NINTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED

NINTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This Ninth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (“Amendment”) is dated as of May _08_, 2020, by and among C&F FINANCE COMPANY and such other Persons joined to the Loan Agreement as Borrowers from time to time (collectively, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower”), ▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, N.A., successor by merger to ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Preferred Capital, Inc., as agent for Lenders (in such capacity, “Agent”), and the financial institutions a party hereto as lenders (collectively, the “Lenders” and each is a “Lender”).

BACKGROUND

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby promise and agree as follows:

 

“Advance Rate” means the following percentage based upon the Collateral Performance Indicator as of the end of each month then most recently ended for which monthly reports have been delivered to Agent pursuant to Section 6.2:

 

“LIBOR Rate” means the greater of (a) 0.30% or (b) one (1) month London Interbank Offered Rate for any day as found in the Wall Street Journal, Interactive Edition, or any successor edition/publication.

“Maximum Principal Amount” means $50,000,000.

“Anti-Corruption Laws” means: (a) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; (b) the U.K. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, as amended; and (c) any other anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, regulations or ordinances in any jurisdiction in which any Borrower or any member of the Borrowing Group is located or doing business.

“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means applicable laws or regulations in any jurisdiction in which any Borrower or any member of the Borrowing Group is located or doing business that relates to money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering, or any financial record keeping and reporting requirements related thereto.

“Anti-Terrorism Laws” means any laws relating to terrorism or money laundering (including Anti-Money Laundering Laws), including the Patriot Act.

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

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

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. §1841(k).

“Borrowing Group” means: (a) Borrowers, (b) the parent of Borrowers, (c) any Affiliate or Subsidiary of Borrowers, (c) any Guarantor, (d) the owner of any collateral securing any part of the credit (including the Collateral), any guaranty (including the Guaranties), or this Agreement, and (e) any officer, director or agent acting on behalf of any of the parties referred to in items (a) through (d) with respect to the credit, this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents. 

“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12

C.F.R. §382.2(b).

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

“Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001).

“Prepayment Principal Amount” means $100,000,000.

“Sanction” or “Sanctions” means any and all economic or financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes and restrictions and anti-terrorism laws imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by any Sanctioned Entity: including, without limitation: (a) the United States of America, including those administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or through any existing or future statute or Executive Order, (b) the United Nations Security Council, (c) the European Union, (d) the United Kingdom, (e) any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over Borrower or any member of the Borrowing Group.

“Sanctioned Entity” means (a) a country or a government of a country, (b) an agency of the government of a country, (c) an organization directly or indirectly controlled by a country or its government, (d) a Person resident in or determined to be resident in a country, in each case, that is subject to a country sanctions program administered and enforced by OFAC.

“Sanctioned Target” means any target of Sanctions, including: (a) Persons on any list of targets identified or designated pursuant to any Sanctions, (b) Persons, countries, or territories that are the target of any territorial or country-based Sanctions program, (c) Persons that are a target of Sanctions due to their ownership or control by any Sanctioned Target(s), or (d) otherwise a target of Sanctions, including vessels and aircraft, that are designated under any Sanctions program.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Unused Line Fee Percentage” means (a) for each calendar month for which the average outstanding principal balance of the Loan is equal to or greater than $20,000,000, 0.60% per annum and (b) for each calendar month for which the average outstanding principal balance of the Loan is less than $20,000,000, 0.75% per annum, in each case computed on the basis of a Three Hundred Sixty (360) day year and the actual number of days elapsed.

(a)In the absence of an Event of Default or Default hereunder, and prior to the Termination Date, the outstanding balance of the Loans will bear interest at an annual rate at all times equal to the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

(a)Optional Prepayments.  Borrowers may prepay the Loan from time to time, in full or in part not to exceed $5,000,000 without notice, and, in part, in excess of $5,000,000 upon 5 Business Day’s prior notice to Agent without premium or penalty, provided that (i) in the event Borrowers repay the Loan in full or the Obligations are accelerated prior to the date which is twenty four (24) months before the Maturity Date, Borrower shall pay the sum equal to 0.75% of the Prepayment Principal Amount as a prepayment fee, (ii) in the event Borrowers repay the Loan in full or the Obligations are accelerated on or after the date which is twenty four (24) months before the Maturity Date but prior to the date which is twelve (12) months before the Maturity Date, Borrowers shall pay the sum equal to 0.50% of the Prepayment Principal Amount as a prepayment fee, (iii) in the event Borrowers repay the Loan in full or the Obligations are accelerated on or after the date which is twelve (12) months before the Maturity Date but prior to the date which is six (6) months before the Maturity Date, Borrower shall pay the sum equal to 0.25% of the Prepayment Principal Amount as a prepayment fee; (iv) prepayments shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000 and $10,000 increments in excess thereof; and (iii) partial prepayments prior to the Termination Date shall not reduce Lenders’ Commitments under this Agreement and may be reborrowed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof for borrowing, and partial prepayments will be applied first to accrued interest and fees and then to outstanding Advances.  Each Borrower acknowledges that the above described fee is an estimate of Lenders’ damages in the event of early termination and is not a penalty.  In the event of termination of the credit facility established pursuant to this Agreement, all of the Obligations shall be immediately due and payable upon the termination date stated in any notice of termination.  All undertakings, agreements, covenants, warranties and representations of Borrowers contained in the Credit Documents shall survive any such termination, and Agent shall retain its liens in the Collateral and all of its rights and remedies under the Credit Documents notwithstanding such termination until Borrowers have paid the Obligations to Agent and Lenders, in full, in immediately available funds, together with the applicable prepayment fee, if any.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Borrowers

shall not be obligated to pay the above described prepayment fee if Borrowers repay the Loan in full as a result of Agent making a demand for payment under Section 2.10 hereof and Borrowers have not exercised their rights under Section 2.14 hereof as a result of such demand.

(b)Unused Line Fee.  An unused line fee (for the ratable benefit of Lenders) at the rate of the Unused Line Fee Percentage on the average daily unused Commitments, which fee shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the first (1st) day of each month commencing and continuing until the Commitment is terminated and the Obligations are paid in full, in which event a monthly installment of the unused line fee shall be paid on the date of such termination.

Section 4.19Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a)Sanctions.  (i) No member of the Borrowing Group is a Sanctioned Target; (ii) no member of the Borrowing Group is owned or controlled by, or is acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, a Sanctioned Target; (iii) each member of the Borrowing Group has instituted, maintains and complies with policies, procedures and controls reasonably designed to assure compliance with Sanctions; and (iv) to the best of Borrowers’ knowledge, after due care and inquiry, no member of the Borrowing Group is under investigation for an alleged violation of Sanction(s) by a Governmental Authority that enforces Sanctions.  Borrowers shall notify Agent in writing not more than one (1) Business Day after first becoming aware of any breach of this Section 4.20(a).

(b)Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption Laws.  (i) Each member of the Borrowing Group has instituted, maintains and complies with policies, procedures and controls reasonably designed to assure compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws; and (ii) to the best of Borrowers’ knowledge, after due care and inquiry, no member of the Borrowing Group is under investigation for an alleged violation of Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws by a Governmental Authority that enforces such laws.

(c)Compliance.  In addition to the foregoing, each Borrower shall, and each Borrower shall ensure that each member of the Borrowing Group will, comply with Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and Anti-Corruption Laws.

Section 7.10Use of Proceeds. 

(a)Use the proceeds of any Advance or other extension of credit made hereunder for any purpose other than consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, for their lawful and permitted purposes (including that no part of the proceeds of the loans made to Borrowers will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for any purpose that violates the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve).

(b)Use, and shall ensure that each member of the Borrowing Group will not, directly or indirectly use any of the credit to fund, finance or facilitate any activities, business or transactions: (i) that are prohibited by Sanctions, (ii) that would be prohibited by U.S. Sanctions if conducted by a U.S. Person, or (iii) that would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by Agent, or any other party hereto.  Borrowers shall notify Agent in writing not more than one (1) Business Day after first becoming aware of any breach of this section.

(c)Use, and shall ensure that each member of the Borrowing Group will not, directly or indirectly use any of the credit to fund, finance or facilitate any activities, business or transactions that would be prohibited by Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws.

(d)Fund any repayment of the credit with proceeds, or provide as collateral any property, that is directly or indirectly derived from any transaction or activity that is prohibited by Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws, or that could otherwise cause Agent to be in violation of Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws.

Section 10.10 RESERVED

Section 10.11Arbitration.

(a) Arbitration. The parties hereto agree, upon demand by any party, whether made before the institution of a judicial proceeding or not more than sixty (60) days after service of a complaint, third party complaint, cross-claim, counterclaim or any answer thereto or any amendment to any of the above to submit to binding arbitration all claims, disputes and controversies between or among them (and their respective employees, officers, directors, attorneys, and other agents), whether in tort, contract or otherwise arising out of or relating to in any way (i) the Loan, this Agreement and Credit Documents and their negotiation, execution, collateralization, administration, repayment, modification, extension, substitution, formation, inducement, enforcement, default or termination; or (ii) requests for additional credit; provided however that the parties agree that, notwithstanding the foregoing, each party retains the right to pursue in small claims court any dispute within that court’s jurisdiction. In the event of a court ordered arbitration, the party requesting arbitration shall be responsible for timely filing the demand for arbitration and paying the appropriate filing fee within the thirty (30) days of the abatement order or the time specified by the court. Failure to timely file the demand for arbitration as ordered by the court will result in that party’s right to demand arbitration being automatically terminated.

(b) Governing Rules. Any arbitration proceeding will (i) proceed in a location in Iowa selected by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”); (ii) be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code), notwithstanding any conflicting choice of law provision in any of the documents between the parties; and (iii) be conducted by the AAA, or such other administrator as the parties shall mutually agree upon, in accordance with the AAA’s commercial dispute resolution procedures, unless the claim or counterclaim is at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) exclusive of claimed interest, arbitration fees and costs in which case the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the AAA’s optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes (the commercial dispute resolution procedures or the optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes to be referred to herein, as applicable, as the “Rules”). If there is any inconsistency between the terms hereof and the Rules, the terms and procedures set forth herein shall control. Any party who fails or refuses to submit to arbitration following a demand by any other party shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by such other party in compelling arbitration of any dispute.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party that is a bank of the protections afforded to it under 12 U.S.C. §91 or

any similar applicable state law.

(c) No Waiver of Provisional Remedies, Self-Help and Foreclosure. The arbitration requirement does not limit the right of any party to (i) foreclose against real or personal property collateral; (ii) exercise self-help remedies relating to collateral or proceeds of collateral such as setoff or repossession; or (iii) obtain provisional or ancillary remedies such as replevin, injunctive relief, attachment or the appointment of a receiver, before during or after the pendency of any arbitration proceeding. This exclusion does not constitute a waiver of the right or obligation of any party to submit any dispute to arbitration or reference hereunder, including those arising from the exercise of the actions detailed in sections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph.

(d) Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers. Any arbitration proceeding in which the amount in controversy is Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) or less will be decided by a single arbitrator selected according to the Rules, and who shall not render an award of greater than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). Any dispute in which the amount in controversy exceeds Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) shall be decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and deliberations. The arbitrator will be a neutral attorney licensed in the State of Iowa or a neutral retired judge of the state or federal judiciary of Iowa, in either case with a minimum of ten years experience in the substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the dispute to be arbitrated. The arbitrator will determine whether or not an issue is arbitratable and will give effect to the statutes of limitation in determining any claim. In any arbitration proceeding the arbitrator will decide (by documents only or with a hearing at the arbitrator's discretion) any pre-hearing motions which are similar to motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or motions for summary adjudication. The arbitrator shall resolve all disputes in accordance with the substantive law of Iowa and may grant any remedy or relief that a court of such state could order or grant within the scope hereof and such ancillary relief as is necessary to make effective any award. The arbitrator shall also have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees, to impose sanctions and to take such other action as the arbitrator deems necessary to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable law. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary

remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial relief.

(e) Discovery. In any arbitration proceeding, discovery will be permitted in accordance with the Rules. All discovery shall be expressly limited to matters directly relevant to the dispute being arbitrated and must be completed no later than twenty (20) days before the hearing date. Any requests for an extension of the discovery periods, or any discovery disputes, will be subject to final determination by the arbitrator upon a showing that the request for discovery is essential for the party's presentation and that no alternative means for obtaining information is available.

(f) Class Proceedings and Consolidations. No party hereto shall be entitled to join or consolidate disputes by or against others in any arbitration, or to include in any arbitration any dispute as a representative or member of a class, or to act in any arbitration in the interest of the general public or in a private attorney general capacity.

(g) Payment Of Arbitration Costs And Fees. The arbitrator shall award all costs and expenses of the arbitration proceeding.

(h) Miscellaneous. To the maximum extent practicable, the AAA, the arbitrators and the parties shall take all action required to conclude any arbitration proceeding within 180 days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA. No arbitrator or other party to an arbitration proceeding may disclose the existence, content or results thereof, except for disclosures of information by a party required in the ordinary course of its business or by applicable law or regulation. If more than one agreement for arbitration by or between the parties potentially applies to a dispute, the arbitration provision most directly related to the Credit Documents or the subject matter of the dispute shall control. This arbitration provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of any of the Credit Documents or any relationship between the parties.

(i) Small Claims Court. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each party retains the right to pursue in small claims court any dispute in which the remedy sought is entirely within that court’s jurisdiction.

Section 10.15Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a)In the event that any Lender that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Lender of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States of America or a state of the United States of America.

(b)In the event that any Lender that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Lender becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Lender are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States of America or a state of the United States of America.

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGES]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO NINTH AMENDMENT]

SCHEDULE I

 

Commitments

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Section 2.15Effect of Benchmark Transition Event.

 

(a) Benchmark Replacement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, Agent and Borrowers may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBOR Rate with a Benchmark Replacement.  Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after Agent has provided such proposed amendment to all Lenders and Borrowers so long as Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising Required Lenders.  Any such amendment with respect to an Early Opt-in Election will become effective on the date that Lenders comprising Required Lenders have delivered to Agent written notice that such Required Lenders accept such amendment.  No replacement of the LIBOR Rate with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section titled “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.  If there is a Benchmark Transition Event, until such time as a Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to this Section 2.15 Agent may select a replacement index rate and spread adjustment in good faith and in its commercially reasonable discretion giving due regard to the LIBOR Replacement Considerations; provided that any comparable or successor rate shall be applied by Agent, if administratively feasible, in a manner consistent with market practice.

 

(b) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.  In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.

 

(c) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations.  Agent will promptly notify Borrowers and Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date and Benchmark Transition Start Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, and (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.  Any determination, decision or election that may be made by Agent or Lenders pursuant to this Section titled “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event,” including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party hereto, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section titled “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event.”

 

(d) Certain Defined Terms.  As used in this Section titled “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event”: 

 

“Benchmark Replacement” means the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate (which may include Term SOFR) that has been selected by Agent and Borrowers giving due consideration to the LIBOR Replacement Considerations and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if the Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than zero, the Benchmark Replacement

will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the LIBOR Rate with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by Agent and Borrowers giving due consideration to the LIBOR Replacement Considerations.

 

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters) that Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).

 

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to the LIBOR Rate: (1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the LIBOR Rate permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the LIBOR Rate; or (2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

 

“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the LIBOR Rate: (1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the LIBOR Rate announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the LIBOR Rate, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the LIBOR Rate; (2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Rate, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the LIBOR Rate, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the LIBOR Rate or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the LIBOR Rate, which states that the administrator of the LIBOR Rate has ceased or will cease to provide the LIBOR Rate permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the LIBOR Rate; or (3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the LIBOR Rate announcing that the LIBOR Rate is no longer representative.

 

“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means (a) in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (i) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (ii) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than ninety (90) days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication) and (b) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election, the date specified by Agent or Required Lenders, as applicable, by notice to Borrowers,

Agent (in the case of such notice by Required Lenders) and Lenders.

 

“Early Opt-in Election” means the occurrence of: (1) (i) a determination by Agent or (ii) a notification by Required Lenders to Agent (with a copy to Borrowers) that Required Lenders have determined that U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities being executed at such time, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section titled “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event,” are being executed or amended, as applicable, to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace the LIBOR Rate, and (2) (i) the election by Agent or (ii) the election by Required Lenders to declare that an Early Opt-in Election has occurred and the provision, as applicable, by Agent of written notice of such election to Borrowers and Lenders or by Required Lenders of written notice of such election to Agent.

 

“Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ or any successor source. 

 

“LIBOR Replacement Considerations” means (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body, (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest as a replacement to the LIBOR Rate for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities, (iii) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the LIBOR Rate with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (iv) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the LIBOR Rate with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

 

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.

 

“SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website.

 

“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.