Document:

exh_101.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

June 18, 2014

 

among

 

LHC GROUP, INC.,

 

the Lenders party hereto,

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Administrative Agent,

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

REGIONS BANK and

 

COMPASS BANK,

 

as Co-Syndication Agents

 

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger

 

Credit Agreement – LHC Group, Inc.

50731756

  

  

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	 	 	 	Page:
	ARTICLE I	
Definitions

	
1

	 	 	 
	 	
SECTION 1.01.

	
Defined Terms

	
1

	 	
SECTION 1.02.

	
Classification of Loans and Borrowings

	
23

	 	
SECTION 1.03.

	
Terms Generally

	
23

	 	
SECTION 1.04.

	
Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations

	
23

	 	
SECTION 1.05.

	
Rounding

	
24

	 	
SECTION 1.06.

	
Times of Day

	
24

	 	
SECTION 1.07.

	
Letter of Credit Amounts

	
24

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE II	
The Credits

	
24

	 	 	 
	 	
SECTION 2.01.

	
Commitments

	
24

	 	
SECTION 2.02.

	
Loans and Borrowings

	
25

	 	
SECTION 2.03.

	
Requests for Borrowings

	
25

	 	
SECTION 2.04.

	
Swingline Loans

	
26

	 	
SECTION 2.05.

	
Letters of Credit

	
27

	 	
SECTION 2.06.

	
Funding of Borrowings

	
31

	 	
SECTION 2.07.

	
Interest Elections

	
31

	 	
SECTION 2.08.

	
Termination and Reduction of Commitments

	
33

	 	
SECTION 2.09.

	
Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

	
33

	 	
SECTION 2.10.

	
Prepayment of Loans

	
34

	 	
SECTION 2.11.

	
Fees

	
34

	 	
SECTION 2.12.

	
Interest

	
35

	 	
SECTION 2.13.

	
Illegality

	
36

	 	
SECTION 2.14.

	
Alternate Rate of Interest

	
37

	 	
SECTION 2.15.

	
Increased Costs

	
37

	 	
SECTION 2.16.

	
Break Funding Payments

	
38

	 	
SECTION 2.17.

	
Taxes

	
39

	 	
SECTION 2.18.

	
Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

	
42

	 	
SECTION 2.19.

	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

	
44

	 	
SECTION 2.20.

	
[Reserved]

	
45

	 	
SECTION 2.21.

	
Defaulting Lenders

	
45

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE III	
Representations and Warranties

	
48

	 	 	 
	 	
SECTION 3.01.

	
Organization; Powers; Guarantors

	
48

	 	
SECTION 3.02.

	
Authorization; Enforceability

	
49

	 	
SECTION 3.03.

	
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

	
49

	 	
SECTION 3.04.

	
Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

	
49

	 	
SECTION 3.05.

	
Properties

	
49

	 	
SECTION 3.06.

	
Litigation, Environmental and Labor Matters

	
50

	 	
SECTION 3.07.

	
Compliance with Laws and Agreements

	
50

	 	
SECTION 3.08.

	
Investment Company Status

	
50

	 	
SECTION 3.09.

	
Taxes

	
50

	 	
SECTION 3.10.

	
ERISA

	
50

	 	
SECTION 3.11.

	
Disclosure

	
51

 

 

i

 

	 	
SECTION 3.12.

	
Federal Reserve Regulations

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.13.

	
Liens

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.14.

	
No Default

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.15.

	
Reserved

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.16.

	
Solvency

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.17.

	
Insurance

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.18.

	
Reserved

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.19.

	
Authority of the Guarantors

	
51

	 	
SECTION 3.20.

	
OFAC; Sanctions

	
52

	 	
SECTION 3.21.

	
Patriot Act; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

	
52

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IV	
Conditions

	
52

	 	 	 
	 	
SECTION 4.01.

	
Effective Date

	
52

	 	
SECTION 4.02.

	
Each Credit Event

	
53

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE V	
Affirmative Covenants

	
54

	 	 	 
	 	
SECTION 5.01.

	
Financial Statements and Other Information

	
54

	 	
SECTION 5.02.

	
Notices of Material Events

	
55

	 	
SECTION 5.03.

	
Existence; Conduct of Business

	
56

	 	
SECTION 5.04.

	
Payment of Obligations

	
56

	 	
SECTION 5.05.

	
Maintenance of Properties; Insurance

	
56

	 	
SECTION 5.06.

	
Books and Records; Inspection Rights

	
57

	 	
SECTION 5.07.

	
Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations

	
57

	 	
SECTION 5.08.

	
Use of Proceeds

	
57

	 	
SECTION 5.09.

	
Employee Benefit Plans

	
57

	 	
SECTION 5.10.

	
Depository Banks

	
57

	 	
SECTION 5.11.

	
Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances; Excluded Subsidiaries

	
57

	 	
SECTION 5.12.

	
Post-Closing Obligations

	
58

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VI	
Negative Covenants

	
59

	 	 	 
	 	
SECTION 6.01.

	
Indebtedness

	
59

	 	
SECTION 6.02.

	
Liens

	
60

	 	
SECTION 6.03.

	
Fundamental Changes; Asset Sales; Fiscal Year

	
61

	 	
SECTION 6.04.

	
Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

	
62

	 	
SECTION 6.05.

	
Stock Repurchases

	
63

	 	
SECTION 6.06.

	
Transactions with Affiliates

	
63

	 	
SECTION 6.07.

	
Reserved

	
63

	 	
SECTION 6.08.

	
Reserved

	
63

	 	
SECTION 6.09.

	
Reserved

	
63

	 	
SECTION 6.10.

	
Reserved

	
63

	 	
SECTION 6.11.

	
Reserved

	
63

	 	
SECTION 6.12.

	
Financial Covenants

	
63

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VII	
Events of Default

	
64

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE VIII	
The Administrative Agent

	
66

	 	 	 
	ARTICLE IX	
Miscellaneous

	
70

	 	 	 
	 	
SECTION 9.01.

	
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

	
70

	 	
SECTION 9.02.

	
Waivers; Amendments

	
71

 

 

ii

 

	 	
SECTION 9.03.

	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

	
73

	 	
SECTION 9.04.

	
Successors and Assigns

	
74

	 	
SECTION 9.05.

	
Survival

	
78

	 	
SECTION 9.06.

	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

	
78

	 	
SECTION 9.07.

	
Severability

	
79

	 	
SECTION 9.08.

	
Right of Setoff

	
79

	 	
SECTION 9.09.

	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

	
80

	 	
SECTION 9.10.

	
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

	
80

	 	
SECTION 9.11.

	
Headings

	
80

	 	
SECTION 9.12.

	
Confidentiality

	
80

	 	
SECTION 9.13.

	
USA PATRIOT Act

	
81

	 	
SECTION 9.14.

	
Appointment for Perfection

	
81

	 	
SECTION 9.15.

	
Releases of Guarantors

	
81

	 	
SECTION 9.16.

	
Interest Rate Limitation

	
82

	 	
SECTION 9.17.

	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

	
82

	 	
SECTION 9.18.

	
Independent Effect of Covenants

	
83

	 	
SECTION 9.19.

	
Inconsistencies with Other Documents

	
83

 

 

  

iii

  

SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule 1.01 – Excluded Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.02 – Dissolving Subsidiaries

Schedule 2.01 – Commitments

Schedule 2.05 – Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 3.01 – Guarantors

Schedule 3.06 – Litigation

Schedule 6.01 – Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02 – Existing Liens

Schedule 6.04 – Existing Investments

 

Schedule 6.06 – Transactions with Affiliates

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit D-1 – Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit D-2– Form of Interest Election Request

Exhibit E – Form of Promissory Note

Exhibit F – Form of Compliance Certificate

 

  

iv

  

 

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 18, 2014, among LHC GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation, the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., REGIONS BANK and COMPASS BANK, as Co-Syndication Agents.

 

The Borrower has requested, and the Lenders have agreed to provide, a revolving credit facility on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

'Definitions

 

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

 

“Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions with the same seller, consummated on or after the Effective Date, by which the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly, (i) acquires a majority voting interest in any active business, or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, or (ii) acquires securities or other ownership interests of any Person having at least a majority of combined voting power of the then outstanding securities or other ownership interests of such Person.

 

“Administrative Agent” means Capital One, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

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

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

“Agent Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(c).

 

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, with respect to Revolving Loans, LC Exposure or Swingline Loans, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders (if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments).

 

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Revolving Loan, any Base Rate Revolving Loan or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurodollar Spread”, “Base Rate Spread” or “Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Leverage Ratio applicable on such date:

 

  

1

  

	  	
Leverage Ratio:

	
Eurodollar 

Spread

	
Base Rate 

Spread

	
Commitment 

Fee Rate

	
Category 1:

	
≤ 1.00 to 1.00

	
1.75%

	
0.75%

	
0.225%

	
Category 2:

	
> 1.00 to 1.00 but

≤ 1.50 to 1.00

	
2.00%

	
1.00%

	
0.250%

	
Category 3:

	
> 1.50 to 1.00 but

≤ 2.00 to 1.00

	
2.25%

	
1.25%

	
0.300%

	
Category 4:

	
> 2.00 to 1.00

	
2.50%

	
1.50%

	
0.375%

For purposes of the foregoing,

 

(i)           if at any time the Borrower fails to deliver the Financials on or before the date the Financials are due pursuant to Section 5.01, Category 4 shall be deemed applicable for the period commencing three (3) Business Days after the required date of delivery and ending on the date which is three (3) Business Days after the Financials are actually delivered, after which the Category shall be determined in accordance with the table above as applicable;

 

(ii)           adjustments, if any, to the Category then in effect shall be effective (a) in the case of Financials delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b), as of the date that is 60 days after the last day of the applicable fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which such Financials are delivered and (b) in the case of Financials delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), as of the date that is 90 days after the last day of the applicable fiscal year of the Borrower for which such Financials are delivered (it being understood and agreed that each change in Category shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change); and

 

(iii)           notwithstanding the foregoing, Category 2 shall be deemed to be applicable until the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the applicable Financials for the Borrower’s first fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date (unless such Financials demonstrate that Category 3 or 4 should have been applicable during such period, in which case such other Category shall be deemed to be applicable during such period) and adjustments to the Category then in effect shall thereafter be effected in accordance with the preceding paragraphs.

 

“Applicable Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract of transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

  

2

  

“Available Revolving Commitment” means, at any time with respect to any Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender then in effect minus the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time; it being understood and agreed that any Lender’s Swingline Exposure shall not be deemed to be a component of the Revolving Credit Exposure for purposes of calculating the commitment fee under Section 2.11(a).

 

“Bankruptcy Code” means Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.).

 

“Base Rate” means, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 1⁄2 of 1% (b) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (c) the Eurodollar Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day plus 1.00%.  Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Federal Funds Rate, the Prime Rate or the Eurodollar Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Federal Funds Rate, the Prime Rate or the Eurodollar Rate, respectively.  When used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, “Base Rate” shall refer to a Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.

 

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

 

“Borrower” means LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (b) a Swingline Loan.

 

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, the State of New York and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person which are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Capital One” means Capital One, National Association, a national banking association, in its individual capacity.

 

“Cash Collateralize” means, to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Bank and/or one or more of the Lenders, as collateral for LC Exposure or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of LC Exposure, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank.  “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

  

3

  

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

 

“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan is, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are, Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans.

 

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

 

“Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Person covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations.

 

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Guaranty Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, any Mortgages and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement, if any, that are intended to create, perfect or evidence Liens to secure the Secured Obligations, whether heretofore, now, or hereafter executed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Commitment.  The amount of each Lender’s Commitment as of the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.

 

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

“Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

 

  

4

  

“Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, without duplication, any expenditure for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:  (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes accrued during such period, net of federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits (in each case of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period), (iii) depreciation and amortization expense (in each case of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period), (iv) gain or loss resulting from mark-to-market of hedging positions, (v) non-cash compensation expense resulting from the grant of stock options or similar rights to employees, officers or directors, (vi) charges attributable to events covered by insurance, (vii) accruals and reserves required under GAAP in connection with an Acquisition permitted under Section 6.04, (viii) any other extraordinary or non-recurring charges or losses (including, without limitation, the cumulative effect of changes in GAAP and impairment charges related to long-lived assets) and (ix) non-capitalized transaction costs and expenses relating to the negotiation and execution of the Loan Documents and minus (b) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, (i) any cash payments made in respect of items described in clause (a)(v) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were incurred and (ii) any other extraordinary or non-recurring gains; provided, that Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with Section 1.04(b); provided, further, that the Borrower shall provide reasonably detailed calculations of any such pro forma adjustments in the certificate of a Financial Officer delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c).

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, without duplication, the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) Consolidated Rental Expense, (iii) the aggregate principal amount of all prepayments and regularly scheduled principal payments or redemptions or similar acquisitions for value of outstanding debt for borrowed money, but excluding any such payments to the extent refinanced through the incurrence of additional Indebtedness otherwise expressly permitted under Section 6.01, (iv) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments paid in cash and (v) the aggregate amount of federal, state, local and foreign income taxes paid in cash, in each case, of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case, to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, (b) all interest paid or payable with respect to discontinued operations and (c) the portion of rent expense under Capitalized Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, in each case, of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis (without duplication) for such period; provided that, Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (i) all non-cash income for such period, (ii) the net income of any Subsidiary during such period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary of such income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its organizational documents or any agreement, instrument or law applicable to such Subsidiary during such period, except that the Borrower’s equity in any net loss of any such Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income and (iii) any income (or loss) for such period of any Person if such Person is not a Subsidiary, except that the Borrower’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Borrower or a Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing such amount to the Borrower as described in clause (iii) of this proviso).

 

  

5

  

“Consolidated Rental Expense” means, for any period, the aggregate fixed amounts payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under any operating leases, calculated on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Senior Funded Indebtedness” means funded Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money, including all LC Exposure.

 

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

 

“Co-Syndication Agent” means each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Regions Bank, and Compass Bank in its capacity as co-syndication agents for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

 

“Credit Event” means a Borrowing, the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.

 

“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure at such time.

 

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

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.21(c), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans) within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has 

 

  

6

  

 

failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that, a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.21(c)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and each Lender.

 

“Dissolving Subsidiaries” means each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.02.

 

“Dollars” and “$” means lawful money of the United States of America.

 

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

 

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

 

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections 9.04(b)(i), (b)(ii)(A) and (b)(ii)(B) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 9.04(b)(i)).

 

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

 

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

 

  

7

  

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Eurodollar Base Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

 

  

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“Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum equal to an amount determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

 

	
Eurodollar Rate  =

	 	
Eurodollar Base Rate                                                      

1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

 

Where,

 

“Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for such Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate (the “Screen Rate”) administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person which takes over the administration of such rate) for such Interest Period, as displayed on page LIBOR01 of the applicable Reuters screen (or any replacement Reuters page which displays such rate or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.  If the Screen Rate for such Interest Period is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the applicable Interpolated Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.  If the Screen Rate for such Interest Period is not available at such time for any reason and the Administrative Agent determines that it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for such Interest Period at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be, to the extent available, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by major financial institutions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the London interbank eurodollar market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the Board for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”).  The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

  

9

  

“Excluded Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01, (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary, (iii) any Dissolving Subsidiary and (iv) subject to the terms and limitations of Section 5.11, any other non-wholly owned Subsidiary in which the owner of the minority ownership interest in such Subsidiary has not consented to the execution, delivery and performance of the Guaranty Agreement by such Subsidiary.  All Subsidiaries of any Excluded Subsidiary are Excluded Subsidiaries.

 

“Excluded Swap Obligations” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Applicable Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Applicable Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Applicable Swap Obligation.  If an Applicable Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Applicable Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(g) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 31, 2012 among the Borrower, the financial institutions party thereto as lenders and Capital One, as administrative agent.

 

“Existing Letters of Credit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05.

 

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

 

  

10

  

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Capital One on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

 

“Financials” means the annual or quarterly financial statements, and accompanying certificates and other documents, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b).

 

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(c).

 

“Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.

 

“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time, other than LC Exposure as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time, other than Swingline Exposure as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders.

 

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

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

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

 

  

11

  

“Guarantor” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower party to the Guaranty Agreement.

 

“Guaranty Agreement” means that certain Guaranty Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the Effective Date, among the Loan Parties party thereto and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties.

 

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

 

“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

 

(a)           all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

 

(b)           the maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

(c)           net obligations of such Person under any Swap Agreement;

 

(d)           all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

 

(e)           indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

 

(f)           the present value of all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person; and

 

(g)           all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

  

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For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.  The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Agreement on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.

 

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

 

“Information Memorandum” means that certain Confidential Information Memorandum dated April, 2014 relating to the Borrower and the Transactions.

 

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-2.

 

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

 

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

 

“Interpolated Screen Rate” means, at any time and for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate which results at such time from interpolating on a linear basis between:

 

(a) the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is shorter than such Interest Period; and

 

(b) the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is longer than such Interest Period.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

  

13

  

“Issuing Bank” means Capital One, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(i).  The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

 

“LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(j).

 

“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time.  The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

 

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means $15,000,000.

 

“Leverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(a).

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.09(e) of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lenders and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, letter of credit agreements and all other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.  Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

 

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors.

 

  

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

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

 

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $15,000,000.  For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof at such time.

 

“Maturity Date” means June 18, 2019.

 

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

“Mortgage” means each mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, on real property of any Loan Party, including any amendment, restatement, modification or supplement thereto.

 

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

 

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(c).

 

“Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any indemnified party, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement or other obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.

 

“OFAC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.20.

 

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

 

  

15

  

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).

 

“Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

 

“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

 

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

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) of a Person or division or line of business of a Person (a “Target”); provided, that if the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such Acquisition is equal to or greater than $30,000,000, then (a) no less than twelve (12) Business Days prior to the proposed closing date thereof, the Borrower shall have delivered (i) written notice of such Acquisition to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, which notice shall include the proposed closing date thereof, (ii) a certificate of a Financial Officer certifying (A) that the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with the covenants contained in Section 6.12 recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements are available, as if such Acquisition (and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, with any new Indebtedness being deemed to be amortized over the applicable testing period in accordance with its terms) had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance and (B) that at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition no Default has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto, (iii) copies of the combined financial statements of the Borrower and the Target as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements are available, (iv) copies of the combined post-acquisition financial projections for the next four fiscal quarters of the Borrower, including financial and demographics and (v) any additional information, including, without limitation, financial information, statements and projections reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and (b) the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders) shall have given its prior written consent thereto (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the consummation of such Acquisition.

 

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)           Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

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

 

  

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

 

(d)           deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)           judgment Liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII;

 

(f)           easements, zoning restrictions, covenants, conditions, rights-of-way and other similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business and minor irregularities of title that do not secure any monetary obligations and that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

 

(g)           inchoate liens arising under ERISA to secure any contingent liabilities  permitted under this Agreement;

 

provided that, the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

 

“Permitted Investments” means:

 

(a)           direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(b)           investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

 

(c)           investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

(d)           fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above; and

 

(e)           money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

 

  

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

 

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

 

“Platform” means any electronic system, including Intralinks®, ClearPar® and any other internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any of their respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

 

“Pledge Agreement” means that certain Pledge Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the Effective Date, among the Loan Parties party thereto and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties.

 

“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Capital One as its prime rate; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Capital One based upon various factors including Capital One’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.

 

“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) the Issuing Bank, as applicable.

 

“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

 

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

 

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time; provided that, the Credit Exposures and unused Commitments of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided, further, that if there are two or fewer Lenders, then (x) ”Required Lenders” shall mean all Lenders and (y) for purposes of consenting to an Acquisition under clause (b) of the proviso to the definition of Permitted Acquisition, “Required Lenders” shall mean Lenders having Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing at least 66 2/3% of the sum of the total Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time.

 

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president or a Financial Officer of the Borrower.

 

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution paid in cash with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower.

 

  

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“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and(b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the applicable documentation pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment pursuant to the terms hereof, as applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Revolving Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $225,000,000.

 

“Revolving Credit Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.

 

“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

“Revolving Lender” means, as of any date of determination, each Lender that has a Revolving Commitment or, if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.

 

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any sale or other transfer of any property or asset by any Person with the intent to lease such property or asset as lessee.

 

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

 

“SDN List” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.20.

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all Swap Obligations and Treasury Services Obligations owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates.

 

“Secured Parties” means the holders of the Secured Obligations from time to time and shall include (i) each Lender and the Issuing Bank in respect of its Loans and LC Exposure respectively, (ii) the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders in respect of all other present and future obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and each Subsidiary of every type and description arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) each Lender and affiliate of such Lender in respect of Swap Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements entered into with such Person by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iv) each indemnified party under Section 9.03 in respect of the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to such Person hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (v) their respective successors and (in the case of a Lender, permitted) transferees and assigns.

 

  

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“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933.

 

“Significant Guarantor” means, as of any date, a Guarantor with at least $5,000,000 of assets as of such date.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means, as of any date, a Subsidiary with at least $10,000,000 of assets as of such date.

 

“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business.  The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

“Specified Event of Default” means the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in clause (e) of Article VII as a result of a default under Section 6.12.

 

“Specified Swap Obligations” means any and all Swap Obligations that, within at least ten (10) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its sole discretion) from the date that any transaction relating to any such Swap Obligation is executed, the Secured Party party thereto (other than Capital One) shall have delivered written notice to the Administrative Agent that such a transaction has been entered into and that it constitutes a Specified Swap Obligation.

 

“Specified Treasury Services Obligations” means any and all Treasury Services Obligations that, within at least ten (10) days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree to in its sole discretion) from the date that any transaction relating to any such Treasury Services Obligation is executed, the Secured Party party thereto (other than Capital One) shall have delivered written notice to the Administrative Agent that such a transaction has been entered into and that it constitutes a Specified Treasury Services Obligation.

 

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or other Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise Controlled by such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement, contract or transaction, which is (a) an interest rate swap, option, future, or forward agreement, including a rate floor, rate cap, rate collar, cross-currency rate swap, and basis swap, (b) a spot, same day-tomorrow, tomorrow-next, forward, or other foreign exchange, precious metals, or other commodity agreement, (c) a currency swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (d) an equity index or equity swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (e) a debt index or debt swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (f) a total return, credit spread or credit swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (g) a commodity index or a commodity swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (h) a weather swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (i) an emissions swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (j) an inflation swap, option, future, or forward agreement, (k) an energy swap, option, future or forward agreement, (l) a metal swap, option, future or forward agreement, (m) an agricultural swap, option, future or forward agreement, (n) any agreement, contract or transaction that is similar to any other agreement or transaction referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) - (m) and that (x) is of a type that is the subject of recurrent dealings in the swap or other derivatives markets (including terms and conditions incorporated by reference therein), and (y) is a forward, swap, future, option, or spot transaction on one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity securities, or other equity instruments, debt securities or other debt instruments, quantitative measures associated with an occurrence, extent of an occurrence, or contingency associated with a financial, commercial, or economic consequence, or economic or financial indices or measures of economic or financial risk or value, (o) any combination of agreements, contracts or transactions referred to in the foregoing clauses (a)-(n) or (p) any option to enter into an agreement, contract or transaction referred to in the foregoing clauses (a)-(o); provided that, in each case, no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

  

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“Swap Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements permitted hereunder with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction; provided that, “Swap Obligations” shall not include any Excluded Swap Obligations.

 

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time.  The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

“Swingline Lender” means Capital One, in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

 

“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

“Swingline Sublimit” means $15,000,000.

 

  

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“Target” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”.

 

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

 

“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

“Treasury Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates:  (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards); (b) debit cards; (c) stored value cards; and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

“Treasury Services Agreement” means any agreement entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with Treasury Services.

 

“Treasury Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Treasury Services.

 

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

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

 

“Unliquidated Obligations” means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is:  (i) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it; (ii) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time; or (iii) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.

 

“U.S. Person” means a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

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

 

  

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“Withholding Agent” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  

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(b) All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder, including any calculation of Consolidated EBITDA, giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction shall in each case be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, ending with the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of (but without giving effect to any synergies or cost savings) and any related incurrence or reduction of Indebtedness, all in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.  If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness).

 

SECTION 1.05. Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

SECTION 1.06. Times of Day.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

SECTION 1.07. Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that by its terms provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01. Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 

  

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SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings.  (a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the applicable Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.  Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04.

 

(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as Base Rate Borrowings but may be converted into Eurodollar Borrowings in accordance with Section 2.07.  Each Swingline Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.  Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000.  At the time that each Base Rate Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that a Base Rate Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e).  Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000.  Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of fifteen (15) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

 

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

 

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings.  To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m. three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m. one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of a Base Rate Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m. on the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower.  Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

  

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(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

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

 

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

 

(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 

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

 

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be a Base Rate Borrowing.  If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.  Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans.  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding the Swingline Sublimit or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

 

(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00 p.m. on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan.  The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower.  The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrower with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e), by remittance to the Issuing Bank) by 2:00 p.m. on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

 

(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. on any Business Day require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding.  Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Lenders will participate.  Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline 

 

 

  

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Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender.  Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason.  The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

 

SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit.  (a) General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.  The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued for the support of any Subsidiary’s obligations as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph, the Borrower will be fully responsible for the reimbursement of LC Disbursements in accordance with the terms hereof, the payment of interest thereon and the payment of fees due under Section 2.11(b) to the same extent as if it were the sole account party in respect of such Letter of Credit (the Borrower hereby irrevocably waiving any defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of the obligations of such a Subsidiary that is an account party in respect of any such Letter of Credit).  The letters of credit identified on Schedule 2.05 (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall be deemed to be “Letters of Credit” issued on the Effective Date for all purposes of the Loan Documents.

 

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with the terms of Section 2.05(c)), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit.  If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

  

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(c) Expiration Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

 

(d) Participations.  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in Section 2.05(e) or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason.  Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

(e) Reimbursement.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent in Dollars the amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date the Issuing Bank made such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 p.m. on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m. on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or Section 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Base Rate Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount of such LC Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Base Rate Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan.  If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders.  Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.  Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of Base Rate Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

 

  

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(f) Obligations Absolute.  The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.05, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.  Neither the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders nor the Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.  In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

  

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(g) Disbursement Procedures.  The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit.  The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h) Interim Interest.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to Base Rate Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to Section 2.05(e), then Section 2.12(c) shall apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to Section 2.05(e) to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i) Replacement of Issuing Bank.  The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank.  At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.11(b).  From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require.  After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

(j) Cash Collateralization.  If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII.  Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations.  The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account.  Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account.  Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations.  If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

 

  

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SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings.  (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m. to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04.  The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by it in the applicable Borrowing Request no later than 3:00 p.m.; provided that Base Rate Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

 

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.06(a) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections.  (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.07.  The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.  This Section 2.07 shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

 

  

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(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.07, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.  Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section 2.07 shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to (i) elect an Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (ii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available under the Class of Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing was made.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall be converted to a Base Rate Borrowing.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to a Base Rate Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

  

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SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.  (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under Section 2.08(b) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof.  Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.08 shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.  Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent.  Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

 

SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.  (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date that occurs ten (10) Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding.

 

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

 

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

 

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.09(b) and 2.09(c) shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

  

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(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note.  In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit E hereto (or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent).  Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans.  (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.10(a).  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of a Base Rate Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m. one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 p.m. on the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02.  Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans included in the prepaid Revolving Borrowing.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

(b) [Reserved]

 

(c) [Reserved]

 

(d) [Reserved]

 

(e) If at any time the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitment, the Borrower shall immediately repay Borrowings or Cash Collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Exposures to be less than or equal to the aggregate Revolving Commitment.

 

SECTION 2.11. Fees.  (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender, a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates.  Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date.  All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

  

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(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender, a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and (ii) to the Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.  Accrued participation fees and fronting fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand.  All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

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

 

(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the applicable Lenders.  Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

SECTION 2.12. Interest.  (a) The Loans comprising each Base Rate Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(i) during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII, (x) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.12 or (y) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder; and

 

  

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(ii) during the occurrence and continuance of any other Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.02 requiring the consent of “each Lender directly affected thereby” for reductions in interest rates), declare that (x) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.12 or (y) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder.

 

(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 2.12(c) shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of a Base Rate Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Revolving Credit Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

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

 

SECTION 2.13. Illegality.  If any Lender determines that any applicable law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Borrowings, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate or the Eurodollar Base Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

  

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SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest.  If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate or the Eurodollar Base Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

 

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

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and any such Eurodollar Borrowing shall be repaid on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs.  (a) If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit , liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate) or the Issuing Bank;

 

(ii) impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

 

(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then upon the request of such Lender, the Issuing Bank or other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

  

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

 

(c) A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Section 2.15(a) or 2.15(b) shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments.  In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.10), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.10 and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.  Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Eurodollar Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in Dollars of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.  A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

  

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SECTION 2.17. Taxes.  (a) Defined Terms.  For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

(b) Payments Free of Taxes.  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law.  If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(c) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.

 

(d) Indemnification by the Loan Parties.  The Loan Parties shall indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(e) Indemnification by the Lenders.  Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.17(e).

 

  

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(f) Evidence of Payments.  As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g) Status of Lenders.  (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(g)(ii)(A), 2.17(g)(ii)(B) and 2.17(g)(ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person:

 

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable;

 

(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

  

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(2) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or

 

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

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

 

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

  

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(h) Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund).  Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 2.17(h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.17(h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 2.17(h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.  This Section 2.17(h) shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(i) Survival.  Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.  (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 1:00 p.m., on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 90 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto.  The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.  All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

 

(b) Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank from the Borrower, second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower, 

  

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third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and any other amounts owing with respect to Specified Treasury Services Obligations and Specified Swap Obligations ratably, fifth, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as Cash Collateral for such Obligations, and sixth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Borrower.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party.  In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, none of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Eurodollar Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding Base Rate Loans of the same Class and, in any event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.

 

(c) At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section 2.18 or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent.  The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 2.04, as applicable and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

 

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

 

  

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(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Lenders or the Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the relevant Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the relevant Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

(f) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(c), 2.05(d), 2.05(e), 2.06(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.  (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iv) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a 

 

 

  

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Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Bank), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the Eligible Assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments, (iv) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignee shall have agreed to the applicable waiver, consent or amendment of the Loan Documents and (v) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law.  A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender under this Section 2.19.

 

(c) In the event that (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of all affected Lenders or all of the Lenders and (iii) the Required Lenders have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender.”

 

SECTION 2.20. [Reserved].

 

SECTION 2.21. Defaulting Lenders.

 

(a) Defaulting Lender Adjustments.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

 

(i) Waivers and Amendments.  Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders.

 

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall.  Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.21(b); fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default has occurred and is then continuing), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the 

 

  

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Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Bank’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.21(b); sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default has occurred and is then continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that, if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Applicable Percentage without giving effect to Section 2.21(a)(iv).  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.21(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii) Certain Fees.  (A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fees on the unfunded portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment pursuant to Section 2.11(a) for any period during which such Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fees that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender).

 

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive participation fees with respect to its participation in Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.21(b) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.21(b).

 

(C) With respect to any participation fees not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (B) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans that has been reallocated to such non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.21(a)(iv), (y) pay to the Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to the Issuing Bank’s or the Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

  

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(iv) Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure.  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), and (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such non- Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment.  No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans.  If the reallocation described in Section 2.21(a)(iv) cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.21(b).

 

(b) Cash Collateral.

 

(i) At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one (1) Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.21(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than 105% of such Fronting Exposure at such time.

 

(ii) The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lenders’ obligation to fund participations in Letters of Credit, to be applied pursuant to Section 2.21(a)(iii).  If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than 105% of the Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.21 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in Letters of Credit (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

  

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(iv) Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.21(b) following (A) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), or (B) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that, subject to other provisions of this Section 2.21, the Person providing Cash Collateral and the Issuing Bank may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations; provided further that to the extent that such Cash Collateral was provided by the Borrower, such Cash Collateral shall remain subject to the security interest granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.

 

(c) Defaulting Lender Cure.  If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentage (without giving effect to Section 2.21(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(d) New Swingline Loans/Letters of Credit.  So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swingline Loan and (ii) the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers; Guarantors.  The Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, the State of Louisiana and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, every other jurisdiction where such qualification is required.  Schedule 3.01 hereto identifies, as of the Effective Date, each Guarantor, the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the percentage of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its Equity Interests owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, if such percentage is not 100% (excluding directors’ qualifying shares as required by law), a description of each class issued and outstanding.  All of the outstanding shares of Equity Interests of each Guarantor are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares and other Equity Interests indicated on Schedule 3.01 as owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary are owned, beneficially and of record, by the Borrower or such Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02.

 

  

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SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability.  The Transactions are within the Borrower’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions and, if required, actions by equity holders.  The Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.  The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) filings under federal securities laws and regulations and (ii) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any Guarantor or their assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any Guarantor, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, other than Liens created under the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.  (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, certified by its chief financial officer.  Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

 

(b) Since December 31, 2013, no event shall have occurred that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.05. Properties.  (a) The Borrower has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

 

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

 

  

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SECTION 3.06. Litigation, Environmental and Labor Matters.  (a) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its property (including, without limitation, the Collateral) (i) other than as set forth on Schedule 3.06 that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.  There are no judgments or decrees affecting the Borrower or its property (including, without limitation, the Collateral) which are or could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to become a Lien against such property (other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02), and which have not, within 30 days after the date of entry thereof, been discharged or for which an appeal or other appropriate proceeding for review or relief thereof is taken within such period and a stay of execution pending such appeal is obtained.

 

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

 

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements.  The Borrower is in compliance with all laws, regulations, orders and current governmental requirements of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

SECTION 3.09. Taxes.  Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to any such Taxes.

 

SECTION 3.10. ERISA.  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Each of its employee pension benefit plans (other than any Multiemployer Plans) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code as to which the Borrower may have any liability complies in all material respects with all applicable requirements of law and regulations, except in each case where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

  

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SECTION 3.11. Disclosure.  Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time delivered and, if such projected financial information was delivered prior to the Effective Date, as of the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 3.12. Federal Reserve Regulations.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan have been used or will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

 

SECTION 3.13. Liens.  There are no Liens on any of the real or personal properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02.

 

SECTION 3.14. No Default.  No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

SECTION 3.15. Reserved.

 

SECTION 3.16. Solvency.  The Borrower is, and after consummation of the Transactions on the Effective Date (including the making of Revolving Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit) will be, Solvent.

 

SECTION 3.17. Insurance.  The Borrower maintains insurance with insurance companies in amounts and covering such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

 

SECTION 3.18. Reserved.

 

SECTION 3.19. Authority of the Guarantors.  Each Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every other jurisdiction where such qualification is required.  Each Guarantor has the power to enter into the Guaranty and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and to perform its obligations thereunder.  The Transactions are within each Guarantor’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions and, if required, actions by equity holders.  The Loan Documents to which each Guarantor is a party have been duly executed and delivered by each Guarantor and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

  

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SECTION 3.20. OFAC; Sanctions.  The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower is and will remain in compliance in all material respects with all U.S. economic sanctions laws, executive orders, implementing regulations and trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by any U.S. Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, those promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and all applicable anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 5301 et seq.) and all regulations issued pursuant to it.  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower (i) is a Person designated by the U.S. government on the list of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”) with which a U.S. Person cannot deal with or otherwise engage in business transactions, (ii) is a Person who is otherwise the target of U.S. economic sanctions laws such that a U.S. Person cannot deal or otherwise engage in business transactions with such Person or (iii) is controlled by (including without limitation by virtue of such person being a director or owning voting shares or interests), or acts, directly or indirectly, for or on behalf of, any person or entity on the SDN List or a foreign government that is the target of U.S. economic sanctions prohibitions such that the entry into, or performance under, this Agreement or any other Loan Document would be prohibited under U.S. law.

 

SECTION 3.21. Patriot Act; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  The Borrower, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their Affiliates are in compliance with (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, (b) the Patriot Act and (c) other federal or state laws relating to “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used directly or indirectly for any payments to any government official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or in violation of any sanctions referred to in Section 3.20.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Conditions

 

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date.  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

 

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other legal opinions, certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(b) The Lenders shall have received (i) satisfactory audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the two most recent fiscal years ended prior to the Effective Date as to which such financial statements are available, (ii) satisfactory unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for each fiscal quarter ended subsequent to the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available and (iii) satisfactory financial statement projections through and including the Borrower’s 2018 fiscal year, together with such information as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, a detailed description of the assumptions used in preparing such projections).

 

  

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(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of each of (i) Jones Walker LLP, counsel for the Borrower and certain other Loan Parties, (ii) The Health Law Firm, Arkansas counsel for the Loan Parties, (iii) Stoll Keenon Odgden PLLC, Kentucky counsel for the Loan Parties and (iv) Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC, West Virginia counsel for the Loan Parties, in each case, as to such matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the initial Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 4.02(a) and Section 4.02(b).

 

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated and cancelled and all indebtedness thereunder shall have been fully repaid (except to the extent being so repaid with the initial Revolving Loans) and any and all liens thereunder shall have been terminated.

 

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

 

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event.  The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.

 

  

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(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(c) Since the date of the most recent Financials delivered by the Borrower under Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), no event shall have occurred that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in Section 4.02(a), Section 4.02(b) and Section 4.02(c).

 

ARTICLE V

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a) as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, by the date that the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Borrower for such fiscal year would be required to be filed under the rules and regulations of the SEC, giving effect to any automatic extension available thereunder for the filing of such form), its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flow as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

 

(b) as soon as available and in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, by the date that the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Borrower for such fiscal quarter would be required to be filed under the rules and regulations of the SEC, giving effect to any automatic extension available thereunder for the filing of such form), its interim unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flow as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

  

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(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit F hereto (or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent) (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.12, (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (iv) providing reasonably detailed calculations of any pro forma adjustments to the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for the period covered by such financial statements;

 

(d) at least ten (10) Business Days prior to any change in the location of its chief executive office, written notice of such proposed change;

 

(e) [reserved]

 

(f) [reserved]

 

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

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such documents are filed for public availability on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System or are filed and are publicly available without charge on the Borrower’s internet website (as of the Effective Date, www.lhcgroup.com), provided that the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the filing of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  If for any reason, the Administrative Agent or any Lender either does not receive such notice or after reasonable efforts is not able to access such website, then the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, shall not be deemed to have received such information.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the compliance certificates required by Section 5.01(c) to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt, and in any event within five (5) Business Days, written notice of the following:

 

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

 

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

 

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

 

  

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

 

Each notice delivered under this Section 5.02 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (a) continue to engage only in its existing business operations and other business activities reasonably related or ancillary thereto or a reasonable extension thereof, (b) maintain its existence and good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, (c) maintain its existence and good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction where the failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (d) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, governmental authorizations and intellectual property rights necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03 and (e) duly observe and conform to all material requirements of any Governmental Authority relative to the conduct of its business or the operation of its properties except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep and maintain its properties in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and except where the failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain insurance with insurance companies in amounts and covering such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and provide the Administrative Agent with certificates or binders evidencing its insurance coverage on an annual basis, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower further agrees to promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent copies of all renewal notices and copies of receipts for paid premiums.  The Borrower will provide the Administrative Agent with certificates or binders evidencing insurance coverage pursuant to all renewal or replacement policies of insurance no later than fifteen (15) days before any such existing policy or policies should expire.  Solely upon the occurrence of a Specified Event of Default, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent endorsements (x) to all property insurance policies naming the Administrative Agent as mortgagee and/or lender loss payee, as applicable, and (y) to all general liability and other liability policies naming the Administrative Agent an additional insured.

 

  

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SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any consultants, accountant, lawyers, agents and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent), upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.  The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain reports pertaining to the assets of the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Subsidiaries for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (i) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental Laws) and (ii) perform in all material respects its obligations under material agreements to which it is a party, in each case except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans will be used only to finance the working capital needs, and for general corporate purposes (including, without limitation, Acquisitions permitted under Section 6.04), of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

 

SECTION 5.09. Employee Benefit Plans.  The Borrower will maintain each employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and any other benefit plan as to which it may have any liability, in material compliance with all applicable requirements of law and regulations, except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.10. Depository Banks.  The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain Capital One as its principal depository bank, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity, and other deposit accounts for the conduct of its business; provided, however, that any Target shall have eighteen (18) months following the consummation of the relevant acquisition to transfer its accounts in accordance with this Section 5.10.

 

SECTION 5.11. Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances; Excluded Subsidiaries.  (a) Contemporaneously with the delivery of the next certificate pursuant to Section 5.01(c), the Borrower shall (i) provide the Administrative Agent with written notice of the acquisition or formation of any Subsidiary, including any Excluded Subsidiary, (ii) cause the applicable Subsidiary that owns an interest in such Subsidiary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Excluded Subsidiary), to deliver to the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Pledge Agreement (in the form contemplated thereby), pursuant to which the equity interests of such Subsidiary are made subject to the Pledge Agreement, and deliver in pledge to the Administrative Agent the certificates evidencing such interests, if any, and (iii) cause each such Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary to deliver to the Administrative Agent a joinder to the Guaranty Agreement (in the form contemplated thereby) pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof, and accompanied by appropriate corporate or limited liability company resolutions, other corporate or limited liability company documentation and legal opinions as requested by the Administrative Agent and in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

  

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(b) Promptly upon the occurrence of a Specified Event of Default, the Borrower will cause, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to cause, all of its owned property (whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed) to be subject at all times thereafter to first priority, perfected Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, subject in any case to Liens permitted by Section 6.02.

 

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will, and will cause each Guarantor to, and, upon the occurrence of a Specified Event of Default, each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower.

 

(d) The Borrower will, from time to time upon the request of the Administrative Agent, use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and deliver to the Administrative Agent an executed joinder to the Guaranty Agreement (in the form contemplated thereby) by each non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Significant Subsidiary; provided, that no Excluded Subsidiary is required to execute the Guaranty Agreement.  The Borrower will also cause the applicable Subsidiary that owns an interest in any non-wholly owned Subsidiary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Excluded Subsidiary), to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a joinder to the Pledge Agreement (and deliver in pledge to the Administrative Agent the certificates evidencing such interests, if any).  The Borrower further agrees that it will use its best efforts to cause the governing documents of each non-wholly owned Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Effective Date to expressly permit the pledge by the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary of the Equity Interests in such Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to the Pledge Agreement.

 

SECTION 5.12. Post-Closing Obligations.  The Borrower will:

 

(a) within ninety (90) days after the Effective Date, or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, not to exceed an additional ninety (90) days, dissolve or cause to be dissolved each of the Dissolving Subsidiaries and deliver evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that all such dissolutions are complete on or prior to such date, including a certificate of dissolution, certificate of cancellation, or the equivalent, issued by the appropriate government official for each Dissolving Subsidiary;

 

  

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(b) within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date, or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent certificates representing the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Pledge Agreement), with effective endorsements in blank, for all Pledged Collateral which is in certificated form as of the Effective Date;

 

(c) within ten (10) days after the Effective Date, or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, not to exceed an additional ten (10) days, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the secretary of FirstCall Health Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“FirstCall”), with attached thereto a true and correct copy of the articles of incorporation of FirstCall certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Maryland;

 

(d) within ten (10) days after the Effective Date, or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, not to exceed an additional ten (10) days, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the secretary of the Borrower, in its capacity as manager of LHCG XLI, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company (“LHCG XLI”), with attached thereto a true and correct copy of the articles of organization of LHCG XLI certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of South Carolina; and

 

(e) within ten (10) days after the Effective Date, or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, not to exceed an additional ten (10) days, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of good standing dated as of a recent date from the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland for each of FirstCall and Maryland Health Care Group, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Negative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a) the Secured Obligations;

 

(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness with Indebtedness of a similar type that does not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension;

 

(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

 

  

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(d) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness or other obligations of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, in each case, as long as the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is permitted by this Section 6.01 and the obligations so Guaranteed are not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within one hundred eighty (180) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this Section 6.01(e) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(f) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $500,000; provided, that such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary;

 

(g) obligations in respect of performance bond, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h) up to $1,200,000 of Indebtedness owing by the Borrower under that certain promissory note dated as of January 7, 2014 payable to American Bank & Trust Company;

 

(i) other Indebtedness not otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through (h) above or (j) below, in each case, of Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

 

(j) unsecured Indebtedness not otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through (i) above in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $7,500,000 at any time outstanding.

 

SECTION 6.02. Liens.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a) Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b) Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Guarantor existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the Effective Date and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof and the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased;

 

(d) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Guarantor or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Guarantor after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

  

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(e) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Guarantor; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(e), (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within one hundred eighty (180) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not include any other Indebtedness that is not from the same financing source and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than any such property or assets which are the subject of a Lien securing Indebtedness from such financing source;

 

(f) Liens in favor of American Bank & Trust Company securing the Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(g);

 

(g) Liens on property or assets leased in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or any Guarantor in favor of the lessor of such property or assets; and

 

(h) other Liens not otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through (g) above on property or assets of Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors and securing only obligations of Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes; Asset Sales; Fiscal Year.

 

(a) The Borrower will not merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it (unless the Borrower is the surviving corporation) or liquidate or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution).

 

(b) The Borrower will not form or acquire any Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) that does not become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.11.

 

(c) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any of its assets (including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction), or any of the Equity Interests of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), except:

 

(i) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ii) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of obsolete, damaged, worn out or surplus property no longer used or useful in the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

 

  

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(iii) dispositions of assets resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding;

 

(iv) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets to the extent that the net cash proceeds received by a Loan Party or such Subsidiary are used within 180 days of receipt to acquire property or assets to be used by the Borrower, such Guarantor or such Subsidiary in its business;

 

(v) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets (A) between or among any Loan Parties, (B) from any Subsidiary to any Loan Party, (C) between or among Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors and (D) from a Loan Party to a Subsidiary which is not a Guarantor in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed $5,000,000; and

 

(vi) the Subsidiaries may (A)  enter into statutory conversions in any state of the United States as long as the surviving entity of any conversion involving a Guarantor shall be a Guarantor or shall become a Guarantor promptly thereafter and (B) liquidate or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution) if the Borrower determines that such Subsidiary is no longer useful to the business and operations of the Borrower, and such Subsidiary or such Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations under all of the Loan Documents concurrently with the consummation of such transaction.

 

(d) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, change its fiscal year from the basis in effect on the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger or consolidation with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger or consolidation) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Person or any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

 

(a) Permitted Investments;

 

(b) Investments in existence on the Effective Date (i) in the Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries and (ii) set forth on Schedule 6.04;

 

(c) Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(d) investments in the Borrower and any Subsidiary;

 

(e) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount to any single employee not in excess of $75,000 (or, if and to the extent such loans or advances shall be used by such employee for relocation expenses, $100,000) and in an aggregate amount for all employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not in excess of $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

  

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(f) investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

 

(g) investments resulting from receipt of non-cash consideration from any sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets permitted by Section 6.03(d);

 

(h) Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01;

 

(i) Acquisitions (i) for which the total consideration is less than $30,000,000 individually, (ii) consummated when the Revolving Credit Exposure is equal to zero or (iii) for which 100% of the consideration therefor is funded solely with cash on hand or equity securities of the Borrower;

 

(j) other investments not otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through (i) above or (k) below, in each case, of Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

 

(k) any other investment, loan or advance (other than acquisitions) not otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through (j) above so long as the aggregate amount of all such investments, loans and advances does not exceed $7,000,000 during the term of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.05. Stock Repurchases.  The Borrower will not repurchase more than $50,000,000 of its outstanding stock in the aggregate after the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 6.06. Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate and (c) those transactions set forth on Schedule 6.06.

 

SECTION 6.07. Reserved.

 

SECTION 6.08. Reserved.

 

SECTION 6.09. Reserved.

 

SECTION 6.10. Reserved.

 

SECTION 6.11. Reserved.

 

SECTION 6.12. Financial Covenants.

 

(a) Maximum Leverage Ratio.  The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Leverage Ratio”) of (i) Consolidated Senior Funded Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA, determined for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, to be greater than 2.75:1.00.

 

  

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(b) Reserved.

 

(c) Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”) of (i) Consolidated EBITDA plus Consolidated Rental Expense minus the unfinanced portion of Consolidated Capital Expenditures to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges, determined for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, to be less than 1.25:1.00

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Events of Default

 

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

 

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

 

(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article VII) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) days;

 

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence) or Section 5.05 (with respect to the maintenance of insurance);

 

(e) the Borrower or any Guarantor, as applicable, shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article VII) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of forty-five (45) days after the earlier of (i) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender) and (ii) a Responsible Officer of the Borrower has obtained knowledge thereof;

 

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

 

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both, as applicable) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

  

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

 

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

 

(j) the Borrower or any Significant Guarantor shall (i) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or (ii) liquidate or dissolve;

 

(k) one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $15,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower that is not fully covered by insurance and such judgment shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days unless such judgment is being appropriately contested in good faith by proper proceedings diligently pursued;

 

(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(m) any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or the Borrower or any Guarantor shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any such assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms);

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h), (i) or (j) of this Article VII), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued 

  

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interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h), (i) or (j) of this Article VII, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC. 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

The Administrative Agent

 

Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

 

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

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02); provided that, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any applicable law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any applicable law, and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.  The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall 

 

  

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be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Borrower.  Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor.  If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank.  Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder.  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article VIII and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

  

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

 

None of the Lenders, if any, identified in this Agreement as a Co-Syndication Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such.  Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender.  Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders in their respective capacities as Co-Syndication Agents as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.

 

The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Administrative Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender.  The Administrative Agent shall have the exclusive right on behalf of the Lenders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such principal or interest has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

In its capacity, the Administrative Agent is a “representative” of the Secured Parties within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the New York Uniform Commercial Code.  Each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to enter into each of the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and to take all action contemplated by such documents.  Each Lender agrees that no Secured Party (other than the Administrative Agent) shall have the right individually to seek to realize upon the security granted by any Collateral Document, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties upon the terms of the Collateral Documents.  In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Secured Parties any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.  The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Administrative Agent upon any Collateral (i) as described in Section 9.02(d); (ii) as permitted by, but only in accordance with, the terms of the applicable Loan Document; or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, unless such release is required to be approved by all of the Lenders hereunder.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant hereto.  Upon any sale or transfer of assets constituting Collateral 

  

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which is permitted pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document, or consented to in writing by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as applicable, and upon at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens, if any, granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties herein or pursuant hereto upon the Collateral that was sold or transferred; provided, however, that (i) the Administrative Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in the Administrative Agent’s opinion, would expose the Administrative Agent to liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Secured Obligations or any Liens upon (or obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of) all interests retained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including (without limitation) the proceeds of the sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.

 

In case of the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or the LC Exposure shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise (a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Exposure and all other Secured Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.11 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and (b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b) of this paragraph, any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.11 and 9.03.

 

The Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, shall have the right to credit bid and purchase for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties all or any portion of the Collateral at any sale thereof conducted by the Administrative Agent under the provisions of the UCC, including pursuant to Sections 9-610 or 9-620 of the UCC, at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including Section 363 thereof, or a sale under a plan of reorganization, or at any other sale or foreclosure conducted by the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with applicable law.  Each Lender hereby agrees that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Documents or with the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, it will not take any enforcement action, accelerate obligations under any Loan Documents, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under applicable law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of the Collateral.

 

  

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No Secured Party that is party to a Treasury Services Agreement or Swap Agreement that obtains the benefits of Section 2.18(b) or any Collateral with respect to the related Treasury Services Obligations or Swap Obligations, as applicable, by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VIII to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Treasury Services Agreements or Swap Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Treasury Services Agreements or Swap Agreements, as applicable, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Secured Party.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01. Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.  (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

(i) if to the Borrower, to it at LHC Group, Inc., 420 West Pinhook Road, Suite A, Lafayette, LA  70503, Attention of General Counsel (Telecopy No. (337) 235-8037; Telephone No. 1 (800) 489-1307);

 

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to Capital One, National Association, 90 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016, Attention of David Ingram (Telecopy No. (888) 246-3712);

 

(iii) if to the Issuing Bank, to it at Capital One, National Association, 1001 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10018, Attention of Kurian Kurian (Telecopy No. (212) 944-5447);

 

(iv) if to the Swingline Lender, to it at Capital One, National Association, 90 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016, Attention of David Ingram (Telecopy No. (888) 246-3712); and

 

(v) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that, the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it 

 

  

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

 

(c) The Platform.  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of any materials or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower through the internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

(d) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

 

SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments.  (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 9.02(b), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

  

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(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall:

 

(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

 

(iv) change Section 2.18(b) or 2.18(d) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(v) change any of the provisions of this Section 9.02 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(vi) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors from their obligations under the Guaranty Agreement without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

(vii) except as provided in Section 9.02(d) or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.21 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender).

 

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

 

  

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(d) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the Cash Collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Borrower certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property leased to the Borrower or any Subsidiary under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII.  Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.

 

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

 

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.  (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent) in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a Platform) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section 9.03, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such 

 

 

  

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demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.  This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under Section 9.03(a) or 9.03(b), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, and each Revolving Lender severally agrees to pay to the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.

 

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the internet), or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

(e) All amounts due under this Section 9.03 shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) days after written demand therefor.

 

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns.  (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 9.04.  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit),  Participants (to the extent provided in Section 9.04(c)) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

  

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(b) (i)           Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

 

(A) the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided, further, that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

 

(B) the Administrative Agent;

 

(C) the Swingline Lender; and

 

(D) the Issuing Bank.

 

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

 

(A) no assignments shall be made to (x) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (y) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (y);

 

(B) no assignments shall be made to a natural person;

 

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

 

(D) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;

 

(E) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; and

 

  

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

 

(iii) In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

 

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

 

(iv) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to Section 9.04(b)(v), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03); provided that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 9.04(c).

 

  

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(v) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall 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.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(vi) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Eligible Assignee, the Eligible Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the Eligible Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 9.04(b) and any written consent to such assignment required by Section 9.04(b), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the Eligible Assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(c), 2.05(d), 2.05(e), 2.06(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon.  No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(c) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 9.04(b); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under Section 9.04(b); and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than 

 

  

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its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section 9.04 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

SECTION 9.05. Survival.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

 

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

 

(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

  

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(b) Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, e-mailed.pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any  document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

SECTION 9.07. Severability.  Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Guarantor against any of and all of the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured; provided that, in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (i) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.21 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the Lenders, and (ii) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.  The rights of each Lender under this Section 9.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.  Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application by such Lender; provided that, the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

  

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SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  (a)THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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

 

(c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in Section 9.09(b).  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01.  Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.10.

 

SECTION 9.11. Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

  

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SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.09 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.  For purposes of this Section 9.12, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the Effective Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 9.12 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

SECTION 9.13. USA PATRIOT Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Act.

 

SECTION 9.14. Appointment for Perfection.  Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession.  Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

 

SECTION 9.15. Releases of Guarantors.  (a) A Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary; provided that, if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction and the terms of such consent shall not have provided otherwise.  In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section 9.15, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to) execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release.  Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

 

  

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(b) At such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations which have not yet arisen and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Guaranty Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Guarantor thereunder shall automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.

 

SECTION 9.16. Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Secured Obligations hereunder.

 

SECTION 9.17. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that:  (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

  

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SECTION 9.18. Independent Effect of Covenants.  The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant contained in Articles V or VI hereof shall be given independent effect.  Accordingly, the Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted under any covenant contained in Articles V or VI, before or after giving effect to such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other covenant contained in Articles V or VI.

 

SECTION 9.19. Inconsistencies with Other Documents.  In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall control; provided that any provision of the Collateral Documents which imposes additional burdens on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or further restricts the rights of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or gives the Administrative Agent or Lenders additional rights shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with this Agreement and shall be given full force and effect.

 

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

 

 

 

	 	
LHC GROUP, INC.,

	 
	 	
as the Borrower

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Jeffrey M. Kreger  	 
	 	 	Name:Jeffrey M. Kreger	 
	 	 	Title:Executive Vice President and	 
	 	 	
         Chief Financial Officer

	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

(LHC Group, Inc.)

  

  

  

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, individually as a Lender, as the Swingline Lender, as the Issuing Bank and as Administrative Agent

 

	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Grant Guillotte	 
	 	 	Name:Grant Guillotte	 
	 	 	Title:Senior Vice President	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

(LHC Group, Inc.)

 

 

  

  

  

 

	 	

COMPASS BANK, as a Lender

	 
	 	
 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Latrice Tubbs  	 
	 	 	Name:Latrice Tubbs	 
	 	 	Title:Vice President	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

(LHC Group, Inc.)

  

  

 

 

	 	

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

 

	 
	 	
 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Angela D. Cole                                                      	 
	 	 	Name:Angela D. Cole	 
	 	 	Title:Senior Vice President	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

(LHC Group, Inc.)

  

  

 

 

	 	

REGIONS BANK, as a Lender

 

	 
	 	
 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Scott Sarrat                                                                                                        	 
	 	 	Name:Scott Sarrat	 
	 	 	Title:Senior Vice President	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

(LHC Group, Inc.)

  

  

 

 

 

 

	 	

WHITNEY BANK, as a Lender

 

	 
	 	
 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Nicholas Richard                                                                                                                                                       	 
	 	 	Name:Nicholas Richard	 
	 	 	Title:Vice President	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement

(LHC Group, Inc.)

  

  

 

 

Schedule 1.01

Excluded Subsidiaries

Athens-Limestone HomeCare, LLC

Baptist Home Health, LLC

Beauregard Memorial Hospital HomeCare, LLC

Cape Fear Valley HomeCare and Hospice, LLC

Clay County Hospital HomeCare, LLC

Coosa Valley HomeCare, LLC

Craig General Home Health, LLC

East Alabama Medical Center HomeCare, LLC

Fayette Medical Center HomeCare, LLC

Grant Memorial HomeCare and Hospice, LLC

GSHS Home Health, L.P.

Gulf Homecare, Inc.

Infirmary Home Health Agency, Inc.

HGA HomeCare, LLC

HMC Home Health, LLC

Hospice of Central Arkansas, LLC

Housecalls Home Health and Hospice, LLC

Jefferson Regional HomeCare, LLC

Kentucky HomeCare of Henderson, LLC

LHCG V, LLC

LHCG VIII, LLC

LHCG LI, LLC

LHCG XIII, LLC

LHCG XIV, LLC

Louisiana Hospice Group, LLC

LHCG XV, LLC

LHCG XVIII, LLC

LHCG XIX, LLC

LHCG XXIII, LLC

LHCG XXIX, LLC

LHCG XXXIII, LLC

LHCG XXXVII, LLC

LHCG XXXVIII, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Lady Lake, LLC

Munroe Regional HomeCare, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Union City, LLC

West Tennessee HomeCare, LLC

Lifeline Rockcastle Home Health, LLC

Lifeline of West Tennessee, LLC

LLC-I, LLC

Louisiana Extended Care Hospital of Kenner, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Delhi, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Kenner, LLC

Southeast Louisiana HomeCare, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Lutcher, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Monroe, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Northwest Louisiana, LLC

 

  

  

  

 

 

Louisiana HomeCare of Raceland, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Slidell, LLC

Louisiana Home Health of Hammond, LLC

Louisiana Home Health of Houma, LLC

Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care, LLC

Marion Regional HomeCare, LLC

Marshall HomeCare, L.P.

Medical Centers HomeCare, LLC

Medical Center Home Health, LLC

Mississippi HomeCare of Jackson II, LLC

Mizell Memorial Hospital HomeCare, LLC

Morristown-Hamblen HomeCare and Hospice, LLC

University of TN Medical Center Home Care Services, LLC

Oak Shadows of Jennings, LLC

Patient’s Choice Hospice and Palliative Care of Louisiana, LLC

Princeton Community HomeCare, LLC

Richardson Medical Center HomeCare, LLC

Southeast Alabama HomeCare, LLC

Southwest Arkansas HomeCare, LLC

St. Mary’s Medical Center Home Health Services, LLC

Texas Health Care Group of Texarkana, LLC

Texas Health Care Group of The Golden Triangle, LLC

Thomas Home Health, LLC

Three Rivers HomeCare, LLC

Tri-Parish Community HomeCare, LLC

Twin Lakes Home Health Agency, LLC

West Virginia HomeCare, LLC

  

  

  

Schedule 1.02

Dissolving Subsidiaries

Acadian Premiere Regional Nursing, LLC

Diabetes Self Management Center, Inc.

Home Nursing Care, LLC

LHC HomeCare of Georgia, LLC

LHC HomeCare, LLC

LHCG VII, LLC

LHCG XX, LLC

LHCG XXVI, LLC

LHCG XXXV, LLC

LHCG XXXVI, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Lakeland, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Marathon, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Port Charlotte, LLC

Lifeline HomeCare of Salem, LLC

Louisiana Extended Care Hospital of West Monroe, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Greater New Orleans, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Hammond, LLC

MHCG of Jackson, LLC

Nebraska LIII, LLC (f/k/a LHCG LIII, LLC)

St. James HomeCare, LLC

Texas Health Care Group of Longview, LLC

Whispering Pines Health Services, Inc.

 

 

  

  

  

Schedule 2.01

Commitments

	
 

 

LENDER

	 	
REVOLVING COMMITMENT

	 
	  	 	 	 
	
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	 	$	55,000,000	 
	
COMPASS BANK

	 	$	45,000,000	 
	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

	 	$	45,000,000	 
	
REGIONS BANK

	 	$	45,000,000	 
	
WHITNEY BANK

	 	$	35,000,000	 
	
AGGREGATE COMMITMENTS

	 	$	225,000,000	 

  

  

  

Schedule 2.05

Existing Letters of Credit

	
Customer

	
LC No

	
Currency

	
Issue Date

	
Expiry Date

	
Initial Face Amount

	
Beneficiary

	
Borrower

	
10011332

	
USD

	
12/8/2008

	
12/5/2014

	
$1,600,000

	
ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY

	
Borrower

	
10012158

	
USD

	
9/28/2010

	
9/27/2014

	
$1,400,000

	
HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

	
Borrower

	
10012744

	
USD

	
1/5/2012

	
10/1/2014

	
$1,900,000

	
HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

	
Borrower

	
30003490

	
USD

	
9/24/2012

	
9/30/2014

	
$1,800,000

	
HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

  

  

  

Schedule 3.01

Guarantors

Able Home Health, Inc. (Alabama corp.)

Able Home Health, Inc. (Mississippi corp.)

Acadian Home Health Care Services, LLC

Acadian HomeCare of New Iberia, LLC

Acadian HomeCare, LLC

Access Hospice, LLC

AHCG Management, LLC

Alabama Health Care Group, LLC

Arkansas Health Care Group, LLC

Arkansas HomeCare of Forrest City, LLC

Arkansas HomeCare of Fulton, LLC

Arkansas HomeCare of Hot Springs, LLC

Assured Capital Partners, Inc.

Baton Rouge HomeCare, LLC

Boone Memorial HomeCare, LLC

California Health Care Group, LLC

Camden HomeCare, LLC

Cedar Creek Home Health Care Agency, LLC

CMC Home Health and Hospice, LLC

Dallas County Medical Center HomeCare, LLC

Elk Valley Health Services, LLC

Elk Valley Home Health Care Agency, LLC

Elk Valley Professional Affiliates, Inc.

Eureka Springs Hospital HomeCare, LLC

Eureka Springs Hospital Hospice, LLC

FirstCall Health Services, Inc.

Floyd HomeCare, LLC

Georgia Health Care Group, LLC

Georgia HomeCare of Harris, LLC

Gericare, LLC

Home Care Connections, Inc.

Home Care Plus, Inc.

HomeCall, Inc.

Hood Home Health Service, LLC

Idaho Health Care Group, LLC

Illinois Health Care Group, LLC

Illinois Home Health Care, LLC

Illinois LIV, LLC

Jackson County Home Health, LLC

Kentucky Health Care Group, LLC

Kentucky Home Health Care, LLC

Kentucky LV, LLC

Leaf River Home Health Care, LLC

LHC Group Pharmaceutical Services, LLC

LHC Health Care Group of Florida, LLC

LHC HomeCare – Lifeline, LLC

LHC HomeCare of Tennessee, LLC

 

 

  

  

  

 

LHC HomeCare of West Virginia, LLC

LHCG L, LLC

LHCG LII, LLC

LHCG XL, LLC

LHCG XLI, LLC

LHCG XLII, LLC

LHCG XLIII, LLC

LHCG XLVI, LLC

LHCG XLVII, LLC

LHCG XLVIII, LLC

LHCG XVI, LLC

LHCG XVII, LLC

LHCG XXI, LLC

LHCG XXII, LLC

LHCG XXV, LLC

LHCG XXVII, LLC

LHCG XXXIV, LLC

LHCG XXXIX, LLC

LHCG VI, LLC

LHCG X, LLC

LHCG XII, LLC

LHC Real Estate I, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Bowling Green, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Fulton, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Hopkinsville, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Lexington, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Russellville, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Somerset, LLC

Lifeline Home Health Care of Springfield, LLC

Lifeline Private Duty Services of Kentucky, LLC

LLC-II, LLC

Louisiana Health Care Group, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Minden, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Miss-Lou, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of North Louisiana, LLC

Louisiana HomeCare of Plaquemine, LLC

Louisiana Physical Therapy, LLC

Maryland Health Care Group, LLC

Mena Medical Center Home Health, LLC

Mena Medical Center Hospice, LLC

Minnesota Health Care Group, LLC

Mississippi Health Care Group, LLC

Mississippi HomeCare, LLC

Missouri Health Care Group, LLC

Mountaineer HomeCare, LLC

Nevada Health Care Group, LLC

North Carolina Health Care Group, LLC

Northeast Washington Home Health, Inc.

Northwest Georgia Home Health, LLC

Northwest Healthcare Alliance, Inc.

 

  

  

  

 

Ohio Health Care Group, LLC

Ohio HomeCare, LLC

Oklahoma Health Care Group, LLC

Oregon Health Care Group, LLC

Palmetto Express, LLC

Patient’s Choice Hospice, LLC

Pennsylvania Health Care Group Holdings, LLC

Picayune HomeCare, LLC

Preston Memorial HomeCare, LLC

Red River HomeCare, LLC

River West Home Care, LLC

Rivercrest Home Health Care, Inc.

Roane HomeCare, LLC

Salem HomeCare, LLC

South Carolina Health Care Group, LLC

South Mississippi Home Health, Inc.

South Mississippi Home Health, Inc. – Region I

South Mississippi Home Health, Inc. – Region II

South Mississippi Home Health, Inc. – Region III

Southwest Missouri HomeCare, LLC

Specialty Extended Care Hospital of Monroe, LLC

Tennessee Health Care Group, LLC

Texas Health Care Group, LLC

Texas Health Care Group Holdings, LLC

Virginia Health Care Group, LLC

Virginia HomeCare, LLC

Vital Hospice, Inc.

Washington Health Care Group, LLC

Washington HomeCare and Hospice of Central Basin, LLC

West Virginia Health Care Group, LLC

Wetzel County HomeCare, LLC

Wisconsin Health Care Group, LLC

Woods Home Health, LLC

  

  

  

Schedule 3.06

Litigation

On June 13, 2012, a putative shareholder securities class action was filed against Borrower and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, styled City of Omaha Police & Fire Retirement System v. LHC Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 6:12-cv-01609-JTT-CMH.  The action was filed on behalf of Borrower’s shareholders who purchased shares of Borrower’s common stock between July 30, 2008 and October 26, 2011.  Plaintiff generally alleges that the defendants caused false and misleading statements to be issued in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, amended (“the Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and that Borrower’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is a control person under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act.  On November 2, 2012, Lead Plaintiff City of Omaha Police & Fire Retirement System filed an Amended Complaint for Violations of the Federal Securities Laws (“the Amended Complaint”) on behalf of the same putative class of LHC shareholders as the original Complaint.  In addition to claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, the Amended Complaint added a claim against the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for violation of Section 20A of the Exchange Act.  Borrower believes these claims are without merit and intends to defend this lawsuit vigorously.  On December 17, 2012, Borrower and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer filed a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint, which was denied by Order dated March 15, 2013.  The parties are presently conducting fact discovery.

 

On October 18, 2013, a derivative complaint was filed by a purported Borrower shareholder against certain of Borrower’s current and former executive officers, employees and members of its Board of Directors in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, styled Plummer v. Myers, et al., Case No. 6:13-cv-02899-JTT-CMH.  The action was brought derivatively on behalf of Borrower, which is also named as a nominal defendant.  Plaintiff generally alleges that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties owed to Borrower.  The complaint also alleges claims for insider selling and unjust enrichment against Borrower’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Borrower’s former President and Chief Operating Officer.

 

On December 30, 2013, a related derivative complaint was filed by a purported Borrower shareholder against certain of Borrower’s current and former executive officers, employees and members of its Board of Directors in the United States District Court of the Western District of Louisiana, styled McCormack v. Myers, et al., Case No. 6:13-cv-03301-JTT-CMH.  The action was brought derivatively on Borrower’s behalf and Borrower was also named as a nominal defendant.  Plaintiff generally alleges that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties owed to Borrower and wasted corporate assets.  Plaintiff also alleges that Borrower’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer caused false and misleading statements to be issued in violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and that Borrower’s Directors are control persons under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act.  The complaint also alleges claims for insider selling, misappropriation of information and unjust enrichment against Borrower’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Borrower’s former President and Chief Operating Officer.  On March 25, 2014, the McCormack action was consolidated with the related Plummer derivative action described above and stayed pending the conclusion of expert discovery in the related City of Omaha shareholder securities class action described above.  Borrower believes these claims are without merit and intends to defend this lawsuit vigorously.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

Schedule 6.01

Existing Indebtedness

None.

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

Schedule 6.02

Existing Liens

None.

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

Schedule 6.04

Existing Investments

Ownership interest of the Borrower and its Affiliates in each of the entities listed on Schedule 1.01, Schedule 1.02, and Schedule 3.01.

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

Schedule 6.06

Transactions with Affiliates

None.

 

 

 

  

  

  

EXHIBIT A

 

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

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

 

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

 

	1.	
Assignor:

	 
	
 

	 	
 

[and [is] [is not] a Defaulting Lender]

	 	 	 
	2.	Assignee:	 
	
 

	
 

	
[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1]

	 	 	 
	3.	
Borrower:

	 
	 	 LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation                                                                  
	 	 	 
	4.	
Administrative Agent:

	 
	
 

	
 

	
Capital One, National Association, as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

 

 

________________________ 

1Select as applicable.

  

  

  

 

 

	
5.

	
Credit Agreement:

	
The Credit Agreement dated as of June 18, 2014 among LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Capital One, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto

 

6.           Assigned Interest:

 

	
Facility Assigned2

	
Aggregate Amount of 

Commitment/Loans 

for all Lenders

	
Amount of 

Commitment/ Loans 

Assigned

	
Percentage Assigned 

of 

Commitment/Loans3

	  	
$

	
$

	
%

	  	
$

	
$

	
%

	  	
$

	
$

	
%

 

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

 

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

 

	 	ASSIGNOR
	 	 	 
	 	[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
	 	 	 
	 	
By:

	 
	 	 	Title
	 	 	 
	 	 	 

 

	 	ASSIGNEE
	 	 	 
	 	[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
	 	 	 
	 	
By:

	 
	 	 	Title
	 	 	 
	 	 	 

 

 

Consented to and Accepted:

 

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as

 

Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and Issuing Bank

 

___________________  

2Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Agreement (e.g., “Revolving Commitment”, etc.).

 

3Set forth, so at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

 

  

  

  

By: _________________________

Title:

 

[Consented to:]4

 

LHC GROUP, INC.

 

By: _________________________

Title:

 

 

_________________  

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

 

 

  

  

  

 

ANNEX I

 

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

FOR ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1. Representations and Warranties.

 

1.1. Assignor.  The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) it is [not] a Defaulting Lender; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

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

 

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

 

3. General Provisions.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This 

 

  

  

  

Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

EXHIBIT D-1

 

 

FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST

 

Capital One, National Association,

as Administrative Agent

for the Lenders referred to below

 

90 Park Avenue 4th Floor

New York, NY  10016

Attention:  David Ingram

Facsimile: (888) 246-3710

 

	
  

	
Re:  LHC Group, Inc.

 

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of June 18, 2014 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Capital One, National Association, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  The Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement that it requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such Borrowing requested hereby:

 

	
1.

	
The requested Borrowing is in respect of the Revolving Commitment

 

	
2.

	
Aggregate principal amount of Borrowing:5

 

	
3.

	
Date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day):

 

	
4.

	
Type of Borrowing (Base Rate or Eurodollar):

 

	
5.

	
Interest Period and the last day thereof (if a Eurodollar Borrowing):6

 

	
6.

	
Location and number of the Borrower’s account or any other account agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to which proceeds of Borrowing are to be disbursed:

 

[remainder of page intentionally blank]

 

 

 

 

_____________________

 

5Not less than applicable amounts specified in Section 2.02(c).

6Which must comply with the definition of “Interest Period” and end not later than the Maturity Date.

  

  

  

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the conditions to lending specified in Section[s] [4.01 and]7 4.02 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied as of the date hereof.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

	 	

LHC GROUP, INC.,

	 
	 	

as the Borrower

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	                                                                                               	 
	 	Name:	 	 
	 	Title:	 	 

 

 

____________________

 

7To be included only for Borrowings on the Effective Date.

 

  

  

  

EXHIBIT D-2

 

FORM OF INTEREST ELECTION REQUEST

 

Capital One, National Association,

as Administrative Agent

for the Lenders referred to below

90 Park Avenue 4th Floor

New York, NY  10016

Attention:  David Ingram

Facsimile: (888) 246-3710

 

	
  

	
Re:  LHC Group, Inc.

 

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of June 18, 2014 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Capital One, National Association, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  The Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Credit Agreement that it requests to convert an existing Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such conversion requested hereby:

 

	
1.

	
List date, Type, Class, principal amount and Interest Period (if applicable) of existing Borrowing:

 

	
2.

	
Aggregate principal amount of resulting Borrowing:

 

	
3.

	
Effective date of interest election (which shall be a Business Day):

 

	
4.

	
Type of Borrowing (Base Rate or Eurodollar):

 

	
5.

	
Interest Period and the last day thereof (if a Eurodollar Borrowing):8

 

[remainder of page intentionally blank]

 

____________________________

 

8Which must comply with the definition of “Interest Period” and end not later than the Maturity Date.

  

  

  

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

	 	

LHC GROUP, INC.,

	 
	 	

as Borrower

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	                                                                                               	 
	 	Name:	Name:	 
	 	Title:	Title:	 

 

 

 

  

  

  

 

EXHIBIT E

 

 

FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE

 

REVOLVING LOAN NOTE

[                ], 20[    ]

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY PROMISES TO PAY to [LENDER] (the “Lender”) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the “Credit Agreement” (as defined below) on the Maturity Date or on such earlier date as may be required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

The undersigned Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan made to it from the date of such Revolving Loan until such principal amount is paid in full at a rate or rates per annum determined in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.  Such interest is due and payable at such times and on such dates as set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

At the time of each Revolving Loan, and upon each payment or prepayment of principal of each Revolving Loan, the Lender shall make a notation either on the schedule attached hereto and made a part hereof, or in such Lender’s own books and records, in each case specifying the amount of such Revolving Loan, the respective Interest Period thereof (in the case of Eurodollar Revolving Loans) or the amount of principal paid or prepaid with respect to such Revolving Loan, as applicable; provided that, the failure of the Lender to make any such recordation or notation shall not affect the Obligations of the undersigned Borrower hereunder or under the Credit Agreement.

 

This Note is one of the notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2014, by and among the Borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders and Capital One, National Association, as Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Revolving Loans by the Lender to the undersigned Borrower from time to time in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, the indebtedness of the undersigned Borrower resulting from each such Revolving Loan to it being evidenced by this Revolving Loan Note, and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments of the principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

 

Demand, presentment, protest and notice of nonpayment and protest with respect to this Revolving Loan Note are hereby waived by the Borrower.  Whenever in this Revolving Loan Note reference is made to the Administrative Agent, the Lender or the Borrower, such reference shall be deemed to include, as applicable, a reference to their respective successors and permitted assigns.  The provisions of this Revolving Loan Note shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of said successors and assigns.  The Borrower’s successors and assigns shall include, without limitation, a receiver, trustee or debtor in possession of or for the Borrower and an assignee of the Borrower’s obligations under the Credit Agreement as permitted by Section 9.04 thereof.  This Revolving Loan Note may not be assigned by the Lender except as permitted by Section 9.04 of the Credit Agreement.

 

  

  

  

This Revolving Loan Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

 

	 	

LHC GROUP, INC.,

	 
	 	

 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	                                                                                               	 
	 	Name:	Name:	 
	 	Title:	Title:	 

 

 

 

  

  

  

SCHEDULE OF LOANS AND PAYMENTS OR PREPAYMENTS

 

	
Date

	
Amount of Loan

	
Type of Loan

	
Interest Period/Rate

	
Amount of Principal Paid or Prepaid

	
Unpaid Principal Balance

	
Notation Made By

	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  

 

  

  

  

EXHIBIT F

 

 

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned, [__________], hereby certifies that [she/he] is a Financial Officer of LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”).  This Compliance Certificate is being delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) of that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2014 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto and Capital One, National Association, as Administrative Agent.  Capitalized terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement unless specifically defined herein.  This Compliance Certificate is being delivered in connection with the Borrower’s financial statements for the fiscal [quarter] [year] ended [__________], 20[__].  The undersigned does hereby certify, as of the date hereof, for and on behalf of the Borrower, that:

 

1.           I have reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement and I have made, or have caused to be made under my supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and conditions of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements [and such financial statements delivered with this Compliance Certificate in accordance with Section 5.01(b) of the Credit Agreement present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes]9.

 

2.           No Default has occurred[, except for such events or conditions listed on Schedule [___] attached hereto].10

 

3.           The financial information furnished on Schedule [___] attached hereto sets forth reasonably detailed calculations (a) demonstrating compliance with Section 6.12 of the Credit Agreement as of the dates and for the period to which the financial statements delivered herewith relate and (b) of the pro forma adjustments, if any, to the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

4.           No changes in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 of the Credit Agreement[, except for such changes listed on Schedule [___] attached hereto].11

 

[remainder of page intentionally blank]

 

___________________________

 

9Insert bracketed language if the Borrower is delivering financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(b) of the Credit Agreement.

 

10Insert bracketed language only if a Default has occurred.  The details of any Default and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect to such Default should be specified on the Schedule.

 

11Insert bracketed language only if a change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 of the Credit Agreement.  The effect of any such change on the financial statements delivered with this Compliance Certificate should be specified on the Schedule.

 

  

  

  

The foregoing certifications are made and delivered this [___] day of [__________], 20[__].

 

 

 

	 	

LHC GROUP, INC.,

	 
	 	

 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	                                                                                               	 
	 	Name:	Name:	 
	 	Title:	Title:EX-4.1

 Exhibit 4.1 
  

 
  

MATERIALISE NV 
 AND 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON 

                        
                                         
                   As Depositary 
 AND 

OWNERS AND HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES 

Form of Deposit Agreement 
 Dated
as of                         , 2014 
  

 
  

 FORM OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT 

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of             , 2014, among MATERIALISE NV, a company
incorporated under the laws of Belgium (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 1.1 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 4.3 or a change in Deposited Securities covered by Section 4.8 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the American Depositary Shares shall not qualify as “certificaten / certificats” under Article 503 ff. of the Belgian Companies Code. 

SECTION 1.2 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 1.3 Company. 

The term “Company” shall mean Materialise NV, a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) organized under the
laws of Belgium, and its successors. 
 SECTION 1.4 Custodian. 

The term “Custodian” shall mean the Amsterdam office of ING Securities Services, Inc. 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 5.5, as substitute or additional custodian or custodians hereunder, as the context shall require and
shall also mean all of them collectively. 
 SECTION 1.5 Deliver; Surrender. 

(a) The term “deliver”, or its noun form, when used with respect to Shares or other Deposited Securities, shall mean recordation of
transfer of such Shares or other Deposited Securities in the share or other relevant register of the Company in the name of the person entitled to that delivery or, in the case of other Deposited Securities that are not in the form of securities of
the Company, shall mean delivery of such Deposited Securities in such a way as is necessary under applicable law to effect transfers of such Deposited Securities to the person entitled to that delivery, including, without limitation,
(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 and which
may include securities of the Company if and when such securities may be listed on an exchange, 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,

  
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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. 
 (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 1.6 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 1.7 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 1.8 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 4.5. 
 SECTION 1.9 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. 

  
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 SECTION 1.11 Foreign Registrar. 

The term “Foreign Registrar” shall mean the entity, if any, that 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. 

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 the Securities Act
of 1933 or the rules issued thereunder, 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 Belgium, or under a shareholder agreement or the articles of association or similar document of the

  
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Company unless, in each case, such Shares, or American Depositary Shares representing Shares, are being transferred or sold to persons other than an affiliate of the Company in a transaction
(a) covered by an effective resale registration statement, or (b) exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, and the Shares, or American Depositary Shares representing Shares, are not, when held by such
persons, Restricted Securities. 
 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. 

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 4.8, 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. The outstanding Shares of the Company currently exist in registered form. 
 ARTICLE 2. FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF SHARES,
DELIVERY, TRANSFER AND SURRENDER OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES 
 SECTION 2.1 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. 

  
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 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. 
 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 unless that Holder is the Owner of those American Depositary Shares. 

SECTION 2.2 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 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 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
reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in Belgium 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. 

  
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 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 2.3 Delivery of American Depositary
Shares. 
 Upon receipt by any Custodian of any deposit pursuant to Section 2.2 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 5.9, and of all taxes and governmental charges and fees payable in connection with
such deposit and the transfer of the Deposited Securities. 
 SECTION 2.4 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 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. 

  
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 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 2.5 Surrender of American Depositary Shares and Withdrawal of Deposited Securities. 

Upon surrender and cancellation 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 5.9 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 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 

  
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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 2.6, 3.1 and 3.2 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. 
 SECTION 2.6 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 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 2.6. 

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 

  
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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 2.7 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. 
 SECTION 2.8 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. 
 SECTION 2.9 Pre-Release of American Depositary Shares. 

Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so, and notwithstanding Section 2.3 hereof, the Depositary may deliver American
Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.2 (a “Pre-Release”). The Depositary may, pursuant to Section 2.5, deliver Shares upon the surrender and cancellation 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 

  
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that such American Depositary Shares have been Pre-Released. The Depositary may accept 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 and agreement from the person to whom American Depositary Shares are to be delivered, that such person, or its customer, (i) owns or represents the owner of the corresponding Shares
to be remitted, (ii) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest in such Shares to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Holders, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares that is
inconsistent with the transfer of beneficial ownership (including without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares), 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 which 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, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for the purposes of general application. 

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 2.4, 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 

  
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(notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 5.3 and 5.8 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 3.1 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 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. 

SECTION 3.2 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 3.3 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 free 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. 

  
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 SECTION 3.4 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 stock exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, the rules and requirements of any clearing system through which transactions in the American
Depositary Shares may be settled or the articles of association of the Company, as in effect from time to time, 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 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 shall provide reasonable assistance to the Company, at the Company’s request and expense, in obtaining information sought by the Company pursuant to this Section 3.4. 

ARTICLE 4. THE DEPOSITED SECURITIES 
 SECTION
4.1 Cash Distributions. 
 Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on any Deposited Securities,
the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of Section 4.5, 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 5.9) to
the Owners entitled thereto, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited Securities held by them respectively; provided, however, that in the event that the Custodian or the Depositary shall be
required 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 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. The Company or its agent will remit to the appropriate governmental agency in Belgium all amounts withheld and owing to such agency. The Depositary will 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. 

SECTION 4.2 Distributions Other Than Cash, Shares or Rights. 

  
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 Subject to the provisions of Sections 4.11 and 5.9, whenever the Depositary shall receive any
distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4, the Depositary shall 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, in proportion to the number of American Depositary Shares representing such Deposited 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 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 5.9) shall be distributed by the Depositary to the Owners
entitled thereto, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.1. The Depositary may withhold any distribution of securities under this Section 4.2 if it has not received reasonably 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 4.2
that is sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in respect of that distribution. 
 SECTION 4.3 Distributions in Shares. 

If any distribution upon any Deposited Securities consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary may, and upon the
Company’s written request, shall 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 after deduction or upon issuance of American Depositary
Shares, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Section 5.9 (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 use reasonable efforts to sell the amount of Shares
represented 

  
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by the aggregate of such fractions (or American Depositary Shares representing those Shares) and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in
Section 4.1. If additional American Depositary Shares are not so delivered, the Depositary agrees to consult with the Company in good faith concerning the appropriate treatment of such additional Shares. 

SECTION 4.4 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 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 2.2 of this Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Deposit Agreement, deliver American Depositary Shares to such Owner. In the case 

  
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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. 

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 5.9 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. 

Neither the Depositary nor the Company shall 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 4.5 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.

  
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Such distribution may be made upon an averaged or other 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 5.9. 

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 opinion 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 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 4.6 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, after consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, fix a 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 4.1 through 4.5 and to the other terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Owners on such record date shall be entitled, as the case may be, to receive the amount distributable by the Depositary with 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.

  
 -17- 

 SECTION 4.7 Voting of Deposited Securities. 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting or solicitation or 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 , which shall be previously provided to the Company, shall be at the discretion of the Depositary (unless
otherwise advised to the Depositary by the Company in writing), which shall contain (a) such information 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 a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Belgian law and of the articles of association or similar document of the Company and any other provisions governing Deposited Securities, 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 instructions may be given (or be 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 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 Securities represented by the 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 has requested the Depositary to send a notice under this paragraph and has provided the Depositary
not less than 30 days’ notice of the meeting and details of the matters to be voted upon and (ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares
of that Owner 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 such
Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall, only if instructed by the Company in writing to do so, give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided, 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) substantial opposition exists or (y) such matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of Shares. 

  
 -18- 

 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 cut-off date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph. 

Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, the Depositary shall, if so requested in writing by the Company, represent all Deposited
Securities (whether or not voting instructions have been received in respect of such Deposited Securities from 
 Holders as of the
abovementioned record date) for the sole purpose of establishing quorum at a meeting of shareholders. 
 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 4.7, the Company shall give the Depositary notice of
any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon as far in advance of the meeting date as practicable, but in no event less than 15 days prior to the meeting date. 

SECTION 4.8 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 4.9 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 5.6. 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. 

  
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 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 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 reasonably 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 reasonably 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 5.1 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, 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 expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder. 
 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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 Upon reasonable request, and provided the Depositary shall suffer no significant disruption of
its normal activities, the Company shall, at such times as shall be mutually agreed, have access to the Depositary’s transfer and registration records relating to the American Depositary Shares. Upon reasonable request, copies of any such and
records shall be provided to the Company at the Company’s expense. 
 SECTION 5.2 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 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4, 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 5.3 Obligations of the Depositary, the
Custodian and the Company. 
 Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes no obligation
nor shall it 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. 

  
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 Neither the Depositary nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates
assumes no obligation nor shall it 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. 
 Neither
the Depositary nor the Company nor 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 nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it 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 it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. 

Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable for
the failure by any Owner or Holder to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Owner or Holder’s income tax liability. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Owners or Holders on account of their ownership of American Depositary Shares. 

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, except to the extent that such acts or omissions are the direct result of the negligence
or willful misconduct of the Depositary. 
 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. 

  
 -22- 

 No disclaimer of liability under the Securities Act of 1933 is intended by any provision of this
Deposit Agreement. 
 SECTION 5.4Resignation 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 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 5.5 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 

  
 -23- 

 
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. 

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; 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 5.6 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 5.7 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 

  
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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 effect as to such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Company delivers to the Depositary an opinion of United States counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary, to the effect that, upon deposit, those Shares will be eligible for public resale in the United States without further registration
under the Securities Act of 1933. 
 SECTION 5.8 Indemnification. 

The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, its directors, 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 reasonable 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 of 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, 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, 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 2.9) of American Depositary Shares in accordance with Section 2.9 and which would not otherwise have arisen had those American Depositary Shares not been the subject
of a Pre-Release pursuant to Section 2.9; 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

  
 -25- 

 
(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 (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, 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 and 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 

  
 -26- 

 
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. 

SECTION 5.9 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 4.3), 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 4.5, (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 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4 and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2, (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 4.1 through 4.4 hereof, (7) a fee for the distribution of securities pursuant to Section 4.2, 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 4.6 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). 

  
 -27- 

 The Depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable to
Owners that are obligated to pay those fees. 
 The Depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash
distributions or by directly billing Owners or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The Depositary may generally refuse to provide for-fee services until its fees for those services are paid. 

The Depositary, subject to Section 2.9 hereof, may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in
American Depositary Shares. 
 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 6.1 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 

  
 -28- 

 
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 thirty 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 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. 

SECTION 6.2 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 5.4; 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 2.5, 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). 

  
 -29- 

 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
discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary under Sections 5.8 and 5.9. 
 ARTICLE 7.
MISCELLANEOUS 
 SECTION 7.1 Counterparts; Signatures 

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. 

Any manual signature on this Deposit Agreement that is faxed, scanned or photocopied, and any electronic signature valid under the
Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001, et. seq., shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature, and the parties hereby
waive any objection to the contrary. 
 SECTION 7.2 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 7.3 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. 

  
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 SECTION 7.4 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 7.5 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 Materialise NV, Technologielaan 15, Leuven, Belgium 3001, Attention: Chief Legal Counsel 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 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 7.6 Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver. 

The Company hereby (i) irrevocably designates and appoints Materialise USA, LLC, 44650 Helm Court, Plymouth, Michigan 48170, 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 

  
 -31- 

 
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) 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 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 7.7 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. 

  
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 SECTION 7.8 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 Belgium. 

  
 -33- 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MATERIALISE NV 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. 

 

			
	MATERIALISE NV
		
	By:	 	 
		 	Name:
		 	Title:

  

			
	 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

    as Depositary

		
	By:	 	 
		 	Name:
		 	Title:

  
 -34- 

 EXHIBIT A 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES 

(Each American Depositary Share represents 

            deposited Shares) 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON 

AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPT 
 FOR
ORDINARY SHARES, OF 
 MATERIALISE NV 

(INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF BELGIUM) 

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 Materialise NV, incorporated under the laws of Belgium (herein called the “Company”). At the date hereof, each American Depositary Share represents
            Shares deposited or subject to deposit under the Deposit Agreement (as such term is hereinafter defined) at the Amsterdam office of ING Securities Services, Inc. (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             , 2014 (herein called the “Deposit
Agreement”), by and 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 RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES. 

 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. Delivery of such Deposited Securities may be made by the delivery of (a) certificates or account
transfer in the name of the Owner hereof or as ordered by him, with proper endorsement or accompanied by proper instruments or instructions of transfer and (b) any other securities, property and cash to which such Owner is then entitled in
respect of this Receipt. 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 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 

  
 A-2 

 
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 Act of 1933, unless a registration statement is in effect as to such Shares or such Shares are exempt from
registration thereunder. 
  

	4.	LIABILITY OF OWNER FOR TAXES. 

 If any tax or other governmental charge 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 free 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. No Share shall be accepted for deposit unless accompanied by evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Depositary that any necessary approval has been granted by any governmental body in Belgium
that is then performing the function of the regulation of currency exchange. 

  
 A-3 

	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 4.3 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 4.5 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 2.3, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement and the surrender of American Depositary Shares pursuant to Section 2.5 or 6.2 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 4.1 through 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, (7) a fee for the distribution of
securities pursuant to Section 4.2 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 4.6 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 may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable to Owners that are obligated to pay those fees.

  
 A-4 

 The Depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash
distributions or by directly billing Owners or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The Depositary may generally refuse to provide for-fee services until its fees for those services are paid. 

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. 
 From time to time, the Depositary may make payments to the Company to reimburse and / or share revenue from the fees
collected from Holders, or waive fees and expenses for services provided, generally relating to costs and expenses arising out of establishment and maintenance of the American Depositary Shares program. In performing its duties under the Deposit
Agreement, the Depositary may use brokers, dealers or other service providers that are affiliates of the Depositary and that may earn or share fees and commissions. 
  

	8.	PRE-RELEASE OF RECEIPTS. 

 Unless requested in writing by the Company to cease doing so,
and notwithstanding Section 2.3 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary may deliver American Depositary Shares prior to the receipt of Shares pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement (a “Pre-Release”). The Depositary
may, pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Deposit Agreement, deliver Shares upon the surrender and cancellation 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 accept 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 and agreement from the person to whom American Depositary Shares are to be delivered, that such person, or its customer, (i) owns or represents the owner of the corresponding Shares to be remitted,
(ii) assigns all beneficial right, title and interest in such Shares to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Holders, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such Shares that is inconsistent with the
transfer of beneficial ownership (including without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of such Shares), 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
American Depositary Shares which 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, and may, with the prior written consent of the Company, change such limit for the purposes of general application. 

  
 A-5 

 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 endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, the American Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt 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 (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. 
  

	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 certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those reports will be available for inspection and copying through the Commission’s EDGAR system or at
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission in Washington, D.C. 
 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. 

  
 A-6 

 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
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, 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 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement) to the Owners entitled thereto; provided, however, that in the event that the Company or the Depositary is required 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 Section 4.11 and 5.9 of the Deposit Agreement, whenever the Depositary
receives any distribution other than a distribution described in Section 4.1, 4.3 or 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will 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 5.9 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 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary may
withhold any distribution of securities under Section 4.2 of the Deposit Agreement if it has not received reasonably 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. 

  
 A-7 

 If any distribution consists of a dividend in, or free distribution of, Shares, the Depositary
may, and upon the Company’s written request, shall deliver to the Owners entitled thereto, 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 after deduction or upon issuance of American Depositary Shares, including the withholding of any tax or other governmental charge as provided in Section 4.11 of
the Deposit Agreement and the payment of the fees and expenses of the Depositary as provided in Article 7 hereof and Section 5.9 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. In lieu of delivering fractional American Depositary Shares in any such case, the Depositary shall use reasonable efforts to sell the amount of Shares represented by the
aggregate of such fractions (or American Depositary Shares representing those Shares) and distribute the net proceeds, all in the manner and subject to the conditions described in Section 4.1 of the Deposit Agreement. If additional American
Depositary Shares are not so delivered, the Depositary agrees to consult with the Company in good faith concerning the appropriate treatment of such additional Shares. 

In the event that the Depositary reasonably 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 reasonably 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 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. 

  
 A-8 

 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 2.2 of the Deposit Agreement, and shall, pursuant to Section 2.3 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 5.9 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 

  
 A-9 

 
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 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. 
 Neither the Depositary nor the
Company shall 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 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 5.9 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 opinion 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. 

  
 A-10 

 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. 

 

	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, after
consultation with the Company to the extent practicable, fix a 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 of notice of any meeting or solicitation
or 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 , which shall be
previously provided to the Company, shall be at the discretion of the Depositary (unless otherwise advised to the Depositary by the Company in writing), which shall contain (a) such information 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 a specified record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of Belgian law and of the articles of association or similar
document of the Company and any other provisions governing Deposited Securities, 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 instructions may be given (or be 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 on such record date, received on or before the date

  
 A-11 

 
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 Securities represented
by the 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 has requested the Depositary to send a notice under this paragraph and has provided the Depositary not less than 30 days’ notice of the meeting and details of the
matters to be voted upon and (ii) no instructions are received by the Depositary from an Owner with respect to Deposited Securities represented by American Depositary Shares of that Owner 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 such Deposited Securities and the Depositary shall, only if instructed by the
Company in writing to do so, give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company to vote such Deposited Securities, provided, 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) substantial opposition exists or (y) 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 cut-off date to ensure that the Depositary will vote the Shares or Deposited Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the preceding
paragraph. 
 Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, the Depositary shall, if so requested in writing by the Company, represent all
Deposited Securities (whether or not voting instructions have been received in respect of such Deposited Securities from Holders as of the abovementioned record date) for the sole purpose of establishing quorum at a meeting of shareholders. 

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 4.7, the Company shall give the Depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon as far in advance of the meeting date as
practicable, but in no event less than 15 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 

  
 A-12 

 
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 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. 

 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 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 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 of the Deposit
Agreement, or an offering or distribution pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Deposit Agreement, 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 the Depositary nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to Owners or Holders, except that they agree to perform their obligations specifically set forth
in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith. The Depositary shall not be subject to any liability with respect to the validity or worth of the Deposited Securities. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates 

  
 A-13 

 
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 other person. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable for any action or nonaction by it in reliance upon the advice of
or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any Owner or Holder, or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. Neither the Depositary nor the
Company nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable for the failure by any Owner or Holder to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such Owner or Holder’s
income tax liability. Neither the Depositary nor the Company nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by Owners or Holders on account of
their ownership of American Depositary Shares. 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 a 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, provided
such acts or omissions are not the direct result of the negligence or willful misconduct of the Depositary. 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 earlier of (i) the appointment of a successor depositary
and its acceptance of such appointment as provided in the Deposit Agreement or (ii) termination by the Depositary pursuant to Section 6.2 of 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. 

  
 A-14 

	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 otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of Owners, shall,
however, not become effective as to outstanding American Depositary Shares until the expiration of thirty 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 2.5, 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

  
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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 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 2.4 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 5.3 and 5.8 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. 

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

 In the Deposit
Agreement, the Company has (i) appointed Materialise USA, LLC, 44650 Helm Court, Plymouth, Michigan 48170, 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 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. 
  

	23.	DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS. 

  
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 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 stock exchange on which the American Depositary Shares are, or will be, registered, traded or listed, the rules and requirements of any clearing
system through which transactions in the American Depositary Shares may be settled or the articles of association of the Company, as in effect from time to time, 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 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 shall provide reasonable assistance to the Company, at the Company’s request and expense, in obtaining information sought by the Company pursuant to
this Section 3.4. 

  
 A-18

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