WNS (Holdings) Limited
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 20-F/A
(Amendment No. 1)
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 |
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the transition period from to |
OR
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SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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Date of event requiring this shell company report |
Commission file number 001-32945
WNS (Holdings) Limited
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrants Name Into English)
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Jersey, Channel Islands
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex
Pirojshanagar, Vikhroli(W)
Mumbai 400 079, India
(91-22) 4095-2100
(Address and Telephone Number of Principal Executive Offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of Each Class |
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Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
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American Depositary Shares, each represented by
one Ordinary Share, par value 10 pence per share |
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The New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers classes of capital or common
stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
As of March 31, 2008, 42,363,100 ordinary shares, par value 10 pence per share, were issued
and outstanding, of which 19,415,759 ordinary shares were held in the form of 19,415,759 American
Depositary Shares, or ADSs. Each ADS represents one ordinary share.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act.
Yes o No þ
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is
not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes
o No
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Note Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under
those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated
filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate
by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to
prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
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US GAAP þ |
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International Financial
Reporting
Standards as issued by the International Authority Standards
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Other o |
If
Other has been checked in response to the previous
question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
Item 17 o Item 18 þ
If this report is an annual report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell
company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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EXPLANATORY NOTE |
EXHIBITS |
SIGNATURES |
Ex-4.16 Master Services Agreement, dated July 11, 2008, between Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited and WNS Capital Investment Limited. |
Ex-4.17 $200 million Facility Agreement dated July 11, 2008. |
Ex-12.3 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, regarding this Amendment No.1 to the Annual Report |
Ex-12.4 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, regarding this Amendment No.1 to the Annual Report |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Amendment No. 1 on Form 20-F/A to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2008 (Amendment No. 1), which was originally filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the Commission) on August 1, 2008 ( Form 20-F), is being filed solely for
the purpose of amending Item 19, Exhibits, to refile Exhibits 4.16 and 4.17 in final redacted
forms. These Exhibits 4.16 and 4.17 supersede and replace the corresponding exhibits to our Form
20-F filed on August 1, 2008. Amendment No. 1 speaks as of the original filing date of our Form
20-F on August 1, 2008. Other than for the purpose of amending Item 19 to refile Exhibits 4.16 and
4.17 therewith, this Amendment No. 1 does not, and does not purport to, amend, update or restate
the information in any other item of our Form 20-F filed on August 1, 2008.
EXHIBITS
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1.1
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Memorandum of Association of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as amended
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registration Statement
on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed
with the Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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1.2
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Articles of Association of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as amended
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registration Statement
on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed
with the Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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2.1
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Form of Deposit Agreement among WNS (Holdings) Limited, Deutsche Bank
Trust Company Americas, as Depositary, and the holders and beneficial
owners of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary
Receipts, or ADR, issued thereunder (including the Form of ADR)
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registration Statement
on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed
with the Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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2.2
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Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate of WNS (Holdings) Limited
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Registration Statement
on Form 8-A (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed
with the Commission on July 14, 2006. |
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4.1
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Share Purchase Agreement dated April 20, 2007 among, WNS (Mauritius)
Limited, Marketics Technologies (India) Private Limited and the selling
shareholders named therein incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945)
of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26,
2007. |
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4.2
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Lease Deed dated January 25, 2006 between DLF Cyber City and WNS Global
Services (Private) Ltd incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of
the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of
WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. |
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4.3
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Lease Deed dated March 10, 2005 between M/s DLF Cyber City and WNS
Global Services (Private) Ltd. incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of
WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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4.4
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Leave and License Agreement dated November 10, 2005 between Godrej &
Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd.
with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of
59,202 square feet at Plant 10 incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.5 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of
WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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4.5
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Leave and License Agreement dated November 10, 2005 between Godrej &
Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd.
with respect to the lease of office premises with an area of 4,867
square feet at Plant 10 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of
the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of
WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. |
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4.6
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Leave and License Agreement dated November 10, 2005 between Godrej &
Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd.
with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of
20,360 square feet at Plant 10 incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.6 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No.
001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on
June 26, 2007. |
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4.7
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Leave and License Agreement dated May 31, 2006 between Godrej & Boyce
Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd. with
respect to Plant 11 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the
Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS
(Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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4.8
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Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel
Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private)
Limited with respect to the lease of office premises with an |
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aggregate area of 36,500 square feet in the Commercial Office Building
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of the Annual Report on Form
20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as
filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. |
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4.9
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Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel
Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd
with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of
35,930 square feet in the Commercial Office Building incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.9 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal
2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the
Commission on June 26, 2007. |
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4.10
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Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel
Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd
with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of
35,870 square feet in the Commercial Office Building incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.10 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal
2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the
Commission on June 26, 2007. |
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4.11
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Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel
Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd
with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of
34,500 square feet in the Commercial Office Building incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal
2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the
Commission on June 26, 2007. |
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4.12
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WNS (Holdings) Limited 2002 Stock Incentive Plan incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1
(File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the
Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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4.13
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Form of WNS (Holdings) Limited 2006 Incentive Award Plan incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1
(File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the
Commission on July 3, 2006. |
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4.14
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Amendment to the WNS (Holdings) Limited 2006 Incentive Award
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Current Report on Form
6-K (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the
Commission on August 7, 2007. |
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4.15
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Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated July 11, 2008, relating to the
sale and purchase of shares in Aviva Global Services Singapore Private
Limited between Aviva International Holdings Limited and WNS Capital
Investment Limited. *# |
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4.16
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Master Services Agreement, dated July 11, 2008, between Aviva Global
Services (Management Services) Private Limited and WNS Capital
Investment Limited. **# |
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4.17
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$200 million Facility Agreement dated July 11, 2008, by and among WNS
(Mauritius) Limited as borrower, WNS (Holdings) Limited, WNS Capital
Investment Limited, WNS UK and WNS North America Inc. as guarantors,
ICICI Bank UK Plc as lender, arranger and agent, ICICI Bank Canada as
lender and arranger and Morgan Walker Solicitors LLP as security
trustee. ** |
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8.1
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List of subsidiaries of WNS (Holdings) Limited. * |
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12.1
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Certification by the Chief Executive Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a),
as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
regarding the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March
31, 2008. * |
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12.2
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Certification by the Chief Financial Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a),
as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
regarding the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March
31, 2008. * |
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12.3
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Certification by the Chief Executive Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a),
as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
regarding this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. ** |
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12.4
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Certification by the Chief Financial Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a),
as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
regarding this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. ** |
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13.1
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Certification by the Chief Executive Officer to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * |
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13.2
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Certification by the Chief Financial Officer to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * |
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15.1
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Consent of Ernst & Young independent registered public accounting firm. * |
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Previously filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2008 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited,
as filed with the Commission on August 1, 2008. |
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Filed herewith. |
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Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment filed with the Commission. The omitted portions have been
separately filed with the Commission. |
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
20-F/A and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Amendment No. 1 to
its annual report on its behalf.
Date: October 9, 2008
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WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
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By: |
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava |
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Name: |
Neeraj Bhargava
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Title: |
Group Chief Executive Officer |
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Ex-4.16 Master Services Agreement
Exhibit 4.16
Confidential Treatment Requested
The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted
pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and have been filed separately
with the Securities and Exchange Commission
DATED 11 July 2008
AVIVA GLOBAL SERVICES (MANAGEMENT
SERVICES) PRIVATE LIMITED
and
WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT LIMITED
MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
Slaughter and May
One Bunhill Row
London EC1Y 8YY
(RAXS/MAWC/LYC)
TP081750061
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Page |
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LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
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73 |
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COSTS AND EXPENSES
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73 |
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COUNTERPARTS
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THIRD PARTY RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF SERVICE RECIPIENTS
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AGENT FOR SERVICE
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INTERPRETATION
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GOVERNING LAW |
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77 |
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Schedule 1 Definitions |
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Schedule 2 Service Descriptions (Statements of Work) |
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Schedule 2.1 Contact Centre Operations |
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Schedule 2.2 Infrastructure Services For Contact Centres |
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Schedule 2.3 Services For General Insurance |
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Schedule 2.4 A Services For Life Insurance Customer Experience |
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Schedule 2.4 B Services For Life Insurance Customer Experience RBS Department |
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Schedule 2.5 Services For Healthcare |
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Schedule 2.6 Services For Canada |
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Schedule 2.7 Services For NU UK ITS |
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Appendix 2.7A Management Information Pack |
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Schedule 2.8A Finance And Accounting (NUI) |
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Schedule 2.8B Finance And Account (NUL) |
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Schedule 2.8C Finance And Accounting (Aviva Group) |
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Schedule 2.10 Services For NUOS Financial Services |
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Schedule 3 Service Levels And Service Credits |
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Appendix 3A Service Levels Matrix |
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Appendix 3H Interim SLAs |
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Appendix 3I NUI Offshore Performance |
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Schedule 4 Pricing, Invoicing and Payment |
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Appendix 4A Supplier Pricing Forms |
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Appendix 4B Financial Responsibility/Asset Ownership Matrix |
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Appendix 4C Financial Base Case |
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Schedule 5 Human Resources |
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Appendix 1 Key Supplier Employees |
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Appendix 2 Pre Commencement Transferable Employee Roles |
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Appendix 3 Supplier personnel skill requirements |
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Schedule 6 Governance and Service Management |
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Schedule 7 Transition and Transformation |
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Appendix 7A Transition Plan |
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Schedule 8 Forecasting and Capacity Planning |
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Schedule 9 IT Services |
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Schedule 9A Off-shore IT Services Catalogue |
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Appendix 9B NUCS Incident and Service Request Management |
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Schedule 10 Change Management |
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Schedule 11 Benchmarking |
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Schedule 12 Exit Management |
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Schedule 13 Reports |
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Appendix 13A Description of Reports |
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Schedule 14 Security Management |
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Schedule 15 Business Continuity Disaster Recovery and Incident Management |
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Appendix 15A Business Continuity Planning Framework |
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Appendix 15B Crisis Response Plan |
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Appendix 15C Business Continuity Planning Recovery Requirements Questionnaire |
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Appendix 15D Business Protection Policy |
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Appendix 15E Business Continuity Questionnaires |
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Schedule 16 Pre-Commencement Period |
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Schedule 17 Policies and Procedures |
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Appendix 17A List of Customer Policies and Procedures |
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Schedule 18 Executive Assessment |
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Schedule 19 Sites |
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Schedule 20 Form of Escrow Agreement |
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THIS AGREEMENT is made on the 11th day of July 2008
BETWEEN:
(1) |
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AVIVA GLOBAL SERVICES (MANAGEMENT SERVICES) PRIVATE LIMITED, a company incorporated in
Singapore (company number 200812047E) whose registered office is situated at 3 Anson Road,
#07-01 Springleaf Tower Singapore 079909 (Customer); and |
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(2) |
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WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT LIMITED, a company incorporated in Mauritius (company number 081866)
whose registered office is situated at 10 Frere Felix de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius
(Supplier). |
WHEREAS:
(A) |
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Customer is a member of the Aviva plc group, which is one of the worlds largest insurers.
Its principal business activities include life insurance, pensions, retail fund management,
general insurance and other miscellaneous service activities. |
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(B) |
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Customer issued written requests for proposals (RFP) dated 2 November 2007 and 29 March
2008 in relation to its requirement to select a strategic supplier for offshore business
process services. A number of submissions were received in response to the RFP, one of which
was received from a member of the Supplier Group. Following evaluation and clarification of
the RFP submissions, Supplier was selected as the preferred contractor. |
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(C) |
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Following discussions and negotiation between the Parties and certain due diligence by
Supplier, Customer now wishes to enter into this Agreement. |
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(D) |
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Customer now wishes to appoint Supplier for the Term as service provider and prime contractor
to supply the Services to Customer and Supplier agrees to supply the Services on that basis,
in each case on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. |
NOW THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES as follows:
1.1 |
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Supplier shall supply or procure the supply of the Pre-Commencement Services and the Historic
Services to Customer and all relevant Service Recipients in accordance with, and subject to
the terms of, Schedule 16 (Pre-Commencement Period) and the other relevant provisions of this
Agreement. On and from the Commencement Date until the end of the Term, Supplier shall
provide, or as prime contractor shall procure the provision of, the Principal Services (other
than the Transition Work and the Transformation Work) to Customer and all other Service
Recipients in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, this Agreement. |
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1.2 |
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Supplier shall perform, or as prime contractor shall procure the performance of, the
Transition Work and the Transformation Work in accordance with Clause 5.1. |
1.3 |
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Supplier shall provide the Services from the Sites unless the Parties agree otherwise through
the Change Control Procedure. |
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1.4 |
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Subject at all times to Clause 1.7, Customer acknowledges that Supplier is being engaged by
Customer to provide the Inscope Services from India or Sri Lanka on an exclusive basis to the
Inscope Business Units and accordingly Customer undertakes with Supplier that during the
period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the day being the earlier of: |
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(A) |
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for Services in respect of which Customer has exercised a right of
termination pursuant to this Agreement and only in respect of the Services and the
Service Recipient in respect of which such termination right has been exercised, the
relevant date of termination of Services (but excluding any partial rights to
terminate pursuant to Clause 23.12); and |
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(B) |
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60 months from the date of this Agreement, |
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Customer shall procure that: |
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(C) |
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none of the Inscope Business Units shall themselves perform, or contract with
any third party or third parties (including, subject to Clause 1.7(A), any member of
the Customer Group) to provide, the whole or any part of any Inscope Services from
India or Sri Lanka. |
1.5 |
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Subject to Clause 1.6, no provision of this Agreement (including Clause 19 (Growth and
Acquisitions) and Clause 23.24 (Departing Entities, Departing Businesses and Termination))
shall require Supplier to supply, and/or procure the supply of, the Services to an Unapproved
Entity pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise comply with this Agreement (or procure the
compliance with this Agreement) with respect to that Unapproved Entity, save that in the event
that Supplier does agree to supply the Services to an Unapproved Entity then such person shall
be treated as a Service Recipient under this Agreement without limitation or derogation and
the Supplier shall comply with this Agreement in full with respect to that Service Recipient. |
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1.6 |
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Where a Service Recipient (including any Joining Entity or any Departing Entity) becomes a
BPO Supplier after its receipt of the Services then such Service Recipient shall continue to
be treated as a Service Recipient under this Agreement without limitation or derogation,
provided that the volumes of Services supplied to such Service Recipient cannot increase
without Suppliers consent above the level they were at the time (i) such Service Recipient
became a BPO Supplier, and (ii) Notice has been received by Customer from Supplier that the
volume of Services shall not increase pursuant to this Clause. |
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1.7 |
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The exclusive right in Clause 1.4: |
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(A) |
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shall not limit the ability of any of the Inscope Business Units to procure
Inscope Services from India or Sri Lanka from another member of Customer Group
(provided that such member of Customer Group is not a BPO Supplier) to the
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3 |
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extent that
such procurement of Inscope Services is required for any member of Customer Group to
be compliant with the lawful direction of a Regulator or with Applicable Law; |
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(B) |
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shall be subject to the terms of Clause 1.9; |
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(C) |
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shall be subject to the rights and obligations of any member of Customer
Group under: |
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(i) |
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any agreement which was in place prior to the date of this
Agreement; |
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(ii) |
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the Noida Agreement, provided that the term of the Noida
Agreement is not extended beyond 31 December 2012. From 1 January 2010 this
exception to the exclusivity shall only apply to the extent that the number of
full time employees under the Noida Agreement is 600 or less; or |
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(iii) |
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any agreement of or relating to a Joining Entity (excluding
any Inscope Business Unit) whether in place before or after the date of this
Agreement provided that such agreement was in place prior to the date such
Joining Entity became a Joining Entity and prior to such Joining Entity
receiving Services under this Agreement, |
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which (in each case) would otherwise cause a member of Customer Group to breach
Clause 1.4. Customer shall not, and shall ensure that each relevant member of
Customer Group (including any such Joining Entity) shall not, renew or extend the
terms of any such agreement referred to in this Clause 1.7(C) (including extending
the scope of the services) to the extent that such terms relate to all or any
Inscope Services unless Customer (or relevant member of Customer Group as
applicable) is contractually bound to do so. In the discretion of the relevant
member of Customer Group (taking account, amongst other things, of the potential or
likelihood of: (i) harm or damage to Customer Groups reputation and its commercial
relationships; and (ii) breach of contract being alleged or occurring), Supplier
agrees that Customer and the relevant members of Customer Group may take reasonable
steps to withdraw from the receipt of services supplied to them under the
agreements referred to in this Clause 1.7(C) in an orderly manner and where
reasonably practicable to do so; |
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(D) |
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shall not limit the ability of any of the Inscope Business Units to: (i)
tender for, or to secure, Inscope Services from any Successor Service Provider from
India or Sri Lanka during or in preparation for any Exit Period; or (ii) to receive
Inscope Services from any Successor Service Provider from India or Sri Lanka during
any Exit Period (but for the avoidance of doubt, not to receive Inscope Services from
India or Sri Lanka prior to any Exit Period); |
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(E) |
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shall be subject to the exercise of the rights granted to Customer under this
Agreement (including pursuant to Clause 4 (Specific Service Remedies)) to the
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4 |
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extent
that the exercise of such rights causes a member of Customer Group to breach Clause
1.4. |
1.8 |
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Customer shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that, in respect of any agreement
entered into by a member of Customer Group, after the date of this Agreement, in relation to
material outsourcing of Inscope Services by an Inscope Business Unit from a third party
outsourcing supplier, such outsourcing supplier engages the Supplier Group in respect of any
Inscope Services to be provided to any In Scope Business Unit from India or Sri Lanka with
respect to that agreement. |
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1.9 |
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In the event that the Parties fail to agree within a reasonable period of negotiation the
commercial terms for: (a) any statement of work relevant to any New Services which are Inscope
Services to be provided from India or Sri Lanka (New Services SOW) and at the relevant time
of Customers request such New Services are currently being offered by Supplier to other
customers of Supplier Group; or (b) any statement of work relevant to the provision of any
Principal Services which are Inscope Services to be provided from India or Sri Lanka at the
request of Customer to a Joining Entity under Clause 19 (Growth and Acquisitions) (Joining
Entity SOW) and which at the relevant time of Customers request are currently being offered
by Supplier to other customers of Supplier Group: |
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(A) |
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Customer shall within a reasonable period of time following such failure to
agree notify Supplier of such fact and the basis in a reasonable level of detail why
the Parties have failed to agree the relevant commercial terms in a notice
(Disagreement Notice); and |
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(B) |
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following the submission of the Disagreement Notice either Party shall have
the right to escalate the issues the subject matter of the Disagreement Notice in
accordance with Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management) and notwithstanding any
such escalation subject to sub-Clauses 1.9(C)-(H) (inclusive): |
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(i) |
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the exclusivity provisions set out in Clause 1.4 shall not
apply to the New Services SOW, or as the case may be the Joining Entity SOW,
specified in the Disagreement Notice (Refused Services); and |
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(ii) |
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the Minimum Commitment Level shall be reduced proportionately
by the number of Billable FTEs that would have been required to perform the
relevant Refused Services; |
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(C) |
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the disapplication of the exclusivity provisions and the reduction in the
Minimum Commitment Level in circumstances referred to in Clause 1.9(B), shall not
apply to the extent Customer engages any person (an Alternative Supplier) to
provide, and/or permits any Service Recipient to engage any Alternative Supplier to
provide, such Refused Services on terms which are more favourable to such Alternative Supplier than the terms (including in respect
of price, service levels and scope) declined by Supplier for those Refused Services
(Better Terms). The parties agree that any terms regarding the location of the
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5 |
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provision of services shall be disregarded for the purposes of assessing whether
terms of engagement are Better Terms. Customer shall notify Supplier promptly with
respect to any such engagement of an Alternative Supplier; |
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(D) |
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where there is any dispute as to whether the Customer has appointed an
Alternative Supplier on Better Terms and such dispute cannot be resolved in a
reasonable period by the Parties through internal escalation in accordance with
Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management), either Party shall be entitled to
appoint an objective, qualified and independent third party (Independent Assessor)
to verify and report in writing on whether or not Customer (or any relevant Service
Recipient) has engaged an Alternative Supplier to provide the Refused Services on
Better Terms. The identity of the Independent Assessor shall be agreed between the
Parties acting reasonably and, failing agreement, shall be decided at the request of
either Party by the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and
Wales; |
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(E) |
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each Party shall provide the Independent Assessor with reasonable access to
all premises, information, personnel, materials, invoices, contracts, agreements and
other documentation that is reasonably necessary for the Independent Assessor to
access in order perform its role under this Clause 1.9 (and Customer shall procure
that any relevant Service Recipient and the relevant Alternative Supplier provides
such access, subject to the Independent Assessor executing reasonable non-disclosure
undertakings with the Alternative Supplier); |
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(F) |
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where the Independent Assessor concludes that the Alternative Supplier has
not been engaged on Better Terms, the costs of the Independent Assessor shall be borne
by Supplier in full and where the Independent Assessor concludes that the Alternative
Supplier has been engaged on Better Terms, the costs of the Independent Assessor shall
be borne by Customer in full (and otherwise each Party shall bear its own costs in
respect of the work of the Independent Assessor); |
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(G) |
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the Independent Assessor shall be requested to complete its report within ten
(10) Business Days of being appointed by a Party and obtaining the reasonable access
it requires under this Clause 1.9. The decision of the Independent Assessor shall be
final and binding on the Parties; and |
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(H) |
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the disapplication of the exclusivity provisions and the reduction in the
Minimum Commitment Level in circumstances referred to in Clause 1.9(B), shall not
apply to the extent: |
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(i) |
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Customer is requesting, in the case of Principal Services,
different pricing principles and/or rates to those specified in this
Agreement; or in the case of New Services different pricing principles and/or
rates to those specified in this Agreement (if any) or if pricing principles
and/or rates are not specified in this Agreement for the relevant New Service, |
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6 |
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pricing principles and/or rates which do not reflect (in all material
respects) the terms of Clause 18.2; and/or |
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(ii) |
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Customer is requesting service levels which are not
substantially similar to any equivalent Service Levels specified in this
Agreement; |
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(iii) |
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Customer is otherwise acting unreasonably in conducting the
negotiations referred to in Clause 1.9; and/or |
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(iv) |
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Supplier is entitled to refuse to provide any of the Refused
Services in accordance with Clause 1.5. |
2. |
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STANDARD OF SERVICE PROVISION |
2.1 |
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Supplier shall provide each Service (or shall procure that each Service is provided) to
Customer and any Service Recipients to and in accordance with this Agreement and to (as a
minimum) the Service Level for that Service (where applicable). |
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2.2 |
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Without prejudice to Clause 2.1, Supplier shall, subject to Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and
Customer Relief) and Clause 39 (Force Majeure): |
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(A) |
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at its own cost and expense, take all such additional reasonable steps and
apply all such additional resources in order to remedy each Service Failure and delay,
problem or other degradation in the Services as soon as reasonably practicable, and in
any event, shall take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of such Service
Failure and delay, problem or other degradation, in each case in accordance with Good
Professional Practice; |
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(B) |
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at its own cost and expense, Notify Customer promptly of: |
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(i) |
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the occurrence of each Service Failure (or, to the extent
Supplier is reasonably able each anticipated Service Failure, prior to the
occurrence thereof) of which Supplier is aware; |
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(ii) |
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all delays, problems or degradations (or to the extent
Supplier is reasonably able each anticipated delay, problem or degradation,
prior to the occurrence thereof) from time to time in the supply of the
Services (or any of them) of which Supplier becomes aware; and |
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(iii) |
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all circumstances from time to time which or which are
reasonably likely to prevent or hinder Supplier from supplying the Services
(or any of them) of which Supplier is aware, |
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(iv) |
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details of the reasons for the occurrence (or reasonably
likely anticipated occurrence) of any such Service Failure, delays, problems, |
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7 |
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degradations or circumstances of which Supplier is aware or ought reasonably
to be aware in accordance with Good Professional Practice; |
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(v) |
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details of the impact (or reasonably likely anticipated
impact) of any such Service Failure, delays, problems, degradations or
circumstances on the Services of which Supplier is aware or ought reasonably
to be aware in accordance with Good Professional Practice; |
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(vi) |
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recommendations as to how any such actual Service Failure,
delays, problems, degradations or circumstances (as the case may be) can be
remedied; |
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(vii) |
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recommendations as to how to avoid the recurrence of any
such actual Service Failure, delays, problems, degradations or circumstances;
and |
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(viii) |
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in the case of sub-Clauses 2.2(B)(ii) and 2.2(B)(iii) above, recommendations
as to how any anticipated delays, problems, degradations or circumstances (as
the case may be) can be avoided, |
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such recommendations to be provided as soon as is reasonably
practicable. The Parties shall discuss these recommendations and, except as
provided for in Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief), at its own
cost and expense Supplier shall then take such action (including the use of
additional resources) as is agreed by the Parties acting reasonably as being
necessary to avoid, remedy and otherwise minimise the impact of the Service
Failures, delays, degradations, problems, occurrences or circumstances
referred to in this Clause 2.2(B) in accordance with Good Professional
Practice; |
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(C) |
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perform the Services and its obligations under this Agreement throughout the
Term in compliance with all Applicable Laws, to the extent such Applicable Laws: (i)
apply to Supplier Group; or (ii) apply to the supply of the Services in the
jurisdictions from which the Services are being provided by Supplier; or (iii) relate
to a Mandatory Change which the Parties have agreed to implement via the Change
Control Procedure in accordance with Clause 20 (Changes in Applicable Law); |
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(D) |
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obtain, maintain and comply with (or procure that each relevant
Sub-Contractor obtains, maintains and complies fully with) all necessary consents,
approvals, authorisations, licences and permissions which Supplier and each relevant
Sub-Contractor is required to obtain in order to supply the Services and perform its
obligations under this Agreement in compliance with Clause 2.2(C); |
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(E) |
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discharge its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with Good
Professional Practice; |
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(F) |
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supply the Services throughout the Term in such a way as to enable insofar as
it is reasonably practicable an orderly and efficient hand-over to a Successor Service
Provider including in a manner which will insofar as it is reasonably |
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8 |
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practicable minimise material disruption to Customer and each Service Recipients continuing
business on termination or expiry of this Agreement or on the removal of any Services
from this Agreement (as applicable); |
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(G) |
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not (and shall procure that no Sub-Contractor shall), without the prior
written consent of Customer, (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)
use anything or become reliant on anything to provide the Services which Supplier
knows, or should reasonably be expected to know, Customer would not be able to procure
in the market place and use for itself or would require material expenditure to
procure such a thing were a Successor Service Provider to supply the Services (or any
of them); |
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(H) |
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use good industry versions of anti-virus software to check for and delete any
software virus, bomb or other contaminant or similar items introduced by Supplier
which infects or causes damage to Customer Groups information technology systems or
Suppliers information technology systems used to provide the Services or disrupts the
provision of the Services (or any of them), and shall take all reasonable precautions
in accordance with Good Professional Practice to ensure that neither it nor any
Sub-Contractor in any other way destroys, damages or corrupts any software or data
(including Customer Data) on Customer Groups information technology systems or
Suppliers information technology systems used to supply the Services. For the
purpose of this Clause 2.2(H), good industry versions of anti-virus software shall
mean, as a minimum: (i) anti-virus software from a recognised and reputable software
vendor; (ii) the latest current supported version of such anti-virus software
compatible with Customer Groups information technology systems; and (iii) anti-virus
software that is supported by the relevant software vendor; |
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(I) |
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provide such assistance and cooperation as shall be reasonably requested to
ensure that all services, Equipment and other resources utilised in connection with
the performance of the Services are successfully integrated and interfaced with, and
shall not have a material or continuing adverse impact on, or be materially or on a
continuing basis adversely affected by, the services, systems and other resources that
are being provided to, recommended to, or approved for use by, Customer by third
parties at the date of this Agreement subject to the actual physical and technological
limitations of Customer Groups information technology systems, provided that Supplier
shall not be under an obligation to purchase equipment, services or software other
than as is expressly required under any other express terms of the Agreement; |
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(J) |
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without prejudice to the obligations of the Parties in Schedule 8
(Forecasting and Capacity Planning), Notify Customer in the event that the number of
Billable FTEs engaged in the supply of the Services is such that there is an
under-utilisation of such resource of more than ten per cent. (10%); |
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(K) |
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except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including in Appendix 4B
(Financial Responsibility/Asset Ownership Matrix) to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing
and Payment)), be responsible for providing all Facilities and other |
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9 |
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resources necessary for the supply by or on behalf of Supplier of the Services and meeting its
obligations under this Agreement; and |
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(L) |
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if requested by Customer, act as a purchasing agent for members of Customer
Group to procure hardware, software or network equipment or other equipment or
components whether or not the same are within the scope of the Services (for the
purposes of this Clause 2.2(L), equipment). To the extent that Supplier is able,
Supplier shall make available to each member of Customer Group the benefit of any
volume purchasing discounts for the equipment it purchases and convey to Customer all
other benefits offered to Supplier by third party suppliers. Where equipment is
procured for or on behalf of any member of Customer Group (and not used or intended to
be used by Supplier in the supply of Services) Supplier shall use all reasonable
endeavours to procure that the benefit of all manufacturer guarantees and warranties
it receives are transferred or procured for the benefit of the relevant member of
Customer Group. Where despite the use of all such reasonable endeavours by Supplier
the benefit of manufacturer guarantees and warranties cannot be transferred or
procured for the benefit of the relevant member of Customer Group, then Supplier shall
notify Customer of that fact and shall not procure such equipment without Customers
prior written consent. |
2.3 |
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The Parties agree and acknowledge that the following principles shall form the basis of their
relationship under this Agreement: |
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(A) |
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to strive for quality and excellence in the design and delivery of the
Services; |
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(B) |
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to be responsive, responsible, flexible and innovative in order to comply
with their respective obligations under this Agreement; |
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(C) |
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to deal and communicate with each other in an honest open manner; and |
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(D) |
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to work to build a productive and positive relationship with each other. |
Customer third party service providers
2.4 |
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Subject to Clause 2.5, Supplier shall (and shall procure that all Supplier Personnel shall)
at all times during the Term: |
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(A) |
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at Customers reasonable request, co-operate with and assist all third party
suppliers engaged by any member of Customer Group or any Service Recipient (each a
Third Party Provider) in: |
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(i) |
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the effective and efficient co-ordination of and integration
with the supply of the Services and the services and products of such Third
Party Providers; |
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(ii) |
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the supply and receipt of the Services in the manner set out
or referred to in this Agreement; and |
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10 |
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(iii) |
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the due and proper performance by Customer or Supplier of
its obligations under this Agreement, |
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and Customer shall use its reasonable endeavours to procure that, following
Suppliers reasonable request, each Third Party Provider co-operates with and
assists Supplier in connection with this Clause 2.4(A); |
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(B) |
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at Customers reasonable request, attend meetings with Third Party Providers; |
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(C) |
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in the event that Supplier becomes aware that the Services (or any part
thereof) are adversely affected as a result of the action or inaction of a Third Party
Provider, promptly Notify Customer of the same; and |
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(D) |
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at Customers reasonable request, manage the resolution of any issues
Notified to Customer pursuant to Clause 2.4(C) by using all reasonable endeavours
to: |
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(i) |
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take corrective or preventive steps in relation to the
Services; and/or |
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(ii) |
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procure the taking of corrective or preventative steps by the
relevant Third Party Provider. |
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(A) |
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use all reasonable endeavours to procure that each Third Party Provider
performs its obligations under the relevant contract to enable Supplier to perform its
obligations under Clause 2.4; and |
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(B) |
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where a Third Party Provider is a BPO Supplier, shall procure that such Third
Party Provider enters into a confidentiality agreement with Supplier on terms
equivalent to those set out in Clause 31 (Confidentiality) (each such confidentiality
agreement to provide for reciprocal obligations for preserving confidentiality), to
the extent that such Third Party Provider shall have access or potential access to
Suppliers Confidential Information from time to time. |
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3.1 |
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Subject to Clause 3.2, Customer shall have the right to receive, and Supplier shall pay to
Customer, Service Credits in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and
Service Credits). |
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3.2 |
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The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Service Credits received by Customer in respect of
a failure by Supplier to meet the Service Levels shall be treated as part payment of any
damages awarded to, or losses claimed by, Customer as a result of such a failure and Customer
(and members of the Customer Group) shall not be entitled to claim twice for the same loss.
For the avoidance of doubt such Service Credits will not be counted against the maximum
aggregate liability by Supplier and its Affiliates as set out in Clause 34.4. |
11
4. |
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SERVICE SPECIFIC REMEDIES |
4.1 |
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Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 7 (Service Improvements) and Schedule 3
(Service Levels and Service Credits), upon reasonable request by, and subject to reasonable
advance Notice from, Customer to Supplier, Customer shall be entitled (subject to Clause 4.4)
to perform, at Customers own cost and own risk, a diagnostic review (the Diagnostic Review)
of the Services (or any part of them) with a view to: |
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(A) |
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investigating, assessing and planning for Service and process improvement
(including in connection with Customer Groups own internal processes and changes
thereto); and |
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(B) |
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identifying, investigating, assessing and managing Service Failures or other
delays, problems or degradations in the Services. |
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To the extent that any Diagnostic Review undertaken by Customer causes impediment in, or
prevents, the provision of the Services by Supplier, Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and
Customer Relief) shall apply and such impediment and/or prevention shall be deemed to be a
failure of an obligation by Customer under this Agreement for the purposes of Clause 13
(Supplier Relief and Customer Relief). Supplier shall co-operate with, and provide all
assistance reasonably requested by, Customer in relation to each Diagnostic Review
including in accordance with Clause 4.11. The Parties shall discuss and agree all of
Customers recommendations for implementing the findings of each Diagnostic Review through
the Change Control Procedure. |
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4.2 |
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Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 2 (Standard of Service Provision) and Schedule
3 (Service Levels and Service Credits) and to the other rights and remedies of Customer, in
the event that Supplier has failed to remedy a Service Failure within a period that is
reasonable in the context of that Service Failure, Customer shall (subject to Clause 4.4) have
the right (at Customers own cost and expense and risk and upon reasonable advance notice): |
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(A) |
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to take such action as Customer believes reasonably is necessary to remedy
the applicable Service Failure; and/or |
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(B) |
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to receive services similar to the affected Services (and Services related
thereto) from a third party. |
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Customer acknowledges that it shall exercise its rights at its own risk. To the extent
that Customer exercising its rights under this Clause 4.2 causes Supplier not to be able to
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or to be in breach of this Agreement,
Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) shall apply and such exercise of Customers
rights shall be deemed to be a failure of an obligation of Customer under this Agreement
for the purposes of Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief). Supplier shall
co-operate with, and provide all assistance reasonably requested by, Customer in relation
to this Clause 4.2 including in accordance with Clause 4.11. |
12
4.3 |
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Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of Customer under this Agreement (including
pursuant to Clauses 4.1 and 4.2 above), but subject to Clause 4.4, where: |
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(A) |
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Customer is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to any of Clauses
23.5 to 23.9 (inclusive) or 23.11; |
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(B) |
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a Regulator has notified Customer that the exercise of Customers rights
under this Clause 4.3 is necessary as a result of Suppliers breach of this Agreement
(including a breach of Clause 2.2(E)) and Customer has provided sufficient evidence of
such a notification; |
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(C) |
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a Party is claiming an Event of Force Majeure in respect of receipt of (with
respect to Customer as Claiming Party) or supply of (with respect to Supplier as
Claiming Party) a Service (or part thereof) and such Event of Force Majeure continues
for a period of ten (10) consecutive Business Days; |
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(D) |
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Customer is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clause 23.21(A)
or Clause 23.21(B); |
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(E) |
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Customer is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clause 23.16
(Termination on Insolvency or Similar Event); or |
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(F) |
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Supplier is in material breach of this Agreement and the breach gives rise
to, or is reasonably likely to give rise to, the activation of the Business Continuity
Plan, |
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|
(each a Service Event), Customer may (on its behalf and/or on behalf of any Service
Recipient) forthwith at its sole discretion and on written Notice containing the
information set out in Clause 4.5 (a Step-In Notice) to Supplier elect to: |
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(A) |
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receive services similar to the affected Services (and Services related
thereto) from a third party or a member of Customer Group and to suspend the receipt
of the same from Supplier; and/or |
|
|
(B) |
|
appoint officers and/or employees of Customer Group and/or external
consultants and advisers who are not a BPO Supplier or employed or engaged by any BPO
Supplier (the Management Team) with a view to managing (subject to Clause 4.4) the
supply of the Services to the standards set out in this Agreement and remedying the
Service Event, |
|
|
(together, the Step-In Rights). |
4.4 |
|
In the event that Customer exercises its right under this Clause 4, Customer will procure
that: |
|
(A) |
|
it and the Management Team shall comply with: |
13
|
(i) |
|
the relevant Customer obligations under this Agreement
(including Clause 31); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any applicable Site, or other location, specific written
security requirements as are notified to Customer |
|
(B) |
|
no BPO Supplier or employee, agent, contractor or representative of any BPO
Supplier shall access any of the Sites under Customers direction pursuant to this
Clause 4 without the prior consent of Supplier, which may be withheld at the sole
discretion of the Supplier; and |
|
|
(C) |
|
neither it nor the Management Team (without the prior written consent of
Supplier, which may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Supplier) shall perform
any of the Excluded Activities (as defined below in this Clause 4.4). For the
purposes of this Clause 4, Excluded Activities means: |
|
(i) |
|
the right to access or use the source code of any software
comprised in the Equipment; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
testing any software comprised in the Equipment; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
coding any software comprised in the Equipment; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
directing the development of any software and requiring
Supplier and/or any Supplier Personnel to change the functionality of the
Equipment solely for Customer; |
|
|
(v) |
|
accessing any proprietary data or confidential information of
any other customer of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor; and |
|
|
(vi) |
|
requiring Supplier or any other member of Supplier Group to
act or omit to act in a manner which causes or would cause Supplier or any
other member of Supplier Group to contravene Applicable Law. |
4.5 |
|
To the extent that Customer is reasonably able to provide the same at the time of the Step-In
Notice, the Step-In Notice shall include the following: |
|
(A) |
|
an indication of the action Customer wishes to take and the tasks comprised
within the Services the subject of the Step-In Rights; |
|
|
(B) |
|
the reason for and the objective of exercising Step-In Rights; |
|
|
(C) |
|
the date it wishes to commence the Step-In Rights (which shall be no less
than five (5) Business Days after the date of the Step-In Notice); |
|
|
(D) |
|
the anticipated duration of the exercise of the Step-In Rights; |
|
|
(E) |
|
whether Customer will require access to any Site and/or any other location;
and |
14
|
(F) |
|
to the extent known, or ought reasonably to be known, the effect on Supplier
and its obligations to perform the Services during the period the action is being
taken. |
4.6 |
|
To the extent that Customers exercise of its rights under this Clause 4 causes Supplier not
to be able to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement and/or to be in breach of
this Agreement, Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) shall apply and such exercise
of Customers rights shall be deemed to be a failure of an obligation of Customer under this
Agreement for the purposes of Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief). |
|
4.7 |
|
Following service of a Step-In Notice, Customer shall: |
|
(A) |
|
exercise its Step-In Rights (including by reference to the actions provided
for in the Step-In Notice) (the Required Action); |
|
|
(B) |
|
keep records of the Required Action taken and provide information about the
Required Action to Supplier; |
|
|
(C) |
|
co-operate with Supplier in order to enable Supplier to continue to provide
any part of the Services in relation to which Customer is not assuming management; and |
|
|
(D) |
|
act reasonably to mitigate the costs that Supplier will incur as a result of
the exercise of the Step-In Rights. |
4.8 |
|
In the event that no relevant Step-Out Notice (as defined below) has been delivered by
Customer to Supplier pursuant to Clause 4.9, on the day being ninety (90) days after the day
the Step-In Rights were actually exercised by Customer (or if such day is not a Business Day
then the next subsequent Business Day), or such other day as the Parties may agree, the
Parties shall review the exercise of the Step-In Rights. Where: |
|
(A) |
|
neither Party has been able to restore the supply of the Services the subject
of the Step-In Rights to the standards set out in this Agreement; |
|
|
(B) |
|
in Customers reasonable opinion, Supplier is not able to recommence supply
of the Services the subject of the Step-In Rights to the standards set out in this
Agreement; or |
|
|
(C) |
|
the Service Event is ongoing, |
|
|
the Parties (each acting reasonably and in good faith) shall discuss whether or not to
extend the duration of the exercise of the Step-In Rights for a further period determined
by them or, in the absence of agreement by the Parties to extend the duration of the
exercise of the Step-In Rights, Customer shall have the right to exercise the rights of
termination as were available to Customer under this Agreement with respect to that Service
Event at the commencement of that ninety (90) day period. If the Service Event is an Event
of Force Majeure affecting Customers receipt of the Services (as opposed |
15
|
|
to Suppliers ability to provide the Services) then Customers right to rely on Clause 39 (Force Majeure)
with respect to that Service Event shall end at the end of that ninety (90) day period.
Where an Event of Force Majeure is preventing the proper performance of the Services in
accordance with this Agreement by or on behalf of the Supplier, the Customer shall, subject
to Clause 39, have the right in its sole discretion to extend the period of its Step-In
Rights beyond the ninety (90) day period referred to in this Clause 4.8 up to a maximum
period of two (2) years. This Clause 4.8 shall apply to the end of that extended period as
if it was the end of the 90 day period. |
4.9 |
|
Before ceasing to exercise its Step-In Rights Customer shall deliver a written notice to
Supplier (a Step-Out Notice) specifying: |
|
(A) |
|
the Required Action it has actually taken; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
the date on which Customer plans to end the Required Action. |
4.10 |
|
Supplier shall, following receipt of the notice under Clause 4.9 develop a plan and devote
sufficient resources to ensure that delivery of the affected tasks of the Services are
restored to the Service Levels from the date as agreed in writing by the Parties. |
|
4.11 |
|
In the event that Customer issues a Customer Step-In Notice pursuant to this Clause 4
Supplier shall: |
|
(A) |
|
reasonably co-operate with Customer to facilitate the steps taken and the
Required Action; |
|
|
(B) |
|
provide copies of all recent available and relevant root cause analyses or,
if there are none, carry out a root cause analysis in relation to the matters or
circumstances leading to the Service Event and report the results of the same as soon
as is practicable; |
|
|
(C) |
|
perform the Excluded Activities set out in Clauses 4.4(C)(ii), (iii) and (iv)
upon Customers reasonable request, to the extent reasonably requested by Customer in
connection with the exercise of the Step-In Rights; |
|
|
(D) |
|
other than in the event of an ongoing Service Event of the type described in
Clause 4.3(C), take all steps within its reasonable control in order to recommence,
as soon as reasonably practicable, full and proper performance of all Services
affected by the Service Event; |
|
|
(E) |
|
in the event of an ongoing Service Event of the type described in Clause
4.3(C), comply with its obligations in Clause 39 (Force Majeure); |
|
|
(F) |
|
grant, and use all reasonable efforts to procure that every third party
grants, Customer such rights and licences as are reasonably required for Customer
and/or any of the Management Team for the purposes of exercising Customers rights
under this Clause 4; |
16
|
(G) |
|
procure the reasonable co-operation of and access to Supplier Personnel
(including procuring insofar as it is within its reasonable control that Supplier
Personnel follow the reasonable instructions of Customer and the Management Team); and |
|
|
(H) |
|
procure that Customer and the Management Team have access to: |
|
(i) |
|
the books, records, information and data under the control or
possession of Supplier and all Sub-Contractors which and to the extent they
relate to the Services and which are relevant to the activities covered by
the Customer Step-In Notice; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
such of the Sites and other locations as are reasonably
necessary in the circumstances. |
4.12 |
|
In the event that Customer elects to exercise its Step-In Rights: |
|
(A) |
|
Customer shall not be liable to pay the Charges for those elements of the
Services to the extent such Services are the subject of the exercise of the Step-In
Rights and are not being actually performed in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement by Supplier. Subject to its other rights in this Agreement (including
Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and Clause 39.4), Customer shall continue
to pay the Charges in respect of those Services supplied by Supplier in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement notwithstanding the exercise of the Step-In Rights;
and |
|
|
(B) |
|
if the costs directly and reasonably incurred by Customer as a result of the
exercise of the Step-In Rights in accordance with this Agreement (the Step-In Costs)
are greater than the Charges that Customer would have been liable to pay Supplier in
respect of the relevant Services if it had not exercised the Step-In Rights (the
Original Charges), Supplier shall be liable to pay Customer the difference between
the Original Charges and the Step-In Costs provided that (i) Supplier shall not be
required to pay such costs to the extent that they exceed fifty per cent. (50%) of the
Original Charges relating to the relevant Services in respect of which Customer has
exercised the Step-In Rights; and (ii) the maximum aggregate liability of Supplier
under this Clause 4.12(B) for any and all Required Action actually taken shall not
exceed the aggregate Charges that Customer would have been liable to pay Supplier in
any three (3) month period for the relevant Services in respect of which customer has
exercised the Step-In Rights. |
4.13 |
|
At Customers sole discretion, Supplier shall either: |
|
(A) |
|
reimburse the Step-In Costs to Customer by way of a credit against Charges in
subsequent invoices issued by Supplier under this Agreement (provided that if Customer
is not, within two (2) months of such costs having been notified to Supplier by
Customer, reimbursed in full by way of a credit against Charges in |
17
|
|
|
subsequent invoices, Supplier shall be liable to pay the balance owed to Customer promptly upon
demand); or |
|
|
(B) |
|
pay Customer the Step-In Costs within thirty (30) days of receipt of a valid
invoice from Customer for such amounts. |
|
|
Notwithstanding the expiry or early termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this
Clause 4.13 shall continue to apply to each Party without limit in time. |
5. |
|
TRANSITION AND TRANSFORMATION |
5.1 |
|
Each Party shall have its respective rights and obligations set out in Schedule 7 (Transition
and Transformation). |
|
5.2 |
|
Supplier shall ensure that all Transition Work and Transformation Work is carried out without
causing to the extent reasonably practicable: |
|
(A) |
|
any material or continuing deterioration or degradation in the availability,
quality, scope or standard of any services being supplied to any Service Recipient
(including the other Services, any internal supply by any member of Customer Group and
any Third Party Provider) other than unavoidable and/or transitory disruption (which,
in any event, shall to the extent reasonably practicable always be kept to a minimum
level and, if possible, outside Working Hours); |
|
|
(B) |
|
any material or continuing disruption to the business of any Service
Recipient or any Third Party Provider other than unavoidable and/or transitory
disruption (which, in any event, shall always be kept to a minimum level and, if
possible, outside of Working Hours); and |
|
|
(C) |
|
material or continuing degradation or impact upon the security and/or
fidelity of any system (including information technology and telecommunications
systems) of any Service Recipient or Third Party Provider. |
5.3 |
|
The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Transition Plan and Transformation Plan are
project management tools to be used by the Parties to co-ordinate and achieve Transition and
Transformation. Each Party recognises that the requirements of Customer and any other Service
Recipients and/or the obligations of Supplier may evolve over time and accordingly the Parties
agree that the Transition Plan and Transformation Plan will be further developed and agreed
jointly between the Parties from time to time in accordance with Schedule 7 (Transition and
Transformation). |
6. |
|
CUSTOMER AUTHORITY AND SUPPLIER AUTHORITY |
6.1 |
|
Without prejudice to Suppliers rights and remedies and without relieving Customer of its
obligations under any other term of this Agreement, Supplier acknowledges that Customer
retains the sole right, authority and discretion to determine its business and operational
strategies, brand and marketing strategies, product development and customer interaction
strategies, business and operational processes and requirements |
18
|
|
and its technology
specifications and requirements (including Architecture), provided that the exercise of any
such right, authority and/or discretion shall not create any additional obligations on
Supplier, or increase any existing obligations of Supplier, under this Agreement, save as: (i)
expressly provided in any other Clause of this Agreement, or (ii) expressly agreed by the
Parties through the Change Control Procedure. |
|
6.2 |
|
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, Customer acknowledges and agrees that
Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group reserves the right, authority and
discretion not to deliver any Services to and/or not to perform any of its obligations
(including any obligations under Clauses 31.4(E), 31.4(G) and 31.4(H) and Clause 24.4) for the
benefit of and/or not to disclose, nor authorise, any member of Customer Group to disclose any
Confidential Information relating to Supplier and/or any member of Supplier Group or Supplier
IPR to and/or not to allow or authorise the use of any Confidential Information or Supplier
IPR by; |
|
(A) |
|
subject to Clause 1.6, a BPO Supplier; and/or |
|
|
(B) |
|
subject to Clause 6.2(A), any third party who has not entered into a
confidentiality agreement, on terms equivalent to those set out in Clause 31, with
Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group in respect of the Confidential
Information of Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group and/or the Supplier
IPR. |
General
7.1 |
|
Supplier acknowledges and agrees that it is committed to the process of continuous
improvement of the standard of Services and shall comply with its obligations in relation to
Service Level improvement as set out in Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits). |
|
7.2 |
|
Supplier shall: |
|
(A) |
|
proactively identify and Notify Customer of all opportunities for improving
Service quality that come to its attention (including opportunities to implement and
any likely costs of implementing Innovations that will be advantageous to Customer
Group) to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and subject to any obligation of
confidentiality owed by Supplier or any other member of Supplier Group; |
|
|
(B) |
|
provide a reasonably detailed analysis to Customer setting out: |
|
(i) |
|
how the opportunities identified pursuant to Clause 7.2(A)
are proposed to be implemented by Supplier and the costs associated with
developing and/or implementing the same; and |
19
|
(ii) |
|
the potential or actual impact of such development and/or
implementation on the Services, the Charges and on Customers ability to
transfer the Services to a Successor Service Provider; |
|
(C) |
|
supply the Services and operate, manage and maintain the Facilities in so far
as it is reasonably practicable to facilitate, maintain and improve the availability
and quality of the Services taking into account advancements in technology, the
business operations of Customer Group and other Service Recipients and the additional
costs incurred, or to be incurred, by the Parties as a result of facilitating,
maintaining and/or improving the availability and quality of the Services; |
|
|
(D) |
|
maintain a level of knowledge that provides Customer and the Service
Recipients with an opportunity to take advantage of technological advances and assist
Customer in assessing the implementation of leading-edge technology in connection with
the Services; |
|
|
(E) |
|
meet with Customer from time to time (at Customers reasonable request) to
inform Customer of new technological processes, methodologies or trends that could be
used in the provision of the Services of which Supplier is aware in order to impact
beneficially the business of Customer and the Service Recipients, to the extent
permitted by Applicable Law and subject to any obligation of confidentiality owed by
Supplier or any other member of Supplier Group; and |
|
|
(F) |
|
comply, and procure that its Sub-Contractors comply, and provide (or procure
the provision of) the Services in a manner which is consistent, with Customers: |
|
(i) |
|
Architecture and technology plan; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
requirements for long-range business, operational and
technology planning; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
brand and marketing standards and requirements; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
product standards; and |
|
|
(v) |
|
standard operating procedures, |
|
|
|
in each case as notified or made available by Customer to Supplier on or prior to
the date of this Agreement. Where there are changes to the plans, standards,
requirements and procedures referred to in this Clause 7.2(F) after the date of
this Agreement, then Supplier shall comply and ensure that the Services are
compliant with all such notified changes within a reasonable period of time after
notification of such changes. Where compliance with such changes will reasonably
result in increased costs for Supplier, then the Parties shall discuss and agree
through the Change Control Procedure the reasonable incremental direct costs of the
Supplier in complying with such changes. Such |
20
|
|
|
costs shall be borne by the
Customer, save in respect of: Supplier compliance with changes to brand and
marketing standards and requirements: (1) in circumstances where the relevant brand
and marketing use is requested by Supplier (as opposed to being required by the
Customer); and (2) in connection with the change to the Aviva brand from the
Norwich Union RAC and other current insurance brands of Customer Group, where
(in the case of (1) and (2) only) such costs shall be borne by Supplier. |
7.3 |
|
Supplier shall not implement any new technologies or other service improvements in connection
with the Services identified pursuant to Clause 7.2 without Customers prior written consent.
Any such proposals shall be addressed, and Supplier shall only be obliged to implement such
technologies and/or improvements to the extent agreed by the Parties through, the Change
Control Procedure. |
|
7.4 |
|
Customer acknowledges that the process of continuous improvement of the standard of Services
including implementing the opportunities and new technologies referred to in this Clause 7 and
the performance of any of its obligations under this Clause 7 may require the cooperation of
Customer Group and other necessary Service Recipients and Third Party Providers in order that
such improvements result in the intended effect. Without prejudice to paragraph 22.1
(Continuous Improvement) of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits), Customer
acknowledges that to the extent that such co-operation is reasonably required by Supplier,
Supplier had notified Customer of the requirement of that co-operation (with, where
practicable, reasonable notice prior to that requirement arising), and such co-operation is
not provided to Supplier, Supplier shall not be liable for failing to achieve continuous
improvement of the relevant Services (if and to the extent that such cooperation is not
forthcoming) and/or for failing to comply with this Clause 7, provided that it has given prior
written notice to Customer. |
8. |
|
PREFERRED CUSTOMER STATUS |
8.1 |
|
Except as provided by Clauses 8.2 and 8.3 Customer acknowledges that Customer Group shall not
have any preferred status over and above Suppliers other customers and/or customers of other
members of the Supplier Group. |
|
8.2 |
|
Supplier shall take all steps to offer, through the Change Control Procedure, to provide the
Services from any Special Economic Zone or other tax preferential location or scheme which is
reasonably available to Supplier provided that the use of such area or location or scheme will
not result in or will reasonably not result in the tax benefits for either Customer or
Supplier being reduced or extinguished. |
|
8.3 |
|
Supplier agrees as follows: |
|
(A) |
|
Supplier shall procure that all Supplier Personnel shall be within
performance levels 2-4 as defined by Suppliers Performance Management Framework; |
|
|
(B) |
|
subject to clause 8.3(C), Supplier shall give Customer the right of first
look in respect of any Generic Innovation and to the extent permitted by Applicable
Law will not market or commercially exploit the Generic Innovation until Customer |
REDACTED |
|
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and
are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
21
|
|
|
has had a reasonable time to determine if it wishes to use such Generic Innovation.
Customer acknowledges that any right to use such Generic Innovation will be subject to
such terms being agreed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure and that
any such right of use shall be on a non-exclusive basis unless otherwise agreed. To
the extent that any Supplier Background IPR or Third Party IPR is embedded in or is an
integral part of or otherwise needed to use the Generic Innovation, such Supplier
Background IPR or Third Party IPR will be licensed on the terms of Clauses 30.14,
30.15, 30.16 and 30.18; |
|
|
(C) |
|
other than in respect of any Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR,
Supplier hereby agrees to assign and (in respect of copyright and database rights
owned by Supplier arising in the future) hereby assigns, and (in relation to any IPR
owned by a member of Supplier Group or Sub-Contractor) to procure the assignment of,
the whole legal and beneficial interest in all the IPRs in any Bespoke Innovation to
Customer, at no additional charge; and |
|
|
(D) |
|
to the extent that any Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR is
embedded in or is an integral part of and needed to use any Bespoke Innovation, such
Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR as relevant shall be licensed to
Customer and any Service Recipient in accordance with and/or on the terms of Clauses
30.13 and 30.19. |
|
|
Customer shall provide the IT Services to Supplier from the Commencement Date in accordance
with Schedule 9 (IT Services). |
10. |
|
PRICING, PAYMENT AND INVOICING |
10.1 |
|
XXXXX |
|
10.2 |
|
Supplier shall charge and Customer shall pay for the provision of the Services in accordance
with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). In addition,
each Party shall comply with its obligations, and subject to Clause 10.4 shall have the rights
provided to it, as set out in Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
|
10.3 |
|
Supplier shall not increase any of the Charges in respect of any part of any Service during
the Term, save as expressly provided for in this Agreement or as otherwise agreed through the
Change Control Procedure. |
22
10.4 |
|
If a Party defaults in the payment when due of any sum payable under this Agreement
(including Service Credits), the liability of such person shall be increased to include
interest on the outstanding balance of such sum from the date when such payment is due until
the date of actual payment at a rate per annum (both before and after judgment) of three per
cent. (3%) above the Bank of Englands base rate from time to time. Such interest will accrue
on a daily basis. The Parties agree that interest payable at that rate is a substantial
remedy for the purposes of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. |
11. |
|
GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT |
|
|
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as
set out in Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management). |
|
|
Supplier shall not, and shall procure that no other member of Supplier Group nor any
Sub-Contractor shall directly or indirectly market, offer or provide any general or life
insurance products or services to customers of any member of Customer Group. |
13. |
|
SUPPLIER RELIEF AND CUSTOMER RELIEF |
13.1 |
|
Supplier undertakes to Notify Customer as soon as reasonably practicable of every breach by a
Service Recipient of its obligations under this Agreement of which Supplier or any of the
Major Sub-Contractors becomes aware which has or is reasonably likely to have an adverse
effect on the provision of the Services and/or on the ability of Supplier to perform its
obligations under this Agreement. |
|
13.2 |
|
Supplier shall not be in breach of this Agreement and shall not be liable for any failure to
deliver the, or as the case may be the part of the, Services to which the breach relates or
any failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement to the extent that such breach
and/or failure is caused by Customers and/or any Service Recipients breach of any of
Customers obligations under this Agreement, provided always that Supplier has Notified
Customer in accordance with Clause 13.1 above of such breach. |
|
13.3 |
|
Customer undertakes to Notify Supplier as soon as reasonably practicable of every breach by
Supplier or its Sub-Contractors of its obligations under this Agreement of which any Service
Recipient becomes aware which has or is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the
provision of the IT Services and/or on the ability of Customer to perform its obligations
under this Agreement. |
|
13.4 |
|
Customer shall not be in breach of this Agreement and shall not be liable for any failure to
deliver the, or as the case may be part of the, IT Services to which the breach relates or any
failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement to the extent that such breach and/or
failure is caused by Suppliers, any member of Supplier Groups or any Sub-Contractors breach
of any of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement, provided always that Customer has
Notified Supplier in accordance with Clause 13.3 above of such breach. |
23
13.5 |
|
Where Supplier has relief from its obligations to provide Services or perform its obligations
under this Agreement pursuant to Clause 13.2 or where Customer has relief from its obligations
to provide the IT Services or perform its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Clause
13.4 (in each case, the Relief Obligations): |
|
(A) |
|
the relieved Party (the Relieved Party) shall in any event use reasonable
endeavours to continue to perform the Relief Obligations notwithstanding the relevant
failure. Provided that the Relieved Party has Notified the other Party (the Other
Party) in accordance with Clause 13.1 or Clause 13.3 (as applicable), the Other Party
shall reimburse the Relieved Party for its reasonable costs incurred in performing the
Relief Obligations to the extent such costs are incurred as a direct result of the
relevant breach and/or failure, until such time as the Other Party requests the
Relieved Party to cease using such reasonable endeavours (including as part of the
Parties agreeing alternative actions and/or activities pursuant to sub-Clause
13.5(B)); and |
|
|
(B) |
|
the Parties shall, at the Other Partys request, meet to discuss and agree
(through the Change Control Procedure) any actions or activities which either Party
should undertake on a permanent or temporary basis to mitigate the effect of the
relevant breach and/or failure including (where relevant) to enable the Relieved Party
to perform the relevant Relief Obligations. All reasonable and direct costs incurred
by Relieved Party in connection with any such agreed actions or activities shall be
borne by the Other Party unless agreed otherwise in writing by the Parties. |
14. |
|
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES |
|
|
Supplier shall comply in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement (and
procure that its Sub-Contractors and the Supplier Personnel comply) with Customer Groups
policies, standards and procedures set out or referred to in Schedule 17 (Policies and
Procedures). Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Parties shall also comply in the
performance of their respective obligations under this Agreement with the policies,
standards and procedures developed pursuant to this Agreement (including the Operations
Manual). |
Contracts
15.1 |
|
Supplier shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that (i) each contract entered into by
Supplier with a Sub-Contractor; and (ii) each contract entered into by Supplier with a third
party (excluding any licence of Third Party IPR), in each case after the Commencement Date,
and which relates to the provision or receipt of any of the Services includes: |
|
(A) |
|
the right for Customer or a nominee of Customer within Customer Group to
receive novation of that contract to the extent that it relates to the provision or
receipt of the Services (without any transfer charge or other payment) in the |
REDACTED |
|
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and
are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
24
|
|
|
event that Customer removes any Services in accordance with this Agreement, this Agreement
terminates (or the relevant part of this Agreement terminates) or this Agreement
expires; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
the right following any such novation for Customer or a nominee of Customer
within Customer Group to terminate such contract to the extent it relates to the
provision or receipt of the Services at will on six months Notice (or less) without
the payment of termination fees or other charges for or relating to such termination. |
15.2 |
|
Where Supplier is unsuccessful in ensuring that those things referred to in Clause 15.2 are
contained in the contracts the subject of Clause 15.2, Supplier shall: |
|
(A) |
|
Notify Customer of that fact and the Parties shall discuss the same; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
not enter into any such contract without the prior written consent of
Customer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), where such
contract is with a Major Sub-Contractor and/or relates to a Key Process under the
Services. |
Equipment and refresh
15.3 |
|
Supplier shall ensure that all Equipment shall be used and maintained throughout the Term in
accordance with either the manufacturers technical specifications or operational practices
and procedures that are in accordance with Good Professional Practice. |
|
15.4 |
|
Supplier shall undertake a refresh of hardware, peripherals and other information technology
used to provide the Services in accordance with Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
Transferable Assets
15.5 |
|
During the Transition Period: |
|
(A) |
|
Supplier shall provide Customer with such assistance as is reasonably
required by Customer to enable Customer to compile an inventory identifying the
Transferable Assets; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
Customer shall compile and provide a copy to Supplier of such inventory. |
15.6 |
|
Supplier shall sell or procure the sale of, and Customer shall purchase, the Transferable
Assets. |
|
15.7 |
|
The consideration for the sale of each Transferable Asset
shall be XXXXX. Such
consideration shall be paid by Customer to Supplier within thirty (30) Business Days of
Customers receipt of a valid invoice from Supplier. |
25
15.8 |
|
The Parties shall discuss and agree and implement (once agreed) the most effective method of
mitigating any costs in respect of Taxes which may be incurred as a result of Customers
purchase of the Transferable Assets. |
|
15.9 |
|
Ownership for each Transferable Asset shall pass from Supplier to Customer on the date of
full payment to Supplier of any amounts payable in accordance with Clause 15.7 in respect of
such Transferable Asset. |
|
15.10 |
|
Risk and responsibility for each Transferable Asset shall pass from Supplier to Customer on
the date of physical transfer in respect of such Transferable Asset. |
|
15.11 |
|
If any Transferable Asset is lost, damaged or stolen whilst in the ownership of Customer
pursuant to Clause 15.9 but for which Supplier has risk or responsibility pursuant to Clause
15.10 then Supplier shall bear the cost (or reimburse such cost to Customer) of the repair or
replacement of such Transferable Asset. |
Use of office space
15.12 |
|
Supplier shall provide Customer with reasonable office space at a Site to be specified by
Customer within thirty (30) days from the Effective Date sufficient to accommodate a maximum
of thirty (30) Customer Personnel on a full-time basis at no cost to Customer (the Customer
Office Space). |
|
15.13 |
|
The Customer Office Space shall: |
|
(A) |
|
include such individual offices and Customer dedicated meeting rooms as may
be reasonably required by Customer; |
|
|
(B) |
|
be of at least the same standard (in terms of office environment, area and
facilities) as the office space owned by Noida Customer Operations Private Limited and
used by Customer Personnel in Pune prior to the Effective Date; and |
|
|
(C) |
|
include at least one telepresence room for the dedicated use of Customer
Personnel. |
15.14 |
|
The Customer Personnel using the Customer Office Space shall have access to all common areas
of the Site as are reasonably required in order for such Customer Personnel to perform their
job functions, including reasonable use of normal incidental office facilities such as
parking, dining and bathroom facilities. |
|
15.15 |
|
Management, maintenance, repair and upkeep of the Customer Office Space shall be the
responsibility of Supplier. Without limitation to the foregoing, Supplier shall be
responsible for the following in the Customer Office Space: |
|
(A) |
|
provision and maintenance of all necessary furniture, fixtures and fittings; |
|
|
(B) |
|
provision and maintenance of all wiring and cabling; and |
REDACTED |
|
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and
are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
26
|
(C) |
|
installation and maintenance of all necessary utilities and services. |
XXXXX
15.16 |
|
Supplier shall provide Customer with XXXXX. Supplier shall be entitled to XXXXX, provided that Customers
requirements XXXXX shall take reasonable precedence over such other uses. |
XXXXX
15.17 |
|
Supplier shall continue to provide Customer with XXXXX. Such use shall be provided
until the earlier of: |
|
(A) |
|
the date XXXXX from the date of this Agreement; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
XXXXX |
|
|
For the avoidance of doubt, Supplier shall be under no
obligation to provide XXXXX. |
|
|
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as
set out in Schedule 14 (Security Management). |
17.1 |
|
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as
set out in Schedule 10 (Change Management). |
|
17.2 |
|
Changes shall be progressed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure, and in
connection with each Change, each Party shall comply with its obligations contained in
Schedule 10 (Change Management). |
|
17.3 |
|
The costs of implementing Changes (other than a Mandatory Change) will be borne by the
Parties in accordance with Schedule 10 (Change Management). The costs of implementing
Mandatory Changes will, as between Customer and Supplier, be borne in accordance with Clause
20.5. |
27
18.1 |
|
The Parties may from time to time agree New Services, which shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and shall be agreed and documented in accordance with the Change
Control Procedure. |
18.2 |
|
Save where the Parties (each acting reasonably) agree otherwise, in creating the charges for
New Services, Supplier shall: |
|
(A) |
|
where the New Services are of the same nature and complexity as any of the
Principal Services, adopt the same pricing principles and/or model (including the same
Unit FTE Rates and/or transaction based unit rates) as for such Principal Services; |
|
|
(B) |
|
where the Parties agree that the New Services are of a different and more
complex nature to the Principal Services, adopt the same pricing principles and/or
model as for the Principal Services, but the Parties acknowledge that the Unit FTE
Rates and/or the transaction based unit rates may be higher; or |
|
|
(C) |
|
where the Parties agree that the New Services are of a different and less
complex nature to the Principal Services, adopt the same pricing principles and/or
model as for the Principal Services, but the Parties acknowledge that the Unit FTE
Rates and/or the transaction based unit rates may be lower. |
18.3 |
|
Subject to Clause 18.2, in creating the charges for New Services, the Parties shall take
account of: |
|
(A) |
|
the existing resources and expenses that would no longer be required if a New
Service were to be performed by Supplier; |
|
|
(B) |
|
any additional resources and expenses required by either Party if a New
Service were to be performed by Supplier; and |
|
|
(C) |
|
the extent to which existing resources can reasonably be re-utilised or
deployed in order to supply a New Service in accordance with Clause 18.1 above. |
18.4 |
|
The supply of each New Service by Supplier must be agreed in advance by the Parties and no
Service Recipient shall be obliged to pay any charges or fees in respect of any New Service in
the event that its supply has not been authorised and accepted (in accordance with any
applicable acceptance testing procedures agreed between the Parties from time to time) by
Customer in writing. |
|
|
|
19. |
|
GROWTH AND ACQUISITIONS |
19.1 |
|
Supplier acknowledges that Customer Group may acquire new entities or businesses throughout
the Term. Accordingly, at Customers written request from time to time, Supplier shall
provide each member of Customer Group and each Joining Entity with reasonable acquisition
support and assistance in respect of services similar or |
28
|
|
equivalent to the Services (including reasonable assessment and due diligence support
and transition and migration planning, support and assistance). In the event that such
support and assistance results in additional costs and expenses for Supplier (in excess of
the Billable FTEs utilised by Supplier for the provision of the Services), then Customer
shall bear such costs and expenses incurred by Supplier, provided that such costs and
expenses are direct and reasonable and Supplier previously Notified Customer of the same. |
19.2 |
|
Subject to Clause 1.5 and at Customers written request from time to time, Supplier shall
supply the Services (in whole or in part) to, or in respect of, a Joining Entity specified in
that written notice in accordance with the terms of this Clause 19. Subject to Clause 1.9,
the impact (if any) on the terms of this Agreement as they relate to that Joining Entity
and/or any other member of Customer Group resulting from the supply of Services to or, in
respect of, that Joining Entity shall be agreed between the Parties pursuant to the Change
Control Procedure. |
19.3 |
|
If Customer requests and Supplier agrees to supply Services to, or in respect of, a Joining
Entity and such Joining Entity has, or benefits from, rights under an existing contract with
any member of Supplier Group to receive services substantially similar to the Services (or the
relevant portion thereof), then the Parties shall agree through the Change Control Procedure
under which terms and conditions the Services shall be supplied to that Joining Entity and
whether or not the existing contract will be terminated and upon what terms. |
19.4 |
|
For the avoidance of doubt, the rights granted to Customer pursuant to this Clause 19 shall
be without prejudice to Customers right to vary the volumes of Services to be provided under
this Agreement in accordance with Schedule 8 (Forecasting and Capacity Planning) provided that
such variation does not reduce the amount of or relieve Customer in any way of its obligations
to meet the Minimum Commitment Level. |
|
|
|
20. |
|
CHANGES IN APPLICABLE LAW |
20.1 |
|
Each Party shall Notify the other of any change in Applicable Law of which it becomes aware
after the date of this Agreement to the extent that such change will affect the provision of
the Services (or any part thereof) by Supplier or receipt of the Services by Customer (or any
Service Recipients). |
20.2 |
|
The scope of any changes to the Services (or any part thereof) as may be necessary from time
to time to ensure that the supply of the Services and their receipt and use by Customer and
the Service Recipients continues to comply, with Applicable Law (each a Mandatory Change),
how such change shall be implemented shall be agreed though the Change Control Procedure, the
impact of developing and implementing Mandatory Changes upon the Services and/or the Charges
(if any) and the method and timeframe by which such Mandatory Changes shall be implemented,
shall all be: |
|
(A) |
|
investigated, assessed and Notified to Customer by Supplier; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
considered and agreed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure. |
29
20.3 |
|
Notwithstanding Clause 20.2 above, where the Mandatory Change arises as a result of Customer
or Supplier having previously misinterpreted Applicable Law in relation to the Services and
where Customer Notifies Supplier of such an event, then Supplier shall, following such
notification by Customer, either develop and implement such Mandatory Change as soon as
reasonably practicable and in any event by the date upon which such Mandatory Change is
required for compliance with Applicable Law, or Notify Customer immediately that it will not
be able to implement such Mandatory Change by such date. |
|
(A) |
|
the Parties fail to reach an agreement for the implementation of a Mandatory
Change through the Change Control Procedure; and/or |
|
|
(B) |
|
Supplier refuses to implement a Mandatory Change; and/or |
|
|
(C) |
|
Supplier is not able to implement the Mandatory Change, |
|
|
then Customer shall have the right to terminate the Service(s) to which such Mandatory Change relates by Notice to
Supplier with immediate effect. |
20.5 |
|
The cost of developing and implementing a Mandatory Change shall be borne as follows: |
|
(A) |
|
by Customer, to the extent the relevant change in Applicable Law relates
uniquely and specifically to Customer and/or any Service Recipients or the Mandatory
Change has been developed for the benefit of Customer and/or any Service Recipient and
in accordance with Customers and/or any Service Recipients express written
specifications; |
|
|
(B) |
|
by Customer and other customers of Supplier Group to the extent that the
relevant change in Applicable Law does not fall within Clause 20.5(A), affects the
Services and applies to the receipt of services the same or similar to the Services
provided that Customer shall only be liable for such proportion of such costs as is
fair and reasonable in all the circumstances (including the number of other customers
of members of Supplier Group, the services offered to such other customers and the
further use of any investment by the members of Supplier Group in retaining or
attracting customers) and Supplier shall provide Customer with reasonable evidence of
such circumstances to enable Customer to verify the allocation of such costs in
accordance with this Clause 20.5(B). As between Customer and Supplier, Supplier shall
be liable for the portion of such costs attributable to those other customers
(excluding to the extent they receive Services under this Agreement, Service
Recipients) and Supplier (and whether or not Supplier or Supplier Group is able to, or
does in fact, recover such costs from other customers); and |
|
|
(C) |
|
by Supplier, where the relevant change in Applicable Law does not fall within
Clauses 20.5(A) or 20.5(B) above. |
30
|
|
|
21. |
|
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND INDEMNITIES |
Representations and warranties
21.1 |
|
Each Party warrants and represents to the other that: |
|
(A) |
|
it has full capacity and authority and all necessary licences, permits and
consents to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement; |
|
|
(B) |
|
this Agreement has been duly authorised by it and is executed by its duly
authorised representative; |
|
|
(C) |
|
there are no matters of which it is aware as at the date hereof which might
adversely affect its ability to perform its contractual obligations under this
Agreement; |
|
|
(D) |
|
it is not unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of section 123(1) and 2
of the Insolvency Act 1986) as they fall due and no order has been made or resolution
passed for its winding up or for an administration order and no receiver,
administrative receiver or manager has been appointed by any person of its business or
all or a substantial part of its assets or any material part thereof nor has any
equivalent event taken place in relation to it in any jurisdiction; and |
|
|
(E) |
|
as at the date of this Agreement, it is not aware of anything likely to lead
to any of the events referred to in Clause 21.1(D) above. |
21.2 |
|
Supplier represents and warrants to Customer that: |
|
(A) |
|
Supplier has the full capacity and authority to grant the licences referred
to in Clause 30 (Intellectual Property); and |
|
|
(B) |
|
the supply of the Services by or on behalf of Supplier, and neither
Customers nor any Service Recipients receipt and use of the Services in accordance
with and for the purposes contemplated in this Agreement, will not infringe any IPR of
any third party. |
21.3 |
|
Customer represents and warrants to Supplier that: |
|
(A) |
|
each Service Recipient including Customer Group has obtained all necessary
consents, approvals, authorisations, licences and permissions which Customer and/or
each Service Recipient is required to obtain in order to receive the Services and
perform its obligations under this Agreement in compliance with all Applicable Laws; |
|
|
(B) |
|
each Service Recipient shall perform its obligations under this Agreement in
compliance with Applicable Laws, to the extent such Applicable Laws: (i) apply to such
Service Recipient; or (ii) apply to the receipt of the Services in the |
31
|
|
|
jurisdictions in which the Services are being received by Customer and/or such
Service Recipient; or (iii) relate to a Mandatory Change which the Parties have
agreed to implement through the Change Control Procedure in accordance with Clause
20 (Changes in Applicable Law); |
|
(C) |
|
Customer has the full capacity and authority to grant the licences referred
to in Clause 30 (Intellectual Property); and |
|
|
(D) |
|
the use of the Customer IPR, including any material made available to any
member of Supplier Group and each Sub-Contractor by any member of the Customer Group
and/or any other Service Recipient, in accordance with and for the purposes
contemplated in this Agreement will not infringe any IPR of any third party. |
21.4 |
|
Save as expressly set out in this Agreement, neither Party gives any representation or
warranty (express or implied) in respect of the subject matter of this Agreement, and all
warranties and representations which may be implied (by statute or otherwise) are hereby
excluded to the maximum extent permitted by law. |
22.1 |
|
The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and, except to the extent
that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, shall continue until the date
being eight (8) years and four (4) months from the date of this Agreement together with any
period in which Exit Services are provided (the Term). |
22.2 |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and except as the Parties agree
otherwise in writing, this Agreement is in all respects conditional upon the occurrence of
Completion (as that term is defined in the SSPA). Upon Completion, this Agreement shall
commence in full force and effect. |
Termination of the Agreement in whole or in part (Any or All terminations)
23.1 |
|
Customer may exercise its rights of termination under any of Clauses 23.6 (Termination for
Material Service Failure), 23.8(B), 23.9 (Termination for Persistent Service Failure), 23.11
(Termination for Service Credit Threshold Breach), 23.12 (Termination for Convenience), 23.16,
(Termination on an Insolvency or a Similar Event), 23.19 (Termination arising from Tax), 23.20
(pursuant to paragraph 5.4(D) of Schedule 11 (Benchmarking), 23.21(A), 23.21(B), 23.21(C)
23.21(D), 23.21(E), 23.21(G), 23.21(H) and 23.21(J): |
|
(A) |
|
in respect of the Agreement as a whole; |
|
|
(B) |
|
in respect of one or more Service Recipients or in respect of the business
(in whole or in part) of one or more Service Recipients; and/or |
32
|
(C) |
|
in respect of one or more of the Services. |
Termination of the Agreement in part (Truck and Trailer)
23.2 |
|
Subject to Clause 23.3, Customer may exercise it rights of termination under any of Clauses
23.5 (Termination for Material Service Failure), 23.7 (Termination for Persistent Service
Failure), 23.8(A), 23.17 (Termination for Event of Force Majeure), 23.18 (Termination arising
from Mandatory Change), 23.20 (pursuant to paragraph 5.4(C) of Schedule 11 (Benchmarking),
23.21(F) and 23.21(I) in relation to the provision of the Services that are directly affected
by the relevant termination event, to the Service Recipient directly affected by the relevant
termination event (the Terminated Services). |
23.3 |
|
The Parties agree that where Customer exercises its right to terminate any Terminated
Services, Customer shall also have the right to terminate any other Service(s) to the relevant
Service Recipient within the same Performance Category for that Service Recipient (the
Affected Services), where there are commercial, practical or technical reasons that would
restrict or prevent the ongoing effective operation of either the Terminated Service or the
Affected Service in the event of the Terminated Service and the Affected Service being
provided by different persons. |
23.4 |
|
The Parties agree that Customer shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement (in
whole or in part) pursuant to Clauses 23.5 to 23.9 (inclusive), in respect of: |
|
(A) |
|
any Critical Service Failure occurring within the period from the date of
this Agreement until and including the date being ninety (90) days after the
Commencement Date; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
any Critical Service Failure occurring during the Term with respect to the
Transaction Processing, Expenses and Reporting Critical Service Levels, which form
part of the Aviva Group Centre Performance Category within the F&A Business Unit. |
Termination for Material Service Failure
23.5 |
|
Subject to Clause 23.10, in the event that the same Critical Service Level falls twenty per
cent. (20%) below the Minimum Service Level twice or more in any nine (9) month rolling
period, Customer will have the right to partially terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clauses
23.2 and 23.3 forthwith on written notice to the Supplier. |
23.6 |
|
Subject to Clause 23.10, in the event that in any six (6) month period there are two (2) or
more months with twenty per cent. (20%) or more (by number) of all Critical Service Levels
that fail to meet the relevant Minimum Service Levels, Customer shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to the Supplier. |
33
Termination for Persistent Service Failure
23.7 |
|
Subject to Clause 23.10, in respect of each Critical Service Level labelled with a monthly
measurement period (and marked as PSF in Appendix 3A (Service Levels Matrix) of Schedule 3
(Service Levels and Service Credits)) if there are four (4) Minimum Service Level Defaults, or
three (3) sequential Minimum Service Level Defaults, (in each case) in respect of the same
Critical Service Level within a twelve (12) month rolling period, the Customer shall have the
right to partially terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clauses 23.2 and 23.3 forthwith on
written notice to the Supplier. |
23.8 |
|
Subject to Clause 23.10, in respect of each Critical Service Levels labelled with a quarterly
measurement period (and marked as PSF in Appendix 3A (Service Levels Matrix) of Schedule 3
(Service Levels and Service Credits)): |
|
(A) |
|
if there are Minimum Service Level Defaults in respect of the same Critical
Service Level in each of two consecutive measurement periods, the Customer shall have
the right to partially terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clauses 23.2 and 23.3
forthwith on written notice to the Supplier; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
if there are Minimum Service Level Defaults in respect of the same Critical
Service Level in each of three consecutive measurement periods Customer shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to Supplier. |
23.9 |
|
If in any twelve (12) month rolling period Customer has two or more opportunities to exercise
a right of partial termination pursuant to Clauses 23.7 or 23.8 then Customer shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to Supplier. |
23.10 |
|
The Parties agree that where the spread between Expected Service Level and the Minimum
Service Level is two per cent. (2%) or less, the relevant Minimum Service Level shall be
deemed to be reduced by three (3) basis points for the purposes of Clauses 23.5 to 23.9
(inclusive). |
Termination for Service Credit Threshold breach
23.11 |
|
Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to the
Supplier if twice or more in any twelve (12) month rolling period the amount of Service
Credits (prior to any Earnback) to which the Customer is due under this Agreement is equal to
twelve per cent. (12%) (or more) of the Monthly Charges. |
Termination for Convenience
23.12 |
|
Customer may, at any time after the date being twenty four (24) months from the Commencement
Date, give six (6) months Notice to Supplier to terminate this Agreement in whole or (in its
sole discretion) in part subject to Clauses 23.13, 23.14 and 23.15. |
34
23.13 |
|
Where Customer exercises its right to terminate this Agreement in whole pursuant to Clause
23.12, then Customer shall pay to Supplier the Termination Fee by way of compensation in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
23.14 |
|
Where Customer exercises its right to terminate this Agreement in part pursuant to Clause
23.12 and as a result of such partial termination of the Agreement the Billable FTE does not
fall below the Minimum Commitment Level, no Termination Fee will be due or payable by any
member of Customer Group to Supplier. |
23.15 |
|
Where Customer exercises its right to terminate this Agreement in part pursuant to Clause
23.12 and the Billable FTE falls below the Minimum Commitment Level, then Customer shall have
the option to: |
|
(A) |
|
pay to Supplier the Termination Fee by way of compensation in accordance with
the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and the
Minimum Commitment Level shall be reduced by a proportionate amount to the Terminated
Services in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing,
Invoicing and Payment); or |
|
|
(B) |
|
elect not to pay to Supplier the Termination Fee in relation to such partial
termination of the Agreement, but in such an event the Parties agree that the Minimum
Commitment Level shall remain the same as prior to the partial termination of the
Agreement in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing,
Invoicing and Payment). |
Termination on an Insolvency or Similar Event
23.16 |
|
Without prejudice to its other rights and remedies, either Supplier or Customer (the
Terminating Party) may terminate this Agreement (subject to Clauses 23.25, 23.26, 23.27 and 24) immediately by Notice to the other Party if: |
|
(A) |
|
other than in respect of a Contested Claim, any procedure is commenced with a
view to the winding-up or re-organisation (other than for the purpose of a solvent
amalgamation or reconstruction to which the Terminating Party has consented) of the
other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor; |
|
|
(B) |
|
other than in respect of a Contested Claim, any procedure is commenced with a
view to the appointment of an administrator, receiver, administrative receiver or
trustee in bankruptcy in relation to the other Party or, in the case of termination by
Customer only, the Guarantor or all or a substantial part of the assets of such other
Party or the Guarantor (as applicable); |
|
|
(C) |
|
an administrator, liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver or trustee in
bankruptcy is appointed in relation to the other Party or, in the case of termination
by Customer only, the Guarantor or all or a substantial part of the assets of such
other Party or the Guarantor (as applicable); |
35
|
(D) |
|
in respect of a security interest over all or substantially all of the assets
of the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor, any
procedure (other than in respect of a Contested Claim), is commenced to enforce that
security by the holder; |
|
|
(E) |
|
all or substantially all of the assets of the other Party or, in the case of
termination by Customer only, the Guarantor are subject to attachment, sequestration,
execution or any similar process; |
|
|
(F) |
|
the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the
Guarantor is or is deemed to be unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of section
123(1) and (2) of the Insolvency Act 1986) as they fall due or enters into a
composition or arrangement with its creditors generally or any class of them; |
|
|
(G) |
|
the other Partys or the Guarantors directors take any steps to obtain a
moratorium; or |
|
|
anything analogous to any of the events described in Clauses 23.16(A) to (G) (inclusive)
occurs in any jurisdiction. |
Termination arising from an Event of Force Majeure
23.17 |
|
Customer shall have the right to terminate the provision of the Services that are directly
affected by the Event of Force Majeure to the Service Recipient(s) directly affected by the
Event of Force Majeure in accordance with Clause 39.5 or 39.6 (as applicable) (and any
Affected Services in accordance with the principles described in Clause 23.3) |
Termination arising from Mandatory Change
23.18 |
|
Customer shall have the right to terminate Services that are directly affected by the
Mandatory Change to the Service Recipient(s) directly affected by the Mandatory Change in
accordance with Clause 20.4 (and any Affected Services in accordance with the principles
described in Clause 23.3). |
Termination arising from Tax
23.19 |
|
Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Clause 35.3. |
Termination following Benchmarking
23.20 |
|
Customer shall have the rights of termination with respect to certain Services and/or the
Agreement (as applicable) identified in Schedule 11 (Benchmarking). |
36
Further Customer Termination Rights
23.21 |
|
Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement or partially terminate this
Agreement in accordance with Clause 23.2 and 23.3 (subject to Clauses 23.25, 23.26, 23.27 and
24) by Notice to Supplier with immediate effect if: |
|
(A) |
|
Supplier is in material breach (excluding any breach giving rise to
Customers termination rights pursuant to Clauses 23.5 to 23.9 (inclusive)) in respect
of this Agreement, which causes Customer or any member of the Customer Group to suffer
material adverse consequences, and such material breach is not capable of remedy or
(if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of receipt by Supplier of
Notice from Customer requiring such remedy; |
|
|
(B) |
|
Supplier is in persistent breach (excluding any breach giving rise to
Customers termination rights pursuant to Clauses 23.5 to 23.11 (inclusive)) of this
Agreement, which has a material adverse effect on Customer or any Service Recipient,
and such persistent breach is not capable of remedy or (if it is) has not been
remedied within thirty (30) days of receipt by Supplier of Notice from Customer
requiring such remedy; |
|
|
(C) |
|
without prejudice to Clause 23.21(A), Customers reputation has been
materially damaged following a material breach of Supplier, any Sub-Contractor or any
Supplier Personnel in respect of this Agreement, and such material breach is not
capable of remedy or (if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of
receipt by Supplier of Notice from Customer requiring such remedy; |
|
|
(D) |
|
there is a change of Control of Guarantor, or Supplier or any other member of
the Supplier Group providing the Services (each a Supplier Group Member), or the
Guarantor sells all or a substantial part of its business or assets (whether or not
including the Supplier or any other member of the Supplier Group providing the
Services) providing the Services, or the Supplier or any other member of the Supplier
Group sells all or a substantial part of the assets used to provide the Services (such
assets being referred to in this Clause as the Supplier Assets) (each a Trigger
Event), provided that Customer shall only be entitled to exercise its rights under
this Clause 23.21(D) if it serves Supplier with a written notice (the Customer
Notice) (to be provided no later than ninety (90) days from the date of receipt of a
notice from the Guarantor or the Supplier which sets out (in reasonable detail)
details of the relevant Trigger Event, and provided further that the Guarantor and/or
the Supplier has not provided to the Customer, or procured for the Customer,
assurances, evidence, guarantees or undertakings (to the Customers reasonable
satisfaction) within a further period of sixty (60) days after the date of the
Customer Notice that: |
|
(i) |
|
a competitor of any then current Service Recipient that is
also a member of the Customer Group has not assumed Control of the Guarantor,
the Supplier, relevant Supplier Group Member(s) or Supplier Assets (as the
case may be); |
37
|
(ii) |
|
the senior management team responsible for the supply of the
Services following the Trigger Event are appropriately skilled and qualified; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
there will be, for the reasonably foreseeable future,
material continuity of the material infrastructure which was used in the
supply of the Services in the twelve (12) months prior to the Trigger Event; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
Supplier and each person who has assumed control of the
Guarantor, Supplier, relevant Supplier Group Member(s) and/or Suppliers
Assets (as the case may be) is and (will remain for the Term) committed to
comply with all obligations of Supplier under this Agreement for the remainder
of the Term; |
|
|
(v) |
|
the Trigger Event will not result in a material deterioration
or material degradation in the standard of supply of Services, or the
performance of the Suppliers obligations under this Agreement; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
the Trigger Event will not result in any material damage to
the reputation or goodwill of any member of the Customer Group, or any then
current Service Recipient; |
|
|
(vii) |
|
the Trigger Event will not result in any adverse action
being taken by any Regulator (including any investigation), or any adverse
ruling being given by any Regulator with respect to damage to any member of
the Customer Group or any then current Service Recipient; |
|
|
(viii) |
|
the Trigger Event will not result in the Customer Group or any then current
Service Recipient being non-compliant with any Applicable Law or any part of
such member of the Customer Group or Service Recipient; |
|
|
(x) |
|
each person who has assumed Control of the Guarantor,
Supplier, Supplier Group Member(s) and/or Supplier Assets (as the case may be)
is not a person who is making any material legal claim or has commenced any
material legal proceedings against a member of the Customer Group or is a
person against whom a member of the Customer Group is making a material legal
claim or has commenced any material proceedings; |
|
|
(ix) |
|
the Trigger Event will not have any material adverse effect
on the financial position or credit standing of the Guarantor or the Supplier
Group; and |
|
|
(xii) |
|
the Supplier Guarantee remains in full force and effect; |
|
|
|
provided that this right of termination shall not apply to a transfer of any
Supplier Group Member and/or any Supplier Assets as part of a solvent group
re-organisation from the Guarantor or a wholly owned subsidiary of Guarantor to |
38
|
|
|
the Guarantor or another such wholly owned subsidiary of the Guarantor (as
applicable) in circumstances in which the Supplier Guarantee will continue in full
force and effect. |
|
(E) |
|
Supplier ceases wholly or substantially to carry on its business; |
|
|
(F) |
|
the following occurs: |
|
(i) |
|
the Travel Unit of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (or
its successors) advises against all travel to the territory in which any site
from where any of the Services or any project work (including projects
relating to Transition and Transformation) are located and such advice remains
in place for a consecutive period of ninety (90) days or more; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
this results in Customer staff being prevented or restricted
(including, due to Customer Group travel policies) from travelling to that
territory; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
this is having a material detrimental impact on the ability
of Customer or any member of the Customer Group to operate its business or to
receive the Services; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the Supplier has had the opportunity to make a proposal to
Customer for addressing the implications of such advice and Customer has given
any such proposal its reasonable consideration. Customer shall only be
required to accept such a proposal (and in such circumstance will not exercise
its rights of termination) where in Customers reasonable opinion the adoption
of such proposals will not materially prejudice Customer or any Service
Recipient. |
|
(G) |
|
following material breach in respect of this Agreement by the Supplier,
Customer or any other Service Recipient is non-compliant or in breach of Applicable
Law such non-compliance or breach having (in Customers reasonable opinion) material
adverse effect on any member of the Customer Group (or any part of it) and such breach
is not capable of remedy or (if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days
of receipt by Supplier of Notice from Customer requiring such remedy; |
|
|
(H) |
|
subject to Clause 23.28, Customer (or a member of Customer Group or any other
Service Recipient) is required to do so by the lawful direction of a Regulator or a
competent court or by Applicable Law; |
|
|
(I) |
|
Supplier is not permitted under Applicable Law (other than where such
non-permission has been or is caused by an Event of Force Majeure or a breach by any
member of Customer Group or any Service Recipient) to deliver the Services (or any
part thereof) and it has not within thirty (30) days of such Applicable Law taking
effect, made its provision of the relevant services compliant with Applicable Law; and |
39
|
(J) |
|
following a breach by Supplier, any Sub-Contractor or any Supplier Personnel
in respect of this Agreement, an investigation is carried out, proceedings are brought
or a sanction is imposed by a Regulator against any member of Supplier Group or any
member of Customer Group, which has or is reasonably likely (in Customers reasonable
opinion) to have a material adverse consequence on the relevant member of Supplier
Group, or, as the case may be, Customer Group. |
Suppliers Termination Rights
23.22 |
|
Supplier may terminate this Agreement (subject to Clauses 23.25, 23.26, 23.27 and 24) by
Notice to Customer with immediate effect if: |
|
(A) |
|
Customer has failed to pay any invoiced amounts where such invoiced amounts
are: |
|
(i) |
|
due and payable in accordance with the provisions of Schedule
4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) (including where such sums have become due
and payable because they are no longer the subject of any dispute by Customer
in good faith but excluding any sums which are properly disputed in accordance
with the provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment)); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
overdue for a period of at least thirty (30) Business Days, |
|
|
|
provided that no such notice of termination shall take effect where Customer has
remedied such non-payment within thirty (30) Business Days of such Notice being
received by it; or |
|
(B) |
|
Customer is in material breach in respect of this Agreement, which causes
Supplier or any member of Supplier Group to suffer material adverse consequences, and
such material breach is not capable of remedy, or (if it is) has not been remedied
within thirty (30) days of receipt by Customer of Notice from Supplier requiring such
remedy. |
23.23 |
|
In the event of termination of the Agreement pursuant to Clause 23.22, Customer shall pay to
Supplier the Termination Fee by way of compensation in accordance with the applicable
provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
Departing Entities, Departing Businesses and Termination
23.24 |
|
Without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties pursuant to Clause 24 (Exit
and Service Transfer), Schedule 8 (Forecasting and Capacity Planning) and Schedule 11 (Exit
Management), in the event that: |
|
(A) |
|
any Service Recipient is identified by Customer as no longer being a
recipient of the Services (a Departing Entity); or |
40
|
(B) |
|
any Service Recipient disposes of a business by way of (i) a transfer of
assets of that business or (ii) the disposal of shares of a company carrying on that
business (in each case, other than to another Service Recipient) (a Departing
Business), |
|
|
then Customer shall have the option to: |
|
(C) |
|
subject to Clause 23.15, terminate the Services supplied under this Agreement
solely to the extent they are supplied to or are in respect of such Departing Entity
or Departing Business; or |
|
|
(D) |
|
without prejudice to Customers obligation to meet the Minimum Commitment
Level and without prejudice to Suppliers rights under Clause 1.5, require that
Supplier enters into a direct agreement with that Departing Entity, Departing
Business, or in the case of a transfer of assets of the relevant business, the
transferee of the Departing Business on terms that are substantially the same as the
terms of this Agreement to the extent it relates to that Departing Entity or that
Departing Business (as the case may be). Supplier shall execute at Customers expense
all such documents and take all such other actions as Customer may reasonably request
to procure such direct agreement. The effect of such agreement shall be that the
Services the subject of the direct agreement shall continue to be supplied by Supplier
to each Departing Entity or transferee of a Departing Business (as the case may be)
for a period that is the lesser of twelve (12) months from the date of such direct
agreement and the unexpired portion of the Term (unless otherwise agreed by the
relevant parties) but the contract in respect of such Services shall be between
Supplier and that Departing Entity, Departing Business, or in the case of a transfer
of assets of the relevant business, the transferee of the Departing Business Departing
Entity (as the case may be). Customer shall be responsible for procuring that all
charges and expenses in respect of all Services that are the subject of the direct
agreement are paid to Supplier. In the event that the provision of the Services to
any Departing Entity and/or transferee of a Departing Business results in, will result
in or is reasonably likely to result in additional costs to Supplier, such costs shall
be borne by Customer, provided that such costs are agreed by the Parties through the
Change Control Procedure in advance. |
General
23.25 |
|
Termination or expiry of this Agreement or the removal of a Service shall be without
prejudice to the rights of the Parties accrued prior to such termination, expiry or removal. |
23.26 |
|
Termination or expiry of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to any provision which
expressly or by implication is intended to survive termination or expiry, including the
provisions of: |
|
(A) |
|
Clauses: 4.13 (Step-in Costs); 6.2 (Customer Authority and Supplier
Authority) 23.25 to 23.27 (inclusive) (Termination General); 24 (Exit and Service |
41
|
|
|
Transfer); 27.4 and 27.5 (Sub-Contractors); 29.2 and 29.3 (Human Resources) 30.10,
30.15 and 30.22 to 30.27 (inclusive) (Intellectual Property); 31 (Confidentiality);
32 (Records, Audit and Compliance); 33 (Data Protection); 34 (Limitation of
Liability); 35 (Tax); 37 (Notices); 40 (Announcements and Publicity); 44 (Remedies
and Waivers); 45 (Entire Agreement); 47 (Dispute Resolution); 48 (Liquidated
Damages); 49 (Costs and Expenses); 51 (Third Party Rights and Rights of Service
Recipients); 52 (Agent for Service); 53 (Interpretation); and 54 (Governing Law);
and |
|
(B) |
|
Schedule 1 (Definitions); paragraph 18.2 of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and
Service Credits); paragraphs 4.3, 4.6, 4.7, 7.11, 7.15, 10.4, 10.5 and 11 of Schedule
4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment); and paragraph 10.6 of Schedule 12 (Exit
Management). |
23.27 |
|
Termination Fees shall be payable by Customer by way of compensation in connection with the
termination of this Agreement (in whole or in part) pursuant to Clauses 23.12 (Termination for
Convenience), 23.19 (Termination arising from Tax), 23.21(H) (Further Customer Termination
Rights Regulator, competent court or Applicable Law), 23.22 (Suppliers Termination Rights)
and 39.5 (Force Majeure) in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing,
Invoicing and Payment). Except as provided in Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment), no
Termination Fee will be due or payable by any member of Customer Group to Supplier. |
23.28 |
|
If Customer is required to exercise its rights of termination under Clause 23.21(H), to the
extent permitted by Applicable Law the Parties will discuss in good faith the impact of the
requirement or direction of the Regulator or competent court to see if the effect can be
mitigated and the Services can be performed in any manner including from another jurisdiction
which will be reasonably acceptable to the Regulator or the competent court which required
Customer and/or the member of Customer Group to terminate this Agreement. |
24. |
|
EXIT AND SERVICE TRANSFER |
24.1 |
|
The term Exit Services means the services, matters and obligations to be provided, carried
out or performed by Supplier described in Schedule 12 (Exit Management). |
|
(A) |
|
termination of this Agreement; |
|
|
(B) |
|
the partial termination of this Agreement (including in respect of each
Departing Entity pursuant to Clause 23.24(C)); |
|
|
(C) |
|
the removal of a Service or Services from the scope of this Agreement in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including pursuant to Clause 23.24(D));
and |
|
|
(D) |
|
expiry of this Agreement, |
42
|
|
(in each case, as applicable), Supplier shall continue to supply the Exit Services at
Customers request for a maximum of twenty-four (24) months (the exact period being
determined by Customer in its absolute discretion following consultation with Supplier)
(the Exit Period), provided that the Exit Period in respect of expiry of this Agreement
shall commence twelve (12) months prior to the expiry of the Agreement and shall last for a
period of at least twelve (12) months and at Customers discretion may last for twelve (12)
months after the expiry of the Agreement. Subject to Clause 24.3 each of such terminated
or removed Services shall be supplied on the same terms as the equivalent Services
(including as to Service Levels, Service Credits and Charges) and this Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect for any Exit Period, and each of the Exit Services shall
be deemed to be Services for that purpose. Without prejudice to any claim Supplier may
have for damages or any other remedy under any Applicable Law or this Agreement and subject
to Clause 24.3, each of the Exit Services shall be provided at no additional cost to
Customer and the only payments required for such services shall be the Charges payable
pursuant to this Agreement. |
24.3 |
|
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as
set out in Schedule 12 (Exit Management). |
24.4 |
|
Supplier shall, at Customers request, provide all reasonable assistance to Customer during
the Exit Period, including in relation to any tenders released by Customer connected with or
in relation to the Services and (subject to and conditional upon any such engaged third party
at the request of Supplier first entering into a confidentiality agreement directly with
Supplier (and any members of the Supplier Group identified by the Supplier) on terms
equivalent to those set out in Clause 31) shall co-operate with all reasonable requests for
information which are received from Customer or any third parties engaged by Customer in
relation thereto, to the extent such requested information relates to the Services. Customer
shall bear any reasonable and additional costs and expenses directly incurred by Supplier in
relation to the provision of such assistance, provided that such costs and expenses arise as a
result of additional resources engaged by Supplier in relation to such assistance. Customer
acknowledges that Supplier shall not be obliged under this Clause 24.4 to provide any
Confidential Information relating to the Charges and/or any financial information relating to
the costings, margins or other internal financial data of any member of Supplier Group and/or
any Sub-Contractors. |
|
|
|
25. |
|
BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY |
|
|
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as
set out in Schedule 15 (Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Incident Management). |
|
|
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set
out in Schedule 11 (Benchmarking). |
43
General provisions and appointment of Sub-Contractors
27.1 |
|
In performing its obligations under this Agreement, Supplier shall act as prime contractor at
all times. |
|
27.2 |
|
Supplier may sub-contract the performance of its obligations in respect of any part (but not
the whole) of the Services provided that: |
|
(A) |
|
all Sub-Contractors (or proposed Sub-Contractors) and their employees shall
be capable of performing and (where applicable) suitably qualified to perform the
Services which Supplier proposes to sub-contract; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
Customer has given its prior written consent to such sub-contracting and to
the identity of the person to which Supplier wishes to sub-contract (such consent not
to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except where the Sub-Contractor is a member
of Supplier Group or an Incumbent Service Provider, in which case Supplier shall not
be required or obliged under this Agreement to have obtained Customers prior written
consent. |
27.3 |
|
In Notifying Customer of its desire to sub-contract any of the Services, Supplier shall
provide all information reasonably requested by Customer (including details of the activities
to be performed by the proposed Sub-Contractor and their identity (together with references)). |
27.4 |
|
Supplier shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement by entering
into any sub-contract with any Sub-Contractor for the performance of any part of the Services
and without prejudice to Customers obligation to pay the Charges or any other sum under the
express terms of this Agreement all costs and expenses involved in the appointment,
supervision and management of any Sub-Contractor shall be borne by Supplier. Supplier shall
be liable to Customer and every other Service Recipient in respect of all acts or omissions of
any Sub-Contractors for which, if such acts or omissions were of Supplier, Supplier would be
liable to Customer and/or any other Service Recipient(s) whether for breach of this Agreement,
in tort (including negligence), in breach of a statutory duty or otherwise. Without prejudice
to the Customers obligation to pay the Charges or any other sums under the express terms of
this Agreement, Supplier will be solely responsible for coordinating with any Sub-Contractors,
at no additional cost to Customer or any other Service Recipient, and neither Customer nor any
other Service Recipient shall have any obligation under the terms of any sub-contract or
otherwise to any person in relation to any sub-contract to the extent such sub-contract is
between the Sub-Contractor and any member of Supplier Group. |
27.5 |
|
Supplier acknowledges and agrees that any default of any Sub-Contractor shall not constitute
an Event of Force Majeure nor shall it excuse in any way Supplier from the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement unless the Sub-Contractors default
is itself caused by or arises from an Event of Force Majeure in which case the Supplier, |
44
|
|
in
accordance with Clause 39, may be excused from the performance of the relevant obligations
under this Agreement. |
Removal of Sub-Contractors
27.6 |
|
Without prejudice to any other term of this Agreement, in the event that any Sub-Contractor
(or any Affiliate of that Sub-Contractor), during the term of its sub-contract with Supplier: |
|
(A) |
|
makes any material legal claim or commences any material legal proceedings
against a member of Customer Group; |
|
|
(B) |
|
becomes a person against whom a member of Customer Group makes any material
legal claim or commences any material legal proceedings; |
|
|
(C) |
|
causes or materially contributes to a material breach of Suppliers
obligations under this Agreement; |
|
|
Customer shall, acting reasonably, have the right to Notify Supplier of the same and
request that such Sub-Contractor ceases to be a Sub-Contractor. As soon as reasonably
practicable after the receipt of any such notice, Supplier shall procure that such
Sub-Contractor ceases to exercise any rights, or undertake any obligations, of Supplier
under this Agreement (and shall Notify Customer of the same) provided that Customer, upon
Suppliers request and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and subject to any
obligations of confidentiality owed by Customer or any Service Recipient, provides in
writing details of the material legal claim or material breach giving rise to such
reasonable action. |
Sub-contracting arrangements
27.7 |
|
Subject to Clause 27.8, Supplier in its capacity as prime contractor shall sign an agreement
with each Sub-Contractor for the provision and/or supply of services required for Suppliers
provision of the Services hereunder to Customer, the terms of such agreement to include: (i)
an undertaking by the Sub-Contractor to comply with confidentiality provisions substantially
similar to the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement and (ii) provisions that procure
the assignment of all IPR in Bespoke Innovations and Developed Materials (to the extent that
such IPR is assigned to Customer under this Agreement) to Customer or a member of Supplier
Group (at the discretion of Supplier). |
27.8 |
|
No Major Sub-Contractor shall be permitted to sub-contract further the performance of the
whole or any part of the Service sub-contracted to it without Supplier having obtained the
prior written consent of Customer, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and then
shall only sub-contract in compliance with the terms of such consent (if any). In the event
that a sub-contractor engaged by a Sub-Contractor is either a member of Supplier
Group or an Incumbent Service Provider, then Supplier shall not be required or obliged
under this Agreement to have obtained Customers prior written consent. |
45
Customer Group suppliers
27.9 |
|
Supplier shall, at Customers reasonable request, use all reasonable endeavours to try to use
every appropriately experienced qualified and appropriately trained third party supplier
identified by Customer and familiar with the requirements of Customer Group in connection with
this Agreement and the provision of services similar to the Services for the purposes of
enabling or assisting Supplier to perform its obligations under this Agreement as a
Sub-Contractor, provided that Supplier shall be relieved from this obligation to the extent
that (i) Supplier can demonstrate to Customers reasonable satisfaction grounds for refusing
to use any such third party supplier and/or (ii) such third party supplier fails to comply
with the terms of the sub-contract to which it is a party and/or causes or contributes to a
material or persistent breach of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement. |
28. SUPPLIER PERSONNEL
28.1 |
|
Supplier shall ensure that all Supplier Personnel shall at all times uphold the good name and
reputation of each Service Recipient and that of its products and services, and act in a
manner commensurate with that good name and reputation. |
29. HUMAN RESOURCES
29.1 |
|
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as
set out in Schedule 5 (Human Resources). |
29.2 |
|
Supplier agrees that during the Term and for the period of twelve (12) months thereafter, it
shall not and shall procure that other members of Supplier Group shall not, directly or
indirectly, solicit for employment or engagement any Customer Personnel. |
29.3 |
|
Subject to Schedule 12 (Exit Management), Customer agrees that during the Term and for the
period of twelve (12) months thereafter, it shall not and shall procure that other members of
Customer Group shall not directly or indirectly solicit for employment or engagement any
Supplier Personnel. |
30. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Ownership of IPR
30.1 |
|
Save as otherwise expressly set out in this Agreement or as otherwise agreed in writing by
the Parties, neither Party nor any Sub-Contractor shall receive any right, title or interest
in respect of the IPR owned or controlled by the other Party or their respective Groups.
Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to any agreement between the Parties
to the contrary all IPR belonging to Supplier, any other member of Supplier Group and/or
any Sub-Contractor prior to the date of this Agreement will remain vested in such Party.
|
46
Developed Materials
30.2 |
|
Other than in respect of any Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR, Supplier hereby
agrees to assign and (in respect of copyright and database rights owned by Supplier arising in
the future) hereby assigns, and (in relation to any IPR owned by a member of Supplier Group or
Sub-Contractor) to procure the assignment of, the whole legal and beneficial interest in all
the IPRs in any Developed Materials to Customer, at no additional charge. |
30.3 |
|
Supplier shall, upon request by Customer from time to time, procure the delivery to Customer
or its nominee of copies of all Developed Materials (including any enhancements or
modifications thereto). |
Customer Data
30.4 |
|
Supplier shall not be entitled to use and undertakes that it will not use Customer Data for
any purpose other than to the extent necessary to provide the Services and/or to perform its
other obligations under this Agreement. Supplier acknowledges that Customer Data (and any IPR
subsisting therein) is proprietary to Customer Group (or the relevant Service Recipient, as
the case may be) and constitutes Confidential Information of Customer Group (or the relevant
Service Recipient, as the case may be). |
30.5 |
|
Without prejudice to Clause 30.4 and save where expressly permitted otherwise by Customer
and/or any Service Recipient in writing, Supplier undertakes to process and store, and procure
the process and storage of, all Customer Data on the Equipment: |
|
(A) |
|
in a manner which enables it to be readily identifiable as proprietary to
Customer or any other relevant Service Recipient; and |
|
(B) |
|
separately from data which is proprietary to Supplier and/or any other third
party. |
30.6 |
|
Supplier shall provide Customer with access to any Customer Data in the possession or control
of Supplier (or any of its Sub-Contractors) as soon as reasonably practicable following
Customers written request. |
30.7 |
|
In the event that any Customer Data is either lost or sufficiently corrupted or degraded so
as to be unusable as a result of any breach by Supplier of this Agreement, Supplier shall,
without prejudice to the other rights and remedies of Customer Group, at its own expense,
provide all services and assistance as Customer shall reasonably require to effect a
reconstruction of the relevant data. In the event that any Customer Data is either lost or
sufficiently corrupted or degraded so as to be unusable as a result of any other cause,
Supplier shall provide the aforementioned assistance at Customers request, provided
that Customer reimburses Supplier its reasonable and direct costs in providing such
assistance.
|
47
Licence of Customer IPR
30.8 |
|
Customer hereby grants (and shall procure the grant of) to Supplier, or any member of
Supplier Group, or any Sub-Contractor providing Services under this Agreement a royalty-free,
non-exclusive and non-transferable licence for the Term to use the Customer Trade Marks solely
for the Permitted Use (and for no other purpose) and in accordance with the Use Guidelines. |
30.9 |
|
Supplier undertakes that neither it nor any member of Supplier Group shall commit or omit to
do any act or pursue any course of conduct or cause, authorise or assist any other person to
do anything in breach of this Agreement which, without prejudice to its rights under Clause
30.23 or Clause 21.3(D): |
|
(A) |
|
brings any Customer Trade Mark into disrepute; |
|
(B) |
|
prejudices the validity or enforceability of, or Customers ownership of any
rights in and to, the Customer Trade Marks; |
|
(C) |
|
distorts or damages the goodwill, reputation or image attaching to or
associated with the Customer Trade Marks; or |
|
(D) |
|
causes any Customer Trade Mark to lose its distinctiveness or mislead the
public. |
30.10 |
|
Supplier undertakes that neither it nor any member of Supplier Group shall anywhere in the
world during the Term and for a period of five (5) years thereafter file or authorise others
to file any trade mark applications in relation to, or otherwise make any claim to or seek to
(or authorise others to) acquire any rights in any of the Customer Trade Marks or any name or
mark which includes any of the Customer Trade Marks or any name or mark which is similar or
substantially similar to or so nearly resembling any of the Customer Trade Marks as might
reasonably cause deception or confusion. The provisions of this Clause 30.10 shall survive
any expiry or termination of this Agreement. |
30.11 |
|
If any goodwill or proprietary right in relation to the Customer Trade Marks vests in any
member of Supplier Group or its Sub-Contractors, immediately upon becoming aware of the
vesting of such goodwill or right, Supplier shall assign, or shall procure the assignment of,
such goodwill or right to the relevant member of Customer Group. |
30.12 |
|
Customer hereby grants (and shall procure the grant of) a royalty-free, non-transferable and
non-exclusive licence for the Term of all Customer Materials owned by Customer or any member
of Customer Group or any Service Recipient to Supplier, any member of Supplier Group and any
Sub-Contractor to the extent necessary for the provision of the Services and the performance
of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement. |
Licences of Supplier Background IPR
30.13 |
|
In respect of any of the Developed Materials and/or Bespoke Innovations that incorporate,
integrate or use Supplier Background IPR or where Supplier Background |
48
|
|
IPR is needed to use the
Developed Materials or Bespoke Innovations, Supplier hereby grants (and shall procure the
grant of) a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable (save as set out in Clause 30.16)
transferable and non-exclusive licence (with the right to sub-license) to use, modify and copy
such Supplier Background IPR (to include in respect of Developed Materials and Bespoke
Innovations, the Source Code and in respect of Developed Materials, Bespoke Innovations and
Supplier Software, the object code to such software and any improvements and modifications
thereto) to Customer for itself and for the benefit of any Service Recipient and any Successor
Service Provider. |
30.14 |
|
Supplier hereby grants (and shall procure the grant of) a royalty-free, irrevocable (save as
set out in Clause 23.22), non transferable and non-exclusive licence (with the right to
sub-license) for the Term of all Supplier Background IPR: |
|
(A) |
|
to Customer and all other Service Recipients, solely for the purpose of and
to the extent necessary for the relevant person to receive and use the Services in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
to Customer and all other Service Recipients and any Successor Service
Provider, solely for the purpose of and to the extent necessary for the transition to,
and the provision, receipt and use of, services similar to and replacing the Services
and services that are integrated, or are in the process of being integrated, with the
Services and on the terms specified in Clause 30.15. |
30.15 |
|
Where, in each case, Customer, any other Service Recipient or any Successor Service Provider
requires a further licence of Supplier Background IPR after the Term, Supplier shall grant (or
shall procure the grant of) a licence to Customer, each such Service Recipient and any
Successor Service Provider on reasonable commercial terms to be agreed by the Parties. |
30.16 |
|
Subject to Clause 30.15, the Parties agree as follows: |
|
(A) |
|
each licence granted by Supplier pursuant to Clause 30 shall authorise
Customer to sub-license the rights granted to it to any Service Recipient and any
other third party (including for the avoidance of doubt any Successor Service
Provider) provided that the sub-licence only authorises the Service Recipient and
third party to use the Supplier Background IPR for the benefit and internal purposes
of Customer and/or any other Service Recipient; |
|
|
(B) |
|
the Customer may copy the Supplier Background IPR in order to create an
archival copy and a back-up copy of it. When copying any software, Customer shall
include the original machine readable copyright notice, and a label affixed to
the media identifying the software and stating: This medium contains an authorised
copy of copyrighted software which is the property of [name of owner]; |
|
|
(C) |
|
at any time following termination or expiry of this Agreement, Supplier or
the relevant third party licensor may terminate a licence granted under this Clause 30
within thirty (30) days notice in writing if the Supplier Background IPR is used |
49
|
|
|
for any purpose not expressly permitted by this Clause 30, provided that Customer has not
ceased such use within that 30 day notice period; |
|
(D) |
|
when a licence granted under this Clause 30 ends for whatever reason,
Customer shall: |
|
(i) |
|
immediately cease all use of the Supplier Background IPR; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
return or destroy the Supplier Background IPR; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
provide Supplier or the third party licensor with a written
notice signed and otherwise completed by an authorised signatory, to certify
compliance with the provisions of this Clause 30.16(D). |
30.17 |
|
On a six (6) monthly basis during the Term and at such other times as is reasonably
requested by Customer, Supplier shall review with Customer the Supplier Software used by or on
behalf of Supplier in providing the Services. |
Licence of Third Party IPR
30.18 |
|
To the extent that Third Party IPR is used in the provision of the Services (excluding any
IPR in Customer Materials licensed to Supplier pursuant to Clause 30.12), Supplier shall
procure the grant of a licence on terms agreed by Customer pursuant to Clause 30.20(B) or
where such terms are not agreed on a royalty- free, non-transferable, non-exclusive basis for
the Term and to the extent necessary of all such Third Party IPR solely for the purpose of and
to the extent necessary for: |
|
(A) |
|
in respect of Customer and Service Recipients, the receipt and use of the
Services; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
in respect of Customer, any Service Recipients and any Successor Service
Provider, the transition to, and the provision of, receipt and use of, services
replacing the Services and services that are integrated, or are in the process of
being integrated, with the Services. |
30.19 |
|
Subject to Clause 30.20, where Third Party IPR is integrated or used in the Developed
Materials and/or Bespoke Innovations or where Third Party IPR is needed to use the Developed
Materials and/or Bespoke Innovations, Supplier shall procure a perpetual, non-exclusive and on
such other terms as agreed by Customer, acting reasonably, licence of all Third Party IPR to
the extent necessary for Customer, any Service Recipient
and any Successor Service Provider to be able to use the Developed Materials and/or Bespoke
Innovations. |
Approval of the use of proprietary IPR by Customer
30.20 |
|
If the Supplier proposes at any time after the date of this Agreement that Supplier
Background IPR and Third Party IPR is to be incorporated, integrated or used within or |
50
|
|
in connection with any of the Developed Materials or Bespoke Innovations, Supplier shall prior to
it first using, integrating or implementing such IPR: |
|
(A) |
|
notify Customer of that fact and provide all details reasonably necessary for
Customer to ascertain the importance and/or relevance of such IPR, together with
details of any alternatives available to it (if any); and |
|
|
(B) |
|
obtain Customers consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed, prior to implementing, integrating or utilising any Supplier Background IPR
or Third Party IPR in the Developed Materials or Bespoke Innovations. |
Software Escrow
30.21 |
|
Upon request by Customer, at Customers cost: |
|
(A) |
|
the Parties shall enter into an Escrow Agreement with the National Computer
Centre Limited (the Escrow Agent) in respect of the Source Code relating to any item
of Supplier Software owned by Supplier or any member of Supplier Group and used in
relation to the Services; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
Supplier shall procure that a copy of the Source Code relating to that
Supplier Software (together with all upgrades, enhancements and modifications thereto)
requested from time to time by Customer is deposited with the Escrow Agent in
accordance with such Escrow Agreement. |
Intellectual Property Indemnities
30.22 |
|
Subject to Clauses 30.24, 30.25 and 30.26, Supplier shall indemnify and keep Customer and
all other Service Recipients fully and effectively indemnified in connection with any claim of
alleged or actual infringement of any Third Party IPR arising out of or in connection with
Customers and/or every other Service Recipients receipt and/or use of the Services in
accordance with this Agreement. |
|
30.23 |
|
Subject to Clauses 30.24 and 30.27, Customer shall indemnify and keep Supplier and all
other members of Supplier Group fully and effectively indemnified in connection with any claim
of alleged or actual infringement of any Third Party IPR arising out of or in connection with
Suppliers use, and/or use by every other member of the Supplier Group, of any Customer IPR in
accordance with this Agreement. |
|
30.24 |
|
The indemnified Party shall give to the indemnifying Party prompt Notice of any claim the
subject of an indemnity set out Clause 30.22 or 30.23 of which it becomes aware and the
indemnifying Party shall at its own cost take all reasonable steps to defend such claim, and
have conduct of any litigation which may ensue and all negotiations for a settlement of such
claim (provided that the indemnifying Party will consult in good faith with the indemnified
Party on an ongoing basis in respect of such claim, and shall take into account the reasonable
commercial interests of the indemnified Party in connection therewith). The indemnified Party
shall give the indemnifying Party all reasonable assistance, at the indemnifying Partys
request and expense, in connection with any |
51
|
|
such claim. The indemnified Party agrees not to
make any admission or take any other action, which might be prejudicial thereto without the
prior consent of indemnifying Party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
30.25 |
|
If any claim the subject of the indemnity at Clause 30.22 prevents or may prevent Customer
or any Service Recipient or any Successor Service Provider from receiving the benefit of any
of the Services or making use of any IPR as envisaged in this Clause 30, or if the receipt or
use (or reasonably envisaged receipt or use) of the Services or any part thereof is likely to
constitute an infringement, Supplier shall, without prejudice to Customers other rights and
remedies, promptly at its own cost and expense either: |
|
(A) |
|
use all reasonable efforts to procure for Customer, and any other Service
Recipient the right to continue to use the relevant part or parts of the Services; or |
|
(B) |
|
to the extent reasonably practicable replace or modify the relevant part or
parts of the Services so that it becomes non-infringing, provided that any replacement
or modification will be carried out promptly with minimal disruption to the provision
and receipt of the Services and to Customers reasonable satisfaction, and provided
further Supplier shall remain bound by its obligations under this Agreement in respect
of that Service, including in respect of the description and specification of that
Service and the relevant Service Levels. |
30.26 |
|
The indemnity in Clause 30.22 shall not apply to the extent that the claim or infringement
has arisen from and Supplier will have no liability for any breach of Clause 21.2(B) to the
extent that the breach of such Clause has arisen from: |
|
(A) |
|
any modification or enhancement to the Services and/or the Supplier
Background IPR and/or any Third Party IPR made by any member of Customer Group and/or
any other Service Recipient and/or any other third party other than any Sub-Contractor
engaged by Supplier; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
the use of the Services and/or any Supplier Background IPR and/or any Third
Party IPR with any other materials, services, IPR, equipment, data, or systems not
supplied by any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor, or in any manner
inconsistent with the Operations Manual; or |
|
|
(C) |
|
any breach of this Agreement by Customer and/or any Service Recipient. |
30.27 |
|
The indemnity in Clause 30.23 shall not apply to the extent that the claim or infringement
has arisen from and Customer will have no liability for any breach of Clause 21.3(D) to the
extent that the breach of such Clause has arisen from or in respect of: |
|
(A) |
|
any modification or enhancement to Customer IPR made by any member of
Supplier Group and/or any Sub-Contractor; or
|
52
|
(B) |
|
the use of any Customer IPR with any other materials, services, IPR,
equipment, data or systems not supplied by any member of Customer Group or Service
Provider; |
|
|
(C) |
|
Developed IPR or Bespoke Innovations; or |
|
|
(D) |
|
any breach of this Agreement by Supplier and/or any member of Supplier Group
and/or any Sub-Contractor. |
31.1 |
|
Each Party shall treat as confidential all Confidential Information and shall not disclose
such Confidential Information to any person other than in accordance with this Agreement. |
31.2 |
|
Neither Party shall use any Confidential Information other than in connection with, and only
to the extent necessary for, the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. |
31.3 |
|
Each Party shall procure that any person to whom Confidential Information is disclosed by it
(including pursuant to Clause 31.4 other than 31.4(A) and 31.4(B) where that is not reasonably
practicable) is on terms that they keep it confidential in compliance with the restrictions
set out in this Clause 31 and as if such person were a party to this Agreement. |
31.4 |
|
Either Party may subject to the provisions of this Clause 31.4 disclose anothers
Confidential Information: |
|
(A) |
|
if and to the extent required by Applicable Law or for the purpose of any
judicial proceedings; |
|
(B) |
|
if and to the extent required by any securities exchange or regulatory or
governmental body to which that Party is subject (including a Regulator or tax
authority) wherever situated, whether or not the requirement for information has the
force of law; |
|
|
(C) |
|
if and to the extent required in referring a dispute for resolution pursuant
to Clause 47 (Dispute Resolution); |
|
|
(D) |
|
to its Affiliates and to its and their professional advisers, auditors and
bankers; |
|
|
(E) |
|
to potential acquirers (and their advisers) of that Party or any Affiliates
of that Party, or of the businesses of that Party or its Affiliates (to the extent, in
each case, such businesses supply or benefit from a Service), provided that before any
such disclosure is made each such potential acquirer has entered into a
confidentiality undertaking with respect thereto with the Party whose Confidential
Information is to be disclosed. Customer acknowledges that Supplier shall not be
obliged under this Clause to provide any Confidential |
53
|
|
|
Information relating to Supplier
and/or any other member of Supplier Group including in respect of the Charges and any
information relating to the costings, margins or other internal financial data of any
member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor; |
|
(F) |
|
if and to the extent the information has come into the public domain through
no fault of that Party; |
|
|
(G) |
|
(in the case of Customer only) to any Service Recipient, to any Customer
Personnel or to any third party supplier (including any Successor Service Provider)
engaged by Customer or any other Service Recipient in connection with the performance
of Customers obligations or exercise of Customers rights under this Agreement and/or
in connection with the receipt of the Services (excluding, in the case of third party
suppliers, Confidential Information relating to Supplier and/or any other member of
Supplier Group including in respect of the Charges and any information relating to the
costings margins or other internal financial data of any members of Supplier Group or
any Sub-Contractor) provided that in the case of any person referred to in this Clause
other than Customer Groups officers and employees before any such disclosure is made
Customer shall identify the person to whom it wishes to disclose the Confidential
Information, and if requested by Supplier shall ensure such third party has entered
into a confidentiality agreement with the Supplier on terms equivalent to those set
out in this Clause 31, each such confidentiality agreement to provide for reciprocal
obligations for preserving confidentiality; |
|
|
(H) |
|
(in the case of Customer only) to a Successor Service Provider or potential
Successor Service Provider as is reasonably necessary to procure replacement services
the same as or similar to the services or to provide or receive Exit Services
(excluding Confidential Information relating to Supplier and/or any other member of
Supplier Group including in respect of the Charges and any information relating to the
costings, margins or other internal financial data of any member of Supplier Group or
Sub-Contractor) provided that such Successor Service Provider or potential Successor
Service Provider has first entered into a confidentiality agreement with respect
thereto with Supplier on terms equivalent to those set out in this Clause 31, each
such confidentiality agreement to provide for reciprocal obligations for presenting
confidentiality before any such disclosure is made; and |
|
|
(I) |
|
(in the case of Supplier only) to any Sub-Contractor or any Supplier
Personnel as is reasonably necessary in connection with the performance of Suppliers
obligations under this Agreement including in connection with the supply of the
Services, |
|
|
provided that, in the case of Clauses 31.4(A), (B) and (C) above, the disclosing Party
shall promptly Notify the other Party of such requirement (to the extent it is permitted to
do so). |
54
31.5 |
|
The provisions of this Clause 31 shall take priority over the provisions of any agreements
entered into by the Parties prior to the date of this Agreement solely to the extent that any
such agreements relate to the non-disclosure by either Party of Confidential Information. |
31.6 |
|
Notwithstanding the expiry or early termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this
Clause 31 shall continue to apply to each Party without limit in time. |
32. |
|
RECORDS, AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE |
32.1 |
|
Supplier acknowledges that Customer shall have such audit rights as required for Customer to
be compliant with the Customer Group Audit Policy. Where there are changes to the Customer
Group Audit Policy after the date of this Agreement, then Supplier shall comply with all such
notified changes within a reasonable period of time after notification of such changes. Where
compliance with such changes will reasonably result in increased costs for Supplier, then the
parties shall discuss and agree through the Change Control Procedure the reasonable
incremental costs of the Supplier in complying with such changes. Such agreed costs shall be
borne by the Customer. |
Record Keeping
|
(A) |
|
keep or cause to be kept, and shall procure that each Material Sub-Contractor
shall keep or cause to be kept, accurate records relating to the supply of the
Services (including records relating to: (i) performance against the Service Levels,
the Critical Deliverables and other Deliverables; (ii) information technology and
network system validation; (iii) Supplier Personnel; (iv) the Charges; (v) security
incidents; (vi) Incident Management; and (vii) any reports in relation to the
implementation and performance of the Services required to be produced under this
Agreement, including reports prepared pursuant to Schedule 13 (Reports) (Records);
and |
|
|
(B) |
|
retain and procure the retention of all Records (in whatever form held,
including paper and electronic form) for the longer of: (i) the period of time
required by Applicable Law; (ii) the period of time required by any data retention
notice issued by any member of Customer Group from time to time subject to the Parties
reaching agreement on charges for retention when this exceeds the later of the periods
referred to in (i) and (iii); and (iii) seven years following the termination or
expiry of this Agreement. |
Supplier Internal and External Reviews
32.3 |
|
Supplier shall, to the extent such compliance does not or would not breach any duty of
confidentiality owed by Supplier to any customer of any member of the Supplier Group or any
Sub-Contractor:
|
55
|
(A) |
|
within the first twenty (20) Business Days of the beginning of each calendar
year during the Term, inform Customer of all of their proposed internal and external
review, audit and testing programmes that in whole or to the extent that they apply to
the Services including all audits and reviews: |
|
(i) |
|
relating to International Organisation for Standardisation
(ISO) compliance; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
by a regulatory, administrative, supervisory or governmental
agency, body or authority; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
all reviews and audits that relate to the design and
operational effectiveness of controls applicable to the Services, |
|
|
|
(a Regular Review) and provide details of the proposed scope of the same.
Customer shall be permitted to make observations about the proposed Regular Reviews
(including as to timing and scope) and Supplier shall take all of Customers
reasonable observations into account when finalising and carrying out such Regular
Reviews; |
|
(B) |
|
inform Customer of all proposed material amendments to a Regular Review
(including as to timing and scope) required to be notified to Customer pursuant to
Clause 32.3(A). Supplier shall permit Customer the opportunity to make observations
about the proposed amendments in advance of them being implemented (and Supplier shall
take all of Customers reasonable observations into account when implementing any such
amendments); |
|
(C) |
|
at Suppliers own cost and expense, provide to Customer the scope and results
(including all reports and conclusions whether or not in writing) of all Regular
Reviews; and |
|
|
(D) |
|
carry out such reviews, audits and tests at Customers cost as Customer may
reasonably request (including as a follow-up to, or an extension of, a Regular Review)
(each a Customer-instigated Review). Customer shall bear Suppliers reasonable
costs and expenses directly related and properly incurred in carrying out a
Customer-instigated Review. |
Audit Rights and SAS-70 Obligations
32.4 |
|
Subject to the other terms of this Clause 32, at Customers request, Supplier shall grant (or
shall procure the grant of) access during Working Hours or at such other times as the Parties
shall agree for Customer (or, at Customers request, any statutory, regulatory or internal
auditors of or engaged by Customer Group or any Regulator (the Auditors)) to the Records,
the Facilities and Supplier Personnel as Customer may reasonably require solely for the
purpose of: |
|
(A) |
|
verifying the accuracy of all invoices supplied to Customer under this
Agreement, including the accuracy of the Charges;
|
56
|
(B) |
|
verifying Suppliers compliance with its obligations under this Agreement
(including the accuracy of its reporting, the supply of the Services and the
achievement of Critical Deliverables); |
|
|
(C) |
|
enabling any member of Customer Group to confirm its compliance with
Applicable Law (including compliance with its accounting, tax and filing obligations); |
|
|
(D) |
|
dealing fully with enquiries raised by any Regulator or in relation to any
investigation by, or order or direction of a Regulator; |
|
|
(E) |
|
verifying the design and operational effectiveness of controls applicable to
the Services; |
|
|
(F) |
|
verifying the integrity, confidentiality and security of Customer Data and
Confidential Information; and |
|
|
(G) |
|
verifying the effective management of risks relating to the supply of the
Services. |
32.5 |
|
Pursuant to Clause 32.4, Customer shall have the right to carry out: |
|
(A) |
|
scheduled audits in accordance with the audit plan in accordance with the
Customer Group Audit Policy; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
additional ad hoc audits in relation to the processes relating to the
Services, |
|
|
provided that if Supplier reasonably anticipates that it will incur additional costs and
expenses due to an increased number of ad hoc audits by Customer (including a need for
Supplier to increase the members of its audit team), then Supplier shall Notify Customer of
the same and Customer shall bear Suppliers reasonable additional costs and expenses
directly related to and properly incurred in relation to the carrying out of such ad hoc
audits. |
32.6 |
|
Notwithstanding Clause 32.5, each Party will bear its own internal costs and the costs of any
third party advisors or auditors utilised by that Party in relation to any audit
undertaken in accordance with this Clause 32, but Supplier shall be responsible for the
costs of any remedial actions agreed by the Parties to be performed by Supplier. |
|
32.7 |
|
Subject to any requirements specified by the Regulator, any audit, investigation or
monitoring undertaken in accordance with this Clause 32 will be subject to Customer providing
at least twenty (20) Business Days notice of any audit it intends to carry out pursuant to
these provisions unless such audit is required by Customer for reasons of: |
|
(A) |
|
suspected fraud or other illegal activity by Supplier or its Sub-Contractors
or Supplier Personnel;
|
57
|
(B) |
|
non-compliance with the Customer Groups policies, standards and procedures
set out or referred to in Schedule 17 (Policies and Procedures); |
|
|
(C) |
|
Customer or any Regulator having reasonable grounds to suspect that Supplier
is in material breach of its obligations under this Agreement; |
|
|
in which case Customer shall not be obliged to give any such advance notice. |
32.8 |
|
Supplier shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to Customers conduct of an audit on the
date(s) proposed by Customer but reserves the right to withhold its consent as to the date(s)
on which: |
|
(A) |
|
the relevant Supplier Personnel are not reasonably available due to their
other work-related duties; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
other audits or regulatory examinations are being conducted. |
32.9 |
|
Audits shall be conducted in such a manner as to minimise (so far as is practicable) any
interference with business activities of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor
including the performance by Supplier of its obligations under this Agreement. |
32.10 |
|
Customer shall procure that any Auditor or other authorised representative of Customer or
any Service Recipient shall keep confidential the information relating to the Supplier Group
and/or any Sub-Contractor (provided that such information may be disclosed in circumstances
referred to in Clause 31.4) which comes to its knowledge as a consequence of the audit and, if
requested by Supplier, shall ensure that such Auditor or authorised representative enters into
a confidentiality undertaking including terms which are substantially similar to Clause 31
prior to undertaking the audit. |
|
32.11 |
|
Customer acknowledges that any audits performed pursuant to and/or the exercise of
Customers rights under this Clause 32 shall not entitle Customer or the Auditors to inspect
any data, information or records to the extent that such materials relate to any other
customer of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor nor to inspect the employment
contracts, costings, margins or other internal financial data of any member of Supplier Group
or any Sub-Contractor. In addition, Customer shall procure
that the Auditors comply with Suppliers security, safety and other site specific
regulations and procedures whilst on the Sites notified to the Auditors. The Auditors
shall be escorted at all times by a member of the Supplier Personnel while on the Sites. |
|
32.12 |
|
At Customers request Supplier shall obtain and deliver to Customer a Type II report and
examination prepared in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards 70 (as amended from
time to time) as promulgated by the American Institute of Public Certified Accountants (the
SAS-70 Report) from a reputable and independent global accounting firm. Subject to the
foregoing, the SAS-70 Report shall:
|
58
|
(A) |
|
cover, as a minimum, six months of each year with the start date of each such
audit period being (subject to the Parties agreeing otherwise) no sooner than 1 April
in each year; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
be based on an examination of all (i) operating environments, (ii)
technology, telecommunications and infrastructure networks and systems (and, in each
case, related processes), (iii) applications and (iv) data centres of Supplier and
each Sub-Contractor that relate to the supply of the Services or the performance of
Suppliers obligations under or in connection with this Agreement. |
|
|
Customer shall bear the costs of the independent accountant in relation to the SAS-70
Report, provided that such costs are pre-notified by Supplier and agreed by Customers.
Supplier will not be obliged to commission such work until Customers agreement on costs
has been obtained. |
32.13 |
|
Supplier shall, at its own cost and expense: |
|
(A) |
|
as soon as reasonably practicable following Supplier being aware of the same
remedy any control weakness or deficiency in the design or operational effectiveness
of controls that resulted in or is likely to result in a qualification of the
independent auditors opinion of the SAS-70 Report; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
as soon as reasonably practicable provide Customer with evidence that the
control weaknesses and deficiencies referred to in Clause 32.12(A) have been remedied
and have been the subject of a successful re-test by Supplier to ensure proper design
and operational effectiveness. |
Assistance and Provision of Information
32.14 |
|
Supplier shall and shall procure that all Major Sub-Contractors shall, co-operate and
provide all reasonable assistance to Customer and the Auditors in the exercise of their rights
pursuant to this Clause 32 and will provide Customer and the Auditors with such copies of
relevant documents and information as they may reasonably request. |
32.15 |
|
Without prejudice to any other provision of this Clause 32, promptly upon Customers
request Supplier shall, and shall procure that all Major Sub-Contractors shall, provide to
Customer all information in their possession or under their control necessary to assist
Customer Group to satisfy Customer Groups internal and external risk management,
compliance, corporate governance and regulatory reporting requirements in accordance with
the Customer Group Audit Policy. |
|
32.16 |
|
Supplier shall promptly provide Customer with details of all material breaches of, or
material non-compliance, with Applicable Law by it or its Sub-Contractors of which it becomes
aware and relate to the provision of the Services.
|
59
Consequences of Audit
32.17 |
|
Where an audit (including any Regular Review or Customer-instigated Review) carried out
pursuant to this clause 32 reveals any fraud or breach of this Agreement by Supplier, any
fraud by a Sub-Contractor in connection with this Agreement and/or identifies an audit issue
according to the Customer Group Audit Policy (each an Audit Issue), then, without prejudice
to the other rights and remedies of Customer under this Agreement, the Parties shall discuss
the Audit Issue(s) and, if appropriate, and to the extent agreed, the Parties shall agree and
prepare a plan to address the Audit Issue (the Audit Remediation Plan). |
|
32.18 |
|
The Audit Remediation Plan shall outline the actions agreed by the Parties that Supplier
shall take in order to comply with its obligations under this Agreement and/or required for
resolution of the Audit Issue, including an agreed timetable for implementing such actions.
Supplier shall be responsible for the costs and expenses of implementing any remedial actions
agreed by the Parties in accordance with the Audit Remediation Plan to be performed by the
Supplier. |
|
32.19 |
|
In the event that the Parties fail to reach an agreement on an Audit Remediation Plan within
fifteen (15) Business Days following the relevant audit, either Party shall have the right to
escalate the matter in accordance with the procedures specified in Schedule 6 (Governance and
Service Management) of this Agreement. |
33.1 |
|
Each Party undertakes that in performing its obligations hereunder it shall (and in respect
of Supplier, shall procure that the Sub-Contractors shall) comply with the provisions of the
Data Protection Act 1998 and all other Applicable Law relating to the processing of personal
data only to the extent that the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and all other
Applicable Law are applicable to the role of each Party when processing personal data in
performance of their respective obligations under this Agreement. Capitalised terms continued
in this Clause 33 and not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning given to them in
the Data Protection Act 1998. |
33.2 |
|
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, with respect to the processing of
personal data of any Service Recipient (including personal data of any of their respective
customers) or any Customer Personnel, the Supplier: |
|
(A) |
|
understands and acknowledges that, to the extent that performance of its
obligations hereunder involves or necessitates the processing of such personal data,
it shall act only on instructions and directions from the Customer and/or any Service
Recipient as set out in this Agreement; |
|
(B) |
|
shall take and implement appropriate technical and organisational security
procedures and measures to protect any such personal data processed by it against
unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage; and
|
60
|
(C) |
|
has and will continue to take all reasonable steps to ensure the reliability
of any of Supplier Personnel which will have access to personal data processed as part
of any provisions of this Agreement. |
33.3 |
|
Supplier shall, and procure that the Sub-Contractors shall, process any personal data of any
Service Recipient (including personal data of any of their respective customers) or any
Customer Personnel in accordance with Clause 33.2. |
33.4 |
|
Any request for Supplier to adhere to any obligations of each Service Recipient under the
Data Protection Act 1998 associated with any duties they may have as a Data Controller of
personal data shall be as expressly set out in the Agreement. Supplier shall comply with any
further reasonable requests by Customer, provided that where such requests are not set out in
the Agreement, Customer shall bear Suppliers reasonable and direct costs incurred as a result
of complying with such request of Customer and such costs shall be agreed by the Parties in
accordance with the Change Control Procedure, and Supplier shall have a reasonable period
within which to comply with such requests. |
|
33.5 |
|
If: |
|
(A) |
|
any member of Customer Group located in the European Economic Area (EEA)
will in the course of receiving the Services have cause to transfer personal data
referred to in Clause 33.3 to Supplier or a Sub-Contractor located outside the EEA; or |
|
(B) |
|
Supplier or any Sub-Contractor located in the EEA will, in relation to the
supply of the Services by Supplier, have cause to transfer any personal data referred
to in Clause 33.3 to any Sub-Contractor located outside of the EEA, |
|
(C) |
|
prior to any transfer referred to in Clause 33.5(B), Supplier shall give
Customer reasonable prior written notice of such proposed transfer; and |
|
|
(D) |
|
subject to Clause 33.6 below, upon Customers request, Supplier agrees to
enter into, and procure that each relevant Sub-Contractor enters into, an agreement
with the relevant member of Customer Group on the then current standard
contractual clauses for the transfer of personal data from a Data Controller in the
EEA to a data processor outside the EEA as approved by the European Commission (or
such other relevant authority of the European Union or its constituent member
states). |
33.6 |
|
The Parties agree that where an alternative solution may be available to provide adequacy
under Article 25 of Directive 95/46/EC in relation to the country (or a sector thereof) to
which the personal data is transferred including Directive 95/46/EC becomes directly
applicable in such country then the Supplier may choose to adopt such an alternative solution
instead of entering into an agreement as set out in Clause 33.5(D) above. |
34. |
|
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
34.1 |
|
Nothing in this Agreement shall exclude or limit the liability of any Party for: |
|
(A) |
|
death and/or personal injury resulting from the negligence of that Party or
its directors, officers, employees, contractors or agents; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
fraud and/or fraudulent misrepresentation. |
34.2 |
|
Subject to Clause 34.1, Clause 34.3, Clause 34.6 and Clause 34.7, neither Party shall be
liable to the other Party in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including
negligence), misrepresentation or for breach of any duty (including strict liability) for (A)
any indirect or consequential loss or damage; and/or (B) any loss of profits, business,
revenue, goodwill or anticipated savings, provided that this Clause 34.2 shall be without
prejudice to Customers obligation to pay and Suppliers rights to be paid the Charges, the
Customers obligation to meet the Minimum Commitment Level and to pay the Termination Fee and
Customers obligation to pay any sum pursuant to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment)
and any other sum in the nature of charges, costs or expenses (where applicable) and the
obligation of Supplier to pay Service Credits and to pay any sum pursuant to Schedule 4
(Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and any other sum in the nature of charges, costs or expenses
(where applicable). |
|
34.3 |
|
Subject to Clause 34.5 and Clause 34.8, the provisions of Clause 34.2 shall not prevent
Customer from recovering any of the following, to the extent such losses arise directly from
any breach of the obligations of Supplier under this Agreement, or any tort (including
negligence), misrepresentation or breach of duty (including strict liability) of Supplier in
relation to the subject matter of this Agreement (together a Default) and in respect of
which Supplier is liable to Customer: |
|
(A) |
|
loss of profit directly incurred as a result of any customer of any Service
Recipient ceasing (partially or wholly) to do business with such Service Recipient
where such cessation resulted directly from that Default, but excluding ex gratia
payments or other benefits paid to such customers; |
|
|
(B) |
|
the additional costs and expenses directly and reasonably incurred by
Customer and/or any Service Recipient in procuring and implementing alternative or
replacement services; |
|
|
(C) |
|
the costs, to the extent reasonably and directly incurred by Customer and/or
any other Service Recipient, of reconstituting or reloading lost or corrupted data
(including Customer Data); |
|
|
(D) |
|
the cost, to the extent reasonably and directly incurred, of implementing and
performing reasonable workarounds following a Service Failure; |
|
|
(E) |
|
losses (including fines paid to a Regulator) reasonably and directly incurred
by Customer and/or any other Service Recipient where the relevant Default has |
62
|
|
|
directly
resulted in Customer and/or the other Service Recipient being in breach of any
Applicable Law;
|
|
(F) |
|
additional costs reasonably and directly incurred by Customer and/or any
other Service Recipient to correct and re-perform Services; and |
|
|
(G) |
|
losses reasonably and directly incurred by Customer and/or any other Service
Recipient resulting from a contractual claim (excluding any vexatious, frivolous or
invalid claim) made against Customer and/or any other Service Recipient by one or more
of its customers under the express terms of a contract entered into in the ordinary
course of business by the relevant Service Recipient and that customer where such
claim resulted directly from that Default, but excluding ex gratia payments or other
benefits. |
34.4 |
|
Except in relation to the liabilities described in Clause 34.1 and/or Clause 34.6 and
subject always to Clause 34.8, the maximum aggregate liability of Supplier and its Affiliates
under this Agreement in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including negligence),
misrepresentation, for breach of duty (including strict liability) or otherwise, in respect of
each Contract Year, shall be limited to: |
|
(A) |
|
for the first Contract Year, seventy-five per cent. (75%) of the projected
aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, seventy-five per cent. (75%) of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer
in the immediately preceding Contract Year, |
|
|
and for the avoidance of doubt, Service Credits will not be counted against the maximum
aggregate liability of Supplier and its Affiliates as set out in this Clause 34.4. |
34.5 |
|
Except in relation to the liabilities described in Clause 34.1 and Clause 34.6, the maximum
aggregate liability of Customer and its Affiliates under this Agreement in contract (including
under any indemnity), tort (including negligence), misrepresentation, for breach of duty
(including strict liability) or otherwise in respect of each Contract Year, shall be limited
to: |
|
(A) |
|
for the first Contract Year, seventy-five per cent. (75%) of the projected
aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, seventy-five per cent. (75%) of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer
in the immediately preceding Contract Year. |
34.6 |
|
The exclusions and limitations of liability set out in this Clause 34 (including those set
out in Clauses 34.2, 34.4 and 34.5 shall not apply: |
|
(A) |
|
in respect of Supplier to: |
63
|
(i) |
|
the indemnities given by Supplier pursuant to Clause
30.22(Intellectual Property Indemnities); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Suppliers obligations to pay the Incentive Payment, to pay
Service Credits and to pay any sum pursuant to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing
and Payment) and any other sum in the nature of charges, costs or expenses in
accordance with this Agreement; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any damages or loss incurred by Customer or any other
Service Recipient due to the wilful or deliberate act or omission or
dishonesty of Supplier, any of its Sub-contractors or any Supplier Personnel; |
|
(B) |
|
in respect of Customer to: |
|
(i) |
|
the indemnity given by Customer pursuant to Clause 30.23
(Intellectual Property Indemnities); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Customers obligations to pay the Charges including the
Termination Fee and meet the Minimum Commitment Level to pay any sum pursuant
to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and any other sum in the nature
of charges, costs or expenses in accordance with this Agreement; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any damages or losses incurred by any member of Supplier
Group due to the wilful or deliberate act or omission or dishonesty of
Customer or any Customer Personnel. |
|
(C) |
|
in respect of Supplier and Customer, any breach by the other Party of Clause 31 (Confidentiality), including a failure by such other Party to ensure that a
recipient of Confidential Information from such other Party complies with the
provisions of Clause 31 (Confidentiality). |
34.7 |
|
Without prejudice to the remainder of this Clause 34, the exclusion of Customers liability
for loss of profit set out in Clause 34.2(B) shall not apply in respect of loss of profit
directly incurred by Supplier as a result of a breach by Customer of Clause 1.4, provided
that, notwithstanding Clause 34.4, the maximum aggregate liability of Customer and its
Affiliates under this Agreement in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including
negligence), misrepresentation, for breach of duty (including strict liability) or otherwise,
in respect of each Contract Year, in the case of liability of the type specified in this
Clause 34.7 shall be limited to: |
|
(A) |
|
for the first Contract Year, thirty per cent. (30%) of the projected
aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, thirty per cent. (30%) of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer in
the immediately preceding Contract Year. |
64
34.8 |
|
Notwithstanding Clause 34.4, the maximum aggregate liability of Supplier and its Affiliates
under this Agreement in contract (including under any indemnity), tort
(including negligence), misrepresentation, for breach of duty (including strict liability)
or otherwise, in respect of each Contract Year, shall be limited to: |
|
(A) |
|
In the case of liability of the type specified in Clause 34.3(A): |
|
(i) |
|
for the first Contract Year, ten per cent. (10%) of the
projected aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year;
and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year,
ten per cent. (10%) of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or
invoiced by Customer in the immediately preceding Contract Year; and |
|
(B) |
|
In the case of liability of the type specified in Clause 34.3(G): |
|
(i) |
|
for the first Contract Year, thirty per cent. (30%) of the
projected aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year;
and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year,
thirty per cent. (30%) of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or
invoiced by Customer in the immediately preceding Contract Year. |
34.9 |
|
Customer shall ensure that any each Service Recipient complies with the obligations of
Customer under this Agreement to the extent that such obligations relate to the receipt of the
Services by that Service Recipient. |
35.1 |
|
All sums payable under this Agreement shall be paid free and clear of all deductions and
withholdings whatsoever, save only as may be required by law. If any deductions or
withholdings are required by law to be made from any such sums, the Party liable to make the
payment shall pay to the recipient such sums as will, after the deduction or withholding is
made, leave the recipient with the same amount as it would have been entitled to receive in
the absence of any such requirement to make a deduction or withholding. |
|
35.2 |
|
Subject to clause 35.3, all sums payable under this Agreement are exclusive of any Specified
Sales Taxes and are inclusive of any amounts in respect of any Other Sales Tax properly
chargeable in respect of them. |
|
35.3 |
|
Notwithstanding clause 35.2, |
|
(A) |
|
if any Indian Service Tax (other than Tax chargeable in respect of the
One-off Charge as defined in paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and
Payment) or the Incentive Payment) is chargeable in respect of the Services provided
pursuant to this Agreement and a Party (or a member of its Group) is liable to account
for such Tax to the relevant tax authority, Customer and |
65
|
|
|
Supplier shall each bear 50% of such Tax PROVIDED THAT if the total Indian Service Tax (other than Tax chargeable
in respect of the One-off Charge as defined in paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment)or the
Incentive Payment) chargeable in respect of the Services exceeds or could exceed
GBP £2,000,000 in any twelve (12) month period (which amounts shall be determined
by reference to the spot rate(s) published in the Financial Times on any date on
which such a determination is made as the case may be), Supplier and Customer shall
use reasonable endeavours to mitigate such cost. If the Parties cannot agree an
effective method to mitigate such cost within three (3) months from the time such
taxes first become payable, Customer may terminate this Agreement by Notice to
Supplier with immediate effect; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
if any Services are held by a UK Tax authority to be a taxable supply in
respect of which Customer or a member of Customer Group is liable to account for VAT
to the UK Tax authority, Supplier shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment to Customer, and Customer shall not be entitled to withhold or deduct any
amount from any sums payable under this Agreement, in respect of such VAT. |
|
|
For the avoidance of doubt this Clause 35.3 is not an Agreement to Agree for the purposes
of Clause 36. |
36.1 |
|
Where any provision contained in this Agreement relates to a document, procedure, process or
any other matter which is to be determined or otherwise agreed by the Parties following the
execution of this Agreement (an Agreement to Agree), the Parties agree that they shall act
reasonably and in good faith in seeking to conclude each Agreement to Agree: |
|
(A) |
|
as soon as reasonably practicable or, where timescales are stipulated in the
relevant Clause, Schedule or Appendices, within those timescales; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
in such manner and form as required by the relevant Clause, Schedule or
Appendix (as applicable). |
36.2 |
|
Where an Agreement to Agree is not concluded by the relevant
date referred to in Clause 36.1(A) above and the Parties have failed to reach an agreement on the matter having acted
reasonably and in good faith and used all reasonable efforts to reach an agreement within
thirty (30) Business Days after such relevant date, then Supplier shall implement from such
date all reasonable written requests of Customer in connection with the subject matter of such
Agreement to Agree, provided that: |
|
(A) |
|
it is technically and operationally feasible for Supplier to implement any
such request of Customer; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
Supplier shall not be obliged to implement any such request of Customer until
Suppliers costs have been agreed in accordance with Clause 36.3. |
66
36.3 |
|
To the extent that Supplier incurs costs in addition to those provided for in the Charges as
a result of complying with Customers request pursuant to Clause 36.2, Customer shall (except
where such request is the result of Suppliers breach of any of its obligations under this
Agreement) reimburse Supplier its reasonable and direct costs, such costs to be determined
through the Change Control Procedure. |
|
36.4 |
|
The Parties agree that in the event that the implementation of any request of Customer,
pursuant to Clause 36.2, causes Supplier to be in breach of this Agreement, such a request
shall be deemed to be a breach by Customer of its obligations under this Agreement solely for
the purposes of Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) and in such an event Clause 13
(Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) shall apply. |
|
36.5 |
|
For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 36.2 shall not apply: |
|
(A) |
|
where the document, procedure, process or other matter which is to be
determined or otherwise agreed by the Parties following the execution of this
Agreement is stated in this Agreement to be for the discretion of one Party (including
where it is subject to a Partys discretion or consent whether or not there are
limitations on the exercise of that discretion or the giving of that consent,
including Clause 40.1 (Announcements and Publicity) and Clause 41 (Assignment)); |
|
|
(B) |
|
where this Agreement (other than in this Clause 36) expressly sets out a
process for settling any document, procedure, process or other matter not agreed
(including the appointment of an independent adjudicator); |
|
|
(C) |
|
to any discussions between the Parties as referred to in paragraph 6 of
Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) in relation to changing the charging
mechanism under this Agreement from a Billable FTE basis to a unit transaction pricing
basis for some or all of the Services; or |
|
|
(D) |
|
to the agreement of terms pursuant to Clauses 8.3(B) or 30.15. |
37.1 |
|
A Notice shall only be effective if it is in writing and in the English language. Faxes (but
not any other form of electronic communication) shall be permitted for the giving of a Notice. |
|
37.2 |
|
All Notices shall be sent to a Party at its address or number and for the attention of the
individual set out below: |
|
|
|
For Customer: |
|
|
|
Address: 6 Temasek Boulevard, #22-01 Suntec Tower 4, Singapore 038986 |
|
|
|
For the attention of: Simon Machell |
67
|
|
Fax No: +65 6829 1890 |
|
|
|
With a copy to each of the following: |
|
|
|
Address: Aviva plc, St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ |
|
|
|
For the attention of: Deputy Group Company Secretary (Kirsty Cooper) |
|
|
|
Fax No: +44 20 7662 7700 |
|
|
|
Address: Tower 1 Cyber City, Magarpatta City, Hadapsar, Pune 411013, Maharashtra, India |
|
|
|
For the attention of: Chief Executive Officer, Aviva Global Services (Teresa Copping) |
|
|
|
Fax No: +91 20 26824960 |
|
|
|
For Supplier: |
|
|
|
Address: Multiconsult Limited, 10 Frere Felix de Valios Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
|
|
|
For the attention of: Manager, Company Administration (Sonia Lutchmiah) |
|
|
|
Fax No: +230 212 5265 |
|
|
|
With a copy to: |
|
|
|
Address: Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex, Pirojshahnager, Vikholi (W), Mumbai 400079,
India |
|
|
|
For the attention of: General Counsel, WNS Group (Vikas Gupta) |
|
|
|
Fax No: +91 22 2518 8350 |
|
|
|
provided that either Party may change its Notice details on giving Notice of the change in
accordance with this Clause 37 to the other Party. That Notice shall only be effective on
the date falling five (5) Business Days after the notification has been received or such
later date as may be specified in the Notice. |
|
37.3 |
|
Any Notice shall, in the absence of earlier receipt, be deemed to have been duly given as
follows: |
|
(A) |
|
if delivered personally, on delivery; |
68
|
(B) |
|
if sent by registered post, two (2) Business Days after the date of posting;
and |
|
|
(C) |
|
if sent by fax, when correctly despatched. |
37.4 |
|
Any Notice given outside normal Working Hours in the place to which it is addressed shall be
deemed not to have been given until the start of the next period of Working Hours in such
place. |
38.1 |
|
Subject to Clause 38.2, Supplier shall, at its own cost and by reference to Good
Professional Practice, effect insurance with a reputable insurer in relation to all risks
typically insured and which are associated with or arise in the connection with the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement (including in respect of the professional
indemnity risks (including errors and omissions), employers liability, public and products
liability, property damage and employee dishonesty and fraud. |
|
38.2 |
|
Supplier shall not obtain the insurance referred to in Clause 38.1 through or from any member
of Customer Group notified in advance to the Supplier in writing. |
|
38.3 |
|
Supplier shall maintain the insurance cover referred to in Clause 38.1 throughout the Term
and Supplier shall on request from Customer produce satisfactory evidence to Customer that
such insurance cover is in place. |
|
38.4 |
|
Supplier shall not do or omit to do anything which would vitiate any of the policies of
insurance which it is required to effect and maintain pursuant to this Clause 38. |
39.1 |
|
Neither Party (the Claiming Party) shall be liable to the other for any delay or failure to
perform any of its obligations hereunder to the extent such delay or failure is due to an
Event of Force Majeure provided that: |
|
(A) |
|
the Claiming Party could not have avoided such circumstances by taking
reasonable precautions which he ought reasonably to have taken, including compliance
with Schedule 15 (Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Incident Management) save
to the extent the Claiming Party is unable to comply with Schedule 14 (Security
Management) due to an event of Force Majeure; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
the Claiming Party has used, and continues to use, its reasonable endeavours
to (i) mitigate the effect of such circumstance and (ii) perform its affected
obligations. |
39.2 |
|
The Claiming Party shall not be excused performance of its obligations unaffected by an Event
of Force Majeure. |
69
39.3 |
|
The Claiming Party shall Notify the other upon becoming aware of an Event of Force Majeure,
which notice shall contain details of the matters or circumstances of which it is aware giving
rise to the Event of Force Majeure and its anticipated duration. |
|
39.4 |
|
On every cessation of a Service (or part thereof) pursuant to this Clause 39 where Supplier
is the Claiming Party: |
|
(A) |
|
Customer shall have no liability to Supplier in respect of any Charge for
such Service (or part thereof) to the extent such Service or part thereof are not
provided in accordance with this Agreement; |
|
|
(B) |
|
Supplier shall prepare a plan for the remediation of the Event of Force
Majeure as soon as reasonably practicable after Notice was given to Customer pursuant
to Clause 39.3. The Parties shall discuss these recommendations and Supplier, at its
own cost and expense, shall then take such action (including the use of additional
resources) as is reasonably necessary and as has been agreed in writing by the Parties
to avoid, remedy and otherwise minimise the impact of the Event of Force Majeure in
accordance with Good Professional Practice. |
39.5 |
|
If an Event of Force Majeure prevents the proper receipt of the Services by a Service
Recipient in accordance with this Agreement for more than sixty (60) days Customer shall be
entitled to terminate certain Services identified in accordance with Clauses 23.2 and 23.3, by
written notice to Supplier with immediate effect. |
|
39.6 |
|
If an Event of Force Majeure prevents the proper supply of the Services in accordance with
this Agreement by or on behalf of the Supplier for more than sixty (60) days Customer shall be
entitled to terminate certain Services identified in accordance with Clauses 23.2 and 23.3, by
written notice to Supplier with immediate effect. |
40. |
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PUBLICITY |
40.1 |
|
Neither Party shall make any: |
|
(A) |
|
public announcement concerning the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or any ancillary matter; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
reference to the other in any of its advertising or promotional material, |
|
|
without the prior written approval of the other Party such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed. This Clause 40.1 does not apply in the circumstances described in
Clause 40.2. |
|
40.2 |
|
Notwithstanding Clause 40.1, either Party may make an announcement concerning this Agreement
or any ancillary matter if: |
|
(A) |
|
required by Applicable Law; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
required by any Regulator, whether or not the requirement has the force of
law, |
70
|
|
in which case the Party concerned shall take all such steps as may be reasonable and
practicable in the circumstances to agree the contents of such announcement with the other
Party before making such announcement. |
|
40.3 |
|
Each Party shall be responsible for the observance of the provisions of this Clause 40 by
each of its respective employees, contractors and agents (and in the case of Supplier, each
Supplier Personnel). |
|
40.4 |
|
Notwithstanding the expiry or early termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this
Clause 40 shall continue to apply to each Party without limit in time. |
41. |
|
ASSIGNMENT AND PLACE OF BUSINESS |
41.1 |
|
Without limitation to Clause 23.24 but subject at all times to Clauses 41.3, this Agreement
and all rights and obligations of Customer hereunder may not be novated, assigned, transferred
or otherwise dealt with in whole or in part (including by way of making a declaration of trust
in respect of, or entering into any arrangement whereby Customer agrees to hold on trust for
any other person all or any part of the benefit of, or its rights or benefits under, this
Agreement) by Customer without the prior written consent of Supplier, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that no consent shall be required in the case of an
assignment to a member of Customer Group (a Customer Intra-Group Assignment), provided that
such assignment has no material adverse tax consequences for Supplier. |
|
41.2 |
|
Subject at all times to Clauses 41.3, this Agreement and all rights and obligations of
Supplier hereunder are personal to Supplier and may not be novated, assigned, transferred or
otherwise dealt with in whole or in part (including by way of making a declaration of trust in
respect of, or enter into any arrangement whereby Supplier agrees to hold on trust for any
other person all or any part of the benefit of, or its rights or benefits under, this
Agreement) by Supplier without the prior written consent of Customer, such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that no consent shall be required in the case of a
transfer of all (but not part) of the benefit of this Agreement (subject to the burden) to a
Mauritian company that is wholly owned by Supplier (a Supplier Intra-Group Assignment). |
|
41.3 |
|
Each Permitted Intra-Group Assignment shall be null and void ab initio if the execution
and/or completion of such Permitted Intra-Group Assignment has an adverse impact directly or
indirectly on any rights or other benefits of the beneficiaries under the terms of the
Customer Guarantee and the Supplier Guarantee (as applicable). |
|
41.4 |
|
Subject to Clause 41.5, Supplier undertakes that it will not have a place of business outside
Mauritius. |
|
41.5 |
|
Notwithstanding Clause 41.4, Supplier may change its place of business or open a new place of
business with the consent of the Customer, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. |
71
|
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If any term or provision or any part thereof (in this Clause 42 called the offending
provision) contained in this Agreement is or shall be declared or become unenforceable,
invalid or illegal for any reason whatsoever (including in respect of the laws of any
jurisdiction), the other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect as if the same had been executed without the offending provision appearing
therein and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to agree a replacement provision or
part in place of such offending provision, such provision or part to have an equivalent
economic and commercial effect to the offending provision or part. |
|
|
Nothing in this Agreement and no action taken by Customer or Supplier under this Agreement
shall constitute a partnership, association, joint venture or other co-operative entity
between Customer and Supplier. |
44.1 |
|
No delay or omission by either Party in exercising any right, power or remedy provided by law
or under this Agreement or any other documents referred to in it shall: |
|
(A) |
|
affect that right, power or remedy; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
operate as a waiver thereof. |
44.2 |
|
The single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this
Agreement shall not preclude any other or further exercise of it or the exercise of any other
right, power or remedy. |
44.3 |
|
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the rights, powers and remedies
provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, powers and remedies
provided by law. |
45.1 |
|
This Agreement (together with any agreement concluded by the Parties pursuant to Clause 46
(Variation)) constitutes the whole and only agreement between the Parties relating to its
subject matter. |
45.2 |
|
Each Party acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement it is not relying upon any
pre-contractual statement which is not set out in this Agreement. |
45.3 |
|
Except in the case of fraud, neither Party shall have any right of action against the other
Party to this Agreement arising out of or in connection with any pre-contractual statement
except to the extent that it is repeated in this Agreement. |
72
45.4 |
|
For the purposes of this Clause 45, pre-contractual statement means any draft, agreement,
undertaking, representation, warranty, promise, assurance or arrangement
of any nature whatsoever, whether or not in writing, relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement made or given by any person at any time prior to the date of this Agreement. |
46.1 |
|
Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement may not be varied
except in writing and signed by an authorised representative of Customer and Supplier. |
46.2 |
|
Without prejudice to Clause 46.1, this Agreement (including any part thereof) may not be
rescinded or varied except by Customer in any way or at any time by any member of Customer
Group. |
47.1 |
|
In the event that a dispute or difference arises between the Parties, out of or in relation
to this Agreement (a Dispute), such Dispute shall be dealt with in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management). |
47.2 |
|
If any Dispute is not resolved pursuant to Clause 48, then either Party may by notice to the
other refer such Dispute to mediation in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 47.3 to
47.5 (inclusive). |
Reference to Mediation
47.3 |
|
If the Parties are unable to agree a mediation procedure or any aspect of such procedure they
will seek assistance from the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution at International Dispute
Resolution Centre, 70 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1EU. |
47.4 |
|
Unless otherwise agreed, the Parties will share equally the costs of mediation and the use of
mediation shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Parties in all respects if the
mediation does not achieve an agreed resolution of the Dispute within 25 Business Days (or
such longer period as the Parties may agree) of the matter being first referred for mediation. |
47.5 |
|
If the Parties agree to accept the recommendations of the mediator, or otherwise reach an
agreement on the Dispute, such agreement shall be set out in writing. Once it is signed by
authorised representatives of the Parties such agreement shall be final and binding and shall
be implemented by the Parties in accordance with its terms. |
Jurisdiction and Court Proceedings
47.6 |
|
The Parties irrevocably agree that if the Dispute cannot be resolved by the Parties in
accordance with Clauses 47.1 to 47.5 (or a Party is unwilling to participate in mediation),
the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle that Dispute and that
accordingly any proceeding, suit or action arising out of or in connection with this |
73
|
|
Agreement
(Proceedings) shall be brought in the English courts. This clause is not concluded for the
benefit of any particular Party or Parties to this Agreement |
47.7 |
|
Each Party waives (and agrees not to raise) any objection, on the ground of forum non
conveniens or on any other ground, to the taking of Proceedings in the English courts. Each
Party also agrees that a judgment against it in Proceedings brought in England shall be
conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in that and in any other jurisdiction. |
47.8 |
|
Each Party irrevocably submits and agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the English
courts. |
47.9 |
|
All negotiations connected with any Dispute shall be conducted in confidence and without
prejudice to the rights of the Parties in any future proceedings. |
47.10 |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 47 and Schedule 6 (Governance and Service
Management) and the good faith intention of the Parties to fully utilise the relevant dispute
resolution procedures set out in this Clause 47 and Schedule 6 (Governance and Service
Management), nothing herein shall prevent either Party from taking steps to preserve or
enforce its rights including by way of interlocutory or other interim or immediate relief
through the English courts. |
|
|
Where a sum is expressed to be payable or due under this Agreement as and by way of
liquidated damages (including as a Service Credit) Supplier agrees that each such sum is
fair and reasonable in all the circumstances and represents a genuine pre-estimate of the
loss that will be suffered by Customer Group in respect of the breach of this Agreement or
other circumstances which give rise to its payment. |
49.1 |
|
Except as stated in this Agreement or otherwise agreed between the Parties, each Party shall
pay its own costs and expenses in relation to the negotiation, preparation, execution and
carrying into effect of this Agreement. |
50.1 |
|
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the Parties on separate
counterparts, but shall not be effective until each of the Parties has executed at least one
counterpart. |
50.2 |
|
Each counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement, but all the counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. |
74
|
|
|
51. |
|
THIRD PARTY RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF SERVICE RECIPIENTS |
51.1 |
|
Subject to any Clause stating that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the
1999 Act) will apply to liability provisions in relation to the Affiliates of any Party; |
|
(A) |
|
the 1999 Act will not apply to this Agreement; and |
|
|
(B) |
|
no term of this Agreement shall be enforceable by a Partys Affiliate (or by
any person who is not a Party to this Agreement) against the other Party. |
51.2 |
|
The Parties acknowledge that Customer enters this Agreement in order to receive Services for
Customer Group and other Service Recipients. |
51.3 |
|
Supplier undertakes that it shall not oppose in any way or seek to rule out any attempt by
Customer to bring any claim against Supplier in respect of Losses incurred by or equitable
relief claimed by an Affiliate of Customer. |
51.4 |
|
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Clause 51 shall prevent Customer from making any
claim against Supplier in respect of Losses incurred by or equitable relief on behalf of an
Affiliate and nothing in this Clause 51 shall prevent Supplier from making any claim against
Customer in respect of Losses incurred by or equitable relief on behalf of an Affiliate. |
51.5 |
|
Clause 51.1 shall not apply, and the 1999 Act shall apply subject to the other provisions of
this Clause 51, so that a Partys Affiliates shall be entitled to make a claim against the
other Party, if and only if, to the extent that a court rules that a Party is not entitled to
claim for the Losses of its Affiliate or for equitable relief due to those Losses not having
been incurred by that Party or due to an inability for such equitable relief to be awarded to
that Party subject to the following: |
|
(A) |
|
in the course of bringing such claim or action, such Partys Affiliate will
not have greater rights under this Agreement than does the Party and the rights or
benefits conferred on the Party of the Affiliate bringing such claim or action will be
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; |
|
|
(B) |
|
if any such Partys Affiliate brings a claim or action against the other
Party, the Party of such Affiliates will not also bring a claim or action against the
other Party on such Affiliates behalf with regard to the same subject matter; and |
|
|
(C) |
|
the Party and its Affiliates will reasonably cooperate with the other Party
to consolidate any such claims or actions. |
51.6 |
|
Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 51.5 this Agreement may be rescinded or varied in
any way and at any time by the Parties without the consent of any Affiliate. |
51.7 |
|
For the avoidance of doubt, any claim brought by any Affiliate in exercise of its rights or
benefits under this Clause 51 shall be subject to the limitation and exclusions of liability
set out in this Agreement. |
75
51.8 |
|
Subject to Clause 51.3, the Parties do not intend that any term of this Agreement, should be
enforceable, by virtue of the 1999 Act, by any person who is not a Party to this Agreement. |
51.9 |
|
The Parties acknowledge and agree that for the purposes of this Clause 51 the term
Affiliate with respect to Customer shall include Service Recipient. |
52.1 |
|
Supplier irrevocably appoints WNS Global Services (UK) Limited of Acre House, 11-15 William
Road, London NW1 3ER to be its agent for the receipt of service of process in England. It
agrees that any Service Document may be effectively served on it in connection with
Proceedings in England and Wales by service on its agent. |
52.2 |
|
Any Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served if marked for the attention of
WNS Global Services (UK) Limited at Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London NW1 3ER or such
other address within England and Wales as may be notified to the Party wishing to serve the
Service Document and: |
|
(A) |
|
left at the specified address; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
sent to the specified address by first class post. |
|
|
In the case of Clause 52.2(A), the Service Document will be deemed to have been duly served
when it is left. In the case of Clause 52.2.2(B), the Service Document shall be deemed
to have been duly served two clear Business Days after the date of posting. |
52.3 |
|
Customer irrevocably appoints Aviva International Holdings Limited (Company No. 02180206) of
St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ to be its agent for the receipt of service of process
in England. It agrees that any Service Document may be effectively served on it in connection
with Proceedings in England and Wales by service on its agent. |
52.4 |
|
Any Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served if marked for the attention of
Aviva International Holdings Limited (Company No. 02180206) at St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London
EC3P 3DQ or such other address within England and Wales as may be notified to the Party
wishing to serve the Service Document and: |
|
(A) |
|
left at the specified address; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
sent to the specified address by first class post. |
|
|
In the case of Clause 52.4(A), the Service Document will be deemed to have been duly served
when it is left. In the case of Clause 52.4(B), the Service Document shall be deemed to
have been duly served two clear Business Days after the date of posting. |
52.5 |
|
If an agent at any time ceases for any reason to act as such, Supplier or Customer (as
relevant) shall appoint its replacement agent having an address for service in England |
76
|
|
or Wales and shall notify the other Party of the name and address of the replacement agent.
Failing such appointment and notification, either Party shall be entitled by notice to the
other Party to appoint a replacement agent to act on behalf of the relevant Party. The
provisions of this Clause 52.5 applying to service on an agent apply equally to service on a
replacement agent. |
52.6 |
|
A copy of any Service Document served on an agent shall be sent by post to the relevant
Party. Failure or delay in so doing shall not prejudice the effectiveness of service of the
Service Document. |
53.1 |
|
In construing this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly specified: |
|
(A) |
|
references to Clauses, paragraphs, Schedules and Appendices are to clauses
and paragraphs of, and schedules, appendices to, this Agreement; |
|
|
(B) |
|
use of either gender includes the other gender, and use of the singular
includes the plural and vice versa; |
|
|
(C) |
|
references to a person shall be construed so as to include any individual,
firm, company or other body corporate, government, state or agency of a state, local
or municipal authority or government body or any joint venture, association,
partnership or limited partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality); |
|
|
(D) |
|
a reference to any statute or statutory provision shall be construed as a
reference to the same as it may, from time to time, be amended, modified or
re-enacted; |
|
|
(E) |
|
any reference to a day (including within the phrase Business Day) shall
mean a period of 24 hours running from midnight to midnight; |
|
|
(F) |
|
references to a month are to a calendar month and year are to a calendar
year; |
|
|
(G) |
|
references to a quarter are to the periods of January to March, April to
June, July to September and October to December, in any calendar year, and quarterly
shall be interpreted accordingly; |
|
|
(H) |
|
references to times are to London times, except where expressly stated to the
contrary; |
|
|
(I) |
|
references to indemnifying any person against or with respect to any
circumstance shall include indemnifying and keeping it (and each member of its Group)
harmless, on an after Tax basis, from all actions, claims and proceedings from time to
time made against it and each member of its Group and all losses, damages,
liabilities, payments, costs and expenses suffered |
77
|
|
|
made or incurred by it and each
member of its Group as a consequence of or in connection with that circumstance; |
|
(J) |
|
references to costs and/or expenses incurred by a person shall include
any amount in respect of VAT comprised in such costs or expenses for which neither
that person nor, if relevant, the representative member of the VAT group to which that
persons belongs is entitled to credit as VAT input tax; |
|
|
(K) |
|
a reference to any other document in this Agreement is a reference to that
other document as amended, varied, novated or supplemented (other than in breach of
the provisions of this Agreement) from time to time; |
|
|
(L) |
|
a reference to any part of this Agreement is a reference to that part as
amended, varied, novated or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement; |
|
|
(M) |
|
headings and titles are for convenience only and do not affect the
interpretation of this Agreement; |
|
|
(N) |
|
any words following the words include or including shall be interpreted
without limitation to the generality of the preceding words; |
|
|
(O) |
|
general words shall not be given a restrictive meaning by reason of the fact
that they are followed by particular examples intended to be embraced by the general
words; |
|
|
(P) |
|
a reference to any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of
judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal
concept or thing shall in respect of any jurisdiction other than England be treated as
a reference to any analogous term in that jurisdiction; and |
53.2 |
|
The Schedules and Appendices form part of this Agreement and shall have the same force and
effect as if expressly set out in the body of this Agreement, and any reference to this
Agreement shall include the Schedules and the Appendices. |
53.3 |
|
In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement (excluding the Schedules
and the Appendices) and the Schedules and the Appendices, the provisions of this Agreement
shall prevail. |
This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law.
THE PARTIES have shown their acceptance of the terms of this Agreement by executing it at the end
of the Schedules.
|
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Signed by |
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) |
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) |
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for and on behalf of |
|
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) |
|
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|
AVIVA GLOBAL SERVICES |
|
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) |
|
|
/s/ Steven Turpie |
(MANAGEMENT SERVICES) |
|
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) |
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PRIVATE LIMITED |
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) |
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Signed by |
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) |
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Johnson J. Selvadurai |
|
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) |
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for and on behalf of |
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) |
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WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT |
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) |
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/s/ Johnson J. Selvadurai |
LIMITED |
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) |
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|
Ex-4.17 Facility Agreement dated July 11, 2008
Exhibit 4.17
EXECUTION VERSION
US$200,000,000
FACILITY AGREEMENT
dated 11th July 2008
for
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
arranged by
ICICI BANK UK PLC
and
ICICI BANK CANADA
with
ICICI BANK UK PLC
acting as Agent
MORGAN WALKER SOLICITORS LLP
acting as Security Trustee
Linklaters
Ref: NVl/RXP
THE SCHEDULES
|
|
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|
|
|
SCHEDULE 1 |
|
The Original Parties |
|
|
97 |
|
SCHEDULE 2 |
|
Conditions precedent |
|
|
98 |
|
SCHEDULE 3 |
|
Requests |
|
|
105 |
|
SCHEDULE 4 |
|
Form of Transfer Certificate |
|
|
107 |
|
SCHEDULE 5 |
|
Form of Compliance Certificate |
|
|
109 |
|
SCHEDULE 6 |
|
Timetables |
|
|
110 |
|
SCHEDULE 7 |
|
Security trust provisions |
|
|
111 |
|
SCHEDULE 8 |
|
Material Subsidiaries |
|
|
114 |
|
SCHEDULE 9 |
|
Form of Accession Letter |
|
|
115 |
|
SCHEDULE 10 |
|
Key terms of the Master Service Agreement |
|
|
116 |
|
SCHEDULE 11 |
|
Existing Financial Indebtedness |
|
|
117 |
|
SCHEDULE 12 |
|
Existing tax litigation |
|
|
118 |
|
(ii)
This Agreement is dated 11th July 2008 and made between:
(1) |
|
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of Jersey with registration
number 82262 whose registered office is at Capita Trustees Limited, PO Box 532, Channel House,
7 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey JE4 5UW, Channel Islands as company (the Company); |
|
(2) |
|
WNS (MAURITIUS) LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of Mauritius whose registered
office is at 10, Frere Felix, de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius, as borrower (the
Borrower); |
|
(3) |
|
THE COMPANIES listed in Part I of Schedule 1 (The Original Guarantors) as original guarantors
(together with the Company, the Original Guarantors); |
|
(4) |
|
ICICI BANK UK PLC and ICICI BANK CANADA as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting
individually or together, the Arranger); |
|
(5) |
|
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part II of Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) as original
lenders (the Original Lenders); |
|
(6) |
|
ICICI BANK UK PLC as agent of the other Finance Parties (the Agent); |
|
(7) |
|
MORGAN WALKER SOLICITORS LLP as security trustee for the Finance Parties (the Security
Trustee); and |
|
(8) |
|
ICICI BANK UK PLC as account bank (the Account Bank). |
It is agreed as follows:
SECTION 1
INTERPRETATION
1. |
|
Definitions and interpretation |
|
1.1 |
|
Definitions |
|
|
|
In this Agreement: |
|
|
|
Accession Letter means a document substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 (Form
of Accession Letter). |
|
|
|
Account Mandate means: |
|
(a) |
|
the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the
DSRA entered into on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower and the
Account Bank; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the
Master Service Agreement Account to be entered into after the date of this Agreement
between the Purchaser and the Account Bank; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the WNS
Mauritius Designated Account entered into on or about the date of this Agreement
between the Borrower and the Account Bank; and |
- 1 -
|
(d) |
|
the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the
Target Designated Account entered into after the date of this Agreement between the
Target and the Account Bank. |
|
|
Accounts means the DSRA, the Master Service Agreement Account, the WNS Mauritius
Designated Account and the Target Designated Account. |
|
|
|
Acquisition means the acquisition by the Purchaser of the entire issued share capital of
the Target pursuant to the Acquisition Documents. |
|
|
|
Acquisition Agreement means the agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement
between the Vendor and the Purchaser (or one of its Affiliates) relating to the sale and
purchase of the Target. |
|
|
|
Acquisition Closing Date means the date on which the Acquisition is completed. |
|
|
|
Acquisition Costs means all costs, fees and expenses (and Taxes on them) and all stamp
duty, registration duties and other Taxes incurred by or on behalf of the Borrower or the
Purchaser in connection with the Acquisition, the Transaction Documents or the financing of
the Acquisition. |
|
|
|
Acquisition Documents means the Acquisition Agreement, the Master Service Agreement, the
Disclosure Letter and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
|
Additional Guarantor means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance
with Clause 25 (Changes to the Obligors). |
|
|
|
Affiliate means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding
Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company. |
|
|
|
Agency Agreement means the agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between
the Borrower, the Lenders NDU Agent and the Agent. |
|
|
|
Anti-Terrorism Laws means the Executive Order, the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 5311 et
seq.), the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 et seq.), the USA
Patriot Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.),
the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.), any other law or regulation
administered by OFAC, and any similar law enacted in the United States after the date of
this Agreement. |
|
|
|
APLMA means the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association Limited. |
|
|
|
Assignment of Put Option Agreement means the security assignment of the Put Option
Agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement governed by the laws of England and
Wales between the Borrower and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
Authorisation means: |
|
(a) |
|
an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing,
notarisation, lodgement or registration; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to anything which will be fully or partly prohibited or
restricted by law or regulation if a Governmental Agency intervenes or acts in any way
within a specified period after lodgement, filing, registration or notification, the
expiry of that period without intervention or action. |
- 2 -
|
|
Available Commitment means a Lenders Commitment minus: |
|
(a) |
|
the amount of its participation in any outstanding Utilisations; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the amount of its participation in
any Utilisations that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date. |
|
|
Available Facility means the lower of: |
|
(a) |
|
the aggregate for the time being of each Lenders Available Commitment; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
90 per cent. of the total purchase price payable by the Purchaser under the
Acquisition Documents. |
|
|
Availability Period means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and
including 30 September 2008. |
|
|
|
Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or
any successor thereto). |
|
|
|
Borrower Account Charge means the charge document governed by the laws of England in
respect of the WNS Mauritius Designated Account and the DSRA dated on or about the date of
this Agreement between the Borrower and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
Break Costs means the amount (if any) by which: |
|
(a) |
|
the interest which a Lender should have received for the period from the date
of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or an Unpaid Sum to the
last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or an Unpaid Sum, had
the principal amount of that Loan or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of
that Interest Period; |
|
(b) |
|
the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount
equal to the principal amount of that Loan or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit
with a leading bank in the Relevant Interbank Market for a period starting on the
Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current
Interest Period. |
|
|
Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) which is a London Business Day
and on which banks are open for general business in New York City and Toronto. |
|
|
|
Business Plan means the business plan in respect of the Target and its Subsidiaries in
the form agreed between the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
|
Charged Assets means the assets charged or purported to be charged or otherwise made the
subject of Security pursuant to the Security Documents. |
|
|
|
Clean-Up Date means the date falling two months following the Acquisition Closing Date. |
- 3 -
|
|
Clean-Up Default means the events or circumstances set out in Clause 23.3 (Other
obligations) and Clause 23.4 (Misrepresentation) to the extent they relate to the failure
to comply with a Clean-Up Undertaking or an incorrect or misleading Clean-Up
Representation. |
|
|
|
Clean-Up Representation means the representations and warranties set out in Clause 18.2
(Bindings obligations), Clause 18.5 (Validity and admissibility in evidence), Clause 18.9
(No Default), Clause 18.10 (No misleading information), Clause 18.11 (Financial
statements), Clause 18.13 (No proceedings pending or threatened), Clause 18.14
(Environmental laws and licences), Clause 18.15 (Environmental releases), Clause 18.16
(Title), Clause 18.21 (No breach of law) and Clause 18.32 (Information undertakings). |
|
|
|
Clean-Up Undertaking means the undertakings set out in Clause 21.2 (Compliance with
laws), Clause 21.7 (Insurance), Clause 21.8 (Environmental undertakings), Clause 21.9
(Environmental claims), Clause 21.10 (Financial Indebtedness), Clause 21.13 (Loans and
guarantees), Clause 21.14 (Arms length dealings), Clause 21.17 (Taxes), Clause 21.20
(Maintenance of books and records) and Clause 21.21 (Assets). |
|
|
|
COBO means the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958, as amended. |
|
|
|
Commitment means: |
|
(a) |
|
in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in US Dollars set opposite its
name under the heading Commitment in Part II (The Original Lenders) of Schedule 1
(The Original Parties) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under
this Agreement; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to any other Lender, the amount in US Dollars of any Commitment
transferred to it under this Agreement, |
|
|
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement. |
|
|
|
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule
5 (Form of Compliance Certificate) which is required to be delivered to the Agent from time
to time pursuant to Clause 19.2 (Compliance Certificate). |
|
|
|
Confidentiality Undertaking means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a
recommended form of the APLMA or in any other form agreed between the Company and the
Agent. |
|
|
|
Controlled Group means an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common
control with an Obligor within the meaning of section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group
that includes an Obligor and that is treated as a single employer under section 414 of the
Internal Revenue Code. When any provision of this Agreement relates to a past event, the
term member of the Controlled Group includes any person that was a member of the
Controlled Group at the time of that past event. |
|
|
|
Default means an Event of Default or: any event or circumstance specified in Clause 23
(Events of Default) which would (With the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice,
the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of
the foregoing) be an Event of Default. |
- 4 -
|
|
Designated Account Charge means: |
|
(a) |
|
the Target Designated Account Charge; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Borrower Account Charge; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
Designated Person means a person or entity: |
|
(a) |
|
listed in the annex to, or otherwise subject to the provisions of, the
Executive Order; |
|
|
(b) |
|
named as a Specially Designated National and Blocked Person on the most
current list published by OFAC at its official website or any replacement website or
other replacement official publication of such list; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any
transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law. |
|
|
Disclosure Letter means the disclosure letter issued by the Vendor to the Purchaser or
one of its Affiliates on or about the date of this Agreement in connection with the
Acquisition Agreement. |
|
|
|
Disruption Event means either or both of: |
|
(a) |
|
a material disruption to those payment or communication systems or to those
financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments
to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions
contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not
caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a
technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury, or payment operations of a Party
preventing that, or any other Party: |
|
(i) |
|
from performing its payment obligations under the Finance
Documents; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the
terms of the Finance Documents, |
|
|
|
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the
Party whose operations are disrupted. |
|
|
DSRA means the US Dollar denominated debt service reserve account in the name of the
Borrower with account number 75886176 held with the Account Bank in London (or any other
account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority
Lenders may approve). |
|
|
|
DSRA Amount means on any date, an amount equal to the then aggregate amount of interest
payable (or reasonably anticipated on any date by the Agent to be payable) by the Borrower
in respect of the outstanding Loans during the three Month period commencing from that date
and including the date falling three Months after that date. |
|
|
|
DSRA Balance means, at any time, the credit balance (if any) of the DSRA at that time. |
- 5 -
|
|
Environment means living organisms including the ecological systems of which they form
part and the following media: |
|
(a) |
|
air (including air within natural or man-made structures, whether above or
below ground); |
|
|
(b) |
|
water (including territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or
within land and water in drains and sewers); and |
|
|
(c) |
|
land (including land under water). |
|
|
Environmental Law means all laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction which: |
|
(a) |
|
have as a purpose or effect the protection of, and/or prevention of harm or
damage to, the Environment; |
|
|
(b) |
|
provide remedies or compensation for harm or damage to the Environment; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
relate to Hazardous Substances or health and safety matters. |
|
|
Environmental Licence means any Authorisation required at any time under Environmental
Law. |
|
|
|
ERISA means the US Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (or any successor
legislation thereto) and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder. |
|
|
|
ERISA Affiliate means each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is a member
of a Controlled Group of any Obligor. |
|
|
|
Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 23 (Events
of Default). |
|
|
|
Excess Cash has the meaning given to that term in Clause 20.3 (Definitions). |
|
|
|
Executive Order means the US Executive Order No. 13224 on Blocking Property and
Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who, Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support
Terrorism, which came into effect on 24 September 2001, as amended. |
|
|
|
Facility means the term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in
Clause 2 (The Facility). |
|
|
|
Facility Office means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing
on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five
Business Days written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its
obligations under this Agreement. |
|
|
|
Fee Letter means any letter or letters dated on or after the date of this Agreement
between, as the case may be, the Arranger and the Borrower, the Agent and the Borrower, or
the Security Trustee and the Borrower setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 11
(Fees). |
|
|
|
Finance Document means: |
|
(a) |
|
this Agreement; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any Security Document; |
- 6 -
|
(c) |
|
any Non Disposal Document; |
|
|
(d) |
|
any Fee Letter; |
|
|
(e) |
|
the Syndication Side Letter; and |
|
|
(f) |
|
any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
Finance Party means the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arranger, the Lenders NDU
Agent, the Account Bank or a Lender. |
|
|
|
Financial Indebtedness means any indebtedness for or in respect of: |
|
(a) |
|
moneys borrowed; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit, bill acceptance
or bill endorsement facility or dematerialised equivalent; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of
bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; |
|
|
(d) |
|
the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract
which would, in accordance with GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital lease; |
|
|
(e) |
|
receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they
are sold on a non-recourse basis); |
|
|
(f) |
|
any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or
purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing; |
|
|
(g) |
|
any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against
or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of
any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into
account); |
|
|
(h) |
|
shares which are expressed to be redeemable or any shares or instruments
convertible into shares which are otherwise the subject of a put option or guarantee; |
|
|
(i) |
|
any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond,
standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or
financial institution; and |
|
|
(j) |
|
the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any
of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i) above. |
|
|
Financial Report means the financial report in respect of the Acquisition, prepared by
Grant Thornton, in the form agreed between the Agent and the Company and addressed to or
capable of being relied upon by the Agent and the other Finance Parties. |
|
|
|
Fraudulent Transfer Law means any applicable US Bankruptcy Law or any applicable US state
fraudulent transfer or conveyance law. |
|
|
|
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices in the
United States of America or, if the Company elects to change its accounting principles,
standards and practices in accordance with paragraph (c) of Clause 19.4 (Requirements as to
financial statements) generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices
under IFRS. |
- 7 -
|
|
Governmental Agency means any government or any governmental agency, semi-governmental or
judicial or quasi-judicial or administrative entity or authority (including, without
limitation, any stock exchange or any self-regulatory organisation established under any
law or regulation). |
|
|
|
Group means the Company and its Subsidiaries for the time being. |
|
|
|
Guarantor means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor. |
|
|
|
Hazardous Substance means any waste, pollutant, contaminant or other substance (including
any liquid, solid, gas, ion, living organism or noise) that may be harmful to human health
or other life or the Environment or a nuisance to any person or that may make the use or
ownership of any affected land or property more costly. |
|
|
|
Holding Company means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or
corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary. |
|
|
|
IFRS means the international accounting standards within the meaning of the lAS
Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements. |
|
|
|
Increased Costs has the meaning given to that term in Clause 13 (Increased Costs). |
|
|
|
India means the Republic of India and its constituent states from time to time and
includes where the context so requires, the Government of the Republic of India, the
Government of any constituent state thereof and any regulatory agency or authority thereof. |
|
|
|
Indirect Tax means any goods and services tax, consumption tax, value added tax or any
Tax of a similar nature. |
|
|
|
Information Memorandum means the document in the form to be approved by the Company and
the Arranger concerning the Group which, at the Companys request and on its behalf, will
be prepared in relation to this transaction and distributed by the Arranger to selected
financial institutions after the date of this Agreement. |
|
|
|
Initial Valuation means the valuation of the Target by the Valuer dated on or about the
date of this Agreement. |
|
|
|
Interest Period means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with
Clause 9 (Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in
accordance with Clause 8.3 (Default interest). |
|
|
|
Legal Due Diligence Report means the legal due diligence report in respect of the
Acquisition, prepared by Eversheds, legal advisers to the Company, in the form agreed
between the Agent and the Company and addressed to or capable of being relied upon by the
Agent and the other Finance Parties. |
|
|
|
Lender means: |
|
(a) |
|
any Original Lender; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become
a Party in accordance with Clause 24 (Changes to the Lenders), |
|
|
which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. |
- 8 -
|
|
Lenders NDU Agent means IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited, a company incorporated under
the Companies Act 1956 of India, and having its registered office at Asian Building, round
Floor, 17, R. Kamani Marg., Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001 as agent of the Lenders
appointed under the Agency Agreement. |
|
|
|
Liabilities means all present and future moneys, debts and liabilities due, owing or
incurred by any Obligor to any Finance Party under or in connection with any Finance
Document (in each case whether alone or jointly, or jointly and severally, with any other
person, whether actually or contingently and whether as principal, surety or otherwise). |
|
|
|
LIBOR means, in relation to any Loan: |
|
(a) |
|
the applicable Screen Rate; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
(if no Screen Rate is available for US Dollars for the Interest Period of
that Loan) the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places)
as supplied to the Agent at its request quoted by the Reference Banks to leading banks
in the London interbank market, |
|
|
as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in US Dollars
for a period comparable to the Interest Period for that Loan. |
|
|
|
Loan means a loan made or to be made under the Facility or the principal amount
outstanding for the time being of that loan. |
|
|
|
London Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which deposits may
be dealt in on the Relevant Interbank Market and banks are open for general business in
London. |
|
|
|
Majority Lenders means: |
|
(a) |
|
if there are no Loans then outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments
aggregate more than
662/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total
Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than
662/3 per cent. of the
Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction); or |
|
|
(b) |
|
at any other time, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then
outstanding aggregate more than
662/3 per cent. of all the Loans then outstanding. |
|
(a) |
|
subject to paragraph (b) below, three per cent. per annum; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
whilst an Event of Default or a Default under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment) is
continuing, five per cent. per annum. |
|
|
Margin Stock means margin stock or margin security within the meaning of Regulation U
or Regulation X. |
|
|
|
Master Service Agreement means the master service agreement to be entered into after the
date of this Agreement between the Purchaser and Aviva Global Services (Management
Services) Private Limited in the form agreed between the Agent and the
Company and containing the key terms set out in Schedule 10 (Key terms of the Master
Service Agreement). |
- 9 -
|
|
Master Service Agreement Account means the US$ denominated master service agreement
account to be held in the name of the Purchaser and approved by the Agent or any other
account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority
Lenders may approve. |
|
|
|
Master Service Agreement Account Charge means the charge document in respect of the
Master Service Agreement Account dated after the date of this Agreement between the
Purchaser and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on or material adverse change in: |
|
(a) |
|
the consolidated condition (financial or otherwise), operations, prospects,
properties, performance or business of the Group taken as a whole; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the ability of any Obligor to perform and comply with its material
obligations under any Finance Document; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the validity, legality or enforceability of, or the rights or remedies of any
Finance Party under, any Finance Document; or |
|
|
(d) |
|
the validity, legality or enforceability of any Security expressed to be
created pursuant to any Security Document or on the priority and ranking of any of
that Security or the validity, legality or enforceability of any non disposal
arrangement expressed to be created pursuant to any Non Disposal Document. |
|
|
Material Subsidiary means: |
|
(a) |
|
a Subsidiary of the Company in respect of which the total EBITDA or total
assets (being the aggregate of net fixed assets (including goodwill and investments)
and net current assets (including cash)) as at the date which its latest audited
unconsolidated financial statements were prepared or, as the case may be, for the
financial period to which those financial statements relate account for five per cent.
or more of the consolidated total EBITDA or total assets (being the aggregate of net
fixed assets (including goodwill and investments) and net current assets (including
cash)) of the Group (all as calculated by reference to the latest audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company); or |
|
|
(b) |
|
a Subsidiary of the Company to which has been transferred (whether in a
single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not)) the whole or
substantially the whole of the assets of a Subsidiary which immediately prior to such
transaction(s) was a Material Subsidiary. |
|
|
For the purposes of this definition: |
|
(i) |
|
if a Subsidiary becomes a Material Subsidiary under paragraph (b) above, the
Material Subsidiary by which the relevant transfer was made shall, subject to
paragraph (a) above, cease to be a Material Subsidiary; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if a Subsidiary is acquired by the Company after the end of the financial
period to which the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company
relate, those financial statements shall be adjusted as if that Subsidiary had been
shown in them by reference to its then latest audited financial statements
(consolidated if appropriate) until audited unconsolidated financial statements of the Company
for the financial period in which the acquisition is made have been prepared.
|
- 10 -
|
|
Mauritian Account means the account in the name of the Borrower with account number 080
070311 020 held with HSBC Bank Mauritius or any other account being a renewal,
redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve. |
|
|
|
Mauritian Account Charge means the assignment of a bank account document governed by the
laws of Mauritius in respect of the Mauritian Account entered into on or about the date of
this Agreement between the Borrower and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
Month means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the
numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that: |
|
(a) |
|
(subject to paragraph (c) below) if the numerically corresponding day is not
a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month
in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately
preceding Business Day; |
|
|
(b) |
|
if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which
that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar
month; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month
and, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, that Interest Period is to be of a
duration equal to a whole number of Months, that Interest Period shall end on the last
Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end. |
|
|
The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period. |
|
|
|
Multiemployer Plan means, at any time, a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA) then or at any time during the previous five years maintained for, or
contributed to (or to which there is or was an obligation to contribute) on behalf of,
employees of any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate. |
|
|
|
NDU Providers Agent means IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited, a company incorporated
under the Companies Act, 1956 of India and having its registered office at Asian Building,
Ground Floor, 17, R. Kamani Marg., Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001 as agent of the Borrower. |
|
|
|
Net Equity Proceeds means the cash and cash equivalent proceeds received by a member of
the Group in respect of any issuance of shares or other equity instruments by a member of
the Group (other than any issuance of shares or other equity instruments by one member of
the Group to another member of the Group) after deducting fees and transaction costs
properly incurred in connection with that issuance of shares or equity instruments after
deducting: |
|
(a) |
|
any fees, transaction costs and expenses properly incurred in connection with
that issuance of shares or equity instruments; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
Taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Company to be payable (as certified
by the Company to the Agent) as a result of that issuance of shares or equity
instruments. |
- 11 -
|
|
Net Insurance Proceeds means any proceeds (other than proceeds in relation to third party
liabilities that are actually applied to meet such liabilities or proceeds in relation to
consequential loss policies that are actually applied to cover operating losses, loss of
profits or business interruption) exceeding US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in another
currency or currencies) in respect of any single claim received by any member of the Group
under or pursuant to any insurance policy (or equivalent) after the date of this Agreement
after deducting: |
|
(a) |
|
any amounts payable to persons holding Security over such proceeds that ranks
in priority to the interests of the Finance Parties; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any fees, transaction costs and expenses properly incurred in connection with
that claim; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
Taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Company to be payable (as certified
by the Company to the Agent) as a result of that claim. |
|
|
Net Sale Proceeds means the cash or cash equivalent proceeds (including, when received,
the cash or cash equivalent proceeds of any deferred consideration, whether by way of
adjustment to the purchase price or otherwise, and any amount received in repayment of any
intercompany debt) received by a member of the Group in connection with the sale, transfer
or other disposal by any member of the Group of an asset exceeding US$5,000,000 (or its
equivalent in another currency or currencies) in respect of any single disposal after
deducting: |
|
(a) |
|
fees and transaction costs and expenses properly incurred in connection with
that sale, transfer or disposal; |
|
|
(b) |
|
Taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Company to be payable (as certified
by the Company to the Agent) as a result of that sale, transfer or disposal; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
amounts payable to persons holding Security over such asset that ranks in
priority to the interests of the Finance Parties. |
|
|
Net Termination Compensation Proceeds means any amount received or recovered by a member
of the Group pursuant to or in respect of the termination of in whole or in part, the
Master Service Agreement or any related breach of contract, warranty claim, reliance letter
or legal action or proceedings (whether by way of judgment on or settlement of any such
claim), in each case net of related fees, Taxes, transaction costs and expenses properly
incurred in achieving any such recoveries (and excluding any amounts that constitute
severance pay in respect of no more than four Months salary for any employee payable upon
termination of the Master Service Agreement). |
|
|
|
Non Disposal Document means: |
|
(a) |
|
any Non Disposal Undertaking; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any Non Disposal POA; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any Designated Account Charge; |
|
|
(d) |
|
the Agency Agreement; and |
|
|
(e) |
|
any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
Non Disposal POA means: |
|
(a) |
|
each WNS Non Disposal POA; |
- 12 -
|
(b) |
|
the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal POA; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
Non Disposal Undertaking means: |
|
(a) |
|
each WNS Non Disposal Undertaking; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
Non Disposal Undertaking Provider means: |
|
(a) |
|
the Borrower; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Target. |
|
|
Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal POA means the irrevocable power of attorney to be
granted after the date of this Agreement by the Borrower to the NDU Providers Agent in
respect of the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking. |
|
|
|
Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking means the non disposal undertaking to be
entered into after the date of this Agreement in respect of the shares in Ntrance Customer
Services Private Limited and in Marketics Technologies Private Limited between, among
others, the Borrower and the Lenders NDU Agent. |
|
|
|
Obligor means a Borrower or a Guarantor. |
|
|
|
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the
Treasury. |
|
|
|
Original Financial Statements means: |
|
(a) |
|
in relation to the Company, the audited consolidated financial statements for
the Group for the financial year ended 31 March 2008; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to each Original Obligor other than the Company, its audited
financial statements for its financial year ended 31 March 2008. |
|
|
Original Obligor means the Borrower or an Original Guarantor. |
|
|
|
Party means a party to this Agreement. |
|
|
|
Permitted Treasury Transaction means any Treasury Transaction entered into in the
ordinary course of business (and not for investment or speculative purposes) to hedge
currency, commodity price or interest rate exposure of a member of the Group. |
|
|
|
Purchaser means WNS Capital Investment Limited. |
|
|
|
Purchaser Mauritian Account means the general account in the name of the Purchaser with
account number 080-121874-020 held with HSBC Bank in Mauritius or any other account being a
renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve. |
|
|
|
Purchaser Share Charge means the share pledge document governed by the laws of Mauritius
in respect of the shares in the Purchaser between the Borrower and the Security Trustee.
|
- 13 -
|
|
Put Option Agreement means the put option agreement dated on or about the date of this
Agreement between the Put Providers and the Borrower. |
|
|
|
Put Provider means WNS Global Services Private Limited, Marketics Technologies Private
Limited and any other person who becomes a Put Obligor (as defined in the Put Option
Agreement) under the Put Option Agreement. |
|
|
|
Put Providers Share Sale Proceeds has the meaning given to Share Sale Proceeds in the
WNS Non Disposal Undertakings. |
|
|
|
Quotation Day means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be
determined, two London Business Days before the first day of that period unless market
practice differs in the Relevant Interbank Market, in which case the Quotation Day will be
determined by the Agent in accordance with market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market
(and if quotations for that currency for that period would normally be given by leading
banks in the Relevant Interbank Market on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the
last of those days). |
|
|
|
Reference Banks means the principal London offices of Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Barclays Bank
PLC and Standard Chartered Bank or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in
consultation with the Company. |
|
|
|
Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X means Regulation T, U or X, as the case
may be, of the Board, as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and
interpretations thereunder or thereof. |
|
|
|
Relevant Interbank Market means the London interbank market. |
|
|
|
Relevant Period has the meaning given to that term in Clause 20.3 (Definitions). |
|
|
|
Repeating Representations means each of the representations set out in Clause 18
(Representations) other than those set out in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Clause 18.11
(Financial statements), Clause 18.20 (Material Subsidiaries), Clause 18.22 (Acquisition
Documents), Clause 18.26 (Shareholders), Clause 18.27(Master Services Agreement), Clause
18.28 (Anti-Terrorism Laws), Clause 18.29 (US Regulation), Clause 18.30 (Margin
Regulations) and Clause 18.31 (Employee Benefit Plans). |
|
|
|
Screen Rate means the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for US
Dollars for the relevant period displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters screen. If
the agreed page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify
another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Company
and the Lenders. |
|
|
|
Security means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any
obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect. |
|
|
|
Security Document means: |
|
(a) |
|
the Assignment of Put Option Agreement; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Purchaser Share Charge; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the Mauritian Account Charge; |
|
|
(d) |
|
the Master Service Agreement Account Charge;
|
- 14 -
|
(e) |
|
the Sri Lankan Share Charge; |
|
|
(f) |
|
the Target Share Charge; |
|
|
(g) |
|
the Target Designated Account Charge; |
|
|
(h) |
|
the Borrower Account Charge; |
|
|
(i) |
|
the WNS Mauritius Share Charge; |
|
|
(j) |
|
the WNS North America Share Charge; |
|
|
(k) |
|
the WNS UK Fixed and Floating Charge; |
|
|
(I) |
|
the WNS UK Share Charge; and |
|
|
(m) |
|
any other security document that may at any time be given as security for any
of the Liabilities. |
|
|
Security Property has the meaning given to it in Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions). |
|
|
|
Selection Notice means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part II (Selection
Notice) of Schedule 3 (Requests) given in accordance with Clause 9 (Interest Periods). |
|
|
|
Share or Business Acquisition means: |
|
(a) |
|
any investment in or acquisition of, whether by incorporation or otherwise,
any share in or any security issued by any person, or any interest therein or in the
capital of any person, or the making of any capital contribution to any person; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any investment in or acquisition of any business or going concern, or the
whole or substantially the whole business of the assets, property or business of any
person or any assets that constitute a division or operating unit of the business of
any person; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
the entry into any joint venture, consortium, partnership or similar
arrangement with any person. |
|
|
Specified Time means a time determined in accordance with Schedule 6 (Timetables). |
|
|
|
Sri Lankan Share Charge means the fixed charge document governed by the laws of Sri Lanka
in respect of the shares in Aviva Global Services Lanka (Private) Limited to be entered
into between the Target and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
Standing Payment Instruction means: |
|
(a) |
|
in relation to an Original Lender, payment instructions delivered to the
Agent in writing on or prior to the date of this Agreement; |
|
|
(b) |
|
in relation to any other Lender, payment instructions set out in the Transfer
Certificate to which that Lender is signatory, |
|
|
or such other payment instructions as the Lender may notify to the Agent by not less than
five Business Days notice. |
|
|
|
Subsidiary means in relation to any person (the First Person) at any particular time,
any other person which is then either controlled, or more than 50 per cent. of whose issued
ordinary or common equity share capital (or the like) is then beneficially owned, directly
or |
- 15 -
|
|
indirectly, by the First Person (and without limitation, includes a subsidiary within
the meaning of Articles 2 and 2A of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991, as amended). |
|
|
|
Syndication Date means the earlier to occur of: |
|
(a) |
|
31 March 2009; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
the date (as determined by the Arranger and notified to the Company) on which
the sub-underwriting (if any) and syndication of the Facility has been completed and
all associated novations and transfers have been effected pursuant to Clause 24
(Changes to the Lenders). |
|
|
Syndication Side Letter means the syndication side letter dated on or about the date of
this Agreement between the Company and the Arranger. |
|
|
|
Target means Aviva Global Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., a company incorporated under the
laws of Singapore whose registered office is at 3 Anson Road, #07-01, Springleaf Tower,
Singapore 079909. |
|
|
|
Targets NDU Agent means RDBI Trusteeship Services Limited, a company incorporated under
the Companies Act 1956 of India, and having its registered office at Asian Building, Ground
Floor, 17, R. Kamani Marg., Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001 as agent of the Lenders
appointed under the Agency Agreement. |
|
|
|
Target Designated Account means the US Dollar denominated designated account in the name
of the Target to be held with the Account Bank in London (or any other account being a
renewal, redesignation, or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may
approve). |
|
|
|
Target Designated Account Charge means the charge document governed by the laws of
England in respect of the Target Designated Account dated after the date of this Agreement
between the Target and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
Target Share Charge means the share charge document governed by the laws of Singapore in
respect of the shares in the Target to be entered into between the Purchaser and the
Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal POA means the irrevocable power of attorney to be
granted after the date of this Agreement by the Target to the Targets NDU Agent in respect
of the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking. |
|
|
|
Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking means the non disposal undertaking to be
entered into after the date of this Agreement in respect of the shares in Aviva Global
Services (Bangalore) Private Limited, Noida Customer Operations Private Limited, Customer
Operations Services Chennai Private Limited and Aviva Global Shared Services Private
Limited between, among others, the Target and the Lenders NDU Agent. |
|
|
|
Target Subsidiaries Share Sale Proceeds has, the meaning given to Share Sale Proceeds
in the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertakings. |
|
|
|
Tax means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature
(including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any
delay in paying any of the same). |
- 16 -
|
|
Tax Report means the tax report in respect of the Acquisition, prepared by Ernst & Young,
in the form agreed between the Agent and the Company and addressed to or capable of being
relied upon by the Agent and the other Finance Parties. |
|
|
|
Termination Date means the date which is 54 Months after the Weighted Average Utilisation
Date. |
|
|
|
Third Parties Act means the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. |
|
|
|
Total Commitments means the aggregate of the Commitments, being US$200,000,000 at the
date of this Agreement. |
|
|
|
Transaction Documents means the Finance Documents and the Acquisition Documents. |
|
|
|
Transfer Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4
(Form of Transfer Certificate), in a recommended form of the APLMA from time to time or in
any other form agreed between the Agent and the Company. |
|
|
|
Transfer Date means, in relation to a transfer, the later of: |
|
(a) |
|
the proposed Transfer Date specified in the Transfer Certificate; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
the date on which the Agent executes the Transfer Certificate. |
|
|
Treasury Transaction means any currency, commodity or interest rate purchase, cap or
collar agreement, forward rate agreement, future or option contract, swap or other similar
agreement. |
|
|
|
Unpaid Sum means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Obligors under the Finance
Documents. |
|
|
|
US and United States means the United States of America, its territories and
possessions. |
|
|
|
USA Patriot Act means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate
Tools Required to intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 of the
United States, as amended. |
|
|
|
US Bankruptcy Law means the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978 (Title 11 of the United
States Code) or any other United States federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
law. |
|
|
|
US Guarantor means a Guarantor that is a US Person. |
|
|
|
US Person means a United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the
Internal Revenue Code and includes the sole owner of any entity that is disregarded as
being an entity separate from such owner for US federal income tax purposes. |
|
|
|
US$ or US Dollars means the lawful currency of the United States of America. |
|
|
|
Utilisation means a utilisation of the Facility. |
|
|
|
Utilisation Date means the date on which a Utilisation is, or is to be, made. |
|
|
|
Utilisation Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part I
(Utilisation Request) of Schedule 3 (Requests). |
- 17 -
|
|
Valuation means the Initial Valuation and each other valuation of the Target by the
Valuer supplied under this Agreement, in each case showing the then market value of the
Target and addressed to, or capable of being relied upon by the Finance Parties. |
|
|
|
Valuer means Grant Thornton or any other valuer appointed by the Agent. |
|
|
|
Vendor means Aviva International Holdings Limited. |
|
|
|
Weighted Average Utilisation Date means the date determined by the Agent on the last day
of the Availability Period in accordance with: the following formula: |
|
|
|
Weighted Average Utilisation Date = date of this Agreement + N |
|
|
|
|
Where: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N (in days)
|
|
=
|
|
WAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Loans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(rounded down to the nearest whole multiple number); |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Loans
|
|
=
|
|
the aggregate original principal amount of each Loan; and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WAL (in US Dollars)
|
|
=
|
|
the aggregate, for each Loan, of the number of days elapsed
from the date of this Agreement to (and including) the
Utilisation Date for that Loan, multiplied by the original
principal amount of that Loan. |
|
|
WNS Global Services Non Disposal POA means the irrevocable power of attorney dated on or
about the date of this agreement granted by the Borrower to the NDU Providers Agent in
respect of the WNS Global Services Non Disposal Undertaking. |
|
|
|
WNS Global Services Non Disposal Undertaking means the non disposal undertaking dated on
or about the date of this Agreement in respect of the shares in WNS Global Services Private
Limited between, among others, the Borrower and the Lenders NDU Agent. |
|
|
|
WNS Mauritius Designated Account means the US Dollar denominated designated account in
the name of the Borrower with account number 75886177 held with the Account Bank in London
(or any other account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the
Majority Lenders may approve). |
|
|
|
WNS Mauritius Share Charge means the share pledge document dated on or about the date of
this agreement governed by the laws of Mauritius in respect of the shares in the Borrower
between the Company and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
WNS Non Disposal POA means: |
|
(a) |
|
the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal POA; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
the WNS Global Services Non Disposal POA. |
|
|
WNS Non Disposal Undertaking means: |
|
(a) |
|
the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking; and |
- 18 -
|
(b) |
|
the WNS Global Services Non Disposal Undertaking. |
|
|
WNS North America Share Charge means the pledge agreement governed by the laws of New
York in respect of the shares in WNS North America Inc. between the Company and the
Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
WNS UK Fixed and Floating Charge means the fixed and floating charge document governed by
the laws of England between WNS Global Services (UK) Limited and the Security Trustee. |
|
|
|
WNS UK Share Charge means the fixed charge
document governed by the laws of England in
respect of the shares in WNS Global Services (UK) Limited between the Company and the
Security Trustee. |
1.2 |
|
Construction |
|
(a) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to: |
|
(i) |
|
The Account Bank, the Agent, the Arranger, the Borrower, any Finance
Party, any Guarantor, any Lender, any NDU Provider, any Obligor, the
Company, any Party or the Security Trustee shall be construed so as to include
its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every
description; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
an authorised signatory means a person that has been duly authorised by
another person (the other person) to execute or sign any Finance Document (or other
document or notice to be executed or signed by the other person under or in connection
with any Finance Document) on behalf of that other person; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
control has the meaning given to it in the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations 1997 and shall
include the right to appoint a majority of the directors or to control the management
or policy decisions exercisable by a person or persons acting individually or in
concert, directly or indirectly, including by virtue of their shareholding or
management rights or shareholders agreements or voting agreements or in any other
manner; |
|
|
(v) |
|
a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to
that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated,
supplemented, restated or replaced and includes any increase in, extension of, or
change to any facility made available under that Finance Document or other agreement
or instrument and including any waiver or consent granted in respect of any term of
any Finance Document; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
a guarantee also includes an indemnity and any other obligation (whatever
called) of any person to pay, purchase, provide funds (whether by the advance of
money, the purchase of or subscription for shares or other securities, the purchase of
assets or services or otherwise) for the payment of, indemnify against the
consequences of default in the payment of, or otherwise be responsible for, any
indebtedness of any other person (and guaranteed and guarantor shall be construed
accordingly); |
- 19 -
|
(vii) |
|
indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as
surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or
contingent; |
|
|
(viii) |
|
a person includes any person, firm, company, corporation, government, state or
agency of a state or any association, trust or partnership (whether or not having
separate legal personality) or two or more of the foregoing; |
|
|
(ix) |
|
a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or
guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental,
intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory,
self-regulatory or other authority or organisation; |
|
|
(x) |
|
shares or share capital includes equivalent ownership interests (and
shareholder and similar expressions shall be construed accordingly); |
|
|
(xi) |
|
a law or a provision of law is a reference to that law or, as applicable,
that provision as amended or re-enacted; and |
|
|
(xii) |
|
a time of day is a reference to London time. |
(b) |
|
Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. |
|
(c) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any
notice or certificate given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same
meaning in that Finance Document, notice or certificate as in this Agreement. |
|
(d) |
|
A Default (other than an Event of Default) is continuing if it has not been remedied or
waived and an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been waived or remedied. |
|
(e) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, one person is acting in concert with another person
in relation to their holding of shares in a company if, whether pursuant to any agreement or
understanding, formal or informal or otherwise, they actively cooperate to obtain, maintain,
consolidate or exercise control over that company. |
|
1.3 |
|
Third Party Rights |
|
(a) |
|
Except as provided in a Finance Document, the terms of a Finance Document may be enforced and
enjoyed only by a Party to it and the operation of the Third Parties Act is excluded. |
|
(b) |
|
Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a
party to a Finance Document is not required to vary, rescind or terminate that Finance
Document. |
- 20 -
SECTION 2
THE FACILITY
|
|
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a term
loan facility in US Dollars in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Commitments. |
2.2 |
|
Finance Parties rights and obligations |
(a) |
|
The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a
Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the
obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible
for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are
separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance
Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt. |
|
(c) |
|
A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce
its rights under the Finance Documents. |
(a) |
|
Each Obligor (other than the Company) irrevocably appoints the Company to act on its behalf
as its agent in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises: |
|
(i) |
|
the Company on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself
contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give and receive all
notices, consents and instructions (including Utilisation Requests), to agree, accept
and execute on its behalf all documents in connection with the Finance Documents
(including amendments and variations of and consents under any Finance Document), to
execute any new Finance Document and to take such other action as may be necessary or
desirable under or in connection with the Finance Documents, and to execute on its
behalf any documents required hereunder and to make such agreements capable of being
given or made by any Obligor notwithstanding that they may affect such Obligor without
further reference to or consent of such Obligor; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to that
Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Company. |
(b) |
|
Each Obligor (other than the Company) confirms that: |
|
(i) |
|
it will be bound by any action taken by the Company under or in connection
with the Finance Documents; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
each Finance Party may rely on any action purported to be taken by the
Company on behalf of that Obligor. |
- 21 -
(a) |
|
The respective liabilities of each of the Obligors under the Finance Documents shall not be
affected by: |
|
(i) |
|
any actual or purported irregularity in any act done, or failure to act, by
the Company; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Company acting (or purporting to act) in any respect outside any
authority conferred upon it by any Obligor; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any actual or purported failure by, or inability of, the Company to inform
any Obligor of receipt by it of any notification under the Finance Documents. |
(b) |
|
In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Company and
any other Obligor, those of the Company shall prevail. |
(a) |
|
The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Facility towards financing: |
|
(i) |
|
the acquisition of shares in the Purchaser, the proceeds of such acquisition
to be employed by the Purchaser for the Acquisition pursuant to the Acquisition
Documents; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Incentive Payment (as defined in the Master Service Agreement) upon the
signing of the Master Service Agreement; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
Acquisition Costs. |
(b) |
|
No amount borrowed under the Facility shall be applied in any manner that may be illegal or
contravene any applicable law or regulation in any relevant jurisdiction concerning financial
assistance by a company for the acquisition of or subscription for shares or concerning the
protection of shareholders capital. |
|
|
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed
pursuant to this Agreement. |
4. |
|
Conditions of Utilisation |
4.1 |
|
Initial conditions precedent |
|
|
The Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may not deliver the first Utilisation Request
unless the Agent has received (or is satisfied that prior to or at the same time as the
first Utilisation it will receive) all of the documents and other evidence listed in and
appearing to comply with the requirements of Part I (Conditions precedent to first
Utilisation) of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) (except to the extent that the Agent has
waived the same on the instructions of the Majority Lenders). The Agent shall notify the
Company and the Lenders promptly upon receiving such documents and other evidence and
notify the Lenders at such time of any waivers granted by it in connection therewith. |
|
|
The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon receiving such documents
and other evidence. |
- 22 -
4.2 |
|
Further conditions precedent |
|
|
The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 (Lenders participation) if on
the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date: |
|
(a) |
|
no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor are true in all
material respects. |
4.3 |
|
Maximum number of Utilisations |
|
|
There shall be no more than two Utilisations. |
|
|
The Borrower shall confirm to the Agent no later than 15 July 2008 its intention to utilise
the balance of the Available Facility on or prior to 30 September 2008. |
- 23 -
SECTION 3
UTILISATION
5.1 |
|
Delivery of a Utilisation Request |
|
|
The Borrower may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed
Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time or such earlier time as all the
Lenders may agree. |
5.2 |
|
Completion of a Utilisation Request |
(a) |
|
Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly
completed unless: |
|
(i) |
|
the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability
Period; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.3 (Currency
and amount); |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 9 (Interest Periods); and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
it specifies the account and bank (which must be acceptable to the Agent) to
which the proceeds of the Utilisation are to be credited. |
(b) |
|
Only one Loan may be requested in each Utilisation Request. |
|
|
The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be US Dollars. |
5.4 |
|
Lenders participation |
(a) |
|
If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its
participation in a Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office. |
|
(b) |
|
The amount of each Lenders participation in a Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by
its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making that Loan. |
|
(c) |
|
The Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of a Loan and the amount of its
participation in that Loan by the Specified Time. |
- 24 -
SECTION 4
REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
|
|
The Borrower shall repay the Loans on the following dates in the following percentages: |
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment Date |
|
Repayment Instalment |
(months after Weighted Average Utilisation Date) |
|
(percentage of amount of Loans) |
12 |
|
|
10 |
|
18 |
|
|
10 |
|
24 |
|
|
10 |
|
30 |
|
|
10 |
|
36 |
|
|
10 |
|
42 |
|
|
15 |
|
48 |
|
|
20 |
|
Termination Date |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is repaid or prepaid. |
7. |
|
Prepayment and cancellation |
|
|
If, at any time, it becomes or will become unlawful or contrary to any regulation in any
applicable jurisdiction for a Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by
this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Utilisation: |
|
(a) |
|
that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that
event; |
|
|
(b) |
|
upon the Agent notifying the Company, the Commitment of that Lender will be
immediately cancelled; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
the Borrower shall repay that Lenders participation in the Utilisations on
the last day of the Interest Period for each Utilisation occurring after the Agent has
notified the Company or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice
delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace
period permitted by law or regulation, as the case may be). |
7.2 |
|
Mandatory prepayment Net Equity Proceeds |
|
|
Unless and to the extent that the Majority Lenders agree otherwise, the Company shall
ensure that an amount equal to all Net Equity Proceeds is paid to the Agent in
prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the
last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are received by a member of the
Group. |
- 25 -
7.3 |
|
Mandatory prepayment Net Sale Proceeds |
|
|
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to all Net Sale Proceeds is paid to the Agent
in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to
the last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are received by a member of the
Group provided that if no Default is continuing, such amount need not be applied in
prepayment of the Loans to the extent that a director of the Company has certified to the
Agent that such amount will be re-invested in fixed assets of the Group and such amount is: |
|
(a) |
|
re-invested in fixed assets of the Group within six Months of receipt by a
member of the Group; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
committed to be applied in re-investment in fixed assets of the Group within
six Months of receipt by a member of the Group and actually applied in such
re-investment within 12 Months of such receipt, |
|
|
failing which, it shall be so applied
in prepayment of the Loans. |
7.4 |
|
Mandatory prepayment Net Insurance Proceeds |
|
|
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to all Net Insurance Proceeds is paid to the
Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior
to the last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are received by a member of
the Group provided that if no Default is continuing, such amount need not be applied in
prepayment of the Loans to the extent that such amount relates to Net Insurance Proceeds
and a director of the Company has certified to the Agent that such amount will be used to
replace the assets to which those Net Insurance Proceeds relate with substantially similar
assets or to repair such assets within six Months of receipt by a member of the Group. |
7.5 |
|
Mandatory prepayment Net Termination Compensation Proceeds |
|
|
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to all Net Termination Compensation Proceeds
is paid to the Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement on or prior to the last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are
received by a member of the Group. |
7.6 |
|
Mandatory prepayment Excess Cash |
|
|
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to 90 per cent. of the Excess Cash for each
Relevant Period is paid to the Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement on or prior to the last day of the Interest Period during which
that Excess Cash figure is calculated. |
(a) |
|
The Company may, if it gives the Agent not less than 10 days (or such shorter period as the
Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount
of US$10,000,000 (or less if the Available Commitment is less than US$10,000,000) or in higher
integral multiples of US$5,000,000) of the Available Facility. Any cancellation under this
Clause 7.7 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably. |
- 26 -
(b) |
|
The Available Commitments shall automatically be cancelled and reduced to zero at the close
of business in London on the earlier of (i) 30 September 2008 and (ii) the second Utilisation
Date. |
7.8 |
|
Voluntary prepayment of Utilisations |
(a) |
|
The Company may, subject to paragraph (c) below, if it gives the Agent not less than 10 days
(or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or
any part of any Utilisation (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces that Loan by a
minimum amount of US$10,000,000 (or less if the aggregate amount of all Loans then is less
than US$10,000,000) or in higher integral multiples of US$5,000,000). |
|
(b) |
|
A Utilisation may only be prepaid after the last day of the Availability Period (or, if
earlier, the day on which the Available Facility is zero). |
|
(c) |
|
Any notice of prepayment given by the Company under paragraph (a) above shall only be valid
if accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably) that all
Authorisations necessary or desirable in connection with the proposed prepayment have been
obtained and are in full force and effect. |
7.9 |
|
Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender |
|
(i) |
|
by reason of the introduction after the date of this Agreement of or any
change after the date of this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration
or application of) any law or regulation, any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor
is required to be increased under paragraph (a) of Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) to a
greater extent than would have been required had that payment been made on the date of
this Agreement; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any Lender claims indemnification from the Company under Clause 12.3 (Tax
indemnity) or Clause 13 (Increased Costs), |
|
|
the Company may, subject to paragraph (c)
below, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement or indemnification
continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and
its intention to procure the repayment of that Lenders participation in the
Utilisations. |
(b) |
|
On receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above, the Commitment of that Lender
shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
|
(c) |
|
Any notice of prepayment given by the Company under paragraph (a) above shall only be valid
if accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Agent that all Authorisations necessary or
desirable in connection with the proposed prepayment have been obtained and are in full force
and effect. |
|
(d) |
|
On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Company has given notice under
paragraph (a) above (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Company in that notice), the
Company shall repay that Lenders participation in that Utilisation. |
(a) |
|
Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 7 shall be
irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the
date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the
amount of that cancellation or prepayment. |
- 27 -
(b) |
|
Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the
amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or penalty. |
|
(c) |
|
Any prepayment under this Agreement shall satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 (Repayment
of Loans) in inverse chronological order. |
|
(d) |
|
The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of the Utilisations or cancel all or
any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in
this Agreement. |
|
(e) |
|
No amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently
reinstated. |
|
(f) |
|
If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 7 it shall promptly forward a copy of that
notice to either the Company or the affected Lender, as appropriate. |
- 28 -
SECTION 5
COSTS OF UTILISATION
8. |
|
Interest |
|
8.1 |
|
Calculation of interest |
|
|
|
The rate of interest on a Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum
which is the aggregate of the applicable: |
|
(a) |
|
Margin; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
LIBOR. |
8.2 |
|
Payment of interest |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period
for that Loan (and, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the dates falling
at six Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period). |
|
8.3 |
|
Default interest |
|
(a) |
|
If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date,
interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment
(both before and after judgment) at a rate which is the rate which would have been payable if
the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency
of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the
Agent (acting reasonably) and assuming that the margin component of the interest payable on
such Loan is the Margin applicable whilst an Event of Default under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment)
is continuing or a Default under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment) is continuing. Any interest
accruing under this Clause 8.3 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the
Agent. |
|
(b) |
|
If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was
not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan, the first Interest Period for
that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current
Interest Period relating to that Loan. |
|
8.4 |
|
Notification of rates of interest |
|
|
|
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Company of the determination of a rate
of interest under this Agreement. |
9. |
|
Interest Periods |
|
9.1 |
|
Selection of Interest Periods |
|
(a) |
|
The Borrower (or the Company on behalf of the Borrower) may select an Interest Period for
each Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan has already been borrowed)
in a Selection Notice. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Selection Notice for a Loan is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by the
Borrower (or the Company on behalf of the Borrower) not later than the Specified Time. |
|
(c) |
|
If the Borrower (or the Company) fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in
accordance with paragraph (b) above, the relevant Interest Period will be three Months. |
- 29 -
(d) |
|
Subject to this Clause 9, the Borrower (or the Company) shall select an Interest Period of
three Months. |
|
(e) |
|
An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date. |
|
(f) |
|
Each Interest Period for a Loan shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on
the last day of the preceding Interest Period for that Loan. |
|
9.2 |
|
Non-Business Days |
|
|
|
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that
Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there
is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not). |
|
9.3 |
|
Changes to Interest Periods |
|
|
|
If two Interest Periods relating to different Loans end on the same date, those Loans will
be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period. |
10. |
|
Changes to the calculation of interest |
|
10.1 |
|
Absence of quotations |
|
|
|
Subject to Clause 10.2 (Market disruption), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the
Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time on
the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations
of the remaining Reference Banks. |
|
10.2 |
|
Market disruption |
|
(a) |
|
If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the
rate of interest on each Lenders share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the rate
per annum which is the sum of: |
|
(i) |
|
the Margin; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the higher of (x) the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as
practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that
Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to
that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may
reasonably select and (y) in relation to a Market Disruption Event under paragraph
(b)(ii) below, LIBOR. |
(b) |
|
In this Agreement Market Disruption Event means: |
|
(i) |
|
at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the
Screen Rate is not available or the Screen Rate is zero or negative and none or only
one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR for US
Dollars for the relevant Interest Period; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant
Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose
participations in that Loan exceed 35 per cent. of the Loan) that the cost to it or
them of obtaining matching deposits in the Relevant Interbank Market would be in excess
of LIBOR. |
- 30 -
10.3 |
|
Alternative basis of interest or funding |
|
(a) |
|
If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or the Company so requires, the Agent and
the Company shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view
to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. |
|
(b) |
|
Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall, with the prior consent of
all the Lenders and the Company, be binding on all Parties. |
|
(c) |
|
For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that no substitute basis for determining the rate
of interest is agreed, the rate of interest shall continue to be determined in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement. |
|
10.4 |
|
Break Costs |
|
(a) |
|
The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that
Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being
paid by the Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or
Unpaid Sum. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a
certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they
accrue. |
11. |
|
Fees |
|
11.1 |
|
Commitment fee |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each
Lender) a fee in US Dollars computed at the rate of 0.50 per cent. per annum on that Lenders
Available Commitment for the Availability Period. |
|
(b) |
|
The accrued commitment fee is payable on, the last day of each successive period of three
Months which ends during the Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period
and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lenders Commitment at the
time the cancellation is effective. |
|
(c) |
|
Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, no commitment fee shall be payable in
respect of the 30-day period commencing on the date of this Agreement. |
|
11.2 |
|
Arrangement fee |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times
agreed in a Fee Letter. |
|
11.3 |
|
Agency |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee in the amount and at the
times agreed in a Fee Letter. |
|
11.4 |
|
Security fee |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall pay to the Security Trustee (for its own account) a fee in the amount and
at the times agreed in a Fee Letter. |
- 31 -
SECTION 6
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
12. |
|
Tax gross-up and indemnities |
|
12.1 |
|
Definitions |
|
(a) |
|
In this Agreement: |
|
|
|
Tax Credit means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax. |
|
|
|
Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment
under a Finance Document. |
|
|
|
Tax Payment means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party
under Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity). |
|
(b) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 12 a reference to determines or
determined means a determination made in the reasonable discretion of the person making the
determination. |
|
12.2 |
|
Tax gross-up |
|
(a) |
|
All payments to be made by an Obligor to any Finance Party under or in connection with a
Finance Document shall be made free and clear of and without any Tax Deduction, unless the
Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction in which case the sum payable by the Obligor shall
be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that the Finance Party concerned receives a
sum, net of any Tax Deduction, equal to the sum which it would have received if no Tax
Deduction had been required. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Obligor shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a Tax Deduction (or that
there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly.
Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment
payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify
the Company. |
|
(c) |
|
If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, it shall make that Tax Deduction and any
payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the
minimum amount required by law. |
|
(d) |
|
Within 30 days of the end of each of its financial years (or by any such earlier date as may
be required by law), each Obligor shall deliver to the Agent details of all Tax Deductions and
payments required in connection with such Tax Deductions made during that financial year and,
for the Finance Party entitled to any such payment, an original receipt (or certified copy
thereof) evidencing to the reasonable satisfaction of that Finance Party that each relevant
Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) each appropriate payment has been paid to the
relevant taxing authority. |
|
(e) |
|
Any reference to a person being required by applicable law to make a deduction or withholding
for or on account of tax from any payment under any Finance Document shall be construed as
including any circumstances in which a person is authorised under the Income Tax (Jersey) Law
1961 (as amended) to make such a deduction where a failure to allow such deduction would
result in a fine being payable under Jersey law and the agreement under which the payment is
made being void. |
- 32 -
12.3 |
|
Tax indemnity |
|
(a) |
|
Without prejudice to Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up), if any Finance Party is required to make any
payment of or on account of Tax on or in relation to any sum received or receivable under or
in connection with the Finance Documents (including any sum deemed for purposes of Tax to be
received or receivable by such Finance Party, whether or not actually received or receivable)
or if any liability in respect of any such payment is asserted, imposed, levied or assessed
against any Finance Party, the Company shall (within three Business Days of demand by the
Agent) indemnify the Finance Party which determines it has suffered a loss or liability as a
result against such payment or liability together with any interest, penalties, costs and
expenses payable or incurred in connection therewith. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above shall not apply: |
|
(i) |
|
with respect to any Tax imposed: |
|
(A) |
|
by the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is
incorporated; or |
|
|
(B) |
|
by the jurisdiction in which its Facility Office is located, |
|
|
|
which is calculated by reference to the net income actually received or receivable
(but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any sum deemed for purposes of Tax
to be received or receivable by that Finance Party but not actually received or
receivable) by that Finance Party; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased
payment under Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up). |
(c) |
|
A Finance Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (a) above shall
promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim,
whereupon the Agent shall notify the Company. |
|
(d) |
|
A Finance Party shall, on receiving a payment from the Company under this Clause 12.3, notify
the Agent. |
|
12.4 |
|
Tax Credit |
|
|
|
If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that: |
|
(a) |
|
a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax
Payment forms part or to that Tax Payment; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and fully retained that Tax Credit on
an affiliated group basis, |
|
|
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to that Obligor which that Finance Party determines
will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in
had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by that Obligor. |
- 33 -
12.5 |
|
Stamp taxes |
|
|
|
The Company shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance
Party against any cost, loss or liability that the Finance Party incurs, in relation to, all
stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document
(except in relation to any assignment or transfer by a Lender in accordance with Clause 24.1
(Assignments and transfers by the Lenders)). |
|
12.6 |
|
Indirect Tax |
|
(a) |
|
All consideration expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance
Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any Indirect Tax. If any Indirect Tax is chargeable
on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party in connection with a Finance Document,
that Party shall pay (unless that Party is the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger, in
which case the Company shall pay) to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as
paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the Indirect Tax. |
|
(b) |
|
Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse a Finance Party for any costs or
expenses, that Party shall also at the same time pay and indemnify the Finance Party against
all Indirect Tax incurred by the Finance Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the
extent that the Finance Party determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from
the relevant tax authority in respect of the Indirect Tax. |
13. |
|
Increased Costs |
|
13.1 |
|
Increased Costs |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to Clause 13.3 (Exceptions) the Company shall, within three Business Days of a demand
by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs
incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of (i) the introduction of
or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or
regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this
Agreement. The terms law and regulation in this paragraph (a) shall include, without
limitation, any law or regulation concerning capital adequacy, prudential limits, liquidity
reserve assets or Tax. |
|
(b) |
|
In this Agreement Increased Costs means: |
|
(i) |
|
a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Partys (or
its Affiliates) overall capital (including, without limitation, as a result of any
reduction in the rate of return on capital brought about by more capital being required
to be allocated by that Finance Party or one of its Affiliates); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
an additional or increased cost; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document, |
|
|
which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that
it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or
performing its obligations under any Finance Document. |
- 34 -
13.2 |
|
Increased cost claims |
|
(a) |
|
A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 13.1 (Increased Costs) shall
notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall
promptly notify the Company. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a
certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs. |
|
13.3 |
|
Exceptions |
|
(a) |
|
Clause 13 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is: |
|
(i) |
|
attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
compensated for by Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) (or would have been compensated
for under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of
the exclusions in paragraph (b) of Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) applied); or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its
Affiliates of any law or regulation. |
(b) |
|
In this Clause 13.3, a reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term
in Clause 12.1 (Definitions). |
14. |
|
Other indemnities |
|
14.1 |
|
Currency indemnity |
|
(a) |
|
If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a Sum), or any order, judgment
or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the First
Currency) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency) for the
purpose of: |
|
(i) |
|
making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any
litigation or arbitration proceedings, |
|
|
that Obligor shall as an independent obligation,
within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is
due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion
including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum
from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange
available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum. |
(b) |
|
Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the
Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to
be payable. |
|
14.2 |
|
Other indemnities |
|
|
|
The Company shall, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party
against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of: |
|
(a) |
|
the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
- 35 -
|
(b) |
|
the Information Memorandum or any other information produced or approved by or
on behalf of a member of the Group in connection with the Facility being or being
alleged to be misleading and/or deceptive in any respect; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any enquiry, investigation, subpoena (or similar order) or litigation with
respect to a member of the Group or with respect to the transactions contemplated or
financed under the Finance Documents; |
|
|
(d) |
|
a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its
due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result
of Clause 28 (Sharing among the Finance Parties); |
|
|
(e) |
|
funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Utilisation
requested by the Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) in a Utilisation Request but
not made by reason of the operation of anyone or more of the provisions of this
Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone);
or |
|
|
(f) |
|
a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of
prepayment given by the Company. |
14.3 |
|
Indemnity to the Agent and the Security Trustee |
|
|
|
The Company shall promptly indemnify the Agent and the Security Trustee against any cost,
loss or liability incurred by it (acting reasonably) as a result of: |
|
(a) |
|
investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably
believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised. |
15. |
|
Mitigation by the Lenders |
|
15.1 |
|
Mitigation |
|
(a) |
|
Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Company, take all reasonable steps to
mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable
under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 7.1 (Illegality), Clause 2 (Tax
gross-up and indemnities) (other than Clause 12.6 (Indirect Tax) or Clause 13 (Increased
Costs) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the
Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the
Finance Documents. |
|
15.2 |
|
Limitation of liability |
|
(a) |
|
The Company shall indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred
by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 15.1 (Mitigation). |
|
(b) |
|
A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 15.1 (Mitigation) if, in the
opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
- 36 -
16. |
|
Costs and expenses |
|
16.1 |
|
Transaction expenses |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall within five Business Days of demand pay the Security Trustee, the Agent
and the Arranger the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably
incurred by any of them in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution
and syndication of: |
|
(a) |
|
this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement. |
16.2 |
|
Amendment costs |
|
|
|
If the Borrower requests an amendment, waiver or consent, the Borrower shall, within five
Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agent and the Security Trustee for the amount of all
costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent or the Security
Trustee in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or
requirement. |
|
16.3 |
|
Enforcement costs |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the
amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in
connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance
Document. |
|
16.4 |
|
Security Trustee expenses |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Security Trustee the amount of all costs and
expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with the
administration or release of any Security created pursuant to any Security Document. |
- 37 -
SECTION 7
GUARANTEE
17. |
|
Guarantee and indemnity |
17.1 |
|
Guarantee and indemnity |
|
|
|
Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally: |
|
(a) |
|
guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by each Obligor of all
the Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents; |
|
|
(b) |
|
undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever an Obligor does not pay any
amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Guarantor shall
immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
indemnifies each Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or
liability suffered by that Finance Party if any obligation guaranteed by it (or
anything which would have been an obligation if not unenforceable, invalid or illegal)
is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal. The amount of the cost, loss or
liability shall be equal to the amount which that Finance Party would otherwise have
been entitled to recover. |
17.2 |
|
Continuing guarantee |
|
|
|
This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums
payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment
or discharge in whole or in part. |
|
17.3 |
|
Reinstatement |
|
|
|
If any payment to or any discharge given by a Finance Party (whether in respect of the
obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is avoided or
reduced for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of insolvency, breach of
fiduciary or statutory duties or any similar, event): |
|
(a) |
|
the liability of each Obligor shall continue as if the payment, discharge,
avoidance or reduction had not occurred; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
each Finance Party shall be entitled to recover that value or amount of that
security or payment from each Obligor, as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or
reduction had not occurred. |
17.4 |
|
Waiver of defences |
|
|
|
The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 17 will not be affected by an act,
omission, matter or thing Which, but for this Clause 17 would reduce, release or prejudice
any of its obligations under this Clause 17 (without limitation and whether or not known to
it or any Finance Party) including: |
|
(a) |
|
any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or
other person; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any
composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group; |
- 38 -
|
(c) |
|
the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal
or neglect to perfect, execute, take up or enforce any rights against, or security over
assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any
formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise
the full value of any security; |
|
|
(d) |
|
any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or
dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person; |
|
|
(e) |
|
any amendment (however fundamental) or replacement of a Finance Document or any
other document or security; |
|
|
(f) |
|
any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person
under any Finance Document or any other document or security; |
|
|
(g) |
|
any insolvency or similar proceedings; or |
|
|
(h) |
|
this Agreement or any other Finance Document not being executed by or binding
against any other Guarantor or any other party. |
17.5 |
|
Immediate recourse |
|
|
|
Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any
trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security
or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 17.
This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the
contrary. |
|
17.6 |
|
Appropriations |
|
|
|
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with
the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee
or agent on its behalf) may: |
|
(a) |
|
refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or
received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of
those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit
(whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the
benefit of the same; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any
Guarantor or on account of any Guarantors liability under this Clause 17. |
17.7 |
|
Deferral of Guarantors rights |
|
|
|
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with
the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise
directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by
it of its obligations under the Finance Documents: |
|
(a) |
|
to be indemnified by an Obligor; |
|
|
(b) |
|
to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of or provider of security
for any Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents; and/or |
- 39 -
|
(c) |
|
to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or
otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any
other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance
Documents by any Finance Party. |
17.8 |
|
Additional security |
|
|
|
This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or
security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party. |
|
17.9 |
|
Waiver of droit de division/droit de discussion |
|
|
|
Each Obligor irrevocably waives and abandons any right which such Obligor has or may at any
time have under the existing or future laws of Jersey, pursuant to the principle of droit
de discussion or otherwise, to require that recourse be had to the assets of another person
before any action is taken under any Finance Document against such Obligor, and each Obligor
further irrevocably waives and abandons any right such Obligor has or may at any time have
under the existing or future laws of Jersey, pursuant to the principle of droit de
division or otherwise, to require that any other person be made a party to the proceedings
or that the Obligors liability be divided or apportioned with any other person. |
|
17.10 |
|
US guarantee limitations |
|
(a) |
|
Each US Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive valuable direct or indirect benefits as a
result of the transactions financed by the Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
Each US Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that as of the date of this Agreement: |
|
(i) |
|
the aggregate amount of its debts and liabilities, Subordinated, contingent or
otherwise (including its obligations under the Finance Documents as limited by
paragraph (c) below), is not greater than the aggregate value (being the lesser of fair
valuation and present fair saleable value) of its assets (the amount of contingent and
unliquidated liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of
all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represent the amount that can
reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
its capital is not unreasonably small to carry on its business as it is being
conducted; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
it has not incurred and does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to
pay as they mature; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
it has not made a transfer or incurred any obligation under any Finance
Document with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud any of its present or future
creditors. |
(c) |
|
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Finance Document,
each Finance Party agrees that the maximum liability of each US Guarantor under this Clause 17
shall in no event exceed an amount equal to the greatest amount that would not render such US
Guarantors obligations hereunder and under the other Finance Documents subject to avoidance
under US Bankruptcy Law or to being set aside, avoided or annulled under any Fraudulent
Transfer Law, in each case after giving effect (i) to all other liabilities of such US
Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under such Fraudulent Transfer Law and
(ii) to the value as assets of such US Guarantor (as determined under the applicable
provisions of such Fraudulent Transfer Law) of any rights to subrogation, contribution,
reimbursement, indemnity or similar rights held by such US Guarantor pursuant to (A)
applicable law or (B) any other agreement providing for an equitable allocation among such US
Guarantor and the Borrower and other Guarantors of obligations arising under this Agreement or
other guarantees of such obligations by such parties. |
- 40 -
17.11 |
|
Other Waivers |
|
|
|
Each Guarantor incorporated under the laws of Mauritius hereby waives to the fullest extent
permitted under any applicable laws, any and all of the rights, protection, privileges and
defences provided by law to a guarantor, including without limitation: |
|
(a) |
|
the provisions of articles 2021 and 2026 of the Mauritius Civil Code; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
all benefits of division and discussion, |
|
|
in each case, to the extent applicable. |
- 41 -
SECTION 8
REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
|
Subject to Clause 23.25 (Clean-up period), each Obligor makes the representations and
warranties set out in this Clause 18 to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement. |
|
18.1 |
|
Status |
|
(a) |
|
It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider is a corporation, duly
incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation. |
|
(b) |
|
It, each Put Provider, each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider and each of its Subsidiaries
has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted. |
|
18.2 |
|
Binding obligations |
|
|
|
The obligations expressed to be assumed by it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal
Undertaking Provider in each Finance Document are legal, valid and binding subject to any
general principles of law limiting its or their obligations which are specifically referred
to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause
25.2 (Additional Guarantors). |
|
18.3 |
|
Non-conflict with other obligations |
|
|
|
The entry into and performance by it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking
Provider of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents do not and will
not conflict with: |
|
(a) |
|
any law or regulation applicable to it (or them); |
|
|
(b) |
|
its (or their) constitutional documents (including without limitation its
COBO consent); or |
|
|
(c) |
|
any agreement or instrument binding upon it (or them) or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of its (or their) or any of its Subsidiaries assets, |
|
|
nor (except
as provided in any Security Document) result in the existence of, or oblige it (or
them) or any of its Subsidiaries to create, any Security over any of its or their
respective assets. |
18.4 |
|
Power and authority |
|
|
|
It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider has the power to enter
into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its (and their)
entry into, performance and delivery of, the Finance Documents to which it (or they) are a
party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents. |
|
18.5 |
|
Validity and admissibility in evidence |
|
|
|
All Authorisations required or desirable: |
|
(a) |
|
to enable it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider
lawfully to enter into, exercise its (and their) rights and comply with its (and
their) obligations in the Finance Documents to which it (or they) is a party; |
- 42 -
|
(b) |
|
to make the Finance Documents to which it, each Put Provider and each Non
Disposal Undertaking Provider is a party admissible in evidence in its (and their)
jurisdiction of incorporation; |
|
|
(c) |
|
to enable it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider to
create the Security expressed to be created pursuant to any Security Document and to
ensure that such Security has the priority and ranking it is expressed to have; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
for it, each Put Provider, each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider and each of
its Subsidiaries to carry on its and their business, |
|
|
have been obtained or effected
and are in full force and effect, subject to any registrations specifically referred
to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or
Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors). |
18.6 |
|
Governing law and enforcement |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to any qualifications specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant
to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors), the choice of
English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents (other than the Security Documents
and the Non Disposal Documents) will be recognised and enforced in its, each Put Providers
and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers jurisdiction of incorporation. |
|
(b) |
|
The choice of law specified in each Security Document and each Non Disposal Document as the
governing law of that Security Document or that Non Disposal Document will be recognised and
enforced in its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers jurisdiction
of incorporation. |
|
(c) |
|
Any judgment obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document (or in the jurisdiction of
the governing law of that Finance Document) will be recognised and enforced in its, each Put
Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers jurisdiction of incorporation (and, in
relation to a Finance Document governed by a law other than English law, in the jurisdiction
of the governing law of that Finance Document). |
|
18.7 |
|
Deduction of Tax |
|
|
|
Subject to any qualifications specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted
pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors), it
is not required (and nor is any Put Provider or any Non Disposal Undertaking Provider
required) to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it or they may
make under any Finance Document. |
|
18.8 |
|
No filing or stamp taxes |
|
|
|
Subject to any qualifications specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted
pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors),
under the law of its, any Put Providers or any Non Disposal Undertaking Providers
jurisdiction of incorporation it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed,
recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any
stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or
the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents. |
- 43 -
18.9 |
|
No Default |
|
(a) |
|
No Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any
Utilisation. |
|
(b) |
|
No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other
agreement or instrument which is binding on it, any Put Provider, any Non Disposal Undertaking
Provider or any of its Subsidiaries or to which its, any Put Providers, any Non Disposal
Undertaking Providers or any of its Subsidiaries assets are subject which might have a
Material Adverse Effect. |
|
18.10 |
|
No misleading information |
|
(a) |
|
Any factual information provided by or on behalf of any member of the Group (whether for the
purposes of the Information Memorandum or otherwise in connection with the Facility) was true
and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided or as at the date (if
any) at which it is stated. |
|
(b) |
|
Any financial projections provided by or on behalf of any member of the Group (whether or not
contained in the Information Memorandum) were prepared on the basis of recent historical
information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions. |
|
(c) |
|
Nothing has occurred or been omitted from the information so provided and no information has
been given or withheld that results in the Information Memorandum or any other information
provided by or on behalf of any member of the Group being untrue or misleading in any material
respect. |
|
18.11 |
|
Financial statements |
|
(a) |
|
Its Original Financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. |
|
(b) |
|
Its Original Financial statements give a true and fair view of its financial condition and
operations (consolidated in the case of the Company) as at the end of and for the relevant
financial year. |
|
(c) |
|
There has been no material adverse change in its condition (financial or otherwise), assets,
operations, prospects, properties, performance or business or the consolidated condition
(financial or otherwise), assets, operations, prospects, properties, performance or business
of the Group since 31 March 2008. |
|
(d) |
|
As at the date of its most recent financial statements (if any), it had no indebtedness
(whether arising under contract or otherwise and regardless of whether or not contingent)
which was not disclosed by those financial statements (or by the notes thereto) or reserved
against therein, nor any unrealised or anticipated losses which were not so disclosed or
reserved against. |
|
18.12 |
|
Pari passu ranking |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to any matters specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to
Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation), each Security Document creates (or, once entered into,
will create) in favour of the Security Trustee for the benefit of the Finance Parties the
Security which it is expressed to create with the ranking and priority it is expressed to
have. |
|
(b) |
|
Without limiting paragraph (a) above, its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal
Undertaking Providers payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari
passu with the claims of all their other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for |
- 44 -
|
|
obligations mandatorily preferred by law in their place of incorporation applying to companies
generally. |
18.13 |
|
No proceedings pending or threatened |
|
(a) |
|
No litigation, arbitration, investigative or administrative proceedings of or before any
court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, might have a Material Adverse
Effect have been started or threatened against it, any Put Provider or any Non Disposal
Undertaking Provider or any of its Subsidiaries. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to litigation, arbitration, investigative or
administrative proceedings in respect of: |
|
(i) |
|
Aviva Global Services (Bangalore) Private Limited being added as a respondent
to a dispute in relation to the property at #8A, RMZ Centennial, Kundalahalli Main
Road, Whitefield, Bangalore, 560048, details of which are set out in the Disclosure
Letter; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
The following facts, matters or circumstances disclosed in Ernst & Youngs
Tax Due Diligence Report dated 20 June 2008 (the E/Y DDR) and the Disclosure Letter: |
|
(A) |
|
risk of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore seeking to
deem a service income on payments made by Aviva Global Shared Services Private
Limited (AGSS) to its subsidiaries as detailed on page 50 and 51 of the E/Y
DDR and at paragraph 18 on of the Disclosure Letter; |
|
|
(B) |
|
the transfer pricing assessment of international transactions
for the financial year 2003-2004 carried out by the Indian tax authorities in
respect of Aviva Global Services (Bangalore) Private Limited (AGSB) as
detailed on pages 20 to 23 of the E/Y DDR and paragraph 18 of the Disclosure
Letter; |
|
|
(C) |
|
the risk of the relevant tax authorities mounting transfer
pricing challenges against AGSB, AGSS, Noida Customer Operations Pvt Limited
(NCOP) and Customer Operations Services (Chennai) Private Limited; |
|
|
(D) |
|
the risk of the Indian tax authorities claiming further
service tax from AGSS as detailed in paragraph 18 of the Disclosure Letter; |
|
|
(E) |
|
the risk of the Indian tax authorities seeking to recover tax
from AGSS where tax benefits have been incorrectly received by NCOP in
relation to the use of shared office space, as detailed in paragraph 18 of the
Disclosure Letter; and |
|
|
(F) |
|
the risk of the Sri Lankan tax authorities challenging the
zero-rate treatment of Aviva Global Services Lank Pvt Limiteds rechargeable
income as detailed on pages 60 to 62 of the E/Y DDR; and |
|
(iii) |
|
the tax disputes detailed in Schedule 12 (Existing tax litigation). |
18.14 |
|
Environmental laws and licences |
|
|
|
It and each of its Subsidiaries has: |
|
(a) |
|
complied with all Environmental Laws to which it may be subject; |
- 45 -
|
(b) |
|
obtained all Environmental Licences required or desirable in connection with
its business; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
complied with the terms of those Environmental Licences, |
|
|
in each case where failure to do so might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
18.15 |
|
Environmental releases |
|
|
|
No: |
|
(a) |
|
property currently or previously owned, leased, occupied or controlled by it
or any of its Subsidiaries (including any offsite waste management or disposal
location utilised by it or any of its Subsidiaries) is contaminated with any Hazardous
Substance; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
discharge, release, leaching, migration or escape of any Hazardous Substance
into the Environment has occurred or is occurring on, under or from that property, |
|
|
in each case in circumstances where this might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
18.16 |
|
Title |
|
(a) |
|
It (and each other member of the Group) has good and marketable title to, or valid leases and
licences of or is otherwise entitled to use, all material assets necessary or desirable for it
to carry on its business as it is being or is proposed to be conducted. |
|
(b) |
|
It has good, clear and marketable title to the assets expressed to be subject to the Security
created by it pursuant to any Security Document, free from all Security except the Security
created pursuant to, or permitted by, the Finance Documents. |
|
18.17 |
|
No immunity |
|
|
|
Neither it nor any Put Provider nor any Non Disposal Undertaking Provider nor any of its or
their assets are entitled to immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal
process. Its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers entry into
the Finance Documents constitutes, and the exercise of its (and their) rights and
performance of and compliance with its and their obligations under the Finance Documents
will constitute, private and commercial acts done and performed for private and commercial
purposes. |
|
18.18 |
|
Solvency |
|
(a) |
|
It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider is able to, and has not
admitted its or their inability to, pay its or their debts as they mature and has not
suspended making payment on any of its or their debts. |
|
(b) |
|
It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider by reason of actual or
anticipated financial difficulties, has not commenced, and does not intend to commence,
negotiations with one or more of its or their creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its
(or their) indebtedness. |
|
(c) |
|
The value of its assets is more than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and
prospective liabilities) and it has sufficient capital to carry on its business. |
|
(d) |
|
The value of each Put Providers assets is more than that Put Providers liabilities (taking
into account contingent and prospective liabilities) and each Put Provider has sufficient
capital to carry on its business. |
- 46 -
(e) |
|
The value of each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers assets is more than that Non Disposal
Undertaking Providers liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective
liabilities) and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider has sufficient capital to carry on its
business. |
|
(f) |
|
No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect
of any of its, any Put Providers or any Non Disposal Undertaking Providers indebtedness. |
|
18.19 |
|
Authorised signatories |
|
|
|
Each person specified as its authorised signatory in any document accepted by the Agent
pursuant to paragraph 1(c) of Part I (Conditions precedent to
first Utilisation) or
paragraph 4 of Part II (Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional
Guarantor) of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) or delivered to the Agent pursuant to
paragraph (d) of Clause 19.5 (Information: miscellaneous) is, subject to any notice to the
contrary delivered to the Agent pursuant to Clause 19.5 (Information: miscellaneous),
authorised to sign all Utilisation Requests and other notices on its behalf under or in
connection with the Finance Documents. |
|
18.20 |
|
Material Subsidiaries |
|
(a) |
|
Each member of the Group which, as at the date of this Agreement, is a Material Subsidiary is
listed in Schedule 8 (Material Subsidiaries). |
|
(b) |
|
The percentage of the EBITDA and total assets of the Group attributable to each Material
Subsidiary in accordance with the definition of Material Subsidiary is accurately described
in Schedule 8 (Material Subsidiaries). |
|
18.21 |
|
No breach of law |
|
|
|
It has not (and none of its Subsidiaries has) breached any law or regulation a breach of
which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
18.22 |
|
Acquisition Documents |
|
(a) |
|
The Acquisition Documents (when signed in the case of the Acquisition Agreement): |
|
(i) |
|
contain or refer to all the terms of the agreement and arrangements between
the Vendor (and/or any of its Affiliates) and the Purchaser (and/or any of its
Affiliates) in relation to the Acquisition; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
are in full force and effect; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
have not been amended or waived (in whole or in part) and no consent has
been given thereunder, save for any which are minor or technical or have been approved
in writing by the Agent. |
(b) |
|
Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is in or is aware of any breach of or default under
any Acquisition Document. |
|
18.23 |
|
No employees |
|
|
|
The Borrower does not have any employees. |
|
18.24 |
|
Restricted business activities |
|
|
|
No member of the Group provides financial services or is in the real estate business. |
- 47 -
18.25 |
|
Restricted places of business |
|
|
|
No Obligor has any place of business in India. |
|
18.26 |
|
Shareholders |
|
|
|
As at 31 March 2008, only one shareholder of the Company held more than 26 per cent. of the
equity share capital of the Company. |
|
18.27 |
|
Master Service Agreement |
|
(a) |
|
When signed, the Master Service Agreement: |
|
(i) |
|
contains or refers to all the terms of the agreement and arrangements between
the Purchaser (and/or any of its Affiliates) and Aviva Global Services (Management
Services) Private Limited (and any of its Affiliates) in relation to the outsourcing
of back office functions to the members of the Group; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
is in full force and effect. |
(b) |
|
It is not in and is not aware of any breach of or default under the Master Service Agreement. |
|
18.28 |
|
Anti-Terrorism Laws |
|
|
|
Neither it nor, to its knowledge, any of its Subsidiaries: |
|
(a) |
|
is in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; |
|
|
(b) |
|
is a Designated Person; or |
|
|
(c) |
|
deals in any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to any
Anti-Terrorism Law. |
18.29 |
|
US regulation |
|
(a) |
|
It is not a public utility within the meaning of, or subject to regulation under, the
United States Federal Power Act of 1920 (16 USC §§791 et seq.). |
|
(b) |
|
It is not an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company within
the meaning of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 USC. §§ 80a-1 et seq.) or
subject to regulation under any United States federal or state law or regulation that limits
its ability to incur or guarantee indebtedness. |
|
(c) |
|
It has not made an unlawful payment within the meaning of, and is not in any other way in
violation of, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 USC. §§ 78dd-1 et seq.) or any similar
laws. |
|
18.30 |
|
Margin regulations |
|
|
|
Neither the making of any Utilisation or Loan nor the use of proceeds of any Utilisation or
Loan will violate the provisions of Regulations T, U or X. |
|
18.31 |
|
Employee benefit plans |
|
|
|
No Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to
contribute to any defined benefit pension plan or Multiemployer Plan during the past five
years or has any present intention to do so. |
- 48 -
18.32 |
|
Share purchase agreement |
|
|
|
The share purchase agreement in relation to the acquisition of: |
|
(a) |
|
Noida Customer Operations Private Limited has been executed by the parties to
it, is in escrow in the form supplied to the Agent prior to the date of this Agreement
and the only condition of the release of such escrow is the completion of the
Acquisition; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited has been executed by
the parties to it in the form supplied to the Agent prior to the date of this
Agreement and the executed versions have been released from escrow by those parties to
each other. |
18.33 |
|
Repetition |
|
(a) |
|
The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor by reference to the facts
and circumstances then existing on the date of each Utilisation Request and the first day of
each Interest Period. |
|
(b) |
|
The representations and warranties set out in Clauses 18.1 (Status) to 18.5 (Validity and
admissibility in evidence), Clause 18.8 (No filing or stamp taxes), Clause 18.12 (Pari passu
ranking) and Clause 18.16 (Title) shall, in addition to paragraph (a) above, be deemed to be
made by each Obligor, by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the date of
execution of each Security Document. |
|
(c) |
|
The representations and warranties set out in Clause 18.10 (No misleading information) shall,
in addition, be deemed to be made by each Obligor on the date of issue of the Information
Memorandum and on the date of each Transfer Certificate signed on or prior to the Syndication
Date by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing. |
19. |
|
Information undertakings |
|
|
The undertakings in this Clause 19 remain in force, from the date of this Agreement for so
long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in
force. |
|
19.1 |
|
Financial statements |
|
|
|
The Company shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders: |
|
(a) |
|
as soon as the same become available, but in any event within six Months
after the end of each of its financial years: |
|
(i) |
|
its audited consolidated financial statements for that
financial year; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the audited financial statements of each Obligor and each Put
Provider for that financial year; and |
|
(b) |
|
as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 45 days after
the end of each quarter of each of its financial years, its unaudited consolidated
financial statements for that financial quarter. |
19.2 |
|
Compliance Certificate |
|
(a) |
|
The Company shall supply to the Agent, within 45 days after the end of each of its financial
quarters, a Compliance Certificate setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to
compliance with Clause 20 (Financial covenants) as at the end of that financial quarter. |
- 49 -
(b) |
|
Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by a director of the Borrower or the Company and,
in the case of the Compliance Certificate delivered in respect of the last financial quarter
of each of its financial years shall be signed by the Borrowers statutory auditors in the
form specified in Schedule 5 (Form of Compliance Certificate). |
|
19.3 |
|
Material Subsidiaries |
|
|
|
With each set of financial statements delivered by it under paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 19.1
(Financial statements) (and within 14 days after any request made by the Agent), the
Company shall supply to the Agent, in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, a certificate: |
|
(a) |
|
listing the Material Subsidiaries as at the end of the relevant financial
year or financial quarter; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
setting out in reasonable detail and in a form satisfactory to the Agent the
computations necessary to justify the inclusions in, and exclusions from, that list. |
19.4 |
|
Requirements as to financial statements |
|
(a) |
|
Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 19.1 (Financial statements)
shall be certified by a director of the relevant company as giving a true and fair view of its
(or, as the case may be, the Groups consolidated) financial condition and operations as at
the end of and for the period in relation to which those financial statements were drawn up. |
|
(b) |
|
Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Company shall procure that each set of financial
statements of an Obligor delivered pursuant to Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) is prepared
using GAAP, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied
in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements unless, in relation to any set of
financial statements, it notifies the Agent that there has been a change in GAAP, the
accounting practices or financial reference periods and its auditors deliver to the Agent: |
|
(i) |
|
a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to
reflect the GAAP, accounting practices and financial reference periods upon which the
Original Financial Statements were prepared; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required
by the Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether Clause 20 (Financial
covenants) has been complied with and make an accurate comparison between the
financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Original Financial
Statements. |
|
|
Any reference in this Agreement to those financial statements shall be construed as a
reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the
Original Financial Statements were prepared. |
|
(c) |
|
The Parties agree that although the Original Financial Statements were prepared using
generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices in the United States of
America, the Company may elect to prepare future financial statements using generally accepted
accounting principles, standards and practices under IFRS provided that it supplies the Agent
with the information referred to in paragraphs (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above. |
|
19.5 |
|
Information: miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the
Agent so requests): |
|
(a) |
|
all documents dispatched by an Obligor to its shareholders (or any class of
them) or its creditors generally at the same time as they are dispatched; |
- 50 -
|
(b) |
|
promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation,
arbitration, investigative or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened
or pending against any member of the Group, and which might, if adversely determined,
have a Material Adverse Effect; |
|
|
(c) |
|
promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition,
business and operations of any member of the Group as any Finance Party (through the
Agent) may reasonably request; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
promptly, notice of any change in the authorised signatories of an Obligor,
signed by a Director or the secretary of that Obligor, whose specimen signature has
previously been provided to the Agent, accompanied (where relevant) by a specimen
signature of each new signatory. |
19.6 |
|
Notification of Default |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to
remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence. |
|
(b) |
|
Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Company shall supply to the Agent a certificate
signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default is
continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being
taken to remedy it). |
|
19.7 |
|
Access books and records |
|
|
|
If an Event of Default is continuing, upon the request of the Agent (on the instructions of
any Finance Party), the Company shall provide the Agent and any of its representatives,
professional advisers and contractors with access to and permit inspection by them of the
assets, premises, books and records of any member of the Group in each case at reasonable
times and upon reasonable notice. |
|
19.8 |
|
Valuation |
|
(a) |
|
The cost and expense of each Valuation shall be borne by the Company. |
|
(b) |
|
The Company shall supply to the Agent with each set of financial statements delivered
pursuant to paragraph (a) of Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) (in sufficient copies for all
the Lenders, if the Agent so requests) a Valuation. |
|
(c) |
|
If requested by the Agent, the Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for
all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests) a Valuation at such time as the Agent may
reasonably request. |
|
(d) |
|
The Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent
so requests) any valuation prepared by or on behalf of, or received by, it. |
|
19.9 |
|
Know your customer checks |
|
(a) |
|
If: |
|
|
(i) |
|
the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation,
administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this
Agreement; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any change in the status of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or |
- 51 -
|
(iii) |
|
a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such
assignment or transfer, |
|
|
obliges any Finance Party (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new
Lender) to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures in
circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor
shall promptly upon the request of any Finance Party supply, or procure the supply of, such
documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Security Trustee, the
Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Finance Party) or any Lender (for itself or, in the
case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new
Lender) in order for such Finance Party or, in the case of the event described in paragraph
(iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with
all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and
regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or the Security
Trustee supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is
reasonably requested by the Agent or the Security Trustee (in each case, for itself)
in order for the Agent or the Security Trustee to carry out and be satisfied it has
complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all
applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the
Finance Documents. |
20. |
|
Financial covenants |
|
20.1 |
|
Financial condition |
|
|
|
The Company shall ensure that: |
|
(a) |
|
the ratio of Borrowings to Tangible Net Worth will not at any
time exceed 2.00 to 1; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the ratio of Borrowings to EBITDA for the then most recently ended Relevant
Period will not at any time exceed 2.50 to 1; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the ratio of EBITDA to Debt Service for any Relevant Period will not at any
time be less than 1.30 to 1; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
the Loan to Value will not at any time be more than 100 per
cent. |
20.2 |
|
Financial covenant calculations |
|
|
|
Borrowings, Capital Expenditure, Debt Service, EBITDA, Excess Cash, Interest Expense,
Paid-up Capital and Tangible Net Worth shall be calculated and interpreted on a
consolidated basis in accordance with the GAAP applicable to the Original Financial
Statements of the Company and shall be expressed in US$ on the basis of the exchange rates
used in the latest consolidated quarterly financial statements of the Company. |
|
20.3 |
|
Definitions |
|
|
|
In this Clause 20: |
|
|
|
Borrowings means, as at any particular time, the aggregate outstanding principal, capital
or nominal amount (and any fixed or minimum premium payable on prepayment or redemption) of
the Financial Indebtedness of members of the Group but: |
- 52 -
|
(a) |
|
excluding any indebtedness referred to in paragraph (g) of the definition of
Financial Indebtedness and any guarantee or indemnity in respect of that indebtedness; |
|
|
(b) |
|
excluding any Financial Indebtedness owed by one member of the Group to
another member of the Group; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
including, in the case of finance or capital leases only, the capital element
value thereto, |
|
|
and so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once. |
|
|
|
Capital Expenditure means any expenditure which, in accordance with GAAP, should be
treated as capital expenditure in the audited consolidated financial statements of the
Group. |
|
|
|
Debt Service means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the sum of: |
|
(a) |
|
Interest Expense for that Relevant Period; |
|
|
(b) |
|
that part of all Borrowings outstanding at the commencement of that Relevant
Period originally scheduled for repayment in that Relevant Period (whether or not paid
or repaid when due). |
|
|
EBITDA means, in relation to any Relevant Period, the total consolidated operating profit
of the Group for that Relevant Period: |
|
(a) |
|
before taking into account: |
|
(i) |
|
Interest Expense; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Tax; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any share of the profit of any associated company or
undertaking, except for dividends received in cash by any member of the Group; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
extraordinary and exceptional items; |
|
|
(v) |
|
any realised or unrealised exchange losses including those
arising on translation of currency debt; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
any loss against book value arising on a disposal or
revaluation of any asset in the ordinary course of trading; |
|
|
(vii) |
|
to the extent included, any fair value adjustments and
amounts written off the value of investments; |
|
|
(viii) |
|
any restructuring costs in respect of restructurings approved by the
Majority Lenders; |
|
|
(ix) |
|
any amount charged to the profit and loss account for
transaction costs and expenses relating to the Acquisition; |
|
|
(x) |
|
any amortisation of stock based compensation expenses and any
fringe benefits and taxes associated therewith to the extent recoverable from
employees; and |
|
(b) |
|
after adding back all amounts provided for depreciation and amortisation for
that Relevant Period,
|
- 53 -
|
|
as determined (except as needed to reflect the terms of this Clause 20) from the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and Compliance Certificates delivered
under Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) and Clause 19.2 (Compliance Certificate). |
|
|
|
Excess Cash means, in relation to any Relevant Period, EBITDA for that Relevant Period
adjusted: |
|
(a) |
|
by deducting amounts paid during the Relevant Period by members of the Group
in cash in respect of Tax; |
|
|
(b) |
|
by deducting: |
|
(i) |
|
all Debt Service in respect of the Target and its
Subsidiaries; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Debt Service in respect of each other member of the Group to
the extent that it relates to the Facility; |
|
(c) |
|
by deducting any increase or adding any decrease in working capital during
the Relevant Period; |
|
|
(d) |
|
by deducting amounts paid in cash during the Relevant Period by members of
the Group in respect of Capital Expenditure (to the extent permitted by the Finance
Documents); |
|
|
(e) |
|
by adding any insurance proceeds in respect of loss of profit and business
interruption policies received by members of the Group in cash during the Relevant
Period; |
|
|
(f) |
|
by adding any increase in cash or cash equivalents held by members of the
Group during the Relevant Period; and |
|
|
(g) |
|
by deducting all amounts paid by members of the Group by way of voluntary
prepayment pursuant to Clause 7.8 (Voluntary prepayment of Utilisations). |
|
|
Interest Expense means, in relation to any Relevant Period, the aggregate amount of
interest and any other finance charges (whether or not paid, payable or capitalised)
accrued by the Group in that Relevant Period in respect of Borrowings: |
|
(a) |
|
including the interest element of leasing and hire purchase payments; |
|
|
(b) |
|
including commitment fees, commissions, arrangement fees and guarantee fees; |
|
|
(c) |
|
including amounts in the nature of interest payable in respect of any shares
other than equity share capital (including but not limited to the share premium
account and the capital redemption reserve); |
|
|
(d) |
|
excluding any such obligations to any member of the Group; |
|
|
(e) |
|
excluding any amount charged to the profit and loss account in respect of the
Relevant Period for transaction costs and expenses relating to the Acquisition (other
than interest payable in respect of the Facility); and |
|
|
(f) |
|
excluding any amount in the nature of accrued interest, fees or periodic
payments or premia owing to any member of the Group on any deposit or bank account, |
|
|
adjusted (but without double counting) by adding back the net amount payable (or deducting
the net amount receivable) by members of the Group in respect of that Relevant Period under
any interest or (so far as they relate to interest) currency hedging arrangements, all as |
- 54 -
|
|
determined (except as needed to reflect the terms of this Clause 20) from the consolidated
financial statements of the Company and Compliance Certificates delivered under Clause 19.1
(Financial statements) and Clause 19.2 (Compliance Certificate). |
|
|
Loan to Value means the aggregate of the outstanding Utilisations as a percentage of the
value of the Target as quantified in the most recent Valuation. |
|
|
|
Paid-up Capital means, as at any particular time, the aggregate of: |
|
(a) |
|
the amount paid up or credited as paid up on the issued share capital of the
Company (other than any shares which are expressed to be redeemable); |
|
|
(b) |
|
the amount standing to the credit of the consolidated reserves of the Group; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any additional paid-in capital (APIC); and |
|
|
(d) |
|
all amounts relating to other comprehensive income (OCI), including
translation adjustments. |
|
|
Quarter Date means 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December in any year. |
|
|
|
Relevant Period means each period of 12 months ending on a Quarter Date. |
|
|
|
Tangible Net Worth means, as at any particular time, Paid-up Capital less (but without
double counting) any amount included in Paid-up Capital which is attributable to: |
|
(a) |
|
goodwill or other intangible assets; |
|
|
(b) |
|
amounts set aside for Tax; |
|
|
(c) |
|
minority interests; |
|
|
(d) |
|
the amount by which the net book value of any asset has been written up after
31 March 2008 (or, in the case of a person becoming a member of the Group after that
date, the date on which that person became or becomes a member of the Group) by way of
revaluation or on its transfer from one member of the Group to another; and |
|
|
(e) |
|
any dividend or other distribution declared, recommended or made by any
member of the Group, |
|
|
but ignoring any variation in the credit or debit balance on the
Group consolidated profit and loss account since the date of the then latest audited
consolidated balance sheet of the Group except to the extent reflected in any later
Group consolidated profit and loss statement delivered to the Agent under Clause 19
(Information undertakings). |
|
|
The undertakings in this Clause 21 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so
long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in
force. |
- 55 -
21.1 |
|
Authorisations |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Put Provider and each Non Disposal
Undertaking Provider will) promptly: |
|
(i) |
|
obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force
and effect; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
supply to the Agent certified copies of, |
|
|
any Authorisation required under any law or regulation to enable it to perform its
obligations under the Finance Documents and to ensure the legality, validity,
enforceability or admissibility in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation of any
Finance Document. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Put Provider and each Non Disposal
Undertaking Provider will) promptly make the registrations, obtain all Authorisations and
otherwise comply with other requirements specifically referred to in any legal opinion
accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional
Guarantors). |
|
21.2 |
|
Compliance with laws |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Put Provider and each Non
Disposal Undertaking Provider will) comply in all respects with all laws and regulations to
which it may be subject, if failure so to comply would materially impair its ability to
perform its obligations under the Finance Documents. |
|
21.3 |
|
Negative pledge |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) create
or permit to subsist any Security or non disposal undertaking over any of its assets. |
|
(b) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will): |
|
(i) |
|
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby
they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by any member of the Group; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse
terms; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
enter into or permit to subsist any title retention arrangement; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
enter into or permit to subsist any arrangement under which money or the
benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a
combination of accounts; or |
|
|
(v) |
|
enter into or permit to subsist any other preferential arrangement having a
similar effect, |
|
|
in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into
primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the
acquisition of an asset. |
(c) |
|
Paragraphs (a) and (b) above do not apply to: |
|
(i) |
|
any lien arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading so
long as the debt which it secures is paid when due or contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and properly provisioned; |
|
(ii) |
|
title retention arrangements arising pursuant to a suppliers usual terms of
supply provided that there is no default in payment for any goods so supplied (and no
other |
- 56 -
|
|
|
event is subsisting) which might entitle the supplier to reclaim possession of
the relevant goods; and |
|
(iii) |
|
any Security or non disposal undertaking created pursuant to any Finance
Document. |
21.4 |
|
Disposals |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter
into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not and whether
voluntary or involuntary) to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal of an asset
(other than a Charged Asset): |
|
(i) |
|
which is made with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders and
where the higher of the market value or consideration receivable (when aggregated with
the higher of the market value or consideration receivable for any other sale, lease,
transfer or other disposal under this paragraph (i)) does not exceed US$5,000,000 (or
its equivalent in another currency or currencies) in any financial year; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
arising as a result of any Security permitted under paragraph (c) of Clause
21.3 (Negative pledge); or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
of cash pursuant to the Transaction Documents. |
21.5 |
|
Merger |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will)
enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction
(other than share buybacks or capital reductions) nor change its jurisdiction of
incorporation without the consent of the Majority Lenders, provided that an Obligor may
enter into an amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction on
a solvent basis (not involving the Purchaser or any Holding Company of the Purchaser)
where: |
|
(a) |
|
all of the business and assets of that Obligor are retained by one or more
other Obligors; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the surviving entity of that amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or
corporate reconstruction is liable for the obligations of the Obligor it has merged
with and is incorporated in the same jurisdiction as that Obligor; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
the Agent and the Security Agent are given 30 Business Days notice by the
Company of that proposed amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate
reconstruction and the Security Agent, acting reasonably, is satisfied
that the Finance Parties will enjoy the same or equivalent Security over the same
assets and over that Obligor and the shares in it (or the shares of the surviving
entity). |
21.6 |
|
Change of business |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of its
business (and the Company shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general
nature of the business of the Group taken as a whole) from that carried on at the date of
this Agreement. |
- 57 -
21.7 |
|
Insurance |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each other member of the Group will)
maintain insurances on and in relation to its business and assets with reputable
underwriters or insurance companies against those risks, and to the extent, usually insured
against by prudent companies located in the same or a similar location and carrying on a
similar business. |
|
21.8 |
|
Environmental undertakings |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each other member of the Group will): |
|
(a) |
|
comply with all Environmental Laws to which it may be subject; |
|
|
(b) |
|
obtain all Environmental Licences required or desirable in connection with
its business; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
comply with the terms of all those Environmental Licences, |
|
|
in each case where failure to do so might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
21.9 |
|
Environmental claims |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and shall ensure that each other member of the Group will) promptly
notify the Agent of any claim, notice or other communication received by it in respect of
any actual or alleged breach of or liability under Environmental Law which, if
substantiated, might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
21.10 |
|
Financial Indebtedness |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will)
incur or permit to subsist any Financial Indebtedness other than: |
|
(a) |
|
any Financial Indebtedness listed in Schedule 11 (Existing Financial
Indebtedness); |
|
|
(b) |
|
Financial Indebtedness arising under the Finance Documents; |
|
|
(c) |
|
Financial Indebtedness permitted pursuant to the terms of sub-paragraphs (i),
(ii) or (iii) of paragraph (b) of Clause 21.13 (Loans and guarantees); |
|
|
(d) |
|
Financial Indebtedness under a single facility provided to an Obligor (but no
refinancings or replacements thereof) in a principal amount not exceeding
US$75,000,000 provided that such Financial Indebtedness ranks no higher than pari
passu with the obligations of the Obligors under the Finance Documents; or |
|
|
(e) |
|
Financial Indebtedness constituting unsecured working capital borrowings
provided to an Obligor (in addition to that permitted under paragraphs (a) to (c)
above) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding US$10,000,000 (or its equivalent
in any other currency or currencies) provided that such Financial Indebtedness ranks
no higher than pari passu with the obligations of the Obligors under the Finance
Documents. |
21.11 |
|
Acquisitions and investments |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group shall) make
any Share or Business Acquisition. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to: |
- 58 -
|
(i) |
|
the Acquisition; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the acquisition of Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited
and Noida Customer Operations Private Limited by the Target; and |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any Share or Business Acquisition which complies with the following
conditions: |
|
(I) |
|
is not a negative net worth entity. |
|
|
(II) |
|
has not been loss-making for the three
previous financial years. |
|
|
(III) |
|
is in the same business as the Borrower
Group; and |
|
(B) |
|
prior to completion of the proposed Share or Business
Acquisition the Company submits to the Agent pro forma financial statements
and projections of the Group and the proposed target (on a consolidated basis)
demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably)
the Companys ability to comply with the financial covenants set out in Clause
20 (Financial covenants) over the remaining life of the Facility. |
21.12 |
|
Financial year |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall not alter (and shall ensure that no member of the Group alters) its
financial year so that such financial year ends on any date other than on 31 March of each
year. |
|
21.13 |
|
Loans and guarantees |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will): |
|
(i) |
|
make any loan, or provide any form of credit or financial accommodation, to
any other person; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
give or issue any guarantee. indemnity, bond or letter of credit to or for
the benefit of any person; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
permit to subsist any guarantee of any Financial Indebtedness of any of its
Subsidiaries. |
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply to: |
|
(i) |
|
any loan made by an Obligor to another Obligor; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any loan made by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor to another
member of the Group which is not an Obligor; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any loan made by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor to a member
of the Group which is an Obligor. provided that the aggregate amount outstanding under
all such loans shall not at any time exceed US$10.000,000; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
any trade credit granted on customary commercial terms to any customer of a
member of the Group; |
- 59 -
|
(v) |
|
any loan made by a member of the Group to an employee of a member of the
Group provided that the aggregate principal value of all loans falling within this
paragraph (v) at any time does not exceed US$2,000,000; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
any guarantee granted by the Company in respect of a Permitted Treasury
Transaction entered into to hedge currency or interest rate exposure of a member of
the Group; |
|
|
(vii) |
|
any performance or payment guarantees given by the Company in respect of
payment obligations that do not constitute Financial Indebtedness of WNS North America
Inc. pursuant to outsourcing agreements with WNS North America Inc.s customers
entered into, in each case, in the ordinary course of its business; and |
|
|
(viii) |
|
any loan where all the proceeds of such loan are used to satisfy a payment
obligation of an Obligor under the Finance Documents. |
|
|
(ix) |
|
by reference to clause 30.22 of the Master Service Agreement and the defined
terms in the Master Service Agreement, the indemnity given by the Supplier to the
Customer and all Service Recipients in connection with any claim of alleged or actual
infringement of any Third Party IPR arising out of or in connection with Customers
and/or every Service Recipients receipt and/or use of the Services to be provided by
the Supplier in accordance with the Master Service Agreement; |
|
|
(x) |
|
by reference to paragraph 10.6 of Schedule 12 to the Master Service Agreement
and the defined terms in the Master Service Agreement, the indemnity to be given by
the Supplier to the Customer (or the relevant Customer Group or replacement service
provider) if the Supplier Personnel (other than the Relevant Employees who accept an
offer of employment under paragraph 10.3 of Schedule 12 to the Master Services
Agreement) are found, by operation of law, to be employees of Customer, or a member of
Customers Group, or any replacement service provider, against all employee costs
associated with that person and all costs of terminating that persons employment
after the expiry of the Term or as a result of any termination or partial termination
of the Services, provided that any such employment is terminated within six months
after the expiry of the Term or the relevant termination or partial termination of the
provision of Services; |
|
|
(xi) |
|
any guarantee granted by the Company to the Vendor or a member of the
Vendors Group in respect of the obligations under the Acquisition Documents. |
21.14 |
|
Arms length dealings |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will)
enter into any arrangement, agreement or commitment with any person or pay any fees,
commissions or other sums on any account whatsoever to any persons other than: |
|
(a) |
|
in the ordinary course of trading, at arms length and on normal commercial
terms; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
as required by the Finance Documents. |
21.15 |
|
Restricted payments |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall: |
|
(i) |
|
pay, repay or prepay any principal, interest or other amount on or in respect
of, or redeem, purchase or defease any Financial Indebtedness owed actually or
contingently, to any shareholder of any Obligor or to any Affiliate of any shareholder
of any Obligor; |
- 60 -
|
(ii) |
|
declare, pay or make any dividend or other payment or distribution of any
kind on or in respect of any class of its shares; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
reduce, return, purchase, repay, cancel or redeem any of its share capital. |
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above does not apply: |
|
(i) |
|
when no Default is continuing; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
to any payment where all the proceeds of such payment are used to satisfy a
payment obligation of an Obligor under the Finance Documents. |
21.16 |
|
Hedging |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall not enter into any Treasury Transaction which is not a Permitted
Treasury Transaction. |
|
21.17 |
|
Taxes |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall pay and discharge all Taxes, rates, rents and governmental charges upon it
and its assets before penalties become attached thereto and shall establish adequate reserves
for the payment of any Taxes, rates, rents and governmental charges becoming due unless such
Taxes, rates, rents and governmental charges are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Obligor shall make all filings required under applicable laws and regulations. |
|
21.18 |
|
Acquisition Documents |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall amend, terminate, give any waiver or consent under, or agree or decide not
to enforce, in whole or in part, any term or condition of any Acquisition Document, save
for amendments, waivers or consents which are minor or technical or have been approved in
writing by the Agent. |
|
21.19 |
|
The Acquisition |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall: |
|
(i) |
|
procure that legal and beneficial title to 100% of the shares in the Target
are transferred to the Purchaser no later than one Business Day following the date of
the first Utilisation of the Facility. |
|
|
(ii) |
|
perform and comply with its obligations under or in connection with the
Acquisition Documents; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
notify the Agent (promptly upon becoming aware of the same) of any breach by
any party of its obligations or default under the Acquisition Documents; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
procure that the Purchaser applies an amount equal to funds received by it
pursuant to the equity subscription described in paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 3.1
(Purpose) in settlement of its obligation to pay the purchase price for the shares in
the Target pursuant to the Acquisition Documents; |
|
|
(v) |
|
take all reasonable steps to preserve and enforce any claim or right it has
under or in connection with any Acquisition Document; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
notify the Agent promptly of any claim made or to be made under an
Acquisition Document and any dispute in respect of an Acquisition Document; |
- 61 -
|
(vii) |
|
provide the Agent with reasonable details of that claim or dispute and its
progress and notify the Agent as soon as practicable upon that claim or dispute being
resolved; |
|
|
(viii) |
|
notify the Agent promptly of any notice of, or other act of revocation, suspension,
withdrawal, cancellation or termination of any provision of any Acquisition Document;
and |
|
|
(ix) |
|
comply with all applicable laws in all respects material in the context of
the Acquisition. |
(b) |
|
The Company shall keep the Agent informed as to the status and progress of the Acquisition. |
|
21.20 |
|
Maintenance of books and records |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall keep books and records which accurately reflect in all material respects
all of its business, affairs and transactions. |
|
21.21 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall maintain in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear
excepted) all of its assets necessary for the conduct of its business as conducted from
time to time. |
|
21.22 |
|
No employees |
|
|
|
The Borrower shall not have any employees. |
|
21.23 |
|
Pari passu |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that its obligations under the Finance Documents rank at all
times at least pari passu in right of priority and payment with the claims of all its other
unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law
applying to companies generally. |
|
21.24 |
|
Capital Expenditure |
|
|
|
The Company shall ensure that the aggregate of the Capital Expenditure of the Group in any
financial year of the Company shall not exceed 40 per cent. of the EBITDA of the Group for
the previous financial year. |
|
21.25 |
|
Statutory auditors |
|
|
|
No Obligor shall change (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group changes)
its statutory auditors to any person other than Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte or PwC or
firms associated with or affiliated to those firms in jurisdictions where those firms do
not themselves have a presence. |
|
21.26 |
|
Assignment of contracts |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall assign or transfer (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the
Group shall assign or transfer) any agreement or contract to any person who is not a member of
the Group. |
|
(b) |
|
Paragraph (a) above shall not apply to: |
|
(i) |
|
any assignment or transfer made pursuant to a Transaction Document; or |
- 62 -
|
(ii) |
|
by reference to clause 15.2 of the Master Service Agreement and the defined
terms in the Master Service Agreement, any novation of any contract, relating to the
provision or receipt of the Services, that is entered into by the Supplier, the
Customer and a Sub-contractor or third party after the Commencement Date, in the event
that the Customer removes any Services in accordance with the Master Service
Agreement, the Master Service Agreement terminates (or any part thereof), or the
Master Service Agreement expires. |
21.27 |
|
Auditors Certificate |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that an auditors certificate in respect of the investment being
made by the Put Providers pursuant to the Put Option Agreement is supplied to the Security
Trustee within the time limit specified by the Reserve Bank of India regulations. |
|
21.28 |
|
Cash movements |
|
(a) |
|
The Obligors shall ensure that at all times: |
|
(i) |
|
the Put Providers or the Subsidiaries of the Target make sufficient cash
available to the Borrower, by way of dividend, share buyback or subordinated
shareholder loans in order to enable the Borrower to service the Financial
Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower under the Finance Documents; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Put Providers and the Subsidiaries of the Target have in place all
necessary Authorisations to effect any dividend, share buyback or subordinated
shareholder loan referred to in paragraph (i) above. |
(b) |
|
The Obligors shall ensure that at all times: |
|
(i) |
|
any Excess Cash is made available by way of dividend, share buyback or
subordinated shareholder loans in order to enable the Borrower to make any mandatory
prepayments required to be made pursuant to Clause 7.6 (Mandatory prepayment Excess
Cash); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the relevant members of the Group have in place all necessary Authorisations
to effect any dividend, share buyback or subordinated shareholder loan referred to in
paragraph (i) above. |
21.29 |
|
Accession of Additional Guarantors and additional Put Providers |
|
(a) |
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that the Target and each Subsidiary of the Target which is a
Material Subsidiary (excluding any such Subsidiaries incorporated in India) becomes a
Guarantor pursuant to Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors) by no later than the date which is
30 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed
between the Company and the Agent). |
|
(b) |
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that any person (other than any persons referred to in paragraph
(a) above and any persons incorporated in India) that becomes a Material Subsidiary after the
date of this Agreement becomes a Guarantor by no later than the date which is 45 days after
the date on which it became a Material .Subsidiary (or such other period which may be mutually
agreed between the Company and the Agent). |
|
(c) |
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that any member of the Group that is incorporated in India and that
becomes a Material Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement becomes a Put Provider by no
later than the date which is 45 days after the date on which it became a Material Subsidiary
(or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). |
- 63 -
(d) |
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that Ntrance Customer Services Private Limited becomes a Put
Provider by no later than the date which is 60 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or
such other period as may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). |
|
21.30 |
|
Transfer of Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that: |
|
(a) |
|
Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited becomes a direct
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Target by no later than 45 days after the date of the
first Utilisation of the Facility (or such other period which may be mutually agreed
between the Company and the Agent); and |
|
|
(b) |
|
Noida Customer Operations Private Limited becomes a direct, wholly owned
Subsidiary of the Target by no later than 45 days after the date of the first
Utilisation of the Facility (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between
the Company and the Agent). |
21.31 |
|
Additional Security Documents and additional Non Disposal Documents |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that: |
|
(a) |
|
a copy of the Target Share Charge duly executed by the parties to it (along
with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent
requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered
to the Agent by no later than the date which is 30 days after the Acquisition Closing
Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the
Agent); |
|
|
(b) |
|
a copy of the Sri Lankan Share Charge duly executed by the parties to it
(along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent
requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered
to the Agent by no later than the date which is 30 days after the Acquisition Closing
Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the
Agent); |
|
|
(c) |
|
a copy of the Target Designated Account Charge duly executed by the parties
to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the
Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is
delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 60 days after the
Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between
the Company and the Agent); |
|
|
(d) |
|
a copy of the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking and the Ntrance
and Marketics Non Disposal POA duly executed by the parties to it (along with any
Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in
each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent
by no later than the date which is 7 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such
other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); |
|
|
(e) |
|
a copy of the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking and the Target
Subsidiaries Non Disposal POA duly executed by the parties to it (along with any
Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in
each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent
by no later than the date which is 60 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such
other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); and |
- 64 -
|
(f) |
|
a copy of the Master Service Agreement Account Charge duly executed by the
parties to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents
that the Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent, is delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 7 days after the
Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between
the Company and the Agent). |
21.32 |
|
Master Service Agreement and Put Option Agreement |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and each Obligor shall ensure that each Put Provider or Non Disposal
Undertaking Provider will): |
|
(a) |
|
not at any time amend any term of, or waive or grant any time or indulgence
in respect of any term of, or exercise any discretion under, the Master Service
Agreement or the Put Option Agreement except on the instructions of the Agent (acting
on the instructions of the Majority Lenders or where such amendment,
waiver, grant of time or indulgence or exercise of discretion does not have and
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect); |
|
|
(b) |
|
comply in all material respects with the terms of the Master Service
Agreement and the Put Option Agreement (where failure to do so could have a Material
Adverse Effect); |
|
|
(c) |
|
promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of: |
|
(i) |
|
any breach of or default in any material respect under the
Master Service Agreement or the Put Option Agreement by any party; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the occurrence of any Put Option Event or Potential Put
Option Event (in each case as defined in the Put Option Agreement); |
|
|
(iii) |
|
any material dispute between the parties to the Master
Service Agreement or the Put Option Agreement; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
any notice of, or other act of, revocation, suspension,
withdrawal, cancellation or termination of any material provision of the
Master Service Agreement or the Put Option Agreement or other pending
proceedings or proceedings threatened in writing, |
|
|
|
which could have a Material
Adverse Effect. |
21.33 |
|
Statutory auditors certificate |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that the Borrower submits a statutory auditors certificate as to
end use of funds to the Agent by no later than the date that is three Months after the date
of each Utilisation. |
|
21.34 |
|
Additional documents |
|
(a) |
|
The Borrower shall procure that a certified copy of the register of pledges of (x) the
Purchaser (noting the Purchaser Share Charge) and (y,) the Borrower (noting the WNS Mauritius
Share Charge) are provided to the Agent within three Business Days of the date of first
Utilisation of the Facility. |
- 65 -
(b) |
|
The Borrower shall provide to the Agent (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent)
within 15 days of the date of the first Utilisation of the Facility a copy of the Information
Memorandum. |
|
(c) |
|
The Borrower shall provide to the Agent (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent)
within one Business Day of the Acquisition Closing Date: |
|
(i) |
|
a copy of the Master Service Agreement, duly executed by the parties to it;
and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a copy of the Acquisition Agreement, duly executed by the parties to it. |
(d) |
|
The Borrower shall procure that a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Borrower in
Singapore in respect of the entry into and performance of the Acquisition Agreement not
breaching Singapore law is provided to the Agent (in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent) by no later than the date which is 15 days after the Acquisition Closing Date. |
|
(e) |
|
The Borrower shall provide to the Arranger (in form and substance satisfactory to the
Arranger) within 14 days of the date of this Agreement a copy of a Fee Letter in respect of
the arrangement fee for the Facility duly executed by the parties to it. |
|
21.35 |
|
Singapore financial assistance |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that each member of the Group incorporated in Singapore which
becomes an Obligor or grants any Security pursuant to or in connection with a Finance
Document complies in all respects with section 76 of the Companies Act Chapter 50 of
Singapore. |
|
21.36 |
|
Anti-Terrorism Laws |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor shall engage in any transaction that violates any of the applicable prohibitions
set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law. |
|
(b) |
|
None of the funds or assets of any Obligor that are used to repay the Facility shall
constitute property of, or shall be beneficially owned directly or indirectly by, any
Designated Person and no Designated Person shall have any direct or indirect interest in any
Obligor that would constitute a violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law. |
|
(c) |
|
No Obligor shall, and each Obligor shall procure that none of its Subsidiaries will, fund all
or part of any payment under this Agreement out of proceeds derived from transactions that
violate the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law. |
|
21.37 |
|
US regulation |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that it will not, by act or omission, become subject to
regulation under to any of the laws or regulations described in Clause 18.29 (US
regulation). |
|
21.38 |
|
Margin Regulations |
|
(a) |
|
No Obligor may use any Utilisation, directly or indirectly, to buy or carry Margin stock or
to extend credit to others for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin stock. |
|
(b) |
|
If requested by the Agent, each Obligor shall furnish to the Agent a statement in conformity
with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U. |
- 66 -
21.39 |
|
ERISA |
|
|
|
No Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate shall establish, or agree to contribute to, any defined
benefit pension plan or Multiemployer Plan without the consent of Majority Lenders. |
|
21.40 |
|
Transfer pricing |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall (and shall ensure that each other member of the Group will) comply with
all laws relating to transfer pricing. |
22.1 |
|
Maintenance of Accounts |
|
(a) |
|
The Borrower, the Purchaser and, following the Acquisition Closing Date, the Target shall
maintain the Accounts with the Account Bank in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
|
(b) |
|
Neither the Borrower nor the Purchaser shall open any current, deposit or other account with
any bank or financial institution other than the Accounts, the Mauritian Account and the
Purchaser Mauritian Account. |
|
(c) |
|
The terms and conditions relating to the establishment and maintenance of the Accounts and
the Borrowers, the Purchasers and the Targets ability to deal with the Accounts shall be as
set out in this Clause 22 supplemented, to the extent the same are not inconsistent with this
Clause 22, by the relevant Account Mandate. |
|
(d) |
|
Subject to paragraph (e) below, the Borrower shall maintain, at all times on and following
the first Utilisation, in the DSRA, a DSRA Balance equal to or greater than the then DSRA
Amount. |
|
(e) |
|
In calculating the DSRA Amount, the Agent shall use the highest LIBOR applicable to the
outstanding Loans at the time of calculation. |
|
(f) |
|
Subject to paragraph (g) below, if any amount is withdrawn from the DSRA in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, and as a result the then DSRA Balance falls to below the DSRA
Amount, the Borrower shall procure that the DSRA Balance is increased to an amount which is
greater than or equal to the then DSRA Amount no later than the Business Day immediately
following such withdrawal. |
|
(g) |
|
Notwithstanding to paragraph (j) below, the Purchaser shall ensure that any payments that it
receives under or in connection with the Master Service Agreement are paid directly into the
Master Service Agreement Account as soon as practicable. |
|
(h) |
|
The Borrower shall ensure that, notwithstanding paragraph (i) below: |
|
(i) |
|
any Put Providers Share Sale Proceeds that it receives are paid into the WNS
Mauritius Designated Account; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
(following the Acquisition Closing Date) any Target Subsidiaries Share Sale
Proceeds that the Target receives are paid into the Target Designated Account. |
(i) |
|
Subject to paragraphs (g) and (h) above, the Borrower shall ensure that any payments it
receives are paid into the Mauritian Account as soon as practicable and in any event prior
to being transferred to any other Account into which such payments are required to be paid
under the terms of this Agreement. |
- 67 -
(j) |
|
Subject to paragraph (g) above, the Purchaser shall ensure that any payments it receives are
paid into the Purchaser Mauritian Account as soon as practicable and in any event prior to
being transferred to any other Account into which such payments are required to be paid under
the terms of this Agreement. |
|
22.2 |
|
Interest |
|
(a) |
|
Each amount from time to time standing to the credit of the Accounts shall bear interest at
such rate (if any) as may from time to time be determined by the Account Bank consistent with
the relevant Account Mandate relating to the Accounts and shall be credited to the relevant
Account in accordance with the relevant Account Mandate. |
|
(b) |
|
Interest shall accrue in accordance with the Account Mandate. Any interest which has accrued
shall be for the account of the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be) and
the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be) may instruct the Agent or the
Security Trustee to withdraw an amount representing such interest for application in any
manner which is not prohibited by the Finance Documents in accordance with the Account Mandate
relating to the relevant Account, provided that no such transfer shall be made: |
|
(i) |
|
while a Default has occurred and is continuing; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
in relation to the DSRA, if the DSRA Balance is (or would, following such
withdrawal, be) less than the DSRA Amount at the time of that withdrawal. |
22.3 |
|
Withdrawals |
|
(a) |
|
Unless instructed to do so by the Agent or the Security Trustee, the Account Bank shall not
effect any withdrawal or transfer from any Account (and shall not be liable to the Borrower,
the Purchaser or the Target for failing to effect the same) if it has been notified by the
Agent or the Security Trustee that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the
time that the relevant withdrawal or transfer would otherwise be made. |
|
(b) |
|
No withdrawal or transfer from an Account may be made if to do so would cause that Account to
be overdrawn. |
|
(c) |
|
On the date of each withdrawal made from an Account where the proceeds of such withdrawal are
to be applied in payment to or for the account of the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target,
the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be) will be deemed to represent and
warrant that no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing and no Default will occur as
a result of the withdrawal. |
|
(d) |
|
None of the restrictions contained in this Clause 22 or in any Security Document on the
withdrawal of sums standing to the credit of the Accounts shall affect the obligations of the
Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target to make any payment or repayment required to be made
under the Finance Documents on the date the same is so required to be made. |
|
(e) |
|
No sum may be transferred or withdrawn from the DSRA by the Borrower except through the Agent
or the Security Trustee as expressly permitted by this Clause 22. |
|
(f) |
|
No sum may be transferred or withdrawn from the WNS Mauritius Designated Account or the
Target Designated Account except with the prior written consent of the Agent or the Security
Trustee or as expressly permitted by this Clause 22. |
- 68 -
(g) |
|
The Agent and the Security Trustee each have sole signing rights in relation to the DSRA, the
WNS Mauritius Designated Account and the Target Designated Account. |
|
(h) |
|
If no Event of Default is continuing, the Purchaser may withdraw amounts standing to the
credit of the Master Service Agreement Account and apply them towards payments made in the
ordinary course of business of the Purchaser. For the purposes of this paragraph (h),
payments made in the ordinary course of business of the Purchaser means routine payments
made by the Purchaser for the purposes of its day to day business, including (but not limited
to): |
|
(i) |
|
payments made by the Purchaser in respect of any salaries, bonuses or
reimbursement for expenses due and payable to any employees of the Purchaser; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
payment of invoices payable by the Purchaser in respect of its day to day
business; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
payments made by the Purchaser for the purposes of servicing any Financial
Indebtedness (including payment of principal or interest in relation to such Financial
Indebtedness) of the Purchaser incurred in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, |
|
(a) |
|
any payments made in respect of any costs pursuant to the acquisition of any
shares or investments by the Purchaser; |
|
|
(b) |
|
any payments made in respect of any lease and/or buy-back arrangements; |
|
|
(c) |
|
payments of any dividends by the Purchaser; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
payments of any extraordinary costs or expenses. |
(i) |
|
Subject to paragraph (j) below, the Purchaser has sole signing rights in respect of the
Master Service Agreement Account. |
|
(j) |
|
If an Event of Default is continuing: |
|
(i) |
|
Neither the Borrower, the Purchaser nor the Target shall withdraw any amount
from any Account; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the Agent or the Security Trustee may debit any amounts standing to the
credit of any Account and apply them in the order of priority set out in Clause 29.5
(Partial payments). |
22.4 |
|
Instructions |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to Clause 22.3 (Withdrawals), the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and
instructs the Agent and the Security Trustee to debit, at any time, amounts standing to the
credit of the DSRA and apply them in the order of priority set out in Clause 29.5 (Partial
payments). |
|
(b) |
|
Upon request by the Agent or the Security Trustee, the Account Bank shall promptly notify the
Agent or the Security Trustee of the balance of the DSRA. |
|
22.5 |
|
Access to Accounts |
(a) |
|
Each of the Borrower, the Purchaser and the Target irrevocably consents to the Agent and the
Security Trustee or any of their respective appointed representatives (in the case of the |
- 69 -
|
|
Target on the Acquisition Closing Date) having access to review the books and records of the
Account Bank relating to any Account and consents (in the case of the Target on the
Acquisition Closing Date) to the Agent and the Security Trustee or any of their respective
appointed representatives passing on any information so obtained to any Finance Party in
accordance with the provisions of the Finance Documents and, for these purposes only,
irrevocably waives any right of confidentiality that may exist in respect of such books and
records. The Account Bank shall give to the Borrower, the Purchaser, the Target, the Agent and
the Security Trustee unrestricted access on reasonable prior notice to review such books and
records of any Account held by the Account Bank, in each case, whilst an Event of Default is
continuing. |
(b) |
|
Nothing in this Clause 22 will require the Account Bank to disclose to any person any books,
records or other information which the Account Bank would not be required to disclose to the
Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be). |
|
22.6 |
|
Administration |
|
(a) |
|
Without prejudice to the Account Banks obligations under this Clause 22, the Account Bank
will not be obliged to make available to or for the account of the Borrower, the Purchaser,
the Target or any other person any sum which it is expecting to receive for the account of the
Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target until it has been able to establish that that sum has
been credited to the relevant Account held with the Account Bank. |
|
(b) |
|
The Account Bank will provide statements for the Accounts held with it to the Agent and the
Security Trustee and to the Company within five Business Days after the last day of: |
|
(i) |
|
each Interest Period; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
each Month. |
22.7 |
|
No assignment |
|
|
|
No Account nor the Borrowers, the Purchasers or the Targets right, title and interest to
or in any Account shall be capable of being assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of
or encumbered (whether in whole or in part) other than pursuant to the Security Documents. |
|
22.8 |
|
Notice of Security |
|
|
|
The Borrower and the Security Trustee hereby give notice to the Account Bank (and the
Account Bank hereby acknowledges and accepts this Agreement as notice) of the Security
created over the Accounts pursuant to the Borrower Account Charge and the Account Bank
agrees: |
|
(a) |
|
not to claim or exercise any security in, set-off and/or counterclaim
Security created by the other rights in respect of the Accounts save as expressly
contemplated in this Clause 22; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
that it will pay all moneys standing to the credit of the DSRA or the WNS
Mauritius Designated Account as directed by the Security Trustee upon being notified
by the Security Trustee that the Security created by the Borrower Account Charge has
become enforceable. |
22.9 |
|
Opening of Accounts |
|
|
|
Each Obligor shall ensure that the Target Designated Account is opened with the Account
Bank no later than the date which is seven days after the Acquisition Closing Date. |
- 70 -
|
|
Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause 23 (other than Clause 23.24
(Acceleration) and Clause 23.25 (Clean-up Period) is an Event of Default. |
|
23.1 |
|
Non-payment |
|
|
|
An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document
at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable. |
|
23.2 |
|
Financial covenants |
|
|
|
Any requirement of Clause 20 (Financial covenants) is not satisfied. |
|
23.3 |
|
Other obligations |
|
(a) |
|
An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those
referred to in Clause 23.1 (Non-payment) or Clause 23.2
(Financial covenants)). |
|
(b) |
|
No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above in relation to Clause 21.1 (Authorisations)
will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 15 days of the
Agent giving notice to the Company or the Company becoming aware of the failure to comply. |
|
23.4 |
|
Misrepresentation |
|
|
|
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance
Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of an Obligor under or in
connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in
any material respect when made or deemed to be made. |
|
23.5 |
|
Cross default |
|
(a) |
|
Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is not paid when due nor within any
originally applicable grace period. |
|
(b) |
|
Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is declared to be or otherwise becomes
due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of any default or event of default
(however described). |
|
(c) |
|
Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is cancelled or
suspended by a creditor of any member of the Group as a result of default or event of default
(however described). |
|
(d) |
|
Any creditor of any member of the Group becomes entitled to declare any Financial
Indebtedness of any member of the Group due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a
result of any default or event of default (however described). |
|
(e) |
|
No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 23.5 if the aggregate amount of Financial
Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraphs (a) to (d)
above is less than US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies). |
|
23.6 |
|
Insolvency |
|
(a) |
|
A member of the Group is unable to, is presumed or deemed to be unable to or admits its
inability to, pay its debts as they fall due, suspends making payments on any of its debts or,
by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or
more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness. |
- 71 -
(b) |
|
The value of the assets of any member of the Group is less than its liabilities (taking into
account contingent and prospective liabilities). |
|
(c) |
|
A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any member of the Group. |
|
23.7 |
|
Insolvency proceedings |
|
(a) |
|
Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to: |
|
(i) |
|
the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up,
dissolution, judicial management, administration, provisional supervision or
reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise)
of any member of the Group; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any
member of the Group; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, receiver
and manager, administrator, compulsory manager, provisional supervisor or other
similar officer in respect of any member of the Group or any of its assets; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
enforcement of any Security over any assets of any member of the Group,
judicial manager; or |
|
|
(v) |
|
any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction, |
|
|
provided that
no Event of Default will occur under this paragraph (a) in respect of proceedings
relating to a petition to wind-up a member of the Group which the Majority Lenders
determine are frivolous or vexatious and which are discharged or dismissed within 15
Business Days of presentation. |
|
(i) |
|
applies for, or consents to, the appointment of, or the taking of possession
by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner or liquidator of itself or of all or a
substantial part of its property; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
commences a voluntary case under US Bankruptcy Law; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
files a petition with respect to itself seeking to take advantage of any
other law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganisation, liquidation,
dissolution, arrangement or winding-up, or composition or readjustment of debts; |
|
|
(v) |
|
takes any corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing
with respect to itself; |
|
|
(vi) |
|
is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, suspends
making payments on any of its debts or by reason of actual or anticipated financial
difficulties; or |
|
|
(vii) |
|
is the subject of involuntary proceedings under US Bankruptcy Law. |
- 72 -
23.8 |
|
Judgments, creditors process |
|
(a) |
|
A member of the Group fails to comply with or pay any sum due from it under any final
judgment or any final order made or given by a court of competent jurisdiction. |
|
(b) |
|
Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or
assets of a member of the Group. |
|
(c) |
|
No event of Default will occur under this Clause 23.8 if the aggregate amount of indebtedness
unpaid under paragraph (a) and the value of the relevant assets under paragraph (b) is less
than US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies.) |
|
23.9 |
|
Moratorium |
|
|
|
The Government of India or any relevant Governmental Agency declares a general moratorium
or standstill (or makes or passes any order or regulation having a similar effect) in
respect of the payment or repayment of any Financial Indebtedness (whether in the nature of
principal, interest or otherwise) (or any indebtedness which includes Financial
Indebtedness) owed by Indian companies or other entities (and whether such declaration,
order or regulation is of general application, applies to a class of persons which includes
an Obligor or a Put Provider or to an Obligor or a Put Provider alone). |
|
23.10 |
|
Unlawfulness |
|
|
|
It is or becomes unlawful for any party (other than a Finance Party) to perform any of its
obligations under the Finance Documents. |
|
23.11 |
|
Repudiation |
|
|
|
Any party (other than a Finance Party) repudiates a Finance Document or evidences an
intention to repudiate a Finance Document. |
|
23.12 |
|
Security |
|
|
|
The Majority Lenders determine that any Security Document is not (once entered into) in
full force and effect or does not (once entered into) create in favour of the Security
Trustee for the benefit of the Finance Parties the Security which it is expressed to create
with the ranking and priority it is expressed to have. |
|
23.13 |
|
Expropriation |
|
|
|
Any governmental or other authority (whether de jure or de facto) nationalises,
compulsorily acquires, expropriates or seizes all or a substantial part of the business or
assets of any member of the Group and the Majority Lenders determine that such action has
or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
23.14 |
|
Material adverse change |
|
|
|
The Majority Lenders determine that a Material Adverse Effect exists, has occurred or might
occur. |
|
23.15 |
|
Material litigation |
|
|
|
Any litigation, arbitration, investigative or administrative proceeding is current, pending
or threatened which the Majority Lenders determine has (or might, if adversely determined,
have) a Material Adverse Effect. |
- 73 -
23.16 |
|
Ownership |
|
(a) |
|
An Obligor (other than the Company) or a Put Provider (in the case of the Target at any time
after the Acquisition Closing Date) is not or ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company. |
|
(b) |
|
A Put Provider or the Purchaser is not or ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Borrower. |
|
(c) |
|
At any time after the Acquisition Closing Date, the Target or any Subsidiary of the Target is
not or ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower. |
|
23.17 |
|
Put Option Agreement |
|
(a) |
|
Any party (other than a Finance Party) fails to comply with its obligations under the Put
Option Agreement in any manner which could in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders
have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
(b) |
|
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by any party (other than a Finance
Party) in the Put Option Agreement or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any such
party under or in connection with the Put Option Agreement is or proves to have been incorrect
or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. |
|
23.18 |
|
Non Disposal Document |
|
(a) |
|
Any party (other than a Finance Party) fails to comply with its obligations under a Non
Disposal Document in any manner which could in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders
have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
(b) |
|
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by any party (other than a Finance
Party) in the Non Disposal Document or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any
such party under or in connection with the Non Disposal Document is or proves to have been
incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. |
|
23.19 |
|
Authorisations |
|
|
|
Any Authorisation: |
|
(a) |
|
as may be necessary for any member of the Group to carry on its business as
it is being conducted; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
required by any party (other than a Finance Party) to a Finance Document in
connection with the entry into, performance, validity and enforceability of, and the
transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents, |
|
|
is revoked or otherwise cancelled or not renewed or renewed with any onerous condition in
each case which might have a Material Adverse Effect. |
|
23.20 |
|
Change in Largest Shareholder |
|
|
|
Any person (other than the person that was the largest shareholder in the Company on 31
March 2008) is or becomes the largest shareholder in the Company (a Change in Largest
Shareholder) and: |
|
(a) |
|
the Group loses more than 10 per cent. of its clients by revenue (calculated
by reference to the financial quarter of the Company immediately prior to the
financial quarter in which the Change in Largest Shareholder occurs) by the end of the |
- 74 -
|
|
|
financial quarter of the Company following the financial quarter in which the Change
in Largest Shareholder occurs (unless the Company demonstrates to the satisfaction of
the Majority Lenders that such loss of clients is not as a result of the Change in
Largest Shareholder); or |
|
(b) |
|
the Company does not approach a rating agency satisfactory to the Majority
Lenders for a rating review within one month of a Change in Largest Shareholder or the
Company does approach a rating agency satisfactory to the Majority Lenders within such
timeframe and the rating of the Company is downgraded from that obtained by the
Company pursuant to the terms of the Syndication Side Letter within six months of the
Change in Largest Shareholder. |
23.21 |
|
Master Service Agreement |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Master Service Agreement is not in full force and effect
at any time on or after the Acquisition Closing Date. |
|
(b) |
|
It is or becomes unlawful for any party to perform its material obligations under the Master
Service Agreement. |
|
(c) |
|
The Master Service Agreement expires, terminates or is terminated for any reason whatsoever,
provided that if the Master Service Agreement is partially terminated in accordance with its
terms, an Event of Default shall only occur if such partial termination (or any series of
partial terminations) results in a reduction in the number of full time employees of the
Purchaser invoiced for by the Purchaser pursuant to the terms of the Master Service Agreement
falling below 3,000 full time employees in any three consecutive monthly invoices presented
pursuant to the Master Service Agreement. |
|
23.22 |
|
Change in law |
|
|
|
There is or could reasonably be expected to be a material reduction in the rate of return
from the Put Option Agreement as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or
in the interpretation, administration or application, of) any law or regulation or (ii)
compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement. |
|
23.23 |
|
Declared company |
|
|
|
An Obligor is declared by the Minister of Finance in Singapore to be a declared company
under the provisions of Part IX of the Companies Act, Chapter 50 of Singapore. |
|
23.24 |
|
Acceleration |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraph (b) below, on and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of
Default the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the
Borrower: |
|
(i) |
|
cancel the Total Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
declare that all or part of the Utilisations, together with accrued interest,
and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be
immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable;
and/or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
declare that all or part of the Utilisations be payable on demand, whereupon
they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of
the Majority Lenders. |
(b) |
|
If an Event of Default occurs under Clause 23.7 (Insolvency proceedings) in relation to any
US Guarantor, each amount expressed by Clause 17 (Guarantee and indemnity) to be payable by
that US Guarantor on demand shall, after that Event of Default has occurred, be |
- 75 -
|
|
immediately
due and payable by that US Guarantor without the need for any demand or other claim on that US
Guarantor or any other Obligor. |
23.25 |
|
Clean-up period |
|
(a) |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document: |
|
(i) |
|
any breach of a Clean-Up Representation or a Clean-Up Undertaking; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any Event of Default constituting a Clean-Up Default, |
|
|
existing on the Acquisition Closing Date and/or during the period from the Acquisition
Closing Date up to the date falling two Months after the Acquisition Closing Date will be
deemed not to be breach of representation, a breach of covenant or an Event of Default (as
the case may be) if: |
|
(A) |
|
it would have been (if it were not for this provision) a
breach of representation, a breach of covenant or an Event of Default only by
reason of circumstances relating exclusively to any member of the Target Group
(or any obligation to procure or ensure in relation to a member of the Target
Group); |
|
|
(B) |
|
it was not procured or approved by any member of the Group; |
|
|
(C) |
|
it is capable of remedy and all reasonable steps are being
taken to remedy it; and |
|
|
(D) |
|
it is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) |
|
If the relevant circumstances are continuing on or after the Clean-Up Date, there shall be a
breach of representation or warranty, breach of covenant or Event of Default, as the case may
be notwithstanding the above (and without prejudice to the rights and remedies of the Finance
Parties). |
|
(c) |
|
For the avoidance of doubt, this Clause 23.25 (Clean-up period) shall not restrict the
Agents right to give any notice under Clause 23.24 (Acceleration) or any other Finance
Partys right to take any action with respect to any Default which is not a Clean-Up Default. |
- 76 -
SECTION 9
CHANGES TO PARTIES
24. |
|
Changes to the Lenders |
24.1 |
|
Assignments and transfers by the Lenders |
|
|
Subject to this Clause 24, a Lender (the Existing Lender) may: |
|
(a) |
|
assign any of its rights; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations, |
|
|
to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is
regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in
loans, securities or other financial assets (the New Lender) without the prior consent
of, or notice to, any Obligor. |
24.2 |
|
Conditions of assignment or transfer |
(a) |
|
An assignment will only be effective on: |
|
(i) |
|
receipt by the Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same
obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an
Original Lender; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
performance by the Agent and the Security Trustee of all know your customer
or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in relation to
such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Security Trustee shall
promptly notify to the Agent and the Agent shall promptly notify the Existing Lender
and the New Lender (as the case may be). |
(b) |
|
A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 24.5 (Procedure for
transfer) is complied with. |
24.3 |
|
Assignment or transfer fee |
|
|
The New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect or the
Transfer Certificate is delivered to the Agent in accordance with Clause 24.5 (Procedure
for transfer), pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of US$2,000. |
24.4 |
|
Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders |
(a) |
|
Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
|
(i) |
|
the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the
Finance Documents or any other documents; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the financial condition of any Obligor; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
the performance and observance by any Obligor of its obligations under the
Finance Documents or any other documents; or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in
connection with any Finance Document or any other document,
|
- 77 -
|
|
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded. |
(b) |
|
Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it: |
|
(i) |
|
has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and
assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related
entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied
exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection
with any Finance Document; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness
of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding
under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
(c) |
|
Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to: |
|
(i) |
|
accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations
assigned or transferred under this Clause 24; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by
reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance
Documents or otherwise. |
24.5 |
|
Procedure for transfer |
(a) |
|
Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 24.2 (Conditions of assignment or transfer), a
transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (b) below when the Agent executes an
otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the
New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable
after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply
with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
execute that Transfer Certificate. |
|
(b) |
|
The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the
Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it and the Security Trustee have
complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable
laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender. |
|
(c) |
|
On the Transfer Date: |
|
(i) |
|
to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to
transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents, each of
the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations
towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against
one another under the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the Discharged
Rights and Obligations); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one
another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged
Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor and the New Lender have assumed
and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender; |
- 78 -
|
(iii) |
|
the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arranger, the New Lender and other
Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between
themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original
Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the
transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arranger and the
Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under
the Finance Documents; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the New Lender shall become a Party as a Lender. |
24.6 |
|
Copy of Transfer Certificate to the Company |
|
|
The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer
Certificate, send to the Company a copy of that Transfer Certificate. |
24.7 |
|
Disclosure of information |
|
|
Any Lender may disclose to: |
|
(a) |
|
any of its Affiliates; |
|
|
(b) |
|
its head office and any other branch; |
|
|
(c) |
|
any other Finance Parties; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
and any other person: |
|
(i) |
|
to (or through) whom that Lender assigns or transfers (or may
potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and obligations under
this Agreement; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
with (or through) whom that Lender enters into (or may
potentially enter into) any sub-participation in relation to, or any other
transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to, this
Agreement or any Obligor; or |
|
|
(iii) |
|
to whom, and to the extent that, information is required to
be disclosed by any applicable law or regulation, |
|
|
any information about any Obligor, the Group and the Finance Documents as that Lender shall
consider appropriate if, in relation to paragraphs (d)(i) and (d)(ii) above, the person to
whom the information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking. This
Clause 24.7 supersedes any previous agreement relating to the confidentiality of this
information. |
25. |
|
Changes to the Obligors |
25.1 |
|
Transfer by Obligors |
|
|
No Obligor may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under
the Finance Documents. |
25.2 |
|
Additional Guarantors |
(a) |
|
The Company may request that any of its Subsidiaries become an Additional Guarantor. That
Subsidiary shall become an Additional Guarantor if: |
|
(i) |
|
the Company delivers to the Agent a duly completed and executed Accession
Letter; and |
- 79 -
|
(ii) |
|
the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in and
appearing to comply with the requirements of Part II (Conditions precedent required to
be delivered by an Additional Guarantor) of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) in
relation to that Additional Guarantor. |
(b) |
|
The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon receiving such documents and
other evidence. |
25.3 |
|
Repetition of representations |
|
|
Delivery of an Accession Letter constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that
the Repeating Representations are true and correct in relation to it as at the date of
delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing. |
- 80 -
SECTION 10
THE FINANCE PARTIES
26. |
|
Role of the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Arranger |
26.1 |
|
Appointment of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) |
|
The Arranger and each Lender appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection
with the Finance Documents. |
|
(b) |
|
Each other Finance Party appoints the Security Trustee to act as security trustee under and
in connection with the Finance Documents. |
|
(c) |
|
The Arranger and each Lender authorises the Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities
and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance
Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
26.2 |
|
Duties of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) |
|
The Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is
delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party. |
|
(b) |
|
Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to
review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another
Party. |
|
(c) |
|
If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default
and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the
Lenders. |
|
(d) |
|
If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other
fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Security Trustee, the Agent or the Arranger)
under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. |
|
(e) |
|
The Agent shall promptly send to the Security Trustee such certification as the Security
Trustee may require pursuant to paragraph 7 (Basis of distribution) of Schedule 7 (Security
trust provisions). |
|
(f) |
|
The duties of the Agent and the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents are solely
mechanical and administrative in nature. Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee shall have
any other duties save as expressly provided in the Finance Documents to which it is party. |
26.3 |
|
Role of the Arranger |
|
|
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arranger has no obligations
of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document. |
26.4 |
|
Role of the Security Trustee |
|
|
The Security Trustee shall not be an agent of any Finance Party or any Obligor under or in
connection with any Finance Document. |
- 81 -
(a) |
|
Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent, the Security Trustee (except as expressly
provided in Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions)) or the Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary
of any other person. |
|
(b) |
|
Neither the Agent, the Security Trustee (except as expressly provided in Schedule 7 (Security
trust provisions) or in any Security Document) nor the Arranger shall be bound to account to
any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account. |
26.6 |
|
Business with the Group |
|
|
The Agent, the Security Trustee and the Arranger may accept deposits from, lend money to
and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group. |
26.7 |
|
Rights and discretions of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) |
|
The Agent and the Security Trustee may rely on: |
|
(i) |
|
any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct
and appropriately authorised and shall have no duty to verify any signature on any
document; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any statement purportedly made by a director, authorised signatory or
employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be
within his knowledge or within his power to verify. |
(b) |
|
The Agent and the Security Trustee may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary
in its capacity as agent for the Lenders or, as the case may be, as security trustee for the
Finance Parties) that: |
|
(i) |
|
no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising
under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment)); and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority
Lenders has not been exercised. |
(c) |
|
Each of the Agent and the Security Trustee. may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or
services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts. |
|
(d) |
|
Each of the Agent and the Security Trustee may act in relation to the Finance Documents
through its personnel and agents. |
|
(e) |
|
The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has
received as agent under this Agreement. |
|
(f) |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the
Agent, the Security Trustee nor the Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it
would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a
breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. |
26.8 |
|
Majority Lenders instructions |
(a) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent and the Security
Trustee shall (i) exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent or
Security Trustee, as the case may be, in accordance with any instructions given to it by the
Majority Lenders (or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any
right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent or Security Trustee. as the case
may be)
|
- 82 -
|
|
and (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking
any action) in accordance with an instruction of the Majority Lenders. |
|
(b) |
|
Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the
Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties. |
|
(c) |
|
Each of the Agent and the Security Trustee may refrain from acting in accordance with the
instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) or under paragraph (d)
below until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability
(together with any associated Indirect Tax) which it may incur in complying with the
instructions. |
|
(d) |
|
In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders),
the Agent and the Security Trustee may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to
be in the best interest of the Lenders. |
|
(e) |
|
Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee is authorised to act on behalf of a Lender
(without first obtaining that Lenders consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings
relating to any Finance Document. |
26.9 |
|
Responsibility for documentation |
|
|
Neither the Agent, the Security Trustee nor the Arranger: |
|
(a) |
|
is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any
information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Arranger, the
Security Trustee, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any
Finance Document or the Information Memorandum; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or
enforceability of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document
entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance
Document. |
26.10 |
|
Exclusion of liability |
(a) |
|
Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph
(c) of Clause 30 (Disruption to payment systems, etc.), neither the Agent nor the Security
Trustee will be liable for any action taken by it, or for omitting to take action under or in
connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by Its gross negligence or wilful
misconduct. |
|
(b) |
|
No Party (other than the Agent or the Security Trustee) may take any proceedings against any
officer, employee or agent of the Agent or the Security Trustee in respect of any claim it
might have against the Agent or the Security Trustee or in respect of any act or omission of
any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document. Any officer,
employee or agent referred to In this paragraph (b) may enjoy the
benefit of or enforce the terms of this paragraph in accordance with the provisions of the
Third Parties Act and any such officer, employee or agent may rely on this Clause 26.10. |
|
(c) |
|
Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee will be liable for any delay (or any related
consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to
be paid by It if it has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply
with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system
used by it for that purpose. |
|
(d) |
|
Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger to
carry out any know your customer or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any
Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Arranger that it |
- 83 -
|
|
is
solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on
any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent, the Security Trustee or the
Arranger. |
26.11 |
|
Lenders indemnity to the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraph (b) below, each Lender shall (in proportion to its Available Commitment
and participations in the Utilisations then outstanding to the Available Facility and all the
Utilisations then outstanding) indemnify the Agent and the Security Trustee, within three
Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent or the
Security Trustee (otherwise than by reason of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct) or in
the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 30 (Disruption to payment systems,
etc.) notwithstanding the Agents negligence, gross negligence or any other category of
liability whatever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent in acting as
Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent
or, as applicable, the Security Trustee has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a
Finance Document). |
|
(b) |
|
If the Available Facility is then zero each Lenders indemnity under paragraph (a) above
shall be in proportion to its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior
to its reduction to zero, unless there are then any Utilisations outstanding in which case it
shall be in proportion to its participations in the Utilisations then outstanding to all the
Utilisations then outstanding. |
26.12 |
|
Resignation of the Agent or the Security Trustee |
(a) |
|
The Agent or the Security Trustee may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor
by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Company. |
|
(b) |
|
Alternatively the Agent or the Security Trustee may resign by giving notice to the other
Finance Parties and the Company, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with
the Company) may appoint a successor Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee. |
|
(c) |
|
If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent or, as the case may be, Security
Trustee in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 30 days after notice of resignation was
given, the Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee (after consultation with the
Company) may appoint a successor Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee. |
|
(d) |
|
The retiring Agent or Security Trustee shall, at its own cost, make available to its
successor such documents and records and provide such assistance as its successor
may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent or Security
Trustee under the Finance Documents. |
|
(e) |
|
The resignation notice of the Agent or the Security Trustee shall only take effect upon the
appointment of a successor. |
|
(f) |
|
Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent or Security Trustee shall be
discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain
entitled to the benefit of this Clause 26. Its successor and each of the other Parties shall
have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such
successor had been an original Party. |
- 84 -
(g) |
|
After consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent or, as
the case may be, the Security Trustee, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (b)
above. In this event, the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee shall resign in
accordance with paragraph (b) above. |
(a) |
|
The Agent (in acting as agent for the Lenders) and the Security Trustee (in acting as
security trustee for the Finance Parties) shall be regarded as acting through their respective
agency or security trustee division which in each case shall be treated as a separate entity
from any other of its divisions or departments. |
|
(b) |
|
If information is received by another division or department of the Agent or, as the case may
be, the Security Trustee, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and
the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of
it. |
|
(c) |
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of any: Finance Document to the contrary, neither the
Agent, the Security Trustee nor the Arranger is obliged to disclose to any person (i) any
confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would or might in its
reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of any contractual
or fiduciary duty. |
26.14 |
|
Relationship with the Lenders |
|
|
The Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and
acting through its Facility Office unless it has received not less than five Business Days
prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. |
26.15 |
|
Credit appraisal by the Lenders |
|
|
Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on
its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Agent, the
Security Trustee and the Arranger that it has been, and will continue to be, solely
responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising
under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to: |
|
(a) |
|
the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any
Finance Document and any other agreement, Security, arrangement or document entered
into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance
Document; |
|
|
(c) |
|
whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse,
against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any
Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other
agreement, Security, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in
anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
|
|
(d) |
|
the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of the Information Memorandum and
any other information provided by the Agent, the Security Trustee, any Party
or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the
transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement,
Security, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation
of, under or in connection with any Finance Document. |
- 85 -
|
|
If a Reference Bank ceases generally to offer quotations for LIBOR, the Agent shall (in
consultation with the Company) appoint another bank or financial institution approved by
the Majority Lenders to replace that Reference Bank. |
26.17 |
|
Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent |
|
|
If any Party owes an amount to the Agent or the Security Trustee under the Finance
Documents the Agent or the Security Trustee (as the case may be) may, after giving notice
to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party
which the Agent or the Security Trustee (as the case may be) would otherwise be obliged to
make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction
of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded
as having received any amount so deducted. |
26.18 |
|
Management time of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
|
|
Any amount payable to the Agent or the Security Trustee under Clause 14.3 (Indemnity to the
Agent and the Security Trustee), Clause 16 (Costs and expenses) and Clause 26.11 (Lenders
indemnity to the Agent and the Security Trustee) shall include the cost of utilising its
management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable
daily or hourly rates as it may notify to the Company and the Lenders, and is in addition
to any fee paid or payable to it under Clause 11 (Fees). |
26.19 |
|
Security trust provisions |
|
|
The provisions of Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions) shall bind each Party. |
|
|
Each Lender hereby notifies each Obligor that pursuant to the requirements of the USA
Patriot Act, such Lender is required to obtain, verify and record information that
identifies such Obligor, which information includes the name and address of such Obligor
and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Obligor in accordance
with the USA Patriot Act. |
27. |
|
Conduct of business by the Finance Parties |
|
|
No provision of this Agreement will: |
|
(a) |
|
interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or
otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
|
|
(b) |
|
oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief,
remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim;
or |
|
|
(c) |
|
oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs
(tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
- 86 -
28. |
|
Sharing among the Finance Parties |
28.1 |
|
Payments to Finance Parties |
|
|
If a Finance Party (a Recovering Finance Party) receives or recovers any amount from an
Obligor other than in accordance with Clause 29 (Payment mechanics) and applies that amount
to a payment due under the Finance Documents then: |
|
(a) |
|
the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify
details of the receipt or recovery to the Agent; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the
amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery
been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 29
(Payment mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the
Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by
the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the Sharing Payment) equal to such receipt or
recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering
Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 29.5
(Partial payments). |
28.2 |
|
Redistribution of payments |
|
|
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor
and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) in
accordance with Clause 29.5 (Partial payments). |
28.3 |
|
Recovering Finance Partys rights |
(a) |
|
On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 28.2 (Redistribution of payments), the Recovering
Finance Party will be subrogated to the rights of the Finance Parties which have shared in the
redistribution. |
|
(b) |
|
If and to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party is not able to rely on its rights
under paragraph (a) above, the relevant Obligor shall be liable to the Recovering Finance
Party for a debt equal to the Sharing Payment which is immediately due and payable. |
28.4 |
|
Reversal of redistribution |
|
|
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party
becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then: |
|
(a) |
|
each Finance Party which has received a share of the relevant Sharing Payment
pursuant to Clause 28.2 (Redistribution of payments) shall, upon request of the Agent,
pay to the Agent for account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the
appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is
necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any
interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to
pay); and |
|
|
(b) |
|
that Recovering Finance Partys rights of subrogation in respect of any
reimbursement shall be cancelled and the Borrower will be liable to the reimbursing
Finance Party for the amount so reimbursed. |
- 87 -
(a) |
|
This Clause 28 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not,
after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against
the relevant Obligor. |
|
(b) |
|
A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount
which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or
arbitration proceedings, if: |
|
(i) |
|
it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings;
and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or
arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having
received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings. |
- 88 -
SECTION 11
ADMINISTRATION
29.1 |
|
Payments to the Agent |
(a) |
|
On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance
Document, that Obligor (subject to Clause 29.9 (Payments to the Security Trustee)) or Lender
shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance
Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as
being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the
place of payment. |
|
(b) |
|
Payment shall be made to such account with such bank as the Agent specifies. |
29.2 |
|
Distributions by the Agent |
|
|
Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall,
subject to Clause 29.3 (Distributions to an Obligor), Clause 29.4 (Clawback) and Clause
29.9 (Payments to the Security Trustee), be made available by the Agent by payment as soon
as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with
this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such
account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days prior
notice, with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency. Any
notice given to the Agent by a Party under this Clause 29.2 is only effective when the
original notice is received by the Agent signed by an authorised officer of that Party. |
29.3 |
|
Distributions to an Obligor |
|
|
The Agent and the Security Trustee may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance
with Clause 31 (Set-off) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards
payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that
Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency
to be so applied. |
|
29.4 |
|
Clawback |
|
(a) |
|
Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent or the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents
for another Party, the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee is not obliged to
pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract)
until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that
sum. |
|
(b) |
|
If the Agent or the Security Trustee pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the
case that it had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the
proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent or, as the case may be, the
Security Trustee shall on demand refund the same to the Agent or, as the case may be, the
Security Trustee, together with interest on ;that amount from the date of payment to the date
of receipt by the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee, calculated by it to
reflect its cost of funds. |
- 89 -
29.5 |
|
Partial payments |
|
(a) |
|
If the Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due
and payable by an Obligor under the Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment
towards the obligations of that Obligor under the Finance Documents in the following order: |
|
(i) |
|
first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses
of the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger under the Finance Documents; |
|
|
(ii) |
|
secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest or
commission or other fee due but unpaid under this Agreement; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid
under this Agreement; and |
|
|
(iv) |
|
fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid
under the Finance Documents. |
(b) |
|
The Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs
(a)(ii) to (iv) above. |
|
(c) |
|
Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor. |
|
29.6 |
|
No set-off by Obligors |
|
|
|
All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and
be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim. |
|
29.7 |
|
Business Days |
|
(a) |
|
Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the
next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day
(if there is not). |
|
(b) |
|
During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this
Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the
original due date. |
|
29.8 |
|
Currency of account |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) below, US Dollars is the currency of account and payment for
any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document. |
|
(b) |
|
A repayment of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum shall be
made in the currency in which that Utilisation or Unpaid Sum is denominated on its due date. |
|
(c) |
|
Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which
the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued. |
|
(d) |
|
Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which
the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred. |
|
(e) |
|
Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than US Dollars shall be paid in that
other currency. |
- 90 -
29.9 |
|
Payments to the Security Trustee |
|
|
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document, at any time after any Security
created by or pursuant to any Security Document becomes enforceable, the Security Trustee
may require: |
|
(a) |
|
any Obligor to pay all sums due under any Finance Document; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Agent to pay all sums received or recovered from an Obligor under any
Finance Document, |
|
|
in each case as the Security Trustee may direct for application in accordance with the
terms of the Security Documents or Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions). |
30. |
|
Disruption to payment systems, etc. |
|
|
If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or
the Agent is notified by the Company that a Disruption Event has occurred: |
|
(a) |
|
the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Company, consult with
the Company with a view to agreeing with the Company such changes to the operation or
administration of the Facility as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; |
|
|
(b) |
|
the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Company in relation to any
changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to
do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to
such changes; |
|
|
(c) |
|
the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes
mentioned in paragraph (a) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion,
it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
|
|
(d) |
|
any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Company shall (whether or
not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the
Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the
Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 36 (Amendments and
waivers); |
|
|
(e) |
|
the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever
(including, without limitation, for negligence, gross negligence or any other category
of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent)
arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in
connection with this Clause 30; and |
|
|
(f) |
|
the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to
paragraph (d) above. |
|
|
Without prior notice to the Obligor, a Finance Party may but is not obliged to, set off any
matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent
beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any obligation owed by that Finance Party
to that Obligor (whether or not matured), regardless of the place of payment,
booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different
currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in
its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off. |
- 91 -
32.1 |
|
Communications in writing |
|
|
|
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be
made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter. |
|
32.2 |
|
Addresses |
|
|
|
The address, fax number and (if applicable) email address (and the department or officer,
if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any
communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance
Documents is: |
|
(a) |
|
in the case of each Original Obligor: that identified with its name below; |
|
|
(b) |
|
in the case of each Lender, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior
to the date on which it becomes a Party; and |
|
|
(c) |
|
in the case of the Agent and the Security Trustee, that identified with its
name below, |
|
|
or any substitute address, fax number, email address or department or officer as the Party
may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made
by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days notice. |
32.3 |
|
Delivery |
|
(a) |
|
Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in
connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective: |
|
(i) |
|
if sent by fax before 5:00 p.m. (local time in the place to which it is sent)
on a working day in that place, when sent or, if sent by fax at any other time, at
9:00 a.m. (local time in the place to which it is sent) on the next working day in
that place, provided, in each case, that the person sending the fax shall have
received a transmission receipt; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five
Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope
addressed to it at that address, |
|
|
and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details
provided under Clause 32.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer. For
this purpose, working days are days other than Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. |
(b) |
|
Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent or the Security Trustee
will be effective only when actually received by it and then only if it is expressly marked
for the attention of the department or officer identified with its signature below (or any
substitute department or officer as it shall specify for this purpose). |
|
(c) |
|
All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Agent. |
- 92 -
32.4 |
|
Notification of address, fax number and email address |
|
|
|
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address, fax number or email address or change
of address, fax number or email address pursuant to Clause 32.2 (Addresses) or changing its
own address, fax number or email address, the Agent shall notify the other Parties. |
|
32.5 |
|
Reliance |
|
(a) |
|
Any notice sent under this Clause 32 can be relied on by the recipient if the recipient
reasonably believes the notice to be genuine and if it bears what appears to be the signature
(original or facsimile) of an authorised signatory of the sender without the need for further
enquiry or confirmation. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Party must take reasonable care to ensure that no forged, false or unauthorised notices
are sent to another Party. |
|
32.6 |
|
English language |
|
(a) |
|
Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English. |
|
(b) |
|
All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be: |
|
(i) |
|
in English; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a
certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail
unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document. |
33. |
|
Calculations and certificates |
33.1 |
|
Accounts |
|
|
|
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance
Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie
evidence of the matters to which they relate. |
|
33.2 |
|
Certificates and determinations |
|
|
|
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance
Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which
it relates. |
|
33.3 |
|
Day count convention |
|
|
|
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to
day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360
days or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Interbank Market differs, in
accordance with that market practice. |
|
|
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or
unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality,
validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or
enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be
affected or impaired. |
- 93 -
|
|
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any
right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single
or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the
exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement
are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. |
36. |
|
Amendments and waivers |
36.1 |
|
Required consents |
|
(a) |
|
Subject to Clause 36.2 (Exceptions), any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or
waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors and any such amendment
or waiver will be binding on all Parties. |
|
(b) |
|
The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by
this Clause 36. |
|
36.2 |
|
Exceptions |
|
(a) |
|
An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
|
(i) |
|
the definition of Majority Lenders in Clause 1.1 (Definitions); |
|
|
(ii) |
|
an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance
Documents; |
|
|
(iii) |
|
a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of
principal, interest, fees or commission payable; |
|
|
(iv) |
|
an increase in or an extension of any Commitment; |
|
|
(v) |
|
a change to the Borrower or the Guarantors other than in accordance with
Clause 25 (Changes to the Obligors); |
|
|
(vi) |
|
any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders; |
|
|
(vii) |
|
Clause 2.2 (Finance Parties rights and obligations), Clause 24 (Changes to
the Lenders), Clause 28 (Sharing among the Finance Parties) or this Clause 36; or |
|
|
(viii) |
|
the release of any Security created pursuant to any Security Document or of any
Charged Assets (except as provided in any Security Document), |
|
|
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders. |
(b) |
|
An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the Security
Trustee or the Arranger may not be effected without the consent of the Agent, the Security
Trustee or, as the case may be, the Arranger. |
|
|
Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this shall have
the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the
Finance Document. |
- 94 -
SECTION 12
GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
|
|
This Agreement is governed by English law. |
39.1 |
|
Jurisdiction |
|
(a) |
|
The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or
termination of this Agreement) (a Dispute). |
|
(b) |
|
The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts
to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary. |
|
(c) |
|
This Clause 39.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance
Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts
with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent
proceedings in any number of jurisdictions. |
|
39.2 |
|
Service of process |
|
|
|
Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor
(other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales): |
|
(a) |
|
irrevocably appoints WNS Global Services (UK) Limited as its agent for
service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in
connection with any Finance Document; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the
process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned. |
39.3 |
|
Consent to enforcement etc. |
|
|
|
Each Obligor irrevocably and generally consents in respect of any proceedings anywhere in
connection with any Finance Document to the giving of any relief or the issue of any
process in connection with those proceedings including, without limitation, the making,
enforcement or execution against any assets whatsoever (irrespective of their use or
intended use) of any order or judgment which may be made or given in those proceedings. |
|
39.4 |
|
Waiver of immunity |
|
|
|
Each Obligor irrevocably agrees that, should any Party take any proceedings anywhere
(whether for an injunction, specific performance, damages or otherwise in connection with
any Finance Document), no immunity (to the extent that it may at any time exist, whether on
the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from those proceedings, from attachment (whether
in aid of execution, before judgment or otherwise) of its assets or from execution of
judgment shall be claimed by it or with respect to its assets, any such immunity being
irrevocably waived. Each Obligor irrevocably agrees that it and its
assets are, and shall be, subject to such proceedings, attachment or execution in respect of its
obligations under the Finance Documents. |
- 95 -
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
- 96 -
The Company
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
Channel House, 7 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands |
|
|
|
|
|
Fax No.:
|
|
+44 (1534) 847001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: |
|
Ramesh Shah / Neeraj Bhargava |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Borrower
WNS (MAURITIUS) LIMITED
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
10, Frere Felix, de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
|
|
|
|
|
Fax No.:
|
|
230 (212) 5265 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: |
|
Louis Cheong Tin, Yuraj Kumar Juwaheer, Vikas Gupta |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Vikas Gupta |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Guarantors
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
Channel House, 7 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands |
|
|
|
|
|
Fax No.:
|
|
+44 (1534) 847001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: |
|
Ramesh Shah / Neeraj Bhargava |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 97 -
WNS GLOBAL SERVICES (UK) LIMITED
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
The Lodge, Harmondsworth Lane, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 0AB |
|
|
|
|
|
Fax No.:
|
|
+44 208 754 8570 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: |
|
Suzanne Westserhoff / J J Selvadurai |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ J. J. Selvadurai |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WNS NORTH AMERICA INC.
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2515, New York, NY 10170, USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Fax No.:
|
|
+1 212 599-6962 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: |
|
Lydia Chua / Ramesh Shah |
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT LIMITED
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
10, Frere Felix, de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
|
|
|
|
|
Fax No.:
|
|
230 (212) 5265 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: |
|
Louis Cheong Tin, Yuraj Kumar Juwaheer, Vikas Gupta |
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Vikas Gupta
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Arranger
ICICI BANK UK PLC
ICICI BANK CANADA
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Sri Ram H. Iyer /s/
Rajesh Ramakrishnan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 98 -
The Original Lenders
ICICI BANK UK PLC
ICICI BANK CANADA
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Sri Ram H. Iyer /s/ Rajesh Ramakrishnan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Agent
ICICI BANK UK PLC
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
5th Floor, Alperton House
Bridgewater Road
Wembley HA0 1EH
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
Fax No.:
|
|
+44 208 795 5468 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attention:
|
|
Mr Haresh Wadhwa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Aarti Sharma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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The Security Trustee
MORGAN WALKER SOLICITORS LLP
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Address: |
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115 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1PR
United Kingdom |
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Fax No.:
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+44 207 831 9638 |
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Attention:
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Mr Ashok Sancheti |
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By: |
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/s/ (signed) |
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The Account Bank
ICICI BANK UK PLC
- 99 -
Ex-12.3 Certification of Section 302
Exhibit 12.3
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Neeraj Bhargava, certify that:
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I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F/A of WNS (Holdings) Limited; |
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Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this report; |
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3. |
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The companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and
15(d)-15(f)) for the company and have: |
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a) |
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designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which
this report is being prepared; |
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b) |
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designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles; |
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c) |
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evaluated the effectiveness of the companys disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on
such evaluation; and |
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d) |
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disclosed in this report any change in the companys internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the companys
internal control over financial reporting; and |
4. |
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The companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent
evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the companys auditors and the
audit committee of the companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions): |
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a) |
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all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely
affect the companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and |
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b) |
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any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in the companys internal control over financial reporting. |
Date:
October 9, 2008
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By: |
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava
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Name: |
Neeraj Bhargava |
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Title: |
Group Chief Executive Officer |
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Ex-12.4 Certification of Section 302
Exhibit 12.4
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Alok Misra, certify that:
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I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F/A of WNS (Holdings) Limited; |
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Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this report; |
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3. |
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The companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and
15(d)-15(f)) for the company and have: |
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a) |
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designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made
known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which
this report is being prepared; |
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b) |
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designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles; |
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c) |
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evaluated the effectiveness of the companys disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on
such evaluation; and |
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d) |
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disclosed in this report any change in the companys internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the companys
internal control over financial reporting; and |
4. |
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The companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent
evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the companys auditors and the
audit committee of the companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
functions): |
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a) |
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all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely
affect the companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial
information; and |
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b) |
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any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in the companys internal control over financial reporting. |
Date:
October 9, 2008
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By: |
/s/ Alok Misra
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Name: |
Alok Misra |
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Title: |
Group Chief Financial Officer |
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