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CREDIT AGREEMENT

Loan Agreement

CREDIT AGREEMENT | Document Parties: BANK OF NEW YORK | CHENIERE SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS, LLC | CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC | PERRY PRINCIPALS INVESTMENTS LLC You are currently viewing:
This Loan Agreement involves

BANK OF NEW YORK | CHENIERE SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS, LLC | CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC | PERRY PRINCIPALS INVESTMENTS LLC

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Title: CREDIT AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 6/1/2007
Industry: Oil and Gas Operations     Law Firm: Simpson Thacher;Andrews Kurth     Sector: Energy

CREDIT AGREEMENT, Parties: bank of new york , cheniere subsidiary holdings  llc , credit suisse securities (usa) llc , perry principals investments llc
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Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

 


$400,000,000

CREDIT AGREEMENT

among

CHENIERE SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS, LLC,

As Borrower,

The Several Lenders

from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

as Administrative Agent

Dated as of May 31, 2007

 


 

PERRY PRINCIPALS INVESTMENTS LLC   CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Section

  1.    DEFINITIONS    1
  1.1.    Defined Terms    1
  1.2.    Other Definitional Provisions    11

Section

  2.    AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS    12
  2.1.    Commitments    12
  2.2.    Procedure for Borrowing    12
  2.3.    Repayment of Loans    12

Section

  3.    GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS    12
  3.1.    Optional Prepayments    12
  3.2.    Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions    13
  3.3.    Interest Rates and Payment Dates    14
  3.4.    Fees; Computation of Interest and Fees    14
  3.5.    Pro Rata Treatment and Payments    15
  3.6.    Taxes    16
  3.7.    Change of Lending Office    18
  3.8.    Replacement of Lenders    18
  3.9.    Evidence of Debt    18

Section

  4.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    19
  4.1.    Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law    19
  4.2.    Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations    19
  4.3.    No Legal Bar    19
  4.4.    Litigation    20
  4.5.    No Default    20
  4.6.    Ownership of Property; Liens    20
  4.7.    Intellectual Property    20
  4.8.    Taxes    20
  4.9.    Federal Regulations    20
  4.10.    ERISA    21
  4.11.    Investment Company Act; Other Regulations    21
  4.12.    Subsidiaries    21
  4.13.    Use of Proceeds    21
  4.14.    Accuracy of Information, etc.    21
  4.15.    Solvency; Indebtedness    22
  4.16.    Security Documents    22
  4.17.    No Material Adverse Change    22
  4.18.    Approvals    22
  4.19.    Rating    22

Section

  5.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT    22
  5.1    Conditions Precedent    22

 

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Section   6.    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    25
  6.1.    Certificates; Other Information    25
  6.2.    [Reserved].    25
  6.3.    Maintenance of Existence; Compliance    25
  6.4.    Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions    25
  6.5.    Notices    25
  6.6.    Further Assurances    27
  6.7.    Security Interests    27
Section   7.    NEGATIVE COVENANTS    27
Section   8.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT    27
Section   9.    THE AGENTs    30
  9.1.    Appointment    30
  9.2.    Delegation of Duties    31
  9.3.    Exculpatory Provisions    31
  9.4.    Reliance by Administrative Agent    31
  9.5.    Notice of Default    32
  9.6.    Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders    32
  9.7.    Indemnification    32
  9.8.    The Agents in Their Individual Capacity    33
  9.9.    Successor Administrative Agent    33
  9.10.    Cure of Crest Remedy Instruction    33
  9.11.    Conflicts    34
  9.12.    Agents Generally    34
Section   10.    MISCELLANEOUS    34
  10.1.    Amendments and Waivers    34
  10.2.    Notices    35
  10.3.    No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies    36
  10.4.    Survival of Representations and Warranties    36
  10.5.    Payment of Expenses and Taxes    37
  10.6.    Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments    38
  10.7.    Adjustments; Set-off    41
  10.8.    Counterparts    41
  10.9.    Severability    41
  10.10.    Integration    41
  10.11.    GOVERNING LAW    42
  10.12.    Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers    42
  10.13.    Acknowledgments    42
  10.14.    Releases of Guarantees and Liens    43
  10.15.    WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL    43
  10.16.    Delivery of Addenda    43

 

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SCHEDULES  

1

  Existing Indebtedness

2

  CLH Subsidiaries

3

  Recordings and Filings
EXHIBITS:  

A

  Form of Addendum

B

  Form of Assignment and Assumption

C

  Form of Compliance Certificate

D

  Form of Guarantee and Pledge Agreement

E

  Form of Exemption Certificate

F

  Form of Closing Certificate

G

  Form of Legal Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Borrower

 

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CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 31, 2007, among CHENIERE SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware (the “ Borrower ”), and PERRY PRINCIPALS INVESTMENTS LLC (“ Perry ”) as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner (in such capacity, a “ Lead Arranger ”), the several Lenders from time to time party to this Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), including, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to extend credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

1.1. Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the terms listed in this Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

Addendum ”: an instrument, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, by which a Lender becomes a party to this Agreement as of the Closing Date.

Administrative Agent ”: as defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Affiliate ”: as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 20% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise, excluding in the case of Parent and its Subsidiaries the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their Affiliates other than Parent and its Subsidiaries.

Agents ”: the collective reference to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent.

Agreement ”: this Credit Agreement.

Approved Fund ”: as defined in Section 10.6.

Assignee ”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).

Assignment and Assumption ”: an Assignment and Assumption, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Assumption Agreement ”: means one or more agreements for the assumption and adoption by the Loan Parties of certain obligations under the Settlement Agreement.

 


Benefited Lender ”: as defined in Section 10.7(a).

Board ”: the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

Borrower ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Business Day ”: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or Houston, Texas are authorized or required by law to close.

Capital Lease Obligations ”: as to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock ”: any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

Cash Equivalents ”: (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“ S&P ”) or P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”), or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within six months from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; or (g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition or money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria

 

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set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

CFG ” means Cheniere FLNG-GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Change of Control ”: the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the direct or indirect Disposition, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Borrower or the Parent to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act); (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower or the Parent; (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above), becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Parent, measured by voting power rather than number of shares or (iv) the Parent shall cease to hold directly or indirectly more than 100% of the Capital Stock of the Borrower.

CLH ”: Cheniere LNG Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Closing Date ”: the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 shall have been satisfied.

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

Collateral ”: all property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Document.

Commitment ”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a Loan to the Borrower hereunder in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Commitment” under such Lender’s name on such Lender’s Addendum. The original aggregate amount of the Commitments is $400,000,000.

Commonly Controlled Entity ”: an entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group that includes the Borrower and that is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

Compliance Certificate ”: a certificate duly executed by a Responsible Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Conduit Lender ”: any special purpose entity organized and administered by any Lender for the purpose of making Loans otherwise required to be made by such Lender and designated by such Lender in a written instrument, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided , that the designation by any Lender of a Conduit Lender shall not relieve the designating Lender of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under this Agreement if, for any reason, its Conduit Lender fails to fund any such Loan, and the designating Lender (and not the Conduit Lender) shall have the sole right and responsibility to deliver all consents and waivers required or requested under this

 

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Agreement with respect to its Conduit Lender, and provided , further , that no Conduit Lender shall (a) be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section Section 6 or 10.5 than the designating Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the extensions of credit made by such Conduit Lender or (b) be deemed to have any Commitment.

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

CQP ”: Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

CQP-GP ”: Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC.

Crest ”: Crest Investment Company, a Texas corporation.

Crest Cheniere Indemnity ”: that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated May 9, 2005, executed by Parent relating to the Settlement Agreement.

Crest Obligations ”: all obligations of the Loan Parties in favor of Crest under the Crest Settlement Documents.

Crest Remedy Instruction ”: any instruction by Crest to the Administrative Agent in writing to exercise remedies under the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement as a result of a Grantor’s failure to make a specified payment due and payable and unpaid in accordance with the express terms of the Crest Obligations after written demand by Crest. Any such Crest Remedy Instruction delivered to the Administrative Agent must state that it is a “Crest Remedy Instruction” as defined in this Agreement or otherwise clearly indicate to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent that it is to be treated as a Crest Remedy Instruction.

Crest Settlement Documents ”: (a) the Settlement Agreement, (b) the Assumption Agreement, (c) the Crest Cheniere Indemnity and (d) any and all other agreements and documents heretofore or hereafter entered into by any subsidiary of Cheniere pursuant to Section 1.07 of the Settlement Agreement.

Default ”: any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

Disposition ”: with respect to any Property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof. The terms “ Dispose ” and “ Disposed of ” shall have correlative meanings.

Dollars ” and “ $ ”: dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

Environmental Laws ”: any and all foreign, Federal, state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental Authority or other Requirements of Law (including common law) regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of human health or safety, the environment or natural resources.

 

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ERISA ”: the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

Event of Default ”: any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

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

Funding Office ”: the office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 10.2 or such other office as may be specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its funding office by written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.

GAAP ”: generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.

Governmental Authority ”: any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

Group Members ”: the collective reference to CLH and its Subsidiaries.

Guarantee and Pledge Agreement ”: the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement to be executed and delivered by Borrower, the Parent, CLH and the Grantors (as defined therein), substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

Guarantee Obligation ”: as to any Person (the “ guaranteeing person ”), any obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person or (b) another Person (including any bank under any letter of credit) to induce the creation of which the guaranteeing person has issued a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, in either case guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (the “ primary obligations ”) of any other third Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided , however , that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee

 

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Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

Guarantors ”: the collective reference to the Parent and CLH.

Hedge Agreements ”: any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

Indebtedness ”: of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of acceptances, letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements, (g) the liquidation value of all redeemable preferred Capital Stock of such Person, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above, (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, and (j) for the purposes of Section 6.5 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement and Section 8(e) only, all obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

Insolvency ”: with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

 

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Insolvent ”: pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

Intellectual Property ”: the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.

Interest Payment Date ”: (a) the last day of each March, June, September and December to occur while such Loan is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Loan and (b) as to any Loan, the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

Lead Arranger ”: each of Perry and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, in its capacity as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner.

Lenders ”: as defined in the preamble hereto; provided , that unless the context otherwise requires, each reference herein to the Lenders shall be deemed to include any Conduit Lender.

Lien ”: any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan ”: any loan made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

Loan Documents ”: this Agreement and the Security Documents.

Loan Parties ”: Borrower, Parent, CLH and CFG.

Loan Percentage ”: as to any Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Commitment then constitutes of the aggregate Commitments (or, at any time after the Closing Date, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Loans then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans then outstanding).

Material Adverse Effect ”: a material adverse effect, on (a) the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of either of Parent or CLH, in each case together with its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

Multiemployer Plan ”: a Plan that is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Net Cash Proceeds ”: in connection with any Disposition of any portion of the Collateral, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents (including any such

 

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proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or by the Disposition of any non-cash consideration received in connection therewith or otherwise, but only as and when received) of such Disposition of Collateral, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset that is the subject of such Disposition of Collateral (other than any Lien pursuant to a Security Document) and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith and net of the reasonably estimated tax obligation of any direct or indirect holder of such Collateral for income, gains, franchise or similar taxes imposed on or measured by overall net income or gross receipts or in lieu of net income taxes as a result of any income or gain in connection with such Disposition of Collateral.

Non-Excluded Taxes ”: as defined in Section 3.6(a).

Non-Recurring Distribution ”: Any cash distribution paid by CQP or Freeport LNG Development, L.P. to unitholders of record other than a Regular Distribution (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such distribution that is in excess of or in addition to the then applicable Regular Distribution), but in any event not including any Tax Distribution Amount.

Non-U.S. Lender ”: as defined in Section 3.6(e).

Obligations ”: the unpaid principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to any Agent or to any Lender, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any other document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant hereto) or otherwise.

Other Taxes ”: any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Parent ”: Cheniere Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Participant ”: as defined in Section 10.6(c).

PBGC ”: the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA (or any successor).

“Pension Act ”: the Pension Protection Act of 2006, as it presently exists or as it may be amended from time to time.

 

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Permit ”: any permit, approval, authorization, license, variance or permission required from a Governmental Authority under an applicable Requirement of Law.

Perry ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Person ”: an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

Plan ”: at a particular time, any employee benefit plan that is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Property ”: any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, Capital Stock.

Register ”: as defined in Section 10.6(b).

Regular Distribution ”: at any time (a) with respect to distributions from CQP, the then regular quarterly per unit cash distribution from CQP’s Available Cash (as defined in CQP’s agreement of limited partnership as in effect on the date hereof) declared by the board of directors of CQP-GP and paid by CQP to unitholders of record or (b) with respect to distributions from Freeport LNG Development, L.P., the amount determined by the Board of Managers of the Borrower to represent a regular cash distribution.

Regulation U ”: Regulation U of the Board as in effect from time to time.

Reorganization ”: with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

Reportable Event ”: any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the thirty day notice period is waived under subsections .27, .28, .29, .30, .31, .32, .34 or .35 of PBGC Reg. § 4043.

Required Lenders ”: at any time, the holders (other than Parent and its Subsidiaries) of more than 50% of (a) until the Closing Date, the Commitments then in effect and (b) thereafter, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding.

Requirement of Law ”: as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

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Responsible Officer ”: the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower, but in any event, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower.

SEC ”: the Securities and Exchange Commission, any successor thereto and any analogous Governmental Authority.

Security Documents ”: the collective reference to the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement and all other security documents hereafter delivered to the Administrative Agent granting a Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

Settlement Agreement ”: that certain Settlement and Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2001, by and among Parent, Cheniere FLNG, L.P., Crest, Crest Energy, L.L.C., and Freeport LNG Terminal, LLC.

Single Employer Plan ”: any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but that is not a Multiemployer Plan.

Solvent ”: when used with respect to any Person, means that, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, (i) “debt” means liability on a “claim”, and (ii) “claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

Subsidiary ”: means, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

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Tax Distribution Amount ”: means for any applicable annual tax reporting period, the reasonably estimated any tax obligation of any direct or indirect holder of Capital Stock of CQP or Freeport LNG Development, L.P. for income, gains, franchise or similar taxes imposed on or measured by overall net income or gross receipts or in lieu of net income taxes as a result of any income or gain, in each case of CQP and its Subsidiaries or Freeport LNG Development, L.P. and its Subsidiaries, as applicable. The tax obligation shall be determined on a separate company basis computed using the maximum applicable federal and state tax rates (currently a total rate of 40% consisting of the maximum corporate federal income tax rate of 35% and a state income and gross receipts tax rate of 5%). However, in no case may the aggregate Tax Distribution Amounts for any annual tax reporting period exceed Parent’s consolidated federal and state tax liability for such annual tax reporting period.

Transferee ”: any Assignee or Participant.

United States ”: the United States of America.

Voting Stock ”: of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors (or governing body) of such Person.

1.2. Other Definitional Provisions . (a) Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

(b) As used herein and in the other Loan Documents, and any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, (i) accounting terms relating to any Group Member not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP, (ii) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (iii) the word “incur” shall be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” shall have correlative meanings), (iv) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, Capital Stock, securities, revenues, accounts, leasehold interests and contract rights, and (v) references to agreements or other Contractual Obligations (other than the Crest Settlement Documents and the Crest Obligations) shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to such agreements or Contractual Obligations as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time (subject to any applicable restrictions hereunder).

(c) The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

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(d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

(e) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that such Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

2.1. Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make a term loan (a “ Loan ”) to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed the amount of the Commitment of such Lender.

2.2. Procedure for Borrowing . The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice requesting that the Lenders make the Loans on the Closing Date and specifying the amount to be borrowed. Upon receipt of such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. Not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Closing Date each Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office an amount in immediately available funds equal to the Loan to be made by such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall credit the account of the Borrower on the books of such office of the Administrative Agent with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders in immediately available funds.

2.3. Repayment of Loans . The Loan of each Lender shall mature on May 31, 2012.

SECTION 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS

3.1. Optional Prepayments . The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, upon one Business Day’s irrevocable notice delivered to the Administrative Agent, which notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is given (i) at any time on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to 103% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein, (ii) at any time after the first anniversary of the Closing Date but on or prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to 102% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein; (iii) at any time after the second anniversary of the Closing Date and on or prior to the third anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein and (iv) at any time thereafter, an amount equal to

 

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100% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein, in each case together with accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 and increments of $1,000,000. Amounts to be applied in connection with prepayments made pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall be applied pro rata among the Loans.

3.2. Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions . (a) If on any date prior to such date as the Loans and the other obligations under the Loan Documents then due and payable shall have been paid in full:

(i) any Group Member shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from Disposition of any portion of the Collateral,

(ii) the Borrower shall receive as the direct or indirect holder of any portion of the Collateral, any Non-Recurring Distribution, or

(iii) the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than CQP, Subsidiaries of CQP, Freeport LNG Development, L.P. and Subsidiaries of Freeport LNG Development, L.P.) shall receive any amounts lent or otherwise distributed outside the ordinary course of business from CQP, a Subsidiary of CQP, Freeport LNG Development, L.P. or a Subsidiary of Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (any such amount received as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 3.2(a), a “ Prepayment Offer Amount ”),

the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of the receipt of the applicable Prepayment Offer Amount within one Business Day after each date on which all such Prepayment Offer Amounts received exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate and offer in such notice to prepay the Loans having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate amount of the Prepayment Offer Amounts as set forth in Section 3.2(b); provided that the Borrower shall deposit such Prepayment Offer Amounts in a collateral account (subject to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) one Business Day after the date on which such amounts are received until such amounts shall aggregate in excess of $20,000,000 and so be required to be offered. The Administrative Agent shall forthwith transmit any such offer of prepayment to the Lenders. Each Lender deciding to receive its pro rata share of any amount so offered shall so notify the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days of its receipt of notice thereof. If any Lender declines to accept such offer of prepayment, then the amount of the Loans of each accepting Lender to be prepaid shall be increased to a portion of the Prepayment Offer Amount in proportion to its pro rata share of the Loans of all Lenders accepting such offer. The Administrative Agent shall forthwith transmit any such acceptances to the Borrower, and the Borrower shall make any such prepayments within one (1) Business Day of its receipt of notice thereof from the Administrative Agent. For avoidance of doubt, the $20,000,000 threshold shall apply anew after each making of prepayment offers. The Borrower shall be free to retain, use or apply, for any purpose not otherwise prohibited hereunder, any funds not so required to be deposited in a collateral account or to make prepayments.

(b) Amounts to be applied in connection with prepayments made pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 3.2 shall be applied, pro rata such that if any mandatory prepayment notice is given (i) at any time on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount

 

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equal to 103% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein, (ii) at any time after the first anniversary of the Closing Date but on or prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to 102% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein; (iii) at any time after the second anniversary of the Closing Date and on or prior to the third anniversary of the Closing Date, an amount equal to 101% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein; and (iv) at any time thereafter, an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount specified in the notice shall be payable on the date specified therein, in each case together with accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid.

(c) (i) No later than three Business Days after the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Borrower shall offer to each Lender (by delivery of a prepayment offer to the Administrative Agent) to prepay all (but not part) of its outstanding Loans in accordance with this paragraph. The prepayment offer shall be irrevocable and shall state: (i) the proposed date of such prepayment (which date shall be no earlier than five Business Days and no later than 30 Business Days from the date of the applicable Change of Control); (ii) the prepayment price (which, with respect to each Lender, shall be calculated as the sum of 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Loans made by such Lender, and all accrued interest on the principal amount being prepaid); (iii) that each Lender that accepts such prepayment offer must accept such offer with respect to all (but not part) of its Loans; (iv) that each Lender must accept such offer by delivering notice of such acceptance to the Administrative Agent within 30 days after the date the Borrower makes its offer to such Lender (the “ Offer Period ”); and (v) in reasonable detail, the nature of the applicable Change of Control and the projected impact of such Change of Control on the operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries or the Borrower, as the case may be.

(ii) The Borrower shall comply with the terms of each such prepayment offer. Each Lender shall have the right to accept such offer prior to the expiration of the applicable Offer Period.

3.3. Interest Rates and Payment Dates . (a) Each Loan shall bear interest at 9.75% per annum.

(b) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Loan (and any overdue interest or any other overdue amount payable hereunder) shall bear interest at 11.75% per annum.

(c) Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, provided that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section on any overdue amounts shall be payable from time to time on demand.

3.4. Fees; Computation of Interest and Fees . (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to Perry and the Administrative Agent the fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in any fee agreements with Perry or the Administrative Agent and to perform any other obligations contained therein.

 

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(b) Interest and fees payable pursuant hereto shall be calculated on the basis of a 365/366 day year.

3.5. Pro Rata Treatment and Payments . (a) Each borrowing by the Borrower from the Lenders hereunder and any reduction of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the respective Loan Percentages of the relevant Lenders.

(b) Each payment (including, subject to 3.2(a), each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Loans then held by the Lenders.

(c) Any amounts prepaid on account of the Loans may not be reborrowed.

(d) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, at the Funding Office, in Dollars and in immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Lenders promptly upon receipt in like funds as received. If any payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. In the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the two preceding sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension.

(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on the Closing Date, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, such amount with interest thereon at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately available to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this paragraph shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender’s share of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three Business Days of the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to the Loans, on demand, from the Borrower.

(f) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by the Borrower prior to the date of any payment due to be made by the Borrower hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such payment, and the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders their

 

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respective pro rata shares of a corresponding amount. If such payment is not made to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower within three Business Days after such due date, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

3.6. Taxes . (a) All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding (i) net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed on the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or former connection between the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising solely from the Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Loan Document) and (ii) any branch profit taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction described in clause (i) above. If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“ Non-Excluded Taxes ”) or Other Taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement, provided , however , that the Borrower shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender with respect to any Non-Excluded Taxes (i) that are attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d) or (f) of this Section or (ii) that are United States withholding taxes imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, except to the extent that such Lender’s assignor (if any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to this paragraph.

(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof. If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any incremental taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure.

 

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(d) If, in its sole discretion and without any obligation to disclose its tax records, a Lender or the Administrative Agent determines that it has received a refund from a Governmental Authority in respect of Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.6(a) or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to Sections 3.6(a) or (b), it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.6 with respect to the Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender or the Administrative Agent and without interest (other than interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that, the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus penalties, interest or other reasonable charges) to such Lender or the Administrative Agent in the event such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.

(e) Each Lender (or Transferee) that is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “ Non-U.S. Lender ”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased) two copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI, or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit E and a Form W-8BEN, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal withholding tax on all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Such forms shall be delivered by each Non-U.S. Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation). In addition, each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Non-U.S. Lender. Each Non-U.S. Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower at any time it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower (or any other form of certification adopted by the U.S. taxing authorities for such purpose). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this paragraph that such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.

(f) A Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of non-U.S. withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate, provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such Lender’s judgment such completion, execution or submission would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

 

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(g) The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

3.7. Change of Lending Office . Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.6(a) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided , that such designation is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided , further , that nothing in this Section shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.6(a).

3.8. Replacement of Lenders . The Borrower shall be permitted to replace any Lender that requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.6(a) or (b), with a replacement financial institution; provided that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (iii) prior to any such replacement, such Lender shall have taken no action under Section 3.7 so as to eliminate the continued need for payment of amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.6(a), (iv) the replacement financial institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender on or prior to the date of replacement, (v) the replacement financial institution, if not already a Lender, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (vi) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 ( provided that the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein), (vii) until such time as such replacement shall be consummated, the Borrower shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 3.6(a), as the case may be, and (viii) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender.

3.9. Evidence of Debt . (a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(b) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 10.6(d), and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) both the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

(c) The entries made in the Register and the accounts of each Lender maintained pursuant to Section 3.11(a) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided , however , that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain the Register or any such account, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

4.1. Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, as applicable, (b) has the power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly authorized and licensed under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such authorization or license, (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (e) has all necessary licenses, permits, consents or approvals from or by, has made all necessary filings with, and has given all necessary notices to, each Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, to the extent required for such ownership, operation and conduct, except for licenses, permits, consents, approvals or filings which can be obtained or made by taking of ministerial action to secure the grant or transfer thereof or the failure to obtain or make would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

4.2. Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations . Each Loan Party has the power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, except the filings referred to in Section 4.7 of the Guarantee and Pledge Agreement. Ea


 
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