EX-4.4
Published on August 8, 2018
EXHIBIT 4.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT
(CREDIT AGREEMENT/LOAN AGREEMENT VERSION)
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is by and between/among the undersigned (individually and collectively, “Applicant”; jointly and severally, if more than one) and to induce Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and/or any of its branches or affiliates (individually and collectively, “Bank”), in its sole discretion, to issue one or more Credits (as defined below) at the request of Applicant and for the account of Applicant named in the Application (as defined below), Applicant agrees that the following terms and conditions of this Agreement shall apply to any Credit:
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
A. Applicant is a party to the credit or loan agreement pursuant to which one or more letters of credit may be issued or will otherwise be governed (as may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).
B. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, (a) Bank has agreed to issue standby letter(s) of credit as more particularly described therein, and/or (b) Bank and Applicant have agreed that certain existing standby letters(s) of credit will now be deemed for all purposes Credits (as defined below) issued under and in connection with this Agreement and not that certain Standby Letter of Credit Agreement between Bank and Borrower dated September 18, 2012, as previously amended from time to time (the “Prior Standby Letter of Credit Agreement” (in each case, as such standby letter(s) of credit may be amended from time to time, the “Credit(s)”) for the account of Applicant, subject to the additional terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Application (as defined below) and such other documents as may be required by Bank in connection with the issuance of the Credit(s). For purposes of this Agreement, if there is only one (1) Credit issued under the Credit Agreement, then all references herein to “a Credit”, “each Credit”, “one or more Credits”, “the Credits” or similar references shall be deemed to refer to the Credit only.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Applicant and Bank (by its acceptance of this Agreement and the issuance of a Credit) hereby agree as follows (unless otherwise defined or indicated in this Agreement, capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement):
1.Applications/Instructions. The request to issue or amend a Credit (including any Application for Standby Letter of Credit on which Applicant applied for a letter of credit under the Prior Standby Letter of Credit Agreement, an “Application”) shall be irrevocable and in such form as Bank shall from time to time require or agree to accept (including without limitation any type of electronic form or means of communication and through Bank’s proprietary online system). Inquiries, communications and instructions (whether written, facsimile or in other electronic form approved by Bank) regarding a Credit, each Application and this Agreement are each referred to herein as “Instructions”. Bank’s records of the content of any Instruction will be conclusive.
2.Applicant’s Reimbursement and Payment Obligations and Terms.
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(a) |
United States Dollar Drawings. For each Credit payable or purporting to be payable in United States Dollars, Applicant shall, as to clause (i) below, reimburse Bank, and as to all other clauses below, pay Bank: |
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(i) |
the amount of each drawing paid by Bank under the Credit on the same Business Day (as defined below) such drawing is paid by Bank, if under a sight draft or |
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demand presentation paid by Bank under such Credit, and at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date when payment is to be made under a time draft (or acceptance relating thereto) or deferred payment obligation; |
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(ii) |
commissions, fees and charges in respect of the Credit (including, commissions and fees for issuance, correspondent bank fees, transfer, assignment of proceeds, amendments and drawings and of any adviser, confirming institution or entity or other nominated person), at such rates, amounts and times as specified in the Credit Agreement, or if not specified in the Credit Agreement, as Bank and Applicant shall mutually agree (or if no agreement, the rates then customarily charged by Bank); |
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(iii) |
interest on each amount payable under this Agreement for each day from and including the date such payment is due through the date of payment, on demand, at the rate per annum and calculated in the manner specified in the Credit Agreement or, if not specified in the Credit Agreement, at a rate per annum (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed) equal to the lesser of (A) the Prime Rate (as defined below) plus 4% and (B) the highest rate permitted by applicable law; |
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(iv) |
Bank’s charges, costs and expenses (including the reasonable legal fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel) to Bank incurred in connection with the protection or enforcement of Bank’s rights under this Agreement and any correspondent’s charges, with interest from the date paid or incurred by Bank through the date of payment by Applicant, on demand, at a rate per annum and calculated in the manner specified in the Credit Agreement or, if not specified in the Credit Agreement, at a rate per annum (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed) equal to the lesser of (A) the Prime Rate plus 4% and (B) the highest rate permitted by applicable law; |
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(v) |
if as a result of any Change in Law (as defined below), Bank determines that the cost to Bank of issuing or maintaining any Credit is increased, or any amount received or receivable by Bank under this Agreement is reduced, or Bank is required to make any payment in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby, then such additional amount or amounts, on demand, as Bank determines will compensate Bank for such increased cost, reduction or payment; and |
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(vi) |
as used in this Agreement, in addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the meanings ascribed to such terms: |
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(A) |
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means: (a) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; (b) the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, as amended; and (c) any other applicable anti-corruption laws, regulations or ordinances in any jurisdiction. |
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(B) |
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means applicable laws or regulations in any jurisdiction in which Applicant or any Guarantor 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. |
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receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or any state thereof, or any other foreign or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally. |
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(D) |
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close at the place where Bank is obligated to honor a presentation or otherwise act under a Credit. |
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(E) |
“Change in Law” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of: (a) the adoption or effectiveness of any law, rule, regulation, judicial ruling, judgment or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application by any Governmental Authority of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, or (c) the making or issuance by any Governmental Authority of any request, rule, guideline or directive, whether or not having the force of law; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the US or foreign regulatory authorities shall, in each case, be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued. |
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(F) |
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulation legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code. |
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(G) |
“Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether at the national, state, territorial, provincial, municipal or any other level, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of, or pertaining to, government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank). |
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(H) |
“ISP” means, International Standby Practices 1998 (International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590) and any version or revision thereof accepted by Bank for use. |
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payment obligations and liabilities, of Applicant to Bank arising under, or in connection with, this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 4, any Application or any Credit (and any Existing Credit), whether matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent, now existing or hereafter incurred. |
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(J) |
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, governmental authority or other entity. |
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(K) |
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest most recently announced within Bank at its principal office as its “Prime Rate”, with the understanding that the Prime Rate is one of Bank’s base rates and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or publications as Bank may designate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is announced as being effective. If the Prime Rate as provided above would be less than zero percent (0.0%), then the Prime Rate shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.0%). |
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(L) |
“Sanction” or “Sanctions” means any and all economic or financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes and anti-terrorism laws imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by: (a) the United States of America, including those administered by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), (b) the United Nations Security Council, (c) the European Union, (d) the United Kingdom, or (e) any other governmental authorities with jurisdiction over Applicant or any Guarantor. |
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(M) |
“Sanctioned Person” means any Person that is a target of Sanctions, including without limitation, a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person or acting on behalf of a Person that is: (a) listed on any list of the targets of a Sanction published by the authority that administers and enforces that Sanction or (b) a Sanctions target pursuant to any territorial or country-based Sanctions program. |
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(N) |
“Standard Letter of Credit Practice” means, for Bank, any domestic or foreign law or letter of credit practices applicable in the city in which Bank issued the applicable Credit or for its branch or correspondent, such laws and practices applicable in the city in which it has advised, issued, confirmed or negotiated such Credit, as the case may be. Such practices shall be (A) of banks that regularly issue Credits in the particular city, and (B) required or permitted under the ISP or UCP as chosen in the applicable Credit. |
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(O) |
“UCP” means, Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits 2007 Revision, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 and any version or revision thereof accepted by Bank for use. |
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(b) |
Foreign Currency Drawings. If the amount drawn or demanded to be paid under any Credit is not in United States Dollars, Applicant agrees to reimburse or pay under Section 2(a) above the United States Dollar equivalent of the amount computed at Bank’s selling rate, as of the date of Applicant’s reimbursement or payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Bank may, at its sole and absolute discretion, require or permit Applicant to reimburse or pay under Section 2(a) above in the applicable non-United States Dollars currency. |
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(d) |
Automatic Debit and Set-Off. Bank may (but shall not be required to), without demand for reimbursement or payment or notice to Applicant, and in addition to any other right of set-off that Bank may have, debit any account or accounts maintained by Applicant with any office of Bank (now or in the future) and set-off and apply (i) any balance or deposits (general, special, time, demand, provisional, final, matured, unmatured, contingent or absolute) in the account(s) irrespective of any applicable early termination or other fees resulting from such liquidation, all of which Applicant shall bear, and (ii) any sums due or payable from Bank, to the payment of any and all amounts owed by Applicant to Bank. |
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(e) |
Obligations Absolute. Applicant’s reimbursement and payment obligations under this Section 2 are absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation: |
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(i) |
any lack of validity, enforceability or legal effect of any Application, any Credit or amendment thereto, this Agreement, any guaranty, agreement or document relating to any of the foregoing or any term or provision therein or herein; |
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(ii) |
payment against presentation of any draft, demand or claim for payment under any Credit or other document (including by electronic transmission such as SWIFT, electronic mail, facsimile, computer generated telecommunication) presented for purposes of drawing under any Credit (individually, a “Drawing Document” and collectively, the “Drawing Documents”) that does not comply in whole or in part with the terms of the applicable Credit or which proves to be fraudulent, forged or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, or which is signed, issued or presented by a Person (as defined below) or a transferee of such Person purporting to be a successor or transferee of the beneficiary of such Credit; |
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(iii) |
Bank or any of its branches or affiliates being the beneficiary of any Credit; |
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(iv) |
Bank or any correspondent honoring a drawing against a Drawing Document up to the amount available under any Credit even if such Drawing Document claims an amount in excess of the amount available under the Credit; |
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(v) |
the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that Applicant or any other Person may have at any time against any beneficiary or transferee beneficiary, any assignee of proceeds, Bank or any other Person; |
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(vi) |
if the Credit requires payment upon Bank’s receipt of an electronic presentation, Applicant shall reimburse Bank on demand for the amount in the electronic transmission advice regardless of whether the original Drawing Documents arrive at Bank’s counters or are different from the electronic presentation; or |
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provided, however, that subject to Section 4(b) below, the foregoing shall not release Bank from such liability to Applicant as may be finally determined in a binding arbitration proceeding brought by Applicant pursuant to the Credit Agreement (or as may be judicially determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to the extent that a judicial determination, proceeding or remedy is permitted by the Credit Agreement) against Bank following reimbursement and/or payment of the Obligations.
3.Applicant’s Responsibility. Applicant is responsible for the final text of the Credit as issued by Bank, irrespective of any assistance Bank may provide such as drafting or recommending text or by Bank’s use or refusal to use text submitted by Applicant. Applicant understands that the final form of any Credit may be subject to such revisions and changes to the Credit language consistent with its customary practices for letter of credit issuance as are deemed necessary or appropriate by Bank and Applicant hereby consents to such revisions and changes. Applicant is solely responsible for the suitability of the Credit for Applicant’s purposes. If Applicant requests Bank to issue a Credit for an affiliated or unaffiliated third party (“Account Party”), (i) Account Party shall have no rights against Bank; (ii) Applicant shall be responsible for the Application and obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) communications (including notices) related to the respective Credit shall be among Bank and Applicant. Applicant will examine the copy of the Credit and any other documents sent by Bank in connection with the Credit and shall promptly notify Bank (not later than three (3) Business Days following Applicant’s receipt of documents from Bank) of any non-compliance with Applicant’s Instructions and of any discrepancy in any document under any presentment or other irregularity. To the extent commercially reasonable and in accordance with applicable law and Standard Letter of Credit Practice, Bank will assist Applicant in correcting the Credit for any non-compliance with Applicant’s Instructions and any other irregularity. Applicant understands and agrees that Bank is not required to extend the expiration date of any Credit for any reason, and with respect to any Credit containing an “automatic amendment” to extend the expiration date of such Credit, Bank, in its sole and absolute discretion, may give notice of non-extension of such Credit and, if Applicant does not at any time want the then current expiration date such Credit to be extended, Applicant will so notify Bank at least fifteen (15) calendar days before Bank is required to notify the beneficiary of such Credit or any advising bank of such non-extension pursuant to the terms of such Credit.
4.Indemnification; Limitation of Liability.
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(a) |
Indemnification. Applicant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Bank (including its branches and affiliates), its correspondents and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents (each, including Bank, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all claims, suits, judgments, liabilities, losses, fines, damages, penalties, interest, costs and expenses (including expert witness fees and reasonable legal fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel and all expenses of arbitration or litigation and in preparation thereof), which may be incurred by or awarded against any Indemnified Person (the “Costs”), and which arise out of or in connection with, or as a result of: |
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(i) |
any Credit or any pre-advice of its issuance; |
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(ii) |
any transfer, sale, delivery, surrender or endorsement (or lack thereof) of any Drawing Document at any time(s) held by any Indemnified Person in connection with any Credit; |
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(iii) |
any action or proceeding arising out of, or in connection with, any Credit or this Agreement (whether administrative, judicial or in connection with arbitration), |
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including any action or proceeding to compel or restrain any presentation or payment under any Credit, or for the wrongful dishonor of, or honoring a presentation under, any Credit; |
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(iv) |
any independent undertakings issued by the beneficiary of any Credit; |
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(v) |
any unauthorized Instruction or error, omission, interruption, delay whether transmitted by mail, courier, computer, electronic transmission, SWIFT, any other telecommunication including communications through a correspondent; |
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(vi) |
an adviser, confirmer or other nominated person seeking to be reimbursed, indemnified or compensated; |
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(vii) |
any third party seeking to enforce the rights of an applicant, beneficiary, nominated person, transferee, assignee of Credit proceeds or holder of an instrument or document; |
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(viii) |
the fraud, forgery or illegal action of parties other than the Indemnified Person; |
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(ix) |
any prohibition on payment or delay in payment of any amount payable by Bank to the appropriate party of a Credit arising out of Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, or Sanctions; |
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(x) |
Bank’s performance of the obligations of a confirming institution or entity that wrongfully dishonors a confirmation; |
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(xi) |
any foreign language translation provided to Bank in connection with any Credit; |
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(xii) |
any foreign law or usage as it relates to Bank’s issuance of a Credit in support of a foreign guaranty including without limitation the expiration of such guaranty after the related Credit expiration date and any resulting drawing paid by Bank in connection thereto; or |
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(xiii) |
the acts or omissions, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto governmental or regulatory authority or cause or event beyond the control of such Indemnified Person; |
provided, however, that such indemnity shall not be available to any Person claiming indemnification under clauses (i) through (xiii) above to the extent that such Costs are found in a binding arbitration proceeding brought by Applicant pursuant to the Credit Agreement (or as may be judicially determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to the extent the Credit Agreement permits (or applicable law requires) any dispute to be brought in state or federal court located in the Jurisdiction) to have resulted directly from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Person claiming indemnity. Applicant hereby agrees to pay Bank on demand from time to time all amounts owing under this Section. If and to the extent that the Obligations of Applicant under this Section are unenforceable for any reason, Applicant agrees to make the maximum contribution to the Costs permissible under applicable law. This indemnity provision shall survive termination of this Agreement and all Credits.
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negligence or willful misconduct in (i) honoring a presentation under a Credit that on its face does not at least substantially comply with the terms and conditions of such Credit, (ii) failing to honor a presentation under a Credit that strictly complies with the terms and conditions of such Credit or (iii) retaining Drawing Documents presented under a Credit. Applicant’s aggregate remedies against Bank and any Indemnified Person for wrongfully honoring a presentation under any Credit or wrongfully retaining honored Drawing Documents shall in no event exceed the aggregate amount paid by Applicant to Bank in respect of the honored presentation in connection with such Credit under Section 2 above, plus interest. |
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(c) |
No Punitive Damages. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither Bank nor any other Indemnified Person shall, under any circumstances whatsoever, be liable in contract, tort or otherwise for any punitive, exemplary, consequential, indirect or special damages or losses regardless of whether or not Bank or any other Indemnified Person shall have been advised of the possibility thereof or the form of action in which such damages or losses may be claimed. Applicant shall take action to avoid and mitigate the amount of any damages claimed against Bank or any other Indemnified Person, including by enforcing its rights in the underlying transaction. Any claim by Applicant under or in connection with this Agreement or any Credit shall be reduced by an amount equal to the sum of (X) the amount (if any) saved by Applicant as a result of the breach or alleged wrongful conduct complained of; and (Y) the amount (if any) of the loss that would have been avoided had Applicant taken all reasonable steps to mitigate any loss, and in case of a claim of wrongful dishonor, by specifically and timely authorizing Bank to effect a cure. |
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(d) |
No Responsibility or Liability. Without limiting any other provision of this Agreement, Bank and each other Indemnified Person (if applicable) shall not be responsible to Applicant for, and/or Bank’s rights and remedies against Applicant and the Obligations shall not be impaired by: |
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(i) |
honor of a presentation under any Credit that on its face substantially complies with the terms and conditions of such Credit, even if the Credit requires strict compliance by the beneficiary; |
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(ii) |
honor of a presentation of any Drawing Document that appears on its face to have been signed, presented or issued (A) by any purported successor or transferee of any beneficiary or other Person required to sign, present or issue such Drawing Document or (B) under a new name of the beneficiary; |
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(iii) |
acceptance as a draft of any written or electronic demand or request for payment under a Credit, even if nonnegotiable or not in the form of a draft, and/or Bank may disregard any requirement that such draft, demand or request bear any or adequate reference to the Credit; |
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(iv) |
the identity or authority of any presenter or signer of any Drawing Document or the form, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any Drawing Document (other than Bank’s determination that such Drawing Document appears on its face substantially to comply with the terms and conditions of the Credit); |
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(v) |
acting upon any Instruction that it in good faith believes to have been given by a Person authorized to give such Instructions; |
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(vi) |
any errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any message, advice or document (regardless of how sent or transmitted) or for errors in interpretation of technical terms or in translation; |
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(vii) |
any delay in giving or failing to give notice (irrespective of whether or if notice is required) to Applicant; |
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(viii) |
any acts, omissions or fraud by, or the solvency of, any beneficiary, any nominated person or entity or any other Person; |
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(ix) |
any breach of contract between the beneficiary and Applicant or any of the parties to the underlying transaction; |
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(x) |
assertion or waiver of any provision of the ISP or UCP that primarily benefits an issuer of a letter of credit, including any requirement that any Drawing Document be presented to it at a particular hour or place; |
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(xi) |
payment to any presenting bank (designated or permitted by the terms of the applicable Credit) claiming that it rightfully honored or is entitled to reimbursement or indemnity under Standard Letter of Credit Practice applicable to it; |
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(xii) |
acting or failing to act as required or permitted under Standard Letter of Credit Practice applicable to where it has issued, confirmed, advised or negotiated such Credit, as the case may be; |
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(xiii) |
honor of a presentation after the expiration date of any Credit notwithstanding that a presentation was made prior to such expiration date and dishonored by Bank if subsequently Bank or any court or other finder of fact determines such presentation should have been honored; |
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(xiv) |
dishonor of any presentation that does not strictly comply or that is fraudulent, forged or otherwise not entitled to honor; or |
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(xv) |
honor of a presentation that is subsequently determined by Bank to have been made in violation of international, federal, state or local restrictions on the transaction of business with certain prohibited Persons. |
5.Representations and Warranties. Applicant hereby makes all of the representations and warranties given to Bank in the Credit Agreement as if set forth in full herein, together with the representations and warranties set forth below, and Applicant further represents and warrants to Bank that all such representations and warranties are true and correct in all respects (all of which representations and warranties will be repeated as true and correct as of the date of each new Application submitted by Applicant to Bank and as of the date of issuance of any Credit requested in each such Application):
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(a) |
Approvals. No authorization, approval or consent of, or notice to or filing with, any governmental or regulatory authority is required to be made in connection with the execution and delivery by Applicant of this Agreement or the issuance by Bank of any Credit for the account of Applicant pursuant to this Agreement and related Application. |
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(b) |
Compliance with Credit Agreement. The Credits issued or amended pursuant to this Agreement or any Application meet the expiration date requirements for all letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement and do not conflict with, result in a breach or constitute a default under the Credit Agreement. |
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(c) |
Laws. Applicant is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, except where the noncompliance with which would not have a material adverse effect on Applicant. |
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6.Covenants. Applicant hereby repeats each of its affirmative and negative covenants in the Credit Agreement and covenants to the following:
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(a) |
Compliance with Laws. Comply with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and Sanctions now or hereafter applicable to Applicant, this Agreement, any Application or to any transactions or payments under or in connection with any Application and/or Credit. |
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(b) |
Sanctions and Use of Proceeds. Applicant will not request that Bank issue a Credit to a Sanctioned person. Applicant will not, directly or indirectly, use or facilitate the use by any other Person of any Credit (i) to fund any activities or business of, or with, any Sanctioned Person or (ii) in any other manner that would cause Bank to be in breach of any Sanction. Applicant and any Guarantor will not pay amounts to Bank hereunder with proceeds derived from any transaction that would be prohibited by Sanctions or would otherwise cause Bank to be in breach of any Sanction. |
7.Events of Default. Each of the following shall be an “Event of Default” under this Agreement:
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(a) |
Failure to Reimburse or Pay. The failure by Applicant or any Person that has guaranteed or provided credit or collateral support for all or any part of the Obligations (each such Person, a “Guarantor”) to reimburse or pay any principal, interest, fee or other amount when due under or in connection with this Agreement or any Credit. |
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(b) |
Credit Agreement Default/Event of Default. The occurrence of any “default” or “event of default” (howsoever defined in the Credit Agreement). |
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(c) |
Detriment to Collateral; Sanctions. Any party with a material interest in any collateral given to secure the reimbursement or other payment obligations subject to this Agreement shall fail to comply with the requirements of the laws, rules, regulations and orders of any governmental authority applicable to and materially affecting such collateral, or (ii) any other owner of an equity interest in Applicant or Guarantor, is the target of any Sanctions, or performs or engages in any act or series of acts that Bank reasonably believes could constitute a violation of Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws, or Anti-Money Laundering Laws. |
8.Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default:
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any Bankruptcy Law. Applicant does hereby grant to Bank, for its benefit, and as collateral security for the Obligations and performance by Applicant of all the terms, covenants and agreements to be performed under this Agreement or any document delivered in connection with this Agreement, a security interest in, all of Applicant’s right, title and interest in, to and under, whether now or hereafter existing or arising, any such Collateral Account established by Bank pursuant to this clause (a) and all amounts on deposit therein and all certificates and instruments, if any, from time to time evidencing any of the foregoing, together with all proceeds of and all amounts received or receivable under any and all of the foregoing. |
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(b) |
The full undrawn amount of each Credit, together with any additional amounts payable hereunder, shall, at Bank’s option, become due and payable immediately without demand upon or notice to Applicant; provided, however, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Section 7(b) above that results in the automatic acceleration of all outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the amount of each Credit, together with any additional amounts payable hereunder, shall, automatically and without any notice to Applicant or any other act by Bank, become immediately due and payable; and |
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(c) |
Bank may exercise from time to time any of the rights, powers and remedies available to Bank under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement, under any other documents now or in the future evidencing or securing the Obligations or under applicable law, and all such remedies shall be cumulative and not exclusive. |
With respect to Bank’s exercise of any of the foregoing rights, powers and/or remedies, Applicant hereby waives presentment, protest, dishonor, notice of dishonor, demand, notice of protest, notice of non-payment, notice of acceptance of this Agreement and any other notice or demand of any kind from Bank.
9.Subrogation. The Bank, at its option, shall be subrogated to Applicant’s rights against any Person who may be liable to Applicant on any transaction or obligation underlying any Credit, to the rights of any holder in due course or Person with similar status against Applicant, and to the rights of any beneficiary or any successor or assignee of any beneficiary.
10.Governing Law; UCP; ISP; Standard Letter of Credit Practice. This Agreement and each Credit shall be governed by and construed in accordance with (a)(1) in the case of each Credit, the substantive laws of the jurisdiction specified in the applicable Credit, or if no governing law is so specified, the substantive laws of the jurisdiction of the office of Bank that issued the applicable Credit, and (2) in the case of this Agreement, the governing law specified in the Credit Agreement, or if no governing law is so specified, the substantive laws of the jurisdiction of the office of Bank that issued the applicable Credit (as applicable, the “Jurisdiction”), in either case, including the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such Jurisdiction (the “UCC”), but excluding any choice of law rules that would apply the law of a different jurisdiction, and (b) the ISP or UCP, as set forth in each Credit, which is, as applicable, incorporated herein by reference into this Agreement and which shall control (to the extent not prohibited by the law of the Jurisdiction) in the event of any inconsistent provisions of such law. Unless Applicant specifies otherwise in its Application for a Credit, Applicant agrees that Bank may issue a Credit subject to the ISP or UCP. Bank's privileges, rights and remedies under the ISP or UCP shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, its privileges, rights, and remedies expressly provided for herein. The ISP and UCP shall serve, in the absence of proof to the contrary, as evidence of Standard Letter of Credit Practice with respect to matters covered therein. Bank shall be deemed to have acted with due diligence and reasonable care if Bank’s conduct is in accordance with Standard Letter of Credit Practice or in accordance with this Agreement. To the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) this Agreement shall prevail in case of conflict between this Agreement, the UCC and/or Standard Letter of Credit Practice, (ii) the ISP shall prevail in case of conflict between the ISP and the UCC or other Standard Letter of Credit Practice if the Credit is governed by the ISP, and (iii) the UCP shall prevail in case of a conflict between the UCP and the UCC or other Standard Letter of Credit Practice if the Credit is governed by the UCP.
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11.Arbitration. Applicant and Bank hereby agree to and incorporate by reference the arbitration provisions of the Credit Agreement as if set forth in full herein.
12.Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. Without waiving or modifying any of the mandatory arbitration provisions set forth in the Credit Agreement and to the extent such arbitration requirements permit (or applicable law requires) any dispute to be brought in state or federal court located in the Jurisdiction, in any proceeding involving, directly or indirectly, any matter arising out of or related to this Agreement or any Credit issued in connection with this Agreement and Applicant’s Application with respect to such Credit, Applicant hereby irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court located in any county in the Jurisdiction and agrees not to raise any objection to the Jurisdiction or to the laying or maintaining of the venue of any such proceeding in the Jurisdiction. Applicant agrees that service of process in any such proceeding may be duly effected upon it by mailing a copy thereof, by certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at its address set forth in Section 16 below.
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(a) |
If, for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against Applicant in any court in any jurisdiction, it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (such other currency being hereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due under any Credit in any currency (the “Obligation Currency”) other than the Judgment Currency, the conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give effect to such conversion being made on such date, or the date on which the judgment is given, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction (the applicable date as of which such conversion is made being hereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Conversion Date”). |
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(b) |
If, in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in clause (a) above, there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual receipt for value of the amount due, Applicant shall pay such additional amount (if any, but in any event not a lesser amount) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount actually received in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of the Obligation Currency which could have been purchased with the amount of the Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date. |
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(c) |
The term “rate of exchange” in this Section means the rate of exchange at which Bank, on the relevant date at or about 12:00 noon, would be prepared to sell, in accordance with its normal course foreign currency exchange practices, the Obligation Currency against the Judgment Currency. |
14.WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. WITHOUT WAIVING OR MODIFYING ANY OF THE MANDATORY ARBITRATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, TO THE EXTENT SUCH ARBITRATION REQUIREMENTS PERMIT (OR APPLICABLE LAW REQUIRES) ANY DISPUTE TO BE BROUGHT IN STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN THE JURISDICTION, APPLICANT AND WHEN IT ISSUES A CREDIT, BANK KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT OR THE CREDIT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF APPLICANT OR BANK WITH RESPECT THERETO. THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR BANK TO ISSUE THE CREDIT.
15.Bankruptcy and Forfeiture Reinstatement. If any consideration transferred to Bank in payment of, or as collateral for, or in satisfaction of the Obligations, shall be voided in whole or in part as a result of (a) a subsequent bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; (b) any forfeiture or seizure action or remedy; (c)
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any fraudulent transfer or preference action or remedy; or (d) any other civil, criminal or equitable proceeding or remedy, then Bank’s claim to recover the voided consideration shall be a new and independent claim arising under this Agreement and shall be jointly and severally due and payable immediately by Applicant.
16.Notices. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices, Instructions, approvals, requests, demands, consents and other communications provided for hereunder (collectively, “notices”) shall be in writing (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission approved by Bank). All notices shall be sent by regular U.S. mail or certified mail prepaid, by facsimile or other electronic transmission approved by Bank, by hand delivery, by Federal Express (or other comparable domestic or international delivery service) prepaid to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address set forth on the signature page hereof in the case of Applicant. All notices to Bank shall be directed to the office of Bank issuing the Credit and, if Bank approves of receiving notices by email, to the email address of Bank provided from time to time by Bank to Applicant. Bank may, but shall not be obligated to, require authentication of any electronic transmission. Notices sent by hand, Federal Express (or other comparable domestic or international delivery service) or certified mail shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by regular U.S. mail shall be deemed to have been received five (5) days after deposit into the U.S. mail, notices sent by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been given when sent and receipt has been confirmed. Applicant or Bank may change its address for notices by notifying the other of the new address in any manner permitted by this Section.
17.Waiver and Amendments. No modification, amendment or waiver of, or consent to any departure by Applicant from, any provision of this Agreement will be effective unless made in a writing signed by Bank, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Bank’s consent to any amendment, waiver or modification does not mean that Bank will consent or has consented to any other or subsequent Instruction to amend, modify or waive a term of this Agreement or any Credit. No delay by Bank in exercising any of its rights or remedies shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial waiver of any right or remedy preclude any other further exercise of that right or remedy, or the exercise of any other right or remedy.
18.Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will be binding on Applicant’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Bank’s successors and assigns. Bank may assign this Agreement and its rights to reimbursement regarding any Credit, in whole or in part, without Applicant’s consent. Applicant may not assign or transfer any of its interests, rights or remedies related to this Agreement or any Credit, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Bank.
19.Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of the Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of the Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or any remaining provisions of this Agreement.
20.Multiple Role Disclosure. Bank and its respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of financial services and may be acting in multiple roles that may involve interests that differ from those of Applicant and its respective affiliates. Such transactions and roles may involve Applicant, any of its affiliates as well as entities or persons and their affiliates which may be involved in transactions arising from or relating to any Credit issued under this Agreement and may be customers or competitors of Applicant or any of its affiliates. Applicant acknowledges and accepts that Bank and its affiliates may perform more than one role in relation to any Credit or transactions related to any Credit.
21.Existing Credits. All Credits, other than Direct Pay Credits (defined below), that were issued prior to the date of this Agreement for the account of Applicant (“Existing Credits”) shall be deemed Credits under and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall supersede any previous reimbursement agreements (however titled) that otherwise had governed or applied in respect of any Existing Credits.
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22.Entire Agreement; Amendment and Restatement. This Agreement, together with any Application(s) accepted by Bank, and any other agreement, document or instrument referred to herein, constitute the final, exclusive and entire agreement and understanding of, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous, oral or written, agreements, understandings, representations and negotiations between, the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, provided that this Agreement shall not supersede any reimbursement agreement (however titled) that has been entered into specifically with respect to any “direct pay” standby letter of credit or other similar standby letter of credit where the terms of such reimbursement agreement have been drafted to specifically address the particular attributes of, or the particular circumstances of the underlying transaction supported by, such standby letter of credit (“Direct Pay Credits”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Applicant hereby agrees, for good and valuable consideration, that the Prior Standby Letter of Credit Agreement, regardless of whether it was addressed to Bank or some other person or entity, is replaced in its entirety by this Agreement so that the Credits which were originally issued under and in connection with the Prior Standby Letter of Credit Agreement will now be deemed for all purposes Credits issued under and in connection with this Agreement and not the Prior Standby Letter of Credit Agreement. THE EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT EXTINGUISH THE OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING IN CONNECTION WITH THE PRIOR STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE A NOVATION WITH RESPECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. APPLICANT HEREBY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT, AS OF THE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT, THERE ARE NO CLAIMS OR OFFSETS AGAINST OR DEFENSES OR COUNTERCLAIMS TO APPLICANT’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE PRIOR STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. APPLICANT WAIVES ANY AND ALL SUCH CLAIMS, OFFSETS, DEFENSES OR COUNTERCLAIMS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, ARISING PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT.
23.Conflicts. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Credit Agreement, (a) the provisions of this Agreement shall control as to (i) the definition of “Business Day” in Section 2 hereof, (ii) compliance with laws in Section 5(c) hereof and (iii) notices in Section 16 hereof as it applies to this Agreement, and (b) the provisions of the Credit Agreement shall control all other conflicts or inconsistencies.
24.Cross-Collateralization Exclusion. Applicant acknowledges and agrees no deed of trust, mortgage, security deed or similar real estate collateral agreement, nor any security agreement, pledge, assignment or similar personal property collateral agreement provided to Bank by Applicant or any other party shall now or hereafter secure the Obligations of Applicant to Bank subject to this Agreement by reason of any cross-collateralization or similar provision purporting to generally expand the scope of obligations secured thereby to include the Obligations subject to this Agreement. For the elimination of doubt, unless specifically described as being secured thereby, no such document described in this Section shall secure the Obligations subject to this Agreement.
25.Continuing Agreement. This Agreement is a continuing agreement and may not be terminated by Applicant except upon (a) thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of such termination by Applicant to Bank at the address set forth on the most recent Credit issued hereunder, (b) reimbursement and/or payment of all Obligations, and (c) the expiration or cancellation of all Credits issued hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if a Credit is issued in favor of a sovereign or commercial entity, which is to issue a guarantee or undertaking on Applicant’s behalf in connection therewith, or is issued as support for such a guarantee, Applicant shall remain liable with respect to such Credit until Bank is fully released in writing by such entity.
26.Joint and Several Liability. If this Agreement is signed by two or more Applicants:
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(a) |
each shall be deemed to make to Bank all the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, and each shall be jointly and severally liable under this Agreement; and |
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(b) |
each Applicant hereby waives any defense to its liability for reimbursement, payment and/or performance of the Obligations based upon or arising by reason of: (i) principles of |
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suretyship or any disability or other defense of any other Applicant or any other Person; (ii) the cessation or limitation from any cause whatsoever, other than reimbursement and/or payment in full, of the liability of the other Applicant(s) or any other Person for the Obligations; (iii) any lack of authority of any officer, director, partner, agent or other Person acting or purporting to act on behalf of the other Applicant(s) or any defect in the formation of the other Applicant(s); (iv) any act or omission by Bank which directly or indirectly results in or aids the discharge of the other Applicant(s) by operation of law or otherwise, or which in any way impairs or suspends any rights or remedies of Bank against the other Applicant(s); (v) any impairment of the value of any interest in any security for the payment and performance under this Agreement, including without limitation, the failure to obtain or maintain perfection or recordation of any interest in any such security, the release of any such security without substitution, and/or the failure to preserve the value of, or to comply with applicable law in disposing of, any such security; or (vi) any modification of the obligations or liabilities of the other Applicant(s) for the Obligations, including without limitation the renewal, extension, acceleration or other change in time for reimbursement or payment of, or other change in the terms of, the indebtedness of any Applicant for the Obligations, including increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon. |
Until all Obligations shall have been paid in full, no Applicant shall have any right of subrogation. Each Applicant hereby waives all rights and defenses it may have arising out of (A) any election of remedies by Bank, even though that election of remedies, such as a non-judicial foreclosure with respect to any security for the Obligations, destroys its rights of subrogation or its rights to proceed against the other Applicant(s) for reimbursement, or (B) any loss of rights it may suffer by reason of any rights, powers or remedies of the other Applicant(s) in connection with any anti-deficiency laws or any other laws limiting, qualifying or discharging any Applicant's indebtedness for the Obligations. Until all Obligations shall have been paid in full, each Applicant hereby waives any right to enforce any remedy which Bank now has or may hereafter have against the other Applicant(s) or any other Person, and waives any benefit of, or any right to participate in, any security now or hereafter held by Bank. Unless otherwise agreed by Bank, Bank in its discretion may accept an Application or seek or receive Instruction from, or give or send notice to, any Applicant regarding a Credit, including, without limitation, any amendment thereto or waiver of any discrepancy thereunder, and until Bank at the office at which the relevant Credit is issued actually receives written notice of revocation, each Applicant shall be bound by and hereby affirms the Instructions of the other.
[End of text; signature page to follow]
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