Document:

Exhibit 4.13

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC.

 

TO

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Trustee

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

Indenture

 

Dated as of

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of

 

	
Trust Indenture
    Act Section
    	
 
    	
Indenture
    Sections
    
	
§ 310(a)(1)
    	
 
    	
609
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
609
    
	
(a)(3)
    	
 
    	
Not Applicable
    
	
(a)(4)
    	
 
    	
Not Applicable
    
	
(a)(5)
    	
 
    	
609
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
608, 610
    
	
§ 311(a)
    	
 
    	
613
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
613
    
	
§ 312(a)
    	
 
    	
701, 702(a)
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
702(b)
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
702(c)
    
	
§ 313(a)
    	
 
    	
703(a), 703(b)
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
703(a)
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
703(a), 703(b)
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
703(c)
    
	
§ 314(a)
    	
 
    	
704, 1004
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
Not Applicable
    
	
(c)(1)
    	
 
    	
102
    
	
(c)(2)
    	
 
    	
102
    
	
(c)(3)
    	
 
    	
Not Applicable
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
Not Applicable
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
102(b)
    
	
§ 315(a)
    	
 
    	
601(a)
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
602, 703(a)
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
601(b)
    
	
(d)
    	
 
    	
601(c)
    
	
(d)(l)
    	
 
    	
601(a)(1), 601(c)(1)
    
	
(d)(2)
    	
 
    	
601(c)(2)
    
	
(d)(3)
    	
 
    	
601(c)(3)
    
	
(e)
    	
 
    	
514
    
	
§ 316(a)(1)(A)
    	
 
    	
502, 512
    
	
(a)(1)(B)
    	
 
    	
513
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
Not Applicable
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
508
    
	
(c)
    	
 
    	
104(e)
    
	
§ 317(a)(l)
    	
 
    	
503
    
	
(a)(2)
    	
 
    	
504
    
	
(b)
    	
 
    	
1003
    
	
§ 318(a)
    	
 
    	
107
    

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF   GENERAL APPLICATION
    	
1
    
	
SECTION 101. Definitions
    	
1
    
	
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions
    	
5
    
	
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee
    	
6
    
	
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders
    	
6
    
	
SECTION 105. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company
    	
7
    
	
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver
    	
7
    
	
SECTION 107. Conflict With Trust Indenture Act
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 110. Separability Clause
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 112. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 114. Rules by Trustee and Agents
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 115. No Recourse Against Others
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 116. U.S.A. Patriot Act
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 117. Force Majeure
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 201. Forms Generally
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series
    	
9
    
	
SECTION 302. Denominations
    	
11
    
	
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
    	
11
    
	
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities
    	
12
    
	
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 309. Cancellation
    	
15
    
	
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest
    	
15
    
	
SECTION 311. Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of   Transfer
    	
15
    
	
SECTION 312. Extension of Interest Payment
    	
16
    
	
SECTION 313. CUSIP Numbers
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
    	
16
    
	
SECTION 401. Termination of Company’s   Obligations
    	
16
    
	
SECTION 402. Defeasance and Discharge   of Indenture
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 403. Defeasance of Certain   Obligations
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 404. Conditions to Defeasance
    	
18
    
	
SECTION 405. Application of Trust   Money
    	
19
    
	
SECTION 406. Reinstatement
    	
19
    

 

i

 

	
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES
    	
19
    
	
SECTION 501. Events of Default
    	
19
    
	
SECTION 502. Acceleration of   Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
    	
20
    
	
SECTION 503. Collection of   Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
    	
21
    
	
SECTION 504. Trustee May File   Proofs of Claim
    	
21
    
	
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce   Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons
    	
21
    
	
SECTION 506. Application of Money   Collected
    	
21
    
	
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits
    	
22
    
	
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of   Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest
    	
22
    
	
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights   and Remedies
    	
22
    
	
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies   Cumulative
    	
22
    
	
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not   Waiver
    	
23
    
	
SECTION 512. Control by Holders
    	
23
    
	
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults
    	
23
    
	
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs
    	
23
    
	
SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or   Extension Laws
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE
    	
24
    
	
SECTION 601. Certain Duties and   Responsibilities
    	
24
    
	
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults
    	
24
    
	
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of   Trustee
    	
24
    
	
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for   Recitals or Issuance of Securities
    	
25
    
	
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities
    	
26
    
	
SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust
    	
26
    
	
SECTION 607. Compensation and   Reimbursement
    	
26
    
	
SECTION 608. Disqualification;   Conflicting Interests
    	
26
    
	
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee   Required; Eligibility
    	
26
    
	
SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal;   Appointment of Successor
    	
27
    
	
SECTION 611. Acceptance of   Appointment by Successor
    	
27
    
	
SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion,   Consolidation or Succession to Business
    	
28
    
	
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection   of Claims Against Company
    	
28
    
	
SECTION 614. Appointment of   Authenticating Agent
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE   AND COMPANY
    	
30
    
	
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish   Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders
    	
30
    
	
SECTION 702. Preservation of   Information; Communications to Holders
    	
30
    
	
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee
    	
31
    
	
SECTION 704. Reports by Company
    	
31
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR   TRANSFER
    	
31
    
	
SECTION 801. Company   May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms
    	
31
    
	
SECTION 802. Successor Substituted   for the Company
    	
31
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
    	
32
    
	
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures   Without Consent of Holders
    	
32
    
	
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures   With Consent of Holders
    	
33
    
	
SECTION 903. Execution of   Supplemental Indentures
    	
34
    
	
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental   Indentures
    	
34
    
	
SECTION 905. Conformity With Trust   Indenture Act
    	
34
    
	
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities   to Supplemental Indentures
    	
34
    

 

ii

 

	
SECTION 907. Revocation and Effect of   Consents
    	
34
    
	
SECTION 908. Modification Without   Supplemental Indenture
    	
35
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS
    	
35
    
	
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal,   Premium and Interest
    	
35
    
	
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or   Agency
    	
35
    
	
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities   Payments to Be Held in Trust
    	
36
    
	
SECTION 1004. Statement as to   Compliance
    	
36
    
	
SECTION 1005. Corporate Existence
    	
36
    
	
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain   Covenants
    	
37
    
	
SECTION 1007. Calculation of Original   Issue Discount
    	
37
    
	
SECTION 1008. Statement by Officers as   to Default
    	
37
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
    	
37
    
	
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article
    	
37
    
	
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem;   Notice to Trustee
    	
37
    
	
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of   Securities to Be Redeemed
    	
37
    
	
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption
    	
38
    
	
SECTION 1105. Securities Payable on   Redemption Date
    	
38
    
	
SECTION 1106. Securities Redeemed in   Part
    	
39
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE TWELVE REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF   HOLDERS
    	
39
    
	
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article
    	
39
    
	
SECTION 1202. Notice of Repayment Date
    	
39
    
	
SECTION 1203. Securities Payable on   Repayment Date
    	
40
    
	
SECTION 1204. Securities Repaid in   Part
    	
40
    

 

iii

 

INDENTURE, dated as of                 , between ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 3200 Walnut Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (each herein called a “Security” or, collectively, the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation or, at the election of the Company from time to time, at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

 

(4) the word “or” is not exclusive; and

 

(5) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

Certain terms used principally in Article Six are defined in that Article.

 

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104(a).

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper in an official language of the country of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general

 

 

circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used. Whenever successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 

“Authorized Officer” means any person (whether designated by name or the persons for the time being holding a designated office) appointed by or pursuant to a Board Resolution for the purpose, or a particular purpose, of this Indenture, provided that written notice of such appointment shall have been given to the Trustee.

 

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

 

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

 

“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location specified in the Securities or this Indenture, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment, such other location or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, are authorized or obligated by law to close, except as may be otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b).

 

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

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person has become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 625 Marquette Avenue, 11th Floor, MAC N-9311-115, Minneapolis, MN 55479, Attention:  Array BioPharma Account Manager, Corporate Trust Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, joint stock company, limited liability company or business trust.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company in Section 301(b) until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America that is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts at the time of payment.

 

“Eligible Obligations” means:

 

(a) with respect to Securities denominated in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations; or

 

(b) with respect to Securities denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency, such other obligations or instruments as shall be specified with respect to such Securities, as contemplated by Section 301(b).

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

2

 

“Global Security” means a Security evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

 

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

 

“Holder” means, with respect to a Registered Security, a Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

 

“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, upon call for redemption, exercise of repayment option or otherwise.

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of, or counsel for, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities of any series, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b) Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption money or Eligible Obligations (or any combination of money and Eligible Obligations) in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company or any other obligor on such Security) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company or any other obligor on such Security (if the Company or any other obligor on such Security acts as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided, however, that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(c) Securities as to which the Company has effected defeasance as provided in Section 402;

 

(d) Securities that have been replaced or paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it and the Company that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder,

 

(i) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor (unless the Company, such Affiliate or such obligor owns (x) all Securities Outstanding under this Indenture or (y) except for the purposes of actions to be taken by Holders of more than one series or Tranche voting as a class, all Outstanding Securities of each such series and each such Tranche, as the case may be, determined without regard to this clause)

 

3

 

shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor;

 

(ii) in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of any series or Tranche have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, the principal amount of Original Issue Discount Securities that shall be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

(iii) in the case of any Security the principal of which is payable from time to time without presentment or surrender, the principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding at any time for all purposes of this Indenture shall be the original principal amount thereof less the aggregate amount of principal thereof theretofore paid; and

 

(iv) in the case of Securities having been denominated in a currency other than Dollars and remaining outstanding contemporaneously with Securities denominated in Dollars, the principal amount of any Security that is denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be determined as contemplated by Section 301(b).

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person, including the Company, authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time any or all of the specific terms of which Securities, including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents from time to time subsequent to the initial request for the authentication and delivery of such Securities by the Trustee, all as contemplated in Sections 301 and 303.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series or Tranche are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301(b).

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture, exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

 

“Registered Security” means any Security issued hereunder and registered by the Security Registrar in the Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301(b).

 

“Repayment Date,” when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid or repurchased, means the date, if any, fixed for such repayment or for such repurchase (whether at the option of the Holders or otherwise) pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Repayment Price,” when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid, means the price, if any, at which it is to be repaid pursuant to Section 301(b).

 

4

 

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department or any other successor group of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, senior associate or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who in each case shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Security” or “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305(a).

 

“Series” or “series of Securities” means a series of Securities issued under this Indenture as determined by Board Resolution or as otherwise determined under this Indenture.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” of any Person means (a) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding total voting power ordinarily entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or other voting members of the governing body thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries or (b) any partnership the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or the only general partners of which are the Company or of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company (or any combination thereof).

 

“Tranche” means a group of Securities which (a) are of the same series and (b) have identical terms, except as to principal amount, date of issuance, first interest payment date or initial interest accrual date.

 

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have been appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means (x) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America are pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation that is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

“Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

 

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the

 

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proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with.

 

(b) Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

 

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

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

 

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

 

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

(c) All applications, requests, certificates, statements or other instruments given under this Indenture shall be without personal recourse to any individual giving the same and may include an express statement to such effect.

 

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. (a) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

(b) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or representations by counsel. Any such certificate, statement or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, an Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company. Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company. Any certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

(c) Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner acceptable to the Trustee.

 

(c) The principal amount (except as otherwise contemplated in clause (ii) of the proviso to the definition of “Outstanding”) and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

(e) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of any Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted by Section 512 or 513. Such record date shall be not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of such Securities furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 701 prior to such solicitation.

 

(f) If the Company solicits from Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of the record date.

 

SECTION 105. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company. Except as otherwise provided herein, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(a) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (including facsimile or electronically in PDF format) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Array BioPharma Account Manager, Corporate Trust Services, or

 

(b) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid (and, in the case of securities held in book-entry form, by electronic transmission), to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or at any other address furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company prior to such mailing or being sent electronically in PDF format.

 

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event or reports to Holders, such notice or report shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or, in the case of Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the applicable Depositary), to each Holder of Registered Securities affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register and to addresses filed with the Trustee or preserved on the Trustee’s list pursuant to Section 702(a) for other Holders (and to such other addressees as may be required in the case of such notice or report under Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act), not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice or report.

 

(b) In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

 

(c) Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

(d) In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it is impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made at the direction of the Company and with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

(e) If it is impractical in the opinion of the Trustee or the Company to make any publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in lieu thereof that is made or given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

 

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SECTION 107. Conflict With Trust Indenture Act. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision that is included in this Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required provision shall control.

 

SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

SECTION 110. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto (including any Paying Agent appointed pursuant to Section 1002 and Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to Section 614 to the extent provided herein) and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 112. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial. (a) This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York in the United States, but without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

(b) EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity of any Security is not a Business Day at any Place of Payment or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities, other than a provision in the Securities of any series, or in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate that establishes the terms of such Securities, that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, Repayment Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and such extension of time shall in such case be (1) excluded in the computation of interest, if any, accruing on such Security at a fixed rate and (2) included in the computation of interest, if any, accruing on such Security at a floating rate; provided, however, that if such extension would cause payment of interest at a floating rate to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.

 

SECTION 114. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders of one or more series. The Paying Agent or Security Registrar may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

SECTION 115. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee, as such, of the Company or any of its Affiliates or any successor entity shall have any liability for any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company under this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, or in the Securities or any coupon appertaining thereto, or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations, covenants or agreements or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

 

SECTION 116. U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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SECTION 117. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

SECTION 201. Forms Generally. (a) The Securities of each series and related coupons, if any, shall be in substantially such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with any rules of any securities exchange or to conform with general usage, all as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. When the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

(b) The definitive Securities shall be produced in such manner or combination of manners, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK,   NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
as Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Authorized   Signatory
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
					

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. (a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

(b) The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);

 

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1106 or 1204 and except for any Securities that,

 

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pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder) and the absence of such limitation shall mean that the Company may issue from time to time additional securities of such series without limitation as to aggregate principal amount;

 

(3) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, is payable or any formula or other method or other means by which such date or dates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise (without regard to any provisions for redemption, prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension);

 

(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall bear interest, if any (including the rate or rates at which overdue principal shall bear interest, if different from the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest prior to Maturity, and, if applicable, the rate or rates at which overdue premium or interest shall bear interest, if any), or any formula or other method or other means by which such rate or rates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise; the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on such Securities on any Interest Payment Date; the right of the Company, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such extension as contemplated by Section 312; and the basis of computation of interest, if other than as provided in Section 310;

 

(5) the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served and notices to Holders pursuant to Section 106 will be published; the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent or Agents for such series or Tranche; and if such is the case, that the principal of such Securities shall be payable without presentment or surrender thereof;

 

(6) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(8) the terms, if any, on which the Securities of such series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to other debt of the Company;

 

(9) the denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable, if other than minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof;

 

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

(11) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable in whole or in part as Registered Securities, whether Securities of the series are to be issuable with or without coupons, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities and, in such case, the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;

 

(12) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent of any such amount in Dollars that is to be determined for any purpose, including for the purpose of determining the principal amount of such Securities deemed to be Outstanding at any time;

 

(13) if the principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities of such series is to be payable, or is to be payable at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in securities or other property, the type and amount of such securities or other property, or the manner of determining how such amount shall be determined, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;

 

(14) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary or permanent Global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid;

 

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(15) any addition to or change in the Events of Default, with respect to the Securities of such series, and any addition to or change in the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series in addition to those set forth in Article Ten;

 

(16) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of such series may be converted into or exchanged for securities or other property of the Company or any other Person;

 

(17) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Company’s obligations under this Indenture may be terminated through the deposit of money or Eligible Obligations, if other than as provided in Article Four;

 

(18) any exceptions to Section 113, or variation in the definition of Business Day, with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(19) any collateral security, assurance or guaranty for the Securities of such series;

 

(20) any rights or duties of another Person to assume the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities of such series (whether as joint obligor, primary obligor, secondary obligor or substitute obligor) and any rights or duties to discharge and release any obligor with respect to the Securities of such series or this Indenture to the extent related to such series; and

 

(21) any other terms, conditions and rights of the series (which terms, conditions and rights shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(4)).

 

(c) All Securities of any one series (other than Securities offered in a Periodic Offering) shall be substantially identical except in the case of Registered Securities as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto and as reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Securities of different series may differ in any respect. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time. Unless otherwise provided, Securities of a single series may have different terms, and a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders of Securities of such series, for issuance of additional Securities of such series.

 

(d) If the terms and form or forms of any series of Securities are established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver a copy of such Board Resolution to the Trustee at or prior to the issuance of such series with (1) the form or forms of Security that have been approved attached thereto, or (2) if such Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve the terms and form or forms of the Securities, a certificate of such officer or officers approving the terms and form or forms of Security with such form or forms of Securities attached thereto. Such Board Resolution or certificate may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of any series and may provide that the specific terms of particular Securities of a series may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to the Company Order referred to in Section 303.

 

(e) With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the indenture supplemental hereto or the Board Resolution that establishes such series, or the Officer’s Certificate pursuant to such supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, as the case may be, may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company or its agents in accordance with procedures specified in a Company Order as contemplated by Section 303(c).

 

(f) Unless otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to Section 301(b)(2), such series of Securities may be issued in one or more Tranches with various principal amounts without the consent of any Holders and additional Tranches of such series may be authenticated and delivered pursuant to Section 303.

 

SECTION 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301(b). In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof.

 

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. (a) The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its chairman of its Board of Directors, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its President, any Vice President, its Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

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(b) Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

(c) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series (or any Tranche thereof) executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (or such Tranche), and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities (or such Tranche); provided, however, that with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (i) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (ii) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, all pursuant to a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order, and (iii) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by Company Order or pursuant to such procedures.

 

(d) In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, (x) an Opinion of Counsel stating:

 

(i) that such form of Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(ii) that the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(iii) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity;

 

and (y) (i) a copy of the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors in or pursuant to which the terms and form of the Securities were established, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect as of the date of such certificate, and if the terms and form of such Securities are established by an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to general authorization of the Board of Directors, such Officers’ Certificate; (ii) an executed supplemental indenture, if any; and (iii) an Officer’s Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 102.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraphs of Sections 303(c) and 303(d) in connection with a Periodic Offering, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officer’s Certificate or execute a supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant to Section 301(b) or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraphs at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

(f) If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or that would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

 

(g) Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

(h) No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities. (a) Until definitive Securities of any series (including Global Securities) are ready for delivery, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more temporary Securities that are produced in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Company,

 

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authenticated by the Trustee and registered by the Security Registrar upon the same conditions, and with like effect, as a definitive Security.

 

(b) If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register with respect to each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

(b) Except in the case of Securities issued in the form of a Global Security, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

(c) All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(d) Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

(e) Unless otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in an indenture supplemental hereto, with respect to Securities of any series, no service charge shall be made to the Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1106 or 1204 not involving any transfer.

 

(f) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. (a) If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon or coupons appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Registered Security, if such surrendered security was a Registered Security, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

(b) If there has been delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto, and (ii) such bond, security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual written notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a replacement Registered Security of the same series (and Tranche, if applicable) and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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(c) In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto.

 

(d) Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

(e) Every new Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto is at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

(f) The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto.

 

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. (a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301(b) with respect to the Securities of any series, interest on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest; provided, however, that unless otherwise so provided and except as provided in Section 1105(a), interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.

 

(b) Any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

 

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii).

 

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause (ii), such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

(c) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Registered Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Registered Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Registered Security.

 

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security

 

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is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and any premium) and (subject to Section 301 and Section 307) any interest on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Ownership of participation interests in Registered Securities of a series shall be proved by the computerized book-entry system of the Depositary in the case of Registered Securities issued in the form of a Global Security.

 

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

SECTION 309. Cancellation. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, all Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not theretofore cancelled, shall be promptly cancelled by it. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, the Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities or coupons previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever or that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities or coupons so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities or coupons shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities or coupons cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities or coupons held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its procedures and the Trustee shall furnish an affidavit to the Company (setting forth the serial numbers of such Securities) attesting to such disposal unless by Company Order the Company shall direct that cancelled Securities be returned to it.

 

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 311. Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of Transfer. If specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, the Securities of such series may be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, which shall be deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary, and, unless otherwise specified in the form of Global Security adopted pursuant to Section 301, be registered in the name of the Depositary’s nominee.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series, any permanent Global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent Global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Securities of such series of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301(b), then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent Global Security shall be surrendered from time to time in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depositary (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent Global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent Global Security to be exchanged; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during the periods specified by Section 305. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent Global Security shall be returned by the Trustee, to the Depositary or such other depositary referred to above, in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above.

 

A Global Security may be transferred to the Depositary, another nominee of the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary selected by the Company or its nominee, and upon surrender for registration of transfer of a Global Security to the Trustee, the Company shall execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, a new Global Security in the same aggregate principal amount. If at any time the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a successor Depositary satisfactory to the Company is not appointed within 90 days after the Company receives such notice, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series so request, the Company will execute, and upon Company Order the

 

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Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depositary in exchange for the Global Security. In addition, if at any time the Company determines that it is not in the best interest of the Company or the beneficial owners of Securities to continue to have a Global Security representing all of the Securities held by a Depositary, the Company may, at its option and subject to the Depositary’s procedures, execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depositary in exchange for all or a portion of the Global Security.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.  Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

SECTION 312. Extension of Interest Payment. The Company shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company is not in default in the payment of interest on the Securities of any series hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all Securities of one or more series, if so specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) with respect to such Securities and upon such terms as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) with respect to such Securities. If the Company ever so extends any such interest payment period, the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing.

 

SECTION 313. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or similar numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that the Trustee shall have no liability for any defect in the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or similar numbers as they appear on any Security, notice or elsewhere, and, provided further that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.  The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or similar numbers.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 401. Termination of Company’s Obligations. (a) This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities and any other provisions for which survival is herein expressly provided for) and such Securities shall be deemed paid, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute such instruments as reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging termination of the Company’s obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture, when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities of such series previously authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities of such series that are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 402) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B) all such Securities of such series not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i) have become due and payable (whether at Stated Maturity, early redemption or otherwise), or

 

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

and the Company in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series an amount in cash in the currency or composite currency in which the Securities of such series are denominated, Eligible Obligations which through the

 

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payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the due date of any payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Outstanding Securities of such series money in an amount or any combination thereof, together (if necessary in the case of a series of Securities not bearing interest at a fixed rate) with any Hedging Obligation, so that such funds are sufficient (if Eligible Obligations or any Hedging Obligations have been so deposited) in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal of, and any premium and interest on, all Outstanding Securities of such series;

 

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 405 and Section 1003(e) shall survive.

 

(c) Subject to applicable law, upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in this Section 401 and after Stated Maturity or redemption, if applicable, the Trustee shall assign, transfer and turn over to the Company, subject to the claim provided by Section 607, any and all money, securities and other property then held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities.

 

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 402 or Section 403 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for such Securities.

 

SECTION 402. Defeasance and Discharge of Indenture. Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to all the Outstanding Securities of any series or Tranche, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 404 being satisfied, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on such Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (i) of Section 404, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche, shall be satisfied and discharged and shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall at Company Request execute such instruments as reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in Section 405, (x) payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series, or portions thereof, on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or to and including the Redemption Date designated by the Company pursuant to Section 404(x) and (y) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series or Tranche on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series or Tranche;

 

(b) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities of such series or Tranche under Sections 304, 305, 306, 614, 1002 and 1003 and, if the Company shall have designated a Redemption Date pursuant to Sections 404(x), 1104 and 1106; and

 

(c) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Trustee under Section 607.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article Four, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 402 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 403 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 403. Defeasance of Certain Obligations. The Company may omit to comply with its obligations under the covenants contained in Section 801 with respect to any Security or Securities of any series (and in respect of any term, provision or condition set forth in the covenants or restrictions specified for such Securities pursuant to Section 301(b), in any supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing such Security), and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a default or Event of Default under Section 501(4), provided that the conditions set forth in Section 404 have been satisfied; provided, further, that notwithstanding a defeasance of the Company’s obligations with respect to Section 801, any Person to whom a conveyance, transfer or lease is made pursuant to Section 801, shall as a condition to such conveyance, transfer or lease,

 

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assume by an indenture supplemental hereto in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed by such successor Person and delivered to the Trustee, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and Section 405(b).

 

SECTION 404. Conditions to Defeasance. The following conditions shall be the conditions to the application of Section 402 and Section 403:

 

(i) the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (x) cash in Dollars (or such other currency or composite currency in which such Securities are denominated) in an amount sufficient, or (y) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this subparagraph (i) money in an amount sufficient or (z) a combination of such cash and Eligible Obligations, together (if necessary in the case of a series of Securities not bearing interest at a fixed rate) with any Hedging Obligation so that such funds are sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge (1) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or to and including the Redemption Date designated by the Company in accordance with Section 404(x) and (2) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series;

 

(ii) in the event of an election to have Section 402 apply, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) there has been a change in law or regulation occurring after the date hereof, to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(iii) in the event of an election to have Section 403 apply, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

 

(iv) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(v) such provision would not cause any Outstanding Securities of such series then listed on a securities exchange to be delisted as a result thereof;

 

(vi) no Event of Default or event that with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

 

(vii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the holders of the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;

 

(viii) such deposit shall not, as specified in an Opinion of Counsel, cause the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 608 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(ix) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with; and

 

(x) if the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited money or Eligible Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of a series to and including a Redemption Date pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 404, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or Eligible Obligations, and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104.

 

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SECTION 405. Application of Trust Money. (a) Neither the Eligible Obligations nor the funds deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 401, 402 or 403, nor the principal or interest payments on any such Eligible Obligations, shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities or portions of principal amount thereof in respect of which such deposit was made, all subject, however, to the provisions of Section 606; provided, however, that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any cash received from such principal or interest payments on such Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee, if not then needed for such purpose, shall, to the extent practicable, be invested upon a Company Order in Eligible Obligations of the type described in Section 401 maturing at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee to pay when due the principal of and any premium and interest due and to become due on such Securities or portions thereof on and prior to the Maturity thereof, and interest earned from such reinvestment shall be paid over to the Company as received by the Trustee, free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the claim provided by Section 607; and provided, further, that, so long as there shall not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, any moneys held by the Trustee in accordance with this Section on the Maturity of all such Securities in excess of the amount required to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due on such Securities shall upon Company Request be paid over to the Company free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the claim provided by Section 607.

 

(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against Eligible Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401, 402 or 403 or the principal and any premium and interest received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Eligible Obligations or money held by it as provided in Section 401, 402 or 403 that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the same opinion delivered pursuant to Section 401 or 404, as applicable), are then in excess of the amount thereof that then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such Eligible Obligations or money was deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any Eligible Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 406. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 402 or Section 403 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 405 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events, unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued, as the case may be, as contemplated by Section 301:

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company as contemplated in Section 312 shall not constitute a failure to pay interest for this purpose; or

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

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(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series pursuant to Section 301(b).

 

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default (other than under Section 501(5) or (6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) occurs, the principal of all the Securities then Outstanding (or if any such Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) shall automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act or notice on the part of the Trustee or any Holders of the Securities.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of one or more series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Event or Events of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if

 

(1) the Company has paid or deposited irrevocably with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of any such series,

 

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates borne by such Securities, unless another rate is provided in such Securities, and

 

(D) all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607;

 

and

 

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(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. If an Event of Default described in clause (1), (2) or (3) of Section 501 has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the series with respect to which such Event of Default has occurred, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium or interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates borne by such Securities, unless another rate is provided in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee deems most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium or interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 607.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee, and, in case of the distribution of such money and property on account of principal and any premium and interest, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money shall have been collected and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and its agents under Section 607;

 

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SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money or property has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date (with respect to Registered Securities) and payment date for any such payment to Holders of Securities.

 

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by each Holder taking any such action and by every Holder of Securities with every other Holder and with the Trustee, that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders (it being further understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

 

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on the Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and such Holder shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

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SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 512. Control by Holders. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing in respect of a series of Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series or Tranche; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Securities of equal ranking, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series of equal ranking, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of the Securities of any one of such series of equal ranking; provided, further that

 

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

(3) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability.

 

Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred or to be incurred by taking such action.

 

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences; provided that if any such past default has occurred with respect to more than one series of Securities of equal ranking, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series of equal ranking, considered as one class, may make such waiver, and not the Holders of the Securities of any one of such series of equal ranking, in each case, except a default

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of or premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Section 902 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which such suit may be brought, considered as one class, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Repayment Date).

 

SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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ARTICLE SIX

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series,

 

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform, with respect to Securities of such series, such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not verify the accuracy of mathematical calculations or the contents thereof or other facts stated therein).

 

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

 

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of sub-section (a) of this Section;

 

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

 

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any one or more series, as provided herein, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 703 notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as one or more Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 601 and to the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

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(a)                the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b)                any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(c)                 whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate and such Officer’s Certificate shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof;

 

(d)                the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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

 

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

 

(g)                 the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

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

 

(i)                    the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default hereunder or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

 

(j)                   the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

 

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

 

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

 

(m)            the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities of any series or any coupons. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

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SECTION 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee or by any Paying Agent (other than the Company if the Company shall act as Paying Agent) in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as expressly provided herein or otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as agreed to in writing by the Company and the Trustee for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the compensation as agreed to by the Trustee and the Company from time to time and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, or willful misconduct; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any fee, damage, claim, loss, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), reasonably incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder or performance of its duties hereunder and under the Securities, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities and any coupons upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except property and funds held in trust for the payment of principal of and any premium and interest on particular Securities or any coupons.

 

When the Trustee incurs fees or expenses or renders services in connection with a bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s attorneys and agents) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

This Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, it shall either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign to the extent, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. For purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and to the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any other series under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and qualified and eligible under this Article, provided that, neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company or any obligor on the Securities may serve as Trustee of any Securities. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

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SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. (a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 has not been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the expense of the Company for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(c) The Company may at any time by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any or all series if the Trustee is in default of its obligations hereunder.

 

(d) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

(e) If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 608 with respect to the Securities of any series, after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee ceases to be eligible under Section 609 and fails to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting or becomes adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property is appointed or any public officer takes charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

(f) If the Trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 has not been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the expense of the Company for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series is appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series has been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 514, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(g) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 703. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all series, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such

 

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retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of amounts due to it under Section 607, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

 

SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. (a) At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may include any Person that owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock of the Trustee or a corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trustee or of such other Person) with respect to one or more series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series or Tranche issued upon original issuance, exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of

 

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Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority in the United States. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

(b) Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

(c) An Authenticating Agent may resign with respect to one or more series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent with respect to one or more series of Securities by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that is acceptable to the Company and shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series or Tranche with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section. An Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to this Section shall be entitled to rely on Sections 111, 308, 604 and 605 hereunder.

 

(d) The Company shall pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time compensation as agreed between the Authentication Agent and the Company in writing for its services under this Section.

 

(e) If an appointment with respect to the Securities of one or more series, or any Tranche thereof, is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series or Tranche may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

	
 
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
  As Authenticating Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
  Authorized Signatory
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
						

 

(f) If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint, in accordance with this Section and in accordance with such procedures as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Authenticating Agent (which, if so requested by the Company, may be an Affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN 

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(a) semi-annually, not later than the 15th day after each Regular Record Date for each series of Registered Securities at the time Outstanding or on June 30 and December 31 of each year with respect to each series of Securities for which there are no Regular Record Dates, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, containing all the information in the possession or control of the Company, or any of its Paying Agents other than the Trustee, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series as of such preceding Regular Record Date or on June 15 or December 15, as the case may be, or, in the case of a series of non-interest bearing Securities, on a date to be determined as contemplated pursuant to Section 301(b), and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar for Registered Securities.

 

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar or Paying Agent. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five business days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either

 

(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), or

 

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

If the Trustee elects not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee by the applicants of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, enters an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and enters an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender by such applicants; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 702(b), regardless of the source from which

 

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such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 702(b).

 

SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee. (a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

 

(b) Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than July 1 in each calendar year, commencing with the first July 1 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture.

 

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing when any Securities are listed on any securities exchange and of any delisting thereof.

 

SECTION 704. Reports by Company. The Company shall:

 

(1) deliver to the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2) deliver to the Trustee and file with the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

 

SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

 

(1) either (x) the Company shall be the continuing corporation or the successor corporation or (y) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the the properties and assets of the Company shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Outstanding Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture, and if so required, comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been met.

 

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted for the Company. Upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such

 

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successor Person had been named as the Company herein and thereafter, in the case of a conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, such conveyance or transfer shall have the effect of releasing the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument or any successor Person that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article from its liability as obligor and maker on any of the Securities.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to a Company Order), and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities Outstanding hereunder; or

 

(4) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, or to add any new provision to this Indenture, in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided, however, that any such change, elimination or addition (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security Outstanding with respect to such provision in effect prior to the date of such indenture supplemental hereto or (B) shall become effective only when no Security of such series remains Outstanding; or

 

(5) to add guarantees or collateral security with respect to the Securities of any series; or

 

(6) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form or terms and conditions of Securities of any series or Tranche thereof as permitted by Section 301(b); or

 

(7) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of all, or any series or Tranche of, certificated Securities; or

 

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a separate or successor Trustee or co-trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or

 

(9) to change any place or places where (a) the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, (b) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration or transfer, (c) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for exchange and (d) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served;

 

(10) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, pursuant to Article Four, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranche or any other series of Securities in any material respect;

 

(11)(i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or (ii) to conform the terms of any series of Securities, or Tranche thereof, to the description thereof in the prospectus and prospectus supplement (or similar offering document) offering such series of Securities, or Tranche thereof, as evidenced by an Officer’s

 

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Certificate, provided that any action pursuant to this clause (11) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect; or

 

(12) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities of any series or Tranche Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto in any material respect.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act as in effect at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture or at any time thereafter becomes amended and

 

(x) if any such amendment requires one or more changes to any provisions hereof or the inclusion herein of any additional provisions, or by operation of law is deemed to effect such changes or incorporate such provisions by reference or otherwise, this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment to the Trust Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect or evidence such changes or additional provisions; or

 

(y) if any such amendment permits one or more changes to, or the elimination of, any provisions hereof that, at the date hereof or at any time thereafter, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein (or if it is no longer required by the Trust Indenture Act for the Indenture to contain one or more provisions), this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended to effect such changes or elimination, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to evidence such amendment hereof; or

 

(z) if, by reason of any such amendment, it shall be no longer necessary for this Indenture to contain one or more provisions that, at the date of the execution and delivery hereof, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein, the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect the elimination of such provisions.

 

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (b) below, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected (voting as one class) by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to a Company Order), and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of the coupons appertaining to such Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that if there are Securities of more than one series of equal ranking Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required.

 

(b) No such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount or premium, if any, thereof or the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of any installment of interest thereon) or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest thereon in a manner adverse to the Holders, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change the coin or currency (or other property) in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holders, on or after the Repayment Date), or modify any provisions of this Indenture with respect to the conversion or exchange of the Securities into Securities of another series or into any other debt or equity securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or

 

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture, or

 

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(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 513, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611(b) and 901(8).

 

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. A waiver by a Holder of such Holder’s rights to consent under this Section shall be deemed to be a consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall receive, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby. Any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article may restate this Indenture in its entirety, and, upon the execution and delivery thereof, any such restatement shall supersede this Indenture as theretofore in effect for all purposes.

 

SECTION 905. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company so determines, new Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, and any appertaining coupons so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche and any appertaining coupons.

 

SECTION 907. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented to the amendment or waiver. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or waiver.

 

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and be of no further effect.

 

34

 

After an amendment or waiver becomes effective it shall bind every Holder, unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (1) through (3) of Section 902(b). In such case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

 

SECTION 908. Modification Without Supplemental Indenture. If the terms of any particular series of Securities have been established in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate as contemplated by Section 301, and not in an indenture supplemental hereto, additions to, changes in or the elimination of any of such terms may be effected by means of a supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, as the case may be, delivered to, and accepted by, the Trustee; provided, however, that such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall not be accepted by the Trustee or otherwise be effective unless all conditions set forth in this Indenture that would be required to be satisfied if such additions, changes or elimination were contained in a supplemental indenture shall have been appropriately satisfied. Upon the acceptance thereof by the Trustee, any such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall be deemed to be a “supplemental indenture” for purposes of Sections 904 and 906.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. (a) Subject to the following provisions, the Company will pay to the Trustee the amounts, in such coin or currency as is at the time legal tender for the payment of public or private debt, in the manner, at the times and for the purposes set forth herein and in the text of the Securities for each series, and the Company hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee from funds so paid to it to make or cause to be made payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities and coupons of each series as set forth herein and in the text of such Securities and coupons. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, the Trustee will arrange directly with any Paying Agents for the payment, or the Trustee will make payment, from funds furnished by the Company, of the principal of and any premium and interest, on the Securities and coupons of each series by check or draft.

 

(b) Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, interest, if any, on Registered Securities of a series shall be paid by check or draft on each Interest Payment Date for such series to the Holder thereof at the close of business on the Regular Record Date specified in the Securities of such series; provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series and except as provided in Section 1105(a), interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. The Company may pay such interest by check or draft mailed to such Holder’s address as it appears on the register for Securities of such series. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, principal of Registered Securities shall be payable by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Registered Securities at the office of the Paying Agent, unless the Company shall have otherwise instructed the Trustee in writing; provided, that such instructions shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

 

(c) At the election of the Company, any payments by the Company provided for in this Indenture or in any of the Securities may be made by electronic funds transfer; provided, that the Trustee has received appropriate wire transfer instructions at least five Business Days prior to the applicable payment date.

 

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. (a) The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, an office or agency where Registered Securities, or any Tranche thereof, of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and a Place of Payment where (subject to Sections 305 and 307) Securities may be presented for payment or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Security Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each series of Securities issued in whole or in part as Registered Securities and with respect to their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-Security Registrars acceptable to the Trustee for each series of Securities, and the Company may terminate the appointment of any co-Security Registrar at any time upon written notice. The term “Security Registrar” includes any co-Security Registrar. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Security Registrar not a party to this Indenture. Subject to Section 305, if the Company fails to maintain a Security Registrar, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

35

 

(b) The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

(c) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any office or agency required by this Section may be maintained at any office of the Company in which event the Company shall perform all functions to be performed at such office or agency.

 

SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. (a) If the Company at any time acts as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of such Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums are paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

(b) Whenever the Company has one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to (and if on, then received by the Paying Agent before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time)) each due date of the principal of and any premium or interest on such Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient (in immediately available funds, if payment is made on the due date) to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest as provided in the Trust Indenture Act and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

(c) The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

 

(i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent; and

 

(ii) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

(d) The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

(e) Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or received by the Trustee in respect of Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or 404, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years (or such shorter period for the return of such funds to the Company under applicable abandoned property laws) after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

SECTION 1004. Statement as to Compliance. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, a written statement, which need not comply with Section 102, signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company stating, as to each signer thereof, whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof it is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions, and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if it is in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

SECTION 1005. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if, in the judgment of the Company, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

 

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SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in (i) any additional covenants or restrictions specified with respect to the Securities of any series as contemplated by Section 301 if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount (or such larger proportion as may be required in respect of waiving a past default of any such additional covenant or restriction) of the Outstanding Securities of all series of equal ranking with respect to which such covenant or restriction was so specified, considered as one class, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, and (ii) Article Eight if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of Securities of all series of equal ranking Outstanding under this Indenture by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition; but, in the case of clause (i) or (ii) of this Section, no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver becomes effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect; provided, that notwithstanding a waiver of Article Eight, any Person to whom a conveyance, transfer or lease is made pursuant to Section 801, shall as a condition to such conveyance, transfer or lease, assume by an indenture supplemental hereto in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed by such successor Person and delivered to the Trustee, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and Section 405(b).

 

SECTION 1007. Calculation of Original Issue Discount. The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Original Issue Discount Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such Original Issue Discount Securities as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

SECTION 1008.       Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within thirty (30) days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity (or, if the principal of the Securities of any series is payable in installments, the Stated Maturity of the final installment of the principal thereof) shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(b) for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice is satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption by lot, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary or by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series; provided, however, that if, as indicated in an Officer’s Certificate, the Company has offered to purchase all or any principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding of any series, and less than all of such Securities as to which such offer was made have been tendered to the Company for such purchase, the Trustee, if so directed by Company Order, shall select for redemption all or any principal amount of such Securities that have not been

 

37

 

so tendered. In the case of Securities issued in the form of Global Securities, beneficial interests in such Securities shall be selected for redemption by the applicable clearing system in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and the method it has chosen for the selection of such Securities.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company shall give notice of redemption by electronic transmission or first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date,

 

(2) the Redemption Price, or the formula or other method pursuant to which the Redemption Price is to be determined if the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time notice is given,

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed, and the portion of the principal amount of any Security to be redeemed in part and, in the case of any such Security of such series to be redeemed in part, that, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the remaining unpaid principal amount thereof will be issued as provided in Section 1106,

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(5) the place or places where such Securities and all unmatured coupons are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,

 

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

 

(7) the CUSIP, “ISIN” or similar number(s), if any, assigned to such Securities; provided however, that such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of CUSIP, “ISIN” or similar number(s), and the redemption of such Securities shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such number(s), and

 

(8) such other matters as the Company shall deem desirable or appropriate.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities in accordance with Section 301, with respect to any notice of redemption of Securities at the election of the Company, unless, upon the giving of such notice, such Securities are deemed to have been paid in accordance with Section 401, such notice may state that such redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents for such Securities, on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities and that if such money has not been so received such notice shall be of no force or effect and the Company shall not be required to redeem such Securities. In the event that such notice of redemption contains such a condition and such money is not so received, the redemption shall not be made and within a reasonable time thereafter the Company shall give notice, in the manner in which the notice of redemption was given, that such money was not so received and such redemption was not required to be made, and the Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities otherwise to have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders thereof any of such Securities that had been surrendered for payment upon such redemption.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company, and any notice of non-satisfaction of a condition for redemption as aforesaid, shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request upon 15 days’ prior written notice, by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company. Notice of mandatory redemption of Securities shall be given by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company upon 15 days’ prior written notice.

 

SECTION 1105. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. (a) Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, and the conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having been satisfied, the Securities or portions thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the

 

38

 

Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities, or portions thereof, if interest-bearing, shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security together with all unmatured coupons for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security or portion thereof, if any, shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

(b) If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

SECTION 1106. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, and of like tenor and in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series that are repayable before their Stated Maturity at the option of the Holders shall be repayable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1202. Notice of Repayment Date. Notice of any Repayment Date with respect to Securities of any series shall be given by the Company not less than 30 nor more than 45 days prior to such Repayment Date (or at such other times as may be specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301) to each Holder of Securities of such series in accordance with Section 106 (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series).

 

The notice as to the Repayment Date shall state (unless otherwise specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301):

 

(1) the Repayment Date;

 

(2) the principal amount of the Securities required to be repaid or repurchased and the Repayment Price (or the formula or method pursuant to which the Repayment Price is to be determined if the Repayment Price cannot be determined at the time the notice is given);

 

(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Repayment Price, and accrued interest, if any, and the date by which Securities must be so surrendered in order to be repaid or repurchased;

 

(4) that any Security not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

 

(5) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, Securities accepted for payment pursuant to any such offer of repayment or repurchase shall cease to accrue interest after the Repayment Date;

 

(6) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or purchased pursuant to such offer may elect to have all or any portion of such Security purchased (subject to the denomination requirements for such Security);

 

(7) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or repurchased pursuant to any such offer shall be required to surrender the Security, with such customary documents of surrender and transfer as the Company may reasonably request, duly completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company or the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least two Business Days prior to the Repayment Date;

 

(8) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the offer to repay or repurchase, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth

 

39

 

the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Security purchased;

 

(9) that, in the case of a repayment or repurchase of less than all Outstanding Securities of a series, the method of selection of Securities to be repaid or repurchased to be applied by the Trustee if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased;

 

(10) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities of the same series equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); and

 

(11) the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other identification number, if any, printed on the Securities being repurchased and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other identification number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

 

SECTION 1203. Securities Payable on Repayment Date. The form of option to elect repurchase or repayment having been delivered as specified in the form of Security for such series, the Securities of such series so to be repaid (after application of the method of selection described pursuant to Section 1202(9), if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased) shall, on the Repayment Date, become due and payable at the Repayment Price applicable thereto and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Repayment Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Repayment Price together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that if a Security is repaid or repurchased on or after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the Stated Maturity of any installments of interest, then any accrued and unpaid interest due on such Stated Maturity shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security is not paid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate prescribed therefor in such Security.

 

SECTION 1204. Securities Repaid in Part. Any Security that by its terms may be repaid in part at the option of the Holder and that is to be repaid only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, as provided in Section 305, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepaid portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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

 

 

	
 
    	
ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[Signature Page to Base Indenture]EXHIBIT 10.118

 

U.S. $100,000,000

 

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of May 30, 2013

 

ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC,

as the Borrower,

 

VARIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER PERSONS

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,

as the Lenders,

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
 as the Administrative Agent,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as the Syndication Agent

 

and

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC and MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER &
 SMITH INCORPORATED,
 as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
ARTICLE 1   DEFINITIONS
    	
1
    
	
1.1
    	
Defined Terms
    	
1
    
	
1.2
    	
Accounting Terms; GAAP
    	
12
    
	
1.3
    	
Interpretation
    	
13
    
	
ARTICLE 2   AMOUNT AND TERMS OF CREDIT
    	
13
    
	
2.1
    	
Commitments
    	
13
    
	
2.2
    	
Minimum Amount of Each   Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings
    	
13
    
	
2.3
    	
Notice of Borrowing
    	
13
    
	
2.4
    	
Disbursement of Funds
    	
14
    
	
2.5
    	
Repayment of Loans;   Evidence of Debt
    	
15
    
	
2.6
    	
Changes in Type of Loan
    	
15
    
	
2.7
    	
Pro Rata Borrowings
    	
16
    
	
2.8
    	
Interest and Fees
    	
17
    
	
2.9
    	
Interest Periods
    	
17
    
	
2.10
    	
Increased   Costs, Illegality, etc.
    	
18
    
	
2.11
    	
Compensation
    	
21
    
	
2.12
    	
Change of Lending Office
    	
21
    
	
2.13
    	
Notice of Certain Costs
    	
21
    
	
2.14
    	
Defaulting Lenders
    	
22
    
	
ARTICLE 3   [RESERVED]
    	
22
    
	
ARTICLE 4   TERMINATION OF COMMITMENTS
    	
22
    
	
4.1
    	
Mandatory Termination of   Commitments
    	
22
    
	
ARTICLE 5   PAYMENTS
    	
22
    
	
5.1
    	
Prepayments
    	
22
    
	
5.2
    	
Method and Place of Payment
    	
23
    
	
5.3
    	
Net Payments
    	
23
    
	
5.4
    	
Computations of Interest   and Fees
    	
27
    
	
ARTICLE 6   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
    	
27
    
	
6.1
    	
Conditions Precedent to   Initial Effectiveness
    	
27
    
	
ARTICLE 7   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
    	
29
    
	
7.1
    	
Organizational Status
    	
29
    
				

 

i

 

	
7.2
    	
Capacity, Power and   Authority
    	
29
    
	
7.3
    	
No Violation
    	
30
    
	
7.4
    	
Litigation
    	
30
    
	
7.5
    	
Governmental Approvals
    	
30
    
	
7.6
    	
True and Complete   Disclosure
    	
30
    
	
7.7
    	
Financial Condition;   Financial Statements
    	
31
    
	
7.8
    	
Tax Returns and Payments
    	
31
    
	
7.9
    	
Environmental Matters
    	
31
    
	
7.10
    	
Properties
    	
32
    
	
7.11
    	
Pension and Welfare Plans
    	
32
    
	
7.12
    	
Regulations U and X
    	
32
    
	
7.13
    	
Investment Company Act
    	
32
    
	
7.14
    	
Sanctions Laws and   Regulations
    	
32
    
	
7.15
    	
No Material Adverse Change
    	
33
    
	
7.16
    	
Deemed Repetition of   Representations and Warranties
    	
33
    
	
ARTICLE 8   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
    	
33
    
	
8.1
    	
Information Covenants
    	
33
    
	
8.2
    	
Books, Record and   Inspections
    	
35
    
	
8.3
    	
Maintenance of Insurance
    	
36
    
	
8.4
    	
Payment of Taxes
    	
36
    
	
8.5
    	
Organizational Existence
    	
36
    
	
8.6
    	
Compliance with Statutes,   Obligations, etc.
    	
37
    
	
8.7
    	
Good Repair
    	
37
    
	
8.8
    	
Transactions with   Affiliates
    	
37
    
	
8.9
    	
End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal   Quarters
    	
37
    
	
8.10
    	
Use of Proceeds
    	
37
    
	
8.11
    	
Changes in Business
    	
38
    
	
ARTICLE 9   NEGATIVE COVENANTS
    	
38
    
	
9.1
    	
Limitation on Liens
    	
38
    
	
9.2
    	
Limitation on Fundamental   Changes
    	
39
    
	
9.3
    	
Limitation on Dividends
    	
40
    
	
9.4
    	
Debt to Capitalization   Ratio
    	
40
    
	
9.5
    	
Limitation on Sale-Lease   Back Transactions
    	
41
    
	
9.6
    	
Sanctions Laws and   Regulations
    	
41
    

 

ii

 

	
ARTICLE 10   EVENTS OF DEFAULT
    	
41
    
	
10.1
    	
Payments
    	
41
    
	
10.2
    	
Representations, etc.
    	
41
    
	
10.3
    	
Covenants
    	
42
    
	
10.4
    	
Default Under Other   Agreements
    	
42
    
	
10.5
    	
Bankruptcy, etc.
    	
42
    
	
10.6
    	
Judgments
    	
43
    
	
10.7
    	
Change of Ownership
    	
43
    
	
10.8
    	
Pension Plans
    	
43
    
	
10.9
    	
Remedies
    	
43
    
	
10.10
    	
Remedies Cumulative
    	
44
    
	
ARTICLE 11   THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
    	
44
    
	
ARTICLE 12   MISCELLANEOUS
    	
46
    
	
12.1
    	
Amendments and Waivers
    	
46
    
	
12.2
    	
Notices
    	
47
    
	
12.3
    	
No Waiver; Cumulative   Remedies
    	
49
    
	
12.4
    	
Survival of Representations   and Warranties
    	
49
    
	
12.5
    	
Payment of Expenses and   Taxes
    	
49
    
	
12.6
    	
Successors and Assigns;   Participations and Assignments
    	
51
    
	
12.7
    	
Replacements of Lenders   under Certain Circumstances
    	
54
    
	
12.8
    	
Adjustments; Set-off
    	
55
    
	
12.9
    	
Marshalling; Payments Set   Aside
    	
56
    
	
12.10
    	
Counterparts
    	
56
    
	
12.11
    	
Severability
    	
56
    
	
12.12
    	
Integration
    	
56
    
	
12.13
    	
Governing Law
    	
56
    
	
12.14
    	
Submission to Jurisdiction;   Waivers
    	
57
    
	
12.15
    	
Acknowledgements
    	
57
    
	
12.16
    	
Waivers of Jury Trial
    	
58
    
	
12.17
    	
Confidentiality
    	
58
    
	
12.18
    	
Treatment of Loans
    	
58
    
	
12.19
    	
USA Patriot Act
    	
59
    
	
12.20
    	
No Fiduciary Duty
    	
59
    

 

iii

 

	
SCHEDULES:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Schedule I
    	
Commitments
    
	
Schedule II
    	
Environmental Matters
    
	
Schedule III
    	
Pension and Welfare Matters
    
	
Schedule IV
    	
Outstanding Liens on Closing Date
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
EXHIBITS:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Exhibit A
    	
Form of Notice of Borrowing
    
	
Exhibit B
    	
Form of Notice of Continuation
    
	
Exhibit C
    	
[Reserved]
    
	
Exhibit D
    	
Form of Closing Date Certificate
    
	
Exhibit E
    	
Form of Compliance Certificate
    
	
Exhibit F
    	
Form of Assignment and Assumption
    

 

iv

 

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 30, 2013, among ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Borrower”), various financial institutions and other Persons from time to time parties hereto as lenders (each a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMCB”), as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders make senior term loans to it on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000. The Lenders are prepared to make such loans upon the terms and conditions hereof, and, accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
 DEFINITIONS

 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Article 1 unless the context otherwise requires (it being understood that defined terms in this Agreement shall include in the singular number the plural and in the plural the singular):

 

1.1          Defined Terms.

 

“ABR” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the rate of interest (however designated) established by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York, New York, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50% and (c) LIBOR for a one month interest period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.00%.  Any change in the ABR due to a change in any of the foregoing rates shall be effective as of the opening of business on the effective date of such change in such rate.

 

“ABR Loan” shall mean each Loan bearing interest at the rate provided in Section 2.8(a).

 

“Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning provided in the preamble to this Agreement and shall include such other financial institution as may be appointed as the successor administrative agent in the manner and to the extent described in Article 11.

 

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

 

“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such Person, and (b) any other Person in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has a 10% or greater equity interest. A Person shall be deemed to control a Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power (i) to vote 10% or more of the Voting Stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or the equivalent) of such other Person or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of Capital Stock, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Agreement” shall mean this Term Loan Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time.

 

 

“Applicable Margin” shall mean, for any day, the applicable rate per annum of 0.850%  in the case of LIBOR Loans and 0.00% in the case of ABR Loans.

 

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

 

“Arranger” and “Arrangers” shall mean J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, individually or collectively, as the context requires.

 

“Assignee” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(b)(i).

 

“Assignment and Assumption” shall mean an assignment and assumption agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto or otherwise in a form that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and delivered by each Assignee to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 12.6(b)(ii)(C).

 

“Assignment Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(b)(iii).

 

“Attributable Value” means, with respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as of the time of determination, the lesser of (i) the sale price of the property or assets so leased multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the remaining portion of the base term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction and the denominator of which is the base term of such lease, and (ii) the total obligation (discounted to present value at the rate of interest specified by the terms of such lease) of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes as well as maintenance, repairs, insurance, water rates and other items which do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining portion of the base term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

 

“Authorized Officer”, as applied to any Person, shall mean the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice-President, any Senior Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice-President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or General Counsel of such Person or any other senior officer of such Person designated as such in writing to the Administrative Agent by such Person.

 

“Bankruptcy Code” shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.5.

 

“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with

 

2

 

immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

“Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Borrowing” shall mean the incurrence of one Type of Loan on a given date (or resulting from conversions or continuations on a given date) and having, in the case of LIBOR Loans, the same LIBOR Period (provided that ABR Loans incurred pursuant to Section 2.10(b) shall be considered part of any related Borrowing of LIBOR Loans).

 

“Business” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.11.

 

“Business Day” shall mean (a) for all purposes other than as covered by clause (b) below, any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day that shall be in the City of New York a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close, and (b) with respect to all notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, LIBOR Loans, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) excluding any day that shall be in the City of London a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

 

“Capital Lease”, as applied to any Person, shall mean any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is, or is required to be, accounted for as a finance lease obligation on the balance sheet of that Person.

 

“Capital Stock” shall mean common shares, preferred shares or other equivalent equity interests (howsoever designated) of capital stock of a corporation, equity preferred or common interests or membership interests in a limited liability company, limited or general partnership interests in a partnership or any other equivalent of such ownership interest.

 

“Capitalized Lease Obligations” shall mean, as applied to any Person, all obligations under Capital Leases of such Person and its Subsidiaries, in each case taken at the amount thereof accounted for as liabilities in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Change of Ownership” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person or group (within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder) shall become, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of capital stock representing more than 35% of the ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of Holdco; and/or (ii) Holdco ceases to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Voting Stock of the Borrower; and/or (iii) a majority of the incumbent directors of Holdco cease to be persons who were either (x) directors of Holdco on the Closing Date or (y) new directors (such persons being called herein “New Members”) appointed or nominated for election by one or more persons who were members of the board of directors of Holdco on the Closing Date or who were appointed or nominated by one or more such New Members whether or not they were members on the Closing Date.

 

3

 

“Closing Date” shall mean May 30, 2013.

 

“Closing Date Certificate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 6.1(b).

 

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations thereunder, in each case as amended, reformed or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“Commitment” shall mean, with respect to a Lender, the amount set forth on Schedule I as such Lender’s “Commitment”.

 

“Commitment Percentage” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the Total Commitment represented by such Lender’s Commitment as set forth on Schedule I.  If the Total Commitments have terminated or expired, the Commitment Percentages shall be determined based upon the outstanding Loans of such Lender, as a percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all Loans at the time of determination.

 

“Compliance Certificate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.1(c).

 

“Confidential Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.17.

 

“Control”, “Controls” and “Controlled”, when used with respect to any Person, shall mean the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Controlled Group”, when used with respect to the Borrower, shall mean all members of a controlled group of corporations and all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with such Person, are treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

 

“Credit Event” shall mean and include the making (but not the conversion or continuation) of a Loan.

 

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

 

“Debt to Capitalization Ratio” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Debt for the Borrower as of such date to (b) Total Capitalization for the Borrower as of such date.

 

“Default” shall mean any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

“Defaulting Lender” shall mean any Lender, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, that (a) has failed, within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans or (ii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified

 

4

 

and including the condition precedent, together with any applicable default) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the condition precedent, together with any applicable default) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund Loans and other amounts under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it, or (d) has become, or has a Parent that has become, the subject of a Bankruptcy Event.

 

“Designated Person” means a person or entity that (a) is named on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals” or “Blocked Persons” on the most current list published by The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) available at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx or as otherwise published from time to time or (b) is (x) an agency of the government of a country, (y) an organization controlled by a country or (z) a person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx, or as otherwise published from time to time, as such program may be applicable to such agency, organization or person or (c) otherwise the subject of any current U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

“Dollars” and “$” shall mean lawful currency of the United States.

 

“Environmental Claims” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of non-compliance, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries (a) in the ordinary course of such Person’s business or (b) as required in connection with a financing transaction or an acquisition or disposition of real estate) or proceedings relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law (hereinafter, “Claims”), including (i) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety (with respect to Hazardous Materials or conditions in the environment) or the environment.

 

“Environmental Law” shall mean any applicable federal, provincial, state, foreign or local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code and rule of common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment,

 

5

 

relating to the environment, human health or safety (with respect to Hazardous Materials or conditions in the environment) or Hazardous Materials.

 

“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto of similar import, together with the regulations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to Sections of ERISA also refer to any successor Sections thereto.

 

“Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Article 10.

 

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

 

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the per annum rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

“Finance Parties” shall mean the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

“F.R.S. Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor thereto.

 

“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time, subject to Section 1.2.

 

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

 

“Guarantee Obligations” shall mean, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such Indebtedness or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such Indebtedness of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such Indebtedness or (d)

 

6

 

otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof; provided that, the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith or, if the Guarantee Obligation is expressly limited to a specified amount, such specified amount.

 

“Hazardous Material” shall mean (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, friable asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid containing regulated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas; (b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous waste”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous waste”, “restricted hazardous waste”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”, “contaminants”, or “pollutants”, or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law; and (c) any other chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Authority.

 

“Holdco” means ITC Holdings Corp., a Michigan corporation.

 

“Hostile Take-Over Bid” shall mean an offer to purchase a controlling interest in any Person by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is involved, in respect of which the board of directors (or equivalent governing body for such entity) of the target entity has recommended against acceptance of such offer to the target entity’s shareholders or equity holders or which is similarly opposed or contested.

 

“including” and “include” shall mean including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term, and, for purposes of this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that the rule of ejusdem generis shall not be applicable to limit a general statement, which is followed by or referable to an enumeration of specific matters, to matters similar to the matters specifically mentioned.

 

“Indebtedness” of any Person shall mean (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) the deferred purchase price of assets or services that in accordance with GAAP would be classified as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, (c) the face amount of all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder, (d) all Indebtedness of a second Person secured by any Lien on any property owned by such first Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed, (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all existing payment obligations of such Person under interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements, (g) all existing payment obligations of such Person under commodity future contracts and other similar agreements and (h) without duplication, all Guarantee Obligations of such Person; provided that, Indebtedness shall not include current payables and accrued expenses, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

7

 

“Lender” and “Lenders” shall have the respective meanings provided in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“LIBOR” shall mean, with respect to each LIBOR Period for each LIBOR Loan, a rate per annum, expressed on the basis of a 360 day year, appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page on such screen) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such LIBOR Period, as the rate for deposits in Dollars in the London interbank market with a maturity comparable to such LIBOR Period.  In the event that such rate does not appear on such page (or on any successor or substitute page on such screen or otherwise on such screen), the “LIBOR Base Rate” shall be determined by reference to such other comparable publicly available service for displaying interest rates applicable to deposits in Dollars in the London interbank market as may be selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the absence of such availability, by reference to the rate at which deposits in Dollars in an amount equal to $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such LIBOR Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such LIBOR Period.

 

“LIBOR Loan” shall mean each Loan bearing interest at the rate provided in Section 2.8(b).

 

“LIBOR Period” shall mean, with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the interest period selected by the Borrower for such LIBOR Loan in accordance with Section 2.9.

 

“Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, hypothecation, assignment by way of security, lien (statutory or other) or similar encumbrance (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease in the nature thereof).

 

“Loan” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a circumstance or condition affecting the business, assets, operations, properties or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole that would materially adversely affect the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

“Maturity Date” shall mean November 28, 2014.

 

“Minimum Borrowing Amount” shall mean $500,000.

 

“Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

 

“Mortgage Bond Indenture” shall mean any indenture or similar document to be entered into by the Borrower (including, without limitation, any notes issued thereunder) providing for the issuance by the Borrower from time to time of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series to be secured by a mortgage on substantially all interests in real property, fixtures and structures and certain other property assets of the

 

8

 

Borrower, in each case, on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), as such indenture or similar document may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“Net Tangible Assets” shall mean, at any date, the gross book value as shown by the Borrower’s books of all its real and personal property (including any regulatory or intangible assets includible in the Borrower’s transmission rates), exclusive of licenses, patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, goodwill, experimental or organizational expense and other like intangibles, treasury stock and unamortized debt discount and expense, less the sum of: (i) all reserves for depreciation, obsolescence, depletion and amortization of its properties as shown by the Borrower’s books and all other proper reserves which in accordance with GAAP should be provided in connection with the Borrower’s business; and (ii) all Indebtedness and other liabilities of the Borrower other than (a) secured Indebtedness under the Indenture, (b) reserves which have been deducted pursuant to clause (i) above and (c) capital stock and surplus.

 

“Non-U.S. Lender” shall mean any Lender that is not a “United States person”, as defined under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

“Notice of Borrowing” shall mean the Notice of Borrowing provided pursuant to Section 2.3(a), substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

“Notice of Continuation” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.6(a).

 

“Organic Document” shall mean, relative to any Person, its certificate of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability agreement, operating agreement and all shareholder agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements applicable to any of such Person’s Capital Stock.

 

“Other Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.5.

 

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

 

“Participant” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(c)(i).

 

“Participant Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(c)(i).

 

“Pension Plan” shall mean a “pension plan”, as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), and to which the Borrower or any corporation, trade or business that is, along with the Borrower, a member of a Controlled Group, is a contributing employer or a sponsor.

 

“Permitted Liens” shall mean (a) Liens for taxes, assessments, customs duties or governmental charges or claims not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate provisions have been established in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens in respect of property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries

 

9

 

imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and or mechanics’ Liens, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and Liens arising under zoning laws and ordinances and municipal bylaws and regulations, in each case so long as such Liens arise in the ordinary course of business and do not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) Liens arising from judgments or decrees in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.6; (d) Liens (other than those arising by Requirement of Law that are not permitted by clause (a) of this definition) incurred or deposits made in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; (e) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are located; (f) easements, rights-of-way, restrictive covenants or agreements, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (g) any interest or title of a lessor or secured by a lessor’s interest under any lease permitted by this Agreement; (h) Liens incurred by the licensing of trademarks by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to others in the ordinary course of business; and (i) leases or subleases granted to others, not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

“Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust or other enterprise or any Governmental Authority.

 

“Projections” shall have the meaning provided in Section 6.1(h).

 

“Real Estate” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8.1(e).

 

“Register” shall have the meaning provided in Section 12.6(b)(iv).

 

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

 

“Required Lenders” shall mean, at any date, Lenders having or holding more than 50% of the outstanding principal amount of all Loans on such date.

 

“Requirement of Law” shall mean, as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule, regulation, guideline, policy or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or assets or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject and whether or not having the force of law.

 

“Revolving Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2011, among the Borrower, the various financial institutions and other persons from time to time referred to as “Lenders” therein, and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as the Administrative Agent, as amended by the First Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 9, 2013.

 

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“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.5.

 

“S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor by merger or consolidation to its business.

 

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean and include (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock or issued share capital of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any, contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest and more than a 50% voting interest at the time and (c) any other corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity (i) the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP and (ii) that is controlled (as defined in clause (b) of the definition of such term in the definition of the term “Affiliate”) by such Person. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

“Successor Borrower” shall have the meaning provided in Section 9.2(a).

 

“Taxes” shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.3(a)(i).

 

“Total Capitalization” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Total Debt and (b) the total stockholder’s equity of the Borrower as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that the term “Total Capitalization” shall exclude the non-cash effects of the March 31, 2006 FAS Statement titled “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and Postretirement Plans”.

 

“Total Commitment” shall mean the sum of the Commitments of all the Lenders, which is $100,000,000 on the Closing Date.

 

“Total Debt” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money outstanding on such date, (ii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date and (iii) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of the types described in clauses (b) and (d) of the definition of Indebtedness (but in the case of clause (d), only to the extent such Indebtedness is assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary), all calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and to the extent reflected as Indebtedness on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such date and included in the cash accounts listed on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and deposited with the Administrative Agent to the extent the use thereof for application to payment of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is not prohibited by law or any contract to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (but

 

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in each case excluding equity securities that are mandatorily redeemable 91 or more days after the Maturity Date and that are classified as hybrid securities by Moody’s and/or S&P).

 

“Type” shall mean as to any Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

 

“United States” and “US” shall mean the United States of America.

 

“USA PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 12.19.

 

“Voting Stock” shall mean Capital Stock of a Person which carries voting rights or the right to Control such Person under any circumstances; provided that Capital Stock which carries the right to vote or Control conditionally upon the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Stock until the occurrence of such event and then only during the continuance of such event.

 

“Welfare Plan” shall mean a “welfare plan”, as such term is defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA.

 

1.2                               Accounting Terms; GAAP.

 

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, (x) 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 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (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, (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 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 and (iii) without giving effect to any changes in GAAP occurring after the Closing Date, the effect of which would be to cause leases in effect as of March 31, 2013 and treated as operating leases under GAAP as of March 31, 2013 to be reclassified as capital leases under GAAP, provided that this clause (iii) shall only apply to the extent of the lesser of (x) the actual annual amount of such operating leases and (y) $500,000 annually (and any excess in excess of such minimum amount shall be included as capital leases); and (y) if at any time after

 

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the date hereof, Section 1.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended, the provisions of any such amendment shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Section 1.2.

 

1.3                               Interpretation.

 

The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Unless the context requires otherwise all references herein to Sections and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Sections of, and Schedules to, this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 2
 AMOUNT AND TERMS OF CREDIT

 

2.1                               Commitments.

 

(a)                                 Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make a term loan (each a “Loan” and, collectively, the “Loans”) to the Borrower, on the Closing Date, which Loans (i) may, at the option of the Borrower, be incurred and maintained as, and/or converted into, ABR Loans or LIBOR Loans and (ii) may be repaid in accordance with the provisions hereof and shall be repaid in full on the Maturity Date.  Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of the Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall use the proceeds from the Loans for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the repayment of revolving borrowings; provided that, notwithstanding any of the foregoing, none of the proceeds from Loans may be used to finance any Hostile Take-Over Bid.

 

2.2                               Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing; Maximum Number of Borrowings.

 

The aggregate principal amount of each Borrowing of Loans shall be in a multiple of $100,000 and shall not be less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount. More than one Borrowing may occur on any date; provided that at no time shall there be outstanding more than four (4) Borrowings of LIBOR Loans under this Agreement.

 

2.3                               Notice of Borrowing.

 

(a)                                 To request the Loans to be made hereunder on the Closing Date, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent at an office of the Administrative Agent set forth for the Administrative Agent in Section 12.2(a)(ii), (i) the written Notice of Borrowing (including an electronic writing) prior to 12:00 noon (New York time) at least three Business Days prior to the proposed day of the Borrowing of LIBOR Loans and (ii) the written Notice of Borrowing (including an electronic writing) prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the proposed day of the Borrowing of ABR Loans. Such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Loans to be made pursuant to such Borrowing, (ii) the date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) whether the Borrowing shall consist of ABR Loans or LIBOR Loans, (iv) if such Borrowing shall consist of LIBOR Loans, the LIBOR Period to be initially applicable thereto and (v) the number and location of the account to which funds are to be disbursed. The Administrative Agent shall promptly give each Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of the matters covered by the Notice of Borrowing.

 

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(b)                                 Without in any way limiting the obligation of the Borrower to confirm in writing any notice it may give hereunder by telephone, the Administrative Agent may act prior to receipt of written confirmation without liability upon the basis of such telephonic notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower. In each such case the Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the Administrative Agent’s record of the terms of any such telephonic notice.

 

2.4                               Disbursement of Funds.

 

(a)                                 No later than 12:00 Noon (New York time) on the Closing Date, each Lender will make available its pro rata portion of the Borrowing requested to be made on such date in an amount equal to its Commitment in the manner provided below.

 

(b)                                 Each Lender shall make available all amounts it is to fund under the Borrowing on the Closing Date in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent at an office of the Administrative Agent from time to time notified by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders (but initially the office set forth for the Administrative Agent in Section 12.2(a)(ii)), and the Administrative Agent will make available to the Borrower by depositing such funds as specified in the Notice of Borrowing, the aggregate of the amounts so made available. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the Closing Date that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Administrative Agent its portion of the Borrowing to be made on such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance upon such assumption, may (in its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so) make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender and the Administrative Agent has made available same to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to (i) if paid by such Lender, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) if paid by the Borrower, the then-applicable rate of interest, calculated in accordance with Section 2.8, for the respective Loans.

 

(c)                                  Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder).

 

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2.5                               Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall, for the benefit of the Lenders, on the Maturity Date, repay to the Administrative Agent the then-unpaid Loans.

 

(b)                                 Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to the appropriate lending office of such Lender resulting from the Loan made by such lending office of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts and currency of principal and interest payable and paid to such lending office of such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 12.6, and a sub-account for each Lender, in which Register and sub-accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type of each Loan made and the LIBOR 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 from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(d)                                 The entries made in the Register and accounts and subaccounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event that there is an inconsistency between the accounts maintained by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.5(b) and the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 12.6, the said Register shall prevail.

 

(e)                                  All payments to be made by the Administrative Agent to any Lender hereunder shall be made in accordance with the payment instructions of such Lender set forth on the signature page of such Lender hereunder or, if such Lender is an Assignee, set forth in the Assignment and Assumption of such Lender.

 

(f)                                   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 a form 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 12.6) 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).

 

2.6                               Changes in Type of Loan.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall have the option on any Business Day to convert all or a portion equal to at least the Minimum Borrowing Amount of the outstanding principal amount of Loans made to the Borrower of one Type into a Borrowing or Borrowings of another permitted

 

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Type or to continue the outstanding principal amount of any LIBOR Loans as LIBOR Loans for an additional LIBOR Period; provided that (i) no partial continuation of LIBOR Loans shall reduce the outstanding principal amount of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing to less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount, (ii) ABR Loans may not be converted into LIBOR Loans, if a Default or Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed conversion and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversion, (iii) LIBOR Loans may not be continued as LIBOR Loans for an additional LIBOR Period if a Default or Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed continuation and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, (iv) no LIBOR Period in excess of one month may be selected for any LIBOR Loan if a Default or Event of Default is in existence on the date of the proposed continuation and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such longer LIBOR Period, (v) Borrowings resulting from continuations or conversions pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be limited in number as provided in Section 2.2 and (vi) the outstanding principal amount of a Loan of one Type may not be converted into a Borrowing of another permitted Type until the end of the current LIBOR Period for such Loan. Each such continuation or conversion shall be effected by the Borrower by giving the Administrative Agent at the location set forth in Section 12.2 prior to 12:00 Noon (New York time) at least three Business Days’ prior written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit B (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) (each a “Notice of Continuation”) specifying the Loans to be so continued or converted, the Type of Loans to be continued or converted into and, if such Loans are to be converted or continued as LIBOR Loans, the LIBOR Period to be initially applicable thereto. The Administrative Agent shall give each Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed continuation or conversion affecting any of its Loans. This Section 2.6 shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to change the currency of any Borrowing.

 

(b)                                 If any Default or Event of Default is in existence at the time of any proposed continuation of any LIBOR Loans and the Administrative Agent has or the Required Lenders have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuation, such LIBOR Loans shall be automatically converted on the last day of the current LIBOR Period into ABR Loans.

 

(c)                                  If upon the expiration of any LIBOR Period, the Borrower has failed to elect a new LIBOR Period to be applicable thereto as provided in paragraph (a) above, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing of LIBOR Loans, as the case may be, into a Borrowing of ABR Loans, as the case may be, effective as of the expiration date of such current LIBOR Period.

 

2.7                               Pro Rata Borrowings.

 

The Borrowing of Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders pro rata on the basis of their respective Commitment Percentages. It is understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligation to make Loans hereunder and that each Lender shall be obligated to make the Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to fulfill its commitments hereunder.

 

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2.8                               Interest and Fees.

 

(a)                                 The unpaid principal amount of each ABR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise and both before and after default and judgment) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be equal to the Applicable Margin for ABR Loans plus the ABR in effect from time to time.

 

(b)                                 The unpaid principal amount of each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest from the date of the Borrowing thereof until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise and both before and after default and judgment) at a rate per annum that shall at all times be equal to the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans plus the relevant LIBOR.

 

(c)                                  If all or a portion of (i) the principal amount of any Loan or (ii) any interest thereon or fees payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum that is (x) in the case of overdue principal, equal to the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto plus, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 2.00% (after as well as before maturity and judgment), (y) in the case of any overdue interest with respect to any Loan, equal to the rate of interest applicable to such Loan plus, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 2.00%, or (z) in the case of any overdue fees or other amounts owing hereunder, equal to the rate of interest then applicable to Loans maintained as ABR Loans plus 2.00%, in each case from and including the date of such non-payment to but excluding the date on which such amount is paid in full (after as well as before maturity and judgment). All interest payable pursuant to this Section 2.8(c) shall be payable upon demand.

 

(d)                                 Interest on each Loan shall accrue from and including the date such Loan is made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof and shall, except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.8(c), be payable (i) in respect of each ABR Loan, quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each of March, June, September and December (for the three-month period (or portion thereof) ended on such day), (ii) in respect of each LIBOR Loan, on the last day of each LIBOR Period applicable thereto and, in the case of a LIBOR Period in excess of three months, on each date occurring at three-month intervals after the first day of such LIBOR Period and (iii) in respect of each Loan on any payment or prepayment (on the amount paid or prepaid), at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and, after such maturity, on demand.

 

(e)                                  All computations of interest hereunder shall be made in accordance with Section 5.4.

 

(f)                                   The Administrative Agent, upon determining the interest rate for any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans, shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders thereof. Each such determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

 

2.9                               Interest Periods.

 

At the time the Borrower gives the Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Continuation in respect of the making of, or conversion into or continuation as, a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the third Business Day prior to the applicable date of

 

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making or conversion or continuation of such LIBOR Loans, the Borrower shall have the right to elect by giving the Administrative Agent written notice of (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) the LIBOR Period applicable to such Borrowing, which LIBOR Period shall, at the option of the Borrower, be one week or one, two, three or six months. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above:

 

(a)                                 the initial LIBOR Period for any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of ABR Loans) and each LIBOR Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding LIBOR Period expires;

 

(b)                                 if any LIBOR Period relating to a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such LIBOR Period, such LIBOR Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such LIBOR Period;

 

(c)                                  if any LIBOR Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such LIBOR Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if any LIBOR Period in respect of a LIBOR Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such LIBOR Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day; and

 

(d)                                 the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect any LIBOR Period in respect of any LIBOR Loan if such LIBOR Period would extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

2.10                        Increased Costs, Illegality, etc.

 

(a)                                 In the event that the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto):

 

(i)                                     on any date for determining LIBOR for a Borrowing of LIBOR Loans for any LIBOR Period that by reason of any changes arising on or after the date hereof affecting the London interbank market (x) deposits in Dollars in the principal amounts of the Loans comprising such Borrowing are not readily available to such Lender in the London interbank market or (y) adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of LIBOR; or

 

(ii)                                  at any time, that the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall incur increased costs or reductions in the amounts received or receivable hereunder with respect to any Loans (other than any such increase or reduction attributable to (A) Taxes, (B) Other Taxes, (C) taxes excluded by Section 5.3(a)(i) or Section 5.3(a)(ii) or (D) taxes excluded by Section 5.3(b)) because of (x) any change since the date hereof in any applicable law, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or in the interpretation or administration thereof and including the introduction of any new law or governmental

 

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rule, regulation, guideline or order), such as, for example, but not limited to, a change in official reserve requirements (including any reserve requirements specified under regulations issued from time to time by the F.R.S. Board and then applicable to assets or liabilities consisting of and including “Eurocurrency Liabilities” as therein defined or the imposition of any tax on the Administrative Agent or any Lender on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto), and/or (y) with respect to LIBOR Loans only, other circumstances affecting the London interbank market; or

 

(iii)                               at any time, that the making or continuance of any LIBOR Loan has become unlawful by compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or has become impracticable as a result of a contingency occurring after the date hereof that materially and adversely affects the London interbank market;

 

then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall within a reasonable time thereafter give notice (if by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and, as the case may be, to the Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the other Lenders). Thereafter (x) in the case of clause (i) above, LIBOR Loans shall no longer be available from such Lender (and such Lender’s obligation to make such Loans shall be suspended) until such time as such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by the Administrative Agent no longer exist (which notice such Lender agrees to give at such time when such circumstances no longer exist), and the Notice of Borrowing or any Notice of Continuation given by the Borrower with respect to LIBOR Loans that have not yet been incurred shall be deemed, with respect to such Lender only, to be the Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Continuation for ABR Loans, (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, within five (5) days after receipt of written demand therefor, such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in its reasonable discretion shall determine) as shall be required to compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender for such increased costs or reductions in amounts receivable hereunder (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto, provided that the determination of such additional amounts shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender (after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant)) and (z) in the case of clause (iii) above, the Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in Section 2.10(b) as promptly as possible and, in any event, within the time period required by law.

 

(b)                                 At any time that any LIBOR Loan is affected by the circumstances described in Section 2.10(a)(ii) or 2.10(a)(iii), the Borrower may (and in the case of a LIBOR Loan affected pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(iii) shall) either (i) if the affected LIBOR Loan is then being made

 

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pursuant to a Credit Event or Borrowing by way of conversion into a LIBOR Loan, cancel said Credit Event or Borrowing by giving the Administrative Agent telephonic notice (confirmed promptly in writing) thereof on the same date that the Borrower was notified by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.10(a)(ii) or 2.10(a)(iii), or (ii) if the affected LIBOR Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three Business Days notice to the Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to convert each such LIBOR Loan into an ABR Loan; provided that if more than one Lender is affected at any time, then all affected Lenders must be treated in the same manner pursuant to this Section 2.10(b).

 

(c)                                  If, after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, or compliance by a Lender or its parent with any request or directive made or adopted after the date hereof regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or its parent’s capital or assets as a consequence of such Lender’s commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or its parent could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or its parent’s policies with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity requirements), then within five (5) days after written demand (as described below) by such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or its parent for such reduction, it being understood and agreed, however, that a Lender shall not be entitled to such compensation as a result of such Lender’s compliance with, or pursuant to any request or directive to comply with, any such law, rule or regulation as in effect on the date hereof. Each Lender, upon determining that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) (provided that such determination of additional amounts shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender (after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant)), will give prompt written notice thereof to the Borrower, which notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of such additional amounts (it being agreed that a written notice as to the additional amounts owed to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the calculation thereof, submitted to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall, absent clearly demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto, provided that the determination of such additional amounts shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender (after consideration of such factors as such Lender then reasonably determines to be relevant), although the failure to give any such notice shall not, subject to Section 2.13, release or diminish the Borrower’s obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) upon receipt of such notice.

 

(d)                                 For purposes of this Section 2.10, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, requirements, guidelines and directives thereunder or 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

 

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authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case shall be deemed to have been enacted, adopted and issued after the date hereof, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

 

Subject to Section 2.13, the provisions of this Section 2.10 shall survive the repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

2.11                        Compensation.

 

If (a) any payment of principal of any LIBOR Loan, or any continuation of any LIBOR Loan, is made by the Borrower (or a replacement Lender in the case of Section 12.7) to or for the account of a Lender other than on the last day of the LIBOR Period pursuant to Section 2.5, 2.6, 2.10, 5.1 or 12.7, as a result of acceleration of the maturity of the Loans pursuant to Article 10 or for any other reason, (b) any Borrowing of LIBOR Loans is not made as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Borrowing, (c) any ABR Loan is not converted into a LIBOR Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Continuation, (d) any LIBOR Loan is not continued as a LIBOR Loan as a result of a withdrawn Notice of Continuation or (e) any prepayment of principal of any LIBOR Loan is not made as a result of a withdrawn notice of prepayment pursuant to Section 5.1, the Borrower shall, after receipt of a written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that such Lender may reasonably incur as a result of such payment, failure to convert, failure to continue or failure to prepay, including any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such LIBOR Loan.

 

2.12                        Change of Lending Office.

 

If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.3, then such Lender shall, if requested by the Borrower, 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 2.10 or 5.3, 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.

 

2.13                        Notice of Certain Costs.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any notice required by Section 2.10, 2.11 or 5.3 is given by the Administrative Agent or any Lender more than 180 days after the Administrative Agent or such Lender has knowledge (or should have had knowledge) of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the additional cost, reduction in amounts, loss, tax or other additional amounts described in such Sections (provided that no

 

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Lender shall be deemed to have knowledge of any such event referred to in Section 2.10(d) prior to the incurrence of any such additional cost, reduction in amounts, loss, tax or other additional amounts), then the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall not be entitled to compensation under Section 2.10, 2.11 or 5.3, as the case may be, for any such amounts incurred or accruing prior to the giving of such notice.

 

2.14                        Defaulting Lenders.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Commitment and Loans of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 12.1; provided, that this limitation shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender affected thereby.

 

ARTICLE 3
 [RESERVED].

 

ARTICLE 4
 TERMINATION OF COMMITMENTS

 

4.1                               Mandatory Termination of Commitments.

 

The Total Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Closing Date.

 

ARTICLE 5
 PAYMENTS

 

5.1                               Prepayments.

 

The Borrower shall have the right to prepay any Borrowing, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time. Such prepayment of Loans shall be subject to the following conditions: (a) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of its intent to make such prepayment, the amount of such prepayment and (in the case of LIBOR Loans) the specific Borrowing(s) to be prepaid, which notice shall be given by the Borrower no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York time) three Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment and shall promptly be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to each of the Lenders; (b) each partial prepayment of Loans shall be in an amount that is a multiple of $100,000 and in an aggregate principal amount of at least $5,000,000; provided that no partial prepayment of LIBOR Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding LIBOR Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the Minimum Borrowing Amount for LIBOR Loans; and (c) any prepayment of LIBOR Loans pursuant to this Section 5.1 on any day other than the last day of a LIBOR Period applicable thereto shall be subject to compliance by the Borrower with the applicable provisions

 

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of Section 2.11. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing.

 

5.2                               Method and Place of Payment.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made, without set-off, counterclaim or deduction of any kind, to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of all the Lenders not later than 12:00 Noon (New York time) on the date when due. Such payments shall be made in immediately available funds at the office of the Administrative Agent from time to time notified by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (but initially the office set forth for the Administrative Agent in Section 12.2(a)(ii)), it being understood that written or facsimile notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to make a payment from the funds in its account at an office of the Administrative Agent shall constitute the making of such payment to the extent of such funds held in such account. The Administrative Agent will thereafter cause to be distributed on the same day (if payment was actually received by the Administrative Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on such day, otherwise the next Business Day) like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest ratably to the Lenders entitled thereto. A payment shall be deemed to have been made by the Administrative Agent on the date on which it is required to be made under this Agreement if the Administrative Agent has, on or before such date, taken steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent in order to make such payment.

 

(b)                                 Any payments under this Agreement that are made later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, with respect to payments of principal, interest shall be payable during such extension at the applicable rate in effect immediately prior to such extension.

 

5.3                               Net Payments.

 

(a)                                 All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any current or future income or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding (i) any net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed on the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (ii) any such taxes attributable to the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with Section 5.3(c) and (iii) any such taxes imposed on the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of a current or former connection between the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising solely from the Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement) (“Taxes”) except to the extent that such deduction or withholding is required by any applicable law, as modified by the administrative practice of any relevant

 

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Governmental Authority then in effect. If any such Taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, the Borrower shall:

 

(A)                               promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such requirement;

 

(B)                               promptly pay to the relevant Governmental Authority when due the full amount required to be deducted or withheld (including the full amount of Taxes required to be deducted or withheld from any additional amount paid by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or such Lender under this Section 5.3(a);

 

(C)                               as promptly as possible thereafter, forward to the Administrative Agent and such Lender an official receipt (or a certified copy), or other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, evidencing such payment to such Governmental Authority; and

 

(D)                               pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, in addition to the payment to which the Administrative Agent or such Lender is otherwise entitled under this Agreement, such additional amount as is necessary to ensure that the net amount actually received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, after deduction or withholding for any such Taxes, will equal the full amount the Administrative Agent or such Lender would have received had no such deduction or withholding been required.

 

If the Borrower fails to pay to the relevant Governmental Authority when due any Taxes that it was required to deduct or withhold under this Section 5.3(a) in respect of any payment to or for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or fails to furnish the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, with the documentation referred to in this Section 5.3(a) when required to do so, the Borrower shall forthwith on demand fully indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender for any incremental taxes, interest, costs or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender as a result of such failure.

 

The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 5.3(a) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding Section 5.3(a), the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify or pay any additional amounts in respect of withholding tax applicable to any amount payable under this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.3(a) above to any Non-U.S. Lender, except if any such Loans were assigned, participated or transferred to such Non-U.S. Lender at the request of the Borrower or were assigned, participated or transferred to such Non-U.S. Lender following the occurrence of and during the continuance of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 10.1 or 10.5. The Borrower shall not be required to indemnify or pay any additional amounts in respect of any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

(c)                                  Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of Tax with respect to payments made under this Agreement 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

 

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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 5.3(c)(i) and (c)(ii) below) shall not be required if in the Person’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Person to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)                                     The Administrative Agent and each Lender that is a “United States person,” as defined under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, shall deliver to the Borrower and, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Person becomes a party under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Person is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

(ii)                                  Each Non-U.S. Lender shall:

 

(A)                               deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two copies of either (x) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, (together with a certificate representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a bank for purposes of Section 881(c) of the Code, is not a 10-percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code) of the Borrower and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower (within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code)), or (y) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, in each case properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or reduced rate of, U.S. Federal withholding tax on payments by the Borrower under this Agreement;

 

(B)                               to the extent such Non-U.S. Lender is not the beneficial owner, deliver executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-9, a certificate described in clause (A), and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Non-U.S. Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Non-U.S. Lender may provide the certificate described in clause (A) on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

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Each Lender and the Administrative Agent 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, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so. Each Person that shall become a Participant pursuant to Section 12.6 or a Lender pursuant to Section 12.6 shall, upon the effectiveness of the related transfer, be required to provide all the forms and statements required pursuant to this Section 5.3(c), provided that in the case of a Participant such Participant shall furnish all such required forms and statements to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased.

 

(d)                                 If the Borrower determines in good faith that a reasonable basis exists for contesting any Taxes for which indemnification has been demanded hereunder, the relevant Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall cooperate with the Borrower in challenging such Taxes at the Borrower’s expense if so requested by the Borrower. If any Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, receives a refund of, or credit for, a Tax for which a payment has been made by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, which refund or credit in the good faith judgment of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, is attributable to such payment made by the Borrower, then the Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall reimburse the Borrower for such amount as the Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, determines to be the proportion of the refund or credit as will leave it, after such reimbursement, in no better or worse position than it would have been in if the payment had not been required. A Lender or Administrative Agent shall claim any refund or credit that it determines is available to it, unless it concludes in its reasonable discretion that it would be adversely affected by making such a claim. Neither such Lender nor the Administrative Agent shall be obliged to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or computations to the Borrower in connection with this paragraph (d) or any other provision of this Section 5.3.

 

(e)                                  Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent for any taxes (but, in the case of any Taxes or Other Taxes, only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so) attributable to such Lender that are paid or payable by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  The indemnity under this Section 5.3(e) shall be paid within ten (10) days after the Administrative Agent delivers to the applicable Lender a certificate stating the amount of taxes so paid or payable by the Administrative Agent.  Such certificate shall be conclusive of the amount so paid or payable absent manifest error.

 

(f)                                   If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement or any related 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)

 

26

 

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 (f), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

5.4                               Computations of Interest and Fees.

 

(a)                                 All interest and fees hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the ABR at times when the ABR is based on the prime rate of the Administrative Agent 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 ABR or LIBOR rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(b)                                 All interest payments to be made under this Agreement shall be paid without allowance or deduction for deemed re-investment or otherwise, both before and after maturity and before and after default and/or judgment, if any, until payment of the amount on which such interest is accruing, and interest will accrue on overdue interest, if any.

 

(c)                                  The amount of costs and expenses required to be paid or reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 12.5 or any other provision of this Agreement shall bear interest until paid, as well after as before demand, default, maturity and judgment, at the highest rate provided for in Section 2.8(c).

 

(d)                                 If interest is not paid on the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder, or any part thereof, as and when interest is due and payable hereunder, unpaid interest shall bear interest until paid, as well after as before demand, default, maturity and judgment, at the rates provided for in Section 2.8(c).

 

ARTICLE 6
 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

6.1                               Conditions Precedent to Initial Effectiveness.

 

The obligation of each Lender to make the Loan to be made by it on the Closing Date shall become effective on the date on which each of the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)                                 Credit Agreement.  The Administrative Agent shall have received this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each of the parties hereto.

 

(b)                                 Closing Date Certificate.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, with appropriate insertions, executed by the President or any Vice President and the

 

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Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the sole member of the sole member of the Borrower (the “Closing Date Certificate”).

 

(c)                                  Proceedings of the Borrower.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the resolutions, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of the sole member of the Borrower (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (and any agreements relating thereto) and (b) the extensions of credit contemplated hereunder.

 

(d)                                 Organic Documents.  The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) true and complete copies of the articles of organization and operating agreement of the Borrower, (ii) a certificate of good standing with respect to the Borrower issued by its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and (iii) to the extent reasonably requested in writing by any of the Lenders, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(e)                                  Reimbursement of Expenses.  The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders shall have received all amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(f)                                   Legal Opinions.  The Administrative Agent shall have received in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it the executed legal opinions of (i) counsel to the Borrower with respect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Borrower, the validity, binding effect, legality and enforceability of this Agreement, compliance with certain applicable law and such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) special Michigan counsel to the Borrower with respect to the status and capacity of the Borrower, the due authorization of this Agreement, compliance with the Organic Documents of the Borrower and with certain applicable law and such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g)                                  Governmental Approvals.  The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that all governmental approvals necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, approvals from the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and approval of the 204 financing application) shall have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

 

(h)                                 Financial Statements.  The Lenders shall have received (i) satisfactory audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012, (ii) satisfactory unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013 and (iii) satisfactory financial statement projections through and including the Borrower’s 2014 fiscal year (the “Projections”).

 

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(i)                                     Notice of Borrowing.  The Administrative Agent shall have received the Notice of Borrowing (in writing or by email) meeting the requirements of Section 2.3.

 

(j)                                    No Default; Representations and Warranties True and Correct.  On the Closing Date and also after giving effect to the Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date  (i) there shall exist no Default or Event of Default and (ii) all representations and warranties made by the Borrower contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Credit Event (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).

 

The acceptance of the proceeds of the Loans shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower to each of the Lenders that all the applicable conditions specified above are satisfied as of the Closing Date.

 

ARTICLE 7
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans as provided for herein, the Borrower (as to itself and each of its Subsidiaries) makes the following representations and warranties to, and agreements with, the Lenders, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans.

 

7.1                               Organizational Status.

 

The Borrower is validly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state or jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires such qualification (except where the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect), and has full power and authority and holds all requisite governmental licenses, permits and other approvals to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, to own and hold under lease its property and to conduct its business substantially as currently conducted by it.

 

7.2                               Capacity, Power and Authority.

 

The Borrower has the capacity, power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has taken all necessary action, partnership, corporate or otherwise, to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Borrower has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.

 

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7.3                               No Violation.

 

Neither the execution, delivery nor performance by the Borrower of this Agreement nor compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will (a) contravene any applicable provision of any material law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or Governmental Authority, (b) result in any breach of any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, the terms of any material indenture, loan agreement, lease agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, agreement or other material instrument to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets is bound or (c) violate any provision of the Borrower’s Organic Documents.

 

7.4                               Litigation.

 

There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (after due internal inquiry), threatened with respect to the Business, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.5                               Governmental Approvals.

 

No order, consent, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or notice to, any Governmental Authority (other than those that have been, or on the Closing Date will be, obtained and are in full force and effect) is required to authorize or is required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or (b) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement.

 

7.6                               True and Complete Disclosure.

 

To the knowledge of the Borrower, after due inquiry:

 

(a)                                 All written factual information and data (taken as a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished (other than any projections and pro forma financial information and information of a general industry nature), by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective authorized consultants, agents or representatives in writing to the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender on or before the Closing Date (including all information contained in this Agreement) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein was true and complete in all material respects on the date as of which such information or data is dated or certified and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, taken as a whole, not materially misleading at such time in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made.

 

(b)                                 The Projections were prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that such projections are not to be viewed as facts, that whether such projections will be achieved will depend on future events, some of which are not within the Borrower’s

 

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control, and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results and that such variances can be significant.

 

7.7                               Financial Condition; Financial Statements.

 

The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders (i) the financial statements with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 and with respect to the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2013 and (ii) the Projections.  The financial statements referred to in clause (i) of the immediately preceding sentence present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates of said statements and the results of operations for the respective periods covered thereby, subject, in the case of quarterly financial statements, to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments and other adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period.  All such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, except to the extent provided in the notes to said financial statements.  All balance sheets, all statements of income and of cash flow and all other financial information of each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries furnished pursuant to Section 8.1 have been and will for periods following the Closing Date be prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and do or will present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the Persons covered thereby as at the dates thereof and the results of their operations for the periods covered thereby, subject, in the case of quarterly financial statements to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments and other adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period.

 

7.8                               Tax Returns and Payments.

 

Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has filed all material tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by it and has paid all material taxes and assessments payable by it that have become due, other than those not yet delinquent or contested in good faith. The Borrower and each of its respective Subsidiaries have paid, or have provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) in accordance with GAAP for the payment of, all material income taxes applicable for all prior fiscal years and for the current fiscal year to the Closing Date.

 

7.9                               Environmental Matters.

 

Except as set forth in Schedule II:

 

(a)                                 Other than instances of noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Environmental Laws in all jurisdictions in which the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries are currently doing business (including having obtained all material permits required under Environmental Laws) and (ii) the Borrower will comply and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply with all such Environmental Laws (including all permits required under Environmental Laws); and

 

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(b)                                 Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has treated, stored, transported or disposed of Hazardous Materials at or from any currently or formerly owned Real Estate or facility relating to its business in a manner that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.10                        Properties.

 

The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good title to or a leasehold or easement interest in all of its properties that are necessary for the operation of its respective business as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, free and clear in each case of all Liens (other than any Liens permitted by this Agreement) except where the failure to have such good title could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.11                        Pension and Welfare Plans.

 

During the twelve-consecutive-month period prior to the Closing Date and prior to the date of any Credit Event hereunder, except as could not reasonably be expected have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) no steps have been taken to terminate any Pension Plan, (b) no contribution failure has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA, (c) no condition exists or event or transaction has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan which might result in the incurrence by the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group of any liability (other than any liability that relates to the accrual of benefits), fine or penalty and (d) except as disclosed in Schedule III, neither the Borrower nor any member of the Controlled Group has any contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement benefit under a Welfare Plan, other than liability for continuation coverage described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.

 

7.12                        Regulations U and X.

 

Neither the making of any Loan hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the provisions of F.R.S. Board Regulation U or Regulation X.

 

7.13                        Investment Company Act.

 

Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

7.14                        Sanctions Laws and Regulations.

 

None of the Borrower, any of its directors nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any officer or any agents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans or any affiliate over which any of the foregoing exercises management control or which exercises management control over the Borrower or any Subsidiary, is a Designated Person.

 

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7.15                        No Material Adverse Change.

 

There has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations, property or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since December 31, 2012.

 

7.16                        Deemed Repetition of Representations and Warranties.

 

The representations and warranties set out in Sections 7.1 to 7.14 inclusive (and solely in the case of the initial Credit Event, Section 7.15) will be deemed to be repeated by the Borrower as of the date of each request for a new Credit Event, by the Borrower (but not the conversion or continuation of a Borrowing) and as of the date on which a Successor Borrower assumes all of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.2(a) (but after giving effect to such assumption), except to the extent that on or prior to such date (a) the Borrower has advised the Administrative Agent in writing of a variation in any such representation or warranty, and (b) the Required Lenders have approved such variation, and except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

 

ARTICLE 8
 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its Subsidiaries) hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter, for so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Maturity Date:

 

8.1                               Information Covenants.

 

The Borrower will furnish to each Lender and the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                 Annual Financial Statements.  As soon as available and in any event on or before the date that is 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statement of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year, and audited by an independent auditing firm of recognized national standing whose opinion shall not be qualified as to the scope of audit or as to the status of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as a going concern, together in any event with a no-default letter from such auditing firm stating that in the course of its regular audit of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which audit was conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, as established by the Auditing Standards Board (United States) and with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), such auditing firm has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default relating to Section 9.4 that has occurred and is continuing or, if in the opinion of such auditing firm such a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature thereof.

 

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(b)                                 Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as available and in any event on or before the date that is 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2013, the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related consolidated statement of operations for such fiscal quarter and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statement of cash flows and for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such fiscal quarter, and setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the related periods in the prior fiscal year or, in the case of such consolidated balance sheet, for the last day of the prior fiscal year, and prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, all of which shall be certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments and other adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period.

 

(c)                                  Officer’s Certificates.  At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 8.1(a) and (b), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit E (a “Compliance Certificate”) to the effect that no Default or Event of Default exists or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof, which certificate shall be in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, acting reasonably, and setting forth the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was in compliance with the provisions of Section 9.4 as at the end of such fiscal year or period, as the case may be.

 

(d)                                 Notice of Default or Litigation.  Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any event that constitutes a Default or Event of Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) any litigation or governmental proceeding pending or threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)                                  Environmental Matters.  Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries obtains knowledge or notice of any one or more of the following environmental matters, unless such environmental matters would not, individually or when aggregated with all other such matters, be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(i)                                     Any pending or threatened Environmental Claim against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Real Estate (as defined below);

 

(ii)                                  Any condition or occurrence that (x) results in non-compliance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with any applicable Environmental Law or (y) could reasonably be anticipated to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Real Estate;

 

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(iii)                               Any condition or occurrence on any Real Estate that could reasonably be anticipated to cause such Real Estate to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or transferability of such Real Estate under any Environmental Law; and

 

(iv)                              The taking of any removal or remedial action in response to the actual or alleged presence of any Hazardous Material on any Real Estate.

 

All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the claim, investigation, condition, occurrence or removal or remedial action and the Borrower’s response thereto. The term “Real Estate” shall mean land, buildings and improvements owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, but excluding all operating fixtures and equipment, whether or not incorporated into improvements.

 

(f)                                   Pension Plans.  Promptly after an Authorized Officer of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof where the liability, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, notice of and copies of all documentation relating to (i) the institution of any steps by any Person to terminate any Pension Plan, (ii) the failure to make a required contribution to any Pension Plan if such failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA, (iii) the taking of any action with respect to a Pension Plan which could result in the requirement that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries furnish a bond or other security to such Pension Plan, or (iv) the occurrence of any event with respect to any Pension Plan which could result in the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any material liability, fine or penalty.

 

(g)                                  Other Information.  Promptly upon filing thereof, copies of any filings or registration statements with, and reports to, any Governmental Authority in any relevant jurisdiction by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to applicable securities laws (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it becomes effective, is delivered to the Lenders), exhibits to any registration statement) and copies of all financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall send to the holders of any publicly issued securities of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries in their capacity as such holders (in each case to the extent not theretofore delivered to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and publicly available on EDGAR; provided, that the Borrower shall give prompt notice to the Administrative Agent of such filing and if requested by any Lender, the Borrower shall promptly deliver a copy of such filing to such requesting Lender) and, with reasonable promptness, such other information (financial or otherwise) as the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender may reasonably request in writing from time to time.

 

8.2                               Books, Record and Inspections.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries, upon reasonably prior notice to the Borrower, to, (i) permit officers and designated representatives of the Administrative

 

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Agent or the Required Lenders to visit and inspect any of the properties or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in whomever’s possession to the extent that it is within the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ control to permit such inspection, and to examine the books of account of the Borrower and any such Subsidiaries and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and of any such Subsidiaries with, and be advised as to the same by, its and their officers and independent accountants, and (ii) permit officers and designated representatives of Lenders to view copies of contracts of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (subject to reasonable confidentiality arrangements established by the Borrower), all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and intervals and to such reasonable extent as the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders or the Lenders, as the case may be, may desire.

 

8.3                               Maintenance of Insurance.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect, with insurance companies that the Borrower believes (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) are financially sound and responsible at the time the relevant coverage is placed or renewed, insurance in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (and with such risk retentions) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business.

 

8.4                               Payment of Taxes.

 

The Borrower will pay and discharge, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its capital, income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, prior to the date on which material penalties attach thereto, and all lawful material tax or similar claims that, if unpaid, could reasonably be expected to become a material Lien upon any properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower) with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

 

8.5                               Organizational Existence.

 

The Borrower will do, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and its corporate or other organizational rights and authority, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that, in any case, (a) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Section 9.2, (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with and into any other wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower and (c) except to the extent as could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any Subsidiary of the Borrower may enter into any merger or consolidation for the purpose of changing its organizational form from a corporation to a limited liability company or from a limited liability company to a corporation.

 

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8.6                               Compliance with Statutes, Obligations, etc.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders (including Environmental Laws), except to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.7                               Good Repair.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, ensure that its properties and equipment used or useful in its business in whomever’s possession they may be to the extent that it is within the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ control to cause the same, are kept in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and that from time to time there are made in such properties and equipment all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto, to the extent and in the manner customary for companies in similar businesses and consistent with third party leases, except in each case to the extent the failure to do so could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.8                               Transactions with Affiliates.

 

The Borrower will conduct, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions with any of its Affiliates on terms that are substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as it would obtain in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (a) transactions 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 and among the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries that do not involve any other Affiliate and (c) transactions permitted by Section 9.2 or Section 9.3.

 

8.9                               End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters.

 

The Borrower will, for financial reporting purposes, cause (a) each of its, and each of its Subsidiaries’, fiscal years to be comprised of twelve calendar months ending on December 31 of each year and (b) each of its, and each of its Subsidiaries’, fiscal quarters to end on dates consistent with such fiscal year-end; provided that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change the financial reporting convention specified above to any other financial reporting convention reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary in order to reflect such change in financial reporting.

 

8.10                        Use of Proceeds.

 

The Borrower will use the proceeds of all the Loans only for the purposes set forth in Section 2.1(b).

 

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8.11                        Changes in Business.

 

From the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will not fundamentally and substantively alter the character of their business taken as a whole from the business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole on the Closing Date and other business activities incidental or related to any of the foregoing (the “Business”).

 

ARTICLE 9
 NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its Subsidiaries) hereby covenants and agrees that on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Maturity Date:

 

9.1                               Limitation on Liens.

 

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or intangible) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

 

(a)                                 Permitted Liens;

 

(b)                                 Liens securing indebtedness incurred within 180 days of the acquisition, construction or improvement of fixed or capital assets to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets;

 

(c)                                  Liens existing on the Closing Date and as set out on Schedule IV;

 

(d)                                 Liens existing on the assets or Capital Stock of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary, or existing on assets acquired; provided that such Liens attach at all times only to the same assets that such Liens attached to and secure only the same Indebtedness that such Liens secured, immediately prior to such acquisition;

 

(e)                                  Liens in favor of the Borrower;

 

(f)                                   (i) Liens placed upon the Capital Stock or assets of any Subsidiary acquired to secure Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred in connection with such acquisition and (ii) Liens placed upon the assets of such Subsidiary acquired pursuant to an acquisition to secure a guarantee by such Subsidiary of any such Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(g)                                  any Lien securing Indebtedness for the payment, prepayment or redemption of which there shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee or other holder of such Lien moneys and/or investment securities which (together with the interest reasonably expected to be earned from the investment and reinvestment in investment securities of the moneys and/or the principal of and interest on the investment securities so deposited) shall be sufficient for such purpose; provided, however, that if such Indebtedness is to be redeemed or otherwise prepaid prior to the stated maturity thereof, any notice requisite to such redemption or prepayment shall have been given in

 

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accordance with the instrument creating such Lien or irrevocable instructions to give such notice shall have been given to such trustee or other holder;

 

(h)                                 Liens in favor of the United States of America or any State thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any State thereof or political entity affiliated therewith, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments, or other obligations, pursuant to any contract or statute to secure any Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving property subject to such Liens (including Liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings);

 

(i)                                     Liens on any property created, assumed or otherwise brought into existence in contemplation of the sale or other disposition of the underlying property, whether directly or indirectly, by way of share disposition or otherwise; provided that 180 days from the creation of such Liens the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary shall have disposed of such property and any Indebtedness secured by such Liens shall be without recourse to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(j)                                    the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clauses (a) through (i) above upon or in the same assets theretofore subject to such Lien or the replacement, extension or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor except to the extent otherwise permitted hereunder) of the Indebtedness secured thereby;

 

(k)                                 Liens on assets of the Borrower to secure Indebtedness of the Borrower under any Mortgage Bond Indenture; provided that, at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, the Net Tangible Assets shall be at least 150% of the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness outstanding under such Mortgage Bond Indenture that is so secured; and

 

(l)                                     additional Liens so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations so secured (including the imputed principal amount of any Capitalized Lease Obligations) for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

9.2                               Limitation on Fundamental Changes.

 

The Borrower will not enter into any merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, all or substantially all its business units, assets or other properties, except that:

 

(a)                                 any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any other Person may be merged or consolidated (including by way of liquidation or winding up) with or into the Borrower; provided that (i) either (x) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity or (y) the debt rating of the Person (if other than the Borrower) who is the continuing or surviving entity (the Borrower or Person, as the case may be, being herein referred to as

 

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the “Successor Borrower”) shall after giving effect to such merger or consolidation be BBB- or higher from S&P or Baa3 or higher from Moody’s (provided that in no event shall such Successor Borrower have a debt rating of BB or lower from S&P or Ba2 or lower from Moody’s), (ii) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, (iii) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement pursuant to a supplement hereto in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iv) no Default or Event of Default is then existing and no Default or Event of Default would result from the consummation of such merger or consolidation, (v) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, with the covenant set forth in Section 9.4 as such covenant is recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter under each such Section as if such merger or consolidation had occurred on the last day of such fiscal quarter, and (vi) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying the compliance referred to in clause (v) above and stating that such merger or consolidation and such supplement to this Agreement comply with this Agreement and a legal opinion (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) with respect to this Agreement to be delivered, if any, pursuant to clause (iii) above; provided further that if the foregoing are satisfied, such Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement; and

 

(b)                                 the Borrower may enter into any merger or consolidation for the purpose of changing its organizational form from a corporation to a limited liability company or from a limited liability company to a corporation; provided that such change has no adverse affect on the rights of the Finance Parties.

 

9.3                               Limitation on Dividends.

 

If any Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower will not declare or pay any distributions (other than distributions payable solely in its Capital Stock) or return any capital to its shareholders or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its shareholders as such, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration, any of its Capital Stock or the Capital Stock of any direct or indirect shareholder of the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding (or any warrants for or options or stock appreciation rights in respect of any of its Capital Stock), or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Capital Stock of the Borrower, now or hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued by such Person with respect to its Capital Stock).

 

9.4                               Debt to Capitalization Ratio.

 

The Borrower will not permit its Debt to Capitalization Ratio to be greater than 65%, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter; provided, that, if at any time after the date hereof, Section

 

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9.4 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended, the provisions of any such amendment shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Section 9.4.

 

9.5                               Limitation on Sale-Lease Back Transactions.

 

The Borrower will not enter into any sale-leaseback transaction (a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction”) involving any of its property or assets whether now owned or hereafter acquired, whereby the Borrower sells or otherwise transfers such property or assets and thereafter leases or subleases such property or assets or any part thereof or any other property or assets that the Borrower intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property or assets sold or otherwise transferred unless (a) the Borrower would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such property or assets pursuant to Section 9.1 or (b) the Attributable Value of all Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into pursuant to this Section 9.5 does not exceed $20,000,000. A Sale and Leaseback Transaction shall not be deemed to result in the creation of a Lien.

 

9.6                               Sanctions Laws and Regulations.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly, use or permit the use of the proceeds of the Loans (i) to finance any operations, investments or activities of any Designated Person or to make any payments to any Designated Person, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of any current U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC by any party to this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall not permit any of the funds or assets of the Borrower that are used to pay any amount due pursuant to this Agreement to constitute funds obtained from transactions with or relating to Designated Persons or countries which are the subject of any current U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC, in each case in any manner that would result in a violation of any current sanctions administered by OFAC by any party to this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 10

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

Each of the following specified events or occurrences described in Sections 10.1 through 10.10 below shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

10.1                        Payments.

 

The Borrower shall (a) default in the payment when due of any principal of the Loans or (b) default, and such default shall continue for five or more days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or any other amounts owing hereunder.

 

10.2                        Representations, etc.

 

Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by the Borrower herein or any certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made.

 

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10.3                        Covenants.

 

The Borrower shall (i) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 8.1(d), Section 8.5 (solely with respect to the Borrower), Section 8.11 or Article 9, or (ii) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in Section 10.1 or 10.2 or clause (i) of this Section 10.3) contained in this Agreement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the receipt of written notice by the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders.

 

10.4                        Default Under Other Agreements.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment with respect to any Indebtedness, in excess of $15,000,000 (or, if at any time after the date hereof, clause (a)(i) of Section 10.4 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended to change the Dollar amount set forth therein, the Dollar amount set forth in such clause (a)(i), as so amended) in the aggregate, beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or

 

(b)                                 without limiting the provisions of clause (a) above, any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment, prior to the stated maturity thereof.

 

10.5                        Bankruptcy, etc.

 

The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case concerning itself under the Bankruptcy Code as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto or any similar legislation in any other applicable jurisdiction (collectively, the “Bankruptcy Code”); or an involuntary case is commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and the petition or application is not contested within 10 days after commencement of the case; or an involuntary case is commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and the petition or application is not dismissed within 45 days after commencement of the case; or a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or similar official is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the Borrower or any Subsidiary commences any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary itself; or there is commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary any such proceeding that remains undismissed for a period of 45 days; or the Borrower or any Subsidiary is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered; or the Borrower or any Subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, files under the Bankruptcy

 

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Act or takes a similar action under the Bankruptcy Act; or any corporate or similar action is taken by the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or the Borrower or any Subsidiary is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of or a composition with its creditors generally; or the Borrower or any Subsidiary takes any corporate or similar action or other steps are taken or legal proceedings are started for its winding-up, dissolution, administration or insolvent re-organization or for the appointment of a liquidator, administrator or administrative receiver of it.

 

10.6                        Judgments.

 

One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving a liability of $15,000,000 (or, if at any time after the date hereof, Section 10.6 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended to change the Dollar amount set forth therein, the Dollar amount set forth in such Section 10.6, as so amended) or more in the aggregate for all such judgments and decrees for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (to the extent not paid or fully covered by insurance provided by a carrier not disputing coverage) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof.

 

10.7                        Change of Ownership.

 

A Change of Ownership shall occur.

 

10.8                        Pension Plans.

 

Any of the following events shall occur with respect to any Pension Plan: (a) the institution of any steps by the Borrower or any other Person to terminate a Pension Plan if, as a result of such termination, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries could be required to make a contribution to such Pension Plan, or could reasonably expect to incur a liability or obligation to such Pension Plan in respect of such termination; or (b) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA, where in each case under clauses (a) or (b) such contribution, liability, obligation or Lien would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

10.9                        Remedies.

 

Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described above, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default shall then be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent to enforce its claims against the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement (provided that, if an Event of Default specified in Section 10.5 shall occur with respect to the Borrower, the result that would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent as specified in clause (i) below shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice): (i) declare the principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans and all obligations owing hereunder to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which

 

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are hereby waived by the Borrower; and/or (ii) exercise any other remedies that may be available under this Agreement or applicable law.

 

10.10                 Remedies Cumulative.

 

The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to and not in substitution for any rights or remedies provided by law or by equity, and any single or partial exercise by the Lenders of any right or remedy for a default or breach of any term, covenant, condition or agreement herein contained shall not be deemed to be a waiver of or to alter, affect, or prejudice any other right or remedy or other rights or remedies to which the Lenders may be lawfully entitled for the same default or breach, and any waiver by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of the strict observance, performance or compliance with any term, covenant, condition or agreement herein contained, and any indulgence granted by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall be deemed not to be a waiver of any subsequent default. In the event that the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall have proceeded to enforce any such right, remedy or power contained herein and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, by written agreement between the Lenders and the Borrower, then in each such event the Borrower and the Lenders shall be restored to their former positions and the rights, remedies and powers of the Lenders shall continue as if no such proceedings had been taken.

 

ARTICLE 11
 THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

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

 

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

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.1), and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or

 

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not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.1) 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 this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 6 or elsewhere herein, 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 and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld), to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, 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

 

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Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 12.5 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.

 

Each Lender acknowledges that it 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. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information 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.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Syndication Agent, the Joint Bookrunners and the Joint Lead Arrangers named on the cover page of this Agreement shall not have any duties or liabilities under this Agreement, except in its capacity, if any, as a Lender.

 

ARTICLE 12
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1                        Amendments and Waivers.

 

Neither this Agreement, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.1.  The Required Lenders may from time to time (a) enter into with the Borrower and Administrative Agent, as applicable, written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto for the purpose of adding or amending any provisions to this Agreement or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Borrower hereunder or thereunder, or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall directly (i) forgive any portion of, or extend or waive the final scheduled maturity date of, any Loan, or reduce the stated rate of, forgive any portion of or extend the date for the payment of any interest or fee payable hereunder (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates), or extend the final expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment or increase the amount of any of the Commitments of any Lender, in each case without the written consent of each Lender whose Loan, interest, fee or Commitment is changed as set forth above thereby, or (ii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 12.1 or reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of the terms “Required Lenders” or consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (except as permitted pursuant to Section 9.2), in each case without the written consent of each Lender, or (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Article 11 without the written consent of the then-current Administrative Agent, or (iv) amend Section 5.2(a) to the extent that it relates to payments for the ratable account of Lenders without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, in each case without the written consent of all the Lenders except as otherwise specifically provided in this Section 12.1.  For the avoidance of doubt, no consent

 

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of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall be required for an amendment of Section 1.2, 9.4, 10.4 or 10.7 resulting from an amendment of the Revolving Credit Agreement as provided in each such Section.

 

Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the affected Lenders and shall be binding upon the Borrower, such Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the affected Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing, it being understood that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

12.2                        Notices.

 

(a)                                 Notices Generally.  All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission) and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid or if properly addressed and sent by pre-paid courier service, shall be deemed given when received and, if transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given when the confirmation of transmission thereof is received by the transmitter, in each case addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and as set forth on Schedule I in the case of each Lender (or as set forth in the Assignment and Assumption of any Lender which is an Assignee) or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

 

(i)                                     The Borrower:

 

ITC Great Plains, LLC
 27175 Energy Way
 Novi, MI 48377

Attention: Rejji P. Hayes
 Facsimile No.:  (248) 305-3174
 Telephone No.:  (248) 946-3680

 

with a copy to:

 

ITC Holdings Corp.

27175 Energy Way

Novi, MI 48377

Attention: Britt McNulty

E-mail address:  bmcnulty@Itctransco.com

Telephone No.:  (248) 946-3598

 

(ii)                                  The Administrative Agent:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Loan Operations

10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor

Chicago, IL 60603

 

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Attention: Teresita Siao

Facsimile No.:  (888) 292-9533

Phone No.: (312) 385-7051

Email: teresita.r.siao@jpmorgan.com

 

with copy to (except in the case of notices relating to borrowings, continuations and conversions):

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

10 South Dearborn, 9th Floor
 Mail Code IL1-0090
 Chicago, IL 60603
 Attention: Nancy R. Barwig

Credit Executive, Corporate Client Banking, Power and Utilities

Facsimile No.:  (312) 732-1762

Phone No.: (312) 732-1838

Email: nancy.r.barwig@jpmorgan.com

 

and

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 
 Portfolio Management Administration 
 10 South Dearborn, 9th Floor
 Mail Code IL1-0874
 Chicago, IL 60603 
 Attention:  Mary McCorry
 Facsimile No.: (312) 325-3238

Phone No.: (312) 325-3149

Email: mary.t.mccorry@jpmorgan.com

 

provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.3, 2.6, 2.10, 4.2 and 5.1 shall not be effective until received.

 

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

 

(c)                                  Communications on Electronic Transmission System.  The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may make communications available to the Lenders by posting such communications on Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”). THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR

 

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COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, ADVISORS OR REPRESENTATIVES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “AGENT PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE BORROWER, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF THE BORROWER’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY AGENT PARTY IS FOUND IN A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH AGENT PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

 

12.3                        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

 

No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

12.4                        Survival of Representations and Warranties.

 

All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans hereunder.

 

12.5                        Payment of Expenses and Taxes.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower agrees (i) to pay or reimburse the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for all their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the syndication of the Commitments), including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to the Administrative Agent, (ii) to pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under, or “workout” or restructuring of, this Agreement and any such other documents, including the

 

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reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent, (iii) to pay, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Lender and the Administrative Agent from, any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise and other similar taxes, if any, that may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement and any such other documents (collectively, “Other Taxes”), except for any such Other Taxes attributable to an assignment or Participation, and (iv) to pay, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Lender, each Arranger and the Administrative Agent and their respective directors, officers, employees, trustee, agents and Affiliates (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel incurred in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or threatened by any Person, whether or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or potential party thereto, and any fees or expenses incurred by any Indemnitee in enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect or consequential, whether based on strict liability or negligence, and whether based on any federal, provincial or foreign laws, statutes, rules, regulations or guidelines (including Environmental Laws), common law, equity, contract or otherwise that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee, in any manner arising out of or relating to (A) this Agreement and any other agreements or documents contemplated hereby or thereby, the other transactions contemplated hereby (including the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement and the breach by the Borrower of, or default by the Borrower under, any of the provisions of this Agreement or any Loan, or the use or proposed use of the proceeds thereof), (B) the violation of, non-compliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law applicable to the operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or applicable to any of the Real Estate, or (C) any Environmental Claim or any Hazardous Materials relating to or arising from, directly or indirectly, any past or present activity, operation, land ownership, possession or control, or practice of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time (all the foregoing in this clause (iv), collectively, the “indemnified liabilities”); provided that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee with respect to indemnified liabilities arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction and provided further that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee with respect to claims that do not involve an act or omission of the Borrower or any of its affiliates and that is brought by the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or any Lender against any other Lender. The agreements in this Section 12.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

Each of the Lenders, each of the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent agree that any and all of their respective rights under this Agreement and any other agreements contemplated hereby and thereby, including recourse for any obligation or claim for any indemnification thereunder, is limited to recourse to the Borrower and its assets as contemplated hereby, and none of the direct or indirect limited partners, partners, shareholders, members of the Borrower or any of their respective employees, directors or officers shall have any obligations or liability,

 

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or be subject to any recourse, in respect of any such obligations or claims hereunder or thereunder.

 

(b)                                 To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or any Arranger under paragraph (a) of this Section 12.5, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or such Arranger, as the case may be, such Lender’s Commitment Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, 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 or such Arranger in its capacity as such.

 

12.6                        Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments.

 

(a)                                 Assignments Generally.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 12.6. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 12.6) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Assignments by Lenders.

 

(i)                                     Assignments Generally. Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (the “Assignee”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (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 fifteen (15) days after having received notice thereof), provided 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; and

 

(B)                               the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

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(A)          except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Loans, the amount of the 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 $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;

 

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

 

(C)          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; and

 

(D)          the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(iii)          Effectiveness of Assignments.  Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section 12.6, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto (the “Assignment Effective Date”) 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 2.10, 2.11 and 12.5). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 12.6 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 paragraph (c) of this Section 12.6.

 

(iv)          Maintenance of Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an 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 principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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(v)           Acceptance of Assignments by Administrative Agent.  Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 12.6 and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section 12.6, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.4(b), 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.

 

(vi)          No Assignment to the Borrower or its Affiliates. No assignment pursuant to this Section 12.6 shall be made to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates.

 

(c)           Participations.

 

(i)            Participations Generally.  Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, 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 the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the 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 second sentence of Section 12.1 that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.10 and 2.11 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.8 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary 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 Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is

 

53

 

necessary to establish that such Loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive 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.

 

(ii)           Limitations on Rights of Participants.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.10 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. No Participant shall be entitled to any benefits under Section 5.3 unless such Participant complies with Section 5.3(c).

 

(d)           Certain Pledges.  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 or any other central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and this Section 12.6 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.

 

12.7        Replacements of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.

 

If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.3, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender is affected in the manner described in Section 2.10(a)(iii) and as a result thereof any of the actions described in such Section is required to be taken, 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 12.6) all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such assignment, (ii) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (iii) the Borrower shall have paid the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 12.6, (iv) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts), (v) in the case of any such assignment resulting from payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.10 or a claim for compensation under Section 2.11, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (vi) 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.

 

54

 

12.8        Adjustments; Set-off.

 

(a)           If any Defaulting Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.4(b), 12.5(b) or 12.8(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or any Lender any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

(b)           After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, in addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

 

(c)           If any Finance Party shall obtain any payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of setoff or otherwise) on account of any Credit Event (other than pursuant to the terms of Section 2.10, 2.11 or 5.3) in excess of its pro rata share of payments obtained by all Finance Parties, such Finance Party shall purchase from the other Finance Parties such participations in Credit Events made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Finance Party to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably (to the extent such other Finance Parties were entitled to receive a portion of such payment or recovery) with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Finance Party, the purchase shall be rescinded and each Finance Party which has sold a participation to the purchasing Finance Party shall repay to the purchasing Finance Party the purchase price to the ratable extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such selling Finance Party’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (a) the amount of such selling Finance Party’s required repayment to the purchasing Finance Party to (b) total amount so recovered from the purchasing Finance Party) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Finance Party in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Finance Party purchasing a participation from another Finance Party pursuant to this Section 12.8 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including pursuant to clause (b) above) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Finance Party were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law any Finance Party receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this Section 12.8 applies,

 

55

 

such Finance Party shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this Section 12.8 to share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

 

12.9        Marshalling; Payments Set Aside.

 

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the Borrower or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. To the extent that the Borrower makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent or Lenders (or to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of Lenders), or the Administrative Agent or Lenders enforce any security interests or exercise their rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, any other provincial, state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

12.10      Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile transmission), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

12.11      Severability.

 

Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

12.12      Integration.

 

This Agreement represents the agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein.

 

12.13      Governing Law.

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW

 

56

 

YORK AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES APPLICABLE THEREIN (EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT OF LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE WHICH MIGHT REFER SUCH CONSTRUCTION TO THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION).

 

12.14      Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers.

 

The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a)           submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York or of the United States for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in each case which are located in the Borough of Manhattan in the county of New York;

 

(b)           consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c)           agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected in accordance with the local rules of civil procedure or by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Borrower at its address set forth in Section 12.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

 

(d)           agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

 

(e)           waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 12.14 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

12.15      Acknowledgements.

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

 

(a)           it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement;

 

(b)           neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender (in any capacity) has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, and the relationship between Administrative Agent and Lenders, on one hand, and the Borrower, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

 

57

 

(c)           no joint venture is created hereby or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

12.16      Waivers of Jury Trial.

 

THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

12.17      Confidentiality.

 

The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall hold all non-public information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with such Lender’s evaluation of whether to become a Lender hereunder or obtained by such Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement (“Confidential Information”), in accordance with its customary procedure for handling confidential information of this nature and (in the case of a Lender that is a bank) in accordance with safe and sound banking practices and in any event may make disclosure (i) to any other party hereto, (ii) with the consent of the Borrower, (iii) as required or requested by any Governmental Authority, representatives thereof or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about such Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, (iv) pursuant to legal process or (v) to such Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s lawyers, professional advisors or independent auditors or Affiliates; provided that, unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with an examination of the financial condition or regulatory compliance of such Lender by such Governmental Authority or in connection with ratings by such rating agency with respect to such Lender) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information, and provided further that in no event shall any Lender or the Administrative Agent be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not provide to prospective Assignees or Participants or to prospective direct or indirect contractual counterparties in swap agreements to be entered into in connection with Loans made hereunder any of the Confidential Information unless such Person shall have previously executed a Confidentiality Agreement substantially in the form prescribed from time to time by the Loan Sales and Trading Association.

 

12.18      Treatment of Loans.

 

(a)           The Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and related transactions as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4). In the event the Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof.

 

58

 

(b)           The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and one or more of the Lenders may treat its Loans as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 or Section 301.6112-1, and the Administrative Agent and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, may file such IRS forms or maintain such lists and other records as they may determine is required by such Treasury Regulations.

 

12.19      USA Patriot Act.

 

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

 

12.20      No Fiduciary Duty.

 

The Administrative Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrower and its affiliates. The Borrower agrees that nothing in this Agreement or otherwise shall be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Lenders and the Borrower, its stockholders or its affiliates. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (i) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Borrower, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each of the Lenders is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Borrower, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person, (iii) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender or any of its affiliates has advised or is currently advising the Borrower on other matters) or any other obligation to the Borrower except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Borrower has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Borrower further acknowledges and agrees that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. The Borrower agrees that it shall not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Borrower, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

59

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC,
    
	
 
    	
as the Borrower
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By ITC Grid   Development, LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By ITC Holdings   Corp., its sole member
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Cameron M. Bready
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Cameron M. Bready
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief   Financial Officer
    
				

 

Signature Page to ITC Great Plains, LLC Term Loan Credit Agreement

 

 

	
 
    	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as Administrative Agent and a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Nancy R. Barwig
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Nancy R. Barwig
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: Credit Executive
    

 

 

	
 
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Carlos Morales
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name: Carlos Morales
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title: SVP
    

 

 

SCHEDULE I
 COMMITMENTS

 

	
LENDER
    	
 
    	
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES
    	
 
    	
COMMITMENT
    	
 
    	
COMMITMENT
   PERCENTAGE
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
JPMorgan Chase   Bank, N.A.
    	
 
    	
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Loan Operations

10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor

Chicago, IL  60603

Attention: Teresita Siao

Facsimile No.:  (888) 292-9533

Phone No.: (312) 385-7051

Email: teresita.r.siao@jpmorgan.com

 

with copy to (except in the case of notices   relating to borrowings, continuations and conversions):

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

10 South Dearborn, 9th Floor
   Mail Code IL1-0090
   Chicago, IL 60603

Attention:   Nancy R. Barwig

Credit Executive, Corporate Client   Banking, Power and Utilities

Facsimile No.:  (312) 732-1762

Phone No.: (312) 732-1838

Email: nancy.r.barwig@jpmorgan.com

 

and

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 
   Portfolio Management Administration 
   10 South Dearborn, 9th Floor
   Mail Code IL1-0874
   Chicago, IL 60603 
   Attention:  Mary McCorry
   Facsimile No.: (312) 325-3238

Phone No.:(312) 325-3149

Email: mary.t.mccorry@jpmorgan.com
    	
 
    	
$
    	
50,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
50.00
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Bank of America,   N.A.  
    	
 
    	
Carlos Morales
   Senior Vice President 
   Bank of America Merrill Lynch
   135 S. LaSalle Street 
   IL 4-135-04-61 
   Chicago, IL 60603 
   Phone: 312-992-6357 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
50,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
50.00
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Fax: 312-992-6464
   email: carlos.e.morales@baml.com
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Total amount
    	
 
    	
$
    	
100,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
100
    	
%
    

 

 

SCHEDULE II
 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

 

None.

 

 

SCHEDULE III
 PENSION AND WELFARE MATTERS

 

The International Transmission Company Postretirement Welfare Plan as described in Note 11 to the financial statements of ITC Holdings Corp. set forth in the form 10-K of ITC Holdings Corp. for the period ending December 31, 2012.

 

 

SCHEDULE IV
 OUTSTANDING LIENS ON CLOSING DATE

 

None.

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Notice of Borrowing

 

NOTICE OF BORROWING

 

TO:                           JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
 Loan Operations
 10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor
 Chicago, IL 60603
 Attention: Teresita Siao
 Facsimile No.: (888) 292-9533

 

Pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of  May 30, 2013 (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time, the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”; the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), among ITC Great Plains, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the various financial institutions and other persons from time to time referred to as “Lenders” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, this represents the Borrower’s request to borrow as follows:

 

Loan:

 

1.             Date of borrowing:

 

2.             Amount of borrowing:

 

3.             Lender(s):  Lenders, in accordance with their Commitments under the Term Loan Credit Agreement

 

4.             Interest rate option:

Type:

Tenor:

 

Please wire transfer the proceeds of the Borrowing in accordance with the funds flow memorandum delivered under separate cover.

 

The undersigned officer, to the best of his or her knowledge, in his or her capacity as an officer of the Borrower certifies that:

 

(i)            All representations and warranties made by the Borrower contained in the Term Loan Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date hereof (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); and

 

 

(ii)           No event has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the Borrowing contemplated hereby that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

 

Dated:

 

	
 
    	
ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC,
    
	
 
    	
as the Borrower
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By ITC Grid   Development, LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By ITC Holdings   Corp., its sole member
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
				

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Notice of Continuation

 

TO:                           JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative
 Agent under the Credit Agreement (as defined
 below)
 Loan Operations
 10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor
 Chicago, IL 60603
 Attention: Teresita Siao
 Facsimile No.: (888) 292-9533

 

Pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2013 (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time, the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”; the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), among ITC Great Plains, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the various financial institutions and other persons from time to time referred to as “Lenders” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “Lenders”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, this represents the Borrower’s request to continue Loans as follows:

 

1.                                      Date of continuation or conversion:

 

,

 

2.                                      Amount of Loans being continued or converted:

 

$

 

3.                                      Nature of continuation or conversion:

 

a.      Conversion of a LIBOR Loan as an ABR Loan

b.      Conversion of an ABR Loan as a LIBOR Loan

c.       Continuation (rollover) of LIBOR Loans as LIBOR Loans

 

4.                                      If Loans are being continued as or converted into LIBOR Loans, the duration of the new LIBOR Period that commences on the continuation or conversion date:

 

month(s)

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

 

	
 
    	
ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC,
    
	
 
    	
as the Borrower
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By ITC Grid   Development, LLC, its sole member
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By ITC Holdings   Corp., its sole member
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
				

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Reserved].

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

Form of Closing Date Certificate

 

CLOSING DATE CERTIFICATE

 

ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC

 

TO:        The Lenders and the Administrative Agent (each, as defined below)

 

RE:                          Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2013 (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time, the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”; the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), among ITC Great Plains, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the various financial institutions and other persons from time to time referred to as “Lenders” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent.

 

I, the undersigned, an Authorized Officer of ITC Holdings Corp., the sole member of ITC Grid Development, LLC, the sole member of the Borrower, hereby certifies to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, for and on behalf of the Borrower, and not in my personal capacity, in connection with the initial Borrowing on this date under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, that:

 

1.                                      the conditions precedent set forth in the Term Loan Credit Agreement were satisfied as of the Closing Date;

 

2.                                      attached to this certificate as Schedule A is a true and complete copy of the articles of organization of the Borrower as filed in the Office of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth of the State of Michigan, together with all amendments thereto adopted through the date hereof (as certified by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) and as in effect on the date hereof and the sole member of the sole member of the Borrower has not passed, confirmed or consented to any amendments or variations to such articles;

 

3.                                      attached to this certificate as Schedule B is a correct and complete copy of the operating agreement of the Borrower and such operating agreement is in full force and effect at the date hereof and the sole member of the sole member of the Borrower has not passed, confirmed or consented to any amendments or variations to such operating agreement;

 

4.                                      attached to this certificate as Schedule C is a correct and complete copy of the approval letter from the United States of America Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the application pursuant to section 204 of the Federal Power Act, which approval is in full force and effect at the date hereof;

 

 

5.                                      attached to this certificate as Schedule D is a correct and complete copy of the written consent of the sole member of the sole member of the Borrower, dated January 28, 2013, which resolution is in full force and effect, unamended, at the date hereof;

 

6.                                      the following persons whose names appear on Schedule E attached hereto are duly elected or appointed officers of the sole member of the sole member of the Borrower occupying the offices set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule E, and the signature set forth opposite their respective names are their true and genuine signatures, and each of such officers is duly authorized to execute and deliver the Term Loan Credit Agreement on behalf of the Borrower and each of the related documents to which it is a party and any other agreement, instrument or document to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement; and

 

7.                                      the law firms of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Dykema Gossett PLLC are entitled to rely on this Closing Certificate in connection with their legal opinions to be delivered as of the date hereof in connection with the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Certificate this        day of             , 2013.

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name: 
    	
Daniel J. Oginsky
    
	
 
    	
Title: 
    	
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
    

 

I, Cameron M. Bready, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the sole member of the sole member of the Borrower, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that Daniel J. Oginsky has been duly elected (or appointed) and has duly qualified as, and on this day is, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Borrower, and the signature above is his genuine signature.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name: 
    	
Cameron M. Bready
    
	
 
    	
Title: 
    	
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial   Officer
    

 

 

Schedule A

 

Articles of Organization

 

[See Attached]

 

 

Schedule B

 

Operating Agreement

 

[See Attached]

 

 

Schedule C

 

Approval Letter

 

[See Attached]

 

 

Schedule D

 

Resolutions

 

[See Attached]

 

 

Schedule E

 

Incumbency

 

Daniel J. Oginsky,

Senior Vice President

and General Counsel

 

Cameron M. Bready,

Executive Vice President 
 and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Rejji Hayes, 
 Treasurer

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

Form of Compliance Certificate

 

ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC

 

TO:        The Lenders and the Administrative Agent

 

The undersigned, an Authorized Officer of ITC Great Plains, LLC (the “Borrower”), in such capacity and not personally, hereby certifies to the best of my knowledge, information and belief that:

 

1.                                      I am the duly appointed                                                                                                of the Borrower named in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2013 (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time, the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”), among ITC Great Plains, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the various financial institutions and other persons from time to time referred to as “Lenders” in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent and as such I am providing this certificate for and on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.1(c) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms in the Term Loan Credit Agreement which appear herein without definitions shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

2.                                      I am familiar with and have examined the provisions of the Term Loan Credit Agreement including those of Articles 7, 8, 9 and 10 therein and have reviewed and am familiar with the contents of this certificate.

 

3.                                      Delivered herewith are the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1[(a)] [(b)] of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

4.                                      No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the date hereof [or if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specify the nature and extent thereof].

 

5.                                      As of the last day of the fiscal quarter ending                 , the financial ratio referred to in Section 9.4 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement is         :         and was calculated as set forth in Schedule I.

 

Dated this day of                   ,           .

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Name and Title]
    	
 
    

 

 

Schedule I

 

ITC Great Plains, LLC

 

Debt to Capitalization Ratio(1)

 

 

	
1. Total Debt as of the last day of the   fiscal quarter   ending                   .
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    
	
2. Total Capitalization as of the last day   of the fiscal quarter ending                     .
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(a)   Total   Debt
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    
	
(b)   Total   stockholder’s equity of the Borrower
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    
	
(c)   Total   Capitalization: The sum of Items 2(a) and 2(b)
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    
	
3.     DEBT   TO CAPITALIZATION RATIO: the ratio of Item 1 to Item 2
    	
 
    	
 
    	
%
    
	
4. Maximum Debt to Capitalization Ratio   allowed
    	
 
    	
65
    	
%
    
	
5. In compliance
    	
 
    	
YES/NO
    
					

 

(1)Financial covenants shall be calculated (i) without giving effect to any election by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries to value any of its indebtedness or liabilities at “fair value” pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (formerly referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) or any other accounting standards codification or financial accounting standard having a similar result or effect, (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 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 and (iii) without giving effect to any changes in GAAP occurring after the Closing Date, the effect of which would be to cause leases in effect as of March 31, 2013 and treated as operating leases under GAAP as of March 31, 2013 to be reclassified as capital leases under GAAP, provided that this clause (iii) shall only apply to the extent of the lesser of (x) the actual annual amount of such operating leases and (y) $500,000 annually (and any excess in excess of such minimum amount shall be included as capital leases).

 

 

EXHIBIT F

 

Form of 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, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, 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 and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and other rights 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:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.
    	
Assignee:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.
    	
Borrower:
    	
ITC Great Plains, LLC, a Michigan limited   liability company
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.
    	
Administrative Agent:
    	
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.
    	
Credit Agreement:
    	
The Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of   May 30, 2013 among Borrower, the various financial institutions and   other persons from time to time referred to as “Lenders”, and JPMorgan Chase   Bank, N.A., as the Administrative Agent
    

 

 

	
6.
    	
Assigned Interest:
    	
 
    

 

	
Facility Assigned
    	
 
    	
Aggregate Amount of
   Loans for all Lenders
    	
 
    	
Amount of
   Loans Assigned
    	
 
    	
Percentage Assigned
   of Loans(2)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
%
    

 

Effective Date:                                     , 201   [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower, the other Credit Parties 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.

 

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

 

	
 
    	
ASSIGNOR
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ASSIGNEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
[Consented to and](3) Accepted:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as

Administrative Agent
    	
 
    

 

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

 

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

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Consented to:](4)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ITC GREAT PLAINS, LLC,
    	
 
    
	
as Borrower
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: ITC Grid Development, LLC, its sole member
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: ITC Holdings Corp., its sole member
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

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

 

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1.                                      Representations and Warranties.

 

1.1                               Assignor.  The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the 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 6.1(i) 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 Non-U.S. 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 facsimile 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.

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