UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
CVR Agreement
As previously disclosed, on March 31, 2026, Biogen Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Biogen”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Apellis”), and Aspen Purchaser Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen (“Purchaser”).
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and in connection with the irrevocable acceptance for payment by Purchaser of all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Apellis (the “Shares”) validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer (as defined below), on May 14, 2026, Biogen, Apellis and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, entered into a Contingent Value Rights Agreement (the “CVR Agreement”) governing the terms of the CVRs (as defined below) issued pursuant to the Offer and the Merger (as defined below).
Each CVR represents a non-transferable contractual contingent right to receive the following cash payments, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable tax withholding (the “Milestone Payments”) if the following milestones (each, a “Milestone”) are achieved:
| • | $2.00 per CVR, upon the achievement of Annual Net Sales (as defined in the CVR Agreement) of at least $1,500,000,000 attributable to SYFOVRE® and related products in the aggregate during the 2027, 2028, 2029 or 2030 calendar years (the “Net Sales Milestone 1”); and |
| • | $2.00 per CVR, upon the achievement of Annual Net Sales (as defined in the CVR Agreement) of at least $2,000,000,000 attributable to SYFOVRE® and related products in the aggregate during the 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 or 2031 calendar years (the “Net Sales Milestone 2”), provided that if the Net Sales Milestone 1 is not met prior to December 31, 2030 but the Net Sales Milestone 2 is achieved during the 2031 calendar year, then the Net Sales Milestone 2 will be worth $4.00 per CVR. |
Each Milestone may only be achieved and paid once; if the Annual Net Sales threshold is met in multiple calendar years, only the first achievement triggers payment.
There can be no assurance that any Milestone will be achieved prior to the expiration or termination of the CVR Agreement, or that payment will be required of Biogen with respect to any Milestone.
The foregoing description of the CVR Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of the CVR Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Term Loan Credit Agreement
On May 12, 2026, Biogen entered into a Credit Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”), as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for unsecured term loan facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $2 billion (the “Term Facilities”), comprised of a $1 billion 364-day tranche (“Tranche A”) and a $1 billion two-year tranche (“Tranche B”). On May 13, 2026, in connection with the completion of the Offer and the Merger, Biogen borrowed the full amount available under the Credit Agreement.
The proceeds from the borrowings under the Term Facilities were used to pay a portion of the consideration for the Offer and the Merger and for other purposes in connection with the Transactions (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
Loans under the Credit Agreement are denominated in dollars. Tranche A loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either, at Biogen’s option, (a) Term SOFR (as defined in the Credit Agreement), subject to a floor of 0.000% per annum, plus an applicable margin of 0.750% or (b) Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus an applicable margin of 0.000%. Tranche B loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either, at Biogen’s option, (a) Term SOFR, subject to a floor of 0.00% per annum, plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.750% to 1.000% based on the ratings of Biogen’s non-credit enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt, as determined by S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s or (b) Base Rate plus an applicable margin of 0.000%.
All amounts outstanding under the Term Facility shall become due and payable (a) in the case of Tranche A, May 12, 2027 and (b) in the case of Tranche B, May 12, 2028. Under the Term Facility, voluntary prepayments are permitted, in whole or in part, in minimum amounts without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs.
The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default that are, in each case, substantially similar to the equivalent terms of that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 12, 2024 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof), among Biogen, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent.
The Credit Agreement also includes a financial covenant requiring Biogen to maintain, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.75 to 1.0 (which shall be temporarily increased, at the option of Biogen, to 4.25 to 1.0 upon notice by Biogen to U.S. Bank as a result of other material acquisitions from time to time, subject to customary limitations).
A copy of the Credit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement.
Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on April 14, 2026, Purchaser commenced a tender offer (the “Offer”) to acquire any and all of the issued and outstanding Shares, in exchange for (i) $41.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable tax withholding (the “Cash Amount”), plus (ii) one contractual, non-transferable contingent value right per Share (each, a “CVR”) representing the right to receive contingent cash payments of up to an aggregate of $4.00 in cash, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable tax withholding, upon the achievement of certain specified milestones (the Cash Amount plus one CVR, collectively, the “Offer Price”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated April 14, 2026 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”) and in the related Letter of Transmittal.
On May 14, 2026, Biogen announced that the Offer and related withdrawal rights expired as scheduled at one minute after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 13, 2026 (the “Expiration Time”) and that immediately prior to the Expiration Time, based on the information provided by the depositary for the Offer, a total of 105,687,831 Shares were validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer, representing approximately 82.4% of the Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Expiration Time. The number of Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer (excluding Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not yet been “received”, as such term is defined by Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”)), together with any Shares beneficially owned by Biogen or any of its subsidiaries, satisfied the Minimum Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and all other conditions to the consummation of the Offer having been satisfied or waived, on May 14, 2026, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Shares that were validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer, and payment for such Shares will be made promptly in accordance with the terms of the Offer and the Merger Agreement.
Following the completion of the Offer, the remaining conditions to the Merger (as defined below) set forth in the Merger Agreement were satisfied or waived, and on May 14, 2026, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser merged with and into Apellis, without a vote of the stockholders of Apellis in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL, with Apellis continuing as the surviving corporation of the Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”) and as a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen (the “Merger”, and the date and time at which the Merger became effective is referred to as the “Effective Time”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each Share (other than Shares that were (i) held in the treasury of Apellis, (ii) irrevocably accepted for purchase in the Offer by Purchaser and “received” (as such term is defined by Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL) by Purchaser, (iii) held by Biogen, Purchaser or any other wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen as of both the commencement of the Offer and immediately prior to the Effective Time and (iv) held by stockholders who were entitled to, and properly demanded, appraisal for such Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL) was cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Offer Price without interest, subject to reduction for any applicable withholding taxes (the “Merger Consideration”).
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, any outstanding and unexercised warrant to purchase Shares (each, an “Apellis Warrant”) was deemed to be exercised in full in a “cashless exercise” pursuant to its terms, and any Shares issued upon such deemed cashless exercise were automatically converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest and subject to applicable withholding taxes. Apellis has confirmed that, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, no Apellis Warrants were outstanding.
At the Effective Time, subject to all required withholding taxes and with each CVR payable in accordance with the CVR Agreement, each outstanding Apellis equity award was treated as follows: (i) each option to purchase Shares (each, an “Apellis Option”) that had vested as of immediately prior to the Expiration Time (including any Apellis Option that vested as a result of the transactions) with an exercise price less than the Cash Amount was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive from the Surviving Corporation a cash payment equal to the product of the total number of Shares underlying such vested Apellis Option multiplied by the excess of the Cash Amount over the exercise price per Share of such vested Apellis Option, plus one CVR per Share underlying such vested Apellis Option; (ii) each vested Apellis Option with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Cash Amount but less than the Aggregate Amount (as defined in the Merger Agreement) was cancelled and converted into the right to receive one CVR per Share underlying such vested Apellis Option (with any Milestone Payment reduced by the excess, if any, of the applicable exercise price per Share over the Cash Amount, as set forth in the CVR Agreement); (iii) each Apellis Option with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Aggregate Amount was cancelled for no consideration; (iv) each unvested Apellis Option was cancelled and converted into a contingent right to receive the same consideration as a comparably priced vested Apellis Option (including the right to receive one CVR per Share underlying such unvested Apellis Option, subject to the terms of the CVR Agreement), payable in cash, subject to the holder’s continued service through the applicable vesting dates and otherwise subject to the same terms and conditions (including any double-trigger vesting provisions, as extended under the terms of the Merger Agreement) as the original award; (v) each award of restricted stock units with respect to Shares (each, an “Apellis RSU”), including awards subject to both a time-based and performance-based vesting schedule (each, an “Apellis PSU”), that had vested as of immediately prior to the Expiration Time was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of the total number of Shares underlying such vested Apellis RSU or vested Apellis PSU multiplied by the Cash Amount, plus one CVR per Share underlying such vested Apellis RSU or vested Apellis PSU; and (vi) each unvested Apellis RSU and unvested Apellis PSU was cancelled and converted into the contingent right to receive the same consideration as a vested award of the same type (including the right to receive one CVR per Share underlying such unvested Apellis RSU and unvested Apellis PSU, subject to the terms of the CVR Agreement), subject to the holder’s continued service through the applicable vesting dates (in the case of Apellis PSUs, through the end of the applicable performance period) and otherwise subject to the same terms and conditions (including any double-trigger vesting provisions, as extended under the terms of the Merger Agreement, but, in the case of Apellis PSUs, no longer subject to performance-based vesting conditions) as the original award. The number of Shares underlying each Apellis PSU was determined based on (A) actual performance as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Apellis Board as of the latest practicable date prior to the Effective Time with respect to total stockholder return-based Apellis PSUs granted in January 2026 and (B) the target performance levels for all other Apellis PSUs.
The aggregate amount to be paid by Purchaser in the Offer and the Merger is approximately $5.3 billion, excluding related fees and expenses and, for the avoidance of doubt, any amounts that may become payable pursuant to the CVRs. Biogen and Purchaser will fund the acquisition of the Shares in the Offer and the Merger through a combination of cash and borrowings. Biogen estimates it would need approximately $582 million to pay the maximum aggregate amount that the holders of CVRs (including holders of certain Apellis Options, Apellis RSUs, Apellis PSUs and Apellis Warrants who received CVRs pursuant to the Merger Agreement) would be entitled to if all of the Milestones are achieved.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the related transactions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Biogen on March 31, 2026 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On May 14, 2026, Biogen issued a press release announcing, among other things, the consummation of the Merger. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in this Item 7.01 and in Exhibit 99.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.
The audited consolidated financial statements of Apellis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 are incorporated herein by reference to Apellis’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 24, 2026.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Apellis for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026 are incorporated herein by reference to Apellis’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2026.
(b) Pro forma financial information.
The unaudited pro forma financial information required by this Item 9.01(b) will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
(d) Exhibits.
| † | Certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Biogen hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted exhibits and schedules upon request by the SEC. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Biogen Inc. | |||||
| Date: May 14, 2026 |
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By: | /s/ Wendell Taylor | |||
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Name: Wendell Taylor | ||||
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Title: Secretary | ||||
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of May 14, 2026 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Biogen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with any successor thereto, the “Company”), and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, as Rights Agent.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Parent, Aspen Purchaser Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent (“Purchaser”), and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 31, 2026 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time pursuant to the terms thereof, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (a) the Parent has agreed to cause Purchaser to commence a tender offer (the “Offer”) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”), and (b) following consummation of the Offer, Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent has agreed that each outstanding share of Company Common Stock (other than shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.6(b) of the Merger Agreement and Dissenting Shares) will convert into the right to receive (i) the Cash Amount and (ii) one (1) contractual contingent value right as hereinafter described, and that certain Company Equity Awards and Company Warrants will convert into the right to receive the Cash Amount and contractual contingent value rights as hereinafter described, each of which the Parent has agreed to provide to the Company’s stockholders and such holders of Company Equity Awards and Company Warrants, as applicable; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the consummation of the transactions referred to above, the parties hereto agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.1 Definitions. Terms used but not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms will have the following meanings:
“Accounting Methodology” means the accounting methods, practices and procedures, including revenue recognition policies, used to prepare the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Parent with respect to the applicable Calendar Year.
“Acting Holders” means, at the time of determination, Holders of at least thirty-two and a half percent (32.5%) of the outstanding CVRs, as set forth in the CVR Register at the time of determination.
“Annual Net Sales” means the net product revenue worldwide recognized by members of the Product Rights Group for a Calendar Year attributable to sales of the Product (excluding any sales to other members of the Product Rights Group), as determined in accordance with GAAP, consistent with the Accounting Methodology; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Accounting Methodology, Annual Net Sales shall not be decreased by any royalty payments, product or sales milestone payments or license payments, in each case, paid by any member of the Product Rights Group.
“Business” means the business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with the commercialization and exploitation of the Product, including such business and operations conducted as of the date of this Agreement and any and all rights to commercialize and exploit the Product held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement.
“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open in New York, New York.
“Calendar Year” means each successive period of twelve (12) months commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.
“Change of Control” means, with respect to a party, (a) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such party, as applicable, on a consolidated basis (other than to any Subsidiary (direct or indirect) of such party), (b) a merger or consolidation involving such party in which it is not the surviving entity unless the stockholders of such party immediately prior to such transaction own or hold 50% or more of such surviving entity’s voting power immediately after such transaction and in substantially the same proportions as such stockholders owned or held immediately prior to such transaction or with substantially the same control or (c) any other transaction involving such party in which it is the surviving or continuing entity but in which the stockholders of such party immediately prior to such transaction own less than 50% of such party’s voting power immediately after the transaction.
“Commercially Diligent Efforts” means the level of efforts of Parent and its Subsidiaries to operate the Business in the ordinary course of business and in a good-faith, diligent and sustained manner, without undue interruption, pause or delay, including a level of effort and expenditure of resources that is consistent with the level of efforts that a company of comparable size, nature and resources as those of the Parent would use to conduct the Business, including by maintaining an appropriate sales force/work force in the Business, with the Parent permitted to take into account the nature of efforts and cost required for the undertaking at stake and all factors reasonably deemed relevant to such operation, including the time and cost to commercialize the Product, product safety, regulatory requirements, the competitiveness of alternative third-party products, pricing, reimbursement, future revenue prospects, actual or reasonably anticipated profitability, potential third-party liability and litigation risk, and technical, commercial, legal, scientific and medical factors, in each case, based on then-existing and reasonably anticipated
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future conditions; provided, that such level of efforts and resources shall be determined without taking into account the fact of or the cost of any potential Milestone Payment Amounts payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, “Commercially Diligent Efforts” does not mean that Parent guarantees that it will actually achieve a Milestone and a failure to achieve a Milestone may still be consistent with Commercially Diligent Efforts.
“Company Equity Awards” means Company RSU Awards and Company Stock Options.
“Company Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“Compound” means the compound known as APL-2 (pegcetacoplan) or any compstatin analogue or derivative of such compound.
“CVR Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).
“CVRs” means the rights of Holders to receive contingent cash payments pursuant to the Merger Agreement and this Agreement.
“Dispute Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.
“Equity Award CVR” means a CVR received by an initial Holder in respect of Company Equity Awards pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Merger Agreement.
“Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Holder” means a person in whose name a CVR is registered in the CVR Register at the applicable time.
“Independent Accountant” means an independent certified public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing designated either (a) jointly by the Acting Holders and the Parent, or (b) if such parties fail to make a designation, jointly by an independent public accounting firm selected by the Parent and an independent public accounting firm selected by the Acting Holders.
“Milestone” means each of the Net Sales Milestone 1 and the Net Sales Milestone 2.
“Milestone Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Milestone Payment Amount” means (a) with respect to the Net Sales Milestone 1, the Net Sales Milestone 1 Payment Amount, if any, and (b) with respect to the Net Sales Milestone 2, the Net Sales Milestone 2 Payment Amount, if any.
“Milestone Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).
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“Net Sales Milestone 1” means the first achievement of Annual Net Sales of at least $1,500,000,000 in the aggregate during any Calendar Year ending December 31, 2027, December 31, 2028, December 31, 2029 or December 31, 2030.
“Net Sales Milestone 1 Payment Amount” means $2 per CVR; provided, that such amount will be reduced (not to below zero) in respect of an Equity Award CVR issued in respect of a Company Stock Option with an exercise price that is equal to or greater than the Cash Amount by the excess, if any, of the exercise price per Share of such Company Stock Option over the Cash Amount.
“Net Sales Milestone 2” means the first achievement of Annual Net Sales of at least $2,000,000,000 in the aggregate during any Calendar Year ending December 31, 2027, December 31, 2028, December 31, 2029, December 31, 2030 or December 31, 2031.
“Net Sales Milestone 2 Payment Amount” means $2 per CVR; provided that if the Net Sales Milestone 1 is not met prior to December 31, 2030, then the Net Sales Milestone 2 Payment Amount if the Net Sales Milestone 2 is achieved during the Calendar Year ending December 31, 2031 shall instead be $4 per CVR; provided, that such amount will be reduced (not to below zero) in respect of an Equity Award CVR issued in respect of a Company Stock Option with an exercise price that is equal to or greater than the Cash Amount by the result of (a) the excess, if any, of the exercise price per Share of such Company Stock Option over the Cash Amount minus (b) the amount of any reduction made pursuant to the proviso in the definition of “Net Sales Milestone 1 Payment Amount”.
“Net Sales Statement” means, for an applicable Calendar Year, a written statement of the Parent, along with an Officer’s Certificate certifying the same, setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of Annual Net Sales in the applicable Calendar Year, together with reasonable supporting documentation for such calculation.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, any vice president, the controller, the treasurer or the secretary, in each case of the Parent, in his or her capacity as such an officer, and delivered to the Rights Agent.
“Permitted Transfer” means: a Transfer of a CVR (a) upon death of a Holder by will or intestacy; (b) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the CVR is to be passed to beneficiaries of the Holder upon the death of the Holder; (c) pursuant to a court order (including in connection with bankruptcy or liquidation); (d) by operation of law (including by consolidation or merger of the Holder) or without consideration in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of any Holder that is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity (provided that such dissolution, liquidation or termination does not subject the CVRs to a requirement of registration under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act); (e) in the case of a CVR held in book-entry or other similar nominee form, from a nominee to a beneficial owner and, if applicable, through an intermediary, or from such nominee to another nominee for the same beneficial owner; (f) if the Holder is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, a distribution by the transferring corporation, partnership or limited liability company to its stockholders, partners or members, as applicable (provided that such distribution does not subject the CVRs to a requirement of registration under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act); or (g) as provided in Section 2.7.
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“Product” means any product in any form, formulation, or presentation containing, incorporating, consisting of, or comprising a Compound as an active ingredient that is (a) formulated, approved, or marketed for diseases that have, as their primary association, an association to the eye and (b) not administered or co-administered systemically, including, for clarity, SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection) and any line extensions, alternative formulations, reformulations and extensions thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Product” does not include any drug that may be co-administered with a Compound.
“Product Rights Group” means the Parent, its Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries), and any direct or indirect licensee or transferee of the Parent or its Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries).
“Qualified Buyer” means (a) any third party acquirer or successor of all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent or the Company and their respective Subsidiaries in connection with a Change of Control or (b) any third party that has net assets (determined by reference to the most recent audited or unaudited balance sheet) or public company market capitalization of at least $4,000,000,000 (taking into account the net assets or public company market capitalization of the company or companies so acquired in connection with such transaction).
“Review Request Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).
“Rights Agent” means the Rights Agent named in the first paragraph of this Agreement, until a successor Rights Agent will have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Agreement, and thereafter “Rights Agent” will mean such successor Rights Agent.
“Sale of the Business” means any transaction or series of related transactions (including a sale or other disposition of assets, merger or consolidation, sale of equity interests or exclusive licensing transaction) pursuant to which all or a majority of the Business is sold, exclusively licensed or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, to, or acquired by, directly or indirectly, a Person other than the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Transfer” means any transfer, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition (whether by sale, merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, dividend, distribution or otherwise), the offer to make such a transfer or other disposition, and each contract, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, to effect any of the foregoing.
Section 1.2 Rules of Construction.
(a) The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
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(b) If a term is defined as one part of speech (such as a noun), it shall have a corresponding meaning when used as another part of speech (such as a verb). Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa, and the definitions of terms contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. The words “includes” or “including” shall mean “including without limitation”; the words “hereof,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular section or article in which such words appear; the word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if;” the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive and have the same meaning as “and/or;” any reference to a law shall include any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any reference to any law in this Agreement shall mean such law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. Currency amounts referenced herein are in U.S. Dollars. When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period is to be excluded. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references in this Agreement to any contract, other agreement, document or instrument (excluding this Agreement) mean such contract, other agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, unless otherwise specified therein, include all schedules, annexes, addendums, exhibits and any other documents attached thereto or incorporated therein by reference.
(c) The Parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS
Section 2.1 CVR. The CVRs represent the rights of Holders to receive contingent cash payments pursuant to the Merger Agreement and this Agreement. The initial Holders shall be determined pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and this Agreement, and a list of the initial Holders shall be furnished to the Rights Agent by or on behalf of Parent in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof.
Section 2.2 Nontransferable. The CVRs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, encumbered or in any other manner disposed of or Transferred, in whole or in part, other than through a Permitted Transfer. The foregoing restrictions shall apply notwithstanding that certain of the CVRs will be held through DTC. Any attempted sale, assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, disposition or Transfer of CVRs, in whole or in part, in violation of this Section 2.2 shall be void ab initio and of no effect. The CVRs will not be listed on any quotation system or traded on any securities exchange.
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Section 2.3 No Certificate; Registration; Registration of Transfer; Change of Address.
(a) The CVRs will not be evidenced by a certificate or other instrument.
(b) The Rights Agent will keep a register (the “CVR Register”) for the purpose of registering CVRs and Transfers of CVRs as herein provided. The CVR Register will (i) with respect to holders of Company Common Stock that hold such shares in book-entry form through DTC immediately prior to the Effective Time, reflect one position for Cede & Co (as nominee of DTC) representing all the shares of Company Common Stock that were converted into the right to receive the Cash Amount in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, (ii) with respect to (A) holders of Company Common Stock that hold such Company Common Stock in certificated form immediately prior to the Effective Time that were converted into the right to receive the Cash Amount in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, upon delivery to the Rights Agent (or Paying Agent, as applicable) by each such holder of the applicable stock certificates, together with a validly executed letter of transmittal and such other customary documents as may be reasonably requested by the Rights Agent (or Paying Agent, as applicable), in accordance with the Merger Agreement, (B) holders of Company Common Stock who hold such Company Common Stock in book-entry form through the Company’s transfer agent immediately prior to the Effective Time, (C) holders of Company Equity Awards who are entitled to receive CVRs pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, and (D) holders of Company Warrants who are entitled to receive CVRs pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, in each case of clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D), reflect the applicable number of CVRs to which each such holder is entitled pursuant to the Merger Agreement (other than, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii)(A) and (ii)(B), holders of shares cancelled in accordance with Section 2.6(b) of the Merger Agreement and Dissenting Shares). The Rights Agent will have no responsibility whatsoever directly to the street name holders with respect to Transfers of CVRs unless and until such CVRs are Transferred into the name of such street name holders in accordance with Section 2.2 of this Agreement. With respect to any payments to be made under Section 2.4 below with respect to CVRs held through DTC, the Rights Agent will accomplish the payment in respect of such CVRs by sending one lump payment to DTC. The Rights Agent will have no responsibilities whatsoever with regard to the distribution of payments by DTC to the Holders of such CVRs.
(c) Subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in Section 2.2, every request made to Transfer a CVR must be in writing and accompanied by a written instrument of Transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent pursuant to its guidelines, duly executed by the Holder thereof, the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, the Holder’s personal representative duly authorized in writing, or the Holder’s survivor (with written documentation evidencing such person’s status as the Holder’s survivor), and setting forth in reasonable detail the circumstances relating to the Transfer. Upon receipt of such written notice, the Rights Agent will, subject to its reasonable determination that the Transfer instrument is in proper form and the Transfer otherwise complies with the other terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the provisions of Section 2.2), register the Transfer of the CVRs in the CVR Register and notify such
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Holder of the same. No service charge shall be made for any registration of Transfer of a CVR, but the Rights Agent may require payment by a Holder to the applicable Governmental Entity of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer, stamp or other similar Tax or governmental charge that is imposed in connection with any such registration of Transfer. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment by a Holder of a CVR of applicable Taxes or charges unless and until the Rights Agent is reasonably satisfied that all such Taxes or charges have been paid or that such Taxes or charges are not applicable. All duly Transferred CVRs registered in the CVR Register will be the valid obligations of the Parent and will entitle the transferee to the same benefits and rights under this Agreement as those held immediately prior to the Transfer by the transferor. No Transfer of a CVR will be valid until registered in the CVR Register.
(d) A Holder may make a written request to the Rights Agent to change such Holder’s address of record in the CVR Register. The written request must be duly executed by the Holder. Upon receipt of such written notice, the Rights Agent will promptly record the change of address in the CVR Register.
Section 2.4 Payment Procedures.
(a) If any Milestone is achieved, then, in each case, on or prior to the date that is thirty (30) Business Days following the achievement of such Milestone, Parent shall (i) deliver to the Rights Agent a written notice (each, a “Milestone Notice”) indicating that the corresponding Milestone was achieved and the corresponding Milestone Payment Amount due, along with an Officer’s Certificate certifying the same, which Milestone Notice shall include the Net Sales Statement for the applicable Calendar Year and (ii) duly deposit or cause to be deposited with the Rights Agent, within three (3) Business Days of the delivery of the Milestone Notice, cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by the Rights Agent (or to the Company or its or the Parent’s applicable Affiliate in the case of payments with respect to Equity Award CVRs that will be paid through the Company’s or its or the Parent’s applicable Affiliate’s payroll system), equal to the aggregate amount necessary to pay the applicable Milestone Payment Amount to all Holders in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (subject to any amounts deducted or withheld pursuant to Section 2.4(d) below). Such amounts shall be considered paid if on such date the Rights Agent (or the Company or its or the Parent’s applicable Affiliate in the case of payments with respect to Equity Award CVRs that will be paid through the Company’s or its or the Parent’s applicable Affiliate’s payroll system) has received in accordance with this Agreement money sufficient to pay all Milestone Payment Amounts in respect of such Milestone then due in accordance with the terms hereof.
(b) The Rights Agent will promptly, and in any event within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of a Milestone Notice, send each Holder at its registered address a copy of the Milestone Notice (such date on which the Rights Agent sends such copy, a “Milestone Payment Date”). At the time the Rights Agent sends a copy of the Milestone Notice to the Holders, the Rights Agent will also pay the applicable Milestone Payment Amount to each of the Holders (subject to any amounts deducted or withheld pursuant to
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Section 2.4(d) below) (i) by check mailed to the address of each Holder as reflected in the CVR Register as of the close of business on the last Business Day prior to such Milestone Payment Date or (ii) with respect to any Holder who has provided the Rights Agent wiring instructions in writing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified on such instructions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Rights Agent shall have no responsibility whatsoever with respect to any Milestone Payment Amount to Holders in respect of Equity Award CVRs that will be paid through the Company’s or its or the Parent’s applicable Affiliate’s payroll system.
(c) The Parent shall cause the applicable Milestone Payment Amount payable with respect to Equity Award CVRs (determined in accordance with Section 2.9 of the Merger Agreement) held by current or former employees of the Company or its Affiliates to be paid to the applicable Holder through the Surviving Corporation’s or its or the Parent’s applicable Affiliate’s payroll system or any successor payroll system no later than the second regular payroll date of such applicable payroll system following the later of (i) the applicable Milestone Payment Date and (ii) in the case of Equity Award CVRs in respect of Company Equity Awards that are unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (and that do not vest by their terms as a result of the occurrence of the Effective Time), the applicable vesting date, but in any event no later than the date that is sixty (60) days following the later of the date on which the Milestone is achieved or the applicable vesting date, subject to Section 2.4(d) of this Agreement and Section 2.9 of the Merger Agreement. For clarity, no payment shall be made on an Equity Award CVR in respect of Company Equity Awards unless and until the Company Equity Award (or any assumed or converted award in respect of such Company Equity Award) has vested.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Merger Agreement or this Agreement, the Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Rights Agent and any other applicable withholding agent (and their applicable Affiliates) shall be entitled to deduct or withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from any Milestone Payment Amount otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as may be required to be deducted or withheld therefrom under the Code, the Treasury Regulations thereunder, or any other applicable Tax law, as may be determined by the Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Rights Agent or any other applicable withholding agent (or their applicable Affiliates), as applicable. The Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Rights Agent and any other applicable withholding agent (or their applicable Affiliates) shall reasonably cooperate in good faith with any Person (other than a Holder of Equity Award CVRs who is a current or former employee of the Company or its Affiliates) in respect of which such deduction or withholding is to be made to reduce or eliminate any such withholding prior to withholding any amounts payable to such Person. With respect to Holders of Equity Award CVRs who are current or former employees of the Company or its Affiliates, any such withholding may be made, or caused to be made, by the Parent through the Surviving Corporation’s (or any of the Parent’s applicable Affiliate’s) payroll systems. To the extent such amounts are so deducted or withheld, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the Person to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid, and as soon as practicable after any payment of such taxes by the Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Rights Agent (or
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their applicable Affiliates), as applicable, the Parent shall deliver (or shall cause the Surviving Corporation, the Rights Agent or their or the Parent’s applicable Affiliates to deliver) to the Person (other than a Holder of Equity Award CVRs who is a current or former employee of the Company or its Affiliates) to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by the applicable taxing authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment, or other reasonably acceptable evidence of such payment. The parties intend that (i) each payment provided under this Agreement with respect to an Equity Award CVR is a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(i) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations and (ii) each Equity Award CVR is exempt from or in compliance with Section 409A of the Code, and this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in accordance therewith. The parties intend to treat each Milestone as a valid performance condition and each respective Milestone Payment Amount as subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture as defined under Section 409A of the Code. None of the parties to this Agreement or any of their Affiliates nor any of their respective employees, directors or representatives shall have any liability to a Holder or transferee or other Person in respect of Section 409A of the Code.
(e) Any portion of any Milestone Payment Amount that remains undistributed to the Holders one (1) year after an applicable Milestone Payment Date will be delivered by the Rights Agent to the Parent, upon demand, and any Holder will thereafter look only to the Parent for payment of the applicable Milestone Payment Amount, without interest.
(f) None of the Parent, the Company, the Rights Agent or any of their Affiliates will be liable to any Person in respect of any Milestone Payment Amounts delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar legal requirement. If, despite reasonable best efforts by the Rights Agent to deliver a Milestone Payment Amount to the applicable Holder pursuant to the Rights Agent’s customary unclaimed funds procedures, such Milestone Payment Amount has not been paid immediately prior to such date on which such Milestone Payment Amount would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity, such Milestone Payment Amount will, to the extent permitted by applicable legal requirements, become the property of the Parent, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto. In addition to and not in limitation of any other indemnity obligation herein, the Parent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Rights Agent with respect to any liability, penalty, cost or expense the Rights Agent may incur or be subject to in connection with transferring such property to the Parent, unless such loss has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a result of the Rights Agent’s willful or intentional misconduct (including willful breach), bad faith, fraud or gross negligence.
(g) The Rights Agent shall be responsible for information reporting required under applicable legal requirements with respect to the CVRs (other than Equity Award CVRs held by current or former employees of the Company or its Affiliates), including reporting the Holder’s receipt of such CVRs and any Milestone Payment Amounts hereunder on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-B or other applicable form. The Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with the Rights Agent to provide any information reasonably necessary for the Rights Agent to carry out its obligations in this Section 2.4(g).
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Section 2.5 No Voting, Dividends or Interest; No Equity or Ownership Interest in the Parent.
(a) The CVRs will not have any voting or dividend rights, and interest will not accrue on any amounts payable on the CVRs to any Holder.
(b) Without limiting any rights of the Rights Agent or any of the Holders under this Agreement or with respect to the CVRs (including the right to payments thereunder pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), the CVRs will not represent any equity or ownership interest in the Parent or in any constituent company to the Merger or any of their respective Affiliates (including the Company). The sole right of each Holder to receive property hereunder is the right to receive the Milestone Payment Amounts, if any, when and if due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof. A CVR shall not constitute a security of any Person.
(c) Neither the Parent or the Company nor any of their respective directors or officers will be deemed to have any fiduciary or similar duties to any Holder by virtue of this Agreement or the CVRs.
Section 2.6 Holding of Funds. All funds received by the Rights Agent under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by the Rights Agent in the performance of its services hereunder (the “Funds”) shall be held by the Rights Agent as agent for the Parent and deposited in one or more segregated bank accounts to be maintained by the Rights Agent in its name as agent for the Parent. The Funds shall not be used for any purpose other than to pay the Milestone Payment Amounts under this Agreement. The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that, for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income tax purposes, the Parent shall be treated as the owner of the Funds prior to the time they are distributed pursuant to this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall report with respect to income earned on the Funds to the IRS or other taxing authority as income of the Parent.
Section 2.7 Ability to Abandon CVR. A Holder may at any time, at such Holder’s option, abandon all of such Holder’s remaining rights represented by CVRs by Transferring such CVR to the Parent or a person nominated in writing by the Parent (with written notice thereof from the Parent to the Rights Agent) without consideration in compensation therefor, and such rights will be cancelled, with the Rights Agent being promptly notified in writing by the Parent of such Transfer and cancellation. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prohibit the Parent or any of its Affiliates from offering to acquire or acquiring CVRs, in private transactions or otherwise, for consideration, and consummating any such acquisition and related Transfer, in each case in its sole discretion. Any CVRs acquired by the Parent or any of its Affiliates shall be automatically deemed extinguished and no longer outstanding for purposes of this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall update the CVR Register to reflect any abandonment or acquisition of CVRs described in this Section 2.7.
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ARTICLE III
THE RIGHTS AGENT
Section 3.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Rights Agent will not have any liability for any actions taken or not taken in connection with this Agreement, except to the extent of its willful or intentional misconduct (including willful breach), bad faith, fraud or gross negligence.
Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may in its discretion or upon the written request of the Acting Holders proceed to and shall be entitled and empowered to protect and enforce the rights of the Holders hereunder by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Rights Agent shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights for the benefit of and on behalf of all Holders to the extent directed to by the Acting Holders in writing. The Rights Agent shall be under no obligation to institute any action, suit or proceeding unless the Acting Holders (on behalf of the Holders) shall furnish the Rights Agent with reasonable security and indemnity for any costs and expenses that may be incurred. In addition:
(a) in the absence of willful or intentional misconduct (including willful breach), bad faith, fraud or gross negligence, the Rights Agent may rely and will be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) whenever the Rights Agent will deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Rights Agent may, in the absence of willful or intentional misconduct (including willful breach), bad faith, fraud or gross negligence on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;
(c) the Rights Agent may engage and consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any opinion of counsel will, in the absence of willful or intentional misconduct (including willful breach), bad faith, fraud or gross negligence, be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d) the permissive rights of the Rights Agent to do things enumerated in this Agreement will not be construed as a duty;
(e) the Rights Agent will not be required to give any note or surety in respect of the execution of such powers or otherwise in respect of the premises;
(f) the Parent agrees to indemnify Rights Agent for, and hold Rights Agent harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, demands, suits or expense arising out of or in connection with Rights Agent’s duties under this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending Rights Agent against any claims, charges, demands, suits or loss, unless such loss has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a result of Rights Agent’s willful or intentional misconduct (including willful breach), bad faith, fraud or gross negligence;
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(g) the Parent agrees (i) to pay the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent in connection with this Agreement as set forth in Schedule A attached to this Agreement and (ii) to reimburse the Rights Agent for all Taxes and governmental charges, reasonable expenses and other charges of any kind and nature incurred by the Rights Agent in the execution of this Agreement (other than Taxes imposed on or measured by the Rights Agent’s net income and franchise or similar Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes)). The Rights Agent will also be entitled to reimbursement from the Parent for all reasonable and necessary documented out-of-pocket expenses paid or incurred by it in connection with the administration by the Rights Agent of its duties hereunder; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary set forth herein, Parent shall have no obligation to indemnify or pay the fees or expenses of the Rights Agent or reimburse the Rights Agent for the fees of counsel, in each case, in connection with any claim, lawsuit or action initiated by the Rights Agent on behalf of itself or the Holders;
(h) no provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it; and
(i) no Holder shall be obligated to indemnify the Rights Agent for, or hold the Rights Agent harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, demand, suit or expense arising out of or in connection with the Rights Agent’s duties under this Agreement or to pay or reimburse the Rights Agent for any fees, costs or expenses incurred by the Rights Agent in connection with this Agreement or the administration of its duties hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall not be entitled to deduct any amount from any Milestone Payment Amount in any circumstance except as provided in Section 2.4(d).
Section 3.3 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) The Rights Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Parent specifying a date when such resignation will take effect, which notice will be sent at least sixty (60) days prior to the date so specified but in no event will such resignation become effective until a successor Rights Agent has been appointed. The Parent has the right to remove Rights Agent at any time by a written notice specifying a date when such removal will take effect but no such removal will become effective until a successor Rights Agent has been appointed. Notice of such removal will be given by the Parent to the Rights Agent, which notice will be sent at least sixty (60) days prior to the date so specified.
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(b) If the Rights Agent provides notice of its intent to resign, is removed or becomes incapable of acting, the Parent, by a written notice as soon as is reasonably possible will appoint a qualified successor Rights Agent that is a stock transfer agent of national reputation or, with the written approval of the Acting Holders, the corporate trust department of a commercial bank. The successor Rights Agent so appointed will, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with Section 3.4, become the successor Rights Agent.
(c) The Parent will give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Rights Agent and each appointment of a successor Rights Agent by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail to the Holders as their names and addresses appear in the CVR Register. Each notice will include the name and address of the successor Rights Agent. If the Parent fails to send such notice within ten (10) days after acceptance of appointment by a successor Rights Agent, the successor Rights Agent will cause the notice to be mailed at the expense of the Parent.
(d) The Rights Agent will reasonably cooperate with the Parent and any successor Rights Agent in connection with the transition of the duties and responsibilities of the Rights Agent to the successor Rights Agent, including the transfer of all relevant data, including the CVR Register, to the successor Rights Agent.
Section 3.4 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. Every successor Rights Agent appointed hereunder will execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Parent and to the retiring Rights Agent an instrument accepting such appointment and a counterpart of this Agreement, and thereupon such successor Rights Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, will become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Rights Agent. On request of the Parent or the successor Rights Agent, the retiring Rights Agent will execute and deliver an instrument transferring to the successor Rights Agent all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Rights Agent.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 List of Holders. The Parent will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Rights Agent in such form as the Parent receives from the Company’s transfer agent (or other agent performing similar services for the Company), the names and addresses of the Holders within fifteen (15) Business Days of the Effective Time. The Rights Agent will reflect all such names and addresses on the CVR Register and confirm the CVR Register and list of initial Holders to the Parent promptly thereafter and, in any event, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such names and addresses from the Parent or the Surviving Corporation’s transfer agent, as the case may be. Upon request of a Holder, the Rights Agent will make available to such Holder a list of the other Holders, the number of CVRs held by each Holder and the contact information maintained by the Rights Agent with respect to each Holder.
Section 4.2 Payment of Milestone Payment Amount. If a Milestone has been achieved in accordance with this Agreement, the Parent will promptly (on or prior to the date that is three (3) Business Days following the delivery of a Milestone Notice with respect to the applicable Milestone) deposit with (i) the Rights Agent the applicable Milestone Payment Amount for such Milestone for each Holder (other than in respect of Equity Award CVRs described in clause (ii)) in accordance with Section 2.4 and (ii) the Company or its or the Parent’s applicable
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Affiliate, for payment to the Holders of Equity Award CVRs who are then current or former employees of the Company or its Affiliates, in accordance with Section 2.4, the aggregate amount necessary to pay the Milestone Payment Amount to each such Holder of an Equity Award CVR, in each case, prior to the Milestone Payment Date or applicable vesting dates in respect of such Milestone if such amount is payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Each of the Net Sales Milestone 1 Payment Amount and the Net Sales Milestone 2 Payment Amount shall only be paid one time, if at all, subject to the achievement of the applicable Milestone (and, with respect to Equity Award CVRs, applicable vesting conditions) according to this Agreement, and the maximum aggregate potential amount payable under this Agreement shall be $4.00 per CVR, without interest thereon and subject to reduction for any applicable withholding Taxes in respect thereof as further described in Section 2.4(d).
Section 4.3 Efforts; Operation of the Business. From the Closing Date through the earlier of (i) January 31, 2032, (ii) the payment to the Rights Agent of all Milestone Payment Amounts, if any, pursuant to Section 4.2 and (iii) the date of termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.10:
(a) The Parent and the Company (and their respective successors and assigns) shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, use Commercially Diligent Efforts to achieve each Milestone; provided that this clause (a) does not impose any obligation on Parent to actually achieve any Milestone;
(b) Neither the Parent or the Company (or their respective successors and assigns) nor any of their respective Affiliates shall take any action or fail to take any action with the purpose or intent, in whole or in part, of (i) avoiding or impeding the achievement of a Milestone or the obligation to pay any Milestone Payment Amount or (ii) reducing any Milestone Payment Amount;
(c) Neither the Parent or the Company (or their respective successors and assigns) nor any of their respective Affiliates shall effect any affiliate transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Parent or any of its Affiliates (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), on the other hand, in contravention of this Section 4.3; and
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to the Parent’s obligations as set forth herein, including the obligation of the Parent, the Company and their respective Affiliates to use Commercially Diligent Efforts to achieve each Milestone as set forth herein, the Parent and its Affiliates shall have the power and right to control all aspects of their businesses and operations (and all of their assets and products), and subject to the Parent’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Parent and its Affiliates may exercise or refrain from exercising such power and right as it may deem appropriate and in the best overall interests of the Parent and its Affiliates and its and their equityholders.
Section 4.4 Books and Records. The Parent shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, keep true, complete and accurate records in sufficient detail to enable the Holders and the Independent Accountant to determine the amounts payable hereunder.
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Section 4.5 Non-Use of Name. The Rights Agent shall not use the name, trademark, trade name or logo of the Parent, its Affiliates (including the Company), or their respective employees in any publicity or news release relating to this Agreement or its subject matter, without the prior express written permission of the Parent, other than (in the case of the name of the Parent, its Affiliates, or their respective employees) with respect to a dispute pursuant to this Agreement between any of the Holders, the Rights Agent, the Parent or its Affiliates.
Section 4.6 Audits.
(a) If, as of December 31, 2027, December 31, 2028, December 31, 2029, December 31, 2030 or December 31, 2031, either of the Net Sales Milestone 1 or the Net Sales Milestone 2 has not been attained, then, within thirty (30) Business Days following such date, Parent shall deliver to the Rights Agent a written notice (an “Expiry Notice”) stating that such Milestone was not attained as of such applicable date and that the applicable Milestone Payment Amount is not payable hereunder to the Holders of such CVR as of such applicable date. The Rights Agent shall promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of any Expiry Notice, send each Holder at its registered address a copy of such Expiry Notice.
(b) During the ninety (90) day period following the delivery of any Expiry Notice in accordance with Section 4.6(a), upon the reasonable written request of the Acting Holders, the Parent shall provide the Acting Holders with the Net Sales Statement for the applicable Calendar Year and shall make its financial personnel reasonably available to a designated representative of the Acting Holders to discuss and answer the Acting Holders’ questions regarding the Net Sales Statement; provided that (x) such Acting Holders enter into customary confidentiality agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Parent with respect to the confidential information of the Parent or its Subsidiaries to be furnished pursuant to this Section 4.6 and (y) such confidential information or access shall not be required to be provided to the extent that such confidential information or access would reasonably be expected to result in the waiver of any attorney-client privilege or violate any applicable law; provided, that the Parent and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to implement appropriate and mutually agreeable measures to permit the disclosure of such information in a manner to remove the basis for the non-disclosure to the greatest extent reasonably possible, including by arrangement of appropriate clean room procedures, redaction of text from documents or entry into a customary joint defense agreement with respect to any information to be so provided. The Acting Holders shall have the right to deliver to the Parent and the Rights Agent within ninety (90) days of the delivery of any Expiry Notice to the Holders (each period, a “Review Request Period”) a notice disputing any items set forth in the applicable Net Sales Statement delivered pursuant to this Section 4.6(b) once per Expiry Notice (such notice, a “Dispute Notice”), and thereafter the Acting Holders and the Parent shall, in good faith, try to resolve any items under dispute as set forth in the Dispute Notice. If the Acting Holders and the Parent fail to agree on the item(s) under dispute within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Acting Holders deliver the Dispute Notice to the Parent and the Rights Agent, the Parent and the Company shall permit, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to permit, the Independent Accountant to have access during normal business hours to the records of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of the
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Business as may be reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of the Net Sales Statement and shall furnish, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to furnish, to the Independent Accountant such access, records, work papers and other documents and information as the Independent Accountant may reasonably request and as may be reasonably necessary to audit the Net Sales Statement and the determination of whether the applicable Milestone was achieved (subject to customary confidentiality agreements and access letters, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Parent and excluding information or access which would reasonably be expected to result in the waiver of any attorney-client privilege or violate any applicable law; provided, that the Parent and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to implement appropriate and mutually agreeable measures to permit the disclosure of such information in a manner to remove the basis for the non-disclosure to the greatest extent reasonably possible, including by arrangement of appropriate clean room procedures, redaction of text from documents or entry into a customary joint defense agreement with respect to any information to be so provided). The Independent Accountant shall be instructed to come to a final determination with respect to those items set forth in a Dispute Notice within thirty (30) days following the engagement of such Independent Accountant. The Independent Accountant shall act only as an expert and not as an arbitrator and shall be charged to come to a final determination in accordance with the terms of this Agreement regarding the calculation of Annual Net Sales with respect to only those items set forth in the Dispute Notice that the parties disagree on and submit to it for resolution. All other items in the applicable Net Sales Statement that the parties do not submit, prior to the end of the Review Request Period, to the Independent Accountant for resolution shall be deemed to be agreed by the parties and the Independent Accountant shall not be charged with calculating or validating those agreed upon items. The Independent Accountant shall disclose to the Parent and the Acting Holders any matters directly related to their findings to the extent necessary to verify the accuracy or completeness of the applicable Net Sales Statement. The Independent Accountant shall provide the Parent with a copy of all disclosures made to the Acting Holders concurrently with each such disclosures to the Acting Holders and shall provide the Acting Holders with a copy of all disclosures made to the Parent concurrently with each such disclosures to the Parent. The fees charged by the Independent Accountant shall be allocated to and borne by (i) Parent, based on the percentage that the portion of the disputed items determined by the Independent Accountant to be in favor of the Acting Holders bears to the amount actually disputed by the Acting Holders, on the one hand, and (ii) the Acting Holders, based on the percentage that the portion of the disputed items determined by the Independent Accountant to be in favor of Parent bears to the amount actually disputed by the Acting Holders, on the other.
(c) If the Independent Accountant concludes that a Milestone was achieved as of the applicable date in accordance with the terms hereof and the applicable Milestone Payment Amounts were not paid to the Rights Agent, the Parent shall pay or caused to be paid to the Rights Agent such applicable Milestone Payment Amounts within thirty (30) calendar days of the date the Independent Accountant delivers its final written report to the Acting Holders and the Parent. The decision of the Independent Accountant shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Parent and the Holders, shall be non-appealable and shall not be subject to further review, absent manifest error.
17
(d) If, upon the expiration of a Review Request Period, the Acting Holders have not provided a Dispute Notice to the Parent and the Rights Agent in accordance with this Section 4.6, the calculations set forth in the applicable Net Sales Statement and the determination in the applicable Expiry Notice shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Holders.
(e) Each person seeking to receive information from the Parent in connection with an audit pursuant to this Section 4.6 shall enter into, and shall cause its accounting firm to enter into, a reasonable and mutually satisfactory confidentiality agreement with the Parent or any controlled Affiliate (including the Surviving Corporation) obligating such party to retain all such information disclosed to such party in confidence pursuant to such confidentiality agreement.
Section 4.7 Change of Control; Sale of the Business. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the Parent nor the Company, nor any of their respective Subsidiaries, may enter into an agreement providing for, or consummate a Change of Control or a Sale of the Business prior to the termination of this Agreement or the payment of all Milestone Payment Amounts in accordance with this Agreement, whichever occurs earlier, without the prior written consent of the Acting Holders, unless either (at the Parent’s option) (x) the Person acquiring or succeeding to the Parent or the Company (if applicable pursuant to the structure of such Change of Control or Sale of the Business) in connection with such Change of Control or Sale of the Business (i) is a Qualified Buyer and (ii) assumes all of the Parent’s and the Company’s obligations, duties and covenants under this Agreement effective as of the effective time of such Change of Control or Sale of the Business, as applicable, and in an instrument supplemental hereto that is executed and delivered by such Person to the Rights Agent or (y) the Parent and the Company retain their obligations, duties and covenants under this Agreement following such Change of Control or Sale of the Business. Upon or prior to the consummation of any such Change of Control or Sale of the Business, the Parent or the Company will deliver a notice to the Rights Agent (and the Rights Agent will promptly, and in any event within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of such notice, send each Holder at its registered address a copy of such notice) stating that such Change of Control or Sale of the Business, as applicable, complies with this Section 4.7. Upon consummation of a Change of Control or Sale of the Business in accordance with this Section 4.7 in which a Qualified Buyer assumes all of the Parent’s and the Company’s obligations, duties and covenants hereunder, neither the Parent nor any of its Affiliates shall have any further liability or obligation with respect to any Milestone Payment Amounts or otherwise hereunder, and the Parent and its Affiliates shall be fully relieved from any such obligations. If the Company is the Party that undergoes the Change of Control or is sold in a transaction that constitutes a Sale of the Business, and prior to such sale the Company has assumed all of the Parent’s obligations hereunder, the Parent and the Company shall be deemed to have complied with this Section 4.7 (pursuant to clause (x)).
Section 4.8 Intended Tax Treatment. Except to the extent any portion of any Milestone Payment Amount is required to be treated as imputed interest under applicable law (including Section 483 of the Code), the parties hereto agree to treat (a) the CVRs (other than any Equity Award CVRs, or CVRs otherwise received as compensation) for all U.S. federal and applicable state and local Tax purposes as additional consideration for or in respect of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (b) any Milestone Payment Amounts
18
received in respect of such CVRs as amounts realized on the disposition of the applicable CVRs and (c) the Equity Award CVRs for all U.S. federal and applicable state and local Tax purposes as additional compensation for or in respect of such Company Equity Awards, as applicable, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and none of the parties hereto will take any position to the contrary on any Tax Return, any other filing with a Governmental Entity related to Taxes or for other Tax purposes except as otherwise required by applicable law. The Parent or the Rights Agent, as applicable, shall report imputed interest on the CVRs pursuant to Section 483 of the Code, except as required by applicable law.
ARTICLE V
AMENDMENTS
Section 5.1 Amendments without Consent of Holders.
(a) Without the consent of any Holders or the Rights Agent, the Parent, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more amendments hereto, solely to evidence the succession of another person to the Parent and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Parent herein as provided in and in accordance with Section 6.3.
(b) Without the consent of any Holders, the Parent and the Rights Agent, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more amendments hereto, for any of the following purposes:
(i) to evidence the succession of another person as a successor Rights Agent (in accordance with Section 3.3) and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Rights Agent herein;
(ii) to add to the covenants of the Parent such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Parent and the Rights Agent will consider to be for the protection of the Holders; provided, that, in each case, such provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders;
(iii) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement; provided, that, in each case, such provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders;
(iv) as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that the CVRs are not subject to registration under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, that, in each case, such provisions do not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders;
(v) as may be necessary to ensure that the Parent complies with applicable law; provided, that, in each case, such amendments shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders; or
(vi) any other amendments hereto for the purpose of adding, eliminating or changing any provisions of this Agreement, unless such addition, elimination or change is adverse in any respect to the interests of the Holders.
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(c) Promptly after the execution by the Parent and the Rights Agent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.1, the Parent will, with respect to CVRs held through DTC, transmit (or cause the Rights Agent to transmit) a notice thereof through the facilities of DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures or, with respect to all other CVRs, will mail (or cause the Rights Agent to mail) a notice thereof by first class mail to the Holders at their addresses as they appear on the CVR Register, setting forth such amendment.
Section 5.2 Amendments with Consent of Holders.
(a) Subject to Section 5.1 (which amendments pursuant to Section 5.1 may be made without the consent of the Holders), with the consent of the Acting Holders, whether evidenced in writing or taken at a meeting of the Holders, the Parent and the Rights Agent may enter into one or more amendments hereto for the purpose of adding, eliminating or changing any provisions of this Agreement, even if such addition, elimination or change is materially adverse to the interest of the Holders; provided, however, that no such amendment shall, without the consent of the Holders of seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding CVRs:
(i) modify in a manner adverse to the Holders any provision contained herein with respect to the termination of this Agreement or the CVRs;
(ii) modify in a manner materially adverse to the Holders (A) the time for, and amount of, any payment to the made to the Holders pursuant to this Agreement or (B) the definition of any Milestone;
(iii) reduce the number of CVRs (for the avoidance of doubt other than as automatically set forth herein pursuant to Section 2.7); or
(iv) modify any provision of this Section 5.2, except to increase the percentage of Holders from whom consent is required or to provide that certain provisions of this Agreement cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding CVR affected thereby.
(b) Promptly after the execution by the Parent and the Rights Agent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, the Parent will, with respect to CVRs held through DTC, transmit (or cause the Rights Agent to transmit) a notice thereof through the facilities of DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures or, with respect to all other CVRs, will mail (or cause the Rights Agent to mail) a notice thereof by first class mail to the Holders at their addresses as they appear on the CVR Register, setting forth such amendment.
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Section 5.3 Execution of Amendments. In executing any amendment permitted by this Article V, the Rights Agent will be entitled to receive, and will be fully protected in relying upon, an opinion of counsel selected by the Parent stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent may, but is not obligated to, enter into any such amendment that affects the Rights Agent’s own rights, privileges, covenants or duties under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section 5.4 Effect of Amendments. Upon the execution of any amendment under this Article V, this Agreement will be modified in accordance therewith, such amendment will form a part of this Agreement for all purposes and every Holder will be bound thereby.
ARTICLE VI
OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 6.1 Notices to Rights Agent and the Parent. All notices, requests, instructions or other communications or documents to be given or made hereunder by any party to the other parties to this Agreement shall be in writing and (a) served by personal delivery upon the party for whom it is intended, (b) served by an internationally recognized overnight courier service upon the party for whom it is intended, (c) delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested or (d) sent by email:
If to the Rights Agent, to it at:
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite # 101
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
| Attention: | Reorganization Department |
| Email: | ReorgRM@equiniti.com |
If to the Parent or to the Company, to it at:
Biogen Inc.
225 Binney Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
| Attention: | Chief Legal Officer |
| Email: | legaldepartment@biogen.com |
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Two Manhattan West
375 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
| Attention: | Aaron M. Gruber |
| Bethany A. Pfalzgraf |
| Ryan J. Wichtowski |
| Email: | agruber@cravath.com |
| bpfalzgraf@cravath.com |
| rwichtowski@cravath.com |
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or to such other Person or addressees as has or have been designated in writing by the party to receive such notice provided above. Any notice, request, instruction or other communication or document given as provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving party (w) upon actual receipt, if delivered personally, (x) on the next Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier, if sent by an overnight courier, (y) three (3) Business Days after deposit in the mail, if sent by registered or certified mail or (z) when delivered by email (to the extent that no “bounce back” or similar message indicating non-delivery is received with respect thereto). Copies to outside counsel are for convenience only and failure to provide a copy to outside counsel does not alter the effectiveness of any notice, request, instruction or other communication or document otherwise given in accordance with this Section 6.1.
Section 6.2 Notice to Holders. Where this Agreement provides for notice to Holders, such notice will be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) (i) with respect to CVRs held through DTC if in writing and transmitted through the facilities of DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures or (ii) mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at the Holder’s address as it appears in the CVR Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder will affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.
Section 6.3 Parent Successors and Assigns. The Parent may assign, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any other party, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to (a) one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Parent but only for so long as any such entity remains a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent or (b) an acquiror in connection with a Change of Control of the Parent or a Sale of the Business in accordance with Section 4.7 of this Agreement (each such assignee in the preceding clauses (a) and (b), an “Assignee”); provided, that in the case of clause (a) and, only to the extent in accordance with clause (y) of Section 4.7, clause (b), the Parent remains jointly and severally liable. Any such Assignee may thereafter assign any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder in the same manner as the Parent pursuant to this Section 6.3. This Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parent’s successors. Any attempted assignment of this Agreement in violation of this Section 6.3 shall be void and of no effect. The Rights Agent may not assign this Agreement without the Parent’s and the Acting Holders’ written consent.
Section 6.4 Benefits of Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, will give to any person (other than the Rights Agent, the Parent, the Parent’s successors and assignees and the Holders) any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the Rights Agent, the Parent, the Parent’s successors and assignees and the Holders. The rights of Holders are limited to those expressly provided in this Agreement which shall be exercised only by the Acting Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Holder may at any time agree to renounce, in whole or in part, whether or not for consideration, such Holder’s rights under this Agreement by written notice to the Rights Agent and the Parent, which notice, if given, shall be irrevocable, and the Parent may, in its sole discretion, at any time offer consideration to the Holders in exchange for their agreement to irrevocably renounce their rights, in whole or in part, hereunder.
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Section 6.5 Limitations on Suits by Holders. No individual Holder or group of Holders shall have any right under this Agreement to commence proceedings under or with respect to this Agreement, and such rights may only be exercised by the Acting Holders in accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in, this Agreement. Any action brought by the Acting Holders shall be subject to Section 6.6 and Section 6.9, the terms of which shall apply to such Acting Holders, as applicable, and such action mutatis mutandis. The Acting Holders shall have the right, on behalf of all Holders, by virtue of or under any provision of this Agreement, to institute any action at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to this Agreement. In any such action, the Acting Holders shall be deemed to represent all Holders. Amounts collected by the Acting Holders in any action in which the Acting Holders are deemed to represent all Holders shall be paid first to reimburse the legal fees and other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Acting Holders in connection with such action and the balance shall be distributed to all Holders. The Acting Holders, in acting pursuant to this Section 6.5 on behalf of all Holders, shall have no liability to any other Holders for any such actions.
Section 6.6 Governing Law. This Agreement, the CVRs and any action (whether at law, in contract or in tort) that may directly or indirectly be based upon, relate to or arise out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, or the negotiation, execution or performance hereunder shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
Section 6.7 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application of such provision, in any other jurisdiction.
Section 6.8 Counterparts and Signature. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or by an electronic scan delivered by electronic mail), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart.
Section 6.9 Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Each party hereto expressly submits to the personal jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any federal court of the United
23
States of America within the State of Delaware) (the “Chosen Courts”), in the event any dispute between the parties hereto (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) arises out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) expressly waives any claim of lack of personal jurisdiction or improper venue and any claims that such courts are an inconvenient forum with respect to such a claim, and (c) agrees that it shall not bring any claim, action or proceeding against any other parties hereto relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the Chosen Courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process of any of the aforementioned courts in any such suit, action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail or by overnight courier service, postage prepaid, to its address set forth in Section 6.1, such service to become effective ten (10) days after such mailing.
(b) EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM, ACTION OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY (i) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (ii) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.9.
Section 6.10 Termination. This Agreement will be terminated and of no force or effect, the parties hereto will have no liability hereunder, and no payments will be required to be made, upon the earliest to occur of (a) the complete payment in full of all Milestone Payment Amounts required to be paid under the terms of this Agreement, (b) the delivery to the Rights Agent of a written notice of termination duly executed by the Parent and Holders of seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding CVRs and (c) if (and only if) Parent has complied with its obligations under Section 4.6 in all material respects, June 30, 2032; provided that, in the case of the foregoing clause (c) if there is any pending Dispute Notice or ongoing action (whether in contract or in tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement properly brought hereunder by the Acting Holders prior to the termination hereof, this Agreement will not terminate until there is (i) in the case of a Dispute Notice, a final decision of the Independent Accountant pursuant to Section 4.6 or a settlement between the Parent and the Acting Holders and payment by the Parent to the Rights Agent of any applicable Milestone Payment Amounts determined by the Independent Accountant or such settlement, as applicable, to be payable to the Holders or (ii) in the case of such an ongoing action, a final non-appealable order on such action from a court of competent jurisdiction or a settlement between the Parent and the Acting Holders.
Section 6.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement (including the schedules, annexes and exhibits thereto) contain the entire understanding of the parties hereto and thereto with reference to the transactions and matters contemplated hereby and thereby and supersede all prior agreements, written or oral, among the parties with respect hereto and thereto. If and to the extent that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent or conflicts with the Merger Agreement, this Agreement will govern and be controlling with respect to CVR matters only and the Merger Agreement shall govern and be controlling with respect to all matters unrelated to CVRs.
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Section 6.12 Obligation of the Parent. The Parent shall cause the Company to duly perform, satisfy and discharge each of the covenants, obligations and liabilities applicable to the Company under this Agreement. The Parent and the Company shall be jointly and severally liable for the performance and satisfaction of each of their respective covenants, obligations and liabilities hereunder. As material inducement to the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees the due and punctual performance of all obligations of the Parent hereunder, including the Parent’s obligations under Section 2.4 and Section 4.2, in each case when, as and if due (collectively, the “Company Guaranteed Obligations”). To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company hereby expressly waives any and all rights and defenses arising by reason of any applicable laws other than any defenses available to the Parent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company expressly waives: (i) notice of the acceptance by the Holders of this guarantee; (ii) notice of the non-performance of all or any of the Company Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and all other notices whatsoever, in respect of any or all of the Company Guaranteed Obligations (except notices required to be given hereunder); and (iv) any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies, including the failure or delay in exercising remedies against the Parent by the Holders which in any manner affects any of its rights to proceed against the Company, other than any claims or defenses available to the Parent. The Company agrees that this guaranty is one of payment, not merely of collection and not merely that of a surety, and that the Acting Holders shall not be required to pursue any right or remedy they may have against the Parent under this Agreement or otherwise or to first commence any proceeding or obtain any judgment against the Parent in order to enforce this Section 6.12. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.12 shall survive for so long as the obligations of the Parent hereunder are outstanding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.12, this Section 6.12 shall be enforceable only by the Acting Holders. Nothing set forth in this Section 6.12 shall expand the obligations of the Parent hereunder or the rights of the Acting Holders hereunder.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
| BIOGEN INC. |
| /s/ Robin Kramer |
| By: |
| Name: Robin Kramer |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
| APELLIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
| /s/ Cedric Francois |
| By: |
| Name: Cedric Francois |
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
| EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY, LLC |
| /s/ Michael Legregin |
| By: |
| Name: Michael Legregin |
| Title: SVP |
[Signature Page to CVR Agreement]
Schedule A
Rights Agent Fees
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 12, 2026
among
BIOGEN INC.,
as the Borrower,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as the Administrative Agent,
BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A. NEW YORK BRANCH,
as Syndication Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH,
SCOTIA FINANCING (USA) LLC
and
THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH,
as Co-Documentation Agents
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A. NEW YORK BRANCH,
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH,
SCOTIA FINANCING (USA) LLC
and
TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
1 | |||||
| Section 1.01 |
Defined Terms | 1 | ||||
| Section 1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 21 | ||||
| Section 1.03 |
Accounting Terms | 22 | ||||
| Section 1.04 |
Rounding | 22 | ||||
| Section 1.05 |
Times of Day; Rates | 23 | ||||
| ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS |
23 | |||||
| Section 2.01 |
Loans | 23 | ||||
| Section 2.02 |
Borrowings; Conversions and Continuations of Loans | 23 | ||||
| Section 2.03 |
[Reserved] | 25 | ||||
| Section 2.04 |
[Reserved] | 25 | ||||
| Section 2.05 |
Prepayments | 25 | ||||
| Section 2.06 |
Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Commitments | 25 | ||||
| Section 2.07 |
Repayment of Loans | 26 | ||||
| Section 2.08 |
Interest | 26 | ||||
| Section 2.09 |
Fees | 26 | ||||
| Section 2.10 |
Computation of Interest and Fees | 27 | ||||
| Section 2.11 |
Evidence of Debt | 27 | ||||
| Section 2.12 |
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback | 27 | ||||
| Section 2.13 |
Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 29 | ||||
| Section 2.14 |
[Reserved] | 29 | ||||
| Section 2.15 |
Defaulting Lenders | 29 | ||||
| ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
31 | |||||
| Section 3.01 |
Taxes | 31 | ||||
| Section 3.02 |
Illegality | 35 | ||||
| Section 3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates | 36 | ||||
| Section 3.04 |
Increased Costs | 37 | ||||
| Section 3.05 |
Compensation for Losses | 38 | ||||
| Section 3.06 |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 39 | ||||
| Section 3.07 |
Survival | 39 | ||||
| ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LENDING |
39 | |||||
| Section 4.01 |
Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness | 39 | ||||
| Section 4.02 |
Conditions to the Borrowings | 41 | ||||
| ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
41 | |||||
| Section 5.01 |
Existence, Qualification and Power | 41 | ||||
| Section 5.02 |
Authorization; No Contravention | 41 | ||||
| Section 5.03 |
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents | 42 | ||||
| Section 5.04 |
Binding Effect | 42 | ||||
| Section 5.05 |
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect | 42 | ||||
| Section 5.06 |
Litigation | 42 | ||||
| Section 5.07 |
No Default | 43 | ||||
| Section 5.08 |
Environmental Compliance | 43 | ||||
| Section 5.09 |
Use of Proceeds | 43 | ||||
| Section 5.10 |
Taxes | 43 | ||||
| Section 5.11 |
ERISA Compliance | 43 | ||||
| Section 5.12 |
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act | 44 | ||||
| Section 5.13 |
Disclosure | 44 | ||||
| Section 5.14 |
Compliance with Laws | 44 | ||||
| Section 5.15 |
Solvency | 44 | ||||
| Section 5.16 |
Sanctions | 44 | ||||
| Section 5.17 |
Anti-Corruption Laws | 45 | ||||
| Section 5.18 |
Affected Financial Institutions | 45 | ||||
| Section 5.19 |
Covered Entities | 45 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
45 | |||||
| Section 6.01 |
Financial Statements | 45 | ||||
| Section 6.02 |
Certificates; Other Information | 46 | ||||
| Section 6.03 |
Notices | 47 | ||||
| Section 6.04 |
Payment of Obligations | 47 | ||||
| Section 6.05 |
Preservation of Existence, Etc. | 47 | ||||
| Section 6.06 |
Maintenance of Properties | 48 | ||||
| Section 6.07 |
Maintenance of Insurance | 48 | ||||
| Section 6.08 |
Compliance with Laws | 48 | ||||
| Section 6.09 |
Books and Records | 48 | ||||
| Section 6.10 |
Use of Proceeds | 48 | ||||
| Section 6.11 |
Anti-Corruption Laws | 48 | ||||
| Section 6.12 |
Sanctions | 48 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
49 | |||||
| Section 7.01 |
Liens | 49 | ||||
| Section 7.02 |
Subsidiary Indebtedness | 50 | ||||
| Section 7.03 |
Fundamental Changes | 51 | ||||
| Section 7.04 |
Change in Nature of Business | 52 | ||||
| Section 7.05 |
Financial Covenant | 52 | ||||
| Section 7.06 |
Sanctions | 53 | ||||
| Section 7.07 |
Anti-Corruption | 53 | ||||
| ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
53 | |||||
| Section 8.01 |
Events of Default | 53 | ||||
| Section 8.02 |
Remedies Upon Event of Default | 55 | ||||
| Section 8.03 |
Application of Funds | 55 | ||||
| ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
56 | |||||
| Section 9.01 |
Appointment and Authority | 56 | ||||
| Section 9.02 |
Rights as a Lender | 56 | ||||
| Section 9.03 |
Exculpatory Provisions | 56 | ||||
| Section 9.04 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent | 57 | ||||
| Section 9.05 |
Delegation of Duties | 57 | ||||
| Section 9.06 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent | 58 | ||||
| Section 9.07 |
Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Arrangers and Other Lenders | 59 | ||||
| Section 9.08 |
No Other Duties, Etc. | 59 | ||||
| Section 9.09 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 59 | ||||
| Section 9.10 |
Certain ERISA Matters | 60 | ||||
| Section 9.11 |
Recovery of Erroneous Payments | 61 | ||||
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| ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS |
61 | |||||
| Section 10.01 |
Amendments, Etc. | 61 | ||||
| Section 10.02 |
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication | 63 | ||||
| Section 10.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement | 65 | ||||
| Section 10.04 |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 65 | ||||
| Section 10.05 |
Payments Set Aside | 67 | ||||
| Section 10.06 |
Successors and Assigns | 68 | ||||
| Section 10.07 |
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 71 | ||||
| Section 10.08 |
Right of Setoff | 72 | ||||
| Section 10.09 |
Interest Rate Limitation | 72 | ||||
| Section 10.10 |
Integration; Effectiveness | 73 | ||||
| Section 10.11 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties | 73 | ||||
| Section 10.12 |
Severability | 73 | ||||
| Section 10.13 |
Replacement of Lenders | 73 | ||||
| Section 10.14 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. | 74 | ||||
| Section 10.15 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 75 | ||||
| Section 10.16 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 75 | ||||
| Section 10.17 |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice | 76 | ||||
| Section 10.18 |
Judgment Currency | 76 | ||||
| Section 10.19 |
Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts | 76 | ||||
| Section 10.20 |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 77 | ||||
| Section 10.21 |
Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs | 78 | ||||
SCHEDULES
| 2.01 | Commitments | |
| 7.01 | Liens Existing on the Effective Date | |
| 7.02 | Indebtedness Existing on the Effective Date | |
| 10.02 | Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS
Form(s) of
| A | Loan Notice | |
| B | Note | |
| C | Compliance Certificate | |
| D | Assignment and Assumption | |
| E | U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates |
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TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
This TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of May 12, 2026, among BIOGEN INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each Lender from time to time party hereto, and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend Commitments in the amount of $2,000,000,000, consisting of $1,000,000,000 of Tranche A Commitments and $1,000,000,000 of Tranche B Commitments, under which the Borrower may obtain Loans in Dollars. The Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
Section 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Borrower, through its wholly owned Subsidiary, Aspen Purchaser Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, of the Target.
“Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 31, 2026, among the Borrower, Aspen Purchaser Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the Target, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Administrative Agent” means U.S. Bank (through itself or one of its designated affiliates or branch offices) 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 on Schedule 10.02, 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 the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Class” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01(e).
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution, or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Agent Fee Letter” means the fee letter agreement, dated April 8, 2026, among the Borrower and U.S. Bank.
“Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).
“Aggregate Commitments” means the aggregate Tranche A Commitments and Tranche B Commitments of all the Lenders. The aggregate principal amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Effective Date is TWO BILLION DOLLARS ($2,000,000,000).
“Agreement” means this Term Loan Credit Agreement.
“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.
“Applicable Rate” means (a) with respect to Tranche A Loans and Tranche A Commitments, the following percentages per annum: (i) with respect to the Commitment Fee, 0.060%, (ii) with respect to Term SOFR Loans, 0.750% and (iii) with respect to Base Rate Loans, 0.000%; and (b) with respect to Tranche B Loans and Tranche B Commitments, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:
| Pricing Level |
Debt Ratings S&P/Moody’s |
Commitment Fee |
Term SOFR Loans |
Base Rate Loans | ||||
| 1 | ≥A-/A3 | 0.070% | 0.750% | 0.000% | ||||
| 2 | BBB+/Baa1 | 0.080% | 0.875% | 0.000% | ||||
| 3 | < BBB/Baa2 | 0.090% | 1.000% | 0.000% |
“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody’s (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided, that: (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 3 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level higher than the Pricing Level of the lower Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 3 shall apply.
Initially, the Applicable Rate for the Commitment Fee, Term SOFR Loans and Base Rate Loans with respect to Tranche B Loans and Tranche B Commitments shall be determined based upon the Debt Ratings specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vi). Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Ratings shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this provision to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rates shall be determined by reference to the Debt Ratings most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.
“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.
“Arranger” means each of U.S. Bank National Association, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. New York Branch, BofA Securities, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Bank of China, New York Branch, Scotia Financing (USA) LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC, in each case in its capacities as a joint lead arranger and a joint bookrunner.
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“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 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form (including an electronic documentation form generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital 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 GAAP, 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 GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Back-Up Indemnity Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(c)(i).
“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, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which 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).
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by U.S. Bank as its “prime rate,” and (c) Term SOFR plus 1%; provided, that, if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement. The “prime rate” is a rate set by U.S. Bank based upon various factors including U.S. Bank’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in the “prime rate” announced by U.S. Bank shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code, or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
3
“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.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type, Class, and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date, 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 or in the implementation thereof 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, issued or implemented.
“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 thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the equity securities 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 ceases 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.
4
“Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Tranche A Loans or Tranche B Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Tranche A Commitment or a Tranche B Commitment and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment of a particular Class.
“Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.02 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.01).
“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, such Lender’s Tranche A Commitment and/or Tranche B Commitment, as applicable.
“Commitment Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a).
“Commitment Termination Date” means the earliest of (a) the date of termination of the applicable Class of Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, (b) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to Section 8.02, (c) with respect to Tranche A Loans, the consummation of the Acquisition without a Borrowing of Tranche A Loans, (d) with respect to Tranche B Loans, the consummation of the Acquisition without a Borrowing of Tranche B Loans, (e) the date on which the Acquisition Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, and (f) September 30, 2026.
“Communication” means this Agreement, any other Loan Document, and any other written document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure, or authorization related to any Loan Document.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, without duplication: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) other non-recurring charges or losses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reducing such Consolidated Net Income (including, to the extent non-recurring, (A) charges, fees and expenses incurred in connection with any issuance of Indebtedness or equity, acquisition, investment, collaboration, license, asset sale or divestiture, whether or not consummated, (B) upfront, earnout or milestone payments or other similar contingent amounts, and noncompetition and consulting payments, in connection with any collaboration, license, acquisition or disposition, and (C) any restructuring, integration, transition, severance, facility closing and similar charges associated with any acquisition or disposition), (v) non-cash expenses and charges that do not represent a reserve for cash expenditures in a future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense, and (vi) purchase of in-process research and development, and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, without duplication: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period and (iii) non-recurring income or gains of the Borrower
5
and its Subsidiaries increasing such Consolidated Net Income. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower (each, a “Reference Period”), (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period, and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that involves the payment of noncontingent consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $500,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers, or dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $500,000,000.
“Consolidated Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations (to the extent such obligations are drawn and outstanding and excluding any contingent obligation) arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties (but excluding any of the foregoing to the extent secured by cash collateral), surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business, and purchase price adjustments, earnouts and other contingent payments due with respect to acquisitions either permitted hereby or completed prior to the Effective Date), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, limited liability company or other limited liability entity) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.
“Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with Indebtedness (including capitalized interest), in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, and (b) the portion of rent expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to such period under capital leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four (4) fiscal quarters of the Borrower most recently ended on or prior to such date.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding unusual and infrequent gains and unusual and infrequent losses) for such period.
“Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Shareholders’ Equity.
6
“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 correlative thereto.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.21.
“Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to any applicable determination date means SOFR as published on such date on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source).
“Debt Rating” and “Debt Ratings” each have the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Rate.”
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, 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.
“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 (a) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is specified, a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate otherwise applicable thereto and (b) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is not specified or available, a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans plus two percent (2%), in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.
“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.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender in good faith notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the
7
Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, as applicable, that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided, that, such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, as applicable), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided, that, a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interests in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.15(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and each other Lender promptly following such determination.
“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is, or whose government is, the subject of any Sanction.
“Designated Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(e).
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any 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.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which 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.
“Effective Date” means May 12, 2026.
“Electronic Copy” has the meaning specified in Section 10.19.
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“Electronic Record” has the meaning assigned to it by 15 USC §7006.
“Electronic Signature” has the meaning assigned to it by 15 USC §7006.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(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 relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect 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.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means: (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (g) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
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“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 Section 8.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any 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 by the United States, (ii) 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 Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (iii) 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 10.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii), (a)(iii) or (c), 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 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA.
“Existing Revolving Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, by and among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent, the swing line lender and the letter of credit issuer.
“Existing Target Capped Call Documentation” means, collectively, (a) the letter agreement re: Base Call Option Transaction, dated as of September 11, 2019, by and between the Target and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, (b) the letter agreement re: Base Call Option Transaction, dated as of September 11, 2019, by and between the Target and Jefferies International Limited, (c) the letter agreement re: Call Option Transaction, dated as of May 6, 2020, by and between the Target and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and (d) the letter agreement re: Call Option Transaction, dated as of May 6, 2020, by and between the Target and Jefferies International Limited.
“Existing Target Convertible Senior Notes” means the Target’s 3.500% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026.
“Existing Target Credit Agreements Repayment” means, collectively, (a) the exercise, settlement, termination or cancellation of all capped call transactions evidenced by the Existing Target Capped Call Documentation, (b) the repayment in full of the principal, accrued and unpaid interest, fees, premium, if any, and other obligations outstanding under the Existing Target Financing Agreement and the termination of all commitments outstanding thereunder, release of all liens securing such obligations and release of all guarantees in connection therewith and (c) the termination of the Existing Target Factoring Agreement.
“Existing Target Factoring Agreement” means that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2024, among the Target, APL Sales I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Citibank, N.A., a national banking association.
“Existing Target Financing Agreement” means that certain Financing Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2024, among the Target, certain subsidiaries of the Target as guarantors, the various lenders from time to time party thereto, and Sixth Street Lending Partners, as administrative agent.
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“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Effective Date (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, as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version described above), and any intergovernmental agreement (and related fiscal or regulatory legislation, or related official rules or practices) implementing the foregoing.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository 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; provided, that, if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Financial Covenant Threshold” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05.
“Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“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 and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the FASB ASC, consistently applied, and as in effect from time to time, subject to Section 1.03(a).
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States 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 the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and 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 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, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness, (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 (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect
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thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). 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.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“HMT” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Sanctions.”
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap 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, and purchase price adjustments, earnouts and other contingent payments due with respect to acquisitions either permitted hereby or completed prior to the Effective Date);
(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) capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations; and
(g) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
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, limited liability company or similar limited liability entity) 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 capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of any date of determination, for purposes of calculating Indebtedness, Consolidated Indebtedness, or the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, the foregoing shall not include the outstanding principal amount of any debt securities issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the extent that (i) as of such date, the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall have delivered (or the indenture trustee under the applicable indenture shall have
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delivered on the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s behalf) to the holders of such debt securities an irrevocable notice of redemption with respect to all of such debt securities and shall have deposited funds with the indenture trustee or into an escrow account in an amount required to effect such redemption, unless any portion of such debt securities shall not in fact be redeemed within 180 days of such notice of redemption and deposit of funds or (ii) the proceeds of such debt securities are held by the trustee of the related indenture and have not been released to the Borrower or such Subsidiary or are deposited into an escrow account, in each case, pending the closing of an acquisition or the redemption of other debt securities solely until such proceeds are released.
“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 clause (a) above, Other Taxes.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Term SOFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, that, if any Interest Period for such Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter (in each case subject to availability), as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided, that: (a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; (b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and (c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05(b).
“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 capital stock 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 Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount that should be reported in accordance with GAAP.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.
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“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.
“Lender” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, each other Person that becomes a “Lender” in accordance with this Agreement and, their successors and assigns. The term “Lender” shall include any Designated Lender who has funded any Borrowing.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate.
“Leverage Increase Period” has the meaning specified in Section 7.05.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“Loan” means a Tranche A Loan and/or a Tranche B Loan, as the context requires.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note and the Agent Fee Letter.
“Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans, (c) a conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, or (d) a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, in each case pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent, email and/or .pdf) appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Material Adverse Effect” means: (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, assets, operations, properties or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its payment obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.
“Maturity Date” means the Tranche A Maturity Date or the Tranche B Maturity Date, as the context requires.
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
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“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five (5) plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.
“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“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.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Organization Documents” means: (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect 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.
“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 solely 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 or filing Taxes 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 3.06).
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“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate, and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in Sections 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.
“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (including a Pension Plan), maintained for employees of the Borrower or, with respect to Pension Plans, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“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 6.02.
“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).
“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning specified in Section 10.21.
“Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Related Indemnified Parties” means, with respect to an Indemnitee, (a) any Affiliate of such Indemnitee, (b) the respective directors, officers or employees of such Indemnitee or any of its Affiliates, (c) the respective agents and advisors or other representatives of such Indemnitee or any of its Affiliates, in the case of this clause (c), acting on behalf of or at the instructions of such Indemnitee or any of its Affiliates.
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“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.
“Removal Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(b).
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having Commitments and Loans representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the aggregate amount of all of the Commitments and the aggregate principal amount of all of the Loans outstanding at such time; provided, that, this definition is subject to Sections 3.03(b) and (c). The Commitments and Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(b)(ii).
“Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.06(a).
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means (a) the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of the Borrower, (b) solely for purposes of the delivery of secretary’s certificates pursuant to any Loan Document, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Borrower, and (c) solely for purposes of delivering notices pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower. To the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, each Responsible Officer will provide an incumbency certificate and appropriate authorization documentation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc., and any successor thereto.
“Same Day Funds” means immediately available funds.
“Sanctions” means any international economic sanction or trade embargo administered or enforced by the United States government, including OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP (such determination to be made by reference to the financial statements of the Borrower most recently delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or prior to such date pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), as applicable (or, with respect to any such determination to be made prior to the first delivery of such financial statements, determined by reference to the Interim Financial Statements)).
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“Significant Subsidiary” means, on any date of determination, any Subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (as Regulation S-X is in effect on the Effective Date)).
“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).
“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other 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 beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, 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.
“Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.21.
“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, which 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, in respect of 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).
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“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 which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Target” means Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“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.
“Term SOFR” means: (a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided, that, if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto; and (b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such date with a term of one month commencing that day; provided, that, if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto; provided, that, if Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than zero, Term SOFR shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Term SOFR Conforming Changes” means, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR, Term SOFR or any proposed Term SOFR Successor Rate, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “Base Rate”, “SOFR”, “Term SOFR” and “Interest Period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the definitions of “Business Day” and “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, is necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document).
“Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Term SOFR”. All Term SOFR Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
“Term SOFR Replacement Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Term SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion).
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“Term SOFR Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).
“Threshold Amount” means $300,000,000.
“Tranche A Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Tranche A Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Tranche A Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“Tranche A Maturity Date” means the date that is 364 days after the Closing Date; provided, that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Tranche A Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.
“Tranche B Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Tranche B Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Tranche B Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b).
“Tranche B Maturity Date” means the date that is two (2) years after the Closing Date; provided, that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Tranche B Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.
“Transactions” means (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of the Loans and the use of proceeds thereof, (b) the consummation of the Acquisition, (c) the consummation of the Existing Target Credit Agreements Repayment, (d) the making of any required payments in connection with the Existing Target Convertible Senior Notes and (e) the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing, including any payment of fees and expenses described in the Acquisition Agreement in connection with the Target’s cooperation with the Borrower in connection with the foregoing.
“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Term SOFR Loan.
“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 subject to 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.
“U.S. Bank” means U.S. Bank National Association and its successors.
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“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. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning specified in Section 10.21.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(III).
“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.
Section 1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, amendments and restatements, extensions, replacements, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory rules, regulations, orders and provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law, rule or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) 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.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”
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(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(d) Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, or disposition, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, assignment, sale, or disposition, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person).
Section 1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, (i) leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with GAAP as in effect as of December 31, 2015, notwithstanding any change in GAAP related thereto (including pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 842), and (ii) all liability amounts shall be determined excluding any liability relating to any operating lease, all asset amounts shall be determined excluding any right-of-use assets relating to any operating lease, all amortization amounts shall be determined excluding any amortization of a right-of-use asset relating to any operating lease, and all interest amounts shall be determined excluding any deemed interest comprising a portion of fixed rent payable under any operating lease, in each case to the extent that such liability, asset, amortization or interest (A) pertains to an operating lease under which the covenantor or a member of its consolidated group is the lessee and (B) would not have been accounted for as a liability, asset, amortization or interest, as applicable, under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the reasonable approval of the Required Lenders); provided, that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
(c) FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20. Notwithstanding the above, 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 one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.
Section 1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
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Section 1.05 Times of Day; Rates.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustments) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including any Term SOFR Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Term SOFR Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Term SOFR Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Term SOFR Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service. For the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph of Section 1.05 does not alter or impair the rights and obligations of the Administrative Agent otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS
Section 2.01 Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Loans denominated in Dollars to the Borrower in a single drawing on the Closing Date in an aggregate amount (a) for Tranche A Loans, not to exceed such Lender’s Tranche A Commitment as in effect immediately prior to the time such Tranche A Loans are made and (b) for Tranche B Loans, not to exceed such Lender’s Tranche B Commitment as in effect immediately prior to the time such Tranche B Loans are made. On the Closing Date (after giving effect to the incurrence of Loans), the Commitments of each Lender shall terminate and automatically be reduced to zero, irrespective of whether the aggregate amount of Loans made on the Closing Date is equal to or less than the aggregate amount of Commitments immediately prior to the making of the Loans. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01 and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein.
Section 2.02 Borrowings; Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans, each conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans, as applicable, shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable (subject to the second proviso in this Section 2.02(a)) notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone or a Loan Notice; provided, that, any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan
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Notice; provided, further, that, any Loan Notice with respect to a Borrowing provided pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) may state that it is conditioned upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by written notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) two (2) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans, or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice shall specify (A) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans, a conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, (B) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (D) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (E) the Class of Loans to be borrowed and (F) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its share of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans, as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of U.S. Bank with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Term SOFR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error.
(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans, all conversions of Loans from Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.
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(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or the portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.
Section 2.03 [Reserved].
Section 2.04 [Reserved].
Section 2.05 Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay any Class of Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided, that, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) two (2) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding); and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) and Class(es) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s share of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein; provided, that, any notice provided pursuant to this Section 2.05 may state that it is conditioned upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event specified therein (including the effectiveness of other credit facilities), in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by written notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied ratably to the Loans of the applicable Class(es) included in the prepaid Borrowing.
Section 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Commitments.
(a) Optional Reductions. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate or permanently reduce the Commitments of all Lenders of any Class on a pro rata basis; provided, that, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon five (5) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, and (ii) any such partial reduction with respect to a particular Class shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
(b) Mandatory Reductions. The Commitments shall terminate on the Commitment Termination Date.
(c) Notice. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of the Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s ratable share of such reduction amount. All fees in respect of the Aggregate Commitments accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
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Section 2.07 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Tranche A Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Tranche A Loans outstanding on such date.
(b) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Tranche B Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Tranche B Loans outstanding on such date.
Section 2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below: (i) each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
Section 2.09 Fees.
(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender of the applicable Class(es) in accordance with its ratable share of such Class of Commitments, a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Commitments of such Class of such Lender during the period from and including the date that is one hundred twenty (120) days after the Effective Date to but excluding the Commitment Termination Date. The Commitment Fee shall be due and payable on the Commitment Termination Date. The Commitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other Fees.
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(i) The Borrower shall pay to U.S. Bank, for its own account, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Agent Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
Section 2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All computations of interest for Term SOFR Loans shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided, that, any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Section 2.11 Evidence of Debt. The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 10.06(c). The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register, the Register shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), Class, amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
Section 2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder 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 Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its applicable share of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Subject to the definition of “Interest Period”, if any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
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(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such 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 2.02 (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) 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 in Same Day Funds 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 (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. 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.
(ii) Payments by Borrower; 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. With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (A) the Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (B) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (C) the Administrative Agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender, in Same Day 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 Overnight Rate.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Borrowing set forth in Section 4.02 are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent promptly shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
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(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) 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 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan or otherwise perform its obligations hereunder through any Lending Office (each, a “Designated Lender”); provided, that, any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay any Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any Designated Lender shall be considered a Lender; provided, that, the designation of a Designated Lender is for administrative convenience only and does not expand the scope of liabilities or obligations of any Lender or Designated Lender beyond those of the Lender designating such Person as a Designated Lender as provided in this Agreement.
Section 2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. 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 the Loans of a particular Class made by it resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon 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 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 of the applicable Class(es) ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans of such Class(es) 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 Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (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 (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 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.
Section 2.14 [Reserved].
Section 2.15 Defaulting Lenders.
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(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” and Section 10.01.
(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08, shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, that, if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders of the same Class pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii) Certain Fees. No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the applicable Class(es) of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause such Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders of such Class(es) in accordance with their respective Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided, that, no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.
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ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
Section 3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.
(i) 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 Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, then the Administrative Agent or the Borrower shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation received pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(ii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(iii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(c) Tax Indemnifications.
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(i) The Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof 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 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and 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. The Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii), except to the extent that such amount is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent. To the extent that the Borrower pays an amount to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence (a “Back-Up Indemnity Payment”), the Administrative Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to exercise its set-off rights described in the last sentence of subsection (ii) below to collect the applicable Back-Up Indemnity Payment amount from the applicable Lender and shall pay the amount so collected to the Borrower net of any reasonable expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in its efforts to collect (through set-off or otherwise) from such Lender with respect to subsection (ii) below.
(ii) Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against 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), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower 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 this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this subsection (ii).
(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.
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(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D)) 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; provided, that, this sentence shall not apply to documentation described in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(C) if such documentation is in substance essentially equivalent to, and not materially more onerous to provide, than the documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B), or (ii)(D).
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed 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 prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I) 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-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) 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-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) 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;
(II) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(III) 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
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substantially in the form of Exhibit E-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 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or
(IV) 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-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 or Exhibit E-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided, that, if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E-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 prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed 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 pursuant to FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting, registration or other requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this subsection (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Effective Date.
(iii) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 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.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender. If any Recipient determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has
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received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided, that, the Borrower, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection (f), in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this subsection (f) the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient 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 subsection (f) shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
(g) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 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 Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
Section 3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines in good faith that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR or Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, shall be suspended, and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender in good faith notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay in full such Term SOFR Loans then outstanding (which prepayment shall be made on the last day of the relevant Interest Periods of such Loans, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans to such day) or, if applicable, convert such Term SOFR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate) on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loans, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon Term SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.
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Section 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.
(a) If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan, or a request for a conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans, or a request for a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, as applicable, (i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Term SOFR Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with Section 3.03(b) and the circumstances under Section 3.03(b)(i) or the Term SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining Term SOFR for any determination date(s) or requested Interest Period, as applicable, with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan, or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason Term SOFR for any determination date(s) or requested Interest Period, as applicable, does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans, Interest Periods or determination date(s), as applicable), and (y) in the event of a determination described above with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (a)(ii) above, until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (1) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of the applicable Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans, Interest Periods or determination date(s), as applicable) or, failing that, with respect to any request for a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of, or conversion to, Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (2) any outstanding affected Term SOFR Loans shall be converted to Base Rate Loans at the end of their respective applicable Interest Periods.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that: (i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining one month, three month, and six month interest periods of Term SOFR, including because the Term SOFR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or (ii) CME or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which one month, three month, and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of syndicated loans, or shall or will otherwise cease; provided, that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that will continue to provide such interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month, and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer available permanently or indefinitely, the “Term SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date”); then, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Term SOFR Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “Term SOFR Successor Rate”). If the Term SOFR Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in clause (i) above or clause (ii) of the immediately preceding paragraph have occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then-current Term SOFR Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03(b) at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then-existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then-existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a “Term SOFR Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.
The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Borrower and each Lender of the implementation of any Term SOFR Successor Rate. Any Term SOFR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, that, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Term SOFR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Term SOFR Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero, such Term SOFR Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
In connection with the implementation of a Term SOFR Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Term SOFR Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Term SOFR Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided, that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Term SOFR Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
Section 3.04 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, 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 and (B) Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
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(iii) impose on any Lender or the applicable funding market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Term SOFR Loans made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender reasonably 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 Commitment 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 and liquidity), 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 in reasonable detail calculation of the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 3.04 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 ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 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 the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six (6) 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 six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
Section 3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss (other than loss of Applicable Rate), cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period, relevant Interest Payment Date or payment period, as applicable, for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
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(c) any assignment of a Term SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;
excluding any loss of anticipated profits and including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
Section 3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, 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 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Borrower such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, 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 3.04, 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 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
Section 3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LENDING
Section 4.01 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (and, in the case of this Agreement, each Lender), if applicable, each dated the Effective Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Effective Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender that has requested a Note at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date;
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(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in the jurisdiction of its organization; and
(v) a favorable opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to such customary matters concerning the Borrower and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; and
(vi) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying: (A) that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists as of the Effective Date and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at or prior to such time in connection herewith or therewith, are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (provided, that, any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or other similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects); (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements through the Effective Date that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) as to the current Debt Ratings.
(b) The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall have received from the Borrower such documentation and other information reasonably requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Date by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in order to comply with applicable law and “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five (5) days prior to the Effective Date. If the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, each Lender shall have received, to the extent requested by such Lender, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower.
(c) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Effective Date shall have been paid.
(d) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Effective Date.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, 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 Effective Date specifying its objection thereto.
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Section 4.02 Conditions to the Borrowings. The obligation of each Lender to make Loans on the Closing Date is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Effective Date shall have occurred;
(b) The Commitment Termination Date shall not have occurred prior to the Closing Date;
(c) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing(s), except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively; provided, that, any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects;
(d) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Borrowing(s) or from the application of the proceeds thereof;
(e) The Acquisition shall have been consummated concurrently or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Loans in all material respects in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Agreement;
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Loan Notice in accordance with Section 2.02, which Loan Notice shall include a certification of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(c), (d) and (e) on and as of the Closing Date; and
(g) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
Section 5.01 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 subsection (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.02 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
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corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of the Borrower’s Organization 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 to which the Borrower is a party or affecting the Borrower or the properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its property is subject, or (c) violate any Law, except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (b)(ii) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other material action by, or material notice to, or material 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.
Section 5.04 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 constitutes, 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, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting creditors and general principles of equity.
Section 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, (ii) 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 for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including material liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness other than those that are (A) not material to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole or (B) are reflected in the Borrower’s most recent report on Form 10-K and any subsequent reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2026, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (the “Interim Financial Statements”) (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) 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 for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of subsections (i) and (ii) above, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated (to the extent contemplated in writing), at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a)
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purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except for litigation disclosed in the Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 or in any subsequent disclosures filed with the SEC for any period ending on or prior to March 31, 2026, either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.07 No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any material Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 5.08 Environmental Compliance. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law or their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.09 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries will have only used the proceeds of the Loans as permitted by Section 6.10.
Section 5.10 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those (a) filings and payments with respect to which the due date for filing or payment has not yet passed, (b) payments which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (c) filings or payments with respect to which the failure to make such filings or payments could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Effective Date, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is party to any Federal income tax sharing agreement.
Section 5.11 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws, except to the extent failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the IRS to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent, or cause the loss of, such tax-qualified status.
(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could be reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no non-exempt prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules of the ERISA or the Code with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any material liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no material premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; and (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.
(d) As of the Effective Date, the Borrower is not and will not be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to the Borrower’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement.
Section 5.12 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) 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 (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock in a manner that would result in a violation of Regulation U of the FRB.
(b) None of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section 5.13 Disclosure. No written report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative 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 (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. As of the Effective Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered on or prior to the Effective Date, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.
Section 5.14 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including the PATRIOT Act) 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 comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.15 Solvency. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are Solvent.
Section 5.16 Sanctions. Neither the Borrower, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more individuals or entities that are, (a) currently the subject of any Sanctions, (b) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (c) located (to the extent the same would violate Sanctions), organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
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Section 5.17 Anti-Corruption Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct business, and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
Section 5.18 Affected Financial Institutions. The Borrower is not an Affected Financial Institution.
Section 5.19 Covered Entities. The Borrower is not a Covered Entity.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:
Section 6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders):
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, 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, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, 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 or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year or the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller that is a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under subsection (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in subsections (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.
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Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders), in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller that is a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);
(b) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;
(c) promptly following any request therefor, any information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;
(d) promptly following any change in the information provided in any Beneficial Ownership Certification previously delivered to any Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such Beneficial Ownership Certification, an updated Beneficial Ownership Certification; and
(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(b) (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 the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02, 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) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests 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 (by facsimile 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 for delivery by a Lender, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or any Arranger may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on DebtX, Debticate, IntraLinks, Syndtrak or another similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish
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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 Person’s securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders 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, (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers 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 United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, that, to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07), (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information,” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers 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.”
Section 6.03 Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent (for further notification to each Lender):
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including such matters arising from (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority, or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and
(d) of any announcement by Moody’s or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(d)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached. Information required to be furnished pursuant to clauses (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 6.03 shall be deemed to have been furnished if such information, or one or more annual, quarterly or current reports containing such information, shall have been (x) delivered to the Administrative Agent for posting on, or otherwise posted on the Borrower’s behalf on, the Platform or (y) filed for public availability on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
Section 6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, and (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property (other than a Lien that is not prohibited by Section 7.01).
Section 6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (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 (i) in the case of a Subsidiary, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a
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Material Adverse Effect or (ii) in a transaction permitted by Section 7.03; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses 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.
Section 6.06 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, 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 as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.
Section 6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including Environmental Laws) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, 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 comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP 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 6.10 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans (a) to pay a portion of the consideration for the Acquisition, (b) to effectuate the Existing Target Credit Agreements Repayment, (c) to make any required payments in connection with the Existing Target Convertible Senior Notes, (d) to pay any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions and (e) for other purposes in connection with the Transactions, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document and not to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, in each case so as to result in a violation of Regulation U of the FRB. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall not be required to apply any specific portion of the proceeds of the Loans to any particular use set forth in this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11 Anti-Corruption Laws. Conduct its businesses in compliance in all material respects with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct business and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with such laws.
Section 6.12 Sanctions. Conduct its businesses in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Sanctions and maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure, in its reasonable judgment, compliance in all material respects by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Sanctions.
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ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to:
Section 7.01 Liens. Directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Liens existing on the Effective Date and any renewals or extensions thereof; provided, that, any such Lien securing Indebtedness having an aggregate principal amount outstanding on the Effective Date in excess of $5,000,000 shall be described on Schedule 7.01; provided, further, that, any renewal or extension of any Lien existing on the Effective Date shall only be permitted pursuant to this Section 7.01(b) to the extent that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.02(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 7.02(b);
(c) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies not yet due or which 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 GAAP;
(d) Landlord liens and carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or which 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;
(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;
(f) 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;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which 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;
(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Borrower’s Subsidiaries under Section 7.02(e) (and Indebtedness of the same type incurred by the Borrower); 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;
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(j) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
(k) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements;
(l) normal and customary banker’s Liens and rights of setoff arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to cash and cash equivalents in favor of banks or other depository institutions;
(m) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4.210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;
(n) Liens, if any, existing on the Effective Date in favor of the administrative agent under the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Effective Date) in Cash Collateral (as defined in the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement, as in effect on the Effective Date);
(o) Liens on specific assets acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the Effective Date securing Indebtedness of the type described in Section 7.02(e); provided, that, such Liens existed on the property at the time of its acquisition or existed on the property of any Person at the time such Person became a Subsidiary, such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets (other than proceeds or products thereof or accessions or additions thereto) and such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary;
(p) Liens securing other Indebtedness and other obligations; provided, that, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such Liens, when taken together (without duplication) with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in reliance on Section 7.02(j), shall not exceed an amount equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of Consolidated Net Worth;
(q) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payments of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;
(r) normal and customary rights of setoff and similar Liens granted in the ordinary course of business and arising under bona fide interest rate or currency hedging agreements, which are not for speculative purposes;
(s) to the extent constituting a Lien, the interests of landlords and lessors under operating leases permitted hereunder, and any precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements filed in connection therewith;
(t) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings with respect to operating leases or consignment arrangements entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and
(u) (i) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations to insurance carriers providing casualty, liability or other insurance to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto.
Section 7.02 Subsidiary Indebtedness. Directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary, except:
(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;
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(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 7.02 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof with Indebtedness of a similar type; 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) Guarantees provided by any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of any wholly-owned Subsidiary otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;
(d) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided, that, (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly 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 purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;
(e) 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 7.01(i); provided, that, the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $100,000,000;
(f) Indebtedness incurred in connection with corporate credit cards, daylight or overnight overdraft facilities and other treasury management services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) intercompany Indebtedness between one Subsidiary and another and between the Borrower and any Subsidiary;
(h) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(i) Indebtedness of any Person, or in respect of assets, acquired after the Effective Date in an acquisition or other investment permitted pursuant to this Agreement, in each case to the extent such Indebtedness was existing at the time of such acquisition or other investment and was not incurred in contemplation thereof; and
(j) other Indebtedness; provided, that, that aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness, when taken together (without duplication) with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness and other obligations secured by Liens incurred in reliance on Section 7.01(p), shall not exceed an amount equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of Consolidated Net Worth.
Section 7.03 Fundamental Changes. Directly or indirectly merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), taken as a whole, to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of 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; provided, that, when any wholly-owned Subsidiary is merging with another Subsidiary, a wholly-owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person;
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(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; provided, that, if the transferor in such a transaction is a wholly-owned Subsidiary, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary;
(c) any Subsidiary may (i) merge with any Person (that is not the Borrower or another Subsidiary), or (ii) Dispose of its assets to any Person (that is not the Borrower or another Subsidiary), in each case, so long as the aggregate net book value of the assets Disposed of in connection with all such transactions (whether by way of any such merger or by way of any such Disposition) in any fiscal year of the Borrower does not exceed an amount equal to seven and one-half of one percent (7.5%) of Consolidated Net Worth; and
(d) any Subsidiary that is no longer used or useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up; provided, that, (i) such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, does not result in the Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (iii) in connection with any such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, any assets of such Subsidiary shall be (A) transferred to the Borrower and/or one or more Subsidiaries (provided, that, if such Subsidiary is a wholly-owned Subsidiary, then the transferee must either be the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary), or (B) otherwise disposed of in a Disposition that is permitted pursuant to this Agreement (other than by reference to this Section 7.03(d)).
Section 7.04 Change in Nature of Business. Directly or indirectly engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date, or any business substantially related, incidental or complementary thereto, including additional therapeutic areas.
Section 7.05 Financial Covenant. Directly or indirectly permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any period of four (4) fiscal quarters of the Borrower to be greater than 3.75 to 1.0 (the “Financial Covenant Threshold”); provided, that, (a) upon the consummation of the Acquisition, for each of the four (4) fiscal quarters of the Borrower immediately following the consummation of the Acquisition (including the fiscal quarter of the Borrower in which the Acquisition is consummated), the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be increased to 4.25 to 1.0 and (b) upon notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in connection with the consummation of any other acquisition permitted by this Agreement that occurs after the Closing Date with aggregate consideration (including the assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness in connection with such acquisition) equal to or in excess of $1,000,000,000, for each of the four (4) fiscal quarters of the Borrower immediately following the consummation of such acquisition (including the fiscal quarter of the Borrower in which such acquisition is consummated), the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be increased to 4.25 to 1.0 (each such period of increase in either Section 7.05(a) or 7.05(b), a “Leverage Increase Period”); provided, further, that, (a) there shall be no more than two Leverage Increase Periods during the term of this Agreement, (b) for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower immediately preceding the second Leverage Increase Period, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of such fiscal quarter shall not be greater than 3.75 to 1.0, and (c) each Leverage Increase Period shall only apply with respect to the calculation of the financial covenant pursuant to this Section 7.05. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower does not elect a “material acquisition” step up in the financial covenant level set forth in the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement, the Financial Covenant Threshold shall automatically be deemed amended to match any lower Financial Covenant Threshold in the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement (notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.01).
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Section 7.06 Sanctions. Directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly, use the proceeds of any Loan, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Loan or the proceeds of any Loan to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as a Lender, an Arranger, the Administrative Agent or otherwise) of Sanctions.
Section 7.07 Anti-Corruption. Directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly use the proceeds of any Loan for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or other applicable anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct business.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default”:
(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three (3) days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five (5) days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), 6.05(a) (as to legal existence) or 6.10 or Article VII; or
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice thereof by the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee described in the preceding subsection (A) 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 of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (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 be demanded or 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
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stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; provided, that, this Section 8.01(e) shall not apply to (x) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or as a result of a casualty event affecting such property or assets or (y) a “change of control” put arising as a result of any acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any entity or its subsidiaries or any business thereof so long as such “change of control” put is contained in the Indebtedness of such entity or its subsidiaries or any business thereof and in each case any such Indebtedness that is put in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness is paid as required by the terms of such Indebtedness or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as defined in such Swap Contract) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) and (i) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (ii) there is a period of sixty (60) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or
(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or
(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. The Loan Documents, at any time after their execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, cease to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under the Loan Documents, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind the Loan Documents; or
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(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
Section 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and
(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;
provided, that, upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
Section 8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), or if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all Obligations then due hereunder, any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
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 reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders to the extent the Borrower is obligated to reimburse such amounts and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
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 Fourth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
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ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints U.S. Bank to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Except with respect to Sections 9.06, the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative 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 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 9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its 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 banking, trust, financial, advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.
Section 9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger, as applicable, shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and each such Person’s duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger, as applicable:
(a) shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall 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 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, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; or
(c) shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to, obtained or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein.
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Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (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 shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) 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. Any such action taken or failure to act pursuant to the foregoing shall be binding on all Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.
Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person 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.
Section 9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, communication, 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 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 be fully protected in relying 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 may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
Section 9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative 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. The Administrative 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 any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not 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 non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.
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Section 9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative 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, with approval of the Borrower, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and which shall not be required if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided, that, in no event shall any successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.
(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as the Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative 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 as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative 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 (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 9.06(c)). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.
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Section 9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Arrangers and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or any Arranger to any Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or any Arranger has disclosed material information in their (or their respective Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent and each Arranger that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and 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, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower. Each Lender represents and warrants that (a) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (b) 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 and providing other facilities 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 and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
Section 9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, the arrangers, any co-documentation agent or the syndication agent shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.
Section 9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative 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 shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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 (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04) 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, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
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disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
Section 9.10 Certain ERISA Matters.
(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments, or this Agreement,
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84–14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95–60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90–1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91–38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96–23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84–14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84–14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84–14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless either (1) subsection (a)(i) above is true with respect to a Lender, or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with subsection (a)(iv) above, such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
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Section 9.11 Recovery of Erroneous Payments. Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by the Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender in Same Day Funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by 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. Each Lender 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) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01 Amendments, Etc. 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 signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, that:
(a) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(i) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender whose Commitment is being extended or increased (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or of any Default is not considered an extension or increase in the Commitment of any Lender);
(ii) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment;
(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (B) of the final proviso to this Section 10.01(a)) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts; provided, that, only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;
(iv) change any provision of this Section 10.01(a) or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, modify or waive any term or provision in the Loan Documents without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
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(v) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; or
(vi) release the Borrower without the written consent of each Lender;
provided, further, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein: (A) unless also signed by the Administrative Agent, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (B) the Agent Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; (C) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (1) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (2) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; (D) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein; (E) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow the Borrower to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders; (F) in order to implement any Term SOFR Successor Rate or any Term SOFR Conforming Changes, in each case in accordance with Section 3.03(b), this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended for such purpose as provided in Section 3.03(b); and (G) with respect to SOFR or Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Term SOFR Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Term SOFR Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Term SOFR Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, and the Borrower (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement, to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding hereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and (ii) to change, modify or alter Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 or any other provision hereof relating to the pro rata sharing of payments among the Lenders to the extent necessary to effectuate any of the amendments (or amendments and restatements) enumerated in subsection (b)(i) above.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any other Loan Document to cure or correct administrative errors or omissions, any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or to effect administrative changes, and such amendment shall become effective without any further consent of any other party to such Loan Document so long as (i) such amendment, modification or supplement does not
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adversely affect the rights of any Lender or other holder of Obligations in any material respect and (ii) the Lenders shall have received at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) without the consent of any Lender if, upon giving effect to such amendment (or amendment and restatement), such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended (or amended and restated)), the Commitment of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and such Lender shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any amendment, waiver or consent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document that by its terms (A) affects the rights or duties under this Agreement or such other Loan Document of Lenders under one or more Classes (each, an “Affected Class”) (but not other Classes) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the requisite number or percentage in interest of Lenders of each Affected Class that would be required to consent thereto if the Lenders under such Affected Class were the only Lenders hereunder (and no consent of any other Lender shall be required for the effectiveness of such amendment); and (B) affects the rights or duties under this Agreement or such other Loan Document of Lenders under one or more Classes disproportionately and adversely vis-à-vis the Lenders under another Class in any material respect shall require the consent of the Lenders under such adversely-affected Class that would otherwise be required to consent thereto if the Lenders under such Class were the only Lenders hereunder.
Section 10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (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 electronic mail as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications 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 and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
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(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail, FpML messaging, 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 each, 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 subsection (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided, that, for both of the foregoing subsections (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. 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 BORROWER MATERIALS 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 for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging services, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, that, in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its
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delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices and Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
Section 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person 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 right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including the imposition of the Default Rate) preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Borrower shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.01 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, that, the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; provided, further, that, if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.01 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
Section 10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by U.S. Bank, in its capacity as an Arranger, the Administrative Agent, and their respective Affiliates (but limited, in the case of legal expenses, to the reasonable and documented out of pocket fees, charges and disbursements of (x) one primary counsel to the Administrative Agent, (y) if necessary, one firm of local counsel retained by the Administrative Agent in each relevant jurisdiction, and (z) if necessary, one firm of specialty counsel retained by the Administrative Agent in each relevant specialty), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation,
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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 reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable out of pocket fees, charges and disbursements of (w) one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, taken as a whole, (x) if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction, (y) if necessary, one firm of specialty counsel in each relevant specialty, and (z) in the case of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to each group of affected persons similarly situated, taken as a whole), 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 10.04, 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.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify each Arranger, the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) 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 reasonable expenses (but limited, in the case of legal expenses, to the reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses of (w) one primary counsel to the Indemnitees, taken as a whole, (x) if necessary, one firm of local counsel to the Indemnitees, taken as a whole, in each relevant jurisdiction, (y) if necessary, one firm of specialty counsel to the Indemnitees, taken as a whole, in each relevant specialty, and (z) in the case of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to each group of similarly situated Indemnitees, taken as a whole), 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 (including any Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record, that such Indemnitee reasonably believes is made by any Responsible Officer), the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (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, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; provided, that, such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (A) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or its Related Indemnified Parties in performing services in connection with this Agreement, (B) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for material breach 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 (C) arise out of disputes between and among Indemnitees not involving an act or omission by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (other than in connection with any proceeding brought against any such Indemnitee solely in its capacity as, or in the fulfillment of its role as, the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or other similar role under the Loan Documents). Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 10.04(b) 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 subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 10.04 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-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 ratable share of the Aggregate Commitments) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lender’s ratable share of the Aggregate Commitments (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought); provided, that, the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any other agent hereunder, any Lender, any other party hereto or any Indemnitee shall assert, and each such Person hereby waives and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any other such Person, 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; provided, that, the foregoing shall in no event limit the Borrower’s indemnification obligations under Section 10.04(b) to the extent such special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages are included in any third-party claim in connection with which such Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee 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 other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section 10.04 and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
Section 10.05 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
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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 applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
Section 10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto 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 or thereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender 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 subsection (b) of this Section 10.06, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 10.06, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section 10.06 (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). 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 subsection (d) of this Section 10.06 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (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 and the related Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section 10.06 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.
(B) In any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.06, 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 $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each 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 Loans and Commitment of the applicable Class(es) (it being understood that there shall be no requirement for Lenders to make assignments pro rata among Classes), and rights and obligations with respect thereto.
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(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section 10.06 and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), 8.01(f) or 8.01(g) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided, that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, that, the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. 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 (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this subsection (B) or (C) to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for, the primary benefit of one or more natural Persons).
(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans of the applicable Class(es) previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans of the applicable Class(es) in accordance with its applicable Commitment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this subsection (vi), then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 10.06, 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
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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 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection (b) 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 subsection (d) of this Section 10.06.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) 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 and the owner of the amounts owing to it under the Loan Documents as reflected in the Register for all purposes of the Loan Documents. 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 one or more natural Persons), a Defaulting Lender 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 and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/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 the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.
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, waiver or other modification described in Section 10.01(a) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.06 (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.06; provided, that, such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.13 as if it were an assignee under subsection (b) of this Section 10.06 and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation
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would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 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 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided, that, such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a nonfiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the 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.
(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 (including under its Note, if any) 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.
Section 10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, its auditors and to its and its Affiliates’ 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 regulations 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 those of this Section 10.07, 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 the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the application, issuance, publishing and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (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 10.07, (y) becomes available to any Arranger, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, or (z) is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from the Borrower or violating the terms of this Section 10.07. 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 Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.
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For purposes of this Section 10.07, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.07 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.
Each of the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement prohibits any individual from communicating or disclosing information regarding suspected violations of laws, rules, or regulations to a governmental, regulatory, or self-regulatory authority without any notification to any Person.
Section 10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by 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 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 Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender 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; provided, that, in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative 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 10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
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Section 10.10 Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their 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.
Section 10.12 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. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
Section 10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or 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 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) 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:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of 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 (including any amounts under Section 3.05) 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);
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(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and
(e) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lender’s failure to consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document, the applicable replacement bank, financial institution or Fund consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination.
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 (i) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 10.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (ii) 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 10.13 to the contrary, the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.
Section 10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO 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 OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, SITTING IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, 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
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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.
(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 SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 10.14. 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 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
Section 10.15 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 AND WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY). 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 10.15.
Section 10.16 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) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders on the other hand, (ii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) 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; (b)(i) the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each Lender 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 Affiliates or any other Person and (ii) none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any
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Lender 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 (c) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender 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 the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
Section 10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT Act”), and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is 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 or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.
Section 10.18 Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).
Section 10.19 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts. This Agreement, any other Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic
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counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into .pdf), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (each, an “Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is not under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, that, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower and/or any Lender without further verification, and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
The Borrower and each Lender hereby waives (a) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement or such other Loan Document, and (b) waives any claim against the Administrative Agent and each Lender for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.
Section 10.20 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 Lender that is an 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 which may be payable to it by any Lender 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 10.21 Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract 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 that, 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, each, a “U.S. Special Resolution Regime”) 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 and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States), 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. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| BORROWER: | BIOGEN INC., | |||||
| a Delaware corporation | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Michael Dambach | |||||
| Name: Michael Dambach | ||||||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||||||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT: | U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | |||||
| as the Administrative Agent | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Sarah Amend | |||||
| Name: Sarah Amend | ||||||
| Title: Assistant Vice President | ||||||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| LENDERS: | U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | |||||
| as a Lender | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Sarah Amend | |||||
| Name: Sarah Amend | ||||||
| Title: Assistant Vice President | ||||||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA, S.A. NEW YORK BRANCH, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Brian Crowley | |
| Name: Brian Crowley | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| By: | /s/ Armen Semizian | |
| Name: Armen Semizian | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Grant Griffith | |
| Name: Grant Griffith | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Isha Raut | |
| Name: Isha Raut | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Andrea S Chen | |
| Name: Andrea S Chen | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| BANK OF CHINA, NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Raymond Qiao | |
| Name: Raymond Qiao | ||
| Title: Executive Vice President | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| SCOTIA FINANCING (USA) LLC, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Michelle Phillips | |
| Name: Michelle Phillips | ||
| Title: President and CEO | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Mike Tkach | |
| Name: Mike Tkach | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Russell | |
| Name: Daniel Russell | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Marko Lukin | |
| Name: Marko Lukin | ||
| Title: Director | ||
| By: | /s/ Alison Lugo | |
| Name: Alison Lugo | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| CITIBANK, N.A., | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Eugene Yermash | |
| Name: Eugene Yermash | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Dana Siconolfi | |
| Name: Dana Siconolfi | ||
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
| AGRICULTURAL BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH, | ||
| as a Lender | ||
| By: | /s/ Nelson Chou | |
| Name: Nelson Chou | ||
| Title: SVP & Head of Corporate Banking Department | ||
BIOGEN INC.
TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.1
|
Biogen Completes Acquisition of Apellis Pharmaceuticals
Cambridge, Mass. – May 14, 2026 – Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) today announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLS). Apellis, a leader in advancing treatments for serious, complement-driven diseases, is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen.
The acquisition adds two best-in-class commercialized products, EMPAVELI® and SYFOVRE®, significantly bolstering Biogen’s near-term growth outlook and accelerating the Company’s expansion into nephrology. Together, the products recorded $689 million in net product revenue in 2025. This transaction will strengthen Biogen’s revenue and EPS growth potential by being accretive to Biogen’s Non-GAAP diluted EPS in 2027 and is expected to materially increase Biogen’s non-GAAP EPS compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through the end of the decade. Updated financial guidance will be provided in conjunction with the Q2 earnings report in July.
Apellis also brings an established nephrology commercial and medical infrastructure to accelerate Biogen’s launch readiness for felzartamab, with a first Phase 3 readout in antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant patients anticipated in the first half of 2027.
Biogen’s tender offer, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Apellis common stock for $41 per share in cash and one contractual, non-transferable contingent value right per share representing the right to receive contingent cash payments of up to an aggregate of $4 in cash upon the achievement of certain annual global net sales thresholds for SYFOVRE®, expired one minute after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 13, 2026. Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the depositary for the tender offer, has advised Biogen that approximately 105,687,831 shares were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the tender offer, representing approximately 82.4% of the total outstanding shares as of the expiration time. All conditions to the tender offer having been satisfied or waived on May 14, 2026, Aspen Purchaser Sub, Inc. (Aspen), a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen, accepted for payment all shares that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer.
Following the consummation of the tender offer, Aspen merged with and into Apellis in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware without a vote of Apellis shareholders, with Apellis continuing as the surviving corporation of the merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen. In connection with the merger, the shares that were not tendered in the tender offer were acquired by Biogen and converted into the right to receive the offer price. In connection with the completion of the transaction, the Apellis shares ceased trading on Nasdaq.
About SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection)
SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection) is the first-ever approved therapy for geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to AMD. By targeting C3, SYFOVRE is designed to provide comprehensive control of the complement cascade, part of the body’s immune system. SYFOVRE is approved in the United States and Australia for the treatment of GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration.
| More |
About Geographic Atrophy
Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration and a leading cause of blindness worldwide, impacting more than one million Americans and five million people worldwide.1,2 It is a progressive and irreversible disease caused by the growth of lesions, which destroys the retinal cells responsible for vision. Vision loss caused by GA severely impairs independence and quality of life by making it difficult to participate in daily activities. While rates of progression vary between patients, on average, it takes 2.5 years for GA lesions to start impacting the fovea, which is responsible for central vision.3
About EMPAVELI®/Aspaveli® (pegcetacoplan)
EMPAVELI® (Aspaveli® in the EU) (pegcetacoplan) is a targeted C3 therapy designed to regulate excessive activation of the complement cascade, part of the body’s immune system, which can lead to the onset and progression of many serious diseases. It is the first treatment approved in the United States for C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) or primary immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) in patients 12 years of age or older, to reduce proteinuria. EMPAVELI®/Aspaveli® is also approved for the treatment of adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in the United States, European Union, and other countries globally, and for the treatment of C3G and primary IC-MPGN in the European Union and other countries globally. EMPAVELI is being evaluated for the treatment of additional rare diseases. Sobi has commercial rights to EMPAVELI®/Aspaveli® outside the U.S.
About C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G) and Primary Immune-Complex Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN)
C3G and primary IC-MPGN are rare and debilitating kidney diseases that can lead to kidney failure. Excessive C3 deposits are a key marker of disease activity, which can lead to kidney inflammation, damage, and failure. Approximately 50% of people living with C3G and primary IC-MPGN suffer from kidney failure within five to 10 years of diagnosis, requiring lifelong dialysis therapy or a burdensome kidney transplant.4-6 Additionally, approximately 90% of patients who previously received a kidney transplant will experience disease recurrence.7
About Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired, rare, chronic, and potentially life-threatening blood disease that is associated with persistently low (below normal) hemoglobin levels, thrombosis, and debilitating symptoms. PNH can appear at any age and in any race or gender, and is most often diagnosed in people in their early 30s.8,9
U.S. Important Safety Information for SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection)
CONTRAINDICATIONS
| | SYFOVRE® is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections, in patients with active intraocular inflammation, and in patients with hypersensitivity to pegcetacoplan or any of the excipients in SYFOVRE. Systemic hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, rash, urticaria) have occurred. |
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
| | Endophthalmitis and Retinal Detachments |
| | Intravitreal injections, including those with SYFOVRE, may be associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachments. Proper aseptic injection technique must always be used when administering SYFOVRE to minimize the risk of endophthalmitis. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment without delay and should be managed appropriately. |
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| | Retinal Vasculitis and/or Retinal Vascular Occlusion |
| | Retinal vasculitis and/or retinal vascular occlusion, typically in the presence of intraocular inflammation, have been reported with the use of SYFOVRE. Cases may occur with the first dose of SYFOVRE and may result in severe vision loss. Discontinue treatment with SYFOVRE in patients who develop these events. Patients should be instructed to report any change in vision without delay. |
| | Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) |
| | In clinical trials, use of SYFOVRE was associated with increased rates of neovascular (wet) AMD or choroidal neovascularization (12% when administered monthly, 7% when administered every other month and 3% in the control group) by Month 24. Patients receiving SYFOVRE should be monitored for signs of neovascular AMD. In case anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (anti-VEGF) is required, it should be given separately from SYFOVRE administration. |
| | Intraocular Inflammation |
| | In clinical trials, use of SYFOVRE was associated with episodes of intraocular inflammation including: vitritis, vitreal cells, iridocyclitis, uveitis, anterior chamber cells, iritis, and anterior chamber flare. After inflammation resolves, patients may resume treatment with SYFOVRE. |
| | Increased Intraocular Pressure |
| | Acute increase in intraocular pressure may occur within minutes of any intravitreal injection, including with SYFOVRE. Perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored following the injection and managed as needed. |
ADVERSE REACTIONS
| | Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are ocular discomfort, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, vitreous floaters, conjunctival hemorrhage. |
Please see full Prescribing Information for more information.
U.S. Important Safety Information for EMPAVELI® (pegcetacoplan)
BOXED WARNING: SERIOUS INFECTIONS CAUSED BY ENCAPSULATED BACTERIA
EMPAVELI®, a complement inhibitor, increases the risk of serious infections, especially those caused by encapsulated bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Life-threatening and fatal infections with encapsulated bacteria have occurred in patients treated with complement inhibitors. These infections may become rapidly life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early.
| | Complete or update vaccination for encapsulated bacteria at least 2 weeks prior to the first dose of EMPAVELI, unless the risks of delaying therapy with EMPAVELI outweigh the risks of developing a serious infection. Comply with the most current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for vaccinations against encapsulated bacteria in patients receiving a complement inhibitor. |
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| | Patients receiving EMPAVELI are at increased risk for invasive disease caused by encapsulated bacteria, even if they develop antibodies following vaccination. Monitor patients for early signs and symptoms of serious infections and evaluate immediately if infection is suspected. |
Because of the risk of serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, EMPAVELI is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the EMPAVELI REMS.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
| | Hypersensitivity to pegcetacoplan or to any of the excipients |
| | For initiation in patients with unresolved serious infection caused by encapsulated bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type B |
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Serious Infections Caused by Encapsulated Bacteria
EMPAVELI, a complement inhibitor, increases a patient’s susceptibility to serious, life-threatening, or fatal infections caused by encapsulated bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis (caused by any serogroup, including non-groupable strains), and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Life-threatening and fatal infections with encapsulated bacteria have occurred in both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients treated with complement inhibitors. The initiation of EMPAVELI treatment is contraindicated in patients with unresolved serious infection caused by encapsulated bacteria.
Complete or update vaccination against encapsulated bacteria at least 2 weeks prior to administration of the first dose of EMPAVELI, according to the most current ACIP recommendations for patients receiving a complement inhibitor. Revaccinate patients in accordance with ACIP recommendations considering the duration of therapy with EMPAVELI. Note that ACIP recommends an administration schedule in patients receiving complement inhibitors that differs from the administration schedule in the vaccine prescribing information. If urgent EMPAVELI therapy is indicated in a patient who is not up to date with vaccines against encapsulated bacteria according to ACIP recommendations, provide the patient with antibacterial drug prophylaxis and administer these vaccines as soon as possible. The benefits and risks of treatment with EMPAVELI, as well as the benefits and risks of antibacterial drug prophylaxis in unvaccinated or vaccinated patients, must be considered against the known risks for serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria.
Vaccination does not eliminate the risk of serious encapsulated bacterial infections, despite development of antibodies following vaccination. Closely monitor patients for early signs and symptoms of serious infection and evaluate patients immediately if an infection is suspected. Inform patients of these signs and symptoms and instruct patients to seek immediate medical care if these signs and symptoms occur. Promptly treat known infections. Serious infection may become rapidly life-threatening or fatal if not recognized and treated early. Consider interruption of EMPAVELI in patients who are undergoing treatment for serious infections.
EMPAVELI is available only through a restricted program under a REMS.
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EMPAVELI REMS
EMPAVELI is available only through a restricted program under a REMS called EMPAVELI REMS, because of the risk of serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria. Notable requirements of the EMPAVELI REMS include the following:
Under the EMPAVELI REMS, prescribers must enroll in the program. Prescribers must counsel patients about the risks, signs, and symptoms of serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, provide patients with the REMS educational materials, ensure patients are vaccinated against encapsulated bacteria at least 2 weeks prior to the first dose of EMPAVELI, prescribe antibacterial drug prophylaxis if patients’ vaccine status is not up to date and treatment must be started urgently, and provide instructions to always carry the Patient Safety Card both during treatment, as well as for 2 months following last dose of EMPAVELI. Pharmacies that dispense EMPAVELI must be certified in the EMPAVELI REMS and must verify prescribers are certified.
Further information is available at www.empavelirems.com or 1-888-343-7073.
Infusion-Related Reactions
Systemic hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., facial swelling, rash, urticaria, pyrexia) have occurred in patients treated with EMPAVELI, which may resolve after treatment with antihistamines. Cases of anaphylaxis leading to treatment discontinuation have been reported. If a severe hypersensitivity reaction (including anaphylaxis) occurs, discontinue EMPAVELI infusion immediately, institute appropriate treatment, per standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms are resolved.
Monitoring Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Manifestations after Discontinuation of EMPAVELI
After discontinuing treatment with EMPAVELI, closely monitor for signs and symptoms of hemolysis, identified by elevated Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) levels along with sudden decrease in PNH clone size or hemoglobin, or reappearance of symptoms such as fatigue, hemoglobinuria, abdominal pain, dyspnea, major adverse vascular events (including thrombosis), dysphagia, or erectile dysfunction. Monitor any patient who discontinues EMPAVELI for at least 8 weeks to detect hemolysis and other reactions. If hemolysis, including elevated LDH, occurs after discontinuation of EMPAVELI, consider restarting treatment with EMPAVELI.
Interference with Laboratory Tests
There may be interference between silica reagents in coagulation panels and EMPAVELI that results in artificially prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT); therefore, avoid the use of silica reagents in coagulation panels.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Most common adverse reactions in adult patients with PNH (incidence ≥10%) were injection site reactions, infections, diarrhea, abdominal pain, respiratory tract infection, pain in extremity, hypokalemia, fatigue, viral infection, cough, arthralgia, dizziness, headache, and rash.
Most common adverse reactions in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) or primary immune-complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) (incidence ≥10%) were injection-site reactions, pyrexia, nasopharyngitis, influenza, cough, and nausea.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Females of Reproductive Potential
EMPAVELI may cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to treatment with EMPAVELI. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with EMPAVELI and for 40 days after the last dose.
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Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING regarding serious infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, and Medication Guide.
About Biogen
Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading biotechnology company that pioneers innovative science to deliver new medicines to transform patients’ lives and to create value for shareholders and our communities. We apply deep understanding of human biology and leverage different modalities to advance first-in-class treatments or therapies that deliver superior outcomes. Our approach is to take bold risks, balanced with return on investment to deliver long-term growth. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media - Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube.
Biogen Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are being made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the PSLRA) with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the PSLRA. This press release contains forward-looking statements, relating to: the anticipated benefits of the Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. acquisition (the “Acquisition”), our strategy and our future financial and operating results, including with respect to launch readiness for felzartamab, costs and other anticipated financial impacts of the Acquisition, including Biogen revenue, non-GAAP EPS and non-GAAP EPS growth, and the expected revenue growth for EMPAVELI® and SYFOVRE® following the Acquisition. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospect,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You should not place undue reliance on these statements.
Given their forward-looking nature, these statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may be based on inaccurate assumptions and could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Given their nature, we cannot assure that any outcome expressed in these forward-looking statements will be realized in whole or in part.
We caution that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document, including, among others, factors relating to: the possibility that the net sales thresholds for the CVR payments are never met; results of litigation, settlements and investigations; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Acquisition; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Acquisition; the risk that Biogen may not be able to successfully integrate the business of Apellis and realize the expected benefits of the Acquisition in a timely manner or at all; uncertainty of our long-term success in developing, licensing, or acquiring other product candidates or additional indications for existing products; expectations, plans, prospects and timing of actions relating to product approvals, approvals of additional indications for our existing products, sales, pricing, growth, reimbursement and launch of our marketed and
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pipeline products; the potential impact of increased product competition in the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industry, as well as any other markets in which we compete, including increased competition from new originator therapies, generics, prodrugs and biosimilars of existing products and products approved under abbreviated regulatory pathways; our ability to effectively implement our corporate strategy; difficulties in obtaining and maintaining adequate coverage, pricing, and reimbursement for our products; the drivers for growing our business, including our dependence on collaborators and other third parties for the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of products and other aspects of our business, which are outside of our full control; risks related to commercialization of biosimilars, which is subject to such risks related to our reliance on third-parties, intellectual property, competitive and market challenges and regulatory compliance; the risk that positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent or confirmatory trials or success in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage or large scale clinical trials or trials in other potential indications; risks associated with clinical trials, including our ability to adequately manage clinical activities, unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data or analysis obtained during clinical trials, regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may fail to approve or may delay approval of our drug candidates; and the occurrence of adverse safety events, restrictions on use with our products, or product liability claims; and any other risks and uncertainties that are described in other reports we have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
These statements speak only as of the date of this presentation and the discussions during this conference call and are based on information and estimates available to us at this time. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, in each case including in the sections thereof captioned “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in our subsequent reports on Form 8-K. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
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References:
| 1. | Rudnicka AR, Jarrar Z, Wormald R, et al. Age and gender variations in age-related macular degeneration prevalence in populations of European ancestry: a meta analysis. Ophthalmology 2012;119:571–580. |
| 2. | Wong WL, Su X, Li X, et al. Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2014;2:e106–116. |
| 3. | Lindblad AS, et al, and AREDS Research Group. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(9):1168-1174. |
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| 4. | Smith RJH, et al. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2019;15(3):129-143. |
| 5. | Servais A, et al. Kidney Int. 2012;82(4):454-464. |
| 6. | Zand L, et al. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014;25(5):1110-1117. |
| 7. | Tarragón, B, et al. C3 Glomerulopathy Recurs Early after Kidney Transplantation in Serial Biopsies Performed within the First 2 Years after Transplantation. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. August 2024; 19(8)1005-1015. |
| 8. | Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Web site. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/types_cancer/paroxysmal_nocturnal_hemoglobinuria_PNH.html. Accessed November 20, 2019. |
| 9. | Besa EC. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). MedScape 2017; https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/207468-overview. Accessed November 20, 2019. |
| MEDIA CONTACT:
Biogen
Madeleine Shin + 1 781 464 3260 public.affairs@biogen.com |
INVESTOR CONTACT:
Biogen
Tim Power +1 781 464 2442 IR@biogen.com |
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