England and Wales | 001-35961 | 98-1112770 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification #) |
Exhibit No. | Name | |
4.1 | ||
4.2 |
LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC | ||
By: | /s/ RANDY L. LAZZELL | |
Randy L. Lazzell | ||
Vice President |
To: | The Bank of Nova Scotia as Facility Agent and KBC Bank NV as Security Agent |
From: | The persons listed in Schedule 1 to this Telenet Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement (the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders, such defined term to include any lender which becomes a New Lender in respect of the Term Loan AN Facility, by the execution by the Facility Agent of a Transfer Certificate substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (Transfer Certificate (Cash)) to this Telenet Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement). |
1. | In this Agreement: |
1 | Formerly known as Telenet Bidco NV and subsequently Telenet NV following the merger of Telenet NV into Telenet Bidco and subsequently Telenet BVBA following the conversion into a BVBA. |
2 | Formerly known as BASE Company NV. |
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2. | Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Agreement and a reference to a Clause is a reference to a Clause of the Credit Agreement. The principles of construction set out in Clause 1.2 (Construction) of the Credit Agreement apply to this Agreement as though they were set out in full in this Agreement. |
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3. | We refer to Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) of the Credit Agreement. This Agreement is a Finance Document. |
4. | This Agreement will take effect on the date on which the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower and the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders that it has received the documents and evidence set out in Schedule 2 of this Agreement, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to it (acting reasonably) or, as the case may be, the requirement to provide any of such documents or evidence has been waived by the Majority Term Loan AN Facility Lenders (the Effective Date). The Facility Agent must give this notification to the Borrower and the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. |
5. | We, the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders, agree: |
(a) | to become party to and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as Lenders in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) of the Credit Agreement; and |
(b) | to become party to the Intercreditor Agreement as Senior Lenders for the purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement and confirm that, as from the date of this Agreement, we intend to be party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Senior Lender and undertake to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Agreement to be assumed by a Senior Lender and agree that we shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, as if we had been an original party to the Intercreditor Agreement. |
6. | The Telenet Additional Facility Commitment in relation to a Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender (for the purpose of the definition of Telenet Additional Facility Commitment in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Credit Agreement) is its Term Loan AN Facility Commitment. |
7. | Any interest due in relation to the Term Loan AN Facility will be payable on the last day of each Term and otherwise in accordance with Clause 11 (Interest) of the Credit Agreement. |
8. | The Availability Period for the Term Loan AN Facility shall be the period from and including the Effective Date up to and including the date which is 45 Business Days after the Effective Date or such other date agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders and the Company. |
8A. | Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders make available to the Borrower a term loan facility in an amount equal to the aggregate of the Term Loan AN Facility Commitments. |
9. | The Term Loan AN Facility may be drawn by up to two Advances (or any other number of Advances agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders and the Company) and no more than two Requests (or any other number of Requests agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders and the Company) may be made in respect of the Term Loan AN Facility under the Credit Agreement. |
10. | The Term Loan AN Facility Loans will be used for general corporate purposes and/or working capital purposes, including without limitation, the redemption, refinancing, repayment or prepayment of existing indebtedness of any member of the Group and the payment of any fees and expenses in connection with the Term Loan AN Facility or other transactions related thereto. |
11. | The Final Maturity Date in respect of this Term Loan AN Facility will be 15 August 2026 or such other date agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders and the Company. |
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12. | The outstanding Term Loan AN Facility Loans will be repaid in full on the Final Maturity Date in respect of the Term Loan AN Facility. |
13. | The Margin in relation to the Term Loan AN Facility is 2.25% per cent. per annum or such other rate agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders and the Company. |
14. | The first Term to apply to the first Term Loan AN Facility Loan will be a period running from the first Utilisation Date in respect of that Term Loan AN Facility Loan up to (but excluding) 15 June 2018. |
15. | The interest rate for the Term Loan AN Facility will be calculated in accordance with Clause 11.1 (Calculation of Interest) of the Credit Agreement, being the sum of LIBOR and the applicable Margin. For the avoidance of doubt, each party to this Agreement accepts and acknowledges that LIBOR has the meaning given to it under Clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Credit Agreement provided that if LIBOR as determined in accordance with that definition is less than zero, it shall be deemed to be zero. |
16. | The Borrower in relation to the Term Loan AN Facility shall be Telenet Financing USD LLC (the Borrower), a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware with its registered office at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 and its principal office at Boeing Avenue 53, 1119 PE Schiphol-Rijk, Netherlands. |
17. | Each Term Loan AN Facility Loan shall be issued at 99.875% provided that no original issue discount shall be payable on any Term Loan AN Facility Loan arising from an increase in the Term Loan AN Facility Commitments effected in accordance with paragraph 2 (OID Fees Funding) of the Fee Letter. |
18. | If on or prior to the date falling 6 months after the date of this Agreement (but not otherwise) the Borrower: |
(a) | makes any prepayment of the Term Loan AN Facility in connection with any Repricing Transaction (as defined below) other than where such prepayment is funded by the issuance of notes by any member of the Group or a special purpose vehicle which on-lends the proceeds of such notes to a member of the Group; or |
(b) | effects any amendment of this Agreement or the Credit Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any amendments contemplated by Schedule 4 (Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 5 (Further Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 6 (Additional Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 7 (Fourth Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 8 (Fifth Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 9 (Sixth Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications) or Schedule 10 (Seventh Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications) of this Agreement (the Approved Amendments) resulting in a Repricing Transaction, |
(c) | in the case of paragraph (a) above, a prepayment fee equal to 1.00 per cent. flat on the amount of that Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender’s Term Loan AN Facility Loan which is prepaid and such prepayment fee shall be due and payable on the date of such prepayment; and |
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(d) | in the case of paragraph (b) above, a prepayment fee equal to 1.00 per cent. flat on the aggregate amount of the Term Loan AN Facility Loans of each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender that shall have been the subject of a mandatory assignment under the Credit Agreement following the failure of such Lender to consent to such amendment on or prior to the date falling 6 months after the date of this Agreement and such prepayment fee shall be due and payable on the effective date of such assignment. |
(a) | Provided that any upsizing of the Term Loan AN Facility permitted under this paragraph will not breach any term of the Credit Agreement, the Term Loan AN Facility may be upsized by any amount, by the signing of one or more further Telenet Additional Facility Accession Agreements in respect of the Term Loan AN Facility (an Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement), that specifies (along with the other terms specified therein) Telenet Financing USD LLC as the sole Borrower, that the Commitments under that Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement are denominated in U.S. Dollars, to be drawn in U.S. Dollars and with the same Final Maturity Date and Margin as specified in this Agreement. |
(b) | For the purposes of this paragraph 19 (unless otherwise specified), references to each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender and Term Loan AN Facility Loans shall include Lenders and Advances made under any such further and previous Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement. |
(c) | Where any Term Loan AN Facility Loan has not already been consolidated with any other Term Loan AN Facility Loan, on the last day of any Term for that unconsolidated Term Loan AN Facility Loan, that Term Loan AN Facility Loan will be consolidated with any other Term Loan AN Facility Loan which has a Term ending on the same day as that unconsolidated Term Loan AN Facility Loan, and all such Term Loan AN Facility Loans will then be treated as one Advance under the Term Loan AN Facility. |
20. | For the purposes of any amendment or waiver, consent or other modification (including, with respect to any existing Default or Event of Default) that may be sought by the Company under the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document on or after the date of this Agreement, each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender hereby consents (in its capacity as a Lender from time to time under the Credit Agreement and, if it is a Hedge Counterparty, in its capacity as a Hedge Counterparty, and agrees to procure that, unless it is prohibited from doing so, any of its Affiliates or related funds that are Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties consent in their capacity as Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) to any and all of the following: |
(a) | any and all of the items set out in the Approved Amendments; |
(b) | any consequential amendment, waiver, consent or other modification, whether effected by one instrument or through a series of amendments, to the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document |
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(c) | any other amendment, waiver, consent or modification, whether effected by one instrument or through a series of amendments, to the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document to be made to conform any Finance Document to any Liberty Global Reference Agreement (provided that any amendment, waiver, consent or modification to conform the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document to any Liberty Global Reference Agreement referred to at paragraphs (vi) to (xi), (xiii) and (xiv) and in respect of the schedules in relation to covenants, events of default or definitions in the Liberty Global Reference Agreements referred to at paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (v) of that definition, shall be limited to those that are mechanical in nature unless specifically referenced in the Approved Amendments and, in each case, any consequential amendments, waivers, consents or modifications), |
21. | Each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender waives (in its capacity as a Lender from time to time under the Credit Agreement and, if it is a Hedge Counterparty, in its capacity as a Hedge Counterparty) and agrees to procure, unless it is prohibited from doing so, that any of its Affiliates and related funds that are Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties waive (in their capacity as Lenders under a Revolving Facility or as Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) receipt of any fee in connection with the foregoing consents, notwithstanding that other consenting Lenders under the Credit Agreement or Hedge Counterparties under the Intercreditor Agreement may be paid a fee in consideration of such Lenders’ or Hedge Counterparties’ consent to any or all of the foregoing amendments, waivers, consents or other modifications. |
22. | Each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender hereby acknowledges and agrees (in its capacity as a Lender from time to time under the Credit Agreement and, if it is a Hedge Counterparty, in its capacity as a Hedge Counterparty) and agrees to procure, unless it is prohibited from doing so, that any of its Affiliates and related funds that are Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties acknowledge and agree (in their capacity as Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) that the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent may, but shall not be required to, send to it any further formal amendment request in connection with all, or any of the proposed amendments referred to under paragraph 20 above and the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent (as applicable) shall be authorised to consent on behalf of it, as a Lender under one or more Facilities or Telenet Additional Facilities and as a Hedge Counterparty under the Intercreditor Agreement, to any such proposed amendments set out under paragraph 20 above (and the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent shall be authorised to enter into any necessary documentation in connection with the same), and such consent shall be taken into account in calculating whether the Majority Lenders, or the relevant requisite Lenders, or the Hedge Counterparties, have consented to the relevant amendment, waiver or other modification in accordance with Clause 28 (Amendments and Waivers) of the Credit Agreement, |
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23. | On the first Utilisation Date in respect of the Term Loan AN Facility, the Borrower confirms, on behalf of itself and the Company confirms on behalf of itself and each other Obligor, that the Repeating Representations are true and correct in all material respects as if made at the first Utilisation Date in respect of the Term Loan AN Facility with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing, and as if each reference to the Finance Documents includes a reference to this Agreement. |
24. | Each of the Obligors further represents and warrants on the first Utilisation Date in respect of the Term Loan AN Facility that the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not violate any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or which is binding upon it or any member of the Group or any of its assets or any member of the Group’s assets, where such violation would or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
25. | Each of the Guarantors party to this Agreement confirms that its obligations under Clause 17 (Guarantee and Indemnity) of the Credit Agreement and each of the Existing Security Providers party to this Agreement confirms that the Security Interests created pursuant to the Security Documents and its obligations under the Finance Documents, shall continue unaffected and that such obligations extend to the Total Commitments as increased by the addition of the Term Loan AN Facility and that such obligations shall be owed to each Finance Party including the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders. |
26. | Each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender confirms to each Finance Party that: |
(a) | it has made its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in the Credit Agreement and has not relied on any information provided to it by a Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(b) | it will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under the Credit Agreement or any Telenet Additional Facility Commitment is in force. |
27. | Each of the Telenet Additional Facility AN Lenders agrees that without prejudice to Clause 29.4 (Procedure for Transfer by way of Novation) of the Credit Agreement, each New Lender (as defined in the Transfer Certificate referred to below) shall become, by the execution by the Facility Agent of a Transfer Certificate substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (Transfer Certificate (Cash)) to this Agreement, bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were an original party hereto as a Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender and shall acquire the same rights, grant the same consents and assume the same obligations towards the other parties to this Agreement as would have been acquired, granted and assumed had the New Lender been an original party to this Agreement as a Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender. |
28. | The Facility Office and address for notices of each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender for the purposes of Clause 36.2 (Contact Details) of the Credit Agreement will be that notified by each Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender to the Facility Agent. |
29. | For the purposes of the Term Loan AN Facility and any Term Loan AN Facility Loan, and notwithstanding any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary: |
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(a) | The following defined terms shall have the following meanings in the Finance Documents: |
(b) | Where they relate to a Luxembourg company, references in the Finance Documents to: |
(i) | a winding-up, administration or dissolution includes, without limitation, bankruptcy (faillite), insolvency, voluntary or judicial liquidation (liquidation volontaire ou judiciaire), composition with creditors (concordat préventif de faillite), reprieve from payment (sursis de paiement), controlled management (gestion contrôlée), fraudulent conveyance (actio pauliana), general settlement with creditors, reorganisation or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally; |
(ii) | a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or the like includes, without limitation, a juge délégué, commissaire, juge-commissaire, liquidateur or curateur; |
(iii) | a security interest includes any hypothèque, nantissement, gage, privilege, sûreté réelle, droit de rétention and any type of real security or agreement or arrangement having a similar effect and any transfer of title by way of security; and |
(iv) | a person being unable to pay its debts includes that person being in a state of cessation of payments (cessation de paiements). |
(c) | Any guarantee given by any Luxembourg Guarantor does not constitute a suretyship (cautionnement) in the sense of articles 2011 and subsequent of the Luxembourg civil code. |
(d) | The maximum liability of any Luxembourg Guarantor under the Finance Documents shall be limited so that the maximum amount payable by the relevant Luxembourg Guarantor for the obligations of any Obligor, which is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of such Luxembourg Guarantor, hereunder shall at no time exceed the Maximum Amount. |
(i) | all moneys received by that Luxembourg Guarantor or direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor (which are direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor on the date hereof or which will be direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor hereafter) as borrower under or pursuant to the Finance Documents; and |
(ii) | the aggregate amount of the outstanding intercompany loans made to the Luxembourg Guarantor or direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor (which are direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor on the date hereof or which will be direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor hereafter) by other members of the Group which have been funded with moneys received by the Borrowers under the Finance Documents (the Loan Amount); and |
(iii) | an amount equal to 95% of the greater of: |
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(A) | the market value of the assets of the Luxembourg Guarantor at the time the guarantee is called less the Liabilities, other than the Loan Amount, at the time the guarantee is called; and |
(B) | the market value of the assets of the Luxembourg Guarantor at the date of this Agreement less the Liabilities, other than the Loan Amount, at the time the guarantee is called. |
(e) | Telenet International Finance S.à r.l. hereby expressly accepts and confirms, for the purposes of Articles 1278 and 1281 of the Luxembourg Civil Code, that notwithstanding any assignment, transfer and/or novation permitted under, and made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Finance Documents, the guarantee given by it guarantees all obligations of each Luxembourg Obligor (including without limitation, all obligations with respect to all rights and/or obligations so assigned, transferred or novated) and any security created under this Agreement or the Finance Documents shall be preserved for the benefit of any New Lender and each Luxembourg Obligor hereby accepts and confirms the aforementioned. |
(f) | Qualifying Lender means, in the case of a Luxembourg Borrower, a Lender which is entitled to receive interest payments free of withholding tax levied pursuant to the Luxembourg law of 23 December 2005, as amended, introducing a withholding tax of 20% on payments of interest or similar income made or ascribed by a paying agent established in Luxembourg to or for the benefit of an individual beneficial owner who is resident of Luxembourg or, in the case of any other Borrower, has the meaning given to that term in the Credit Agreement. |
30. | Each Existing Security Provider (other than the Company) irrevocably appoints the Company to act as its agent: |
31. | If a term of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any jurisdiction, that will not affect: |
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(a) | the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other term of this Agreement; or |
(b) | the legality, validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other term of this Agreement. |
32. | This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law. |
33. | Clause 39.1 (Jurisdiction) of the Credit Agreement is incorporated into this Agreement as if set out in full and as if references in that clause to a “Finance Document” are references to this Agreement. |
34. | This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Agreement by e-mail (PDF) or telecopy shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. |
35. | This Agreement is a Creditor Accession Undertaking as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement. |
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Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender | Term Loan AN Facility Commitment ($)(mln) |
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA | $1,600,000,000 |
Total | $1,600,000,000 |
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1. | Obligors |
(a) | A copy of the articles of association or equivalent constitutional documents of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider. |
(b) | A copy of a resolution of the board of directors or equivalent of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement and any other Finance Documents to which it is, or will become, a party. |
(c) | A specimen of the signature of each person authorised on behalf of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider to execute or witness the execution of this Agreement and any other Finance Document or to sign or send any document or notice in connection with this Agreement and any other Finance Document. |
(d) | An up-to-date extract from the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register in respect of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider incorporated in Luxembourg or, to the extent such Obligor or Existing Security Provider is not registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register, a certificate from a notary residing in Luxembourg. |
(e) | An up-to-date negative certificate (certificat de non-inscription d'une decision judiciaire) issued by the Luxembourg Trade and Companies register in respect of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider incorporated in Luxembourg or, to the extent such Obligor or Existing Security Provider is not registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register, a certificate on solvency of an authorised signatory of the relevant Obligor or Existing Security Provider (as applicable). |
(f) | A copy of the minutes of the shareholders' meeting of each Belgian Obligor and each Belgian Existing Security Provider in the form of a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) (except for Telenet Group Holding NV): |
(i) | approving for the purposes of article 556 of the Belgian Companies Act, the terms of and transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and |
(ii) | authorising named persons to fulfil the formalities with the Registry of the Commercial Court of the registered office of such Obligor or Existing Security Provider following the decision taken in accordance with the above. |
(g) | A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Company: |
(i) | confirming that utilising the Total Commitments (including the Term Loan AN Facility Commitments) in full would not breach any limit binding on any Obligor or Existing Security Provider; and |
(ii) | certifying that each copy document specified in this Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement. |
2. | Legal opinions |
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(a) | A legal opinion of Allen & Overy LLP, English legal advisers to the Facility Agent, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
(b) | A legal opinion of Allen & Overy (Belgium) LLP, Belgian legal advisers to the Facility Agent, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
(c) | A legal opinion of Allen & Overy, société en commandite simple (Luxembourg), Luxembourg legal advisers to the Facility Agent, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
(d) | A legal opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, Delaware legal advisers to the Obligors and Existing Security Providers, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
3. | Other Documents |
(a) | Evidence that the agent of the Borrower under the Finance Documents for service of process in England has accepted its appointment. |
(b) | A duly executed copy of the Fee Letter. |
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To: | The Bank of Nova Scotia as Facility Agent and Telenet Financing USD LLC as Borrower |
From: | [THE EXISTING LENDER] and [THE NEW LENDER] |
(a) | Clause 29.4 (Procedure for Transfer by Way of Novations) of the Credit Agreement; |
(b) | Clause 22.3 (Change of Senior Lender, Pari Passu Creditors, Second Lien Lender and Noteholders) of the Intercreditor Agreement; and |
(c) | the Telenet Additional Facility Accession Agreement dated [l] 2018, pursuant to which a [$][l] term loan facility is made available to the Borrower as a Telenet Additional Facility (Term Loan AN Facility) under the Credit Agreement (the Telenet Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement). |
1. | We, [ ] (the Existing Lender) agree to novate and we, [ ] (the New Lender) agree to accept novation of all the Existing Lender's rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule on and from the Effective Date in accordance with Clause 29.4 (Procedure for Transfer by Way of Novations) of the Credit Agreement and Clause 22.3 (Change of Senior Lender, Pari Passu Creditors, Second Lien Lender and Noteholders) of the Intercreditor Agreement. |
2. | The New Lender confirms that it is bound by the terms of the Telenet Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement from the Effective Date as if it were an original party thereto as a Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender and shall acquire the same rights, grant the same consents and assume the same obligations towards the other parties to the Telenet Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement as would have been acquired, granted and assumed had the New Lender been an original party to the Telenet Additional Facility AN Accession Agreement as a Telenet Additional Facility AN Lender. |
3. | For the purposes of Articles 1278 and 1281 of the Luxembourg Civil Code and Article 1278 of the Belgian Civil Code, each of the Existing Lender, the Facility Agent, the New Lender and the Security Agent agree and each of the Existing Security Providers and Guarantors acknowledge and accept that the Security Documents will be preserved for the benefit of the New Lender in accordance with Clause 29.4 (Procedure for transfer by way of novations) of the Credit Agreement. |
4. | The New Lender represents on the date of this Transfer Certificate that: |
3 | Formerly known as Telenet Bidco NV and subsequently Telenet NV following the merger of Telenet NV into Telenet Bidco and subsequently Telenet BVBA following the conversion into a BVBA. |
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(a) | it is a Qualifying Lender; and |
(b) | it is not a Lender that has met the conditions described in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of Clause 12.6 (U.S. Taxes) of the Credit Agreement. |
5. | This Transfer Certificate shall take effect on the date of this Transfer Certificate. |
6. | For the purposes of this Transfer Certificate, Effective Date means the date specified under the Facility Agent's name in the relevant signature page to this Transfer Certificate. |
7. | Each party to this document agrees, the Facility Agent agrees on behalf of each Finance Party, and Telenet BVBA agrees on behalf of each Obligor, that this document is a Transfer Certificate notwithstanding that its form is different to that required by the Credit Agreement. |
8. | We, the New Lenders, agree to become party to the Intercreditor Agreement as Senior Lenders for the purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement and confirm that, as from the date of this Transfer Certificate, we intend to be party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Senior Lender and undertake to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Agreement to be assumed by a Senior Lender and agree that we shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, as if we had been an original party to the Intercreditor Agreement. |
9. | This Transfer Certificate is a Finance Document. |
10. | This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Transfer Certificate by e-mail (PDF) or telecopy shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Transfer Certificate. |
11. | This Transfer Certificate and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law. |
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Facility Office | [ ] |
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1. | Majority Lenders: amend Clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Credit Agreement to reduce the fractions specified in the definitions of Majority Lenders, from two thirds or more (for any or all purposes under the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document (including for the purposes of any Telenet Additional Facility)) to more than 50.00% and to exclude the available commitments of defaulting lenders for the purposes of amendments or waivers. |
2. | Super Majority Lenders: amend Credit Agreement to provide for a definition of Super Majority Lenders so that amendments and waivers in respect of the release of any guarantee or security only requires the consent of Lenders representing 90.00% of Commitments. |
3. | Tax: amend Clause 12 (Taxes) to include any provisions (which are not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders) required to accommodate an acceding Additional Borrower incorporated in a jurisdiction other than Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the United States. |
4. | Market Disruption: amend the Credit Agreement to include market disruption provisions and the provision of alternative interest rates in accordance with recent Liberty precedents and/or, to the extent not inconsistent with recent Liberty precedent, the European leverage loan market. |
5. | Geographic restrictions: amend Clause 29.9 (Additional Borrowers) to provide that, in addition to the existing ability for an Additional Borrower incorporated in Benelux and the US to accede (without requiring any Lender consent), to provide an ability to accede Additional Borrowers incorporated in any other jurisdictions with the consent of the Majority Lenders. |
6. | Holding Companies: amend Clause 21.9(b)(iii) to expressly permit a merger of Telenet Group Holding NV, Telenet BVBA or Telenet Vlaanderen NV or any of their intermediate holding companies subject to compliance with the merger regime in recent Liberty precedents. |
7. | Changes to Thresholds: in the definition of Permitted Security Interest, permit the Company to secure Financial Indebtedness on a pari passu or junior ranking basis provided that (other than in the case of a refinancing of other secured Financial Indebtedness in the same or a lesser principal amount) the Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA ratio on a pro forma basis would not be greater than 5.50:1.00 and provided that such Financial Indebtedness is subject to an intercreditor agreement on terms which are satisfactory to the Security Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and where (in the case of such Financial Indebtedness being secured on a junior ranking basis) the rights of the holders of such Financial Indebtedness in respect of any payment will be contractually subordinated to the rights of the Lenders on terms comparable to the Loan Market Association’s form of intercreditor agreement at such time for mezzanine debt, as referred to in recent Liberty precedent. |
8. | Security and Guarantee Release: amend the relevant provisions of the Credit Agreement (in particular Clauses 21.17 (Share Security) and 29.11 (Resignation of an Obligor(other than the Company))) to provide that, subject to certain thresholds being met no Obligor nor any other member of the Group is required to provide any Security or guarantee other than Security over the shares that it holds in any Obligor, Security required under the terms of the Credit Agreement in respect of Subordinated Shareholder Loans and a guarantee from the Obligors under the terms of the Credit Agreement and include a provision to authorise the Security Agent to release any other Security or guarantees other than the aforementioned and to release Security in respect of Permitted Disposals and to permit relevant Security to be released if a Guarantor resigns in accordance with Clause 29.11 (Resignation of an Obligor (other than the Company)) provided that the guarantor coverage test would still be met notwithstanding such release. |
9. | Defaulting Lender: include standard defaulting lender provisions used in recent Liberty precedents and/or, to the extent not inconsistent with recent Liberty precedent, the European leverage loan market so as the commitments of a defaulting lender may be cancelled and it will have no rights to vote in respect of such cancelled commitments. Clarify that no commitment fee will be payable to a defaulting lender. |
10. | Assignments/Transfers of Lenders: clarify that the Company should have the right to withhold consent in respect of an assignment/transfer of the Revolving Facility to an entity which is not a lender under a revolving facility to the wider Liberty group (subject to no consent being required in the case of transfers to other Lenders or affiliates of Lenders or following an event of default which is continuing). There should be no unreasonableness qualifier on this right (in respect of the Revolving Facility only). Remove requirement of deemed consent within 10 Business Days in respect of each Revolving Facility. |
11. | Assignments/Transfers of Obligors: amend Clause 29.2 (Assignment or Transfer by Obligors) so that any Benelux Borrower may assign or transfer any of its rights and obligations under the Revolving Facility or the Term Loans to another Benelux Borrower and so that any US Borrower may do the same to another US Borrower, in each case, without the prior consent of the Lenders provided that a solvency opinion and legal opinion are provided, if requested, in accordance with recent Liberty precedents in respect of an equivalent provision. |
12. | Amendments: |
(a) | amend Clause 28 (Amendments and waivers) to introduce a class exception, whereby any amendment or waiver that relates only to the rights or obligations of a particular Utilisation or Facility and does not materially and adversely affect the rights or interests of Lenders in respect of other Utilisations or Facilities only requires the consent of the relevant proportion of Lenders participating in such Utilisation or Facility; |
(b) | amend Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) to require the consent of affected Lenders only and not all Lenders (and make any consequential changes by amending for example, all references to matters requiring all Lender consent to only requiring affected Lender consent); and |
(c) | include a new paragraph (d) to Clause 28.2 (Exceptions), to permit the Facility Agent to make technical, minor, operational and OID amendments without consent from any Lenders, on terms consistent with recent Liberty precedent as at the date of implementation of the amendments. |
13. | Joint Ventures and solvent reorganisations: amend the Credit Agreement to permit Telenet BVBA to contribute freely pledged loan and guarantee receivables to the Permitted Joint Venture’s share capital without requiring a release from the Security Agent (subject to confirmation or re-taking of security over such pledged loan and guarantee receivables). |
14. | Accession Agreements: amend each Accession Agreement to remove the restriction which prevents: |
(a) | Telenet BVBA from arranging an Additional Facility if after giving effect to a utilisation thereunder, the ratio of Net Total Senior Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA would be greater than 4.50:1; and |
(b) | the Company from requesting the transfer of an Additional Facility pursuant to Clause 28.3 (Non-Consenting Lenders). |
15. | Non-Consenting Lenders: remove the timing window of 90 days during which the Company may effect the provisions set out in Clause 28.3 (Non-Consenting Lenders). |
1. | Super Majority Lenders: delete paragraph (a)(vii) of Clause 28.2 (Exceptions). |
2. | Market Disruption: amend the Credit Agreement to include provisions for the protection of reference banks and their officers in accordance with recent Liberty precedents and/or, to the extent not inconsistent with recent Liberty precedent, the European leverage loan market. |
3. | Amendments: |
(a) | include a new clause such that where a request for a waiver of, or an amendment to, any provision of any Finance Document has been sent by the Facility Agent to the Lenders at the request of an Obligor, each Lender that does not respond to such request for waiver or amendment within 10 Business Days after receipt by it of such request (or within such other period as the Facility Agent and the Company shall specify), shall be excluded from the calculation in determining whether the requisite level of consent to such waiver or amendment was granted, and delete the proviso to the definition of Majority Lenders; and |
(b) | delete paragraph (a)(vi) of Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) and provide that guarantees and security can be released with the consent of the Lenders representing 90% of Commitments. |
4. | Additional Borrowers: Additional Borrowers may be incorporated in the Kingdom of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg or, in relation to any new Additional Facilities, in the United Kingdom. |
5. | Mandatory Costs: delete all references in each Additional Facility Accession Agreement to Mandatory Costs and any related provisions. |
6. | Permitted Disposals: |
(a) | amend the definition of Permitted Disposal to include in addition to the existing “Permitted Disposals”: |
(i) | disposals by one member of the Group to another member of the Group provided that, if such assets subject to the disposal are subject to existing security, the Borrower within 15 Business Days of such disposal ensures that the assets remain subject to security; and |
1. | Ancillary Facilities: amend the Credit Agreement to provide that (i) a date specified in a conversion notice as the effective date for an ancillary facility commitment may be a date not less than 3 Business Days after the date such conversion notice is received by the Facility Agent, (ii) any proposed increase or reduction or extension of the ancillary facility commitment shall only take effect from a date not less than 3 Business Days after the date the Facility Agent has received notice of the relevant modification or variation or extension and (iii) an ancillary facility lender may demand repayment or prepayment of any amounts under its ancillary facility if the ancillary facility outstandings under that ancillary facility can be repaid by a revolving facility advance (and not less than 7 Business Days notice (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Company) is given to the relevant Borrower before payment becomes due). |
2. | Defaulting Lender: amend the Credit Agreement to include the right to replace a Lender (in whole and at par) if that Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender. |
1. | Transfers: amend clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) of the Credit Agreement to provide that the consent of the Company is not required for any assignment or transfer by a Lender if an Event of Default is outstanding pursuant to any of clauses 22.2 (Non-payment), 22.6 (Insolvency), 22.7 (Insolvency Proceedings), 22.8 (Creditors’ Process) or 22.9 (Similar Proceedings) only (rather than if any Event of Default is outstanding). |
2. | New RCF Maintenance Covenant: amend the Credit Agreement to provide that amendments and waivers of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) to 20.4 (Cure provisions) and the new acceleration clause at (d) above shall only be made with the consent of the Company and the Composite Revolving Facility Instructing Group and shall not require the consent of any other Finance Party. |
1. | Lender Assignments: amend Clause 29 (Changes to Parties) of the Credit Agreement to provide that Lenders may transfer their rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement by way of assignment (subject to equivalent conditionality (including as set out in Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders of the Credit Agreement)) as applies to the regime for transfers by Lenders of their rights and obligations by way of novation under the Credit Agreement and otherwise in accordance with recent Liberty precedent). |
1. | Solvent Liquidation: Amend the Credit Agreement to provide for releases of Security as a result of, and in connection with, any solvent liquidation or dissolution that complies with Clause 21.24 (Internal Reorganisations) of the Credit Agreement. |
2. | Non-Consenting Lenders: Remove the timing window of 90 days during which the Company may exercise its rights as set out in Clause 28.3 (Non Consenting Lenders) such that the Company may exercise such rights at any time. |
3. | Waivers: Add a new limb to Clause 28.1 (Procedure) as follows: |
4. | Transfers: Delete paragraph (b) of Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) in its entirety and replace it with the following: |
1. | Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange: delete the definition of Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange and replace it with the following: |
2. | Ancillary Facility Lender: delete the definition of Ancillary Facility Lender and replace it with the following: |
3. | Consolidated EBITDA: amend the definition of Consolidated EBITDA to: |
(a) | amend limb (l) to move the words “any Holding Company Expenses paid to the extent that they were permitted to be paid under this Agreement for such Measurement Period” |
(b) | amend limb (n) to include the words “or transfer of assets” after the words “sale of assets”. |
4. | Distribution Business: include the following new definition: |
(a) | the business of upgrading, constructing, creating, developing, acquiring, operating, owning, leasing and maintaining cable television networks (including for the avoidance of doubt master antenna television, satellite master antenna television, single and multi-channel microwave single or multi-point distribution systems and direct-to-home satellite systems) for the transmission, reception and/or delivery of multi-channel television and radio programming, telephony and internet and/or data services to the residential markets; or |
(b) | any business which is incidental to or related to and, in either case, material to such business.” |
5. | Excess Capacity Network Service: include the following new definition: |
6. | Financial Indebtedness: amend the definition of Financial Indebtedness to: |
(a) | delete limb (e); and |
(b) | delete limb (d) and replace it with the following: |
7. | Guarantor: delete the definition of Guarantor and replace it with the following: |
8. | Impaired Agent: amend limb (c) of the definition of Impaired Agent to include the words “or (c)” before the words “of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”” and to replace the word “or” between the words “paragraph (a)” and “(b)”with a comma. |
9. | Majority Lenders: delete the final proviso paragraph of the definition of Majority Lenders and provide that it is subject to the snooze and lose provision to be included pursuant to paragraph 21 of Schedule 5 and Clause 10.7(d). |
10. | Permitted Acquisition: amend the definition of Permitted Acquisition to: |
(a) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(b) | amend limb (m) to include the words “, within 60 days of the date of such conversion,” after the words “ensure that the Security Agent is”; |
(c) | delete the proviso at the end of the definition after paragraph (u); and |
(d) | include an additional limb as follows: |
11. | Permitted Disposal: amend the definition of Permitted Disposal to: |
(a) | amend limb (t) to delete “€50,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000” and to delete “1%” and replace it with “three per cent.”; |
(b) | amend limb (t) to add the following to the end of limb (t) of the definition of Permitted Disposal: |
(c) | amend limb (hh) to delete each reference to “€50,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000”; |
(d) | amend limb (ii) to: |
(i) | include, at the end of the limb, the words “and any disposal of assets pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions constituting Financial Indebtedness to the extent such Financial Indebtedness is permitted under this Agreement” after “in any financial year”; |
(ii) | delete “2%” and replace it with “3%”; and |
(iii) | delete “€100,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000”; |
(e) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(A) | undertakings, assets, rights and revenues comprising interests in the share capital of any person engaged solely in the competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) business, including without limitation, the business of providing traditional voice and data services and services based on Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (RCP/IP) technology and other undertakings, assets, rights or revenues constituting a part of such businesses; and |
(B) | undertakings, assets, rights and revenues comprising interests in the share capital of any person engaged solely in the business of television and radio programming, including without limitation, the business or creating and distributing special interest television channels, radio programmes, pay per view programmes and near video on demand services and other undertakings, assets, rights or revenues constituting a part of such businesses;”; and |
(f) | delete limb (ww)(iii). |
12. | Permitted Financial Indebtedness: amend the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness to: |
(a) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(b) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(A) | the extent of such recourse to such member of the Group is limited solely to the amount of any recoveries made on any such enforcement; |
(B) | such person or persons are not entitled, pursuant to the terms of any agreement evidencing any right or claim arising out of or in connection with such Financial Indebtedness, to commence proceedings for the winding up, dissolution or administration of any member of the Group (or proceedings having an equivalent effect) or to appoint or procure the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar person or officer in respect of any member of the Group or any of its assets (save only for the Non-Distribution Business Assets the subject of that Security Interest) until after the Commitments have been reduced to zero and all amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents have been repaid or paid in full; and |
(C) | the aggregate outstanding amount of all such Financial Indebtedness of all members of the Group does not exceed €100,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies);” |
(c) | amend limb (i) to delete the words “under paragraph (jj), (kk) and (ll) of that definition”; and |
(d) | amend limb (r) to delete the words “no Default or”. |
13. | Permitted Joint Venture: delete the words “provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such proposed acquisition”. |
14. | Construction: |
(a) | Add a new limb to Clause 1.2 (Construction) as follows: |
15. | Permitted Payments: |
(a) | Amend Clause 21.11 (Restricted Payments) to include an additional limb (c) as follows: |
“(c) | The restriction contained in paragraph (a) on the payment by any member of the Group of Management Fees shall cease to apply during such period as the applicable ratio for the purposes of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) is 3.50:1 (or less), provided that no Management Fees may be paid by any member of the Group at any time after a Relevant Event has occurred or if a Relevant Event would result from such payment.” |
(b) | Include the following new definition: |
(c) | Include the following additional limb to the definition of Permitted Payment: |
(d) | Amend limb (j) of the definition of Permitted Payment to delete the words “paragraph (s)” and replace them with “paragraph (jj)”. |
(e) | Amend limb (cc) of the definition of Permitted Payment to delete “€10,000,000” and replace it with “€50,000,000”. |
(f) | Delete limb (ll) of the definition of Permitted Payment and replace it with the following: |
(g) | Delete “2%” and replace it with “3%” at limb (kk) of the definition of Permitted Payment. |
(h) | Amend limb (r)(i) of the definition of Permitted Payment to replace the words “three days” with the words “three Business Days”. |
16. | Signing Date: amend all references to “the date of this Agreement” to “the Signing Date”. |
17. | Wider Group: amend paragraph (b) of the definition of Wider Group to add the words “(other than a member of the Group)” at the end. |
18. | Spin-Off: delete the existing definition of Spin-Off at Clause 10.2(c)(xi) (Mandatory Prepayment - Change of Control) and replace it with the following: |
19. | Borrower: delete the existing definition of Borrower and replace it with the following: |
20. | Sub-participations: |
(a) | Include a new definition of Sub-participation as follows: |
(b) | Amend Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) in order that this clause includes a restriction on Sub-participations of rights and obligations and is subject to the same consent regime as for assignments and transfers in accordance with recent Liberty precedent. |
(c) | Add a new clause as follows: |
(a) | such Lender remains a Lender under this Agreement with all rights and obligations pertaining thereto and remains liable under the Finance Documents for any such obligation; |
(b) | such Lender retains exclusive control over all rights and obligations in relation to the participations and Commitments that are the subject of the relevant agreement or arrangement, including all voting rights (for the avoidance of doubt, free of any agreement or understanding pursuant to which it is required to or will consult with any other person in relation to the exercise of any such rights and/or obligations), unless: |
(i) | the proposed sub-participant is a person to whom the relevant rights and obligations could have been assigned or transferred in accordance with the terms of this Clause 29; and |
(ii) | prior to entering into the relevant agreement or arrangement, the relevant Lender provides the Company with full details of that proposed sub-participant and any voting, consultation or other rights to be granted to the sub-participant; |
(c) | the relationship between the Lender and the proposed sub-participant is that of a contractual debtor and creditor (including in the bankruptcy or similar event of the Lender or an Obligor); |
(d) | the proposed sub-participant will have no proprietary interest in the benefit of this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents or in any monies received by the relevant Lender under or in relation to this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents (in its capacity as sub-participant under that arrangement); and |
(e) | the proposed sub-participant will under no circumstances: (i) be subrogated to, or be substituted in respect of, the relevant Lender’s claims under this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents; or (ii) otherwise have any contractual relationship with, or rights against, the Obligors under or in relation to this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents (in its capacity as sub-participant under that arrangement).” |
(d) | Include the additional provision as follows: |
“(a) | In the case of a Sub-participation (in each case, other than any non-voting derivatives (which are not participations) which would otherwise be caught by the definition of “Sub-participation”), the person granting the Sub-participation (or similar right) shall, acting solely for these purposes as non-fiduciary agent for the Company, maintain a register (a “Sub-Participant Register”) on which it enters the name and address of each sub-participant (or person holding the similar right) and the Commitment and obligations (including principal and stated interest) in which each sub-participant (or other person) has an interest or obligation. |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary hereunder, including without limitation Clause 24 (Evidence and Calculations), the entries in the Sub- Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such person maintaining the Sub-Participant Register shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Sub-Participant Register as the owner of such Sub-participation (or similar right) for all purposes of a Finance Document notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. |
(c) | Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Clause 29, no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Sub-Participant Register to any person (including the identity of any sub-participant or any information relating to a sub-participant’s interest in any Advance, Commitments or other obligations under any Finance Documents) except to the extent that such disclosure is to a tax authority and is necessary to establish that such Advance, Commitment or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations or is otherwise required thereunder.” |
(e) | Amend Clause [23.14 (Relationship with Lenders)] to include an additional sub-paragraph as follows: |
21. | Additional Facilities: |
(a) | Add a new paragraph (i) to Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) as follows: |
(b) | Amend the Additional Facilities Cap as defined in Clause 2.2(g) (Telenet Additional Facility) such that: |
(i) | it includes an additional limb for the aggregate amount of any voluntary prepayments of (A) Term Facility Advances that are secured on a pari passu basis with the other Facilities or (B) Advances under Revolving Facilities (to the extent accompanied by a corresponding permanent cancellation of the relevant Revolving Facility Commitments), in each case, to the extent the relevant prepayment or cancellation is not funded or effected with any long-term Financial Indebtedness (including Financial Indebtedness in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced with long-term Financial Indebtedness); and |
(ii) | the Company shall have the ability to classify such amounts of Financial Indebtedness on the date of their incurrence and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Financial Indebtedness in one of such sub-paragraphs and will be permitted on the date of such incurrence to divide and classify an item of such Financial Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Financial Indebtedness described in such paragraphs, and, from time to time, may reclassify all or a portion of such Financial Indebtedness, in any manner. |
22. | Consolidated EBITDA: amend the definition of Consolidated EBITDA under the Credit Agreement to provide that any adjustments to reduce the impact of the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles or policies and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting principles or policies can be added (at the Company’s option) to the operating income of the Group for that Measurement Period. |
23. | Additional Obligors: Amend the Credit Agreement to provide that any Affiliate of the Company may accede to the Credit Agreement as a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 29.10 (Additional Guarantors) (provided that Security has been granted in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) in favour of the Security Agent over 100% of its shares and all rights in relations to loans from members of the Wider Group to it) and that such Affiliate shall be a member of the Group and an Additional Guarantor. Add a new definition of “Affiliate Subsidiary” to Clause 1.1 (Definitions) such that it means any Affiliate of the Company that accedes to the Credit Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to the amendments described in this paragraph and provided that it has not resigned as a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
24. | Right of Repayment and Cancellation in Relation to a Single Lender: delete Clause 10.8(c)(i) and replace it with the following: |
25. | Alternative Benchmarks: |
(a) | Add the following new definitions to Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |
(b) | Replace the definition of “Screen Rate” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(i) | at any time prior to an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate); or |
(ii) | at any time on or following an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to LIBOR, the Alternative Benchmark Rate for the relevant currency and period displayed on any page of any screen of an information service as the Facility Agent may specify after consultation with the Company on or about the relevant Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date; and |
(i) | at any time prior to an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to EURIBOR, the Euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate); or |
(ii) | at any time on or following an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to EURIBOR, the Alternative Benchmark Rate for Euro for the relevant period displayed on any page of any screen of an information service as the Facility Agent |
26. | ERISA: |
(a) | Replace the definition of “ERISA Affiliate” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(b) | Replace the definition of “Plan” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(a) | maintained by any Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate; or |
(b) | to which any Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate is required to make any payment or contribution. |
(c) | Replace the definition of “Reportable Event” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(a) | an event specified as such in section 4043 of ERISA or any regulation, other than an event in relation to which the requirement to give notice of that event is waived by any regulation; or |
(b) | a failure to meet the minimum funding standard under section 412 or 430 of the Code or section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived. |
(d) | Amend Clause 18.16 (ERISA) to delete the words “member of the Group or”. |
(e) | Delete paragraph (c) of Clause 19.6 (Notification of Default). |
(f) | Delete Clause 21.19 (ERISA) and replace it with the following: |
(a) | Each Obligor must as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of it notify the Facility Agent of: |
(ii) | the termination of or withdrawal from, or any circumstances reasonably likely to result in the termination of or withdrawal from, any Plan; and |
(iii) | any material non-compliance with any law or regulation relating to any Plan which is or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | Each Obligor and its ERISA Affiliates must be, and remain, in compliance in all material respects with all laws and regulations relating to each of its Plans. |
(c) | Each of the Obligors and its ERISA Affiliates must ensure that no event or condition exists at any time in relation to a Plan which is reasonably likely to result in the imposition of a lien or other encumbrance on any of its assets or which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.” |
(g) | Delete Clause 22.15 (ERISA). |
27. | Limited Condition Transaction: amend the definition of “Limited Condition Transaction” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include a third sub-paragraph as follows: |
28. | Rollover: Add a new definition of “Rollover Loan” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |
(a) | “Rollover Loan” means: |
(a) | a Rollover Advance that is for an amount which is equal to or less than the Maturing Advance in respect of which that Rollover Advance is being drawn to refinance; and |
(b) | an Advance in relation to a Revolving Facility: |
(i) | made or to be made on the same day that a demand by the Facility Agent pursuant to a drawing in respect of a Documentary Credit is due to be met; |
(ii) | the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the relevant claim in respect of that Documentary Credit; |
(iii) | in the same currency as the relevant claim in respect of that Documentary Credit; and |
(iii) | made or to be made for the purpose of satisfying the relevant claim in respect of that Documentary Credit. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 4.2 (Further Conditions Precedent) to delete the reference to “Rollover Advance” and replace it with a reference to “Rollover Loan”. |
(c) | Amend paragraph (c) of Clause 4.2 (Further Conditions Precedent), to delete the following words “Rollover Advance provided that the amount of the Maturing Advance is equal to or greater than the amount of that Rollover Advance” and to replace them with the words “Rollover Loan or a Documentary Credit which is being renewed pursuant to Clause 6.2 (Renewal of Documentary Credits)”. |
(d) | Amend Clause 8.2(a) (Unavailability of Optional Currency) to delete the reference to “Rollover Advance” and replace it with a reference to “Rollover Loan”. |
(e) | Amend the title to Clause 9.2 (Rollover Advances) (and all other references in the Credit Agreement to that title) to refer to “(Rollover)” and further amend it so that the words “and in an amount which is equal to or less than” on the 6th line are deleted. |
29. | Cost of Funds: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds) such that it also applies if LIBOR or EURIBOR is to be determined by reference to a Reference Bank Rate or an Alternative Reference Bank Rate and to provide that, in entering into negotiations with the Company with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest, the Facility Agent may act in its sole discretion and will not be required to consult with or seek any consent or instruction from the Lenders or any other Finance Party. |
(b) | Delete paragraph (c) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds) and replace it with the following: |
(c) | Amend paragraph (e) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds) to provide that if a Lender does not supply a quotation by the given time period in paragraph (a)(ii), the rate of interest for that Lender will be the weighted average of the quotations notified to the Facility Agent by the other Lenders. |
30. | US Regulations: |
(a) | Add a new definition of Regulation U in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |
(b) | Replace Clause 18.17 (United States Regulation) with the following: |
(c) | Delete Clause 18.19 (Margin stock) and replace it with the following: |
31. | Amendments and Waivers: |
32. | Guarantees: amend Clause 21.13 (Loans and Guarantees) to: |
(a) | add the words “in respect of Financial Indebtedness only” after the words “no member of the Group will make any loans, grant any credit or give any guarantee”; |
(b) | add a new paragraph as a carve out as follows: |
(c) | delete “€100,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000” and delete “2%” and replace it with “3%” at Clause 21.13(bb) (Loans and Guarantees); |
(d) | amend paragraph (g) to include an additional limb (v) as follows: |
“(v) | by an Obligor in respect of the liabilities of any other member of the Group which is not an Obligor provided that that other member of the Group must become an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 29.10 (Additional Guarantors) within 30 days of the granting of the guarantee made pursuant to this paragraph (v);” |
(e) | amend paragraph (z) to delete “€10,000,000” and replace it with “€25,000,000”; and |
(f) | to include additional limbs as follows: |
(i) | “any loans or guarantees relating to Excess Capacity Network Services provided that the price payable to any member of the Group in relation to such Excess Capacity Network Services is no less than the Cost incurred by the relevant member of the Group in providing such Excess Capacity Network Services;”; and |
(ii) | “any guarantees or similar undertakings granted by any member of the Group in favour of any tax authority in respect of any obligations of a member of the Group in respect of tax in order to facilitate the winding up of any member of the Group provided that the Facility Agent shall have first received confirmation from the Company that based on |
33. | Spin Parent: delete the following sentence in paragraph (b) of Clause 10.2 (Mandatory Prepayment – Change of Control): |
34. | Reporting: |
(a) | Delete the definition of GAAP in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
(b) | Delete the definition of IFRS in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
(c) | Delete Clause 19.5 (Change in Accounting Principles) in its entirety and replace it with the following: |
“(a) | Except as otherwise expressly provided below or in this Agreement, all ratios and calculations based on IFRS contained in this Agreement shall be computed in conformity with IFRS. |
(b) | At any time after the OFS Date, the Company may elect to apply for all purposes of this Agreement, in lieu of IFRS, GAAP and, upon such election, references to IFRS herein will be construed to mean GAAP; provided that: |
(i) | all financial statements and reports to be provided, after such election, pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared on the basis of GAAP as in effect from time to time (including that, upon first reporting its financial year results under GAAP, the financial statements of the Reporting Entity shall be restated on the basis of GAAP for the year ending immediately prior to the first financial year for which financial statements have been prepared on the basis of GAAP); and |
(ii) | from and after such election, all ratios, computations and other determinations based on GAAP contained in this Agreement shall, at the Company’s option: |
(A) | continue to be computed in conformity with GAAP (provided that, following such election, the annual and quarterly information required by paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) shall include a reconciliation, either in the footnotes thereto or in a separate report delivered therewith, of such GAAP presentation to the corresponding GAAP presentation of such financial information); or |
(B) | be computed in conformity with GAAP with retroactive effect being given thereto assuming that such election had been made on the OFS Date, subject to any further election in accordance with the definition of GAAP. |
(d) | Amend paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) to provide that the relevant financial statements or accounts (as applicable) shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS. |
35. | Business Division Transactions and Joint Ventures: |
(a) | In Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
(i) | amend the definition of “Business Division Transaction” to delete the words “, in each case, where such transaction has the prior approval of the Majority Lenders”; and |
(ii) | add the following new definitions: |
(b) | Amend the definition of Permitted Payments and Clause 21.13 (Loans and Guarantees) to include the following additional carve outs in each such clause: |
(i) | “in relation to any Permitted Business Division Transaction; and |
(ii) | in relation to any Acceptable Joint Venture.” |
(c) | Amend paragraph (m) of the definition of Permitted Disposal and paragraph (s)(iv) of the definition of Permitted Payment such that the word “Permitted” is added before the words “Business Division Transaction”. |
36. | Permitted Security Interest: amend the definition of “Permitted Security Interest” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
(a) | to include in addition to the existing “Permitted Security Interests”: |
(b) | include the following additional limb: |
37. | Permitted Acquisitions and Permitted Joint Ventures: delete sub-paragraph (e)(iii) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and delete sub-paragraph (b)(ii) of the definition of Permitted Joint Venture in Clause 1.1 (Definitions). |
38. | Auditors: delete the definition of “Auditors” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
39. | Additional Facilities: amend paragraph (g) and sub-paragraph (g)(i) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) to read as follows: |
“(g) | Subject to paragraph (h) below, the aggregate principal amount of any proposed Telenet Additional Facility shall not, at the election of the Company acting in its sole discretion (x) on the date that the Telenet Additional Facility becomes effective (giving pro forma effect to the intended use of proceeds of such Telenet Additional Facility and assuming that the entire amount of that Telenet Additional Facility is drawn on such date, and provided that an election that this sub-paragraph (x) shall apply may not be made in relation to that Telenet Additional Facility if an election that sub-paragraph (y) shall |
(i) | an unlimited amount provided that on a pro forma basis Net Senior Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA is equal to or less than 4.50:1; |
40. | Construction: |
(a) | Amend Clause 1.2(a) (Construction) to add the following additional limbs: |
(i) | “fair market value” unless otherwise specified, wherever such term is used in this Agreement, may be conclusively established by means of an officer’s certificate or a resolution of the board of directors of the Company, any Permitted Affiliate Parent or any Affiliate Subsidiary setting out such fair market value as determined by such officer or such board of directors in good faith; |
(ii) | any matter being “permitted” under this Agreement or any other Finance Document shall include references to such matters not being prohibited or otherwise being approved under this Agreement or any other such Finance Document; and |
(iii) | “consolidated” in connection with the financial position of, financial statements of or accounts of or financial definitions in relation to, the Group shall be construed to mean that the accounts of any Affiliate Subsidiary shall be combined for the purpose of determining such financial position, financial statements, accounts or financial definitions. |
(b) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to add the following additional paragraphs: |
“(x) | No personal liability shall attach to any director, officer or employee of any member of the Wider Group or Group for any representation or statement made by that member of the Wider Group or Group (as applicable) in a certificate signed by such director, officer or employee; and |
(y) | No Default, Event of Default or breach of any representation and warranty or undertaking under the Finance Documents shall arise merely as a result of a subsequent change in the Euro equivalent of any relevant amount due to fluctuations in exchange rates.” |
(c) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include the following wording at the start of sub-paragraph (a)(xvii)(C) of Clause 1.2 (Construction): |
(d) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb in paragraph (a) as follows: |
(e) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb in paragraph (a) as follows: |
(f) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb in paragraph (a) as follows: |
(g) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to delete limb (v) of paragraph (a) and replace it with the following: |
(h) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to delete limb (viii) of paragraph (a) and replace it with the following: |
(i) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb of Clause 1.2 as follows: |
(j) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb of Clause 1.2 as follows: |
“(a) | This Agreement is entered into subject to, and with the benefit of, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement will prevail if there is a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.” |
(k) | Where relevant in the Credit Agreement, amend references to “company” or “entity” to “person” in accordance with paragraph (a)(vii) of Clause 1.2 (Construction). |
41. | Increase: amend Clause 2.1 (Increase) to: |
(a) | delete sub-paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii); and |
(b) | delete sub-paragraph (a)(iii) and replace it with the following: |
“(iii) | at the election of the Company acting in its sole discretion, it shall be a condition: |
(A) | that the aggregate principal amount of any proposed increase in the Commitments shall not exceed, mutatis mutandis, the Additional Facilities Cap on the date that such increase in the Commitments becomes effective (giving pro forma effect to the intended use of proceeds of such increased Commitment and assuming that the entire amount of that increased Commitment is drawn on such date, and provided that an election that this paragraph (A) shall apply may not be made in relation to that increased Commitment if an election that paragraph (B) shall apply has previously been made in relation to that increased Commitment); or |
(B) | to any Utilisation (other than a Rollover Loan or a Documentary Credit which is being renewed pursuant to Clause 6.2 (Renewal of Documentary Credits)) of that increased Commitment that the aggregate principal amount of that increased Commitment to be drawn would not exceed, mutatis mutandis, the Additional Facilities Cap on the date of that Utilisation (giving pro forma effect to the use of proceeds of such Utilisation but not assuming that the entire amount of that increased Commitment is drawn); and” |
42. | Increased Costs: |
(a) | Amend the first paragraph of Clause 14.1 (Increased Costs) to add “within ten Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent,” after “the Company must” in the first line. |
(b) | Delete paragraph (a) of Clause 14.3 (Claims) and replace it with the following: |
“(a) | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 14.1 (Increased Costs) shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after that Finance Party becomes aware that circumstances have arisen which entitle it to make such claim, notify the Facility Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Company.” |
43. | Springing Financial Covenant: amend the covenant set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) so that is reads as follows: |
“(a) | Subject to Clause 22.5 (Cross-default and Cross-acceleration), in the event that on the last day of a Measurement Period the aggregate of the Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility (in each case, other than Documentary Credits that are cash collateralised or undrawn) and the net indebtedness outstanding under each Ancillary Facility less Cash of the Group exceeds an amount equal to 40 per cent. of the aggregate of the Revolving Facility Commitments and each Ancillary Facility Commitment (the “Financial Ratio Test Condition”), the Company shall procure that the ratio of Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA on that day (the “Financial Ratio”) shall not exceed 6.00:1 unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Composite Revolving Facility Instructing Group and the Company. |
(b) | If the financial covenant set out in paragraph (a) has been breached for a Measurement Period but is complied with on the last day of the next Measurement Period (either because the Financial Ratio Test Condition is not met for that next Measurement Period or because the Financial Ratio does not exceed 6.00:1 for that next Measurement Period), then, the prior breach of such financial covenant or any Event of Default arising therefrom shall not (or shall be deemed to not) directly or indirectly constitute, or result in, a breach of any representation, warranty, undertaking or other term in the Finance Documents or a Default or an Event of Default unless the Facility Agent has taken any action under Clause 22.18 (Maintenance Covenant Revolving Facility Acceleration) before the delivery of the certificate referred to at Clause 19.3(a) (Compliance Certificate) in respect of that next Measurement Period.” |
44. | Financial Information: amend paragraph (a) of Clause 19.3 (Compliance Certificate) so that it reads as follows: |
“(a) | The Company must supply to the Facility Agent a Compliance Certificate with each set of its financial statements sent to the Facility Agent under this Agreement if, as at the last day of the Measurement Period ending on the date of such financial statements, the Financial Ratio Test Condition is met.” |
45. | Cure Provisions: delete Clause 20.4 (Cure Provisions) and replace it with the following: |
“20.4 | Cure Provisions |
(a) | The Company may cure a breach of the financial ratio set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) by procuring that: |
(i) | additional equity is injected into, and/or additional Subordinated Shareholder Loans is provided to, one or more members of the Group in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the amount which if it had been deducted from Net Total Debt for the Measurement Period in respect of which the breach arose, would have avoided the breach; or |
(ii) | additional equity is injected into, and/or additional Subordinated Shareholder Loans is provided to, one or more members of the Group in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the amount which if it had been added to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA for the Measurement Period in respect of which the breach arose, would have avoided the breach; or |
(iii) | any Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility and/or net indebtedness under any Ancillary Facility are prepaid (from any source selected by the Company in its sole discretion) in an amount which if such prepayment had occurred immediately prior to the calculation on the last day of the Measurement Period in respect of which the breach arose, the Financial Ratio Test Condition as at the last day of that Measurement Period would not have been met and therefore the financial ratio would not have been required to be tested. |
(b) | A cure under this Clause 20.4 will not be effective unless: |
(i) | in the case of paragraph (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, an amount equal to or greater than the required amount of additional equity or the proceeds of any Subordinated Shareholder Loans is received by one or more members of the Group; or |
(ii) | in the case of paragraph (a)(iii) above, the amount of any Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility and/or net indebtedness under any Ancillary Facility that are required to be prepaid are so prepaid, |
(c) | No cure may be made under this Clause 20.4 (Cure Provisions) |
(i) | in respect of more than five Measurement Periods during the life of the Telenet Additional Facilities; or |
(ii) | in respect of consecutive Measurement Periods. |
(d) | The Company shall make an election (at its sole discretion) by notice to the Facility Agent prior to the end of the Cure Period as to whether a breach of the financial ratio set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) shall be cured pursuant to a recalculation as described in either sub-paragraph (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) above. |
(e) | If the Company makes an election for a recalculation as described in sub-paragraphs (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, it shall be under no obligation to apply the amount of additional equity or the proceeds of any Subordinated Shareholder Loans that are received by one or more members of the Group in prepayment of the Facilities or for any other specific purpose and such amount will be deemed to be deducted from Net Total Debt or added to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA for the purposes of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) (as applicable) as at the last day of the relevant Measurement Period. |
(f) | If the Company makes an election for a recalculation as described in sub-paragraph (a)(iii) above, the amount of any Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility and/or net indebtedness under any Ancillary Facility that are |
(g) | For the purpose of ascertaining compliance with Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA), the Financial Ratio Test Condition and the ratio set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) will be tested or retested, as applicable, giving effect to the elections and adjustments referred to in paragraph (d), (e) and (f) above. If, after giving effect to such elections and adjustments, the requirements of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) are met, then the requirements under Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) shall be deemed to have been satisfied as at the relevant original date of determination. |
(h) | Where a cure is exercised under this Clause 20.4 in respect of a breach of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) for any financial quarter and the Company makes an election for a recalculation as described in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) above, the amount of additional equity or the proceeds of any Subordinated Shareholder Loans that are received by one or more members of the Group shall also be added in calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any future Measurement Period that includes such financial quarter. Any adjustments pursuant to this paragraph will not be treated as a separate cure.” |
46. | Permitted Disposal: amend the definition of Permitted Disposal to add a new limb as follows: |
47. | Permitted Financial Indebtedness: |
(a) | Amend Clause 21.7 (Financial Indebtedness) to add a new paragraph (d) as follows: |
(b) | Amend the definitions of “Senior Debt” and “Total Debt” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include an additional limb as follows: |
48. | Related Fund: amend: |
(a) | Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include a new definition of “Related Fund” as follows: |
(b) | Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) at paragraph (c), to add the words “or, if applicable, a Related Fund” after the words “an Affiliate”. |
49. | Share Capital: |
(a) | Amend Clause 21.16 (Share Capital) to add a new sub-paragraph (i) at the end as follows: “relates to the cancellation of the share capital of any member of the Group or any Obligor”. |
(b) | Amend Clause 21.16 (Share Capital) to add the words “or a solvent liquidation under Clause 21.23 (Internal Reorganisation)” after the words “Clause 21.9(b)(iii) (Acquisitions and Mergers)”. |
50. | Stamp Taxes: delete Clause 12.7 (Stamp Taxes) in its entirety and replace it with the following: |
(a) | any such Tax liabilities payable in connection with any Transfer Certificate or other document relating to the assignment or transfer by any Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under any Finance Document; or |
(b) | any registration duties and any Tax liability payable due to a registration, submission or filing by a Finance Party of any Finance Document where such registration, submission or filing is or was not required to maintain or preserve the rights of that Finance Party under the applicable Finance Documents.” |
51. | Increased Costs: Amend Clause 14.2 (Exceptions) to include the following additional limbs: |
“(i) | attributable to a change (whether of basis, timing or otherwise) in the Tax liability on the overall net income of the Finance Party (or any Affiliate of it) or of the branch or office through which it lends any Advance; |
(j) | attributable to any penalty having been imposed by the relevant central bank or monetary or fiscal authority upon the Finance Party (or any Affiliate of it) by virtue of its having exceeded any country or sector borrowing limits or breached any directives imposed upon it; |
(k) | attributable to a breach of a Finance Document by the Finance Party claiming such Increased Cost.” |
52. | Representations: |
(a) | Delete Clause 18.12 (Security Interests) in its entirety. |
(b) | Delete paragraph (b) of Clause 18.6 (No Event of Default). |
(c) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 18.7 (Authorisations) to include the words “(other than the Licences)” after the word “licenses”. |
(d) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 18.10 (Litigation and Insolvency Proceedings) to replace the words “member of the Group” with the words “Obligor or Material Subsidiary”. |
(e) | Amend Clause 18.18 (Anti-Terrorism Laws) to delete the words “It and each of its Affiliates have taken commercially reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws” and to replace them with “It has taken commercially reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws.” |
53. | Defaulting Lender Disenfranchisement: in addition to paragraph 10 of Schedule 4, provide in the Credit Agreement as follows: |
54. | Consolidated EBITDA: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (y) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA in order that the following words are deleted: |
(i) | are not included in the Company’s externally reported operating cash flow or equivalent measure; or |
(ii) | are deemed to be exception of unusual items”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (g) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA to add the words “or other equity based” after the words “any stock based”. |
55. | 80% Security Test: add the following words at the end of the definition of 80% Security Test in Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
56. | Insolvency Event: amend the definition of Insolvency Event in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to replace the words “in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party:” with the words “in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party or a Holding Company of it (as applicable):”. |
57. | Notes Refinancing: amend the definitions of Senior Secured Notes Refinancing and Senior Unsecured Refinancing in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to delete the word “reasonable” before the words “fees, costs and expenses”. |
58. | Optional Currency: amend the definition of “Optional Currency” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) in order that the words “in relation to that Advance” are included after the words “acting on the instructions of all the Lenders”. |
59. | Permitted Acquisition: amend the definition of Permitted Acquisition in Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
(a) | at paragraph (d) to replace the words “less than a 50 per cent. interest” with the words “an interest of 50 per cent. or less”; and |
(b) | at paragraph (j) to replace the words “10 Business Days” with the words “60 days”. |
60. | Finance Document: |
(a) | Amend the definition of “Finance Document” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to delete the words “a Transfer Certificate;” and include the words “any Increase Confirmation;”. |
(b) | Amend the definition of “Finance Document” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include the following wording at the end of the definition: |
61. | Finance Party: amend the definition of “Finance Party” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include the following wording at the end of the definition: |
62. | Term of Advance: add a new clause 1.4 as follows: |
63. | Exchange Rates: add a new clause 1.5 as follows: |
64. | Increase: amend paragraph (b) of Clause 2.1 (Increase) to add a new limb (iii) as follows: |
65. | Additional Facility: amend paragraph (h) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) to: |
(a) | delete sub-paragraphs (h)(ii)(A), (h)(ii)(B) and (h)(ii)(C); and |
(b) | delete sub-paragraphs (h)(iii)(B), (h)(iii)(C) and (h)(iii)(D). |
66. | Prepayments: amend Clause 10.10 (Miscellaneous Provisions) to delete paragraph (g) and replace it with the following: |
67. | Tax Indemnity: amend paragraph (b)(ii) of Clause 12.4 (Tax Indemnity) to add an additional limb as follows: |
68. | Representations: amend Clause 18 (Representations and Warranties) by inserting the word “substantially” after the word “business” at Clause 18.2(b) (Status). |
69. | Share Capital: amend Clause 21.16 (Share Capital) to add words “that is a member of the Group” after the words “Each Obligor” and before the words “will not”. |
70. | Obligor Accession: amend Clause 21.22 (Further Assurances) in order that the words “10 Business Days” at paragraph (b)(i) are replaced with “60 days”. |
71. | Breach of obligations EOD: amend Clause 22.3(a) (Breach of Other Obligations) to add the following language at the end: |
72. | Cross Default EOD: amend Clause 22.5 (Cross-default and Cross-acceleration): |
(a) | by deleting the words “is placed on demand;” at paragraph (b)(ii); |
(b) | by deleting limb (c); |
(c) | at paragraph (d)(v), by deleting the words “is not placed on demand, becomes” and replacing them with the words “does not become” and adding the word “not” before the words “otherwise accelerated during that period”; and |
(d) | by adding the following additional limb to paragraph (d): |
73. | Defaulting Lenders: amend Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) in order that the following is included as a new Clause 29.3(h): |
“(h) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Lender shall be entitled to assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or obligations under the Finance Documents to a New Lender that is a Defaulting Lender.” |
74. | Amendments: add a new paragraph (d) to Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) as follows: |
75. | Measurement Period: delete the definition of Measurement Period and replace it with the following: |
76. | Consolidated Annualised EBITDA: delete the definition of “Consolidated Annualised EBITDA” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
77. | Telenet Additional Facility: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (h) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) and paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 2.3 (Overall Facility Limits) to amend each reference from “Advances” and “advances” to “Utilisations”. |
(b) | Amend limb (ii)(D) and (iii)(E) of paragraph (h) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) to delete the word “reasonable” before the word “fees”. |
(c) | Add an additional limb to Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) as follows: |
78. | Amount of Advance: amend paragraph (b) of Clause 5.3 (Amount of Advance or Documentary Credit) to include the words “under that Facility” after the words “on behalf of the Lenders”. |
79. | Revaluation of Documentary Credits: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 6.4 (Revaluation of Documentary Credits) to replace the words “at six monthly intervals after the date of the Documentary Credit” with the words “on the last Business Day of each financial year”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 6.4 (Revaluation of Documentary Credits) to replace the words “three Business Days” with the words “ten Business Days”. |
80. | Affiliates of Borrowers: amend paragraph (c) of Clause 7.7 (Affiliates of Borrowers) to include the words “, provided that such Affiliate is not an Affiliate of any other Obligor, ” after the words “its Affiliate”. |
81. | Right of Repayment and Cancellation of a Single Lender: amend paragraph (a)(iii) of Clause 10.8 (Right of Repayment and Cancellation of a Single Lender) to include the words “or Clause 15 (Illegality and Mitigation)” after the words “Clause 10.1 (Mandatory Prepayment – Illegality)” and to replace the reference to “or” before the reference to “Clause 10.1” with a comma. |
82. | Selection: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (d)(ii) of Clause 11.5 (Selection – Term Facility) to replace the word “Facility” with “Term Facility Advance” throughout such paragraph and to replace the words “Lenders whose commitments under the relevant Facility then aggregate two thirds or more of the aggregate Commitments under that Facility” with “Majority Lenders under the relevant Facility”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (c) of Clause 11.6 (Selection – Revolving Facility) to replace the words “under that Revolving Facility” with “under the relevant Advance under that Revolving Facility” throughout such paragraph and to replace the words “Lenders whose Commitments under that Revolving Facility then aggregate two thirds or more of the aggregate Commitments under that Revolving Facility” with “the Majority Lenders under that Revolving Facility”. |
83. | Payments: amend Clause 16.4 (Currency) to include the following additional limbs and to re-number limb (c) to limb (e): |
“(c) | A repayment or prepayment of an Advance is payable in the currency in which the Advance is denominated. |
(d) | All interest is payable in the currency in which the relevant amount in respect of which it is payable is denominated.” |
84. | Information: amend Clause 19.4 (Information – Miscellaneous) to delete paragraph (c) in its entirety. |
85. | Change of Business: delete Clause 21.8 (Change of Business) and replace it with the following: |
86. | Acquisitions: amend paragraph (b)(iii)(B) of Clause 21.9 (Acquisitions and Mergers) to replace the words “for the period commencing on the date of merger and ending on the earlier of the date that falls 3 years from the date of merger and the longest dated Final Maturity Date” with “on a pro forma basis following such merger or consolidation.” |
87. | Insurance: amend Clause 21.12 (Insurance) to delete the words “procure that each member of the Group will” and replace them with “procure that each of its Material Subsidiaries which is a member of the Group will”. |
88. | Shareholder Loans: amend paragraph (a) of Clause 21.14 (Shareholder Loans) to replace the words “30 days” with “60 days”. |
89. | Share Security: |
(a) | delete Clause 21.17 (Share security) and replace it with the following: |
(a) | notwithstanding paragraph (b) below, an Obligor may issue shares to any person other than a member of the Group and shall not be required to procure that such shares are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries, provided that such share issue does not result in a Change of Control; |
(b) | any member of the Group may issue shares to or otherwise acquire additional rights from any other member of the Group so long as (if any of the existing shares in the relevant member of the Group are charged or pledged in favour of any Beneficiary) such shares are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of a Security Document and there are delivered at the same time to the Security Agent the relevant share certificates and blank stock transfer forms (or equivalent documents) in respect thereof together with such other documents and evidence and legal opinions as the Security Agent may reasonably require; |
(c) | the Company may issue shares to Telenet Group BVBA provided that such shares are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of a Security Document and there are delivered at the same time to the Security Agent the relevant share certificates and blank stock transfer forms (or equivalent documents) in respect thereof together with such other documents and evidence and legal opinions as the Security Agent may reasonably require; |
(d) | any member of the Group may issue shares pursuant to the exercise of Approved Stock Options; |
(e) | a member of the Group may issue shares as part of an Acquisition or merger or consolidation permitted by Clause 21.9 (Acquisitions and Mergers), provided that the issue of such shares does not cause a Change of Control; |
(f) | a member of the Group (other than an Obligor) may issue shares to all the holders of the share capital of such member of the Group pro rata to their interests in such share capital provided that, if any existing shares in that member of the Group are charged or pledged in favour of any Beneficiary under any Security Document, upon issue the shares that are issued to any other member of the Group are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries as provided in paragraph (b) above; and |
(g) | any member of the Group (other than the Company) may issue shares to any person pursuant to any agreement or other legally binding arrangement existing, and disclosed to the Facility Agent in writing, on or before the Signing Date, provided that such share issue does not result in a Change of Control.” |
(b) | Add the following additional definition to Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
90. | Group Redesignation: delete Clause 21.25 (Group Redesignation) and replace it with the following: |
91. | Clean Up Period: |
(a) | Amend the definition of Clean Up Period in Clause 22.3 (Breach of Other Obligations) to replace the words “120 days” with the words “180 days”. |
(b) | Delete the words “(other than Clause 22.3(a) (Breach of Other Obligations) to the extent it refers to Clause 20 (Financial Covenant))” in paragraph (c) of Clause 22.3 (Breach of Other Obligations). |
92. | Intercreditor Agreement: amend paragraph (a) of Clause 22.12 (Intercreditor Agreement) to include the word “material” before the word “obligations”. |
93. | Acceleration: amend Clause 22.17 (Acceleration) to replace the words “may, and must if so instructed by the Majority Lenders” with the words “the Facility Agent shall, if the Majority Lenders so direct”. |
94. | Indemnity: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 26.1 (Currency Indemnity) to include the words “, within 10 Business Days of demand” after the words “Obligor must”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 26.2 (Other Indemnities) to replace the word “Default” with the words “Event of Default”. |
(c) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 26.3 (Break Costs) to include the words “, within ten Business Days of demand by a Lender, ” after the words “Each Borrower must”. |
(d) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 26.3 (Break Costs) to include the words “, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, ” after the words “Each Lender must”. |
95. | Amendments and waivers: |
(a) | Amend Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) to add an additional limb (d) as follows: |
“(d) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 28 (Amendments and Waivers), the Facility Agent may at any time without the consent or sanction of the Lenders, concur with the Company in making any modifications to any Finance Document, which in the opinion of the Facility Agent would be proper to make provided that the Facility Agent is of the opinion that such modification: |
(i) | would not be materially prejudicial to the position of any Lender and in the opinion of the Facility Agent such modification is of a formal, minor or technical nature or is to correct a manifest error; |
(ii) | relates to the increase in the principal amount of a Commitment of a Lender in relation to any Facility and such increased Commitment has been requested by the Company to fund any original issue discount required to be paid to that Lender in relation to that Facility under any Finance Document; |
(iv) | which relates to the implementation of any alternative basis for the calculation of interest that is binding on all Parties in accordance with paragraph (c) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds). |
(b) | Amend Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) to include the words “Subject to Clause 28.6 (Structural Adjustments) below,” at the beginning of paragraph (a). |
(c) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 28.3 (Non Consenting Lenders) to delete limb (iii) in its entirety. |
(d) | Add an additional provision to Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) as follows: |
96. | Changes to the Parties: |
(a) | Amend Clause 29.2 (Assignment or Transfers by Obligors) to include the words “except to the extent permitted by this Agreement” at the end of the paragraph. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 29.9 (Additional Borrowers) to delete the words “(following consultation with the Facility Agent)”. |
(c) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 29.9 (Additional Borrowers) to include the words “under the relevant Facility” after the words “all the Lenders”. |
(d) | Amend paragraph (b)(ii) of Clause 29.11 (Resignation of an Obligor (other than the Company) to replace the words “a Default” with the words “an Event of Default”. |
97. | Governing law: |
(a) | Delete Clause 38 (Governing law) and replace it with the following: |
(b) | Amend the governing law provisions of the schedules to the Credit Agreement to refer to “non-contractual obligations” in conformity with paragraph (a) above. |
98. | Order of Application: amend Clause 10.4 (Order of application) by deleting sub-paragraph (e). |
99. | Affiliate: amend the definition of Affiliate in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) such that it reads as follows: |
(a) | an Affiliate of the Company that issues any notes, bonds or other securities for the purpose of on-lending the proceeds of such issuances under a Facility and to a Borrower under this Agreement and which acts in accordance with the terms of any indentures or other documents governing such issuances (a “Designated Notes Issuer”) shall not be an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Affiliates; and |
100. | Change of L/C Bank: add the words “in relation to the Facility in respect of which such Documentary Credits are issued” after the words “Majority Lenders” in paragraph (c) of Clause 6.11 (Appointment and Change of L/C Bank). |
101. | Restricted Person: amend the definition of Restricted Person in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) such that it reads as follows: |
102. | Permitted Affiliate Group Designation: amend limb (iv)(c) of Clause 29.8 (Permitted Affiliate Group Designation) to include the words “if available,” at the start of the limb. |
103. | Permitted Payment: add a new limb to the definition of Permitted Payment in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |
To: | The Bank of Nova Scotia as Facility Agent and KBC Bank NV as Security Agent |
From: | The persons listed in Schedule 1 to this Telenet Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement (the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders, such defined term to include any lender which becomes a New Lender in respect of the Term Loan AO Facility, by the execution by the Facility Agent of a Transfer Certificate (or a Transfer Certificate substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (Transfer Certificate (Cash)) to this Telenet Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement)). |
1. | In this Agreement: |
1 | Formerly known as Telenet Bidco NV and subsequently Telenet NV following the merger of Telenet NV into Telenet Bidco and subsequently Telenet BVBA following the conversion into a BVBA. |
2 | Formerly known as BASE Company NV. |
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2. | Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning in this Agreement and a reference to a Clause is a reference to a Clause of the Credit Agreement. The principles of construction set out in Clause 1.2 (Construction) of the Credit Agreement apply to this Agreement as though they were set out in full in this Agreement. |
3. | We refer to Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) of the Credit Agreement. This Agreement is a Finance Document. |
4. | This Agreement will take effect on the date on which the Facility Agent notifies the Borrower and the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders that it has received the documents and evidence set out in Schedule 2 of this Agreement, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to it (acting reasonably) or, as the case may be, the requirement to provide any of such documents or evidence has been waived |
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5. | We, the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders, agree: |
(a) | to become party to and to be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as Lenders in accordance with Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) of the Credit Agreement; and |
(b) | to become party to the Intercreditor Agreement as Senior Lenders for the purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement and confirm that, as from the date of this Agreement, we intend to be party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Senior Lender and undertake to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Agreement to be assumed by a Senior Lender and agree that we shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, as if we had been an original party to the Intercreditor Agreement. |
6. | The Telenet Additional Facility Commitment in relation to a Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender (for the purpose of the definition of Telenet Additional Facility Commitment in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Credit Agreement) is its Term Loan AO Facility Commitment. |
7. | Any interest due in relation to the Term Loan AO Facility will be payable on the last day of each Term and otherwise in accordance with Clause 11 (Interest) of the Credit Agreement. |
8. | The Availability Period for the Term Loan AO Facility shall be the period from and including the Effective Date up to and including the date which is 45 Business Days after the Effective Date or such other date agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders and the Company. |
8A. | Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders make available to the Borrower a term loan facility in an amount equal to the aggregate of the Term Loan AO Facility Commitments. |
9. | The Term Loan AO Facility may be drawn by up to two Advances (or any other number of Advances agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders and the Company) and no more than two Requests (or any other number of Requests agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders and the Company) may be made in respect of the Term Loan AO Facility under the Credit Agreement. |
10. | The Term Loan AO Facility Loans will be used for general corporate purposes and/or working capital purposes, including without limitation, the redemption, refinancing, repayment or prepayment of existing indebtedness of any member of the Group and the payment of any fees and expenses in connection with the Term Loan AO Facility or other transactions related thereto. |
11. | The Final Maturity Date in respect of this Term Loan AO Facility will be 15 December 2027 or such other date agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders and the Company. |
12. | The outstanding Term Loan AO Facility Loans will be repaid in full on the Final Maturity Date in respect of the Term Loan AO Facility. |
13. | The Margin in relation to the Term Loan AO Facility is 2.50 per cent. per annum or such other rate agreed between the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders and the Company. |
14. | The first Term to apply to the first Term Loan AO Facility Loan will be a period running from the first Utilisation Date in respect of that Term Loan AO Facility Loan up to (but excluding) 15 June 2018. |
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15. | The interest rate for the Term Loan AO Facility will be calculated in accordance with Clause 11.1 (Calculation of Interest) of the Credit Agreement, being the sum of EURIBOR and the applicable Margin. For the avoidance of doubt, each party to this Agreement accepts and acknowledges that EURIBOR has the meaning given to it under Clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Credit Agreement provided that if EURIBOR as determined in accordance with that definition is less than zero, it shall be deemed to be zero. |
16. | The Borrower in relation to the Term Loan AO Facility shall be Telenet International Finance S.à r.l. (the Borrower), a private limited liability company (société à responsabilité limitée), incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 89 rue de Pafebrunch, L-8308 Capellen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register under number B 155.066. |
17. | Each Term Loan AO Facility Loan shall be issued at 99.875% provided that no original issue discount shall be payable on any Term Loan AO Facility Loan arising from an increase in the Term Loan AO Facility Commitments effected in accordance with paragraph 2 (OID Fees Funding) of the Fee Letter. |
18. | If on or prior to the date falling 6 months after the date of this Agreement (but not otherwise) the Borrower: |
(a) | makes any prepayment of the Term Loan AO Facility in connection with any Repricing Transaction (as defined below) other than where such prepayment is funded by the issuance of notes by any member of the Group or a special purpose vehicle which on-lends the proceeds of such notes to a member of the Group; or |
(b) | effects any amendment of this Agreement or the Credit Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any amendments contemplated by Schedule 4 (Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 5 (Further Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 6 (Additional Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 7 (Fourth Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 8 (Fifth Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications), Schedule 9 (Sixth Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications) or Schedule 10 (Seventh Amendments, Waivers, Consents and Other Modifications) of this Agreement (the Approved Amendments) resulting in a Repricing Transaction, |
(c) | in the case of paragraph (a) above, a prepayment fee equal to 1.00 per cent. flat on the amount of that Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender’s Term Loan AO Facility Loan which is prepaid and such prepayment fee shall be due and payable on the date of such prepayment; and |
(d) | in the case of paragraph (b) above, a prepayment fee equal to 1.00 per cent. flat on the aggregate amount of the Term Loan AO Facility Loans of each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender that shall have been the subject of a mandatory assignment under the Credit Agreement following the failure of such Lender to consent to such amendment on or prior to the date falling 6 months after the date of this Agreement and such prepayment fee shall be due and payable on the effective date of such assignment. |
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(a) | Provided that any upsizing of the Term Loan AO Facility permitted under this paragraph will not breach any term of the Credit Agreement, the Term Loan AO Facility may be upsized by any amount, by the signing of one or more further Telenet Additional Facility Accession Agreements in respect of the Term Loan AO Facility (an Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement), that specifies (along with the other terms specified therein) Telenet International Finance S.à r.l. as the sole Borrower, that the Commitments under that Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement are denominated in euros, to be drawn in euros and with the same Final Maturity Date and Margin as specified in this Agreement. |
(b) | For the purposes of this paragraph 19 (unless otherwise specified), references to each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender and Term Loan AO Facility Loans shall include Lenders and Advances made under any such further and previous Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement. |
(c) | Where any Term Loan AO Facility Loan has not already been consolidated with any other Term Loan AO Facility Loan, on the last day of any Term for that unconsolidated Term Loan AO Facility Loan, that Term Loan AO Facility Loan will be consolidated with any other Term Loan AO Facility Loan which has a Term ending on the same day as that unconsolidated Term Loan AO Facility Loan, and all such Term Loan AO Facility Loans will then be treated as one Advance under the Term Loan AO Facility. |
20. | For the purposes of any amendment or waiver, consent or other modification (including, with respect to any existing Default or Event of Default) that may be sought by the Company under the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document on or after the date of this Agreement, each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender hereby consents (in its capacity as a Lender from time to time under the Credit Agreement and, if it is a Hedge Counterparty, in its capacity as a Hedge Counterparty, and agrees to procure that, unless it is prohibited from doing so, any of its Affiliates or related funds that are Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties consent in their capacity as Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) to any and all of the following: |
(a) | any and all of the items set out in the Approved Amendments; |
(b) | any consequential amendment, waiver, consent or other modification, whether effected by one instrument or through a series of amendments, to the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document to be made either to implement the Approved Amendments or to conform any Finance Document to the Approved Amendments; and/or |
(c) | any other amendment, waiver, consent or modification, whether effected by one instrument or through a series of amendments, to the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document to be made to conform any Finance Document to any Liberty Global Reference Agreement (provided that any amendment, waiver, consent or modification to conform the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document to any Liberty Global Reference Agreement referred to at paragraphs (vi) to (xi), (xiii) and (xiv) and in respect of the schedules in relation to covenants, events of default or definitions in the Liberty Global |
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21. | Each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender waives (in its capacity as a Lender from time to time under the Credit Agreement and, if it is a Hedge Counterparty, in its capacity as a Hedge Counterparty) and agrees to procure, unless it is prohibited from doing so, that any of its Affiliates and related funds that are Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties waive (in their capacity as Lenders under a Revolving Facility or as Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) receipt of any fee in connection with the foregoing consents, notwithstanding that other consenting Lenders under the Credit Agreement or Hedge Counterparties under the Intercreditor Agreement may be paid a fee in consideration of such Lenders’ or Hedge Counterparties’ consent to any or all of the foregoing amendments, waivers, consents or other modifications. |
22. | Each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender hereby acknowledges and agrees (in its capacity as a Lender from time to time under the Credit Agreement and, if it is a Hedge Counterparty, in its capacity as a Hedge Counterparty) and agrees to procure, unless it is prohibited from doing so, that any of its Affiliates and related funds that are Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties acknowledge and agree (in their capacity as Lenders under a Revolving Facility or Hedge Counterparties, as applicable) that the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent may, but shall not be required to, send to it any further formal amendment request in connection with all, or any of the proposed amendments referred to under paragraph 20 above and the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent (as applicable) shall be authorised to consent on behalf of it, as a Lender under one or more Facilities or Telenet Additional Facilities and as a Hedge Counterparty under the Intercreditor Agreement, to any such proposed amendments set out under paragraph 20 above (and the Facility Agent and/or the Security Agent shall be authorised to enter into any necessary documentation in connection with the same), and such consent shall be taken into account in calculating whether the Majority Lenders, or the relevant requisite Lenders, or the Hedge Counterparties, have consented to the relevant amendment, waiver or other modification in accordance with Clause 28 (Amendments and Waivers) of the Credit Agreement, and Clause 28 (Consents, Amendments and Override) of the Intercreditor Agreement (as applicable), and any clause relating to amendments in any other Finance Document. |
23. | On the first Utilisation Date in respect of the Term Loan AO Facility, the Borrower confirms, on behalf of itself and the Company confirms on behalf of itself and each other Obligor, that the Repeating Representations are true and correct in all material respects as if made at the first Utilisation Date in respect of the Term Loan AO Facility with reference to the facts and circumstances then existing, and as if each reference to the Finance Documents includes a reference to this Agreement. |
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24. | Each of the Obligors further represents and warrants on the first Utilisation Date in respect of the Term Loan AO Facility that the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not violate any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or which is binding upon it or any member of the Group or any of its assets or any member of the Group’s assets, where such violation would or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
25. | Each of the Guarantors party to this Agreement confirms that its obligations under Clause 17 (Guarantee and Indemnity) of the Credit Agreement and each of the Existing Security Providers party to this Agreement confirms that the Security Interests created pursuant to the Security Documents and its obligations under the Finance Documents, shall continue unaffected and that such obligations extend to the Total Commitments as increased by the addition of the Term Loan AO Facility and that such obligations shall be owed to each Finance Party including the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders. |
26. | Each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender confirms to each Finance Party that: |
(a) | it has made its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in the Credit Agreement and has not relied on any information provided to it by a Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(b) | it will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities while any amount is or may be outstanding under the Credit Agreement or any Telenet Additional Facility Commitment is in force. |
27. | Each of the Telenet Additional Facility AO Lenders agrees that without prejudice to Clause 29.4 (Procedure for Transfer by way of Novation) of the Credit Agreement, each New Lender (as defined in the Transfer Certificate referred to below) shall become, by the execution by the Facility Agent of a Transfer Certificate (or a Transfer Certificate substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (Transfer Certificate (Cash)) to this Agreement), bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were an original party hereto as a Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender and shall acquire the same rights, grant the same consents and assume the same obligations towards the other parties to this Agreement as would have been acquired, granted and assumed had the New Lender been an original party to this Agreement as a Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender. |
28. | Notwithstanding Clause 16 (Payments) of the Credit Agreement and any other provision of a Finance Document, the parties to this Agreement agree and acknowledge that a Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender may, with the consent of the Borrower, fund all or part of its participation in the Term Loan AO Facility on a cashless basis provided that (i) the Borrower intends to use the proceeds of such funded participation to immediately repay an equivalent amount (the Cashless Funding Amount) owing to that Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender in its capacity as a Lender under another Facility and (ii) that other Facility is to be repaid in full on the Utilisation Date, in which case, the Cashless Funding Amount shall be deemed to be repaid by the Borrower to that Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender in its capacity as a Lender under that other Facility on a cashless basis on the Utilisation Date. |
29. | The Facility Office and address for notices of each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender for the purposes of Clause 36.2 (Contact Details) of the Credit Agreement will be that notified by each Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender to the Facility Agent. |
30. | For the purposes of the Term Loan AO Facility and any Term Loan AO Facility Loan, and notwithstanding any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary: |
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(a) | The following defined terms shall have the following meanings in the Finance Documents: |
(b) | Where they relate to a Luxembourg company, references in the Finance Documents to: |
(i) | a winding-up, administration or dissolution includes, without limitation, bankruptcy (faillite), insolvency, voluntary or judicial liquidation (liquidation volontaire ou judiciaire), composition with creditors (concordat préventif de faillite), reprieve from payment (sursis de paiement), controlled management (gestion contrôlée), fraudulent conveyance (actio pauliana), general settlement with creditors, reorganisation or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally; |
(ii) | a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or the like includes, without limitation, a juge délégué, commissaire, juge-commissaire, liquidateur or curateur; |
(iii) | a security interest includes any hypothèque, nantissement, gage, privilege, sûreté réelle, droit de rétention and any type of real security or agreement or arrangement having a similar effect and any transfer of title by way of security; and |
(iv) | a person being unable to pay its debts includes that person being in a state of cessation of payments (cessation de paiements). |
(c) | Any guarantee given by any Luxembourg Guarantor does not constitute a suretyship (cautionnement) in the sense of articles 2011 and subsequent of the Luxembourg civil code. |
(d) | The maximum liability of any Luxembourg Guarantor under the Finance Documents shall be limited so that the maximum amount payable by the relevant Luxembourg Guarantor for the obligations of any Obligor, which is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of such Luxembourg Guarantor, hereunder shall at no time exceed the Maximum Amount. |
(i) | all moneys received by that Luxembourg Guarantor or direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor (which are direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor on the date hereof or which will be direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor hereafter) as borrower under or pursuant to the Finance Documents; and |
(ii) | the aggregate amount of the outstanding intercompany loans made to the Luxembourg Guarantor or direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor (which are direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor on the date hereof or which will be direct or indirect Subsidiaries of that Luxembourg Guarantor hereafter) by other members of the Group which have been funded with moneys received by the Borrowers under the Finance Documents (the Loan Amount); and |
(iii) | an amount equal to 95% of the greater of: |
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(A) | the market value of the assets of the Luxembourg Guarantor at the time the guarantee is called less the Liabilities, other than the Loan Amount, at the time the guarantee is called; and |
(B) | the market value of the assets of the Luxembourg Guarantor at the date of this Agreement less the Liabilities, other than the Loan Amount, at the time the guarantee is called. |
(e) | Telenet International Finance S.à r.l. hereby expressly accepts and confirms, for the purposes of Articles 1278 and 1281 of the Luxembourg Civil Code, that notwithstanding any assignment, transfer and/or novation permitted under, and made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Finance Documents, the guarantee given by it guarantees all obligations of each Luxembourg Obligor (including without limitation, all obligations with respect to all rights and/or obligations so assigned, transferred or novated) and any security created under this Agreement or the Finance Documents shall be preserved for the benefit of any New Lender and each Luxembourg Obligor hereby accepts and confirms the aforementioned. |
(f) | Qualifying Lender means, in the case of a Luxembourg Borrower, a Lender which is entitled to receive interest payments free of withholding tax levied pursuant to the Luxembourg law of 23 December 2005, as amended, introducing a withholding tax of 20% on payments of interest or similar income made or ascribed by a paying agent established in Luxembourg to or for the benefit of an individual beneficial owner who is resident of Luxembourg or, in the case of any other Borrower, has the meaning given to that term in the Credit Agreement. |
31. | Each Existing Security Provider (other than the Company) irrevocably appoints the Company to act as its agent: |
32. | If a term of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any jurisdiction, that will not affect: |
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(a) | the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other term of this Agreement; or |
(b) | the legality, validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other term of this Agreement. |
33. | This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law. |
34. | Clause 39.1 (Jurisdiction) of the Credit Agreement is incorporated into this Agreement as if set out in full and as if references in that clause to a “Finance Document” are references to this Agreement. |
35. | This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Agreement by e-mail (PDF) or telecopy shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. |
36. | This Agreement is a Creditor Accession Undertaking as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement. |
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Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender | Term Loan AO Facility Commitment (€)(mln) |
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA | 730,000,000 |
Total | €730,000,000 |
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1. | Obligors |
(a) | A copy of the articles of association or equivalent constitutional documents of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider. |
(b) | A copy of a resolution of the board of directors or equivalent of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement and any other Finance Documents to which it is, or will become, a party. |
(c) | A specimen of the signature of each person authorised on behalf of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider to execute or witness the execution of this Agreement and any other Finance Document or to sign or send any document or notice in connection with this Agreement and any other Finance Document. |
(d) | An up-to-date extract from the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register in respect of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider incorporated in Luxembourg or, to the extent such Obligor or Existing Security Provider is not registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register, a certificate from a notary residing in Luxembourg. |
(e) | An up-to-date negative certificate (certificat de non-inscription d'une decision judiciaire) issued by the Luxembourg Trade and Companies register in respect of each Obligor and each Existing Security Provider incorporated in Luxembourg or, to the extent such Obligor or Existing Security Provider is not registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register, a certificate on solvency of an authorised signatory of the relevant Obligor or Existing Security Provider (as applicable). |
(f) | A copy of the minutes of the shareholders' meeting of each Belgian Obligor and each Belgian Existing Security Provider in the form of a limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) (except for Telenet Group Holding NV): |
(i) | approving for the purposes of article 556 of the Belgian Companies Act, the terms of and transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and |
(ii) | authorising named persons to fulfil the formalities with the Registry of the Commercial Court of the registered office of such Obligor or Existing Security Provider following the decision taken in accordance with the above. |
(g) | A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Company: |
(i) | confirming that utilising the Total Commitments (including the Term Loan AO Facility Commitments) in full would not breach any limit binding on any Obligor or Existing Security Provider; and |
(ii) | certifying that each copy document specified in this Schedule 2 is correct, complete and in full force and effect as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement. |
2. | Legal opinions |
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(a) | A legal opinion of Allen & Overy LLP, English legal advisers to the Facility Agent, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
(b) | A legal opinion of Allen & Overy (Belgium) LLP, Belgian legal advisers to the Facility Agent, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
(c) | A legal opinion of Allen & Overy, société en commandite simple (Luxembourg), Luxembourg legal advisers to the Facility Agent, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
(d) | A legal opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, Delaware legal advisers to the Obligors and Existing Security Providers, addressed to the Finance Parties. |
3. | Other Documents |
(a) | Evidence that the agent of the Borrower under the Finance Documents for service of process in England has accepted its appointment. |
(b) | A duly executed copy of the Fee Letter. |
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To: | The Bank of Nova Scotia as Facility Agent and Telenet International Finance S.à r.l. as Borrower |
From: | [THE EXISTING LENDER] and [THE NEW LENDER] |
(a) | Clause 29.4 (Procedure for Transfer by Way of Novations) of the Credit Agreement; |
(b) | Clause 22.3 (Change of Senior Lender, Pari Passu Creditors, Second Lien Lender and Noteholders) of the Intercreditor Agreement; and |
(c) | the Telenet Additional Facility Accession Agreement dated [l] 2018, pursuant to which a [€][l] term loan facility is made available to the Borrower as a Telenet Additional Facility (Term Loan AO Facility) under the Credit Agreement (the Telenet Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement). |
1. | We, [ ] (the Existing Lender) agree to novate and we, [ ] (the New Lender) agree to accept novation of all the Existing Lender's rights and obligations referred to in the Schedule on and from the Effective Date in accordance with Clause 29.4 (Procedure for Transfer by Way of Novations) of the Credit Agreement and Clause 22.3 (Change of Senior Lender, Pari Passu Creditors, Second Lien Lender and Noteholders) of the Intercreditor Agreement. |
2. | The New Lender confirms that it is bound by the terms of the Telenet Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement from the Effective Date as if it were an original party thereto as a Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender and shall acquire the same rights, grant the same consents and assume the same obligations towards the other parties to the Telenet Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement as would have been acquired, granted and assumed had the New Lender been an original party to the Telenet Additional Facility AO Accession Agreement as a Telenet Additional Facility AO Lender. |
3. | For the purposes of Articles 1278 and 1281 of the Luxembourg Civil Code and Article 1278 of the Belgian Civil Code, each of the Existing Lender, the Facility Agent, the New Lender and the Security Agent agree and each of the Existing Security Providers and Guarantors acknowledge and accept that the Security Documents will be preserved for the benefit of the New Lender in accordance with Clause 29.4 (Procedure for transfer by way of novations) of the Credit Agreement. |
3 | Formerly known as Telenet Bidco NV and subsequently Telenet NV following the merger of Telenet NV into Telenet Bidco and subsequently Telenet BVBA following the conversion into a BVBA. |
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4. | The New Lender represents on the date of this Transfer Certificate that: |
(a) | it is a Qualifying Lender; and |
(b) | it is not a Lender that has met the conditions described in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of Clause 12.6 (U.S. Taxes) of the Credit Agreement. |
5. | This Transfer Certificate shall take effect on the date of this Transfer Certificate. |
6. | For the purposes of this Transfer Certificate, Effective Date means the date specified under the Facility Agent's name in the relevant signature page to this Transfer Certificate. |
7. | Each party to this document agrees, the Facility Agent agrees on behalf of each Finance Party, and Telenet BVBA agrees on behalf of each Obligor, that this document is a Transfer Certificate notwithstanding that its form is different to that required by the Credit Agreement. |
8. | We, the New Lenders, agree to become party to the Intercreditor Agreement as Senior Lenders for the purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement and confirm that, as from the date of this Transfer Certificate, we intend to be party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Senior Lender and undertake to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Agreement to be assumed by a Senior Lender and agree that we shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, as if we had been an original party to the Intercreditor Agreement. |
9. | This Transfer Certificate is a Finance Document. |
10. | This Transfer Certificate may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page of this Transfer Certificate by e-mail (PDF) or telecopy shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Transfer Certificate. |
11. | This Transfer Certificate and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law. |
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1. | Majority Lenders: amend Clause 1.1 (Definitions) of the Credit Agreement to reduce the fractions specified in the definitions of Majority Lenders, from two thirds or more (for any or all purposes under the Credit Agreement or any other Finance Document (including for the purposes of any Telenet Additional Facility)) to more than 50.00% and to exclude the available commitments of defaulting lenders for the purposes of amendments or waivers. |
2. | Super Majority Lenders: amend Credit Agreement to provide for a definition of Super Majority Lenders so that amendments and waivers in respect of the release of any guarantee or security only requires the consent of Lenders representing 90.00% of Commitments. |
3. | Tax: amend Clause 12 (Taxes) to include any provisions (which are not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders) required to accommodate an acceding Additional Borrower incorporated in a jurisdiction other than Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the United States. |
4. | Market Disruption: amend the Credit Agreement to include market disruption provisions and the provision of alternative interest rates in accordance with recent Liberty precedents and/or, to the extent not inconsistent with recent Liberty precedent, the European leverage loan market. |
5. | Geographic restrictions: amend Clause 29.9 (Additional Borrowers) to provide that, in addition to the existing ability for an Additional Borrower incorporated in Benelux and the US to accede (without requiring any Lender consent), to provide an ability to accede Additional Borrowers incorporated in any other jurisdictions with the consent of the Majority Lenders. |
6. | Holding Companies: amend Clause 21.9(b)(iii) to expressly permit a merger of Telenet Group Holding NV, Telenet BVBA or Telenet Vlaanderen NV or any of their intermediate holding companies subject to compliance with the merger regime in recent Liberty precedents. |
7. | Changes to Thresholds: in the definition of Permitted Security Interest, permit the Company to secure Financial Indebtedness on a pari passu or junior ranking basis provided that (other than in the case of a refinancing of other secured Financial Indebtedness in the same or a lesser principal amount) the Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA ratio on a pro forma basis would not be greater than 5.50:1.00 and provided that such Financial Indebtedness is subject to an intercreditor agreement on terms which are satisfactory to the Security Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) and where (in the case of such Financial Indebtedness being secured on a junior ranking basis) the rights of the holders of such Financial Indebtedness in respect of any payment will be contractually subordinated to the rights of the Lenders on terms comparable to the Loan Market Association’s form of intercreditor agreement at such time for mezzanine debt, as referred to in recent Liberty precedent. |
8. | Security and Guarantee Release: amend the relevant provisions of the Credit Agreement (in particular Clauses 21.17 (Share Security) and 29.11 (Resignation of an Obligor(other than the Company))) to provide that, subject to certain thresholds being met no Obligor nor any other member of the Group is required to provide any Security or guarantee other than Security over the shares that it holds in any Obligor, Security required under the terms of the Credit Agreement in respect of Subordinated Shareholder Loans and a guarantee from the Obligors under the terms of the Credit Agreement and include a provision to authorise the Security Agent to release any other Security or guarantees other than the aforementioned and to release Security in respect of Permitted Disposals and to permit relevant Security to be released if a Guarantor resigns in accordance with Clause 29.11 (Resignation of an Obligor (other than the Company)) provided that the guarantor coverage test would still be met notwithstanding such release. |
9. | Defaulting Lender: include standard defaulting lender provisions used in recent Liberty precedents and/or, to the extent not inconsistent with recent Liberty precedent, the European leverage loan market so as the commitments of a defaulting lender may be cancelled and it will have no rights to vote in respect of such cancelled commitments. Clarify that no commitment fee will be payable to a defaulting lender. |
10. | Assignments/Transfers of Lenders: clarify that the Company should have the right to withhold consent in respect of an assignment/transfer of the Revolving Facility to an entity which is not a lender under a revolving facility to the wider Liberty group (subject to no consent being required in the case of transfers to other Lenders or affiliates of Lenders or following an event of default which is continuing). There should be no unreasonableness qualifier on this right (in respect of the Revolving Facility only). Remove requirement of deemed consent within 10 Business Days in respect of each Revolving Facility. |
11. | Assignments/Transfers of Obligors: amend Clause 29.2 (Assignment or Transfer by Obligors) so that any Benelux Borrower may assign or transfer any of its rights and obligations under the Revolving Facility or the Term Loans to another Benelux Borrower and so that any US Borrower may do the same to another US Borrower, in each case, without the prior consent of the Lenders provided that a solvency opinion and legal opinion are provided, if requested, in accordance with recent Liberty precedents in respect of an equivalent provision. |
12. | Amendments: |
(a) | amend Clause 28 (Amendments and waivers) to introduce a class exception, whereby any amendment or waiver that relates only to the rights or obligations of a particular Utilisation or Facility and does not materially and adversely affect the rights or interests of Lenders in respect of other Utilisations or Facilities only requires the consent of the relevant proportion of Lenders participating in such Utilisation or Facility; |
(b) | amend Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) to require the consent of affected Lenders only and not all Lenders (and make any consequential changes by amending for example, all references to matters requiring all Lender consent to only requiring affected Lender consent); and |
(c) | include a new paragraph (d) to Clause 28.2 (Exceptions), to permit the Facility Agent to make technical, minor, operational and OID amendments without consent from any Lenders, on terms consistent with recent Liberty precedent as at the date of implementation of the amendments. |
13. | Joint Ventures and solvent reorganisations: amend the Credit Agreement to permit Telenet BVBA to contribute freely pledged loan and guarantee receivables to the Permitted Joint Venture’s share capital without requiring a release from the Security Agent (subject to confirmation or re-taking of security over such pledged loan and guarantee receivables). |
14. | Accession Agreements: amend each Accession Agreement to remove the restriction which prevents: |
(a) | Telenet BVBA from arranging an Additional Facility if after giving effect to a utilisation thereunder, the ratio of Net Total Senior Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA would be greater than 4.50:1; and |
(b) | the Company from requesting the transfer of an Additional Facility pursuant to Clause 28.3 (Non-Consenting Lenders). |
15. | Non-Consenting Lenders: remove the timing window of 90 days during which the Company may effect the provisions set out in Clause 28.3 (Non-Consenting Lenders). |
1. | Super Majority Lenders: delete paragraph (a)(vii) of Clause 28.2 (Exceptions). |
2. | Market Disruption: amend the Credit Agreement to include provisions for the protection of reference banks and their officers in accordance with recent Liberty precedents and/or, to the extent not inconsistent with recent Liberty precedent, the European leverage loan market. |
3. | Amendments: |
(a) | include a new clause such that where a request for a waiver of, or an amendment to, any provision of any Finance Document has been sent by the Facility Agent to the Lenders at the request of an Obligor, each Lender that does not respond to such request for waiver or amendment within 10 Business Days after receipt by it of such request (or within such other period as the Facility Agent and the Company shall specify), shall be excluded from the calculation in determining whether the requisite level of consent to such waiver or amendment was granted, and delete the proviso to the definition of Majority Lenders; and |
(b) | delete paragraph (a)(vi) of Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) and provide that guarantees and security can be released with the consent of the Lenders representing 90% of Commitments. |
4. | Additional Borrowers: Additional Borrowers may be incorporated in the Kingdom of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg or, in relation to any new Additional Facilities, in the United Kingdom. |
5. | Mandatory Costs: delete all references in each Additional Facility Accession Agreement to Mandatory Costs and any related provisions. |
6. | Permitted Disposals: |
(a) | amend the definition of Permitted Disposal to include in addition to the existing “Permitted Disposals”: |
(i) | disposals by one member of the Group to another member of the Group provided that, if such assets subject to the disposal are subject to existing security, the Borrower within 15 Business Days of such disposal ensures that the assets remain subject to security; and |
1. | Ancillary Facilities: amend the Credit Agreement to provide that (i) a date specified in a conversion notice as the effective date for an ancillary facility commitment may be a date not less than 3 Business Days after the date such conversion notice is received by the Facility Agent, (ii) any proposed increase or reduction or extension of the ancillary facility commitment shall only take effect from a date not less than 3 Business Days after the date the Facility Agent has received notice of the relevant modification or variation or extension and (iii) an ancillary facility lender may demand repayment or prepayment of any amounts under its ancillary facility if the ancillary facility outstandings under that ancillary facility can be repaid by a revolving facility advance (and not less than 7 Business Days notice (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Company) is given to the relevant Borrower before payment becomes due). |
2. | Defaulting Lender: amend the Credit Agreement to include the right to replace a Lender (in whole and at par) if that Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender. |
1. | Transfers: amend clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) of the Credit Agreement to provide that the consent of the Company is not required for any assignment or transfer by a Lender if an Event of Default is outstanding pursuant to any of clauses 22.2 (Non-payment), 22.6 (Insolvency), 22.7 (Insolvency Proceedings), 22.8 (Creditors’ Process) or 22.9 (Similar Proceedings) only (rather than if any Event of Default is outstanding). |
2. | New RCF Maintenance Covenant: amend the Credit Agreement to provide that amendments and waivers of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) to 20.4 (Cure provisions) and the new acceleration clause at (d) above shall only be made with the consent of the Company and the Composite Revolving Facility Instructing Group and shall not require the consent of any other Finance Party. |
1. | Lender Assignments: amend Clause 29 (Changes to Parties) of the Credit Agreement to provide that Lenders may transfer their rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement by way of assignment (subject to equivalent conditionality (including as set out in Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders of the Credit Agreement)) as applies to the regime for transfers by Lenders of their rights and obligations by way of novation under the Credit Agreement and otherwise in accordance with recent Liberty precedent). |
1. | Solvent Liquidation: Amend the Credit Agreement to provide for releases of Security as a result of, and in connection with, any solvent liquidation or dissolution that complies with Clause 21.24 (Internal Reorganisations) of the Credit Agreement. |
2. | Non-Consenting Lenders: Remove the timing window of 90 days during which the Company may exercise its rights as set out in Clause 28.3 (Non Consenting Lenders) such that the Company may exercise such rights at any time. |
3. | Waivers: Add a new limb to Clause 28.1 (Procedure) as follows: |
4. | Transfers: Delete paragraph (b) of Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) in its entirety and replace it with the following: |
1. | Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange: delete the definition of Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange and replace it with the following: |
2. | Ancillary Facility Lender: delete the definition of Ancillary Facility Lender and replace it with the following: |
3. | Consolidated EBITDA: amend the definition of Consolidated EBITDA to: |
(a) | amend limb (l) to move the words “any Holding Company Expenses paid to the extent that they were permitted to be paid under this Agreement for such Measurement Period” |
(b) | amend limb (n) to include the words “or transfer of assets” after the words “sale of assets”. |
4. | Distribution Business: include the following new definition: |
(a) | the business of upgrading, constructing, creating, developing, acquiring, operating, owning, leasing and maintaining cable television networks (including for the avoidance of doubt master antenna television, satellite master antenna television, single and multi-channel microwave single or multi-point distribution systems and direct-to-home satellite systems) for the transmission, reception and/or delivery of multi-channel television and radio programming, telephony and internet and/or data services to the residential markets; or |
(b) | any business which is incidental to or related to and, in either case, material to such business.” |
5. | Excess Capacity Network Service: include the following new definition: |
6. | Financial Indebtedness: amend the definition of Financial Indebtedness to: |
(a) | delete limb (e); and |
(b) | delete limb (d) and replace it with the following: |
7. | Guarantor: delete the definition of Guarantor and replace it with the following: |
8. | Impaired Agent: amend limb (c) of the definition of Impaired Agent to include the words “or (c)” before the words “of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”” and to replace the word “or” between the words “paragraph (a)” and “(b)”with a comma. |
9. | Majority Lenders: delete the final proviso paragraph of the definition of Majority Lenders and provide that it is subject to the snooze and lose provision to be included pursuant to paragraph 21 of Schedule 5 and Clause 10.7(d). |
10. | Permitted Acquisition: amend the definition of Permitted Acquisition to: |
(a) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(b) | amend limb (m) to include the words “, within 60 days of the date of such conversion,” after the words “ensure that the Security Agent is”; |
(c) | delete the proviso at the end of the definition after paragraph (u); and |
(d) | include an additional limb as follows: |
11. | Permitted Disposal: amend the definition of Permitted Disposal to: |
(a) | amend limb (t) to delete “€50,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000” and to delete “1%” and replace it with “three per cent.”; |
(b) | amend limb (t) to add the following to the end of limb (t) of the definition of Permitted Disposal: |
(c) | amend limb (hh) to delete each reference to “€50,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000”; |
(d) | amend limb (ii) to: |
(i) | include, at the end of the limb, the words “and any disposal of assets pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions constituting Financial Indebtedness to the extent such Financial Indebtedness is permitted under this Agreement” after “in any financial year”; |
(ii) | delete “2%” and replace it with “3%”; and |
(iii) | delete “€100,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000”; |
(e) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(A) | undertakings, assets, rights and revenues comprising interests in the share capital of any person engaged solely in the competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) business, including without limitation, the business of providing traditional voice and data services and services based on Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (RCP/IP) technology and other undertakings, assets, rights or revenues constituting a part of such businesses; and |
(B) | undertakings, assets, rights and revenues comprising interests in the share capital of any person engaged solely in the business of television and radio programming, including without limitation, the business or creating and distributing special interest television channels, radio programmes, pay per view programmes and near video on demand services and other undertakings, assets, rights or revenues constituting a part of such businesses;”; and |
(f) | delete limb (ww)(iii). |
12. | Permitted Financial Indebtedness: amend the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness to: |
(a) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(b) | include an additional limb as follows: |
(A) | the extent of such recourse to such member of the Group is limited solely to the amount of any recoveries made on any such enforcement; |
(B) | such person or persons are not entitled, pursuant to the terms of any agreement evidencing any right or claim arising out of or in connection with such Financial Indebtedness, to commence proceedings for the winding up, dissolution or administration of any member of the Group (or proceedings having an equivalent effect) or to appoint or procure the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar person or officer in respect of any member of the Group or any of its assets (save only for the Non-Distribution Business Assets the subject of that Security Interest) until after the Commitments have been reduced to zero and all amounts outstanding under the Finance Documents have been repaid or paid in full; and |
(C) | the aggregate outstanding amount of all such Financial Indebtedness of all members of the Group does not exceed €100,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies);” |
(c) | amend limb (i) to delete the words “under paragraph (jj), (kk) and (ll) of that definition”; and |
(d) | amend limb (r) to delete the words “no Default or”. |
13. | Permitted Joint Venture: delete the words “provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such proposed acquisition”. |
14. | Construction: |
(a) | Add a new limb to Clause 1.2 (Construction) as follows: |
15. | Permitted Payments: |
(a) | Amend Clause 21.11 (Restricted Payments) to include an additional limb (c) as follows: |
“(c) | The restriction contained in paragraph (a) on the payment by any member of the Group of Management Fees shall cease to apply during such period as the applicable ratio for the purposes of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) is 3.50:1 (or less), provided that no Management Fees may be paid by any member of the Group at any time after a Relevant Event has occurred or if a Relevant Event would result from such payment.” |
(b) | Include the following new definition: |
(c) | Include the following additional limb to the definition of Permitted Payment: |
(d) | Amend limb (j) of the definition of Permitted Payment to delete the words “paragraph (s)” and replace them with “paragraph (jj)”. |
(e) | Amend limb (cc) of the definition of Permitted Payment to delete “€10,000,000” and replace it with “€50,000,000”. |
(f) | Delete limb (ll) of the definition of Permitted Payment and replace it with the following: |
(g) | Delete “2%” and replace it with “3%” at limb (kk) of the definition of Permitted Payment. |
(h) | Amend limb (r)(i) of the definition of Permitted Payment to replace the words “three days” with the words “three Business Days”. |
16. | Signing Date: amend all references to “the date of this Agreement” to “the Signing Date”. |
17. | Wider Group: amend paragraph (b) of the definition of Wider Group to add the words “(other than a member of the Group)” at the end. |
18. | Spin-Off: delete the existing definition of Spin-Off at Clause 10.2(c)(xi) (Mandatory Prepayment - Change of Control) and replace it with the following: |
19. | Borrower: delete the existing definition of Borrower and replace it with the following: |
20. | Sub-participations: |
(a) | Include a new definition of Sub-participation as follows: |
(b) | Amend Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) in order that this clause includes a restriction on Sub-participations of rights and obligations and is subject to the same consent regime as for assignments and transfers in accordance with recent Liberty precedent. |
(c) | Add a new clause as follows: |
(a) | such Lender remains a Lender under this Agreement with all rights and obligations pertaining thereto and remains liable under the Finance Documents for any such obligation; |
(b) | such Lender retains exclusive control over all rights and obligations in relation to the participations and Commitments that are the subject of the relevant agreement or arrangement, including all voting rights (for the avoidance of doubt, free of any agreement or understanding pursuant to which it is required to or will consult with any other person in relation to the exercise of any such rights and/or obligations), unless: |
(i) | the proposed sub-participant is a person to whom the relevant rights and obligations could have been assigned or transferred in accordance with the terms of this Clause 29; and |
(ii) | prior to entering into the relevant agreement or arrangement, the relevant Lender provides the Company with full details of that proposed sub-participant and any voting, consultation or other rights to be granted to the sub-participant; |
(c) | the relationship between the Lender and the proposed sub-participant is that of a contractual debtor and creditor (including in the bankruptcy or similar event of the Lender or an Obligor); |
(d) | the proposed sub-participant will have no proprietary interest in the benefit of this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents or in any monies received by the relevant Lender under or in relation to this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents (in its capacity as sub-participant under that arrangement); and |
(e) | the proposed sub-participant will under no circumstances: (i) be subrogated to, or be substituted in respect of, the relevant Lender’s claims under this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents; or (ii) otherwise have any contractual relationship with, or rights against, the Obligors under or in relation to this Agreement or any of the Finance Documents (in its capacity as sub-participant under that arrangement).” |
(d) | Include the additional provision as follows: |
“(a) | In the case of a Sub-participation (in each case, other than any non-voting derivatives (which are not participations) which would otherwise be caught by the definition of “Sub-participation”), the person granting the Sub-participation (or similar right) shall, acting solely for these purposes as non-fiduciary agent for the Company, maintain a register (a “Sub-Participant Register”) on which it enters the name and address of each sub-participant (or person holding the similar right) and the Commitment and obligations (including principal and stated interest) in which each sub-participant (or other person) has an interest or obligation. |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary hereunder, including without limitation Clause 24 (Evidence and Calculations), the entries in the Sub- Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such person maintaining the Sub-Participant Register shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Sub-Participant Register as the owner of such Sub-participation (or similar right) for all purposes of a Finance Document notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. |
(c) | Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Clause 29, no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Sub-Participant Register to any person (including the identity of any sub-participant or any information relating to a sub-participant’s interest in any Advance, Commitments or other obligations under any Finance Documents) except to the extent that such disclosure is to a tax authority and is necessary to establish that such Advance, Commitment or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations or is otherwise required thereunder.” |
(e) | Amend Clause [23.14 (Relationship with Lenders)] to include an additional sub-paragraph as follows: |
21. | Additional Facilities: |
(a) | Add a new paragraph (i) to Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) as follows: |
(b) | Amend the Additional Facilities Cap as defined in Clause 2.2(g) (Telenet Additional Facility) such that: |
(i) | it includes an additional limb for the aggregate amount of any voluntary prepayments of (A) Term Facility Advances that are secured on a pari passu basis with the other Facilities or (B) Advances under Revolving Facilities (to the extent accompanied by a corresponding permanent cancellation of the relevant Revolving Facility Commitments), in each case, to the extent the relevant prepayment or cancellation is not funded or effected with any long-term Financial Indebtedness (including Financial Indebtedness in the form of a bridge or other interim credit facility intended to be refinanced with long-term Financial Indebtedness); and |
(ii) | the Company shall have the ability to classify such amounts of Financial Indebtedness on the date of their incurrence and shall only be required to include the amount and type of such Financial Indebtedness in one of such sub-paragraphs and will be permitted on the date of such incurrence to divide and classify an item of such Financial Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Financial Indebtedness described in such paragraphs, and, from time to time, may reclassify all or a portion of such Financial Indebtedness, in any manner. |
22. | Consolidated EBITDA: amend the definition of Consolidated EBITDA under the Credit Agreement to provide that any adjustments to reduce the impact of the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles or policies and changes as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting principles or policies can be added (at the Company’s option) to the operating income of the Group for that Measurement Period. |
23. | Additional Obligors: Amend the Credit Agreement to provide that any Affiliate of the Company may accede to the Credit Agreement as a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 29.10 (Additional Guarantors) (provided that Security has been granted in form and substance satisfactory to the Facility Agent (acting reasonably) in favour of the Security Agent over 100% of its shares and all rights in relations to loans from members of the Wider Group to it) and that such Affiliate shall be a member of the Group and an Additional Guarantor. Add a new definition of “Affiliate Subsidiary” to Clause 1.1 (Definitions) such that it means any Affiliate of the Company that accedes to the Credit Agreement as a Guarantor pursuant to the amendments described in this paragraph and provided that it has not resigned as a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
24. | Right of Repayment and Cancellation in Relation to a Single Lender: delete Clause 10.8(c)(i) and replace it with the following: |
25. | Alternative Benchmarks: |
(a) | Add the following new definitions to Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |
(b) | Replace the definition of “Screen Rate” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(i) | at any time prior to an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to LIBOR, the London interbank offered rate administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate); or |
(ii) | at any time on or following an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to LIBOR, the Alternative Benchmark Rate for the relevant currency and period displayed on any page of any screen of an information service as the Facility Agent may specify after consultation with the Company on or about the relevant Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date; and |
(i) | at any time prior to an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to EURIBOR, the Euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate); or |
(ii) | at any time on or following an Alternative Benchmark Commencement Date in relation to EURIBOR, the Alternative Benchmark Rate for Euro for the relevant period displayed on any page of any screen of an information service as the Facility Agent |
26. | ERISA: |
(a) | Replace the definition of “ERISA Affiliate” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(b) | Replace the definition of “Plan” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(a) | maintained by any Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate; or |
(b) | to which any Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate is required to make any payment or contribution. |
(c) | Replace the definition of “Reportable Event” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) with the following: |
(a) | an event specified as such in section 4043 of ERISA or any regulation, other than an event in relation to which the requirement to give notice of that event is waived by any regulation; or |
(b) | a failure to meet the minimum funding standard under section 412 or 430 of the Code or section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived. |
(d) | Amend Clause 18.16 (ERISA) to delete the words “member of the Group or”. |
(e) | Delete paragraph (c) of Clause 19.6 (Notification of Default). |
(f) | Delete Clause 21.19 (ERISA) and replace it with the following: |
(a) | Each Obligor must as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of it notify the Facility Agent of: |
(ii) | the termination of or withdrawal from, or any circumstances reasonably likely to result in the termination of or withdrawal from, any Plan; and |
(iii) | any material non-compliance with any law or regulation relating to any Plan which is or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | Each Obligor and its ERISA Affiliates must be, and remain, in compliance in all material respects with all laws and regulations relating to each of its Plans. |
(c) | Each of the Obligors and its ERISA Affiliates must ensure that no event or condition exists at any time in relation to a Plan which is reasonably likely to result in the imposition of a lien or other encumbrance on any of its assets or which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.” |
(g) | Delete Clause 22.15 (ERISA). |
27. | Limited Condition Transaction: amend the definition of “Limited Condition Transaction” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include a third sub-paragraph as follows: |
28. | Rollover: Add a new definition of “Rollover Loan” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |
(a) | “Rollover Loan” means: |
(a) | a Rollover Advance that is for an amount which is equal to or less than the Maturing Advance in respect of which that Rollover Advance is being drawn to refinance; and |
(b) | an Advance in relation to a Revolving Facility: |
(i) | made or to be made on the same day that a demand by the Facility Agent pursuant to a drawing in respect of a Documentary Credit is due to be met; |
(ii) | the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the relevant claim in respect of that Documentary Credit; |
(iii) | in the same currency as the relevant claim in respect of that Documentary Credit; and |
(iii) | made or to be made for the purpose of satisfying the relevant claim in respect of that Documentary Credit. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 4.2 (Further Conditions Precedent) to delete the reference to “Rollover Advance” and replace it with a reference to “Rollover Loan”. |
(c) | Amend paragraph (c) of Clause 4.2 (Further Conditions Precedent), to delete the following words “Rollover Advance provided that the amount of the Maturing Advance is equal to or greater than the amount of that Rollover Advance” and to replace them with the words “Rollover Loan or a Documentary Credit which is being renewed pursuant to Clause 6.2 (Renewal of Documentary Credits)”. |
(d) | Amend Clause 8.2(a) (Unavailability of Optional Currency) to delete the reference to “Rollover Advance” and replace it with a reference to “Rollover Loan”. |
(e) | Amend the title to Clause 9.2 (Rollover Advances) (and all other references in the Credit Agreement to that title) to refer to “(Rollover)” and further amend it so that the words “and in an amount which is equal to or less than” on the 6th line are deleted. |
29. | Cost of Funds: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds) such that it also applies if LIBOR or EURIBOR is to be determined by reference to a Reference Bank Rate or an Alternative Reference Bank Rate and to provide that, in entering into negotiations with the Company with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest, the Facility Agent may act in its sole discretion and will not be required to consult with or seek any consent or instruction from the Lenders or any other Finance Party. |
(b) | Delete paragraph (c) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds) and replace it with the following: |
(c) | Amend paragraph (e) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds) to provide that if a Lender does not supply a quotation by the given time period in paragraph (a)(ii), the rate of interest for that Lender will be the weighted average of the quotations notified to the Facility Agent by the other Lenders. |
30. | US Regulations: |
(a) | Add a new definition of Regulation U in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |
(b) | Replace Clause 18.17 (United States Regulation) with the following: |
(c) | Delete Clause 18.19 (Margin stock) and replace it with the following: |
31. | Amendments and Waivers: |
32. | Guarantees: amend Clause 21.13 (Loans and Guarantees) to: |
(a) | add the words “in respect of Financial Indebtedness only” after the words “no member of the Group will make any loans, grant any credit or give any guarantee”; |
(b) | add a new paragraph as a carve out as follows: |
(c) | delete “€100,000,000” and replace it with “€150,000,000” and delete “2%” and replace it with “3%” at Clause 21.13(bb) (Loans and Guarantees); |
(d) | amend paragraph (g) to include an additional limb (v) as follows: |
“(v) | by an Obligor in respect of the liabilities of any other member of the Group which is not an Obligor provided that that other member of the Group must become an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 29.10 (Additional Guarantors) within 30 days of the granting of the guarantee made pursuant to this paragraph (v);” |
(e) | amend paragraph (z) to delete “€10,000,000” and replace it with “€25,000,000”; and |
(f) | to include additional limbs as follows: |
(i) | “any loans or guarantees relating to Excess Capacity Network Services provided that the price payable to any member of the Group in relation to such Excess Capacity Network Services is no less than the Cost incurred by the relevant member of the Group in providing such Excess Capacity Network Services;”; and |
(ii) | “any guarantees or similar undertakings granted by any member of the Group in favour of any tax authority in respect of any obligations of a member of the Group in respect of tax in order to facilitate the winding up of any member of the Group provided that the Facility Agent shall have first received confirmation from the Company that based on |
33. | Spin Parent: delete the following sentence in paragraph (b) of Clause 10.2 (Mandatory Prepayment – Change of Control): |
34. | Reporting: |
(a) | Delete the definition of GAAP in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
(b) | Delete the definition of IFRS in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
(c) | Delete Clause 19.5 (Change in Accounting Principles) in its entirety and replace it with the following: |
“(a) | Except as otherwise expressly provided below or in this Agreement, all ratios and calculations based on IFRS contained in this Agreement shall be computed in conformity with IFRS. |
(b) | At any time after the OFS Date, the Company may elect to apply for all purposes of this Agreement, in lieu of IFRS, GAAP and, upon such election, references to IFRS herein will be construed to mean GAAP; provided that: |
(i) | all financial statements and reports to be provided, after such election, pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared on the basis of GAAP as in effect from time to time (including that, upon first reporting its financial year results under GAAP, the financial statements of the Reporting Entity shall be restated on the basis of GAAP for the year ending immediately prior to the first financial year for which financial statements have been prepared on the basis of GAAP); and |
(ii) | from and after such election, all ratios, computations and other determinations based on GAAP contained in this Agreement shall, at the Company’s option: |
(A) | continue to be computed in conformity with GAAP (provided that, following such election, the annual and quarterly information required by paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) shall include a reconciliation, either in the footnotes thereto or in a separate report delivered therewith, of such GAAP presentation to the corresponding GAAP presentation of such financial information); or |
(B) | be computed in conformity with GAAP with retroactive effect being given thereto assuming that such election had been made on the OFS Date, subject to any further election in accordance with the definition of GAAP. |
(d) | Amend paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of Clause 19.1 (Financial Statements) to provide that the relevant financial statements or accounts (as applicable) shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS. |
35. | Business Division Transactions and Joint Ventures: |
(a) | In Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
(i) | amend the definition of “Business Division Transaction” to delete the words “, in each case, where such transaction has the prior approval of the Majority Lenders”; and |
(ii) | add the following new definitions: |
(b) | Amend the definition of Permitted Payments and Clause 21.13 (Loans and Guarantees) to include the following additional carve outs in each such clause: |
(i) | “in relation to any Permitted Business Division Transaction; and |
(ii) | in relation to any Acceptable Joint Venture.” |
(c) | Amend paragraph (m) of the definition of Permitted Disposal and paragraph (s)(iv) of the definition of Permitted Payment such that the word “Permitted” is added before the words “Business Division Transaction”. |
36. | Permitted Security Interest: amend the definition of “Permitted Security Interest” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
(a) | to include in addition to the existing “Permitted Security Interests”: |
(b) | include the following additional limb: |
37. | Permitted Acquisitions and Permitted Joint Ventures: delete sub-paragraph (e)(iii) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and delete sub-paragraph (b)(ii) of the definition of Permitted Joint Venture in Clause 1.1 (Definitions). |
38. | Auditors: delete the definition of “Auditors” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
39. | Additional Facilities: amend paragraph (g) and sub-paragraph (g)(i) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) to read as follows: |
“(g) | Subject to paragraph (h) below, the aggregate principal amount of any proposed Telenet Additional Facility shall not, at the election of the Company acting in its sole discretion (x) on the date that the Telenet Additional Facility becomes effective (giving pro forma effect to the intended use of proceeds of such Telenet Additional Facility and assuming that the entire amount of that Telenet Additional Facility is drawn on such date, and provided that an election that this sub-paragraph (x) shall apply may not be made in relation to that Telenet Additional Facility if an election that sub-paragraph (y) shall |
(i) | an unlimited amount provided that on a pro forma basis Net Senior Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA is equal to or less than 4.50:1; |
40. | Construction: |
(a) | Amend Clause 1.2(a) (Construction) to add the following additional limbs: |
(i) | “fair market value” unless otherwise specified, wherever such term is used in this Agreement, may be conclusively established by means of an officer’s certificate or a resolution of the board of directors of the Company, any Permitted Affiliate Parent or any Affiliate Subsidiary setting out such fair market value as determined by such officer or such board of directors in good faith; |
(ii) | any matter being “permitted” under this Agreement or any other Finance Document shall include references to such matters not being prohibited or otherwise being approved under this Agreement or any other such Finance Document; and |
(iii) | “consolidated” in connection with the financial position of, financial statements of or accounts of or financial definitions in relation to, the Group shall be construed to mean that the accounts of any Affiliate Subsidiary shall be combined for the purpose of determining such financial position, financial statements, accounts or financial definitions. |
(b) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to add the following additional paragraphs: |
“(x) | No personal liability shall attach to any director, officer or employee of any member of the Wider Group or Group for any representation or statement made by that member of the Wider Group or Group (as applicable) in a certificate signed by such director, officer or employee; and |
(y) | No Default, Event of Default or breach of any representation and warranty or undertaking under the Finance Documents shall arise merely as a result of a subsequent change in the Euro equivalent of any relevant amount due to fluctuations in exchange rates.” |
(c) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include the following wording at the start of sub-paragraph (a)(xvii)(C) of Clause 1.2 (Construction): |
(d) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb in paragraph (a) as follows: |
(e) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb in paragraph (a) as follows: |
(f) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb in paragraph (a) as follows: |
(g) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to delete limb (v) of paragraph (a) and replace it with the following: |
(h) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to delete limb (viii) of paragraph (a) and replace it with the following: |
(i) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb of Clause 1.2 as follows: |
(j) | Amend Clause 1.2 (Construction) to include an additional limb of Clause 1.2 as follows: |
“(a) | This Agreement is entered into subject to, and with the benefit of, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement. |
(b) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement will prevail if there is a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.” |
(k) | Where relevant in the Credit Agreement, amend references to “company” or “entity” to “person” in accordance with paragraph (a)(vii) of Clause 1.2 (Construction). |
41. | Increase: amend Clause 2.1 (Increase) to: |
(a) | delete sub-paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii); and |
(b) | delete sub-paragraph (a)(iii) and replace it with the following: |
“(iii) | at the election of the Company acting in its sole discretion, it shall be a condition: |
(A) | that the aggregate principal amount of any proposed increase in the Commitments shall not exceed, mutatis mutandis, the Additional Facilities Cap on the date that such increase in the Commitments becomes effective (giving pro forma effect to the intended use of proceeds of such increased Commitment and assuming that the entire amount of that increased Commitment is drawn on such date, and provided that an election that this paragraph (A) shall apply may not be made in relation to that increased Commitment if an election that paragraph (B) shall apply has previously been made in relation to that increased Commitment); or |
(B) | to any Utilisation (other than a Rollover Loan or a Documentary Credit which is being renewed pursuant to Clause 6.2 (Renewal of Documentary Credits)) of that increased Commitment that the aggregate principal amount of that increased Commitment to be drawn would not exceed, mutatis mutandis, the Additional Facilities Cap on the date of that Utilisation (giving pro forma effect to the use of proceeds of such Utilisation but not assuming that the entire amount of that increased Commitment is drawn); and” |
42. | Increased Costs: |
(a) | Amend the first paragraph of Clause 14.1 (Increased Costs) to add “within ten Business Days of demand by the Facility Agent,” after “the Company must” in the first line. |
(b) | Delete paragraph (a) of Clause 14.3 (Claims) and replace it with the following: |
“(a) | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 14.1 (Increased Costs) shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after that Finance Party becomes aware that circumstances have arisen which entitle it to make such claim, notify the Facility Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Facility Agent shall promptly notify the Company.” |
43. | Springing Financial Covenant: amend the covenant set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) so that is reads as follows: |
“(a) | Subject to Clause 22.5 (Cross-default and Cross-acceleration), in the event that on the last day of a Measurement Period the aggregate of the Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility (in each case, other than Documentary Credits that are cash collateralised or undrawn) and the net indebtedness outstanding under each Ancillary Facility less Cash of the Group exceeds an amount equal to 40 per cent. of the aggregate of the Revolving Facility Commitments and each Ancillary Facility Commitment (the “Financial Ratio Test Condition”), the Company shall procure that the ratio of Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA on that day (the “Financial Ratio”) shall not exceed 6.00:1 unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Composite Revolving Facility Instructing Group and the Company. |
(b) | If the financial covenant set out in paragraph (a) has been breached for a Measurement Period but is complied with on the last day of the next Measurement Period (either because the Financial Ratio Test Condition is not met for that next Measurement Period or because the Financial Ratio does not exceed 6.00:1 for that next Measurement Period), then, the prior breach of such financial covenant or any Event of Default arising therefrom shall not (or shall be deemed to not) directly or indirectly constitute, or result in, a breach of any representation, warranty, undertaking or other term in the Finance Documents or a Default or an Event of Default unless the Facility Agent has taken any action under Clause 22.18 (Maintenance Covenant Revolving Facility Acceleration) before the delivery of the certificate referred to at Clause 19.3(a) (Compliance Certificate) in respect of that next Measurement Period.” |
44. | Financial Information: amend paragraph (a) of Clause 19.3 (Compliance Certificate) so that it reads as follows: |
“(a) | The Company must supply to the Facility Agent a Compliance Certificate with each set of its financial statements sent to the Facility Agent under this Agreement if, as at the last day of the Measurement Period ending on the date of such financial statements, the Financial Ratio Test Condition is met.” |
45. | Cure Provisions: delete Clause 20.4 (Cure Provisions) and replace it with the following: |
“20.4 | Cure Provisions |
(a) | The Company may cure a breach of the financial ratio set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) by procuring that: |
(i) | additional equity is injected into, and/or additional Subordinated Shareholder Loans is provided to, one or more members of the Group in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the amount which if it had been deducted from Net Total Debt for the Measurement Period in respect of which the breach arose, would have avoided the breach; or |
(ii) | additional equity is injected into, and/or additional Subordinated Shareholder Loans is provided to, one or more members of the Group in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the amount which if it had been added to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA for the Measurement Period in respect of which the breach arose, would have avoided the breach; or |
(iii) | any Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility and/or net indebtedness under any Ancillary Facility are prepaid (from any source selected by the Company in its sole discretion) in an amount which if such prepayment had occurred immediately prior to the calculation on the last day of the Measurement Period in respect of which the breach arose, the Financial Ratio Test Condition as at the last day of that Measurement Period would not have been met and therefore the financial ratio would not have been required to be tested. |
(b) | A cure under this Clause 20.4 will not be effective unless: |
(i) | in the case of paragraph (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, an amount equal to or greater than the required amount of additional equity or the proceeds of any Subordinated Shareholder Loans is received by one or more members of the Group; or |
(ii) | in the case of paragraph (a)(iii) above, the amount of any Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility and/or net indebtedness under any Ancillary Facility that are required to be prepaid are so prepaid, |
(c) | No cure may be made under this Clause 20.4 (Cure Provisions) |
(i) | in respect of more than five Measurement Periods during the life of the Telenet Additional Facilities; or |
(ii) | in respect of consecutive Measurement Periods. |
(d) | The Company shall make an election (at its sole discretion) by notice to the Facility Agent prior to the end of the Cure Period as to whether a breach of the financial ratio set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) shall be cured pursuant to a recalculation as described in either sub-paragraph (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) above. |
(e) | If the Company makes an election for a recalculation as described in sub-paragraphs (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, it shall be under no obligation to apply the amount of additional equity or the proceeds of any Subordinated Shareholder Loans that are received by one or more members of the Group in prepayment of the Facilities or for any other specific purpose and such amount will be deemed to be deducted from Net Total Debt or added to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA for the purposes of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) (as applicable) as at the last day of the relevant Measurement Period. |
(f) | If the Company makes an election for a recalculation as described in sub-paragraph (a)(iii) above, the amount of any Telenet Additional Facility Outstandings under any Revolving Facility and/or net indebtedness under any Ancillary Facility that are |
(g) | For the purpose of ascertaining compliance with Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA), the Financial Ratio Test Condition and the ratio set out in Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) will be tested or retested, as applicable, giving effect to the elections and adjustments referred to in paragraph (d), (e) and (f) above. If, after giving effect to such elections and adjustments, the requirements of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) are met, then the requirements under Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) shall be deemed to have been satisfied as at the relevant original date of determination. |
(h) | Where a cure is exercised under this Clause 20.4 in respect of a breach of Clause 20.2 (Net Total Debt to Consolidated Annualised EBITDA) for any financial quarter and the Company makes an election for a recalculation as described in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) above, the amount of additional equity or the proceeds of any Subordinated Shareholder Loans that are received by one or more members of the Group shall also be added in calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any future Measurement Period that includes such financial quarter. Any adjustments pursuant to this paragraph will not be treated as a separate cure.” |
46. | Permitted Disposal: amend the definition of Permitted Disposal to add a new limb as follows: |
47. | Permitted Financial Indebtedness: |
(a) | Amend Clause 21.7 (Financial Indebtedness) to add a new paragraph (d) as follows: |
(b) | Amend the definitions of “Senior Debt” and “Total Debt” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include an additional limb as follows: |
48. | Related Fund: amend: |
(a) | Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include a new definition of “Related Fund” as follows: |
(b) | Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) at paragraph (c), to add the words “or, if applicable, a Related Fund” after the words “an Affiliate”. |
49. | Share Capital: |
(a) | Amend Clause 21.16 (Share Capital) to add a new sub-paragraph (i) at the end as follows: “relates to the cancellation of the share capital of any member of the Group or any Obligor”. |
(b) | Amend Clause 21.16 (Share Capital) to add the words “or a solvent liquidation under Clause 21.23 (Internal Reorganisation)” after the words “Clause 21.9(b)(iii) (Acquisitions and Mergers)”. |
50. | Stamp Taxes: delete Clause 12.7 (Stamp Taxes) in its entirety and replace it with the following: |
(a) | any such Tax liabilities payable in connection with any Transfer Certificate or other document relating to the assignment or transfer by any Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under any Finance Document; or |
(b) | any registration duties and any Tax liability payable due to a registration, submission or filing by a Finance Party of any Finance Document where such registration, submission or filing is or was not required to maintain or preserve the rights of that Finance Party under the applicable Finance Documents.” |
51. | Increased Costs: Amend Clause 14.2 (Exceptions) to include the following additional limbs: |
“(i) | attributable to a change (whether of basis, timing or otherwise) in the Tax liability on the overall net income of the Finance Party (or any Affiliate of it) or of the branch or office through which it lends any Advance; |
(j) | attributable to any penalty having been imposed by the relevant central bank or monetary or fiscal authority upon the Finance Party (or any Affiliate of it) by virtue of its having exceeded any country or sector borrowing limits or breached any directives imposed upon it; |
(k) | attributable to a breach of a Finance Document by the Finance Party claiming such Increased Cost.” |
52. | Representations: |
(a) | Delete Clause 18.12 (Security Interests) in its entirety. |
(b) | Delete paragraph (b) of Clause 18.6 (No Event of Default). |
(c) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 18.7 (Authorisations) to include the words “(other than the Licences)” after the word “licenses”. |
(d) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 18.10 (Litigation and Insolvency Proceedings) to replace the words “member of the Group” with the words “Obligor or Material Subsidiary”. |
(e) | Amend Clause 18.18 (Anti-Terrorism Laws) to delete the words “It and each of its Affiliates have taken commercially reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws” and to replace them with “It has taken commercially reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws.” |
53. | Defaulting Lender Disenfranchisement: in addition to paragraph 10 of Schedule 4, provide in the Credit Agreement as follows: |
54. | Consolidated EBITDA: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (y) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA in order that the following words are deleted: |
(i) | are not included in the Company’s externally reported operating cash flow or equivalent measure; or |
(ii) | are deemed to be exception of unusual items”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (g) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA to add the words “or other equity based” after the words “any stock based”. |
55. | 80% Security Test: add the following words at the end of the definition of 80% Security Test in Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
56. | Insolvency Event: amend the definition of Insolvency Event in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to replace the words “in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party:” with the words “in relation to a Finance Party means that the Finance Party or a Holding Company of it (as applicable):”. |
57. | Notes Refinancing: amend the definitions of Senior Secured Notes Refinancing and Senior Unsecured Refinancing in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to delete the word “reasonable” before the words “fees, costs and expenses”. |
58. | Optional Currency: amend the definition of “Optional Currency” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) in order that the words “in relation to that Advance” are included after the words “acting on the instructions of all the Lenders”. |
59. | Permitted Acquisition: amend the definition of Permitted Acquisition in Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
(a) | at paragraph (d) to replace the words “less than a 50 per cent. interest” with the words “an interest of 50 per cent. or less”; and |
(b) | at paragraph (j) to replace the words “10 Business Days” with the words “60 days”. |
60. | Finance Document: |
(a) | Amend the definition of “Finance Document” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to delete the words “a Transfer Certificate;” and include the words “any Increase Confirmation;”. |
(b) | Amend the definition of “Finance Document” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include the following wording at the end of the definition: |
61. | Finance Party: amend the definition of “Finance Party” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to include the following wording at the end of the definition: |
62. | Term of Advance: add a new clause 1.4 as follows: |
63. | Exchange Rates: add a new clause 1.5 as follows: |
64. | Increase: amend paragraph (b) of Clause 2.1 (Increase) to add a new limb (iii) as follows: |
65. | Additional Facility: amend paragraph (h) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) to: |
(a) | delete sub-paragraphs (h)(ii)(A), (h)(ii)(B) and (h)(ii)(C); and |
(b) | delete sub-paragraphs (h)(iii)(B), (h)(iii)(C) and (h)(iii)(D). |
66. | Prepayments: amend Clause 10.10 (Miscellaneous Provisions) to delete paragraph (g) and replace it with the following: |
67. | Tax Indemnity: amend paragraph (b)(ii) of Clause 12.4 (Tax Indemnity) to add an additional limb as follows: |
68. | Representations: amend Clause 18 (Representations and Warranties) by inserting the word “substantially” after the word “business” at Clause 18.2(b) (Status). |
69. | Share Capital: amend Clause 21.16 (Share Capital) to add words “that is a member of the Group” after the words “Each Obligor” and before the words “will not”. |
70. | Obligor Accession: amend Clause 21.22 (Further Assurances) in order that the words “10 Business Days” at paragraph (b)(i) are replaced with “60 days”. |
71. | Breach of obligations EOD: amend Clause 22.3(a) (Breach of Other Obligations) to add the following language at the end: |
72. | Cross Default EOD: amend Clause 22.5 (Cross-default and Cross-acceleration): |
(a) | by deleting the words “is placed on demand;” at paragraph (b)(ii); |
(b) | by deleting limb (c); |
(c) | at paragraph (d)(v), by deleting the words “is not placed on demand, becomes” and replacing them with the words “does not become” and adding the word “not” before the words “otherwise accelerated during that period”; and |
(d) | by adding the following additional limb to paragraph (d): |
73. | Defaulting Lenders: amend Clause 29.3 (Transfers by Lenders) in order that the following is included as a new Clause 29.3(h): |
“(h) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Lender shall be entitled to assign or transfer any of its rights, benefits or obligations under the Finance Documents to a New Lender that is a Defaulting Lender.” |
74. | Amendments: add a new paragraph (d) to Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) as follows: |
75. | Measurement Period: delete the definition of Measurement Period and replace it with the following: |
76. | Consolidated Annualised EBITDA: delete the definition of “Consolidated Annualised EBITDA” in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) and replace it with the following: |
77. | Telenet Additional Facility: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (h) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) and paragraphs (a) and (b) of Clause 2.3 (Overall Facility Limits) to amend each reference from “Advances” and “advances” to “Utilisations”. |
(b) | Amend limb (ii)(D) and (iii)(E) of paragraph (h) of Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) to delete the word “reasonable” before the word “fees”. |
(c) | Add an additional limb to Clause 2.2 (Telenet Additional Facility) as follows: |
78. | Amount of Advance: amend paragraph (b) of Clause 5.3 (Amount of Advance or Documentary Credit) to include the words “under that Facility” after the words “on behalf of the Lenders”. |
79. | Revaluation of Documentary Credits: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 6.4 (Revaluation of Documentary Credits) to replace the words “at six monthly intervals after the date of the Documentary Credit” with the words “on the last Business Day of each financial year”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 6.4 (Revaluation of Documentary Credits) to replace the words “three Business Days” with the words “ten Business Days”. |
80. | Affiliates of Borrowers: amend paragraph (c) of Clause 7.7 (Affiliates of Borrowers) to include the words “, provided that such Affiliate is not an Affiliate of any other Obligor, ” after the words “its Affiliate”. |
81. | Right of Repayment and Cancellation of a Single Lender: amend paragraph (a)(iii) of Clause 10.8 (Right of Repayment and Cancellation of a Single Lender) to include the words “or Clause 15 (Illegality and Mitigation)” after the words “Clause 10.1 (Mandatory Prepayment – Illegality)” and to replace the reference to “or” before the reference to “Clause 10.1” with a comma. |
82. | Selection: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (d)(ii) of Clause 11.5 (Selection – Term Facility) to replace the word “Facility” with “Term Facility Advance” throughout such paragraph and to replace the words “Lenders whose commitments under the relevant Facility then aggregate two thirds or more of the aggregate Commitments under that Facility” with “Majority Lenders under the relevant Facility”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (c) of Clause 11.6 (Selection – Revolving Facility) to replace the words “under that Revolving Facility” with “under the relevant Advance under that Revolving Facility” throughout such paragraph and to replace the words “Lenders whose Commitments under that Revolving Facility then aggregate two thirds or more of the aggregate Commitments under that Revolving Facility” with “the Majority Lenders under that Revolving Facility”. |
83. | Payments: amend Clause 16.4 (Currency) to include the following additional limbs and to re-number limb (c) to limb (e): |
“(c) | A repayment or prepayment of an Advance is payable in the currency in which the Advance is denominated. |
(d) | All interest is payable in the currency in which the relevant amount in respect of which it is payable is denominated.” |
84. | Information: amend Clause 19.4 (Information – Miscellaneous) to delete paragraph (c) in its entirety. |
85. | Change of Business: delete Clause 21.8 (Change of Business) and replace it with the following: |
86. | Acquisitions: amend paragraph (b)(iii)(B) of Clause 21.9 (Acquisitions and Mergers) to replace the words “for the period commencing on the date of merger and ending on the earlier of the date that falls 3 years from the date of merger and the longest dated Final Maturity Date” with “on a pro forma basis following such merger or consolidation.” |
87. | Insurance: amend Clause 21.12 (Insurance) to delete the words “procure that each member of the Group will” and replace them with “procure that each of its Material Subsidiaries which is a member of the Group will”. |
88. | Shareholder Loans: amend paragraph (a) of Clause 21.14 (Shareholder Loans) to replace the words “30 days” with “60 days”. |
89. | Share Security: |
(a) | delete Clause 21.17 (Share security) and replace it with the following: |
(a) | notwithstanding paragraph (b) below, an Obligor may issue shares to any person other than a member of the Group and shall not be required to procure that such shares are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries, provided that such share issue does not result in a Change of Control; |
(b) | any member of the Group may issue shares to or otherwise acquire additional rights from any other member of the Group so long as (if any of the existing shares in the relevant member of the Group are charged or pledged in favour of any Beneficiary) such shares are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of a Security Document and there are delivered at the same time to the Security Agent the relevant share certificates and blank stock transfer forms (or equivalent documents) in respect thereof together with such other documents and evidence and legal opinions as the Security Agent may reasonably require; |
(c) | the Company may issue shares to Telenet Group BVBA provided that such shares are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of a Security Document and there are delivered at the same time to the Security Agent the relevant share certificates and blank stock transfer forms (or equivalent documents) in respect thereof together with such other documents and evidence and legal opinions as the Security Agent may reasonably require; |
(d) | any member of the Group may issue shares pursuant to the exercise of Approved Stock Options; |
(e) | a member of the Group may issue shares as part of an Acquisition or merger or consolidation permitted by Clause 21.9 (Acquisitions and Mergers), provided that the issue of such shares does not cause a Change of Control; |
(f) | a member of the Group (other than an Obligor) may issue shares to all the holders of the share capital of such member of the Group pro rata to their interests in such share capital provided that, if any existing shares in that member of the Group are charged or pledged in favour of any Beneficiary under any Security Document, upon issue the shares that are issued to any other member of the Group are charged or pledged in favour of the Beneficiaries as provided in paragraph (b) above; and |
(g) | any member of the Group (other than the Company) may issue shares to any person pursuant to any agreement or other legally binding arrangement existing, and disclosed to the Facility Agent in writing, on or before the Signing Date, provided that such share issue does not result in a Change of Control.” |
(b) | Add the following additional definition to Clause 1.1 (Definitions): |
90. | Group Redesignation: delete Clause 21.25 (Group Redesignation) and replace it with the following: |
91. | Clean Up Period: |
(a) | Amend the definition of Clean Up Period in Clause 22.3 (Breach of Other Obligations) to replace the words “120 days” with the words “180 days”. |
(b) | Delete the words “(other than Clause 22.3(a) (Breach of Other Obligations) to the extent it refers to Clause 20 (Financial Covenant))” in paragraph (c) of Clause 22.3 (Breach of Other Obligations). |
92. | Intercreditor Agreement: amend paragraph (a) of Clause 22.12 (Intercreditor Agreement) to include the word “material” before the word “obligations”. |
93. | Acceleration: amend Clause 22.17 (Acceleration) to replace the words “may, and must if so instructed by the Majority Lenders” with the words “the Facility Agent shall, if the Majority Lenders so direct”. |
94. | Indemnity: |
(a) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 26.1 (Currency Indemnity) to include the words “, within 10 Business Days of demand” after the words “Obligor must”. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 26.2 (Other Indemnities) to replace the word “Default” with the words “Event of Default”. |
(c) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 26.3 (Break Costs) to include the words “, within ten Business Days of demand by a Lender, ” after the words “Each Borrower must”. |
(d) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 26.3 (Break Costs) to include the words “, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Facility Agent, ” after the words “Each Lender must”. |
95. | Amendments and waivers: |
(a) | Amend Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) to add an additional limb (d) as follows: |
“(d) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 28 (Amendments and Waivers), the Facility Agent may at any time without the consent or sanction of the Lenders, concur with the Company in making any modifications to any Finance Document, which in the opinion of the Facility Agent would be proper to make provided that the Facility Agent is of the opinion that such modification: |
(i) | would not be materially prejudicial to the position of any Lender and in the opinion of the Facility Agent such modification is of a formal, minor or technical nature or is to correct a manifest error; |
(ii) | relates to the increase in the principal amount of a Commitment of a Lender in relation to any Facility and such increased Commitment has been requested by the Company to fund any original issue discount required to be paid to that Lender in relation to that Facility under any Finance Document; |
(iv) | which relates to the implementation of any alternative basis for the calculation of interest that is binding on all Parties in accordance with paragraph (c) of Clause 13.4 (Cost of Funds). |
(b) | Amend Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) to include the words “Subject to Clause 28.6 (Structural Adjustments) below,” at the beginning of paragraph (a). |
(c) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 28.3 (Non Consenting Lenders) to delete limb (iii) in its entirety. |
(d) | Add an additional provision to Clause 28.2 (Exceptions) as follows: |
96. | Changes to the Parties: |
(a) | Amend Clause 29.2 (Assignment or Transfers by Obligors) to include the words “except to the extent permitted by this Agreement” at the end of the paragraph. |
(b) | Amend paragraph (a) of Clause 29.9 (Additional Borrowers) to delete the words “(following consultation with the Facility Agent)”. |
(c) | Amend paragraph (b) of Clause 29.9 (Additional Borrowers) to include the words “under the relevant Facility” after the words “all the Lenders”. |
(d) | Amend paragraph (b)(ii) of Clause 29.11 (Resignation of an Obligor (other than the Company) to replace the words “a Default” with the words “an Event of Default”. |
97. | Governing law: |
(a) | Delete Clause 38 (Governing law) and replace it with the following: |
(b) | Amend the governing law provisions of the schedules to the Credit Agreement to refer to “non-contractual obligations” in conformity with paragraph (a) above. |
98. | Order of Application: amend Clause 10.4 (Order of application) by deleting sub-paragraph (e). |
99. | Affiliate: amend the definition of Affiliate in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) such that it reads as follows: |
(a) | an Affiliate of the Company that issues any notes, bonds or other securities for the purpose of on-lending the proceeds of such issuances under a Facility and to a Borrower under this Agreement and which acts in accordance with the terms of any indentures or other documents governing such issuances (a “Designated Notes Issuer”) shall not be an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Affiliates; and |
100. | Change of L/C Bank: add the words “in relation to the Facility in respect of which such Documentary Credits are issued” after the words “Majority Lenders” in paragraph (c) of Clause 6.11 (Appointment and Change of L/C Bank). |
101. | Restricted Person: amend the definition of Restricted Person in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) such that it reads as follows: |
102. | Permitted Affiliate Group Designation: amend limb (iv)(c) of Clause 29.8 (Permitted Affiliate Group Designation) to include the words “if available,” at the start of the limb. |
103. | Permitted Payment: add a new limb to the definition of Permitted Payment in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) as follows: |