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CREDIT AGREEMENT relating to an overdraft and contingent liability facility

Loan Agreement

CREDIT AGREEMENT relating to an overdraft and contingent liability facility | Document Parties: INTERFACE INC | Heuga Home Flooring BV | Interface Belgium BV | Interface Eastern Europe BV | Interface Europe BV | Interface Flooring BV | Interface Foreign Investments BV | Interface International BV | Interface Nederland BV | Interface Scherpenzeel BV You are currently viewing:
This Loan Agreement involves

INTERFACE INC | Heuga Home Flooring BV | Interface Belgium BV | Interface Eastern Europe BV | Interface Europe BV | Interface Flooring BV | Interface Foreign Investments BV | Interface International BV | Interface Nederland BV | Interface Scherpenzeel BV

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Title: CREDIT AGREEMENT relating to an overdraft and contingent liability facility
Date: 4/29/2009
Industry: Textiles - Non Apparel     Sector: Consumer Cyclical

CREDIT AGREEMENT relating to an overdraft and contingent liability facility, Parties: interface inc , heuga home flooring bv , interface belgium bv , interface eastern europe bv , interface europe bv , interface flooring bv , interface foreign investments bv , interface international bv , interface nederland bv , interface scherpenzeel bv
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CREDIT AGREEMENT

relating to an overdraft and contingent liability facility

 

BETWEEN :

 

1)       Interface Europe B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Interface Scherpenzeel B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Interface Nederland B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Interface Flooring B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Interface Belgium B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Interface International B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Interface Eastern Europe B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Heuga Home Flooring B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

Interface Foreign Investments B.V., established in Scherpenzeel, The Netherlands,

individually or together hereinafter referred to as the 'Borrower',

 

2)

ABN AMRO Bank N.V., having its registered office in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, hereinafter referred to as 'ABN AMRO'.

 

IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.  

FACILITY

 

ABN AMRO grants to the Borrower until further notice a facility (the 'Facility') on the terms and conditions and at the rates and charges stated in this agreement. ABN AMRO may from time to time review the terms and conditions of the Facility.

 

The amount of the Facility (the 'Facility Amount') shall be:

Period

EUR (in millions)

1 May 2009 – 30 September 2009

32

1 October 2009 – 30 September 2010

26

1 October 2010 – 30 September 2011

20

1 October 2011 – 30 September 2012

14

From 1 October 2012

8

 

 

 

The Borrower may reduce the Facility Amount at the end of each quarter in full or in part (if in part subject to a minimum amount of EUR 2,000,000) subject to 5 business days’ notice.

 

As of 1 May 2009 this Facility will replace the existing facility as granted under the Credit Agreement dated 9 March 2007, and all outstanding amounts are deemed to be made and outstanding under this Facility.

 

2.        PURPOSE

 

The Facility is granted to enable the Borrower to make a dividend payment to Interface Inc and to finance the general working capital needs of the Borrower.

 

 

 

- 1 -


 

 

3.           UTILISATION

 

 

The Facility may be utilised by way of:

 

a)

Overdraft in euro (including the issuance of guarantees with a tenor of up to 1 year) and or any freely available currency on the current accounts of the Borrower; and/or

 

b)

a Contingent Liability Facility for the purpose of issuing guarantees with a tenor exceeding one year up to an aggregate amount of EUR 5,000,000; and/or

 

c)

an Allocated Credit under joint and several liability of the Borrower for Interfaceflor India Pvt Ltd. with ABN AMRO’s branch in India as Lending Office for an aggregate amount of EUR 500,000 or its equivalent in INR or USD.

 

For the purpose of the Agreement:

 

Allocated Credit means:

A credit facility, made available to Interfaceflor India Pvt Ltd. under the terms and conditions of a credit agreement entered or to be entered into between Interfaceflor India Pvt Ltd. and the Lending Office.

 

The aggregate of amounts outstanding by way of overdraft, each amount utilised under the contingent liability facility and the amount of the Allocated Credit shall not exceed the Facility Amount.

 

4.           RATES AND CHARGES

 

a)

Interest on debit balances on the current accounts of the Borrower will be charged at the rate of 1% per annum over ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate (presently 4.90% per annum, subject to a minimum ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate of 3.5% per annum).

 

b)

Commission will be calculated on the basis of 1% per annum or part thereof on the maximum amount and for the maximum duration of each guarantee and or documentary letter of credit issued hereunder and will be payable quarterly in advance.

 

Issuing, amending and other fees will be charged in accordance with ABN AMRO's then current fees tariff.

 

Commission and fees will be debited to the accounts of the Borrower held with ABN AMRO.

 

c)

An arrangement fee of EUR 0.1% on the Facility Amount will be payable upon acceptance of this agreement.

 

d)

A facility fee shall be calculated on the basis of 0.5% per annum over the Facility Amount, payable three monthly in arrears.

 

 

 

- 2 -


 

 

5.           SECURITY, FINANCIAL COVENANTS AND UNDERTAKINGS

 

SECURITY

 

I

To the extent the Borrower is not already obliged to do so on any other basis, the Borrower hereby further undertakes to provide ABN AMRO with all of the following security as security for the obligations referred to in I.3.1. of the Provisions (the Provisions being defined in clause 8 below):

 

 

-

a right of pledge on all assets referred to in article 18 of the GBC (the GBC being defined in clause 7 below).

In order to effectuate the above, the Borrower hereby pledges to ABN AMRO, to the extent not already pledged to ABN AMRO in accordance with article 18 of the GBC, the present and future debts owing – as regards future debts, the pledge being made in advance – by ABN AMRO to the Borrower as security as stated above. The Borrower hereby grants ABN AMRO a power of attorney to pledge these debts, at any time and repeatedly, to itself on behalf of the Borrower. This power of attorney is unconditional and irrevocable.

 

 

-

a right of pledge on the rights of recourse and the subrogated rights arising pursuant to the joint and several liability referred to in I.4.3. of the Provisions.

 

In order to effectuate the above, the Borrower hereby pledges to ABN AMRO, to the extent not already pledged in accordance with I.4.3. of the Provisions, his aforementioned rights of recourse as security stated above. If the Borrower is subrogated to the rights of ABN AMRO, ABN AMRO reserves a pledge on the subrogated rights as security as stated above.

 

ABN AMRO hereby accepts the above rights of pledge. This agreement constitutes a notice of these pledges to the other parties referred to as the Borrower and to ABN AMRO.

 

II

(i)

Revolving mortgage of EUR 26,000,000 plus 40% for interest and costs, on the properties with the cadastral numbers Scherpenzeel D 3953, 3958, 3579, 3774, and 2370. Full details are included in the mortgage deed.

 

 

(ii)

a first ranking pledge of stocks and/or machinery and equipment and/or receivables to be laid down in a pledge agreement. Though obliged to pledge the inventory and receivables to ABN AMRO on an on-going basis, the Borrower need only provide ABN AMRO, until further notice, with an itemised and duly signed list of pledged inventory and receivables at the beginning of every month.

 

 

(iii)

joint and several liability of all parties named under 1. above, pursuant to I.4. of the Provisions.

 

After a reduction of the Facility Amount in accordance with clause 1 of this Agreement ABN AMRO and the Borrower may agree - on a case-by case scenario – on a release of any of the securities (in part or in its entirety) mentioned under (i) and (ii) of this clause.

 

 

 

- 3 -


 

 

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

With a view to the continuity of the Borrower’s business, ABN AMRO deems it necessary that the following criteria must be satisfied throughout the Facility period.

 

a.  

INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. The Group’s interest coverage ratio must amount to at least 5.

 

b.  

TOTAL DEBT/EBITDA. The Group’s total debt/ebitda ratio must amount to no more than 3.

 

c.  

TANGIBLE NET WORTH/TOTAL ASSETS. The Group’s tangible net worth must represent at least 30% of the adjusted balance sheet total.

 

 

For the purpose of monitoring these covenants,

 

 

adjusted balance sheet total is understood to mean:

total assets minus the sum of (a) intangible assets, (b) deferred tax assets, (c) participating interests, (d) receivables from shareholders and/or directors, (e) shares held in the own company and (f) intercompany loans, as shown in the annual accounts;

 

annual accounts is understood to mean:

 

the consolidated annual financial statements of Interface Europe B.V.;

 

interest coverage ratio is understood to mean:

earnings before interest and taxation divided by the sum of gross interest paid and capitalised interest, as shown in the annual accounts;

 

tangible net worth is understood to mean:

issued and paid-up share capital plus reserves, deferred tax liabilities and loans subordinated to the Borrower’s debts to ABN AMRO, minus intangible assets, deferred tax assets, participating interests, receivables from shareholders and/or directors and shares (the Borrower) holds in his own company, as shown in the annual accounts;

 

total debt/ebitda ratio is understood to mean:

the total interest-bearing debt (including subordinated loans) divided by earnings before interest, taxation and amortization, as shown in the annual accounts; and

 

Group is understood to mean:

Interface Europe B.V. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries as consolidated in the annual accounts.

 

UNDERTAKINGS

 

 

-

(NEGATIVE PLEDGE.) As long as the Borrower owes ABN AMRO any sum on any account whatsoever, or may in any manner become indebted to ABN AMRO as a result of present or future obligations, the Borrower shall not and it shall procure that Interface Australia Holdings Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries and Interface Europe Ltd shall not:

 

 

- 4 -


 

 

 

(i) transfer, or promise to transfer, title to all or any of its assets to an unaffiliated third party; nor

(ii) transfer, or promise to transfer, title to any of the assets constituting collateral under this facility to any affiliated third party,

except where such transfer forms part of its ordinary business and other transfers up to an aggregate amount of EUR 3,000,000, or charge, or promise to charge, all or any of its assets in favour of a third party unless it has obtained the prior express consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) of ABN AMRO with the exception of the Borrower’s operating lease arrangements with Amstel Lease and BPF Onroerend Goed Lease en Financieringen B.V. / BPF Onroerend Goed Advies en Transacties B.V. (together hereinafter referred to as “BPF”) and the financing arrangement dated 6 March 2009 between Interface Australia Holdings Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries on the one hand and the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited on the other hand.

 

 

-

on first demand of ABN AMRO the Borrower will provide ABN AMRO with full cash cover (to be held on a duly pledged deposit account) in respect of all outstanding guarantees issued on behalf of the Borrower by ABN AMRO;

 

 

-

The Borrower shall not and it shall procure that Interface Australia Holdings Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries and Interface Europe Ltd shall not enter into credit agreements with third parties exceeding an aggregate amount of EUR 2,500,000 without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) of ABN AMRO with the exception of the Borrower’s operating lease transactions with Amstel Lease and BPF. ABN AMRO is aware of the existing operating leasing arrangement with Amstel Lease (Operational Lease Agreement number 371561.00 regarding packaging line, dated 1.11.6), the operating lease arrangements with BPF (Operational Lease Agreements regarding register-bound good Industrielaan 15 resp. Glashorst 135, as lastly amended per deed dated 22.9.5) and the financing arrangement dated 6 March 2009 between Interface Australia Holdings Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries on the one hand and the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited on the other hand;

 

 

-

ABN AMRO will receive a list of the Borrower's accounts payable to trade suppliers at the beginning of every month;

 

 

-

The Borrower shall inform ABN AMRO immediately if:

 

 

a)

the Borrower fails to comply with or fulfil, at the time and in the manner required, any obligation under any other contractual obligation, loan or financing arrangement with or any guarantee towards third parties exceeding an aggregate amount of EUR 1,000,000;and/or

 

 

b)

when the Borrower becomes aware if Interface Inc., Interface Europe Ltd and/or Interface Australia Holdings Pty Ltd (including its subsidiaries) fail to comply with or fulfil, at the time and in the manner required, any obligation under any loan or financing arrangement with or any guarantee towards third parties exceeding an aggregate amount of EUR 1,000,000.

 

 

 

- 5 -


 

 

6.           CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

In addition to any other condition required to be fulfilled hereunder, ABN AMRO requires

 

a)

a copy of this agreement duly signed on behalf of the Borrower; and

 

b)            a copy of the Borrower’s current Articles of Association ( Statuten ) and extract from the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce ( Uittreksel Handelsregister ); and

 

c)            copies of documents acceptable to ABN AMRO to authenticate the identity of the signatories representing the Borrower.

 

7.           GENERAL BANKING CONDITIONS

 

        The ABN AMRO General Banking Conditions (the 'GBC') shall apply to the relationship between ABN AMRO and the Borrower.

 

8.            INCORPORATION OF ABN AMRO CONDITIONS

 

ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions dated July 2006 (the 'Provisions') shall be incorporated into this agreement. By the execution of this agreement the Borrower acknowledges receipt of a copy of the GBC and the Provisions and agrees to the terms of the GBC, the Provisions and this agreement. In the event of any conflict with the GBC and or the Provisions, the terms of this agreement shall prevail.

 

Contrary to the Provisions, article I.5 (negative pledge) shall be replaced by the negative pledge section in clause 5 of this agreement.

 

Part III of the Provisions shall not apply to the Facility.

 

 

 

Agreed and signed in Scherpenzeel on 24-4-2009.

 

 

Interface Europe B.V.                                                                                                ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

 

/s/ J. Hasselman                                                                                                            /s/ J. J. M. van de Ven

Name:                    J. Hasselman

Title:                      Director

 

/s/ A. H. van Keken                                                                                                     /s/ W. R. J. Lingrowt

Name:                    A. H. van Keken

Title:                      Director

 

 

 

 

- 6 -


 

 

Interface Scherpenzeel B.V.                                                                                                Interface Nederland B.V.

 

/s/ J. Hasselman                                                                                                                         /s/ J. Hasselman

Name:                    J. Hasselman                                                                                            Name:                    J. Hasselman

Title:                      Director                                                                                                     Title:                      Director

 

/s/ A. H. van Keken

Name:                    A. H. van Keken

Title:                      Director

 

 

Interface Flooring B.V.                                                                                                       Interface Belgium B.V.

 

/s/ J. Hasselman                                                                                                                       /s/ J. Hasselman

Name:                    J. Hasselman                                                                                           Name:                    J. Hasselman

Title:                      Director                                                                                                   Title:                      Director

 

/s/ A. H. van Keken

Name:                    A. H. van Keken

Title:                      Director of Interface Europe B.V.

 

 

Interface International B.V.                                                                                                Interface Eastern Europe B.V.

 

/s/ J. Hasselman                                                                                                                       /s/ J. Hasselman

Name:                    J. Hasselman                                                                                            Name:                    J. Hasselman

Title:                      Director                                                                                                    Title:                      Director

 

/s/ A. H. van Keken

Name:                    A. H. van Keken

Title:                      Director

 

 

Heuga Home Flooring B.V.                                                                                                Interface Foreign Investments B.V.

 

/s/ J. Hasselman                                                                                                                     /s/ J. Hasselman

Name:                    J. Hasselman                                                                                         Name:                      J. Hasselman

Title:                      Director                                                                                                 Title:                      Director

 

 

 

 

 

- 7 -


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABN AMRO GENERAL CREDIT PROVISIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

consisting of:

 

 

I           Common Provisions

 

 

II

General Provisions governing Overdraft and Contingent Liability Facilities

 

III           General Provisions governing Loans

 

 

(July 2006)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 


 

 

I           COMMON PROVISIONS

 

 

1           Definitions

 

In these ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

a

'Borrower' shall mean the legal or natural person or persons, both jointly and individually, to whom the Credit has been or will be made available;

 

b

'ABN AMRO' shall mean ABN AMRO Bank N.V., having its registered office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands;

 

c

'Credit Agreement' shall mean the agreement concluded between the Borrower and ABN AMRO in which these ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions have been declared applicable;

 

d

'Credit' shall mean overdraft facilities and/or contingent liability facilities and/or loans granted or to be granted to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement.

 

2           Availability

 

The Credit will not be made available to the Borrower until all security, undertakings (verklaringen) , documents and information referred to in the Credit Agreement have been provided and all other conditions in the Credit Agreement for the availability of the Credit have been complied with.

 

3           Security and undertakings (verklaringen)

 

3.1           Instruments and priority

If security or undertakings ( verklaringen ) are provided, these shall secure any and all present or future indebtedness of the Borrower to ABN AMRO on any basis whatsoever (including indebtedness arising from derivative transactions), whether or not arising in the ordinary course of banking business, and shall be laid down in instruments to be drawn up by ABN AMRO or in the Credit Agreement. Any costs in this regard shall be borne by the Borrower. Unless otherwise stated, security provided to ABN AMRO shall rank first in priority.

 

3.2           Mortgage

If a right of mortgage is given, it shall be subject to the General Terms and Conditions for Mortgages (Algemene Bepalingen voor Hypotheekstelling) in addition to the provisions contained in the mortgage deed. A right of mortgage on multiple registered properties ( registergoederen ) shall be created by means of separate rights of mortgage on each property individually, in each case for the full principal amount plus interest and costs.

 

3.3           Disclosure

The Borrower agrees that if third parties have provided security or undertakings (verklaringen) , ABN AMRO may furnish such third parties with information about the Borrower's financial position and any other information relating to the Credit that may be of importance to such third parties.

 

 

    

 


 

 

4           Multiple Borrowers/joint and several liability

 

4.1           Joint and several liability

If the Borrower consists of more than one legal or natural person, each of them shall be jointly and severally liable to ABN AMRO for any and all present or future indebtedness of any or all of them to ABN AMRO on any basis whatsoever (including indebtedness arising from derivative transactions), whether or not arising in the ordinary course of banking business. Any costs in this regard shall be borne by the Borrower. Unless otherwise stated, security provided to ABN AMRO shall rank first in priority.

 

4.2

Waiver of defences and rights

The Borrower waives as against ABN AMRO all defences and rights accruing to debtors with joint and several liability or to sureties ( borg ).

 

4.3

Recourse rights and subrogated rights

Each Borrower undertakes to pledge his rights of recourse against any of the other parties referred to as Borrower and agrees that, if he is subrogated to the rights of ABN AMRO against any of the other parties referred to as Borrower, ABN AMRO reserves a right of pledge on the subrogated rights. Both pledges shall secure any and all present or future indebtedness of the Borrower to ABN AMRO on any basis whatsoever (including indebtedness arising from derivative transactions), whether or not arising in the ordinary course of banking business.

 

To the extent that a Borrower's rights of recourse or subrogated rights against any of the other parties referred to as Borrower are not subject to a right of pledge as described above, such rights shall be subordinated to all present or future rights of ABN AMRO against any of the other parties referred to as Borrower. For that situation, each Borrower waives his right to subrogation in respect of any security attached to the rights of ABN AMRO against any of the other parties referred to as Borrower.

 

Subject to the condition precedent that a Borrower is being sold to a third party in connection with a restructuring (ontvlechting) , each Borrower waives his rights of recourse or subrogated rights against that Borrower.

 

4.4           Communications

Unless otherwise stated, communications made by ABN AMRO to the Borrower first named in the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have been made to all parties that are jointly and severally liable under that agreement.

 

5           Negative pledge

 

As long as the Borrower owes ABN AMRO any sum whatsoever (including indebtedness arising from derivative transactions), or may in any manner become indebted to ABN AMRO as a result of present or future obligations, the Borrower shall not transfer, or promise to transfer, title to all or any of his assets – except transfers in the ordinary course of business - or charge or encumber, or promise to charge or encumber, all or any of his assets in favour of a third party unless he has obtained ABN AMRO’s prior written consent.

 

6           Prohibition against transfer or pledge

 

Credit balances on accounts held at ABN AMRO may not be transferred or pledged other than to ABN AMRO.

 

 

    

 


 

 

 

7           Positive pledge

 

Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 20 of the General Banking Conditions, the Borrower undertakes to ensure, at ABN AMRO's first request, that security or additional security is provided, in the form and amount desired by ABN AMRO, for the performance of any and all present or future obligations of the Borrower to ABN AMRO on any basis whatsoever (including indebtedness arising from derivative transactions), whether or not arising in the ordinary course of banking business.

 

8           Insurance

 

The Borrower shall at all times maintain sufficient and adequate insurance against general and specific business risks pertaining to his line of business and his particular business.

 

9           Restructuring clause (companies only)

 

The Borrower shall notify ABN AMRO in a timely manner of any intended changes in the Borrower's corporate structure or in that of his subsidiaries or group companies, if any, including changes in the identity of the shareholder(s) of the Borrower or any subsidiaries or group companies.

 

10           Costs and expenses

 

All costs and expenses incurred by ABN AMRO in connection with the performance of the Credit Agreement, including any taxes payable by ABN AMRO (other than on net profit), as well as any reasonable costs and expenses incurred by ABN AMRO in connection with the Borrower's failure to comply with or fulfil any obligation under the Credit Agreement at the time and in the manner required, including collection charges, fees of legal advisers and other experts and the costs of proceedings, irrespective of to whom owed, shall be for the account of the Borrower and shall be paid by the Borrower on ABN AMRO's first demand.

 

Provided more than three months have elapsed since the signing of the Credit Agreement, ABN AMRO shall have the right to refix an agreed interest rate if the cost to ABN AMRO of making available, or continuing to make available, the Credit has increased and this increase results directly or indirectly from credit-restricting measures (kredietbeperkende maatregelen) , solvency guidelines or other rules or provisions increasing costs (including lines of conduct the observance of which has been requested) of the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank) , the European Central Bank or any other authority, monetary or otherwise.

 

11           Calculation of Interest

 

Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year (or, depending on the market practice with respect to the relevant currency, 365 days) and the actual number of days in any month.

 

12           Furnishing of Information

 

12.1           Annual accounts

The Borrower shall send ABN AMRO his balance sheet, profit and loss account and notes thereto for the past financial year immediately after they have been drawn up but in any event not later than six months after the end of the relevant financial year.

 

    

 


 

 

 

12.2           Other Information

The Borrower shall allow ABN AMRO to inspect his books and records on ABN AMRO’s first demand, and shall provide ABN AMRO, both on its first demand and unsolicited, with any information about his financial position and business developments that could have a material effect thereon.

 

13           General Banking Conditions

 

All relations between the Borrower and ABN AMRO shall also be governed by the General Banking Conditions (Algemene Voorwaarden ABN AMRO Bank N.V.) (the "General Banking Conditions"). In the event of a conflict between the provisions of these ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions and the General Banking Conditions, the relevant provisions of these ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions shall prevail. These ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions shall remain applicable until all legal relations to which they apply have been fully settled.

 

14           English Legal Terminology

 

The words used in these ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions to describe legal concepts, although in English, refer to Dutch legal concepts only and the consequences of the use of these words in English law or any other foreign law shall be disregarded.

 

Any Dutch legal concept referred to in these ABN AMRO General Credit Provisions shall, in respect of any jurisdiction other than the Netherlands, be deemed to include such concepts as in that jurisdiction most closely approximate the Dutch legal concept.

 

II

GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING OVERDRAFT AND CONTINGENT LIABILITY FACILITIES

 

1           Use

 

1.1           Overdraft facility

An overdraft facility may be used;

-            to withdraw funds on current account;

 

-

to enter into non-cash contingent liabilities with a maximum term of one year, unless agreed otherwise, such as those arising from the issuance of guarantees, the issuance of letters of credit and the discounting of bills; and

-  

in any other manner stated in the Credit Agreement.

 

1.2           Contingent liability facility

A contingent liability facility may be used to enter into non-cash contingent liabilities, such as those arising from the issuance of guarantees, the issuance of letters of credit and the discounting of bills.

 

2.           Balance Netting

 

ABN AMRO will apply balance netting to the current accounts held by the Borrower at ABN AMRO, subject to the following provisions:

 

a.

Balance netting shall be effected in the manner set out below under b., in respect of all current accounts (including any deposits that are administratively linked to a current account) held at ABN AMRO in the Netherlands at any given time in the name of the Borrower and which the Borrower is entitled to freely operate, whether denominated in euro or in a foreign currency, to the extent that the application of balance netting to an account is not precluded by a request of the Borrower, a designation by ABN AMRO or, in the opinion of ABN AMRO, the nature of the account or the relevant currency.

 

    

 


 

 

 

b.           The result of balance netting shall be equal to:

 

-

the aggregate of the credit balances on the current accounts referred to in a., increased by the amount of any deposits that are administratively linked thereto, less:

 

-

the aggregate of the debit balances on the current accounts referred to in a. above irrespective of the size of the balances to be taken into account.

 

c.

The result of balance netting shall be used solely for the purpose of determining the unused portion of the overdraft facility .

 

3.           Contingent liabilities/unused amount

 

3.1           Overdraft facility

 

a.

For the purpose of the calculation by ABN AMRO of the unused portion of the overdraft facility at any given time, the amount of the overdraft facility shall be:

 

 

-

either reduced by the then existing negative balance resulting from balance netting or increased by the then existing positive balance resulting from balance netting, as set out above under 2.b; and

 

-

reduced by the non-cash contingent liabilities as set out above under 1.1, unless these obligations can be charged to a contingent liability facility granted to the Borrower; and

 

-  

reduced by obligations arising from the use of the overdraft facility in any other manner as set out above under 1.1.

 

b.

If the debit balance on a current account is, in the opinion of ABN AMRO, unacceptably high, the Borrower shall reduce that debit balance to a level acceptable to ABN AMRO at ABN AMRO’s first request.

 

c.

ABN AMRO may at any time reject, in whole or in part, dispositions requested by the Borrower if, after the disposition, the debit balance on the relevant current account will, in the opinion of ABN AMRO, be unacceptably high.

 

3.2           Contingent liability facility

The unused portion of the contingent liability facility shall be determined by reducing the amount of the facility by the aggregate, at any given time, of the Borrower’s non-cash contingent liabilities to ABN AMRO arising from the use of the contingent liability facility.

 

 

    

 


 

 

4           Interest and fees

 

4.1           Calculation of debit interest

In calculating interest on debit balances in euro up to the agreed amount of the overdraft facility, ABN AMRO shall apply the ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate (ABN AMRO Euro Basisrente) . Until further notice, the ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate shall consist of the leading refi rate (the rate of the main refinancing operation (Basisherfinancieringsrente) ) as determined from time to time by the European Central Bank (“ECB”), plus a debit interest surcharge. With respect to the ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate , ABN AMRO shall apply the minimum base rate stated in the Credit Agreement. The ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate shall be increased by the individual margin stated in the Credit Agreement. If the ECB changes the rate of the main refinancing operation, or ABN AMRO changes the debit interest surcharge or alters the composition or method of calculation of the ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate, the debit interest rate shall be adjusted accordingly. ABN AMRO shall announce changes in the debit interest surcharge as well as any alterations in the composition or method of calculation of the ABN AMRO Euro Base Rate in at least three national daily newspapers in the Netherlands. Interest on debit balances in a currency other than the euro shall be payable at a rate to be determined by ABN AMRO.

 

ABN AMRO may at any time change the individual margin stated in the Credit Agreement.

 

4.2           Interest on overdrafts exceeding the agreed limit

 

Subject to the provisions contained in 3.1 above, the Borrower shall pay ABN AMRO compensation, in an amount to be determined by ABN AMRO, in respect of the amount by which the Borrower’s debit balance exceeds the agreed amount of the overdraft facility. The Borrower shall nevertheless remain obliged to reduce the debit balance to the agreed amount of the overdraft facility.

 

4.3           Payment of debit interest and fees

Debit interest and fees payable by the Borrower shall be charged to the Borrower's current account as follows:

 

-           debit interest once every quarter;

-           fees at the times to be specified by ABN AMRO.

If the Borrower holds more than one current account at ABN AMRO, ABN AMRO shall have the right to charge debit interest and fees to any of those accounts.

 

5           Cancellation/reduction of credit amount

Both the Borrower and ABN AMRO may at any time cancel an overdraft facility or a contingent liability facility or reduce the credit amount.

 

In the event of cancellation, all amounts owing by the Borrower under the overdraft facility shall be immediately due and payable, without any demand or notice of default being required.

 

In the event of cancellation, the Borrower shall also, at ABN AMRO’s first demand, cause all latent obligations under non-cash contingent liabilities to terminate or provide adequate cash collateral for these obligations.

 

If the credit amount is reduced, the above provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to the amount by which the sum of the debit balance and the obligations under non-cash contingent liabilities exceeds the reduced credit amount.

 

    

 


 

 

 

After cancellation, no new withdrawals may be made and no further non-cash contingent liabilities may be entered into.

 

 

III           GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING LOANS

 

1           Availability

 

1.1

In addition to that stated in 2 of the General Provisions, the following shall apply:

 

 

1.

ABN AMRO shall not be obliged to make the loan amount available upon the occurrence of any of the events set out in 5.1 below; and

 

 

2.

if the loan has not been drawn, or fully drawn, by the agreed final drawing date, ABN AMRO may, in its discretion and without any further instructions from the Borrower being required, make the undrawn amount of the loan available to the Borrower on that date.

 

1.2

ABN AMRO shall make the loan amount available by crediting it to a current account which, according to ABN AMRO’s records, is held in the Borrower’s name.

 

2           Refixing of interest rates

 

2.1           Fixed-interest loans

If a fixed interest rate has been agreed, ABN AMRO shall, not later than two weeks prior to an agreed interest refixing date, notify the Borrower in writing of the proposed - fixed or floating - interest rate for the next interest period, subject to the provisions contained in 2.3 below. Agreement on the interest rate must be reached no later than one week prior to the interest refixing date. If the Borrower fails to respond to the above notice from ABN AMRO at least one week prior to the interest refixing date, the Borrower shall be deemed to have opted for the interest rate applicable to the shortest interest period referred to in the notice. If ABN AMRO fails to give the above notice in a timely manner, it shall nevertheless be free to do so at a later date. In that event, ABN AMRO shall offer the Borrower the lower of the interest rate it would have offered on the basis of its then prevailing rates had the notice been given in time or the rate it is able to offer based on its prevailing rates at the time of the later notice. Agreement on the interest rate must be reached within two weeks after the Borrower has received such notice from ABN AMRO.

 

2.2           Floating interest rate loan

ABN AMRO may change the floating interest rate at any time. If ABN AMRO elects to do so, it shall notify the Borrower in writing of the change at least eleven days prior to the day on which it is to take effect.

 

If the Borrower does not agree to the new interest rate, he shall inform ABN AMRO thereof in writing at least one week prior to the interest refixing date. If the Borrower fails to respond to the written notice from ABN AMRO by that date, the Borrower shall be deemed to have agreed to the new rate.

 

If the Borrower so requests at least two weeks prior to the first day of the next calendar quarter or on a day the interest rate is changed, ABN AMRO shall, on the first day of the next calendar quarter, convert such floating rate loan into a fixed rate loan at ABN AMRO's then prevailing interest rate.

 

 

    

 


 

 

2.3           Loan in foreign currency

If a loan is not denominated in euro, the Borrower shall contact ABN AMRO by telephone before 10.00 a.m. (Amsterdam time) two business days prior to the agreed interest refixing date. Business day shall mean a day on which banking institutions in the Netherlands and the country where the currency in which the loan is denominated is the national unit are open for business.

 

During or immediately after such telephone call, ABN AMRO shall inform the Borrower of the interest rate it proposes for the next interest period. If ABN AMRO and the Borrower then reach agreement, ABN AMRO shall confirm the interest rate to the Borrower in writing.

 

If the Borrower fails to contact ABN AMRO before the time indicated above, ABN AMRO shall have the right to refix the interest rate on the basis of a one-year interest period.

 

2.4           No agreement/assent on interest rate

If ABN AMRO and the Borrower fail, or are deemed to have failed, to reach agreement on the fixed interest rate that will apply from the interest refixing date and the period for which it will apply, or if the Borrower does not agree to the floating rate that will apply from the interest refixing date, the entire amount outstanding under the relevant loan shall become due and payable by the Borrower to ABN AMRO on such interest refixing date. The Borrower shall not be liable to pay compensation for losses and foregone profits (geleden verlies en gederfde winst) resulting from such early repayment, as referred to in 4.1 or 4.2.

 

3           Interest due dates

If a fixed interest rate is in effect, the interest shall be paid by the Borrower to ABN AMRO on the dates stated in the Credit Agreement. If a floating interest rate is in effect, the interest shall be paid by the Borrower to ABN AMRO on the first day of each calendar quarter.

 

4           Early repayment

 

4.1

If a fixed interest rate is in effect and the loan is denominated in euro, the Borrower shall be entitled to make early repayments without becoming liable to pay ABN AMRO compensation for losses and foregone profits (geleden verlies en gederfde winst) provided the following conditions are met:

 

 

a.

the Borrower has given ABN AMRO at least one month's prior notice by registered letter, indicating the amount and date of the intended early repayment; and

 

 

b.

the early repayment coincides with a contractual repayment date or an agreed interest due date; and

 

 

c.

the prepaid amount is at least EUR 1,000, subject to a maximum in any one calendar year of 5% of the original principal amount of the loan; and

 

 

d.

the Borrower proves to ABN AMRO's satisfaction that the repayment will be made from the Borrower's own resources.

 

If the Borrower fails to meet one or more of the above conditions or if the loan is denominated in a foreign currency, the Borrower shall owe ABN AMRO compensation for the latter’s losses and foregone profits (geleden verlies en gederfde winst) in relation to any part of the early payment made in a manner other than as agreed or in excess of the maximum agreed, to be paid together with such early repayment.

 

 

    

 


 

 

 

 

This compensation shall be fixed by ABN AMRO at the difference between:

 

 

a.

the aggregate of the present values of the inter


 
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