documents to which it is party.

 

26.26                Financial assistance

 

Any Obligor which is incorporated in any jurisdiction other than England and Wales shall comply with any law or regulation on financial assistance or its equivalent in that jurisdiction.

 

26.27                Group bank accounts

 

Each Obligor shall, where in the reasonable opinion of the Company it is commercially reasonable to do so, ensure that within 3 months of the Closing Date all its bank accounts in the United Kingdom or the US (other than Excluded Deposit Accounts) shall be opened and maintained with a Finance Party or an Affiliate of a Finance Party and are subject to valid Security under the Transaction Security Documents.

 

26.28                     Treasury transactions

 

No Obligor shall (and the Company will ensure that no member of the Group will) enter into any Treasury Transaction, other than:

 

(a)                                  the hedging transactions contemplated by the Hedging Letter and documented by the Hedging Agreements;

 

(b)                                 spot and forward delivery foreign exchange contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes; and

 

(c)                                  any Treasury Transaction entered into for the hedging of actual or projected real exposures arising in the ordinary course of trading activities of a member of the Group and not for speculative purposes.

 

26.29                     Compliance with Hedging Letter

 

The Company shall ensure that all exchange rate and interest rate hedging arrangements required by the Hedging Letter are implemented in accordance with the terms of the Hedging Letter and that such arrangements are not terminated, varied or cancelled without the prior written consent of the Agent save as permitted by the terms of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

26.30                     Repatriation of Cash

 

The Company shall procure that on the last day of each Interest Period all cash within the Group (other than the Permitted Cash Balance) shall be in bank accounts of the Obligors

 

26.31                     Auditors

 

The Company shall ensure that the auditors of each member of the Group are Auditors.

 

26.32                     Further assurance

 

(a)                                  Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Security Trustee may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Security Trustee may reasonably require) in favour of the Security Trustee or its nominee(s):

 

104

 

(i)                                     to create, perfect, protect and maintain the Security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Security Trustee or the Finance Parties provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law;

 

(ii)                                  to confer on the Security Trustee or confer on the Finance Parties Security over any property and assets of that Obligor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents; and/or

 

(iii)                               (if an Event of Default is continuing) to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security.

 

(b)                                 Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure each member of the Group will) take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any Security conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Trustee or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                  The Obligors shall, promptly upon the request of the Security Trustee or the Agent, file or record, as applicable, all termination statements and lien releases and take such other actions as may be necessary to discharge all mortgages, deeds of trust and security interests granted by members of the Group in respect of (a) the ABL Facility (following repayment of the ABL Facility as contemplated hereunder) and (b) any other security over assets of any Obligor other than Permitted Security.

 

26.33                     Guarantors

 

(a)                                  The Company shall ensure that at all times after the date of this Agreement the aggregate:

 

(i)                                     earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as EBITA) of the Guarantors (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all unrealised intra-Group profits of any member of the Group) exceeds 80% of EBITA of the Group; and

 

(ii)                                  gross assets of the Guarantors (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-Group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 80% of the consolidated gross assets of the Group.

 

(b)                                 The Company need only perform its obligations under clause 26.33(a) if it is not unlawful for the relevant person to become a Guarantor and that person becoming a Guarantor would not result in personal liability for that person’s directors or other management. Each Obligor must use, and must procure that the relevant person uses, all reasonable endeavours lawfully available to avoid any such unlawfulness or personal liability. This includes agreeing to a limit on the amount guaranteed. The Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) agree to such a limit if, in its opinion, to do so would avoid the relevant unlawfulness or personal liability.

 

105

 

(c)                                  If pursuant to the requirements of clause 26.33(a) the French Subsidiary and/or the Czech Subsidiary are required to become Additional Guarantors the requirement of clause 30.4 (Additional Guarantors) shall apply however the Additional Guarantors shall not be required to provide Security unless the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Majority Lenders) requests that Security be provided in accordance with paragraph 14 of part 3 (Conditions precedent to be delivered by an Additional Obligor) of schedule 2.

 

26.34                     Anti-Terrorism Laws

 

Each Obligor agrees to the extent applicable to each Obligor:

 

(a)                                  to comply with all Anti-Terrorism Laws;

 

(b)                                 immediately to notify the Agent if it obtains knowledge that it or any of its Affiliates has become or been listed as a Designated Person or has been charged with or has engaged in any violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law;

 

(c)                                  to exclude any funds derived from any Designated Person or from any person or entity involved in the violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law from being used to pay debt service or any other amounts owing under the Finance Documents;

 

(d)                                 except for transfers of stock of any publicly traded Obligor or Affiliate effected on a stock exchange, not to transfer or permit the transfer of any legal or beneficial ownership interest of any kind in such Obligor or any Affiliate of such Obligor to a Designated Person or any person or entity that such Obligor has to its best knowledge (based upon reasonable inquiry by such Obligor) been involved in the violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law;

 

(e)                                  not to acquire, directly or indirectly, ownership interest of any kind in any Designated Person or any person or entity that such Obligor has, to its best knowledge (based upon reasonable inquiry by such Obligor) been involved in the violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, not to form any partnership or joint venture with any such person and not to act, directly or indirectly, as the agent or representative of any such person; and

 

(f)                                    to indemnify the Lenders for any costs incurred by any of them as a result of any violation of an Anti-Terrorism Law by any Obligor or any Affiliate of any Obligor.

 

26.35                     ERISA

 

Each Obligor shall:

 

(a)                                  ensure that neither it nor any ERISA Affiliate engages in a complete or partial withdrawal, within the meaning of sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA, from any Multiemployer Plan without the prior consent of the Agent;

 

(b)                                 ensure that any material liability imposed on it or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title IV of ERISA is paid and discharged when due;

 

(c)                                  ensure that neither it nor any ERISA Affiliate adopts an amendment to an Employee Plan requiring the provision of Security under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code without the prior consent of the Lender; and

 

(d)                                 ensure that no Employee Plan is terminated under section 4041 of ERISA

 

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26.36       Margin Regulation

 

(a)                                  Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Obligor shall) use the proceeds of the Loans without violating Regulation T, U or X or any other applicable US federal or state laws or regulations.

 

(b)                                 If requested by the Agent, each Obligor shall furnish to the Agent a statement in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.

 

26.37       US Regulation

 

Each Obligor shall ensure that it will not, by act or omission, become subject to any of the categories, laws or regulations described in clause 23.31(c) (Other US Regulation).

 

26.38       Conditions Subsequent

 

(a)           Each US Obligor shall submit the required notification and documentation to close all its bank accounts in England and Wales on or prior to the date falling 3 Business Days after the Closing Date.

 

(b)           On or before the date 60 days after the Closing Date, the Company shall provide to the Agent evidence that the Security in respect of the ABL Facility has been released and all necessary forms MG02 have been filed at Companies House.

 

(c)           The Company shall procure that each of LGL 1996 Limited and Biggleswick Limited are liquidated in accordance with limb (b) of the definition of Permitted Transaction before the first anniversary of this Agreement.

 

27                                  Events of Default

 

Each of the events or circumstances set out in this clause 27 (other than clause 27.20) is an Event of Default.

 

27.1                           Non-payment

 

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

 

(a)                                  its failure to pay is caused by:

 

(i)                                     an administrative or technical error; or

 

(ii)                                  a Disruption Event; and

 

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

 

27.2                           Financial covenants and other obligations

 

(a)                                  Any requirement of clause 25 (other than clause 25.2(b) (Cash Service Cover)) (Financial covenants) is not satisfied.

 

(b)                                 An Obligor does not comply with any Material Provision.

 

(c)                                  An Obligor does not comply with any provision of any Transaction Security Document.

 

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27.3         Other obligations

 

(a)                                  An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in clause 27.1, clause 27.2 and clause 25.2(b).

 

(b)                                 No Event of Default under clause 27.3(a) will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 15 Business Days of the earlier of:

 

(i)                                     the Agent giving notice to the Company or relevant Obligor; and

 

(ii)                                  the Company or the relevant Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply.

 

27.4         Misrepresentation

 

(a)                                  Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading when made or deemed to be made.

 

(b)                                 No Event of Default under clause 27.4(a) will occur if:

 

(i)                                     the event or circumstance causing the representation or statement to be incorrect or misleading is capable of remedy; and

 

(ii)                                  such Obligor shall have remedied such event or circumstance within 15 Business Days after the earlier of:

 

(A)                              the relevant Obligor becoming aware of such incorrect or misleading representation or statement; and

 

(B)                                receipt by the relevant Obligor of written notice from the Agent to such Obligor requiring the event or circumstance to be remedied.

 

27.5         Cross default

 

(a)                                  Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period.

 

(b)                                 Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

(c)                                  Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group 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 Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).

 

(e)                                  No Event of Default will occur under this clause 27.5 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within clause 27.5(a) to 27.5(d) (inclusive) is less than £2,500,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).

 

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27.6         Insolvency

 

(a)                                  A  member of the Group is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.

 

(b)                                 A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any member of the Group. If a moratorium occurs, the ending of the moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default caused by that moratorium.

 

27.7                           Insolvency proceedings

 

(a)                                  Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to:

 

(i)                                     the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any member of the Group;

 

(ii)                                  a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group other than as permitted under paragraph (b) of the definition of Permitted Transaction;

 

(iii)                               the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any member of the Group or any of its assets; or

 

(iv)                              enforcement of any Security over any assets of any member of the Group,

 

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

 

(b)                                 Any of the following occurs in respect of a US Obligor:

 

(i)                                     it makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

(ii)                                  it commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any US Bankruptcy Law;

 

(iii)                               an involuntary proceeding under any US Bankruptcy Law is commenced against it and is not challenged by appropriate means within thirty (30) days and is not dismissed or stayed within ninety (90) days after commencement of such case; or

 

(iv)                              a custodian, conservator, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official is appointed under any US Bankruptcy Law for, or takes charge of, all or a substantial part of the property of a US Obligor

 

(c)                                  Clause 27.7 shall not apply to any winding-up petition which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 14 days of commencement.

 

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27.8         Creditors’ process

 

Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution or any analogous process in any jurisdiction affects any asset or assets of a member of the Group having an aggregate value of £1,500,000 (or its equivalent in any currency) and is not discharged within 21 days of the commencement of such process.

 

27.9                           Unlawfulness and invalidity

 

(a)                                  It is or becomes unlawful for an Obligor, or any other member of the Group that is a party to the Intercreditor Deed, to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any Transaction Security created or expressed to be created or evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents ceases to be effective or any subordination created under the Intercreditor Deed is or becomes unlawful.

 

(b)                                 Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor under any Finance Documents or any other member of the Group under the Intercreditor Deed are not (subject to the Legal Reservations) or cease to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially and adversely affects the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                  Any Finance Document ceases to be in full force and effect or any Transaction Security, or any subordination created under the Intercreditor Deed, ceases to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective or is alleged by a party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective.

 

27.10                     Intercreditor Deed

 

(a)                                  Any party to the Intercreditor Deed (other than a Finance Party or an Obligor) fails to comply with the provisions of, or does not perform its obligations under, the Intercreditor Deed; or

 

(b)                                 a representation or warranty given by that party in the Intercreditor Deed is incorrect in any material respect,

 

and, if the non-compliance or circumstances giving rise to the misrepresentation or breach of warranty are capable of remedy, it is not remedied within 10 Business Days of the earlier of the Agent giving notice to that party or that party becoming aware of the non-compliance, misrepresentation or breach of warranty.

 

27.11       Cessation of business

 

Any member of the Group suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on) all or a material part of its business where such suspension or cessation is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

27.12       Change of ownership

 

After the Closing Date, an Obligor (other than the Company) ceases to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

 

27.13       Audit qualification

 

The Auditors of the Group qualify the Annual Financial Statements of the Company in an adverse manner which the Agent (acting reasonably) considers material.

 

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27.14       Expropriation

 

The authority or ability of any Obligor to conduct its business is materially limited or wholly or substantially curtailed by any seizure, expropriation, nationalisation, intervention, restriction or other action by or on behalf of any governmental, regulatory or other authority or other person in relation to any Obligor or any of its assets.

 

27.15       Repudiation and rescission of agreements

 

(a)                                  An Obligor (or any other relevant party) rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or any of the Transaction Security or evidences an intention to rescind or repudiate a Finance Document or any Transaction Security.

 

(b)                                 Any party to the Intercreditor Deed rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate any of those agreements or instruments in whole or in part where to do so has or is, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, likely to have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.

 

27.16       Litigation

 

Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or disputes are commenced or threatened in relation to the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents or against any member of the Group or its assets which results in a liability to such member of the Group (whether actual or contingent) in an aggregate amount in excess of £5,000,000 (excluding any proceedings in respect of which (a) the insurers of the Group have confirmed in writing to the Agent that the liability is fully covered by insurance and (b) such insurers are not disputing liability) (or its equivalent in any currency) and where a grace period is provided for that liability is not discharged in full within any required period set out in the relevant judgment, settlement or agreement.

 

27.17       Pensions

 

The Pensions Regulator issues a Financial Support Direction or a Contribution Notice to any member of the Group unless the aggregate liability of the Obligors in each Financial Year under all Financial Support Directions and Contributions Notices is less than the greater of:

 

(a)                                  £5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any currency); and

 

(b)                                 10% of the Group’s EBITDA (by reference to the latest audited Annual Financial Statements delivered to the Agent pursuant to clause 24.1(a) (Financial statements)).

 

27.18       Material adverse change

 

Any event or circumstance occurs which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

27.19       ERISA

 

Any ERISA Event or event set forth in (a), (b) or (c) below occurs that has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

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(a)                                  any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate incurs a liability to or on account of a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a violation of section 515 of ERISA or under section 4201, 4204 or 4212(c) of ERISA;

 

(b)                                 with respect to each Employee Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, such plan’s funded ratio (defined for this purpose as the actuarial value of the assets of such plan divided by the present value of all benefits accrued or earned with respect to such plan) is less than (i) 76 per cent as of 1 January 2011, and (ii) 80 per cent on the first day of any calendar year thereafter. The calculation of such ratio shall be computed using the actuarial value, assumptions and methods used by the actuary to the Employee Plan in its most recent valuation of such plan; or

 

(c)                                  any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate incurs or is likely to incur a liability to or on account of an Employee Plan under section 409, 502(i) or 502(I) of ERISA or section 4971 or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code other than as a result of entering into this Agreement.

 

27.20       Acceleration

 

On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company:

 

(a)                                  cancel the Total Commitments and/or Ancillary Commitments at which time 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, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable;

 

(c)                                  declare that all or part of the Loans be payable on demand, at which time they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders;

 

(d)                                 declare all or any part of the amounts (or cash cover in relation to those amounts) outstanding under the Ancillary Facilities to be immediately due and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or

 

(e)                                  exercise or direct the Security Trustee to exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents.

 

27.21       Automatic Acceleration in Relation to a US Obligor

 

If an Event of Default occurs under clause 27.7(b) in relation to a US Obligor:

 

(a)                                  the Total Commitment shall immediately be cancelled automatically, without any direction, notice, declaration or other act;

 

(b)                                 all of the Utilisations, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued and outstanding under the Finance Documents shall be immediately due and payable, automatically and without any direction, notice, declaration or other act; and

 

(c)                                  each amount expressed hereunder to be payable by any US Obligor on demand shall, after that Event of Default has occurred, be immediately due and payable without the need for any demand or other claim on any US Obligor.

 

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28                                  Changes to the Lenders

 

28.1                           Assignments and transfers by the Lenders

 

Subject to this clause 28 and to clause 29, a Lender (Existing Lender) may:

 

(a)                                  assign any of its rights; or

 

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

 

under any Finance Document to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in, or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (New Lender).

 

28.2                           Conditions of assignment or transfer

 

(a)                                  An Existing Lender must consult with the Company for not less than 5 Business Days before it may make an assignment or transfer in accordance with clause 28.1 unless the assignment or transfer is:

 

(i)                                     to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender;

 

(ii)                                  if the Existing Lender is a fund, to a fund which is a Related Fund of the Existing Lender; or

 

(iii)                               made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing.

 

(b)                                 An assignment will only be effective on:

 

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

 

(ii)                                  the New Lender entering into the documentation required for it to accede as a party to the lntercreditor Deed; and

 

(iii)                               the performance by the Agent of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.

 

(c)                                  A transfer will only be effective if the New Lender enters into the documentation required for it to accede as a party to the lntercreditor Deed and if the procedure set out in clause 28.5 is complied with.

 

(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, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New

 

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Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under clause 18 (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.

 

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

 

28.3                           Assignment or transfer fee

 

Unless the Agent otherwise agrees and excluding an assignment or transfer:

 

(a)                                  to an Affiliate of a Lender; or

 

(b)                                 to a Related Fund

 

the New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of £1,500.

 

28.4                           Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)                                  the financial condition of any Obligor;

 

(iii)                               the performance and observance by any Obligor or any other member of the Group of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or any other documents; 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 each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender or any other Finance Party in connection with any Transaction Document or the Transaction Security; and

 

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(ii)                                  will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities and of the risks arising under or in connection with the Finance Documents on the terms set out in clause 31.15 (Credit appraisal by the Lenders and Ancillary Lenders) whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.

 

(c)                                  Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:

 

(i)                                     accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this clause 28; or

 

(ii)                                  guarantee, indemnify or otherwise hold harmless a New Lender in respect of any cost, loss or liability directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or otherwise.

 

28.5                           Procedure for transfer

 

(a)                                  Subject to the conditions set out in clause 28.2 a transfer is effected in accordance with clause 28.5(c) when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to clause 28.5(b), 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. Each Obligor and each Finance Party (other than the Existing Lender and the Agent) irrevocably authorises the Agent to execute on its behalf each duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to the Agent and acknowledges that it will be bound by such transfer.

 

(b)                                 The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.

 

(c)                                  Subject to clause 28.10, on the Transfer Date:

 

(i)                                     to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security shall be cancelled (Discharged Rights and Obligations);

 

(ii)                                  each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor or other member of the Group and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender;

 

(iii)                               the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Trustee, the New Lender, the other Lenders and any relevant Ancillary Lender shall acquire the same rights and

 

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assume the same obligations between themselves and in respect of the Transaction Security as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights, and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Trustee and any relevant Ancillary Lender and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and

 

(iv)                              the New Lender shall become a Party as a Lender.

 

28.6         Procedure for assignment

 

(a)                                  Subject to the conditions set out in clause 28.2 an assignment may be effected in accordance with clause 28.6(c) below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph clause 28.6(b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement.

 

(b)                                 The Agent shall only be obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assignment to such New Lender.

 

(c)                                  Subject to clause 28.10, on the Transfer Date:

 

(i)                                     the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender its rights under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security expressed to be the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement;

 

(ii)                                  the Existing Lender will be released from the obligations (Relevant Obligations) expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment Agreement (and any corresponding obligations by which it is bound in respect of the Transaction Security); and

 

(iii)                               the New Lender shall become a Party as a “Lender’ and will be bound by obligations equivalent to the Relevant Obligations.

 

(d)                                 Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this clause 28.6 to assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the relevant Obligor or unless in accordance with clause 28.5, to obtain a release by that Obligor from the obligations owed to that Obligor by the Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New Lender) provided that they comply with the conditions set out in clause 28.2.

 

28.7         Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Company

 

The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, an Assignment Agreement or an Increase Confirmation, send to the Company a copy of that Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation.

 

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28.8         Accession of Hedge Counterparties

 

Any person which becomes a party to the Intercreditor Deed as a Hedge Counterparty shall, at the same time, become a Party to this Agreement as a Hedge Counterparty in accordance with clause 16.7 (Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking) of the lntercreditor Deed.

 

28.9         Security over Lenders’ rights

 

In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this clause 28, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create a 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 Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank or to a government authority, department or agency (including HM Treasury); and

 

(b)                                 in the case of any Lender which is a fund any 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 Security shall:

 

(i)            release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or

 

(ii)           require any payments to be made by an Obligor 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.

 

28.10       Pro rata interest settlement

 

If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a “pro rata basis” to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to clause 28.6 or any assignment pursuant to clause 28.6 the Transfer Date of which, in each case, is after the date of such notification and is not on the last day of an Interest Period):

 

(a)                                  any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date (Accrued Amounts) and shall become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Interest Period (or, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six Monthly intervals after the first day of that Interest Period); and

 

(b)                                 the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts so that, for the avoidance of doubt:

 

(i)                                     when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable for the account of the Existing Lender; and

 

(ii)                                  the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this clause 28.10, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.

 

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29                                  Restriction on Debt Purchase Transactions

 

29.1         Prohibition on Debt Purchase Transactions by the Group

 

The Company shall not, and shall procure that each other member of the Group shall not, enter into any Debt Purchase Transaction or beneficially own all or any part of the share capital of a company that is a Lender or a party to a Debt Purchase Transaction of the type referred to in paragraphs (b) or (c) of the definition of Debt Purchase Transaction.

 

29.2                           Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates

 

(a)                                  For so long as a Sponsor Affiliate (i) beneficially owns a Commitment or (ii) has entered into a sub-participation agreement relating to a Commitment or other agreement or arrangement having a substantially similar economic effect and such agreement or arrangement has not been terminated:

 

(i)                                     in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents such Commitment shall be deemed to be zero; and

 

(ii)                                  such Sponsor Affiliate 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 Sponsor Affiliate it is a Lender by virtue otherwise than by beneficially owning the relevant Commitment).

 

(b)                                 Each Lender shall, unless such Debt Purchase Transaction is an assignment or transfer, promptly notify the Agent in writing if it knowingly enters into a Debt Purchase Transaction with a Sponsor Affiliate (Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction), such notification to be substantially in the form set out in part 1 (Form of Notice on Entering into Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction) of schedule 12.

 

(c)                                  A Lender shall promptly notify the Agent if a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction to which it is a party:

 

(i)                                     is terminated; or

 

(ii)                                  ceases to be with a Sponsor Affiliate,

 

such notification to be substantially in the form set out in part 2 (Form of Notice on Termination of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction / Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction ceasing to be with Sponsor Affiliate) of schedule 12.

 

(d)                                 Each Sponsor Affiliate that is a Lender agrees that:

 

(i)                                     in relation to any meeting or conference call to which all the Lenders are invited to attend or participate, it shall not attend or participate in the same if so requested by the Agent or, unless the Agent otherwise agrees, be entitled to receive the agenda or any minutes of the same; and

 

(ii)                                  in its capacity as Lender, unless the Agent otherwise agrees, it shall not be entitled to receive any report or other document prepared at the behest of, or on the instructions of, the Agent or one or more of the Lenders.

 

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30                                  Changes to the Obligors

 

30.1         Assignment and transfers by Obligors

 

No Obligor or any other member of the Group may assign any of its rights or transfer (or enter into any transaction or purported transaction the effect of which is to give rise to a trust in respect of) any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.

 

30.2                           Additional Borrowers

 

(a)                                  Subject to compliance with the provisions of clause 24.8(c) (“Know your customer” checks) and 24.8(d) (“Know your customer” checks), the Company may request, at any time after the first Utilisation Date, in connection with any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries, which is not a Dormant Subsidiary, becomes a Borrower under the Revolving Facility. That Subsidiary shall become a Borrower under the Revolving Facility upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

 

(A)                              it is incorporated in the same jurisdiction as an existing Borrower and the Majority Lenders approve the addition of that Subsidiary or otherwise if all the Lenders approve the addition of that Subsidiary;

 

(B)                                the Company and that Subsidiary deliver to the Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Deed;

 

(C)                                the Subsidiary is (or becomes) a Guarantor prior to becoming a Borrower;

 

(D)                               the Company confirms that no Default is continuing or would occur as a result of that Subsidiary becoming an Additional Borrower and the Company confirms this; and

 

(E)                                 the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in part 3 (Conditions precedent to be delivered by an Additional Obligor) of schedule 2 in relation to that Additional Borrower, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(b)                                 The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other evidence listed in part 3 (Conditions precedent to be delivered by an Additional Obligor) of schedule 2.

 

(c)                                  Upon becoming an Additional Borrower that Subsidiary shall make any filings (and provide copies of such filings) as required by clause 17.2(j) (Tax gross-up) and clause 17.1(b) (HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme confirmation) in accordance with those clauses.

 

30.3         Resignation of a Borrower

 

(a)                                  With the prior consent of all the Lenders (such consent to be provided if the Borrower is the subject of a disposal that is permitted under clause 26.13), the Company may request that such Borrower ceases to be a Borrower by delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter.

 

(b)                                 The Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Company and the other Finance Parties of its acceptance if:

 

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(i)                                     the Company has confirmed that no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter;

 

(ii)                                  the Borrower is under no actual or contingent obligations as a Borrower under any Finance Documents;

 

(iii)                               where the Borrower is also a Guarantor (unless its resignation has been accepted in accordance with clause 30.5), its obligations in its capacity as Guarantor continue to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect (subject to the Legal Reservations) and the amount guaranteed by it as a Guarantor is not decreased (and the Company has confirmed this is the case); and

 

(iv)                              the Company has confirmed that it shall ensure that any relevant Disposal Proceeds will be applied in accordance with clause 11.2 (Disposal and Insurance).

 

(c)                                  Upon notification by the Agent to the Company of its acceptance of the resignation of a Borrower, that Party shall cease to be a Borrower and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance Documents as a Borrower.

 

(d)                                 The Agent may, at the cost and expense of the Company, require a legal opinion from counsel to the Agent confirming the matters set out in clause 30.3(b)(ii) and the Agent shall be under no obligation to accept a Resignation Letter until it has obtained such opinion in form and substance satisfactory to it.

 

30.4                           Additional Guarantors

 

(a)                                  Subject to compliance with the provisions of clause 24.8 (“Know your customer” checks), the Company shall ensure that any other member of the Group which is a Material Company (other than the French Subsidiary and the Czech Subsidiary) shall within ten Business Days after becoming a Material Company, shall become an Additional Guarantor.

 

(b)                                 A member of the Group shall become an Additional Guarantor if the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in part 3 (Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Obligor) of schedule 2 in relation to that Additional Guarantor, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(c)                                  The Agent shall notify the Company and the other Finance Parties promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) all the documents and other evidence listed in part 3 (Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Obligor) of schedule 2.

 

30.5                           Resignation of a Guarantor

 

(a)                                  The Company may request that a Guarantor (other than the Company) ceases to be a Guarantor by delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter if:

 

(i)                                     that Guarantor is being disposed of by way of a Third Party Disposal (as defined in clause 30.3) and the Company has confirmed this is the case; or

 

(ii)                                  subject to clause 3.3(c)(ii) (Amendments and waivers: Senior Lenders) of the Intercreditor Deed, all the Lenders have consented to the resignation of that Guarantor.

 

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(b)                                 Subject to clause 16.10 (Resignation of a Debtor) of the Intercreditor Deed, the Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Company and the Lenders of its acceptance upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

 

(i)                                     the Company has confirmed that no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter;

 

(ii)                                  no payment is due from the Guarantor under clause 22.1 (Guarantee and indemnity);

 

(iii)                               where the Guarantor is also a Borrower, it is under no actual or contingent obligations as a Borrower and has resigned and ceased to be a Borrower under clause 30.3; and

 

(iv)                              the Company has confirmed that it shall ensure that the relevant Disposal Proceeds will be applied, in accordance with clause 11.2.

 

(c)                                  The resignation of that Guarantor shall not be effective until the date of the relevant Third Party Disposal at which time that company shall cease to be a Guarantor and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance Documents as a Guarantor.

 

30.6         Repetition of Representations

 

Delivery of an Accession Deed constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that the representations and warranties referred to in clause 23.33(d) are true and correct in relation to it as at the date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.

 

30.7         Resignation and release of Security on disposal

 

If a Borrower or Guarantor is or is proposed to be the subject of a Third Party Disposal then:

 

(a)                                  where that Borrower or Guarantor created Transaction Security over any of its assets or business in favour of the Security Trustee, or Transaction Security in favour of the Security Trustee was created over the shares (or equivalent) of that Borrower or Guarantor, the Security Trustee may, at the cost and request of the Company, release those assets, business or shares (or equivalent) and issue certificates of non-crystallisation;

 

(b)                                 the resignation of that Borrower or Guarantor and related release of Transaction Security referred to in clause 30.7(a) shall not become effective until the date of that disposal; and

 

(c)                                  if the disposal of that Borrower or Guarantor is not made, the Resignation Letter of that Borrower or Guarantor and the related release of Transaction Security referred to in clause 30.7(a) shall have no effect and the obligations of that Borrower or Guarantor and the Transaction Security created or intended to be created by or over that Borrower or Guarantor shall continue in such force and effect as if that release had not been effected.

 

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31                                  Role of the Agent, the Arrangers and others

 

31.1         Appointment of the Agent

 

(a)                                  Each of the Arrangers and the Lenders appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                                 Each of the Arrangers and the Lenders authorises the Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.

 

31.2                           Duties of the Agent

 

(a)                                  Subject to clause 31.2(b), the Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party.

 

(b)                                 Without prejudice to clause 28.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Company), clause 31.2(a) above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate, any Assignment Agreement or any Increase Confirmation.

 

(c)                                  Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.

 

(d)                                 If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

(e)                                  If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent, the Arrangers or the Security Trustee) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.

 

(f)                                    The Agent shall maintain a register for recordation of the names, addresses (including the department or officer) if any, to whom communications are to be made or documents are to be delivered), fax numbers, electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by electronic mail or other electronic means and the Commitments of each Lender, and agrees to provide to the Company within 5 Business Days of a request by the Company (but no more frequently than once per calendar month) or as soon as reasonably practicable upon the Agent becoming an Impaired Agent a copy of such register as at the date of that request. The entries in the register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Obligors and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement,

 

(g)                                 The Agent’s duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.

 

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31.3                           Role of the Arrangers

 

Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arrangers have no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.

 

31.4                           No fiduciary duties

 

(a)                                  Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent and/or the Arrangers as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.

 

(b)                                 None of the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arrangers or any Ancillary Lender shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.

 

31.5         Business with the Group

 

The Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arrangers and each Ancillary Lender may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.

 

31.6         Rights and discretions

 

(a)                                  The Agent may rely on:

 

(i)                                     any representation, notice or document (including, without limitation, any notice given by a Lender pursuant to clause 29.2(b) or 29.2(c) (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates)) 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)                                 The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that:

 

(i)                                     no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under clause 27.1 (Non-payment));

 

(ii)                                  any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised;

 

(iii)                               any notice or request made by the Company (other than a Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors; and

 

(iv)                              no Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction:

 

(A)                              has been entered into;

 

(B)                                has been terminated; or

 

(C)                                has ceased to be with a Sponsor Affiliate.

 

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(c)                                  The Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts.

 

(d)                                 The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents.

 

(e)                                  The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    Without prejudice to the generality of clause 31.6(e) above, the Agent may disclose the identity of a Defaulting Lender to the other Finance Parties and the Company shall disclose the same upon the written request of the Majority Lenders.

 

(g)                                 Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, none of the Agent or the Arrangers 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.

 

(h)                                 The Agent may not disclose to any Finance Party any details of the rate notified to the Agent by any Lender for the purpose of clause 15.3(a)(ii) (Market disruption).

 

31.7         Majority Lenders’ instructions

 

(a)                                  Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent shall:

 

(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.

 

(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 other than the Security Trustee.

 

(c)                                  The 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) the Agent may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.

 

(e)                                  The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lender’s consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This clause 31.7(e) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Transaction Security Documents or enforcement of the Transaction Security or the Transaction Security Documents.

 

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31.8                           Responsibility for documentation

 

None of the Agent or any Arranger or any Ancillary Lender:

 

(a)                                  is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, any Arranger, an Ancillary Lender, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document, the Information Memorandum or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents;

 

(b)                                 is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or

 

(c)                                  is responsible for any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.

 

31.9         Exclusion of liability

 

(a)           Without limiting clause 31.9(b) (and without prejudice to the provisions of clause 34.11(e) (Disruption to Payment Systems etc), none of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender will be liable (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) for any action taken by it (or any omission by it to act) under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

(b)           No Party (other than the Agent or an Ancillary Lender (as applicable)) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender, in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or an Ancillary Lender or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document or any Transaction Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender may rely on this clause subject to clause 1.3 (Third party rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.

 

(c)           The Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Agent if the Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Agent for that purpose.

 

(d)           Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arrangers to carry out any “know your customer” or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the 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 Agent or the Arrangers.

 

31.10       Lenders’ indemnity to the Agent

 

Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within 3 Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent’s gross negligence

 

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or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to clause 34.11 (Disruption to Payment Systems etc) notwithstanding the Agent’s negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document).

 

31.11       Resignation of the Agent

 

(a)                             The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office in the United Kingdom as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Company.

 

(b)                            Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving notice to the Lenders and the Company, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent.

 

(c)                             If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with clause 31.11(b) within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the Agent (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom).

 

(d)                            If the Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as agent and the Agent is entitled to appoint a successor Agent under clause 31.11(c), the Agent may (if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Agent to become a party to this Agreement as Agent) agree with the proposed successor Agent amendments to this clause 31 and any other term of this Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the Agent consistent with then current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees together with any reasonable amendments to the agency fee payable under this Agreement which are consistent with the successor Agent’s normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties.

 

(e)                             The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents.

 

(f)                               The Agent’s resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor.

 

(g)                            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 31. Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.

 

(h)                            After consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with clause 31.11(b). In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with clause 31.11(b).

 

31.12       Replacement of the Agent

 

(a)                                  After consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 days’ notice to the Agent (or at any time the Agent is an Impaired Agent, by giving any

 

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shorter notice determined by the Majority Lenders) replace the Agent by appointing a successor Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom).

 

(b)                                 The retiring Agent shall (at its own cost if it is an Impaired Agent and otherwise 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 31.12 (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.

 

31.13       Confidentiality

 

(a)                                  In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.

 

(b)                                 If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the Arrangers are obliged to disclose to any other person:

 

(i)                                     any confidential information; or

 

(ii)                                  any other information if the disclosure would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or a breach of a fiduciary duty.

 

31.14                     Relationship with the Lenders

 

(a)                                  Subject to clause 28.10 (Pro rata interest settlement), the Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of the Agent’s principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office:

 

(i)                                     entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and

 

(ii)                                  entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day,

 

unless it has received not less than 5 Business Days prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(b)                                 Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information required by the Agent in order to calculate the Mandatory Cost in accordance with schedule 4 (Mandatory Cost Formula).

 

(c)                                  Any Lender may by notice to the Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax number and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted by clause 36.5 (Communication when Agent is Impaired Agent) 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, tax number, electronic mail address, department and officer by that Lender for the purposes of clause 36.2 (Addresses) and clause 36.6(a)(iii) (Electronic Communication) and the Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender.

 

31.15                     Credit appraisal by the Lenders and Ancillary Lenders

 

Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender and Ancillary Lender confirms to the Agent, the Arrangers and each Ancillary Lender that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:

 

(a)                                  the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group;

 

(b)                                 the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and the Transaction Security and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;

 

(c)                                  whether that Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the Transaction Security, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document;

 

(d)                                 the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of the Information Memorandum and any other information provided by the 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; and

 

(e)                                  the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Secured Assets, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Secured Assets.

 

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31.16       Base Reference Banks

 

If a Base Reference Bank (or, if a Base Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with the Company) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Base Reference Bank.

 

31.17       Agent’s management time

 

(a)           Any amount payable to the Agent under clause 19.3 (Indemnity to the Agent), clause 21 (Costs and expenses) and clause 31.10 following an Event of Default shall include the cost of utilising the Agent’s management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Agent may notify to the Company and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid or payable to the Agent under clause 16 (Fees).

 

(b)           Any cost of utilising the Agent’s management time or other resources shall include, without limitation, any such costs in connection with clause 29.2 (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates).

 

31.18       Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent

 

If any Party owes an amount to the Agent (in its capacity as such) under the Finance Documents the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.

 

31.19       Reliance and engagement letters

 

Each Finance Party confirms that each of the Arrangers, the Agent and the Security Trustee has authority to accept on its behalf (and ratifies the acceptance on its behalf of any letters or reports already accepted by the Arrangers, Agent or the Security Trustee) the terms of any reliance letter or engagement letters relating to any reports or letters provided in connection with the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents and to bind it in respect of those reports or letters and to sign such letters on its behalf and further confirms that it accepts the terms and qualifications set out in such letters.

 

32           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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33           Sharing among the Finance Parties

 

33.1         Payments to Finance Parties

 

(a)           Subject to clause 33.1(b) below, if a Finance Party (Recovering Finance Party) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with clauses 16.2 (participation fee), 16.3 (Agency fee) and 34 (Payment mechanics) (a Recovered Amount) and applies that amount (or exercises any other right (including any right of set-off or combination) which it may have, in each case) to or towards the discharge of a payment due under the Finance Documents then:

 

(i)            the Recovering Finance Party shall, within 3 Business Days, notify details of the receipt recovery, or discharge, to the Agent;

 

(ii)           the Agent shall determine whether the receipt recovery or discharge is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt recovery or discharge been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with clause 34 (Payment mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and

 

(iii)          the Recovering Finance Party shall, within 3 Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (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 34.6 (partial payments).

 

(b)           Clause 33.1(a) above shall not apply to any amount received or recovered by an Ancillary Lender in respect of any cash cover provided for the benefit of that Ancillary Lender.

 

33.2         Redistribution of payments

 

The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the Sharing Finance Parties) in accordance with clause 34.6 (partial payments) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance Parties.

 

33.3         Recovering Finance Party’s rights

 

On a distribution by the Agent under clause 33.2 of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from an Obligor, as between the relevant Obligor and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.

 

33.4         Reversal of redistribution

 

If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered (or which is deemed to have been received or recovered) by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:

 

(a)           each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for that account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate

 

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part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the Redistributed Amount); and

 

(b)           as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.

 

33.5         Exceptions

 

(a)           This clause 33 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor.

 

(b)           A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:

 

(i)            it notified the other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and

 

(ii)           the 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.

 

33.6         Ancillary Lenders

 

(a)           This clause 33 shall not apply to any receipt or recovery by a Lender in its capacity as an Ancillary Lender at any time prior to service of notice under clause 27.20 (Acceleration).

 

(b)           Following service of notice under clause 27.20 (Acceleration), this clause 33 shall apply to all receipts or recoveries by Ancillary Lenders except to the extent that the receipt or recovery represents a reduction from the Designated Gross Amount for an Ancillary Facility to its Designated Net Amount.

 

34           Payment mechanics

 

34.1         Payments to the Agent

 

(a)           On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document (excluding a payment under the terms of an Ancillary Document) or, in the case of an Obligor, a scheduled payment under a Hedging Agreement, that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.

 

(b)           Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in a principal financial centre in a Participating Member State or London) with such bank as the Agent specifies.

 

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34.2         Distributions by the Agent

 

Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to clause 34.3 and clause 34.4 be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than 5 Business Days notice with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London).

 

34.3         Distributions to an Obligor

 

The Agent may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with clause 35 (Set-off)) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.

 

34.4         Clawback

 

(a)           Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.

 

(b)           If the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds.

 

34.5         Impaired Agent

 

If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent in accordance with clause 34.1 (Payments to the Agent) may instead pay that amount direct to the required recipient or if the relevant Obligor and the Majority Lenders agree at that time pay that amount to an interest-bearing account (which account shall bear interest at a market rate taking into account the currency and term of the deposit) held with an Acceptable Bank which is a regular acceptor of deposits within the meaning of paragraph (a) of the definition of Acceptable Bank and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the Payment and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents. In each case such payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents. The trust account must be held in London or in a principal financial centre of another jurisdiction whose law recognises the concept of a trust arrangement and in which the Majority Lenders consider that the rights of the Partiers in respect of that account (and the rights to receive monies due to them standing to its credit) will not be prejudiced (including in the event of an insolvency or other similar proceedings affecting the Acceptable Bank or the relevant recipient party). In each case such payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.

 

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34.6         Partial payments

 

(a)           If the Agent receives a payment for application against amounts due in respect of any Finance Documents that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under those Finance Documents to the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Trustee and the Lenders, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under those Finance Documents to such parties in the following order:

 

(i)            first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee under those Finance Documents;

 

(ii)           secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under those Finance Documents to such parties;

 

(iii)          thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under those Finance Documents to such parties; and

 

(iv)          fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents to such parties.

 

(b)           The Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in clause 34.6(a)(ii) to 34.6(a)(iv).

 

(c)           Clause 34.6(a) and 34.6(b) will override any appropriation made by an Obligor.

 

34.7         No set-off by Obligors

 

All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.

 

34.8         Business Days

 

(a)           Subject to clause 34.8(b), 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)           If a payment under the Finance Documents is due to be paid on a relevant Termination Date but that day is not a Business Day, that payment shall be made on the preceding Business Day.

 

(c)           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 date on which, but for this clause 34.8, such principal or Unpaid Sum would otherwise have been due.

 

34.9         Currency of account

 

(a)           Subject to clause 34.9(b) to 34.9(e), the Base Currency is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor 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.

 

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(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 the Base Currency shall be paid in that other currency.

 

34.10       Change of currency

 

(a)           Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:

 

(i)            any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (after consultation with the Company); and

 

(ii)           any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably).

 

(b)           If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Company) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.

 

34.11       Disruption to Payment Systems etc

 

If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Company that a Disruption Event has occurred:

 

(a)           the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Company, consult with the Company with a view to agreeing with the Company such changes to the operation or administration of the Facilities as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances;

 

(b)           the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Company in relation to any changes mentioned in clause 34.11(a) if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes;

 

(c)           the Agent may consult with the other Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in clause 34.11(a) but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;

 

(d)           any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Company shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of clause 40 (Amendments and waivers);

 

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(e)           the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this clause 34.11; and

 

(f)            the Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to clause 34.11(d) above.

 

35           Set-off

 

(a)           A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.

 

(b)           Any credit balances taken into account by an Ancillary Lender when operating a net limit in respect of any overdraft under an Ancillary Facility shall on enforcement of the Finance Documents be applied first in reduction of the overdraft provided under that Ancillary Facility in accordance with its terms.

 

36           Notices

 

36.1         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.

 

36.2         Addresses

 

The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:

 

(a)           in the case of the Company, that identified with its name below;

 

(b)           in the case of the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Trustee, each Original Lender and the Original Ancillary Lender, that identified with its name below; and

 

(c)           in the case of each other Lender, each other Ancillary Lender or any other Obligor, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party,

 

or any substitute address, fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than 5 Business Days notice.

 

36.3         Delivery

 

(a)           Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:

 

(i)            if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or

 

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(ii)           if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or 3 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 36.2, if addressed to that department or officer.

 

(b)           Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent or the Security Trustee will be effective only when actually received by the Agent or Security Trustee and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agents or Security Trustees signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent or Security Trustee shall specify for this purpose).

 

(c)           All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Agent.

 

(d)           Any communication or document made or delivered to the Company in accordance with this clause 36.3 will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the Obligors.

 

36.4         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 36.2 or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.

 

36.5         Communication when Agent is an Impaired Agent

 

Upon the Agent becoming aware that it is an Impaired Agent, the Agent will as soon as reasonably practicable notify, in writing, each Party to a Finance Document that it is an Impaired Agent (the Impaired Agent Notice). The Impaired Agent Notice will specify the date on which the Agent became an Impaired Agent and will include the details required to be delivered by the Agent under clause 31.2 (Duties of the Agent). From the date of the Impaired Agent Notice, the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other through the Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Agent is an Impaired Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Documents which require communications to be made or notices to be given to or by the Agent shall be varied so that communications may be made and notices given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision shall not operate after a replacement Agent has been appointed. For the avoidance of doubt, the failure of the Agent to deliver the Impaired Agent Notice will not prevent the Parties from communicating directly with each other if the Agent is an Impaired Agent.

 

36.6         Electronic communication

 

(a)           Any communication to be made between the Agent or the Security Trustee and a Lender under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Agent, the Security Trustee and the relevant Lender:

 

(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

 

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(iii)       notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them.

 

(b)           Any electronic communication made between the Agent and a Lender or the Security Trustee will be effective only when actually received in intelligible form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Lender to the Agent or the Security Trustee only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent or Security Trustee shall specify for this purpose.

 

36.7         English language

 

(a)           Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.

 

(b)           All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:

 

(i)            in English; or

 

(ii)           if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.

 

37           Calculations and certificates

 

37.1         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.

 

37.2         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.

 

37.3         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.

 

38           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.

 

39           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

 

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partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement and the other Finance Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

40           Amendments and waivers

 

40.1         Intercreditor Deed

 

This clause 40 is subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

40.2         Required consents

 

(a)           Subject to clause 40.3 any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders and the Company and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.

 

(b)           The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this clause 40.

 

(c)           Each Obligor agrees to any such amendment or waiver permitted by this clause 40 which is agreed to by the Company. This includes any amendment or waiver which would, but for this clause 40.2(c), require the consent of all of the Guarantors.

 

40.3         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 (Definitions and interpretation);

 

(ii)           an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;

 

(iii)          a reduction in the Margin (other than by means of the operation of the Margin ratchet) or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amount payable to a Lender under the Finance Documents (other than in relation to clause 11 (Mandatory prepayment));

 

(iv)          a change in currency of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;

 

(v)           an increase in or an extension of any Commitment or the Total Commitments;

 

(vi)          a change to the Borrowers or Guarantors other than in accordance with clause 30 (Changes to the Obligors);

 

(vii)         any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;

 

(viii)        clause 1.3 (Third party rights), clause 2.3 (Finance Parties’ rights and obligations), clause 11 (Mandatory prepayment), 15.1 (Margin adjustment), clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders), clause 33 (Sharing among the Finance Parties) or this clause 40;

 

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(ix)                              (other than as expressly permitted by the provisions of any Finance Document) the nature or scope of:

 

(A)                the guarantee and indemnity granted under clause 22 (Guarantee and indemnity);

 

(B)                  the Charged Property; or

 

(C)                  the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Transaction Security are distributed

 

(except in the case of paragraph (B) and paragraph (C) above insofar as it relates to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document);

 

(x)                                 the release of any guarantee and indemnity granted under clause 22 (Guarantee and indemnity) or of any Transaction Security unless permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document or relating to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement; or

 

(xi)                              any amendment to the order of priority or subordination under the lntercreditor Deed,

 

shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.

 

(b)                                 An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Trustee, any Ancillary Lender or any Hedge Counterparty (each in their capacity as such) may not be effected without the prior written consent of the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Trustee, that Ancillary Lender or, as the case may be, that Hedge Counterparty.

 

40.4                           Deemed consent

 

If at any time the Lenders agree to amend or waive any term of this Agreement in accordance with this clause 40 then the Ancillary Lenders will be deemed to make a corresponding amendment or waiver in equivalent terms to the Ancillary Documents and to take any steps that the Agent may reasonably require on behalf of the Lenders to give effect to this clause 40.4.

 

40.5                           Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders

 

(a)                                For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments or Total Revolving Commitments has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents, that Defaulting Lender’s Commitments will be reduced by the amount of its Available Commitments.

 

(b)                               For the purposes of this clause 40.5 the Agent may assume that the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders:

 

(i)                                     any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender;

 

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(ii)                                  any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events of circumstances referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of Defaulting Lender has occurred and, in the case of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraph (a), none of the exceptions to that paragraph apply,

 

unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.

 

40.6                           Replacement of a Defaulting Lender

 

(a)                                The Company may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving 10 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender:

 

(i)                                   replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                require such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of the undrawn Revolving Commitment of the Lender; or

 

(iii)                             require such Lender to (and such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to clause 28 (Changes to the Lenders) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations in respect of the Revolving Facility,

 

to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity (Replacement Lender) selected by the Company, and which (unless the Agent is an Impaired Agent) is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably), which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender (including the assumption of the transferring Lender’s participations or unfunded participations (as the case may be) on the same basis as the transferring Lender) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s participation in the outstanding Utilisations and all accrued interest, Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents.

 

(b)                               Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)                             the transfer must take place no later than 20 Business Days after the notice referred to in clause 40.6(a) above; and

 

(iv)                            in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents.

 

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41                                  Confidentiality

 

41.1                           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 41.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.

 

41.2                           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 clause 41.2(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 one or more Obligors and to any of that person’s Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;

 

(iii)                             appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom clause 41.2(b)(i) or (ii) applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under clause 31.14(c) (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 clause 41.2(b)(i) or 41.2(b)(ii);

 

(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;

 

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(vi)                            to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to clause 28.9 (Security over Lenders’ rights));

 

(vii)                         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;

 

(viii)                      who is a Party; or

 

(ix)                              with the consent of the Company;

 

in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if:

 

(A)                            in relation to clause 41.2(b)(i), 41.2(b)(ii) and 41.2(b)(iii), the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information;

 

(B)                              in relation to clause 41.2(b)(iv), the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidential Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information;

 

(C)                              in relation to clauses 41.2(b)(v) and 41.2(b)(vii), the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances;

 

(c)                                  to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom clause 41.2(b)(i) or 41.2(b)(ii) 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 clause 41.2(c) if the party 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;

 

(d)                                 to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Obligors if the rating agency to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information.

 

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41.3                         Disclosure to a numbering service provider

 

(a)                                Any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Facilities and/or one or more Obligors the following information:

 

(i)                                   names of Obligors;

 

(ii)                                country of domicile of Obligors;

 

(iii)                             place of incorporation of Obligors;

 

(iv)                            date of this Agreement;

 

(v)                               the names of the Agent and the Arranger;

 

(vi)                            date of each amendment and restatement of this Agreement;

 

(vii)                         amount of Total Commitments;

 

(viii)                      currencies of the Facilities;

 

(ix)                              type of Facilities;

 

(x)                                 ranking of Facilities;

 

(xi)                              changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to paragraphs (i) and (xi) above; and

 

(xii)                           such other information agreed between such Finance Party and the Company.

 

to enable such number service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.

 

(b)                                 The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Facilities and/or one or more Obligors by a number service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that number service provider.

 

(c)                                  Each Obligor represents that none of the information set out in paragraphs (i) to (xiii) of paragraph (a) above is, nor will at any time be, unpublished price-sensitive information.

 

(d)                                 The Agent shall notify the Parent and the other Finance Parties of:

 

(i)                                   the name of any numbering service provider appointed by the Agent in respect of this Agreement, the Facilities and/or one or more Obligors; and

 

(ii)                                the number or, as the case may be, numbers assigned to this Agreement, the Facilities and/or one or more Obligors by such numbering service provider.

 

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41.4                           Entire agreement

 

This clause 41 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.

 

41.5                           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.

 

41.6                           Notification of disclosure

 

Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Company:

 

(a)                                of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to clause 41.2(b)(v) 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 41.

 

41.7                           Continuing obligations

 

The obligations in this clause 41 are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of 12 months from the earlier of:

 

(a)                                the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents 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.

 

42                                  Publicity

 

The Company and each Obligor confirm it will not delay or unreasonably withhold its consent to any Finance Party publicising (by such means as that Finance Party may determine) its role in the funding of the Facilities.

 

43                                  Counterparts

 

Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a counterpart of a Finance Document by e-mail attachment or telecopy shall be an effective mode of delivery.

 

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44                                  Governing law

 

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

45                                  Enforcement

 

45.1                           Jurisdiction of English courts

 

(a)                                The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement) (a Dispute).

 

(b)                               The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary.

 

(c)                                This clause 45 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.

 

45.2                           Service of process

 

(a)                                Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales):

 

(i)                                   irrevocably appoints Luxfer Holdings PLC as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document (and Luxfer Holdings PLC by its execution of this Agreement, accepts that appointment); and

 

(ii)                                agrees that failure by an agent for service of process to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.

 

(b)                               If any person appointed as an agent for service of process is unable for any reason to act as agent for service of process, Luxfer Holdings PLC (on behalf of all the Obligors) must immediately (and in any event within 5 days of such event taking place) appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Agent. Failing this, the Agent may appoint another agent for this purpose.

 

(c)                                Luxfer Holdings PLC expressly agrees and consents to the provisions of this clause 45 and clause 44 (Governing law).

 

This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

145

 

Schedule 1

 

Part 1 - Original Borrowers

 

	
Company Name
    	
 
    	
Company Number
    	
 
    	
Relevant Jurisdiction
    
	
Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    	
3690830
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
BA Holdings, Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Luxfer Group Limited
    	
 
    	
3944037
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
Luxfer Group 2000 Limited
    	
 
    	
4027006
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
MEL Chemicals Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
New Jersey
    
	
Magnesium Elektron North America Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    

 

Part 2 - Original Guarantors

 

	
Company Name
    	
 
    	
Company Number
    	
 
    	
Relevant Jurisdiction
    
	
Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    	
3690830
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
BA Holdings, Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Luxfer Group Limited
    	
 
    	
3944037
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
Luxfer Group 2000 Limited
    	
 
    	
4027006
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
MEL Chemicals Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
New Jersey
    
	
Magnesium Elektron North America, Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Luxfer Gas Cylinders Limited
    	
 
    	
3376625
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
Luxfer Group Services Limited
    	
 
    	
3981395
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
Magnesium Elektron Limited
    	
 
    	
3141950
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
Luxfer Overseas Holdings Limited
    	
 
    	
3081726
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
Luxfer Gas Cylinders China Holdings Limited
    	
 
    	
5165622
    	
 
    	
England & Wales
    
	
Luxfer Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Hart Metals, Inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    
	
Reade Manufacturing Company
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Delaware
    

 

146

 

Part 3 - The Original Lenders

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Facility A
   Commitment
    	
 
    	
Revolving Facility
   Commitment
    	
 
    	
Total
   Commitment
    	
 
    	
Bilateral Limit
    	
 
    
	
Lloyds TSB Bank plc
    	
 
    	
£
    	
15,000,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
20,000,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
35,000,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
17,000,000
    	
 
    
	
Clydesdale Bank PLC   (trading as Yorkshire Bank)
    	
 
    	
£
    	
10,700,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
14,300,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
25,000,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
9,800,000
    	
 
    
	
Bank of America, N.A.
    	
 
    	
£
    	
4,300,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
5,700,000
    	
 
    	
£
    	
10,000,000
    	
 
    	
US$
    	
17,250,000
    	
 
    
															

 

147

 

Schedule 2

 

Conditions precedent

 

Part 1 - Conditions precedent to signing this Agreement

 

1                                         Obligors

 

(a)                                  A copy of the constitutional documents of each Original Obligor.

 

(b)                                 A copy of a resolution of the board or, if applicable, a committee of the board of directors of each Original Obligor:

 

(i)                                     approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;

 

(ii)                                  authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Transaction Documents to which it is a party on its behalf;

 

(iii)                               authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request and Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

 

(iv)                              in the case of an Obligor other than the Company, authorising the Company to act as its agent in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                  If applicable, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the relevant Original Obligor, establishing the committee referred to in paragraph 1(b).

 

(d)                                 A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph 1(b) in relation to the Finance Documents and related documents.

 

(e)                                  A copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares in each Original Guarantor (other than the Company), approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Original Guarantor is a party.

 

(f)                                    A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder of each Original Guarantor approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 1(e).

 

(g)                                 A certificate from a director of the Company confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, Security or similar limit binding on any Original Obligor to be exceeded.

 

(h)                                 A certificate from a director of the Company or other relevant Original Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this part 1 of schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended, novated, supplemented, superseded or terminated as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement.

 

(i)                                     If an Original Obligor is not incorporated in England and Wales, such documentary evidence that such Original Obligor has complied with any law in its jurisdiction relating to financial assistance or analogous process.

 

148

 

(j)                                     If an Original Obligor is incorporated outside the United Kingdom, a certificate of that Obligor (signed by a director) certifying either that (i) it has not registered one or more establishments (as that term is defined in Part 1 of the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009) with the Registrar of Companies or (ii) it has such an establishment and specifying the name and registered number under which it is registered with the Registrar of Companies.

 

(k)                                  A search at the Companies Court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London and at Companies House as at the date of this Agreement revealing no adverse entries against any of the Original Obligors.

 

(l)                                     A Uniform Commercial Code search of the Secretary of State (or equivalent recording office) of the state of incorporation of each US Obligor in a form acceptable to the Agent’s counsel and releases in a form acceptable to the Agent’s counsel of any existing liens appearing on such searches that do not constitute Permitted Security.

 

2                                         Finance Documents

 

(a)                                  This Agreement executed by each member of the Group who is a party to this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 The Fee Letters executed by the Company.

 

(c)                                  The Hedging Letter.

 

3                                         Other documents and evidence

 

(a)                                  The Group Structure Chart which shows the Group assuming the Closing Date has occurred.

 

(b)                                 The Base Case Model.

 

(c)                                  The Information Memorandum.

 

(d)                                 A copy, certified by a director of the Company to be a true copy, of the Original Financial Statements of each other Obligor.

 

(e)                                  The Funds Flow Statement detailing the proposed movement of funds on or before the Closing Date.

 

(f)                                    The Note Documents in the agreed form.

 

(g)                                 An irrevocable prepayment notice in the agreed form in respect of the Existing Notes signed by the Company together with a certificate from a director of the Company confirming that such prepayment notices will be served on or prior to the date falling 5 Business Days after the date of this Agreement.

 

(h)                                 The Agent being satisfied with the results of its “know your customer” and money laundering checks on the Original Obligors, and their officers and shareholders.

 

149

 

Part 2 - Conditions precedent to initial Utilisation

 

1                                          Obligors

 

(a)                                A copy of the constitutional documents of each Original Obligor (and in respect of MEL Chemicals Inc as certified by applicable regulatory authority in a form acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably)).

 

(b)                                 A copy of a resolution of the board or, if applicable, a committee of the board of directors of each Original Obligor:

 

(i)                                   approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;

 

(ii)                                authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Transaction Documents to which it is a party on its behalf;

 

(iii)                             authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request and Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

 

(iv)                            in the case of an Obligor other than the Company, authorising the Company to act as its agent in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

(c)                                  If applicable, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the relevant Original Obligor, establishing the committee referred to in paragraph 1(b).

 

(d)                                 A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph 1(b) in relation to the Finance Documents and related documents.

 

(e)                                  A copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares in each Original Guarantor (other than the Company), approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Original Guarantor is a party.

 

(f)                                    A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder of each Original Guarantor approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 1(e).

 

(g)                                 A certificate from a director of the Company confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, Security or similar limit binding on any Original Obligor to be exceeded.

 

(h)                                 A certificate from a director of the Company or other relevant Original Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this part 2 of schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended, novated, supplemented, superseded or terminated as at a date no earlier than the first Utilisation Date.

 

(i)                                     If an Original Obligor is not incorporated in England and Wales, such documentary that such Original Obligor has complied with any law in its jurisdiction relating to financial assistance or analogous process.

 

150

 

(j)                                     If an Original Obligor is incorporated outside the United Kingdom, a certificate of that Obligor (signed by a director) certifying either that (i) it has not registered one or more establishments (as that term is defined in Part 1 of the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009) with the Registrar of Companies or (ii) it has such an establishment and specifying the name and registered number under which it is registered with the Registrar of Companies.

 

(k)                                  A search at the Companies Court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London and at Companies House as at the first Utilisation Date revealing no adverse entries against any of the Original Obligors.

 

(l)                                     A Uniform Commercial Code search of the Secretary of State (or equivalent recording office) of the state of incorporation of each US Obligor in a form acceptable to the Agent’s counsel and releases in a form acceptable to the Agent’s counsel of any existing liens appearing on such searches that do not constitute Permitted Security.

 

2                                         Transaction Documents

 

A copy of each of the Transaction Documents (other than the Finance Documents) executed by the parties to those documents.

 

3                                         Finance Documents

 

(a)                                  The lntercreditor Deed executed by all the parties to that deed.

 

(b)                                 An ancillary facility letter between Lloyds TSB Bank plc and the Company.

 

(c)                                  An ancillary facility letter between Bank of America, N.A. and the Company.

 

(d)                                 An ISDA Master Agreement and ISDA Schedule between the Company and each Bilateral Lender.

 

(e)                                  At least 2 originals of the following Transaction Security Documents executed by the Original Obligors specified below opposite the relevant Transaction Security Document:

 

	
Name of Original Obligor
    	
 
    	
Transaction Security Document
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Each Obligor incorporated in England and Wales
    	
 
    	
Debenture
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Each Obligor incorporated in US
    	
 
    	
Security agreement
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Luxfer Overseas Holdings Limited, BA Holdings, Inc and MEL Chemicals   Inc.
    	
 
    	
Share pledge agreement
    

 

(f)                                    All duly executed notices required to be sent under the Transaction Security Documents.

 

(g)                                 All share certificates, transfers and stock transfer forms or equivalent duly executed by the relevant Obligor in blank in relation to the assets subject to or expressed to be subject to the Transaction Security and other documents of title to be provided under the Transaction Security Documents.

 

151

 

(h)                                 A perfection certificate for each US Obligor delivered to the Security Trustee, which shall be executed by such US Obligor and shall be in a form and substance previously provided to the Security Trustee or in a form and substance satisfactory to the Security Trustee (acting reasonably).

 

4                                            Insurance

 

A letter from Marsh insurance broker dated no earlier than the Closing Date listing the insurance policies of the Group and confirming that they are on risk and that the insurance for the Group at the first Utilisation Date covering appropriate risks for the business carried out by the Group and that such insurance complies with the terms of the Finance Documents.

 

5                                         Legal opinions

 

The following legal opinions, each addressed to, and capable of being relied on by, the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Original Lenders:

 

(a)                                  a legal opinion of Addleshaw Goddard LLP, legal advisers to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee as to English law substantially in the form provided to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee and/or distributed to the Original Lenders prior to execution and delivery of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                 a legal opinion of Husch Blackwell, legal advisers to the Agent, Arrangers and the Security Trustee as to New York law substantially in the form provided to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee and/or distributed to the Original Lenders prior to execution and delivery of this Agreement; and

 

(c)                                  a legal opinion of Brown Mokowitz & Kellen, PLC., legal advisers to the Agent, Arrangers and the Security Trustee as to New Jersey law substantially in the form provided to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee and/or distributed to the Original Lenders prior to execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

6                                         Other documents and evidence

 

(a)                                  Evidence that any process agent referred to in clause 45.2 (Service of process), if not an Original Obligor, has accepted its appointment.

 

(b)                                 Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Company pursuant to clause 7.4 (Repayment of Ancillary Facility), clause 16 (Fees) and clause 21 (Costs and expenses) payable before the Closing Date have been paid and fees payable on the Closing Date have or will be paid on the Closing Date.

 

(c)                                  A certificate from a director of the Company specifying each member of the Group (assuming the Closing Date has occurred) which is a Dormant Subsidiary as at the Closing Date together with certified copies (certified by such director to be a true copy) of the last audited accounts of each such Dormant Subsidiary.

 

(d)                                 A certificate from a director of the Company certifying that:

 

(i)                                   the Note Documents are in full force and effect;

 

(ii)                                a utilisation request requesting the utilisation of the full amount of the Notes on or before the Closing Date has been issued by the Company and each of the conditions precedent to such utilisation specified in clause 4 of the note

 

152

 

purchase agreement set out in limb (a) of the definition of Note Documents have been satisfied (other than utilisation of the Facilities);

 

(iii)                             as a result of the Notes referred at paragraph (d)(ii) above the Company has the sum of £[figure to be set out in officer’s certificate to be sufficient to repay Existing Notes and ABL Facility in full]  available to it:

 

	
Notes
    	
 
    	
[figure   to be set out in officer’s certificate]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Facility A
    	
 
    	
[figure   to be set out in officer’s certificate]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Revolving Facility
    	
 
    	
[figure   to be set out in officer’s certificate]
    

 

(iv)                            the sum of £[figure to be set out in officer’s certificate to be sufficient to repay Existing Notes and ABL Facility in full]  has been applied or will, simultaneously with the first Loan under this Agreement be applied to repay the Existing Notes and the ABL  Facility in full.

 

(e)                                  A certificate from a director of the Company detailing the estimated Transaction Costs.

 

(f)                                    Utilisation Requests relating to any Utilisations to be made on the Closing Date.

 

(g)

 

(i)                                     Such release documents as are necessary to discharge and release all existing Security granted by each member of the Group other than Security falling within limbs (a)-(g) of the definition of Permitted Security.

 

(ii)                                  Releases in agreed form of any existing liens appearing on the results of the Uniform Commercial Code searches referred to in paragraph 1(I) above that do not constitute Permitted Security.

 

(h)                                 A certificate of the Company addressed to the Finance Parties confirming which companies within the Group are Material Companies.

 

(i)                                     The Note Documents duly executed by each party to each Note Document in the form previously agreed by the Agent.

 

(j)                                     The Agent being satisfied with the results of its “know your customer” and money laundering checks on the Original Obligors, and their officers and shareholders.

 

(k)                                  A certified copy of the cancellation notice served under the ABL Facility.

 

153

 

Part 3 - Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Obligor

 

1                                          An Accession Deed executed by the Additional Obligor and the Company.

 

2                                          A copy of the constitutional documents of the Additional Obligor.

 

3                                          A copy of a resolution of the board or, if applicable, a committee of the board of directors of the Additional Obligor:

 

(a)                                  approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Accession Deed and the Finance Documents and resolving that it execute, deliver and perform the Accession Deed and any other Finance Document to which it is party;

 

(b)                                 authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Accession Deed and other Finance Documents on its behalf;

 

(c)                                  authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all other documents and notices (including, in relation to an Additional Borrower, any Utilisation Request or Selection Notice) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and

 

(d)                                 authorising the Company to act as its agent in connection with the Finance Documents.

 

4                                          If applicable, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Obligor, establishing the committee referred to in paragraph 3.

 

5                                          A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph 3.

 

6                                          A copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares of the Additional Guarantor, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Additional Guarantor is a party.

 

7                                          A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder of each Additional Guarantor approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 6.

 

8                                          A certificate from a director of the Additional Obligor confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, Security or similar limit binding on it to be exceeded.

 

9                                          A certificate from a director of the Additional Obligor certifying that each copy document listed in this part 3 of schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of the Accession Deed.

 

10                                    A copy of any other authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by the Accession Deed or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.

 

11                                    The latest Annual Financial Statement of the Additional Obligor.

 

12                                    The following legal opinions each addressed to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Lenders:

 

154

 

(a)                                  A legal opinion of Addleshaw Goddard, the legal advisers to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee as to English law in the form provided to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee and/or distributed to the Lenders prior to signing the Accession Deed.

 

(b)                                 If the Additional Obligor is incorporated in or has its centre of main interest or establishment (as referred to in clause 23.27 (Centre of main interests and establishments)) in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales or is executing a Finance Document which is governed by a law other than English law, a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Agent, the Arrangers and Security Trustee in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, centre of main interest or establishment (as applicable) or, as the case may be, the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document (Applicable Jurisdiction) as to the law of the Applicable Jurisdiction and in the form provided to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Security Trustee and/or distributed to the Lenders prior to signing the Accession Deed.

 

13                                    If the proposed Additional Obligor is incorporated in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales, evidence that the process agent specified in clause 45.2 (Service of process) if not an Obligor, has accepted its appointment in relation to the proposed Additional Obligor.

 

14                                    Any security documents which are required by the Agent executed by the proposed Additional Obligor.

 

15                                    Any notices duly executed or documents required to be given or executed under the terms of those security documents.

 

16                                    An accession memorandum to the Company Intra-Group Loan Agreement or similar loan agreement with the Company.

 

155

 

Schedule 3

 

Requests and Notices

 

Part 1 — Utilisation Request

 

	
From: 
    	
[Borrower] [Company](i)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
To:
    	
[Agent]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dear Sirs
    	
 
    

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC — Senior facilities agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to the Facilities Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request.

 

2                                          We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:

 

	
(a)
    	
 
    	
Borrower:
    	
 
    	
·
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
Proposed Utilisation Date: 
    	
 
    	
· (or, if that is not a   Business Day, the next Business Day)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
Facility to be utilised:
    	
 
    	
[Facility A] [Revolving Facility](ii)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
Currency of Loan:
    	
 
    	
·
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
Amount:
    	
 
    	
·  or, if less, the Available Facility
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(f)
    	
 
    	
Interest Period:
    	
 
    	
·
    

 

3                                          We confirm that each condition specified in clause 4.2 (Further conditions precedent) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request.

 

4                                          [We irrevocably instruct you to deduct from the amount of the Loan the legal fees, VAT and disbursements of Addleshaw Goddard in the amount of £· and to pay such amount to Addleshaw Goddard on the Utilisation Date.]

 

5                                          The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to [account (iv)].

 

6                                          This Utilisation Request is irrevocable. 

 

(i)                                     Amend as appropriate. Utilisation Requests for the Revolving Credit Facility can be given by the Borrower or by the Company.

 

(ii)                                  Select the Facility to be utilised and delete references to the other Facilities.

 

The account for the utilisations to repay Existing Notes and ABL Facility should specify the account of the Receiving Agent and the account in the redemption statement (as applicable)

 

156

 

	
Yours faithfully
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
authorised signatory for
    	
 
    

 

[the Company on behalf of [insert name of relevant Borrower]] [insert name of Borrower](v)

 

(v)                                 Amend as appropriate. Utilisation Requests for the Revolving Credit Facility can be given by the Borrower or by the Company.

 

157

 

Part 2 - Selection Notice

 

Applicable to a Facility A Loan

 

	
From: 
    	
[Company]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
To:
    	
[Agent]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

Dear Sirs

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC - Senior facilities agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to the Facilities Agreement. This is a Selection Notice. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Selection Notice unless given a different meaning in this Selection Notice.

 

2                                          [We refer to the following Facility A Loan[s] with an Interest Period ending on · (vi)].

 

3                                          We request that the next Interest Period for the Facility A Loan[s] is ·.

 

4                                          This Selection Notice is irrevocable.

 

	
Yours faithfully
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
authorised signatory for 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
[the Company]
    	
 
    

 

(vi)                              Insert details of all Facility A Loans which have an Interest Period ending on the same date.

 

158

 

Part 3 - Withdrawal Request

 

	
From: 
    	
[Borrower] [Company](vii)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
To:
    	
[Agent]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

Dear Sirs

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC — Senior facilities agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to the Facilities Agreement. This is a Withdrawal Request. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Withdrawal Request unless given a different meaning in this Withdrawal Request.

 

2                                          We wish to withdraw cash cover as follows:

 

	
(a)
    	
 
    	
Proposed withdrawal date:
    	
 
    	
· (or, if that is not a   Business Day, the next Business Day)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
Amount:
    	
 
    	
·
    

 

3                                          We confirm that each condition specified in clause 10.8 (Cash cover) is satisfied.

 

4                                          We confirm that each condition in clause 10.7 (Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender) is satisfied.

 

5                                          [The proceeds of the withdrawal should be credited to the following accounts: ·

 

6                                          We confirm that the amount withdrawn will be applied in [redeeming the Vendor Loan Notes and we attach copies of the relevant notices of redemption] [prepaying the Ancillary Facility].

 

7                                          This Withdrawal Notice is irrevocable.

 

	
Yours faithfully
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
authorised signatory for
    	
 
    

 

[[the Company] on behalf of [insert name of relevant Borrower]] [insert name of Borrower]

 

(vii)                           Amend as appropriate. The Withdrawal Notice can be given by the Borrower or the Company.

 

159

 

Schedule 4

 

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 Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (Additional Cost Rate) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the 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 Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the 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 Agent as follows:

 

(a)                                  in relation to a sterling Loan:

 

	
AB + C(B – D) + E x  0.01 
    	
% per annum
    
	
100 – (A + C)
    

 

(b)                                 in relation to a Loan in any currency other than sterling:

 

	
E x 0.01 
    	
% per annum.
    
	
300
    

 

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 clause 13.3(a) (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.

 

D                                       is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits.

 

160

 

E                                         is designed to compensate the Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Base Reference Banks to the Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000.

 

5                                          For the purposes of this schedule:

 

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

 

Fees Rules means the rules on periodic fees contained in the Financial Services Authority Fees 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

 

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

 

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 in paragraph 4, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5% 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 4 decimal places.

 

7                                          If requested by the Agent, each Base Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Base 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 Base Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Base Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Base Reference Bank.

 

8                                          Each Lender shall supply any information required by the 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 Agent may reasonably require for such purpose.

 

Each Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.

 

9                                          The percentages of each Lender for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Base Reference Bank for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 and on the assumption that, unless a Lender notifies the 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.

 

161

 

10                                    The 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 Base Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects.

 

11                                    The 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 Base Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above.

 

12                                    Any determination by the 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 Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Company 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.

 

162

 

Schedule 5

 

Form of Transfer Certificate

 

	
To:
    	
· as Agent and · as Security Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
From: 
    	
[The   Existing Lender]  (Existing Lender) and [The   New Lender]  (New Lender) 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC — Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to the Facilities Agreement and to the Intercreditor Deed (as defined in the Facilities Agreement). This agreement (Agreement) shall take effect as a Transfer Certificate for the purpose of the Facilities Agreement and as a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed (and as defined in the Intercreditor Deed). Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.

 

2                                          We refer to clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer) of the Facilities Agreement:

 

(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 28.5 (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 36.2 (Addresses) are set out in the schedule.

 

3                                          The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in clause 28.4(c) (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders).

 

4                                          The New Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

(a)                                  [a Qualifying Lender falling within paragraph (i)(A) [or paragraph (ii)] of the definition of Qualifying Lender);]

 

(b)                                 [a Treaty Lender;]

 

(c)                                  [not a Qualifying Lender].

 

5                                          [The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

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

 

(b)                                 a partnership each member of which is:

 

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

 

(ii)                             a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings

 

163

 

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

 

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

 

6                                          [The New Lender confirms (for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor) that it is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number ·) and is tax resident in ·(viii), so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax and notifies the Company that:

 

(a)                             each Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the Transfer Date must, to the extent that the New Lender becomes a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities) of the Facilities Agreement, make an application to HM Revenue & Customs under form DTTP2 within 30 days of the Transfer Date; and

 

(b)                            each Additional Borrower which becomes an Additional Borrower after the Transfer Date must, to the extent that the New Lender is a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Additional Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities) of the Facilities Agreement, make an application to HM Revenue & Customs under form DTTP2 within 30 days of becoming an Additional Borrower(ix).]

 

7                                          The New Lender confirms that it [is]/[is not] a Sponsor Affiliate.

 

8                                          We refer to clause · (Change of Senior Lender) of the Intercreditor Deed.

 

In consideration of the New Lender being accepted as a Senior Lender for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed (and as defined therein), the New Lender confirms that, as from the Transfer Date, it intends to be party to the Intercreditor Deed as a Senior Lender, and undertakes to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Deed to be assumed by a Senior Lender and agrees that it shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Deed, as if it had been an original party to the Intercreditor Deed.

 

9                                          This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

10                                    This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with governed by English law.

 

11                                    This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

Note: The execution of this Transfer Certificate may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s

 

(viii)                        Insert Jurisdiction of tax residence

 

(ix)                                This confirmation must be included if the New Lender holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Facilities Agreement.

 

164

 

Transaction Security in any jurisdiction and, If so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

 

165

 

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 Agreement is accepted as a Transfer Certificate for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement by the Agent, and as a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking for the purposes of the lntercreditor Deed by the Security Trustee, and the Transfer Date is confirmed as ·.

 

[Agent]

 

By:

 

 

[Security Trustee]

 

By:

 

166

 

Schedule 6

 

Form of Assignment Agreement

 

	
To:
    	
· as Agent and ·, · as Security Trustee · as [Company], for and on   behalf of each Obligor
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
From:
    	
[the Existing Lender]  (Existing Lender) and [the New Lender]  (New Lender) 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC - Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to the Facilities Agreement and to the Intercreditor Deed (as defined in the Facilities Agreement). This is an Assignment Agreement. This agreement (Agreement) shall take effect as an Assignment Agreement for the purpose of the Facilities Agreement and as a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed (and as defined in the Intercreditor Deed). Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.

 

2                                          We refer to clause 28.5 (Procedure for transfer) of the Facilities Agreement:

 

(a)                                  The Existing Lender assigns absolutely to the New Lender all the rights of the Existing Lender under the Facilities Agreement, the other Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security which correspond to that portion of the Existing Lender’s Commitments under the Facilities Agreement as specified in the schedule.

 

(b)                                 The Existing Lender is released from all the obligations of the Existing Lender which correspond to that portion of the Existing Lender’s Commitments under the Facilities Agreement specified in the schedule.

 

(c)                                  The New Lender becomes a Party as a Lender and is bound by obligations equivalent to those from which the Existing Lender is released under paragraph 2(b) above.

 

3                                          The proposed Transfer Date is ·.

 

4                                          On the Transfer Date the New Lender becomes:

 

(a)                                  Party to the relevant Finance Documents (other than the Intercreditor Deed) as a Lender; and

 

(b)                                 Party to the Intercreditor Deed as a Senior Lender.

 

5                                          The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of clause 36.2 (Addresses) are set out in the schedule.

 

6                                          The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lender’s obligations set out in clause 28.4(c) (Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders).

 

7                                          The New Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

(a)                                  [a Qualifying Lender falling within paragraph (i)(A) [or paragraph (ii)] of the definition of Qualifying Lender;]

 

167

 

(b)                                 [a Treaty Lender;]

 

(c)                                  [not a Qualifying Lender].

 

8                                          [The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

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

 

(b)                                 a partnership each member of which is:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

9                                          [The New Lender confirms (for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor) that it is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number ·) and is tax resident in ·(x), so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax and notifies the Company that:

 

(a)                                  each Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the Transfer Date must, to the extent that the New Lender becomes a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities) of the Facilities Agreement, make an application to HM Revenue & Customs under form DTTP2 within 30 days of the Transfer Date; and

 

(b)                                 each Additional Borrower which becomes an Additional Borrower after the Transfer Date must, to the extent that the New Lender is a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Additional Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities) of the Facilities Agreement, make an application to HM Revenue & Customs under form DTTP2 within 30 days of becoming an Additional Borrowee(xi).]

 

10                                    The New Lender confirms that it [is]/[is not](xii) a Sponsor Affiliate.

 

11                                    We refer to clause · (Change of Senior Lender) of the Intercreditor Agreement:

 

In consideration of the New Lender being accepted as a Senior Lender for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed (and as defined in the Intercreditor Deed), the New Lender confirms that, as from the Transfer Date, it intends to be party to the Intercreditor Deed as a Senior

 

(x)                                   Insert jurisdiction of tax residence

 

(xi)                                This confirmation must be included if the New Lender holds a passport under the HRMC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Facilities.

 

(xii)                             Delete as applicable.

 

168

 

Lender, and undertakes to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Deed to be assumed by a Senior Lender and agrees that it shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Deed, as if it had been an original party to the Intercreditor Deed.

 

12                                    This Agreement acts as notice to the Agent (on behalf of each Finance Party) and, upon delivery in accordance with clause 28.7 (Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Company), to the [Company] (on behalf of each Obligor) of the assignment referred to in this Agreement.

 

13                                    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

14                                    This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.

 

15                                    This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

Note:                   The execution of this Assignment Agreement may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lender’s interest in the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lender’s Transaction Security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

 

169

 

The Schedule

 

Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred by assignment, release and accession

[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 Agreement is accepted as an Assignment Agreement for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement by the Agent, and as a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed by the Security Trustee, and the Transfer Date is confirmed as ·.

 

Signature of this Agreement by the Agent constitutes confirmation by the Agent of receipt of notice of the assignment referred to in this Agreement, which notice the Agent receives on behalf of each Finance Party.

 

 

[Agent]

 

By:

 

 

[Security Trustee]

 

By:

 

170

 

Schedule 7

 

Form of Accession Deed

 

To:                              · as Agent and · as Security Trustee for itself and each of the other parties to the Intercreditor Deed referred to below

 

From:                  [Subsidiary]  and [[Company]]

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC — Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to the Facilities Agreement and to the Intercreditor Deed. This deed (Accession Deed) shall take effect as an Accession Deed for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement and as a Debtor Accession Deed for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed (and as defined in the lntercreditor Deed). Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Accession Deed unless given a different meaning in this Accession Deed.

 

2                                          [Subsidiary]  agrees to become an Additional [Borrower]/[Guarantor) and to be bound by the terms of the Facilities Agreement and the other Finance Documents (other than the lntercreditor Deed) as an Additional [Borrower]/[Guarantor] pursuant to clause 30.2 (Additional Borrowers)/[clause 30.4 (Additional Guarantors) of the Facilities Agreement. [Subsidiary]  is a company duly incorporated under the laws of [name of relevant jurisdiction]  and is a limited liability company and registered number · .

 

3                                          [Subsidiary’s]  administrative details for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement and the Intercreditor Deed are as follows:

 

Address:

 

Fax No.:

 

Attention:

 

4                                          [Subsidiary]  (for the purposes of this paragraph 4, the Acceding Debtor) intends to [incur Liabilities under the following documents]/[give a guarantee, indemnity or other assurance against loss in respect of Liabilities under the following documents]:

 

[Insert details (date, parties and description) of relevant documents]

 

the Relevant Documents.

 

It is agreed as follows:

 

(a)                                  Terms defined in the Intercreditor Deed shall, unless otherwise defined in this Accession Deed, bear the same meaning when used in this paragraph 4.

 

(b)                                 The Acceding Debtor and the Security Trustee agree that the Security Trustee shall hold:

 

171

 

(i)                                [any Security in respect of Liabilities created or expressed to be created pursuant to the Relevant Documents;

 

(ii)                             all proceeds of that Security; and]

 

(iii)                          all obligations expressed to be undertaken by the Acceding Debtor to pay amounts in respect of the Liabilities to the Security Trustee as trustee for the Secured Parties (in the Relevant Documents or otherwise) and secured by the Transaction Security together with all representations and warranties expressed to be given by the Acceding Debtor (in the Relevant Documents or otherwise) in favour of the Security Trustee as trustee for the Secured Parties,

 

on trust for the Secured Parties on the terms and conditions contained in the Intercreditor Deed.

 

(c)                                  The Acceding Debtor confirms that it intends to be party to the lntercreditor Deed as a Debtor, undertakes to perform all the obligations expressed to be assumed by a Debtor under the Intercreditor Deed and agrees that it shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Deed as if it had been an original party to the lntercreditor Deed.

 

(d)                                 [In consideration of the Acceding Debtor being accepted as an Intra-Group Lender for the purposes of the lntercreditor Deed, the Acceding Debtor also confirms that it intends to be party to the lntercreditor Deed as an Intra-Group Lender, and undertakes to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Deed to be assumed by an Intra-Group Lender and agrees that it shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Deed, as if it had been an original party to the Intercreditor Deed]

 

5                                          This Accession Deed [and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it] [is/are] governed by English law.

 

172

 

This Accession Deed has been signed on behalf of the Security Trustee (for the purposes of paragraph 4 above only), signed on behalf of the [Company] and executed as a deed by [Subsidiary]  and is delivered on the date stated above.

 

[Subsidiary]

 

	
[EXECUTED AS A DEED
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: [Subsidiary]
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Director/Secretary
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
OR
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[EXECUTED AS A DEED
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: [Subsidiary]
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Signature of Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name of Director
    
	
in the presence of
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Signature of witness
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name of witness
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Address of witness
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Occupation of witness]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
The Company
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[Company]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
The Security Trustee
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Full   Name of Current Security Trustee]
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

173

 

Schedule 8

 

Form of Resignation Letter

 

To:                            · as Agent

 

From:                [resigning Obligor]  and [Company]

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC - Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to the Facilities Agreement. This is a Resignation Letter. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Resignation Letter unless given a different meaning in this Resignation Letter.

 

2                                          Pursuant to [clause 30.3 (Resignation of a Borrower)] [clause 30.5 (Resignation of a Guarantor)], we request that [resigning Obligor]  be released from its obligations as a [Borrower] [Guarantor] under the Facilities Agreement and the Finance Documents (other than the Intercreditor Deed).

 

3                                          We confirm that:

 

(a)                                  no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of this request;

 

(b)                                 [this request is given in relation to a Third Party Disposal of  [resigning Obligor];

 

(d)                                 [the Disposal Proceeds have been or will be applied in accordance with clause 11.3; and

 

(d)                                 [];

 

4                                          This Resignation Letter (and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it [is/are]) is governed by English law.

 

	
[Company]
    	
[resigning   Obligor]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
By:
    

 

174

 

Schedule 9

 

Form of Compliance Certificate

 

To:                              · as Agent

 

From:                Luxfer Holdings PLC

 

Dated:

 

Dear Sirs

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC - Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                        We refer to the Facilities Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate.

 

2                                        With reference to the [Annual Financial Statements] [Quarterly Financial Statements] for the [Financial Year ended ·] [Financial Quarter ended ·], we confirm that:

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Compliant/Non
    
	
Covenant
    	
 
    	
Relevant Period
    	
 
    	
Target
    	
 
    	
Actual
    	
 
    	
compliant
    
	
Debt Service Cash Cover
    	
 
    	
· to ·
    	
 
    	
Not less than ·:·
    	
 
    	
· : ·
    	
 
    	
]
    
	
Cash Service Cover
    	
 
    	
· to ·
    	
 
    	
At least ·: ·
    	
 
    	
·: ·
    	
 
    	
]
    
	
Interest Cover
    	
 
    	
· to ·
    	
 
    	
At least ·: ·
    	
 
    	
·: ·
    	
 
    	
]
    
	
Leverage
    	
 
    	
· to ·
    	
 
    	
Not exceeding ·:·
    	
 
    	
· : ·
    	
 
    	
]
    

 

3                                        We confirm that Leverage is ·:1 and that, therefore, the Facility A Margin and the Revolving Facility Margin should be · %.]

 

4                                        [We confirm that no Default is continuing.](xiii)

 

5                                        [We confirm that the following companies constitute Material Companies for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement:

 

·.]

 

[We confirm that the aggregate of the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as [EBITA)] [aggregate gross assets] of the Guarantors (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-group items and

 

(xiii)                        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.

 

175

 

	
 
    	
investments   in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 80% of the [EBITA] [consolidated   gross assets].]
    

 

	
Signed   
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Finance   Director 
    	
 
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
of
    	
 
    	
of
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[Company]
    	
 
    	
[Company]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
[insert   applicable certification language]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
for   and on behalf of
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
name   of Auditors of the Company(xiv)
    	
 
    

 

(xiv)                       Only applicable if the Compliance Certificate accompanies the Audited Financial Statements and is to be signed by the Auditors. To be agreed with the Company’s Auditors prior to signing of the Agreement.

 

176

 

Schedule 10

Timetables

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Loans in other
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Loans in euro
    	
 
    	
Loans in sterling
    	
 
    	
currencies
    
	
Agent notifies the Company if a currency is approved as an Optional   Currency in accordance with clause 4.3 (Conditions relating to Optional   Currencies))
    	
 
    	
-
    	
 
    	
-
    	
 
    	
U-4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Delivery of a duly completed Utilisation Request (clause 5.1   (Delivery of a Utilisation Request)) or a Selection Notice (clause 14.1 (Selection   of Interest Periods and terms))
    	
 
    	
U-3

 

9.30am
    	
 
    	
U-1

 

9.30am
    	
 
    	
U-3

 

9.30am
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Agent determines (in relation to a Loan) the Base Currency Amount of   the Loan, if required under clause   5.4 (Lenders’ participation) and notifies the Lenders of the Loan in   accordance with clause 5.4 (Lenders’ participation)
    	
 
    	
U-3

 

 Noon
    	
 
    	
U-1

 

Noon
    	
 
    	
U-3

 

Noon
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Agent receives a notification from a Lender under clause 6.2   (Unavailability of a currency)
    	
 
    	
Quotation Day

9.30am
    	
 
    	
-
    	
 
    	
Quotation Day

9.30am
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Agent gives notice in accordance with clause 6.2 (Unavailability of a   currency)
    	
 
    	
Quotation Day

5.30pm
    	
 
    	
U

9.30am
    	
 
    	
Quotation Day

5.30pm
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LIBOR or EURIBOR is fixed
    	
 
    	
Quotation Day as of 11:00 a.m. in respect of LIBOR and as of   11.00 a.m. (Brussels time) in respect of EURIBOR
    	
 
    	
Quotation Day as of 11:00 a.m.
    	
 
    	
Quotation Day as of 11:00 a.m.
    

 

	
“U”
    	
=
    	
date of utilisation or, if   applicable, in the case of a Facility A Loan that has already been borrowed,   the first day of the relevant Interest Period for that Facility A Loan.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
“U - X”
    	
=
    	
X Business Days prior to   date of utilisation
    

 

177

 

Schedule 11

 

Form of Increase Confirmation

 

To:                            · as Agent, · as Security Trustee, and · as [Company], for and on behalf of each Obligor

 

From:                [the Increase Lender]  (Increase Lender)

 

Dated:

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC - Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                        We refer to the Facilities Agreement and to the Intercreditor Deed (as defined in the Facilities Agreement). This agreement (Agreement) shall take effect as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Facilities Agreement and as a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed (and as defined in the Intercreditor Deed). Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.

 

2                                        We refer to clause 2.2 (Increase) of the Facilities Agreement. 

 

3                                        The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the schedule (Relevant Commitment) as if it was an Original Lender under the Facilities Agreement.

 

4                                        The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (Increase Date) is ·.

 

5                                        On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes:

 

(a)                                party to the relevant Finance Documents (other than the Intercreditor Deed) as a Lender; and

 

(b)                               party to the Intercreditor Deed as a Senior Lender.

 

6                                        The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of clause 36.2 (Addresses) are set out in the schedule.

 

7                                        The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders’ obligations referred to in clause 2.2(f) (Increase).

 

8                                        The Increase Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:

 

(a)                                [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender);]

 

(b)                               [a Treaty Lender;]

 

(c)                                [not a Qualifying Lender]

 

9                                        [The Increase Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:

 

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

 

178

 

(b)                                 a partnership each member of which is:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

10                                  [The Increase Lender confirms (for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor) that it is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number ·) and is tax resident in ·(xv), so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax and notifies the Company that:

 

(a)                                each Borrower which is a Party as a Borrower as at the Transfer Date must, to the extent that the New Lender becomes a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities) of the Facilities Agreement, make an application to HM Revenue & Customs under form DTTP2 within 30 days of the Transfer Date; and

 

(b)                               each Additional Borrower which becomes an Additional Borrower after the Transfer Date must, to the extent that the New Lender is a Lender under a Facility which is made available to that Additional Borrower pursuant to clause 2.1 (The Facilities) of the Facilities Agreement, make an application to HM Revenue & Customs under form DTTP2 within 30 days of becoming an Additional Borrower(xvi).]

 

11                                  The Increase Lender confirms that it is not a Sponsor Affiliate.

 

12                                  We refer to clause · (Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking) of the Intercreditor Deed:

 

In consideration of the Increase Lender being accepted as a Senior Lender for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed (and as defined in the Intercreditor Deed), the Increase Lender confirms that, as from the Increase Date, it intends to be party to the Intercreditor Deed as a Senior Lender, and undertakes to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Deed to be assumed by a Senior Lender and agrees that it shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Deed, as if it had been an original party to the Intercreditor Deed.

 

13                                  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.

 

14                                  This Agreement [and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it] [is/are] governed by English law.

 

(xv)                          Insert jurisdiction of tax residence

 

(xvi)                       This confirmation must be Included if the Increase Lender holds a passport under the HRMC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Facilities Agreement.

 

179

 

15                                  This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the begining of this Agreement.

 

Note:                 The execution of this Increase Confirmation may not be sufficient for the Increase Lender to obtain the benefit of the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the Increase Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to obtain the benefit of the Transaction Security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.

 

180

 

The Schedule

 

Relevant Commitment/rights and obligations to be assumed by the Increase Lender

 

[insert relevant details]

 

[Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments]

 

[Increase Lender]

 

By:

 

This Agreement is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement by the Agent and as a Creditor/Agent Accession Undertaking for the purposes of the Intercreditor Deed by the Security Trustee and the Increase Date is confirmed as ·.

 

Agent

 

By:

 

Security Trustee

 

By:

 

181

 

Schedule 12

 

Forms of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice

 

Part 1 - Form of Notice on Entering into Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction 

 

To:                              · as Agent

 

From:                  [The Lender]

 

Dated:

 

Luxfer Holdings PLC — Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to clause 29.2(b) (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates) of the Facilities Agreement. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this notice unless given a different meaning in this notice.

 

2                                          We have entered into a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction.

 

3                                          The Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction referred to in paragraph 2 above relates to the amount of our Commitment(s) as set out below.

 

	
Commitment
    	
Amount of our Commitment to which Notifiable Debt Purchase   Transaction relates (Base Currency)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Facility   A Commitment
    	
[insert amount   (of that Commitment) to which the relevant Debt Purchase Transaction applies](xvii)
    

 

[Lender]

 

By:

 

(xvii)                      Delete as applicable.

 

182

 

Part 2 - Form of Notice on Termination of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction /
 Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction ceasing to be with Sponsor Affiliate

 

To:                              · as Agent

 

From:                  [The Lender]

 

Dated:

 

[Company] – Senior Facilities Agreement dated · (Facilities Agreement)

 

1                                          We refer to clause 29.2(c) (Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates) of the Facilities Agreement. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this notice unless given a different meaning in this notice.

 

2                                          A Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction which we entered into and which we notified you of in a notice dated · has [terminated]/[ceased to be with a Sponsor Affiliate].(xviii) 

 

3                                          The Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction referred to in paragraph 2 above relates to the amount of our Commitment(s) as set out below.

 

	
Commitment
    	
 
    	
Amount of our Commitment to which Notifiable Debt   Purchase Transaction relates (Base Currency)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Facility A Commitment
    	
 
    	
[insert   amount (of that Commitment) to which the relevant Debt Purchase Transaction   applies](xix)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Lender]
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

(xviii)                   Delete as applicable.

 

(xix)                           Delete as applicable.

 

183

 

SIGNATURES

 

	
THE COMPANY
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
LUXFER HOLDINGS   PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    

 

184

 

	
THE ORIGINAL BORROWERS
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman   Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
BA   HOLDINGS, INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ J. Michael Edwards
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
J. Michael Edwards
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of   Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LUXFER   GROUP LIMITED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman   Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    

 

185

 

	
LUXFER GROUP 2000 LIMITED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay,   Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
MEL CHEMICALS INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Mary Ann Hampton
    	
 
    	
/s/ James J. Pardini
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Mary Ann Hampton
    	
 
    	
James J. Pardini
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Secretary/Treasurer
    	
 
    	
Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay,   Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
MAGNESIUM ELEKTRON NORTH AMERICA, INC. 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Kim Banovz
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Kim Banovz
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Financial Controller/Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay,   Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    
					

 

186

 

	
THE   ORIGINAL GUARANTORS
    
	
 
    
	
LUXFER HOLDINGS PLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay, Salford,   M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    

 

 

	
BA HOLDINGS, INC.
    
	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ J. Michael Edwards
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
J. Michael Edwards
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Secretary
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay, Salford,   M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of Luxfer Holdings PLC
    

 

 

	
LUXFER GROUP LIMITED
    
	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay, Salford,   M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    

 

187

 

	
LUXFER   GROUP 2000 LIMITED
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 452
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
MEL   CHEMICALS INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Mary Ann Hampton 
    	
 
    	
/s/ James J. Pardini
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Mary Ann Hampton 
    	
 
    	
James J. Pardini
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Secretary/Treasurer
    	
 
    	
Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
MAGNESIUM   ELEKTRON NORTH AMERICA INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Kim Banovz
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Kim Banovz
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Financial Controller/Secretary
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

188

 

	
LUXFER GAS CYLINDERS LIMITED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman   Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LUXFER GROUP SERVICES LIMITED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman   Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
MAGNESIUM ELEKTRON LIMITED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen Norman   Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Stephen Norman Williams
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    

 

189

 

	
LUXFER OVERSEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LUXFER GAS CYLINDERS CHINA HOLDINGS LIMITED
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Brian Gordon Purves
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0870 1911 492
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LUXFER INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ J. Michael Edwards
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
J. Michael Edwards
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of   Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    

 

190

 

	
HART METALS INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Deborah A. Simsen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Deborah A. Simsen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of   Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
READE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Deborah A. Simsen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Deborah A. Simsen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
Anchorage Gateway, 5   Anchorage Quay, Salford, M50 3XE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Company Secretary of   Luxfer Holdings PLC
    	
 
    

 

191

 

	
THE ARRANGERS
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
10 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7AE
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0207 158 3198
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

192

 

	
THE ORIGINAL LENDERS
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LLOYDS   TSB BANK PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
8th Floor, 40 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 1EN
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0161 227 4358
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Paul Foster/Victoria Daly
    	
 
    

 

 

 

 

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A,
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Angel Sutoyo
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Angel Sutoyo
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
450 B Street, Suite 1500, San Diego, CA 92101-8001
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
+ 1.619.515.5553
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Aaron Marks
    	
 
    

 

193

 

	
THE ORIGINAL ANCILLARY LENDERS 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
8th   Floor, 40 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 1EN
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0161   227 4358
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Paul   Foster/Victoria Daly
    	
 
    

 

 

 

 

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N. A.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Angel Sutoyo
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Angel Sutoyo
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
450   B Street, Suite 1500, San Diego, CA 92101-8001
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
+   1.619.515.5553
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Aaron   Marks
    	
 
    

 

194

 

THE AGENT

 

LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    

 

For Operational Duties (such as Drawdowns, Interest Rate Fixing, Interest/fee calculations and payments)

 

	
Address:
    	
CityMark, 150 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9PE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0207 158 3204
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Wholesale Loans Servicing Agency Operations
    

 

For Non-Operational Matters (such as documentation, covenant compliance, amendments and waivers etc)

 

	
Address:
    	
10 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7AE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0207 158 3198
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Wholesale Loans Agency
    

 

195

 

THE SECURITY TRUSTEE

 

LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC

 

	
By:
    	
/s/ Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
Paul Foster
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
Director
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
10 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7AE
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fax:
    	
0207 158 3198
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attention:
    	
Wholesale Loans Agency
    	
 
    

 

196

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00197-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00197-of-00352.parquet"}]]