UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 2, 2024

CARRIER GLOBAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
001-39220
83-4051582
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

13995 Pasteur Boulevard
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(561) 365-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock ($0.01 par value)
CARR
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 


Introductory Note

Completion of the Acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions SE

As previously disclosed, on April 25, 2023, Carrier Global Corporation (“Carrier”) and Johann Purchaser GmbH (“Purchaser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Carrier, entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG (“Seller”), providing for the acquisition by Purchaser (the “Acquisition”) of Seller’s climate solutions business (the “Business”) through the acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions SE (“Climate Solutions”). On January 2, 2024, Carrier completed the Acquisition. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the purchase price paid by Purchaser to Seller consisted of (i) EUR 10.2 billion in cash (the “Cash Consideration”) and (ii) 58,608,959 common shares, par value $0.01, of Carrier (“Carrier Common Stock” and such consideration, the “Share Consideration”).

Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Investor Rights Agreement

In connection with the completion of the Acquisition, on January 2, 2024, Carrier and Seller entered into an Investor Rights Agreement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which Seller has the right to nominate one member of the Carrier Board of Directors (the “Board”) for a period of ten years following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Closing”), provided that Seller, together with its permitted transferees, continues to hold at least 50% of the Share Consideration. Seller has designated Maximilian Viessmann as its initial designee to the Board. The Investor Rights Agreement further provides that, for the time periods specified therein, Seller and its affiliates are subject to customary standstill, lockup and transfer restrictions and agree to vote their shares of Carrier Common Stock in favor of director nominees and other customary matters as recommended by the Board. The Investor Rights Agreement also provides for customary resale, demand and piggyback registration rights. In addition, the Investor Rights Agreement provides for a waiver of the corporate opportunities doctrine in favor of Seller and its affiliates, which was approved by the Board.
 
Bridge Credit Agreement
 
In connection with the completion of the Acquisition, on January 2, 2024, Carrier entered into a 60-day term loan credit agreement (the “Bridge Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, under which it incurred a 60-day senior unsecured bridge term loan consisting of a euro-denominated tranche in an aggregate amount of €113 million and a USD-denominated tranche in an aggregate amount of $349 million, the proceeds of which were used to fund a portion of the Cash Consideration (the “Bridge Loan”).

The Bridge Loan bears interest at, in the case of borrowings denominated in USD, the Term SOFR Rate plus 0.10% and a ratings-based margin or alternatively at the Base Rate plus a ratings-based margin, and in the case of borrowings denominated in euro, the EURIBOR Rate plus a ratings-based margin.


The Bridge Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties for investment grade financings, certain customary affirmative covenants and certain negative covenants that generally restrict, subject to various exceptions, Carrier from taking certain actions, including, without limitation, incurring certain liens and certain fundamental changes, and customary events of default for financings of this type.
 
All terms used but not defined in this “Bridge Credit Agreement” section of Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) are as defined in the Bridge Credit Agreement.

Additional Agreements
 
In connection with the completion of the Acquisition, Carrier, Seller and Carrier Innovative Technologies GmbH (“Licensee”) entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”), pursuant to which Seller has granted to Licensee an exclusive, worldwide license to use the “Viessmann” trademarks in connection with the Business. Licensee is required to pay an annual royalty of €12 million for the first five years of the term of the License Agreement and thereafter is required to pay royalties on net sales of licensed products sold by Licensee and its affiliates for the remainder of the term.
 
The foregoing description of each of the Investor Rights Agreement, the License Agreement, and the Bridge Credit Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Investor Rights Agreement, the License Agreement and the Bridge Credit Agreement, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit No. 10.1, Exhibit No. 10.2 and Exhibit No. 10.3, respectively, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.01
Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

The information set forth in the section titled “Introductory Note” and in Item 1.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.

The descriptions of the effects of the Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the full text of the Purchase Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Carrier’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 25, 2023 and which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth under the section titled “Bridge Credit Agreement” in Item 1.01 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Effective as of the Closing, on January 2, 2024, Maximilian Viessmann was appointed as a member of the Board, with a term expiring at Carrier’s 2024 annual meeting of shareowners. The Board also appointed Mr. Viessmann to the Board’s Technology and Innovation Committee. Mr. Viessmann was appointed pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, as described in Item 1.01 of this Report.


Mr. Viessmann has been the Co-Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Seller since 2018.

In connection with his service on the Board, Mr. Viessmann will receive the same compensation currently payable to Carrier’s non-employee directors, including for service on committees and as committee chairpersons, as described in the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC by Carrier on March 7, 2023 in connection with Carrier’s 2023 annual meeting of shareowners.

Mr. Viessmann, together with other members of the Viessmann family, owns a majority of the capital stock of Seller and accordingly, upon the completion of the Acquisition, Seller became a “related party” of Carrier. In connection with the Closing, Carrier and its affiliates entered into certain agreements with Seller, including the License Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement, descriptions of which are included in Item 1.01 to this Report and are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, in connection with the Closing, Carrier, Seller and Climate Solutions entered into a Transitional Services Agreement pursuant to which each of Carrier and Seller will provide to the other on an interim, transitional basis, various services, agreed-upon charges for which services are generally intended to allow the servicing party to charge a price comprised of costs and expenses, including reasonably allocable overhead expenses. Following the Closing, Carrier and its affiliates intend to enter into or maintain certain additional commercial agreements, including framework agreements and lease agreements, with Seller and its affiliates.

Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 2, 2024, Carrier issued a press release announcing the completion of the Acquisition and Mr. Viessmann’s appointment to the Board. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

The press release issued on January 2, 2024 is furnished herewith as Exhibit No. 99.1 to this Report, and shall not be deemed filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing by Carrier under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.


Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)
Financial Statements of Business Acquired

The audited combined financial statements of the Business at and for the year ended December 31, 2022, the notes related thereto and the Report of Independent Auditors thereon, and the unaudited combined financial statements of the Business at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and the notes related thereto, are filed as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3, respectively, to this Report and incorporated by reference herein.

(b)
Pro Forma Financial Information

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Carrier and the Business at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the notes related thereto, is filed as Exhibit 99.4 to this Report and incorporated by reference herein.

The pro forma financial information included as Exhibit 99.4 to this Report has been presented for informational purposes only, as required by Form 8-K, and does not purport to represent the actual results of operations that Carrier and the Business would have achieved had Carrier and the Business combined at and during the periods presented in the pro forma financial information, and is not intended to project the future results of operations that the combined company may achieve following the Acquisition.

(d)
Exhibits

Share Purchase Agreement dated as of April 25, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2023).
License Agreement dated as of January 2, 2024, by and among Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG, Viessmann Climate Solutions SE and Carrier Global Corporation.
Investor Rights Agreement dated as of January 2, 2024, by and between Carrier Global Corporation and Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG.
Bridge Loan Agreement dated as of January 2, 2024, by and among Carrier Global Corporation, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., BofA Securities, Inc. and Bank of America, N.A.
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Press release dated January 2, 2024 announcing completion of the Acquisition and the appointment of Maximilian Viessmann to the Board.
Audited Combined Financial Statements of the Climate Solutions Business of Viessmann Climate Solutions SE at and for the year ended December 31, 2022, the notes related thereto and the Report of Independent Auditors contained therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished on November 13, 2023).
Unaudited Combined Financial Statements of the Climate Solutions Business of Viessmann Climate Solutions SE at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and the notes related thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished on November 13, 2023).
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information of Carrier and the Climate Solutions Business of Viessmann Climate Solutions SE at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the notes related thereto.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

* Certain exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.
+ Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally an unredacted copy of this exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
CARRIER GLOBAL CORPORATION
   
Date:  January 2, 2024
By:
 /s/ Patrick Goris
   
Patrick Goris
   
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer




EXHIBIT 10.1
 

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN OMITTED BY MEANS OF REDACTING A PORTION OF THE TEXT AND REPLACING IT WITH [***] BECAUSE IT IS BOTH: (I) NOT MATERIAL AND (II) THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.
 
LICENSE AGREEMENT
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page
     
1.
Interpretation and Definitions
3
2.
Grant and Scope of License
7
3.
Sublicenses
8
4.
Website Architecture and Social Media
9
5.
Core Brand Strategy and Brand Guidelines
10
6.
Further Specifics of Use
11
7.
Quality Assurance and Critical Incidents
12
8.
Brand Team, Brand Committee and Escalation Process
13
9.
Royalties
15
10.
Maintenance and Third Party Challenges with Regard to Licensed Trademarks
17
11.
Enforcement against Third-Party Infringements
18
12.
Attacks on Use of Licensed Trademarks; Product Liability
19
13.
Representations and Warranties; Limitation of Liability
20
14.
Term and Termination
21
15.
Effects of Expiry and Termination
23
16.
Compliance; No Agency or Partnership
24
17.
Additional Intellectual Property Matters
24
18.
[***]
25
19.
Miscellaneous
25
20.
Severability
29

i

This License Agreement (“Agreement”) is made on 2 January 2024
 
by and between
 
1.
Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG, registered with the commercial register of the local court of Marburg, Germany, under number HRA 3389, Viessmannstraße 1, 35108 Allendorf (Eder)
 
“Licensor”
 
and
 
2.
Carrier Innovation Technologies GmbH, registered with the commercial register of the canton of Luzern, under number CHE-346.248.440, Am Mattenhof 2d, 6010 Kriens, Switzerland
 
“Licensee”
 
and
 
3.
Carrier Global Corporation, a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware, U.S.A., with file number: 7286518, with its principal executive offices located at 13995 Pasteur Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418, U.S.A.
 
“Parent”
 
regarding the use of the trademark “Viessmann” and further trademarks owned by Licensor - Licensor, Licensee and Parent also referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as “Parties
 

RECITALS
 
(A)
WHEREAS, on April 25, 2023, Licensor as seller and Blitz F23-620 GmbH (meanwhile renamed Johann Purchaser GmbH as purchaser a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent have entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Share Purchase Agreement”) regarding the sale and purchase of all of the outstanding shares in Viessmann Climate Solutions SE (“CS Company” and collectively with its subsidiaries existing at the Effective Date of this Agreement, “CS Group”).
 
(B)
WHEREAS, Licensor owns and will own during the term of this Agreement current and future trademarks consisting of or containing the term “Viessmann” and further trademarks currently being used for the Licensed Business and also for other business divisions of Licensor which will not be acquired by Johann Purchaser GmbH. CS Group owns certain CS Trademarks which include trademarks that are currently being used exclusively for the Licensed Business.
 
(C) WHEREAS, Licensee is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

(D)
WHEREAS, Licensor is willing to grant Licensee an exclusive license with regard to certain trademarks consisting of or containing the term “Viessmann” and further trademarks limited to the Licensed Business.
 
(E)
WHEREAS, the Parties, together with CS Group, envisage a long-term successful commercial relationship. The purpose of this Agreement is to enable Licensee and CS Group to provide premium products, solutions and services of the Licensed Business under the trademarks to be licensed under this Agreement.
 
(F)
WHEREAS, the Parties acknowledge the perception of “Viessmann” as a premium brand with respect to the Licensed Business and other business areas of Licensor and the Affiliates of Licensor. Licensee is committed to ensuring the premium quality of the products, services and solutions that are sold under the trademarks to be licensed under this Agreement.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:
 
2

1.
Interpretation and Definitions
 
1.1
Interpretation
 
1.1.1
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to the respective term in any section of this Agreement or, if the term is not assigned a meaning in this Agreement, the Share Purchase Agreement.  Certain terms are defined in Section 1.2.  For reference purposes, Section 1.3 contains a list of terms defined in this Agreement.
 
1.1.2
The Exhibits to this Agreement are an integral part of this Agreement and any reference to this Agreement includes this Agreement and the Exhibits as a whole.
 
1.1.3
The headings of the Sections and subsections in this Agreement are for convenience purposes only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.
 
1.1.4
Terms to which a German translation has been added shall be interpreted as having the meaning assigned to them by the German translation.
 
1.1.5
Unless expressly defined and used with an initial capital letter, words shall have their generally accepted meanings.  Terms defined in this Agreement, when used in the singular shall have a comparable meaning when used in the plural and vice versa.  The word “shall” is mandatory, the word “may” is permissive, the word “or” is not exclusive and the words “e.g.”, “includes” and “including” shall mean “including, without limitation”.  Words such as “hereof”, “herein” or “hereunder” refer (unless otherwise required by the context) to this Agreement as a whole and not to a specific provision of this Agreement.
 
1.2
Certain Definitions
 
For the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meaning:
 
Affiliate/s of Licensee
shall mean any company of CS Group as well as any company that, directly or indirectly, Controls or is Controlled by Licensee, or is under common Control with Licensee.

Affiliate/s of Licensor
shall mean any company or person (including, for the avoidance of doubt, [***] and [***]), (other than CS Group) that, directly or indirectly, Controls or is Controlled by Licensor, or is under common Control with Licensor; for purposes hereof, in relation to any person qualifying as Affiliate of Licensor, also the following shall qualify as Affiliate of Licensor: [***].

3

Agreement
shall mean this trademark license agreement, including all exhibits hereto, as amended from time to time.

Control
(including the correlative terms “Controlling”, “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) shall mean the direct or indirect holding of more than 50% of the capital and the voting rights.

CS Trademarks
shall mean the trademarks which are currently owned by CS Group and which are exclusively used in the Licensed Business, including any future trademarks The CS Trademarks do not include any of the Licensed Trademarks

Customer
shall mean third parties taking ownership of Licensed Products for their own use or for further resale to third parties, and shall not include Affiliates of Licensee.

Escalation Process
shall mean the escalation process set forth in Section 8.3.

Exclusive Trademarks
shall mean those Licensed Trademarks that are, as of the Effective Date, exclusively used in the Licensed Business as set out in Exhibit 1.2..

Existing License Agreement[s]
shall mean (i) any agreement existing as of the Effective Date pursuant to which any entity of CS Group grants to any third party a license or other right to use under any of the Licensed Trademarks in the Licensed Business and (ii) the trademark license agreement[s] listed in Exhibit 1.2/2.

Intellectual Property Rights
shall mean inventions, patents, utility models, trademarks, trade names, domain names, designs, copyrights and use rights for copyrights, rights in software and databases, trade secrets, know-how and any other rights of a similar kind, whether registered or not, including applications for, and rights to apply for, the registration of such rights.

4

Licensed Business
shall mean for residential, commercial and light commercial: (i) heating, (ii) comfort cooling, (iii) ventilation and indoor air quality, (iv) heating and/or storage of sanitary water, (v) energy storage, energy management, fuel cells and integrated green electricity generation, (vi) digital platforms, digital offerings, intelligent and sensing technologies in connection with each of the foregoing and (vii) controls and automation and auxiliary products in conjunction with digital and value-added services in connection with each of the foregoing.

Licensed Products
shall mean products, solutions and services of the Licensed Business which originate from Licensee or sublicensed Affiliates of Licensee.

Licensed Trademarks
shall mean the trademarks consisting of or containing the term “Viessmann” as well as certain further trademarks protected for Licensor as set out in Exhibit 1 2/3, and any other trademarks subsequently filed in any country in accordance with the terms of this Agreement

Net Sales
[***].

Share Purchase Agreement
shall have the meaning as set forth in Recital (A).

Territory
shall mean all countries of the world.

VAT
shall mean (i) such tax as may be levied by any member state of the European Union (EU) on the basis of Directive 2006/112/EC (as amended from time to time) and (ii) comparable taxes under the laws of any other jurisdiction outside the European Union.

“Viessmann Generations Trademarks”
shall mean any current and future trademarks consisting of or containing the terms “Viessmann Generation” or “Viessmann Generations”, including the trademarks listed in Exhibit 1.2/4.

VS Group’s Refrigeration Business
shall mean any and all refrigeration solution business activities of (a) Licensor and Licensor’s Affiliates as conducted on the Effective Date, and (b) of the legal entities contributed [or to be contributed] directly or indirectly by the Affiliate of Licensor, Viessmann Refrigeration Solutions GmbH to Epta Central Europe B,V., as conducted as of immediately prior to the contribution of such legal entities to Epta Central Europe B,V., including (i) any natural extensions thereof and (ii) with respect to clean rooms and cool rooms (unless primarily used to cool people), all extensions (including extensions by way of a merger, acquisition or other combination with the business of a third party) and (iii) solutions combining commercial cooling displays and Shop cooling, such as marketed under ESyCOOL, and all extensions of such combined solutions (including extensions by way of a merger, acquisition or other combination with the business of a third party).

5

1.3
Further Definitions
 
The following list contains capitalized terms defined in this Agreement.
 
Affiliate/s of Licensee
as defined in Section 1.2
Affiliate/s of Licensor
as defined in Section 1.2
Agreement
as defined in Section 1.2
Allowed Co-Branding
as defined in Section 6.4
Brand Committee
as defined in Section 8.2.1
Brand Guidelines
as defined in Section 5.2
Brand Strategy Check-Ins
as defined in Section 5.5
Brand Team
as defined in Section 8.1.1
Confidential Information
as defined in Section 19.2.1
Control
as defined in Section 1.2
Core Brand Strategy
as defined in Section 5.1
CS Company
as defined in Recital A
CS Country Specific Sub-Channels
as defined in Section 4.3
CS Group
as defined in Recital A
CS Trademarks
as defined in Section 1.2
CSPI
as defined in Section 7.2.1
Customer
as defined in Section 1.2
Domain Names
as defined in Section 2.5
Effective Date
as defined in Section 14.1
Escalation Process
as defined in Section 1.2
Exclusive Trademarks
as defined in Section 1.2
Existing License Agreement[s]
as defined in Section 1.2
Final Quality Assurance Guidelines
as defined in Section 7.1.3
[***] Royalty Report
as defined in Section 9.2.3
Force Majeure Event
as defined in Section 18.6
[***]
as defined in Section 9.5.2
Initial Quality Assurance Guidelines
as defined in Section 7.1.3
Initial Term
as defined in Section 14.1
Intellectual Property Rights
as defined in Section 1.2
License
as defined in Section 2.1
Licensed Business
as defined in Section 1.2
[***]
as defined in Exhibit 17.1
Licensed Products
as defined in Section 1.2
Licensed Trademarks
as defined in Section 1.2
Licensed Trademarks for Sale
as defined in Section 19.5.4
Licensee
as defined in List of Parties
[***]
as defined in Exhibit 17.1
[***]
as defined in Exhibit 17.1
[***]
as defined in Exhibit 17.1
Licensor
as defined in List of Parties
[***]
as defined in Exhibit 17.1
[***]
as defined in Exhibit 17.1
[***]
as defined in Exhibit 17.1
Licensor Own Social Media Accounts
as defined in Section 4.3
Material Competitors
as defined in Section 19.5.4
Net Sales
as defined in Section 1.2
Parent
as defined in List of Parties
Parties
as defined in List of Parties
Party
as defined in List of Parties
Product Liability Claims
as defined in Section 12.2.1
Renewal Period
as defined in Section 14.1
Royalty Payment
as defined in Section 9.1
Royalty Period
as defined in Section 9.2.1
Royalty Report
as defined in Section 9.2.2
Share Purchase Agreement
as defined in Section 1.2
Sport Sponsoring Contracts
as defined in Section 5.3
Sublicensee
as defined in Section 3.1
Successor
as defined in Section 1.2
Term
as defined in Section 14.1
Termination Period
as defined in Section 14.3
Territory
as defined in Section 1.2
VAT
as defined in Section 1.2
Viessmann Generations Trademarks
as defined in Section 1.2
VS Group’s Refrigeration Business
as defined in Section 1.2

6

2.
Grant and Scope of License
 
2.1
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Licensor hereby grants to Licensee for the term stipulated in Section 14 a non-assignable and non-transferable (except as permitted pursuant to Section 19.5), subject to Section 3, sublicensable, subject to Section 9, royalty-bearing, exclusive (except as permitted pursuant to Section 2.2) license to the Licensed Trademarks (i) to develop, manufacture, commercialize, service and distribute Licensed Products, (ii) to use the Licensed Trademarks in connection with the marketing and advertising of Licensed Products and (iii) to use the Domain Names and the associated websites as stipulated in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 and (iv) to use the Licensed Trademarks in social media accounts as stipulated in Section 4.3, in each case of clauses (i)-(iv), in the Licensed Business in the Territory and including corresponding “have-made” rights (the “License”).
 
2.2
The License is limited to the Licensed Business.  The License does not extend to any activity outside the Licensed Business and is non-exclusive in respect to the overlap between the Licensed Business and the VS Group’s Refrigeration Business.  To the extent the Parties expressly agree to extend the scope of the License beyond the Licensed Business, the terms of this Agreement will apply to such extension.
 
2.3
At the earliest after [***] following the Effective Date, and thereafter every [***] or at any other time when such a need arises, Licensee may request from Licensor the review of the Licensed Business definition to evaluate whether there is a reasonable need to extend the scope of the License to technologic, economic and market developments.  Licensor may decide in its sole discretion whether there should be any such amendment to the definition of Licensed Business.  If Licensor agrees that the definition of Licensed Business should be amended, then the Parties will enter into good faith negotiations to try to reach an agreement on an amendment of this Agreement reflecting such requirements, in particular including the determination of the royalties payable by Licensee to Licensor as a consequence of such amendments.  If Licensor agrees to an extension or amendment to the Licensed Business, all costs and expenses to cover such extension or amendment of the Licensed Business shall be borne by [***], including costs and expenses associated with any adaptation of the Licensed Trademarks, including costs and expenses for clearance, registration, renewal, maintenance and dealing with infringements.
 
2.4
Although the Viessmann Generations Trademarks are not licensed under this Agreement, Licensee shall be entitled to use the term “generation” and “generations” in connection with the Licensed Products in a descriptive way, but not as a trade mark, company name or business designation (Geschäftsbezeichnung).  Licensor shall not use the Viessmann Generations Trademarks in the Licensed Business.
 
2.5
Licensee is entitled to sublicense to CS Group to use the Licensed Trademarks (i) as, or as part of, the corporate name of the companies of CS Group and (ii) as, or as part of, email addresses of the companies of CS Group, in each case of (i) and (ii), if and as long as the companies of CS Group are exclusively engaged in the Licensed Business.  Licensee is allowed to sublicense to CS Group to use (x) the legend “manufactured by [name of Licensee or Licensee’s Affiliate engaged in the Licensed Business] under license from Viessmann Group GmbH & Co.  KG” or a legend with similar sense as required by applicable law, and (y) those domain names owned by Licensor on the Effective Date that are listed in Exhibit 2.5 (“Domain Names”), in each case for the Licensed Business pursuant to Section 4.
 
7

2.6
[***] may apply to register the License at [***] expense.  [***] shall render all statements and declarations and perform all actions which will be necessary to effect such registration, and [***] shall reimburse [***] for any resulting costs and expenses.
 
2.7
Licensee hereby undertakes not to, and to cause all Affiliates of Licensee and all Sublicensees not to, use the Licensed Trademarks for products other than Licensed Products and not to use, apply for or register trademarks which are similar to or resemble the Licensed Trademarks.
 
2.8
Licensee acknowledges Licensor’s ownership in the Licensed Trademarks and further acknowledges that the Licensed Trademarks are unique and original to Licensor.  Any use of the Licensed Trademarks under this Agreement and any goodwill arising from any use of the Licensed Trademarks shall be solely for the benefit of Licensor and shall be deemed to be solely the property of Licensor.
 
2.9
Licensee shall not pledge the rights to which it is entitled under this Agreement or make them subject of any other right in rem.
 
2.10
Licensor and the CS Company are entitled to refer in their business communication to the fact that the Licensed Trademarks are licensed or sublicensed by Licensor to Licensee or the CS Company, as applicable.
 
2.11
Licensor shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, use or permit any third party to use the Exclusive Trademarks.  In connection with the Licensed Business, Licensor shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, use or permit any third party to use the Licensed Trademarks or any designation that is identical to, resemble or is confusingly similar to the Licensed Trademarks, other than for the VS Group’s Refrigeration Business.
 
3.
Sublicenses
 
3.1
Licensee may grant sublicenses under the License (i) to any Affiliates of Licensee and (ii) with the prior written consent of Licensor to third parties (which consent shall – and irrespective of Section 6.1 – be in Licensor’s free discretion), such consent to set forth any specific rules applicable and in particular the agreement applicable to royalties as well as reporting requirements (any such sublicensee under (i) and (ii), a “Sublicensee”), provided that any Sublicensee declares in writing for Licensor’s benefit, as a direct contract for the benefit of a third party (echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter), that it will adhere to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  Licensee shall notify Licensor of any sublicenses granted or terminated (for whatever cause, including expiry) within [***].  Any notification of a sublicense grant shall include a copy of the Sublicensee’s declaration according to sentence 1 of this Section 3.1.
 
3.2
Licensee shall procure that the use of the Licensed Trademarks by any Sublicensee pursuant to Section 3.1 above is at all times in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Section 9 only applies to Licensee), and any breach by any Sublicensee shall be considered a breach by Licensee under this Agreement.
 
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3.3
Any sublicense granted by Licensee under Section 3.1(i) above shall automatically terminate once Licensee or the respective Sublicensee (i) ceases to be an Affiliate of CS Company or (ii) voluntarily or involuntarily suffers restructuring, becomes insolvent or a petition in bankruptcy is filed or any insolvency proceedings are instituted by or against it, or if it is placed in the hands of a receiver or sequestrator, or liquidates its business, and with regard to all sublicenses granted pursuant to Sections 3.1(i) and (ii) above, in case of expiration or termination of this Agreement.  Licensee shall include a respective provision in the sublicense agreement with the respective Sublicensee.
 
3.4
CS Company and any of its Affiliates may have their designated distributors and contract manufacturers, including dealers and installers, use, reproduce and display Licensed Trademarks for the distribution, marketing and manufacture of Licensed Products within the ordinary course of business and for providing related services without entering into a separate sublicense agreement.  Sections 3.2 and 3.3 shall apply accordingly; provided that Licensor may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 14.4 for [***].
 
3.5
Licensee is not liable for any Existing License Agreement that Licensor previously concluded to the extent that the provisions in such Existing License Agreement conflict with Licensee’s or the CS Group’s obligations in this Agreement.
 
4.
Website Architecture and Social Media
 
4.1
Licensee and the CS Company shall be entitled to operate under the Domain Names.  Licensor will operate (i) under domain names other than the Domain Names, such as and including the domain names “viessmann family”, “viessmann.io“ and “viessmann net” and (ii) under the “viessmann.com“ domain name.  “viessmann.com“ shall also be used as a landing page where visitors can navigate either to a Domain Name designated by Licensee or other domain names operated by Licensor or third-party licensees of Licensor with respect to Licensor’s retained businesses and “viessmann.io“ and “viessmann.net“ shall be linked to such landing page.  If Licensee or the CS Company do not use certain domain names which are part of the Domain Names for a period of [***], Licensee shall no longer be entitled to use the respective domain names and they shall be deemed deleted from the list of Domain Names in Exhibit 2.5.  Licensee shall regularly inform Licensor on the actual use of the Domain Names.  For a period of two years, the CS Group may continue to use, within the current scope of use, the “@viessmann.com“ email addresses, and for a period of five years, the CS Group may continue to use, within the current scope of use and on a non-exclusive basis (only internal use), the “[***]” and “[***]” email addresses.  Following such transition periods, the CS Group will transition to different email addresses; provided that the CS Group’s new email addresses may contain “viessmann” with another separated distinguisher (e.g., [***]).
 
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4.2
Licensee and the CS Company will have freedom to operate its respective websites at its own cost in accordance with the Brand Guidelines and will have full responsibility for their content.  As the technical implementation of the landing page and Licensor’s websites on a stand-alone basis, to which the landing page refers, will not be completed until the Effective Date, Licensee or any of the Affiliates of Licensee will provide Licensor and the Affiliates of Licensor with an interim solution under a transitional services agreement on website services.
 
4.3
Each of Licensor, Licensee and the CS Company will use their own social media accounts.  Own social media accounts of Licensor pursuant to the forgoing sentence are, in particular, the social media accounts listed in Exhibit 4.3/1 (“Licensor Own Social Media Accounts”).  Except for the the country specific sub-channels listed in Exhibit 4.3/2 (“CS Country Specific Sub-Channels”), the social media accounts existing at the Effective Date will continue to be used solely by Licensor. The CS Country Specific Sub-Channels may be used by Licensee and the CS Company, provided that the term “Climate Solutions” is added in each account name. The Parties shall coordinate such addition to the respective account name with the establishment by Licensor of new accounts to allow for a simultaneous implementation preventing third parties to interfere and claim relevant account names. Licensee and the CS Company may create further own social media accounts (LinkedIN, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) under the Licensed Trademarks in accordance with the Brand Guidelines.
 
5.
Core Brand Strategy and Brand Guidelines
 
5.1
The core brand strategy of Licensor defining the brand identity (purpose, values) and key brand attributes (premium positioning, use for high-quality products, solutions and services and striving further to green energy production) of the “Viessmann” brand (“Core Brand Strategy”) is attached as Exhibit 5.1.  The Parties will follow the Core Brand Strategy.
 
5.2
Licensee shall comply with the Viessmann brand guidelines attached as Exhibit 5.2 (“Brand Guidelines”) when using the Licensed Trademarks.  The Brand Guidelines govern the appearance, design, communication, tonality as well as fostering the positioning of the “Viessmann” brand and the Licensed Trademarks as well as the use of the accompanying claims to ensure Licensee’s compliance with the Core Brand Strategy (including premium brand and use for high-quality products, solutions and services).  If Licensor grants licenses to the Licensed Trademarks to parties that are not Affiliates of Licensor, Licensor shall oblige such third parties to use the Licensed Trademarks in a manner to maintain the recognition and quality of the Licensed Trademark.
 
5.3
The Brand Guidelines include guidance to be complied with by Licensee with regard to sport sponsoring as an important marketing tool beneficial for both Licensor and Licensee and to be continued in future.  Licensee shall cause the applicable member of the CS Group to continue the sport sponsoring [***].
 
5.4
Licensor may decide on future amendments of the Brand Guidelines after having consulted with the Brand Committee, provided that any material changes, including any changes in the form or appearance (including brand recognition) of the Licensed Trademarks, require the prior consent of the Brand Committee.  Licensee and CS Company shall have a transition period of [***] to implement such amendments and may sell off any Licensed Products already produced and continue using existing business and marketing materials.  If any future amendment of the Brand Guidelines or the form and appearance of the Licensed Trademarks leads to the registration of a modification of any of the Licensed Trademarks, such modified Licensed Trademark shall automatically become a Licensed Trademark under this Agreement upon registration.
 
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5.5
Every [***] during the Term, commencing on the [***] of the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Brand Committee shall convene a special meeting to discuss and align on Brand Guidelines, changes in the Core Brand Strategy, if any, and, more broadly, Licensee’s role as a brand steward and Licensor’s role as brand captain; provided however, that the core elements of the form and appearance of the Licensed Trademarks shall, subject to Section 5.4, remain untouched (“Brand Strategy Check-Ins”).  If the Brand Committee is unable to reach alignment with respect to any matters during the Brand Strategy Check-Ins, such matters will be escalated to the Escalation Process pursuant to Section 8.3.
 
5.6
During the term of the License, both Licensor and Licensee will, within their respective scope of use of the Licensed Trademarks, maintain, protect, enforce and foster the Licensed Trademarks in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
 
6.
Further Specifics of Use
 
6.1
Licensee is obliged either by itself or through its Sublicensees to use the Licensed Trademarks in all countries where Licensed Trademarks are both registered and used by the CS Group immediately prior to the Effective Date.  Such use has to be sufficient to fulfill the use requirement under applicable trademark law and to secure registration of the Licensed Trademarks.  Licensee shall inform Licensor from time to time, but at least [***], about its use of the Licensed Trademarks on a country-by-country basis.  Licensee shall keep detailed evidence of use of any of the Licensed Trademarks for a period of [***] and hand over such evidence of use to Licensor upon request.
 
6.2
Licensee must inform Licensor in writing of its intention to cease using the Licensed Trademarks in a particular country at least [***] prior to the end of the period in which the Licensed Trademarks have to be used in such country in order to keep the registration.
 
6.3
Licensee may use the Licensed Trademarks only (i) in their registered form and appearance, and (ii) in accordance with the Core Brand Strategy and the Brand Guidelines.  Any use of the Licensed Trademarks by Licensee that deviates from their registered form or appearance is impermissible even if the deviations do not alter the identifying characteristics of the Licensed Trademarks.
 
6.4
Licensee shall use the Licensed Trademarks on the Licensed Products stand-alone and not together with any other words or devices.  As an exception to the foregoing, Licensee and the CS Company are allowed to use the CS Trademarks existing as of the Effective Date and future CS Trademarks approved by the Brand Committee together with the Licensed Trademarks on Licensed Products in accordance with the Brand Guidelines (“Allowed Co-Branding”).  Licensee and the CS Company may also use product names together with the Licensed Trademarks in a descriptive manner in catalogues, brochures, price lists and similar marketing and sales material with respect to Licensed Products.
 
6.5
Licensee shall inform Licensor from time to time, but at least [***], about all forms of use of the Licensed Trademarks and the marketing of the Licensed Products under the Licensed Trademarks and provide Licensor with visual material regarding such use and marketing.
 
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7.
Quality Assurance and Critical Incidents
 
7.1
Quality Assurance
 
7.1.1
Licensee shall, and shall cause the CS Company to, conduct the Licensed Business in a manner that does not adversely affect the reputation of Licensor or any of the Licensed Trademarks.
 
7.1.2
Licensee shall procure that the Licensed Products are manufactured and distributed in compliance with applicable product safety laws and regulations.
 
7.1.3
Licensee shall ensure that (i) the Licensed Products placed on the market under the Licensed Trademarks and (ii) the solutions and services rendered in the Licensed Business under the Licensed Trademarks are, in the case of both (i) and (ii), of uniform and consistent premium quality in accordance with the initial guidelines annexed to this Agreement as Exhibit 7.1.3 (the “Initial Quality Assurance Guidelines”).  After the Effective Date, Licensor and Licensee shall work on a migration from the Initial Quality Assurance Guidelines to either Parent’s quality assurance guidelines or any other quality assurance guidelines on which they mutually agree and which shall replace the Initial Quality Assurance Guidelines in Exhibit 7.1.3 (the “Final Quality Assurance Guidelines”).
 
7.1.4
[***] Licensee shall report to Licensor in writing any product recalls and major quality issues that have occurred during the [***].
 
7.1.5
Upon request, Licensee shall provide Licensor with free-of-charge samples of the Licensed Products manufactured or marketed under the Licensed Trademarks to the extent required for purposes of quality assurance.  If the provision of a free-of-charge sample of a Licensed Product is not reasonable due to the nature of the Licensed Product, the Parties agree that Licensee will grant Licensor a right to inspect the respective Licensed Product for quality control; the details of such inspection shall be reasonably agreed by the Parties.  If Licensor objects to the quality of the Licensed Products, it shall inform Licensee of the objections in writing and give Licensees the opportunity to remedy the quality defects within [***].
 
7.2
Critical Incidents
 
7.2.1
After any of the Parties have received knowledge of a Critical Serious Public Incident (as defined in the Quality Assurance Guidelines) or any event resulting in a significant and sustaining critical serious public incident (each of these, a “CSPI”) of any nature in connection with this Agreement, including any incidents relating to the Licensed Trademarks, the Licensed Products or the Licensed Business, the Parties have to, as promptly as possible, inform the other Party.  The Parties shall as promptly as possible share all information to ensure that the CSPI can be solved professionally.
 
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7.2.2
As the Licensed Trademark’s and the Parties’ reputation can be significantly harmed by the delay or inappropriate handling of the CSPI, both Parties need to align quickly in case of a CSPI.  If the Parties cannot quickly agree on a joint strategy to handle the CSPI, Licensee will take action in compliance with applicable law and consistent with the Quality Assurance Guidelines, including response strategy and messaging.  Each of the Parties have to ensure that their employees, who are responsible for handling such incidents, are available on short notice.
 
8.
Brand Team, Brand Committee and Escalation Process
 
8.1
Brand Team
 
8.1.1
Licensor and Licensee shall establish in a timely manner after the Effective Date a brand team for the coordination of all matters relating to the Licensed Trademarks, including the use of domain names and social media (“Brand Team”).
 
8.1.2
The Brand Team shall consist of [***] members, [***] members appointed by Licensor and [***] members appointed by Parent.  The members of each side shall consist of representatives of each of the Parties with knowledge, expertise and experience in trademark and marketing matters.
 
8.1.3
The Brand Team shall be a discussion forum for the Parties with regard to brand related questions and brand usage; prepare proposals for the topics to be decided by the Brand Committee pursuant to Section 8.2; and represent the first escalation level in cases of non-compliance with the Brand Guidelines.  The Brand Team shall have the authority to render binding decisions with respect to day-to-day trademark and marketing matters.  Decisions of the Brand Team are taken with [***].  In case (i) the Brand Team cannot reach an agreement, (ii) the matter goes beyond the day-to-day level, or (iii) of the preparation of the agenda for the Brand Committee, including the Brand Strategy Check-Ins pursuant to Section 5.5, the Brand Team shall prepare a proposal and pass on the matter to the Brand Committee.
 
8.1.4
The Brand Team shall meet on a regular basis, at least every [***] during the [***] of the Initial Term.  Thereafter, the Brand Team shall meet [***] or as mutually agreed.  The Brand Team members may [***].  Minutes shall be taken of the meetings.
 
8.2
Brand Committee
 
8.2.1
Licensor and Licensee shall establish in a timely manner the brand committee with [***] voting rights of Licensor and Licensee (“Brand Committee”).  The Brand Committee shall have [***] members who shall be (i) [***] members who are [***] from, and designated by, Parent and (ii) [***] members who are [***] from, and designated by, Licensor.
 
8.2.2
The Licensor has the role as brand captain, meaning that Licensor is taking the initiative to the development of the brand, and the Licensee is the brand steward, meaning that Licensee will duly care for the brand.  Thus, Licensor shall take the lead in respect of the Brand Guidelines as set forth in Section 5.4.
 
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8.2.3
The Brand Committee shall decide on the following:
 

(a)
on all questions in relation to the Brand Strategy Check-Ins pursuant Section 5.5;
 

(b)
on material changes of the form and appearance of the Licensed Trademarks;
 

(c)
on amendments to the Brand Guidelines materially affecting the form and appearance of the Licensed Trademarks;
 

(d)
on matters that the Brand Team has passed on to the Brand Committee in its function as escalation level pursuant to Section 8.1.3;
 

(e)
on matters relating to the termination of this Agreement for cause (außerordentliche Kündigung) pursuant to Section 14.4 or Section 14.5;
 

(f)
on any disputes regarding this Agreement; and
 

(g)
on the website architecture and social media demarcation between the Parties with respect to websites with domain names that use any Licensed Trademark and social media accounts that use any Licensed Trademark in the account name or handle.
 
Decisions of the Brand Committee are taken with [***], provided that decisions pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) require a [***].
 
8.2.4
The Brand Committee shall meet (i) for the Brand Strategy Check-Ins and (ii) with reasonable prior written notice at the initiative of either Party in urgent or business-critical matters relative to Section 8.2.3, (iii) if the Parties otherwise have a dispute with respect to this Agreement, or (iv) if the Brand Team has not been able to resolve an issue.
 
8.2.5
The Brand Committee shall try to reach an agreement on submitted matters.  The Brand Committee shall attempt to reach an agreement as soon as possible, but not later than [***] after a matter has been submitted to the Brand Committee.  In case that the Brand Committee cannot reach an agreement after good faith discussions within [***], the Parties will proceed with the Escalation Process as further stipulated in Section 8.3, unless any of the Parties asks for an extension of further [***] to reach an agreement in which case the period to reach an agreement will be [***] in total.
 
8.3
Escalation Process
 
8.3.1
All matters that cannot be resolved by the Brand Committee after good faith discussions pursuant to Section 8.2.5 will be escalated immediately, first, to the [***] of Parent and the applicable representative from the Licensor as designated by Licensor to resolve such matter.
 
8.3.2
In case that an agreement cannot be reached pursuant to Section 8.3.1 after good faith discussions within [***] after it has been escalated, the respective matter will be further escalated to the [***] of Parent and the [***] of Licensor, but either Party shall be entitled to escalate the matter already after [***] if it is of the opinion that a further discussion on this level will likely not be successful.
 
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8.3.3
If the respective matter cannot be resolved by the [***] of Parent and the [***] of Licensor in good faith discussions pursuant to Section 8.3.2 within [***] (which may be extended by mutual agreement), (i) where proposed changes to the Brand Guidelines that require consent or the Core Brand Strategy are concerned, [***] and (ii) where a dispute over this Agreement is concerned, either Party may initiate the Dispute Resolution process pursuant to Section 19.7.2.
 
8.3.4
The right of a Party to terminate this Agreement for cause (außerordentliche Kündigung) pursuant to Section 14.4 and Section 14.5, remains unaffected.
 
9.
Royalties
 
9.1
Running Royalties
 
9.1.1
As consideration for the grant of the License, Licensee shall pay to Licensor the following royalties [***]: for the [***] through [***] following the Effective Date: [***];
 
9.1.2
[***].
 
9.1.3
Licensee shall also pay to Licensor such royalties from Sublicensees, other than Affiliates of Licensee, as agreed upon by the Parties in connection with Licensor’s approval of a Sublicense in accordance with the terms of Section 3.1; all payments under these Sections 9.1.1, 9.1.2 and 9.1.3 the “Royalty Payments
 
9.2
[***]
 
Royalty Payments become due for, and Licensee shall include in the Royalty Report, the Net Sales [***].  With respect to [***] or [***], Licensee will [***].
 
Licensee and its Affiliates will not structure a “go to market” strategy in a manner, the purpose of which is to avoid paying royalties on Licensed Products marketed under the Licensed Trademarks.
 
9.3
Payment and Royalty Reports
 
9.3.1
If not otherwise stipulated in this Agreement, any Royalty Payments under this Section 9 shall be due and payable within [***] following Licensee’s receipt of Licensor’s invoice as stipulated in Section 9.3.4 after the end of each [***] in which the Royalty Payments have accrued (each of such [***] “Royalty Period”), provided that the first Royalty Period shall for the purposes of this Agreement begin on the Effective Date and end on [***].
 
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9.3.2
Within [***] after the end of each Royalty Period, Licensee shall prepare and issue to Licensor verified reports for the Royalty Period in the English language in accordance with the form annexed hereto as Exhibit 9.3.2 or such other form agreed in writing between Licensor and Licensee (a “Royalty Report”) derived from the Net Sales which shall be [***] plus the associated royalty calculations with respect to any third-party Sublicensees which shall be separately listed in the Royalty Report.  [***], [***].  The Royalty Report shall show the Net Sales in the [***].  Where [***] financial statements are available, they shall be used, otherwise a fair estimate, in each case subject [***].  Licensor may request additional documents from Licensee.
 
9.3.3
Within [***] after [***], Licensee shall prepare and issue to Licensor [***] report, that is substantiated by underlying documents (“[***] Royalty Report”) to confirm or correct the Net Sales previously reported in such [***] Royalty Reports.  Within [***] of receipt of the [***] Royalty Report Licensee shall pay to Licensor any shortfall with respect to the royalty payments, and respectively Licensor shall reimburse Licensee any overpayment of royalties for the respective [***].
 
9.3.4
Licensor will issue an invoice for the Royalty Payments payable for each Royalty Period by Licensee to Licensor based on Licensee’s Royalty Reports as further stipulated in Section 9.3.2.  Where sales are reported in other currencies than [***], they shall be converted into [***] using the average exchange rate for such Royalty Period, as provided by the [***], or any replacement thereof.
 
9.3.5
All Royalty Payments by Licensee to Licensor shall be made in [***] and be transferred [***] as Licensor may direct, and shall be clearly designated as payments under this Agreement.
 
9.3.6
Royalty Payments provided for in this Section 9, when overdue, shall bear interest at a rate of [***] the base rate (Basiszinssatz) of the German Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) [***] for the time period from the payment’s due date until and including the date payment is received by Licensor.
 
9.3.7
For a period of [***] after each payment by Licensee pursuant to this Section 9.3.7, Licensee shall keep, and obtain from any Sublicensees, separate records in sufficient detail to permit the determination of the Royalty Payments payable under this Agreement and shall, upon Licensor’s request upon [***] prior written notice, but not more than [***], permit an accredited and reputable independent auditor, selected by Licensor and reasonably acceptable to Licensee, to have access and examine, at any time during ordinary business hours in a manner that does not interfere with the normal business activities of Licensee or its Sublicensees, such records as may be necessary to verify or determine Royalty Payments paid or payable under this Agreement.  All costs and expenses in connection with such examination shall be borne by [***], provided however, that if such examination reveals a [***] in any Royalty Payments of [***] than [***] per [***], then [***] shall reimburse [***] for all reasonable costs incurred by [***] in connection with such examination.  Licensee’s obligation to pay interest pursuant to Section 9.3.6 remains unaffected.
 
9.3.8
If Licensee or Licensor believes the result of the examination by the independent auditor pursuant to Section 9.3.7 to be incorrect, Licensor, Licensee and the independent auditor shall jointly review the relevant information and any additional information considered relevant by any of them in an effort to find an amicable solution.  If Licensor and Licensee cannot agree within a period of [***], the original determination by the independent auditor pursuant to Section 9.3.7 shall become binding between the Parties.
 
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9.4
Value-Added Tax
 
All Royalty Payments made by Licensee to Licensor under this Agreement [***] VAT.  [***] VAT [***].
 
9.5
[***]
 
9.5.1
Any Royalty Payments shall be made in full and [***], [***].
 
9.5.2
If [***], [***].
 
9.5.3
To the extent [***], if [***], [***].  [***].
 
9.5.4
The Parties shall [***], including [***].
 
10.
Maintenance and Third Party Challenges with Regard to Licensed Trademarks
 
10.1
Maintenance
 
10.1.1
Licensor shall maintain the Domain Names and the Licensed Trademarks to the extent necessary for maintaining trademark protection for the Licensed Products in the respective classes in the Licensed Business in the Territory.  [***] shall bear the costs of the maintenance of the Domain Names, the domain name “viessmann.com“ and the Licensed Trademarks, if not otherwise stipulated in Section 10.1.2.  The costs for the maintenance of the landing page under “viessmann.com“ shall be [***].
 
10.1.2
Upon request of Licensee, Licensor shall file and maintain in its own name new trademark registrations for the trademarks that include “Viessmann” for the Licensed Business.  Licensor has the right to reject such requests if Licensor determines in good faith that (i) such registration does not belong to the Licensed Business after consultation with the Brand Committee and satisfaction of the Escalation Process, or (ii) the new trademarks may interfere with rights of third parties, or (iii) such registrations may suffer demonstrable material legal obstacles or (iv) such registrations may contravene law.  The foregoing applies accordingly in the event that Licensee wishes to extend trademark protection to countries in the Territory where the Licensed Trademarks are not yet protected.  [***] shall bear the costs of registration and maintenance of any such new trademark.  Licensor shall notify Licensee without undue delay if a Licensed Trademark is not available for registration or use in a particular country.  Any new trademark registered in accordance with this Section 10.1.2 shall automatically become a Licensed Trademark under this Agreement upon registration.
 
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10.2
Defense against Cancellation of Trademarks
 
[***] shall defend the Licensed Trademarks against cancellation, revocation or invalidation to the extent necessary for maintaining sufficient trademark protection for the Licensed Products in the respective classes in the Licensed Business in the Territory.  [***] shall inform [***] about any attempt to cancel, revoke or invalidate any such Licensed Trademark without undue delay.  If any Licensed Trademark is subject to any cancellation, revocation or invalidation, [***], upon [***]’s reasonable written request, shall, not later than [***] after receipt of [***]’s request, either (i) inform [***] that [***] will defend the Licensed Trademark with the reasonable assistance of [***] or (ii) duly authorize [***] to conduct the defense [***].  Irrespective of the option selected and implemented by [***], [***] shall bear all reasonable costs associated with the defense.  Each Party will provide such assistance as required or useful under the respective circumstances.
 
10.3
Opposition against Third-Party Trademarks
 
[***] may decide, at its sole discretion, whether or not to oppose third-party trademarks which are identical or confusingly similar to the Licensed Trademarks.  If the third-party trademarks might affect [***]’s interests regarding [***], [***] shall, upon [***]’s reasonable written request, either (i) bring opposition proceedings against the third-party trademarks with any reasonable assistance of [***] or (ii) duly authorize [***] to bring opposition proceedings against the third-party trademarks on behalf of [***].  Irrespective of the option selected and implemented by [***], [***] shall bear all reasonable costs associated with the defense.  Each Party will provide such assistance as required or useful under the respective circumstances.
 
11.
Enforcement against Third-Party Infringements
 
11.1
Infringement Notice
 
In the event that either Party becomes aware of any infringement of the Licensed Trademarks in the Licensed Business by a third party, it shall promptly notify the other Parties hereto in writing.
 
11.2
Enforcement by [***]
 
11.2.1
[***] shall have the first right, but not the obligation, to institute, prosecute and control any action or proceeding with respect to the infringement of the Licensed Trademarks in its own name and cost against infringers, both out of court and in court.  [***] shall at [***], cooperate with [***] in pursuing or defending any action with respect to the Licensed Trademarks, including joining as a party plaintiff and executing such documents as may be reasonably necessary.
 
11.2.2
If [***] does not inform [***] that it will take action within [***] as of receiving notice pursuant to Section 11.1, or [***] does not take immediate action after providing such notice to [***], or if it is impossible for [***] to take action in its own name in a particular country due to [***], [***] can take action.  The Parties will [***].
 
11.3
Enforcement by [***]
 
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11.3.1
In the event that [***] does not institute legal proceedings to cease an infringement pursuant to Section 11.2, [***] shall have the right to initiate an action to cease such infringement at [***].  [***] shall prosecute and control any action or proceeding with respect to such infringement, using counsel of its choice, provided that [***], including any obligation regarding the Licensed Trademarks.  The Parties shall cooperate at [***]’s expense, in pursuing any such action, including joining as a party plaintiff and executing such documents as may be reasonably necessary.
 
11.3.2
[***] shall always timely and fully inform [***] about all developments in litigation initiated pursuant to Section 11.3.1 above.
 
11.4
Allocation of Proceeds from Enforcement
 
All damages or other compensations of any kind recovered through proceedings for the infringement of the Licensed Trademarks shall be allocated in the following order: (i) first, to reimburse the Party bringing the legal action or proceeding for any reasonable costs incurred with respect to such action or proceeding, (ii) second, to reimburse the Party not bringing such action or proceeding for reasonable costs incurred by it at the request of the other Party taking such action or proceeding and (iii) finally, any remaining amount of such recovered damages or other compensations shall be provided to [***].  Any such remaining amount that is attributable to the loss of sales with respect to any Licensed Product shall be [***].  [***].
 
12.
Attacks on Use of Licensed Trademarks; Product Liability
 
12.1
Attacks on Use of Licensed Trademarks
 
If a third party asserts that Licensee’s or the CS Company’s use of the Licensed Trademarks in accordance with this Agreement infringes its rights from a prior mark, [***] shall promptly notify [***] thereof.  Within a reasonable time, [***] shall then select one of the following options and notify [***] accordingly: (i) [***] shall take control of the defense at [***], including choice of counsel, litigation strategy and settlement, and indemnify and hold harmless (freistellen) [***] against the infringement claims asserted by the third party or (ii) [***] shall take control of the defense at [***], including choice of counsel, litigation strategy and settlement.  Irrespective of the option selected by [***], the respective Party not in control of the defense shall render the controlling party all assistance reasonably helpful for conducting the defense at [***] cost.
 
12.2
Indemnification; Product Liability
 
12.2.1
Licensee shall indemnify and hold harmless (freistellen) Licensor and any of its Affiliates and its respective directors, officers, employees, and agents from any (including past, present or future, contingent, known or unknown) claims, suits, lawsuits, damages, costs, expenses and liabilities to the extent they directly or indirectly arise out of or relate to, whether directly or indirectly, Licensee’s, its Sublicensee’s (either by themselves or through a third party (including its designated distributors, contract manufacturers, dealers and installers)) use of the Licensed Trademarks, Domain Names and the social media accounts pursuant to this Agreement, including third-party claims according to § 4 of the German Product Liability Code (Produkthaftungsgesetz) and similar claims in other jurisdictions (“Product Liability Claims”).  This indemnification obligation does not extend to any claims to the extent they (a) have arisen before the Effective Date; (b) have been caused by actions of Licensor or Licensor’s Affiliates; (c) are third-party claims that are brought against Licensee alleging that Licensee’s or any of its Affiliate’s or their Sublicensee’s use of the Licensed Trademarks in accordance with this Agreement infringes any third party’s intellectual property rights; or (d) are a result of Licensor’s express instructions.
 
19

12.2.2
Licensee shall notify Licensor about any Product Liability Claims and any claims of customers in connection with a claim for a product recall brought against Licensee or the CS Group and about any incident which may give rise to a product recall.  Licensee shall and the CS Group [***], in each case consistent with the requirements to preserve attorney-client privilege.
 
12.2.3
Licensor shall indemnify and hold harmless (freistellen) Licensee and any of its Affiliates and its respective directors, officers, employees, and agents from any (including past, present or future, contingent, known or unknown) claims, suits, lawsuits, damages, costs, expenses and liabilities to the extent they directly or indirectly arise out of or relate to, whether directly or indirectly, Licensor’s or its Affiliates’ or their other Licensees’ use of the Licensed Trademarks, Domain Names and the social media accounts in Licensor’s and its Affiliates’ respective businesses.  This indemnification obligation does not extend to any claims to the extent they (a) have arisen before the Effective Date or (b) have been caused by actions of Licensee or Licensee’s Affiliates or (c) are a direct result of Licensee’s express requests.
 
13.
Representations and Warranties; Limitation of Liability
 
13.1
Representations and Warranties by Licensor
 
Licensor represents and warrants by way of an independent guarantee (selbstständiges Garantieversprechen) within the meaning of § 311 para.  1 BGB that it has full and valid title in the Licensed Trademarks listed in Exhibit 1.2/3 and obtained all corporate authorizations required to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
 
13.2
No further Representations and Warranties by Licensor
 
13.2.1
Except as explicitly stated in Section 13.1 Licensor makes no representations or warranties.  In particular, Licensor makes no representation or warranty:
 

(a)
as to the validity of the Licensed Trademarks; or
 

(b)
that the exercise of this Agreement will not result in the infringement of intellectual property rights of third parties.
 
13.2.2
Unless expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement, [***].
20

13.3
Representations and Warranties by Licensee
 
Licensee represents and warrants by way of an independent guarantee (selbstständiges Garantieversprechen) within the meaning of § 311 para.  1 BGB that:
 

(a)
it has obtained all corporate authorizations required to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and
 

(b)
it and the CS Company will promote, market, sell and distribute Licensed Products as a premium quality brand under the Licensed Trademarks in the Licensed Business.
 
14.
Term and Termination
 
14.1
This Agreement shall enter into effect upon signature by the Parties (the “Effective Date”).  Subject to earlier termination in accordance with this Section 14 or Section 19.5.4, this Agreement shall continue for an initial term of forty (40) years (“Initial Term”) and after the Initial Term, it shall be automatically renewed for periods of five (5) years (each of these periods the “Renewal Period” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”).
 
14.2
The Parties envisage a long-term successful commercial relationship.  The Parties will therefore discuss in good faith a further fixed extension of the term of the license fifteen (15) years before the expiry of the Initial Term and every five (5) years thereafter, e.g., as part of the Brand Strategy Check-Ins.
 
14.3
Effective as of the expiry of the Initial Term or any Renewal Period, either Party may ordinarily terminate this Agreement (ordentliche Kündigung) with five (5) years’ prior written notice (“Termination Period”).  Prior to delivery of any termination notice under this Section 14.3, the Party intending to terminate shall provide written notice of this intent to the other Party, and, upon request of the other Party, the [***] of Parent and of Licensor shall discuss the arguments of the other Party and consider in good faith whether there is an appropriate solution other than the termination.
 
14.4
Each Party may terminate this Agreement for cause (aus wichtigem Grund) with [***] – or with effect from such other later effective date as may be chosen by the terminating Party – by written notice to the other Party, in particular, if, in the case of termination by Licensor, Licensee breached its material obligations under this Agreement set forth below and such breach is so material and severe that, taking into account all the circumstances of the specific breach and weighing the interests of both Parties, the terminating Party cannot reasonably be expected to continue this Agreement:
 

(a)
if Licensee commits multiple breaches of the scope of the License as stipulated in Section 2; or
 

(b)
if Licensee commits multiple breaches of the use requirements set out in Section 6.3 (use in the registered form and appearance) or Section 6.4 (stand-alone use); or
 

(c)
if Licensee materially breaches any of the provisions (i) under Sections 7.1.2 or 7.1.3 (Quality Assurance) in a manner that creates a risk to health and safety and as a consequence thereof the Viessmann brand is significantly impacted or (ii) under Section 7.2 (Critical Incidents); or
 
21


(d)
if Licensee (i) at any time knowingly makes a false Royalty Report or (ii) habitually makes inaccurate Royalty Reports as determined pursuant to Section 9.3.2; or
 

(e)
if Licensee repeatedly fails to pay royalties that have become due pursuant to Section 9 on the due date; or
 

(f)
if Licensee, any of its Sublicensees or Affiliates attacks, or instructs or actively supports a third party in attacking the validity of any of the Licensed Trademarks by cancellation proceedings, opposition or otherwise; or
 

(g)
if Licensee [***]; or
 

(h)
if Licensee fails to materially comply with the Brand Guidelines in a manner that seriously harms the value of the Licensed Trademarks as a whole; or
 

(i)
if the activities of Licensee or any of its Sublicensees in connection with this Agreement subjects Licensor or any of Licensor’s Affiliates to material criminal liability.
 
Any termination pursuant to this Section 14.4 requires that such breach (i) has not been cured within [***] following receipt of a written notice from the terminating Party specifying the breach; provided that if Licensee is using good faith efforts to cure such breach during such [***] cure period, such cure period shall be extended for another [***] period and (ii) has not been resolved in accordance with either Section 8.2.3(e) by the Brand Committee or Section 8.3 via the Escalation Process.
 
14.5
In addition to Section 14.4 above, Licensor may terminate this Agreement for cause (aus wichtigem Grund) with [***] – or with effect from such other later effective date as it may choose – by written notice to Licensee, without further requirements:
 

(a)
if Parent, Licensee or any member of the CS Group voluntarily or involuntarily suffers restructuring, becomes insolvent or a petition in bankruptcy is filed or any insolvency proceedings are instituted by or against it, or if it is placed in the hands of a receiver or sequestrator, or liquidates its business; or
 

(b)
if and to the extent (i) Licensee or any of Affiliates of Licensee using the Licensed Trademarks ceases to be Controlled by Parent, or (ii) Parent divests the CS Group as a whole, or (iii) Parent divests or otherwise ceases to control all, substantially all or material parts of the Licensed Business, in each case unless the [***] of Parent and Licensor have agreed on another appropriate solution.  In order to allow for such [***] discussion, prior to any change of control in the meaning of (i) through (iii) above, Parent shall provide written notice to Licensor of its intent to divest, and the [***] of Parent and Licensor shall discuss in good faith whether this Agreement should be terminated upon the change of control or if there is another appropriate solution.  If the [***] agree on another appropriate solution, Licensor shall not terminate this Agreement.  In the event only parts of, but not all, of the CS Group or its businesses within the Licensed Business cease to be controlled by Parent, any such termination pursuant to this Section 14.5 shall be limited to such parts of the CS Group or such businesses that are no longer controlled by Parent.
 
22

14.6
Any negotiations and discussions as well as the Escalation Process that aim at avoiding termination of this Agreement for cause (aus wichtigem Grund) will not act as a bar to such termination if the issue cannot be resolved despite these negotiations and the Escalation Process.  Each Party waives its right to oppose termination for cause (aus wichtigem Grund) on the basis that the termination trigger occurred too long ago.
 
14.7
This Agreement shall automatically terminate if the Share Purchase Agreement is rescinded or unwound.
 
14.8
This Agreement will, in any case, expire with the legally binding cancellation of all of the Licensed Trademarks in all countries of the Territory.
 
14.9
If the License expires or is terminated in accordance with this Section 14, all sublicenses granted by Licensee under the License shall automatically terminate, and Licensee shall procure that they automatically terminate by including into any sublicense agreement a suitable provision to that effect and Section 15 shall apply accordingly.
 
15.
Effects of Expiry and Termination
 
15.1
Upon expiry or termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 14:
 

(a)
all rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall terminate; provided that: Sections 1, 13.2.2, 15.1(a), 15.2, 17 (and Exhibit 17.1), 19.1, 19.2, 19.4, 19.7 and 20 shall remain in full force and effect.
 

(b)
Licensee hereby transfers, and shall cause each Sublicensee to transfer, to Licensor, subject to the condition precedent of expiry or termination of this Agreement occurring, any and all intellectual property rights (including any goodwill) it has and they have accrued with respect to the Licensed Trademarks during the Term.  Upon request by Licensor, Licensee and any Sublicensee shall execute any instrument necessary or appropriate to accomplish the foregoing.
 

(c)
Except for any records as may be required by any national or local laws, rules or regulations to be kept, Licensee shall without undue delay transfer to Licensor or, at Licensor’s discretion, destroy or mark over all documents regarding the Licensed Trademarks, whether recorded in electronic or any other form, and all such materials, including any promotional or advertising materials, in the possession or under the control of Licensee, Licensee’s Affiliates or any third parties acting on its behalf.  Licensee may retain [***] for evidentiary purposes only and [***] of computer records or files containing such documents and materials that have been created pursuant to automatic archiving or back-up procedures that cannot be reasonably be destroyed or deleted.  Licensee shall, if applicable, promptly confirm destruction pursuant to this Section 15.1(c) in writing to Licensor.
 
23

15.2
Termination or expiry of this Agreement (i) will not relieve the Parties of any obligation that has accrued prior to such termination or expiry and (ii) is without prejudice to the Parties’ rights to claim for damages under statutory law.
 
15.3
During the Termination Period, Licensee, Sublicensees and business partners are allowed to use the Licensed Trademarks together with another trademark owned by Parent in the Licensed Business and on Licensed Products; provided that such trademark owned by Parent shall be a premium brand and the Parties shall agree on which trademark owned by Parent may be co-branded with the Licensed Trademark (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld).  The Parties shall cooperate in good faith on the co-branding strategy and any other details to facilitate the smooth and flexible transition off the Viessmann brand and replacing it by other brands owned by the Parent group.
 
16.
Compliance; No Agency or Partnership
 
16.1
Compliance
 
In exercising its rights and obligations under this Agreement, (i) Licensee shall comply with, and shall procure that the Affiliates of Licensee and its Sublicensees comply with, all applicable national and local laws, rules and regulations, including (but not limited to) any relevant laws, rules or regulations concerning the research, development, manufacture, delivery, transport, import, advertising, packaging, labelling, storage, sale or use of the Licensed Products under the Licensed Trademarks in the Licensed Business in the Territory and (ii) Licensor shall comply with, and shall procure that its Affiliates comply with, and Licensor shall obligate its licensees of the Licensed Trademarks to comply with, all applicable national and local laws, rules and regulations, including (but not limited to) any relevant laws, rules or regulations concerning the research, development, manufacture, delivery, transport, import, advertising, packaging, labelling, storage, sale or use of any and all products and services sold or offered for sale under any Licensed Trademarks outside the Licensed Business in the Territory.
 
16.2
No Agency or Partnership
 
This Agreement shall not constitute or create any relationship of agency, partnership, silent participation, sub-participation, joint venture or any other similar ongoing relationship or undertaking between the Parties or with any third person (including for any applicable tax purposes) and no Party shall make any filing or take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.  Licensee sells the Licensed Products under the Licensed Trademarks in its own name, for its own account, and at its own risk, and acts as independent trader.
 
17.
Additional Intellectual Property Matters
 
17.1
Exhibit 17.1 sets forth additional matters with respect to Intellectual Property.
 
24

18.
[***]
 
19.
Miscellaneous
 
19.1
Notices
 
Unless explicitly stated otherwise in this Agreement, all notices, requests and other communications hereunder shall be made in writing in the English language and delivered by hand, by courier, or email to the person at the address set forth below, or such other person or address as may be designated by the respective Party to the other Party in the same manner.  Any notice, request or other communication made in the electronic form (Section 127 para.  3 of the German Civil Code (BGB)) shall be deemed to be in writing for all purposes of this Agreement:
 
To Licensor:
 
Viessmann Group GmbH & Co.  KG
Attn.: [***]
[***]
Email: [***]
 
with a copy to: [***]
 
Attn.  [***]
Email: [***]
 
To Licensee:
 
Viessmann Climate Solutions SE
Attn.: [***]
[***]
Email: [***]
 
with a copy to: [***]
 
Attn.  [***]
Email: [***]
 
To Parent:
 
Carrier Global Corporation
Attn.: [***]
[***]
Email: [***]
 
with a copy to: [***]
 
25

Attn.: [***]
Email: [***]
 
or to such other recipients and addresses which may be notified by any Party to the other Party in the future in writing.  The requirement to provide copies to certain parties shall be for convenience purposes only and failure to send such copies shall not affect the validity of service of any notice.
 
19.2
Confidentiality
 
19.2.1
The terms of this Agreement and all confidential and non-public information (collectively, the “Confidential Information”), whether written or oral, furnished by either Party to the other Party or any Affiliate of such other Party in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement shall be maintained by each Party and their respective Affiliates in strict confidence.
 
19.2.2
Disclosure by a Party shall not be in violation of Section 19.2.1 above to the extent that (i) the relevant facts are publicly known or (ii) such disclosure is required by law or a court or administrative authority; provided that, with respect to clause (ii), such Party shall give the other Party prior written notice of such disclosure and an opportunity to contest such disclosure or obtain confidential treatment of such disclosure.
 
19.2.3
Each Party shall be entitled to reveal Confidential Information covered by Section 19.2.2 above to internal advisors who are under a professional or contractual duty of confidentiality which is at least as restrictive as the confidentiality obligation under this Section 19.2.
 
19.2.4
Licensee or any of its Affiliates (including Parent) may disclose the terms of this Agreement to the extent such disclosure is, in the opinion of Licensee’s or such applicable Affiliate’s legal counsel, required by applicable law or the rules of a stock exchange on which the securities of Licensee or its applicable Affiliate are listed.
 
19.3
Costs and Expenses
 
19.3.1
All fees (including notarial fees), registration duties or other charges related to any regulatory requirements and other charges and costs payable in connection with the execution of this Agreement and the implementation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by [***].
 
19.3.2
Each Party shall pay its own expenses, including the costs of its advisors, incurred in connection with this Agreement.
 
19.4
Binding Effect; Entire Agreement; Amendments and Waivers
 
19.4.1
This Agreement (including all Exhibits hereto) contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect thereto.
 
26

19.4.2
Any provision of this Agreement (including this Section 19.4) may be amended or waived only if such amendment or waiver is by written instrument executed by all Parties and explicitly refers to this Agreement.
 
19.5
Assignments
 
19.5.1
Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Party.
 
19.5.2
Licensee may, without Licensor’s consent, assign this Agreement in its entirety to any of the Affiliates of Licensee such that the assignee replaces the Licensee as a party to this Agreement (Vertragsübernahme); provided that the Agreement is automatically re-assigned to Licensee or any of the Affiliates of Licensee if the assignee ceases to be an Affiliate of Licensee.
 
19.5.3
Licensor may, without Licensee’s consent, transfer all of the Licensed Trademarks and/or this Agreement to any Affiliate of Licensor, provided that (i) the Licensed Trademarks and/or this Agreement, as the case may be, are automatically re-assigned to Licensor or any of the Affiliates of Licensor if the assignee ceases to be an Affiliate of Licensor, and (ii) Licensor shall procure (e.g., by way of an appropriate power of attorney being issued) that the exercise of rights under the License vis-à-vis Licensee remains concentrated in one entity only, and such entity shall also be the only addressee for any exercise by Licensee of its rights and Licensee may fulfill its obligations under this Agreement towards such entity.
 
19.5.4
Subject to the provisions of this Section 19.5.4, Licensor may, without Licensee’s consent, transfer any or all of the Licensed Trademarks (“Licensed Trademarks for Sale”) to a third party, provided that: (i) if the transfer also includes the Licensed Trademarks for the Licensed Business, Licensor has first invited Licensee to make an offer for all of the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business and (A) Licensee has not made an offer during a period of [***] or (B) if Licensee has made an offer during such period, the offer has been [***]; and (ii) Licensor shall procure that the third party assumes all rights and obligations under this Agreement if the third party also acquires the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business, subject to [***] and (iii) Licensor shall procure (e.g., by way of an appropriate power of attorney being issued) that the exercise of rights under the License vis-à-vis Licensee remains concentrated in one entity only, and such entity shall also be the only addressee for any exercise by Licensee of its rights and Licensee may fulfill its obligations under this Agreement towards such entity.
 
27

In the case of (i)(A) above, Licensor is free to sell and assign the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business to a third party within [***] from having made the invite for an offer to Licensee.  In the case of (i)(B) above, Licensor may only sell and assign the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business to a third party within [***] from having received the offer from Licensee if (x) the offer of such third party is [***] in respect of the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business than the offer made by Licensee or (y) Licensor has again invited Licensee to purchase the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business and Licensee has not accepted, within a period of [***], to acquire the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business for a price [***].  If Licensor sells trademarks other than the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business together with the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business, the benchmark for Licensee’s right to [***] pursuant to (i)(B) above, shall be [***], on the one hand, and [***], on the other hand.
 
If Licensee accepts to purchase the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business [***], Licensor shall sell and assign the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business to Licensee and this Agreement shall automatically terminate.
 
If the [***] period for a sale to the third party elapses without Licensor having sold and assigned the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business to the third party, any new attempt by Licensor to sell and assign the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business requires a new invitation to Licensee to make an offer and the process as set out above is to be repeated.
 
In no event may Licensor sell or transfer the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business to any material competitor of Parent or the CS Business listed in Exhibit 19.5.4/2 (“Material Competitors”), as the same may be updated by Licensee from time to time beginning [***] after the Effective Date, subject to Licensor’s consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, to reflect the landscape of material competitors at such time.  Such updates shall be on the same basis that Exhibit 19.5.4/2 was compiled at the Effective Date, including with respect to [***].
 
The rights of Licensee under this Section 19.5.4 may not be avoided by selling any entity that owns the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business where the Licensed Trademarks for Sale for the Licensed Business represent [***], provided that the foregoing shall not restrict any change of control of Licensor.
 
19.5.5
Licensor may, without Licensee’s consent, assign this Agreement in its entirety to any Affiliate of Licensor such that the assignee replaces Licensor as a party to this Agreement (Vertragsübernahme); provided that (i) Licensor shall procure that the assignee is in a position to grant the License; and (ii) the Agreement is automatically re-assigned to Licensor or any of the Affiliates of Licensor if the assignee ceases to be an Affiliate of Licensor.
 
19.6
Force Majeure
 
The Parties hereto shall not be liable for failure of or delay in performing any obligation under this Agreement if such failure or delay is due to force majeure or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the affected Party (including natural events, any new pandemic-related situations (in particular COVID-19), any yet unknown pandemic or epidemic or outbreak of any disease, terrorist and other attacks (each, a “Force Majeure Event”); provided, however, that the Party affected shall promptly notify the other Party of the Force Majeure Event and shall exert all reasonable efforts to eliminate, cure or overcome any such causes and to resume performance of its obligations with all possible speed.
 
28

19.7
Governing Law; Dispute Resolution
 
19.7.1
This Agreement is solely governed, in form and substance, by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany to the exclusion of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and the principles of international private law.
 
19.7.2
Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the formation or the breach, termination or invalidity hereof, shall be finally settled, under exclusion of any state court’s competence (except for proceedings for temporary or interlocutory relief), by arbitration in accordance with the arbitration rules of Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit e.V.  (DIS), as in effect from time to time.  The arbitral tribunal shall consist of [***] arbitrators.  Each arbitrator shall be eligible for [***].  The place of arbitration shall be [***].  The language to be used in the arbitration proceedings shall be English; provided that no Party shall be under an obligation to provide to the arbitral tribunal English translations of any documents in the German language that are submitted for evidence purposes.
 
19.7.3
Parent and Licensee hereby appoint each partner of Linklaters LLP admitted to the German bar, as its agent for service of process (Zustellungsbevollmächtigter) for all legal proceedings involving Parent or Licensee arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.  This appointment shall only terminate upon the appointment of another agent for service of process domiciled in Germany, provided that the agent for service of process is an attorney admitted to the German bar (in Deutschland zugelassener Rechtsanwalt) and his appointment has been notified to and approved in writing by Licensor (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  Parent and Licensee, respectively, shall promptly after the Signing Date and upon the appointment of any new agent for service of process (as the case may be) issue to the agent a written power of attorney (Vollmachtsurkunde) and shall irrevocably instruct the agent to submit such deed in connection with any service of process under this Agreement.
 
20.
Severability
 
Should any provision of this Agreement, or any provision incorporated into this Agreement in the future, be or become invalid or unenforceable, the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.  The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be substituted by arrangement of the Parties by a suitable and equitable provision which, to the extent legally permissible, comes as close as possible to the intent and purpose of the invalid or unenforceable provision.  The same shall apply (i) if the Parties have, unintentionally, failed to address a certain matter in this Agreement (Regelungslücke); in this case a suitable and equitable provision shall be agreed upon which comes as close as possible to what the Parties, in the light of the intent and purpose of this Agreement, would have agreed upon if they had considered the matter; or (ii) if any provision of this Agreement is invalid because of the scope of any time period or performance stipulated herein; in this case a legally permissible time period or performance shall be deemed to have been agreed which comes as close as possible to the stipulated time period or performance.  The provisions of this Section 20 shall not be construed as merely shifting the burden of proof, but shall apply absolutely.
 
[Signature page to follow]
 
29

[Signature Page of Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG to License Agreement]
 
Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG
Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG
   
/s/ Ulrich Hüllmann
/s/ Hans-Jörg Harth
Name: Ulrich Hüllmann
Name: Hans-Jörg Harth


Place: Zug, Date: 2 January 2024

   
Viessmann Climate Solutions SE
Viessmann Climate Solutions SE
   
/s/ Ulrich Hüllmann
/s/ Hans-Jörg Harth
Name: Ulrich Hüllmann
Name: Hans-Jörg Harth


[Signature Page of Carrier Global Corporation to License Agreement]
 
Date: 2 January 2024

Carrier Global Corporation
 
/s/ Francesca Sara Campbell
Name: Francesca Sara Campbell
Function: Vice President, Secretary




EXHIBIT 10.2
 
INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
Dated as of January 2, 2024


TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
  Page
   
ARTICLE I GOVERNANCE MATTERS
1
   
1.1
Composition of the Parent Board at the Closing
 
1.2
Composition of the Parent Board Following the Closing
 
1.3
Eligibility Criteria
 
1.4
Committee Representation
 
1.5
Confidentiality
 
1.6
Voting Agreements
 
1.7
Parent Board Obligations
 
1.8
Corporate Opportunities
 
1.9
Organizational Documents
 
1.10
Information Rights
 
     
ARTICLE II TRANSFERS; STANDSTILL
8
   
2.1
Transfer Restrictions
 
2.2
Standstill Provisions
 
     
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
12
   
3.1
Representations and Warranties of the Investor
 
3.2
Representations and Warranties of Parent
 
     
ARTICLE IV REGISTRATION
13
   
4.1
Demand Registrations
 
4.2
Piggyback Registrations
 
4.3
Shelf Registration Statement
 
4.4
Holdback Agreements
 
4.5
Registration Procedures
 
4.6
Registration Expenses
 
4.7
Miscellaneous
 
4.8
Registration Indemnification
 
     
ARTICLE V DEFINITIONS
27
   
5.1
Defined Terms
 
5.2
Other Defined Terms
 
5.3
Interpretation
 

i

ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS
34
   
6.1
Term
 
6.2
Notices
 
6.3
Amendments and Waivers
 
6.4
Successors and Assigns
 
6.5
Severability
 
6.6
Counterparts
 
6.7
Entire Agreement
 
6.8
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
 
6.9
Specific Performance
 
6.10
No Third-Party Beneficiaries
 

ii

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of January 2, 2024 (this “Agreement”), by and between Carrier Global Corporation, a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware (“Parent”) and Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Germany, registered in the commercial register of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Marburg under register no. HRA 3389 (the “Investor”).
 
W I T N E S S E T H:
 
WHEREAS, on 25 April 2023, Parent, Johann Purchaser GmbH, a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) incorporated under the laws of Germany and wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent (the “Purchaser”) and Investor entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Share Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Investor agreed to sell, and Purchaser agreed to purchase, all of the outstanding shares in Viessmann Climate Solutions SE, a European stock company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under the laws of Germany and registered in the commercial register of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Marburg under registration no. HRB 7562 (the “Company”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement;
 
WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Share Purchase Agreement, in connection with the closing of the share purchase transaction contemplated thereby (the “Closing”), the Investor has received cash and shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (the “Parent Common Stock”); and

WHEREAS, in connection with and pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, each of the parties hereto wishes to set forth in this Agreement certain terms and conditions regarding certain governance matters and the Investor’s ownership of the Shares and to establish certain rights, restrictions and obligations of Parent and the Investor with respect to the Shares.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
 
GOVERNANCE MATTERS
 
Section 1.1           Composition of the Parent Board at the Closing.  As of the Closing, Parent and the Board of Directors of Parent (the “Parent Board”) have taken all action necessary to cause (i) the number of directors that comprise the Parent Board to be increased by one (1), and (ii) Maximilian Viessmann, as designated by the Investor, to be appointed to fill such newly created vacancy on the Parent Board as the initial Investor Designee hereunder.
 
Section 1.2           Composition of the Parent Board Following the Closing.  From the Closing and until the date that is ten (10) years after the Closing; and provided, at all times, that the Investor Parties, collectively, continue to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, at least 50% of the number of Shares Beneficially Owned by the Investor as of the Closing:
 

(a)          Parent and the Parent Board shall take all necessary actions to ensure that, at all times when any Investor Director is eligible to be designated, nominated and/or elected pursuant hereto, there is a vacancy on the Parent Board to permit such designation, nomination and/or election.
 
(b)          At each annual or special meeting of the shareholders of Parent at which directors are to be elected to the Parent Board, Parent and the Parent Board shall nominate and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the election to the Parent Board (which reasonable best efforts shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include Parent and the Parent Board (1) recommending that Parent’s shareholders vote in favor of the election of the applicable Investor Designee and (2) otherwise supporting such applicable Investor Designee in a manner substantially the same in all material respects as the manner in which Parent and the Parent Board supports other Parent and Parent Board director nominees) of a slate of directors which includes the Investor Director.
 
(c)          The Investor shall have the right to cause any Investor Director to resign from his or her directorship on the Parent Board at any time.
 
(d)          The Investor shall notify Parent of the identity of each proposed Investor Designee, in writing, on or before the time such information is reasonably requested, in writing, by the Parent Board or the Governance Committee of the Parent Board for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of shareholders, together with all information about each proposed Investor Designee as shall be reasonably requested by the Parent Board or the Governance Committee of the Parent Board; provided, that in the event the Investor fails to provide any such notice, the applicable individual then serving as the Investor Director shall be deemed to be the Investor Designee for such meeting.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Investor shall not be required to comply with any other advance notice provisions generally applicable to the nomination of directors by Parent so long as the Investor complies with this Section 1.2(d).
 
(e)          In the event of the death, disability, resignation or removal of an Investor Director or if an Investor Director ceases to serve on the Parent Board for any other reason, Parent and the Parent Board shall take all action necessary to promptly appoint to the Parent Board, and to all committees on which such Investor Director served, respectively, a replacement Investor Director designated by the Investor to fill the resulting vacancy, subject to and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.3; provided, that if an Investor Director is removed for cause, the replacement Investor Director shall not be the same individual who was removed.
 
(f)          In the event that an Investor Designee fails to be elected to the Parent Board following any annual or special meeting of the shareholders at which the Investor Designee stood for election but was nevertheless not elected, Parent and the Parent Board will promptly appoint a replacement Investor Director designated by the Investor to the Parent Board, and such individual shall then be deemed an Investor Director for all purposes hereunder.
 
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(g)          For the avoidance of doubt, each Investor Director shall be entitled (i) to the same retainer, equity compensation and other fees or compensation, including travel and expense reimbursement, paid to the other non-employee directors of Parent for their service on the Parent Board, including any service on any committee of the Parent Board, and (ii) to indemnification rights no less favorable than those generally provided to other non-employee directors of Parent (including entering into an indemnification agreement that is no less favorable than that provided to any other non-employee director in the event that Parent enters into any such agreement with another non-employee director) and in any event no less favorable than as in effect as of the Closing.  Parent shall maintain in full force and effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and each Investor Director shall be covered thereby in such a manner as to provide each Investor Director in his or her capacity as a director of Parent with rights and benefits under all directors’ and officers’ insurance policies no less favorable than those generally provided to other non-employee directors of Parent.  Parent acknowledges and agrees that Parent is the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Investor Director (i.e., its obligations to such Investor Director pursuant to this Section 1.2(g) are primary and any obligation of any other Persons to which such Investor Director may have rights to advancement of expenses or to indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Investor Director are secondary) with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.2(g).
 
Section 1.3          Eligibility Criteria.
 
(a)          Each Investor Director shall (i) not be or have been the subject of a conviction or proceeding enumerated in Item 2(d) or (e) of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act, (ii) not be or have been a party to a proceeding, or be subject to an order, judgment or decree, of the type enumerated in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K in the five (5) year period preceding the date of determination or be subject to any order, decree or judgment of any court or agency prohibiting service as a director of any United States public company, (iii) satisfy all applicable requirements and standards imposed by Applicable Law, the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or any other national securities exchange on which shares of Parent Common Stock are then listed, (iv) be reasonably acceptable to the Governance Committee of the Parent Board, taking into account, among other things, the terms of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and (v) be “independent” pursuant to the listing standards of the NYSE or other national securities exchange on which shares of Parent Common Stock are then listed (provided that in no event shall any Investor Designee be deemed not to satisfy this clause (v) by virtue of the relationship between the Investor and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company and its Affiliates, on the other hand, including Investor’s ownership of Equity Interests of the Company prior to the Closing or the fact that such Investor Designee is an employee, officer, director, agent or other representative of the Investor or any of its Affiliates) (collectively, the “Eligibility Criteria”); it being understood and agreed by the parties that Maximilian Viessmann meets the foregoing Eligibility Criteria.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article I, the Investor will not be entitled to designate any individual to the Parent Board or any committee of the Parent Board pursuant to this Article I if such individual does not satisfy the Eligibility Criteria, and the Investor agrees to cause any Investor Director then serving on the Parent Board to resign from such position promptly upon written notice, setting forth the relevant facts upon which such notice is based, from Parent to the Investor (which notice and facts underlying such notice are not disputed by the Investor) of such Investor Designee’s failure to satisfy any of the eligibility criteria set forth in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of the first sentence of this Section 1.3.
 
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(b)          In the event that the Investor designates any Investor Designee other than Maximilian Viessmann and the Parent Board or the Governance Committee of the Parent Board determines in good faith that such Investor Designee fails to satisfy the Eligibility Criteria, (1) the Parent Board or the Governance Committee of the Parent Board shall notify the Investor within ten (10) Business Days of such designation by written notice, setting forth the relevant facts upon which such notice is based, and (2) the Investor may propose another individual as a replacement therefor, whose appointment shall be subject to satisfaction of the Eligibility Criteria described above.
 
Section 1.4          Committee Representation.  Following the Closing and at any time at which an Investor Designee is serving as a member of the Parent Board, the Investor Designee shall be entitled to serve as a member of, and Parent and the Parent Board shall take all action necessary to promptly appoint the Investor Director to, two (2) committees of the Parent Board; provided, that with respect to each such committee the Investor Director shall, in addition to satisfying the Eligibility Criteria, satisfy and comply with all requirements regarding service as a member of such committee as provided under Applicable Law, the listing requirements and corporate governance rules of NYSE or any national securities exchange on which shares of Parent Common Stock are then listed (including any heightened independence requirements for service on such committee) and the practices and policies of such committee, in each case, applicable generally to its members (provided that the Parent Board shall not, and Parent shall cause the Parent Board not to, implement or maintain any practices, policies or requirements that disproportionately and adversely impact the Investor’s rights hereunder or any Investor Director).  Without prejudice to the foregoing sentence, the parties agree that for so long as Maximilian Viessmann is and remains the Investor Designee hereunder, he shall be entitled to serve as a member of the Technology & Innovation Committee of the Parent Board as one of the two (2) committee appointments to which he is entitled pursuant to the foregoing sentence (and that he satisfies any and all requirements regarding service as a member of such committee as of the date hereof).  If and to the extent that any Investor Director is unable to serve as a voting member of one or both of the committees to which he or she is entitled to be appointed under this Section 1.4 as a result of any requirement regarding service as a member of any such committee provided under Applicable Law or the listing requirements and corporate governance rules of NYSE or any national securities exchange on which shares of Parent Common Stock are then listed (including any heightened independence requirements for service on any such committee), then to the extent permitted by such Laws, requirements and rules, the Parent Board shall, and Parent shall cause the Parent Board to, take all action necessary to promptly appoint such Investor Director to serve as an observer on the relevant committee(s).  To the extent permitted by such Laws, requirements and rules, any Investor Director so designated to serve as an observer shall have the right to attend, contribute to and observe, but not vote at, meetings of the relevant committee(s) and Parent shall provide, or cause to be provided, to such observer all notices and written materials provided to voting members of such committee(s), and the minutes of, and resolutions passed at, all meetings of such committee(s), in each case, at the same time and in the same manner provided to voting members of such committee(s).
 
Section 1.5          Confidentiality.
 
(a)         The Investor hereby agrees that all Confidential Information with respect to Parent, its Subsidiaries and its and their businesses, finances and operations shall be kept confidential by the Investor and each Investor Director and shall not be disclosed by the Investor or any Investor Director in any manner whatsoever, except as expressly permitted by this Section 1.5(a).  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, any Confidential Information may be disclosed:
 
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(i)          by an Investor Director to the Investor or any of its Affiliates;
 
(ii)         by the Investor to any of its Affiliates or any Investor Director;
 
(iii)        by (x) an Investor Director to any of its authorized representatives (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers and financial advisors) or (y) the Investor to its or any of its Affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees and authorized representatives (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers and financial advisors thereof) (each of the Persons described in the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), a “Representative”), in each case, solely if and to the extent any Representative needs to be provided such Confidential Information to enable or assist the Investor Director or the Investor (or any of its Affiliates) in evaluating or reviewing its investment in Parent, including in connection with the disposition thereof, and such Confidential Information shall only be used by the Investor Director or the Investor (or any of its Affiliates) and their respective Representatives for that purpose.  Each Representative shall be deemed to be bound by the provisions of this Section 1.5(a) and the Investor shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 1.5(a) by the Investor Director, any of the Investor’s Affiliates or any Representative to the same extent as if such breach had been committed by the Investor; provided, that each of the Investor Director and the Investor shall (and Investor shall cause its Affiliates to) direct their respective Representatives to maintain adequate procedures to prevent any Confidential Information from being used in connection with the purchase or sale of securities of Parent in violation of Applicable Law;
 
(iv)        by the Investor Director, Investor or any of the Investor’s Affiliates, or any of their respective Representatives to the extent Parent consents in writing to such disclosure; and
 
(v)         by the Investor Director, Investor or any of the Investor’s Affiliates, or any of their respective Representatives to the extent that any such Person has received advice from its counsel (which may be internal counsel) that it is legally compelled to do so or is required to do so to comply with Applicable Law or legal process; provided, that prior to making such disclosure, the Person intending to make such disclosure uses its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the confidentiality of the Confidential Information to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, including, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and reasonably practicable under the circumstances, by (A) consulting with Parent regarding such disclosure and (B) if requested by Parent, reasonably cooperating with Parent (at Parent’s sole cost and expense) in seeking a protective order to limit the scope of the required disclosure; and provided, further, that the Person making such disclosure shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information as is, based on the advice of its counsel, legally required or compelled and to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be afforded to any Confidential Information so disclosed.
 
(b)          For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of the obligations under this Section 1.5 by the Investor Director, Investor or any of their respective Representatives, Parent, in addition to all other available remedies, shall be entitled to seek specific performance to enforce the provisions of this Section 1.5 in accordance with Section 6.9.
 
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Section 1.6           Voting Agreements.
 
(a)          At all times during the Standstill Period and all times in which the Investor is a 10.15% Shareholder, Investor shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates to, cause all Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by it to be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum;
 
(b)          Investor shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates to, cause to be voted by proxy (returned sufficiently in advance of the deadline for proxy voting for Parent to have the reasonable opportunity to verify receipt) on or in accordance with the proxy card mailed by Parent to the shareholders of Parent in connection with the solicitation of any proxy (including, if applicable, through the execution of one or more written consents if shareholders of Parent are requested to vote through the execution of an action by written consent in lieu of any such annual or special meeting of shareholders of Parent), in the following manner:
 
(i)          At all times during the Standstill Period and at all times in which the Investor is a 10.15% Shareholder, (w) in favor of all those persons nominated to serve as directors of Parent by the Parent Board or the Governance Committee of the Parent Board, (x) in favor of Parent’s proposal for ratification of the appointment of Parent’s independent registered public accounting firm, (y) in favor of Parent’s “say-on-pay” proposal and any proposal by Parent relating to equity compensation that has been approved by the Compensation Committee of the Parent Board and (z) in accordance with the recommendation of the Parent Board with respect to any proposal brought by any stockholder of Parent (including any proposal pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act), and
 
(ii)        At all times in which the Investor is a 15% Shareholder, in accordance with the recommendation of the Parent Board with respect to (A) all matters referenced in clauses (w) through (z) of Section 1.6(b)(i) and (B) all matters relating to any merger, acquisition or business combination transaction involving Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or equity issuance of Parent;
 
in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii) above, to the extent such matters are to be voted upon by the shareholders of Parent (including through action by written consent), in accordance with the recommendation of the Parent Board.  Except as set forth in this Section 1.6(b), none of the Investor, any of its Affiliates, the Investor Director or any of their respective Representatives shall be under any obligation by virtue of this Agreement to vote in the same manner as recommended by the Parent Board or any other Person, or in any other manner, other than in its sole discretion.
 
(c)          The obligations set forth in this Section 1.6 shall not apply during any Material Parent Breach Period; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the obligations set forth in this Section 1.6 shall apply from and after termination of any Material Parent Breach Period by reason of a cure of the material breach giving rise to such Material Parent Breach Period.
 
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Section 1.7          Parent Board Obligations.  Any breach by the Parent Board, or any committee of the Parent Board, of its obligations under this Article I shall be deemed a breach by Parent of its obligations hereunder.
 
Section 1.8          Corporate Opportunities.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the Investor and its Affiliates may freely offer to any other Person or effect on behalf of itself or any other Person any investment or business opportunity or prospective economic advantage (which may include investments or activities relating to competitors of, or businesses competitive with, Parent or its Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries)), or other transactions in which Parent, its Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries), any member of the Parent Board or any holder of Parent’s securities may have an interest or expectancy, including as a result of any fiduciary duties applicable to such Person, in each case without any prior Parent, Parent Board or stockholder notification or approval; provided, that if Parent and the Investor (or any of the Investor’s Affiliates) are, to the Investor’s knowledge, considering the same transaction, the Investor will promptly notify Parent of its (or its relevant Affiliate’s) interest in such transaction and, if requested by the Parent Board, cause the Investor Director to recuse himself or herself from all Parent Board discussions and activities relating to such transaction.
 
Section 1.9          Organizational Documents.  Parent and the Parent Board shall take or cause to be taken all lawful action necessary to ensure at all times that Parent’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, committee charters, director qualification standards and all other rules, policies and guidelines applicable to members of the Parent Board are consistent in all but de minimis respects with the provisions of this Agreement.
 
Section 1.10        Information Rights.  Following the Closing and for so long as the Investor Parties, collectively, continue to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, at least 25% of the number of Shares Beneficially Owned by the Investor as of the Closing, Parent shall provide to the Investor:
 
(a)         within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of Parent, (i) an audited, consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and (ii) audited, consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity of Parent and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year; provided that this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if on or prior to such date Parent files its annual report on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year with the SEC;
 
(b)         within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of Parent, (i) an unaudited, consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and (ii) consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows of Parent and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter; provided that this requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if on or prior to such date Parent files its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the applicable fiscal quarter with the SEC;
 
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(c)          any other financial, tax and other information or documentation reasonably requested from time to time by the Investor to facilitate the preparation by the Investor or any of its Affiliates of its or their respective periodic financial statements or as may be reasonably required by Investor or any of its Affiliates to facilitate compliance by the Investor or any such Affiliate with its of their financial, tax and reporting requirements under any Applicable Law including, for the avoidance of doubt, any filing, election, return or any other requirements of any accounting, revenue or tax authority, provided that Parent shall not be required to provide the Investor with “material nonpublic technical information,” as such term is defined in section 800.232 of Title 31 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.
 
ARTICLE II
 
TRANSFERS; STANDSTILL
 
Section 2.1          Transfer Restrictions.
 
(a)         Other than in the case of a Permitted Transfer, from the Closing Date to the date that is two (2) years from the Closing Date (such period, the “Restricted Period”) no Investor Party shall Transfer or publicly announce any intention to Transfer any Voting Securities; provided that on the twelve (12)-month anniversary of the Closing Date, a number of Voting Securities equal to 25% of the total number of Voting Securities held by the Investor as of the Closing shall be released from, and shall be deemed not to be subject to, the prohibition on Transfer set out in this Section 2.1(a).
 
(b)         Permitted Transfer” means a Transfer of all or any portion of or any interest in any Voting Securities by any Investor Party to any Permitted Transferee, or between or amongst Permitted Transferees; provided, that any such Permitted Transferee shall agree in writing for the benefit of Parent (in such customary form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent) to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
 
(c)          Prior to any Transfer of Voting Securities during the Restricted Period, the Investor Party intending to make such Transfer shall provide written notice to Parent at least three (3) Business Days in advance of such Transfer, which notice shall state (i) the expected date of the Transfer, (ii) the total number of Voting Securities to be transferred and (iii) the identity of the Transferee.
 
(d)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, including Article IV hereof and the expiration or inapplicability of the Restricted Period, no Investor Party shall Transfer any Voting Securities:
 
(i)          in any Transfer or series of related Transfers in which any Person or Group purchases from the Investor Parties 2% or more of the outstanding Voting Securities; or
 
(ii)         to any Person or Group if, after giving effect to such Transfer, such Person or Group would, to such Investor Party’s knowledge, Beneficially Own 5% or more of the outstanding Voting Securities;
 
(iii)        on any given day in an amount greater than 20% of the average daily trading volume of Parent Common Stock for the 20-trading day period immediately preceding the date of such Transfer; or
 
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(iv)        to any Activist Stockholder or material competitor of Parent or the Climate Solutions Business (as defined in the Share Purchase Agreement);

except, in each case, in a Transfer effected solely through a bona fide Underwritten Offering pursuant to an exercise of the registration rights provided in Article IV of this Agreement (including any “block trade” registered under the Securities Act) or one or more open market transactions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as long as the Investor Party making such Transfer does not have knowledge that the Transfer would otherwise violate any of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) (iii) or (iv).
 
(e)          The restrictions set forth in Section 2.1(a) and 2.1(d) shall not apply to Transfers of Voting Securities (1) to Parent or its Subsidiaries, (2) in any tender offer or exchange offer that has been at any time recommended by, or approved by, the Parent Board or (3) pursuant to any sale, merger, consolidation, acquisition (including by way of tender offer or exchange offer or share exchange), recapitalization or other business combination in one or a series of related transactions (i) involving Parent or any of its Affiliates pursuant to which more than 50% of the Voting Securities or the consolidated total assets of Parent and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, would be acquired or received by any Person (other than Parent or its Subsidiaries) or (ii) involving the Investor or any Affiliate of the Investor pursuant to which more than 50% of the consolidated total assets of the Investor and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, would be acquired or received by any Person (other than the Investor or its Subsidiaries).
 
(f)           The Investor agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide written notification to Parent within five (5) Business Days after the end of each calendar quarter in which any Investor Party has transferred any Voting Securities the number of Voting Securities transferred by the Investor Parties during such quarter and (other than in the case of a Transfer effected solely through a bona fide Underwritten Offering pursuant to an exercise of the registration rights provided in Article IV (including any “block trade” registered under the Securities Act) or one or more open market transactions pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act in which the identity of the Transferees is not reasonably ascertainable) the identity of any Transferee; provided, that any public disclosure (including pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act) regarding a Transfer will be deemed to have satisfied such notification obligations pursuant to this sentence with respect to such Transfer.
 
(g)          The right of any Investor Party to Transfer Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person is subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.1, and no Transfer by any Person of Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by such Person may be effected except in compliance with this Section 2.1.  Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of Voting Securities in violation of this Agreement shall be of no effect and null and void ab initio, regardless of whether the purported Transferee has any actual or constructive knowledge of the Transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement, and Parent shall not, and shall instruct its transfer agent and other third parties not to, record or recognize any such purported transaction on the share register of Parent.
 
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Section 2.2          Standstill Provisions.
 
(a)         From the Closing Date until the termination of the Standstill Period, neither the Investor nor any of its Affiliates shall (or shall permit any of their respective Representatives, acting on the behalf of or at the direction of any of them), directly or indirectly:
 
(i)          acquire, agree to acquire, propose or offer to acquire, facilitate the acquisition or ownership of, or solicit the acquisition of, by purchase, tender or exchange offer, through the acquisition of control of another Person (including by way of merger or consolidation), by joining a partnership, syndicate or other Group, through the use of a derivative instrument or voting agreement, or otherwise, Beneficial Ownership of any Voting Securities, or securities of Parent that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Voting Securities, other than (A) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, recapitalization or similar reorganization of Voting Securities effected by Parent, (B) as a result of issuances by Parent of Voting Securities or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Voting Securities (or the exercise thereof) to any Investor Director as compensation for his or her membership on the Parent Board; provided that, in the event of any offer, sale or issuance of Parent Common Stock or other Equity Interests of Parent following the Closing Date, this clause (i) shall not prohibit any Investor Party from acquiring securities of Parent so long as the Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities by the Investor Parties, taken as a whole, does not, as a result of any such acquisition of securities, exceed the Investor Percentage Interest as of the Closing Date and (C) in an aggregate amount not to exceed (except with the prior consent of the Parent Board), in the aggregate, 13.5% of the Voting Securities at any time outstanding (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be in addition to those Shares Beneficially Owned by the Investor as of the Closing);
 
(ii)          deposit any Voting Securities into a voting trust or similar Contract or subject any Voting Securities to any voting agreement, pooling arrangement or similar arrangement or other Contract, or grant any proxy with respect to any Voting Securities (other than to Parent or a Person specified by Parent in a proxy card provided to shareholders of Parent by or on behalf of Parent);
 
(iii)         enter, agree to enter, publicly propose or offer to enter into, or make any public announcement with respect to, any merger, business combination, recapitalization, restructuring, change in control transaction, sale of all or a material portion of the assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or other similar extraordinary transaction involving Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (unless such transaction is affirmatively publicly recommended by the Parent Board and there has otherwise been no breach of this Section 2.2 in connection with or relating to such transaction);
 
(iv)         make, or knowingly and publicly facilitate, encourage or otherwise participate or engage in, any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Commission) to vote, or advise or knowingly influence any Person with respect to the voting of, any Voting Securities;
 
(v)          call, or seek to call, a meeting of the shareholders of Parent or initiate any shareholder proposal for action by shareholders of Parent, including action by written consent;
 
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(vi)         form, join or in any way participate in a Group (other than a Group which consists solely of the Investor and one or more of its Affiliates), with respect to any Voting Securities;
 
(vii)        otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control or influence the management or the policies of Parent (provided, that this clause (vii) shall in no way limit the activities of any Investor Director taken in good faith in his or her capacity as a Director);
 
(viii)       sell, offer or agree to sell, directly or indirectly, through swap or hedging transactions or otherwise, voting rights decoupled from the underlying Voting Securities to any third party; or
 
(ix)         publicly disclose any intention, plan, arrangement or other Contract prohibited by, or inconsistent with, the foregoing;
 
provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.2(a), (1) the Investor and any of its Affiliates may at any time (A) initiate and engage in private discussions with, and submit non-public, confidential proposals to, the Parent Board (or any committee or other designee thereof) or (B) make a confidential request to Parent seeking an amendment or waiver of this Section 2.2(a), in each case so long as such proposals or requests do not require public disclosure and the making of such proposal or request would not reasonably be expected to require Parent to make a public announcement of its receipt and (2) for the avoidance of doubt, (A) (x) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Share Purchase Agreement and (y) the Investor’s exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations under any other Transaction Document shall not be deemed violations of this Section 2.2(a) and (B) nothing in this Section 2.2(a) shall limit the ability of any Investor Director to take any action in such Investor Director’s capacity as a member of the Parent Board (or any committee thereof).
 
(b)          The Investor further agrees that, during the Standstill Period, neither the Investor nor any of its Affiliates shall (or shall permit any of their respective Representatives, acting on the behalf of or at the direction of any of them), directly or indirectly (x) publicly request Parent to amend or waive any provision of this Section 2.2 (including this sentence) or (y) take any action that would reasonably be expected to require Parent to make a public announcement regarding the possibility of a business combination, merger or other type of transaction or any other matter described in this Section 2.2.
 
(c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 2.2 shall not prevent, limit or affect in any matter whatsoever, the Investor from designating any Investor Designee in accordance with this Agreement or taking any action to cause such Investor Designee to be appointed to the Parent Board (or any committee of the Parent Board).
 
(d)          The restrictions in this Section 2.2 shall not apply during any Material Parent Breach Period; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the restrictions in this Section 2.2 shall apply from and after termination of any Material Parent Breach Period by reason of a cure of the material breach giving rise to such Material Parent Breach Period.
 
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Section 2.3          Section 16 Matters.  If Parent becomes a party to a consolidation, merger or other similar transaction that may result in the Investor, any of its Affiliates or any Investor Director being deemed to have made a disposition of Equity Interests of Parent or derivatives thereof for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and if any Investor Director is serving on the Parent Board at such time or has served on the Parent Board during the preceding six months (i) the Parent Board will pre-approve such disposition of Equity Interests or derivatives thereof for the express purpose of exempting the Investor’s, its Affiliates’ and any Investor Director’s (to the extent the Investor or its Affiliates may be deemed to be “directors by deputization”) interests in such transaction from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 thereunder and (ii) if the transaction involves (A) a merger or consolidation to which Parent is a party and the Equity Interests in Parent are, in whole or in part, converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests of a different issuer, (B) a potential acquisition by the Investor, any of its Affiliates, or any Investor Director of Equity Interests of such other issuer or derivatives thereof and (C) an Affiliate or other designee of the Investor or its Affiliates will serve on the board of directors (or its equivalent) of such other issuer, then if Parent requires that the other issuer pre-approve any acquisition of Equity Interests or derivatives thereof for the express purpose of exempting the interests of any director or officer of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in such transactions from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b- 3 thereunder, Parent shall require that such other issuer pre-approve any such acquisitions of Equity Interests or derivatives thereof for the express purpose of exempting the Investor’s, its Affiliates’ and any Investor Director’s (for the Investor and its Affiliates, to the extent such persons may be deemed to be “directors by deputization” of such other issuer) interests in such transactions from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 thereunder.
 
ARTICLE III
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
Section 3.1          Representations and Warranties of the Investor.  The Investor hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:
 
(a)         The Investor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.  The Investor has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
 
(b)         The execution and delivery by the Investor of this Agreement and the performance by the Investor of its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of, or require the consent or approval of any Person (except for any such consents or approvals which have been obtained) under, (x) Applicable Law, (y) its organizational documents or (z) any material contract or agreement to which it is a party.
 
(c)         The execution and delivery by the Investor of this Agreement and the performance by the Investor of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other analogous action on its part and does not require any corporate or other action on the part of any trustee or beneficial or record owner of any equity interest in it, other than those which have been obtained prior to the date hereof and are in full force and effect.
 
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(d)         This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Investor and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.
 
Section 3.2           Representations and Warranties of Parent.  Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Investor as follows:
 
(a)          Parent is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.  Parent has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
 
(b)          The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement and the performance by Parent of its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or violate any provision of, or require the consent or approval of any Person (except for any such consents or approvals which have been obtained) under, (x) Applicable Law, (y) its organizational documents or (z) any material contract or agreement to which it is a party.
 
(c)          The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement and the performance by Parent of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part and does not require any corporate or other action on the part of any trustee or beneficial or record owner of any equity interest in it, other than those which have been obtained prior to the date hereof and are in full force and effect.
 
(d)          This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.
 
ARTICLE IV

REGISTRATION
 
Section 4.1          Demand Registrations.
 
(a)         From and after the expiration of the Restricted Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof (x) solely during any period that Parent is then ineligible under Applicable Law to register Registrable Securities on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 4.3 or (y) following the expiration of Parent’s obligation to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective pursuant to Section 4.3(b), but only if there is no Shelf Registration Statement then in effect, the Holder or Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall be entitled to make an unlimited number of written requests of Parent (each, a “Demand”) for registration under the Securities Act of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Holder or Holders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (a “Demand Registration”); provided that the Holders collectively shall not be entitled to make more than two (2) Demands during any twelve (12) month period.  Thereupon Parent will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration as promptly as practicable under the Securities Act of:
 
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(i)          the Registrable Securities which Parent has been so requested to register by the Holders for disposition in accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such Demand; and
 
(ii)         all shares of Parent Common Stock which Parent may elect to register in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 4.1;
 
but, in each case, subject to Section 4.1(f), and to the extent necessary to permit the orderly disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities and the additional shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, to be so registered; provided, that Parent may use a registration statement on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto if Parent would qualify to use such form within thirty (30) days after the date on which the Demand Registration is given and Parent shall not be required to file such registration statement until it is so qualified.
 
(b)          A Demand shall specify: (i) the number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered in such Demand Registration, (ii) the intended method of disposition in connection with such Demand Registration, to the extent then known, including whether such Demand Registration will be an Underwritten Offering, (iii) the intended timing of disposition in connection with such Demand Registration and (iv) the estimated gross proceeds of such Demand Registration, which may not be less than the Registrable Amount.
 
(c)          A Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have been effected and shall not count as a Demand Registration (i) unless a registration statement with respect thereto has become effective and has remained effective for a period of at least ninety (90) days or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration have actually been sold thereunder or have ceased being Registrable Securities (provided, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period any Holder of Registrable Securities refrains from selling any securities included in such registration statement at the request of Parent or the lead managing underwriter(s) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or (ii) if, after it has become effective, such Demand Registration becomes subject, prior to ninety (90) days after effectiveness, to any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Authority such that no sales are possible thereunder for a period of ten (10) consecutive days or more, other than by reason of any act or omission by any Holder.
 
(d)         Demand Registrations shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be reasonably selected by Parent and reasonably acceptable to each Holder.
 
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(e)          Parent shall not be obligated to (i) subject to Section 4.1(c), maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act filed pursuant to a Demand Registration for a period longer than ninety (90) days or (ii) effect any Demand Registration (A) within six (6) months of a “firm commitment” Underwritten Offering in which the Holders were offered “piggyback” rights pursuant to Section 4.2 (subject to Section 4.2(b)) and at least 75% of the number of Registrable Securities requested by the Holders to be included in such Demand Registration were included and sold, (B) within three (3) months of the completion of any other Demand Registration (including any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement), (C) if, in Parent’s reasonable judgment, it is not feasible for Parent to proceed with the Demand Registration because of the unavailability of audited or other required financial statements or other required information; provided, that Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such financial statements or information as promptly as practicable or (D) for an amount that is less than the Registrable Amount.
 
(f)          If, in connection with a Demand Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) Parent that, in its (their) good faith opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be registered in connection with such Demand Registration would adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered, the market for the securities offered or the success of such Demand Registration, then Parent shall include in such registration statement only such securities as Parent is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such an adverse effect as follows and in the following order of priority: (i) first, up to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration by the Holders, which, in the opinion of the lead managing underwriter(s), can be sold without such an effect; (ii) second, securities Parent proposes to sell; and (iii) third, all other securities of Parent duly requested to be included in such registration statement, pro rata on the basis of the amount of such other securities requested to be included or such other allocation method determined by Parent.
 
(g)         Any time that a Demand Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, the Holder or Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such Underwritten Offering shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriter(s) (including which such managing underwriter(s) will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriter(s) with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided, that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be acceptable to Parent (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
 
(h)         Any Holder may, by written notice to Parent, withdraw its Registrable Securities from a Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable registration statement.  Upon receipt of notice from a Holder to such effect, or if such withdrawal shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such Demand Registration below the Registrable Amount, Parent shall cease all efforts to seek effectiveness of the applicable registration statement, unless Parent intends to effect a primary offering of securities or a Piggyback Registration pursuant to such registration statement.  In any such event, such Demand Registration shall count as a Demand Registration for purposes of the limitations set forth in Section 4.1(a).
 
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Section 4.2          Piggyback Registrations.
 
(a)         From and after the expiration of the Restricted Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, whenever Parent proposes to register any Parent Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than a registration by Parent (i) on Form S-4 or any successor form thereto (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (ii) on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto (or other registration solely relating to an offering or sale to employees or directors of Parent pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit arrangement), (iii) on a Shelf Registration Statement, (iv) in connection with any dividend or distribution reinvestment or similar plan, (v) incidental to an issuance of debt securities under Rule 144A or (vi) pursuant to Section 4.1) (such registration other than those referred to in the immediately preceding parenthetical, a “Piggyback Registration”), whether for its own account or for the account of others, Parent shall give each Holder prompt written notice thereof (but not less than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the filing by Parent with the Commission of any registration statement with respect thereto).  Such notice (a “Piggyback Notice”) shall specify the number of shares of Parent Common Stock proposed to be registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement with the Commission, the proposed means of distribution, the proposed managing underwriter(s) (if any) and a good faith estimate by Parent of the proposed minimum offering price of such shares of Parent Common Stock, in each case to the extent then known.  Subject to Section 4.2(b), Parent shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities held by the Holders with respect to which Parent has received a written request (which written request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities requested to be disposed of by each Holder) for inclusion therein within ten (10) Business Days after such Piggyback Notice is received by each Holder.
 
(b)          If, in connection with a Piggyback Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advises Parent that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all the shares of Parent Common Stock sought to be included in such Piggyback Registration by (i) Parent, (ii) other Persons who have sought to have shares of Parent Common Stock registered in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to rights to demand (other than pursuant to so-called “piggyback” or other incidental or participation registration rights) such registration (such Persons being “Other Demanding Sellers”), (iii) the Holders and (iv) any other proposed sellers of shares of Parent Common Stock (such Persons being “Other Proposed Sellers”), as the case may be, would adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered, the market for the securities offered or the success of such Piggyback Registration, then Parent shall include in the registration statement applicable to such Piggyback Registration only such shares of Parent Common Stock as Parent is so advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such an effect, as follows and in the following order of priority:
 
(i)          if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering for Parent’s own account, then (A) first, the shares of Parent Common Stock to be sold by Parent, and (B) second, the Registrable Securities of the Holders and shares of Parent Common Stock sought to be registered by Other Demanding Sellers and by Other Proposed Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Holders and the number of shares of Parent Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Other Demanding Sellers and by such Other Proposed Sellers; or
 
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(ii)         if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering other than for Parent’s own account, then (A) first, the Registrable Securities of the Holders and shares of Parent Common Stock sought to be registered by the Other Demanding Sellers and any Other Proposed Sellers, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Parent Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Holders and the number of shares of Parent Common Stock proposed to be sold by such Other Demanding Sellers and Other Proposed Sellers, and (B) second, the shares of Parent Common Stock to be sold by Parent.
 
(c)           In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Section 4.2, Parent shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of any Holder in the Underwritten Offering unless such Holder accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between Parent and the lead managing underwriter(s), which shall be selected in good faith by Parent.
 
(d)           If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any shares of Parent Common Stock as set forth in this Section 4.2, Parent shall determine for any reason not to register such shares of Parent Common Stock, Parent may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Holder and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such particular withdrawn or abandoned Piggyback Registration.
 
Section 4.3           Shelf Registration Statement.
 
(a)          Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file, as soon as reasonably practicable following the expiration of the Restricted Period, a registration statement covering the sale or distribution from time to time by any Investor Party holding Registrable Securities (each such Investor Party, a “Holder”), on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act, of all of the Registrable Securities of such Holder on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto (“Form S-3”) (except if Parent is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form and shall provide for the registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by each Holder in accordance with any reasonable method of distribution elected by such Holder) (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) and shall further use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Shelf Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement that shall become effective upon filing with the SEC pursuant to Rule 462(e) if Rule 462(e) is then available to Parent).
 
(b)          Subject to Section 4.3(c), Parent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until such time as all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities.  Parent shall supplement and amend any Shelf Registration Statement if required by the Securities Act or the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by Parent for such Shelf Registration Statement.
 
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(c)          At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if any Holder delivers a notice to Parent (a “Take-Down Notice”) stating that it intends to sell all or part of its Registrable Securities included by it on the Shelf Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering (a “Shelf Offering”), then Parent shall promptly amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering; provided, that Parent shall not be obligated to effect more than three (3) Shelf Offerings during any twelve (12) month period or to effect any Shelf Offering for less than the Registrable Amount.
 
(d)          In connection with any Shelf Offering, if the lead managing underwriter(s) advises Parent and each Holder participating in such Shelf Offering that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be sold in connection with such Shelf Offering would adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered, the market for the securities offered or the success of such Shelf Offering, then there shall be included in such Shelf Offering only such securities as the lead managing underwriter(s) advises can be sold without such adverse effect, and such number of Registrable Securities shall be allocated in the same manner as described in Section 4.1(f).  Except as otherwise expressly specified in this Section 4.3, any Shelf Offering shall be subject to the same requirements, limitations and other provisions of this Article IV as would be applicable to a Demand Registration (i.e., as if such Shelf Offering were a Demand Registration), including Section 4.1(e)(ii), Section 4.1(g) and Section 4.1(h).
 
(e)          If any of the Registrable Securities is to be sold in a Shelf Offering initiated by a Holder, the Holder or Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such Shelf Offering shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriter(s) (including which such managing underwriter(s) will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriter(s) with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided, that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be acceptable to Parent (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
 
(f)          If a Person entitled to the benefits of this Agreement becomes a Holder of Registrable Securities after a Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, Parent shall, as promptly as is reasonably practicable following delivery of written notice to Parent of such Person becoming a Holder and requesting for its name to be included as a selling securityholder in the prospectus related to the Shelf Registration Statement:
 
(i)          if required and permitted by Applicable Law, file with the SEC a supplement to the related prospectus or a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement so that such Holder is named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver a prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with Applicable Law; provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to file more than one post-effective amendment or a supplement to the related prospectus for such purpose in any 30-day period; and
 
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(ii)         if, pursuant to the foregoing clause (i), Parent shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement that is not automatically effective, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable and notify such Holder as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to this clause (ii).
 
Section 4.4          Holdback Agreements.  In connection with any Underwritten Offering, each Holder shall enter into customary agreements restricting the public sale or distribution of Equity Interests of Parent (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to the extent required by the lead managing underwriter(s) with respect to an applicable Underwritten Offering during the period commencing on the date of the request (which shall be no earlier than seven (7) days prior to the expected “pricing” of such Underwritten Offering) and continuing for not more than ninety (90) days after the date of the “final” prospectus (or “final” prospectus supplement if the Underwritten Offering is made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement), pursuant to which such Underwritten Offering shall be made, or such lesser period and permitted exceptions as is otherwise agreed by the lead managing underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering.  If any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering involves an Underwritten Offering, Parent will not effect any public sale or distribution of any common equity (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common equity) (other than as part of such Underwritten Offering, a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or in connection with any dividend or distribution reinvestment or similar plan) for its own account, within sixty (60) days after the effective date of such registration except as may otherwise be agreed between Parent and the lead managing underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering.
 
Section 4.5          Registration Procedures.
 
(a)          If and whenever Parent is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 4.1 or Section 4.3, Parent shall as promptly as reasonably practicable:
 
(i)          prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement to effect such registration in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution of such securities and thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Article IV; provided, however, that Parent may discontinue any registration of its securities which are not Registrable Securities at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto; provided, further, that before filing such registration statement or any amendments thereto, Parent will furnish to each Holder, counsel to each Holder and the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review and reasonable comment of the Holders and such counsel, and other documents reasonably requested by any Holder or such counsel, including any comment letter from the Commission, and, if requested by any Holder or such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such registration statement and each prospectus included therein and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to Parent’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors; provided, that Parent shall not have any obligation to modify any information if Parent reasonably expects that so doing would cause (i) the registration statement to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) the prospectus to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
 
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(ii)          prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective pursuant to the terms of this Article IV, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;
 
(iii)         if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Holder of any Registrable Securities to be sold an Underwritten Offering, as promptly as reasonably practicable, include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, and such Holder may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after Parent has received such request; provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 4.5(a)(iii) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for Parent, in compliance with Applicable Law;
 
(iv)         furnish to each Holder and each underwriter, if any, of the securities being sold such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) utilized in connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as any Holder or the underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities;
 
(v)          use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with each Holder, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities laws or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder and any underwriter of the securities being sold shall reasonably request, and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective and take any other action which may be necessary to enable the Holders and underwriter(s) to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities, except that Parent shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (v) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
 
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(vi)          use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by Parent are then listed;
 
(vii)         use commercially reasonable efforts to provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such registration statement;
 
(viii)        enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
 
(ix)          in connection with an Underwritten Offering, use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain for each Holder and underwriter(s), if any, (A) opinions of counsel for Parent, covering the legal matters customarily covered in opinions requested of legal counsel to issuers in underwritten secondary offerings and (B) “comfort” letters and updates thereof (or, in the case of any such Person which does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of a “comfort” letter specified in AS 6101 published by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), an “agreed upon procedures” letter) signed by the independent public accountants who have certified Parent’s financial statements and, to the extent required, any other financial statements included in such registration statement, covering the matters customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings;
 
(x)           make available for inspection by each Holder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained in connection with such offering by any Holder or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of Parent and other relevant information of Parent (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility; provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to provide any information under this clause (x) if (A) Parent believes, after consultation with counsel for Parent, that to do so would cause Parent to forfeit an attorney-client or other applicable privilege that was applicable to such information or (B) if either (1) Parent has requested and been granted from the Commission confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the Commission or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (2) Parent reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing; unless, prior to furnishing any such information with respect to clause (1) or (2), each Holder enters into, and causes each of its Inspectors to enter into, a confidentiality agreement on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Parent; provided, further, that each Holder agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction or by another Governmental Authority, give notice to Parent and allow Parent, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action seeking to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;
 
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(xi)          as promptly as practicable notify each Holder and the underwriter(s), if any, of the following events: (a) the filing of the registration statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; (b) any request by the Commission or any other U.S. or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (c) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; (d) the receipt by Parent of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose; (e) if at any time the representations and warranties of Parent contained in any underwriting agreement contemplated by Section 4.5(a)(viii) cease to be true and correct in any material respect; and (f) upon becoming aware of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of any Holder, promptly prepare and furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
 
(xii)          use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest reasonable practicable date, except that Parent shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (xii) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
 
(xiii)        cooperate with each Holder and the lead managing underwriter(s) to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not bear any restrictive legends unless required under Applicable Law) representing securities sold under any registration statement, and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the lead managing underwriter(s) or any Holder may request and keep available and make available to Parent’s transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement a supply of such certificates;
 
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(xiv)         cooperate with each Holder and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of any Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and (xv)         have appropriate officers of Parent prepare and make presentations at a reasonable and customary number of “road shows” and before analysts and rating agencies, as the case may be, and other information meetings reasonably organized by the underwriter(s) and otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate as reasonably requested by any Holder and the underwriter(s) in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities.
 
(b)          Parent may require each Holder and each underwriter, if any, to furnish Parent in writing such information regarding such Holder or underwriter and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as Parent may from time to time reasonably request in writing to complete or amend the information required by such registration statement.
 
(c)           Each Holder shall as promptly as practicable notify in writing Parent and the underwriter(s), if any, with respect to any registered offering of Registrable Securities if at any time the representations and warranties of such Holder contained in any underwriting agreement cease to be true and correct in any material respect and upon becoming aware of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, to the extent based on information provided by such Holder, untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent based on information provided by such Holder.
 
(d)           Each Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from Parent of the happening of any event of the kind described in clauses (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) of Section 4.5(a)(xi), such Holder shall forthwith discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable registration statement and prospectus relating thereto until it receives copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 4.5(a)(xi), or until it is advised in writing by Parent that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus; provided, however, that Parent shall extend the time periods under Section 4.1(c) with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a registration statement must be maintained by the amount of time such Holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.
 
(e)           With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of Parent to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor form), Parent shall:
 
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(i)          use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
 
(ii)         use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Parent under the Exchange Act, at any time when Parent is subject to such reporting requirements; and
 
(iii)        furnish to any Holder, promptly upon request, a written statement by Parent as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and of the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of Parent, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by Parent with the Commission as such Holder may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration (in each case to the extent not readily publicly available).
 
Section 4.6          Registration Expenses.  All fees and expenses incident to Parent’s performance of its obligations under this Article IV, including (a) all registration and filing fees, including all fees and expenses of compliance with securities and “blue sky” laws and all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” as such term is defined in FINRA Rule 5121), (b) all printing (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by any Holder) and copying expenses, (c) all messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses of Parent’s independent certified public accountants and counsel (including with respect to “comfort” letters and opinions) and (e) expenses of Parent incurred in connection with any “road show”, shall be borne solely by Parent whether or not any registration statement is filed or becomes effective.  Each Holder shall pay (i) all underwriters’, brokers’ or dealers’ discounts or commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to any registration and (ii) the legal fees and expenses of its counsel.
 
Section 4.7          Miscellaneous.
 
(a)         Not less than five (5) Business Days before the expected filing date of each registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, Parent shall notify each Holder, if such Holder has timely provided the requisite notice hereunder entitling it to register Registrable Securities in such registration statement, of the information, documents and instruments from such Holder that Parent or any underwriter reasonably requests in connection with such registration statement, including a questionnaire, custody agreement, power of attorney, lock-up letter and underwriting agreement (the “Requested Information”).  If Parent has not received, on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before the expected filing date, the Requested Information from any Holder, Parent may file the registration statement without including Registrable Securities of such Holder.  The failure to so include in any registration statement the Registrable Securities of a Holder (with regard to that registration statement) shall not result in any liability on the part of Parent to such Holder.
 
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(b)         Notwithstanding anything in this Article IV to the contrary, Parent shall be entitled on up to two (2) occasions in any twelve (12) month period, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days in the aggregate in any twelve (12) month period to (x) defer any registration of Registrable Securities and shall have the right not to file and not to cause the effectiveness of any registration covering any Registrable Securities, (y) suspend the use of any prospectus and registration statement covering any Registrable Securities and (z) require the Holders to suspend any offerings or sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement, if Parent delivers to each Holder a certificate signed by an executive officer certifying that such registration and offering would (i) require Parent to make an Adverse Disclosure or (ii) materially interfere with any bona fide material financing, acquisition, disposition or other similar transaction involving Parent or any of its Subsidiaries then under consideration.  Such certificate shall contain a statement of the reasons for such suspension and an approximation of the anticipated length of such suspension.  Each Holder shall keep the information contained in such certificate confidential subject to the same terms set forth in Section 1.5.
 
Section 4.8          Registration Indemnification.
 
(a)         Parent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Holder and its Affiliates and their respective current and former officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such Holder or such other indemnified Person and the current and former officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and agents of each such controlling Person (collectively, the “Parent Indemnified Parties”) from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement and other liabilities, joint or several (or actions in respect thereof) (collectively, the “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus filed pursuant to this Agreement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.8(a)) will reimburse each Parent Indemnified Party for any reasonable and documented legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, except in each case insofar as the same are caused by any information furnished to Parent by any other party expressly for use therein.
 
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(b)         To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in securities as to which registration is being effected, indemnify and hold harmless Parent and its Affiliates and their respective current and former officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) Parent or such other indemnified Person and the current and former officers, directors, employees, accountants, attorneys and agents of each such controlling Person (collectively, the “Holder Indemnified Parties”), from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus filed pursuant to this Agreement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (without limitation of the preceding portions of this Section 4.8(b)) will reimburse each Holder Indemnified Party for any reasonable and documented legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, Loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to Parent by the Holder expressly for inclusion in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto; provided, however, that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 4.8(b) payable any Holder exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds received by such Holder in respect of the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the relevant registration statement.  The indemnity agreement contained in this Section 4.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the applicable Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
 
(c)          Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its obligation, except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to provide such notice on a timely basis.
 
(d)          In any case in which an action is brought against any indemnified party under this Section 4.8, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election to so assume the defense thereof and acknowledging the obligations of the indemnifying party with respect to such proceeding, the indemnifying party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such indemnified party hereunder for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, supervision and monitoring (unless (i) such indemnified party (based upon advice of its counsel) reasonably objects to such assumption on the grounds that there may be defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to the defenses available to such indemnifying party and, as a result, a conflict of interest exists or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the indemnified party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay, in either event the indemnified party shall be promptly reimbursed by the indemnifying party for the reasonable expenses incurred in connection with retaining one separate legal counsel (for all indemnified parties in connection therewith)).  Notwithstanding any such assumption by an indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such matter and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party except as provided in the previous sentence.  An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of an action or claim effected without its consent.  No matter shall be settled by an indemnifying party without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement (x) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation, (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party and (z) does not involve any injunctive or equitable relief that would be binding on the indemnified party or any payment that is not covered by the indemnification hereunder.
 
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(e)          The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall survive the Transfer of the Registrable Securities and the termination of this Agreement.
 
(f)           If recovery is not available under the foregoing indemnification provisions for any reason or reasons other than as specified therein, any Person who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification by the terms thereof shall nevertheless be entitled to contribution with respect to any Losses with respect to which such Person would be entitled to such indemnification but for such reason or reasons, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, the Persons’ relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances.  It is hereby agreed that it would not necessarily be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation.  No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any contribution payable by any Holder under this Section 4.8(f) exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds received by such Holder in respect of the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the registration statement giving rise to such obligation to contribute.
 
ARTICLE V

DEFINITIONS
 
Section 5.1          Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms when used in this Agreement have the following meanings:
 
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Activist Stockholder” means, as of any date of determination, a Person (other than the Investor, Parent and their respective Affiliates (and, in the case of Investor, Investor’s Permitted Transferees)) that has, directly or indirectly through its Affiliates, whether individually or as a member of a group, within the three (3) year period immediately preceding such date of determination (i) called or publicly sought to call a meeting of the stockholders or other equityholders of any Person not publicly approved (at the time of the first such action) by the board of directors or similar governing body of such Person, (ii) publicly initiated any proposal for action by stockholders or other equityholders of any Person initially publicly opposed by the board of directors or similar governing body of such Person, (iii) publicly sought election to, or to place a director or representative on, the board of directors or similar governing body of a Person, or publicly sought the removal of a director or other representative from such board of directors or similar governing body, in each case which election or removal was not recommended or approved publicly (at the time such election or removal is first sought) by the board of directors or (iv) publicly disclosed any intention, plan or arrangement to do any of the foregoing.
 
Adverse Disclosure” means public disclosure of material non-public information that, in the good faith judgment of Parent (after consultation with legal counsel): (a) would be required to be made in any registration statement filed with the SEC by Parent so that such registration statement would not be materially misleading; (b) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing, effectiveness or continued use of such registration statement; and (c) the Parent has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.
 
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person, unless otherwise specified, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have correlative meanings; provided, however, that the Investor shall not be deemed an Affiliate of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of this Agreement (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Company and its Subsidiaries following the Closing will cease to be Affiliates of the Investor and will be Affiliates of Parent).
 
Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, all applicable U.S., non-U.S. or transnational federal, state or local Laws.
 
Beneficial Owner”, “Beneficially Own” or “Beneficial Ownership” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such Rule is actually applicable in such circumstance).
 
Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday or public holiday in New York, New York on which banks are open in New York, New York for general commercial business.
 
Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
 
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(a)          the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all, of the assets of Parent to any Person or Group;
 
(b)          any Person or Group is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Securities of Parent (or any Person which controls Parent or which is a successor to all or substantially all of the assets of Parent), including by way of merger, recapitalization, reorganization, redemption, issuance of capital stock, consolidation, tender or exchange offer or otherwise; or
 
(c)          a merger of Parent with or into another Person in which the holders of Voting Securities of Parent as of immediately prior to such merger cease to hold at least 50% of the outstanding equity or voting securities of Parent (or the surviving corporation in such merger or the ultimate parent thereof) immediately following such merger.
 
Closing Date” means the date of the Closing.
 
Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act.
 
Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
 
Confidential Information” means all confidential and/or non-public information (irrespective of the form of communication, and irrespective of whether obtained prior to or after the date hereof) obtained by or on behalf of the Investor or its Representatives from or on behalf of Parent or its Representatives, other than information which (i) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by the Investor or any of its Representatives, (ii) was or becomes available to the Investor or any of its Representatives on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Parent or its Representatives; provided that the source thereof is not known by the Investor or its Representatives to be bound by an obligation of confidentiality to Parent or its Subsidiaries in respect of such information, or (iii) is independently developed by the Investor or its Representatives without the use of or reference to any such information that would otherwise be Confidential Information hereunder.
 
Contract” means any written or oral contract, agreement, obligation, understanding or instrument, lease or license.
 
Equity Interest” means any share of capital stock or other class of equity securities of a Person, whether voting or non-voting.
 
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
 
Governmental Authority” means any federal, national, state, local, cantonal, municipal, international or multinational government or political subdivision thereof, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency, taxing or regulatory authority, instrumentality or judicial or administrative body, or arbitrator or SRO, having jurisdiction over the matter or matters in question.
 
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Group” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
 
Identified Viessmann Familymembers” means Professor Martin Viessmann and Maximilian Viessmann.
 
Investor Designee” means an individual designated in writing by the Investor for election or appointment to the Parent Board.
 
Investor Director” means an Investor Designee who has been elected or appointed to the Parent Board.
 
Investor Parties” means the Investor and each Permitted Transferee of the Investor to whom Voting Securities are transferred pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.1.
 
Investor Percentage Interest” means the percentage calculated by dividing (x) the number of Voting Securities that are, as of the date of such calculation, Beneficially Owned by the Investor Parties, in the aggregate, by (y) the number of issued and outstanding Voting Securities as of the date of such calculation.
 
Laws” means laws, statutes, binding Orders, rules, and regulations, ordinances, directives, treaties, rules of common law and rules of any applicable SRO.
 
Material Parent Breach Period” means a period in which Parent is in material breach of any of its obligations under Section 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or 1.4 hereof and such breach continues for, and is not cured within, ten (10) Business Days after Parent has received written notice thereof from the Investor and such breach has not been waived in writing by the Investor; provided, that such a period shall be deemed to have commenced on the date upon which Parent received written notice thereof from the Investor and shall terminate upon the cure of any such material breach giving rise to the commencement of such Material Parent Breach Period.
 
Order” means any order, writ, decree, judgment, award, decision, injunction, ruling, settlement, verdict, consent decree, compliance order, civil or administrative order, or stipulation issued, promulgated, made, rendered or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator (in each case, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent).
 
Person” an individual, firm, body corporate (wherever incorporated), partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, trust, foundation, works council or employee representative body (whether or not having separate legal personality) or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority.
 
Permitted Transferee” means:
 
(a)          any Affiliate of the Investor; and
 
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(b)          any member, stockholder, partner or other holder of Equity Interests of any Affiliate of the Investor that, in each case, is an “accredited investor”, as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D, as promulgated under the Securities Act (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Identified Viessmann Familymember); provided, that, in relation to any Person identified in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the term “Permitted Transferee” shall also mean (i) such Person’s estate upon the death of such Person, (ii) any ancestor, descendant, sibling or spouse of such Person or any trust, foundation, partnership, custodianship or other fiduciary vehicle or account with respect to which any ancestor, descendant, sibling or spouse of such Person is a beneficiary, (iii) any vehicle or account established by any such Person for bona fide tax planning purposes, and (iv) any charitable trust, foundation or other Person established or controlled by such Person.
 
Registrable Amount” means an amount of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $50 million (based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by Parent)), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission, or such lesser amount of Registrable Securities as would result in the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities Beneficially Owned by the Investor.
 
Registrable Securities” means any shares of Parent Common Stock issued to the Investor pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement and any other securities issued or issuable by Parent or any of its successors or assigns in respect of any such shares of Parent Common Stock received (including in connection with any stock split or subdivision, stock dividend, distribution or similar transaction, together with any Equity Interests acquired by the Investor in connection with the exercise of the Investor’s rights under Section 2.2(a)(i), or by way of any conversion, exchange, merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization) or acquired (including in open market or other purchases before or after the Effective Date) or held by (or deemed to be held by) any Investor Party (and, if applicable, any transferee of any Investor Party that receives “restricted securities” in connection with a transfer of Parent Common Stock or such other securities other than pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or Rule 144); provided, that any such shares of Parent Common Stock or other securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) they are sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (iii) they become eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or (iv) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.
 
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
Shares” means the shares of Parent Common Stock issued to the Investor pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement (as adjusted for any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, exchange or similar reorganization of shares).
 
10.15% Shareholder” means when referring to the Investor, that the Investor Parties and their Permitted Transferees, collectively hold Voting Securities (and derivative instruments convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Voting Securities) that collectively constitute 10.15% or more of the Voting Securities outstanding at such time.
 
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15% Shareholder” means when referring to the Investor, that the Investor Parties and their Permitted Transferees, collectively hold Voting Securities (and derivative instruments convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Voting Securities) that collectively constitute 15% or more of the Voting Securities outstanding at such time.
 
SRO” means (i) any “self-regulatory organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act, (ii) any other United States or foreign securities exchange, futures exchange, commodities exchange or contract market, or (iii) any other securities exchange.
 
Standstill Period” means the period beginning on the Closing and ending on the later of (1) the date that is twelve (12) months from the Closing Date, and (2) the date on which the Investor Director ceases to serve on the Parent Board, no replacement Investor Designee is designated by the Investor to fill the resulting vacancy in accordance with this Agreement and Investor does not have the right (or has irrevocably relinquished the right) to designate a director to the Parent Board in accordance with this Agreement.
 
Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, another Person with respect to which the first Person holds, directly or indirectly, (a) an amount of the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of directors or other governing body or (b) more than fifty (50%) of the equity interests.
 
Transaction Document” means this Agreement, the Share Purchase Agreement, the Transitional Services Agreement (as defined in the Share Purchase Agreement) and the License Agreement (as defined in the Share Purchase Agreement).
 
Transfer” means (i) any direct or indirect offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), either voluntary or involuntary, or entry into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any offer, sale, lease, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition or other transfer (by operation of law or otherwise), of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock or (ii) in respect of any capital stock or interest in any capital stock, entry into any swap, put option, derivative, or any other agreement, transaction or series of transactions that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of such capital stock or interest in capital stock, whether any such swap, derivative, put option, agreement, transaction or series of transaction is to be settled by delivery of securities, in cash or otherwise; provided that a “Transfer” will not include (A) the granting of a pledge, lien or other security interest over any capital stock or interest in any capital stock to a nationally recognized bank or broker-dealer in connection with any bona fide financing arrangements (including any bona fide margin loan transaction) entered into with any such nationally recognized bank or broker-dealer, or the ability of such a bank or broker-dealer to foreclose on and Transfer such capital stock or interest in any capital stock and any foreclosure or Transfer by such a bank or broker-dealer, as long as such bank or broker-dealer agrees with the relevant Transferee (with Parent as an express third party beneficiary of such agreement) that following such foreclosure it shall not directly or indirectly Transfer (other than pursuant to a broadly distributed public offering or a sale effected through a broker dealer) any such foreclosed capital stock or interest in any capital stock without Parent’s prior written consent, or the enforcement of any rights related thereto or (B) any indirect Transfer of Equity Interests of Parent by virtue of an issuance of a direct or indirect Equity Interest in the Investor, any of its Affiliates or any of their respective securityholders.  “Transferor” means a Person that Transfers or proposes to Transfer; and “Transferee” means a Person to whom a Transfer is made or is proposed to be made.
 
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Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of Parent, in an amount no less than the Registrable Amount, to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.
 
Voting Securities” means shares of Parent Common Stock and any other securities of Parent entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of Parent.
 
Section 5.2           Other Defined Terms.
 
Term
Section
   
Agreement
Preamble
Closing
Recitals
Company
Recitals
Demand
4.1(a)
Demand Registration
5.1(a)
Eligibility Criteria
1.3(a)
Form S-3
4.3(a)
Free Writing Prospectus
4.5(a)(iv)
Holder
4.3(a)
Holder Indemnified Party
4.8(b)
Inspectors
4.5(a)(x)
Investor
Preamble
Investor Related Parties
1.2(h)
Losses
4.8(a)
NYSE
1.3(a)
Other Demanding Sellers
4.2(b)
Other Proposed Sellers
4.2(b)
Parent
Preamble
Parent Board
1.1
Parent Common Stock
Recitals
Parent Indemnified Party
4.8(a)
Permitted Transfer
2.1(b)
Permitted Transferee
2.1(b)
Piggyback Notice
4.2(a)
Piggyback Registration
4.2(a)
Proposed Securities
2.4(a)(i)
Records
4.5(a)(x)
Representatives
1.9(a)(iii)
Requested Information
4.7(a)
Restricted Period
2.1(a)
Share Purchase Agreement
Recitals
Shelf Notice
4.3(a)
Shelf Offering
4.3(d)
Shelf Registration Statement
4.3(a)
Standstill Period
2.2(d)
Take-Down Notice
4.3(d)

33

Section 5.3          Interpretation.  Whenever used: the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” and the words “hereof,” “hereunder” and “herein” and similar words shall be construed as references to this Agreement as a whole and not limited to the particular provision of the Article or Section in which the reference appears.  Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles and Sections mean the Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof; and (z) to a statute, rule or regulation means such statute, rule or regulation as amended or supplemented from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.  References to “$” or “dollars” means United States dollars.  Any reference in this Agreement to any gender shall include all genders.  The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.  The headings and captions herein are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the construction or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other theory extends and such phrase shall not mean “if.” The word “or” when used in this Agreement is not exclusive.  If, and as often as, there is any change in the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization or exchange or similar reorganization of shares, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement so as to fairly and equitably preserve, as far as practicable, the rights and obligations set forth herein that continue to be applicable on the date of such change.  Any reference to “written” or “in writing” refers to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form, including e-mail.  To the extent that this Agreement requires an Affiliate or Subsidiary of any party to take or omit to take any action, such covenant or agreement includes the obligation of such party to cause such Affiliate or Subsidiary to take or omit to take such action.  The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.  References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person.  References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.  The word “party” is to be deemed to refer to a party hereto, unless the context requires otherwise.
 
ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS
 
Section 6.1          Term.  This Agreement will be effective as of the date hereof and, except as otherwise set forth herein, will continue in effect thereafter until the first date on which the Investor ceases to Beneficially Own any Voting Securities; provided, however, that (a) the provisions contained in Article IV of this Agreement, except Section 4.8, shall survive so long as there are, and shall automatically terminate when there are no longer, any Registrable Securities outstanding and (b) Section 1.5, the representations and warranties of the Investor and Parent in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, respectively, the indemnity and contribution provisions contained in Section 4.8, Article V, and this Article VI shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
 
34

Section 6.2          Notices.
 
(a)          Notices and other statements in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing in the English language and shall be delivered by hand, email or overnight courier to the recipient’s address as set forth below or to such other address as a party hereto may notify to the other parties hereto from time to time and shall be given:
 

(i)
if to Parent, to:
 

Name:
Carrier Global Corporation

Address:
13955 Pasteur Boulevard
Palm Beach Gardens
Florida 33418
United States of America


Attention:


Email:

with a copy to (which shall not be considered notice):
 

Name:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP

Address:
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York
New York, 10019
United States of America


Attention:


Email:
 
 
(ii)
if to the Investor, to:
 

Name:
Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG

Address:
Viessmannstraße 1
35108 Allendorf (Eder)
Germany


Attention:


Email:
 
with a copy to (which shall not be considered notice):
 

Name:
Davis Polk & Wardwell London LLP

Address:
5 Aldermanbury Square
London EC2V 7HR
United Kingdom
 
35



Attention:


Email:
 

Name:
Hengeler Mueller Partnerschaft von
Rechtsanwälten mbH

Address:
Benrather Straße 18-20
40213 Düsseldorf
Germany


Attention:


Email:
 
(b)          A notice shall be effective upon receipt and shall be deemed to have been received: (i) at the time of delivery, if delivered by hand, or overnight courier; or (ii) at the time of transmission if sent by email (receipt confirmation requested).
 
Section 6.3           Amendments and Waivers.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that no provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by Parent and the Investor.  No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Applicable Law.
 
Section 6.4           Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that, except in connection with a Change in Control, no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other party hereto.
 
Section 6.5           Severability.  It is the intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under Applicable Law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.  If any particular provision or portion of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision or portion thereof shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision or portion valid and enforceable, and such amendment will apply only with respect to the operation of such provision or portion in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.
 
Section 6.6           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.  This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement, and any amendments or waivers hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of electronic signature or by e-mail delivery of an electronic data file, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.  No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic signature or e-mail delivery of an electronic data file to deliver a signature to this Agreement or any amendment hereto or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of electronic signature or e-mail delivery of an electronic data file as a defense to the formation of a contract and each party hereto forever waives any such defense.
 
36

Section 6.7           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to in this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
 
Section 6.8           Governing Law; Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
 
(a)          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of such state that would cause the law of any other jurisdiction to apply.
 
(b)          The parties hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery in and for New Castle County, or in the event (but only in the event) that such Delaware Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such dispute, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware; provided, that if such court does not have jurisdiction, any such action shall be brought exclusively in any other state court sitting in the State of Delaware, so long as such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such suit, action or proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out of this Agreement shall be deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the State of Delaware, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.  Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 6.2 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.
 
(c)          EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 
37

Section 6.9           Specific Performance.  The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur, and that the parties would not have any adequate remedy at law, in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement, without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity.  Each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy.  The parties further agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to law or inequitable for any reason, nor to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy.
 
Section 6.10         No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights upon any Person other than the parties hereto and each such party’s respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns; provided, that the Parent Indemnified Parties and the Holder Indemnified Parties are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 4.8.
 
The remainder of this page intentionally left blank
 
38

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
 

CARRIER GLOBAL CORPORATION




By: /s/ Francesca Campbell


Name: Francesca Campbell


Title: Vice President, Secretary

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
 

VIESSMANN GROUP GMBH & CO. KG

by its sole general partner, VIESSMANN KOMPLEMENTÄR B.V.




By: /s/ Ulrich Hüllmann


Name: Ulrich Hüllmann




By: /s/ Hans-Jörg Harth


Name: Hans-Jörg Harth

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]




Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION

60-DAY TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of January 2, 2024,

among

CARRIER GLOBAL CORPORATION,

the SUBSIDIARY BORROWERS party hereto,

the LENDERS party hereto

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
and
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Syndication Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I
 
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
 
SECTION 1.01
Defined Terms
1
SECTION 1.02
Classification of Loans and Borrowings
35
SECTION 1.03
Terms Generally
35
SECTION 1.04
Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations
36
SECTION 1.05
Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification
37
SECTION 1.06
Divisions
37
SECTION 1.07
Currency Translation
37

ARTICLE II

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE LOANS

SECTION 2.01
Loans
38
SECTION 2.02
Notice of Borrowings
39
SECTION 2.03
[Reserved]
39
SECTION 2.04
Notice to Lenders; Funding of Loans
39
SECTION 2.05
Fees
40
SECTION 2.06
Termination of Commitments
40
SECTION 2.07
Repayment of Loans
41
SECTION 2.08
Interest on Loans
41
SECTION 2.09
Conversion and Subsequent Interest Period Elections for Loans
41
SECTION 2.10
Prepayments of Loans
43
SECTION 2.11
Increased Costs
44
SECTION 2.12
Break Funding Payments
46
SECTION 2.13
Payments and Computations
47
SECTION 2.14
Taxes
48
SECTION 2.15
Sharing of Payments, Etc.
53
SECTION 2.16
Defaulting Lenders
53
SECTION 2.17
Alternate Rate of Interest
54
SECTION 2.18
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
58
SECTION 2.19
Subsidiary Borrowers
59
 
ARTICLE III
 
CONDITIONS OF LENDING
 
SECTION 3.01
Conditions to Effectiveness and Closing
61
SECTION 3.02
Conditions to Initial Borrowing by Each Designated Subsidiary Borrower
63

i

ARTICLE IV
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
SECTION 4.01
Representations and Warranties of the Company
64
SECTION 4.02
Representations and Warranties of each Subsidiary Borrower
66
 
ARTICLE V
 
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
SECTION 5.01
Affirmative Covenants
67
SECTION 5.02
Negative Covenants
69
 
ARTICLE VI
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
SECTION 6.01
Events of Default
74
SECTION 6.02
Lenders’ Rights upon an Event of Default
76
 
ARTICLE VII
 
THE AGENTS
 
SECTION 7.01
Authorization and Action
77
SECTION 7.02
Agents’ Reliance, Etc.
77
SECTION 7.03
Delegation of Duties
78
SECTION 7.04
Agents and Affiliates
79
SECTION 7.05
Lender Credit Decision
79
SECTION 7.06
[Reserved]
80
SECTION 7.07
Successor Administrative Agent
80
SECTION 7.08
Arrangers and Syndication Agent
80
SECTION 7.09
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim
80
SECTION 7.10
Certain ERISA Matters
81
SECTION 7.11
Recovery of Erroneous Payments
82
 
ARTICLE VIII
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
SECTION 8.01
Amendments, Etc.
83
SECTION 8.02
Notices, Etc.
84
SECTION 8.03
No Waiver; Remedies
86
SECTION 8.04
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
86
SECTION 8.05
Binding Effect; Survival
88
SECTION 8.06
Optional Assignments; Participations
88
SECTION 8.07
Confidentiality
90

ii

SECTION 8.08
Records of Administrative Agent
91
SECTION 8.09
Governing Law; Consent to Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial
92
SECTION 8.10
Execution in Counterparts; Integration; Electronic Execution
93
SECTION 8.11
Severability
93
SECTION 8.12
Headings
93
SECTION 8.13
Interest Rate Limitation
93
SECTION 8.14
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
94
SECTION 8.15
USA PATRIOT Act Notice and Beneficial Ownership Regulation
94
SECTION 8.16
Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions
95
SECTION 8.17
Conversion of Currencies
95
SECTION 8.18
Permitted Reorganization
96
 
ARTICLE IX
 
COMPANY GUARANTEE
 
SECTION 9.01
The Guarantee
97
SECTION 9.02
Guarantee Unconditional
97
SECTION 9.03
Discharge; Reinstatement in Certain Circumstances
98
SECTION 9.04
Waiver by the Company
99
SECTION 9.05
Taxes
99
     
SCHEDULES
 
Schedule 1.01A — NORESCO Project Finance Debt
Schedule 2.01 — Commitments
Schedule 5.02(a) — Liens
Schedule 5.02(c) — Sale and Leaseback Transactions
 
EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit A — Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B — Form of Borrowing Request
Exhibit C — Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D — Form of Ineligible Subsidiary Designation Notice
Exhibit E — Form of Interest Election Request
Exhibit F — Form of Subsidiary Borrower Agreement
Exhibit G-1 —
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes and Foreign Lenders that are Disregarded Entities for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Whose Owner, for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes, is not a Partnership)
Exhibit G-2 —
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes and Participants that are Disregarded Entities for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Whose Owner, for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes, is not a Partnership)

iii

Exhibit G-3 —
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes and Participants that are Disregarded Entities for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Whose Owner, for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes, is a Partnership)
Exhibit G-4 —
Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (For Foreign Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes and Foreign Lenders that are Disregarded Entities for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes Whose Owner, for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes, is a Partnership)
Exhibit H —
Form of Solvency Certificate

iv

60-DAY TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 2, 2024, among CARRIER GLOBAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, each SUBSIDIARY BORROWER party hereto, the LENDERS party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent.

The Company (such term and each other capitalized term used and not otherwise defined herein having the meaning assigned to it in Article I) has requested the Lenders to extend Commitments in the amount of €500,000,000, under which the Borrowers may obtain Loans in Euros or US Dollars. The Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrowers on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

SECTION 1.01       Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

2020 Offering Notes” means the Company’s (i) 2.242% Notes due 2025, (ii) 2.493% Notes due 2027, (iii) 2.722% Notes due 2030, (iv) 2.700% Notes due 2031, (v) 3.377% Notes due 2040 and (vi) 3.577% Notes due 2050, in each case, issued pursuant to and governed by that certain Indenture, dated as of February 27, 2020 (as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of February 27, 2020, and Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of June 19, 2020, and as further supplemented, amended, extended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or as refinanced or replaced with any other notes or indenture, as applicable), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

2022 JPY Term Loan Credit Agreement” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2022, among the Company, the lenders party thereto and MUFG Bank Ltd., as administrative agent, as amended, extended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or as refinanced or replaced with any other credit agreement.

2023 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement” means the 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2023, among the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties party thereto, as amended, extended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or as refinanced or replaced with any other credit agreement.

2023 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement” means the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2023, among the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties party thereto, as amended, extended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or as refinanced or replaced with any other credit agreement.


2023 Offering Notes” means the Company’s (i) 5.800% Notes due 2025, (ii) 5.900% Notes due 2034, (iii) 6.200% Notes due 2054, (iv) 4.375% Notes due 2025, (v) 4.125% Notes due 2028 and (vi) 4.500% Notes due 2032, in each case, issued pursuant to and governed by that certain Indenture, dated as of November 29, 2023 (as supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of November 29, 2023, and Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of November 30, 2023, and as further supplemented, amended, extended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or as refinanced or replaced with any other notes or indenture, as applicable), between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.

2023 Term Loan Credit Agreement” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2023, among the Company, the other borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other parties party thereto, as amended, extended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or as refinanced or replaced with any other credit agreement.

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Acquisition” means the acquisition by the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, of all of the equity interests of Viessmann Climate Solutions SE pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.

Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2023, entered into among the Company, Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG, a limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft) incorporated under the laws of Germany, registered in the commercial register of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Marburg under register no. HRA 3389, with its business address at Viessmannstraße 1, 35108 Allendorf/Eder, Germany, represented by its sole general partner, Viessmann Komplementär B.V., a limited liability company (besloten venootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, registered with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) under number 63726033 and having its registered seat in Venlo, the Netherlands, and its registered address at Viessmannstraße 1, 35108 Allendorf/Eder, Germany, and Blitz F23-620 GmbH (to be renamed Johann Purchaser GmbH), a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) incorporated under the laws of Germany, registered in the commercial register (Handelsregister) of the local court (Amtsgericht) of Frankfurt am Main under HRB 130044 with its business address at c/o Linklaters LLP, Taunusanlage 8, 60329 Frankfurt am Main (Attn: Dr. Timo Engelhardt), as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Acquisition Agreement Representations” means the representations made by Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG with respect to the Target Companies (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) in the Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Company (or a subsidiary of the Company) has the right to terminate its (or its affiliates’) obligations under the Acquisition Agreement as a result of the breach of such representations in the Acquisition Agreement, or the accuracy of such representations in the Acquisition Agreement is a condition to the Company’s (or its affiliates’) obligations to consummate the Acquisition pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.

2

Acquisition Indebtedness” means any Debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has been issued for the purpose of financing, in whole or in part, the Acquisition and any related transactions or series of related transactions (including for the purpose of refinancing or replacing all or a portion of any pre-existing indebtedness of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the Person(s) or assets to be acquired); provided that (a) the release of the proceeds thereof to the Company and its Subsidiaries is contingent upon the consummation of the Acquisition and, pending such release, such proceeds are held in escrow (and, if the Acquisition Agreement is terminated prior to the consummation of the Acquisition or if the Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt, such proceeds shall be promptly applied to satisfy and discharge all obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of such Debt) or (b) such Debt contains a “special mandatory redemption” provision (or other similar provision) or otherwise permits such Debt to be redeemed or prepaid if the Acquisition is not consummated by the date specified in the Acquisition Agreement (and if the Acquisition Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the consummation of the Acquisition or the Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation relating to such Debt, such Debt is so redeemed or prepaid within 90 days of such termination or such specified date, as the case may be).

Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means, with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR for US Dollars, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

Adjusted EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the EURIBOR Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate; provided that if the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Article VII. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Administrative Agent” shall include any Affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. through which it shall perform any of its obligations in such capacity hereunder.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

3

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Agent” means any of the Administrative Agent or the Syndication Agent.

Agent Parties” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.02(c).

Agreed Currencies” means US Dollars and Euros.

Agreement” means this 60-Day Term Loan Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including by any Subsidiary Borrower Agreement or any Ineligible Subsidiary Designation Notice.

Agreement Currency” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.17(b).

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or, if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.17 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.17(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1% for purposes of this Agreement.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

Applicable Creditor” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.17(b).

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Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, any RFR Loan or any ABR Loan, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Term Benchmark Spread”, “RFR Spread”, “ABR Spread” or “CBR Spread”, as the case may be, in each case based upon the Ratings applicable on such date:


Level

Ratings
(S&P / Moody’s)

Term
Benchmark
Spread, RFR
Spread and
CBR Spread
(basis points
per annum)

ABR Spread
(basis points
per annum)
1

BBB/Baa2 or higher

125.0

25.0
2

BBB-/Baa3

137.5

37.5
3

Lower than BBB-/Baa3 or unrated

150.0

50.0

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if either Moody’s or S&P shall not have in effect a Rating (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition), then such rating agency shall be deemed to have established a Rating in Level 3; (b) if the Ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P shall fall within different Levels, the Applicable Rate shall be based upon the higher Rating unless the Ratings differ by two or more Levels, in which case the Applicable Rate will be based upon the Level one below that corresponding to the higher Rating; and (c) if the Ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moody’s or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Company and the Administrative Agent shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency (it being understood that, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, any such negotiation on the part of the Administrative Agent may be subject to prior consultation with one or more Lenders and any consent by the Administrative Agent to any such amendment may be subject to the Administrative Agent having obtained consent thereto from the Required Lenders), and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and BofA Securities, Inc., in their capacities as the joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners for the credit facility provided for herein.

Asset Sale” means the sale or other disposition of any property to third parties (including the sale of equity interests of a Subsidiary to third parties or any equity issuance to third parties by a Subsidiary) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding Viessmann Climate Solutions SE and its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date), including any condemnation or other taking of any such property, except Excluded Asset Sales.

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Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, with the consent of any Person whose consent is required by Section 8.06, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Company.

Attributable Debt” means, as to any particular lease under which any Person is at the time liable for a term of more than 12 months, at any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, the total net amount of rent required to be paid by such Person under such lease during the remaining term thereof (excluding any subsequent renewal or other extension options held by the lessee), discounted at the interest rate implicit in the terms of the relevant lease in accordance with GAAP. The net amount of rent required to be paid under any such lease for any such period shall be the aggregate amount of the rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after excluding amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, services, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges and contingent rents (such as those based on sales). In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty in an amount which is less than the total discounted net amount of rent required to be paid from the later of the first date upon which such lease may be so terminated or the date of the determination of such net amount of rent, as the case may be, such net amount shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Agreed Currency, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 2.17.

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of any Affected Financial Institution.

Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time that is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their Affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, the applicable Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Relevant Rate or the then-current Benchmark for such Agreed Currency, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.17.

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Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that, in the case of any Loan denominated in Euros, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in (2) below:

(1)          in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR;

(2)         the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time in the United States; provided that the Borrower may give due consideration to United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.1001-3 and 1.1001-6(b), and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time; provided that the Borrower may give due consideration to United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.1001-3 and 1.1001-6(b).

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Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Loan denominated in US Dollars, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “RFR Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable discretion (and in consultation with the Borrower) that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

(1)         in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(2)        in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

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(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Board of Governors, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, the central bank for the Agreed Currency applicable to such Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.17 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.17.

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

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

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate’ (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Board of Governors” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

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Borrower” means the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.01.

Borrowing” means Loans of the same Type and currency and to the same Borrower made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Minimum” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €25,000,000 and (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, US$25,000,000.

Borrowing Multiple” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €5,000,000 and (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, US$5,000,000.

Borrowing Request” means a request by a Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Subsidiary Borrower) for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Company.

 “Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday or a Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed under the laws of the State of New York; provided that, in addition to the foregoing, a Business Day shall be (a) in relation to Loans denominated in Euros and in relation to the calculation or computation of EURIBOR, any day which is a TARGET Day and (b) in relation to RFR Loans or Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loans or Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any other dealings of such RFR Loans or Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, any such day that is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP (subject to Section 1.04); and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP (subject to Section 1.04).

CBR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Central Bank Rate.

CBR Spread” means the Applicable Rate, applicable to such Loan that is replaced by a CBR Loan.

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Central Bank Rate” means, the greater of (I)(A) for any Loan denominated in Euro, one of the following three rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion: (1) the fixed rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), or, if that rate is not published, the minimum bid rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), each as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (2) the rate for the marginal lending facility of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time or (3) the rate for the deposit facility of the central banking system of the participating member states, as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time; plus (B) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment and (II) the Floor.

Central Bank Rate Adjustment” means, for any day, for any Loan denominated in Euro, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for the five most recent Business Days preceding such day for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest Adjusted EURIBOR Rate applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Euro in effect on the last Business Day in such period. For purposes of this definition, (x) the term Central Bank Rate shall be determined disregarding clause (B) of the definition of such term and (y) the EURIBOR Rate on any day shall be based on the EURIBOR Screen Rate, on such day at approximately the time referred to in the definition of such term for deposits in the applicable Agreed Currency for a maturity of one month.

Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any “person” or “group” (as such terms are defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than (i) the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, of equity interests in the Company representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding equity interests in the Company or (b) the occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Company by Persons who are not Continuing Directors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “person” or “group” shall not be deemed to beneficially own equity interests subject to a stock or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, warrant agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the acquisition of the applicable equity interests in connection with the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption of any rule, regulation, treaty or other law, (b) any change in any rule, regulation, treaty or other law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law, but if not having the force of law, one which applies generally to the class or category of financial institutions of which any Lender or the Administrative Agent forms a part and compliance with which is in accordance with the general practice of those financial institutions) of any Governmental Authority; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case, pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued.

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Charges” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.13.

 “Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 3.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.01).

CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).

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

Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Loans to be made by such Lender hereunder, as such commitment may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 or 8.06. The amount of each Lender’s Commitment on the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01, and the aggregate amount of all such Lenders’ Commitments on the Closing Date is €500,000,000. The Commitments shall terminate in full on the Closing Date upon the Borrowing of the Loans on the Closing Date.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Company” means Carrier Global Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Company Guarantee” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 9.01.

Compliance Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Company.

Consolidated” refers to the consolidation of the accounts of a Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus

(a)          without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum for such period of:

(i)          Consolidated interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations);

(ii)         Consolidated income tax expense;

(iii)        depreciation and amortization expense;

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(iv)       non-cash charges or losses, including non-cash compensation expense, impairment charges and any write-offs or write-downs of assets, but excluding (A) any non-cash charge that results from an accrual of a reserve for cash charges to be taken in any future period, (B) an amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid and not expensed in a prior period or (C) write-down or write-off with respect to accounts receivable (including any addition to bad debt reserves or bad debt expense);

(v)        restructuring, extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring charges or losses, including transaction fees, costs and expenses (including financing fees, financial and other advisory fees, accounting and consulting fees and legal fees) incurred in connection with Material Acquisitions and Material Dispositions;

(vi)        any unrealized losses attributable to the application of “mark to market” accounting in respect of Hedge Agreements;

(vii)       any net after-tax loss attributable to the early extinguishment of Debt or obligations under Hedge Agreements;

(viii)      the cumulative effect for such period of a change in accounting principles; minus

(b)         without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum for such period of:

(i)          any non-cash gains or items of income (other than the accrual of revenue), but excluding any such items in respect of which cash was received in a prior period or will be received in a future period;

(ii)         extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring gains or items of income;

(iii)        any unrealized gains attributable to the application of “mark to market” accounting in respect of Hedge Agreements;

(iv)        any net after-tax gain attributable to the early extinguishment of Debt or obligations under Hedge Agreements; and

(v)         the cumulative effect for such period of a change in accounting principles;

provided that Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated so as to exclude the effect of any gain or loss that represents after-tax gains or losses attributable to any sale, transfer or other disposition (other than sales, transfers or other dispositions in the ordinary course of business). For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period, if at any time during such period the Company or any Subsidiary shall have consummated a Material Acquisition (including the Acquisition) or a Material Disposition, Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be determined giving pro forma effect thereto in accordance with Section 1.04(b); provided that the Company shall not be required to calculate Consolidated EBITDA on a pro forma basis with respect to any Material Acquisition or any Material Disposition if the Company determines in its reasonable discretion that it does not have reasonably and readily identifiable information to make such pro forma calculation.

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Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company most recently ended on or prior to such date.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined in conformity with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities (excluding any thereof which are by their terms extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangibles, all as set forth on the most recent Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and computed in accordance with GAAP (which calculation shall give pro forma effect to any Material Acquisition (including the Acquisition) or Material Disposition consummated by the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries since the date of such Consolidated balance sheet and on or prior to the date of determination, as if such Material Acquisition or Material Disposition had occurred on the date of such Consolidated balance sheet).

Consolidated Total Net Debt” means, as of any date, (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) the aggregate principal amount of Debt of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, (ii) the aggregate amount of Capitalized Lease Obligations of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of the purchase money indebtedness of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, minus (b) the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash as of such date.

Continuing Director” means a director who (a) was a member of the Company’s board of directors on the Closing Date, (b) becomes a member of the Company’s board of directors subsequent to the Closing Date and whose appointment, election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders is duly approved by a majority of the directors referred to in clause (a) above constituting at the time of such appointment, election or nomination at least a majority of that board or (c) becomes a member of the Company’s board of directors subsequent to the Closing Date and whose appointment, election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders is duly approved by a majority of the directors referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above constituting at the time of such appointment, election or nomination at least a majority of that board.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

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Conversion Minimum” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €10,000,000, and (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, US$10,000,000.

Conversion Multiple” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €1,000,000, and (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, US$1,000,000.

Corresponding Tenor” means, with respect to any Available Tenor, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding any business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i)          a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii)         a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii)        a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06.

Daily Simple SOFR means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five RFR Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is an RFR Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Company.

Debt” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.02(a).

Debt Issuance” means the incurrence of Debt (including debt securities), in each case, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except Excluded Debt.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default” means any event or condition that constitutes, or upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute, an Event of Default.

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

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16(b), any Lender that (a) has failed, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, (i) to fund any portion of its Loans or (ii) to pay to the Administrative Agent or any Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (unless, in the case of an obligation to fund a Loan, such Lender notifies the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified in such writing, including, if applicable, by reference to a specific Event of Default) has not been satisfied); (b) has notified the Company, the Administrative Agent or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder (unless such notice or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified in such writing, including, if applicable, by reference to a specific Event of Default) has not been satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit; (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations as of the date of certification) to fund prospective Loans, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written certification by the Administrative Agent; (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, become the subject of a Bail-In Action; or (e) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it or (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in such Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

 “Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States or the District of Columbia.

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country that is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country that is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) above or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country that is a Subsidiary of an institution described in clause (a) or (b) above and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

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EEA Member Country” means any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

Electronic Signature” means an electronic signature, sound, symbol or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person, other than (a) a natural person, (b) a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated by or for the primary benefit of, a natural person, (c) the Company, (d) any Subsidiary of the Company, (e) any Affiliate of the Company or (f) any Defaulting Lender.

Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, directives, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any toxic or hazardous substance or waste, or health and safety matters.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, attorneys’ and consultants’ fees, fines, penalties or indemnities), directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Equity Issuance” means the issuance of any equity securities or equity-linked securities of the Company in excess of $100,000,000 in the aggregate to any Person except (a) any common stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for or into common stock of the Company issued to Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG (or any of its Affiliates) pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, (b) issuances pursuant to employee compensation plans, employee benefit plans, employee incentive plans and retirement plans or issued as compensation to officers and/or non-employee directors, (c) issuances of directors’ qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts required to be held by Persons other than the Company or its Subsidiaries under applicable law and (d) issuances by the Company’s Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent the repatriation of the proceeds of such issuances would result in material adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Company.

 “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and all rules, regulations, rulings and official interpretations promulgated or issued thereunder.

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ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of which the Company is a member and which is under common control within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event” under 4043 of ERISA (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived or a safe harbor is available) with respect to a Plan, (b) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code, (c) the filing of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan under Section 412(c) of the Code, (d) the incurrence of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the involuntary or distress termination of any Plan under Sections 4041(c) or Section 4042 of ERISA, (e) the receipt from the PBGC or a plan administrator by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of the Company of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan under Section 4041(c) or Section 4042 of ERISA, (f) the incurrence of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan (within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA) or Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Sections 4203 or 4205 of ERISA) or (g) the receipt of any notice by the Company or an ERISA Affiliate of the Company from any Multiemployer Plan, concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA, or in endangered, critical and declining, or critical status within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA.

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the EURIBOR Screen Rate, two TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

EURIBOR Screen Rate” means the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters as published at approximately 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Administrative Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Borrower.

Euro” or “€” means the single currency of the participating member states of the European Union.

Events of Default” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 6.01.

Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

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Exchange Rate” means, as of any date of determination, for purposes of determining the US Dollar Equivalent of any currency other than US Dollars, the rate at which such currency may be exchanged into US Dollars at the time of determination on such day as last provided (either by publication or as may otherwise be provided to the Administrative Agent) by the applicable Reuters source on the Business Day (determined based on New York City time) immediately preceding such day of determination. In the event that Reuters ceases to provide such rate of exchange or such rate does not appear on the applicable Reuters source, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available information service for displaying such rate of exchange at such time as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion after consultation with the Company.

Excluded Asset Sale” means (a) any sale or other disposition of property (including, for the avoidance of doubt, inventory) in the ordinary course of business, (b) leasing transactions or sale and leaseback transactions, (c) the sale or other disposition of property as part of any factoring arrangement, (d) the sale or other disposition of property as part of any leasing transaction, (e) (i) dispositions of property by the Company’s Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent that repatriation of the proceeds of such dispositions is not permitted by applicable laws and regulations or would result in material adverse tax consequences (as reasonably determined by the Company) or (ii) any casualty or condemnation event in respect of property of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including proceeds from the sale of stock of any Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent the repatriation of the proceeds of such casualty or condemnation event is not permitted by applicable laws and regulations or would result in material adverse tax consequences (as reasonably determined by the Company), (f) any Asset Sales or other dispositions in connection with the approval of any anti-trust authority or otherwise necessary or advisable in the good faith determination of the Company to consummate any transaction and (g) any sale or other disposition of property between the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.

Excluded Debt” means (a) intercompany indebtedness between the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, (b) credit extensions under the 2022 JPY Term Loan Credit Agreement, the 2023 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, the 2023 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement or the 2023 Term Loan Credit Agreement, in each case, including any amendment, extension, roll-over, renewal, refinancing and/or replacement thereof and, in each case, having an aggregate principal amount of commitments thereunder not in excess of the aggregate amount of existing commitments in effect on the date of this Agreement, (c) commercial paper, (d) ordinary course letter of credit facilities, (e) overdraft protection, (f) short term working capital facilities, (g) ordinary course local credit facilities of foreign Subsidiaries of the Company, including any amendment, extension, refinancing and/or replacement thereof and, in each case, having an aggregate principal amount of commitments thereunder not in excess of the aggregate amount of existing commitments in effect on the date of this Agreement, (h) NORESCO Project Finance Debt, (i) factoring arrangements or seller lending financing activities, (j) capital leases, financial leases and indebtedness issued in connection with credit tenant leases, (k) hedging and cash management arrangements, (l) ordinary course purchase money indebtedness, facility and equipment financings and similar obligations (including Sale and Leaseback Transactions), (m) indebtedness incurred to refinance, renew, replace or roll-over any outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any fees, premiums and accrued interest, including capitalized paid-in-kind interest, thereon maturing within 24 months of the date of such refinancing, renewal, replacement or roll-over (regardless of whether such refinanced, renewed, replaced or rolled-over debt remains outstanding until its maturity) to the extent the aggregate amount thereof is not increased, (n) amendments or replacements to facilities separately agreed between the Arrangers and the Company, (o) vendor financing incurred in the ordinary course of business, (p) other indebtedness (other than indebtedness under (x) this Agreement or any other Loan Documents or (y) the 2023 Offering Notes in an aggregate principal amount of up to €5,400,000,000) in an aggregate principal amount up to $1,000,000,000 and (q) the 2020 Offering Notes and/or the 2023 Offering Notes, as the case may be, up to an aggregate principal amount not in excess of the aggregate principal amount of 2020 Offering Notes and/or the 2023 Offering Notes, as applicable, outstanding on the Closing Date (with any refinancing, renewal, replacement or roll-over of such indebtedness subject to clause (m) above).

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Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office in, or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, withholding Taxes (including backup withholding Taxes) imposed by the United States on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to laws in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in such Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Company under Section 2.18(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.14, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in such Loan or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.14(f) and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of clause (b)(i), in the case of an interest in a Loan acquired by a Lender pursuant to the funding of a Commitment, such Lender shall be treated as acquiring such interest on the date such Lender acquired an interest in the Commitment pursuant to which such Loan was funded.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantially comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version described above), and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules, guidance notes or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities implementing the foregoing.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than 0%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0% for all purposes of this Agreement.

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Financial Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of such Person.

Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR and Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate and Central Bank Rate shall be 0%.

Foreign Lender” means a Lender that (a) is not a U.S. Person or (b) is an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is owned, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, by a Person that is not U.S. Person.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect, subject to Section 1.04, from time to time.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

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

Historical Company Financial Statements” means the combined balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2022 and the combined statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of changes in equity and of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the year then ended.

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Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under this Agreement and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a) of this definition, Other Taxes.

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.04(b).

Industrial Development Bonds” means obligations issued by a State, a Commonwealth, a Territory or a possession of the United States, or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or the District of Columbia, the interest on which is excludable from gross income of the holders thereof pursuant to the provisions of Section 103(a)(1) of the Code (or any similar provision of the Code), as in effect on the date of the issuance of such obligations.

Ineligible Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary Borrower designated as such pursuant to Section 2.19(c).

Ineligible Subsidiary Designation Notice” means an Ineligible Subsidiary Designation Notice substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, duly executed by the Company.

Information” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.07.

Interest Election Request” means a request by a Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Subsidiary Borrower) to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.09, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Company.

Interest Period” means with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (c) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.17(e) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service, or any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to the functions thereof.

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Judgment Currency” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.17(b).

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that shall have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.06.

Liens” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.02(a).

Loan” means a loan by a Lender to a Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Subsidiary Borrower Agreement and each Ineligible Subsidiary Designation Notice.

Local Time” means (a) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in US Dollars or with respect to any payment hereunder to be made in US Dollars, New York City time and (b) with respect to a Loan or Borrowing denominated in Euros or with respect to any payment hereunder to be made in Euros, London time.

Material Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of (a) equity interests in any Person if, after giving effect thereto, such Person will become a Subsidiary of the Company or (b) assets comprising all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of) any Person (in the case of clauses (a) and (b), including as a result of a merger or consolidation); provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), the aggregate consideration therefor exceeds US$50,000,000.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the financial condition, operations or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under this Agreement, taken as a whole.

Material Debt” means Debt in the principal amount in excess of US$100,000,000.

Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of (a) all or substantially all the issued and outstanding equity interests in any Person that are owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) assets comprising all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of) any Person; provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), such sale, transfer or other disposition yields net proceeds to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of US$50,000,000 in the aggregate.

Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.13.

MNPI” means material information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries or the respective securities of any of the foregoing that has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

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Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

Net Cash Proceeds” means

(a)          with respect to any Asset Sale, the aggregate amount of all cash (which term, for the purpose of this paragraph (a), shall include cash equivalents) proceeds (including any cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment, but only as and when actually received) actually received in respect of such Asset Sale, including property insurance or condemnation proceeds paid on account of any loss of or damage to, or any condemnation or other taking of, any property, net of (i) all attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, brokerage, consultant and other fees and survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, commissions, title and recording tax expenses and other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith, (ii) all taxes (including withholding taxes) paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof, (iii) all payments made, and all installment payments required to be made, with respect to any obligation (A) that is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Sale, in accordance with the terms of any lien upon such assets, or (B) that must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Sale, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale, (iv) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Sale, or to any other Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) owning a beneficial interest in the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale, and (v) the amount of any reserves established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP to fund purchase price or similar adjustments, indemnities or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, reasonably estimated to be payable in connection with such Asset Sale (provided that to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds); provided that such Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale shall not include proceeds of any Asset Sale received to the extent reinvested in other assets used or useful (or used to replace or repair damaged or destroyed assets) in the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries within twelve months of actual receipt of such proceeds (or, in the case of any casualty of condemnation event, such longer period as may be reasonably required to replace or repair the affected asset but, in any event, not to exceed a total of eighteen months from the receipt of such proceeds); provided further that, Net Cash Proceeds received from Asset Sales by the Company and its Subsidiaries after April 25, 2023 shall not be required to be applied to prepay the Loans until such time as the aggregate amount of all such Net Cash Proceeds received on or after April 25, 2023 shall exceed $1,000,000,000; and

(b)          with respect to any Equity Issuance or Debt Issuance, the aggregate amount of all cash proceeds actually received (including in escrow to the extent the conditions to the availability thereunder are no more restrictive than the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01) in respect of such Equity Issuance or Debt Issuance, net of all attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, brokerage, consultant and other customary fees and other fees, expenses, costs, underwriting discounts and commissions incurred in connection therewith and net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof.

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New Holding Company” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.18.

NORESCO Project Finance Debt” means the energy savings performance contracts for energy saving projects as described on Schedule 1.01A hereto.

Notice of Objection” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.19(a).

NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any such day that is a Business Day, the “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a Federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined shall be less than 0%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0% all purposes of this Agreement.

NYFRB Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

Objecting Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.19(a).

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Taxes (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having taken any of the following actions: executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced this Agreement, or sold or assigned pursuant to Section 2.18(b) an interest in any Loan or other interest under this Agreement).

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.18(b)).

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in US Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

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Participant” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.06(c).

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.06(c).

Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.11.

Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.11.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, or any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to the functions thereof.

Permitted Reorganization” means a transaction described in Section 8.18 pursuant to which the Company becomes a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary of the New Holding Company, but only if all the requirements set forth in Section 8.18 shall have been satisfied.

Permitted Reorganization Merger Subsidiary” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.18.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or any other entity.

Plan” means an employee benefit plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is (or, in the event that any such plan has been terminated within five years after a transaction described in Section 4069 of ERISA, was) maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and subject to Title IV of ERISA.

Platform” means Debt Domain, IntraLinksTM, SyndTrak or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system.

Prepayment Minimum” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €20,000,000 and (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, US$20,000,000.

Prepayment Multiple” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euros, €1,000,000 and (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, US$1,000,000.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” in the United States or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Board of Governors in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Board of Governors (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

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Principal Property” means any manufacturing plant or warehouse, together with the land upon which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof, owned by the Company or any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary and located in the United States the gross book value (without deduction of any reserve for depreciation) of which on the date as of which the determination is being made is an amount which exceeds 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, other than any such manufacturing plant or warehouse or any portion thereof or any such fixture (together with the land upon which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof) (a) which is financed by Industrial Development Bonds or (b) which, in the opinion of the board of directors of the Company, or of any duly authorized committee of that board, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Projections” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 4.01(l).

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.01.

Public Side Lender Representatives” means, with respect to any Lender, representatives of such Lender that do not wish to receive MNPI.

Qualifying Material Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of (a) equity interests in any Person if, after giving effect thereto, such Person will become a Subsidiary of the Company or (b) assets comprising all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of) any Person (in the case of both clauses (a) and (b), including as a result of a merger or consolidation); provided that the aggregate cash consideration therefor (including Debt of such acquired Person (or such business unit, division, product line or line of business) assumed in connection therewith or that is refinanced in connection therewith, all obligations in respect of deferred purchase price and all other cash consideration payable in connection therewith) exceeds US$1,000,000,000.

Ratings” means the ratings by Moody’s and S&P of the Company’s senior, unsecured, non-credit-enhanced, long-term debt.

Recipient” means the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is EURIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days preceding the date of such setting, (3) if the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four RFR Business Days prior to such setting or (4) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or the EURIBOR Rate, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

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Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, partners, trustees, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Relevant Governmental Body” means (i) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in US Dollars, the Board of Governors and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto, (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Euros, the European Central Bank, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the European Central Bank or, in each case, any successor thereto and (iii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in any other currency, (a) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (1) such Benchmark Replacement or (2) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (b) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (1) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated, (2) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (3) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (4) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

Relevant Interbank Market” means (a) with respect to US Dollars, the secured overnight funding market and (b) with respect to Euro, the European interbank market.

Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate and (iii) if applicable pursuant to Section 2.17, with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.

Relevant Screen Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate and (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Screen Rate, as applicable.

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Commitments and Loans representing more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate amount of all the Commitments and the aggregate principal amount of all the Loans at such time; provided that the Commitments and Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for the purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

Reuters” means Thomson Reuters Corporation, a corporation incorporated under and governed by the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), Canada, Refinitiv and any successor thereto.

RFR” means, for any RFR Loan denominated in US Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR.

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RFR Business Day” means, for any Loan denominated in US Dollars, a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.02(c).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, HM Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority or (b) any Person majority-owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clause (a).

Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, HM Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.

Scheduled Maturity Date” means the date that is sixty days after the Closing Date; provided that, if such day is not a Business Day, the Scheduled Maturity Date shall be the immediately following Business Day.

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to the functions thereof.

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that constitutes a “significant subsidiary” under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, as in effect from time to time.

SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

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SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

Solvency Certificate” means a certificate from the chief financial officer, treasurer or other executive financial officer of the Company in the form of Exhibit H.

Solvent” means the fair value of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, at a fair valuation on a going concern basis, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated and going concern basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured in the ordinary course of business; (c) the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured in the ordinary course of business; and (d) the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

Specified Representations” means each of the representations made by (i) the Company in Section 4.01(a), 4.01(b) (other than with respect to clause (iii) thereof), 4.01(d), 4.01(g), 4.01(j), 4.01(k)(iii) and 4.01(m) and (ii) if, as of the Closing Date, there is a Subsidiary Borrower (other than a Subsidiary Borrower that is an Ineligible Subsidiary), such Subsidiary Borrower in Section 4.02(a), 4.02(b) (other than with respect to clause (ii) thereof) and 4.02(d).

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board of Governors to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D) or any other reserve ratio or analogous requirement of any central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Loans. Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Term Benchmark Loans for which the associated Benchmark is adjusted by reference to the Statutory Reserve Rate (per the related definition of such Benchmark) shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

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Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership or other entity of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions of such corporation, partnership or other entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time securities or other ownership interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership or other entity shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time of any determination directly or indirectly owned or Controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to Subsidiaries shall be deemed to refer to Subsidiaries of the Company.

Subsidiary Borrower” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has been designated as, and became, a “Subsidiary Borrower” pursuant to Section 2.19(a), in each case, other than any Subsidiary Borrower that shall have ceased to be such as provided in Section 2.19(c).

Subsidiary Borrower Agreement” means a Subsidiary Borrower Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, duly executed by the Company and the applicable Subsidiary.

Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event” means, with respect to such Subsidiary Borrower, the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a)          such Subsidiary Borrower shall be liquidated or dissolved;

(b)          such Subsidiary Borrower (i) shall cease to be a Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) shall merge or consolidate with or into another Person and such Subsidiary Borrower shall not be the surviving entity (except that a Subsidiary Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into another Borrower that expressly assumes in writing all of such Subsidiary Borrower’s obligations hereunder);

(c)          such Subsidiary Borrower shall fail to pay (i) any principal of any Loan when the same becomes due and payable, (ii) any interest on any Loan when the same becomes due and payable, and such failure shall continue for a period of five Business Days or (iii) any other amount owing by such Subsidiary Borrower when the same becomes due and payable, and such failure shall continue for a period of 15 Business Days after receipt by such Subsidiary Borrower and the Company of written notice from the Administrative Agent of such amount being due, together with a statement in reasonable detail of the calculation thereof;

(d)          any representation or warranty made (or deemed made pursuant to Article III hereof) by such Subsidiary Borrower herein or in any Borrowing Request or other document delivered by such Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or Article III shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

(e)          such Subsidiary Borrower (i) shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement set forth in Section 2.19(d)(i) or (ii) shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (e)(i) above) contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 calendar days after written notice thereof shall have been given to such Subsidiary Borrower and the Company by the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

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(f)          such Subsidiary Borrower (i) shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, (ii) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall institute any proceeding or voluntary case seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief or protection of debtors, or seeking the entry of any order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property or (iii) shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this clause (f); or

(g)          any proceeding shall be instituted against such Subsidiary Borrower seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief or protection of debtors, or seeking the entry of any order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property, and such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days.

Syndication Agent” means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as syndication agent for the credit facility provided for herein.

TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007 or any successor system.

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges in the nature of a tax imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate.

Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.

Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

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Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then, so long as such day is otherwise a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.

Test Period” means, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company most recently ended on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered, or are required to have been delivered, pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(i) or 5.01(a)(ii).

Transactions” means (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof, (b) the consummation of the Acquisition and (c) the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing.

Transferee” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.18(b).

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, the Central Bank Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any Person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain Affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than 0%, the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be 0% for all purposes of this Agreement.

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United States” means the United States of America (including the constituent States thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

Unrestricted Cash” means, on any date, cash and cash equivalents owned on such date by the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as would be reflected on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared as of such date in conformity with GAAP; provided that such cash and cash equivalents do not appear (and would not be required to appear) as “restricted” on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in conformity with GAAP.

U.S. Borrower” means any Borrower that is a U.S. Person (or, if such Borrower is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is owned for U.S. federal income tax purposes by a U.S. Person).

US Dollar Equivalent” means, on any date of determination, (a) with respect to any amount in US Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount in Euros, the equivalent in US Dollars of such amount, determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 1.07 using the Exchange Rate with respect to Euros at the time in effect under the provisions of Section 1.07.

US Dollars” and the sign “US$” each mean the lawful money of the United States.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

U.S. Person” means a Person who is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(f)(ii)(B)(3).

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated or issued thereunder.

Wholly‑Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company of which, at the time of determination, all of the outstanding capital stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) is owned by the Company directly and/or indirectly and which, at the time of determination, is primarily engaged in manufacturing; provided, however, that “Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary” shall not include any Subsidiary of the Company that (a) neither transacts any substantial portion of its business nor regularly maintains any substantial portion of its fixed assets within the United States, (b) is engaged primarily in the finance business, including financing the operations of, or the purchase of products that are products of or incorporate products of, the Company and/or its Subsidiaries or (c) is primarily engaged in ownership and development of real estate, construction of buildings or related activities, or a combination of the foregoing. In the event that there shall at any time be a question as to whether a Subsidiary of the Company is primarily engaged in manufacturing or is described in the foregoing clause (a), (b) or (c), such matter shall be determined for all purposes of this Agreement by resolution of the board of directors of the Company.

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Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that Person or any other Person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

SECTION 1.02      Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan” or an “ABR Borrowing”).

SECTION 1.03      Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all real and personal, tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Unless the context requires otherwise or except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (b) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (c) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including this Agreement) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (but disregarding any amendment, supplement or other modification made in breach of this Agreement) and (d) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws).

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SECTION 1.04      Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP; provided that if the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that the Company requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to (i) any change as a result of the adoption of any of the provisions set forth in the Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in February 2016, or any other amendments to the Accounting Standards Codifications issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in connection therewith, in each case if such change would require the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases or similar agreements that would not be classified as capital leases under GAAP as in effect prior to January 1, 2019, (ii) any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825, Financial Instruments, or any successor thereto (including pursuant to the Accounting Standards Codification), to value any Debt or other indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value”, as defined therein, (iii) any treatment of indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof, or (iv) any valuation of Debt or other indebtedness below its full stated principal amount as a result of the application of Accounting Standards Update 2015-03, Interest, issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, it being agreed that Debt and other indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

(b)          All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any Material Acquisition (including the Acquisition) or Material Disposition shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (and to other transactions, including the repayment or incurrence of Debt, related thereto) as if such transactions had occurred on the first day of the applicable Test Period and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of and any related incurrence or reduction of Debt, all in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (it being understood that, unless otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio and Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be calculated on a pro forma basis). If any Debt bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Debt shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedge Agreement applicable to such Debt if such Hedge Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any classification under GAAP as “discontinued operations” of any Person, business, assets or operations in respect of which a definitive agreement for the disposition thereof has been entered into, no pro forma effect shall be given to any such discontinued operations (and the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to any such Person, business, assets or operations shall not be excluded for any purposes hereunder) until such disposition shall have been consummated.

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SECTION 1.05       Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in US Dollars or Euros may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.17(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

SECTION 1.06      Divisions. For all purposes under this Agreement, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its equity interests at such time.

SECTION 1.07      Currency Translation. The Administrative Agent shall determine the Euro equivalent of any Borrowing on the Closing Date denominated in US Dollars using the rate at which Euros may be exchanged into US Dollars as set forth on the Reuters World Spot page of the Thomson Reuters screen at approximately 11:00 a.m. New York City time as determined by the Administrative Agent four Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders of each determination of the Euro equivalent of such Borrowing denominated in US Dollars.

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For purposes of any determination under Sections 5.02(a), 5.02(c) and 6.01(i), all amounts incurred, outstanding or proposed to be incurred or outstanding in currencies other than US Dollars shall be translated into US Dollars at the Exchange Rate in effect on the date of such determination; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation set forth in US Dollars in Sections 5.02(a) or 5.02(c) being exceeded solely as a result of changes in the exchange rate from those rates applicable at the time or times Debt, Liens or Sale and Leaseback Transactions were initially consummated in reliance on the exceptions under such Sections. For purposes of Section 5.02(d), and the related definitions, amounts in currencies other than US Dollars shall be translated into US Dollars at the exchange rate then most recently used in preparing the Company’s Consolidated financial statements.

ARTICLE II

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE LOANS

SECTION 2.01       Loans.

(a)          Each Lender severally and not jointly agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Loans in Euros or US Dollars (or a combination thereof) to any Borrower in a single drawing on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed such Lender’s Commitment as in effect immediately prior to the time such Loan is made, with any Loan denominated in US Dollars to be based on the Euro equivalent (in accordance with Section 1.07) of the applicable Commitment utilized to make such Loan. Each Borrowing (to the extent not utilizing the entire applicable Commitment) shall be in an aggregate amount not less than the applicable Borrowing Minimum or an integral multiple of the applicable Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof (unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent) and shall (except as provided herein) consist of Loans of the same Type and currency made to the same Borrower on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments, as applicable, provided that if a Borrower requests that Loans be denominated in both Euros and US Dollars, at the election of the Company and the Administrative Agent, if certain Lenders agree (each such Lender acting in its sole discretion) to accept an allocation ratio of Euro to US Dollars that is different than the aggregate Euro to US Dollar ratio requested by the Company, such Lenders may be provided the alternate allocation ratio of Euro to US Dollars they have consented to, subject to the aggregate ratio of Euro to US Dollars requested by the Company not being altered (and the Administrative Agent is authorized to take such actions as it deems necessary or advisable to facilitate such allocation and funding). On the Closing Date (after giving effect to the incurrence of Loans), the Commitments of each Lender shall terminate and automatically be reduced to zero, irrespective of whether the aggregate amount of Loans made on the Closing Date is equal to or less than the aggregate amount of Commitments immediately prior to the making of the Loans. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01 and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

(b)          Subject to Section 2.17, (i) each Borrowing denominated in US Dollars shall be comprised entirely of Term Benchmark Loans or ABR Loans, in each case, as the applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, the Company on its behalf) may elect in accordance herewith and (ii) each Borrowing denominated in Euro shall be comprised entirely of Term Benchmark Loans. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the applicable Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such Lender shall not be entitled to any amounts payable under Section 2.11, 2.12, 2.14 or 8.04 solely in respect of increased costs or Taxes resulting from such exercise and existing at the time of such exercise (and that would not have been incurred but for such exercise).

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SECTION 2.02      Notice of Borrowings. (a) Each Borrowing shall be made on notice by the applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, by the Company on its behalf) to the Administrative Agent given not later than (a) 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing if it consists of ABR Loans, (b) 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing if it consists of Term Benchmark Loans and (c) if applicable pursuant to Section 2.17, 11:00 a.m., New York City time, five U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing if it consists of an RFR Borrowing. Each such notice shall be made by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request duly completed and executed by an authorized officer of the applicable Borrower (or of the Company, as the case may be), specifying therein (i) the requested date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the Borrower requesting such Borrowing (or on whose behalf the Company is requesting such Borrowing), (iii) Type of Loans comprising such Borrowing, (iv) aggregate amount and currency of such Borrowing, (v) if such Borrowing is comprised of Term Benchmark Loans, the initial Interest Period thereof, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”, (vi) the location and number of the account of the applicable Borrower to which funds are to be disbursed and (vii) if the requested Borrowing is conditioned on the occurrence of one or more events, such event or events.

(b)          Each Borrowing Request shall be revocable by the applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, by the Company on its behalf) at any time prior to the making of the Borrowing requested in such Borrowing Request by notice to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that, if the Administrative Agent receives such notice after the latest time by which the applicable Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) is permitted to give notice of such Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.02 and if the Administrative Agent has already given notice of such Borrowing to the Lenders, the applicable Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss or expense incurred by such Lender in connection therewith in accordance with Section 2.12.

SECTION 2.03       [Reserved].

SECTION 2.04       Notice to Lenders; Funding of Loans. (a) Upon receipt of a Borrowing Request, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender in writing of the contents thereof and of such Lender’s share of the requested Borrowing.

(b)          Each Lender shall, before 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on the date of each Borrowing comprised of Term Benchmark Loans or, if applicable pursuant to Section 2.17, RFR Loans and before 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date of each Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans, make available to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds to the account most recently designated by the Administrative Agent for such purpose by written notice to the Lenders, such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing in the applicable currency. After the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such funds, the Administrative Agent will promptly make such funds so received available to the applicable Borrower by wire transfer or credit in immediately available funds to the applicable Borrower’s account specified in the applicable Borrowing Request. Promptly after each Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall record each Loan comprising such Borrowing and the terms related thereto.

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(c)          Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance herewith and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender (or, if such Lender fails to pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon such demand, from the applicable Borrower, which, if such Lender has wrongfully refused to make such corresponding amount available, shall, without limiting any other right of such Borrower against such Lender, in turn be entitled to recover such corresponding amount from such Lender to the extent such Borrower has paid such amount to the Administrative Agent) together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available by the Administrative Agent until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, (A) if denominated in US Dollars, the greater of (x) the NYFRB Rate and (y) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) if denominated in any other currency, the greater of (x) the interest rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to reflect its cost of funds for the amount advanced by such Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) and (y) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by such Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to such Borrowing. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement. The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing; provided, however, that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

(d)         Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan owing to such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

SECTION 2.05     Fees. The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, each administrative agency fee payable on and after the Closing Date as consideration for JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.’s agreement to act as Administrative Agent hereunder pursuant to the fee letter entered into between the Company and the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date in connection with the credit facility provided for herein.

SECTION 2.06      Termination of Commitments. Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Closing Date.

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SECTION 2.07      Repayment of Loans. Each Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan owing by such Borrower to such Lender on the Scheduled Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.08      Interest on Loans. Each Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan owing by such Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender, from the date of such Loan until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the interest rate borne by such Loan from time to time. The Loans included in any Borrowing shall bear interest based upon its Type, as specified initially in the Borrowing Request relating thereto and thereafter, as provided in Section 2.09, as follows:

(a)          ABR Loans. Each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of the Alternate Base Rate in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Rate, payable on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and, in any event, on the date the principal of such ABR Loan is prepaid or paid.

(b)          Term Benchmark Loans. Each Term Benchmark Loan shall bear interest during any Interest Period applicable thereto at a rate per annum equal at all times during such Interest Period to the sum of the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate, payable on the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan, at intervals of three months from the first day thereof in the case of Interest Periods in excess of three months and, in any event, on the date the principal of such Term Benchmark Loan is prepaid or paid.

(c)          RFR Loans. If applicable pursuant to Section 2.17, each RFR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Rate, payable on each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and, in any event, on the date the principal of such Loan is prepaid or paid.

(d)          Interest on Overdue Principal. Any payment of overdue principal or interest on the Loans or other amounts payable by the Company under the Loan Documents shall, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default Pursuant to Section 6.01(a), bear interest, in the case of principal of any Loan, at the applicable interest rate on such Loan plus 2% per annum and, in the case of other amounts, at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum, in each case, due from the date thereof until the date such payment is made, payable on demand.

SECTION 2.09     Conversion and Subsequent Interest Period Elections for Loans. (a) Each Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent:

(i)          elect, in the case of a Borrowing made to such Borrower consisting of ABR Loans, to convert such Borrowing (or to convert any part thereof in an amount not less than the applicable Conversion Minimum or an integral multiple of the applicable Conversion Multiple in excess thereof) into a Borrowing consisting of Term Benchmark Loans denominated in US Dollars as of any Business Day;

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(ii)        elect, in the case of a Borrowing made to such Borrower consisting of Term Benchmark Loans denominated in US Dollars, to convert such Borrowing to a Borrowing consisting of ABR Loans (or to convert any part thereof in an amount not less than the applicable Conversion Minimum or an integral multiple of the applicable Conversion Multiple in excess thereof), effective on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto; or

(iii)       elect, in the case of a Borrowing made to such Borrower consisting of Term Benchmark Loans, to continue such Borrowing as a Borrowing consisting of Term Benchmark Loans (or to continue any part thereof in an amount not less than the applicable Conversion Minimum or an integral multiple of the applicable Conversion Multiple in excess thereof), effective on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto;

provided that (A) if at any time the aggregate amount of Term Benchmark Loans in respect of any Borrowing denominated in US Dollars is reduced, by prepayment or conversion of part thereof, to be less than US$10,000,000, then such Borrowing of Term Benchmark Loans shall automatically convert into a Borrowing of ABR Loans as of the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (B) after giving effect to any conversion or continuation of Loans (including any part thereof) described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, there shall not be more than 10 (or such greater number as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent) Term Benchmark Borrowings and (C) each conversion and continuation of any Borrowing (including of any part thereof) described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be made ratably according to the outstanding principal amount of the Loans that are to be converted or continued (in whole or in part) held by each Lender immediately prior to giving effect to such conversion or continuation.

(b)          To effect a conversion or continuation, the applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, the Company on its behalf) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a written Interest Election Request, duly completed and executed by an authorized officer of the applicable Borrower (or of the Company, as the case may be), not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, (i) at least three Business Days in advance of the effective date thereof, if the Borrowing described therein is to be converted into or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and (ii) on the effective date thereof, if the Borrowing described therein is to be converted into an ABR Borrowing, specifying:

(A)        the Borrowing to which such proposed conversion or continuation applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (C) and (D) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(B)         the proposed effective date of the conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day);

(C)         the Type(s) of Borrowing resulting from the proposed conversion or continuation; and

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(D)        for a Borrowing converted into or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the duration of the next requested Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such conversion or continuation, as the case may be, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

(c)          Each Interest Election Request shall be revocable by the applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, by the Company on its behalf) at any time prior to the effective date of the conversion or continuation specified in such Interest Election Request by notice to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, that in the event that the Borrowing specified in such Interest Election Request is to be converted into or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing, if the Administrative Agent receives such notice of revocation after the latest time by which the applicable Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) is permitted to give an Interest Election Request with respect to such Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.09(b) and if the Administrative Agent has already given notice of such conversion or continuation to the Lenders, the applicable Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss or expense incurred by such Lender in connection therewith in accordance with Section 2.12.

(d)          If upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to a Term Benchmark Borrowing, neither the applicable Borrower nor, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, the Company on its behalf has timely delivered an Interest Election Request with respect to such Term Benchmark Borrowing, such Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to continue such Term Benchmark Borrowing as a Term Benchmark Borrowing of the same Type with an Interest Period of one month effective as of the expiration date of such Interest Period.

(e)          The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of an Interest Election Request or, if no timely notice is provided by the applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, the Company on its behalf), the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of the details of any automatic continuation. All conversions and continuations shall be made ratably according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Loans held by each Lender comprising the Borrowing with respect to which the applicable Interest Election Request was given.

SECTION 2.10       Prepayments of Loans.

(a)          Voluntary Prepayments.

(i)           No Borrower shall have the right to prepay any principal amount of any Loans other than as provided in this Section 2.10.

(ii)       Any Borrower, may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment (and, if such notice is given, such Borrower shall), prepay, in whole or in part, the outstanding principal amounts of the Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing made to such Borrower.

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(iii)       The applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, the Company on its behalf) shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any prepayment of a Borrowing hereunder (i) no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day on which ABR Loans are to be prepaid, (ii) no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days prior to the date on which Term Benchmark Loans are to be prepaid, and (iii) no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, five Business Days prior to the date on which RFR Loans are to be prepaid, which notice shall specify the prepayment date, the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and the principal amount of each such Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Any partial prepayment of a Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than the applicable Prepayment Minimum or an integral multiple of the Prepayment Multiple in excess thereof. In the event of any such prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan, the applicable Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof to the extent specified in Section 2.12. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.08.

(b)          Mandatory Prepayments

(i)         In the event that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries actually receives, on or after the Closing Date, any Net Cash Proceeds arising from any Debt Issuance, Equity Issuance or Asset Sale, then the Company shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds not later than five Business Days following such actual receipt by the Company or such Subsidiary of such Net Cash Proceeds. The Company shall promptly, within three Business Days, notify the Administrative Agent upon the actual receipt by the Company or such Subsidiary of any such Net Cash Proceeds and the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice.

(ii)         Each prepayment of Loans pursuant to this Section 2.10(b) shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their Loans (or as between Lenders that are Affiliates of each other, as they may determine and notify the Administrative Agent).

SECTION 2.11        Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i)         impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate);

(ii)       impose on any Lender or the Relevant Interbank Market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Term Benchmark Loans made by such Lender; or

(iii)     subject any Lender to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then, from time to time upon written request of such Lender to the Company, the Company will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs or expenses incurred or reduction suffered.

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(b)          If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate) has had or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitment of or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company would have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then, from time to time upon written request of such Lender to the Company, the Company will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)          If the cost to any Lender of making or maintaining any Loan to a Subsidiary Borrower (or of maintaining its obligation to make any Loan to a Subsidiary Borrower) is increased (or the amount of any sum received or receivable by any Lender is reduced) by an amount deemed in good faith by such Lender to be material by reason of the fact that such Subsidiary Borrower is organized in, or conducts business in, a jurisdiction outside of the United States, then, from time to time upon written request of such Lender to the applicable Subsidiary Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent and the Company), such Subsidiary Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(d)          A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company as specified in Section 2.11(a) or 2.11(b) delivered to the Company or as specified in Section 2.11(c) delivered to the applicable Subsidiary Borrower and the Company shall be prima facie evidence of the amount claimed in the absence of manifest error; provided that it is accompanied by a statement in reasonable detail of the calculation on which such amount was based. The Company or the applicable Subsidiary Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof. If the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower receives any such certificate from a Lender, the Company shall have the right to require such Lender to assign its interest in accordance with Section 2.18(b).

(e)          Promptly after any Lender has determined that it will make a request for increased compensation pursuant to this Section 2.11, such Lender shall notify the Company or, in the case of Section 2.11(c), the Company and the applicable Subsidiary Borrower thereof. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that (i) the Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to Section 2.11(a) or 2.11(b) for any increased costs or expenses incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or expenses or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or expenses or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof and (ii) no Subsidiary Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to Section 2.11(c) for any increased costs or expenses incurred or reductions suffered as to which such Lender became aware and failed to notify such Subsidiary Borrower promptly if and to the extent that prompt notice could have avoided or lessened payment by such Subsidiary Borrower under such Section.

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(f)           If any Lender determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any amount (i) as to which it has been indemnified by the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower or (ii) which has been paid to such Lender by the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower, in each case pursuant to this Section 2.11, it shall pay over such refund to the Company or such Subsidiary Borrower (but only to the extent of payments made by the Company or such Subsidiary Borrower under this Section 2.11 with respect to the events giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Company or such Subsidiary Borrower agrees, upon the written request of such Lender to the Company and, if applicable, such Subsidiary Borrower, to repay the amount paid over to the Company or such Subsidiary Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any Lender to make available its accounting records (or any other information which it deems confidential) to the Company, any Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person.

SECTION 2.12       Break Funding Payments.

In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event), (b) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert or continue any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (whether or not such notice may be revoked in accordance with the terms hereof), (d) the failure to prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on a date specified therefor in any notice of prepayment delivered pursuant hereto (whether or not such notice may be revoked in accordance with the terms hereof) or (e) the assignment (other than as a result of a default by the applicable Lender in the performance of its agreements set forth herein) of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 2.18(b), then, in any such event, the applicable Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the EURIBOR Rate, as the case may be, that would have been applicable to such Loan (but not including the Applicable Rate applicable thereto), for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the applicable currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the Relevant Interbank Market. In the event of (A) the payment of any principal of any RFR Loan other than on the date that is on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one month after the date of the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) (including as a result of an Event of Default or a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event or any optional prepayment of Loans), (B) the failure to borrow or prepay any RFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (whether or not such notice may be revoked in accordance with the terms hereof), (C) the assignment (other than as a result of a default by the applicable Lender in the performance of its agreements set forth herein) of any RFR Loan other than on the date that is on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one month after the date of the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 2.18(b) or (D) the failure by any Borrower to make any payment of any RFR Loan on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency, then, in any such event, the applicable Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender delivered to the Company and setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall be prima facie evidence of such amount; provided that it is accompanied by a statement in reasonable detail of the calculation on which such amount was based. The applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

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SECTION 2.13      Payments and Computations. (a) Each Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the day when due, in each case without setoff or counterclaim, to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the account most recently designated by the Administrative Agent for such purpose by written notice to the Company. The Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest ratably to the Lenders, subject to Section 2.16, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender to such Lender, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. All payments hereunder of principal or interest in respect of any Loan shall be made in the currency of such Loan; all other payments hereunder shall be made in Euro. Any payment by any Borrower credited in the required funds to the Administrative Agent at its account most recently designated by the Administrative Agent for such purpose by written notice to the Company shall discharge the obligation of such Borrower to make such payment at the time such credit is so effected, irrespective of the time of any distribution of such payment by the Administrative Agent to any Lender.

(b)          All computations of interest based on the Alternate Base Rate (if the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate) shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all other computations of interest hereunder shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

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(c)          Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest.

(d)          Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the applicable Borrower (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, the Company on its behalf) prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent the applicable Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of (i) if denominated in US Dollars, the greater of (A) the NYFRB Rate and (B) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) if denominated in any other currency, the greater of (A) the interest rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to reflect its cost of funds for the amount distributed by the Administrative Agent to such Lender (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) and (B) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

SECTION 2.14      Taxes. (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of a Borrower under this Agreement shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of the applicable Borrower or an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by such Borrower or such withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by such Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.14) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

(b)          Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. The applicable Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law or, at the option of the Administrative Agent, timely reimburse it for Other Taxes.

(c)          Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.14, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

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(d)          Indemnification by the Borrowers. The applicable Borrower shall indemnify each applicable Recipient, within 20 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.14) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment by such Borrower to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Company by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(e)          Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the applicable Borrower(s) have not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of such Borrower(s) to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 8.06(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Each Lender shall severally indemnify each applicable Borrower for any Taxes paid or payable by such Borrower (and not deducted or withheld by such Borrower from any payment otherwise due hereunder to such Lender) as a result of the failure of such Lender to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender to the Company pursuant to Section 2.14(f), and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower(s) to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing by the Administrative Agent or such Borrower(s) (as applicable) to such Lender under this Agreement or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent or such Borrower(s) (as applicable) to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower(s) (as applicable) under this paragraph.

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(f)           Status of Lenders. (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under this Agreement shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable the applicable Borrower(s) or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to any withholding (including backup withholding) or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 2.14(f)(ii)(A), 2.14(f)(ii)(B) and 2.14(f)(ii)(D)) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii)          Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to any U.S. Borrower:

(A)         any Lender that is a U.S. Person (or, if such Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is owned, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, by a U.S. Person) shall deliver to such U.S. Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such U.S. Borrower or the Administrative Agent), duly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender (or such U.S. Person, as applicable) is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax;

(B)         any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to such U.S. Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such U.S. Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)      in the case of a Foreign Lender (or, if a Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such owner) entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under this Agreement, duly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under this Agreement, duly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(2)       duly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI with respect to such Foreign Lender (or, if a Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such owner);

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(3)      in the case of a Foreign Lender (or, if a Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such owner) entitled to the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a duly completed and executed certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender (or such owner, as applicable) is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of such U.S. Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) duly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

(4)      to the extent a Foreign Lender (or, if a Foreign Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such owner) is not the beneficial owner, duly completed and executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 or Exhibit G-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable (and including any other information required to be provided by IRS Form W-8IMY); provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 on behalf of each such direct or indirect partner;

(C)        any Lender (or, if such Lender is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Person treated as its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to such U.S. Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of such U.S. Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit such U.S. Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D)        if a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to such U.S. Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by such U.S. Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by such U.S. Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for such U.S. Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

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Upon the reasonable request of the Company or the Administrative Agent, any Lender shall update any form or certification previously delivered pursuant to this Section 2.14(f). Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall promptly (and in any event within 10 days after such expiration, obsolescence or inaccuracy) (x) update such form or certification or (y) notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

(g)          Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund or credit of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.14 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.14), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund or credit (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.14 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (plus any penalties, interest (but solely with respect to the period during which the indemnifying party held such refund) or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, in no event will any indemnified party be required to pay any amount to any indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph the payment of which would place such indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(h)          Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.14 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under this Agreement.

(i)           Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.14, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

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SECTION 2.15       Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set‑off or otherwise) on account of the principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of the principal of and accrued interest on the Loans obtained by the other Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase for cash at par from such other Lenders such participations in the Loans owing to them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that (a) if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each selling Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (b) the provisions of this Section 2.15 shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by or on behalf of any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, as in effect from time to time) or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.15 shall apply). Each Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.15 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

SECTION 2.16     Defaulting Lenders. (a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender:

(i)           Waivers and Amendments. The Commitment and Loans of each Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining whether the Required Lenders or any other requisite Lenders shall have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any waiver, amendment or other modification pursuant to Section 8.01); provided that any waiver, amendment or other modification that requires the consent of all Lenders or of all Lenders affected thereby shall, except as provided in Section 8.01, require the consent of such Defaulting Lender in accordance with the terms hereof.

(ii)         Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of any Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VI or otherwise) shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Company may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent, or to reimburse the Company for any amounts paid by it in satisfaction of such Defaulting Lender’s liabilities under this Agreement in connection with a written agreement between the Company and an assignee of such Defaulting Lender’s interests, rights and obligations in accordance with Section 2.18(b); third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy future obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 3.01 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

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(b)          Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, such Defaulting Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments, whereupon such Defaulting Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of any Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that all amendments, waivers or other modifications effected without its consent in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.01 and this Section 2.16 during such period shall be binding on it; and provided further, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 2.17       Alternate Rate of Interest. (a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section 2.17, if:

(i)        the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate (including because the Relevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period; or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; or

(ii)         the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period; or (B) at any time, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing;

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then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Company and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Company delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.09 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02, (A) for Loans denominated in US Dollars, (1) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in US Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.17(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.17(a)(i) or (ii) above and (2) any Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request that requests an RFR Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for an ABR Borrowing and (B) for Loans denominated in Euros, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing, in each case, for the relevant Benchmark, shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Company’ receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.17(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Company delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.07 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02, (A) for Loans denominated in US Dollars, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.17(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.17(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day, and (2) any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute an ABR Loan and (B) for Loans denominated in Euros, any Term Benchmark Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for Euros plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for Euros cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Euros shall, at the Company’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Company on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Euros shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in US Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars at such time.

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(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to US Dollars for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to any Agreed Currency for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
 
(c)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
 
(d)          The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.17, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party hereto, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.17.
 
(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate or, EURIBOR Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

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(f)          Upon the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Company may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, either (x) the Company will be deemed to have converted any request for (1) a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in US Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (A) an RFR Borrowing denominated in US Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros shall be ineffective. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.17, (A) for Loans denominated in US Dollars, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in US Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day and (2) any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute an ABR Loan and (B) for Loans denominated in Euros, any Term Benchmark Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for Euros plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for Euros cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Euros shall, at the Company’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Company on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Euros shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in US Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in US Dollars at such time.
 
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SECTION 2.18       Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) Each Lender shall (i) if it determines that it is specifically entitled to compensation under Section 2.14, use its reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office, if any, for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if any, if such designation or assignment and delegation would avoid, or minimize the amount of, any payment by the Borrowers of additional amounts under Section 2.14 in respect of such Lender and (ii) if it determines that it is specifically entitled to compensation under Section 2.11, use its reasonable efforts (including using reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office, if any, for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if any), but only if it shall not incur any disadvantage as a result thereof, to avoid, or to minimize the amount of, any payment by the Borrowers of additional amounts under Section 2.11 in respect of such Lender.
 
(b)          The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent delivered at any time and with or without cause, require any Lender (including any Defaulting Lender) to assign all of its rights and obligations hereunder in respect of all or a portion of its Commitment and the corresponding pro rata portion of any Loans then owing to such Lender to one or more Transferees. Such Transferee or Transferees shall on the effective date of such assignment (as specified in the Assignment and Assumption with respect thereto) pay to such Lender if a Loan is assigned, the principal amount of such Loan so assigned, together with accrued interest thereon. If such assigned Loan is a Term Benchmark Loan, the Company shall be obligated to reimburse such Lender on such effective date if such assignment is not made on the last day of the applicable Interest Period in accordance with Section 2.12. If such assigned Loan is an RFR Loan, the Company shall be obligated to reimburse such Lender on such effective date if such assignment is not made on the applicable interest payment date. The term “Transferee” means any Eligible Assignee, selected by the Company in its sole discretion, that is willing to undertake all or part of a Lender’s Commitment and to purchase all or part of any Loans under this Section 2.18(b). In each such event, the assigning Lender and the Transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company, for its acceptance, an Assignment and Assumption and the Company shall accept and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent for recording in accordance with Section 8.08. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Assumption, which effective date shall be not less than five Business Days nor more than 10 Business Days after execution and shall be coordinated by the parties thereto with the Administrative Agent to be the same date as the date of such recording, (A) the Transferee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and (B) the assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto (but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 2.12 and 2.14 (to the extent accrued for periods prior to it ceasing to be a party hereto) and Section 8.04)). The provisions of clauses (i), (iv) and (v) of the third proviso to Section 8.06(a) and the provisions of Section 8.07 shall apply to all Assignments and Assumptions executed and delivered pursuant to this Section 2.18(b).
 
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SECTION 2.19       Subsidiary Borrowers. (a) Subsidiary Borrower Designation. The Company may, at any time and from time to time on and after the Closing Date, designate any of its Subsidiaries as a Subsidiary Borrower by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Subsidiary Borrower Agreement executed by such Subsidiary and the Company. Promptly after its receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent will provide a copy of such Subsidiary Borrower Agreement to the Lenders. Each such Subsidiary Borrower Agreement shall become effective on the date eight Business Days after it shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent, provided that (i) the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall have received, at least one Business Day prior to the date of the effectiveness thereof, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities with respect to such Subsidiary under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, that has been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in writing not later than the fifth Business Day after such Subsidiary Borrower Agreement has been delivered to the Administrative Agent and (ii) in the case of a designation of a Foreign Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent shall not have received written notice from any Lender (an “Objecting Lender”) that (A) such Objecting Lender is unable to make Loans or otherwise extend credit to such Foreign Subsidiary due to applicable legal or regulatory restrictions or (B) such Objecting Lender is prevented by its generally applicable internal policies from extending credit to such Foreign Subsidiary (a “Notice of Objection”), in which case such Subsidiary Borrower Agreement shall not become effective unless, within the period of eight Business Days referred to above, (x) such Objecting Lender withdraws such Notice of Objection or (y) such Objecting Lender ceases to be a Lender hereunder, including pursuant to Section 2.18(b). Upon the effectiveness of a Subsidiary Borrower Agreement as provided above, the applicable Subsidiary shall for all purposes of this Agreement be a party hereto and a Subsidiary Borrower hereunder.
 
(b)          Subsidiary Borrowers’ Obligations Several. Each of the Subsidiary Borrowers shall be severally liable for its liabilities and obligations under this Agreement, and no Subsidiary Borrower shall be liable for any Borrowing or any other obligation of any other Borrower under this Agreement. Each Subsidiary Borrower shall be severally liable for all payments of the principal of and interest on Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower, and any other amounts due hereunder that are specifically allocable to such Subsidiary Borrower or the Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower. No Subsidiary Borrower shall be liable for any fees due hereunder, for which the Company shall be exclusively liable.
 
(c)          Designation of Ineligible Subsidiaries. The Company may at any time, and from time to time, by delivery to the Administrative Agent of an Ineligible Subsidiary Designation Notice, designate any Subsidiary Borrower as an Ineligible Subsidiary. Upon such designation, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower shall immediately terminate, and such Ineligible Subsidiary shall no longer be entitled to request or borrow Borrowings hereunder. The designation of a Subsidiary Borrower as an Ineligible Subsidiary shall have no effect on (i) the outstanding Loans, if any, of such Subsidiary Borrower, (ii) the obligations of such Subsidiary Borrower to repay principal of and interest on any outstanding Loans of such Subsidiary Borrower when such amounts become due in accordance with this Agreement or any other payment obligations of such Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement or (iii) the right of such Subsidiary Borrower to deliver any Interest Election Request or select any future Interest Periods with respect to outstanding Loans of such Subsidiary Borrower in accordance with this Agreement; provided that at such time as no principal of or interest on any Loan of such Ineligible Subsidiary, and no other amounts payable by such Ineligible Subsidiary, shall be outstanding, such Ineligible Subsidiary shall cease to be a Subsidiary Borrower and a party to this Agreement. Promptly after its receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent will provide a copy of each Ineligible Subsidiary Designation Notice to the Lenders.
 
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(d)          Subsidiary Borrower Termination Events. (i) Each Subsidiary Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent, as promptly as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event with respect to such Subsidiary Borrower that is continuing on the date of such statement, the statement of an officer of the Subsidiary Borrower (or of the Company on its behalf) setting forth the details of such Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event and the action that such Subsidiary Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.
 
(ii)         If a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event occurs and is continuing with respect to any Subsidiary Borrower, then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent (A) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to such Subsidiary Borrower and the Company, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate and such Subsidiary Borrower shall no longer be entitled to request or borrow Borrowings hereunder and (B) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to such Subsidiary Borrower and the Company, declare the Loans of such Subsidiary Borrower, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement by such Subsidiary Borrower to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Loans of such Subsidiary Borrower, all such interest thereon and all such other amounts payable by such Subsidiary Borrower shall become and be forthwith due and payable by such Subsidiary Borrower, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Subsidiary Borrower; provided, however, that in the case of a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event specified in clause (c) of the definition of such term, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may declare any Loan of such Subsidiary Borrower to be due and payable unless the Company fails to pay under the Company Guarantee the overdue amount owed by such Subsidiary Borrower within three Business Days after written demand therefor shall have been received by the Company from the Administrative Agent; provided, further, however, that in the case of a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b), (f) or (g) of the definition of such term, (1) the obligation of each Lender to make Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower shall automatically terminate and (2) the Loans of such Subsidiary Borrower, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement by such Subsidiary Borrower shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Subsidiary Borrower.

(e)        Appointment of Company as Agent. Each Subsidiary Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for all purposes of this Agreement, including (i) the giving and receipt of notices (including any Borrowing Request or any Interest Election Request) and (ii) the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein. Each Subsidiary Borrower hereby acknowledges that any amendment, waiver or other modification to this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be effected as set forth in Section 8.01, that no consent of such Subsidiary Borrower shall be required to effect any such amendment, waiver or other modification and that such Subsidiary Borrower shall be bound by this Agreement or such other Loan Document as so amended, waived or otherwise modified.

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ARTICLE III
 
CONDITIONS OF LENDING
 
SECTION 3.01       Conditions to Effectiveness and Closing. The effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligations of each Lender to make Loans shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 8.01) of each of the following conditions:
 
(a)          The Administrative Agent shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include a facsimile or electronic transmission of a signed counterpart of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
 
(b)          The Administrative Agent shall have received an officer’s certificate of the Company, dated the Closing Date and signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.
 
(c)          The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Closing Date) of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
 
(d)          The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received (i) at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities with respect to the Company under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act that has been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date and (ii) at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, if the Company qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that so requests a Beneficial Ownership Certification, to the extent that such certification is requested in writing to the Company at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date.
 
(e)          The Acquisition shall have been consummated or will be consummated concurrently or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Loans hereunder in all material respects in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Agreement, and no provision of the Acquisition Agreement shall have been amended or modified, and no condition therein shall have been waived or consent granted, in each case, in any respect that is materially adverse to the Lenders or the Arrangers without each Arranger’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, that changes in the purchase price shall not be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders or the Arrangers and shall not require the consent of the Arrangers if such purchase price changes do not exceed 10.0% in aggregate and, in the case of a purchase price decrease, shall reduce the Commitments hereunder in an equal amount.
 
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(f)          During the period commencing on the date of the Acquisition Agreement through the first date on which the other conditions set forth in this Section 3.01 (other than those in this paragraph (c)) are satisfied, there shall not have occurred any “Seller Business MAC” under and as defined in the Acquisition Agreement (as in effect on April 25, 2023).
 
(g)          The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each of the last three full fiscal years ended at least 60 days prior to the Closing Date, (ii) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each subsequent fiscal quarterly interim period or periods ended at least 40 days prior to the Closing Date (and the corresponding period(s) of the prior fiscal year) (it being understood that, with respect to such financial information for each such fiscal year and subsequent interim period, such condition shall be deemed satisfied through the filing by the Company of its annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q with respect to such fiscal year or interim period) and (iii) audited and unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Target and its Subsidiaries, solely to the extent that such statements are available to the Company prior to the Closing Date, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP (or, in the case of clause (iii), are prepared in accordance with German general accepted accounting principles with a reconciliation to GAAP) and meet the requirements of Regulation S-X and all other accounting rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to registration statements on form S-3.
 
(h)          (i) There shall exist no Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(a), 6.01(e) (solely with respect to the Company) or 6.01(f) (solely with respect to the Company), (ii) the Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects, (iii) the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects and (iv) the aggregate principal amount of Loans funded on the Closing Date shall not exceed an amount equal to (x) €500,000,000 less (y) the aggregate amount of Leakage (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on April 25, 2023) that occurred in accordance with the Acquisition Agreement after April 25, 2023 and prior to the Closing Date, in each case, at the time of, and after giving effect to, the Transactions on the Closing Date.
 
(i)          The Administrative Agent shall have received (in each case dated the Closing Date) (i) a customary officer’s certificate from the Company that the conditions precedent contained in Section 3.01(e), 3.01(f) and 3.01(h) have been satisfied on the Closing Date and (ii) a Solvency Certificate.
 
(j)          The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request in accordance with Section 2.02.
 
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(k)          The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, and, to the extent invoiced at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP) required to be paid or reimbursed by the Company pursuant to any commitment letter or fee letter entered into in connection with the credit facility provided for herein.
 
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Article VII, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 3.01, each Lender, by becoming a party to this Agreement, shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the date hereof specifying its objection thereto.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the only representations the accuracy of which shall be a condition to the availability of the Loans on the Closing Date shall be (i) the Acquisition Agreement Representations and (ii) the Specified Representations.
 
SECTION 3.02       Conditions to Initial Borrowing by Each Designated Subsidiary Borrower. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans to any Subsidiary Borrower designated as such pursuant to Section 2.19 shall not become effective until the first date on which each of the following additional conditions shall be satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.01):
 
(a)          The Closing Date shall have occurred prior to or substantially concurrently therewith.
 
(b)          The Administrative Agent shall have received an officer’s certificate of such Subsidiary Borrower, signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Subsidiary Borrower (or an appropriate substitute therefor under the applicable law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Borrower), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, attaching (i) a copy of each organizational document of such Subsidiary Borrower, (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such Subsidiary Borrower executing its Subsidiary Borrower Agreement or any document relating thereto, (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors or similar governing body of such Subsidiary Borrower (and/or, if applicable, of the shareholders or other authorized Persons of such Subsidiary Borrower, if required under the applicable law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Borrower or its organizational documents) approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by such Subsidiary Borrower of its Subsidiary Borrower Agreement, this Agreement and any documents to be delivered by such Subsidiary Borrower hereunder, certified by such Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or such appropriate substitute therefor) as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment, and (iv) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Borrower, dated as of a recent date (if applicable and customary under the applicable law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Borrower).
 
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(c)          The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion of the general counsel, in-house counsel and/or outside counsel of such Subsidiary Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that any opinion substantially consistent with the opinion delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(c), with any modifications to reflect requirements under the applicable law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Borrower or its organizational documents shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).
 
ARTICLE IV
 
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
SECTION 4.01       Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants, as of the Closing Date, as follows:
 
(a)          Organization; Powers. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation in all other jurisdictions in which the conduct of its operations or the ownership of its properties requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has all requisite power and authority, corporate or otherwise, to conduct its business, to own its properties and to execute and deliver, and to perform all of its obligations under, this Agreement.
 
(b)          Authorization; Absence of Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not contravene (i) the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by‑laws (ii) any agreement with respect to indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries in a committed or outstanding principal amount of at least US$400,000,000 (solely with respect to the Closing Date) or (iii) except where such contravention would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any law or contractual restriction binding on the Company.
 
(c)          Governmental Consents. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body in the United States, or to the Company’s knowledge, in any other jurisdiction, is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, other than routine requirements which, to the Company’s knowledge, have (to the extent that compliance is required on or prior to the date hereof) been complied with in all material respects.
 
(d)          Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
 
(e)          Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect. (i) The Historical Company Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the combined financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2022 and the combined results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, all in conformity with GAAP.
 
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(ii)        Since December 31, 2022, there has been no material adverse change in the Consolidated financial condition or the Consolidated results of operations of the Company except as otherwise disclosed in any reports by the Company on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K publicly filed or furnished under the Exchange Act prior to the date hereof.

(f)          Litigation. There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action or proceeding affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(g)          Federal Reserve Regulations. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors as now and from time to time hereafter in effect.
 
(h)          ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which such liability is reasonably expected to occur, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(i)           Environmental. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with Environmental Laws and any permit, license or approval required thereunder and (ii) have not become subject to any Environmental Liability.
 
(j)           Investment Company Status. No Borrower is required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
 
(k)          Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws. (i) The Company has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
 
(ii)        None of (a) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) to the knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers or employees that will act in any capacity in connection with or directly benefit from the use of proceeds of the Loans is a Sanctioned Person.

(iii)        No Borrowing or use of proceeds thereof will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.

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(l)          All written information, other than (i) any Projections, (ii) forward-looking information, (iii) estimates and (iv) other information of a general economic or industry nature, that has been or is hereafter made available to the Lenders by or on behalf of you or any of your representatives in connection with any aspect of the Transactions (which representation and warranty shall be only to the Company’s knowledge to the extent it relates to Viessmann Climate Solutions SE or its Subsidiaries or to any other third party), when taken as a whole, is and will be, when furnished, complete and correct in all material respects and does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made or are made, when taken as a whole (giving effect to all supplements and updates provided thereto). All written financial projections concerning the Company, Viessmann Climate Solutions SE and their respective Subsidiaries furnished to the Lenders by or on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s representatives or by or on behalf of Viessmann Climate Solutions SE or any of its representatives (the “Projections”) have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that were believed by the Company to be reasonable as of the date such Projections are prepared and as of the date such Projections are made available to the Lenders (it being understood that the Projections are as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts, the Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that no assurance can be given that any particular Projections will be realized and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such Projections may differ significantly from the projected results and such differences may be material).
 
(m)          Solvency. The Company and its Subsidiaries are, on the Closing Date, immediately after giving effect to the Acquisition and the other Transactions contemplated by or related to the Acquisition and the making of the Loans and the application of proceeds thereof, on a Consolidated basis, Solvent.
 
SECTION 4.02       Representations and Warranties of each Subsidiary Borrower. Each Subsidiary Borrower, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants as of the Closing Date, as follows:
 
(a)          Organization; Powers. Such Subsidiary Borrower is duly organized, validly existing and, if such qualification exists in the applicable jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Such Subsidiary Borrower has all requisite power and authority, corporate or otherwise, to conduct its business, to own its properties and to execute and deliver, and to perform all of its obligations under, this Agreement.
 
(b)          Authorization; Absence of Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Subsidiary Borrower of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not contravene (i) such Subsidiary Borrower’s organizational documents or (ii) except where such contravention would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any law or contractual restriction binding on such Subsidiary Borrower.
 
(c)          Governmental Consents. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body in the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary Borrower, or to such Subsidiary Borrower’s knowledge, in any other jurisdiction, is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by such Subsidiary Borrower of this Agreement other than routine requirements which, to such Subsidiary Borrower’s knowledge, have (to the extent that compliance is required on or prior to the date hereof) been complied with in all material respects.
 
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(d)          Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary Borrower and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Subsidiary Borrower enforceable against such Subsidiary Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
 
ARTICLE V
 
 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
SECTION 5.01       Affirmative Covenants. So long as any Loan shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment, the Company covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
 
(a)          Financial Statements and Other Information. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders:
 
(i)         within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the Consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all audited by and accompanied by the opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent registered public accounting firm of recognized national standing to the effect that such Consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, all in conformity with GAAP;

(ii)       within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and the Consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year then ended and the Consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period of periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Company as presenting fairly, in all material respects, the Consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, all in conformity with GAAP (subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes);

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(iii)      concurrently with each delivery of financial statements under Section 5.01(a)(i) or 5.01(a)(ii), a completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Financial Officer of the Company (A) certifying as to whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and, if a Default or an Event of Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto and (B) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the ratio set forth in Section 5.02(d) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter covered by such financial statements;

(iv)      promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all such regular, periodic and special reports and all registration statements (except those relating to employee benefit or stock option plans) that the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries that is an issuer of securities that are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act files with the SEC or with any national securities exchange and of all such proxy statements, financial statements and reports as the Company sends to its stockholders;

(v)         promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of the Company pursuant to the terms of any indenture or, to the lenders under the 2023 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, the 2023 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement or the 2023 Term Loan Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof and not otherwise required to be furnished pursuant to any other clause of this Section 5.01(a);

(vi)        as promptly as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the occurrence of each Default or Event of Default that is continuing on the date of such statement, the statement of the chief financial officer of the Company setting forth details of such Default or Event of Default and the action that the Company proposes to take with respect thereto; and

(vii)       such other publicly available information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

Information required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(i), 5.01(a)(ii), 5.01(a)(iv) and 5.01(a)(v) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such information or one or more annual quarterly reports containing such information have been posted on the “investors relations” portion of the website of the Company as identified to the Administrative Agent from time to time or if made publicly available on the SEC EDGAR system or posted by the Administrative Agent on the Platform. Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that (i) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform and (ii) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who are Public Side Lender Representatives. Each Borrower hereby agrees that (A) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC”, which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (B) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any MNPI (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, treatment of such Borrower Materials shall be subject to Section 8.07 in all respects); (C) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (D) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Borrower shall be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”.
 
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(b)          Existence of the Company. The Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger or consolidation of the Company permitted under Section 5.02(b)(i).
 
(c)          Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of Loans shall be used to pay (i) all or a portion of the consideration for the Acquisition and (b) fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, and no part of the proceeds of any Loans hereunder will be used in a manner that would cause the Loans to be in violation of Regulation U of the Board of Governors.
 
SECTION 5.02       Negative Covenants. So long as any Loan shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment, the Company covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
 
(a)          Liens. The Company will not itself, and will not permit any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary to, create, incur, issue or assume any loans, notes, bonds, debentures or other indebtedness for money borrowed (loans, notes, bonds, debentures or other indebtedness for money borrowed collectively called “Debt”) secured by any pledge of, or mortgage, lien, encumbrance or security interests on (such pledges, mortgages, liens, encumbrances and security interests collectively called “Liens”), any Principal Property owned by the Company or any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary, and will not itself, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, issue or assume any Debt secured by any Lien on any equity interests in or Debt of any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary, without in any such case effectively providing that the Loans (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other Debt of the Company then existing or thereafter created which is not subordinate in right of payment to indebtedness hereunder) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured Debt, so long as such secured Debt shall be so secured, unless, after giving effect thereto, the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of all such secured Debt then outstanding, plus (y) Attributable Debt of the Company and its Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiaries in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions involving Principal Properties entered into after the date hereof (other than such Sale and Leaseback Transactions as are permitted by clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 5.02(c))) would not exceed an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided that nothing contained in this Section 5.02(a) shall prevent, restrict or apply to, and there shall be excluded from secured Debt in any computation under this Section 5.02(a), Debt secured by:
 
(i)          Liens on any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including equity interests or Debt owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) existing as of the date hereof or set forth on Schedule 5.02(a) hereto;

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(ii)         Liens on any property or assets of, or on any equity interests in or Debt of, any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary, or arising thereafter (A) otherwise than in connection with the borrowing of money arranged thereafter and (B) pursuant to contractual commitments entered into prior to and not in contemplation of such Person becoming a Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary;

(iii)        Liens on any property or assets or equity interests or Debt existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including acquisition through merger or consolidation) or securing the payment of all or any part of the purchase price or construction cost thereof or securing any Debt incurred prior to, at the time of or within 120 days after the acquisition of such property or assets or equity interests or Debt or the completion of any such construction, whichever is later, for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or construction cost thereof (provided that such Liens are limited to such equity interests or Debt or such other property or assets, improvements thereon and the land upon which such property, assets and improvements are located and any other property or assets not then constituting a Principal Property);

(iv)       Liens on any property or assets to secure all or any part of the cost of development, operation, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of all or any part of such property or assets, or to secure Debt incurred prior to, at the time of or within 120 days after the completion of such development, operation, construction, alteration, repair or improvement, whichever is later, for the purpose of financing all or any part of such cost (provided that such Liens are limited to such property or assets, improvements thereon and the land upon which such property, assets and improvements are located and any other property or assets not then constituting a Principal Property);

(v)       Liens which secure Debt owing by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary;

(vi)        Liens arising from the assignment of moneys due and to become due under contracts between the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and the United States, any State, Commonwealth, Territory or possession thereof or any agency, department, instrumentality or political subdivision of any thereof or Liens in favor of the United States, any State, Commonwealth, Territory or possession thereof or any agency, department, instrumentality or political subdivision of any thereof, pursuant to the provisions of any contract not directly or indirectly in connection with securing Debt;

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(vii)       (A) any materialmen’s, carriers’, mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations which are not overdue or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (B) any deposit or pledge as security for the performance of any bid, tender, contract, lease or undertaking not directly or indirectly in connection with the securing of Debt; (C) any deposit or pledge with any governmental agency required or permitted to qualify the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to conduct business, to maintain self‑insurance or to obtain the benefits of any law pertaining to workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, social security or similar matters, or to obtain any stay or discharge in any legal or administrative proceedings; (D) deposits or pledges to obtain the release of mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, materialmen’s or warehousemen’s Liens or the release of property in the possession of a common carrier; (E) any security interest created in connection with the sale, discount or guarantee of notes, chattel mortgages, leases, accounts receivable, trade acceptances or other paper, or contingent repurchase obligations, arising out of sales of merchandise in the ordinary course of business; (F) Liens for Taxes levied or imposed upon the Company or any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary or Liens on any Principal Property of the Company or any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary arising from claims from labor, materials or supplies; provided that either such Tax is not overdue or that the amount, applicability or validity of such Tax or claim is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; or (G) other deposits or pledges similar to those referred to in this clause (vii);

(viii)    Liens arising by reason of any judgment, decree or order of any court, so long as any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been initiated for the review of such judgment, decree or order shall not have been finally terminated or so long as the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired; any deposit or pledge with any surety company or clerk of any court, or in escrow, as collateral in connection with, or in lieu of, any bond on appeal from any judgment or decree against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or in connection with other proceedings or actions at law or in equity by or against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; and

(ix)      any extension, renewal, substitution or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, substitutions or replacements), as a whole or in part, of any of the Liens referred to in clauses (i) through (viii) above or the Debt secured thereby; provided that (A) such extension, renewal, substitution or replacement Lien shall be limited to all or any part of the same property or assets or equity interests or Debt that secured the Lien extended, renewed, substituted or replaced (plus improvements on such property and plus any other property or assets not then constituting a Principal Property) and (B) in the case of clauses (i) through (iv) above, the Debt secured by such Lien at such time is not increased.

For the purposes of this Section 5.02(a) and 5.02(c), the giving of a guarantee which is secured by a Lien on a Principal Property, and the creation of a Lien on a Principal Property or equity interests or Debt to secure Debt which existed prior to the creation of such Lien, shall be deemed to involve the creation of Debt in an amount equal to the principal amount guaranteed or secured by such Lien; but the amount of Debt secured by Liens on Principal Properties and equity interests and Debt shall be computed without cumulating the underlying indebtedness with any guarantee thereof or Lien securing the same.
 
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(b)          Fundamental Changes. (i) The Company will not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease, or permit its Subsidiaries to convey, transfer or lease, to any Person all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, unless: (A) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, such properties and assets shall be a Person (other than a natural person) organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by writing approved by the Administrative Agent, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, the Company’s obligation for the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all Loans and the performance of every covenant of this Agreement on the part of the Company to be performed; and (B) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. This Section 5.02(b)(i) shall only apply to a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving Person and to conveyances, leases and transfers by the Company and its Subsidiaries as transferors or lessors.
 
(ii)         Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in accordance with Section 5.02(b)(i), the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Agreement with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the “Company” in the definition of such term or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 5.02(b)(i)), except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged of all obligations and covenants under this Agreement and may be dissolved and liquidated.

(iii)       If, upon any such consolidation of the Company with or merger of the Company into any other Person, or upon any conveyance, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person, any Principal Property of the Company or of any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary (or any equity interests in or Debt of any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary) would thereupon become subject to any Lien, then unless such Lien could be created pursuant to Section 5.02(a) without equally and ratably securing the Loans, the Company, prior to or simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, conveyance, lease or transfer, will as to such Principal Property, equity interests or Debt, secure the Loans outstanding hereunder (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other Debt of the Company now existing or hereafter created which is not subordinate in right of payment to indebtedness hereunder) equally and ratably with (or prior to) the Debt which upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, lease or transfer is to become secured as to such Principal Property, equity interests or Debt by such Lien, or will cause such Loans to be so secured.

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(c)          Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Company will not itself, and will not permit any Wholly‑Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement on or after the Closing Date with any bank, insurance company or other lender or investor (other than the Company or another Wholly‑Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary) providing for the leasing by the Company or any such Wholly‑Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary of any Principal Property (except a lease for a temporary period not to exceed three years by the end of which it is intended that the use of such Principal Property by the lessee will be discontinued) that was or is owned by the Company or a Wholly‑Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary and that has been or is to be sold or transferred, more than 120 days after the completion of construction and commencement of full operation thereof by the Company or such Wholly‑Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary, to such bank, insurance company, lender or investor or to any Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such bank, insurance company, lender or investor on the security of such Principal Property (herein referred to as a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction”) unless (i) the sum of (x) the Attributable Debt of the Company and its Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiaries in respect of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction and all other Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into or, as set forth below, deemed entered into on or after the Closing Date (other than such Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by clause (ii) or (iii) below), plus (y) the aggregate principal amount of Debt secured by Liens on Principal Properties and Liens on any equity interests in or Debt of any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary then outstanding (excluding any such Debt secured by Liens covered in clauses (i) through (ix) of Section 5.02(a)) without equally and ratably securing the Loans would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, (ii) the Company, within 120 days after the sale or transfer, applies, or causes a Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary to apply, an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of such sale or transfer or fair market value of the Principal Property so sold and leased back at the time of entering into such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (in either case as determined by any two of the following: the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer and the Controller of the Company) to the prepayment (subject to the conditions of Section 2.10) of the Loans hereunder or the retirement of other indebtedness of the Company (other than indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to indebtedness hereunder), or indebtedness of a Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary, for money borrowed, having a stated maturity more than 12 months from the date of such application or which is extendible at the option of the obligor thereon to a date more than 12 months from the date of such application or (iii) such Sale and Leaseback Transaction shall be set forth on Schedule 5.02(c) hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no prepayment or retirement referred to in clause (ii) above may be effected by payment at maturity or pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund payment or any mandatory prepayment provision and (y) where the Company or any Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary is the lessee in any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, Attributable Debt shall not include any Debt resulting from the guarantee by the Company or any other Wholly-Owned Domestic Manufacturing Subsidiary of the lessee’s obligation thereunder.
 
(d)          Consolidated Leverage Ratio.
 
(i)         Prior to the consummation of the Acquisition (or if the Acquisition is terminated prior to the consummation thereof), the Company will not permit, as of the last day of any Test Period, commencing with the Test Period ending on June 30, 2023, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed 3.50:1.00.

(ii)       Upon and following the consummation of the Acquisition, the Company will not permit, as of the last day of any Test Period, commencing with the Test Period ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter in which the Acquisition is consummated, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed the ratio set forth in the table below opposite the last day of such Test Period:

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Test Period Ending On
Consolidated Leverage Ratio
 
The last day of the fiscal quarter in which the Acquisition is consummated and the last day of each of the first and second consecutive full fiscal quarters thereafter
4.25:1.00
 
The last day of each of the third and fourth consecutive full fiscal quarters ending after the quarter in which the Acquisition is consummated
4.00:1.00
 
The last day of the fifth consecutive full fiscal quarter ending after the quarter in which the Acquisition is consummated and thereafter
3.50:1.00

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.02(d), (i) upon the consummation of a Qualifying Material Acquisition in any Test Period ending on or after earlier of (a) the last day of the fifth consecutive full fiscal quarter ending after the quarter in which the Acquisition is consummated and (b) the termination of the Acquisition prior to the consummation thereof, with respect to the Test Period ending with the fiscal quarter in which such Qualifying Material Acquisition is consummated and the Test Periods ending with the three subsequent consecutive fiscal quarters, the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall, at the election of the Company by notice to the Administrative Agent delivered within 30 days of the consummation thereof, be increased to 4.00:1.00 and (ii) prior to the consummation of the Acquisition (or in the case of the termination of the Acquisition Agreement prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, prior to the date such indebtedness is required to be repaid as set forth in the proviso to the definition of “Acquisition Indebtedness”), any Acquisition Indebtedness (and the proceeds from such Acquisition Indebtedness) incurred to finance the Acquisition shall be excluded from the determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio.
 
ARTICLE VI
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
SECTION 6.01       Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an event of default (collectively, the “Events of Default”):
 
(a)          the Company shall fail to pay (i) any principal of any Loan when the same becomes due and payable, (ii) any interest on any Loan when the same becomes due and payable, and such failure shall continue for a period of five Business Days, (iii) any amount due under the Company Guarantee in respect of any Loan owing by a Subsidiary Borrower when due pursuant to Section 9.01 (and in the case of interest, if such failure shall continue for five Business Days after the date such interest became due and payable), or (iv) any other amount owing by the Company when the same becomes due and payable, and such failure shall continue for a period of 15 Business Days after receipt by the Company of written notice from the Administrative Agent of such amount being due, together with a statement in reasonable detail of the calculation thereof;
 
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(b)          any representation or warranty made (or deemed made pursuant to Article III hereof) by the Company herein or in any Borrowing Request or other document delivered by the Company pursuant to Article III shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
 
(c)          the Company shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement set forth in Section 5.01(a)(vi), 5.01(b), 5.01(c) or 5.02 on its part to be performed or observed;
 
(d)          the Company shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a) or (c) of this Section 6.01 and, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding those to be performed or observed by any Subsidiary Borrower) on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Company and the Administrative Agent by any Lender;
 
(e)          the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (i) shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, (ii) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall institute any proceeding or voluntary case seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief or protection of debtors, or seeking the entry of any order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property or (iii) shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this clause (e);
 
(f)          any proceeding shall be instituted against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief or protection of debtors, or seeking the entry of any order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property, and such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days;
 
(g)          an ERISA Event or ERISA Events shall occur that results or would reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect;
 
(h)          any Change in Control shall occur;
 
(i)           any Material Debt of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall be declared to be due and payable prior to the stated maturity thereof or shall not be paid at the stated maturity thereof; or
 
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(j)           the Company Guarantee shall cease to be, or shall be asserted in writing by the Company not to be, in full force and effect with respect to any Subsidiary Borrower, except as a result of the release thereof as provided in Section 9.03.
 
SECTION 6.02       Lenders’ Rights upon an Event of Default. (a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default set forth in Section 6.01(j)) occurs and is continuing, then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Company, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Company, declare the Loans, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Loans, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower; provided, however, that in the case of an Event of Default set forth in Section 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) (in each case, with respect to the Company) constituting an entry of an order for relief under the United States federal bankruptcy laws, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and (B) the Loans, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower.
 
(b)          If an Event of Default set forth in Section 6.01(j) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Loans owing by any Subsidiary Borrower, then, and in any such event, (i) the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Company, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, (ii) if such Event of Default does not arise as a result of the Company’s repudiation of the Company Guarantee with respect to the obligations of such Subsidiary Borrower in writing, the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Company, declare the Loans owing by such Subsidiary Borrower, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by such Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Loans owing by such Subsidiary Borrower, all such interest thereon and all such amounts payable by such Subsidiary Borrower shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by such Subsidiary Borrower, and (iii) if such Event of Default arises as a result of the Company’s repudiation of the Company Guarantee with respect to the obligations of such Subsidiary Borrower in writing, the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Company, declare any or all of the Loans of any or all Borrowers, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such Loans, all other such interest and all other such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower

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ARTICLE VII
 
THE AGENTS
 
SECTION 7.01       Authorization and Action. Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 8.01), and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion, could expose the Administrative Agent to liability or be contrary to this Agreement or applicable law.
 
SECTION 7.02       Agents’ Reliance, Etc. (a) No Agent or any of its Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and nonappealable judgment. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent: (i) may treat the Lender to whom any Loan is owing as reflected in its records as the Person to whom all payments with respect to that Loan are to be made until the Administrative Agent receives and records an Assignment and Assumption (or an agreement incorporating by reference a form of Assignment and Assumption posted on the Platform) entered into by such Lender, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as assignee; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrowers), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (iii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for, or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into, any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith; (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for, or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into, the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency, effectiveness or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (vi) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and (vii) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, request, certificate or other instrument or writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in this Agreement for being the signatory, sender or authenticator thereof). The Administrative Agent also shall be entitled to rely, and shall not incur any liability for relying, upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone (other than statements required to be in writing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) and believed by it to be made by the proper Person (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in this Agreement for being the maker thereof), and may act upon any such statement prior to receipt of written confirmation thereof.
 
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(b)          The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
 
(i)         shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default, an Event of Default or a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby;

(ii)       shall not, except as expressly set forth herein, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity; and

(iii)       shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default, Event of Default or Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event (or any event that, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event) unless and until written notice describing such Default, Event of Default, Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event or other event (stating that it is a “Notice of Default” or “Notice of a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Company, a Subsidiary Borrower or a Lender.

SECTION 7.03       Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of their duties and exercise their rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facility provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
 
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SECTION 7.04       Agents and Affiliates. With respect to its Commitment and the Loans made by it, each Person acting as an Agent, and its Affiliates, shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, as the case may be, and it and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as trustee under indentures of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with, any Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates and any Person who may do business with or own securities of any Borrower or any such Subsidiary or Affiliate, all as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
 
SECTION 7.05       Lender Credit Decision. (a) Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on the financial information referred to in Section 4.01(e)(i) and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and any other Loan Document to which such Lender is a party. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
 
(b)         Each Lender, by becoming a party to this Agreement and any other Loan Document to which such Lender is a party, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, this Agreement and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender sufficiently in advance to the making of such Loan.
 
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SECTION 7.06       [Reserved].
 
SECTION 7.07       Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign at any time from its capacity as such by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Company. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, with the consent of the Company, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, having a combined capital and surplus of at least US$500,000,000 and a local office in New York. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth in the immediately preceding sentence; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, or no successor has been appointed, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and (b) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders, in consultation with and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, with the consent of the Company, appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged (if not already discharged as set forth above) from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. Following the effectiveness of any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article VII and Section 8.04 shall inure to its benefit and for the benefit of its sub-agents and its and their Related Parties as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement.
 
SECTION 7.08       Arrangers and Syndication Agent. None of the Arrangers or the Syndication Agent shall have any obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement except, solely in its capacity as a Lender, those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Arrangers or the Syndication Agent shall have, or be deemed to have, any fiduciary responsibility to any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Arrangers or the Syndication Agent in deciding to enter this Agreement or in taking or refraining from any action hereunder.
 
SECTION 7.09       Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
 
(a)          to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Section 2.05, 2.11, 2.12, 2.14 and 8.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
 
(b)          to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
 
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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, hereunder (including under Section 8.04). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the obligations or the rights of any Lender, or to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
 
SECTION 7.10       Certain ERISA Matters. (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Agents and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
 
(i)          such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement;

(ii)        the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement;

(iii)      (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement; or

(iv)       such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

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(b)          In addition, unless either (1) clause (i) in the immediately preceding paragraph (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with clause (iv) in the immediately preceding paragraph (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Agents, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any documents related hereto or thereto).
 
SECTION 7.11       Recovery of Erroneous Payments. (a) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 7.11 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
 
(b)          Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
 
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(c)          The Company and each Subsidiary Borrower hereby agree that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any obligations owed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower under any Loan Document, except, in each case, to the extent such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from any Borrower for the purpose of making such erroneous Payment.
 
(d)          Each party’s obligations under this Section 7.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
 
ARTICLE VIII
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
SECTION 8.01       Amendments, Etc. (a) Except as provided in Section 8.01(b), no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, nor consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders and the Company, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however that (i) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Company and the Administrative Agent to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency so long as, in each case, the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment and (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall do any of the following: (A) increase the Commitment of any Lender or extend the scheduled date of expiration of the Commitment of any Lender (including any such extension as a result of any modification to the definition of the term “Scheduled Maturity Date” or to Section 2.01(a) or Section 2.06), or change the currencies in which Loans are available under the Commitment of any Lender, in each case, without the written consent of such Lender, (B) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loans payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (C) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Loans payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment (in each case, including any such postponement, reduction, waiver or excuse as a result of any modification to the term “Scheduled Maturity Date”), without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (D) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans, or the number of Lenders, which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (E) change Section 2.15 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (F) release the Company Guarantee with respect to any Subsidiary Borrower, except as expressly provided by Section 9.03, without the written consent of each Lender or (G) amend this Section 8.01, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement.
 
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(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8.01(a):
 
(i)          any amendment of the definition of the term “Applicable Rate” pursuant to the last sentence of such definition shall require only the written consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent;

(ii)         no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except with respect to any amendment, waiver or consent referred to in clause (ii)(A), (ii)(B) or (ii)(C) of the first proviso of Section 8.01(a) and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be affected by such amendment, waiver or consent; and

(iii)         this Agreement may be amended as provided in Section 2.17(b), 2.17(c), 2.17(e), 2.19(a), 2.19(c) and 8.18.

(c)          The Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, waivers or other modifications on behalf of such Lender. Any amendment, waiver or other modification effected in accordance with this Section 8.01 shall be binding upon each Person that is at the time thereof a Lender and each Person that subsequently becomes a Lender.
 
SECTION 8.02       Notices, Etc. (a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to Section 8.02(b)), all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by fax or email, as follows:
 
(i)          if to the Company, to it at Carrier Global Corporation, 13995 Pasteur Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418, Attention: [***], Email Address: [***];

(ii)          if to any Subsidiary Borrower, to it in care of the Company as provided in clause (i) above;

(iii)         if to any Lender, to it at its address (or fax number or email) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire; and

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(iv)         if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5 / 1st Floor, Newark, Delaware 19713, Attention of: Loan and Agency Services Group, Telephone No.: +1 (704) 544-4269, Email Address: darius.neely@chase.com.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by fax shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient); and notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 8.02(b) shall be effective as provided in such Section. Any party hereto may change its address, telephone number, email address or fax number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto (or, in the case of any such change by a Lender, by notice to the Company and the Administrative Agent).
 
(b)          Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (including email, intranet websites and the Platform) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices under Article II to any Lender if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. Any notices or other communications to the Administrative Agent, the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures expressly approved by the recipient thereof (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, by the Company) prior thereto; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited or rescinded by the Administrative Agent by notice to each other such Person and by the Company and any Subsidiary Borrower by notice to the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an email address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return email or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to the Platform shall be deemed received upon the receipt by the intended recipient at its email address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
 
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(c)          The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrowers, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrowers, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages). Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States Federal and state securities laws, to make reference to the Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain MNPI. Each Lender agrees that any Agent or any Arranger may, but shall not be obligated to, store any Borrower Materials on the Platform in accordance with its customary document retention procedures and policies.
 
SECTION 8.03       No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
 
SECTION 8.04       Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Syndication Agent and their respective Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of outside counsel for the foregoing in the United States and Germany (and, if deemed reasonably necessary by such Persons, one firm of regulatory counsel and/or one firm of local counsel in each other appropriate jurisdiction of a Subsidiary Borrower), in connection with the arrangement and syndication of the credit facility provided for herein, including the preparation, execution and delivery of the commitment letter and the fee letters entered into in connection with the credit facility provided for herein, as well as the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement, any other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers (to the extent such amendments, modifications or waivers are contemplated by Section 2.17(b) or requested by the Company) of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration (other than routine administrative procedures and excluding costs and expenses relating to assignments and participations of Lenders) of this Agreement and any other Loan Document and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any of the foregoing, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section 8.04, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.
 
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(b)          The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”), against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses reasonably related thereto, including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of outside counsel for Indemnitees (and, if deemed reasonably necessary by the Administrative Agent, one firm of regulatory counsel and/or one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction, and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest for any Indemnitee, one firm of counsel (and, if deemed reasonably necessary by such Indemnitee, one firm of regulatory and/or one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction) for such Indemnitee), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the preparation, execution, delivery and (in the case of the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties only) administration of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by any Borrower or any other Person); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (A) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or a material breach, including any such breach in bad faith, of the agreements by such Indemnitee set forth in this Agreement or (B) result from any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission of the Company, a Subsidiary Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates and that is brought by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding brought by an Indemnitee against the Administrative Agent or any Arranger in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as an agent or arranger or any other similar role hereunder). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use of information or other materials obtained through electronic, telecommunications or other information transmission systems, except to the extent any such damages are found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, and no party hereto shall be liable for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages in connection with the Loans, this Agreement or its activities related thereto; provided that nothing contained in this sentence will limit the Company’s indemnity and reimbursement obligations set forth in this Section 8.04. This paragraph shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.
 
(c)          To the extent that the Company fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it under Section 8.04(a) or 8.04(b) to the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such or against any Related Party acting for the Administrative Agent in connection with such capacity. For purposes of this paragraph, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be determined based upon its share of the sum of the total Commitments and the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding, in each case, at the time (or most recently in effect or outstanding, as the case may be).
 
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(d)          All amounts due under this Section 8.04 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
 
SECTION 8.05       Binding Effect; Survival. On and after the Closing Date, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Borrower shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders (and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be null and void), other than, in the case of the Company, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 5.02(b) or 8.18 or, in the case of any Subsidiary Borrower, pursuant to any merger or consolidation that would not result in a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event under clause (b)(ii) of the definition of such term. The provisions of Sections 2.04(c), 2.11, 2.12, 2.13(d), 2.14, 2.18, 8.04, 8.17 and 9.03 and Article VII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement.
 
SECTION 8.06       Optional Assignments; Participations. (a) Each Lender may, but only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 15 Business Days after having received written notice thereof), assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided, however, that no consent of the Company shall be required for an assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default arising under Section 6.01(a), 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) (provided that, in each case, the Company shall have received a written notice of such assignment); provided further that (i) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, (ii) the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than €10,000,000 and shall be an integral multiple of €1,000,000 in excess thereof or, in the case of an assignment of loans denominated in US Dollars, US$10,000,000 and shall be an integral multiple of US$1,000,000 in excess thereof (except in the case of (x) an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans or (y) an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender) unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the Administrative Agent, (iii) no such assignment shall result in any additional liability of the Company or any Subsidiary Borrower on account of United States Taxes under Section 2.14 or for increased costs under Section 2.11 or violate any applicable provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State thereof, (iv) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for recording, an Assignment and Assumption (or an agreement incorporating by reference a form of Assignment and Assumption posted on the Platform) (bearing the consent of the Company, if its consent is required as set forth above) and a processing and recordation fee of US$3,500 payable to the Administrative Agent (such fee to be paid by the parties to such assignment or, in the case of any assignment pursuant to Section 2.18(b), by the Company) and (v) the assignee shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required by Section 2.14(f) (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder). Upon such execution, delivery and recording and, if applicable, delivery of written consent of the Company to such assignment, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, which effective date shall be at least five Business Days after the execution thereof and shall be coordinated by the parties thereto with the Administrative Agent to be the same date as the date of such recording, (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and (y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 2.12 and 2.14 (to the extent accrued for periods prior to it ceasing to be a party hereto) and Section 8.04). Any assignment by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 8.06(a) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 8.06(c); provided that the requirements of Section 8.06(c) are met. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
 
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(b)          [Reserved.]
 
(c)          Each Lender may sell participations to one or more Eligible Assignees (each, a “Participant”) in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and (iv) no such participation shall restrict the right of the Lender to take or refrain from taking any action, including the consent or agreement to any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement or under documents related hereto, except with respect to any action described in clause (ii)(A), (ii)(B) or (ii)(C) of the first proviso of Section 8.01(a). The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 2.12 and 2.14 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.14(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.14(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 8.06(a); provided that such Participant (x) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.18 as if it were an assignee under Section 8.06(a) and (y) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.11 or 2.14, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive (it being understood and agreed that such Participant shall not be entitled to the benefit of any other indemnity, expense reimbursement, yield protection or similar provision solely on account of becoming a Participant rather than being a party hereto). Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other rights and obligations of such Lender under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans or other rights and obligations under this Agreement) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan or other right and obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining any Participant Register.
 
(d)          Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including, without limitation, any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and this Section 8.06 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
 
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SECTION 8.07       Confidentiality. (a) Each Agent and each Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below) in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound banking practices, except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its Related Parties, including accountants and legal counsel (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made shall be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (ii) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) (it being understood that the regulatory authority to which such disclosure is made shall be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and, except where such regulatory authority would be required to keep such Information confidential as a matter of law, requested to keep such Information confidential); (iii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made shall be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and, except where such Person would be required to keep such Information confidential as a matter of law, requested to keep such Information confidential); (iv) to any other party to this Agreement; (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or under any agreement or instrument contemplated by this Agreement or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument contemplated by this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made shall be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and requested to keep such Information confidential); (vi) subject to execution by it of a written agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 8.07, (A) to any Eligible Assignee of or participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (B) to any actual of prospective counterparty to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Company or any Subsidiary and its obligations or any actual or prospective insurance provider relating to any such obligations (or, in each case, their respective Related Parties); (vii) with the written consent of the Company; (viii) to rating agencies (on a confidential basis) and data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry, such information to consist of information customarily provided by arrangers to such data service providers; or (xi) to the extent that such Information (A) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 8.07 or (B) is or becomes available to the Administrative Agent or the Syndication Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than any Borrower. For the purposes of this Section 8.07, “Information” means all information received from the Company, any of its Affiliates or any of the Company’s or such Affiliates’ respective Related Parties, including accountants and legal counsel, relating to the Company, any of its Affiliates or any of the Company’s or such Affiliates’ respective Related Parties, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company, any of its Affiliates or any of the Company’s or such Affiliates’ respective Related Parties. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 8.07 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised no less than reasonable care and at least the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
 
(b)          Each of the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent and each Lender acknowledges that (i) the Information may include MNPI, (ii) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of MNPI and (iii) it will handle such MNPI in accordance with applicable law, including United States Federal and state securities laws.
 
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SECTION 8.08       Records of Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a copy of each Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Eligible Assignee and delivered to it and shall record the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender from time to time. The Administrative Agent shall record in the loan accounts or other records maintained by it (i) the date and amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the Type of Loans comprising such Borrowing and the Interest Period applicable thereto if comprised of Term Benchmark Loans, (ii) the terms of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to and accepted by the Company, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from any Borrower to each Lender hereunder in connection with the Loans and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent from any Borrower hereunder in connection with the Loans and each Lender’s share thereof. The entries in the loan accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded therein as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall record information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. Such loan accounts or records shall be available for inspection by the Company or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
 
(b)          Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Assumption (or an agreement incorporating by reference a form of Assignment and Assumption posted on the Platform) executed by an assigning Lender and by an assignee representing that it is an Eligible Assignee, such assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required by Section 2.14(f) (unless such assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder) and the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 8.06(a), the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein; provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to accept such Assignment and Assumption or so record the information contained therein if the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that such Assignment and Assumption lacks any written consent required by Section 8.06(a) or is otherwise not in proper form, it being acknowledged that the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation (and shall incur no liability) with respect to obtaining (or confirming the receipt) of any such written consent or with respect to the form of (or any defect in) such Assignment and Assumption, any such duty and obligation being solely with the assigning Lender and the assignee.
 
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SECTION 8.09       Governing Law; Consent to Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York; provided, however, that (i) the interpretation of the definition of “Seller Business MAC” under and as defined in the Acquisition Agreement (and whether or not a “Seller Business MAC” under and as defined in the Acquisition Agreement has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur), (ii) the determination of the accuracy of any Acquisition Agreement Representations and whether as a result of any inaccuracy of any Acquisition Agreement Representation there has been a failure of a condition precedent to the Company’s (or its Affiliates’) obligation to consummate the Acquisition or such failure gives the Company the right to terminate its (or its Affiliates’) obligations under the Acquisition Agreement and (iii) the determination of whether the Acquisition has been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement shall, in each case, be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the internal laws and judicial decisions of the Federal Republic of Germany applicable to agreements executed and performed entirely within such jurisdiction without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule (whether of the Federal Republic of Germany or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of law of any jurisdiction other than the Federal Republic of Germany. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits, for itself and for its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York and the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and any appellate court from any thereof, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding brought by it or its controlled Affiliates shall be brought, and shall be heard and determined, exclusively in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such New York Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any such suit, action or proceeding by the mailing of copies of such process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.02; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any objection to venue in any court referred to in this Section and any objection to a suit, action or proceeding in any such court on the basis of forum non conveniens. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO JURY TRIAL IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). Each party hereto hereby (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other person has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other person would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the other agreements and instruments contemplated by this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this section.
 
(b)          Each Subsidiary Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers the Company, and the Company hereby accepts such appointment, as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Such service may be made by mailing or delivering a copy of such process to any Subsidiary Borrower in care of the Company at the Company’s address used for purposes of giving notice under Section 8.02, and each Subsidiary Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Company to accept, and the Company agrees to accept, such service on its behalf.
 
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SECTION 8.10       Execution in Counterparts; Integration; Electronic Execution. (a) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof, including the commitments of the Lenders and, if applicable, their Affiliates under any commitment letter and any commitment advices submitted by them (but does not supersede any other provisions of any commitment letter or any fee letter referred to therein (or any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent) that do not by the terms of such documents terminate upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, all of which provisions shall remain in full force and effect).
 
(b)          The words “execution”, “signed”, “signature”, “delivery” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated by this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, electronic deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent.
 
SECTION 8.11       Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
 
SECTION 8.12       Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
 
SECTION 8.13       Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts that are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
 
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SECTION 8.14       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other agreement or instrument in connection with this Agreement) and any communications in connection therewith, the Company and each Subsidiary Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) such transactions are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company, the Subsidiary Borrowers and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers, on the other hand, and such transactions and communications do not create, by implication or otherwise, any fiduciary duty on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Arrangers or their respective Affiliates, and no such duty will be deemed to have arisen in connection with any such transactions or communications, (B) the Company and the Subsidiary Borrowers have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate and (C) the Company and the Subsidiary Borrowers are capable of evaluating, and understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Company, any Subsidiary Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates or any other Person and (B) none of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Arranger has any obligation to the Company, any Subsidiary Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, the Subsidiary Borrowers and their respective Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the Arrangers has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Company, the Subsidiary Borrowers or such Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and each Subsidiary Borrower hereby agrees not to assert any claims against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Arrangers or their respective Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
 
SECTION 8.15       USA PATRIOT Act Notice and Beneficial Ownership Regulation. Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act or the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and/or the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of the Borrowers and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrowers in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. The Borrowers shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests and that is required to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
 
94

SECTION 8.16       Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among the parties hereto, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under this Agreement may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
 
(a)          the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder that may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
 
(b)          the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
 
(i)           a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii)          a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement; or

(iii)       the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

SECTION 8.17       Conversion of Currencies. (a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each party hereto (including each Subsidiary Borrower) agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.
 
(b)          The obligations of each Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Applicable Creditor against such loss.
 
95

SECTION 8.18       Permitted Reorganization. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may become a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (the “New Holding Company”) by means of a merger of the Company with or into a newly organized wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of the New Holding Company (the “Permitted Reorganization Merger Subsidiary”) or another transaction or series of transactions that result in the Company becoming a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of the New Holding Company, provided that:
 
(a)          immediately after the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization, the identity of the holders of the equity interests in the New Holding Company, and the percentage of the ordinary voting power represented by the equity interests in the New Holding Company held by each of them, shall be identical to the identity of the holders of the equity interests in the Company, and the percentage of the ordinary voting power represented by the equity interests in the Company held by each of them, immediately prior to the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization;
 
(b)          the New Holding Company and, if applicable, the Permitted Reorganization Merger Subsidiary, prior to the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization, shall not have been engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with or as contemplated by the Permitted Reorganization and shall not own any material assets;
 
(c)          prior to the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization, the Company, the New Holding Company and the Administrative Agent shall enter into an agreement in writing pursuant to which this Agreement shall be amended as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Company and the Administrative Agent, to reflect (i) the Company becoming a wholly owned Subsidiary of the New Holding Company, (ii) subject to clause (iii) below, the New Holding Company becoming bound hereby and by the other Loan Documents as if it were the original “Company”, including for purposes of the definitions, the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV hereof, the covenants set forth in Article V hereof, the Events of Default set forth in Article VI hereof and the Company Guarantee set forth in Article IX hereof (and the related defined terms), and becoming a Borrower hereunder as if it were the original “Company” and (iii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clause (ii) above, the Company remaining the primary obligor in respect of the Loans owing by the Company and all the rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement in its capacity as a Borrower remaining rights and obligations of the Company (it being understood and agreed, however, that from and after the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization provisions hereof applicable to the Company in its capacity as a Borrower shall be consistent with the provisions hereof applicable to the other Subsidiary Borrowers in such capacity), including any such amendments (consistent with clauses (i) through (iii) above) to provide that (A) references to the Company will be modified to be references to the New Holding Company, other than in Section 2.19(e), or to each of the Company and the New Holding Company (including in Section 2.19(e)), as the context of the original reference requires and (B) on the date of effectiveness of such agreement, the New Holding Company shall represent and warrant, after giving effect to such agreement and pro forma effect to the Permitted Reorganization, as to the matters set forth in Sections 4.01(a), 4.01(b), 4.01(c), 4.01(d), 4.01(j) and 4.01(k); provided that a copy of such agreement shall have been provided by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date a copy of such agreement is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendments (it being understood that in the absence of such written notice from the Required Lenders, such amendments shall become effective at the end of such period, without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement);
 
96

(d)          prior to or substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization, the New Holding Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent documents, certificates and opinions relating to the New Holding Company consistent with those delivered pursuant to Section 3.01(b) and 3.01(c); and
 
(e)          the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received, at least three Business Days prior to the date of the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization, all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities with respect to the New Holding Company under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, that has been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in writing at least five Business Days prior to the date of the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization.
 
 ARTICLE IX
 
 COMPANY GUARANTEE
 
SECTION 9.01       The Guarantee. The Company hereby unconditionally guarantees the full and punctual payment (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest on each Loan owing by any Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, and the full and punctual payment of all other amounts payable by any Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, in each case, within three Business Days after written demand therefor shall have been received by the Company from the Administrative Agent (such guarantee, including the obligations of the Company thereunder as set forth in this Article IX, the “Company Guarantee”).
 
SECTION 9.02       Guarantee Unconditional. The obligations of the Company under the Company Guarantee shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:
 
(a)          any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in respect of any obligation of any Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, by operation of law or otherwise;
 
(b)          any modification or amendment of or supplement to this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
 
(c)          any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Subsidiary Borrower (or Domestic Subsidiary) or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting such Subsidiary Borrower (or Domestic Subsidiary) or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Subsidiary Borrower contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
 
97

(d)          the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights that the Company may have at any time against any Subsidiary Borrower (or Domestic Subsidiary), the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or with any unrelated transactions; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;
 
(e)          any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Subsidiary Borrower (or Domestic Subsidiary) for any reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by any Subsidiary Borrower (or Domestic Subsidiary) of the principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount payable by it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
 
(f)          any other act or omission by any Subsidiary Borrower (or any Domestic Subsidiary), the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person which might, but for the provisions of this Section 9.02, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Company’s obligations under the Company Guarantee (other than as set forth in Section 9.03).
 
SECTION 9.03       Discharge; Reinstatement in Certain Circumstances. The Company’s obligations under the Company Guarantee with respect to the obligations of a Subsidiary Borrower (or Domestic Subsidiary) shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the date on which the Commitments shall have terminated and the principal of and interest on the Loans and all other amounts payable by such Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement shall have been paid in full (or with respect to obligations of a Subsidiary Borrower, the principal of and interest on the Loans owing by such Subsidiary Borrower and all other amounts payable by such Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement shall have been paid in full), (b) with respect to obligations of a Subsidiary Borrower, the date on which, following a Subsidiary Borrower Termination Event with respect to such Subsidiary Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders to extend Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower shall have been terminated and the principal of and interest on the Loans of such Subsidiary Borrower and all other amounts payable by such Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement shall have been paid in full and (c) with respect to obligations of a Subsidiary Borrower, the date on which, following the designation of such Subsidiary as an Ineligible Subsidiary pursuant to Section 2.19(c), the principal of and interest on the Loans owing by such Subsidiary Borrower, if any, and all other amounts payable by such Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement shall have been paid in full; provided, however, that the Company may be released from any of its obligations under the Company Guarantee by the Administrative Agent with the written consent of all the Lenders as set forth in Section 8.01(a). If at any time any payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount payable by any Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of such Subsidiary Borrower (or Domestic Subsidiary), or otherwise, the Company’s obligations under the Company Guarantee with respect to such payment shall be reinstated at such time as though such payment had been due but not made at such time.
 
98

SECTION 9.04       Waiver by the Company. The Company irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action not provided for herein be taken by any Person against any Subsidiary Borrower (or, if applicable, any Domestic Subsidiary) or any other Person.
 
SECTION 9.05       Taxes. Section 2.14 shall apply mutatis mutandis to any payment made by the Company on behalf of a Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the Company Guarantee.
 
 [Remainder of the page intentionally blank]

99

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
CARRIER GLOBAL CORPORATION
 
 
 
  By:
/s/ Michael Cenci
    Name: Michael Cenci
    Title: Vice President, Treasurer

[Signature Page to 60-Day Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent and as a Lender
 
 
 
  By:
/s/ Jonathan Bennett
    Name: Jonathan Bennett
    Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to 60-Day Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
 
 
 
  By:
/s/ Jason Yakabu
    Name: Jason Yakabu
    Title: Director

[Signature Page to 60-Day Term Loan Credit Agreement]

SCHEDULE 2.01
 
Commitments

 
Lender
 
Commitment
 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
 
€375,000,000
 
Bank of America, N.A.
 
€125,000,000
 
TOTAL
 
€500,000,000




Exhibit 23.1

 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-273510) and Form S-8 (No 333-237207) of Carrier Global Corporation of our report dated October 31, 2023 relating to the financial statements of the climate solutions business of Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG, which appears in this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
Hannover, Germany
January 2, 2024

PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft


/s/Dr. Thomas Ull
/s/Markus Küfner
Wirtschaftsprüfer
Wirtschaftsprüfer
(German Public Auditor)
(German Public Auditor)



Exhibit 99.1


For Immediate Release

Carrier Completes Acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions

Marks significant milestone in Carrier’s transformation as the global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Jan. 2, 2024Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR) announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions from the Viessmann Group. The transaction marks another meaningful step forward in Carrier’s portfolio transformation, further strengthening the company’s global leadership position in intelligent climate and energy solutions.

The combination adds a premier brand with a differentiated direct-to-installer channel model and a key leading provider of highly efficient and renewable climate solutions with a 100+ year record of innovation and sustainability to Carrier’s existing portfolio. Viessmann Climate Solutions’ highly talented 12,000 team members further strengthen Carrier’s position as the leading HVAC provider globally, now positioning Carrier in the fast-growing Residential and Light Commercial (RLC) space in Europe. Thomas Heim, who previously led Viessmann Climate Solutions, will lead Carrier RLC HVAC in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which includes Viessmann Climate Solutions and Carrier’s RLC business in the region, including Riello.

“The combination with Viessmann Climate Solutions creates the most comprehensive and differentiated suite of sustainable climate technologies and services in the industry today,” said Carrier Chairman & CEO David Gitlin. “The transaction, together with the planned exits of our Fire & Security and Commercial Refrigeration businesses, will transform Carrier’s business into a higher growth business with a clear focus and mandate on global leadership in intelligent climate and energy solutions.”


Effective immediately, Max Viessmann, CEO of Viessmann Group, joins Carrier’s Board of Directors. “I look forward to working closely with Dave and his leadership team as well as my fellow Board Directors, to build a future-proof, truly global, climate champion,” said Viessmann. “I could not be more excited about this combination, which lays the perfect basis to capture growth opportunities and maximize impact for generations to come.”

The addition of Viessmann Climate Solutions positions Carrier as a digitally enabled, scalable, end-to-end sustainable climate and energy solutions provider that addresses all heating, cooling, renewables, solar PV, battery storage and energy management needs for the home.

About Carrier
Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is committed to creating solutions that matter for people and our planet for generations to come. From the beginning, we've led in inventing new technologies and entirely new industries. Today, we continue to lead because we have a world-class, diverse workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit corporate.carrier.com or follow Carrier on social media at @Carrier.
 
# # #


Cautionary Statement
This communication contains statements which, to the extent they are not statements of historical or present fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" under the securities laws. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide management's current expectations or plans for Carrier's future operating and financial performance, based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "expectations," "plans," "strategy," "prospects," "estimate," "project," "target," "anticipate," "will," "should," "see," "guidance," "outlook," "confident," "scenario" and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements relating to the anticipated impacts and benefits of our portfolio transformation transactions including our acquisition and integration of Viessmann Climate Solutions, plans, strategies or transactions of Carrier, and other statements that are not historical facts. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. For additional information on identifying factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements, see Carrier's reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Carrier assumes no obligation to update or revise such statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

CARR-IR

Contact:
 
 
Investor Relations 
 
Sam Pearlstein 
 
561-365-2251 
 
Sam.Pearlstein@Carrier.com
 
 
 
Media Inquiries 
 
Ashley Barrie 
 
860-416-3657 
 
Ashley.Barrie@Carrier.com




Exhibit 99.4

Disclaimer
 
Ernst & Young LLP (EY) prepared the attached Report only for Carrier Global Corporation (the "Client") pursuant to an agreement solely between EY and Client. EY did not perform its services on behalf of or to serve the needs of any other person or entity. Accordingly, EY expressly disclaims any duties or obligations to any other person or entity based on its use of the attached Report. Any other person or entity must perform its own due diligence inquiries and procedures for all purposes, including, but not limited to, satisfying itself as to the financial condition and control environment of Client, as well as the appropriateness of the accounting for any particular situation addressed by the Report.
 
EY did not perform an audit, review, examination or other form of attestation (as those terms are identified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) of Client’s financial statements. Accordingly, EY did not express any form of assurance on Client’s accounting matters, financial statements, any financial or other information or internal controls. EY did not conclude on the appropriate accounting treatment based on specific facts or recommend which accounting policy/treatment Client should select or adopt.
 
The observations relating to accounting matters that EY provided to Client were designed to assist Client in reaching its own conclusions and do not constitute our concurrence with or support of Client’s accounting or reporting. Client alone is responsible for the preparation of its financial statements, including all of the judgments inherent in preparing them.
 
This information is not intended or written to be used, and it may not be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on a taxpayer.
 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Carrier Global Corporation (the “Company”, “Carrier”) and the climate solutions business (the “VCS Business”) of Viessmann Group GmbH & Co. KG (“Viessmann”) as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X and is derived from Carrier’s historical consolidated financial statements which are included in the September 30, 2023 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, respectively, and the VCS Business’s combined financial statements, which have been prepared specifically for the purpose of Carrier’s previously announced acquisition of the VCS Business (the “Acquisition”) and which are included elsewhere in this Form 8-K.
 
The historical financial statements of Carrier and the VCS Business have been adjusted in the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to give effect to pro forma events which are necessary to account for the transactions (the “Transactions”1), in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain estimates and assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances.
 
The Acquisition will be accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method with Carrier as the accounting acquirer in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Under this method of accounting, the total consideration will be allocated to the VCS Business’s assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values, with limited exceptions, as of the closing date of the Acquisition. The process of valuing the net assets of the VCS Business at the expected closing date of the Acquisition, as well as evaluating accounting policies for conformity, is preliminary. Any differences between the fair value of the consideration transferred and the fair value of the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed will be recorded as goodwill. Accordingly, the purchase price allocation reflected in this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is preliminary and subject to revision based on a final determination of fair value.
 
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on the preliminary information available as of the date of the Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”) and management’s preliminary valuation of the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company will finalize the accounting for the Acquisition as soon as practicable within the measurement period in accordance with ASC 805, but in no event later than one year from the Acquisition. Accordingly, the final purchase accounting assessment may vary based on final analyses of the valuation of assets to be acquired and liabilities to be assumed, particularly in regard to definite-lived intangible assets and deferred tax assets and liabilities, which could be material.
 
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and related notes are provided for informational purposes only and do not purport to represent what the combined company’s actual results of operations or financial position would have been had the Acquisition been completed on the dates indicated, nor are they necessarily indicative of the combined company’s future results of operations or financial position for any future period. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on information and assumptions, which are described in the accompanying notes. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein. The results and balances reflected herein are not intended to be a projection of future financial position or results of operations of Carrier following the completion of the Transactions, which may vary materially from the results reflected because of various factors. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet is presented as if the Transactions had occurred on September 30, 2023, and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 are presented as if the Transactions had occurred on January 1, 2022. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented herein has been derived from:
 


1 We refer to the closing of the Acquisition, the Company’s issuance and sale of U.S. dollar and euro denominated notes (the “Notes”) and the Company’s incurrence of borrowings under the Company’s term loan credit agreement (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”) and bridge facility (the “Bridge Facility”) to fund a portion of the cash purchase price of the Acquisition, and the application of the proceeds of such borrowings, collectively as the “Transactions”.



Carrier’s historical unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, included in the 2023 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K; and
 

The VCS Business’s unaudited combined financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the audited combined financial statements for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 prepared specifically for the purpose of the Acquisition, and which are included elsewhere in this Form 8-K.
 
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information gives effect to the Transactions, which includes adjustments for the following:
 

Conversion adjustments to convert the VCS Business’s combined financial statements from German GAAP to Carrier’s accounting policies in accordance with U.S. GAAP;
 

Application of the acquisition method of accounting under the provisions of ASC 805 and to reflect estimated consideration of approximately $ 14.2 billion (€ 12.9 billion);
 

The proceeds and uses of the financing arrangements entered into in connection with the Acquisition; and
 

Non-recurring costs incurred and expected to be incurred in connection with the Acquisition.
 
1

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
As of September 30, 2023
(U.S. Dollars in millions)
 
   
Carrier Global
Corporation
(Historical)
   
VCS Business
Adjusted
(Note 2)
   
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
(Note 3)
       
Financing
Adjustments
(Note 3)
       
Pro Forma
Combined
 
                                       
Assets
                                     
Cash and cash equivalents
   
3,902
     
189
     
(11,165
)
   
3A
   
8,451
     
3H
   
1,373
 
                     
(46
)
   
3E
   
-
               
                     
42
     
3F
   
-
               
Accounts receivable, net
   
3,030
     
608
     
-
           
-
           
3,638
 
Contract assets, current
   
605
     
-
     
-
           
-
           
605
 
Inventories, net
   
2,562
     
1,018
     
180
     
3D
   
-
           
3,760
 
Other assets, current
   
412
     
222
     
(111
)
   
3F
   
-
           
523
 
Total current assets
   
10,511
     
2,037
     
(11,100
)
         
8,451
           
9,899
 
Future income tax benefits
   
712
     
117
     
(117
)
   
3G
   
-
           
712
 
Fixed assets, net
   
2,210
      555       203      
3B
   
-
           
2,968
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
   
577
     
98
     
-
           
-
           
675
 
Intangible assets, net
   
1,100
     
8
     
4,619
     
3C
   
-
           
5,727
 
Goodwill
   
9,825
     
3
     
14,171
     
3A
   
-
           
18,942
 
                     
(203
)
   
3B
   
-
               
                     
(4,619
)
   
3C
   
-
               
                     
(180
)
   
3D
   
-
               
                     
1,407
     
3G
   
-
               
                     
(1,462
)
   
3I
   
-
               
Pension and post-retirement assets
   
29
     
-
     
-
           
-
           
29
 
Equity method investments
   
1,166
     
-
     
-
           
-
           
1,166
 
Other assets
   
414
      28      
-
           
-
           
442
 
Total Assets
   
26,544
     
2,846
     
2,719
           
8,451
           
40,560
 
Liabilities and Equity
                                                   
Accounts payable
   
2,887
     
251
     
-
           
-
           
3,138
 
Accrued liabilities
   
2,832
     
689
     
(69
)
   
3F
   
-
           
3,452
 
Contract liabilities, current
   
496
     
94
     
-
           
-
           
590
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
134
     
10
     
-
           
475
     
3H
   
619
 
Total current liabilities
   
6,349
     
1,044
     
(69
)
         
475
           
7,799
 
Long-term debt
   
8,651
     
20
     
-
           
7,995
     
3H
   
16,666
 

2

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
As of September 30, 2023
(U.S. Dollars in millions)

   
Carrier Global
Corporation
(Historical)
   
VCS Business
Adjusted
(Note 2)
   
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
(Note 3)
         
Financing
Adjustments
(Note 3)
         
Pro Forma
Combined
 
Future pension and post-retirement obligations
   
337
     
74
     
-
           
-
           
411
 
Future income tax obligations
   
553
     
161
     
1,290
     
3G
     
-
           
2,004
 
Operating lease liabilities
   
465
     
74
     
-
             
-
           
539
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
1,687
     
11
     
-
             
-
           
1,698
 
Total Liabilities
   
18,042
     
1,384
     
1,221
             
8,470
           
29,117
 
Equity
                                                     
Common stock
   
9
     
-
     
1
     
3A
     
-
           
10
 
Treasury stock
   
(1,972
)
   
-
     
-
             
-
           
(1,972
)
Additional paid-in capital
   
5,517
     
1,462
     
3,005
     
3A
     
-
           
8,522
 
 
                   
(1,462
)
   
3I
     
-
               
Retained earnings
   
6,486
     
-
     
(46
)
   
3E
     
(19
)
   
3H
     
6,421
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
   
(1,856
)
   
-
     
-
             
-
             
(1,856
)
Non-controlling interest
   
318
     
-
     
-
             
-
             
318
 
Total Equity
   
8,502
     
1,462
     
1,498
             
(19
)
           
11,443
 
Total Liabilities and Equity
   
26,544
     
2,846
     
2,719
             
8,451
             
40,560
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

3

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023
(U.S. Dollars in millions, except per share amount)

   
Carrier Global
Corporation
(Historical)
   
VCS Business
Adjusted
(Note 2)
   
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
(Note 3)
     
Financing
Adjustments (Note 3)
     
Pro Forma
Combined
 
                                   
Net sales
                                 
Product sales
   
15,122
     
2,870
     
-
       
-
       
17,992
 
Service sales
   
1,874
     
333
     
-
       
-
       
2,207
 
 
   
16,996
     
3,203
     
-
       
-
       
20,199
 
Costs and expenses
                                           
Cost of products sold
   
(10,655
)
   
(1,576
)
   
(6
)
 3AA
   
-
       
(12,569
)
 
                   
(332
)
 3BB
   
-
           
Cost of services sold
   
(1,392
)
   
(178
)
   
(37
)
 3BB
   
-
       
(1,607
)
Research and development
   
(447
)
   
(140
)
   
-
       
-
       
(587
)
Selling, general and administrative
   
(2,336
)
   
(816
)
   
(2
)
 3AA
   
-
       
(3,124
)
 
                   
40
 
 3FF
   
-
           
 
                   
(10
)
 3GG
   
-
           
 
   
(14,830
)
   
(2,710
)
   
(347
)
     
-
       
(17,887
)
Equity method investment net earnings
   
171
     
-
     
-
       
-
       
171
 
Other income (expense), net
   
(648
)
   
(16
)
   
-
       
-
       
(664
)
Operating profit
   
1,689
     
477
     
(347
)
     
-
       
1,819
 
Non-service pension benefit (expense)
   
-
     
(1
)
   
-
       
-
       
(1
)
Interest (expense) income, net
   
(164
)
   
(8
)
   
9
 
 3EE
   
(319
)
3HH
   
(482
)
Income from operations before income taxes
   
1,525
     
468
     
(338
)
     
(319
)
     
1,336
 
Income tax (expense) benefit
   
(524
)
   
(140
)
   
95
 
 3II
   
65
 
3KK
   
(504
)
Net income from operations
   
1,001
     
328
     
(243
)
     
(254
)
     
832
 
Less: Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries' earnings from operations
   
72
     
-
     
-
       
-
       
72
 
Net income attributable to common shareowners
   
929
     
328
     
(243
)
     
(254
)
     
760
 
Earnings per share
                                           
Basic
 
$
1.11
             
-
       
-
     
$
0.85
 
Diluted
 
$
1.09
                                           
$
0.83
 
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
                                           
Basic
   
837
                                 
896
 
Diluted
   
853
                                 
912
 
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

4

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022
(U.S. Dollars in millions, except per share amount)

   
Carrier Global
Corporation
(Historical)
   
VCS Business
Adjusted
(Note 2)
   
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
(Note 3)
     
Financing
Adjustments (Note 3)
     
Pro Forma
Combined
 
Net sales
                                 
Product sales
   
18,250
     
3,161
     
-
       
-
       
21,411
 
Service sales
   
2,171
     
419
     
-
       
-
       
2,590
 
     
20,421
     
3,580
     
-
       
-
       
24,001
 
Costs and expenses
                                           
Cost of products sold
   
(13,337
)
   
(2,013
)
   
(8
)
 3AA
   
-
       
(16,029
)
                     
(493
)
 3BB
   
-
           
                     
(178
)
 3CC
   
-
           
Cost of services sold
   
(1,620
)
   
(173
)
   
(39
)
 3BB
   
-
       
(1,832
)
Research and development
   
(539
)
   
(165
)
   
-
       
-
       
(704
)
Selling, general and administrative
   
(2,512
)
   
(794
)
   
(3
)
 3AA
   
(19
)
 3JJ
   
(3,342
)
                     
(46
)
 3DD
   
-
           
                     
45
 
 3FF
   
-
           
                     
(13
)
 3GG
   
-
           
     
(18,008
)
   
(3,145
)
   
(735
)
     
(19
)
     
(21,907
)
Equity method investment net earnings
   
262
     
-
     
-
       
-
       
262
 
Other income (expense), net
   
1,840
     
33
     
-
       
-
       
1,873
 
Operating profit
   
4,515
     
468
     
(735
)
     
(19
)
     
4,229
 
Non-service pension benefit (expense)
   
(4
)
   
(2
)
   
-
       
-
       
(6
)
Interest (expense) income, net
   
(219
)
   
(8
)
   
8
 
 3EE
   
(472
)
3HH
   
(691
)
Income from operations before income taxes
   
4,292
     
458
     
(727
)
     
(491
)
     
3,532
 
Income tax (expense) benefit
   
(708
)
   
(134
)
   
198
 
 3II
   
115
 
3KK
   
(529
)
Net income from operations
   
3,584
     
324
     
(529
)
     
(376
)
     
3,003
 
Less: Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries' earnings from operations
   
50
     
-
     
-
       
-
       
50
 
Net income attributable to common shareowners
   
3,534
     
324
     
(529
)
     
(376
)
     
2,953
 
Earnings per share
                                           
Basic
 
$
4.19
             
-
       
-
     
$
3.27
 
Diluted
 
$
4.10
                                   
$
3.21
 
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
                                           
Basic
   
843
                                 
902
 
Diluted
   
861
                                 
920
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

5

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
 
The historical consolidated financial statements for Carrier and combined financial statements for the VCS Business have been adjusted in the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to give effect to pro forma events that are directly attributable to the Transactions and are factually supportable.
 
Carrier’s historical consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and presented in USD, and the VCS Business’s combined financial statements were prepared in accordance with German GAAP and presented in EUR. For purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, the financial information of the VCS Business has been converted from German GAAP to the accounting policies of Carrier in accordance with U.S. GAAP, translated from EUR to USD and reclassified to conform with Carrier’s financial statement presentation.
 
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was prepared using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, with Carrier determined to be the accounting acquirer based on preliminary analysis of the Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of Apri1 25, 2023, among the Company, Viessmann and Johann Purchaser GmbH (f/k/a Blitz F23-620 GmbH), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Carrier, governing the Acquisition (the “Share Purchase Agreement”), and based on the historical consolidated financial statements of Carrier and the combined financial statements of the VCS Business. Under ASC 805, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination are recognized and measured at their assumed acquisition date fair value, while transaction costs associated with a business combination are expensed as incurred. The excess of acquisition consideration over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, if any, is allocated to goodwill.
 
    The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet is presented as if the Acquisition had occurred on September 30, 2023, and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 are presented as if the Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2022.
 
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not reflect any anticipated synergies or dis-synergies, operating efficiencies or cost savings that may result from the Acquisition and integration costs that may be incurred. The pro forma adjustments represent Carrier’s best estimates and are based upon currently available information and certain adjustments, assumptions and estimates that Carrier believes are reasonable under the circumstances.
 
There were no material transactions between Carrier and the VCS Business during the period presented. Accordingly, adjustments to eliminate transactions between Carrier and the VCS Business have not been reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented herein.
 
For purposes of preparing the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, the historical financial information of the VCS Business and related pro forma adjustments were translated from euro to U.S. Dollars using the following historical exchange rates:
 
Period of Exchange Rate
 
$ /€
Closing exchange rate as of September 30, 2023 for Balance Sheet
 
1.0677
Average exchange rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 for Statement of Operations
 
1.0836
Average exchange rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 for Statement of Operations
 
1.0535
 
Note 2. Reclassification and U.S. GAAP Adjustments
 
During the preparation of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, management performed an analysis of the VCS Business’s financial information to identify differences in the VCS Business’s combined financial statements from German GAAP to Carrier’s accounting policies in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and differences in financial statement presentation compared to the presentation of Carrier. At the time of preparing the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, Carrier is not aware of any other material differences
 
6

Unaudited Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Adjustments
As of September 30, 2023
(Amounts in millions)
 
Carrier Presentation
 
Historical VCS Business Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business Euro
   
Historical VCS
Business USD
   
Reclassification
Adjustments USD
   
U.S. GAAP
Adjustments USD
 
Notes
 
VCS Business
Adjusted USD
 
Assets
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents
 
Cash on hand and balances at banks
   
182
     
194
           
(5
)
(v)
   
189
 
Accounts receivable, net
 
Trade receivables
   
546
     
583
     
5
      20  
(iv)
   
608
 
Inventories, net
 
Inventories
   
919
     
981
             
10
 
(ii)
   
1,018
 
                                 
4
 
(iii)
       
                                 
(3
)
(vii)
       
                                 
21
 
(xiv)
       
                                 
5
 
(x)
       
Other assets, current
 
Receivables with affiliated companies
   
109
     
116
     
(5
)
             
222
 
   
Other assets
   
78
     
83
     
22
     
5
 
(v)
       
                                 
1
 
(iv)
       
   
Deferred charges and prepaid expenses
   
20
     
22
     
(22
)
   
-
       
-
 
Total current assets
       
1,854
     
1,979
     
-
     
58
       
2,037
 
Future income tax benefits
 
Deferred tax assets
   
28
     
30
     
5
     
32
 
(i)
   
117
 
                                 
(1
)
(iii)
       
                                 
33
 
(vi)
       
                                 
3
 
(vii)
       
                                 
12
 
(xiii)
       
                                 
4
 
(xv)
       
                                 
(1
)
(x)
       
Fixed assets, net
 
Tangible assets
   
514
     
549
             
1
 
(xvi)
   
555
 
                                  5
 
(xii)
       
Operating lease right-of-use assets
                               
98
 
(vi)
   
98
 
Intangible assets, net
 
Intangible assets
   
12
     
13
     
(1
)
   
(4
)
(xii)
   
8
 
                                 
-
 
(xvi)
       
Goodwill
       
-
     
-
     
1
     
2
 
(xii)
   
3
 
Pension and post-retirement assets
       
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
(xiii)
   
-
 
Equity method investments
       
-
     
-
     
-
               
-
 
Other assets
               
-
     
3
     
24
 
(vi)
    28  

7

Unaudited Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Adjustments
As of September 30, 2023
(Amounts in millions)

Carrier Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business
Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business Euro
 
 Historical VCS
Business USD
 
 Reclassification
Adjustments USD
 
 U.S. GAAP
Adjustments USD
 
Notes
 
 VCS Business
Adjusted USD
   
               
 1
 
(xvi)
   
   
Financial assets
 
 3
 
 3
 
 (3)
           
Total Assets
     
2,411
 
2,574
 
 5
 
 267
     
2,846
Liabilities and Equity
                           
Accounts payable
 
Trade payables
 
 221
 
 236
 
 15
         
 251
Accrued liabilities
 
Other provisions
 
 429
 
 458
 
 (30)
 
 (8)
 
(viii)
 
 689
                   
 (5)
 
(ix)
   
                   
 38
 
(xiii)
   
                   
 1
 
(xvi)
   
   
Liabilities due to affiliated companies
 
 79
 
 84
 
 (15)
           
   
Other liabilities
 
 115
 
 123
     
 25
 
(vi)
   
                   
 10
 
(viii)
   
                   
 3
 
(ix)
   
                   
 2
 
(xii)
   
                   
 4
 
(xiii)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(xvi)
   
Contract liabilities, current
 
Advance payments received on orders
 
 30
 
 32
     
 21
 
(xiv)
 
 94
                   
 1
 
(xvi)
   
   
Deferred income
 
 37
 
 40
               
Current portion of long-term debt
 
Bank loans
 
 5
 
 5
 
 (4)
 
 9
 
(vi)
 
 10
                             
Total current liabilities
     
 916
 
 978
 
 (34)
 
 100
     
1,044
Long-term debt
         
-
 
 4
 
 16
 
(vi)
 
 20
Future pension and post-retirement obligations
 
Pension and similar obligations
 
 49
 
 52
 
 22
         
 74
Future income tax obligations
 
Tax provisions
 
 108
 
 115
 
 5
 
 (1)
 
(i)
 
 161
                   
 1
 
(ii)
   
                   
 33
 
(vi)
   
                   
 2
 
(vii)
   
                   
 1
 
(ix)
   
 
8

Unaudited Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Adjustments
As of September 30, 2023
(Amounts in millions)

Carrier Presentation
 
Historical VCS Business Presentation
 
Historical VCS Business Euro
 
 Historical VCS Business USD
 
 Reclassification
Adjustments USD
 
 U.S. GAAP
Adjustments USD
 
Notes
 
 VCS Business Adjusted USD
                   
5
 
(x)
   
                   
-
 
(xiii)
   
Operating lease liabilities
                 
 74
 
(vi)
 
 74
Other long-term liabilities
 
Special item for investment grants
 
 2
 
 3
 
 8
 
-
 
(xvi)
 
 11
Total Liabilities
     
1,075
 
1,148
 
 5
 
 231
     
1,384
Equity
                         
-
Additional paid-in capital
 
Net investment
 
1,336
 
1,426
 
-
 
 33
 
(i)
 
1,462
                   
 9
 
(ii)
   
                   
 3
 
(iii)
   
                   
 6
 
(iv)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(vi)
   
                   
 (3)
 
(vii)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(viii)
   
                   
 1
 
(ix)
   
                    14  
(x)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(xi)
   
                   
 2
 
(xii)
   
                   
 (30)
 
(xiii)
   
                   
 4
 
(xv)
   
                   
-
 
(xvi)
   
Total Liabilities and Equity
     
2,411
 
2,574
 
 5
 
 267
     
2,846

9

Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations Adjustments
For Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
(Amounts in millions)

Carrier Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business
Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business Euro
 
 Historical VCS
Business USD
 
 Reclassification
Adjustments USD
 
 U.S. GAAP Adjustments
USD
 
Notes
 
 VCS
Business
Adjusted
USD
Net sales
 
Net sales
 
2,951
 
3,198
 
(3,198)
         
-
Product sales
             
2,865
 
 6
 
 (xvi)
 
2,870
                   
(1)
 
(viii)
   
Service sales
             
 333
         
 333
       
2,951
 
3,198
 
-
 
 5
     
3,203
Costs and expenses
                           
Cost of products sold
             
(1,573)
 
 4
 
 (ii)
 
(1,576)
                   
 2
 
 (iii)
   
                   
 (2)
 
 (vii)
   
                   
 (1)
 
 (xiii)
   
                   
(6)
 
(xvi)
   
                             
                             
Cost of services sold
             
 (177)
 
(1)
 
(xiii)
 
 (178)
Research and development
             
 (139)
 
 (1)
 
(xiii)
 
 (140)
Selling, general and administrative
             
 (815)
 
(1)
 
(xiii)
 
 (816)
       
-
 
-
 
(2,704)
 
 (6)
     
(2,710)
   
Change of inventories of finished and unfinished goods
 
 61
 
 66
 
 (66)
         
-
   
Internally produced and capitalized assets
 
 11
 
 12
 
 (12)
         
-
   
Material expenses
 
(1,414)
 
(1,532)
 
1,532
         
-
   
Personnel expenses
 
 (624)
 
 (676)
 
 676
         
-
   
Depreciation and amortization
 
 (42)
 
 (46)
 
 46
         
-
Equity method investment net earnings
             
-
         
-
Other income (expense), net
             
 (6)
 
 4
 
(x)
 
 (16)
                   
 (15)
 
(xvi)
   
                   
1
 
(viii)
   
                             
   
Expenses from profit and loss transfer agreements
 
 (18)
 
 (20)
 
 20
           

10

Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations Adjustments
For Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
(Amounts in millions)
 
Carrier Presentation
 
Historical VCS Business
Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business Euro
 
 Historical VCS
Business USD
 
 Reclassification
Adjustments USD
 
 U.S. GAAP
Adjustments USD
 
Notes
 
 VCS Business
Adjusted USD
   
Other operating income
 
 78
 
 85
 
 (85)
         
-
                             
                             
   
Other operating expenses
 
 (553)
 
 (599)
 
 599
         
-
   
Income from other securities and loans
 
-
 
-
 
-
         
-
   
Depreciation on financial assets
 
-
 
-
 
-
         
-
Operating profit
     
 450
 
 488
 
 -
 
 (11)
     
 477
Non-service pension benefit (expense)
             
-
 
 (1)
 
(xiii)
 
 (1)
Interest (expense) income, net
                         
 (8)
   
Interests and similar income
 
 7
 
 8
 
 (16)
           
   
Interests and similar expenses
 
 (15)
 
 (16)
 
 16
           
Income from operations before income taxes
     
 442
 
 480
 
 -
 
 (12)
     
 468
Income tax expense
 
Taxes on income
 
 (135)
 
 (146)
 
-
 
 6
 
(i)
 
 (140)
                   
 (1)
 
(ii)
   
                   
 1
 
(xiii)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(x)
   
                   
 1
 
(xv)
   
                             
Net income from operations
     
 307
 
 334
 
-
 
 (6)
     
 328
Less: Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries' earnings from operations
                           
Net income attributable to common shareowners
 
Net income
 
 307
 
 334
 
 -
 
 (6)
     
 328

11

Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations Adjustments
For Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022
(Amounts in millions)
 
Carrier Presentation
 
Historical VCS Business
Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business Euro
 
 Historical VCS
Business USD
 
 Reclassification
Adjustments USD
 
 U.S. GAAP
Adjustments USD
 
Notes
 
 VCS Business
Adjusted USD
Net sales
 
Net sales
 
3,402
 
3,584
 
(3,584)
         
-
Product sales
             
3,165
 
 (5)
 
(viii)
 
3,161
                   
 1
 
(ix)
   
Service sales
             
 419
         
 419
       
3,402
 
3,584
 
-
 
 (4)
     
3,580
Costs and expenses
                           
Cost of products sold
             
(2,009)
 
 (3)
 
(vii)
 
(2,013)
                   
 2
 
(ii)
   
                   
 (3)
 
(iii)
   
                   
 (2)
 
(xiii)
   
                   
 2
 
(x)
   
Cost of services sold
             
 (173)
         
 (173)
Research and development
             
 (164)
 
 (1)
 
(xiii)
 
 (165)
Selling, general and administrative
             
 (794)
         
 (794)
       
-
 
-
 
(3,140)
 
 (5)
     
(3,145)
   
Change of inventories of finished and unfinished goods
 
 70
 
 74
 
 (74)
         
-
   
Internally produced and capitalized assets
 
 9
 
 9
 
 (9)
         
-
   
Material expenses
 
(1,655)
 
(1,743)
 
1,743
         
-
   
Personnel expenses
 
 (751)
 
 (791)
 
 791
         
-
   
Depreciation and amortization
 
 (56)
 
 (59)
 
 59
         
-
Equity method investment net earnings
             
-
         
-
Other income (expense), net
                         
 33
               
 29
 
-
       
                   
 4
 
(viii)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(iv)
   
                   
 2
 
(xii)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(ix)
   
   
Expenses from profit and loss transfer agreements
 
 (217)
 
 (229)
 
-
 
 229
 
(xi)
   
   
Other operating income
 
 95
 
 100
 
 (100)
         
-
   
Other operating expenses
 
 (665)
 
 (701)
 
 701
         
-
   
Income from other securities and loans
 
-
 
-
 
-
         
-

12

 
Unaudited Condensed Combined Statement of Operations Adjustments
For Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022
(Amounts in millions)

Carrier Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business
Presentation
 
Historical VCS
Business Euro
 
 Historical VCS
Business USD
 
 Reclassification
Adjustments USD
 
 U.S. GAAP
Adjustments USD
 
Notes
 
 VCS Business
Adjusted USD
   
Depreciation on financial assets
 
-
 
-
 
-
         
-
Operating profit
     
 232
 
 244
 
-
 
 224
     
 468
Non-service pension benefit (expense)
             
-
 
 (2)
 
(xiii)
 
 (2)
Interest (expense) income, net
             
 (8)
         
 (8)
   
Interests and similar income
 
 5
 
 6
 
 (6)
           
   
Interests and similar expenses
 
 (13)
 
 (14)
 
 14
           
Income from operations before income taxes
     
 224
 
 236
 
-
 
 222
     
 458
Income tax expense
 
Taxes on income
 
 (121)
 
 (127)
 
-
 
 (10)
 
(i)
 
 (134)
                   
 2
 
(xv)
   
                   
 1
 
(iii)
   
                   
 1
 
(vii)
   
                   
 (1)
 
(xiii)
   
Net income from operations
     
 103
 
 109
 
-
 
 215
     
 324
Less: Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries' earnings from operations
                           
Net income attributable to common shareowners
 
Net income
 
 103
 
 109
 
-
 
 215
     
 324

13

Reclassification Adjustments: This column represents the reclassification adjustments that have been applied to the VCS Business’s combined statement of financial position and combined statement of income to conform to Carrier’s financial statements presentation. The VCS Business’s combined statement of income was presented on a total cost basis under German GAAP, whereas Carrier’s historical statement of operations is presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The VCS Business's combined financial statements were mapped to Carrier’s financial statement line items and the differences obtained from this were considered as reclassification adjustments.
 
U.S. GAAP Adjustments:
 

(i)
To record the impact of differences in the calculation of deferred taxes.
 

(ii)
To adjust for the impact of different inventory write-down methodologies.
 

(iii)
To record the impact of change in intra-company profit elimination.
 

(iv)
To record the impact of differences in methodology for provision for doubtful accounts and other credit losses.
 

(v)
To reduce the historical VCS Business cash by the amount of restricted cash.
 

(vi)
To record operating and finance leases right of use assets and liabilities calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
 

(vii)
To record changes due to reclassification of consignment stocks, exhibition style special stocks and tools to fixed assets and related deferred tax impact. The recognized write-down of those stocks in inventory under German GAAP has been reversed. The respective depreciation was recognized in fixed assets.
 

(viii)
To reverse the recognized revenue and corresponding expense related to customer loyalty programs that are not yet deemed earned under U.S. GAAP and are deferred as a contract liability, and the related deferred tax impact.
 

(ix)
To record the reclassification of the long-term portion of contingent loss provisions and adjustments to certain provisions given different threshold criteria.
 

(x)
To record a reversal in depreciation recorded in finished goods inventory of merchandised products, and the related deferred tax impact.
 

(xi)
To record the elimination of expenses from profit and loss transfer agreement that comprises the portion of the profits transferred to Viessmann remaining after deduction of the income tax expense regulated by tax allocation agreements.
 

(xii)
To record the reversal of goodwill amortized under German GAAP and separately an unrelated failed sale and leaseback by recording the capitalization and amortization of the related fixed asset.
 

(xiii)
To record the difference in pension valuation from German GAAP to U.S. GAAP, and corresponding deferred tax adjustment.
 

(xiv)
To reverse the inventory reduction recorded under German GAAP and record a contract liability for prepayment on customer contracts.
 
 
(xv)
To record an adjustment due to the different treatment of consolidated tax group for income tax purposes.


(xvi)
To record the difference in treatment for accounting for hyperinflationary economies between German GAAP to U.S. GAAP.
 
14

Note 3. Transaction Accounting and Financing Adjustments
 
The Acquisition will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, which requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their acquisition date fair values, with any excess of the consideration transferred over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired recorded as goodwill.
 
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
 
 
(A)
The adjustment reflects the preliminary estimated fair value of consideration transferred comprised of the Cash Consideration and Share Consideration (as each defined in the Share Purchase Agreement). Cash Consideration was translated from euro to U.S. Dollars based on an exchange rate of $1.0962 per €1.
 
In accordance with the Share Purchase Agreement, Carrier is required to settle the outstanding intercompany balance owed by the VCS Business to Viessmann upon consummation of the Acquisition. As of the date of the closing statement, all of the intercompany balances between the VCS Business and Viessmann have been settled.

USD in millions
     
Cash Consideration
 
$
11,165
 
Share Consideration
 
$
3,006
 
Preliminary estimated fair value of consideration transferred
 
$
14,171
 

Share Consideration of approximately $3,006 million is based on 58,608,959 shares to be delivered, the Company’s closing share price of $56.99 on December 19, 2023, and a discount for the issuance of unregistered shares. The fair value of the Share Consideration portion of the purchase price will depend on the market price of the Company’s common shares when the acquisition is consummated. The Company believes that a 10% fluctuation in the market price of its common stock is reasonably possible based on historical volatility, and the potential effect on purchase price would be:
 
   
Carrier’s share price
   
Purchase price
(equity portion)
 
Share price considered
 
$
56.99
   
$
3,006
 
10% Increase
   
62.69
     
3,307
 
10% Decrease
   
51.29
     
2,706
 

The following table summarizes the allocation of preliminary purchase price:
 
USD in millions
     
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
231
 
Accounts receivable, net
   
608
 
Inventories, net
   
1,198
 
Other assets, current
   
111
 
Future income tax benefits
   
-
 
Fixed assets, net
   
758
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
   
98
 
Intangible assets, net
   
4,627
 
Pension and post-retirement assets
   
-
 
Other assets
    28  
Total assets
 
$
7,659
 
Accounts payable
   
251
 
Accrued liabilities
   
620
 
Contract liabilities, current
   
94
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
10
 
Long-term debt
   
20
 
Future pension and post-retirement obligations
   
74
 
Future income tax obligations
   
1,451
 
Operating lease liabilities
   
74
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
11
 
Total liabilities
 
$
2,605
 
Net assets acquired
 
$
5,054
 
Goodwill
   
9,117
 
Preliminary estimated fair value of consideration transferred
 
$
14,171
 

15

The preliminary purchase accounting was based on a benchmarking analysis of similar transactions in the industry and other limited valuation procedures performed in order to identify value allocations of the Acquisition consideration to assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including intangible assets, step-up in the value of inventory, and real and personal property assets. The final purchase consideration allocation will be determined when the Company completes the detailed valuations and necessary calculations and will be completed as soon as practicable within the measurement period in accordance with ASC 805, but in no event later than one year from the Acquisition. The final Acquisition consideration allocation may be materially different than that reflected in the preliminary estimated Acquisition consideration allocation presented herein. Any increase or decrease in fair values of the net assets as compared with the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information may change the amount of the total Acquisition consideration allocated to goodwill and other assets and liabilities and may impact the combined company’s statement of operations due to adjustments in the depreciation and amortization of the adjusted assets.
 
 
(B)
Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value adjustment to fixed assets, net acquired in the Acquisition, as shown in the table below. The fair value of fixed assets, net is subject to change.
 
USD in millions
 
Estimated Useful life (in years)
   
Preliminary Estimated
Asset
Fair Value
 
Land
   
n/a
   
$
62
 
Buildings and improvements
 
3 to 22
     
213
 
Machinery, tools and equipment
 
5 to 8
     
320
 
Other, including assets under construction
 
4 to 45
     
163
 
Fixed assets, net
         
$
758
 
Less: VCS Business's Adjusted Fixed assets, net
           
(555
)
Pro Forma adjustment
         
$
203
 

 
(C)
Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value adjustment to the identifiable intangible assets acquired in the Acquisition, as shown in the table below. The fair value of intangible assets is subject to change.
 
USD in millions
 
Estimated Useful life (in
years)
   
Preliminary Estimated
Asset
Fair Value
 
Customer relationships
   
15
   
$
3,256
 
Trademark
   
40
     
715
 
Technology
   
7
     
502
 
Backlog
   
1
     
154
 
Identifiable intangible assets, net
         
$
4,627
 
Less: VCS Business's Adjusted Intangible assets, net
           
(8
)
Pro Forma adjustment
         
$
4,619
 
 
 
(D)
The adjustment reflects a step up in fair value to the VCS Business’s finished goods and work-in process inventory. The calculation of fair value is preliminary and subject to change. The preliminary estimated fair value of inventories, net, was determined based on the estimated selling price of the inventory, less the remaining manufacturing and selling costs and a normal profit margin on those manufacturing and selling efforts, as shown in the table below.
 
USD in millions
     
Inventories
 
$
1,198
 
Less: VCS Business’s Adjusted Inventories, net
   
(1,018
)
Pro Forma adjustment
 
$
180
 

16

 
(E)
To reflect Carrier’s estimated transaction costs of $46 million consisting of advisory, legal, accounting and auditing fees and other professional fees, that have not been recognized and accrued in the historical financial statements of Carrier and the VCS Business. These costs are recorded as a reduction in cash and retained earnings.
 
 
(F)
Reflects (i) the elimination of $111 million of receivables recorded within “Other assets, current” from Viessman; (ii) the elimination of $69 million of payables to Viessman recorded within “Accrued liabilities; and (iii) an increase to “Cash and cash equivalents” of $42 million which represents the net effect of the amounts settled amongst the VCS Business and Viessman on or prior to close of the Acquisition.
 
 
(G)
Reflects estimated deferred taxes related to the purchase price allocation and income tax impact effect related to the pro forma adjustments in the balance sheet resulting from step-up in inventory, fixed assets and intangible assets. These tax-related adjustments are based upon an estimated blended tax rate of 28.1% on adjustments.
 
 
(H)
Reflects the impact of the financing for the Transactions and related debt issuance costs. The impact on other current liabilities and long-term debt have been adjusted for the following:
 
USD in millions
 
Current portion of
long-term debt/
Other current
liabilities
   
Long-term
debt
   
Total
 
Bridge Facility
 
$
475
   
$
-
   
$
475
 
USD Notes
                       
5.8000% notes due 2025
           
1,000
     
1,000
 
5.9000% notes due 2034
           
1,000
     
1,000
 
6.2000% notes due 2054
           
1,000
     
1,000
 
Euro Notes
                       
4.375% notes due 2025
           
801
     
801
 
4.125% notes due 2028
           
801
     
801
 
4.500% notes due 2032
           
907
     
907
 
Term Loan Credit Agreement
           
2,521
     
2,521
 
Total Principal balance from incremental Bridge Facility, Notes and Term Loan Credit Agreement
 
$
475
   
$
8,030
   
$
8,505
 
New deferred debt issuance costs for Term Loan Credit Agreement and other debt
   
-
     
(54
)
   
(54
)
Pro Forma adjustment
 
$
475
   
$
7,976
   
$
8,451
 

The long-term debt is further adjusted by $19 million to expense debt issuance cost which is capitalized in the historical financial statements.
 
 
(I)
To adjust the VCS Business’s historical financial statements to give pro forma effect to events in connection with the Acquisition that include the elimination of the VCS Business’s historical additional paid in capital of $1,462 million.
 
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
 
 
(AA)
Reflects incremental depreciation expense included in cost of products sold of $6 million and $8 million and selling, general, and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) of $2 million and $3 million related to step-up in value of PP&E acquired for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
 
USD in millions
 
Estimated
Useful life (in
years)
   
Preliminary
Estimated
Asset
Fair Value
   
Depreciation
for the nine
months ended
September 30,
2023
   
Depreciation
for the twelve
months ended
December 31,
2022
 
Land
   
n/a
   
$
62
     
n/a
     
n/a
 
Buildings and improvements
 
3 to 22
     
213
     
8
     
11
 
Machinery, tools and equipment
 
5 to 8
     
320
     
35
     
45
 
Other, including assets under construction
 
4 to 45
     
163
     
5
     
7
 
Total Depreciation expense on additional Fixed assets, net
                 
$
48
   
$
63
 
Less: VCS Business’s Adjusted Depreciation expense
                   
(40
)
   
(52
)
Pro Forma adjustment
                 
$
8
   
$
11
 

17

 
(BB)
Reflects incremental amortization expense related to the fair value of identifiable intangible assets acquired. The adjustment included in cost of products sold is $332 million and $493 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively. The adjustment included in cost of services sold is $37 million and $39 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
 
USD in millions
 
Estimated
Useful life (in
years)
   
Preliminary
Estimated Asset
Fair Value
   
Amortization
expense for the
nine months ended
September 30,
2023
   
Amortization
expense for the
twelve months
ended December
31, 2022
 
Customer relationships
   
15
   
$
3,256
   
$
266
   
$
288
 
Trademark
   
40
     
715
     
30
     
35
 
Technology
   
7
     
502
     
78
     
65
 
Backlog
   
1
     
154
     
-
     
152
 
Amortization expense
                 
$
374
   
$
540
 
Less: VCS Business’ Adjusted Amortization expense
                 
$
(5
)
 
$
(8
)
Pro Forma adjustment
                 
$
369
   
$
532
 

The acquired Customer relationships, Trademark and Technology will be amortized based on the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are expected to be realized. Based on the assumed acquisition date of September 30, 2023, the expected impact on operating results for the five years following the Acquisition is as follows:
 
   
Twelve months ended December 31,
 
USD in millions
 
2024
   
2025
   
2026
   
2027
   
2028
 
Customer relationships
 
$
380
   
$
358
   
$
317
   
$
281
   
$
245
 
Trademark
   
42
     
43
     
44
     
43
     
42
 
Technology
 
$
117
   
$
106
   
$
81
   
$
44
   
$
13
 
 
 
(CC)
To reflect the amortization of the preliminary estimated increase in fair value of “Inventories, net” of $178 million, as the inventory is expected to be sold within one year of the acquisition date.
 
 
(DD)
To reflect Carrier’s estimated transaction costs of $46 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. This amount consists of advisory, legal, accounting and auditing fees and other professional fees, that have not been recognized and accrued in the historical financial statements of Carrier and the VCS Business. This is a non-recurring item.
 
 
(EE)
To reflect reversal of interest expense related to intercompany financing as per adjustment (F) above.
 
 
(FF)
To record the reversal of the historical royalty fee of $40 million and $45 million paid by the VCS Business to Viessmann recorded in the VCS Business’s combined financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
 
 
(GG)
To record the new royalty fee of $10 million and $13 million pursuant to the License Agreement for use of “Viessmann” trademarks in connection with the VCS Business for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
 
 
(HH)
The following adjustments to interest expense reflect the estimated interest expense and financing costs amortization to be incurred by Carrier as a result of the financing and amortization of fees paid for the borrowings under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Notes and the Euro Notes:
 
18

USD in millions
 
Interest expense for the
nine months ended
September 30, 2023
   
Interest expense for
the twelve months ended
December 31, 2022
 
Bridge Facility
 
$
-
   
$
5
 
USD Notes
               
5.8000% notes due 2025
   
44
     
58
 
5.9000% notes due 2034
   
44
     
59
 
6.2000% notes due 2054
   
46
     
62
 
Euro Notes
               
4.375% notes due 2025
   
18
     
35
 
4.125% notes due 2028
   
25
     
33
 
4.500% notes due 2032
   
30
     
41
 
Term Loan Credit Agreement
   
104
     
167
 
Total Bridge Facility, Notes and Term Loan Credit Agreement (excluding amortization of debt issuance costs)
 
$
311
   
$
460
 
Amortization of debt issuance costs related to new Bridge Facility, Notes and Term Loan Credit Agreement
   
8
     
12
 
Pro forma adjustment
 
$
319
   
$
472
 

 The Term Loan Credit Agreement above carries a variable rate of interest. The assumed interest rate for this purpose is 6.62%. An increase/decrease of 1/8th percent in the estimated effective interest rate on Term Loan Credit Agreement would change the interest expense by $2 million and $3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 respectively.
 
 
(II)
Reflects the estimated income tax impact of the pro forma adjustments related to transaction accounting adjustments. For taxable VCS Business’s transaction accounting adjustments, a blended tax rate of 28.1% is used. For Carrier’s taxable transaction accounting adjustments, a blended tax rate of 23.5% is used. The amounts are adjusted for certain non-deductible advisory fees.
 
 
(JJ)
Reflects the one-time cost incurred of $19 million related to the debt issuance cost not capitalized in (HH) above, related to the loans that were ultimately not used to finance the Transactions.
 
 
(KK)
Reflects the estimated income tax impact of the pro forma adjustments related to the issuance of new debt. Tax-related adjustments are based upon a blended tax rate of 23.5%, adjusted for the impact of a reduction in foreign tax credit utilization.
 
Note 4. Earnings Per Share
 
The following tables set forth the computation of pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (basic and diluted) include 58,608,959 shares, which are expected to be issued as part of consideration for the Acquisition.
 
USD in millions, except per share amounts
 
Nine months
ended September
30, 2023
   
Twelve months
ended December
31, 2022
 
Numerator (Basic and Diluted):
           
Pro Forma combined net income
 
$
760
   
$
2,953
 
Denominator (in millions):
               
Historical weighted average shares outstanding – Basic
   
837
     
843
 
Pro forma adjustment for shares issued
   
59
     
59
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Basic:
   
896
     
902
 
Historical weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted
   
853
     
861
 
Pro forma adjustment for shares issued
   
59
     
59
 
Weighted average common and potential common shares outstanding – Diluted:
   
912
     
920
 
Pro Forma earnings per share:
               
Earnings per share – Basic
 
$
0.85
   
$
3.27
 
Earnings per share – Diluted
 
$
0.83
   
$
3.21
 

 
19