Exhibit 10.4
Non-Binding English Translation
September 25, 2018
ADVA Optical Networking SE
(as borrower)
and
Bavarian State Bank and
Deutsche Bank AG branch Germany business
(as Mandated Lead Arrangers, Bookrunners and Joint coordinators)
the financial institutions named in the loan agreement
(as lenders)
and
Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.
(as agent)
______________________________
SYNOPSIS LOAN AGREEMENT
______________________________
Reuterweg 20
60323 Frankfurt am Main | Germany
+49.69.6062.6000 (phone)
www.lw.com
CONTENTS
Item Page
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION ..........................................................................................1
2. CREDIT COMMITMENTS.................................................................................................................16
3. INTENDED USE..............................................................................................................................19
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR PAYMENT ..................................................................................................19
5. OBTAINING LOANS ........................................................................................................................20
6. SUB-CREDIT LINES ........................................................................................................................21
7. TERM AND REIMBURSEMENT.......................................................................................................27
8. EARLY REDEMPTION .....................................................................................................................28
9. INTEREST RATES............................................................................................................................31
10 LATE PAYMENT INTEREST............................................................................................................34
11. INTEREST PERIODS......................................................................................................................34
12. MARKET DISTURBANCE, ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF CALCULATION....................................35
13. COMMISSIONS AND FEES .............................................................................................................35
14. TAXES ...........................................................................................................................................36
15 COST INCREASE........................................................................................................................... 42
16 DISADVANTAGE REDUCTION ........................................................................................................44
17. OTHER INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS....................................................................................44
18. COSTS AND EXPENSES..................................................................................................................46
19 GUARANTEES..........................................................................................................................46
20 REPRESENTATIONS........................................................................................................................49
21 INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS........................................................................................................54
22 FINANCIAL INDICATORS................................................................................................................56
23. GENERAL CONDITIONS .................................................................................................................58
24 TERMINATION.............................................................................................................................61
25. TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKING SHARES .....................................................................................64
26. ACCESSION OR WITHDRAWAL OF GUARANTORS....................................................................65
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27. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE AGENT AND OTHER PARTIES........................................66
28. DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS; BALANCING .............................................................................72
29. PAYMENTS AND ORDER OF PAYMENTS.....................................................................................73
30 ON BILL..............................................................................................................................74
31. NOTICES AND REPRESENTATION ..............................................................................................74
32. MODIFICATIONS AND WAIVER ................................................................................................... 75
33. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION .................................................................................................80
34. CONFIDENTIALITY OF REFINANCING EXPENSES AND LETTER SENTENCES...........................81
35. GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................................................................................82
36. ENTRY INTO FORCE .................................................................................................................82
ANNEX 1 INITIAL LENDERS ................................................................................................................84
ANNEX 2 PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS.................................................................................................85
ANNEX 3 EXISTING AND REPLACED FINANCIAL LIABILITIES ..88
ANNEX 4 SAMPLE REQUEST FOR PAYMENT....................................................................................90
ANNEX 5 PROLONGATION APPLICATION..........................................................................................92
ANNEX 6 MODEL AUTHORIZATION FOR CLAIMS .............................................................................93
ANNEX 7 SAMPLE SUB-CREDIT LINE APPLICATION.........................................................................95
ANNEX 8 INCREASE COMMITMENT ....................................................................................................97
ANNEX 9 SAMPLE MAXIMUM AMOUNT GUARANTEE.......................................................................99
ANNEX 10 SAMPLE COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE ............................................................................107
ANNEX 11 EXISTING LOAN GRANTS AND
ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY...................................................................................................109
ANNEX 12 SAMPLE TRANSFER AND ACCESSION AGREEMENT....................................................110
ANNEX 13 SAMPLE CREDIT COMMITMENT CONFIRMATION OF
SUBSTITUTE LENDER ............................................................................................................113
ANNEX 14 SAMPLE ACCESSION AGREEMENT GARANT.................................................................115
ANNEX 15 SAMPLE EXIT APPLICATION ...............................................................................................116
ANNEX 16 SIGNIFICANT GROUP COMPANIES ..................................................................................117
ANNEX 17 COMPETITOR BLACKLIST..................................................................................................118
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This Syndicated LOAN AGREEMENT (the "Credit Agreement") was entered into between
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions
In this Credit Agreement, the terms defined below have the meanings assigned to them, unless the context otherwise indicates:
"Financial liabilities to be redeemed" means the financial liabilities specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 (Financial liabilities to be redeemed) .
"Agent" means Deutsche Bank Luxembourg SA or a successor designated as Agent pursuant to Clause 27.13 (Change of Agent) .
"Initial Guarantors" means the Company and ADVA Optical Networking North America, Inc. and ADVA Optical Networking Ltd. after the Guarantee Agreement has been signed.
"Defaulting Lender" means any Lender who
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“Outstanding Sub-Line of Credit Amount” means, with respect to a Sub-Line of Credit and a Sub- Line of Credit, the sum (calculated by the Sub-Line of Credit) of the principal amounts of the following outstanding under the Sub-Line of Credit (but not under an Umbrella Facility). Amounts in EUR
in each case as reasonably determined by the relevant sub-credit bank in accordance with normal banking practice in its reasonable discretion.
"Application for payment" means an application essentially in the form of the sample in Annex 4 (application for payment sample), with which the payment of a loan is requested.
"Business Day" means, in relation to the determination of EURIBOR and payments in EUR, each TARGET day and otherwise (ii) each day on which credit institutions in Luxembourg and Munich are open for business required under this Credit Agreement.
"Affiliation Agreement" means any agreement for the affiliation of a Guarantor pursuant to Clause 26.2 (joining guarantors).
"Existing Financial Indebtedness" means the Financial Indebtedness specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (Existing Financial Indebtedness) .
"Existing Guarantee" means any Guarantee listed in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (Existing financial liabilities) is listed.
"Working Credit" means the loans originated under the Working Capital Line.
“Working Lender” means any Lender that has made a commitment to lend under the Working Capital Line of Credit or as provided in Section 2.2 (Upgrade Option). Section 2.3 (Termination and Increase of Loan Commitments), Section 25.1 (Transfer of Underwriters Interests) or Section 32.4 (Replacement of Lenders) and has not ceased to be a Working Capital Lender under this Loan Agreement.
"Working Line of Credit" means the line of credit made available pursuant to Section 2.1(b) (Loan Commitments) .
"Calculation Date" has the meaning given to that term in Clause 22.1 (Definitions) .
"Budget" means the Group's consolidated 3-year budget for the current year financial year and the continuation of this planning for the following financial years, based on the applicable accounting regulations, a detailed forecast for the Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement and Investment Planning and contain detailed information on the forecast and the investment planning on which the planning premises are based, with corresponding explanations.
"Compliance Certificate" has the meaning given to that term in Clause 21.3 (Compliance Certificates) .
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"Loan" means any cash drawing made or to be made against a Line of Credit or the amount then outstanding under such cash drawing.
"Maturity Date" means the date five (5) years after the execution of this Credit Agreement.
"Permitted Acquisitions" means
"Permitted Financial Liabilities" means
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"Permitted Assumptions of Liability" means
“Permitted Credit Grants" means
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"Permitted Collateral" means
"Permitted Disposals" means
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"Permitted Payments" means
"EUR" means euros.
"EURIBOR" means
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referred to as "FATCA" .
(a) Sections 1471 to 1474 of the IRC or any related regulation,
(b) any treaty, law, regulation enacted in any other jurisdiction or with an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and any other jurisdiction and which (respectively) implement any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above allow or
(c) any agreement to implement in paragraph (a) or (b) above mentioned agreement, law or regulation with the United States Internal Revenue Service, the United States government, or any governmental agency or tax authority in any other jurisdiction.
"FATCA Deduction" means a FATCA required deduction or withholding from a payment pursuant to a Finance Document.
"FATCA Exempt Party" means a party entitled to receive payments without a FATCA Deduction.
"FATCA Effective Date" is
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or such other date as may be determined subsequent to the date of this Loan Agreement as a result of a change in FATCA from which such payment may be subject to a deduction or withholding specified in FATCA.
"Funding Documents" means this Credit Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, any Transfer Agreement, any Accession Agreement, any Maximum Amount Guarantee, any Disbursement Request, any Renewal Request, any Compliance Certificate, any Fee Agreement, any Sub-Credit Agreement, any Agreement to Modify the foregoing Agreements, and any documents issued by the Agent and the Company shall be referred to as the "Financing Document".
"Financial Parties" means the arrangers, the lenders, the sub-lenders, and the agent.
"Financial liabilities" means any liability
"Guarantors" means the Initial Guarantors and any other Group Companies after joining as Guarantor to the Guarantee Agreement or this Credit Agreement.
"Warranty Agreement" means the warranty agreement dated September 25, 2018 between Agent, Company, ADVA Optical Networking North America, Inc. and ADVA Optical Networking Ltd. and any other group company that joins this guarantee agreement as an additional guarantor in connection with this credit agreement.
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"Fee Agreements" means the Fees Agreement dated September 25, 2018 between the Arrangers and the Company, the Agent Fees Agreement dated September 25, 2018 between the Agent and the Company. September and any other agreement between the Company and one or more financial parties regarding fees in connection with this Credit Agreement.
"Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Company beginning on January 1st of each year and ending on December 31st of the same year.
“Group” means the society and their subsidiaries and “Group Companies” means the respective companies belonging to the group.
"Assumption of Liability" means any guarantee, suretyship, indemnity, hard letter of comfort (ie involving an obligation to furnish or indemnify a third party), assumption of debt, assumption of debt or other assumption of liability.
"Holding Company" means, in relation to a company, any company of which the first-named company is a subsidiary.
"Maximum Amount Guarantee" has the meaning given to that term in Clause 6.9(b) (Umbrella Schemes).
"Interpolated Historical Screen Rate" means, in relation to a Loan, the Interest Rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) resulting from a linear interpolation between:
"Interpolated Interest Rate" means in relation to that applicable to a Loan EURIBOR the value, which is the arithmetic mean between
applicable Interbank Money Market Rate as displayed from time to time on the Interest Determination Date on the Thomson Reuters page "EURIBOR01" (or any equivalent page which replaces it for the purpose of publishing such Money Market Rate) at 11.00 am (Brussels) on the Interest Determination Date.
"Joint Venture" means a company in which a group company holds 50% of the company shares or voting rights.
"Underlying Interest" has the meaning given to that term in Clause 25.1 (Transfer of Underlying Interests).
"Underwriting Ratio" means, at the Relevant Time, the proportion of a Lender's commitment to the total of all Lenders' commitments to that line of credit.
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"Change of control" means a change in the group of shareholders, according to which a person or a group of persons acting in concert (acting in concert) directly or indirectly holds more than 30% of the shares or voting rights in the company.
"Lender" means the Initial Lenders in their capacity as Lenders and the additional persons who acceded to this Loan Agreement as Lenders pursuant to Section 2.2 (Upgrade Option), Section 2.3 (Termination and Increase of Loan Commitments) and Section 25.1 (Transfer of Underwriters Interests) are and have not ceased to be a Lender under this Credit Agreement.
"Line of Credit A" means the line of credit made available pursuant to Section 2.1(a) (Credit Commitments).
"Lines of Credit" means Line of Credit A and the Working Capital Line of Credit.
"Loan Commitment" means in respect of a Line of Credit
in each case less the amounts transferred by him to a third party in accordance with Section 25.1 (Transfer of Syndicated Shares) and the terminated part of the loan commitment.
“Reason for Termination” means a reason for termination as set out in Section 24.1 (Reason for Termination).
"Termination Conditions" means a circumstance which would lead to a reason for termination according to Section 24.1 (Reasons for Termination) at the end of a possible healing period.
"Local Lender" has the meaning given to that definition in Clause 6.9 (Umbrella Lines) .
"Local Borrower" has the meaning given to that definition in Clause 6.9 (Umbrella Lines) .
"Majority of Lenders" means Lenders
"Non-Obligor" means any Group Company that is not an Obligor.
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“Renewal Request” means a request substantially in the form of the template in Attachment 5 (Prolongation Request Template) notifying a new interest period for a Loan under Credit Line A.
"Quotation Date" means in relation to any period for which an Interest Rate is to be determined, the day two TARGET DAYS prior to the first day of such period, unless this is not in accordance with market practice in the European interbank market; in this case, the quoting day will be determined by the agent in accordance with market practice in the European interbank market (whereby, in the event that quotes are usually published on several days, the quoting day will be the last of those days).
"Legal Restrictions" means
"Reference Banks" means any credit institution designated by the Agent in consultation with and approved by the Company under this Credit Agreement.
"Reference interest rate" means the arithmetic mean (rounded up to the fourth decimal place) of the asking rates pa quoted to the agent by at least two of the reference banks by 10 a.m. on the interest fixing date, at which the reference banks offered deposits in EUR on the interbank market in Frankfurt am Main ( if at or around 10:00 a.m. on that day, no quote is given, or only one of the reference banks quotes, then there is no reference interest rate for the relevant interest period).
"Reputable Accountant" means an accounting firm that is appropriately resourced in terms of experience, size, skill, and quality of work.
"Rollover Loan" means the refinancing of an drawn Working Capital Loan (i) on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Working Capital Loan, and (ii) with another loan of equal or lesser amount.
"Sanctions" has the meaning given to such definition in Clause 20.1(n) (Anti-Corruption, Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Provisions) .
"Sanctioned Person" has the meaning given to that definition in Clause 20.1(n) (Anti- Corruption, Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Provisions) .
"Sanctioned Countries" has the meaning given to such definition in Section 20.1(n) (Anti- Corruption, Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Provisions) .
"Collateral" means all liens, land charges, security transfers, assignments by way of security and other real securities as well as corresponding security rights under foreign law.
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"Taxes" means any tax, levy, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including related ancillary tax benefits).
"First Payout Date" means the date on which any Line of Credit is first drawn.
"TARGET2" means the "Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System" payment system with a common platform, which became operational on November 19, 2007.
"TARGET day" means each day on which TARGET2 is available for payments in EUR.
"Subsidiaries" means any person who is (i) a majority-owned company within the meaning of Section 16 AktG, (ii) a dependent company within the meaning of Section 17 AktG, or (iii) a subsidiary of a company within the meaning of (i ) or (ii) this definition.
"Transfer Agreement" means any transfer agreement in the form of Exhibit 12 (Model Transfer and Accession Agreement) by which a Lender transfers all or part of an Underwriter Interest to another person.
"Umbrella Line" has the meaning given to that term in Clause 6.9(a) (Umbrella Lines) .
"Conversion amount" means the amount in EUR that results if an amount in a foreign currency is exchanged at the reference exchange rate for foreign exchange (purchase EUR, sale foreign currency) provided by the respective sub-credit bank ("exchange rate") is converted into EUR.
"Sales Tax" means:
"Sub-Lender" means (in that capacity) a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.
“Sub-Line of Credit” means any bilateral line of credit provided by a Sub-Line of Credit under this Credit Agreement.
“Sub-Line of Credit Commitment” means, in relation to a Sub-Line of Credit Bank and Sub-Line of Credit, the amount in EUR that the Sub-Line of Credit has agreed to make available under the Sub-Line of Credit, to the extent that such amount has not been terminated or reduced pursuant to this Agreement or the Sub-Line of Credit Documents.
"Sub-Credit Agreement" means any agreement for the provision of a Sub-Credit Line.
"USD" means United States Dollars.
"Affiliate" means a subsidiary or a Holding company of any person and any other subsidiary thereof holding company
“Sub-Line of Credit Availability Date” means, in relation to a Sub-Line of Credit, the date on which the Sub-Line of Credit is first drawn. This day must be a bank working day during the availability period.
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"Availability Period" means
and
“Available Line of Credit” means, in relation to a Line of Credit, the aggregate of all Available Commitments of Credit from Lenders participating in that Line of Credit.
"Available Credit Commitment" means, in relation to a Line of Credit, a Lender's credit commitment (uncancelled or lapsed) less the aggregate amounts
For purposes of calculating the Available Credit Commitment, the Available Credit Commitment (i) by the amount of all under the relevant Credit Facility before or on loan still to be paid out on the day of payment and a sub-credit line commitment in EUR With respect to each new Sub-Line of Credit outstanding by or on the requested Pay Date must be made available, reduced and (ii) by the amount of all under these Credit line to be repaid before or on the payment date as well as effective, terminated or expired sub-credit line around the appropriate commitment.
“Available Sub-Line Commitment” means the amount of a Sub-Line Commitment of a Sub- Line of Credit less the Outstanding Sub-Line Amount of such Sub-Line of Credit and the Notional Amounts of the Maximum Amount Guarantees supporting the Umbrella Lines collateral provided by branches or affiliated companies of this sub-credit bank.
For purposes of calculating the Available Sub-Line of Credit Commitment, the Available Sub- Line of Credit Commitment amount shall be reduced by (i) the notional amounts of the Maximum Amount Guarantees required to be provided by or on the Availability Date of the Sub-Line of Credit and (ii) the amount of any Sub-Line of Credit commitments made under such Sub-Line of Credit or maximum amount guarantees to be returned or expired on the availability date.
"Obligor" means the Borrower and any Guarantor.
"Leverage Ratio" has the meaning given to it in Clause 22.1 (Definitions) .
"Prepayment Penalty" means an indemnity to be determined by the relevant Lender in the event of early repayment during an ongoing Interest Period, equal to the difference between (a) the interest owed by the Borrower (pursuant to 9 (Interest rates)), but without the margin for the remaining term of the interest period and (b) the return that results for the respective lender from a hypothetical reinvestment of the repaid amount on the interbank market with the same term.
"Significant group company" means each group company based on the most recent consolidated financial statements made available under this loan agreement contributes at least 7.5% to the Group's EBITDA (calculated in accordance with Section 22 (Financial Measures) on a consolidated basis) or to the Group's
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total assets on a consolidated basis. Group companies that meet these requirements as of June 30, 2018 are those listed in Appendix 16 (Major Group Companies).
"Significant Adverse Impact" means an Event that has a Material Adverse Effect has effect on
"Material Termination Cause" means a Termination Cause as set out in paragraph (a) (non-payment), (f) (cross-default), (g) (insolvency), (h) (insolvency proceedings, moratorium, liquidation and other proceedings) or (i) (enforcement measures) of para. 24.1 (Reasons for Termination).
"Competitor" means any person whose main business activity largely corresponds to that of the Group ("Relevant Person") or a person with a Relevant Person within the meaning of §§ 15ff. AktG affiliated company, each with the exception of:
"Interest Determination Date" means the time two (2) Banking Days prior to the start of each Interest Period on which the Agent shall determine the Interest Rate for the following Interest Period Clause 9.7 (interest fixing date) .
1.2 Interpretation
Unless this credit agreement expressly states otherwise or the context indicates otherwise, the following rules of interpretation shall apply.
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(ii) until no more amounts are owed under the guarantee or the liability, the account may only be used to make payments required under the terms of this Agreement relating to the guarantee or the liability are due and
(iii)the obligor has provided the creditor or the creditor with a first-ranking security over the account in a form and content that is satisfactory to him.
(i)cash collateral is provided for the Outstanding Sub-Line Amount;
(ii )the sub-credit facility is reduced or terminated, or
and the amount of redemption or early redemption under paragraphs (i) and (ii) above is equal to the amount of the Cash Margin or Reduction.
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2. LOAN COMMITMENTS
2.1 Loan Commitments
The lenders undertake to pro-rata in proportion and up to the amount of their Credit commitments, the following credit lines in accordance with this credit agreement To make available:
2.2 Increase Option
(a) The Company may make up to three (3) increases in the Working Capital Credit Facility totaling up to EUR 50,000 during the period of availability of the Working Capital Facility no later than twenty (20) banking days prior to the date on which the requested increase is to take effect (the "Increase Record Date") .000 by submitting a raise request to the agent.
(b) Each request for an increase is irrevocable and must contain the following information:
(i) the Increase Date, which must be six (6) months before the Final Maturity Date,
(ii) the amount of the desired increase in a minimum amount of EUR 10,000,000 in total (together with the increases made up to that point) but not more than EUR 50,000,000 and
(iii) a confirmation that no reason for termination has occurred or would occur as a result of the increase.
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(i)has countersigned an increase commitment corresponding to paragraph (g) and signed by the participating or acceding lenders and the company and
(ii) has successfully completed all necessary know-your-customer checks in relation to the joining lenders.
(i)the credit commitments in relation to the working capital credit line increase by the amount specified in the increase commitment,
(ii) each newly acceding lender is contractual in relation to the borrower and the other financial parties and vice versa as if it were of been early to lenders under this loan agreement, and
(iii) the credit commitments of the lenders who do not participate in the increase in the working capital credit line remain unchanged.
2.3 Termination and Increase of Loan Commitments
(a) If a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Company may terminate that Lender's Available Credit Commitment, if the Lender is then a Defaulting Lender, upon written notice to the Agent. The agent will immediately inform the lenders about this.
(b) After terminating a Defaulting Lender’s loan commitment, the Company may, by giving written notice to the Agent, request that the relevant line of credit up to the amount of the Defaulting Lender’s terminated loan commitments be replaced by a loan commitment from another lender to be named by the Company and acceptable to the Agent or other acceptable means bank or financial institution (the "Replacement Lender") willing to assume all of the obligations associated with accepting a loan commitment pursuant to a Lender's Finance Documents.
(c) The obligated parties hereby declare that the guarantee agreement existing at the time a substitute lender enters the contract includes the claims of the substitute lender from the increased loan commitment.
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(d) The increase in loan commitments will take effect with
(i) Countersigned by the replacement lender essentially in the Form of the sample in Appendix 13 (sample of the loan commitment confirmation Substitute Lender) signed and Credit approval confirmation by the agent and
(ii) if the replacement lender is not a lender at the time of entry, the successful completion of all know-your-customer checks by the agent.
(e)By submitting the Loan Commitment Confirmation, the Substitute Lender confirms the Agent's authority to sign on its behalf all contract modifications and waivers made by the Lenders in accordance with this Loan Agreement prior to the effective date of its entry into this Loan Agreement.
2.4 Rights and Obligations of Financial Parties
(a) The financial parties are neither joint debtors nor joint creditors. Each financial party can assert its claims against the borrower independently of the other financial parties, unless otherwise stated in this loan agreement.
(b) If one of the financial parties violates their obligations under this loan agreement, the borrower can only assert rights against them. The obligations of the borrower towards the other financial parties remain unaffected by such a breach of duty.
3. USES
3.1 Credit Line A
Credit line A may only be used to refinance the financial liabilities to be redeemed.
3.2 Working Capital Line of Credit
The Working Capital Line of Credit may only be used to refinance Existing Financial Indebtedness and to cover general operational financing needs (including the financing of Permitted Acquisitions and to cover and (re) financing of transaction costs in connection with this credit agreement).
3.3 Inspection Authority
Lenders have the right, but not the obligation, to check that the loans are being used as intended.
4. PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
4.1 General Withdrawal Requirements
(a) The lenders are only obliged to participate in the initial disbursement of a loan in accordance with Section 5.3 (request and provision of the loan) for the disbursement of a loan if the (Requirements for Payout) have been submitted to the Agent in a form and content reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent will promptly notify the Company and Lenders as soon as this is the case.
(b) Unless a majority of the Lenders instructs the Agent otherwise in writing prior to the Agent making the notice referred to in paragraph (a), the Lenders authorize (but have no obligation to)
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the Agent to make such notice. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs, expenses or otherwise as a result of the issuance of this notice.
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a loan will only be disbursed if in the case of a Rollover Loan,
(i)no termination has been given for cause of termination pursuant to Clause 24.2 (Lenders' Rights) and no Material Termination Reason exists; or
(ii) in the case of any other Loan, no event of termination exists or would occur as a result of the disbursement and all representations to be made pursuant to Clause 20.2 (Making and Repeating the Representations) (unless already otherwise qualified, in material respects) are correct.
4.2 Waiver
A Disbursement Condition shall also be deemed to have been met if Lenders have requested its fulfillment in accordance with Clause 32.2 (Amendments and Waivers) have renounced.
5. OBTAINING LOANS
5.1 Availability
(a) Credit line A and the working capital credit line can be used in the form of loans within the framework of the available credit commitments up to the amount of the respective available credit line.
(b) Credit line A can be drawn from the date of signing this credit agreement until December 31, 2018 at the latest. Parts of credit line A that are not used when the availability expires automatically expire.
(c) The Working Capital Line of Credit is available from the date of signing of this Credit Agreement until three (3) months prior to the Final Maturity Date.
5.2 Amounts and number of draws
(a) minimum amounts
(i) Loans under Credit Line A can only be drawn down in an amount or in partial amounts of at least EUR 10,000,000 (and an integer multiple of EUR 1,000,000) and only in EUR.
(ii) Loans under the working capital line of credit can only be drawn down in minimum amounts of EUR 1,000,000 and, if greater, higher integer multiples of EUR 500,000 and only in EUR.
(i) No more than three (3) loans under Line of Credit A may be outstanding at any one time.
(ii) No more than ten (10) loans may be outstanding under the Working Capital Line of Credit at any one time.
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5.3 Access and Delivery of the Loans
(a) The provision of a loan is only possible after proof of fulfillment of the disbursement requirements according to Section 4 (disbursement requirements) .
The retrieval takes place through an irrevocable payment request addressed to the agent and in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.1 (availability) and 5.2 (amounts and number of drawings), by natural persons registered in the commercial register who are authorized to represent the company in an authorized number or in the form Annex 6 (sample power of attorney for claims) has been signed by an effectively authorized person and no later than the third (3) bank working day before the desired payment day, which must be a bank working day, by 11 a.m. (or one bank working day before the desired day of the first payment, the must be a bank working day, by 11:00 a.m.) must be received by the agent in the original, as a pdf file or by fax (on request with the original submitted later). A separate disbursement request must be used for each request for a loan.
(b) The agent will immediately inform each lender in writing or electronically upon receipt of a proper payment request and request the amount due to the respective lender after his loan commitment. Subject to Clause 4.1 (General payment requirements) and Clause 5.3 (Settlement) , each lender is obliged to make the requested amount available on the date on the account specified by the agent for this purpose.
6. SUB-CREDIT LINES
6.1 Provision of sub-credit lines
(a) Each Working Capital Lender (and each of its Affiliates pursuant to Section 6.6 (Affiliates as a Sub -Line of Credit )) may provide to the Borrower (and also other Group Companies pursuant to Section 6.7 (Affiliates as a Sub-Line Borrower)) in consultation with the Agent under its Provide available credit commitment for the working capital line of credit a sub- line of credit to draw on short-term fixed-rate loans, each with a term of up to 12 months, cash advances on current account or letters of credit (including letters of credit). No lender (and according to
(b) Clause 6.6 (Affiliated companies as sub -credit bank ( none of its Affiliates) is obliged to provide a sub-credit line. A sub-credit line may not be provided if the sub-credit line commitment of this sub-credit line together with all other sub-credit line commitments of all sub-credit banks amounts to EUR 10,000,000 would exceed.
(c) The provision of a sub-credit line by a sub-credit bank requires that the agent is no later than three (3) banking days before the availability date of the Sub-credit line A written request from the respective borrower for the provision of a sub-credit line in the form set out in Annex 7 (sample sub-credit request) has received.
(d) (e) The Agent will notify the Company, the Sub-Line of Credit and the other Working Capital Line of Credit lenders of the provision of each Sub-Line of Credit. The respective sub-credit line is to be set up in EUR. Any utilization of the sub-credit line in a foreign currency (including USD), which is offered by the respective sub-credit bank within the framework of this sub-credit line, is possible after consultation with the respective sub-credit bank.
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6.2 Conditions of the sub-credit lines
(a) The sub-credit banks are free to agree the conditions of the sub-credit lines with the respective borrowers within the scope of what is customary in the market, unless otherwise stipulated in this clause 6 (sub-credits) .
(b) Each sub-credit agreement:
(i) may only allow the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Lender pursuant to Clause 6.7 (Affiliates as Borrowers of a Sub-Line of Credit) to use the Sub-Line of Credit,
(ii) shall not allow the amount of the Sub-Line of Credit Commitment to exceed the amount of the Sub-Line of Credit Bank's Available Credit Commitment for the Working capital line of credit (before deducting the relevant sub-credit line from the available loan commitment) exceeds
(iii)may not to the borrower to overdraw the sub-credit line commitment, allow the amount of
(iv) shall provide that no drawings may be made under the Sub-Line of Credit if (i) there is cause for termination and (ii) the Agent (at the direction of a majority of Lenders) within five (5) Banking days (A) after the agent was informed that a drawing request had been submitted, objected to a further drawing (except for the use of an overdraft facility), and/or (B), in the case of an overdraft facility, after the agent became aware of the existence of the reason for termination has informed that the sub- credit line is blocked. Notwithstanding this provision, further rights of the sub- credit bank can be agreed within the framework of the sub-credit agreement if there is a reason for termination and
6.3 Rights and obligations of sub-credit banks
(a) Sub-credit banks act on their own account and are entitled to agree on and collect interest, fees and commissions in relation to the sub-credit lines they have extended at normal market conditions.
(b) Each sub-credit bank is obliged to provide the agent with all information upon request regarding sub-credit lines (including outstanding sub-credit line amounts, but excluding the price conditions). Of the Agent notifies lenders of the balances of all sub-credit lines upon request.
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(c) Each sub-credit bank is only liable to the other lenders for intent and gross negligence.
6.4 Repayment of Sub-Credit Lines
(a) A sub-credit line is only available until the end of its term in accordance with the provisions of the relevant sub-credit agreement or after its termination in accordance with the provisions of this credit agreement, but no later than the final maturity date.
(b) No sub-credit bank may terminate a sub-credit line prematurely or prematurely Demand repayment of any Outstanding Sub-Line Amount unless
(i)the working capital line of credit commitment has been canceled in full or all Working capital loans have been terminated in full or are otherwise due for repayment in full in accordance with the provisions of this loan agreement,
(ii) it has become unlawful under any applicable jurisdiction for the sub-credit bank to perform its obligations under this Credit Agreement as contemplated or to disburse or maintain its interest in its sub-credit facility; or
(iii) the Outstanding Sub-Line of Credit Amount (if any) under this Sub-Line of Credit may be refinanced by drawing down the Working Capital Line of Credit. For the purposes of determining whether an Outstanding Sub-Line of Credit Amount may be refinanced by drawing down the Working Capital Line of Credit, the Available Credit Commitment of the Sub-Line of Credit Lender (in consideration of Section 6.6(a) (Affiliates as Sub-Line of Credit)) with respect to the Working Line of Credit shall be as of Increase the Outstanding Sub-Line Amount to be Refinanced. Utilization of the working capital credit line pursuant to this Section 6.4(b)(iii) (unless Section 6.4(b)(i) applies) does not preclude the existence of a reason for termination and can be made independently of Section 5.2 (b) (amounts and drawing number ) take place. Upon payment of the loan intended for refinancing:
6.5 Modifications to Sub-Lending Agreements
Sub- credit agreement modifications or waivers with respect to a sub-credit agreement require the consent of the other financial parties only if the contractual modification or waiver relates to a matter that would require a modification or waiver under this Credit Agreement. In this case, the provisions of Section 32.2 (Amendments and Waivers) applicable to amendments or waivers under this Credit Agreement shall apply.
6.6 Affiliates as Sub-Credit bank
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(a) Affiliated companies may also act as sub-credit banks in compliance with the provisions of this credit agreement with a working capital lender. A Working Capital Lender and its Affiliate are treated as a single lender for purposes of this Loan Agreement whose lending commitment is equal to that Lender's lending commitment with respect to the Working Capital Line of Credit. To calculate the Available Credit Commitment with respect to a Lender, the amount of its Affiliates' Sub-Committed Line of Credit shall be deducted.
(b) To the extent that this Loan Agreement or other Financing Document provides for an obligation of a Sub-Lender and the Sub-Lender is an Affiliate of the Working Capital Lender and is not a party to this Credit Agreement, the Working Capital Lender shall ensure that its Affiliate fulfills such obligation.
6.7 Affiliates as Borrowers of a Sub-Line of Credit
(a) Other Group companies can also act as borrowers of a sub-credit line, subject to compliance with the provisions of this credit agreement. In this case, a reference in a financing document to a borrower includes such group companies.
(b) The Company must ensure that any other group company which, pursuant to paragraph (a), acts as a borrower under a sub-credit facility without being a party to the relevant sub-credit agreement, complies with the terms and obligations under the relevant sub-credit agreement.
6.8 Compliance with loan commitments
Regardless of the other terms of this Credit Agreement, each Working capital lenders ensure that their loan commitments are respected Working capital line of credit is not less than:
6.9 Umbrella Lines
(a) Subsidiaries of the Company (each a "Local Borrower") may obtain bilateral lines of credit from Affiliates or branches of a Sub-Lender (each a "Local Lender") under the applicable Sub-Lender's Available Sub-Line of Credit Commitment in the form of
(i) Cash advances (on current account),
(ii) short term fixed rate loans, and
(iii) Guarantee credits (including letters of credit) in a currency chosen in consultation with the Local Lender ("Umbrella Lines").
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(ii) the conditions of an umbrella line, in particular the amount of interest to be paid, commissions, guarantee fees and other costs can be freely agreed between the local lender and the respective local Borrowers are negotiated, but must be customary in the market,
(iii) each Umbrella Facility must provide for a Local Lender's right of termination or Local Borrower's obligation to prepay all outstanding amounts and redeem or cash other borrowings if the credit commitment relating to the Working Capital Line of Credit and/or Sub-Line of Credit is terminated or expire automatically and all claims made under this credit agreement become due for early repayment in full.
6.10 Loss Relief Among Working Capital Lenders
(i) that Working Lender's receivables from the Borrower under the Working Line of Credit (along with any interest, commissions and fees) and those charged by him pursuant to this sub-credit lines provided under the Credit Agreement (along with all interest, commissions and charges); and
(ii) the claims of such Working Capital Lender, its branch or any of its Affiliates against the Company under a Cap Guarantee in connection with the Umbrella Lines; in each case to the exclusion of contingent liabilities. Claims by a working capital lender, one of its branches or an affiliated company under a maximum guarantee are not contingent liabilities for this purpose if and to the extent that they relate to umbrella lines that are due shortly after termination of this loan agreement.
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(e)The Agent will calculate new balances in accordance with paragraphs (b) through (d) above on a quarterly basis on the last day of each calendar quarter and for as long as outstanding balances are reported to it by the Working Capital Lenders and will notify the Working Capital Lenders.
(f)A working capital lender's loan commitment may not be exceeded by the settlement of accounts pursuant to paragraphs (b) through (e) above.
(g)The decisive point in time for the settlement of the balance is the point in time of the opening of insolvency proceedings, termination or default in accordance with paragraph (b), subject to subsequent adjustments in accordance with paragraphs (d) and (e). The original relevant date pursuant to paragraph (b) is also relevant for the conversion of outstanding amounts in foreign currency into EUR. Subsequent currency fluctuations are not taken into account.
(h)If, for legal reasons, a balance cannot be settled with effect on the borrower or third parties, the working capital lenders are obliged to bring about a corresponding result internally.
(i)The Company expressly and irrevocably agrees to this Section 6.10.
7. TERM AND REFUNDS
7.1 Duration
The credit lines have a term from the date of signing this loan agreement to the final maturity date.
7.2 Repayments
The loans are to be repaid as follows:
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If a loan under the Working Capital Line of Credit (“New Loan” ) is to be paid off on the same date that another such loan (“Maturing Loan”) is to be repaid and the New Loan is to be used in whole or in part to refinance the Maturing Loan, the borrower's claim for payment of the new loan is offset against each lender's claim for a pro rata repayment of the loan due. If the loan due exceeds the new loan, the borrower only has to repay the difference in cash. If the new loan exceeds the loan due, the lenders of the working capital line of credit are only obliged to pay out the difference in cash.
8. EARLY REPAYMENT
8.1 Voluntary Early Repayments
(a) Voluntary early repayments of the loans are possible at the end of an interest period in the amount of at least EUR 500,000 or in the amount of any higher amount that represents a whole multiple of EUR 100,000. The Borrower will make a voluntary early repayment stating the amount five (5) Announce banking days in advance. The announcement cannot be made under conditions. After the announcement has been made, there is an obligation to make early repayment in the amount of the announced amount.
(b) A loan under Line of Credit A may be repaid no earlier than the expiry of the Line of Credit A availability period or at the point in time when the Line of Credit A commitment is zero, whichever is earlier. The loan commitment for credit line A is not revived by the repayment and credit line A may not be used again.
8.2 Illegality
Insofar as it becomes unlawful or unlawful for a lender to fulfill its obligations under a financing document under the relevant legal provisions or official orders,
(ii) the Outstanding Sub-Line Amounts provided by that Lender or any Affiliate of that Lender to which date that this lender has stated in the information to the agent (and which is at the earliest the last day of any deadline that may have to be observed). repayment due, after which the borrower has to ensure that the outstanding amounts are covered under the umbrella lines provided by the Local Lenders have provided on the day that these lenders in the information provided to the Agent (and which is no earlier than the last day of any grace period that may be
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required) will be repaid and commitments under those Umbrella Lines will be terminated on that date.
8.3 Change of Control
(a) Upon (i) the occurrence of a change of control; or (ii) the disposal of all or substantially all of the Group's assets, each lender shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, be entitled to any work done by him (or any person with affiliated companies) granted loan commitments and terminate sub-credit line commitments in whole or in part and:
(A) its interests in the loans in full at the end of a interest period due;
(B) call for repayment of the Outstanding Sub-Line Amounts provided by such Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender, whereupon the Borrower shall ensure repayment of the outstanding amounts under the Umbrella Lines provided by the Local Lenders, and the commitments under these Umbrella Lines are terminated on that date.
(b) In the event of a change of control, the company must inform the agent and the agent the lenders immediately. The lender and the company undertake to negotiate in good faith for a period of 20 banking days from receipt of the notification by the agent about the continuation of the contract despite the change of control, possibly on changed contract terms. During this Negotiation Period, neither Lender shall have the right to exercise any of its rights under paragraph (a) nor any obligation to make any new loans or drawdowns. Only after the negotiation period has expired without result is each lender entitled to exercise his rights under paragraph (a) with a period of notice of a further 20 bank working days and a corresponding message to the agent (which the agent must immediately forward to the company).
8.4 Mandatory special repayments
Borrower has amounts equal to 100% of the net proceeds (i.e Gross proceeds of sale less costs associated with the transaction and taxes applicable to the proceeds of sale) received by a Group company as consideration in connection with the sale of fixed assets outside the ordinary course of business (excluding sales pursuant to paragraphs (b), (d), ( e), (f) and (g) of the definition "Permitted Sales"), for a repayment pursuant to Section 8.7 (Redemption Offsetting) , insofar as these exceed a total amount of EUR 2,500,000 in a financial year and not within nine (9) months after the cash inflow into investments in the Group's assets (or within fifteen (15) months if a commitment to do so is made within six (6) months).
8.5 Notification
The borrower will notify the agent immediately as soon as he becomes aware of circumstances triggering a mandatory special repayment within the meaning of Clause 8.3 (change of control) and Clause 8.4 (mandatory special repayments) .
8.6 Due date
The mandatory special repayment is due ten (10) bank working days after the occurrence of the event triggering the mandatory special repayment according to Section 8.4 (mandatory special repayments) or after the end of the period provided for the reinvestment.
8.7 Amortization Settlement
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(a) Voluntary early repayments will count towards the credit line and repayment installments determined by the Company prior to repayment. If no determination is made, they will be applied pro rata to all outstanding loans and outstanding sub-credit line amounts. The amounts are distributed proportionately to the outstanding amounts of the lenders participating in the relevant credit line.
(b) Mandatory special repayments are offset as follows:
(i) first to repay outstanding loans under credit line A in reverse order of maturities,
(ii) then on the working capital loans in the following order:
(A) first to repay outstanding loans under the working capital line of credit,
(B) then to cancel Loan Commitments still available for the working capital line of credit and
(C) finally, to repay the Outstanding Sub-Line Amounts and drawdowns under the Umbrella Facility and then to cancel any Available Sub-Line Commitments. If there are several loans under a credit line, all loans granted under the respective credit line are offset pro rata in proportion to the consortium shares of the lenders, unless otherwise specified in this credit agreement.
8.8 Interest and Fees
Voluntary early repayments and mandatory special repayments pursuant to Section 8 (Early Repayment) are to be made together with the interest, commissions, fees and other amounts owed (e.g. early repayment penalties) due on them.
8.9 Revaluation
A mandatory special repayment results in the immediate termination of the underlying loan commitments in the corresponding amount after offsetting in accordance with Section 8.7(b) (repayment offsetting). Insofar as the working capital loan was repaid in a manner other than in accordance with Clause 8.7(b) (repayment offsetting) , revaluation is permitted.
8.10 Cancellation of Loan Commitments
(a) Available credit commitments for each line of credit may be withdrawn in whole or in part by the borrower at any time with five (5) bank business days' notice in minimum amounts of EUR 500,000 or a higher multiple of EUR 100,000 at the end of an interest period without a prepayment penalty be terminated. The credit commitments of the lenders involved are reduced pro rata as a result.
8.11 Termination of Loan Commitments by an Individual Lender
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If at any time the borrower is in accordance with a lender Clause 14.2 (net tax clause) to pay an increased amount, according to Clause 14.3 (tax exemption) to refund or exemption from taxes (each without general taxes of the lender) or according to Clause 15 (cost increase) to pay increased costs etc , the borrower may, provided the circumstance giving rise to the obligation to pay the increased amount, refund or exemption from tax or payment increased costs, etc., terminate the credit commitments and sub-credit commitments of the relevant lender by written notice to the agent and the relevant lender. Upon receipt of the notification by the agent or on the later repayment date specified in the notification (which in the case of loans may not be after the end of the current interest period(s)), the borrower is obliged to do so immediately
(a)(b) such Lender's interests in the Loans together with any accrued interest and other payable under the Finance Documents repay amounts the Outstanding Sub-Line Amounts of the Sub-Lines that this Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender has provided repayment, and
(c) ensure that the amounts outstanding under the umbrella lines provided by the Local Lenders are repaid and the commitments under those umbrella lines are terminated as of that date.
8.12 Prepayment Penalty
For voluntary early repayments and mandatory special repayments in accordance with Section 8 (Early repayment) that are not paid at the end of an interest period, an early repayment penalty is payable to each lender, unless the mandatory special repayment is made on the basis of Section 8.2 (illegalness).
9. INTEREST RATES
9.1 Interest Rate
The interest rate for the loans granted under a credit line is the percentage pa for a certain interest period, which is made up of
(a) the EURIBOR applicable to the relevant Interest Period
(b) the Initial Margin pursuant to Section 9.2 (Initial Margin) or the applicable Margin after a Margin Adjustment pursuant to Section 9.3 (Margin Adjustment) to Section 9.6 (Error Margin Determination) .
If the EURIBOR is less than zero (0) percent pa, the EURIBOR is zero (0) percent pa as agreed.
9.2 Initial Margin
The initial margin is
9.3 Margin Adjustment
From the filing of the Compliance Certificate for the last quarter of 2018 (ending 31. December 2018) and subject to Sections 9.5 to 9.6, the applicable margin is calculated according to the table below depending on the gearing ratio (calculated according to Section 22 (financial ratio) and proven by submitting the respective compliance certificate according to Section 21.3 (Compliance Certificate )) determined :
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Gearing Applicable Margin Loans under Tran A (in basis points p.a.) Applicable Margin Loans under the Working Capital Line of Credit (in basis points p.a.)
Greater than or equal to 2,50:1 170 140
Greater than or equal to 2,00:1 but less than 2,50:1 160 130
Greater than or equal to 1,50:1 but less than 2,00:1 150 120
Greater than or equal to 1,00:1 but less than 1,50:1 140 110
Greater than or equal to 0,50:1 but less than 1,00:1 135 105
Lower 0,50:1 130 100
9.4 Adjustment Time
After the conditions for a margin adjustment according to Section 9.3 (margin adjustment) , the margin for each loan is adjusted at the beginning of the next interest period, which begins after submission of the respective compliance certificate or, if there is not at least five (5) banking days between them, on the expiration of five (5) banking days after submission of the compliance certificate (for the first time with the compliance certificate in relation to the financial statements for the financial year 2018). If there is no interest period due to the lack of utilization of the working capital line of credit, the margin adjustment is made for the purpose of calculating the commitment fee Item 13.1 (provision commission) at the beginning of the calendar quarter following the submission of the compliance certificate.
9.5 Margin Increase
If and as long as there is a reason for termination or if the Compliance Certificate is not submitted or is not submitted on time, the respective highest margin according to the table in Section 9.3 (margin adjustment) applies (plus, only if there is a material reason for termination and if there is a Reason for termination according to Section 24.1(d) (Other obligations) due to non-submission or late submission of the Compliance Certificate 1% pa). If the reason for termination is demonstrably cured or a waiver is issued or the compliance certificate is submitted later, the margin will be adjusted to the actual level of indebtedness no later than three (3) bank working days after healing has occurred or the waiver has been issued in accordance with Section 9.3 (margin adjustment) . corresponding margin adjusted. The right of the lenders to terminate under this credit agreement remains unaffected by a margin increase.
9.6 Incorrect margin determination
If the audited consolidated financial statements show that the Group's gearing ratio was incorrectly stated in a compliance certificate and the margin was therefore wrongly reduced, increased or not adjusted, the agent has the right to retrospectively adjust the margin by the difference. The difference is to be paid by the Borrower to the Agent within three (3) business days after delivery of the Consolidated Financial Statements. If the Consolidated Financial Statements indicate that a lower margin should have been applied for a period of time, subsequent interest payments will be reduced by the amount necessary to place the Lender and the Borrower in the position in which they would have been if the correct margin had been applied. Payments to lenders are reduced under this rule only to lenders who were already lenders during the period in which the erroneous margin was applied.
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9.7 Interest Fixing Date
At each interest rate date, the agent determines the interest rate for the following interest rate period and communicates it to the borrower and lenders.
9.8 Maturity and Calculations of Interest
9.9 Billing
The agent will send an interest statement to the borrower well in advance of the interest due date.
10. DEFAULT INTEREST
(a) The borrower is in arrears without the need for a reminder if he fails to make the payments owed under this credit agreement or not in full on the day they are due.
(b) For the duration of the delay in payment, the borrower owes default interest on the outstanding loan amount and on all other amounts, with the exception of interest, at the applicable interest rate pursuant to Section 9 (Interest rates) plus 100 basis points pa. The lenders are entitled to claim further damages close. The borrower is entitled to prove that such damage has not occurred or only to a lesser extent.
(c) The right of the financial parties to claim compensation for the damage caused by the delay in paying interest in accordance with the statutory provisions remains unaffected.
11. INTEREST PERIODS
11.1 Interest
The borrower is obligated to pay interest on the outstanding loan amounts in accordance with the following provisions.
11.2 Interest Periods
The interest periods are three (3) or six (6) months at the borrower's option. The borrower shall inform the agent in writing and irrevocably of the choice of the interest period as part of his disbursement request or (if it is a loan already granted under credit line A) as part of his prolongation request by 9:30 a.m. on the third (3rd) bank working day at the latest before the start of the next interest period. If the borrower does not exercise his option in time by submitting an application for extension, the interest period is three (3) months. A shorter period may be chosen for the first or last interest period after consultation with the agent.
11.3 Exercising the Right to Choose
The borrower must exercise his right to choose pursuant to Clause 11.2 (Interest Periods) in such a way that an interest period for sufficient amounts also ends at each repayment date pursuant to Clause 7.2
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(Repayment) . For this purpose, an interest period with a shorter period of time than provided for in Section 11.2 (Interest Periods) can also be selected after prior consultation with the agent.
11.4 Commencement and End of Interest Periods
The first interest period begins at the beginning of the day of disbursement of the relevant loan (inclusive) and ends on the last day of the relevant interest period (not included). Each subsequent Interest Period begins at the beginning of the last day of the preceding Interest Period (inclusive) and ends on the last day of the relevant Interest Period (not included). If the last day of an interest period is not a bank working day, the interest period is deemed to have ended at the end of the next bank working day, unless the next bank working day falls in the next calendar month; in this case, the interest period is deemed to have ended on the bank working day immediately preceding the last day of the interest period.
11.5 Consolidation of Loans
If multiple loans under Line of Credit A have interest periods ending on the same date, those loans will be consolidated and treated as a single loan beginning with the following interest period, unless the borrower exercises their election as provided Clause 11.2 (interest periods) otherwise.
12. MARKET DISTURBANCE, ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF CALCULATION
12.1 Market Disruption
The agent will notify the borrower immediately if one or more lenders, whose loan commitments alone or together amount to at least 35%, have informed the agent by 10:00 a.m. at the latest on the interest rate fixing day that their respective refinancing costs for the following interest rate period have been reduced by the respective EURIBOR not be covered. In this case, Section 12.2 (alternative calculation method) applies.
12.2 Alternative Calculation Method
(a) If this Clause 12.2 applies, the interest owed to each Lender for its Underwriter Part shall be the applicable Margin pursuant to Clause 9 (Interest Rates) plus the interest rate notified to the Agent by the relevant Lender in respect of the relevant Interest Period as the Interest Rate to which he can refinance himself in the market. If this refinancing interest rate is less than zero (0)% pa, a refinancing interest rate of zero (0)% pa is applied.
(b) The parties to this Credit Agreement will enter into negotiations for a maximum of 30 days with the aim of agreeing on an alternative calculation of interest (including an alternative arrangement for the refinancing of the affected loan disbursements, the applicable interest rate and the interest period) (e.g. the money market interest rate offered by German banks). If the parties mutually determine an alternative calculation method, this shall apply to all affected payouts as long as the market disruption pursuant to Section 12.1 (Market Disruption Event) persists – otherwise the interest rate reported under
paragraph (a) shall remain for the relevant period.
13. COMMISSIONS AND FEES
13.1 Commitment Fee
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The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for onward transmission to the Lenders) a Commitment Fee of 35% of the applicable Margin on a Lender's Available Loan Commitment for the duration of the Available Period, accruing on or after the third Banking Day following the execution of this Loan Agreement or on the earlier of Date of the first payment and due and payable subsequently at the end of a calendar quarter and for the terminated part of a loan commitment upon termination. The commitment commission is calculated based on the number of days elapsed and a 360-day year.
13.2 Utilization Fee
The Borrower pays to the Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) on the drawn and uncancelled portion of the Loan Commitment relating to the A lender's working capital line of credit charges a utilization fee depending on the amount the utilization of the working capital credit line according to the following table (each excluding the utilization by setting up a sub-credit line, which, regardless of its utilization, is expressly only used for the purposes of this Section 13.2 in the calculations of the amount of the utilization of the credit commitment in relation to the working capital credit line and the available credit commitment in relation to the working capital credit line are disregarded):
Amount of utilization in relationship to the Loan commitment (minus the established sub-credit lines) Utilization commission (in basis points pa)
≤ 33 ⅓ % und > 0 %
10
> 33 ⅓ % und ≤ 66 ⅔ %
20
> 66 ⅔ %
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The utilization fee is due and payable in arrears at the end of an interest period.
13.3 Participation Fee
The Borrower pays each Initial Lender a Participation Fee pursuant to a separate agreement.
13.4 Agent's Commission
The borrower pays to the agent (for its own account) an agent's commission according to a separate agreement.
14. TAXES
14.1 Definitions
(a) In this contract, the following terms have the following meanings:
"Protected Party" means a Financial Party that is or will be subject to any liability in connection with any amount received or to be received pursuant to a Finance Document (or any amount deemed to be
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received or to be received for Tax Purposes) or a payment for or due to Taxes has to pay or will have to pay.
"Qualified Lender" means a Lender who is commercially The beneficiary of interest payments due to a loan disbursement in are payable to that lender as part of a financing document and which:
(i) the loan is sufficient through a permanent establishment in Germany; or
(ii) is an Eligible Lender;
"Tax Credit" means a credit, reduction, remission or refund of any tax.
"Tax Deduction" means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance
Document made for or on account of Tax, other than a FATCA Deduction.
"Tax Payment" means either an increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Financial Party under Section 14.2 (Tax Net Clause) or a payment under Section 14.3 (Tax Exemption).
"Eligible Lender" means a Lender that:
(iii) for the purposes of the double taxation treaty as in a treaty state is treated as a resident;
(iv) does not conduct business in Germany through a permanent establishment to which that Lender's interest in the Loan is attributable.
"Treaty State" means a state that has entered into a double taxation agreement (a "Double Taxation Agreement") with Germany that provides for total exemption from taxes levied in Germany on interest.
14.2 Tax Net Clause
(a) Each Obligor shall make the payments it owes without any tax deduction, unless a tax deduction is required by law.
(b) The Company shall promptly notify the Agent that an Obligor is required to deduct tax (or that there has been a change in the rate of tax or base applicable to the withholding of tax) upon becoming aware thereof. Likewise, a Lender shall notify the Agent if it becomes aware of any payment to be made to that Lender. If the agent if a notice to the effect is received from a lender, he shall notify the Company and the Obligor concerned.
(c) If an obligation is required by law to make a deduction of tax, the payment to be made by that obligation shall be increased by such an amount that the amount paid (after any deduction of tax has been made) equals the amount that would have been made had the deduction not been required would have been.
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(d) A payment shall not be increased pursuant to paragraph (c) above as a result of a withholding tax imposed by Germany if, at the time the Payment:
(i) the payment could have been made to the applicable Lender with no tax deduction had it been a Qualified Lender but the applicable Lender was not a Qualified Lender at that time Lender is (any longer) and is not a result of any event occurring after the time it became Lender under this Agreement
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change (or change in interpretation, administrative practice or application) statutory regulation or one double tax treaty is a published administrative practice published tax benefit of a competent tax authority; or
(ii) the applicable Lender is an Eligible Lender and the Obligor making the payment can demonstrate that payment to the Lender could have been made without the tax deduction had such Lender complied with its obligations under paragraph (g) below.
(e)
(f) If an Obligor is required to make a Withholding Tax, it shall make the Withholding Tax and any payment required in connection with such Withholding Tax within the time limits required by law and to the lowest amount required by law. Within thirty days of the making of any tax deduction or payment required in connection with such tax deduction, the withholding agent shall provide to the agent, on behalf of the financial party entitled to the payment, evidence reasonably satisfactory to that financial party that the tax has been deducted or (if applicable) that all relevant payments have been made to the appropriate taxing authority.
(g) A Treaty Eligible Lender and any Obligor making a payment to which that Treaty Eligible Lender is entitled will cooperate to comply with the procedural and formal requirements necessary for such Obligor to make the applicable payment without withholding tax.
14.3 Tax Exemption
(a) The Company shall pay (within three Banking Days upon request of the Agent) to a Protected Party an amount equal to any loss, liability or other charge which the Protected Party determines that it shall (directly or indirectly) owe him or her has suffered or will suffer for or as a result of any tax in connection with a Finance Document.
(b) Paragraph (a) above does not apply:
(i) on taxes paid against a finance party:
(A) determined under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Financial Party has its registered office or, if different, the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which such Financial Party is considered to be tax resident; or
(B) be determined under the laws of the State in which the permanent establishment of that financial party for amounts received or to be received in that country, if the tax on the net income received or
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receivable of this Financial Party charged or calculated on the basis of such net amount (other than such amounts deemed to be received or to be received only by such Financial Party); or
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(ii) to the extent that losses, liabilities or costs:
(B) would have been offset by an increased payment under Section
14.2 (Net Tax Clause) , but were not offset solely because one of the exceptions in paragraph (d) of Section 14.2 (tax net clause) applied; or
(C) based on a FATCA deduction to be made by a party.
(c) A Protected Party who is making or intends to make a claim under paragraph (a) above shall promptly notify the Agent of the circumstance which will give rise to or has given rise to the claim: to inform, whereupon the agent has to inform the company.
(d) A Protected Party shall notify the Agent of receipt of payment from an Obligor under this Section 14.3.
14.4 Tax Credits
If an Obligor makes a tax payment and the relevant Financial Party determines that:
14.5 Confirmation of Lender Status
Each Lender who becomes a party to this Agreement after the conclusion of this Agreement shall indicate in the assignment agreement it signs to become a party as Lender, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, which of the following categories it falls into:
(ii) Qualified Lender (but not an Eligible Lender); or
(iii) Eligible Lender.
If a New Lender fails to declare its status in accordance with this Clause 14.5, such Lender will, for purposes of this Agreement (including by any Obligor), until then do so treated as if it is not a Qualified Lender until it notifies the Agent which category it falls into (the Agent shall notify the Company upon receipt of such
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notification). For the avoidance of doubt, failure by a Lender to comply with the provisions of this Clause 14.5 will not void a Transfer Agreement.
14.6 Stamp Duty
The Company shall, upon request, indemnify, within three Banking Days, any Finance Party against all costs, losses and liabilities incurred by that Finance Party in connection with stamp duty, registration duty or similar tax in respect of a Finance Document in an Obligor Jurisdiction and which are not based on a transfer of a consortium share are based.
14.7 Sales Tax
(a) Any sums payable by a party to a finance party under any Finance Document that are, in whole or in part, consideration for a service for the purposes of VAT law are free of any sales tax that may be applicable to that service; accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes due on a performance by a Finance Party to another party to a Finance Document, that Finance Party party shall have an amount to the extent that it is required to remit VAT to the appropriate taxing authority payable in the amount of sales tax (in addition to and concurrent with the payment of any other consideration for that service) (and the relevant financial party shall promptly issue a proper sales tax invoice to the relevant party).
(b) Occurs upon a delivery by one financial party (the "Performer") to another Financial Party (the "Beneficiary") in connection with a Finance Document VAT and is a party other than the Beneficiary (“Relevant Party”) in accordance with the terms of the applicable Finance Document to pay an amount equal to Obliged to provide consideration for the service in question (instead of being obliged to reimburse or indemnify the recipient of the service):
(i) the Relevant Party shall pay to the Performer, to the extent that the Performer is required to pay VAT to the relevant taxing authority, an additional (and concurrent with the payment of the relevant amount) an amount equal to the VAT. The service recipient pays (to the extent this paragraph (i) applies) to the Relevant Party promptly an amount equal to any credit or refund from the relevant taxing authority that the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the sales tax that was to be charged on the relevant Service; and
(ii) the Relevant Party shall promptly, upon request by the Recipient, to the extent that the Recipient is required to pay sales tax to the relevant taxing authority, pay an amount equal to the sales tax that is levied on the relevant Service, but only to the extent that the Service Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to a VAT credit or refund from the relevant taxing authority.
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14.8 FATCA Information
(a) Subject to paragraph (c) below, either party shall, at the reasonable request of another party, within ten (10) business days
(i) to confirm to the other party whether
(a) they are a FATCA Exempt Party; or
(b) is not a FATCA Exempt Party,
(ii) provide that other party with all forms, documents and other information related to its FATCA
status that that other party reasonably needs to comply with FATCA regulations by such other party requests and
(iii) provide that other party with any forms, documents and other information related to its status that that other party reasonably requests for that other party to comply with any other law, regulation or obligation under information sharing procedures. in the from
(ii) a duty of loyalty or
(iii) a confidentiality obligation.
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(d) If a party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to provide any forms, documents or other information requested under paragraph (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above (for the avoidance of doubt : this also applies if paragraph (c) above applies), for the purposes of (and making payments under) the Finance Documents, the relevant party will be treated as not being a FATCA Exempted Party until it has received the requested confirmation or provides the requested forms, documents or other information.
14.9 FATCA Deduction
(a)
(b) Each party shall be entitled to make any FATCA deductions required by FATCA and any other payments required in connection with the relevant FATCA deduction; neither party is obligated to increase any payment from which it makes a corresponding FATCA deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for the relevant FATCA deduction. Once a party becomes aware that it is required to make a FATCA deduction (or that the tax rate or basis of assessment of the relevant FATCA deduction has changed), it shall notify the party to whom it is making payment and the Company and immediately notify the agent who will then notify the other financial parties.
15. INCREASE IN COSTS
In this clause 15 means
"Basel II" means the framework "International Convergence of Capital Measurements and Requirements, Revised Framework, Comprehensive Version" published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004, as amended, but excluding changes due to Basel III. "Basel III"
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15.1 Cost Increase
If, after entering into this Credit Agreement, the waiver or amendment of a to a Lender applicable legislation (including Basel III, or such Laws and regulations that implement or apply Basel III) or their changed interpretation by a public authority, a court or another competent official acting body and/or the compliance of the same by a lender has the consequence that
15.2 Exceptions to Reimbursement
Clause 15.1 (cost increase) does not apply to cost increases,
16. DAMAGES REDUCTION
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(a) The lender concerned will make reasonable efforts to keep the disadvantages arising for the borrower from section 8.2 (illegalness), section 14 (taxes) or section 15 (increase in costs) as low as possible. In particular, if this is possible without detriment to him, he will transfer the rights and obligations under this credit agreement to an affiliated company or a branch in another country.
(b) All obligations of the obligated party from the financing documents remain unaffected by paragraph (a).
17. OTHER INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS
17.1 Currency Exemption
(a) If one is from an Obligor under a Funding Document, a decision or sum due from a judgment (a “Sum”) by the currency in which the sum is to be paid (the “First Currency”) to another currency (the “Secondary Currency”) must be converted in order to:
(i) to assert or register a claim against the obligor; or
(ii) a decision or judgment in respect of a judicial or initiate or enforce arbitration proceedings, the obligor must, within five (5) banking days of the request of the financial party to whom the sum is owed, indemnify it against all costs, losses and any liability arising as a result of the conversion, including the discrepancies between (A) the exchange rate at which the sum was converted from the first currency to the second currency and (B) the exchange rate or rates available to that financial party when it received the sum.
17.2 Indemnification Obligations
The Company shall, upon request, indemnify (or arrange for an obligor to indemnify) any Financial Party within five (5) Business Days from all costs, losses and liabilities incurred by it as a result of any of the following circumstances arises:
17.3 Agent Release
The obligated are jointly and severally obliged to release the agent immediately from
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(ii) Acting in response to or in reliance on any communication, request or instruction which he reasonably believes is genuine, truthful and duly authorized or
(iii) engagement of attorneys permitted under this Credit Agreement;
auditors, tax advisors or other professional advisors or experts and
18. COSTS AND EXPENSES
(a) The Company will reimburse the Arrangers or Agent for all reasonable external consultants' fees (including attorneys' fees with caps previously agreed with the Company) and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Arrangers or Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation and amendment and legal review of the Finance Documents (including the legal opinions obtained in this regard) and the syndication, provided that these have been previously agreed with the company in each individual case.
(b) If an Obligor requests a waiver or contract modification, or if a contract modification is required under Clause 32.3 (Replacement of the Reference Interest Rate), the Company will reimburse the Agent within five (5) days of the agent's request for all reasonable external costs and costs previously agreed with the Company out-of- pocket expenses (including capped attorneys' fees previously agreed with Company) incurred by the Agent in connection with the waiver or contract modification; substitute.
(c) The Company shall reimburse any Finance Party, within five (5) days of its request, for all costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the Finance Party in enforcing (including examining) its rights under the Finance Documents.
19. WARRANTIES
19.1 Warranty and Indemnification Obligation
Each Obligor party to this Credit Agreement:
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For the avoidance of doubt, this guarantee and indemnification obligation is not a first- demand guarantee and, in particular, receipt of any such written request shall not waive the rights and/or defenses that the affected Obligor may have with respect to any Financial Party (or Agent in on his behalf) may be entitled to any payment required under this warranty and indemnification obligation.
19.2 Surviving and Independent Warranty and Indemnification
(a) This guarantee and indemnification obligation are independent and separate from the Borrower's obligations and as a continuing guarantee and indemnification obligation, extending (notwithstanding any intervening payment or full or partial performance) to the ultimate balance payable by the Borrower pursuant to the Finance Documents , to watch.
(b) The Guarantee and indemnification obligation extends to any additional obligations of the Borrower arising out of any modification, novation, amendment, renewal, rewrite or replace any Finance documents, in particular an extension or increase of a facility or the addition of a new facility under a financing document
19.3 Resurgence
Where a payment by an Obligor or discharge of an obligation by a Financial Party (whether in respect of an Obligor's obligations, a security for those obligations or otherwise) is challenged or reduced as a result of bankruptcy or a similar event, so:
(a) the liability of the obligor shall continue as if such payment, exemption, rescission or reduction has not taken place; and
(b) each financial party shall be entitled to collect the value or amount of such security or payment from any Obligor as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or reduction had not occurred.
19.4 Excluded Objections and Defenses
(a) Any Obligor's obligations under this Clause 19 shall be governed by any act, omission or other circumstance relating to the Borrower's principal liability (or contemplated principal liability) which would reduce, prejudice or relieve any of its obligations under this Clause 19 , not touched. This also applies to defenses by the principal debtor or rights to contest or set-off by the borrower.
(b) The obligations of each Obligor under this Clause 19 are independent of any other security or guarantee held by the Financial Parties may have been provided or may be provided in the future. In particular, each Obligor's obligations under this Clause 19 shall not be affected by:
(i) the discharge of another obligation of its obligations or in relation to its obligations under or in connection with a financing document, its deferral, waiver thereof or any consent in relation thereto;
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(ii) of adoption, of modification, of comparison, of exchange, of renewal or waiver of rights against an obligation or any other person or in relation to any security in the property of any obligated or another person as well as the refusal or failure to bring about the conditions necessary for such rights to be effective or to assert or enforce such rights or failure to obtain the full value of any security;
(iii) any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of any other Obligor or its
dissolution or deterioration of its financial condition; or
19.5 Immediate Recourse
No Financial Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) shall have any obligation prior to bringing any claim against any Obligor under this Clause 19 first to take action against another person or to enforce other rights or securities against another person or to demand payment from another person. This applies notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Finance Document.
19.6 Use of Funds
As long as not all amounts that the obligated from or in connection with the Financing Documents, if any, are or will be payable, have been paid irrevocably and in full, any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on their behalf):
19.7 Deferral of Obligor Rights
As long as not all amounts that the obligated from or in connection with the Financing Documents, if any, are or will be payable, have been irrevocably paid in full and provided the Agent does not object Instructions are given, no Obligor will exercise any rights conferred on it by virtue of the performance of its obligations under the Finance Documents or as a result of any action hereunder clause 19 or any liability hereunder you may be entitled to and are directed to:
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19.8 Additional Security
This guarantee is in addition to any other guarantee or guarantee now or hereafter held by any financial party and is not affected in any way by such other guarantee or guarantee.
20. REPRESENTATIONS
20.1 Representations
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Obligors who are not party to this Credit Agreement) hereby (and where expressly referred to, on behalf of its affiliates) makes the following representations:
(ii) the choice of law of German law in the Finance Documents to which the relevant Obligor is a party is recognized and enforceable in the jurisdiction under which an Obligor was formed and
(iii) any judgment rendered in the jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Germany relating to the Finance Documents to which the Obligor is a party will be recognized and enforceable in the jurisdiction under which the Obligor was incorporated.
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(e) Permissions and Permissions.
(i) All permissions required
(A) to make it an obligation to enable it to lawfully enter into Finance Documents and to exercise and/or perform its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents.
(ii) All permits necessary for the business operations of the Obligors and theMaterial Group Companies have been obtained and are effective.
(iii) Each Obligor and each Material Group Company shall have title or effective interest in, or all necessary rights, licenses, permits and approvals to use, the assets and intellectual property rights to continue the business as it is then executed, unless the absence of which is not material Adverse effect result.
There is a reason for insolvency in accordance with §§ 17 or 19 of the InsO or a comparable provision of a foreign legal system applicable to a material group company and no enforcement is pursued in the amount of more than EUR 2,500,000.
(i) There is no reason for termination.
(ii) At the time of signing this Credit Agreement and on the date of the first disbursement under this Credit Agreement, there is no reason for termination and no termination event.
(ii) All documents and written information provided to the agent or other financial party are correct in all material respects.
(iii) To the extent that opinions or expectations are expressed or financial forecasts and predictions are made in the documents, they are the result of careful examination by the authors and are based on assumptions and current information that are realistic at the time of preparation.
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(iv) No event or circumstance has occurred which would render the documents and information referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) incorrect or misleading in any material respect.
(A) Neither an Obligor nor, to the best of our knowledge, the obligated party, one of their board members or one of their Employee,
(i)
(ii) are the subject of (or involved in actions against) Sanctions (would be violated) imposed by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury ("OFAC") and the Office of Export Enforcement of the US Department of Commerce ("OEE") or equivalent sanctions or measures imposed by the United States, the Federal Republic of Germany, the EU or the UN (hereinafter collectively and including the US Foreign and Corrupt Practices Act 1977 and the UK Bribery Act 2010 or any other applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, "Sanctions") and is owned 50% or more by, or otherwise controlled by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons who are the subject of Sanctions (collectively, "Sanctioned Persons") , or is located or organized in any country or territory which is subject to sanctions (in particular, but not limited to, Cuba, Sudan, Syria, Iran, North Korea and the Crimea region of Ukraine, collectively "Sanctioned Countries").
(B) To the best of the Obligors' knowledge and belief, no action or investigation by any governmental or regulatory authority has been taken in the last seven years and will not be taken against any Obligor or, to the best of their knowledge, any of their Conducted or threatened by any director or any of their employees in connection with alleged violations of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
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(ii) The obligated parties make the representation under (i) only insofar as this does not give rise to any liability under applicable anti-boycott provisions for any of the persons named under (i) (including Regulation (EC) 2271/96 as amended by Regulation (EC) 807/2003). , and Section 7 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Foreign Trade Act (Foreign Trade Ordinance)).
(iii) The Obligors will not make the representation under (i) to any Financial Party to the extent that doing so would give rise to liability under any applicable anti-boycott provisions (including Regulation (EC) 2271/96 as amended by Regulation (EC) 807/2003). , and Section 7 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Foreign Trade Act (Foreign Trade Ordinance).
(iv) The Obligors confirm to the best of their knowledge that
(B) no proceedings are for violations of the applicable to them Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and terrorist financing are pending or specifically threatened
(o) collateral. No collateral is encumbered with the assets of the Obliged Persons or other group companies, with the exception of the Permitted Collateral and the conclusion of the financing documents, the fulfillment of their obligations and their execution by the Obliged Persons do not result in an obligation of an Obligor or a Group Company to provide any security other than the Permitted Collateral to order.
(p) Financial liabilities: There are no financial liabilities of group companies except the permitted financial liabilities.
(q) Pari Passu. The obligations of the Obligors to pay under the Finance Documents shall at all times rank at least pari passu with third party payment obligations not secured by collateral, except for obligations which, in the event of bankruptcy or otherwise by operation of law, have priority.
(r) insurance coverage. All assets of the obligated and essential group companies that are necessary for the operation are effectively insured against damage and loss to the extent customary in the industry.
(s) Market conditions. Each group company has only entered into contracts with third parties on terms customary in the market (“at arm's length terms”), whereby customary market conditions are to be determined with the due diligence of a prudent and conscientious businessman.
20.2 Making and Repeating Representations
(a) The representations to be made under this Section 20 will be made on the date of signing of this Credit Agreement.
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Guarantee contract, repeated when submitting each payment request and each time a prolongation request is submitted.
21. INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS
21.1 Periodic Financial Information
The company will inform the lenders regularly via the agent about the development of the economic situation of the group and, if applicable, each obligated party and submit the following documents to the agent (for forwarding to the lenders) immediately and without being asked:
(ii)
(iii) Current bank analysis for the group (broken down by credit type, Borrowers, maturities, repayment modalities and collateral), and unconsolidated and, where available, consolidated financial statements (including balance sheet, income statement and Cash flow statement) of all other obligated parties, in each case to the extent available or legally required in certified form.
(c) Budget. Budget signed by a number of natural persons authorized to represent the company registered in the commercial register, which must be reasonably prepared in a form acceptable to the agent and must be submitted no later than 30 days after the start of each financial year.
21.2 Change in Accounting
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(a) The Company ensures that all financial statements to be submitted pursuant to Section
21.1 (Regular Financial Information) are prepared in accordance with the same accounting,
recognition or valuation policies (including the exercise of election rights) underlying the financial statements provided to the Agent as a disbursement condition pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 2 (Disbursement Conditions) , unless promptly notifying the Agent in writing about a change in their accounting, recognition and valuation methods or the exercise of the option rights in the annual financial statements or quarterly reports to be submitted (compared to the financial statements provided to the agent as a disbursement requirement in accordance with Part 1 of Appendix 2 (Disbursement Requirements) ) and provides the lenders significant changes, a reconciliation statement satisfactory to the agent explaining the economic impact of the new methods is available from a Chartered Accountant (except for changes relating to the reclassification of operating leases as finance leases due to of the IFRS regulations that will apply after January 1, 2019).
(b) At the request of the Agent (acting at the direction of a majority of the Lenders), the Borrower and the Lenders shall for a period not exceeding three (3) Weeks of negotiations on an adjustment of the key financial figure in accordance with Section 22 (financial indicator) and the margin adjustment according to clause 9.3 (margin adjustment) (except for changes regarding the reclassification of operating leases as finance leases due to the IFRS regulations, which will apply after January 1, 2019). If no agreement is reached within this period or before the end of the current quarter, the financial ratio and the calculation of the leverage ratio for the margin adjustment will continue to be calculated based on the previous accounting, recognition and measurement methods. In this case, the borrowers are obliged to continue a pro forma account based on the previous accounting, recognition and valuation methods.
21.3 Compliance Certificate
The company will provide the agent with each quarterly report and each consolidated financial statement, for the first time together with the annual financial statements as of December 31, 2018, an audit certificate signed by a number of natural persons who are authorized to represent the company (but at least one member of the Management Board) entered in the commercial register ("Compliance Certificate ") in the form of the model in Annex 10 (model compliance certificate) with the addition of sufficiently detailed calculations, which
(a) confirms compliance with the financial ratio specified in Section 22 (financial ratio) and shows the gearing required for an adjustment of the margin
(b) reports the amounts that the Company reports in accordance with the IFRS rules effective before January 1, 2019 for the purpose of calculating the financial ratio in accordance with paragraph 22 (Financial ratio) and the margin adjustment in accordance with Clause 9.3 (margin adjustment) has qualified as an operating lease and which, according to the IFRS regulations that will apply after January 1, 2019, will qualify as a finance lease and
(c) additionally if submitted together with the audited consolidated financial statements of the company
(i) a list of significant Group companies and
(ii) a calculation showing that the warranty coverage according to para.
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23.18 (Warranty Coverage, Joining of Guarantors) is complied with and which is accompanied by a confirmation from the Company's auditors that the list and the individual calculations are correct.
21.4 Other information, bank meeting
The obligated are (each for forwarding to the lenders) to the agent in case of paragraph (a) at the same time and in all other cases immediately, but in any case no later than five (5) banking days after becoming aware
22. FINANCIAL INDICATOR
22.1 Definitions
"Calculation Date" means March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year during the term of this Credit Agreement beginning on December 31 of December 2018.
"Financial debt" means (without double counting) all liabilities of Group companies (excluding those from derivative transactions) to banks plus liabilities
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"EBITDA" means operating income reported
(b)
(c) plus amortization of goodwill, plus depreciation of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.
"Leverage" means the ratio of financial debt to EBITDA.
22.2 Financial Covenant
The company guarantees that the leverage ratio of 2.75 will not be exceeded on each calculation date during the term of this loan agreement.
22.3 Calculation and Verification
(a) The Financial Covenant is calculated on each Calculation Date subject to paragraph (c) on the basis of the Company's consolidated financial statements in accordance with Clause 21.1 (Periodic Financial Information) .
(b)
(c) The key financial figure is made up of earnings figures and/or balance sheet figures. Earnings figures and the interest and redemption payments always relate to the rolling period of twelve (12) months ending on the respective calculation date, the balance sheet figures to the value on the calculation date. If a company or business is bought or sold during a 12-month period, for purposes of calculating the financial ratio, the Contribution of this company or company to the EBITDA and to Group financial indebtedness as if the acquisition or sale had taken place on the first day of the 12-month period.
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23. GENERAL CONDITIONS
23.1 Permissions
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Obligors who are not party to this Loan Agreement) warrant that they have obtained all permissions required by the jurisdiction in which they are incorporated from time to time to:
23.2 Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Obligors who are not party to this loan agreement) warrant that
23.3 Anti- Corruption, Sanctions and Money Laundering Provisions
(a) Each Obligor (and the Company in respect of the other Obligors who are not parties to this Loan Agreement) warrant (subject to paragraph (b) below)
(i) not to use, lend or otherwise use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds generated under this Credit Agreement for any purpose that violates any applicable sanctions would constitute, but solely for this in this purpose specified in the credit agreement or to a natural or legal person as a loan or in any other way exclusively for the purpose specified in this credit agreement to make available and
(ii) conduct its business in accordance with applicable sanctions, anti-corruption and money laundering regulations and implement and maintain policies, procedures and controls that ensure compliance by the obliged entities with applicable sanctions, anti-corruption and money laundering regulations.
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23.4 Corporate Structural Measures
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Group companies that are not parties to this Credit Agreement) warrants that no Group company will effect a merger, demerger, change of legal form, accrual or other corporate structural measure, unless it is such corporate reorganization in relation to (i) one or more Obligors (where the Company has an interest, this must be the remaining Company), or (ii) one or more Non-Obligors and payments or other dispositions resulting therefrom are made only for the benefit of other Group Members.
23.5 Change of Business
Each Obligor (and the Company in respect of the other Obligors not party to this Credit Agreement) will ensure that no Obligor will materially alter or cease to operate its business, except as otherwise permitted under the Credit Agreement Measure.
23.6 Acquisitions and Joint Ventures
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other group companies that are not parties to this Credit Agreement) warrants that no group company will acquire shares, companies or parts of companies, establish new companies or invest in existing companies outside the group, with the exception of Permitted Acquisitions.
23.7 Obligation to Maintain Intellectual Property Rights
Each Obligor (and the Company, in respect of the other Obligors not party to this Loan Agreement) agrees to maintain all intellectual property rights necessary for the conduct of the Obligor's business, to defend against infringement and to have record keeping obligations related thereto (e.g. requesting required registrations, submitting required documents and paying required fees).
23.8 Pari Passu Clause
Each Obligor (and the Company in respect of the other Obligors not party to this Loan Agreement) warrants that its obligations under the Financing Documents will at all times rank at least par with unencumbered third party obligations other than obligations , which are to be fulfilled as a matter of priority in the event of insolvency or otherwise by operation of law.
23.9 Negative Declaration
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Group Companies which are not parties to this Loan Agreement) warrant that no Group Company will post or agree to any Collateral or allow any Collateral to remain in place, other than Permitted Collateral.
23.10 Sale of Property
Each Obligor (and the Company in respect of the other Group companies that are not parties to this Credit Agreement) warrant that no Group company will dispose of any assets other than Permitted Disposals.
23.11 Normal Market Conditions
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Group companies that are not party to this Credit Agreement) vouch that no Group Company enters into contracts with third parties or transact business
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that deviate significantly from normal market conditions and thus do not stand up to third-party comparison, es unless the group company could not recognize this when concluding the contract or transaction when applying the due diligence of a prudent businessman.
23.12 Lending and Assumption of Liability
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Group companies that are not parties to this Credit Agreement) will ensure that no Group Company grants or maintains any credit, guarantee, surety or other assumption of liability for the liabilities of third parties, other than Permitted Credit Grants and Permitted Assumptions of Liability.
23.13 Payments to shareholders and related parties
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other group companies that are not parties to this Credit Agreement) will ensure that no group company will distribute any dividends or other payment or benefit to any direct or indirect shareholder or partner of the Company or any related party Person Makes Payments Except Permitted.
23.14 Financial Liabilities
Each Obligor (and the Company, in relation to the other Group companies that are not parties to this Credit Agreement) warrant that no Group Company will enter into or maintain any financial liabilities (including finance leases and sale and leaseback transactions), except as permitted financial liabilities.
23.15 Insurance
Each Obligor (and the Company in relation to the other Obligors or Significant group companies that are not parties to this credit agreement) are responsible for ensuring that the obligated parties and significant group companies take out or maintain the insurance policies that are necessary for their business operations and are customary in the industry and will provide evidence of this to the agent at his request.
23.16 COMI
The company guarantees that no obliged entity will relocate its registered office or its center of main interest (COMI) to another country.
23.17 Use of Credit Funds
The company is responsible for the intended use of the loans and claims under the sub-credit lines in accordance with this credit agreement.
23.18 Warranty Coverage, Accession by Guarantors
The Company warrants that as of the date of this Credit Agreement (based on EBITDA and total assets as of June 30, 2018) and thereafter within 45 days of the submission of the Consolidated Financial Statements pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 21.1 (Regular Financial Information) , Group companies, their EBITDA (calculated according to Section 22 (Financial ratio)) or total assets (each on a consolidated basis) represent at least 75% of the consolidated Group EBITDA (calculated in accordance with Section 22 (Financial ratio)) or total assets of the Group on a consolidated basis (each based on the consolidated financial statements of the Company) , are guarantors in connection with this credit agreement or, if necessary, accede to this credit agreement or the guarantee agreement as guarantors in accordance with
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Section 26.2 (Accession of Guarantors , whereby, to the extent necessary to comply with the obligation under this Section 23.18, first of all Material Group Companies and, to the extent still necessary ,others thereafter Group Companies of this credit agreement or the guarantee agreement as guarantors should join.
23.19 Subsequent Condition, Legal Opinion
The Company warrants that within 60 days of the date of the first disbursement, a legal opinion (in a form and form and content reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) will be obtained from the Borrower's Legal Counsel under Georgia law recognizing the Choice of Law Clause and of the place of jurisdiction clause of the guarantee contract and for the recognition and enforceability of a German judgment in connection with the guarantee contract.
24. TERMINATION
24.1 Reasons for Termination
Any of the following events and circumstances constitute grounds for termination:
(b)
(c) Improper use: A loan used or a claim under a sub-credit line is used for a purpose other than that specified in Section 3 (Purposes) and, to the extent that this can be remedied, not remedied within fifteen (15) banking days after the Company has become aware or has been notified by the Agent.
Financial ratio: The financial ratio according to clause 22 (financial ratio) is not met.
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(i) In the case of an obligated party or a material group company that was founded under German law or has its center of main interests (COMI) in Germany, there is a ground for insolvency pursuant to Sections 17 or 19 of the Insolvency Code.
(ii) An Obligor or a Material Group Company has generally ceased or announced that it will make payments on its debt.
(iii) An Obligor or a Material Group Company , due to financial difficulties, enters into negotiations with one or more of its creditors of financial liabilities with the aim of generally restructuring its liabilities.
(iv) In respect of an Obligor or a Material Group Company which is not incorporated under the laws of Germany and does not have its center of principal interest (COMI) in Germany, an event occurs which gives rise to the circumstances set out in paragraph (i) above designated events.
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24.2 Rights of Lenders
After there is a reason for termination according to Section 24.1 (reasons for termination)
(iii) Demand immediate repayment of the Outstanding Sub-Line Amounts.
24.3 Obligations of the Borrower
After termination, the borrower is obliged to
25. TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKING SHAREHOLDINGS
25.1 Transfer of Undergraduate Shares
(a) Each Lender may, with the consent of the Company, (i) assign its rights in whole or in part, or (ii) assign and transfer its rights and obligations in whole or in part by way of underwriting, in each case those under this Loan Agreement in respect of each of its loan commitments together with its pro rata Rights and obligations from the remaining financing documents ("consortium share")) and in each case to other financial institutions, banks and, in the event of a material reason for termination, to a fund or other person who regularly issues loans, securities or other financial investments or invested in or incorporated for that purpose (each, a "Permitted New Lender"). A competitor is under any circumstances an Approved New Lender.
(b) Consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and is not required in the event of an assignment or transfer (if each is a Permitted New Lender) (i) to another Lender, (ii) to a Lender Affiliate, or (iii) during the existence of a reason for termination. The Company's consent shall be deemed to have been given unless it has expressly objected within ten (10) banking days after the existing lender has requested its consent.
(c) For each transfer (except in the cases of paragraph (b) (i) and (ii) the accepting lender shall pay a transfer fee of EUR 3,500 to the agent.
(d) A consortium share is transferred to a lender by concluding a transfer agreement between the transferring lender, the accepting lender and the agent, essentially in the form of the template in Annex 12 (model transfer and accession agreement). The other parties to this Loan Agreement, subject to the
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conditions set out in Section 25.1(a) required approvals already today or at the tme of their accession to this credit agreement irrevocably their consent to the contract accession. The assignment is effective only if the Agent is approved by the Permitted New Lender written confirmation (in form and content satisfactory to the Agent) that the Permitted New Lender assumes the same obligations to the other Financial Parties that it would have had it been an Initial Lender.
25.2 Security Interests in Underwriters / Transfer of Economic Risk
Any Lender may, without the consent or notice of the Company or any other Obligor, exercise its rights under or in connection with the Finance Documents securing claims on any member of the European System of Central Banks (e.g. the Deutsche Bundesbank), the European Investment Bank or any other supranational bank, a credit institution, the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) or another development bank, a financial services institution, a financial company, an insurance company, a pension scheme, a pension fund or a special-purpose vehicle established by the aforementioned institutions for the purpose of securitizing loan claims or to create other security rights thereto or to insure the economic risk of the granting of the loan - including any associated collateral, if applicable - in whole or in part with a third party or on third parties, through credit derivatives the, under asset-backed securities transactions or through loan sub-participations, provided that such action will not relieve the relevant lender of its obligations under the Financing Documents. The refinancing institute is in no way restricted in the realization of the collateral. In the event of assignment or transfer of Rights to the Deutsche Bundesbank, the borrower will provide balance sheet figures and/or a self-assessment to the Deutsche Bundesbank upon request.
26. ACCESSION OR WITHDRAWAL OF GUARANTORS
26.1 Transfers by Obligors
No Obligor is entitled to transfer or pledge to third parties its rights and obligations under this
Credit Agreement or the Guarantee Agreement.
26.2 Joining of Guarantors
(a) A group company can join this credit agreement or the guarantee agreement as a guarantor if
(i) they have a membership agreement essentially in the form of the sample attached 14 (model accession agreement guarantors) or the model attached to the guarantee agreement and
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(ii) all admission requirements according to Part 2 of Appendix 2 (disbursement requirements) or corresponding accession requirements under the guarantee agreement in relation to the acceding group company are met.
26.3 Retirement of Guarantors
"Sale to Third Party" means any sale of a Guarantor to a person who is not a Group Company, provided such sale is a Permitted Sale or is approved by a majority of Lenders.
(ii) no termination event exists or would result from the resignation (and the Company does so to the Agent pursuant to the has confirmed the request to leave) and
(iii) in the event of withdrawal, no payments are due from the guarantor in accordance with clause 19 (guarantees) or the respective guarantee contract.
27. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF AGENT AND OTHER PARTIES
27.1 Order
Each Lender engages the Agent pursuant to and in connection with the Finance Documents.
27.2 Power of Attorney
Each lender grants the agent power of attorney to make all declarations and in to receive, to exercise rights and to take actions, insofar as this is for the performance of the duties assigned to the Agent by the Financing Documents is necessary or expedient and for this purpose releases the Agent from the
Restrictions of § 181 BGB, insofar as this is legally permissible; any lender who cannot grant this exemption, the agent will be informed immediately. The agent is entitled to grant sub-authorizations to the same extent.
27.3 Directions of Majority of Lenders
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(a) Except as otherwise provided in a Finance Document, (i) the Agent shall exercise or refrain from exercising any rights, powers and discretions it may have as Agent as directed by a majority of the Lenders and (ii) the Agent shall have no liability for Acts or omissions done or done at the direction of the majority of lenders.
(b) Unless otherwise provided in a Finance Document, all instructions of the majority of Lenders are binding on all Lenders.
(c) The agent is authorized
(i) instructions or clarification of any of the majority of lenders to request instructions as to whether and how he exercises his rights, powers and exercise discretion or refrain from doing so and may remain inactive until he has received corresponding instructions or clarifications and
(ii) require the lenders to provide sufficient security with regard to the costs, expenses, damages or liabilities (including any sales tax that may be incurred) that may arise in connection with the fulfillment of the instruction before the execution of an instruction and can refrain from following an instruction from the majority of the lender (or, where relevant, all lenders) until he has received the security he requested.
27.4 Agent's Obligations
(a) The agent's tasks are purely technical and administrative in nature. The Agent has no obligations to the Financial Parties other than those expressly assumed in this Loan Agreement and the other Financing Documents, if any.
(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (c), the agent of a party will promptly forward the original or copy of any document received on its behalf from another party.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 25 (Transfer of Underlying Interests) , paragraph (b) shall not apply to transfer agreements.
(d) Except as expressly provided in any Finance Document, the Agent shall have no obligation to review or verify the adequacy, completeness or accuracy of any documents it transmits to any other party.
(e) If the agent
(ii) becomes aware of any non-payment of principal, interest or fees or other charges owed to any financial party (other than the Agent) under this Credit Agreement, he will immediately notify the other financial parties.
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27.5 The Arrangers
Except as expressly provided otherwise in the Finance Documents, the Arrangers have no obligations to any other party in connection with the Finance Documents.
27.6 No Fiduciary Duties
(a) Nothing in this Credit Agreement appoints the Agent or the Arrangers as a fiduciary of any other person. The agent and the arranger have no duty of care towards another person.
(b) Neither the Agent nor the Arrangers or sub-credit lenders (or any Affiliate of such sub-credit lender) shall be under any obligation to account to any other financial party for any amount due on their behalf or any profits derived therefrom.
27.7 Doing Business with the Group
The Agent, Arrangers and Sub-Lending Banks (or an Affiliate of any such Sub-Lending Bank) may accept deposits from, make loans to, and generally have a banking or other business relationship with any Group Company.
27.8 Agent's Rights and Discretion
(a) The agent can
(i) rely on any representation, communication or document which he believes to be genuine, accurate and signed by an authorized signatory; and
(ii) rely on any statement made by a director, authorized signatory, or employee of any person regarding matters which may reasonably be believed to be within his or her knowledge or control.
(ii) if it receives instructions pursuant to Clause 27.3 (Instructions of the Majority of Lenders) and these have not been withdrawn, that the conditions required by the Finance Documents for the execution of such instruction have occurred,
(iii) neither party nor required under this Credit Agreement group of lenders has exercised its rights, authority or discretion and
(iv) any notification or request by the Company (other than a request for payment or a request for renewal) is also made for the other Obligors with their knowledge and consent.
(c) The Agent may retain, pay and rely on attorneys, accountants, surveyors or other advisers in connection with the Finance Documents and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, depreciation or other liability arising out of its reliance on them . In addition, the Agent may from
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time to time seek the advice or services of lawyers, accountants, accountants, appraisers and other professional advisers or experts (including the services of lawyers acting as independent (and thus separate from any lawyers retained by the Lenders) advisors to the Agent , to the extent that the Agent deems it necessary.
(d) The Agent may perform its duties under the Finance Documents through employees and representatives and shall not be liable for any damage caused by their misconduct or omission unless caused by the Agent's willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(e) The Agent shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to disclose to any party to this Credit Agreement any information which it reasonably believes it has received in its capacity as Agent. In this respect, the obligated parties release the agent and the other financial parties from banking secrecy.
(f) The Agent shall have the right not to take any action which in its opinion violates any law, regulation, confidentiality obligation or may give rise to a duty of care.
(g) The Agent shall not be authorized to represent the Lender in any litigation or arbitration relating to the Finance Documents without the prior consent of the relevant Lender.
27.9 Accuracy and Completeness, Credit Check
The Agent has no obligation to any Lender to verify the accuracy or completeness of any documentation submitted to it or any other information provided by any person, whether or not such information was circulated by the Agent. In particular, each lender is solely responsible for assessing the borrower's creditworthiness and the legal validity and enforceability of the financing documents.
27.10 Reimbursement of Expenses, Release
(a) Upon the agent's request for payment, the lenders will reimburse the agent for all reasonable external costs incurred in connection with the preparation and legal review of the financing documents and the fulfillment of his other duties as an agent, insofar as they have not been reimbursed by the borrower. The agent will prove the costs incurred to the lenders at their request. He can demand reasonable advances from the lenders.
(b) The Lenders shall indemnify the Agent, at the Agent's request, for any claim made against the Agent in connection with any Financing Document.
(c) Lenders are liable to the agent in proportion to their respective loan commitments. Joint and several liability of the lenders is excluded.
27.11 Agent Liability
The agent is only responsible for intent and gross negligence.
27.12 Agent's Working Hours
(a) Any amount payable to the Agent pursuant to Section 18 (Costs and Expenses), Section 17.3 (Agent Indemnification) or Section 27.10 (Reimbursement of Expenses, Indemnification) , as the case may be, shall include the cost of using the time or other resources of the include Agents and shall be calculated on the basis of reasonable daily or hourly rates made known by the Agent to the Lenders and the Company
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and shall be in addition to any fees paid or payable to the Agent pursuant to Section 13.4 (Agent's Commission) .
(b) The Agent may under this Clause 27.12 only recover such expenses from the Company or any group company as to the cause and amount of which it has previously agreed with the Company and which has agreed to be reimbursed.
27.13 Change of Agent
The Agent may at any time terminate the order placed by the Lenders pursuant to Clause 27.1 (Order) . The termination must be declared in writing to the lenders and the borrower with a notice period of 30 days. After hearing the company, the lenders can revoke the order at any time by resolution. The decision will take effect 30 days after it is made. The majority of lenders may appoint a successor with the consent of the company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). If he does not appoint a successor or does not appoint a successor within 20 days, the previous agent may, with the consent of the Company (which may not be unreasonably withheld) appoint a successor. The incumbent agent is relieved of his obligations under this Credit Agreement if a successor is named and the named successor has accepted his appointment as agent. The previous agent must hand over to the new agent all documents that are necessary for the fulfillment of his duties. The new agent takes over all the rights and obligations of the previous agent from the financing agreements. The other parties to this loan agreement already agree to this contract takeover by the successor. The parties to this Credit Agreement will cooperate in all actions necessary for such change of agent. The borrower shall bear the costs incurred in connection with the change of agent.
27.14 Termination of Agent Due to FATCA
The Agent must terminate the engagement given to it by the Lenders pursuant to Clause
27.1 (Appointment) pursuant to Clause 27.13 (Change of Agent) (and the Agent shall make all reasonable efforts to find a successor pursuant to clause 6 of Clause 27.13 (Change of Agent). Agent(s) ) if three months prior to the earliest FATCA Effective Date applicable to payments made to the Agent under the Finance Documents or any time thereafter
(a) the Agent fails to comply with a request by a Party pursuant to Clause 14.8 (FATCA Information) and the Company or a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent is not, or will not be, a FATCA Exempt Party on or after the FATCA Effective Date,
(b) it is apparent from the information provided by the agent pursuant to Clause 14.8 (FATCA Information) that the agent is not or will not be (any longer) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after the FATCA Effective Date; or
(c) the Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that it is not or will not be a FATCA Exempt Party on or after the FATCA Effective Date, and (in each such case) Company or a Lender reasonably believes that a party will need to make a FATCA Withholding that would not be necessary if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party and Company or such Lender requests the Agent to do so to terminate the order given to him by the Lenders pursuant to Clause 27.1 (Order) .
27.15 Confidentiality
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(a) In terms of acting as a representative of the financial parties, the agent's relevant department is treated as a separate organizational unit from its other units and departments.
(b) If another internal entity of the Agent receives certain information, that entity may treat it as confidential and the Agent need not be held responsible for having knowledge of it.
27.16 Role of Reference Banks
No Reference Bank shall be liable for its actions under or in connection with the Funding Documents or for the Ask Rates it quotes in determining the Reference Interest Rate, unless it acted with intent or gross negligence. No party (other than the relevant Reference Bank) may initiate any proceeding against any officer, employee or agent of any Reference Bank with respect to any action taken against such Reference Bank or for any act or omission of any kind by such officer, employee or agent in connection with any Funding Document or any Initiate quoting of the claim due to a reference bank. An officer, employee or agent of any reference bank may rely on this clause
27.16 pursuant to section 328 paragraph 1 of the German Civil Code (genuine qualifying
contract for the benefit of third parties) .
A reference bank that is not a party may invoke this Section 27.16, Clause 32.2 (d) (Changes to Waivers) and Section 34 (Confidentiality of Refinancing Costs and Asking Rates) pursuant to Section 328 Paragraph 1 BGB (genuine qualifying contract in favor of third parties) .
28. DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS; BALANCING
28.1 Distribution of Payments
Except as otherwise provided in a Finance Document, all Obligor and Lender payments (except under a sub-credit agreement) shall be made through the Agent. The agent will forward incoming payments to the respective entitled parties in compliance with the provisions of clause
29.5 (order of repayment) and subject to receipt by the agent on the correct value date.
28.2 Repayments, interest payments etc.
Amounts repaid under the individual credit lines (including voluntary early repayments and mandatory special repayments), interest, commitment commission, etc. are to be distributed among the lenders according to their respective claims.
28.3 Recovery
If the agent has paid an amount to another party but has not received the amount itself, the receiving party will immediately refund the amount plus interest to the agent upon a corresponding request. The amount of interest corresponds to the agent's refinancing costs from the time the agent pays out until the day the agent recovers the amount.
28.4 Settlement
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(a) If at any time a lender (the "Beneficiary" ) receives a payment in derogation of Section 29 (Payments and Order of Payment) in respect of its claims under this Loan Agreement or otherwise (e.g., by offsetting) those claims from funds of an obligor are to be repaid (the "received amount"), the following applies:
(i)
(ii) the recipient will inform the agent immediately, but no later than three (3) bank working days after receipt, of the amount received and the circumstances of receipt, the agent determines whether the amount received exceeds the amount that the recipient would have received if the amount received pursuant to clause 29.5 (Order of repayment) paid to the agent and paid by him according to clause 28.1 (distribution of payments) would have been distributed, and (iii) at the Agent's request, the Recipient shall within five (5) Bank Business Days, forward to the Agent an amount ("Settlement Amount") equal to the amount received less the amount determined by the Agent to be due to the Recipient.
28.5 Applicability
This Section 28 (Distribution of Payments; Balance Settlement) shall not apply to amounts that
(a)
(i) (ii) a sub-credit bank under a sub-credit line, a Local Lender under an umbrella line, and a Lender or a Local Lender under a Maximum Amount Guarantee prior to giving notice of termination under Section 24(Termination) . Upon giving notice of termination pursuant to Section 24 (Termination) , this Section 28 (Distribution of Payments; Settlement) shall also apply to such amounts provided that the Lender of which Affiliate the applicable Local Lender is the Lender Beneficiary.
29. PAYMENTS AND ORDER OF PAYMENT
29.1 Currency
All payments under this credit agreement will be made in EUR.
29.2 Maturity
If a payment is due on a day that is not a bank working day, the due date is the next bank working day, unless this falls in the next calendar month; in this case, the due date is the immediately preceding bank working day.
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29.3 Paying Agent
(a) All payments by the obligated parties in favor of the lenders are made to an account to be designated by the agent.
(b) All payments in connection with the sub-credit lines are made to an account designated by the respective sub-credit bank.
(c) Payments made in deviation from the aforementioned provisions have no repayment effect.
29.4 Settlement Accounts
The borrower is obliged to ensure that there are sufficient funds on the account specified in Section 29.3 (Paying Agent) on the respective due date in order to offset the amounts due resulting from the loan agreement. The agent is entitled to debit the amounts due from the accounts. The Borrower hereby grants the Agent the necessary direct debit authorizations.
29.5 Order of Redemption
If one payment is not sufficient, all claims due at the time of payment To meet financial parties, their claims will be repaid in the following order, unless otherwise provided in this Credit Agreement:
(i)
(ii) Initially to repay outstanding loans under the working capital line of credit then to cancel Loan Commitments still available for the Working capital line of credit and
(iii) finally, to repay the Outstanding Sub-Line Amounts and drawdowns under the Umbrella Facility and then to cancel any Available Sub-Line Commitments. If several claims have the same priority, offsetting takes place in the ratio of the amounts claimed by the financial parties to one another, unless otherwise stipulated in this loan agreement.
29.6 Change in Billing
The financial parties are entitled to change the aforementioned clearing order at any time.
30. OFFSET
The obligated parties are oanrley entitled to assert offsetting and retention rights against the payment claims of the financial parties on the basis of this credit agreement if and to the extent that the counterclaims between them and the financial parties are undisputed or have been legally established.
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31. NOTICES AND REPRESENTATION
31.1 Notices
(a) All notices in connection with this Credit Agreement shall be in writing on the Obligor's side to or through the Company and on the Financial Party's side to or through the Agent. They must either be handed over personally or sent by letter, fax or pdf file to the following addresses or to the different addresses notified in writing by the parties at a later date:
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For the financial parties:
Deutsche Bank Luxembourg SA
e.g. Attn: Alexey Alert / Joerg Frahs
Email: Alexey.alert@db.com / joerg.frahs@db.com
Fax no.: +352 421 22 95 9480 /+352 421 22 95 5780
For the obligated:
ADVA Optical Networking SE
e.g. Hd. Christian Rieder / Steven Williams
Email: crieder@advaoptical.com / swilliams@advaoptical.com
Fax: +49 89 890665 22931
(b)
(c) Unless expressly agreed otherwise in this Loan Agreement, each party's correspondence with the Financial Parties, potential future lenders, an Obligor and/or any external advisors to the Financial Parties may also be conducted via email or a data room such as Debtdomain; however, this does not apply to legally binding declarations of intent (such as termination, requests for payment, requests for extension or determination of interest periods), unless these are attached to the e-mail as a duly signed pdf file. The parties expressly agree that this e-mail traffic may also be unencrypted. The financial parties are not liable for any consequences arising from the use of unencrypted e-mails, including the unintentional disclosure of confidential information. However, this does not apply if a financial party sends an unencrypted e-mail with content that the borrower has prohibited in writing from being passed on by unencrypted e-mail or if the knowledge of an unauthorized person is due to the fact that the respective financial party in sending the e-mail has intentionally or grossly negligently violated his duty of care.
31.2 Representation of Obligors
The obligated parties hereby commission the company to safeguard their interests in connection with the financing documents and hereby authorize it to make and receive all declarations required for this, to exercise rights and to take actions. For this purpose, the obligated release the company from the restrictions of § 181 BGB. The company is entitled to grant sub-authorizations to the same extent.
32. MODIFICATIONS AND WAIVERS
32.1 Voting
(a) Lenders shall pass their resolutions by the votes of a majority of Lenders, unless unanimity or another majority is required by Clause 32.2 (Changes and Waivers) or Clause 32.3 (Replacement of Reference Interest Rate) or any other provision of a Finance Document. Where a Lender has sub-interested a third party (a "Sub-Participant") in one of its Underwriters' Interests and has notified the Agent in writing that it is sub-interested and the amount of such sub-interest therein, such Lender may exercise its voting rights
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in respect of its Underwriter's Interest in which the sub-participation exists, other than to exercise its voting rights with respect to the remaining underwriter interest.
32.2 Amendments and Waivers
(a) The Agent may (after the prior consent of the parties referred to in this Section 32.2 required majority of Lenders) with the Borrower and other Obligors party to this Credit Agreement, agree on behalf of the Financial Parties amendments and supplements to this Credit Agreement and waive the exercise of any rights or compliance with any obligations under this Credit Agreement.
(b) The issuance of a waiver of termination upon cause for termination requires a written request by the borrower, (subject to paragraph (c)) a resolution passed by a majority of the lenders, and the written waiver of the agent.
(c) Subject to paragraph (e) and Clause 32.3 (Replacement of Reference Rate) , waivers and contract modifications with respect to the Lenders require the prior approval of all Lenders
(i) the definition of "Majority of Lenders" and any other change in the Majorities required for Resolution, including this Section 32.2 ,
(ii) a change of currency in which a payment is made under one financing document is to be provided,
(iii) a waiver or deferral of interest and principal payments (except for special principal payments) and any change in a repayment date pursuant to Section
7.2 (Repayment),
(iv) a reduction in Margin, to the extent not already provided for in this Credit Agreement, the amount of Fees or any other amount payable to a Lender,
(v) the increase of a credit line (other than an increase in accordance with Section 2.2 (Increase Option)), the granting of an additional credit line or an extension of the availability period,
(vi) an opt-out or accession of a Guarantor, except in accordance with Clause 23.18 (Guarantee Coverage, Accession of Guarantors) or Clause 26.3 (withdrawal of guarantors),
(vii) an amendment to Section 2.4 (Rights and Obligations of Financial Parties), Section8.2 (Illegalness), Section 8.3 (Change of Control), Section 8.7 (Repayment offsetting), Section 23.3 (Anti-Corruption, Sanctions and Money Laundering Provisions), Section 25 (Transfer of Syndicate Shares),
Section 33 (Disclosure of information) or Section 35.2 (Applicable law and place of jurisdiction),
(viii) a change in the order or repayment in accordance with Clause 29.5 (order of repayment)
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(ix) an amendment or waiver of any provision requiring the approval of all lenders,
(iv) a change in clause 19 (guarantees) or pursuant to clause 23.18 (guarantee coverage, entering into guarantors) warranties; or
(v) a release of the guarantees granted pursuant to Section 23.18 (Guarantee Coverage, Submission of Guarantors) or as a disbursement condition pursuant to Part 1 Clause 2(b) of Schedule 2 (Disbursement Conditions) .
(d) Any modification or waiver relating to the rights of the Arrangers, the Agent, a sub-credit bank or a reference bank requires the consent of such party.
(e) In principle, each sub-credit bank makes its own decisions about the details of the processing of a sub-credit line, the assertion of related reclaims or its continuation, but always in accordance with the provisions of this credit agreement.
32.3 Replacement of Reference Interest Rate
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (d) of Clause 32.2 (Modifications and Waivers) , if a Substitution Event has occurred, the Agent (acting at the direction of a majority of the Lenders) and the Company may agree to a modification of the Loan Agreement or a waiver of any requirements of the Loan Agreement be made regarding the following content of the regulation:
(i) Using a substitute interbank rate instead of the screen rate and
(ii)
(A) adapting any provisions of a Finance Document to the use of this replacement interbank rate,
(B) Adjustment of the financing documents to the extent that the Substitute interbank rate for interest calculations under the credit agreement can be used.
(C) Introduction of market practices relevant to the replacement interbank rate apply
(D) Regulation of alternative calculation methods (and market disruption rules) for the backup interbank rate, or
(E) Price adjustments to accommodate, where reasonably practicable, the transfer of economic value from one party to another party to settle as a result of the application of the replacement interbank rate (whereby, if an adjustment or a calculation method for an adjustment has been formally determined, designated or recommended by the Competent Body, the adjustment based on that provision, designation or recommendation. In this clause 32.3 says:
"Relevant Body" means any central bank, regulatory or supervisory authority, or an association thereof, or any working group or committee assisted or moderated by, or constituted at the request of, any such central bank or authority or the Financial Stability Board.
"Replacement Interbank Rate" means an interbank rate that
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(iii) is, in the opinion of the Company and the majority of Lenders, a reasonable substitute for the applicable Screen Rate.
"Replacement Event" means, in relation to Screen Rate, one of the following events:
(ii)
(A)
(i) the administrator of the screen rate or its parent Body publicly announces that the Administrator is insolvent or
(ii) it will be through a court, a stock exchange, a supervisory authority or similar official, regulatory or judicial body publishes information that reasonably confirms that the administrator of Screen installment is insolvent and at this time there is no successor to the administrator who continues to publish the screen rate,
(B) the Administrator of the Screen Rate publicly announces that it has ceased or will cease to publish the Screen Rate permanently or indefinitely and at that time there is no successor to the Administrator who will continue to publish the Screen Rate,
(C) the governing body of Screen Rate publicly announces that Screen Rate will cease to be published permanently or indefinitely, or
(D) the administrator of the screen rate or its superior publicly announces that the screen rate may no longer be used as a reference rate, or
(iii) the administrator of the screen rate determines that the screen rate is in accordance with the arrangements that have been made in the event that not by all Reference banks ask rates are announced, or other contingency agreement is established and either:
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(iv) in the opinion of the Company and the majority of the Lenders, the Screen Rate is no longer an appropriate basis for calculating interest under the Loan Agreement.
32.4 Replacement of Lenders
(a) If (i) a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, (ii) the Borrower is required to repay an amount early pursuant to Clause 8.2 ( Illegalness), (iii) a Market Disruption Event is reported pursuant to Clause 12.1 (Market Disruption Event) , or (iv) the Borrower is required to pay to a Lender an amount in excess of the amount generally payable to Lenders in accordance with Section 14.2 (Tax Net Clause), Section 14.3 (Tax Exemption) or Section 15 (Cost Increase) , the Company may replace such lender ("Retiring Lender") by requiring it to comply with its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents Section 25.1 (Transfer of Underwriters' Interests) to another lender or bank or financial institution nominated by the Company (a "Replacement Lender") . The Retiring Lender is obliged to comply with the Company's request. The Replacement Lender must have been accepted by the Agent and declared its willingness to assume the rights and obligations of the Departing Lender and pay a cash purchase price on the date of acquisition equal to the face value of the assumed outstanding loans equal to accrued interest, commissions, fees and all other amounts payable to the Retiring Lender pursuant to the Financing Documents.
(b) The Company may only make the request under paragraph (a) subject to the following conditions:
32.5 No Waiver
A (even temporary or partial) non-exercise of a right to which the lenders are entitled, in particular a right of termination, does not constitute a waiver and does not lead to forfeiture.
33. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
(a) Each Lender is entitled (and to this extent is also released from banking secrecy by the Borrower) to use the information provided to it by the Borrower about the Group and details of the content and obligations of the parties under or in connection with the Financing Documents (e.g. loan amount, Maturity date, name and address of the Borrower) to any Affiliated Company and any third party (and Affiliated Company)
(i) to which the relevant Lender transfers or assigns its rights and/or obligations under the Financing Documents or is considering doing so, to the extent that such a transfer or assignment is permitted under Section 25.1 (Transfer of Underwriters’ Interests) , or with which the relevant Lender enters into a sub- participation agreement or this checked (as well as to those persons who are to be involved in the processing),
(ii) who intends to provide an umbrella line as a lender,
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(iii) in whose favor the respective lender assigns or pledges his rights from the financing documents pursuant to clause 25.2 (security interests in consortium shares) or creates another security interest in them,
(b) In addition, each Lender is entitled to disclose information about the Group to its advisers or, with the Company's consent, to any other third party.
34. CONFIDENTIALITY OF REFINANCING COSTS AND LETTER RATES
34.1 Confidentiality
(a) The agent and the obligors handle the creditors' and Refinancing costs mentioned by reference banks and the asking rates mentioned for determining the reference interest rate (the "Ask Rates") are confidential, unless otherwise regulated under paragraphs (b) or (c).
(b) The agent can
(i) to the extent required by the borrower within the scope of Section 12.2 (Alternative Calculation Method) , disclose the refinancing costs of each lender and
(ii) disclose refinancing costs and asking rates quoted to him to any third party who performs administrative tasks for him in relation to a financing document, to the extent necessary for that purpose and if the third party has pre-signed a confidentiality agreement with the agent to the satisfaction of the Lender or Reference Bank concerned.
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34.2 No Reason for Termination
A breach of the obligations provided for in section 34.1 (confidentiality) by an obligated party does not in itself lead to the existence of a reason for termination.
35. GENERAL PROVISIONS
35.1 Partial Invalidity
Should individual provisions of this credit agreement be or become void, ineffective or unenforceable in whole or in part, or should there be a gap in this credit agreement, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. In place of the void, ineffective or unenforceable provision or to fill the gap, an appropriate, effective and enforceable provision shall apply which, as far as legally possible, comes as close as possible to what the parties wanted or would have wanted based on the spirit and purpose of this loan agreement, if they had considered the point. The same applies to the ineffectiveness of a time determination or the determination of another dimension.
35.2 Governing Law and Jurisdiction
(a) (b) This credit agreement is subject to the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in connection with this credit agreement is Frankfurt am Main. This paragraph protects financial parties only. Accordingly, no financial party shall be precluded from pursuing any proceedings relating to this Credit Agreement in any other court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by law, financial parties may pursue parallel proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.
35.3 Written Form Requirement
Changes to this credit agreement can only be made jointly by all parties and in writing. The written form requirement also applies to an amendment to this Section 35.3.
36. ENTRY INTO FORCE
(a) This credit agreement comes into force upon its signature by all contracting parties.
(b) The contracting parties can bring about the conclusion of the contract by exchanging signed signature pages, which are transmitted by telecommunications (e.g. by fax or electronic copy).
(c) Should the contracting parties decide to enter into this form of contract, they will send the signed signature pages of this credit agreement to Latham & Watkins LLP, Reuterweg 20, 60323 Frankfurt, for the attention of Kim Woggon (kim.woggon@lw.com) (the "Recipient") . This credit agreement is concluded as soon as the signature pages from all contracting parties are sent to the recipient (by fax,
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electronic copy or in any other telecommunication way) received at the time the last outstanding signature page was received by the recipient.
(d) For these purposes, the contracting parties appoint the recipient as their receiving agent and expressly authorize him to receive the signed signature pages of all contracting parties. In addition, no obligations should arise for the recipient from his function as recipient. In particular, the recipient may of the agreement of the original signature pages with the tele communicatively transmitted copies,
authenticity of all signatures on the original signature pages and the signing authority of the signatory.
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Annex 1
INITIAL LENDERS
Credit line A (EUR 65,000,000)
Lender Loan Commitment in EUR
Bayerische Landesbank 13.538.461,54
Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. 13.538.461,54
Norddeutsche Landesbank - Girozentrale - 11.000.000,00
IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG 10.000.000,00
Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft 8.461.538,46
DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank,
Frankfurt am Main 8.461.538,46
Working capital line of credit (EUR 10.000.000)
Lender Loan Commitment in EUR
Bayerische Landesbank 2.461.538,46
Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. 2.461.538,46
Norddeutsche Landesbank - Girozentrale - 2.000.000,00
Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft 1.538.461,54
DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank,
Frankfurt am Main 1.538.461,54
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ANNEX 2
PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Part 1
Withdrawal Requirements for First Claim
1. Bank documents. Submission of the following current documents in relation to the Borrower or comparable documents customary under foreign law in relation to the Initial Guarantors:
(a) Electronic copy of an excerpt from the commercial register (not older than 20 days before signing this credit agreement),
(b) list of board members,
(c) any rules of procedure of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board,
(d) Statute,
(e) Supervisory board resolution and management board resolution, with which the supervisory board and the Board of Directors gives its consent to the completion of the financing documents and the fulfillment of all related obligations, and
(f) Confirmation from a number of natural persons who are authorized to represent the company and who are entered in the commercial register that all of the aforementioned corporate law documents they have submitted are up-to-date, correct and complete
(i) Signature samples and copies of current identity cards or
Passports of the authorized signatories and the other persons named under paragraph (ii), and
2. Funding Documents. Submission of duly signed copies of the following documents:
(a) this credit agreement,
(b) the guarantee contract, and
(c) the fee agreements.
3. Legal Opinions
(a) Legal opinions of the legal advisors of the lenders on the effectiveness and Enforceability of the financing documents (enforceability opinion) and
(b) Legal opinion of the borrower's legal advisor on the effective conclusion of the financing documents by the obligated party (Capacity Opinion).
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4. Bilateral Loans / Lines of Credit. Evidence of termination and repayment of the financial liabilities to be redeemed with the credit funds made available under this loan agreement.
5. Degrees. Copies of the audited consolidated financial statements and the audited separate financial statements of the Company and (if required by law in audited form) the separate financial statements of the Initial Guarantors for each of the financial year 2017 and the consolidated quarterly reports of the Company for the first and second quarters of 2018.
6. group structure. Submission of an up-to-date group organizational chart.
7. Budget. Budget submission.
8. Fees and Costs. Evidence satisfactory to Agents of payment, or payment immediately following the first drawdown of any Loan, on the date of first disbursement of then-due fees and reimbursements owed by Obligors in connection with the Finance Documents.
9. Know your customer. Confirmation of the successful completion of the KYC check of each financial party.
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Part 2
Conditions for the accession of guarantors
1. Accession Agreement. Submission of the accession agreement to the credit agreement or the guarantee agreement.
2. Bank documents. Submission of the following documents of the acceding company (or comparable documents customary under foreign law) that are current on the date of signing of the respective accession contract:
(a) (i) Excerpt from the commercial register, not older than 20 days, together with a written confirmation from the managing directors in the number authorized to represent that no measures have been or will be taken or decided in relation to these extracts from the commercial register by the date of accession, (ii) list of shareholders, if existing, (iii) Rules of Procedure, if any, and (iv) Articles of Association, if any,
(b) Shareholders' resolution by which the shareholders' meeting gives its consent to the accession to the financing documents and the fulfillment of all related obligations and
(c) Confirmation from a number of natural persons authorized to represent the company (entered in the commercial register) that all of the aforementioned corporate law documents they have submitted are up-to-date, correct and complete
(i) Sample signatures and copies of identity cards or passports
Authorized Signatories and
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3. Status. If available or required by law, submission of annual financial statements (audited and unqualified and signed) by a number of managing directors, officers or directors of the company authorized to represent.
4. Legal Opinions
(a) Satisfactory legal opinion of the lenders' legal advisers on the Effectiveness and enforceability of the Accession Agreement (Enforceability Opinion) and
(b) Satisfactory legal opinion of the borrower's legal advisors, including the effective representation of the joining company in the conclusion of the joining agreement and other financing documents (Capacity Opinion).
5. Know your customer. Submission of other documents requested by the lenders and other evidence that the lenders need for their incumbent know-your-customer checks and other checks (e.g. under the Money Laundering Act) that the lenders are obliged to carry out due to legal and other regulatory obligations.
6. Appointment of an authorized recipient. If a foreign company joins, proof that the company has accepted your appointment as authorized recipient.
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ANNEX 3
EXISTING AND SETTLEMENT OF FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
Part 1: Existing Financial Liabilities
Existing financial liabilities:
LOAN
ORIGINAL VOLUME IN EUR VALUE IN EUR (AS OF 09/16/2018)
IKB REDEMPTION LOAN IKB REDEMPTION LOAN
15,000,000
25,000,000
9,375,000
15,625,000
IKB REDEMPTION LOAN
10,000,000
6,250,000
Existing guarantees (as of September 19, 2018)
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Part 2: Financial liabilities to be redeemed
LOAN
ORIGINAL VOLUME IN EUR VALUE IN EUR (AS OF 09/16/2018)
GERMAN BANK BRIDGE LOAN 21,500,000 21,500,000
NORDLB BRIDGE LOAN 21,500,000 21,500,000
BAYERNLB BRIDGE LOAN 12,000,000 12,000,000
BAYERNLB REDEMPTION LOAN 10,000,000 10,000,000
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85
ANNEX 4
86
ANNEX 5
87
ANNEX 6
88
ANNEX 7
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ANNEX 8
INCREASE COMMITMENT
To: Deutsche Bank Luxembourg SA
– as an agent –
By: ADVA Optical Networking SE
[Date]
Syndicated Credit Agreement ADVA Optical Networking SE
here: increase commitment
Ladies and Gentlemen
we refer to the credit agreement between, among others, ADVA Optical Networking SE and [●] and Deutsche
Bank Luxembourg SA as agent dated [●] 2018, as amended (the "Credit Agreement").
1. Terms used in this Enhancement Notice have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise specified in this Enhancement Notice.
2. We have agreed with the following credit institutions that they will increase at the
Participate in loan commitments under the working capital facility as follows:
Name of the credit institution Existing creditor (yes/no)
Increased loan approval under the
[working capital line of credit] (EUR)
In total:
3. The above credit commitments will become effective as of the following date (December
"Increase Effective Date") effective:
[...]
4. We hereby confirm, on our own behalf and on behalf of the other guarantors, in favor of all financial parties, that the financial parties in favor of the credit agreement pursuant to Clause 19 (Guarantees) as well as the guarantees granted by [] in the separate guarantee agreement (i) remain fully effective notwithstanding the increase in the loan commitment with regard to the working capital credit line, and (ii) also extend to the resulting payment obligations.
........................................
[authorized signatory]
........................................
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[authorized signatory]
For ADVA Optical Networking SE
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[For lenders who are already party to the loan agreement:]
1. We confirm that we are willing to increase/participate in our lending commitments to the working capital facility as described above.
2. Section 35.2 (Governing Law and Venue) of the Credit Agreement applies mutatis mutandis to this letter.
.....................................
[authorized signatory]
........................................
[authorized signatory]
For [●] as lender
OR
[For Lenders who are not yet a party to the Loan Agreement and are now joining:]
1. Accession. The Joining Lender joins the Agreement as a Lender on the Increase Date and thereby acquires all of the rights and obligations of a Lender with respect to the loan commitment it has made under the Working Capital Line of Credit.
2. Messages. All communications from the Agent to the Acceding Lender will be made to the address below until the Acceding Lender notifies the Agent in writing of an alternate address:
3. Clause 35.2 (Governing Law and Venue) of the Credit Agreement applies mutatis mutandis to this letter.
.....................................
[authorized signatory]
........................................
[authorized signatory]
For [●] as an acceding lender
Noted as an increase commitment within the meaning of Section 2.2 (increase option):
For the agent:
[authorized signatory]
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ANNEX 9
SAMPLE MAXIMUM AMOUNT GUARANTEE
[Letterhead of [] AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT]
To: [Name of Ancillary Lender] under the Ancillary Facility ( as defined in the
Credit Agreement (as defined below) as beneficiary (the Beneficiary 1)
From: ADVA Optical Networking SE as guarantor (the Guarantor)
Date: []
Dear Sirs,
ADVA Optical Networking SE – EUR [] facility agreement dated []
(A) Reference is made to a EUR [] credit facilities agreement dated [] September 2018 and made between, amongst others, the guarantor as borrower and guarantor (together with any other guarantor, the obligors), Bayerische Landesbank and Deutsche Bank AG, German branch as joint coordinators (the Coordinators) and Deutsche Bank AG, German branch, Bayerische Landesbank and [] as mandated lead arrangers (the Mandated Lead Arrangers), Deutsche Bank Luxembourg SA as agent (the Agent) and certain other finance parties named therein (the Credit Agreement).
(B)This is a maximum amount guarantee agreement pursuant to schedule 9 of the Credit Agreement (the Maximum Amount Guarantee).
(C) The Beneficiary 1 is an Ancillary Lender (sub-credit bank) under the Credit Agreement. The branches and/or Affiliates of the Beneficiary 1 specified in Schedule 1 hereto (each of them as well as any person specified in accordance with Clause 2 below a Local Lender and together the Local Lenders) and the Guarantor's Subsidiaries specified in Schedule 1 hereto ( each of them as well as any person specified in accordance with Clause 2 below a Local Borrower and together the Local Borrowers) have (to the extent specified in Schedule 1 at the date of this Agreement) a current business relationship. The Local Lenders and the Local Borrowers intend to enter into certain agreements pursuant to which the local lenders will make available to the Local Borrowers certain credit facilities as specified in Schedule 1 hereto (each of them an Agreement and together, the Agreements). Schedule 1 may be amended from time to time and in accordance with the procedure set out in Clause 2 below.
1.
1.1
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
In this Maximum Amount Guarantee:
Affiliate has the meaning given to the term Affiliates in the Credit Agreement Agreements has the meaning given to it in recital (C) above. Ancillary Facility means any ancillary facility made available by a lender in accordance with Clause 6 of the Credit Agreement. Ancillary Lender means each Lender (or
93
Affiliate of a Lender ) which makes available an Ancillary Facility in accordance with Clause 6 of the Credit Agreement.
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Beneficiary means the Beneficiary 1 and/or any Local Lender.
Credit Agreement has the meaning given to it in recital (A) above.
Local Borrower has the meaning given to it in recital (C) above.
Local Lender has the meaning given to it in recital (C) above.
Maximum Amount Guarantee has the meaning given to it in recital (B) above.
1.2 Any reference in this Maximum Amount Guarantee to a defined document is a reference to that defined document as amended, varied, novated or supplemented from time to time.
1.3 Any reference to a person includes its respective successor(s) in law (including any universal successor of that person by way of merger (merger), any other reorganization contemplated in the German Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz) or otherwise) and any assign(s) and transferee(s) of that person and, to the extent legally possible, any legal provision to the contrary is waived.
1.4 The headings in this Maximum Amount Guarantee are for convenience only and are to be ignored in constructing this Maximum Amount Guarantee.
1.5 Where the context so admits, the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
1.6
2. This Maximum Amount Guarantee is made in the English language. For the avoidance of doubt, the English language version of this Maximum Amount Guarantee shall prevail over any translation of this Maximum Amount Guarantee. However, where a German translation of a word or phrase appears in the text of this Maximum Amount Guarantee, the German translation of such word or phrase shall prevail.
Amendments to Schedule 1
The Guarantor and the Beneficiary 1 May, after the date of this Maximum Amount Guarantee, agree (in writing, by letter or telefax) on any amendments to Schedule 1 from time to time.
3. Maximum Amount Guarantee and Undertaking to Reimburse, contract for the benefit of third parties
3.1 The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees by way of an independent guarantee (Garantie) to each of the Beneficiaries up to a maximum aggregate amount of:
EUR []
the payment of all principal, interest (including default interest, if any), costs, expenses or other amount which are due and payable by any Local Borrower under any Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt without limitation to the relevant amounts specified in Schedule 1 hereto) from time to time in the
94
currency and at the place provided in that agreement or, at the option of either of the beneficiaries, in euros, at its stated or accelerated maturity irrespective of the factual or legal circumstances and motives by reason of which any local borrower may fail to pay such amount.
3.2 Any Beneficiary shall be entitled to demand direct payment hereunder from the Guarantor.
With regard to Beneficiaries which are Affiliates of the Beneficiary 1, this Maximum Amount Guarantee constitutes a contract for the benefit of third parties according to Section 328 of the German Civil Code. Irrespective of the above, the Beneficiary 1 may claim payment of the guaranteed amounts on behalf of any other Beneficiary for the purpose of forwarding the received amounts to the respective Beneficiary.
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3.3 The Guarantor shall effect payment under this Maximum Amount Guarantee within five days after receipt of a written demand of the respective Beneficiary which shall be accompanied by a confirmation by the relevant Beneficiary that the amount claimed from the Guarantor equals the amount which any of the Local Borrowers has not paid when due. The Guarantor hereby waives its right under any jurisdiction applicable to it to payment in any other currency than Euro.
3.4 This Maximum Amount Guarantee and the undertaking to reimburse (promise to pay) under Clauses 3.1 and 3.2 above constitute the Guarantor's primary and independent obligation to make payment to the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms hereof, under any and all circumstances, regardless of the validity, legality or enforceability of the obligations of any Local Borrower irrespective of all objections, exceptions or defenses from any Local Borrower under any Agreement or from any other person.
3.5
For the avoidance of doubt,
4. Immediate recourse
The Beneficiaries (including in their capacity as Local Lenders) are not obliged first to claim payment from, to take any legal action against, or enforce any claims or security, if any, granted by any Local Borrower or any other person before making demand from the Guarantor hereunder.
5. Exclusion of defenses
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The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be contingent upon the legal relationship between the Beneficiaries (or any of them) on the one hand and the Local Borrowers on the other hand and accordingly shall without limitation be independent of:
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ny agreement, including any extension of the term of payment and any rescheduling or restructuring of their indebtedness, whether or not the guarantor shall have given its consent thereto;
(G) the taking, existence, variation or release of any other collateral provided to the Beneficiaries (or any of them) for the obligations of the Guarantor or the Local Borrowers and the Beneficiaries' legal relationship with any provider of such other collateral;
(H) any right of any local borrower to rescind any agreement; other
(i) any right that a beneficiary may have to set-off the indebtedness against a counterclaim of the guarantor or any local borrower.
6. Currency Indemnity
Payments made by the Guarantor to a Beneficiary pursuant to a judgment or order of a court or tribunal in a currency other than the currency owed according to Clause 3.1 above shall only constitute a discharge of the Guarantor's obligation hereunder to the extent that the respective Beneficiary, immediately after receipt of such payment in such other currency, would be able to purchase with the amount of the other currency so received the owed currency on a recognized foreign exchange market. If the amount so received in the currency owed in accordance with Clause 3.1 should be less than the amount due, then as a separate and independent obligation, which gives rise to a separate cause of action, the guarantor is obliged to pay the difference.
7.
7.1
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7.2 Obligations not Discharged and Deferral of Guarantor's Rights
So long as any sum remains payable under any Agreement or this Maximum Amount Guarantee, the Guarantor undertakes not to assert or enforce any claim it may have against any Local Borrower by reason of the performance of the Guarantor's obligations hereunder whether on contractual grounds or on any other legal basis, until all amounts payable to the Beneficiary 1 or the Local Lenders under the Agreements and this Maximum Amount Guarantee have been fully and irrevocably received or recovered; any amount received or recovered by the Guarantor from a Local Borrower shall be held in trust for and immediately paid to the Beneficiary 1 on behalf of himself and the Local Lenders. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall remain in force notwithstanding any dissolution or change in the structure or legal form of the Local Borrower or the Guarantor.
8. expiration
The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are effective as of the date hereof and shall expire on the date on which all amounts expressed to be payable by the Guarantor and the Local Borrowers under the Agreements and this Maximum Amount Guarantee (respectively) have finally and irrevocably been paid or repaid in full to the beneficiaries.
9. enforcement
The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder may be enforced against the Guarantor by each
Beneficiary in any proceedings including enforcement proceedings
10 clean statement
Should any of the Beneficiaries become liable to return monies received in payment of indebtedness payable by the Guarantor or any Local Borrower under the Agreements or any other document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, this Maximum Amount Guarantee) as
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11.
a result of any bankruptcy, composition or similar proceedings affecting the Guarantor or a Local Borrower after expiry of this guarantee in accordance with Clause 8 (Expiry) above, the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be reinstated and become effective again notwithstanding such expiration.
Additional security
This Maximum Amount Guarantee and the undertaking to pay is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any of the Beneficiaries.
12. Payments and set-off
12.1 All payments owed by the Guarantor shall be made in immediately available, freely convertible funds for value on the due date to such account with such bank as the relevant Beneficiary
97
specifies and only irrevocable crediting of such payment in full onto the account specified by the relevant Beneficiary shall discharge the Guarantor's payment obligation.
12.2 The Beneficiaries may set-off any obligation due from the Guarantor under this Maximum Amount Guarantee or any other agreement against any satisfiable obligation (whether due or not) owed by any of the Beneficiaries to the Guarantor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the relevant Beneficiary may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of set-off.
13. taxes
All payments owed by the Guarantor under this Maximum Amount Guarantee:
(a) shall be paid without any deduction or withholding for or on account of tax (a “Tax Deduction”) unless a Tax Deduction is required by law. If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made, the amount of the payment shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required . If in connection with payments under this Maximum Amount Guarantee any amounts on account of tax are imposed on the Beneficiary (other than by way of a Tax Deduction) in any jurisdiction (other than the jurisdiction where the relevant Beneficiary is tax resident or, if different , maintains a permanent establishment to which such payment is attributable), the Guarantor shall indemnify and hold harmless the relevant Beneficiary against any such tax; other
(b) are exclusive of any value added tax or similar charge (VAT). If VAT is chargeable, the Guarantor shall also and at the same time pay to the relevant Beneficiary an amount equal to the amount of the VAT.
14 contact details
14.1 The contact details for all communications in connection with this Maximum Amount
Guarantee:
(a) in respect of the Guarantor for this purpose are:
Address: Fax: Note:
[] [] []
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and
(b) in respect of the Beneficiary 1 and each Beneficiary for this purpose are:
Address: Fax:
Note:
[] []
[]
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14.2 Any party hereto may change its contact details by giving seven days prior written notice to the Beneficiary 1 (in the case of the Guarantor) or to the Guarantor (in the case of the Beneficiaries). Where a party to this Maximum Amount Guarantee nominates a particular department or officer to receive a communication, a communication will not be effective if it fails to specify that department or officer.
15.Communications
15.1 Unless otherwise required by statutory law or unless otherwise agreed in writing from time to time, any notice given under or in connection with this Maximum Amount Guarantee must be made in writing (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by way of facsimile) in the English or German language.
15.2 All other documents provided under or in connection with this Maximum Amount Guarantee must be:
(a) in English or German; or
(b) if not in English or German and unless the document is a statutory, corporate, constitutional or other official document if so required by the Beneficiary 1, accompanied by a certified English or German translation.
16 Miscellaneous
16.1 This Maximum Amount Guarantee may be executed (manually or by facsimile) in any number of counterparts. This shall have the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Maximum Amount Guarantee.
16.2 If any term of this Maximum Amount Guarantee is or becomes illegal, void , invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any jurisdiction, that will not affect:
(a)
(b) the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other term of the maximum amount guarantee; or the legality, validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of that or any other term of the Maximum Amount Guarantee, without any party having to argue and prove the parties intent to uphold the agreement made pursuant to this Maximum Amount Guarantee even without the illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision(s), which intent shall be indisputable ). The illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed to be replaced by such legal, valid and enforceable provision that in legal and economic terms comes closest to what the parties intended or would have intended in accordance with the purpose of this Maximum Amount Guarantee if they had considered the point at the time of conclusion of this Maximum Amount Guarantee. The same shall apply mutatis mutandis to any gap in this Maximum Amount Guarantee.
16.3 Changes to and amendments to this Guarantee (including this Clause 16) must be made in
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writing.
16.4 No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of the Agent or the other Finance Parties (or any of them), any right or remedy under this Maximum Amount Guarantee shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
16.5 The Guarantor may not assign and/or transfer any of its rights and/or obligations under this Maximum Amount Guarantee to another person without the prior written consent of the Beneficiaries.
17 Governing law
This Maximum Amount Guarantee and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and constructed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.
18 Jurisdiction
18.1 The courts of Frankfurt am Main, Germany shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Maximum Amount Guarantee.
18.2 This Clause is for the benefit of the Beneficiaries only. To the extent allowed by law, the beneficiaries may take:
(a) proceedings in any other competent court; other
(b) concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.
18.3 References in this Clause to a dispute in connection with this Maximum Amount Guarantee include any dispute as to the existence, validity or termination of this Maximum Amount Guarantee.
Yours sincerely,
ADVA Optical Networking SE
Acknowledged and agreed:
[] as Beneficiary 1
dates:
Schedule 1
to the Maximum Amount Guarantee from
ADVA Optical Networking SE
dated [] in the amount of EUR []
Local Local Lender Local
100
Local Facility
Local Facility Total in EUR
Borrowers currency (if cash (if not guarantees (if not EUR) denominated in not denominated EUR, converted into EUR) in EUR, converted into EUR)
Total local facilities under maximum
Amount Guarantee from ADVA Optical
Networking SE
place and date
place and date
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101
ANNEX 10
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102
ANNEX 11
EXISTING CREDITS AND ASSUMPTIONS OF LIABILITY
Part 1 (Lending)
Company Borrower Value in EUR (8/22/2018)
Adva Optical Networking SE ADVA Optical Networking North America Inc. 48.011.843
Adva Optical Networking SE ADVA Optical Networking Israel Ltd. 4.553.946
Adva Optical Networking SE Oscilloquartz Finland Oy 350.000
ADVA Optical Networking North America Inc. Charlotte’s Web Ltd. 44.962.826
ADVA Optical Networking North America Inc. MRV Communications GmbH 1.971.971
ADVA Optical Networking North America Inc. Nbase Communications Ltd. 260.857
ADVA Optical Networking North America Inc. Nbase Fibronics Ltd. 979.402
ADVA Optical Networking North America Inc. ADVA Optical Networking Israel Ltd. 31.177.794
Part 2 (Assumption of Liability)
Company Warrantee Value in EUR ( per 8/19/2018)
Adva Optical Networking SE ADVA Optical Networking Ltd. 1.691.000
Adva Optical Networking SE ADVA Optical Networking (India) Private Limited 2.184.000
Adva Optical Networking SE ADVA Optical Networking Singapore Ptd. Ltd. 624.000
Adva Optical Networking SE Oscilloquartz 854.000
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103
ANNEX 12
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104
ANNEX 13
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105
ANNEX 14
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106
ANNEX 15
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107
ANNEX 16
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108
ANNEX 17
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109
SIGNATURE
SIGNATURE
Kreditnehmer und Garant
ADVA Optical Networking SE
/s/ Ulrich Dopfer /s/ Thomas Zeiner
Name: Ulrich Dopher Name: Thomas Zeiner
CFO Director
110
111
112
Agent
Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.
/s/ Marco Kaster /s/ A. Alert
Name: Marco Kaster Name: A. Alert
Banken
Bayerische Landeshank
(als Mandated Lead Arranger und Krditgeber)
/s/ Von Ducker /s/ Keck
Name: Von Ducker Name: Keck
Deutsche Bank AG Filiale Deutschlandgeschaft
(als Mandated Lead Arranger)
/s/ Florian Frank /s/ Oliver Bolus
Name: Florian Frank Name: Oliver Bolus
Director
Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.
(als Kreditgeber)
/s/ S Jabbar /s/ C Koch
Name: S. Jabbar Name: C. Koch
Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale –
(als Mandated Lead Arranger und Kreditgeber)
/s/ Prinzhausen /s/ Pohler
Name: Prinzhausen Name: Pohler
[Signature page: revolving credit agreement with ADVA Optical Networking]
113
Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.
(als Kreditgeber)
/s/ S Jabbar
Name:
S. Jabbar
/s/ C Koch
Name:
C. Koch
Norddeutsche Landesbank – Girozentrale -
(als Mandated Lead Arranger und Kreditgeber)
/s/ Prinzhausen
Name:
Prinzhausen
/s/ Pohler
Name:
Pohler
[Signature page: revolving credit agreement with ADVA Optical Networking]
114
Commersbank Aktlengesellschaft
(als Lead Arranger und Kreditgeber)
/s/ J Huber /s/ Michael Breitwieser
Name: J Huber Name: Michael Breitwieser
DZ Bank AG Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank, Frankfurt am Main
(als Lead Arranger und Kreditgeber)
/s/ V Sonnenberg /s/ Jens Doht
Name: V Sonnenbert Name: Jens Doht
IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG
(als Lead Arranger und Kreditgeber)
/s/ I. V. Roosen /s/ Luck
Name: Roosen Name: Luck
[Signature page: revolving credit agreement with ADVA Optical Networking]
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