EX-10.8 9 ff42023ex10-8_nextego.htm CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 2022, BY AND AMONG THE COMPANY, BRUCKE FUNDING LLC AND CERTAIN LENDERS THERETO, AND BRUCKE AGENT LLC AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT

Exhibit 10.8

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as

 

of September 29, 2022

 

between

 

NEXT.E.GO MOBILE SE,

 

The LENDERS Party Hereto,

 

and

 

BRUCKE AGENT LLC,

 

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 1
     
SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms 1
SECTION 1.02 Terms Generally 17
SECTION 1.03 Accounting Terms; Changes in Ifrs 17
     
ARTICLE II COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS 18
   
SECTION 2.01 Commitments 18
SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings 18
SECTION 2.03 Borrowing Requests 18
SECTION 2.04 Funding of Borrowings 18
SECTION 2.05 Prepayments; IP Notes Financing 19
SECTION 2.06 Termination of Commitments 21
SECTION 2.07 Repayment of Loans 21
SECTION 2.08 Interest; Fixed Payment 21
SECTION 2.09 Evidence of Debt 22
SECTION 2.10 Payments Generally; Several Obligations of Lenders 22
SECTION 2.11 Sharing of Payments 23
SECTION 2.12 Increased Costs 24
SECTION 2.13 Taxes 25
SECTION 2.14 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 28
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 30
   
SECTION 3.01 Existence, Qualification and Power 30
SECTION 3.02 Authorization; No Contravention 30
SECTION 3.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents 30
SECTION 3.04 Execution and Delivery; Binding Effect 30
SECTION 3.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect 30
SECTION 3.06 Litigation 30
SECTION 3.07 No Material Adverse Effect; No Default 30
SECTION 3.08 Property 30
SECTION 3.09 Taxes 31
SECTION 3.10 Disclosure 31
SECTION 3.11 Compliance with Laws 31
SECTION 3.12 Foreign Plan 31
SECTION 3.13 Environmental Matters 32
SECTION 3.14 Margin Regulations 32
SECTION 3.15 Investment Company Act 32
SECTION 3.16 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption 32
SECTION 3.17 Solvency 32
SECTION 3.18 Beneficial Ownership Certification 32
SECTION 3.19 Liens 32
SECTION 3.20 Indebtedness 32
     
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS 33
   
SECTION 4.01 Conditions to the First Borrowing 33
SECTION 4.02 Conditions to the Second Borrowing 34
SECTION 4.03 Conditions to Third Borrowing 35
SECTION 4.04 Conditions to All Borrowings 36
SECTION 4.05 Conditions Subsequent 37

 

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ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 38
   
SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements 38
SECTION 5.02 Certificates; Other Information 39
SECTION 5.03 Notices 40
SECTION 5.04 Preservation of Existence, Etc 40
SECTION 5.05 Maintenance of Properties 41
SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Insurance 41
SECTION 5.07 Payment of Obligations 41
SECTION 5.08 Compliance with Laws 41
SECTION 5.09 Environmental Matters 41
SECTION 5.10 Books and Records 41
SECTION 5.11 Inspection Rights 41
SECTION 5.12 Use of Proceeds 42
SECTION 5.13 Business Combination Agreement Closing 42
SECTION 5.14 Additional Beneficial Ownership Certification 42
SECTION 5.15 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws 42
SECTION 5.16 Further Assurances; Perfection 42
     
ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS 43
   
SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness 43
SECTION 6.02 Liens 44
SECTION 6.03 Fundamental Changes 46
SECTION 6.04 Dispositions 46
SECTION 6.05 Restricted Payments 47
SECTION 6.06 Investments 47
SECTION 6.07 Transactions with Affiliates 48
SECTION 6.08 Certain Restrictive Agreements 48
SECTION 6.09 Changes in Fiscal Periods 48
SECTION 6.10 Changes in Nature of Business 48
SECTION 6.11 Restriction on Use of Proceeds 49
SECTION 6.12 Amending the Business Combination Agreement 49
SECTION 6.13 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Use of Proceeds 49
SECTION 6.14 Subsidiaries 49
SECTION 6.15 Letter of Comfort 49
SECTION 6.16 [*] 49
     

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ARTICLE VII EVENTS OF DEFAULT 50
   
SECTION 7.01 Events of Default 50
SECTION 7.02 Application of Payments 53
     
ARTICLE VIII AGENCY 54
   
SECTION 8.01 Appointment and Authority 54
SECTION 8.02 Rights as a Lender 54
SECTION 8.03 Exculpatory Provisions 54
SECTION 8.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent 55
SECTION 8.05 Delegation of Duties 55
SECTION 8.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent 56
SECTION 8.07 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders 56
SECTION 8.08 Collateral Agent as Trustee 57
SECTION 8.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim 57
SECTION 8.10 Erroneous Payment 58
     
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS 59
   
SECTION 9.01 Notices; Public Information 59
SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments 60
SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 62
SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns 63
SECTION 9.05 Survival 67
SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution 67
SECTION 9.07 Severability 68
SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff 68
SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc 68
SECTION 9.10 Waiver of Jury Trial 69
SECTION 9.11 Headings 69
SECTION 9.12 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality 69
SECTION 9.13 Patriot Act 70
SECTION 9.14 Interest Rate Limitation 70
SECTION 9.15 Payments Set Aside 70
SECTION 9.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility 71
SECTION 9.17 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions 71
SECTION 9.18 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs 72
SECTION 9.19 Termination; Release 72

 

iii

 

 

SCHEDULES    
SCHEDULE 2.01 - Commitments and Lenders
SCHEDULE 3.06 - Litigation
SCHEDULE 5.12   Use of Proceeds
SCHEDULE 6.01 - Indebtedness
SCHEDULE 6.02 - Liens
SCHEDULE 6.06 - Investments

 

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A - Assignment and Assumption
EXHIBIT B-1 - Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT B-2 - Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT B-3 - Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT B-4 - Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

iv

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of September 29, 2022 (this “Agreement”), between NEXT.E.GO MOBILE SE, as borrower, the LENDERS party hereto, and BRUCKE AGENT LLC, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

 

The Borrower (as defined below) has requested that the Lenders extend credit to the Borrower, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein. Borrower and Lenders mutually agree that the credit extended is a bridge facility (“Brückenfinanzierung”) which is required but also sufficient to allow for the implementation of the Borrower’s on-going [*] steps, including, without limitation, the IP Notes Financing (as defined below) and the merger contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

Acquisition” means, as to any Person, the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions, including through a merger) of all of the equity interests of another Person or all or substantially all of the property, assets or business of another Person or of the assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of another Person.

 

Administrative Agent” means Brucke Agent LLC, in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth in Section 9.01, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by or otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

 

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

 

Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

 

Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(d)(ii).

 

Agreement” has the meaning specified in introductory paragraph hereof.

 

Agreed Second Borrowing Invoices” means those trade payable invoices of the Borrower to be paid with the proceeds of the Second Borrowing.

 

 

 

 

Agreed Third Borrowing Invoices” means those trade payable invoices of the Borrower to be paid with the proceeds of the Third Borrowing.

 

Applicable Law” means, as to any Person, all applicable Laws binding upon such Person or to which such a Person is subject.

 

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, (a) on or prior to the First Closing Date, the percentage of the total Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Lender’s Commitments at such time and (b) thereafter, the percentage of the total Outstanding Amount of Loans of all Lenders represented by the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Loans of such Lender at such time.

 

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

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

 

Athena Acquisition” means the business combination involving the SPAC, Next.e.GO Mobile SE, Next.e.GO B.V. and Time is Now Merger Sub, Inc. pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, (a) in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with IFRS, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with IFRS if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

 

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated statement of financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss, changes in equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with IFRS (and audited pursuant to German GAAP).

 

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time that is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

2

 

 

Borrower” means Next.e.GO Mobile SE, a European company (Societas Europaea) existing under the laws of the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany with registered seat in Aachen, Germany registered with the Commercial Register of the Local Court of Aachen under HRB 24014, with business address at Lilienthalstraße 1, 52068 Aachen, Germany.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(e).

 

Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request for a Borrowing, which in each case shall be in such form as the Administrative Agent may approve.

 

Business Combination Agreement” means that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated July 28, 2022 and to be amended on or around the date hereof, by and among the SPAC, Next.e.GO Mobile SE, Next.e.GO B.V. and Time is Now Merger Sub, Inc.

 

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day that is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York or Düsseldorf or is a day on which banking institutions in such state are authorized or required by Law to close.

 

Capitalized Lease” means each lease that has been or is required to be, in accordance with IFRS, recorded as a capital or financing lease.

 

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

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

 

(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from a Credit Rating Agency;

 

(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or member state of the European Union that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

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

 

(e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA and Aaa (or equivalent rating) by at least two Credit Rating Agencies and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

 

Cash-Flow-Forecast” means in relation to the Borrower a forecast of the Borrower’s freely available liquidity (taking all cash or Cash Equivalents and all due and payable liabilities into account) on a weekly basis for a forecast period of at least 13 weeks which is to be updated each week and which is validated by the [*] or any auditor of reputable standing.

 

3

 

 

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

 

Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which: (a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or (b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body. For the avoidance of doubt, the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement shall not constitute a Change of Control.

 

Closing Date” means the First Closing Date, the Second Closing Date or the Third Closing Date, as applicable.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

Collateral” means all property or other assets, real or personal, tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired in which the Collateral Agent has been granted a security interest pursuant to a Security Document;

 

Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Preamble.

 

Commitments” mean with respect to each Lender, the commitments of such Lender to make a Loan on the First Closing Date, the Second Closing Date or the Third Closing Date in the applicable amount of such Lender’s Commitment set forth on Schedule 2.01, as such commitment shall be terminated pursuant to Section 2.06.

 

4

 

 

Communications” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(d)(ii).

 

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

 

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

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

 

Credit Rating” means a rating as determined by a Credit Rating Agency of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term indebtedness.

 

Credit Rating Agency” means a nationally recognized credit rating agency that evaluates the financial condition of issuers of debt instruments and then assigns a rating that reflects its assessment of the issuer’s ability to make debt payments.

 

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

Debtor Relief Plan means a plan of reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws.

 

Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

 

Default Rate” means an interest rate (before as well as after judgment), with respect to overdue principal, equal to the Interest Rate plus 20.00% per annum.

 

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such Person), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

Disqualified Equity Interest” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, (c) provides for scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety-one days after the Maturity Date; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability.

 

5

 

 

Disqualified Institution” means, on any date, (a) any Person designated by the Borrower as a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date hereof and accepted by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion and (b) any other Person that is a competitor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which Person has been designated by the Borrower as a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including by posting such notice to the Platform) not less than 3 Business Days prior to such date and accepted by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion; provided that “Disqualified Institutions” shall exclude any Person that the Borrower has designated as no longer being a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

Dollar” and “$” mean the lawful money of the United States.

 

DQ Listhas the meaning specified in Section 9.04(f)(iv).

 

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country that is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country that is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country that is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 9.04(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 9.04(b)(iii)).

 

Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, Laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions, including all common law, relating to pollution or the protection of health, safety or the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to Hazardous Materials, air emissions, discharges to waste or public systems and health and safety matters.

 

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

 

6

 

 

Equity Interests” means, as to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Article VII.

 

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.14(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.13, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender's assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.13(g) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Facility” means the Commitments and all Borrowings thereunder.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

FCPA” has the meaning specified in Section 3.16(b).

 

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s Federal funds transactions by depositary institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the Federal funds effective rate and (b) 0%.

 

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

 

7

 

 

Financial Officer” means, as to any Person, the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Person.

 

First Borrowing” means the first Borrowing under this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.02.

 

First Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 9.02.

 

Fixed Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(b).

 

Follow-on Security Document” means

 

(a) a German law governed security transfer agreement (Sicherungsübereignungsvertrag) between the Borrower as security grantor and the Collateral Agent as collateral agent relating to the Borrower’s fixed assets, machinery and equipment as located in one or more security areas relating to the Borrower’s production facilities in Germany;

 

(b) a German law governed assignment agreement between the Borrower as assignor and the Collateral Agent as assignee and relating to the Borrower’s current and future intellectual property rights (including patents and trademarks) registered in Germany and the EU; and

 

(c) the U.S. Intellectual Property Security Agreement. “Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

 

Foreign Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to employees employed outside the United States (other than any governmental arrangement).

 

FPA Transaction” means the transactions contemplated by the letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, from Brucke Funding LLC to, inter alios, the SPAC, and the Borrower regarding OTC equity prepaid forward transactions.

 

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

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Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes, and other substances or wastes of any nature regulated under or with respect to which liability or standards of conduct are imposed pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

IFRS” means, subject to Section 1.03, the international financial reporting standards, as adopted by the European Union and consistently applied.

 

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

 

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

 

(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under or in respect of (i) letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, demand guarantees and similar independent undertakings and (ii) surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

 

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests; and

 

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

 

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For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) that is expressly made non-recourse or limited-recourse (limited solely to the assets securing such Indebtedness) to such Person shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

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

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 9.03(b).

 

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 9.12.

 

Initial Security Documents” means:

 

(a) a German law governed first-ranking pledge agreement between the Borrower as pledgor and the Collateral Agent as pledgee granting a first ranking pledge for the benefit of the Collateral Agent in relation to all or substantially all of the Borrower’s bank accounts in Germany;

 

(b) a German law governed security assignment agreement between the Borrower as assignor and the Collateral Agent as assignee under which the Borrower assigns all of current and future its rights and receivables under or in connection with its accounts receivables (Forderungen aus Lieferungen und Leistungen), insurance policies (Versicherungsforderungen) and intercompany receivables (Forderungen gegen gruppenangehörige Schuldner); and

 

(c) a German law governed security trust agreement between the Borrower as borrower, the Collateral Agent as collateral agent and the Lenders as lenders relating to all German law governed liens or security interests provided to the Collateral Agent under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

Interest Rate” means [*]% per annum.

 

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor incurs Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (h) of the definition of “Indebtedness” in respect of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment but giving effect to any returns or distributions of capital or repayment of principal actually received in case by such Person with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement shall not constitute an “Investment”.

 

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IP Notes Collateral” means the collateral securing the IP Notes Financing.

 

IP Notes Financing” means a promissory note issued by the Borrower and secured by certain liens on certain of the intellectual property of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

 

“Letter of Comfort” means the letter of comfort (Patronatserklärung) granted by nd industrial investments B.V. to Borrower for an amount of up to EUR [*] with a term until December 20, 2022.

 

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

 

Loan” means a loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.9(b), the Security Documents and any other documents entered into in connection herewith.

 

Margin Stock” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (b) a material adverse effect on (i) the ability of the Borrower to perform its Obligations, (ii) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan Document to which it is a party, (iii) the Unvalidated Cash-Flow-Forecast, in particular, but not limited to, a change of general assumptions with respect to the cash-in’s therein or (iv) the rights, remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document.

 

Material Liquidity Shortfall” means a shortfall in liquidity as set out in any Cash-Flow- Forecast which relates to 10% or more of the Borrower’s due and payable liabilities.

 

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Maturity Date” means the earlier of (a) the date that is nine months after the First Closing Date and (b) the date of the closing of the merger between Next.e.GO Mobile SE and the SPAC as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 9.14.

 

NDII” means nd industrial Investments B.V., [*].

 

Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 9.02 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

 

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, the Fixed Payment, charges, expenses, fees, indemnities and other amounts payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in each case in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of the Borrower.

 

OFAC” has the meaning specified in Section 3.16(a).

 

Organizational Documents” means (a) as to any corporation, the charter or certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction), (b) as to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating or limited liability agreement, (c) as to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity and (d) as to any societas europaea (SE), the articles of association (Satzung) and by-laws (Geschäftsordnungen).

 

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

 

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.14(b)).

 

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Outstanding Amount” means, with respect to Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

 

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(d).

 

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(d).

 

PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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

 

Platform” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, DebtX or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.

 

Prepayment Notice” means a notice by the Borrower to prepay Loans, which shall be in such form as the Administrative Agent may approve.

 

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01(e).

 

Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent or (b) any Lender, as applicable.

 

Rescindable Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 8.11.

 

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 9.04(c).

 

Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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

 

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Loans representing more than 50% of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Loans of all Lenders at such time.

 

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Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 8.06(a).

 

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

Responsible Officer” means any managing director (geschäftsführender Direktor) or authorized representative (Prokurist) of the Borrower.

 

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of any Person, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to such Person’s shareholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

 

“[*]”.

 

“[*]”

 

Sanctions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.16(a).

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Second Borrowing” means the second Borrowing under this Agreement in accordance with in Section 2.02.

 

Second Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.02 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 9.02.

 

Security Documents” means the Initial Security Documents and the Follow-on Security Documents.

 

Solvency Confirmation” means an unqualified and unconditional confirmation by the [*] or any auditor of reputable standing confirming that the Borrower is fully financed (voll durchfinanziert) for a period of at least twelve (12) months commencing from the date of the confirmation.

 

SPAC” means Athena Consumer Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation.

 

Solvent” means, as to any Person as of any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital and (e) in case of Person with its centre of main interests within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on Insolvency Proceedings (recast) in Germany, such Person is neither illiquid (zahlungsunfähig) within the meaning of section 17 German Insolvency Act, imminent illiquid (drohend zahlungsunfähig) within the meaning of section 18 German Insolvency Act nor over-indebted (überschuldet) within the meaning of section 19 German Insolvency Act. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

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Subordinated Shareholder Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(b).

 

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

 

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, that are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

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

 

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so- called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

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

 

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Third Borrowing” means the third Borrowing under this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.02.

 

Third Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.03 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 9.02.

 

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

 

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

 

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

 

Unvalidated Cash-Flow-Forecast” means the forecast of the Borrower’s freely available liquidity (taking all cash or Cash Equivalents and all due and payable liabilities into account) for a forecast period of 13 weeks which was delivered by the Borrower on September 29, 2022 and was not validated by any auditor of reputable standing.

 

U.S. Borrower” means any Borrower that is a U.S. Person.

 

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

 

U.S. Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means that certain U.S. Intellectual Property Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, to be entered into by the Borrower and the Collateral Agent.

 

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

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13(g).

 

Wholly-Owned” means, as to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (a) director’s qualifying shares and (b) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by Applicable Law) are owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

Withholding Agent” means the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

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SECTION 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms in the Loan Documents shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” The word “or” is not exclusive. The word “year” shall refer (i) in the case of a leap year, to a year of three hundred sixty-six (366) days, and (ii) otherwise, to a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

SECTION 1.03 Accounting Terms; Changes in IFRS.

 

(a) Accounting Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Loan Documents, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall be construed in conformity with IFRS. Financial statements and other information required to be delivered by the Borrower to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS as in effect at the time of such preparation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof.

 

(b) Changes in IFRS. If the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in IFRS or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in IFRS or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of IFRS as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS

 

SECTION 2.01 Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make a Loan to the Borrower on the First Closing Date, the Second Closing Date and the Third Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount equal to such Lender’s applicable Commitment. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01 and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

 

SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.

 

(a) Borrowings. Each of the First Borrowing, the Second Borrowing and the Third Borrowing shall be made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments.

 

(b) Borrowing Amounts; Limitation on Number of Borrowings. The First Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of no more than $[*]. The Second Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of no more than $[*]. The Third Borrowing shall be in an amount equal to $[*] less the amount of the First Borrowing and the Second Borrowing. At no time shall there be an aggregate principal amount of greater than $15,000,000 outstanding hereunder. No additional Borrowing shall be made hereunder.

 

SECTION 2.03 Borrowing Requests.

 

(a) Notice by Borrower. Each Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent. Each such notice shall be in the form of a written Borrowing Request, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, or may be given by telephone to the Administrative Agent (if promptly confirmed by such a written Borrowing Request consistent with such telephonic notice) and must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day of the requested Borrowing.

 

(b) Content of Borrowing Requests. Each Borrowing Request for a Borrowing pursuant to this Section shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02: (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day); and (iii) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed.

 

(c) Notice by Administrative Agent to Lenders. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.04 Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a) Funding by Lenders. Each Lender shall make the amount of each Borrowing to be made by it hereunder available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the proposed date thereof. The Administrative Agent will make all such funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds, by wire transfer of such funds in accordance with the instructions provided in the applicable Borrowing Request.

 

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(b) Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.04(a) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the applicable interest rate. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 2.05 Prepayments; IP Notes Financing.

 

(a) Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time and from time to time prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part without premium or penalty, subject to the requirements of this Section. Any portion of the principal voluntarily prepaid by the Borrower hereunder shall include all accrued and unpaid interest and the Fixed Payment on that portion of the Loan being prepaid.

 

(b) Mandatory Prepayments.

 

(i) The outstanding principal amount of the Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest in respect thereof, the Fixed Payment and all fees, costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates payable under this Agreement, shall become immediately due and payable upon:

 

(A) the receipt by the Borrower of the proceeds from any other issuance of Indebtedness, issuance of equity securities or sale of assets outside of the ordinary course of business;

 

(B) the voluntary termination of the Commitments under Section 2.06(b); or

 

(C) the termination, cancellation, default or anticipatory repudiation of the Business Combination Agreement by any party thereto for any reason.

 

(ii) Upon the repayment by the Borrower of all of its Obligations due and payable hereunder (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted), the Collateral Agent, acting on behalf of the Lenders, shall immediately release and terminate, or confirm the release of, all Liens under the Security Documents securing the Borrower’s Obligations hereunder.

 

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(c) IP Notes Financing.

 

(i) If the IP Notes Financing gross proceeds exceed $[*], the outstanding principal amount of the Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest in respect thereof, the Fixed Payment and all fees, costs and expenses of the Agents and its Affiliates payable under this Agreement, shall become immediately due and payable in an amount equal to the excess of such IP Notes Financing gross proceeds over $[*];

 

(ii) Upon the repayment by the Borrower of the entire principal amount of the Loans outstanding hereunder pursuant to this Section 2.05(c), the Collateral Agent, acting on behalf of the Lenders, shall immediately release and terminate, or confirm the release of, all Liens under the Security Documents in respect of the IP Notes Collateral;

 

(iii) As an accommodation to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent acting on behalf of the Lenders agrees if the gross proceeds from the IP Notes Financing are less than $[*], the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders) shall negotiate in good faith with the Borrower regarding subordinating the priority of the Lenders’ security interest in the IP Notes Collateral in order to effect the IP Notes Financing;

 

(iv) In addition to other requirements set forth in this Agreement, as a condition precedent to the release or subordination, as the case may be, by the Collateral Agent of the Lenders’ security interest in the IP Notes Collateral, pursuant to Sections 2.05(c)(ii) or 2.05(c)(iii) above, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with (i) a duly executed, binding commitment to fund the IP Notes Financing in the applicable amount, and (ii) a binding insurance policy accepted by the underwriters in respect of the IP Notes Financing, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion; and

 

(v) the IP Notes Financing proceeds shall be deemed to be “paid” by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.05(c), if such proceeds or other moneys in the applicable amount are remitted by the Borrower to an escrow agent mutually satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and placed in an account subject to an escrow agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for the full prepayment of any Borrowing in whole and full payment of accrued and unpaid interest, the Fixed Payment (to the extent to be paid in cash) and the fees, costs and expenses of the Agents hereunder.

 

(d) Notices. Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be in the form of a written Prepayment Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, or may be given by telephone to the Administrative Agent (if promptly confirmed by such a written Prepayment Notice consistent with such telephonic notice) and must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each Prepayment Notice shall specify (x) the prepayment date and (y) the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each Prepayment Notice shall be irrevocable.

 

(e) Amounts; Application. All prepayments of the Loans shall be applied in the following order: Documents; Loans;

 

(i) first, to the repayment of costs, fees and expenses under the Loan

 

(ii) second, to the repayment of accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the

 

(iii) third, to the repayment of principal and all other amounts due and owing in respect of the Loans;

 

(iv) fourth, to the payment of the Fixed Payment; and

 

(v) fifth, to the payment of any other amounts due and owing by the Borrower hereunder or under any Loan Document.

 

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SECTION 2.06 Termination of Commitments.

 

(a) The Commitments shall automatically and permanently terminate upon the funding of the Loans under the Third Borrowing.

 

(b) The Borrower may voluntarily terminate the Commitments hereunder prior to the First Borrowing, if such termination has been approved in writing by the independent directors of the Borrower.

 

SECTION 2.07 Repayment of Loans.

 

(a) Loans under the Facility. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding under the Facility on the Maturity Date (which amount shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05).

 

SECTION 2.08 Interest; Fixed Payment.

 

(a) Interest Rates. Subject to paragraph (c) of this Section, each Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Interest Rate.

 

(b) Fixed Payment. In addition to the interest set forth in Section 2.08(a) and any other amount payable to the Lenders under this Agreement or otherwise, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the pro rata benefit of the Lenders, an amount equal to $[*] minus the amount of all interest accrued under this Agreement (paid or payable), excluding interest paid pursuant to Section 2.08(c), until the time of repayment or prepayment (the “Fixed Payment”), which shall be due and payable on the earliest to occur of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date on which the Loans have been accelerated as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (iii) the repayment in full of all Obligations under this Agreement (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted). If there is a termination, cancellation, default or anticipatory repudiation of the Business Combination Agreement by any party thereto for any reason, the Fixed Payment shall be paid in cash; otherwise, it shall be paid as follows: (A) $[*] in cash and (B) [*].

 

(c) Default Interest. If any amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including principal of any Loan, interest, fees and other amount) is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Default Rate. Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all Loans outstanding hereunder at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Default Rate (without double counting).

 

(d) Payment Dates. Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on the Maturity Date. The Fixed Payment shall become due and payable as set forth in Section 2.08(b).

 

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(e) Interest Computation. All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination.

 

SECTION 2.09 Evidence of Debt.

 

(a) Maintenance of Records. Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice records evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Borrowing made by such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 9.04(c). The entries made in the records maintained pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein. Any failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such records or make any entry therein or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In the event of any conflict between the records maintained by any Lender and the records maintained by the Administrative Agent in such matters, the records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

(b) Promissory Notes. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note of the Borrower payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and a form approved by the Administrative Agent, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loan in addition to such records.

 

SECTION 2.10 Payments Generally; Several Obligations of Lenders.

 

(a) Payments by Borrower. All payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder and the other Loan Documents shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds not later than 12:00 pm (New York City time) on the date specified herein. All amounts received by the Administrative Agent after such time on any date shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fees shall continue to accrue. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its ratable share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable lending office (or otherwise distribute such payment in like funds as received to the Person or Persons entitled thereto as provided herein). If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall fall due on a day that is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that, if such next succeeding Business Day would fall after the Maturity Date, payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made in Dollars.

 

(b) Application of Insufficient Payments. Subject to Section 7.02, if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest, fees and other amounts then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, to pay interest, fees and other amounts then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest, fees and other amounts then due to such parties, and (ii) second, to pay principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

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

 

(d) Deductions by Administrative Agent. If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04, 2.11 or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to the Administrative Agent until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and for application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

(e) Several Obligations of Lenders. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.03(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any such payment on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or to make its payment under Section 9.03(c).

 

SECTION 2.11 Sharing of Payments. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:

 

(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Disqualified Institution) or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).

 

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

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SECTION 2.12 Increased Costs.

 

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

 

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including pursuant to regulations issued from time to time by the Federal Reserve Board for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, special, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D)), special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender;

 

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

 

(iii) impose on any Lender any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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SECTION 2.13 Taxes.

 

(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section, the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(g) Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (A), (B) and (D) of Section 2.13(g)(ii)) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

 

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(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 or Exhibit B-3, IRS Form W-9, or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 2.14 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.13, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.13, as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.13 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section, or if any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 9.04), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.12 or Section 2.13) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

 

(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 9.04;

 

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(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.13, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

(iv) such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law; and

 

(v) in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non- Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

Each party hereto agrees that (x) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 2.14(b) may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (y) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided, further, that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 8.06.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

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

 

SECTION 3.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. The Borrower and each Subsidiary (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, except, in each case referred to in clause (a) (other than with respect to the Borrower), (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document to which it is party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of its Organizational Documents, (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation, including, without limitation, the Business Combination Agreement, to which the Borrower is a party or affecting the Borrower or the properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its property is subject or (c) violate any Law.

 

SECTION 3.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for such approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions or notices that have been duly obtained, taken or made and in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 3.04 Execution and Delivery; Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement constitute, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

SECTION 3.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a) Financial Statements. The Audited Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with IFRS consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations and cash flows for the period covered thereby in accordance with IFRS consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

 

(b) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance that, either individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims, disputes or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, at Law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. There has been no change in the status, or financial effect on the Borrower or any Subsidiary, of the matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06 that, either individually or in the aggregate, has increased or could reasonably be expected to increase the likelihood that such matter(s) could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.07 No Material Adverse Effect; No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

SECTION 3.08 Property.

 

(a) Ownership of Properties. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has valid leasehold interests in all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title that, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any real property.

 

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(b) Intellectual Property. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, licenses or possesses the right to use all of the trademarks, tradenames, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, as currently conducted, business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not conflict with the rights of any other Person, except to the extent that such failure to own, license or possess or such conflicts, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted does not infringe upon or violate any rights held by any other Person, except to the extent that such infringements and violations, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.09 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with IFRS or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.10 Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The reports, financial statements, certificates and other written information (other than projected or pro forma financial information and general market or economic information) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (when taken as a whole), in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected or pro forma financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation and delivery (it being understood that such projected information may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material).

 

SECTION 3.11 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with the requirements of all Laws (including Environmental Laws) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to so comply, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.12 Foreign Plan. To the extent applicable, each Foreign Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable requirements of Law and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, except to the extent that the failure so to comply could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has incurred any material obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan. The present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Plan that is funded, determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Borrower or Subsidiary, as applicable, on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed the current value of the property of such Foreign Plan by a material amount, and for each Foreign Plan that is not funded, the obligations of such Foreign Plan are properly accrued.

 

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SECTION 3.13 Environmental Matters. Except with respect to any matters that, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary (a) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (b) knows of any basis for any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law to be revoked, canceled, limited, terminated, modified, appealed or otherwise challenged, (c) has or could reasonably be expected to become subject to any Environmental Liability, (d) has received notice of any claim, complaint, proceeding, investigation or inquiry with respect to any Environmental Liability (and no such claim, complaint, proceeding, investigation or inquiry is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, is threatened or contemplated) or (e) knows of any facts, events or circumstances that could give rise to any basis for any Environmental Liability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.14 Margin Regulations. The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any Borrowing hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) will be Margin Stock.

 

SECTION 3.15 Investment Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

SECTION 3.16 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption.

 

(a) None of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, employee, agent, or affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by persons that are: (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela).

 

(b) The Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the agents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, are in compliance with all applicable Sanctions and with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) and any other applicable anti-corruption law, in all material respects. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance with applicable Sanctions, the FCPA and any other applicable anti-corruption laws.

 

SECTION 3.17 Solvency. The Borrower is Solvent.

 

SECTION 3.18 Beneficial Ownership Certification. As of (a) the applicable Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(c)(ii) is true and correct in all respects and (b) as of the date delivered, the information included in each Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered pursuant to Section 5.14 is true and correct in all respects.

 

SECTION 3.19 Liens. As of each Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor the SPAC has any Liens, other than Liens described in Section 6.02(a)–(q); and

 

SECTION 3.20 Indebtedness. As of each Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor the SPAC has any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness described in Section 6.01(a)-(m).

 

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ARTICLE IV

[*]

 

SECTION 4.01 Conditions to the First Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to make the First Borrowing on the First Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 9.02) of the following conditions (and, in the case of each document specified in this Section to be received by the Administrative Agent, such document shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender):

 

(a) Executed Counterparts. The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement and a promissory note (in respect of the First Borrowing), signed on behalf of the relevant parties (or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page to this Agreement) that such party has signed such counterparts).

 

(b) Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received an excerpt of the electronic commercial register (Handelsregister) not older than seven (7) days, a copy of the up-to-date share register, its up-to-date list of administrative board members and customary directors’ certificates attaching resolutions executed by all members of the administrative board (Verwaltungsrat), or any other competent body and stating, inter alia, that its corporate documents are in full force and effect and that all transactions contemplated under or in connection with the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by its board of directors and/or supervisory board or any other competent body, if applicable.

 

(c) KYC Information. Upon the reasonable request of any Lender made at least ten days prior to the First Closing Date, the Borrower shall have provided to such Lender (i) the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five days prior to the First Closing Date, and (ii) a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower and each Subsidiary that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

(d) Financial Statements. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Lenders the Audited Financial Statements.

 

(e) Initial Security Documents. The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent each Initial Security Document.

 

(f) Evidence of Perfection of Security Interest. The Collateral Agent shall have received evidence that notifications to account banks regarding the existence of the account pledge have been sent via registered mail (Einschreiben mit Rückschein).

 

(g) Amendment to Business Combination Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the fully-executed amendment to the Business Combination Agreement allowing, among other things, for the Borrower to grant the Liens contemplated by the Security Documents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

33

 

 

(h) Letter of Comfort. The Letter of Comfort shall have been amended to extend its term until December 20, 2022.

 

(i) Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received UCC and United States Patent and Trademark Office search results, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, evidencing the absence of Liens on the Borrower and the SPAC.

 

(j) Subordination of Shareholder Loans. The Administrative Agent shall have received a German law governed subordination agreement in relation to NDII, which shall include, inter alia, the qualified subordination (qualifizierter Rangrücktritt) of such Subordinated Shareholder Loan and a restriction on payments on such Subordinated Shareholder Loan.

 

(k) Unvalidated Cash-Flow-Forecast. The Administrative Agent shall have received the Borrower’s latest up-to-date Unvalidated Cash-Flow-Forecast.

 

(l) Other Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 8.03(c), for purposes of determining satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Section, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed First Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the First Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make the First Borrowings under the Facility hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on September 30, 2022 (and, in the event that such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time, unless the Administrative Agent grants an extension in its sole discretion).

 

SECTION 4.02 Conditions to the Second Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to make the Second Borrowing on the Second Closing Date is additionally subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) Promissory Note. The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower a promissory note (in respect of the Second Borrowing) signed on behalf of the Borrower (or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page to this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of such promissory note).

 

(b) Agreed Second Borrowing Invoices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a written certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the Agreed Second Borrowing Invoices to be paid with the proceeds of the Second Borrowing as set forth in Section 5.12.

 

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(c) Evidence of Perfection of Security Interest. The Collateral Agent shall have received all such evidence as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to ensure the perfected status of the security interests in all Collateral subject to the Initial Security Documents.

 

(d) Opinion of Counsel to Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall have received a German law opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated as of the Second Closing Date regarding the Borrower’s capacity, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and the Borrower hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion to such Persons).

 

(e) IP Notes Financing Progress. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that sufficient and timely progress has been made in respect of the IP Notes Financing.

 

(f) Other Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 8.03(c), for purposes of determining satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Section, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Second Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Second Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make the Second Borrowings under the Facility hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on October 7, 2022 (and, in the event that such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time, unless the Administrative Agent grants an extension in its sole discretion).

 

SECTION 4.03 Conditions to Third Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to make the Third Borrowing on the Third Closing Date is additionally subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) Promissory Note. The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower a promissory note (in respect of the Third Borrowing) signed on behalf of the Borrower (or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page to this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of such promissory note).

 

(b) Underwriting Commitment. The Administrative Agent shall have received a commitment by the relevant insurance company to underwrite the IP Notes Financing.

 

(c) IP Notes Term Sheet. The Administrative Agent shall have received a signed term sheet concerning the IP Notes Financing.

 

(d) Agreed Third Borrowing Invoices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a written Certificate certified by the Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the Agreed Third Borrowing Invoices to be paid with the proceeds of the Third Borrowing and certifying the funds from the Second Borrowing were used to pay the Agreed Second Borrowing Invoices, in each case, as set forth in Section 5.12.

 

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(e) Follow-on Security Documents. The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent each Follow-on Security Document.

 

(f) Cash-Flow-Forecast and Solvency Confirmation. The Administrative Agent shall have received the Borrower’s latest up-to-date Cash-Flow-Forecast together with an up-to-date Solvency Confirmation.

 

(g) Opinion of Counsel to Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall have received an opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated as of the applicable Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and the Borrower hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinion to such Persons).

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 8.03(c), for purposes of determining satisfaction of the conditions specified in this Section, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Third Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Third Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make the Third Borrowings under the Facility hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on November 15, 2022 (and, in the event that such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time, unless the Administrative Agent grants an extension in its sole discretion).

 

SECTION 4.04 Conditions to All Borrowings. The obligation of each Lender to make a Borrowing (including its First Borrowing) is additionally subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) Borrowing Request. The Administrative Agent shall have received a written Borrowing Request in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement and in any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified by materiality, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date), and excluding, after the First Closing Date, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.05(b) and Section 3.06.

 

(c) No Default. No Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from such Borrowing or from the application of proceeds thereof.

 

(d) Fees and Expenses. The Borrower shall have paid all fees, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) agreed in writing to be paid by it to the Agents and the Lenders in connection herewith to the extent due (and, in the case of expenses (including legal fees and expenses), to the extent that statements for such expenses shall have been delivered to the Borrower on or prior to the applicable Closing Date).

 

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(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the applicable Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section and compliance with the conditions set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the first sentence of this Section 4.04.

 

(f) Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate dated the applicable Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming the Borrower is Solvent.

 

Each Borrowing Request by the Borrower hereunder and each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on and as of the date of the applicable Borrowing as to the matters specified in clauses (b) and (c) above in this Section.

 

SECTION 4.05 Conditions Subsequent. As an accommodation to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders have agreed to execute this Agreement and to make the Loans notwithstanding the failure by the Borrower to satisfy the conditions set forth below on or before the First Closing Date. In consideration of such accommodation, the Borrower agrees that, in addition to all other terms, conditions and provisions set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including those conditions set forth in Sections 4.01 through 4.04, the Borrower shall satisfy each of the conditions subsequent set forth below on or before the date applicable thereto (it being understood that (i) the failure by the Borrower to perform or cause to be performed any such condition subsequent on or before the date applicable thereto shall constitute an Event of Default and (ii) to the extent that the existence of any such condition subsequent would otherwise cause any representation, warranty or covenant in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to be breached, the Required Lenders hereby waive such breach for the period from the First Closing Date until the date on which such condition subsequent is required to be fulfilled pursuant to this Section 4.05):

 

(a) [*].

 

(b) Evidence of Perfection of Security Interest. The Collateral Agent shall receive, no later than five (5) Business Days after the First Closing Date, all such evidence as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to ensure the perfected status of the security interests in all Collateral subject to the Initial Security Documents. The Collateral Agent shall receive, no later than five (5) Business Days after the Third Closing Date, all such evidence as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to ensure the perfected status of the security interests in all Collateral subject to the Follow-on Security Documents.

 

(c) Follow-on Security Documents. The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent each Follow-on Security Document within fifteen (15) days of the First Closing.

 

(d) Subordination of Shareholder Loans. The Administrative Agent shall have received, no later than thirty (30) days after the First Closing Date, German law governed subordination agreements in relation to each other Subordinated Shareholder Loan which shall include, inter alia, the qualified subordination (qualifizierter Rangrücktritt) of such Subordinated Shareholder Loan and a restriction on payments on such Subordinated Shareholder Loan;

 

(e) [*].

 

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ARTICLE V

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and all Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative

Agent:

 

(a) as soon as available, and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 5 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC) (commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification, exception or explanatory paragraph or any qualification, exception or explanatory paragraph as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS consistently applied;

 

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS consistently applied, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of notes; and

 

(c) as soon as available, but in any event at least 15 days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year of the Borrower, forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower and a summary of material assumptions used to prepare such forecasts, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, including projected consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for such fiscal year.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Certificates; Other Information. The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 5.01(a) and (b), a duly completed certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

 

(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the shareholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may file or be required to file with the SEC or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, and not otherwise required to be delivered pursuant hereto;

 

(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material request or notice received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any statement or report furnished by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any holder of debt securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished pursuant hereto;

 

(d) promptly after receipt thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

(e) promptly following request therefor, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request;

 

(f) promptly following any request therefor, (i) such other information regarding the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request; or (ii) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” requirements under the PATRIOT Act or other applicable anti-money laundering laws;

 

(g) as from November 2022, promptly after the receipt thereof, but in any event on a biweekly basis, copies of the Cash-Flow-Forecasts validated by [*] or any auditor of reputable standing.

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) or Section 5.02(b) or (c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which such materials are publicly available as posted on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR); or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (A) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (B) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such document to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

SECTION 5.03 Notices. The Borrower will promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender upon becoming aware of:

 

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit, investigation or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws, that could reasonably be expected to be adversely determined, and, if so determined, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $[*];

 

(c) notice of any action arising under any Environmental Law or of any noncompliance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with any Environmental Law or any permit, approval, license or other authorization required thereunder that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $[*];

 

(d) any material change in accounting or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than as a result of the transactions contemplated in the Business Combination Agreement;

 

(e) any change in the Credit Ratings from a Credit Rating Agency, or the placement by a Credit Rating Agency of the Borrower on a “CreditWatch” or “WatchList” or any similar list, in each case with negative implications, or the cessation by a Credit Rating Agency of, or its intent to cease, rating the Borrower’s debt;

 

(f) any matter or development that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(g) any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in parts (c) or (d) of such certification.

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the occurrence requiring such notice and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.04 Preservation of Existence, Etc.. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 6.03 or 6.04; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 5.05 Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business and the Collateral in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self- insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such Persons.

 

SECTION 5.07 Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable, all of its obligations and liabilities, including Tax liabilities, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with IFRS are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.08 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.09 Environmental Matters. Except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) comply with all Environmental Laws, (b) obtain, maintain in full force and effect and comply with any permits, licenses or approvals required for the facilities or operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (c) conduct and complete any investigation, study, sampling or testing, and undertake any corrective, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other action necessary to identify, report, remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials present or released at, on, in, under or from any of the facilities or real properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 5.10 Books and Records. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with IFRS consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 5.11 Inspection Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably requested; provided that, other than with respect to such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, (a) only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lender may exercise rights under this Section and (b) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing under this Section at the expense of the Borrower and at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders will give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s accountants.

 

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SECTION 5.12 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use ninety percent (90%) of the proceeds of the Loans as set forth in Schedule 5.12.

 

SECTION 5.13 Business Combination Agreement Closing. Upon the closing of the Business Combination Agreement, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a) any funds remaining in the SPAC’s trust account after the payment of all redemptions to its shareholders, including proceeds in the trust account available as a direct or indirect result of the Borrower’s contemplated FPA Transaction, will, at the Lenders’ option, first be used to pay the Borrower’s Obligations hereunder;

 

(b) any proceeds from financing and/or capital raising transactions which fund in connection with the close of the merger contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, shall first be applied to pay the Borrower’s Obligations hereunder,

 

(c) if the amounts set forth in Sections 5.13(a) and (b) are insufficient to repay the Borrower’s Obligations hereunder, all cash from each of the Borrower’s deposit accounts shall be immediately swept and transferred to an account specified in writing by the Collateral Agent to satisfy such amounts, and

 

(d) without prejudice to Lenders’ rights to exercise any remedy under this Agreement, the SPAC shall sign an applicable accession and/or confirmation agreement in respect of each Loan Document.

 

SECTION 5.14 Additional Beneficial Ownership Certification. At least five (5) days prior to any Person becoming a party to this Agreement, if requested by any Lender, the Borrower shall cause any such Person that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and has not previously delivered a Beneficial Ownership Certification to deliver a Beneficial Ownership Certification to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

SECTION 5.15 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws. The Borrower will maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents with applicable Sanctions and with the FCPA and any other applicable anti-corruption laws.

 

SECTION 5.16 Further Assurances; Perfection. The Borrower agrees that if, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, the Lenders’ first-priority security interest in the Collateral is in jeopardy, the Borrower agrees it will execute or cause to be executed such other and further assurances and documents, including without limitation additional security documents, as in the opinion of the Collateral Agent may be required in order to protect the perfection and priority of such first-priority security interest. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the Lenders’ first-priority security interest in the Collateral will continue to be in full force and effect following the consummation of the merger contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and all Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 6.01, including the outstanding shareholder loans identified therein as Subordinated Shareholder Loans therein (such shareholder loans, the “Subordinated Shareholder Loans”) and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder;

 

(c) any additional loans made by shareholders that include a qualified subordination (qualifizierter Rangrücktritt) and a restriction on payments on such loan, if such qualified subordination and restriction on payments are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(d) Guarantees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(e) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract; provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for speculative purposes;

 

(f) Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 6.02(h); provided that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any time outstanding shall not exceed $[*];

 

(g) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (f) shall not exceed $[*] at any time outstanding;

 

(h) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of commercial letters of credit;

 

(i) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations not in connection with money borrowed, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(j) Indebtedness (i) resulting from a bank or other financial institution honoring a check, draft or similar instrument in the ordinary course of business or (ii) arising under or in connection with cash management services in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums payable within one (1) year;

 

(l) Indebtedness pursuant to the IP Notes Financing;

 

(m) other Indebtedness incurred after the date of this Agreement not exceeding $[*], except to the extent approved by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders).

 

SECTION 6.02 Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, including the Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

 

(a) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 6.02 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 6.01(b), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 6.01(b);

 

(b) Liens for Taxes not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with IFRS;

 

(c) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 90 days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

 

(d) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with

 

(i) workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, and

 

(ii) public utility services provided to the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

 

(e) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and that do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person, and any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

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(g) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 7.01(j);

 

(h) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(e); provided that( i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

 

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

 

(j) Liens (i) of a collecting bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, and (ii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of setoff) that are customary in the banking industry;

 

(k) Liens pursuant to Section 5-118 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any state (or any comparable provision of any foreign Law) in favor of the issuer or nominated person of letters of credit permitted pursuant to Section 6.01;

 

(l) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensor or sublicensor under leases or licenses permitted by this Agreement that are entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

 

(n) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o) Liens created by the Security Documents; and

 

(p) Liens securing Indebtedness pursuant to the IP Notes Financing to the extent permitted under Section 2.05(c);

 

(q) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.02; provided that at the time of the creation or incurrence thereof (after the date of this Agreement), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness or other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $[*], except to the extent approved by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders).

 

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SECTION 6.03 Fundamental Changes. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a) any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries;

 

(b) any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary;

 

(c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make Dispositions permitted by Section 6.04;

 

(d) any Investment permitted by Section 6.06 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation;

 

(e) any Subsidiary may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs if it owns no material assets, engages in no business and otherwise has no activities other than activities related to the maintenance of its existence and good standing; and

 

(f) the Athena Acquisition may be consummated.

 

provided that, in each case, the Borrower takes any necessary action as reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to preserve the Collateral Agent’s security interests simultaneously upon the consummation of such transaction.

 

SECTION 6.04 Dispositions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b) Dispositions of inventory and Investments in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

 

(d) Dispositions of property by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a Subsidiary;

 

(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 6.03;

 

(f) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses (including the provision of open source software under an open source license) granted in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary commercial terms that do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(g) Dispositions of intellectual property rights that are no longer used or useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(h) the discount, write-off or Disposition of accounts receivable overdue by more than 180 days or the sale of any such accounts receivable for the purpose of collection to any collection agency, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i) the unwinding of any Swap Contract so long as the Swap Termination Value associated therewith does not exceed $[*];

 

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(j) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.05 and Investments permitted by Section 6.06; and

 

(k) Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section; provided that the aggregate book value of all property disposed of pursuant to this clause (k) in any fiscal year shall not exceed $[*]; and

 

(l) the Athena Acquisition may be consummated.

 

SECTION 6.05 Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

 

(a) each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of such Equity Interests in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

 

(b) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new common Equity Interests;

 

(c) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may pay withholding or similar taxes payable by any future, present or former employee, director or officer (or any spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) in connection with any repurchases of Equity Interests or the exercise of stock options; and

 

(d) the Athena Acquisition may be consummated.

 

SECTION 6.06 Investments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make any Investments, except:

 

(a) Investments held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of Cash Equivalents;

 

(b) (i) Investments in Subsidiaries in existence on the First Closing Date, and (ii) other Investments in existence on the First Closing Date and identified on Schedule 6.06, and any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any such Investment that does not increase the amount thereof;

 

(c) advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not exceeding $[*] at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and similar ordinary business purposes;

 

(d) Investments of the Borrower in any Subsidiary and Investments of any Subsidiary in the Borrower or in another Subsidiary;

 

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

 

(f) Investments consisting of the indorsement by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of negotiable instruments payable to such Person for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g) the Athena Acquisition may be consummated;

 

(h) to the extent constituting an Investment, transactions otherwise permitted by Sections 6.01, 6.03 and 6.05;

 

(i) any other Investments not exceeding $[*], except to the extent approved by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders).

 

SECTION 6.07 Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) transactions between or among the Borrower and any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or between and among any Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, and (b) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.05.

 

SECTION 6.08 Certain Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that, directly or indirectly, (a) limits the ability of (i) any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower, (ii) any Subsidiary to guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person to secure the Obligations; provided that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(e) solely to the extent that any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

SECTION 6.09 Changes in Fiscal Periods. The Borrower will not permit the last day of its fiscal year to end on a day other than December 31 or change the Borrower’s method of determining its fiscal quarters.

 

SECTION 6.10 Changes in Nature of Business. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage to any material extent in any business other than those businesses conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business reasonably related or incidental thereto or representing a reasonable expansion thereof, except that the Athena Acquisition may be consummated.

 

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SECTION 6.11 Restriction on Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will not use the proceeds of any Borrowing, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry Margin Stock, or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

 

SECTION 6.12 Amending the Business Combination Agreement. The Borrower will not amend or agree to amend the Business Combination Agreement except those amendments in form an substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the amendment contemplated in Section 4.01(g).

 

SECTION 6.13 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of the FCPA or any other applicable anti-corruption law, or (ii) (A) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or (B) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Loans, whether as Administrative Agent, Lender, underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise).

 

SECTION 6.14 Subsidiaries. The Borrower shall not form a new Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 6.15 Letter of Comfort. The Letter of Comfort shall not be amended, terminated, canceled or repudiated for any reason until all of Borrower’s Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been satisfied in full, except to extend its term.

 

SECTION 6.16 [*].

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

SECTION 7.01 Events of Default. If any of the following events (each, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

 

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

 

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

 

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, or any waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, or any waiver hereunder or thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty under this Agreement or any other Loan Document already qualified by materiality, such representation or warranty shall prove to have been incorrect) when made or deemed made;

 

(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.03(a), 5.04 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence) or 5.12 or in Article VI;

 

(e) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Section) and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 or more days after notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower;

 

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(f) (i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents) having an aggregate principal amount of more than $[*], in each case beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any; or (ii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (f)(ii) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and such Indebtedness is repaid when required under the documents providing for such Indebtedness;

 

(g) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for a period of 60 or more days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered or (iii) the Borrower or a creditor files for the opening of insolvency proceedings or insolvency proceedings are opened in relation to the Borrower or a court orders interim measures in relation to the Borrower within the meaning of section 21 German Insolvency Act, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the appointment of a preliminary insolvency administrator (vorläufiger Insolvenzverwalter) or preliminary custodian (vorläufiger Sachwalter);

 

(h) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect (excluding the filing for measures under the German Business Stabilisation Act (StaRUG)), (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (g) of this Section, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of its assets,

 

(iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

(i) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or are no longer Solvent;

 

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(j) there is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding $[*] (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied or failed to acknowledge coverage), or (ii) a non-monetary final judgment or order that, either individually or in the aggregate, has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect;

 

(k) a Change of Control shall occur;

 

(l) any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other Person contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports in writing to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document;

 

(m) any Cash-Flow-Forecast received by the Administrative Agent shows a Material Liquidity Shortfall;

 

(n) the Business Combination Agreement has been terminated as a result of an event of default thereunder; or

 

(o) the Letter of Comfort shall not be in full force and effect; then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (g) or (h) of this Section), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times:

 

(i) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and

 

(ii) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents and Applicable Law; provided that, in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (g) or (h) of this Section, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

 

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SECTION 7.02 Application of Payments. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and notice thereof to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or the Required Lenders, all payments received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:

 

(i) first, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel payable under Section 9.03 payable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in their respective capacities as such;

 

(ii) second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel payable under Section 9.03) arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (ii) payable to them;

 

(iii) third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iii) payable to them;

 

(iv) fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iv) payable to them;

 

(v) fifth, to the payment in full of the Fixed Payment, in each case ratably among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to them in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and payable;

 

(vi) sixth, to the payment in full of all other Obligations, in each case ratably among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to them in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and payable; and

 

(vii) finally, the balance, if any, after all Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

AGENCY

 

SECTION 8.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Brucke Agent LLC to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent the Collateral Agent, respectively by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third- party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

SECTION 8.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its branches and Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 8.03 Exculpatory Provisions.

 

(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and their respective duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent:

 

(i) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(iii) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or any of its branches or Affiliates in any capacity.

 

(b) Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 7.01 and 9.02), or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in writing by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

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(c) Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.

 

(d) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (i) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (ii) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.

 

SECTION 8.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

SECTION 8.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent, and the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent, and the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of any Facility as well as activities as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

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SECTION 8.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.

 

(a) Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in New York. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Disqualified Institution. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) except for any indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent was acting as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 8.07 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. Each Lender represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire or hold commercial loans, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire or hold such commercial loans, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans.

 

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SECTION 8.08 Collateral Agent as Trustee. Each of the Lenders irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Collateral Agent as trustee on its behalf with regard to (i) the security, powers, rights, titles, benefits and interests (both present and future) constituted by and conferred on the Lenders or any of them or for the benefit thereof under or pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the benefit of all covenants, undertakings, representations, warranties and obligations given, made or undertaken to any Lender in the Loan Documents), (ii) all moneys, property and other assets paid or transferred to or vested in any Lender or any agent of any Lender or received or recovered by any Lender or any agent of any Lender pursuant to, or in connection with, the Loan Documents whether from the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries or any other person and (iii) all money, investments, property and other assets at any time representing or deriving from any of the foregoing, including all interest, income and other sums at any time received or receivable by any Lender or any agent of any Lender in respect of the same (or any part thereof). The Collateral Agent hereby accepts such appointment and declares that it holds all such property on trust for the Lenders on the terms contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (but shall have no obligations under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents except those expressly set forth herein and therein). Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under this Agreement, any promissory note or the other Loan Documents or in connection therewith, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

SECTION 8.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent under Section 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent under Section 9.03.

 

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SECTION 8.10 Erroneous Payment.

 

(a) With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes to any Lender or the Collateral Agent, if the Administrative Agent determines that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the Borrower has not in fact made the corresponding payment to the Administrative Agent; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount(s) received by it from the Borrower either individually or in the aggregate (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative Agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then the each of the Lenders or the Collateral Agent severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender or Collateral Agent, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Person under this clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent determines (in its sole and absolute discretion) that it has made a payment hereunder in error to any Lender or the Collateral Agent, whether or not in respect of any obligation or liability due and owing in connection herewith to the Lenders or the Collateral Agent at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each such Person receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Person in immediately available funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount was received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Person under this clause (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. To the extent permitted by law, each Lender and each the Collateral Agent irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another), “good consideration”, “change of position” or similar defenses (whether at law or in equity) to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender or the Collateral Agent that received a Rescindable Amount promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Person comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount. Each Person’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 8.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.

 

(c) Each Lender or the Collateral Agent hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding clauses (a) or (b) under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d) The parties hereto agree that payment of a Rescindable Amount shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any obligations owed by the Borrower under the Loan Documents, except, in each case, to the extent such Rescindable Amount is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Rescindable Amount that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower for the purpose of making such Rescindable Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, no provision in this Section 8.11 shall be interpreted to increase (or accelerate the due date for) or have the effect of increasing (or accelerating the due date for), the obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents relative to the amount (and/or timing for payment) of the obligations that would have been payable had the erroneous Rescindable Amount not been paid by the Administrative Agent.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 9.01 Notices; Public Information.

 

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or email as follows:

 

(i) if to the Borrower, to:

 

Next.e.Go Mobile SE

 

Lilienthalstraße 152068 Aachen, Germany Germany

Attn: [*]

Email: [*]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Neue Mainzer Strasse 52

60311 Frankfurt, Germany

Attn: [*]

Email: [*]

 

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, to:

 

Cohen & Company Financial Management LLC

[*]

Attn: [*]

E-mail: [*]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Seward & Kissel LLP [*]

Attn: [*]

Email: [*]

 

(iii) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number or email address) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

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

 

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

 

(c) Change of Address, etc. Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

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(d) Platform.

 

(i) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the other Lenders by posting the Communications on the Platform.

 

(ii) The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Platform. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein that is distributed to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through the Platform.

 

(e) Public Information. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the materials and information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (i) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC,” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (ii) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Agents and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of U.S. federal and state securities Laws (provided, however, that to the extent that such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be subject to Section 9.12); (iii) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (iv) the Agents shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information”. Each Public Lender will designate one or more representatives that shall be permitted to receive information that is not designated as being available for Public Lenders

 

SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments.

 

(a) No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative; Enforcement. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, remedy, power or privilege, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right remedy, power or privilege, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers or privileges that any such Person would otherwise have.

 

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(b) Amendments, Etc. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing executed by the Borrower and the Required Lenders, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(i) extend or increase any Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Article IV or the waiver of any Default shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

 

(ii) reduce the principal of, or rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (x) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive the obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or (y) to amend any financial covenant (or any defined term directly or indirectly used therein), even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or other Obligation or to reduce any fee payable hereunder);

 

(iii) postpone any date scheduled for any payment of principal of, or interest on, any Loan, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

 

(iv) change Section 2.10(b) or Section 2.11 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby or change Section 7.02, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

 

(v) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

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

 

provided, further, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties hereunder or under any other Loan Document of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, unless in writing executed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in each case in addition to the Borrower and the Lenders required above.

 

In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical nature, in each case, in any provision of the Loan Documents, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend such provision, and, in each case, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.

 

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SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and their Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent), and shall pay all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, in connection with the syndication of any Facility, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans. Legal fees in connection with the entry into this Agreement and the satisfaction of the conditions precedent shall be reimbursed by the Borrower up to a maximum amount of $[*].

 

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (and any sub-agent of either the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent) and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee's obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) result from a claim not involving an act or omission of the Borrower and that is brought by an Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in their capacities as such). Paragraph (b) of this Section shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

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(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s Applicable Percentage at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent), or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this paragraph (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(e).

 

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan, or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in paragraph (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.

 

(f) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.

 

SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

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(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i) Minimum Amounts.

 

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to or by related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B) in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $[*], unless the Administrative Agent consents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned.

 

(iii) Required Consents. The consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

 

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person).

 

(vii) Security Documents. The acceding Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such documents as are required to accede to and join the Security Documents required by the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13 and 9.03 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section.

 

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(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices at 3 Columbus Circle, 24th Floor, New York NY 10019 a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person, or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 9.03(b) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12 and 2.13 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.13(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.13(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.14 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.12 or 2.13, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower's request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.14(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.11 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant's interest in any commitments, loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(e) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(f) Disqualified Institutions. (i) No assignment or participation shall be made to, any Person that was a Disqualified Institution as of the date (the “Trade Date”) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrower has consented to such assignment or participation in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, the definition of “Disqualified Institution”), (x) such assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution. Any assignment or participation in violation of this clause (f)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (f) shall apply.

 

(ii) If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrower’s prior written consent in violation of clause (i) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Disqualified Institution in connection with such Commitment or (B) require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

 

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any Debtor Relief Plan, each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Debtor Relief Plan, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such Debtor Relief Plan notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Debtor Relief Plan in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the “DQ List”) on the Platform, including that portion of the Platform that is designated for “public side” Lenders or (B) provide the DQ List to each Lender requesting the same.

 

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SECTION 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in any Loan Document or other documents delivered in connection herewith or therewith or pursuant hereto or thereto shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof and the making of the Borrowings hereunder, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied and so long as the Commitments have not expired or been terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.12, 9.03, 9.15 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the payment in full of the Obligations, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

 

(a) Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (e.g., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

(b) Electronic Execution of Loan Documents. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including any Assignment and Assumption, shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

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SECTION 9.07 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, and each of their respective branches and Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held, and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing, by such Lender or any such branch or Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or its respective branches or Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, branch or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender and their respective branches and Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its respective branches or Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

SECTION 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc..

 

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents (except the Security Documents) and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except the Security Documents, and as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

(b) Jurisdiction. The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in New York County, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

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(c) Waiver of Venue. The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d) Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 9.12 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its branches and Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); (c) to the extent required by Applicable Laws or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as (or no less restrictive than) those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder; (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any Facility or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to any Facility; (h) with the consent of the Borrower; or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective branches or Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower who did not acquire such information as a result of a breach of this Section. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Agents or any Lender in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

 

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For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

SECTION 9.13 PATRIOT Act. Each Lender subject to the PATRIOT Act hereby notifies the Borrower that, pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it may be required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.

 

SECTION 9.14 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or other Obligation owing under this Agreement, together with all fees, charges and other amounts that are treated as interest on such Loan or other Obligation under Applicable Law (collectively, “charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender or other Person holding such Loan or other Obligation in accordance with Applicable Law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan or other Obligation hereunder, together with all charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate. To the extent lawful, the interest and charges that would have been paid in respect of such Loan or other Obligation but were not paid as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and charges payable to such Lender or other Person in respect of other Loans or Obligations or periods shall be increased (but not above the amount collectible at the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for each day to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender or other Person. Any amount collected by such Lender or other Person that exceeds the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate shall be applied to the reduction of the principal balance of such Loan or other Obligation or refunded to the Borrower so that at no time shall the interest and charges paid or payable in respect of such Loan or other Obligation exceed the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate.

 

SECTION 9.15 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

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SECTION 9.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent or any Lender is intended to be or has been created in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents, irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender has advised or is advising the Borrower or any Subsidiary on other matters, (ii) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, (iii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent that it has deemed appropriate and (iv) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; and (b) (i) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person; (ii) none of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective branches and Affiliates may be engaged, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against any of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

SECTION 9.17 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder that may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

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SECTION 9.18 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Contracts or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(b) As used in this Section 9.18, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b)

 

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

SECTION 9.19 Termination; Release. This Agreement shall terminate and the Collateral shall be automatically released from the Lien of this Agreement when the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the principal of and interest and Fixed Payment (if any) on the Loans, all fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted). Upon termination hereof, the security interests granted by the Security Documents shall automatically terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Borrower. Upon termination hereof or any release of Collateral in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to the Borrower all releases or confirmations of releases or other documents reasonably necessary and in form reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, or administrative body, as applicable, and take such reasonable further actions for the release of such Collateral from the security interests created thereby, upon the written request and at the sole cost and expense of the Borrower, assign, transfer and deliver to the Borrower, against receipt and without recourse to or warranty of any kind (either express or implied) by the Collateral Agent (except that the Collateral Agent has not assigned or otherwise transferred its security interest in the Collateral), such of the Collateral to be released (in the case of a release) as may be in possession or control of the Collateral Agent and as shall not have been sold or otherwise applied pursuant to the terms hereof, and, with respect to any other Collateral, with such endorsements or proper documents and instruments (including UCC-3 termination statements or releases) acknowledging the termination hereof or the release of such Collateral, as the case may be.

 

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  BRUCKE FUNDING LLC,
     
  By [*]
    Name: [*]                             
    Title: Authorized Representative

 

  Notice Address:
  Brucke Funding LLC
  Attn: [*]
  Email: [*]
  [*]
  C/O Cohen & Company LLC, [*]
  United States

 

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  BRUCKE AGENT LLC,
as Administrative Agent
  [*]
  Title: Authorized Representative
   
  BRUCKE AGENT LLC,
as Collateral Agent
  [*]
  Title: Authorized Representative

 

[Sign,ature Page to Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

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

 

  NEXT.E.GO MOBILE SE,
  as the Borrower
     
  By    
  Name: [*]
  Title: [*]

 

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2.01

 

Commitments and Lenders

 

First Borrowing

 

Name of Lender  Commitment 
Brucke Funding LLC  $            [*] 
TOTAL  $[*] 

 

Second Borrowing

 

Name of Lender  Commitment 
Brucke Funding LLC  $             [*] 
TOTAL  $[*] 

 

Name of Lender  Commitment 
Brucke Funding LLC  $ [*]less the amount of the First Borrowing and the Second Borrowing  
      
TOTAL  $15,000,000 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3.06

 

[*]

 

 

 

 

Schedule 5.12

 

[*]

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.01

 

[*]

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.02

 

[*]

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.06

 

[*]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION]

 

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each]1 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “Assignor”) and [the][each] 2 Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “Assignee”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees]3 hereunder are several and not joint.]4 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by [the][each] Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

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

 

1.Assignor[s]: ______________________________

 

  _______________________________

 

 

1For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this document relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.

 

2For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this document relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.

 

3Select as appropriate.

 

4Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 

 

 

 

2.Assignee[s]: ______________________________

 

  _______________________________

 

  [Assignee is an [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [identify Lender]]

 

2.Borrower(s): ______________________________

 

4. Administrative Agent: ________________ ,as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

 

5.Credit Agreement: [The [amount] Credit Agreement dated as of ________ among [name of Borrower(s)], the Lenders parties thereto, [name of Administrative Agent], as Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto]

 

6.Assigned Interest[s]:

 

Assignor[s]5  Assignee[s]6  Facility
Assigned7
  Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment/
Loans for all
Lenders8
   Amount of
Commitment/
Loans Assigned8
   Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/
Loans9
   CUSIP
Number
 
        $            $                       %             
         $   $     %     
         $   $     %     

 

[7.Trade Date: _____________________]10

 

 

5List each Assignor, as appropriate.

 

6List each Assignee, as appropriate.

 

7Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment and Assumption.

 

8Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

 

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

 

10To be completed if the Assignor(s) and the Assignee(s) intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

  ASSIGNOR[S]11
  [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
   
  By:  
    Title:  
     
  [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
   
  By:  
    Title:  
     
  ASSIGNEE[S]12
  [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
   
  By:  
    Title:  
     
  [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
   
  By:  
    Title:  

 

Consented to and Accepted:  
   
[NAME OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT], as  
Administrative Agent  
                                   
By:  
Title:    

 

 

11Add additional signature blocks as needed. Include both Fund/Pension Plan and manager making the trade (if applicable).

 

12Add additional signature blocks as needed. Include both Fund/Pension Plan and manager making the trade (if applicable).

 

 

 

 

ANNEX 1

 

[_________________ ]13

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1.Representations and Warranties.

 

1.1 Assignor[s]. [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document14, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents [or any collateral thereunder], (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document, or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

1.2 Assignee[s]. [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 9.04 of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required thereunder), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender15 attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, [the][any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts that have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][the relevant] Assignee for amounts that have accrued from and after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments of interest, fees or other amounts paid or payable in kind from and after the Effective Date to [the][the relevant] Assignee.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York [confirm that choice of law provision parallels the Credit Agreement].

 

 

13Describe Credit Agreement at option of Administrative Agent.

 

14The term “Loan Document” should be conformed to that used in the Credit Agreement.

 

15The concept of “Foreign Lender” should be conformed to the section in the Credit Agreement governing withholding taxes and gross-up.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B-1

 

[FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of [   ] (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among [    ], and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.13 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]  
   
By:         
Name:    
Title:    
   
Date: __________, 20[   ]  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B-2

 

[FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of [   ] (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among [     ], and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.13 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non- U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]  
   
By:         
Name:    
Title:    
   
Date: __________, 20[   ]  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B-3

 

[FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of [   ] (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among [    ], and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.13 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “bank” extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W- 8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]  
   
By:         
Name:    
Title:    
   
Date: __________, 20[   ]  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B-4

 

[FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of [    ] (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among [     ], and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.13 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “bank” extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]  
   
By:         
Name:    
Title:    
   
Date: __________, 20[   ]