Table of Contents

	

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549  
_____________________________________
FORM 10-Q
(Mark one)

		
x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
For the quarterly period ended April 25, 2015

OR

		
o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
          
For the transition period from              to             
Commission file number 0-18225 
_____________________________________

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

			
California	 	77-0059951	
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)	 	(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)	
170 West Tasman Drive
San Jose, California 95134
(Address of principal executive office and zip code)
(408) 526-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
_____________________________________  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes x    No   o   
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes x     No   o   
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

								
Large accelerated filer	 	x	 	  	Accelerated filer	 	o	
 	 	 	 	
Non-accelerated filer	 	o	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	  	Smaller reporting company	 	o	
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).   Yes ¨    No   x
Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of May 15, 2015 : 5,085,888,730
____________________________________ 

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Table of Contents

Cisco Systems, Inc.
Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended April 25, 2015
INDEX

					
 	 	 	 	Page	
Part I	 	Financial Information	 	3	
Item 1.	 	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	 	3	
 	 	Consolidated Balance Sheets at April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014	 	3	
 	 	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014	 	4	
 	 	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014	 	5	
 	 	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014	 	6	
 	 	Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014	 	7	
 	 	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	 	8	
Item 2.	 	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	 	43	
Item 3.	 	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	 	73	
Item 4.	 	Controls and Procedures	 	75	
Part II.	 	Other Information	 	75	
Item 1.	 	Legal Proceedings	 	75	
Item 1A.	 	Risk Factors	 	77	
Item 2.	 	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	 	93	
Item 3.	 	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	 	94	
Item 4.	 	Mine Safety Disclosures	 	94	
Item 5.	 	Other Information	 	94	
Item 6.	 	Exhibits	 	95	
 	 	Signature	 	96	

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION  

		
Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except par value)
(Unaudited)

								
 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
ASSETS	 	 	 	
Current assets:	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,870		 	$	6,726		
Investments	50,549		 	45,348		
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $290 at April 25, 2015 and $265 at July 26, 2014	4,889		 	5,157		
Inventories	1,760		 	1,591		
Financing receivables, net	4,248		 	4,153		
Deferred tax assets	2,539		 	2,808		
Other current assets	1,476		 	1,331		
Total current assets	69,331		 	67,114		
Property and equipment, net	3,276		 	3,252		
Financing receivables, net	3,506		 	3,918		
Goodwill	24,398		 	24,239		
Purchased intangible assets, net	2,626		 	3,280		
Other assets	3,075		 	3,331		
TOTAL ASSETS	$	106,212		 	$	105,134		
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		 		
Current liabilities:		 		
Short-term debt	$	4,418		 	$	508		
Accounts payable	1,118		 	1,032		
Income taxes payable	80		 	159		
Accrued compensation	2,726		 	3,181		
Deferred revenue	9,371		 	9,478		
Other current liabilities	5,532		 	5,451		
Total current liabilities	23,245		 	19,809		
Long-term debt	16,586		 	20,401		
Income taxes payable	1,294		 	1,851		
Deferred revenue	4,810		 	4,664		
Other long-term liabilities	1,444		 	1,748		
Total liabilities	47,379		 	48,473		
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)		 		
Equity:	 	 	 	
Cisco shareholders’ equity:	 	 	 	
Preferred stock, no par value: 5 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding	—		 	—		
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.001 par value: 20,000 shares authorized; 5,093 and 5,107 shares issued and outstanding at April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014, respectively	43,133		 	41,884		
Retained earnings	15,503		 	14,093		
Accumulated other comprehensive income	187		 	677		
Total Cisco shareholders’ equity	58,823		 	56,654		
Noncontrolling interests	10		 	7		
Total equity	58,833		 	56,661		
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	106,212		 	$	105,134		
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per-share amounts)
(Unaudited) 

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
REVENUE:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Product	$	9,326		 	$	8,820		 	$	27,839		 	$	26,640		
Service	2,811		 	2,725		 	8,479		 	8,145		
Total revenue	12,137			11,545			36,318			34,785		
COST OF SALES:				 	 	 	 	
Product	3,584		 	3,595		 	11,309		 	11,665		
Service	1,028		 	944		 	3,061		 	2,756		
Total cost of sales	4,612			4,539			14,370			14,421		
GROSS MARGIN	7,525		 	7,006		 	21,948		 	20,364		
OPERATING EXPENSES:				 	 	 	 	
Research and development	1,547		 	1,565		 	4,659		 	4,701		
Sales and marketing	2,449		 	2,342		 	7,272		 	7,030		
General and administrative	510		 	460		 	1,504		 	1,426		
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	70		 	71		 	213		 	207		
Restructuring and other charges	24		 	26		 	411		 	336		
Total operating expenses	4,600			4,464			14,059			13,700		
OPERATING INCOME	2,925			2,542			7,889			6,664		
Interest income	190		 	170		 	558		 	508		
Interest expense	(139	)	 	(146	)	 	(417	)	 	(422	)	
Other income (loss), net	59		 	76		 	238		 	187		
Interest and other income (loss), net	110			100			379			273		
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	3,035			2,642			8,268			6,937		
Provision for income taxes	598		 	461		 	1,606		 	1,331		
NET INCOME	$	2,437			$	2,181			$	6,662			$	5,606		
			 			 	 	 	 	
Net income per share:			 			 	 	 	 	
Basic	$	0.48			$	0.42			$	1.30			$	1.06		
Diluted	$	0.47			$	0.42			$	1.29			$	1.06		
Shares used in per-share calculation:						 	 	 	 	
Basic	5,102		 	5,143		 	5,110		 	5,271		
Diluted	5,148		 	5,180		 	5,154		 	5,311		
						 	 	 	 	
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.21		 	$	0.19		 	$	0.59		 	$	0.53		
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in millions)
(Unaudited)

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Net income	$	2,437		 	$	2,181		 	$	6,662		 	$	5,606		
Available-for-sale investments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Change in net unrealized gains, net of tax benefit (expense) of $(57) and $(34) for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015, respectively, and $(8) and $(131) for the corresponding periods of fiscal 2014, respectively	72		 	(8	)	 	80		 	209		
Net gains reclassified into earnings, net of tax expense of $16 and $42 for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015, respectively, and $26 and $88 for the corresponding periods of fiscal 2014, respectively	(28	)	 	(43	)	 	(78	)	 	(146	)	
	44		 	(51	)		2			63		
Cash flow hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Change in unrealized gains and losses, net of tax benefit (expense) of $0 and $3 for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015, respectively, and $(1) and $(2) for the corresponding periods of fiscal 2014, respectively	(32	)	 	13		 	(160	)	 	44		
Net (gains) losses reclassified into earnings	64		 	(16	)	 	94		 	(44	)	
	32		 	(3	)		(66	)		—		
Net change in cumulative translation adjustment and actuarial gains and losses net of tax benefit (expense) of $14 and $50 for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015, respectively, and $(5) for each of the corresponding periods of fiscal 2014	(80	)	 	42		 	(423	)	 	27		
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(4	)	 	(12	)		(487	)		90		
Comprehensive income	2,433		 	2,169			6,175			5,696		
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	5		 	6		 	(3	)	 	(1	)	
Comprehensive income attributable to Cisco Systems, Inc.	$	2,438		 	$	2,175			$	6,172			$	5,695		
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(Unaudited)

								
 	Nine Months Ended	
	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Cash flows from operating activities:	 	 	 	
Net income	$	6,662		 	$	5,606		
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:		 		
Depreciation, amortization, and other	1,791		 	1,811		
Share-based compensation expense	1,044		 	1,009		
Provision for receivables	82		 	48		
Deferred income taxes	438		 	(181	)	
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(102	)	 	(84	)	
(Gains) losses on investments and other, net	(231	)	 	(228	)	
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:		 		
Accounts receivable	97		 	1,064		
Inventories	(235	)	 	(50	)	
Financing receivables	36		 	332		
Other assets	(341	)	 	180		
Accounts payable	101		 	(2	)	
Income taxes, net	(511	)	 	(356	)	
Accrued compensation	(324	)	 	(411	)	
Deferred revenue	217		 	(309	)	
Other liabilities	(310	)	 	291		
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,414		 	8,720		
Cash flows from investing activities:	 	 	 	
Purchases of investments	(30,617	)	 	(27,884	)	
Proceeds from sales of investments	13,890		 	14,490		
Proceeds from maturities of investments	11,632		 	12,048		
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired	(238	)	 	(2,784	)	
Purchases of investments in privately held companies	(155	)	 	(315	)	
Return of investments in privately held companies	274		 	119		
Acquisition of property and equipment	(907	)	 	(950	)	
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	8		 	168		
Other	(115	)	 	(30	)	
Net cash used in investing activities	(6,228	)	 	(5,138	)	
Cash flows from financing activities:	 	 	 	
Issuances of common stock	1,584		 	1,053		
Repurchases of common stock — repurchase program	(3,325	)	 	(7,965	)	
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock units	(415	)	 	(345	)	
Short-term borrowings, original maturities less than 90 days, net	496		 	(2	)	
Issuances of debt	—		 	8,001		
Repayments of debt	(507	)	 	(3,274	)	
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	102		 	84		
Dividends paid	(3,017	)	 	(2,784	)	
Other	40		 	(34	)	
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,042	)	 	(5,266	)	
Net decrease   in cash and cash equivalents	(2,856	)	 	(1,684	)	
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	6,726		 	7,925		
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	3,870		 	$	6,241		
 	 	 	 	
Supplemental cash flow information:	 	 	 	
Cash paid for interest	$	646			$	561		
Cash paid for income taxes, net	$	1,680			$	1,868		
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(in millions, except per-share amounts)
(Unaudited)

																											
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015	Shares of
Common
Stock	 	Common Stock
and
Additional
Paid-In Capital	 	Retained
Earnings	 	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income	 	Total Cisco
Shareholders’
Equity	 	Non-controlling
Interests	 	Total  Equity	
BALANCE AT JULY 26, 2014	5,107		 	$	41,884		 	$	14,093		 	$	677		 	$	56,654		 	$	7		 	$	56,661		
Net income	 	 	 	 	6,662		 	 	 	6,662		 	 	 	6,662		
Other comprehensive income (loss)	 	 	 	 	 	 	(490	)	 	(490	)	 	3		 	(487	)	
Issuance of common stock	123		 	1,584		 	 	 	 	 	1,584		 	 	 	1,584		
Repurchase of common stock	(120	)	 	(994	)	 	(2,235	)	 	 	 	(3,229	)	 	 	 	(3,229	)	
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock units	(17	)	 	(415	)	 	 	 	 	 	(415	)	 	 	 	(415	)	
Cash dividends declared ($0.59 per common share)	 	 	 	 	(3,017	)	 	 	 	(3,017	)	 	 	 	(3,017	)	
Tax effects from employee stock incentive plans	 	 	27		 	 	 	 	 	27		 	 	 	27		
Share-based compensation expense	 	 	1,044		 	 	 	 	 	1,044		 	 	 	1,044		
Purchase acquisitions and other	 	 	3		 	 	 	 	 	3		 	 	 	3		
BALANCE AT APRIL 25, 2015	5,093		 	$	43,133		 	$	15,503		 	$	187		 	$	58,823		 	$	10		 	$	58,833		

	
																											
Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014	Shares of
Common
Stock	 	Common Stock
and
Additional
Paid-In Capital	 	Retained
Earnings	 	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income	 	Total Cisco
Shareholders’
Equity	 	Non-controlling
Interests	 	Total  Equity	
BALANCE AT JULY 27, 2013	5,389		 	$	42,297		 	$	16,215		 	$	608		 	$	59,120		 	$	8		 	$	59,128		
Net income	 	 	 	 	5,606		 	 	 	5,606		 	 	 	5,606		
Other comprehensive income (loss)	 	 	 	 	 	 	89		 	89		 	1		 	90		
Issuance of common stock	100		 	1,053		 	 	 	 	 	1,053		 	 	 	1,053		
Repurchase of common stock	(359	)	 	(2,837	)	 	(5,188	)	 	 	 	(8,025	)	 	 	 	(8,025	)	
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock units	(14	)	 	(345	)	 	 	 	 	 	(345	)	 	 	 	(345	)	
Cash dividends declared ($0.53 per common share)	 	 	 	 	(2,784	)	 	 	 	(2,784	)	 	 	 	(2,784	)	
Tax effects from employee stock incentive plans	 	 	16		 	 	 	 	 	16		 	 	 	16		
Share-based compensation expense	 	 	1,009		 	 	 	 	 	1,009		 	 	 	1,009		
Purchase acquisitions and other	 	 	48		 	 	 	 	 	48		 	 	 	48		
BALANCE AT APRIL 26, 2014	5,116		 	$	41,241		 	$	13,849		 	$	697		 	$	55,787		 	$	9		 	$	55,796		

Supplemental Information
In September 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program. As of April 25, 2015 , the Company’s Board of Directors had authorized an aggregate repurchase of up to $97 billion of common stock under this program with no termination date. The stock repurchases since the inception of this program and the related impacts on Cisco shareholders’ equity are summarized in the following table (in millions): 

															
 	Shares of
Common
Stock	 	Common Stock
and Additional
Paid-In Capital	 	Retained
Earnings	 	Total Cisco
Shareholders’
Equity	
Repurchases of common stock under the repurchase program	4,408		 	$	22,318		 	$	69,356		 	$	91,674		
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.	Basis of Presentation	
The fiscal year for Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “Company” or “Cisco”) is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Saturday in July. Fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 are each 52-week fiscal years. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Cisco and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company conducts business globally and is primarily managed on a geographic basis in the following three geographic segments: the Americas; Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); and Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC).
The accompanying financial data as of April 25, 2015 and for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 has been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The July 26, 2014 Consolidated Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 26, 2014 .
The Company consolidates its investments in a venture fund managed by SOFTBANK Corp. and its affiliates (“SOFTBANK”) as this is a variable interest entity and the Company is the primary beneficiary. The noncontrolling interests attributed to SOFTBANK are presented as a separate component from the Company’s equity in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. SOFTBANK’s share of the earnings in the venture fund are not presented separately in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as these amounts are not material for any of the fiscal periods presented.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed herein) necessary to present fairly the consolidated balance sheet as of April 25, 2015 ; the results of operations and statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 ; and the statements of cash flows and equity for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , as applicable, have been made. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the amounts in prior periods in order to conform to the current period’s presentation. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date that the financial statements were issued.

2.	Recent Accounting Pronouncements	
		
(a)	New Accounting Updates Recently Adopted	
In March 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an accounting standard update requiring an entity to release into net income the entire amount of a cumulative translation adjustment related to its investment in a foreign entity when as a parent it sells either a part or all of its investment in the foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within the foreign entity. This accounting standard update became effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The application of this accounting standard update did not have any impact to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that provides explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward or a tax credit carryforward exists. Under the new standard update, an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, is to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward or a tax credit carryforward. This accounting standard update became effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and applied prospectively. The application of this accounting standard update did not have a material impact to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. This accounting standard update raises the threshold for a disposal transaction to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations and disposals of individually significant components that do not qualify as discontinued operations. The Company adopted this accounting standard update in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, and it did not have any impact upon adoption.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(b)	Recent Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective	
In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard update related to revenue from contracts with customers, which will supersede nearly all current U.S. GAAP guidance on this topic and eliminate industry-specific guidance. The underlying principle is to recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. This accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The new revenue standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of adoption.  Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In February 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update requiring debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt, consistent with debt discounts. The accounting standard update will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 on a retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted. The accounting standard update is a change in balance sheet presentation only and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

		
3.	Business Combinations	
The Company completed four business combinations during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 . A summary of the allocation of the total purchase consideration is presented as follows (in millions): 

																
 	Purchase Consideration	 	Net Liabilities Assumed	 	Purchased Intangible Assets	 	Goodwill	
Metacloud, Inc.	$	149		 	$	(7	)	 	$	29		 	$	127		
All others (three in total)	93		 	(10	)	 	46		 	57		
Total	$	242		 	$	(17	)	 	$	75		 	$	184		
On September 29, 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of Metacloud, Inc. ("Metacloud"), a provider of private clouds for global organizations. With its acquisition of Metacloud, the Company aims to advance its Intercloud strategy to deliver a globally distributed, highly secure cloud platform capable of meeting customer demands. Revenue from the Metacloud acquisition has been included in the Company's Service category.
The total purchase consideration related to the Company’s business combinations completed during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 consisted of cash consideration and vested share-based awards assumed. The total cash and cash equivalents acquired from these business combinations was approximately $5 million . Total transaction costs related to the Company’s business combination activities were $5 million and $7 million for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively. These transaction costs were expensed as incurred in general and administrative expenses ("G&A") in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company’s purchase price allocation for business combinations completed during recent periods is preliminary and subject to revision as additional information about fair value of assets and liabilities becomes available. Additional information, that existed as of the acquisition date but at that time was unknown to the Company may become known to the Company during the remainder of the measurement period, a period not to exceed 12 months from the acquisition date. Adjustments in the purchase price allocation may require a recasting of the amounts allocated to goodwill retroactive to the period in which the acquisition occurred.
The goodwill generated from the Company’s business combinations completed during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 is primarily related to expected synergies. The goodwill is generally not deductible for income tax purposes.
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the operating results of each business combination from the date of acquisition. Pro forma results of operations for the acquisitions completed during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 have not been presented because the effects of the acquisitions, individually and in the aggregate, were not material to the Company’s financial results.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

4.	Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets	
		
(a)	Goodwill	
The following table presents the goodwill allocated to the Company’s reportable segments as of and during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 (in millions):

																
 	Balance at July 26, 2014	 	Acquisitions	 	Other	 	Balance at April 25, 2015	
Americas	$	15,080		 	$	99		 	$	(13	)	 	$	15,166		
EMEA	5,715		 	67		 	(7	)	 	5,775		
APJC	3,444		 	18		 	(5	)	 	3,457		
Total	$	24,239		 	$	184		 	$	(25	)	 	$	24,398		
The column entitled “Other” primarily includes purchase accounting adjustments.

(b)	Purchased Intangible Assets	
The following table presents details of the Company’s intangible assets acquired through business combinations completed during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 (in millions, except years):

																				
 	FINITE LIVES	 	INDEFINITE
LIVES	 	TOTAL	
 	TECHNOLOGY	 	CUSTOMER
RELATIONSHIPS	 	IPR&D	 		
 	Weighted-
Average Useful
Life (in Years)	 	Amount	 	Weighted-
Average Useful
Life (in Years)	 	Amount	 	Amount	 	Amount	
Metacloud, Inc.	3.0	 	$	24		 	5.0	 	$	3		 	$	2		 	$	29		
All others (three in total)	4.7	 	31		 	8.1	 	11		 	4		 	46		
Total	 	 	$	55		 	 	 	$	14		 	$	6		 	$	75		
The following tables present details of the Company’s purchased intangible assets (in millions):  

													
April 25, 2015	 	Gross	 	Accumulated Amortization	 	Net	
Purchased intangible assets with finite lives:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Technology	 	$	3,456		 	$	(1,742	)	 	$	1,714		
Customer relationships	 	1,709		 	(915	)	 	794		
Other	 	51		 	(22	)	 	29		
Total purchased intangible assets with finite lives	 	5,216		 	(2,679	)	 	2,537		
In-process research and development, with indefinite lives	 	89		 	—		 	89		
Total	 	$	5,305		 	$	(2,679	)	 	$	2,626		

	
													
July 26, 2014	 	Gross	 	Accumulated Amortization	 	Net	
Purchased intangible assets with finite lives:	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Technology	 	$	4,100		 	$	(1,976	)	 	$	2,124		
Customer relationships	 	1,706		 	(720	)	 	986		
Other	 	51		 	(13	)	 	38		
Total purchased intangible assets with finite lives	 	5,857		 	(2,709	)	 	3,148		
In-process research and development, with indefinite lives	 	132		 	—		 	132		
Total	 	$	5,989		 	$	(2,709	)	 	$	3,280		
Purchased intangible assets include intangible assets acquired through business combinations as well as through direct purchases or licenses.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The following table presents the amortization of purchased intangible assets (in millions):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Amortization of purchased intangible assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of sales	$	187		 	$	190		 	$	618		 	$	553		
Operating expenses	70		 	71		 	213		 	207		
Total	$	257		 	$	261		 	$	831		 	$	760		
Amortization of purchased intangible assets for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015 included impairment charges of approximately $1 million and $57 million , respectively. The impairment was primarily due to reductions in expected future cash flows related to certain of the Company's technology intangible assets and was recorded as amortization of purchased intangible assets. There were no impairment charges related to purchased intangible assets during the three and nine months ended April 26, 2014 .
The estimated future amortization expense of purchased intangible assets with finite lives as of April 25, 2015 is as follows (in millions):

				
Fiscal Year	Amount	
2015 (remaining three months)	$	223		
2016	763		
2017	590		
2018	448		
2019	345		
Thereafter	168		
Total	$	2,537		

5.	Restructuring and Other Charges	
Fiscal 2015 Plan
In connection with a restructuring action announced in August 2014 ("Fiscal 2015 Plan"), the Company incurred charges of $24 million and $411 million for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015 , respectively. The Company estimates that it will recognize aggregate pre-tax charges pursuant to the restructuring action in an amount not expected to exceed $600 million , consisting of severance and other one-time termination benefits and other associated costs. These charges are primarily cash-based and the Company expects the remaining amount to be recognized during the remainder of fiscal 2015.
Fiscal 2014 Plan
In connection with a restructuring action announced in August 2013 ("Fiscal 2014 Plan"), the Company incurred cumulative charges of approximately $418 million , of which $26 million and $336 million were incurred during the three and nine months ended April 26, 2014 , respectively. The Company completed the Fiscal 2014 Plan at the end of fiscal 2014.
The following table summarizes the activities related to the restructuring and other charges as discussed above (in millions): 

																					
 	 	Fiscal 2014 and Prior Plans	 	Fiscal 2015 Plan	 	 	
 	 	Employee
Severance	 	Other	 	Employee
Severance	 	Other	 	Total	
Liability as of July 26, 2014	 	$	40		 	$	29		 	$	—		 	$	—		 	$	69		
Gross charges in fiscal 2015	 	—		 	—		 	405		 	6		 	411		
Cash payments	 	(26	)	 	(10	)	 	(381	)	 	(3	)	 	(420	)	
Non-cash items	 	—		 	—		 	(2	)	 	4		 	2		
Liability as of April 25, 2015	 	$	14		 	$	19		 	$	22		 	$	7		 	$	62		

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

6.	Balance Sheet Details	
The following tables provide details of selected balance sheet items (in millions):

									
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Inventories:	 	 	 	 	
Raw materials	 	$	264		 	$	77		
Work in process	 	2		 	5		
Finished goods:	 	 	 		
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	 	635		 	595		
Manufactured finished goods	 	547		 	606		
Total finished goods	 	1,182		 	1,201		
Service-related spares	 	268		 	273		
Demonstration systems	 	44		 	35		
Total	 	$	1,760		 	$	1,591		

									
Property and equipment, net:	 	 	 	 	
Gross property and equipment:	 	 	 	 	
Land, buildings, and building and leasehold improvements	 	$	4,465		 	$	4,468		
Computer equipment and related software	 	1,344		 	1,425		
Production, engineering, and other equipment	 	5,795		 	5,756		
Operating lease assets	 	359		 	362		
Furniture and fixtures	 	498		 	509		
Total gross property and equipment	 	12,461		 	12,520		
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	 	(9,185	)	 	(9,268	)	
Total	 	$	3,276		 	$	3,252		

									
  Other assets:	 	 	 	 	
Deferred tax assets	 	$	1,437		 	$	1,700		
Investments in privately held companies	 	873		 	899		
Other	 	765		 	732		
Total	 	$	3,075		 	$	3,331		

									
Deferred revenue:	 	 	 	 	
Service	 	$	9,236		 	$	9,640		
Product:	 		 	 	
Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other deferred revenue	 	4,258		 	3,924		
Cash receipts related to unrecognized revenue from two-tier distributors	 	687		 	578		
Total product deferred revenue	 	4,945		 	4,502		
Total	 	$	14,181		 	$	14,142		
Reported as:	 		 	 	
Current	 	$	9,371		 	$	9,478		
Noncurrent	 	4,810		 	4,664		
Total	 	$	14,181		 	$	14,142		

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

7.	Financing Receivables and Operating Leases	
		
(a)	Financing Receivables	
Financing receivables primarily consist of lease receivables, loan receivables, and financed service contracts and other. Lease receivables represent sales-type and direct-financing leases resulting from the sale of the Company’s and complementary third-party products and are typically collateralized by a security interest in the underlying assets. Loan receivables represent financing arrangements related to the sale of the Company’s products and services, which may include additional funding for other costs associated with network installation and integration of the Company’s products and services. Lease receivables consist of arrangements with terms of four years on average, while loan receivables generally have terms of up to three years . The financed service contracts and other category includes financing receivables related to technical support and advanced services, as well as receivables related to financing of certain indirect costs associated with leases. Revenue related to the technical support services is typically deferred and included in deferred service revenue and is recognized ratably over the period during which the related services are to be performed, which typically ranges from one to three years.
A summary of the Company's financing receivables is presented as follows (in millions):

																
April 25, 2015	Lease
Receivables	 	Loan
Receivables	 	Financed Service
Contracts and Other	 	Total	
Gross	$	3,276		 	$	1,720		 	$	3,081		 	$	8,077		
Residual value	226		 	—		 	—		 	226		
Unearned income	(190	)	 	—		 	—		 	(190	)	
Allowance for credit loss	(242	)	 	(80	)	 	(37	)	 	(359	)	
Total, net	$	3,070		 	$	1,640		 	$	3,044		 	$	7,754		
Reported as:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current	$	1,424		 	$	820		 	$	2,004		 	$	4,248		
Noncurrent	1,646		 	820		 	1,040		 	3,506		
Total, net	$	3,070		 	$	1,640		 	$	3,044		 	$	7,754		

																
July 26, 2014	Lease
Receivables	 	Loan
Receivables	 	Financed Service
Contracts and Other	 	Total	
Gross	$	3,532		 	$	1,683		 	$	3,210		 	$	8,425		
Residual value	233		 	—		 	—		 	233		
Unearned income	(238	)	 	—		 	—		 	(238	)	
Allowance for credit loss	(233	)	 	(98	)	 	(18	)	 	(349	)	
Total, net	$	3,294		 	$	1,585		 	$	3,192		 	$	8,071		
Reported as:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current	$	1,476		 	$	728		 	$	1,949		 	$	4,153		
Noncurrent	1,818		 	857		 	1,243		 	3,918		
Total, net	$	3,294		 	$	1,585		 	$	3,192		 	$	8,071		
As of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , the deferred service revenue related to "Financed Service Contracts and Other" was $1,520 million and $1,843 million , respectively.
Future minimum lease payments at April 25, 2015 are summarized as follows (in millions):

				
Fiscal Year	Amount	
2015 (remaining three months)	$	498		
2016	1,349		
2017	857		
2018	406		
2019	146		
Thereafter	20		
Total	$	3,276		
Actual cash collections may differ from the contractual maturities due to early customer buyouts, refinancings, or defaults.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(b)	Credit Quality of Financing Receivables	
Gross receivables less unearned income categorized by the Company’s internal credit risk rating as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 are summarized as follows (in millions): 

																
 	INTERNAL CREDIT RISK RATING	
April 25, 2015	1 to 4	 	5 to 6	 	7 and Higher	 	Total	
Lease receivables	$	1,590		 	$	1,371		 	$	125		 	$	3,086		
Loan receivables	755		 	816		 	149		 	1,720		
Financed service contracts and other	1,650		 	1,371		 	60		 	3,081		
Total	$	3,995		 	$	3,558		 	$	334		 	$	7,887		

																
 	INTERNAL CREDIT RISK RATING	
July 26, 2014	1 to 4	 	5 to 6	 	7 and Higher	 	Total	
Lease receivables	$	1,615		 	$	1,538		 	$	141		 	$	3,294		
Loan receivables	953		 	593		 	137		 	1,683		
Financed service contracts and other	1,744		 	1,367		 	99		 	3,210		
Total	$	4,312		 	$	3,498		 	$	377		 	$	8,187		
The Company determines the adequacy of its allowance for credit loss by assessing the risks and losses inherent in its financing receivables by portfolio segment. The portfolio segment is based on the types of financing offered by the Company to its customers, which consist of the following: lease receivables, loan receivables, and financed service contracts and other.
The Company’s internal credit risk ratings of 1 through 4 correspond to investment-grade ratings, while credit risk ratings of 5 and 6 correspond to non-investment grade ratings. Credit risk ratings of 7 and higher correspond to substandard ratings.
In circumstances when collectibility is not deemed reasonably assured, the associated revenue is deferred in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policies, and the related allowance for credit loss, if any, is included in deferred revenue. The Company also records deferred revenue associated with financing receivables when there are remaining performance obligations, as it does for financed service contracts. Total allowances for credit loss and deferred revenue as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 were $1,900 million and $2,220 million , respectively, and they were associated with total financing receivables before allowance for credit loss of $8,113 million and $8,420 million as of their respective period ends.
The following tables present the aging analysis of gross receivables less unearned income as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 (in millions):

																																
 	DAYS PAST DUE
(INCLUDES BILLED AND UNBILLED)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
April 25, 2015	31-60	 	61-90 	 	91+	 	Total
Past Due	 	Current	 	Total	 	Nonaccrual
Financing
Receivables	 	Impaired
Financing
Receivables	
Lease receivables	$	102		 	$	48		 	$	138		 	$	288		 	$	2,798		 	$	3,086		 	$	38		 	$	38		
Loan receivables	12		 	15		 	56		 	83		 	1,637		 	1,720		 	29		 	29		
Financed service contracts and other	99		 	88		 	309		 	496		 	2,585		 	3,081		 	32		 	12		
Total	$	213		 	$	151		 	$	503		 	$	867		 	$	7,020		 	$	7,887		 	$	99		 	$	79		

																																
 	DAYS PAST DUE
(INCLUDES BILLED AND UNBILLED)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
July 26, 2014	31-60	 	61-90 	 	91+	 	Total
Past Due	 	Current	 	Total	 	Nonaccrual
Financing
Receivables	 	Impaired
Financing
Receivables	
Lease receivables	$	63		 	$	46		 	$	202		 	$	311		 	$	2,983		 	$	3,294		 	$	48		 	$	41		
Loan receivables	3		 	21		 	27		 	51		 	1,632		 	1,683		 	19		 	19		
Financed service contracts and other	268		 	230		 	220		 	718		 	2,492		 	3,210		 	12		 	9		
Total	$	334		 	$	297		 	$	449		 	$	1,080		 	$	7,107		 	$	8,187		 	$	79		 	$	69		
Past due financing receivables are those that are 31 days or more past due according to their contractual payment terms. The data in the preceding tables is presented by contract, and the aging classification of each contract is based on the oldest outstanding receivable, and therefore past due amounts also include unbilled and current receivables within the same contract. The balances

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

of either unbilled or current financing receivables included in the category of 91 days plus past due for financing receivables were $361 million and $334 million as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively.
As of April 25, 2015 , the Company had financing receivables of $75 million , net of unbilled or current receivables from the same contract, that were in the category of 91 days plus past due but remained on accrual status. Such balance was $78 million as of July 26, 2014 . A financing receivable may be placed on nonaccrual status earlier if, in management’s opinion, a timely collection of the full principal and interest becomes uncertain.
		
(c)	Allowance for Credit Loss Rollforward	
The allowances for credit loss and the related financing receivables are summarized as follows (in millions):

																
 	CREDIT LOSS ALLOWANCES	
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015	Lease
Receivables	 	Loan
Receivables	 	Financed Service
Contracts and Other	 	Total	
Allowance for credit loss as of January 24, 2015	$	250		 	$	85		 	$	40		 	$	375		
Provisions	(4	)	 	(5	)	 	(2	)	 	(11	)	
Recoveries (write-offs), net	(1	)	 	—		 	—		 	(1	)	
Foreign exchange and other	(3	)	 	—		 	(1	)	 	(4	)	
Allowance for credit loss as of April 25, 2015	$	242		 	$	80		 	$	37		 	$	359		
Financing receivables as of April 25, 2015 (1)	$	3,312		 	$	1,720		 	$	3,081		 	$	8,113		

																
 	CREDIT LOSS ALLOWANCES	
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015	Lease
Receivables	 	Loan
Receivables	 	Financed Service
Contracts and Other	 	Total	
Allowance for credit loss as of July 26, 2014	$	233		 	$	98		 	$	18		 	$	349		
Provisions	25		 	(15	)	 	21		 	31		
Recoveries (write-offs), net	(6	)	 	1		 	—		 	(5	)	
Foreign exchange and other	(10	)	 	(4	)	 	(2	)	 	(16	)	
Allowance for credit loss as of April 25, 2015	$	242		 	$	80		 	$	37		 	$	359		

																
 	CREDIT LOSS ALLOWANCES	
Three Months Ended April 26, 2014	Lease
Receivables	 	Loan
Receivables	 	Financed Service
Contracts and Other	 	Total	
Allowance for credit loss as of January 25, 2014	$	254		 	$	98		 	$	22		 	$	374		
Provisions	(6	)	 	(10	)	 	(2	)	 	(18	)	
Recoveries (write-offs), net	(1	)	 	4		 	(1	)	 	2		
Foreign exchange and other	2		 	—		 	—		 	2		
Allowance for credit loss as of April 26, 2014	$	249		 	$	92		 	$	19		 	$	360		
Financing receivables as of April 26, 2014 (1)	$	3,537		 	$	1,621		 	$	2,810		 	$	7,968		

																
 	CREDIT LOSS ALLOWANCES	
Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014	Lease
Receivables	 	Loan
Receivables	 	Financed Service
Contracts and Other	 	Total	
Allowance for credit loss as of July 27, 2013	$	238		 	$	86		 	$	20		 	$	344		
Provisions	9		 	5		 	—		 	14		
Recoveries (write-offs), net	—		 	4		 	(1	)	 	3		
Foreign exchange and other	2		 	(3	)	 	—		 	(1	)	
Allowance for credit loss as of April 26, 2014	$	249		 	$	92		 	$	19		 	$	360		
(1) Total financing receivables before allowance for credit loss.
The Company assesses the allowance for credit loss related to financing receivables on either an individual or a collective basis. The Company considers various factors in evaluating lease and loan receivables and the earned portion of financed service contracts for possible impairment on an individual basis. These factors include the Company’s historical experience, credit quality and age

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

of the receivable balances, and economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. When the evaluation indicates that it is probable that all amounts due pursuant to the contractual terms of the financing agreement, including scheduled interest payments, are unable to be collected, the financing receivable is considered impaired. All such outstanding amounts, including any accrued interest, will be assessed and fully reserved at the customer level. The Company’s internal credit risk ratings are categorized as 1 through 10 , with the lowest credit risk rating representing the highest quality financing receivables.
Typically, the Company also considers receivables with a risk rating of 8 or higher to be impaired and will include them in the individual assessment for allowance. These balances, as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , are presented under “(b) Credit Quality of Financing Receivables” above.
The Company evaluates the remainder of its financing receivables portfolio for impairment on a collective basis and records an allowance for credit loss at the portfolio segment level. When evaluating the financing receivables on a collective basis, the Company uses expected default frequency rates published by a major third-party credit-rating agency as well as its own historical loss rate in the event of default, while also systematically giving effect to economic conditions, concentration of risk, and correlation.
		
(d)	Operating Leases	
The Company provides financing of certain equipment through operating leases, and the amounts are included in property and equipment in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts relating to equipment on operating lease assets and the associated accumulated depreciation are summarized as follows (in millions):

								
 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Operating lease assets	$	359		 	$	362		
Accumulated depreciation	(195	)	 	(202	)	
Operating lease assets, net	$	164		 	$	160		
Minimum future rentals on noncancelable operating leases at April 25, 2015 were approximately $0.1 billion for the remaining three months of fiscal 2015, $0.2 billion for fiscal 2016, and less than $0.1 billion per year for each of fiscal 2017 through fiscal 2019.

8.	Investments	
		
(a)	Summary of Available-for-Sale Investments	
The following tables summarize the Company’s available-for-sale investments (in millions): 

																
April 25, 2015	Amortized
Cost	 	Gross
Unrealized
Gains	 	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	Fair
Value	
Fixed income securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
U.S. government securities	$	29,364		 	$	59		 	$	(1	)	 	$	29,422		
U.S. government agency securities	3,257		 	6		 	(1	)	 	3,262		
Non-U.S. government and agency securities	1,184		 	2		 	—		 	1,186		
Corporate debt securities	13,321		 	86		 	(13	)	 	13,394		
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	1,346		 	16		 	—		 	1,362		
Total fixed income securities	48,472		 	169		 	(15	)	 	48,626		
Publicly traded equity securities	1,328		 	598		 	(3	)	 	1,923		
Total	$	49,800		 	$	767		 	$	(18	)	 	$	50,549		

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

	
																
July 26, 2014	Amortized
Cost	 	Gross
Unrealized
Gains	 	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	Fair
Value	
Fixed income securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
U.S. government securities	$	31,717		 	$	29		 	$	(12	)	 	$	31,734		
U.S. government agency securities	1,062		 	1		 	—		 	1,063		
Non-U.S. government and agency securities	860		 	2		 	(1	)	 	861		
Corporate debt securities	9,092		 	74		 	(7	)	 	9,159		
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	574		 	5		 	—		 	579		
Total fixed income securities	43,305		 	111		 	(20	)	 	43,396		
Publicly traded equity securities	1,314		 	648		 	(10	)	 	1,952		
Total	$	44,619		 	$	759		 	$	(30	)	 	$	45,348		
Non-U.S. government and agency securities include agency and corporate debt securities that are guaranteed by non-U.S. governments.
		
(b)	Gains and Losses on Available-for-Sale Investments	
The following table presents the gross realized gains and gross realized losses related to the Company’s available-for-sale investments (in millions):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Gross realized gains	$	55		 	$	75		 	$	168		 	$	267		
Gross realized losses	(11	)	 	(6	)	 	(48	)	 	(33	)	
Total	$	44		 	$	69		 	$	120		 	$	234		
The following table presents the realized net gains (losses) related to the Company’s available-for-sale investments by security type (in millions):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Net gains on investments in publicly traded equity securities	$	38		 	$	55		 	$	94		 	$	199		
Net gains on investments in fixed income securities	6		 	14		 	26		 	35		
Total	$	44		 	$	69		 	$	120		 	$	234		
There were no impairment charges on available-for-sale investments for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 . For the three months ended April 26, 2014 , there were no impairment charges on available-for-sale investments. For the nine months ended April 26, 2014 , the Company had impairment charges of $11 million for publicly traded equity securities, which were due to a decline in the fair value of those securities below their cost basis that were determined to be other than temporary.
The following tables present the breakdown of the available-for-sale investments with gross unrealized losses and the duration that those losses had been unrealized at April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 (in millions):

																								
 	UNREALIZED LOSSES
LESS THAN 12 MONTHS	 	UNREALIZED LOSSES
12 MONTHS OR GREATER	 	TOTAL	
April 25, 2015	Fair Value	 	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	Fair Value	 	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	Fair Value	 	Gross 
Unrealized 
Losses	
Fixed income securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
U.S. government securities  	$	4,096		 	$	(1	)	 	$	—		 	$	—		 	$	4,096		 	$	(1	)	
U.S. government agency securities	702		 	(1	)	 	—		 	—		 	702		 	(1	)	
Corporate debt securities	3,587		 	(12	)	 	157		 	(1	)	 	3,744		 	(13	)	
Total fixed income securities	8,385		 	(14	)		157			(1	)		8,542			(15	)	
Publicly traded equity securities	42		 	(3	)	 	1		 	—		 	43		 	(3	)	
Total	$	8,427		 	$	(17	)	 	$	158		 	$	(1	)	 	$	8,585		 	$	(18	)	

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

	
																								
 	UNREALIZED LOSSES
LESS THAN 12 MONTHS	 	UNREALIZED LOSSES
12 MONTHS OR GREATER	 	TOTAL	
July 26, 2014	Fair Value	 	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	Fair Value	 	Gross
Unrealized
Losses	 	Fair Value	 	Gross 
Unrealized 
Losses	
Fixed income securities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
U.S. government securities  	$	7,676		 	$	(12	)	 	$	45		 	$	—		 	$	7,721		 	$	(12	)	
Non-U.S. government and agency securities	361		 	(1	)	 	22		 	—		 	383		 	(1	)	
Corporate debt securities	1,875		 	(3	)	 	491		 	(4	)	 	2,366		 	(7	)	
Total fixed income securities	9,912		 	(16	)	 	558		 	(4	)	 	10,470		 	(20	)	
Publicly traded equity securities	132		 	(10	)	 	—		 	—		 	132		 	(10	)	
Total	$	10,044		 	$	(26	)	 	$	558		 	$	(4	)	 	$	10,602		 	$	(30	)	
As of April 25, 2015 , for fixed income securities that were in unrealized loss positions, the Company has determined that (i) it does not have the intent to sell any of these investments and (ii) it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell any of these investments before recovery of the entire amortized cost basis. In addition, as of April 25, 2015 , the Company anticipates that it will recover the entire amortized cost basis of such fixed income securities and has determined that no other-than-temporary impairments associated with credit losses were required to be recognized during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 .
The Company has evaluated its publicly traded equity securities as of April 25, 2015 and has determined that there was no indication of other-than-temporary impairments in the respective categories of unrealized losses. This determination was based on several factors, which include the length of time and extent to which fair value has been less than the cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the publicly traded equity securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value.
		
(c)	Maturities of Fixed Income Securities	
The following table summarizes the maturities of the Company’s fixed income securities at April 25, 2015 (in millions):  

								
 	Amortized Cost	 	Fair Value	
Less than 1 year	$	16,322		 	$	16,332		
Due in 1 to 2 years	14,969		 	15,006		
Due in 2 to 5 years	15,610		 	15,697		
Due after 5 years	1,571		 	1,591		
Total	$	48,472		 	$	48,626		

Actual maturities may differ from the contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations. The remaining contractual principal maturities for mortgage-backed securities were allocated assuming no prepayments.
		
(d)	Securities Lending	
The Company periodically engages in securities lending activities with certain of its investments. These transactions are accounted for as a secured lending of the securities, and the securities are typically loaned only on an overnight basis. The average daily balance of securities lending for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 was $0.5 billion and $1.4 billion , respectively. The Company requires collateral equal to at least 102% of the fair market value of the loaned security and that the collateral be in the form of cash or liquid, high-quality assets. The Company engages in these secured lending transactions only with highly creditworthy counterparties, and the associated portfolio custodian has agreed to indemnify the Company against collateral losses. The Company did not experience any losses in connection with the secured lending of securities during the periods presented. As of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , the Company had no outstanding securities lending transactions.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(e)	Investments in Privately Held Companies	
The carrying value of the Company’s investments in privately held companies was included in other assets. For such investments that were accounted for under the equity and cost method as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , the amounts are summarized in the following table (in millions):

								
 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Equity method investments	$	561		 	$	630		
Cost method investments	312		 	269		
Total	$	873		 	$	899		
Variable Interest Entities
VCE Joint Venture  VCE is a joint venture formed in fiscal 2010 between the Company and EMC Corporation (“EMC”), with investments from VMware, Inc. (“VMware”) and Intel Capital Corporation ("Intel"). In October 2014, the Company, EMC, VMware, and Intel agreed to restructure VCE, and this transaction was completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Prior to the restructuring, the Company’s cumulative gross investment in VCE was approximately $716 million inclusive of convertible notes and accrued interest on convertible notes. The Company recorded cumulative losses from VCE under the equity method of $691 million since inception. The Company ceased accounting for the VCE investment under the equity method in October 2014 and recorded no losses during the three months ended April 25, 2015, compared with losses of $52 million recorded for the three months ended April 26, 2014 , and losses of $ 47 million and $163 million were recorded for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively. Under the terms of the restructuring, VCE paid $152 million to the Company for a portion of the outstanding principal balance of the convertible notes held by it and accrued interest on such notes, and the remaining principal balance of other such notes, and the accrued interest thereon, was cancelled. Pursuant to the restructuring, VCE also redeemed a portion of the Company’s equity interest in VCE, reducing the Company’s ownership interest in VCE from 35% prior to the restructuring to 10% .  In connection with this transaction, the Company has written this investment down to a book value of zero and has recognized a gain of $126 million for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 .
Other Variable Interest Entities  In the ordinary course of business, the Company has investments in other privately held companies and provides financing to certain customers. These other privately held companies and customers may be considered to be variable interest entities. The Company evaluates on an ongoing basis its investments in these other privately held companies and its customer financings and has determined that as of April 25, 2015 there were no other variable interest entities required to be consolidated in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

9.	Fair Value	
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be either recorded or disclosed at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact, and it also considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability.
		
(a)	Fair Value Hierarchy	
The accounting guidance for fair value measurement requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used to measure fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:
Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.
Level 3 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(b)	Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 were as follows (in millions):

																																
 	APRIL 25, 2015
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	 	JULY 26, 2014
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	
 	Level 1	 	Level 2	 	Level 3	 	Total
Balance	 	Level 1	 	Level 2	 	Level 3	 	Total
Balance	
Assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash equivalents:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Money market funds	$	2,307		 	$	—		 	$	—		 	$	2,307		 	$	4,935		 	$	—		 	$	—		 	$	4,935		
Corporate debt securities	—		 	1		 	—		 	1		 	—		 	—		 	—		 	—		
Available-for-sale investments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		
U.S. government securities	—		 	29,422		 	—		 	29,422		 	—		 	31,734		 	—		 	31,734		
U.S. government agency securities	—		 	3,262		 	—		 	3,262		 	—		 	1,063		 	—		 	1,063		
Non-U.S. government and agency securities	—		 	1,186		 	—		 	1,186		 	—		 	861		 	—		 	861		
Corporate debt securities	—		 	13,394		 	—		 	13,394		 	—		 	9,159		 	—		 	9,159		
U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities	—		 	1,362		 	—		 	1,362		 	—		 	579		 	—		 	579		
Publicly traded equity securities	1,923		 	—		 	—		 	1,923		 	1,952		 	—		 	—		 	1,952		
Derivative assets	—		 	275		 	1		 	276		 	—		 	158		 	2		 	160		
Total	$	4,230		 	$	48,902		 	$	1		 	$	53,133		 	$	6,887		 	$	43,554		 	$	2		 	$	50,443		
Liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Derivative liabilities	$	—		 	$	131		 	$	—		 	$	131		 	$	—		 	$	67		 	$	—		 	$	67		
Total	$	—		 	$	131		 	$	—		 	$	131		 	$	—		 	$	67		 	$	—		 	$	67		
Level 1 publicly traded equity securities are determined by using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 2 fixed income securities are priced using quoted market prices for similar instruments or nonbinding market prices that are corroborated by observable market data. The Company uses inputs such as actual trade data, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, and other similar data, which are obtained from quoted market prices, independent pricing vendors, or other sources, to determine the ultimate fair value of these assets and liabilities. The Company uses such pricing data as the primary input to make its assessments and determinations as to the ultimate valuation of its investment portfolio and has not made, during the periods presented, any material adjustments to such inputs. The Company is ultimately responsible for the financial statements and underlying estimates. The Company’s derivative instruments are primarily classified as Level 2, as they are not actively traded and are valued using pricing models that use observable market inputs. The Company did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during the periods presented.
Level 3 assets include certain derivative instruments, the values of which are determined based on discounted cash flow models using inputs that the Company could not corroborate with market data.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(c)	Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis	
The following table presents the Company's assets that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the indicated periods and the related recognized gains and losses for the periods indicated (in millions): 

																
 	LOSSES FOR THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED	 	LOSSES FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Investments in privately held companies (impaired)	$	(17	)	 	$	—		 	$	(20	)	 	$	(10	)	
Purchased intangible assets (impaired)	(1	)	 	—		 	(57	)	 	—		
Property held for sale—land and buildings	(5	)	 	—		 	(5	)	 	—		
Total	$	(23	)	 	$	—		 	$	(82	)	 	$	(10	)	
These assets were measured at fair value due to events or circumstances the Company identified as having significant impact on their fair value during the respective periods. To arrive at the valuation of these assets, the Company considers any significant changes in the financial metrics and economic variables and also uses third-party valuation reports to assist in the valuation as necessary.
The fair value measurement of the impaired investments was classified as Level 3 because significant unobservable inputs were used in the valuation due to the absence of quoted market prices and inherent lack of liquidity. Significant unobservable inputs, which included financial metrics of comparable private and public companies, financial condition and near-term prospects of the investees, recent financing activities of the investees, and the investees’ capital structure as well as other economic variables, reflected the assumptions market participants would use in pricing these assets. The impairment charges, representing the difference between the net book value and the fair value as a result of the evaluation, were recorded to other income (loss), net. The remaining carrying value of the investments that were impaired was $4 million as of April 25, 2015 .
The fair value for purchased intangibles for which the carrying amount was not deemed to be recoverable was determined using the future discounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate. The difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the assets was recorded as an impairment charge, which was included in product cost of sales and operating expenses as applicable. See Note 4. The remaining carrying value of the specific purchased intangible assets that were impaired was zero as of April 25, 2015 .
The fair value of property held for sale was measured with the assistance of third-party valuation models which used discounted cash flow techniques as part of their analysis. The fair value measurement was categorized as Level 3, as significant unobservable inputs were used in the valuation report. The impairment charges as a result of the valuations, which represented the difference between the fair value less cost to sell and the carrying amount of the assets held for sale, were included in G&A expenses. The remaining carrying value of property held for sale was $11 million as of April 25, 2015 .
		
(d)	Other Fair Value Disclosures	
The carrying value of the Company’s investments in privately held companies that were accounted for under the cost method was $312 million and $269 million as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively. It was not practicable to estimate the fair value of this portfolio.
The fair value of the Company’s short-term loan receivables and financed service contracts approximates their carrying value due to their short duration. The aggregate carrying value of the Company’s long-term loan receivables and financed service contracts and other as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 was $1.9 billion and $2.1 billion , respectively. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term loan receivables and financed service contracts and other approximates their carrying value. The Company uses significant unobservable inputs in determining discounted cash flows to estimate the fair value of its long-term loan receivables and financed service contracts, and therefore they are categorized as Level 3.
As of April 25, 2015 , the estimated fair value of the short-term debt approximates its carrying value due to the short maturities. As of April 25, 2015 , the fair value of the Company’s senior notes and other long-term debt was $22.2 billion with a carrying amount of $20.5 billion . This compares to a fair value of $22.4 billion and a carrying amount of $20.9 billion as of July 26, 2014 . The fair value of the senior notes and other long-term debt was determined based on observable market prices in a less active market and was categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

10.	Borrowings	
		
(a)	Short-Term Debt	
The following table summarizes the Company’s short-term debt (in millions, except percentages): 

														
 	April 25, 2015	 	July 26, 2014	
 	Amount	 	Effective Rate	 	Amount	 	Effective Rate	
Current portion of long-term debt	$	3,914		 	2.47	%	 	$	500		 	3.11	%	
Commercial paper	500		 	0.16	%	 	—		 	—		
Other short-term debt	4		 	2.62	%	 	8		 	2.67	%	
Total	$	4,418		 	 	 	$	508		 		
The effective interest rate on the current portion of long-term debt includes the impact of interest rate swaps, as discussed further in "(b) Long-Term Debt." Other notes and borrowings consist of the short-term portion of secured borrowings associated with customer financing arrangements. These notes and credit facilities were subject to various terms and foreign currency market interest rates pursuant to individual financial arrangements between the financing institution and the applicable foreign subsidiary.
On November 17, 2014, upon the maturity of the Company’s 2014 Fixed-Rate Notes (2.90%), the Company repaid an aggregate principal amount of $500 million .
In fiscal 2011, the Company established a short-term debt financing program of up to $3.0 billion through the issuance of commercial paper notes. The Company uses the proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper notes for general corporate purposes. The outstanding commercial paper notes as of April 25, 2015 had original maturity dates of three months or less.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(b)	Long-Term Debt	
The following table summarizes the Company’s long-term debt (in millions, except percentages):

														
 	 	 	April 25, 2015	 	July 26, 2014	
 	Maturity Date	 	Amount	 	Effective Rate	 	Amount	 	Effective Rate	
Senior notes:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Floating-rate notes:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Three-month LIBOR plus 0.05%	September 3, 2015	 	$	850		 	0.41%	 	$	850		 	0.35%	
Three-month LIBOR plus 0.28%	March 3, 2017	 	1,000		 	0.61%	 	1,000		 	0.56%	
Three-month LIBOR plus 0.50%	March 1, 2019	 	500		 	0.82%	 	500		 	0.78%	
Fixed-rate notes:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
2.90%	November 17, 2014	 	—		 	—	 	500		 	3.11%	
5.50%	February 22, 2016	 	3,000		 	3.06%	 	3,000		 	3.04%	
1.10%	March 3, 2017	 	2,400		 	0.58%	 	2,400		 	0.56%	
3.15%	March 14, 2017	 	750		 	0.83%	 	750		 	0.79%	
4.95%	February 15, 2019	 	2,000		 	4.69%	 	2,000		 	4.69%	
2.125%	March 1, 2019	 	1,750		 	0.79%	 	1,750		 	0.77%	
4.45%	January 15, 2020	 	2,500		 	3.00%	 	2,500		 	2.98%	
2.90%	March 4, 2021	 	500		 	0.95%	 	500		 	0.93%	
3.625%	March 4, 2024	 	1,000		 	1.07%	 	1,000		 	1.05%	
5.90%	February 15, 2039	 	2,000		 	6.11%	 	2,000		 	6.11%	
5.50%	January 15, 2040	 	2,000		 	5.67%	 	2,000		 	5.67%	
Other long-term debt	 	 	1		 	2.08%	 	4		 	2.39%	
Total	 	 	20,251		 	 	 	20,754		 	 	
Unaccreted discount	 	 	(59	)	 	 	 	(63	)	 	 	
Hedge accounting fair value adjustments	 	 	308		 	 	 	210		 	 	
Total	 	 	$	20,500		 	 	 	$	20,901		 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Reported as:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current portion of long-term debt	 	 	$	3,914		 	 	 	$	500		 	 	
Long-term debt	 	 	16,586		 	 	 	20,401		 	 	
Total	 	 	$	20,500		 	 	 	$	20,901		 	 	
To achieve its interest rate risk management objectives, the Company entered into interest rate swaps in prior periods with an aggregate notional amount of $10.4 billion designated as fair value hedges of certain of its fixed-rate senior notes. In effect, these swaps convert the fixed interest rates of the fixed-rate notes to floating interest rates based on the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps substantially offset changes in the fair value of the hedged portion of the underlying debt that are attributable to the changes in market interest rates. For additional information, see Note 11.
The effective rates for the fixed-rate debt include the interest on the notes, the accretion of the discount, and, if applicable, adjustments related to hedging. Interest is payable semiannually on each class of the senior fixed-rate notes and payable quarterly on the floating-rate notes. Each of the senior fixed-rate notes is redeemable by the Company at any time, subject to a make-whole premium. 
The senior notes rank at par with the commercial paper notes that may be issued in the future pursuant to the Company’s short-term debt financing program, as discussed above under “(a) Short-Term Debt.” As of April 25, 2015 , the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

As of April 25, 2015 , future principal payments for long-term debt, including the current portion, are summarized as follows (in millions):

				
Fiscal Year	Amount	
2015 (remaining three months)	$	—		
2016	3,850		
2017	4,151		
2018	—		
2019	4,250		
Thereafter	8,000		
Total	$	20,251		
		
(c)	Credit Facility	
On May 15, 2015, the Company entered into a credit agreement with certain institutional lenders that provides for a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that is scheduled to expire on May 15, 2020 . Any advances under the credit agreement will accrue interest at rates that are equal to, based on certain conditions, either (i) the highest of (a) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% , (b) Bank of America’s “prime rate” as announced from time to time, or (c) LIBOR or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent (“Eurocurrency Rate”) for an interest period of one-month plus 1.00% , or (ii) the Eurocurrency Rate, plus a margin that is based on the Company’s senior debt credit ratings as published by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., provided that in no event will the Eurocurrency Rate be less than zero. The credit agreement requires the Company to comply with certain covenants, including that it maintain an interest coverage ratio as defined in the agreement.
The Company may also, upon the agreement of either the then-existing lenders or additional lenders not currently parties to the agreement, increase the commitments under the credit facility by up to an additional $2.0 billion and/or extend the expiration date of the credit facility up to May 15, 2022 . The Company was in compliance with the required interest coverage ratio and the other covenants, and the Company had not borrowed any funds under the credit facility.
This credit facility replaces the Company’s prior credit facility that was entered into on February 17, 2012, which was terminated in connection with its entering into the new credit facility.

11.	Derivative Instruments	
		
(a)	Summary of Derivative Instruments	
The Company uses derivative instruments primarily to manage exposures to foreign currency exchange rate, interest rate, and equity price risks. The Company’s primary objective in holding derivatives is to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and equity prices. The Company’s derivatives expose it to credit risk to the extent that the counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreement. The Company does, however, seek to mitigate such risks by limiting its counterparties to major financial institutions. In addition, the potential risk of loss with any one counterparty resulting from this type of credit risk is monitored. Management does not expect material losses as a result of defaults by counterparties.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments and the line items on the Consolidated Balance Sheets to which they were recorded are summarized as follows (in millions):

																				
 	DERIVATIVE ASSETS	 	DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES	
 	Balance Sheet Line Item	 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	 	Balance Sheet Line Item	 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	Other current assets	 	$	1		 	$	7		 	Other current liabilities	 	$	48		 	$	6		
Interest rate derivatives	Other assets	 	270		 	148		 	Other long-term liabilities	 	—		 	3		
Equity derivatives	Other current assets	 	—		 	—		 	Other current liabilities	 	76		 	56		
Total	 	 	271		 	155		 	 	 	124		 	65		
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	Other current assets	 	4		 	3		 	Other current liabilities	 	7		 	2		
Equity derivatives	Other assets	 	1		 	2		 	Other long-term liabilities	 	—		 	—		
Total	 	 	5		 	5		 	 	 	7		 	2		
Total	 	 	$	276		 	$	160		 	 	 	$	131		 	$	67		

The effects of the Company’s cash flow and net investment hedging instruments on other comprehensive income (OCI) and the Consolidated Statements of Operations are summarized as follows (in millions):

																			
GAINS (LOSSES) RECOGNIZED
IN OCI ON DERIVATIVES FOR THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED (EFFECTIVE PORTION)	 	GAINS (LOSSES) RECLASSIFIED FROM
AOCI INTO INCOME FOR THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED (EFFECTIVE PORTION)	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Line Item in
Statements of Operations	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	 	$	(32	)	 	$	13		 	Operating expenses	 	$	(50	)	 	$	13		
 	 	 	 	 	 	Cost of sales — service	 	(14	)	 	3		
Total	 	$	(32	)	 	$	13		 	 	 	$	(64	)	 	$	16		
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Derivatives designated as net investment hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	 	$	2		 	$	(10	)	 	Other income (loss), net	 	$	—		 	$	—		

																			
GAINS (LOSSES) RECOGNIZED
IN OCI ON DERIVATIVES FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED (EFFECTIVE PORTION)	 	GAINS (LOSSES) RECLASSIFIED FROM
AOCI INTO INCOME FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED (EFFECTIVE PORTION)	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Line Item in
Statements of Operations	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	 	$	(163	)	 	$	47		 	Operating expenses	 	$	(74	)	 	$	36		
 	 	 	 	 	 	Cost of sales — service	 	(20	)	 	8		
Total	 	$	(163	)	 	$	47		 	 	 	$	(94	)	 	$	44		
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Derivatives designated as net investment hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	 	$	46		 	$	(13	)	 	Other income (loss), net	 	$	—		 	$	—		
As of April 25, 2015 , the Company estimates that approximately $69 million of net derivative losses related to its cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months when the underlying hedged item impacts earnings.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The effect on the Consolidated Statements of Operations of derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges and the underlying hedged items is summarized as follows (in millions):

																			
 	 	 	 	GAINS (LOSSES) ON
DERIVATIVE
INSTRUMENTS FOR THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED	 	GAINS (LOSSES)
RELATED TO HEDGED
ITEMS FOR THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED	
Derivatives Designated as Fair Value Hedging Instruments	 	Line Item in Statements of Operations	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Equity derivatives	 	Other income (loss), net	 	$	(8	)	 	$	(8	)	 	$	8		 	$	8		
Interest rate derivatives	 	Interest expense	 	(9	)	 	8		 	9		 	(8	)	
Total	 	 	 	$	(17	)	 	$	—		 	$	17		 	$	—		

																			
 	 	 	 	GAINS (LOSSES) ON
DERIVATIVE
INSTRUMENTS FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED	 	GAINS (LOSSES)
RELATED TO HEDGED
ITEMS FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED	
Derivatives Designated as
Fair Value Hedging Instruments	 	Line Item in Statements of Operations	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Equity derivatives	 	Other income (loss), net	 	$	(20	)	 	$	(55	)	 	$	20		 	$	55		
Interest rate derivatives	 	Interest expense	 	122		 	(27	)	 	(125	)	 	26		
Total	 	 	 	$	102		 	$	(82	)	 	$	(105	)	 	$	81		
The effect on the Consolidated Statements of Operations of derivative instruments not designated as hedges is summarized as follows (in millions):

																			
 	 	 	 	GAINS (LOSSES) FOR THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED	 	GAINS (LOSSES) FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED	
Derivatives Not Designated as
Hedging Instruments	 	Line Item in Statements of Operations	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Foreign currency derivatives	 	Other income (loss), net	 	$	(56	)	 	$	36		 	$	(165	)	 	$	16		
Total return swaps—deferred compensation	 	Operating expenses	 	23		 	4		 	23		 	33		
Equity derivatives	 	Other income (loss), net	 	6		 	9		 	10		 	33		
Total	 	 	 	$	(27	)	 	$	49		 	$	(132	)	 	$	82		
The notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding derivatives are summarized as follows (in millions):

								
 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives—cash flow hedges	$	654		 	$	1,618		
Interest rate derivatives	10,400		 	10,400		
Net investment hedging instruments	188		 	345		
Equity derivatives	238		 	238		
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	2,187		 	2,528		
Total return swaps—deferred compensation	473		 	428		
Total	$	14,140		 	$	15,557		

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(b)	Offsetting of Derivative Instruments	
The Company presents its derivative instruments at gross fair values in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the Company’s master netting and other similar arrangements with the respective counterparties allow for net settlement under certain conditions, which are designed to reduce credit risk by permitting net settlement with the same counterparty. To further limit credit risk, the Company also enters into collateral security arrangements related to certain derivative instruments whereby cash is posted as collateral between the counterparties based on the fair market value of the derivative instrument. Information related to these offsetting arrangements is summarized as follows (in millions):

																								
 	April 25, 2015	
 	Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	 	Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets,
but with Legal Rights to Offset	
 	Gross Amounts Recognized	 	Gross Amounts Offset	 	Net Amounts Presented	 	Gross Derivative Amounts	 	Cash Collateral	 	Net Amount	
Derivatives assets	$	276		 	$	—		 	$	276		 	$	(59	)	 	$	(159	)	 	$	58		
Derivatives liabilities	$	131		 	$	—		 	$	131		 	$	(59	)	 	$	—		 	$	72		

																								
 	July 26, 2014	
 	Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	 	Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets,
but with Legal Rights to Offset	
 	Gross Amounts Recognized	 	Gross Amounts Offset	 	Net Amounts Presented	 	Gross Derivative Amounts	 	Cash Collateral	 	Net Amount	
Derivatives assets	$	160		 	$	—		 	$	160		 	$	(39	)	 	$	(60	)	 	$	61		
Derivatives liabilities	$	67		 	$	—		 	$	67		 	$	(39	)	 	$	(1	)	 	$	27		
		
(c)	Foreign Currency Exchange Risk	
The Company conducts business globally in numerous currencies. Therefore, it is exposed to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. To limit the exposure related to foreign currency changes, the Company enters into foreign currency contracts. The Company does not enter into such contracts for trading purposes.
The Company hedges forecasted foreign currency transactions related to certain operating expenses and service cost of sales with currency options and forward contracts. These currency options and forward contracts, designated as cash flow hedges, generally have maturities of less than 18 months . The Company assesses effectiveness based on changes in total fair value of the derivatives. The effective portion of the derivative instrument’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of AOCI and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the hedged exposure affects earnings. The ineffective portion, if any, of the gain or loss is reported in earnings immediately. During the periods presented, the Company did not discontinue any cash flow hedges for which it was probable that a forecasted transaction would not occur.
The Company enters into foreign exchange forward and option contracts to reduce the short-term effects of foreign currency fluctuations on assets and liabilities such as foreign currency receivables, including long-term customer financings, investments, and payables. These derivatives are not designated as hedging instruments. Gains and losses on the contracts are included in other income (loss), net, and substantially offset foreign exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of intercompany balances or other current assets, investments, or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the reporting entity.
The Company hedges certain net investments in its foreign operations with forward contracts to reduce the effects of foreign currency fluctuations on the Company’s net investment in those foreign subsidiaries. These derivative instruments generally have maturities of up to six months .
		
(d)	Interest Rate Risk	
Interest Rate Derivatives, Investments   The Company’s primary objective for holding fixed income securities is to achieve an appropriate investment return consistent with preserving principal and managing risk. To realize these objectives, the Company may utilize interest rate swaps or other derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedges. As of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , the Company did not have any outstanding interest rate derivatives related to its fixed income securities.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Interest Rate Derivatives Designated as Fair Value Hedge, Long-Term Debt    In fiscal 2014 and 2013, the Company entered into interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges related to fixed-rate senior notes that are due on various dates from 2017 through 2024. In the periods prior to fiscal 2013, the Company entered into interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges related to fixed-rate senior notes that are due in 2016 and 2017.  Under these interest rate swaps, the Company receives fixed-rate interest payments and makes interest payments based on LIBOR plus a fixed number of basis points. The effect of such swaps is to convert the fixed interest rates of the senior fixed-rate notes to floating interest rates based on LIBOR. The gains and losses related to changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are included in interest expense and substantially offset changes in the fair value of the hedged portion of the underlying debt that are attributable to the changes in market interest rates. The fair value of the interest rate swaps was reflected in other assets and other long-term liabilities.
		
(e)	Equity Price Risk	
The Company may hold equity securities for strategic purposes or to diversify its overall investment portfolio. The publicly traded equity securities in the Company’s portfolio are subject to price risk. To manage its exposure to changes in the fair value of certain equity securities, the Company has entered into equity derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges. The changes in the value of the hedging instruments are included in other income (loss), net, and offset the change in the fair value of the underlying hedged investment. In addition, the Company periodically enters into equity derivatives that are not designated as accounting hedges. The changes in the fair value of these derivatives are also included in other income (loss), net.
The Company is also exposed to variability in compensation charges related to certain deferred compensation obligations to employees.  Although not designated as accounting hedges, the Company utilizes derivatives such as total return swaps to economically hedge this exposure.
		
(f)	Hedge Effectiveness	
For the periods presented, amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness were not material for fair value, cash flow, and net investment hedges. In addition, hedge ineffectiveness for fair value, cash flow, and net investment hedges was not material for any of the periods presented.
		
(g)	Collateral and Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features	
For certain derivative instruments, the Company and its counterparties have entered into arrangements requiring the party that is in a liability position from a mark-to-market standpoint to post cash collateral to the other party. See further discussion under “(b) Offsetting of Derivative Instruments” above.
In addition, certain derivative instruments are executed under agreements that have provisions requiring the Company and the counterparty to maintain a specified credit rating from certain credit-rating agencies. Under such agreements, if the Company’s or the counterparty’s credit rating falls below a specified credit rating, either party has the right to request collateral on the derivatives’ net liability position. No such derivatives were in a net liability position as of April 25, 2015 . The fair market value of such derivatives was $3 million as of July 26, 2014 .

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

12.	Commitments and Contingencies	
		
(a)	Operating Leases	
The Company leases office space in many U.S. locations. Outside the United States, larger leased sites include sites in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom . The Company also leases equipment and vehicles. Future minimum lease payments under all noncancelable operating leases with an initial term in excess of one year as of April 25, 2015 are as follows (in millions):

				
Fiscal Year	Amount	
2015 (remaining three months)	$	97		
2016	304		
2017	210		
2018	153		
2019	85		
Thereafter	228		
Total	$	1,077		
		
(b)	Purchase Commitments with Contract Manufacturers and Suppliers	
The Company purchases components from a variety of suppliers and uses several contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing services for its products. During the normal course of business, in order to manage manufacturing lead times and help ensure adequate component supply, the Company enters into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that allow them to either procure inventory based upon criteria as defined by the Company or establish the parameters defining the Company’s requirements. A significant portion of the Company’s reported purchase commitments arising from these agreements consists of firm, noncancelable, and unconditional commitments. In certain instances, these agreements allow the Company the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust the Company’s requirements based on its business needs prior to firm orders being placed. As of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , the Company had total purchase commitments for inventory of $4,495 million and $4,169 million , respectively.
The Company records a liability for firm, noncancelable, and unconditional purchase commitments for quantities in excess of its future demand forecasts consistent with the valuation of the Company’s excess and obsolete inventory. As of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , the liability for these purchase commitments was $153 million and $162 million , respectively, and was included in other current liabilities.
		
(c)	Other Commitments	
In connection with the Company’s business combinations, the Company has agreed to pay certain additional amounts contingent upon the achievement of certain agreed-upon technology, development, product, or other milestones or upon the continued employment with the Company of certain employees of the acquired entities.
The following table summarizes the compensation expense related to acquisitions (in millions):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Compensation expense related to acquisitions	$	72		 	$	95		 	$	264		 	$	505		
As of April 25, 2015 , the Company estimated that future cash compensation expense of up to $366 million may be required to be recognized pursuant to the applicable business combination agreements, which included the remaining potential compensation expense related to Insieme Networks, Inc., as more fully discussed immediately below.
Insieme Networks, Inc.  In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company made an investment in Insieme Networks, Inc. ("Insieme"), an early stage company focused on research and development in the data center market. As set forth in the agreement between the Company and Insieme, this investment included $100 million of funding and a license to certain of the Company’s technology. Immediately prior to the call option exercise and acquisition described below, the Company owned approximately 83% of Insieme as a result of these investments and consolidated the results of Insieme in its Consolidated Financial Statements. In connection with this investment, the Company and Insieme entered into a put/call option agreement that provided the Company with the right

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

to purchase the remaining interests in Insieme. In addition, the noncontrolling interest holders could require the Company to purchase their shares upon the occurrence of certain events.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company exercised its call option and entered into an agreement to purchase the remaining interests in Insieme. The acquisition closed in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, at which time the former noncontrolling interest holders became eligible to receive up to two milestone payments, which will be determined using agreed-upon formulas based primarily on revenue for certain of Insieme’s products. The Company recorded compensation expense of $51 million and $52 million during the three months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively, and $155 million and $363 million during the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively, related to the fair value of the vested portion of amounts that are expected to be earned by the former noncontrolling interest holders. Continued vesting and changes to the fair value of the amounts probable of being earned will result in adjustments to the recorded compensation expense in future periods. Based on the terms of the agreement, the Company has determined that the maximum amount that could be recorded as compensation expense by the Company is approximately $843 million (which includes the $571 million that has been expensed to date), net of forfeitures. The milestone payments, if earned, are expected to be paid primarily during fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017.
The Company also has certain funding commitments, primarily related to its investments in privately held companies and venture funds, some of which are based on the achievement of certain agreed-upon milestones, and some of which are required to be funded on demand. The funding commitments were $247 million and $255 million as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively.
		
(d)	Product Warranties	
The following table summarizes the activity related to the product warranty liability (in millions):

								
 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Balance at beginning of period	$	446		 	$	402		
Provision for warranties issued	517		 	532		
Payments	(512	)	 	(504	)	
Balance at end of period	$	451		 	$	430		
The Company accrues for warranty costs as part of its cost of sales based on associated material product costs, labor costs for technical support staff, and associated overhead. The Company’s products are generally covered by a warranty for periods ranging from 90 days to five years , and for some products the Company provides a limited lifetime warranty.
		
(e)	Financing and Other Guarantees	
In the ordinary course of business, the Company provides financing guarantees for various third-party financing arrangements extended to channel partners and end-user customers. Payments under these financing guarantee arrangements were not material for the periods presented.
Channel Partner Financing Guarantees   The Company facilitates arrangements for third-party financing extended to channel partners, consisting of revolving short-term financing, generally with payment terms ranging from 60 to 90 days . These financing arrangements facilitate the working capital requirements of the channel partners, and, in some cases, the Company guarantees a portion of these arrangements. The volume of channel partner financing was $6.3 billion and $5.8 billion for the three months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively. The volume of channel partner financing was $19.0 billion and $17.9 billion for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively. The balance of the channel partner financing subject to guarantees was $1.2 billion as of each April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 .
End-User Financing Guarantees   The Company also provides financing guarantees for third-party financing arrangements extended to end-user customers related to leases and loans, which typically have terms of up to three years . The volume of financing provided by third parties for leases and loans as to which the Company had provided guarantees was $22 million and $44 million for the three months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively, and was $87 million and $89 million for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Financing Guarantee Summary   The aggregate amounts of financing guarantees outstanding at April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , representing the total maximum potential future payments under financing arrangements with third parties along with the related deferred revenue, are summarized in the following table (in millions):

								
 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Maximum potential future payments relating to financing guarantees:	 	 	 	
Channel partner	$	299		 	$	263		
End user	138		 	202		
Total	$	437		 	$	465		
Deferred revenue associated with financing guarantees:	 	 	 	
Channel partner	$	(122	)	 	$	(127	)	
End user	(113	)	 	(166	)	
Total	$	(235	)	 	$	(293	)	
Maximum potential future payments relating to financing guarantees, net of associated deferred revenue	$	202		 	$	172		
Other Guarantees  The Company’s other guarantee arrangements as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 that were subject to recognition and disclosure requirements were not material.
		
(f)	Supplier Component Remediation Liability	
The Company has recorded in other current liabilities a liability for the expected remediation cost for certain products sold in prior fiscal years containing memory components manufactured by a single supplier between 2005 and 2010. These components are widely used across the industry and are included in a number of the Company's products. Defects in some of these components have caused products to fail after a power cycle event.  Defect rates due to this issue have been and are expected to be low. However, the Company has seen a small number of its customers experience a growing number of failures in their networks as a result of this component problem. Although the majority of these products are beyond the Company's warranty terms, the Company is proactively working with customers on mitigation. Prior to the second quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company had a liability of $63 million related to this issue for expected remediation costs based on the intended approach at that time. In February 2014, on the basis of the growing number of failures described above, the Company decided to expand its approach, which resulted in a charge to product cost of sales of $655 million being recorded for the second quarter of fiscal 2014. During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, an adjustment of $164 million  was recorded, which was a reduction to the liability to reflect net lower than estimated future costs to remediate the impacted customer products. The supplier component remediation liability as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 was $426 million and $670 million , respectively.
		
(g)	Indemnifications	
In the normal course of business, the Company indemnifies other parties, including customers, lessors, and parties to other transactions with the Company, with respect to certain matters. The Company has agreed to hold such parties harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations or covenants or out of intellectual property infringement or other claims made against certain parties. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made and the amount of the claim.
The Company has an obligation to indemnify certain expenses pursuant to such an agreement in, among other cases, a case involving certain of the Company’s service provider customers that are subject to patent infringement claims asserted by Sprint Communications Company, L.P. (“Sprint”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas filed on December 19, 2011 (including one case that was later transferred to the District of Delaware). Sprint alleges that the service providers infringe Sprint’s patents by offering Voice over Internet Protocol-based telephone services utilizing products provided by the Company and other manufacturers. Sprint is seeking monetary damages. Trial dates have been set for the first half of calendar year 2016 in the case proceeding in the District of Kansas. The trial in Delaware is scheduled for February 2017. The parties conducted mediations, and the Company participated through a mediation involving a service provider customer. Those particular mediations did not resolve the parties’ disputes, but the parties plan to engage in additional dispute resolution efforts, including participation by the Company. The Company believes that the service providers have strong defenses and that its products do not infringe the patents subject to the claims and/or that the patents are invalid. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the litigation process, which involves numerous defendants, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the ultimate outcome of this litigation at this time. Should the plaintiff prevail in litigation, mediation, or settlement, the Company, in accordance with its agreement, may have an obligation

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

to indemnify its service provider customers for damages, mediation awards, or settlement amounts arising from their use of Cisco products.
In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and directors, and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws contain similar indemnification obligations to the Company’s agents.
It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount under these indemnification agreements due to the Company’s limited history with prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Historically, payments made by the Company under these agreements have not had a material effect on the Company’s operating results, financial position, or cash flows.
		
(h)	Legal Proceedings	
Brazil  Brazilian authorities have investigated the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary and certain of its current and former employees, as well as a Brazilian importer of the Company’s products, and its affiliates and employees, relating to alleged evasion of import taxes and alleged improper transactions involving the subsidiary and the importer. Brazilian tax authorities have assessed claims against the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary based on a theory of joint liability with the Brazilian importer for import taxes, interest, and penalties. In addition to claims asserted by the Brazilian federal tax authorities in prior fiscal years, tax authorities from the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo have asserted similar claims on the same legal basis in prior fiscal years. In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Brazilian federal tax authorities asserted an additional claim against the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary based on a theory of joint liability with respect to an alleged underpayment of income taxes, social taxes, interest, and penalties by a Brazilian distributor.
The asserted claims by Brazilian federal tax authorities are for calendar years 2003 through 2008, and the asserted claims by the tax authorities from the state of Sao Paulo are for calendar years 2005 through 2007. The total asserted claims by Brazilian state and federal tax authorities aggregate to approximately $291 million for the alleged evasion of import and other taxes, approximately $1.1 billion for interest, and approximately $1.3 billion for various penalties, all determined using an exchange rate as of April 25, 2015 . The Company has completed a thorough review of the matters and believes the asserted claims against the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary are without merit, and the Company is defending the claims vigorously. While the Company believes there is no legal basis for the alleged liability, due to the complexities and uncertainty surrounding the judicial process in Brazil and the nature of the claims asserting joint liability with the importer, the Company is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome against its Brazilian subsidiary and is unable to reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any. The Company does not expect a final judicial determination for several years.
Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States  At the request of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Department of Justice, the Company is conducting an investigation into allegations which the Company and those agencies received regarding possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act involving business activities of the Company's operations in Russia and certain of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and by certain resellers of the Company’s products in those countries.  The Company takes any such allegations very seriously and is fully cooperating with and sharing the results of its investigation with the SEC and the Department of Justice.  While the outcome of the Company's investigation is currently not determinable, the Company does not expect that it will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The countries that are the subject of the investigation collectively comprise less than 2% of the Company’s revenues.
Rockstar  The Company and some of its service provider customers were subject to patent claims asserted in December 2013 in the Eastern District of Texas and the District of Delaware by subsidiaries of the Rockstar Consortium (“Rockstar”). Rockstar, whose members include Apple, Microsoft, LM Ericsson, Sony, and Blackberry, had purchased a portfolio of patents out of the Nortel Networks’ bankruptcy proceedings (the “Nortel Portfolio”). In connection with this matter, during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 the Company recorded a charge to product cost of sales of $188 million .
In December 2014, RPX Corporation (“RPX”) and Rockstar entered into an agreement, which closed on January 28, 2015, resulting in over 30 technology companies, including the Company and the various service provider customers described above, obtaining a license to the patents owned by Rockstar. The Company paid approximately $300 million in connection with this transaction, with the payment recorded against the amount previously reserved and as an intangible asset to be amortized over its estimated useful life. In connection with the closing of the transaction, Rockstar dismissed all litigation it had brought against the participating companies.
In addition, the Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including intellectual property litigation. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, the Company does not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

13.	Shareholders’ Equity	
		
(a)	Cash Dividends on Shares of Common Stock	
During the nine months ended April 25, 2015 , the Company declared and paid cash dividends of $0.59 per common share, or $3.0 billion , on the Company’s outstanding common stock. During the nine months ended April 26, 2014 , the Company declared and paid cash dividends of $0.53 per common share, or $2.8 billion , on the Company’s outstanding common stock.
Any future dividends will be subject to the approval of the Company's Board of Directors.
		
(b)	Stock Repurchase Program	
In September 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program. As of April 25, 2015 , the Company’s Board of Directors had authorized an aggregate repurchase of up to $97 billion of common stock under this program, and the remaining authorized repurchase amount was $5.3 billion , with no termination date. A summary of the stock repurchase activity under the stock repurchase program, reported based on the trade date, is summarized as follows (in millions, except per-share amounts):

											
 	Shares
Repurchased	 	Weighted-
Average Price
per Share	 	Amount
Repurchased	
Cumulative balance at July 26, 2014	4,288		 	$	20.63		 	$	88,445		
Repurchase of common stock under the stock repurchase program (1)	120		 	26.81		 	3,229		
Cumulative balance at April 25, 2015	4,408		 	$	20.80		 	$	91,674		
(1) Includes stock repurchases of $30 million , which were pending settlement as of April 25, 2015 . There were $126 million of stock repurchases that were pending settlement as of July 26, 2014 .
The purchase price for the shares of the Company’s stock repurchased is reflected as a reduction to shareholders’ equity. The Company is required to allocate the purchase price of the repurchased shares as (i) a reduction to retained earnings and (ii) a reduction of common stock and additional paid-in capital. Issuance of common stock and the tax benefit related to employee stock incentive plans are recorded as an increase to common stock and additional paid-in capital.
		
(c)	Restricted Stock Unit Withholdings	
For the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , the Company repurchased approximately 17 million and 14 million shares, or $415 million and $345 million , of common stock, respectively, in settlement of employee tax withholding obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock or stock units.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

14.	Employee Benefit Plans	
		
(a)	Employee Stock Incentive Plans	
Stock Incentive Plan Program Description     As of April 25, 2015 , the Company had four stock incentive plans: the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”); the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1996 Plan”); the Cisco Systems, Inc. SA Acquisition Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “SA Acquisition Plan”); and the Cisco Systems, Inc. WebEx Acquisition Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “WebEx Acquisition Plan”). In addition, the Company has, in connection with the acquisitions of various companies, assumed the share-based awards granted under stock incentive plans of the acquired companies or issued share-based awards in replacement thereof. Share-based awards are designed to reward employees for their long-term contributions to the Company and provide incentives for them to remain with the Company. The number and frequency of share-based awards are based on competitive practices, operating results of the Company, government regulations, and other factors. Since the inception of the stock incentive plans, the Company has granted share-based awards to a significant percentage of its employees, and the majority has been granted to employees below the vice president level. The Company’s primary stock incentive plans are summarized as follows:
2005 Plan    As of April 25, 2015 , the maximum number of shares issuable under the 2005 Plan over its term was 694 million shares, plus the number of any shares underlying awards outstanding on November 15, 2007 under the 1996 Plan, the SA Acquisition Plan, and the WebEx Acquisition Plan that are forfeited or are terminated for any other reason before being exercised or settled. If any awards granted under the 2005 Plan are forfeited or are terminated for any other reason before being exercised or settled, the unexercised or unsettled shares underlying the awards will again be available under the 2005 Plan. Starting November 19, 2013, shares withheld by the Company from an award other than a stock option or stock appreciation right to satisfy withholding tax liabilities resulting from such award will again be available for issuance, based on the fungible share ratio in effect on the date of grant.
Pursuant to an amendment approved by the Company’s shareholders on November 12, 2009, the number of shares available for issuance under the 2005 Plan is reduced by 1.5 shares for each share awarded as a stock grant or a stock unit, and any shares underlying awards outstanding under the 1996 Plan, the SA Acquisition Plan, and the WebEx Acquisition Plan that expire unexercised at the end of their maximum terms become available for reissuance under the 2005 Plan. The 2005 Plan permits the granting of stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units (RSUs), the vesting of which may be performance-based or market-based along with the requisite service requirement, and stock appreciation rights to employees (including employee directors and officers), consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and non-employee directors of the Company. Stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2005 Plan have an exercise price of at least 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date and prior to November 12, 2009 have an expiration date no later than nine years from the grant date. The expiration date for stock options and stock appreciation rights granted subsequent to the amendment approved on November 12, 2009 shall be no later than 10 years from the grant date.
The stock options will generally become exercisable for 20% or 25% of the option shares one year from the date of grant and then ratably over the following 48 months or 36 months , respectively. Time-based stock grants and time-based RSUs will generally vest with respect to 20% or 25% of the shares or share units covered by the grant on each of the first through fifth or fourth anniversaries of the date of the grant, respectively. The majority of the performance-based and market-based RSUs vest at the end of the three -year requisite service period or earlier if the award recipient meets certain retirement eligibility conditions. Other performance-based RSUs, that are based on the achievement of financial and/or non-financial operating goals, typically vest upon the achievement of milestones (and may require subsequent service periods), with overall vesting ranging from six months to three years. The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors has the discretion to use different vesting schedules. Stock appreciation rights may be awarded in combination with stock options or stock grants, and such awards shall provide that the stock appreciation rights will not be exercisable unless the related stock options or stock grants are forfeited. Stock grants may be awarded in combination with non-statutory stock options, and such awards may provide that the stock grants will be forfeited in the event that the related non-statutory stock options are exercised.
1996 Plan   The 1996 Plan expired on December 31, 2006 , and the Company can no longer make equity awards under the 1996 Plan. The maximum number of shares issuable over the term of the 1996 Plan was 2.5 billion shares. Stock options granted under the 1996 Plan have an exercise price of at least 100% of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date and expire no later than nine years from the grant date. The stock options generally became exercisable for 20% or 25% of the option shares one year from the date of grant and then ratably over the following 48 months or 36 months , respectively. Certain other grants utilized a 60-month ratable vesting schedule. In addition, the Board of Directors, or other committees administering the 1996 Plan, had the discretion to use a different vesting schedule and did so from time to time.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Acquisition Plans In connection with the Company’s acquisitions of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (“Scientific-Atlanta”) and WebEx Communications, Inc. (“WebEx”), the Company adopted the SA Acquisition Plan and the WebEx Acquisition Plan, respectively, each effective upon completion of the applicable acquisition. These plans constitute assumptions, amendments, restatements, and renamings of the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Scientific-Atlanta and the WebEx Communications, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, respectively. The plans permit the grant of stock options, stock, stock units, and stock appreciation rights to certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates who had been employed by Scientific-Atlanta or its subsidiaries or WebEx or its subsidiaries, as applicable. As a result of the shareholder approval of the amendment and extension of the 2005 Plan, as of November 15, 2007, the Company will no longer make stock option grants or direct share issuances under either the SA Acquisition Plan or the WebEx Acquisition Plan.
		
(b)	Employee Stock Purchase Plan	
The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which includes its subplan named the International Employee Stock Purchase Plan (together, the “Purchase Plan”), under which 621 million shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance as of April 25, 2015 . Eligible employees are offered shares through a 24-month offering period, which consists of four consecutive 6-month purchase periods .  Employees may purchase a limited number of shares of the Company’s stock at a discount of up to 15% of the lesser of the market value at the beginning of the offering period or the end of each 6-month purchase period.  The Purchase Plan is scheduled to terminate on January 3, 2020 .  The Company issued 14 million shares under the Purchase Plan during each of the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 . As of April 25, 2015 , 161 million shares were available for issuance under the Purchase Plan.
		
(c)	Summary of Share-Based Compensation Expense	
Share-based compensation expense consists primarily of expenses for stock options, stock purchase rights, restricted stock, and restricted stock units granted to employees. The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense (in millions):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Cost of sales—product	$	12		 	$	12		 	$	34		 	$	34		
Cost of sales—service	44		 	39		 	115		 	112		
Share-based compensation expense in cost of sales	56		 	51		 	149		 	146		
Research and development	114		 	106		 	338		 	306		
Sales and marketing	147		 	144		 	408		 	408		
General and administrative	50		 	52		 	151		 	153		
Restructuring and other charges	—		 	—		 	(2	)	 	(4	)	
Share-based compensation expense in operating expenses	311		 	302		 	895		 	863		
Total share-based compensation expense	$	367		 	$	353		 	$	1,044		 	$	1,009		
Income tax benefit for share-based compensation	$	88		 	$	86		 	$	267		 	$	246		
As of April 25, 2015 , the total compensation cost related to unvested share-based awards not yet recognized was $2.4 billion , which is expected to be recognized over approximately 2.5 years on a weighted-average basis.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(d)	Share-Based Awards Available for Grant	
A summary of share-based awards available for grant is as follows (in millions):

			
 	Share-Based
Awards Available
for Grant	
BALANCE AT JULY 27, 2013	228		
Restricted stock, stock units, and other share-based awards granted	(98	)	
Share-based awards canceled/forfeited/expired	36		
Additional shares reserved	135		
Shares withheld for taxes and not issued	6		
Other	3		
BALANCE AT JULY 26, 2014	310		
Restricted stock, stock units, and other share-based awards granted	(79	)	
Share-based awards canceled/forfeited/expired	33		
Shares withheld for taxes and not issued	23		
Other	(2	)	
BALANCE AT APRIL 25, 2015	285		
As reflected in the preceding table, for each share awarded as restricted stock or subject to a restricted stock unit award under the 2005 Plan, an equivalent of 1.5 shares was deducted from the available share-based award balance. For restricted stock units that were awarded with vesting contingent upon the achievement of future financial performance or market-based metrics, the maximum awards that can be achieved upon full vesting of such awards were reflected in the preceding table.
		
(e)	Restricted Stock and Stock Unit Awards	
A summary of the restricted stock and stock unit activity, which includes time-based and performance-based or market-based restricted stock units, is as follows (in millions, except per-share amounts): 

											
 	Restricted Stock/
Stock Units	 	Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair
Value per Share	 	Aggregated Fair
Market Value	
UNVESTED BALANCE AT JULY 27, 2013	143		 	$	18.80		 	 	
Granted and assumed	72		 	20.85		 	 	
Vested	(53	)	 	19.55		 	$	1,229		
Canceled/forfeited	(13	)	 	18.61		 	 	
UNVESTED BALANCE AT JULY 26, 2014	149		 	19.54		 	 	
Granted and assumed	52		 	24.68		 	 	
Vested	(46	)	 	19.57		 	$	1,191		
Canceled/forfeited	(14	)	 	19.91		 	 	
UNVESTED BALANCE AT APRIL 25, 2015	141		 	$	21.40		 	 	

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(f)	Stock Option Awards	
A summary of the stock option activity is as follows (in millions, except per-share amounts): 

							
 	STOCK OPTIONS OUTSTANDING	
 	Number
Outstanding	 	Weighted-Average
Exercise Price per Share	
BALANCE AT JULY 27, 2013	276		 	$	24.44		
Assumed from acquisitions	6		 	3.60		
Exercised	(78	)	 	18.30		
Canceled/forfeited/expired	(17	)	 	27.53		
BALANCE AT JULY 26, 2014	187		 	26.03		
Assumed from acquisitions	1		 	2.72		
Exercised	(64	)	 	21.05		
Canceled/forfeited/expired	(12	)	 	29.55		
BALANCE AT APRIL 25, 2015	112		 	$	28.26		

The following table summarizes significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable stock options as of April 25, 2015 (in millions, except years and share prices): 

																									
 	 	STOCK OPTIONS OUTSTANDING	 	STOCK OPTIONS EXERCISABLE	
Range of Exercise Prices	 	Number
Outstanding	 	Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in Years)	 	Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share	 	Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value	 	Number
Exercisable	 	Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share	 	Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value	
$   0.01 – 20.00	 	5		 	4.6	 	$	6.46		 	$	116		 	4		 	$	8.51		 	$	69		
$ 20.01 – 25.00	 	24		 	0.6	 	22.99		 	140		 	24		 	22.99		 	140		
$ 25.01 – 30.00	 	15		 	1.3	 	26.79		 	33		 	15		 	26.79		 	33		
$ 30.01 – 35.00	 	68		 	1.3	 	32.16		 	—		 	68		 	32.16		 	—		
Total	 	112		 	1.3	 	$	28.26		 	$	289		 	111		 	$	28.68		 	$	242		
The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $28.82 as of April 24, 2015, that would have been received by the option holders had those option holders exercised their stock options as of that date. The total number of in-the-money stock options exercisable as of April 25, 2015 was 41 million . As of July 26, 2014 , 183 million outstanding stock options were exercisable, and the weighted-average exercise price was $26.50 .

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(g)	Valuation of Employee Share-Based Awards	
Time-based restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units (PRSUs) that are based on the Company’s financial performance metrics or non-financial operating goals are valued using the market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, discounted for the present value of expected dividends. On the date of grant, the Company estimated the fair value of the total shareholder return (TSR) component of the PRSUs using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The assumptions for the valuation of time-based RSUs and PRSUs are summarized as follows:

																
 	RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS	 	PERFORMANCE
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS	
Three Months Ended	April 25, 2015	 	April 26, 2014	 	April 25, 2015	 	April 26, 2014	
Number of shares granted (in millions)	33		 	6		 	1		 	2		
Grant date fair value per share	$	25.31		 	$	19.95		 	$	25.87		 	$	19.85		
Weighted-average assumptions/inputs:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
   Expected dividend yield	2.8	%	 	3.1	%	 	3.0	%	 	3.5	%	
   Range of risk-free interest rates	0.0% –  1.4%		 	0.0% – 1.7%		 	0.0% –  1.4%		 	0.1% – 1.7%		
   Range of expected volatilities for index	N/A		 	N/A		 	N/A		 	N/A		

																
	RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS	 	PERFORMANCE
RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS	
Nine Months Ended	April 25, 2015		April 26, 2014		April 25, 2015	 	April 26, 2014	
Number of shares granted (in millions)	44			53			8		 	6		
Grant date fair value per share	$	24.83			$	20.50			$	23.97		 	$	21.73		
Weighted-average assumptions/inputs:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
   Expected dividend yield	2.9	%		3.1	%		3.0	%	 	2.7	%	
   Range of risk-free interest rates	0.0% –  1.8%			0.0% – 1.7%			0.0% –  1.8%		 	0.0% –  1.7%		
   Range of expected volatilities for index	N/A		 	N/A		 	14.4% – 70.0%		 	17.4% – 70.5%		
The PRSUs granted during the periods presented are contingent on the achievement of the Company’s financial performance metrics, its comparative market-based returns, or the achievement of financial and non-financial operating goals. For the awards based on financial performance metrics or comparative market-based returns, generally 50% of the PRSUs are earned based on the average of annual operating cash flow and earnings per share goals established at the beginning of each fiscal year over a three-year performance period. Generally, the remaining 50% of the PRSUs are earned based on the Company’s TSR measured against the benchmark TSR of a peer group over the same period. Each PRSU recipient could vest in 0% to 150% of the target shares granted contingent on the achievement of the Company's financial performance metrics or its comparative market-based returns and 0% to 100% of the target shares granted contingent on the achievement of non-financial operating goals.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

15.	Comprehensive Income	

The components of AOCI, net of tax, and the other comprehensive income (loss), excluding noncontrolling interest, for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 are summarized as follows (in millions):

																
 	Net Unrealized Gains on Investments	 	Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Cash Flow Hedging Instruments	 	Cumulative Translation Adjustment and Actuarial Gains (Losses)	 	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	
BALANCE AT JULY 26, 2014	$	424		 	$	(12	)	 	$	265		 	$	677		
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications attributable to Cisco Systems, Inc.	111		 	(163	)	 	(473	)	 	(525	)	
(Gains) losses reclassified out of AOCI	(120	)	 	94		 	—		 	(26	)	
Tax benefit (expense)	8		 	3		 	50		 	61		
BALANCE AT APRIL 25, 2015	$	423		 	$	(78	)	 	$	(158	)	 	$	187		

																
 	Net Unrealized Gains on Investments	 	Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Cash Flow Hedging Instruments	 	Cumulative Translation Adjustment and Actuarial Gains (Losses)	 	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	
BALANCE AT JULY 27, 2013	$	379		 	$	8		 	$	221		 	$	608		
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications attributable to Cisco Systems, Inc.	339		 	46		 	32		 	417		
(Gains) losses reclassified out of AOCI	(234	)	 	(44	)	 	—		 	(278	)	
Tax benefit (expense)	(43	)	 	(2	)	 	(5	)	 	(50	)	
BALANCE AT APRIL 26, 2014	$	441		 	$	8			$	248		 	$	697		

The net gains (losses) reclassified out of other comprehensive income into the Consolidated Statements of Operations, with line item location, during each period were as follows (in millions):

																			
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	 	 	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	 	
Comprehensive Income Components	 	Income Before Taxes	 	Income Before Taxes	 	Line Item in Statements of Operations	
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	$	44		 	$	69		 	$	120		 	$	234		 	Other income (loss), net	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net unrealized gains and (losses) on cash flow hedging instruments:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency derivatives	 	(50	)	 	13		 	(74	)	 	36		 	Operating expenses	
Foreign currency derivatives	 	(14	)	 	3		 	(20	)	 	8		 	Cost of sales—service	
 	 	(64	)		16			(94	)	 	44		 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total amounts reclassified out of AOCI	 	$	(20	)		$	85			$	26		 	$	278		 	 	

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

16.	Income Taxes	
The following table provides details of income taxes (in millions, except percentages):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Income before provision for income taxes	$	3,035		 	$	2,642		 	$	8,268		 	$	6,937		
Provision for income taxes	$	598		 	$	461		 	$	1,606		 	$	1,331		
Effective tax rate	19.7	%	 	17.4	%	 	19.4	%	 	19.2	%	

During the nine months ended April 25, 2015, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 reinstated the U.S. federal R&D tax credit for calendar year 2014 R&D expenses.  As a result, the effective tax rate for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 reflected tax benefits related to fiscal 2015 R&D expenses and a tax benefit of $91 million related to fiscal 2014 R&D expenses.
As of April 25, 2015 , the Company had $2.0 billion of unrecognized tax benefits, of which $1.8 billion , if recognized, would favorably impact the effective tax rate. The Company regularly engages in discussions and negotiations with tax authorities regarding tax matters in various jurisdictions. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that certain federal, foreign, and state tax matters may be concluded in the next 12 months. Specific positions that may be resolved include issues involving transfer pricing and various other matters. Accordingly, the Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits at April 25, 2015 could be reduced in the next 12 months by approximately $900 million , a portion of which could increase earnings.

17.	Segment Information and Major Customers	
		
(a)	Revenue and Gross Margin by Segment	
The Company conducts business globally and is primarily managed on a geographic basis consisting of three segments: the Americas, EMEA, and APJC. The Company’s management makes financial decisions and allocates resources based on the information it receives from its internal management system. Sales are attributed to a segment based on the ordering location of the customer. The Company does not allocate research and development, sales and marketing, or general and administrative expenses to its segments in this internal management system because management does not include the information in its measurement of the performance of the operating segments. In addition, the Company does not allocate amortization and impairment of acquisition-related intangible assets, share-based compensation expense, significant litigation and other contingencies, impacts to cost of sales from purchase accounting adjustments to inventory, charges related to asset impairments and restructurings, and certain other charges to the gross margin for each segment because management does not include this information in its measurement of the performance of the operating segments.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Summarized financial information by segment for the three and nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , based on the Company’s internal management system and as utilized by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), is as follows (in millions):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Revenue:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Americas	$	7,252		 	$	6,689		 	$	21,854		 	$	20,465		
EMEA	3,119		 	3,068		 	9,212		 	8,897		
APJC	1,766		 	1,788		 	5,252		 	5,423		
Total	$	12,137		 	$	11,545		 	$	36,318		 	$	34,785		
Gross margin:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Americas	$	4,560		 	$	4,196		 	$	13,776		 	$	12,823		
EMEA	1,949		 	1,967		 	5,774		 	5,725		
APJC	1,080		 	1,076		 	3,157		 	3,148		
Segment total	7,589		 	7,239		 	22,707		 	21,696		
Unallocated corporate items	(64	)	 	(233	)	 	(759	)	 	(1,332	)	
Total	$	7,525		 	$	7,006		 	$	21,948		 	$	20,364		
Revenue in the United States was $6.4 billion and $5.9 billion for the three months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively, and was $19.1 billion and $17.9 billion for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , respectively.

(b)	Revenue for Groups of Similar Products and Services	
The Company designs, manufactures, and sells Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and IT industry and provides services associated with these products and their use. The Company groups its products and technologies into the following categories: Switching, NGN Routing, Collaboration, Service Provider Video, Data Center, Wireless, Security, and Other Products. These products, primarily integrated by Cisco IOS Software, link geographically dispersed local-area networks (LANs), metropolitan-area networks (MANs), and wide-area networks (WANs).
The following table presents revenue for groups of similar products and services (in millions):

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Revenue:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Switching	$	3,560		 	$	3,368		 	$	11,022		 	$	10,366		
NGN Routing	1,999		 	1,925		 	5,712		 	5,681		
Collaboration	973		 	909		 	2,912		 	2,859		
Service Provider Video	914		 	961		 	2,561		 	2,905		
Data Center	801		 	662		 	2,340		 	1,868		
Wireless	611		 	560		 	1,827		 	1,624		
Security	412		 	361		 	1,283		 	1,119		
Other	56		 	74		 	182		 	218		
Product	9,326		 	8,820		 	27,839		 	26,640		
Service	2,811		 	2,725		 	8,479		 	8,145		
Total	$	12,137		 	$	11,545		 	$	36,318		 	$	34,785		
The Company has made certain reclassifications to the product revenue amounts for prior periods to conform to the current period’s presentation.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

		
(c)	Additional Segment Information	
The majority of the Company’s assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents and investments, as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 were attributable to its U.S. operations. The Company’s total cash and cash equivalents and investments held by various foreign subsidiaries were $51.8 billion and $47.4 billion as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively, and the remaining $2.6 billion and $4.7 billion at the respective period ends were available in the United States.
Property and equipment information is based on the physical location of the assets. The following table presents property and equipment information for geographic areas (in millions):

								
 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Property and equipment, net:	 	 	 	
United States	$	2,709		 	$	2,697		
International	567		 	555		
Total	$	3,276		 	$	3,252		

18.	Net Income per Share	
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share (in millions, except per-share amounts): 

																
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Net income	$	2,437		 	$	2,181		 	$	6,662		 	$	5,606		
Weighted-average shares—basic	5,102		 	5,143		 	5,110		 	5,271		
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	46		 	37		 	44		 	40		
Weighted-average shares—diluted	5,148		 	5,180		 	5,154		 	5,311		
Net income per share—basic	$	0.48		 	$	0.42		 	$	1.30		 	$	1.06		
Net income per share—diluted	$	0.47		 	$	0.42		 	$	1.29		 	$	1.06		
Antidilutive employee share-based awards, excluded	75		 	240		 	156		 	331		
Employee equity share options, unvested shares, and similar equity instruments granted by the Company are treated as potential common shares outstanding in computing diluted earnings per share. Diluted shares outstanding include the dilutive effect of in-the-money options, unvested restricted stock, and restricted stock units. The dilutive effect of such equity awards is calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the amount the employee must pay for exercising stock options, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital when the award becomes deductible are collectively assumed to be used to repurchase shares.

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Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “continues,” “endeavors,” “strives,” “may,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified below, under “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and elsewhere herein. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

OVERVIEW
We design, manufacture, and sell Internet Protocol (IP) based networking products and services related to the communications and information technology (IT) industry. Our customers include businesses of all sizes, public institutions, telecommunications companies, other service providers and individuals. We connect people, process, data and things with products that transport data, voice, and video within buildings, across campuses, and around the world. We are a key strategic partner to companies that helps them as they seek to make the most of the Internet of Everything (IoE) and connect the unconnected.

A summary of our results is as follows (in millions, except percentages and per-share amounts):

																								
 	Three Months Ended	 	 	Nine Months Ended	 	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance	 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance	 	
Revenue	$	12,137		 	$	11,545		 	5.1	 %	 	 	$	36,318		 	$	34,785		 	4.4	 %	 	
Gross margin percentage	62.0	%	 	60.7	%	 	1.3		pts	 	60.4	%	 	58.5	%	 	1.9		pts	
Research and development	$	1,547		 	$	1,565		 	(1.2	)%	 	 	$	4,659		 	$	4,701		 	(0.9	)%	 	
Sales and marketing	$	2,449		 	$	2,342		 	4.6	 %	 	 	$	7,272		 	$	7,030		 	3.4	 %	 	
General and administrative	$	510		 	$	460		 	10.9	 %	 	 	$	1,504		 	$	1,426		 	5.5	 %	 	
Total R&D, sales and marketing, general and administrative	$	4,506		 	$	4,367		 	3.2	 %	 	 	$	13,435		 	$	13,157		 	2.1	 %	 	
Total as a percentage of revenue	37.1	%	 	37.8	%	 	(0.7	)	pts 	 	37.0	%	 	37.8	%	 	(0.8	)	pts 	
Amortization of purchased intangible assets included in operating expenses	$	70		 	$	71		 	(1.4	)%	 	 	$	213		 	$	207		 	2.9	 %	 	
Restructuring and other charges	$	24		 	$	26		 	(7.7	)%	 	 	$	411		 	$	336		 	22.3	 %	 	
Operating income as a percentage of revenue	24.1	%	 	22.0	%	 	2.1		pts	 	21.7	%	 	19.2	%	 	2.5		pts	
Income tax percentage	19.7	%	 	17.4	%	 	2.3		pts	 	19.4	%	 	19.2	%	 	0.2		pts	
Net income	$	2,437		 	$	2,181		 	11.7	 %	 	 	$	6,662		 	$	5,606		 	18.8	 %	 	
Net income as a percentage of revenue	20.1	%	 	18.9	%	 	1.2		pts	 	18.3	%	 	16.1	%	 	2.2		pts	
Earnings per share—diluted	$	0.47		 	$	0.42		 	11.9	 %	 	 	$	1.29		 	$	1.06		 	21.7	 %	 	

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
In the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , revenue increased by 5% as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Within the total revenue change, product revenue increased 6% while service revenue increased 3% . Total gross margin increased by 1.3 percentage points, as we experienced stable gross margins and a favorable impact from the supplier component remediation adjustment of $164 million, or 1.4 percentage points. As a percentage of revenue, research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses, collectively, decreased by 0.7 percentage points. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased by 2.1 percentage points. Diluted earnings per share increased by 12% from the prior year, driven by a 12% increase in net income.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , total revenue increased by $0.6 billion as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Revenue for the Americas increased by $0.6 billion , driven in large part by higher product revenue in the United States. EMEA revenue increased by $0.1 billion , led by higher product revenue in the United Kingdom. Revenue in our APJC segment decreased slightly, led by a product revenue decline in China. We experienced decreased product revenue in the emerging countries of China, Brazil and Russia and increased revenue in Mexico and India, as the “BRICM” countries experienced, in the aggregate, product revenue decline of 6%. We believe that the product revenue declines we experienced in various emerging countries reflected the impact of economic and geopolitical challenges in these countries.
From a customer market standpoint, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 we experienced solid product revenue growth in the commercial and enterprise markets, while the public sector and service provider markets were relatively flat.
From a product category perspective, the product revenue increase of 6% year-over-year was driven by product revenue growth in our core Switching and NGN Routing products which grew 6% and 4% , respectively. We also experienced 21% revenue growth from Data Center products due to continued strong customer demand. Our other major product categories experienced revenue changes ranging from a 14% increase in Security to a 5% decrease in Service Provider Video. Service revenue increased by 3% year over year.
In summary, during the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , we achieved solid and profitable revenue growth despite encountering similar challenges that we have experienced in recent quarters in service provider and certain emerging countries. While we expect that these challenges may continue for a few more quarters, we believe we are well positioned for an upturn in these areas.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Diluted earnings per share increased by 22% from the prior year, a result of both a 19% increase in net income and a decrease in diluted share count by 157 million shares. Revenue increased 4% , with product revenue increasing 5% and service revenue increasing 4% . Total gross margin increased by 1.9 percentage points driven in part by the $655 million (or 1.9 percentage points) supplier component remediation charge recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 . As a percentage of revenue, research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses collectively decreased by 0.8 percentage points, driven by higher compensation expense recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 in connection with our acquisition of the remaining interest in Insieme. Operating income as a percentage of revenue increased by 2.5 percentage points.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Strategy and Focus Areas
Our strategy is to deliver the integrated architectures, solutions, and outcomes to help our customers grow, manage costs, and mitigate risk. We see our customers, in almost every industry, becoming increasingly reliant on technology—and specifically the network—to meet their business objectives and compete successfully in the market.
Our focus continues to be on capitalizing on market transitions to maintain leadership in our core markets and to enter new markets where the network is foundational. We believe this focus best positions us to become a more relevant and trusted partner to our customers and to expand our share of our customers’ IT spending. We are focused on driving the innovation, speed, agility, and efficiencies in our company required to deliver leading technology solutions for our customers and shareholder value for our investors.
Over the last few years, we have been working to transform our business to move from selling individual products and services to selling products and services integrated into architectures and solutions, as well as to meet customers' business outcomes. As a part of this transformation, we are making changes to how we are organized and how we deliver our technology. We believe these changes enable us to better meet our customers’ requirements and help them stay ahead of market transitions.
For a full discussion of our strategy and focus areas, see Item 1. Business in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 26, 2014.
Other Key Financial Measures
The following is a summary of our other key financial measures for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 (in millions, except days sales outstanding in accounts receivable (DSO) and annualized inventory turns):

									
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Cash and cash equivalents and investments	 	$	54,419		 	$	52,074		
Deferred revenue	 	$	14,181		 	$	14,142		
DSO	 	37 days		 	38 days		
Inventories	 	$	1,760		 	$	1,591		
Annualized inventory turns	 	10.1		 	12.7		

	
									
 	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Cash provided by operating activities	 	$	8,414		 	$	8,720		
Repurchases of common stock—stock repurchase program	 	$	3,229		 	$	8,025		
Dividends	 	$	3,017		 	$	2,784		

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 26, 2014, as updated as applicable in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein, describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The accounting policies described below are significantly affected by critical accounting estimates. Such accounting policies require significant judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and actual results could differ materially from the amounts reported based on these policies.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when all of the following criteria have been met:
		
•	Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists. Contracts, Internet commerce agreements, and customer purchase orders are generally used to determine the existence of an arrangement.	
		
•	Delivery has occurred. Shipping documents and customer acceptance, when applicable, are used to verify delivery.	
		
•	The fee is fixed or determinable. We assess whether the fee is fixed or determinable based on the payment terms associated with the transaction and whether the sales price is subject to refund or adjustment.	
		
•	Collectibility is reasonably assured. We assess collectibility based primarily on the creditworthiness of the customer as determined by credit checks and analysis, as well as the customer’s payment history.	
In instances where final acceptance of the product, system, or solution is specified by the customer, revenue is deferred until all acceptance criteria have been met. When a sale involves multiple deliverables, such as sales of products that include services, the multiple deliverables are evaluated to determine the unit of accounting, and the entire fee from the arrangement is allocated to each unit of accounting based on the relative selling price. Revenue is recognized when the revenue recognition criteria for each unit of accounting are met. For hosting arrangements, we recognize subscription revenue ratably over the subscription period, while usage revenue is recognized based on utilization. Software subscription revenue is deferred and recognized ratably over the subscription term upon delivery of the first product and commencement of the term.
The amount of product and service revenue recognized in a given period is affected by our judgment as to whether an arrangement includes multiple deliverables and, if so, our valuation of the units of accounting for multiple deliverables. According to the accounting guidance prescribed in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 605, Revenue Recognition , we use vendor-specific objective evidence of selling price (VSOE) for each of those units, when available. We determine VSOE based on our normal pricing and discounting practices for the specific product or service when sold separately. In determining VSOE, we require that a substantial majority of the historical standalone transactions have the selling prices for a product or service fall within a reasonably narrow pricing range, generally evidenced by approximately 80% of such historical standalone transactions falling within plus or minus 15% of the median rates. When VSOE does not exist, we apply the selling price hierarchy to applicable multiple-deliverable arrangements. Under the selling price hierarchy, third-party evidence of selling price (TPE) will be considered if VSOE does not exist, and estimated selling price (ESP) will be used if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. Generally, we are not able to determine TPE because our go-to-market strategy differs from that of others in our markets, and the extent of our proprietary technology varies among comparable products or services from those of our peers. In determining ESP, we apply significant judgment as we weigh a variety of factors, based on the facts and circumstances of the arrangement. We typically arrive at an ESP for a product or service that is not sold separately by considering company-specific factors such as geographies, competitive landscape, internal costs, profitability objectives, pricing practices used to establish bundled pricing, and existing portfolio pricing and discounting.
Some of our sales arrangements have multiple deliverables containing software and related software support components. Such sales arrangements are subject to the accounting guidance in ASC 985-605, Software-Revenue Recognition .
As our business and offerings evolve over time, our pricing practices may be required to be modified accordingly, which could result in changes in selling prices, including both VSOE and ESP, in subsequent periods. There were no material impacts during the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , nor do we currently expect a material impact in the next 12 months on our revenue recognition due to any changes in our VSOE, TPE, or ESP.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Revenue deferrals relate to the timing of revenue recognition for specific transactions based on financing arrangements, service, support, and other factors. Financing arrangements may include sales-type, direct-financing, and operating leases, loans, and guarantees of third-party financing. Our deferred revenue for products was $4.9 billion and $4.5 billion as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively. Technical support services revenue is deferred and recognized ratably over the period during which the services are to be performed, which typically is from one to three years. Advanced services revenue is recognized upon delivery or completion of performance. Our deferred revenue for services was $9.2 billion and $9.6 billion as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively.
We make sales to distributors which we refer to as two-tier systems of sales to the end customer. Revenue from distributors is recognized based on a sell-through method using information provided by them. Our distributors participate in various cooperative marketing and other programs, and we maintain estimated accruals and allowances for these programs. If actual credits received by our distributors under these programs were to deviate significantly from our estimates, which are based on historical experience, our revenue could be adversely affected.
Allowances for Receivables and Sales Returns
The allowances for receivables were as follows (in millions, except percentages):

									
   	 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Allowance for doubtful accounts	 	$	290		 	$	265		
Percentage of gross accounts receivable	 	5.6	%	 	4.9	%	
Allowance for credit loss—lease receivables	 	$	242		 	$	233		
Percentage of gross lease receivables (1)  	 	6.9	%	 	6.2	%	
Allowance for credit loss—loan receivables	 	$	80		 	$	98		
Percentage of gross loan receivables	 	4.7	%	 	5.8	%	
(1) Calculated as allowance for credit loss on lease receivables as a percentage of gross lease receivables before unearned income.
The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on our assessment of the collectibility of customer accounts. We regularly review the adequacy of these allowances by considering internal factors such as historical experience, credit quality and age of the receivable balances as well as external factors such as economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay and expected default frequency rates, which are published by major third-party credit-rating agencies and are generally updated on a quarterly basis. We also consider the concentration of receivables outstanding with a particular customer in assessing the adequacy of our allowances for doubtful accounts. If a major customer’s creditworthiness deteriorates, if actual defaults are higher than our historical experience, or if other circumstances arise, our estimates of the recoverability of amounts due to us could be overstated, and additional allowances could be required, which could have an adverse impact on our operating results.
The allowance for credit loss on financing receivables is also based on the assessment of collectibility of customer accounts. We regularly review the adequacy of the credit allowances determined either on an individual or a collective basis. When evaluating the financing receivables on an individual basis, we consider historical experience, credit quality and age of receivable balances, and economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. When evaluating financing receivables on a collective basis, we use expected default frequency rates published by a major third-party credit-rating agency as well as our own historical loss rate in the event of default, while also systematically giving effect to economic conditions, concentration of risk and correlation. Determining expected default frequency rates and loss factors associated with internal credit risk ratings, as well as assessing factors such as economic conditions, concentration of risk, and correlation, are complex and subjective. Our ongoing consideration of all these factors could result in an increase in our allowance for credit loss in the future, which could adversely affect our operating results. Both accounts receivable and financing receivables are charged off at the point when they are considered uncollectible.
A reserve for future sales returns is established based on historical trends in product return rates. The reserve for future sales returns as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 was $130 million and $135 million , respectively, and was recorded as a reduction of our accounts receivable. If the actual future returns were to deviate from the historical data on which the reserve had been established, our revenue could be adversely affected.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Inventory Valuation and Liability for Purchase Commitments with Contract Manufacturers and Suppliers
Our inventory balance was $1.8 billion and $1.6 billion as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively. Inventory is written down based on excess and obsolete inventories, determined primarily by future demand forecasts. Inventory write-downs are measured as the difference between the cost of the inventory and market, based upon assumptions about future demand, and are charged to the provision for inventory, which is a component of our cost of sales. At the point of the loss recognition, a new, lower cost basis for that inventory is established, and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
We record a liability for firm, noncancelable, and unconditional purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers for quantities in excess of our future demand forecasts consistent with the valuation of our excess and obsolete inventory. As of April 25, 2015 , the liability for these purchase commitments was $153 million , compared with $162 million as of July 26, 2014 , and was included in other current liabilities.
Our provision for inventory was $42 million and $53 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 , respectively. The provision for the liability related to purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers was $79 million and $94 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 , respectively. If there were to be a sudden and significant decrease in demand for our products, or if there were a higher incidence of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements, we could be required to increase our inventory write-downs, and our liability for purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers, and accordingly our profitability, could be adversely affected. We regularly evaluate our exposure for inventory write-downs and the adequacy of our liability for purchase commitments. Inventory and supply chain management remain areas of focus as we balance the need to maintain supply chain flexibility to help ensure competitive lead times with the risk of inventory obsolescence, particularly in light of current macroeconomic uncertainties and conditions and the resulting potential for changes in future demand forecast.
Loss Contingencies and Product Warranties
We are subject to the possibility of various losses arising in the ordinary course of business. We consider the likelihood of impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability, as well as our ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss, in determining loss contingencies. An estimated loss contingency is accrued when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We regularly evaluate information available to us to determine whether such accruals should be made or adjusted and whether new accruals are required.
Third parties, including customers, have in the past and may in the future assert claims or initiate litigation related to exclusive patent, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights to technologies and related standards that are relevant to us. These assertions have increased over time as a result of our growth and the general increase in the pace of patent claims assertions, particularly in the United States. If any infringement or other intellectual property claim made against us by any third party is successful, or if we fail to develop non-infringing technology or license the proprietary rights on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
We have recorded a liability for the expected remediation cost for certain products sold in prior fiscal years containing memory components manufactured by a single supplier between 2005 and 2010. In February 2014, on the basis of the growing number of failures as described in Note 12 (f) to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we decided to expand our approach, which resulted in a charge to product cost of sales of $655 million being recorded for the second quarter of fiscal 2014. During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we recorded an adjustment of $164 million, which was a reduction to the liability, to reflect net lower than estimated future costs to remediate the impacted customer products. Estimating this liability is complex and subjective, and if we experience changes in a number of underlying assumptions and estimates such as a change in claims compared with our expectations, or if the cost of servicing these claims is different than expected, our estimated liability may be impacted.
Our liability for product warranties, included in other current liabilities, was $451 million as of April 25, 2015 , compared with $446 million as of July 26, 2014 . Our products are generally covered by a warranty for periods ranging from 90 days to five years, and for some products we provide a limited lifetime warranty. We accrue for warranty costs as part of our cost of sales based on associated material costs, technical support labor costs, and associated overhead. Material cost is estimated based primarily upon historical trends in the volume of product returns within the warranty period and the cost to repair or replace the equipment. Technical support labor cost is estimated based primarily upon historical trends in the rate of customer cases and the cost to support the customer cases within the warranty period. Overhead cost is applied based on estimated time to support warranty activities.
The provision for product warranties during the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 was $517 million and $532 million , respectively. If we experience an increase in warranty claims compared with our historical experience, or if the cost of servicing warranty claims is greater than expected, our profitability could be adversely affected.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Fair Value Measurements
Our fixed income and publicly traded equity securities, collectively, are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at a fair value of $50.5 billion as of April 25, 2015 , compared with $45.3 billion as of July 26, 2014 . Our fixed income investment portfolio as of April 25, 2015 consisted primarily of high quality investment-grade securities. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
As described more fully in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, a valuation hierarchy is based on the level of independent, objective evidence available regarding the value of the investments. It encompasses three classes of investments: Level 1 consists of securities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; Level 2 consists of securities for which observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs are used, such as quoted prices for similar securities in active markets or quoted prices for identical securities in less active markets and model-derived valuations for which the variables are derived from, or corroborated by, observable market data; and Level 3 consists of securities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value.
Our Level 2 securities are valued using quoted market prices for similar instruments or nonbinding market prices that are corroborated by observable market data. We use inputs such as actual trade data, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, and other similar data, which are obtained from independent pricing vendors, quoted market prices, or other sources to determine the ultimate fair value of our assets and liabilities. We use such pricing data as the primary input, to which we have not made any material adjustments during the periods presented, to make our assessments and determinations as to the ultimate valuation of our investment portfolio. We are ultimately responsible for the financial statements and underlying estimates.
The inputs and fair value are reviewed for reasonableness, may be further validated by comparison to publicly available information, and could be adjusted based on market indices or other information that management deems material to its estimate of fair value. The assessment of fair value can be difficult and subjective. However, given the relative reliability of the inputs we use to value our investment portfolio, and because substantially all of our valuation inputs are obtained using quoted market prices for similar or identical assets, we do not believe that the nature of estimates and assumptions affected by levels of subjectivity and judgment was material to the valuation of the investment portfolio as of April 25, 2015 . Level 3 assets do not represent a significant portion of our total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 .
Other-than-Temporary Impairments
We recognize an impairment charge when the declines in the fair values of our fixed income or publicly traded equity securities below their cost basis are judged to be other than temporary. The ultimate value realized on these securities, to the extent unhedged, is subject to market price volatility until they are sold.
If the fair value of a debt security is less than its amortized cost, we assess whether the impairment is other than temporary. An impairment is considered other than temporary if (i) we have the intent to sell the security, (ii) it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its entire amortized cost basis, or (iii) we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost of the security. If an impairment is considered other than temporary based on (i) or (ii) described in the prior sentence, the entire difference between the amortized cost and the fair value of the security is recognized in earnings. If an impairment is considered other than temporary based on condition (iii), the amount representing credit loss, defined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis of the debt security, will be recognized in earnings, and the amount relating to all other factors will be recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI). In estimating the amount and timing of cash flows expected to be collected, we consider all available information, including past events, current conditions, the remaining payment terms of the security, the financial condition of the issuer, expected defaults, and the value of underlying collateral.
For publicly traded equity securities, we consider various factors in determining whether we should recognize an impairment charge, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than our cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value.
There were no impairment charges on our investments in publicly traded equity securities in the first nine months of fiscal 2015, while $11 million of such impairment charges were recognized in earnings for the first nine months of fiscal 2014. There were no impairment charges on our investments in fixed income securities in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 . Our ongoing consideration of all the factors described previously could result in additional impairment charges in the future, which could adversely affect our net income.

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We also have investments in privately held companies, some of which are in the startup or development stages. Our investments in privately held companies as of April 25, 2015 were $873 million , compared with $899 million as of July 26, 2014 , and were included in other assets. We monitor these investments for events or circumstances indicative of potential impairment, and we make appropriate reductions in carrying values if we determine that an impairment charge is required, based primarily on the financial condition and near-term prospects of these companies. These investments are inherently risky because the markets for the technologies or products these companies are developing are typically in the early stages and may never materialize. Our impairment charges on investments in privately held companies were $20 million and $10 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Asset Impairments
Our methodology for allocating the purchase price relating to purchase acquisitions is determined through established valuation techniques. Goodwill represents a residual value as of the acquisition date, which in most cases results in measuring goodwill as an excess of the purchase consideration transferred plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquired company over the fair value of net assets acquired, including contingent consideration. We perform goodwill impairment tests on an annual basis in the fourth fiscal quarter and between annual tests in certain circumstances for each reporting unit. The assessment of fair value for goodwill and purchased intangible assets is based on factors that market participants would use in an orderly transaction in accordance with the new accounting guidance for the fair value measurement of nonfinancial assets.
The goodwill recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 was $24.4 billion and $24.2 billion , respectively. In response to changes in industry and market conditions, we could be required to strategically realign our resources and consider restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise exiting businesses, which could result in an impairment of goodwill. There was no impairment of goodwill in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 .
We make judgments about the recoverability of purchased intangible assets with finite lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may exist. Recoverability of purchased intangible assets with finite lives is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. We review indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset. Assumptions and estimates about future values and remaining useful lives of our purchased intangible assets are complex and subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts. For the first nine months of fiscal 2015, impairment charges of $57 million on purchased intangible assets were recognized in earnings, while there were no such impairment charges in the first nine months of fiscal 2014. Our ongoing consideration of all the factors described previously could result in additional impairment charges in the future, which could adversely affect our net income. 
Income Taxes
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rates differ from the statutory rate, primarily due to the tax impact of state taxes, foreign operations, R&D tax credits, domestic manufacturing deductions, tax audit settlements, nondeductible compensation, international realignments, and transfer pricing adjustments. Our effective tax rate was 19.7% and 17.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and 2014 , respectively. Our effective tax rate was 19.4% and 19.2% in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Significant judgment is required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions and determining our provision for income taxes. Although we believe our reserves are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different from that which is reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. We adjust these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made. The provision for income taxes includes the impact of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate, as well as the related net interest and penalties.
Significant judgment is also required in determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider all available evidence, including past operating results, estimates of future taxable income, and the feasibility of tax planning strategies. In the event that we change our determination as to the amount of deferred tax assets that can be realized, we will adjust our valuation allowance with a corresponding impact to the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made.

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Our provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be adversely impacted by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries that have lower tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries that have higher tax rates; by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; by expiration of or lapses in the R&D tax credit or domestic manufacturing deduction laws; by expiration of or lapses in tax incentives; by transfer pricing adjustments, including the effect of acquisitions on our intercompany R&D cost-sharing arrangement and legal structure; by tax effects of nondeductible compensation; by tax costs related to intercompany realignments; by changes in accounting principles; or by changes in tax laws and regulations, treaties, or interpretations thereof, including possible changes to the taxation of earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, the deductibility of expenses attributable to foreign income, or the foreign tax credit rules. Significant judgment is required to determine the recognition and measurement attributes prescribed in the accounting guidance for uncertainty in income taxes. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international association comprised of 34 countries, including the United States, is contemplating changes to numerous long-standing tax principles. These contemplated changes, if finalized and adopted by countries, will increase tax uncertainty and may adversely affect our provision for income taxes. As a result of certain of our ongoing employment and capital investment actions and commitments, our income in certain countries is subject to reduced tax rates and in some cases is wholly exempt from tax. Our failure to meet these commitments could adversely impact our provision for income taxes. In addition, we are subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these continuous examinations will not have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Revenue
The following table presents the breakdown of revenue between product and service (in millions, except percentages):

																															
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	
Revenue:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Product	 	$	9,326		 	$	8,820		 	$	506		 	5.7	%	 	$	27,839		 	$	26,640		 	$	1,199		 	4.5	%	
Percentage of revenue	 	76.8	%	 	76.4	%	 	 		 	 		 	76.7	%	 	76.6	%	 	 		 	 		
Service	 	2,811		 	2,725		 	86		 	3.2	%	 	8,479		 	8,145		 	334		 	4.1	%	
Percentage of revenue	 	23.2	%	 	23.6	%	 	 		 	 		 	23.3	%	 	23.4	%	 	 		 	 		
Total	 	$	12,137		 	$	11,545		 	$	592		 	5.1	%	 	$	36,318		 	$	34,785		 	$	1,533		 	4.4	%	
We manage our business primarily on a geographic basis, organized into three geographic segments. Our revenue, which includes product and service for each segment, is summarized in the following table (in millions, except percentages):

																															
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	
Revenue:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Americas	 	$	7,252		 	$	6,689		 	$	563		 	8.4	 %	 	$	21,854		 	$	20,465		 	$	1,389		 	6.8	 %	
Percentage of revenue	 	59.7	%	 	57.9	%	 	 	 	 	 	60.2	%	 	58.8	%	 	 	 	 	
EMEA	 	3,119		 	3,068		 	51		 	1.7	 %	 	9,212		 	8,897		 	315		 	3.5	 %	
Percentage of revenue	 	25.7	%	 	26.6	%	 	 	 	 	 	25.4	%	 	25.6	%	 	 	 	 	
APJC	 	1,766		 	1,788		 	(22	)	 	(1.2	)%	 	5,252		 	5,423		 	(171	)	 	(3.2	)%	
Percentage of revenue	 	14.6	%	 	15.5	%	 	 	 	 	 	14.4	%	 	15.6	%	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	12,137		 	$	11,545		 	$	592		 	5.1	 %	 	$	36,318		 	$	34,785		 	$	1,533		 	4.4	 %	
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
For the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , total revenue increased by 5% . Product revenue increased by 6% , while service revenue increased by 3% . Our total revenue reflected growth in our Americas and EMEA geographic segments, while revenue declined in the APJC segment. The emerging countries of BRICM, in the aggregate, experienced a 6% product revenue decline, with declines in China, Russia and Brazil partially offset by increases in the other two BRICM countries.
We conduct business globally in numerous currencies. The direct effect of foreign currency fluctuations on revenue has not been material because our revenue is primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. However, if the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to other currencies, such strengthening could have an indirect effect on our revenue to the extent it raises the cost of our products to non-U.S. customers and thereby reduces demand. A weaker U.S. dollar could have the opposite effect. However, the precise indirect effect of currency fluctuations is difficult to measure or predict because our revenue is influenced by many factors in addition to the impact of such currency fluctuations. It is possible that our revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 may have been adversely affected by the depreciation of the local currency relative to the U.S. dollar, although as noted above, such indirect effects are difficult to measure.
In addition to the impact of macroeconomic factors, revenue by segment in a particular period may be significantly impacted by several factors related to revenue recognition, including the complexity of transactions such as multiple-element arrangements; the mix of financing arrangements provided to our channel partners and customers; and final acceptance of the product, system, or solution, among other factors. In addition, certain customers tend to make large and sporadic purchases, and the revenue related to these transactions may also be affected by the timing of revenue recognition, which in turn would impact the revenue of the relevant segment. As has been the case in certain of our emerging countries from time to time, customers require greater levels of financing arrangements, service, and support, and these activities may occur in future periods, which may also impact the timing of the recognition of revenue.

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Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
For the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 , total revenue increased by 4% . Product revenue increased 5% , while service revenue increased by 4% . Our total revenue increase reflected revenue growth in our Americas and EMEA geographic segments, while revenue declined in the APJC segment. The emerging countries of BRICM, in the aggregate, experienced a 4% product revenue decline, with declines in China and Russia partially offset by increases in the other three BRICM countries.

Product Revenue by Segment
The following table presents the breakdown of product revenue by segment (in millions, except percentages):

																															
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	
Product revenue:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Americas	 	$	5,429		 	$	4,925		 	$	504		 	10.2	 %	 	$	16,356		 	$	15,134		 	$	1,222		 	8.1	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	58.2	%	 	55.9	%	 	 	 	 	 	58.8	%	 	56.8	%	 	 	 	 	
EMEA	 	2,512		 	2,472		 	40		 	1.6	 %	 	7,388		 	7,181		 	207		 	2.9	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	26.9	%	 	28.0	%	 	 	 	 	 	26.5	%	 	27.0	%	 	 	 	 	
APJC	 	1,385		 	1,423		 	(38	)	 	(2.7	)%	 	4,095		 	4,325		 	(230	)	 	(5.3	)%	
Percentage of product revenue	 	14.9	%	 	16.1	%	 	 	 	 	 	14.7	%	 	16.2	%	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	9,326		 	$	8,820		 	$	506		 	5.7	 %	 	$	27,839		 	$	26,640		 	$	1,199		 	4.5	 %	
Americas
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Product revenue in the Americas segment increased by 10% , led by strong growth in the commercial and enterprise markets, and to a lesser extent, growth in the service provider and public sector markets. The product revenue increase in the enterprise market was driven by strength in the U.S. enterprise. Product revenue increased in the U.S. public sector market, led by higher sales to the U.S. federal government. From a country perspective, product revenue increases of 10% in the United States and 48% in Mexico were partially offset by product revenue declines of 14% in Brazil and 3% in Canada.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
The increase in product revenue in the Americas segment of 8% was led by solid growth in the public sector, commercial and enterprise markets. The product revenue growth in the public sector market was due primarily to higher sales to the U.S. federal government and, to a lesser extent, higher sales to state and local governments. We experienced a product revenue decline in the service provider market. From a country perspective, product revenue increased by 8% in the United States, 28% in Mexico, and 10% in Brazil.
EMEA
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Product revenue in the EMEA segment increased by 2% , led by growth in the commercial and enterprise markets. We experienced product revenue declines in the service provider and public sector markets. Product revenue from emerging countries within EMEA increased by 9%, despite a product revenue decline of 14% in Russia, while product revenue for the remainder of EMEA, which primarily consists of countries in Western Europe, decreased slightly.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Product revenue in the EMEA segment increased by 3% , driven by growth in the commercial and enterprise markets and, to a lesser extent, in the service provider market. We experienced a slight product revenue decline in the public sector market. Product revenue from emerging countries within EMEA increased by 2% and product revenue for the remainder of EMEA grew by 3%.

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APJC
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
The decrease in product revenue in the APJC segment of 3% was led by declines in the service provider and public sector markets and, to a lesser extent, in the enterprise market. These decreases were partially offset by solid growth in the commercial market. From a country perspective, we experienced year-over-year product revenue declines of 30% in China and 2% in Japan. These decreases were partially offset by product revenue growth of 55% in Australia, with the growth attributable in large part to the timing of pricing changes, and 24% in India.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Product revenue in the APJC segment decreased by 5% . The product revenue decline was led by a significant decline in the service provider market and, to a lesser degree, in the public sector market. These decreases were partially offset by growth in the commercial and enterprise markets. From a country perspective, product revenue decreased by 25% in China and 6% in Japan. We experienced product revenue growth of 24% in India and 10% in Australia.

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Product Revenue by Groups of Similar Products
In addition to the primary view on a geographic basis, we also prepare financial information related to groups of similar products and customer markets for various purposes. Our product categories consist of the following categories (with subcategories in parentheses): Switching (fixed switching, modular switching, and storage); NGN Routing (high-end routers, mid-range and low-end routers, and other NGN Routing products); Collaboration (unified communications, Cisco TelePresence, and conferencing); Service Provider Video (infrastructure, video software, and solutions and cable access); Data Center; Wireless; Security; and Other Products. The Other Products category consists primarily of emerging technology products and other networking products.
The following table presents revenue for groups of similar products (in millions, except percentages):

																															
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	
Product revenue:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Switching	 	$	3,560		 	$	3,368		 	$	192		 	5.7	 %	 	$	11,022		 	$	10,366		 	$	656		 	6.3	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	38.2	%	 	38.2	%	 	 		 	 		 	39.6	%	 	38.9	%	 	 		 	 		
NGN Routing	 	1,999		 	1,925		 	74		 	3.8	 %	 	5,712		 	5,681		 	31		 	0.5	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	21.4	%	 	21.8	%	 	 		 	 		 	20.5	%	 	21.3	%	 	 		 	 		
Collaboration	 	973		 	909		 	64		 	7.0	 %	 	2,912		 	2,859		 	53		 	1.9	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	10.4	%	 	10.3	%	 	 		 	 		 	10.5	%	 	10.7	%	 	 		 	 		
Service Provider Video	 	914		 	961		 	(47	)	 	(4.9	)%	 	2,561		 	2,905		 	(344	)	 	(11.8	)%	
Percentage of product revenue	 	9.8	%	 	10.9	%	 	 		 	 		 	9.2	%	 	10.9	%	 	 		 	 		
Data Center	 	801		 	662		 	139		 	21.0	 %	 	2,340		 	1,868		 	472		 	25.3	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	8.6	%	 	7.5	%	 	 	 	 	 	8.4	%	 	7.0	%	 	 	 	 	
Wireless	 	611		 	560		 	51		 	9.1	 %	 	1,827		 	1,624		 	203		 	12.5	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	6.6	%	 	6.3	%	 	 		 	 		 	6.6	%	 	6.1	%	 	 		 	 		
Security	 	412		 	361		 	51		 	14.1	 %	 	1,283		 	1,119		 	164		 	14.7	 %	
Percentage of product revenue	 	4.4	%	 	4.1	%	 	 		 	 		 	4.6	%	 	4.2	%	 	 		 	 		
Other	 	56		 	74		 	(18	)	 	(24.3	)%	 	182		 	218		 	(36	)	 	(16.5	)%	
Percentage of product revenue	 	0.6	%	 	0.9	%	 	 		 	 		 	0.6	%	 	0.9	%	 	 		 	 		
Total	 	$	9,326		 	$	8,820		 	$	506		 	5.7	 %	 	$	27,839		 	$	26,640		 	$	1,199		 	4.5	 %	
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation.
Switching
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our Switching product category increased by 6% , or $192 million , driven by a 10%, or $211 million, increase in revenue from our LAN fixed-configuration switches. Revenue from our LAN fixed-configuration switches increased due to the continued adoption of Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches and Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series Switches. Higher revenue from fixed-configuration Cisco Nexus Series Switches also contributed to the increase. Partially offsetting these increase was a decrease in revenue from our modular switches of 2%, or $18 million, driven by lower sales of Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches and Cisco Catalyst 6500-E Series Switches. We also experienced a slight decrease in sales of storage products within this category.

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Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
The increase in revenue in our Switching product category of 6% , or $656 million , was driven by an 11%, or $718 million, increase in revenue from our LAN fixed-configuration switches and, to a lesser extent, a 31%, or $95 million, increase in sales of storage products. Revenue from LAN fixed-configuration switches increased due to higher sales of most of our Cisco Nexus Series Switches and Cisco Catalyst Series Switches within this category. We experienced a decrease in revenue from our modular switches of 4%, or $157 million, driven by lower sales of Cisco Catalyst 6500-E Series Switches and Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches.
NGN Routing
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
The increase in revenue in our NGN Routing product category of 4% , or $74 million , was driven by a 5%, or $62 million, increase in revenue from our high-end router products and a 4%, or $26 million, increase in revenue from our midrange and low-end router products. These increases were partially offset by a 9%, or $14 million, decrease in revenue from what we categorize as other NGN Routing products. Within the high-end router product category, we experienced increased sales of most of our products within our Cisco Aggregation Services Routers category and the adoption of our Cisco Network Convergence System platform and CRS-X, partially offset by lower sales of our legacy high-end router products. The increase in revenue from our midrange and low-end router products was due to higher sales of our Cisco Integrated Services Routers products. Revenue from other NGN Routing products decreased due to lower sales of certain optical networking products.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our NGN Routing product category increased by 1% , or $31 million , driven by a 5%, or $158 million, increase in revenue from our high-end router products, partially offset by 27%, or $122 million, decrease in revenue from other NGN Routing products and a slight decrease in revenue from our midrange and low-end router products. Revenue from high-end router product increased due to an increase in revenue from most products within our Cisco Aggregation Services Routers category and the adoption of our Cisco Network Convergence System platform, partially offset by lower sales of Cisco Carrier Routing System products and our legacy high-end router products. Revenue from other NGN Routing products decreased due to lower sales of certain optical networking products. The slight decrease in revenue from our midrange and low-end router products was due to lower sales of certain of our access products, partially offset by higher sales of our Cisco Integrated Services Routers products.
Collaboration
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Overall, revenue in our Collaboration product category increased by 7% , or $64 million , due to increased revenue from our Conferencing, Cisco TelePresence and Unified Communications products. Revenue from Cisco TelePresence products increased due to higher revenue in endpoint products as a result of new product introductions. The increase in Conferencing revenue was a result of higher recurring revenue and one-time usage fees. The increase in Unified Communications revenue was a result of higher software revenue partially offset by a decrease in revenue from phones. We continue to increase the amount of deferred revenue related to our Collaboration product category.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our Collaboration product category increased by 2% , or $53 million , primarily due to increased revenue from our Unified Communications and conferencing products, partially offset by a slight decrease in revenue from our Cisco TelePresence products. Revenue from Unified Communication products increased as a result of higher software revenue partially offset by slightly lower revenue from phones. The increase in Conferencing revenue was a result of higher recurring revenue. Cisco TelePresence revenue was slightly lower due to lower software revenue partially offset by higher revenue from endpoints.
Service Provider Video
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our Service Provider Video product category decreased by 5% , or $47 million , due to decreased revenue from Service Provider Video software and solutions, cable access products and Service Provider Video infrastructure products, the latter due primarily to lower sales of set-top boxes.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
The decrease in revenue from our Service Provider Video product category of 12% , or $344 million , was driven by a 17%, or $271 million, decrease in sales of our Service Provider Video infrastructure products, due primarily to lower sales of set-top boxes. We also experienced a decrease in revenue from cable access products within this product category.

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Data Center
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
We continued to experience solid growth in our Data Center product category, which grew by 21% , or $139 million , with sales growth of our Cisco Unified Computing System products occurring across all geographic segments and within most of our customer markets. The increase was due in large part to the continued momentum we are experiencing in both data center and cloud environments, as current customers increase their data center build-outs and as new customers deploy these offerings.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
We experienced solid growth in our Data Center product category, which grew by 25% , or $472 million , with sales growth of our Cisco Unified Computing System products occurring across all geographic segments and customer markets. The increase in this product category was driven by similar factors as discussed in the three month period immediately above.
Wireless
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our Wireless product category increased by 9% , or $51 million , driven by continued growth in Meraki combined with continued strength in our 802.11ac portfolio. We continue to increase the proportion of recurring revenue in our Wireless product category.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our Wireless product category increased by 13% , or $203 million , due primarily to higher sales of Meraki products and 802.11ac products.
Security
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our Security product category experienced growth of 14% , or $51 million , driven by higher Network Security sales as a result of product integration with Sourcefire, which we acquired in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. This increase was partially offset by a slight decrease in revenue from our Content Security products due to lower sales of Web and E-mail security products. Our software and subscription sales continue to drive an increase in the proportion of recurring revenue in our Security product category.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Revenue in our Security product category was up 15% , or $164 million , driven primarily by sales of Sourcefire products and, to a lesser extent, by higher sales of our high-end Firewall products within our Network Security product portfolio. This increase was partially offset by slight decrease in revenue from our Content Security products due to lower sales of Web and E-mail security products.
Other Products
We experienced a year-over-year decrease in revenue in our Other Products category for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 due in large part to the decrease in sales of our other networking products.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Service Revenue by Segment
The following table presents the breakdown of service revenue by segment (in millions, except percentages):

																														
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	
Service revenue:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Americas	$	1,823		 	$	1,764		 	$	59		 	3.3	%	 	$	5,498		 	$	5,331		 	$	167		 	3.1	%	
Percentage of service revenue	64.8	%	 	64.7	%	 	 	 	 	 	64.9	%	 	65.4	%	 	 	 	 	
EMEA	607		 	596		 	11		 	1.8	%	 	1,824		 	1,716		 	108		 	6.3	%	
Percentage of service revenue	21.6	%	 	21.9	%	 	 	 	 	 	21.5	%	 	21.1	%	 	 	 	 	
APJC	381		 	365		 	16		 	4.4	%	 	1,157		 	1,098		 	59		 	5.4	%	
Percentage of service revenue	13.6	%	 	13.4	%	 	 	 	 	 	13.6	%	 	13.5	%	 	 	 	 	
Total	$	2,811		 	$	2,725		 	$	86		 	3.2	%	 	$	8,479		 	$	8,145		 	$	334		 	4.1	%	
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Service revenue increased across all of our geographic segments. Worldwide technical support services revenue increased by 3% and worldwide advanced services revenue increased by 5%, driven by growth in subscription revenues. Technical support service revenue experienced growth across all geographic segments, led by growth in our Americas and APJC segments. Renewals and technical support service contract initiations associated with product sales provided an installed base of equipment being serviced which, in concert with new service offerings, were the primary factors driving the revenue increases. Advanced services revenue, which relates to consulting support services for specific customer network needs, grew across all geographic segments, led by solid growth in our APJC segment.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Service revenue grew by 4% , with growth across all of our geographic segments. Worldwide technical support services revenue and worldwide advanced services each experienced 4% revenue growth. Technical support services revenue grew across all geographic segments, led by growth in our APJC and EMEA segments. Advanced services revenue also grew across all geographic segments, led by solid growth in our EMEA segment.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Gross Margin
The following table presents the gross margin for products and services (in millions, except percentages):

																												
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	AMOUNT	 	PERCENTAGE	 	AMOUNT	 	PERCENTAGE	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Gross margin:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Product	$	5,742		 	$	5,225		 	61.6	%	 	59.2	%	 	$	16,530		 	$	14,975		 	59.4	%	 	56.2	%	
Service	1,783		 	1,781		 	63.4	%	 	65.4	%	 	5,418		 	5,389		 	63.9	%	 	66.2	%	
Total	$	7,525		 	$	7,006		 	62.0	%	 	60.7	%	 	$	21,948		 	$	20,364		 	60.4	%	 	58.5	%	
Product Gross Margin
The following table summarizes the key factors that contributed to the change in product gross margin percentage for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 as compared with the corresponding prior year periods:

							
   	 	Product Gross Margin Percentage	
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
Fiscal 2014	 	59.2	 %	 	56.2	 %	
Productivity (1)	 	2.8	 %	 	2.8	 %	
Supplier component remediation charge/adjustment	 	1.8	 %	 	3.1	 %	
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	 	0.3	 %	 	(0.1	)%	
Product pricing	 	(1.9	)%	 	(2.4	)%	
Mix of products sold	 	(0.6	)%	 	0.5	 %	
Rockstar patent portfolio charge	 	—	 %	 	(0.7	)%	
Fiscal 2015	 	61.6	 %	 	59.4	 %	
(1) Productivity includes overall manufacturing-related costs, such as component costs, warranty expense, provisions for inventory, freight, logistics, shipment volume, and other items not categorized elsewhere.
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Product gross margin increased by 2.4 percentage points as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 .
The increase in product gross margin was due to productivity improvements, which were driven by value engineering efforts; favorable component pricing; continued operational efficiency in manufacturing operations and lower warranty expense. Value engineering is the process by which production costs are reduced through component redesign, board configuration, test processes, and transformation processes. The increase was also due to the supplier component remediation adjustment. See Note 12 (f) to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our product gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 also benefited from lower amortization expense of purchased intangible assets.
The various factors contributing to the product gross margin increase were partially offset by unfavorable impacts from product pricing, which were driven by typical market factors and impacted each of our geographic segments and customer markets, as well as the unfavorable impact of product mix. The mix of products sold was unfavorable primarily as a result of a revenue increase from our relatively lower margin Cisco Unified Computing System products and the mix impact within our core products, partially offset by a revenue decrease from our relatively lower margin Service Provider Video products.
Our future gross margins could be impacted by our product mix and could be adversely affected by further growth in sales of products that have lower gross margins, such as Cisco Unified Computing System products. Our gross margins may also be impacted by the geographic mix of our revenue and may be adversely affected by product pricing attributable to competitive factors. Additionally, our manufacturing-related costs may be negatively impacted by constraints in our supply chain, which in turn could negatively affect gross margin. If any of the preceding factors that in the past have negatively impacted our gross margins arise in future periods, our gross margins could continue to decline.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Product gross margin increased by 3.2 percentage points as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014. The increase was driven by the $655 million charge to product cost of sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 related to the expected cost to remediate issues with a supplier component in certain products sold in prior fiscal years. As discussed in the three-month period immediately above, the $164 million adjustment recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 also contributed to the increase in product gross margin.
Additionally, gross margin increased due to benefits from productivity improvements driven by similar factors as discussed in the three-month period immediately above, and also due to the mix of products sold. The favorable product mix impact was due to revenue decreases from our relatively lower margin Service Provider Video products and a revenue increase from certain of our higher margin core products, partially offset by increased revenue from our relatively lower margin Cisco Unified Computing System products. These factors were partially offset by unfavorable impacts from product pricing, the unfavorable impact of the $188 million charge to product cost of sales recorded in the first quarter fiscal 2015 related to the Rockstar patent portfolio, and impairment charges related to acquisition-related intangible assets.
Service Gross Margin
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
Our service gross margin percentage decreased by 2.0 percentage points compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 due to increased costs such as partner delivery cost, outside services and continued investments in security and cloud managed services. These cost impacts were partially offset by the resulting benefit to gross margin of higher sales volume in both advanced services and technical support services and, to a lesser extent efficiencies related to our restructuring actions.
Our service gross margin normally experiences some fluctuations due to various factors such as the timing of contract initiations and our renewals, our strategic investments in headcount, and the resources we deploy to support the overall service business. Other factors include the mix of service offerings, as the gross margin from our advanced services is typically lower than the gross margin from technical support services.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
Service gross margin percentage decreased by 2.3 percentage points as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014, driven by increased cost impacts such as partner delivery costs, headcount-related costs and outside services. Headcount-related costs increased due to continued investments in security and cloud managed services and higher variable compensation expense. These cost impacts were partially offset by the resulting benefit to gross margin of higher sales volume in both advanced services and technical support services.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Gross Margin by Segment
The following table presents the total gross margin for each segment (in millions, except percentages):

																													
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	AMOUNT	 	PERCENTAGE	 	AMOUNT	 	PERCENTAGE	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Gross margin:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Americas	 	$	4,560		 	$	4,196		 	62.9	%	 	62.7	%	 	$	13,776		 	$	12,823		 	63.0	%	 	62.7	%	
EMEA	 	1,949		 	1,967		 	62.5	%	 	64.1	%	 	5,774		 	5,725		 	62.7	%	 	64.3	%	
APJC	 	1,080		 	1,076		 	61.2	%	 	60.2	%	 	3,157		 	3,148		 	60.1	%	 	58.0	%	
Segment total	 	7,589		 	7,239		 	62.5	%	 	62.7	%	 	22,707		 	21,696		 	62.5	%	 	62.4	%	
Unallocated corporate items (1)	 	(64	)	 	(233	)	 	 	 	 	 	(759	)	 	(1,332	)	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	7,525		 	$	7,006		 	62.0	%	 	60.7	%	 	$	21,948		 	$	20,364		 	60.4	%	 	58.5	%	
(1) The unallocated corporate items for the periods presented include the effects of amortization and impairments of acquisition-related intangible assets, share-based compensation expense, significant litigation and other contingencies, and certain other charges. We do not allocate these items to the gross margin for each segment because management does not include such information in measuring the performance of the operating segments.
Three Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Three Months Ended April 26, 2014
The Americas segment experienced a gross margin percentage increase due to productivity improvements from lower overall manufacturing costs, partially offset by unfavorable impacts from pricing and mix. The unfavorable mix impact in this geographic segment was driven by the mix within our core products and an increase in revenue from our relatively lower margin Cisco Unified Computing System products.
The gross margin percentage decrease in our EMEA segment was due primarily to unfavorable impacts from pricing and mix. The unfavorable mix impact was driven by an increase in revenue from our relatively lower margin Cisco Unified Computing System products. Lower service gross margin also contributed to the decrease in the overall gross margin in this segment.
Our APJC segment gross margin percentage increased due to productivity improvements and favorable mix impact, partially offset by unfavorable impacts from pricing. The favorable mix impact was driven by a decrease in revenue from our relatively lower margin Service Provider Video products.
The gross margin percentage for a particular segment may fluctuate, and period-to-period changes in such percentages may or may not be indicative of a trend for that segment. Our product and service gross margins may be impacted by economic downturns or uncertain economic conditions as well as our movement into new market opportunities, and could decline if any of the factors that impact our gross margins are adversely affected in future periods.
Nine Months Ended April 25, 2015 Compared with Nine Months Ended April 26, 2014
We experienced a gross margin percentage increase in our Americas segment due to productivity improvements and, to a lesser extent, a favorable mix impact, partially offset by unfavorable impacts from pricing. The favorable mix impact in this geographic segment was driven by lower sales of our relatively lower margin Service Provider Video products, partially offset by an increase in revenue from our relatively lower margin Cisco Unified Computing System products.
The gross margin percentage decrease in our EMEA segment was primarily due to negative impacts from pricing. Lower service gross margin also contributed to the decrease in the overall gross margin in this segment.
The APJC segment gross margin percentage increased due to productivity improvements and a favorable mix impact, partially offset by unfavorable impacts from pricing. The favorable mix impact was driven by a decrease in revenue from our relatively lower margin Service Provider Video products and an increase in revenue from certain of our higher margin core products. Lower service gross margin also contributed to the decrease in the overall gross margin in this segment.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Factors That May Impact Revenue and Gross Margin
Product revenue may continue to be affected by factors, including global economic downturns and related market uncertainty, that have resulted in reduced IT-related capital spending in certain segments within our enterprise, service provider, public sector, and commercial markets; changes in the geopolitical environment and global economic conditions; competition, including price-focused competitors from Asia, especially from China; new product introductions; sales cycles and product implementation cycles; changes in the mix of our customers between service provider and enterprise markets; changes in the mix of direct sales and indirect sales; variations in sales channels; and final acceptance criteria of the product, system, or solution as specified by the customer. Sales to the service provider market have been and may be in the future characterized by large and sporadic purchases, especially relating to our router sales and sales of certain products within our Collaboration, Data Center, and Service Provider Video product categories. In addition, service provider customers typically have longer implementation cycles; require a broader range of services, including network design services; and often have acceptance provisions that can lead to a delay in revenue recognition. Certain of our customers in certain emerging countries also tend to make large and sporadic purchases, and the revenue related to these transactions may similarly be affected by the timing of revenue recognition. As we focus on new market opportunities, customers may require greater levels of financing arrangements, service, and support, especially in certain emerging countries, which in turn may result in a delay in the timing of revenue recognition. To improve customer satisfaction, we continue to focus on managing our manufacturing lead-time performance, which may result in corresponding reductions in order backlog. A decline in backlog levels could result in more variability and less predictability in our quarter-to-quarter revenue and operating results.
Product revenue may also be adversely affected by fluctuations in demand for our products, especially with respect to telecommunications service providers and Internet businesses, whether or not driven by any slowdown in capital expenditures in the service provider market; price and product competition in the communications and information technology industry; introduction and market acceptance of new technologies and products; adoption of new networking standards; and financial difficulties experienced by our customers. We may, from time to time, experience manufacturing issues that create a delay in our suppliers’ ability to provide specific components, resulting in delayed shipments. To the extent that manufacturing issues and any related component shortages result in delayed shipments in the future, and particularly in periods when we and our suppliers are operating at higher levels of capacity, it is possible that revenue for a quarter could be adversely affected if such matters are not remediated within the same quarter. For additional factors that may impact product revenue, see “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Our distributors participate in various cooperative marketing and other programs. Increased sales to our distributors generally result in greater difficulty in forecasting the mix of our products and, to a certain degree, the timing of orders from our customers. We recognize revenue for sales to our distributors generally based on a sell-through method using information provided by them, and we maintain estimated accruals and allowances for all cooperative marketing and other programs.
Product gross margin may be adversely affected in the future by changes in the mix of products sold, including periods of increased growth of some of our lower margin products; introduction of new products, including products with price-performance advantages and new business models for our offerings such as other-as-a-service (“XaaS”); our ability to reduce production costs; entry into new markets, including markets with different pricing structures and cost structures, as a result of internal development or through acquisitions; changes in distribution channels; price competition, including competitors from Asia, especially those from China; changes in geographic mix of our product revenue; the timing of revenue recognition and revenue deferrals; sales discounts; increases in material or labor costs, including share-based compensation expense; excess inventory and obsolescence charges; warranty costs; changes in shipment volume; loss of cost savings due to changes in component pricing; effects of value engineering; inventory holding charges; and the extent to which we successfully execute on our strategy and operating plans. Additionally, our manufacturing-related costs may be negatively impacted by constraints in our supply chain. Service gross margin may be impacted by various factors such as the change in mix between technical support services and advanced services; the timing of technical support service contract initiations and renewals; share-based compensation expense; and the timing of our strategic investments in headcount and resources to support this business.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Research and Development (“R&D”), Sales and Marketing, and General and Administrative (“G&A”) Expenses
R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses are summarized in the following table (in millions, except percentages):

																															
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	Variance
in Percent	
Research and development	 	$	1,547		 	$	1,565		 	$	(18	)	 	(1.2	)%	 	$	4,659		 	$	4,701		 	$	(42	)	 	(0.9	)%	
Percentage of revenue	 	12.7	%	 	13.6	%	 	 	 	 	 	12.8	%	 	13.5	%	 	 	 	 	
Sales and marketing	 	2,449		 	2,342		 	107		 	4.6	 %	 	7,272		 	7,030		 	242		 	3.4	 %	
Percentage of revenue	 	20.2	%	 	20.3	%	 	 	 	 	 	20.0	%	 	20.2	%	 	 	 	 	
General and administrative	 	510		 	460		 	50		 	10.9	 %	 	1,504		 	1,426		 	78		 	5.5	 %	
Percentage of revenue	 	4.2	%	 	4.0	%	 	 	 	 	 	4.1	%	 	4.1	%	 	 	 	 	
Total	 	$	4,506		 	$	4,367		 	$	139		 	3.2	 %	 	$	13,435		 	$	13,157		 	$	278		 	2.1	 %	
Percentage of revenue	 	37.1	%	 	37.8	%	 	 	 	 	 	37.0	%	 	37.8	%	 	 	 	 	

R&D Expenses
R&D expenses decreased for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , primarily due to lower headcount-related expenses driven by our restructuring actions. Lower acquisition related costs also contributed to the decrease.
The decrease in R&D expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 , was primarily due to higher compensation expense recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 in connection with our acquisition of the remaining interest in Insieme, partially offset by higher contracted services and higher headcount-related expenses. The higher headcount-related expenses were due to increased variable compensation expense, partially offset by efficiencies related to our restructuring actions.
We continue to invest in R&D in order to bring a broad range of products to market in a timely fashion. If we believe that we are unable to enter a particular market in a timely manner with internally developed products, we may purchase or license technology from other businesses, or we may partner with or acquire businesses as an alternative to internal R&D.

Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses increased for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , due to higher headcount-related expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher contracted services. Higher headcount-related expenses were due primarily to increased variable compensation expense as a result of our financial performance.
Sales and marketing expenses increased for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 , due to higher headcount-related expenses, driven by increased variable compensation expense, and higher discretionary spending, partially offset by higher compensation expense recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 in connection with our acquisition of the remaining interest in Insieme.

G&A Expenses
G&A expenses increased in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , primarily due to the timing of corporate-level expenses, which tend to vary from period to period, and higher acquisition-related costs.
G&A expenses increased in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the corresponding period in fiscal 2014 , primarily due to increased variable compensation expense as a result of our financial performance and timing of corporate-level expenses, which tend to vary from period to period, partially offset by higher compensation expense recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 in connection with our acquisition of the remaining interest in Insieme.
Effect of Foreign Currency
In the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , foreign currency fluctuations, net of hedging, decreased the combined R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses by approximately $112 million , or approximately 2.6% , compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 .

In the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , foreign currency fluctuations, net of hedging, decreased the combined R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses by approximately $168 million , or approximately 1.3% , compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 .  

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Headcount
Our headcount increased by approximately 800 employees in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and decreased by approximately 3,100 employees in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the total headcount at the end of fiscal 2014 . The increase in headcount for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was due to targeted hiring in key growth areas in engineering, services and sales.
The decrease in headcount for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was due to headcount reductions from our workforce reduction under the Fiscal 2015 Plan . These headcount reductions were partially offset by headcount additions from targeted hiring in engineering, services and sales, and also by headcount additions from our recent acquisitions.
Share-Based Compensation Expense
The following table presents share-based compensation expense (in millions):

																	
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Cost of sales—product	 	$	12		 	$	12		 	$	34		 	$	34		
Cost of sales—service	 	44		 	39		 	115		 	112		
Share-based compensation expense in cost of sales	 	56		 	51		 	149		 	146		
Research and development	 	114		 	106		 	338		 	306		
Sales and marketing	 	147		 	144		 	408		 	408		
General and administrative	 	50		 	52		 	151		 	153		
Restructuring and other charges	 	—		 	—		 	(2	)	 	(4	)	
Share-based compensation expense in operating expenses	 	311		 	302		 	895		 	863		
Total share-based compensation expense	 	$	367		 	$	353		 	$	1,044		 	$	1,009		
The change in share-based compensation expense in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the corresponding periods in fiscal 2014 , was due primarily to the timing of annual RSU grants, higher expense associated with PRSUs, and lower expense related to equity awards assumed with respect to our recent acquisitions.
Amortization of Purchased Intangible Assets
The following table presents the amortization of purchased intangible assets (in millions):

																	
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Amortization of purchased intangible assets:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cost of sales	 	$	187		 	$	190		 	$	618		 	$	553		
Operating expenses	 	70		 	71		 	213		 	207		
Total	 	$	257		 	$	261		 	$	831		 	$	760		
Amortization of purchased intangible assets decreased slightly for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , due to certain purchased intangible assets having become fully amortized, partially offset by amortization of purchased intangible assets from our recent acquisitions.
Amortization of purchased intangible assets increased for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the corresponding period of fiscal 2014 , primarily due to the impairment charges of approximately $57 million recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 . The impairment charges were primarily due to reductions in expected future cash flows related to certain of our technology intangible assets.
The fair value of acquired technology and patents, as well as acquired technology under development, is determined at acquisition date primarily using the income approach, which discounts expected future cash flows to present value. The discount rates used in the present value calculations are typically derived from a weighted-average cost of capital analysis and then adjusted to reflect risks inherent in the development lifecycle as appropriate. We consider the pricing model for products related to these acquisitions to be standard within the high-technology communications industry, and the applicable discount rates represent the rates that market participants would use for valuation of such intangible assets.

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CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Restructuring and Other Charges
In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 , we incurred within operating expenses restructuring and other charges of approximately $24 million and $411 million , respectively, which were related primarily to employee severance charges for employees impacted by our workforce reduction under the Fiscal 2015 Plan . We expect the remaining charges under this plan to be incurred during the remainder of fiscal 2015 . We plan to reinvest substantially all of the cost savings from the restructuring actions in key growth areas of our business such as data center, software, security, and cloud. The overall cost savings from these restructuring actions were not material for the periods presented and are not expected to be material for future periods.
In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2014 , we incurred within operating expenses net restructuring and other charges of $26 million and $336 million , respectively, which were related primarily to employee severance charges for employees impacted by our workforce reduction under the Fiscal 2014 Plan. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Operating Income
The following table presents our operating income and our operating income as a percentage of revenue (in millions, except percentages): 

																	
 	 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Operating income	 	$	2,925		 	$	2,542		 	$	7,889		 	$	6,664		
Operating income as a percentage of revenue	 	24.1	%	 	22.0	%	 	21.7	%	 	19.2	%	
For the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , operating income increased by 15% , and as a percentage of revenue operating income increased by 2.1 percentage points. The increase resulted from an increase in revenue and a gross margin percentage increase, with the gross margin percentage positively affected by the supplier component remediation adjustment of $164 million (or 1.4 percentage points) recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 .
In the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 , operating income increased by 18% , and as a percentage of revenue operating income increased by 2.5 percentage points. The increase resulted from the following: an increase in revenue; a gross margin percentage increase, driven in part by the $655 million (or 1.9 percentage points) supplier component remediation charge recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 ; and higher compensation expense recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2014 in connection with our acquisition of the remaining interest in Insieme.
 
Interest and Other Income (Loss), Net
Interest Income (Expense), Net   The following table summarizes interest income and interest expense (in millions):

																								
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	
Interest income	$	190		 	$	170		 	$	20		 	$	558		 	$	508		 	$	50		
Interest expense	(139	)	 	(146	)	 	7		 	(417	)	 	(422	)	 	5		
Interest income (expense), net	$	51		 	$	24		 	$	27		 	$	141		 	$	86		 	$	55		
For the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 , interest income increased by 12% and 10% , respectively, compared with the corresponding periods in fiscal 2014 , driven by an increase in our portfolio of cash, cash equivalents, and fixed income investments. Interest expense in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 , compared with the corresponding periods in fiscal 2014 , decreased by 5% and 1% , respectively. 

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Other Income (Loss), Net  The components of other income (loss), net, are summarized as follows (in millions):

																								
 	Three Months Ended	 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	 	Variance
in Dollars	
Gains (losses) on investments, net:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Publicly traded equity securities	$	38		 	$	55		 	$	(17	)	 	$	94		 	$	199		 	$	(105	)	
Fixed income securities	6		 	14		 	(8	)	 	26		 	35		 	(9	)	
Total available-for-sale investments	44		 	69		 	(25	)	 	120		 	234		 	(114	)	
Privately held companies	3		 	(10	)	 	13		 	104		 	(76	)	 	180		
Net gains (losses) on investments	47		 	59		 	(12	)	 	224		 	158		 	66		
Other gains (losses), net	12		 	17		 	(5	)	 	14		 	29		 	(15	)	
Other income (loss), net	$	59		 	$	76		 	$	(17	)	 	$	238		 	$	187		 	$	51		
The decrease in total net gains on available-for-sale investments in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the corresponding periods in fiscal 2014 , was primarily attributable to lower gains on publicly traded equity securities in the current periods as a result of market conditions and the timing of sales of these securities.
The change in net gains (losses) on investments in privately held companies for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , was primarily due to the absence of losses from VCE for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, partially offset by impairment charges on certain investments in privately held companies and lower realized gains from sales of various investments in privately held companies. The change in net gains (losses) on investments in privately held companies for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 , was primarily due to a gain of $126 million related to the reorganization of our investments in VCE and lower losses related to this investment under the equity method. We ceased accounting for VCE under the equity method in October 2014.
The change in other gains (losses), net in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with the corresponding periods in fiscal 2014 , was driven by equity derivative impacts and higher donation expenses, partially offset by net favorable foreign exchange impacts.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be adversely impacted by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries that have lower tax rates, higher than anticipated in countries that have higher tax rates, and expiration of or lapses in tax incentives. Our provision for income taxes does not include provisions for U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes associated with the repatriation of undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that we intend to reinvest indefinitely in our foreign subsidiaries. If these earnings were distributed from the foreign subsidiaries to the United States in the form of dividends or otherwise, or if the shares of the relevant foreign subsidiaries were sold or otherwise transferred, we would be subject to additional U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and foreign withholding taxes. Further, as a result of certain of our ongoing employment and capital investment actions and commitments, our income in certain countries is subject to reduced tax rates and in some cases is wholly exempt from tax. Our failure to meet these commitments could adversely impact our provision for income taxes.
The provision for income taxes resulted in an effective tax rate of 19.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 , compared with 17.4% for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 , which resulted in a net 2.3 percentage point increase in the effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 . The increase in the effective tax rates was primarily due to a decrease in foreign income taxed at lower than U.S. rates.
The provision for income taxes resulted in an effective tax rate of 19.4% for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , as compared with an effective tax rate of 19.2% for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 , which resulted in a net 0.2 percentage point increase in the effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 . The increase in the effective tax rates was primarily due to a decrease in foreign income taxed at lower than U.S. rates, partially offset by a decrease in non-deductible compensation.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The following sections discuss the effects of changes in our balance sheet, our capital allocation strategy including stock repurchase program and dividends, our contractual obligations, and certain other commitments and activities on our liquidity and capital resources.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flows
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments  The following table summarizes our cash and cash equivalents and investments (in millions):

												
   	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	 	Increase (Decrease)	
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,870		 	$	6,726		 	$	(2,856	)	
Fixed income securities	48,626		 	43,396		 	5,230		
Publicly traded equity securities	1,923		 	1,952		 	(29	)	
Total	$	54,419		 	$	52,074		 	$	2,345		
The net increase in cash and cash equivalents and investments in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was primarily the result of cash provided by operating activities of $8.4 billion and proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $1.6 billion pursuant to employee stock incentive plans. These sources of cash were partially offset by the repurchase of common stock of $3.3 billion under the stock repurchase program, cash dividends paid of $3.0 billion , capital expenditures of $0.9 billion and net cash paid for acquisitions of $0.2 billion .
Our total in cash and cash equivalents and investments held by various foreign subsidiaries was $51.8 billion and $47.4 billion as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively. Under current tax laws and regulations, if these assets were to be distributed from the foreign subsidiaries to the United States in the form of dividends or otherwise, we would be subject to additional U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and foreign withholding taxes. The balance of cash and cash equivalents and investments available in the United States as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 was $2.6 billion and $4.7 billion , respectively.
We maintain an investment portfolio of various holdings, types, and maturities. We classify our investments as short-term investments based on their nature and their availability for use in current operations. We believe the overall credit quality of our portfolio is strong, with our cash equivalents and our fixed income investment portfolio consisting primarily of high quality investment-grade securities. We believe that our strong cash and cash equivalents and investments position allows us to use our cash resources for strategic investments to gain access to new technologies, for acquisitions, for customer financing activities, for working capital needs, and for the repurchase of shares of common stock and payment of dividends as discussed below.
Free Cash Flow and Capital Allocation  As part of our capital allocation strategy, we intend to return a minimum of 50% of our free cash flow annually to our shareholders through cash dividends and repurchases of common stock.
We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less cash used to acquire property and equipment. The following table reconciles our net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (in millions):

								
 	Nine Months Ended	
 	April 25,
2015	 	April 26,
2014	
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	8,414		 	$	8,720		
Acquisition of property and equipment	(907	)	 	(950	)	
Free cash flow	$	7,507		 	$	7,770		
We expect that cash provided by operating activities may fluctuate in future periods as a result of a number of factors, including fluctuations in our operating results, the rate at which products are shipped during the quarter (which we refer to as shipment linearity), the timing and collection of accounts receivable and financing receivables, inventory and supply chain management, deferred revenue, excess tax benefits resulting from share-based compensation, and the timing and amount of tax and other payments. For additional discussion, see “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this report.

We consider free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors because of our intent to return a stated percentage of free cash flow to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock repurchases. We further

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regard free cash flow as a useful measure because it reflects cash that can be used to, among other things, invest in our business, make strategic acquisitions, repurchase common stock, and pay dividends on our common stock, after deducting capital investments. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance and liquidity is that the free cash flow does not represent the total increase or decrease in our cash balance for the period.  In addition, we have other required uses of cash, including repaying the principal of our outstanding indebtedness. Free cash flow is not a measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and should not be regarded in isolation or as an alternative for net income provided by operating activities or any other measure calculated in accordance with such principles, and other companies may calculate free cash flow in a different manner than we do.
The following table summarizes the dividends paid and stock repurchases (in millions, except per-share amounts):

																								
 	 	DIVIDENDS	 	STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM	 	 	
Quarter Ended	 	Per Share	 	Amount	 	Shares	 	Weighted-Average Price per Share	 	Amount	 	TOTAL	
Fiscal 2015	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
April 25, 2015	 	$	0.21		 	$	1,070		 	35		 	$	28.39		 	$	1,008		 	$	2,078		
January 24, 2015	 	$	0.19		 	$	974		 	44		 	$	27.63		 	$	1,208		 	$	2,182		
October 25, 2014	 	$	0.19		 	$	973		 	41		 	$	24.58		 	$	1,013		 	$	1,986		
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Fiscal 2014	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
July 26, 2014	 	$	0.19		 	$	974		 	61		 	$	25.11		 	$	1,514		 	$	2,488		
April 26, 2014	 	$	0.19		 	$	974		 	90		 	$	22.24		 	$	2,005		 	$	2,979		
January 25, 2014	 	$	0.17		 	$	896		 	185		 	$	21.73		 	$	4,020		 	$	4,916		
October 26, 2013	 	$	0.17		 	$	914		 	84		 	$	23.65		 	$	2,000		 	$	2,914		
Any future dividends will be subject to the approval of our Board of Directors.
Accounts Receivable, Net  The following table summarizes our accounts receivable, net (in millions), and DSO:

												
   	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	 	Increase (Decrease)	
Accounts receivable, net	$	4,889		 	$	5,157		 	$	(268	)	
DSO	37		 	38		 	(1	)	
Our accounts receivable net, as of April 25, 2015 decreased by approximately 5% compared with the end of fiscal 2014 . Our DSO as of April 25, 2015 was lower by one day compared with the end of fiscal 2014 , primarily due to product and service billings being more linear in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.
Inventory Supply Chain  The following table summarizes our inventories and purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers (in millions, except annualized inventory turns):

												
   	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	 	Increase (Decrease)	
Inventories	$	1,760		 	$	1,591		 	$	169		
Annualized inventory turns	10.1		 	12.7		 	(2.6	)	
Purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers	$	4,495		 	$	4,169		 	$	326		
Inventory as of April 25, 2015 increased by 11% from our inventory balance at the end of fiscal 2014 , and for the same period purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers increased by approximately 8% . On a combined basis, inventories and purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers increased by 9% compared with the end of fiscal 2014 .
The inventory increase was primarily due to higher levels of raw materials primarily from insourcing of certain memory components. We believe our inventory and purchase commitments levels are in line with our current demand forecasts.
Our finished goods consist of distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales and manufactured finished goods. Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales are related to unrecognized revenue on shipments to distributors and retail partners as well as shipments to customers. Manufactured finished goods consist primarily of build-to-order and build-to-stock products.

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We purchase components from a variety of suppliers and use several contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing services for our products. During the normal course of business, in order to manage manufacturing lead times and help ensure adequate component supply, we enter into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that allow them to procure inventory based upon criteria as defined by us or that establish the parameters defining our requirements and our commitment to securing manufacturing capacity. A significant portion of our reported purchase commitments arising from these agreements are firm, noncancelable, and unconditional commitments. In certain instances, these agreements allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to firm orders being placed. Our purchase commitments are for short-term product manufacturing requirements as well as for commitments to suppliers to secure manufacturing capacity.
We record a liability, included in other current liabilities, for firm, noncancelable, and unconditional purchase commitments for quantities in excess of our future demand forecasts consistent with the valuation of our excess and obsolete inventory. The purchase commitments for inventory are expected to be primarily fulfilled within one year.
Inventory and supply chain management remain areas of focus as we balance the need to maintain supply chain flexibility to help ensure competitive lead times with the risk of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements. We believe the amount of our inventory and purchase commitments is appropriate for our revenue levels.
Financing Receivables and Guarantees We measure our net balance sheet exposure position related to our financing receivables and financing guarantees by reducing the total of gross financing receivables and financing guarantees by the associated allowances for credit loss and deferred revenue. As of April 25, 2015 , our net balance sheet exposure position related to financing receivables and financing guarantees was as follows (in millions):

																																
 	FINANCING RECEIVABLES	 	FINANCING GUARANTEES	 	 	
April 25, 2015	Lease
Receivables	 	Loan
Receivables	 	Financed Service
Contracts and Other	 	Total	 	Channel Partner	 	End-User Customers	 	Total	 	TOTAL	
Financing receivables less unearned income	$	3,312		 	$	1,720		 	$	3,081		 	$	8,113		 	$	299		 	$	138		 	$	437		 	$	8,550		
Allowance for credit loss	(242	)	 	(80	)	 	(37	)	 	(359	)	 	—		 	—		 	—		 	(359	)	
Deferred revenue	(7	)	 	(14	)	 	(1,520	)	 	(1,541	)	 	(122	)	 	(113	)	 	(235	)	 	(1,776	)	
Net balance sheet exposure	$	3,063		 	$	1,626		 	$	1,524		 	$	6,213		 	$	177		 	$	25		 	$	202		 	$	6,415		
Financing Receivables   Financing receivables less unearned income decreased by 4% compared with the end of fiscal 2014 . The change was due to a 6% decrease in lease receivables and a 4% decrease in financed service contracts and other, partially offset by a 2% increase in loan receivables. We provide financing to certain end-user customers and channel partners to enable sales of our products, services, and networking solutions. These financing arrangements include leases, financed service contracts, and loans. Arrangements related to leases are generally collateralized by a security interest in the underlying assets. Lease receivables include sales-type and direct-financing leases. We also provide certain qualified customers financing for long-term service contracts, which primarily relate to technical support services and advanced services. Our loan financing arrangements may include not only financing the acquisition of our products and services but also providing additional funds for other costs associated with network installation and integration of our products and services. We expect to continue to expand the use of our financing programs in the near term.
Financing Guarantees   In the normal course of business, third parties may provide financing arrangements to our customers and channel partners under financing programs. The financing arrangements to customers provided by third parties are related to leases and loans and typically have terms of up to three years. In some cases, we provide guarantees to third parties for these lease and loan arrangements. The financing arrangements to channel partners consist of revolving short-term financing provided by third parties, generally with payment terms ranging from 60 to 90 days. In certain instances, these financing arrangements result in a transfer of our receivables to the third party. The receivables are derecognized upon transfer, as these transfers qualify as true sales, and we receive payments for the receivables from the third party based on our standard payment terms. These financing arrangements facilitate the working capital requirements of the channel partners, and in some cases, we guarantee a portion of these arrangements. We could be called upon to make payments under these guarantees in the event of nonpayment by the channel partners or end-user customers. Historically, our payments under these arrangements have been immaterial. Where we provide a guarantee, we defer the revenue associated with the channel partner and end-user financing arrangement in accordance with revenue recognition policies, or we record a liability for the fair value of the guarantees. In either case, the deferred revenue is recognized as revenue when the guarantee is removed.

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Deferred Revenue Related to Financing Receivables and Guarantees The majority of the deferred revenue in the preceding table is related to financed service contracts. The majority of the revenue related to financed service contracts, which primarily relates to technical support services, is deferred as the revenue related to financed service contracts is recognized ratably over the period during which the related services are to be performed. A portion of the revenue related to lease and loan receivables is also deferred and included in deferred product revenue based on revenue recognition criteria not currently having been met.
Borrowings
Senior Notes   The following table summarizes the principal amount of our senior notes (in millions):

										
 	Maturity Date	 	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	
Senior notes:	 	 	 	 	 	
Floating-rate notes:	 	 	 	 	 	
Three-month LIBOR plus 0.05%	September 3, 2015	 	$	850		 	$	850		
Three-month LIBOR plus 0.28%	March 3, 2017	 	1,000		 	1,000		
Three-month LIBOR plus 0.50%	March 1, 2019	 	500		 	500		
Fixed-rate notes:	 	 	 	 	 	
2.90%	November 17, 2014	 	—		 	500		
5.50%	February 22, 2016	 	3,000		 	3,000		
1.10%	March 3, 2017	 	2,400		 	2,400		
3.15%	March 14, 2017	 	750		 	750		
4.95%	February 15, 2019	 	2,000		 	2,000		
2.125%	March 1, 2019	 	1,750		 	1,750		
4.45%	January 15, 2020	 	2,500		 	2,500		
2.90%	March 4, 2021	 	500		 	500		
3.625%	March 4, 2024	 	1,000		 	1,000		
5.90%	February 15, 2039	 	2,000		 	2,000		
5.50%	January 15, 2040	 	2,000		 	2,000		
Total	 	 	$	20,250		 	$	20,750		
Interest is payable semiannually on each class of the senior fixed-rate notes, each of which is redeemable by us at any time, subject to a make-whole premium. Interest is payable quarterly on the floating-rate notes. We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of April 25, 2015 .
On November 17, 2014, upon the maturity of our 2014 Fixed-Rate Notes (2.90%), we repaid an aggregate principal amount of $500 million .
Other Debt  Other debt as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 included secured borrowings associated with customer financing arrangements. The amount of borrowings outstanding under these arrangements was $5 million and $12 million as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , respectively.
Commercial Paper  In fiscal 2011, we established a short-term debt financing program of up to $3.0 billion through the issuance of commercial paper notes. We use the proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper notes for general corporate purposes. As of April 25, 2015 , we had commercial paper notes of $500 million outstanding under this program, with original maturity dates of three months or less. We had no commercial paper notes outstanding as of July 26, 2014 .
Credit Facility On May 15, 2015, we entered into a credit agreement with certain institutional lenders that provides for a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that is scheduled to expire on May 15, 2020. Any advances under the credit agreement will accrue interest at rates that are equal to, based on certain conditions, either (i) the highest of (a) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) Bank of America’s “prime rate” as announced from time to time, or (c) LIBOR or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent (“Eurocurrency Rate”) for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%, or (ii) the Eurocurrency Rate, plus a margin that is based on our senior debt credit ratings as published by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., provided that in no event will the Eurocurrency Rate be less than zero. The credit agreement requires that we comply with certain covenants, including that it maintains an interest coverage ratio as defined in the agreement.

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We may also, upon the agreement of either the then-existing lenders or additional lenders not currently parties to the agreement, increase the commitments under the credit facility by up to an additional $2.0 billion and/or extend the expiration date of the credit facility up to May 15, 2022. We were in compliance with the required interest coverage ratio and the other covenants, and we had not borrowed any funds under the credit facility.
This credit facility replaces our prior credit facility that was entered into on February 17, 2012, which was terminated in connection with its entering into the new credit facility.
Deferred Revenue   The following table presents the breakdown of deferred revenue (in millions):

												
   	April 25,
2015	 	July 26,
2014	 	Increase (Decrease)	
Service	$	9,236		 	$	9,640		 	$	(404	)	
Product	4,945		 	4,502		 	443		
    Total	$	14,181		 	$	14,142		 	$	39		
Reported as:	 	 	 	 	 	
Current	$	9,371		 	$	9,478		 	$	(107	)	
Noncurrent	4,810		 	4,664		 	146		
    Total	$	14,181		 	$	14,142		 	$	39		
The 4% decrease in deferred service revenue was driven by the timing of multiyear arrangements, an increase in customers paying technical support service contracts over time and the impact of ongoing amortization of deferred service revenue. The 10% increase in deferred product revenue was primarily due to increased deferrals related to subscription revenue arrangements and also was due, to a lesser extent, to an increase in shipments not having met revenue recognition criteria as of April 25, 2015 .
Contractual Obligations
Operating Leases  
We lease office space in many U.S. locations. Outside the United States, larger leased sites include sites in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom . We also lease equipment and vehicles. The future minimum lease payments under all of our noncancelable operating leases with an initial term in excess of one year as of April 25, 2015 were $1.1 billion .
Other Commitments
In connection with our business combinations and asset purchases, we have agreed to pay certain additional amounts contingent upon the achievement of certain agreed-upon technology, development, product, or other milestones or the continued employment with us of certain employees of the acquired entities. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Insieme Networks, Inc. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we made an investment in Insieme, an early stage company focused on research and development in the data center market. As set forth in the agreement between Cisco and Insieme, this investment included $100 million of funding and a license to certain of our technology. Immediately prior to the call option exercise and acquisition described below, we owned approximately 83% of Insieme as a result of these investments and have consolidated the results of Insieme in our Consolidated Financial Statements. In connection with this investment, we entered into a put/call option agreement that provided us with the right to purchase the remaining interests in Insieme. In addition, the noncontrolling interest holders could require us to purchase their shares upon the occurrence of certain events.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, we exercised our call option and entered into an agreement to purchase the remaining interests in Insieme. The acquisition closed in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, at which time the former noncontrolling interest holders became eligible to receive up to two milestone payments, which will be determined using agreed-upon formulas based primarily on revenue for certain of Insieme’s products. During the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 , we recorded compensation expense of $155 million and $363 million , respectively, related to the fair value of the vested portion of amounts that are expected to be earned by the former noncontrolling interest holders. Continued vesting and changes to the fair value of the amounts probable of being earned will result in adjustments to the recorded compensation expense in future periods. Based on the terms of the agreement, we have determined that the maximum amount that could be recorded as compensation expense by us is approximately $843 million (which includes the $571 million that has been expensed to date), net of forfeitures. The milestone payments, if earned, are expected to be paid primarily during fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017.

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Other Funding Commitments  We also have certain funding commitments primarily related to our investments in privately held companies and venture funds, some of which are based on the achievement of certain agreed-upon milestones, and some of which are required to be funded on demand. The funding commitments were $247 million as of April 25, 2015 , compared with $255 million as of July 26, 2014 .
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We consider our investments in unconsolidated variable interest entities to be off-balance sheet arrangements. In the ordinary course of business, we have investments in privately held companies and provide financing to certain customers. These privately held companies and customers may be considered to be variable interest entities. We evaluate on an ongoing basis our investments in these privately held companies and customer financings, and we have determined that as of April 25, 2015 there were no material unconsolidated variable interest entities.
On an ongoing basis, we reassess our investments in privately held companies and customer financings to determine if they are variable interest entities and if we would be regarded as the primary beneficiary pursuant to the applicable accounting guidance. As a result of this ongoing assessment, we may be required to make additional disclosures or consolidate these entities. Because we may not control these entities, we may not have the ability to influence these events.
We provide financing guarantees, which are generally for various third-party financing arrangements extended to our channel partners and end-user customers. We could be called upon to make payments under these guarantees in the event of nonpayment by the channel partners or end-user customers. See the previous discussion of these financing guarantees under “Financing Receivables and Guarantees.”
Securities Lending
We periodically engage in securities lending activities with certain of our investments. These transactions are accounted for as a secured lending of the securities, and the securities are typically loaned only on an overnight basis. The average daily balance of securities lending for the nine months ended April 25, 2015 and April 26, 2014 was $0.5 billion and $1.4 billion , respectively. We require collateral equal to at least 102% of the fair market value of the loaned security and that the collateral be in the form of cash or liquid, high-quality assets. We engage in these secured lending transactions only with highly creditworthy counterparties, and the associated portfolio custodian has agreed to indemnify us against collateral losses. As of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 , we had no outstanding securities lending transactions. We believe these arrangements do not present a material risk or impact to our liquidity requirements.
Liquidity and Capital Resource Requirements
Based on past performance and current expectations, we believe our cash and cash equivalents, investments, cash generated from operations, and ability to access capital markets and committed credit lines will satisfy, through at least the next 12 months, our liquidity requirements, both in total and domestically, including the following: working capital needs, capital expenditures, investment requirements, stock repurchases, cash dividends, contractual obligations, commitments, principal and interest payments on debt, future customer financings, and other liquidity requirements associated with our operations. There are no other transactions, arrangements, or relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that are reasonably likely to materially affect the liquidity and the availability of, as well as our requirements for, capital resources.  

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Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	
Our financial position is exposed to a variety of risks, including interest rate risk, equity price risk, and foreign currency exchange risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Fixed Income Securities  We maintain an investment portfolio of various holdings, types, and maturities. Our primary objective for holding fixed income securities is to achieve an appropriate investment return consistent with preserving principal and managing risk. At any time, a sharp rise in market interest rates could have a material adverse impact on the fair value of our fixed income investment portfolio. Conversely, declines in interest rates, including the impact from lower credit spreads, could have a material adverse impact on interest income for our investment portfolio. We may utilize derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments to achieve our investment objectives. We had no outstanding hedging instruments for our fixed income securities as of April 25, 2015 . Our fixed income investments are held for purposes other than trading. Our fixed income investments are not leveraged as of April 25, 2015 . We monitor our interest rate and credit risks, including our credit exposures to specific rating categories and to individual issuers. As of April 25, 2015 , approximately 67% of our fixed income securities balance consisted of U.S. government and U.S. government agency securities. We believe the overall credit quality of our portfolio is strong.
Financing Receivables  As of April 25, 2015 , our financing receivables had a carrying value of $7.8 billion , compared with $8.1 billion as of July 26, 2014 . As of April 25, 2015 , a hypothetical 50 basis points (“BPS”) increase or decrease in market interest rates would change the fair value of our financing receivables by a decrease or increase of approximately $0.1 billion, respectively.
Debt  As of April 25, 2015 , we had $20.3 billion in principal amount of senior notes outstanding, which consisted of $2.4 billion floating-rate notes and $17.9 billion fixed-rate notes. The carrying amount of the senior notes was $20.5 billion , and the related fair value based on market prices was $22.2 billion . As of April 25, 2015 , a hypothetical 50 BPS increase or decrease in market interest rates would change the fair value of the fixed-rate debt, excluding the $10.4 billion of hedged debt, by a decrease or increase of approximately $0.4 billion, respectively. However, this hypothetical change in interest rates would not impact the interest expense on the fixed-rate debt that is not hedged.
Equity Price Risk
The fair value of our equity investments in publicly traded companies is subject to market price volatility. We may hold equity securities for strategic purposes or to diversify our overall investment portfolio. Our equity portfolio consists of securities with characteristics that most closely match the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index or NASDAQ Composite Index. These equity securities are held for purposes other than trading. To manage our exposure to changes in the fair value of certain equity securities, we may enter into equity derivatives designated as hedging instruments.
Publicly Traded Equity Securities  The following tables present the hypothetical fair values of publicly traded equity securities as a result of selected potential decreases and increases in the price of each equity security in the portfolio, excluding hedged equity securities, if any. Potential fluctuations in the price of each equity security in the portfolio of plus or minus 10%, 20%, and 30% were selected based on potential near-term changes in those security prices. The hypothetical fair values as of April 25, 2015 and July 26, 2014 are as follows (in millions):

																												
 	VALUATION OF
SECURITIES
GIVEN AN X%
DECREASE IN
EACH STOCK’S PRICE	 	FAIR VALUE AS OF
APRIL 25, 2015	 	VALUATION OF
SECURITIES
GIVEN AN X%
INCREASE IN
EACH STOCK’S PRICE	
 	(30)%	 	(20)%	 	(10)%	 			10%	 	20%	 	30%	
Publicly traded equity securities	$	1,110		 	$	1,268		 	$	1,427		 	$	1,585		 	$	1,744		 	$	1,902		 	$	2,061		

	
																												
 	VALUATION OF
SECURITIES
GIVEN AN X%
DECREASE IN
EACH STOCK’S PRICE	 	FAIR VALUE
AS OF JULY 26, 2014	 	VALUATION OF
SECURITIES
GIVEN AN X%
INCREASE IN
EACH STOCK’S PRICE	
 	(30)%	 	(20)%	 	(10)%	 			10%	 	20%	 	30%	
Publicly traded equity securities	$	1,144		 	$	1,307		 	$	1,471		 	$	1,634		 	$	1,797		 	$	1,961		 	$	2,124		

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Investments in Privately Held Companies  We have also invested in privately held companies. These investments are recorded in other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and are accounted for using primarily either the cost or the equity method. As of April 25, 2015 , the total carrying amount of our investments in privately held companies was $873 million , compared with $899 million at July 26, 2014 . Some of the privately held companies in which we invested are in the startup or development stages. These investments are inherently risky because the markets for the technologies or products these companies are developing are typically in the early stages and may never materialize. We could lose our entire investment in these companies. Our evaluation of investments in privately held companies is based on the fundamentals of the businesses invested in, including, among other factors, the nature of their technologies and potential for financial return.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
Our foreign exchange forward and option contracts outstanding as of respective period-ends are summarized in U.S. dollar equivalents as follows (in millions):

																
 	April 25, 2015	 	July 26, 2014	
 	Notional Amount	 	Fair Value	 	Notional Amount	 	Fair Value	
Forward contracts:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Purchased	$	1,947		 	$	(16	)	 	$	2,635		 	$	(3	)	
Sold	$	599		 	$	(5	)	 	$	896		 	$	2		
Option contracts:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Purchased	$	265		 	$	—		 	$	494		 	$	5		
Sold	$	218		 	$	(29	)	 	$	466		 	$	(2	)	
We conduct business globally in numerous currencies. The direct effect of foreign currency fluctuations on revenue has not been material because our sales are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. However, if the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to other currencies, such strengthening could have an indirect effect on our revenue to the extent it raises the cost of our products to non-U.S. customers and thereby reduces demand. A weaker U.S. dollar could have the opposite effect. However, the precise indirect effect of currency fluctuations is difficult to measure or predict because our sales are influenced by many factors in addition to the impact of such currency fluctuations.
Approximately 70% of our operating expenses are U.S.-dollar denominated. In the first nine months of fiscal 2015 , foreign currency fluctuations, net of hedging, decreased our combined R&D, sales and marketing, and G&A expenses by approximately $168 million , or approximately 1.3% , compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2014 . To reduce variability in operating expenses and service cost of sales caused by non-U.S.-dollar denominated operating expenses and costs, we hedge certain forecasted foreign currency transactions with currency options and forward contracts. These hedging programs are not designed to provide foreign currency protection over long time horizons. In designing a specific hedging approach, we consider several factors, including offsetting exposures, significance of exposures, costs associated with entering into a particular hedge instrument, and potential effectiveness of the hedge. The gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts mitigate the effect of currency movements on our operating expenses and service cost of sales.
We also enter into foreign exchange forward and option contracts to reduce the short-term effects of foreign currency fluctuations on receivables and payables that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of the entities. The market risks associated with these foreign currency receivables, investments, and payables relate primarily to variances from our forecasted foreign currency transactions and balances. Our forward and option contracts generally have the following maturities:

			
 	 	Maturities	
Forward and option contracts—forecasted transactions related to operating expenses and service cost of sales	 	Up to 18 months	
Forward contracts—current assets and liabilities	 	Up to 3 months	
Forward contracts—net investments in foreign subsidiaries	 	Up to 6 months	
Forward contracts—long-term customer financings	 	Up to 2 years	
We do not enter into foreign exchange forward or option contracts for trading purposes.

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Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Based on our management’s evaluation (with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer), as of the end of the period covered by this report, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”)) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during our third quarter of fiscal 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

		
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	
Brazil  Brazilian authorities have investigated our Brazilian subsidiary and certain of its current and former employees, as well as a Brazilian importer of our products, and its affiliates and employees, relating to alleged evasion of import taxes and alleged improper transactions involving the subsidiary and the importer. Brazilian tax authorities have assessed claims against our Brazilian subsidiary based on a theory of joint liability with the Brazilian importer for import taxes, interest, and penalties. In addition to claims asserted by the Brazilian federal tax authorities in prior fiscal years, tax authorities from the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo have asserted similar claims on the same legal basis in prior fiscal years. In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Brazilian federal tax authorities asserted an additional claim against our Brazilian subsidiary based on a theory of joint liability with respect to an alleged underpayment of income taxes, social taxes, interest, and penalties by a Brazilian distributor.
The asserted claims by Brazilian federal tax authorities are for calendar years 2003 through 2008, and the asserted claims by the tax authorities from the state of Sao Paulo are for calendar years 2005 through 2007. The total asserted claims by Brazilian state and federal tax authorities aggregate to approximately $291 million for the alleged evasion of import and other taxes, approximately $1.1 billion for interest, and approximately $1.3 billion for various penalties, all determined using an exchange rate as of April 25, 2015 . We have completed a thorough review of the matters and believe the asserted claims against our Brazilian subsidiary are without merit, and we are defending the claims vigorously. While we believe there is no legal basis for the alleged liability, due to the complexities and uncertainty surrounding the judicial process in Brazil and the nature of the claims asserting joint liability with the importer, we are unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome against our Brazilian subsidiary and are unable to reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any. We do not expect a final judicial determination for several years.
Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States  At the request of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)and the U.S. Department of Justice, we are conducting an investigation into allegations which we and those agencies received regarding possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act involving business activities of Cisco's operations in Russia and certain of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and by certain resellers of our products in those countries.  We take any such allegations very seriously and are fully cooperating with and sharing the results of our investigation with the SEC and the Department of Justice.  While the outcome of our investigation is currently not determinable, we do not expect that it will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The countries that are the subject of the investigation collectively comprise less than 2% of our revenues.
Rockstar  We and some of our service provider customers were subject to patent claims asserted in December 2013 in the Eastern District of Texas and the District of Delaware by subsidiaries of the Rockstar Consortium (“Rockstar”). Rockstar, whose members include Apple, Microsoft, LM Ericsson, Sony, and Blackberry, had purchased a portfolio of patents out of the Nortel Networks’ bankruptcy proceedings (the “Nortel Portfolio”). In connection with this matter, during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 we recorded a charge to product cost of sales of $188 million .
In December 2014, RPX Corporation (“RPX”) and Rockstar entered into an agreement, which closed on January 28, 2015, resulting in over 30 technology companies, including Cisco and the various service provider customers described above, obtaining a license to the patents owned by Rockstar. We paid approximately $300 million in connection with this transaction, with the payment recorded against the amount previously reserved and as an intangible asset to be amortized over its estimated useful life. In connection with the closing of the transaction, Rockstar dismissed all litigation it had brought against the participating companies.

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In addition, we are subject to legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including intellectual property litigation. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, we do not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. For additional information regarding intellectual property litigation, see “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors-We may be found to infringe on intellectual property rights of others” herein.

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Item 1A.	Risk Factors	
Set forth below and elsewhere in this report and in other documents we file with the SEC are descriptions of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. The descriptions below include any material changes to and supersede the description of the risk factors affecting our business previously disclosed in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 26, 2014.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY FLUCTUATE IN FUTURE PERIODS, WHICH MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR STOCK PRICE
Our operating results have been in the past, and will continue to be, subject to quarterly and annual fluctuations as a result of numerous factors, some of which may contribute to more pronounced fluctuations in an uncertain global economic environment. These factors include:  

				
 	•	 	Fluctuations in demand for our products and services, especially with respect to telecommunications service providers and Internet businesses, in part due to changes in the global economic environment	

				
 	•	 	Changes in sales and implementation cycles for our products and reduced visibility into our customers’ spending plans and associated revenue	

				
 	•	 	Our ability to maintain appropriate inventory levels and purchase commitments	

				
 	•	 	Price and product competition in the communications and networking industries, which can change rapidly due to technological innovation and different business models from various geographic regions	

				
 	•	 	The overall movement toward industry consolidation among both our competitors and our customers	

				
 	•	 	The introduction and market acceptance of new technologies and products and our success in new and evolving markets, including in our newer product categories such as data center and collaboration and in emerging technologies, as well as the adoption of new standards	

				
 	•	 	New business models for our offerings, such as XaaS, where costs are borne up front while revenue is recognized over time	

				
 	•	 	Variations in sales channels, product costs, or mix of products sold	

				
 	•	 	The timing, size, and mix of orders from customers	

				
 	•	 	Manufacturing and customer lead times	

				
 	•	 	Fluctuations in our gross margins, and the factors that contribute to such fluctuations, as described below	

				
 	•	 	The ability of our customers, channel partners, contract manufacturers and suppliers to obtain financing or to fund capital expenditures, especially during a period of global credit market disruption or in the event of customer, channel partner, contract manufacturer or supplier financial problems	

				
 	•	 	Share-based compensation expense	

				
 	•	 	Actual events, circumstances, outcomes, and amounts differing from judgments, assumptions, and estimates used in determining the values of certain assets (including the amounts of related valuation allowances), liabilities, and other items reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements	

				
 	•	 	How well we execute on our strategy and operating plans and the impact of changes in our business model that could result in significant restructuring charges	

				
 	•	 	Our ability to achieve targeted cost reductions	

				
 	•	 	Benefits anticipated from our investments in engineering, sales, service, and marketing	

				
 	•	 	Changes in tax laws or accounting rules, or interpretations thereof	

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As a consequence, operating results for a particular future period are difficult to predict, and, therefore, prior results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Any of the foregoing factors, or any other factors discussed elsewhere herein, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition that could adversely affect our stock price.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY UNFAVORABLE ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS AND THE UNCERTAIN GEOPOLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
Challenging economic conditions worldwide have from time to time contributed, and may continue to contribute, to slowdowns in the communications and networking industries at large, as well as in specific segments and markets in which we operate, resulting in:

				
 	•	 	Reduced demand for our products as a result of continued constraints on IT-related capital spending by our customers, particularly service providers, and other customer markets as well	

				
 	•	 	Increased price competition for our products, not only from our competitors but also as a consequence of customers disposing of unutilized products	

				
 	•	 	Risk of excess and obsolete inventories	

				
 	•	 	Risk of supply constraints	

				
 	•	 	Risk of excess facilities and manufacturing capacity	

				
 	•	 	Higher overhead costs as a percentage of revenue and higher interest expense	
The global macroeconomic environment has been challenging and inconsistent. Instability in the global credit markets, the impact of uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal budget including the effect of the sequestration beginning in 2013, global central bank monetary policy, the instability in the geopolitical environment in many parts of the world and other disruptions may continue to put pressure on global economic conditions. If global economic and market conditions, or economic conditions in key markets, remain uncertain or deteriorate further, we may experience material impacts on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
Our operating results in one or more segments may also be affected by uncertain or changing economic conditions particularly germane to that segment or to particular customer markets within that segment. For example, sales in several of our emerging countries decreased in recent periods, including the first three quarters of fiscal 2015, and we expect that this weakness will continue for at least a few quarters.
In addition, reports of certain intelligence gathering methods of the U.S. government could affect customers’ perception of the products of IT companies which design and manufacture products in the United States. Trust and confidence in us as an IT supplier is critical to the development and growth of our markets. Impairment of that trust, or foreign regulatory actions taken in response to reports of certain intelligence gathering methods of the U.S. government, could affect the demand for our products from customers outside of the United States and could have an adverse effect on our operating results.
WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING AND EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN KEY GROWTH AREAS AS WELL AS MAINTAINING LEADERSHIP IN ROUTING, SWITCHING AND SERVICES, AND IF THE RETURN ON THESE INVESTMENTS IS LOWER OR DEVELOPS MORE SLOWLY THAN WE EXPECT, OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY BE HARMED
We expect to realign and dedicate resources into key growth areas, such as data center virtualization, software, security, and cloud, while also focusing on maintaining leadership in routing, switching and services. However, the return on our investments may be lower, or may develop more slowly, than we expect. If we do not achieve the benefits anticipated from these investments (including if our selection of areas for investment does not play out as we expect), or if the achievement of these benefits is delayed, our operating results may be adversely affected.
OUR REVENUE FOR A PARTICULAR PERIOD IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT, AND A SHORTFALL IN REVENUE MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
As a result of a variety of factors discussed in this report, our revenue for a particular quarter is difficult to predict, especially in light of a challenging and inconsistent global macroeconomic environment and related market uncertainty.
Our revenue may grow at a slower rate than in past periods, or decline as it did in fiscal 2014 on a year-over-year basis. Our ability to meet financial expectations could also be adversely affected if the nonlinear sales pattern seen in some of our past quarters

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recurs in future periods. We have experienced periods of time during which shipments have exceeded net bookings or manufacturing issues have delayed shipments, leading to nonlinearity in shipping patterns. In addition to making it difficult to predict revenue for a particular period, nonlinearity in shipping can increase costs, because irregular shipment patterns result in periods of underutilized capacity and periods in which overtime expenses may be incurred, as well as in potential additional inventory management-related costs. In addition, to the extent that manufacturing issues and any related component shortages result in delayed shipments in the future, and particularly in periods in which our contract manufacturers are operating at higher levels of capacity, it is possible that revenue for a quarter could be adversely affected if such matters occur and are not remediated within the same quarter.
The timing of large orders can also have a significant effect on our business and operating results from quarter to quarter, primarily in the United States and in emerging countries. From time to time, we receive large orders that have a significant effect on our operating results in the period in which the order is recognized as revenue. The timing of such orders is difficult to predict, and the timing of revenue recognition from such orders may affect period to period changes in revenue. As a result, our operating results could vary materially from quarter to quarter based on the receipt of such orders and their ultimate recognition as revenue.
Inventory management remains an area of focus. We have experienced longer than normal manufacturing lead times in the past which have caused some customers to place the same order multiple times within our various sales channels and to cancel the duplicative orders upon receipt of the product, or to place orders with other vendors with shorter manufacturing lead times. Such multiple ordering (along with other factors) or risk of order cancellation may cause difficulty in predicting our revenue and, as a result, could impair our ability to manage parts inventory effectively. In addition, our efforts to improve manufacturing lead-time performance may result in corresponding reductions in order backlog. A decline in backlog levels could result in more variability and less predictability in our quarter-to-quarter revenue and operating results. In addition, when facing component supply-related challenges, we have increased our efforts in procuring components in order to meet customer expectations which in turn contribute to an increase in purchase commitments. Increases in our purchase commitments to shorten lead times could also lead to excess and obsolete inventory charges if the demand for our products is less than our expectations.
We plan our operating expense levels based primarily on forecasted revenue levels. These expenses and the impact of long-term commitments are relatively fixed in the short term. A shortfall in revenue could lead to operating results being below expectations because we may not be able to quickly reduce these fixed expenses in response to short-term business changes.
Any of the above factors could have a material adverse impact on our operations and financial results.
WE EXPECT GROSS MARGIN TO VARY OVER TIME, AND OUR LEVEL OF PRODUCT GROSS MARGIN MAY NOT BE SUSTAINABLE
Although our product gross margin increased in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, our level of product gross margins have declined in recent periods and could decline in future quarters due to adverse impacts from various factors, including:

				
 	•	 	Changes in customer, geographic, or product mix, including mix of configurations within each product group	

				
 	•	 	Introduction of new products, including products with price-performance advantages, and new business models for our offerings such as XaaS	

				
 	•	 	Our ability to reduce production costs	

				
 	•	 	Entry into new markets or growth in lower margin markets, including markets with different pricing and cost structures, through acquisitions or internal development	

				
 	•	 	Sales discounts	

				
  	•	 	Increases in material, labor or other manufacturing-related costs, which could be significant especially during periods of supply constraints	

				
 	•	 	Excess inventory and inventory holding charges	

				
 	•	 	Obsolescence charges	

				
 	•	 	Changes in shipment volume	

				
 	•	 	The timing of revenue recognition and revenue deferrals	

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 	•	 	Increased cost, loss of cost savings or dilution of savings due to changes in component pricing or charges incurred due to inventory holding periods if parts ordering does not correctly anticipate product demand or if the financial health of either contract manufacturers or suppliers deteriorates	

				
 	•	 	Lower than expected benefits from value engineering	

				
 	•	 	Increased price competition, including competitors from Asia, especially from China	

				
 	•	 	Changes in distribution channels	

				
 	•	 	Increased warranty costs	

				
 	•	 	Increased amortization of purchased intangible assets, especially from acquisitions	

				
 	•	 	How well we execute on our strategy and operating plans	
Changes in service gross margin may result from various factors such as changes in the mix between technical support services and advanced services, as well as the timing of technical support service contract initiations and renewals and the addition of personnel and other resources to support higher levels of service business in future periods.
SALES TO THE SERVICE PROVIDER MARKET ARE ESPECIALLY VOLATILE, AND WEAKNESS IN SALES ORDERS FROM THIS INDUSTRY MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
Sales to the service provider market have been characterized by large and sporadic purchases, especially relating to our router sales and sales of certain products in our newer product categories such as Data Center, Collaboration, and Service Provider Video, in addition to longer sales cycles. At various times in the past including fiscal 2014 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015, we experienced significant weakness in sales to service providers, sometimes lasting over extended periods of time as market conditions have fluctuated. We expect that the weakness we experienced in fiscal 2014 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015 will continue for at least a few quarters. Sales activity in this industry depends upon the stage of completion of expanding network infrastructures; the availability of funding; and the extent to which service providers are affected by regulatory, economic, and business conditions in the country of operations. Weakness in orders from this industry, including as a result of any slowdown in capital expenditures by service providers (which may be more prevalent during a global economic downturn or periods of economic uncertainty), could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Such slowdowns may continue or recur in future periods. Orders from this industry could decline for many reasons other than the competitiveness of our products and services within their respective markets. For example, in the past, many of our service provider customers have been materially and adversely affected by slowdowns in the general economy, by overcapacity, by changes in the service provider market, by regulatory developments, and by constraints on capital availability, resulting in business failures and substantial reductions in spending and expansion plans. These conditions have materially harmed our business and operating results in the past, and some of these or other conditions in the service provider market could affect our business and operating results in any future period. Finally, service provider customers typically have longer implementation cycles; require a broader range of services, including design services; demand that vendors take on a larger share of risks; often require acceptance provisions, which can lead to a delay in revenue recognition; and expect financing from vendors. All these factors can add further risk to business conducted with service providers.
DISRUPTION OF OR CHANGES IN OUR DISTRIBUTION MODEL COULD HARM OUR SALES AND MARGINS
If we fail to manage distribution of our products and services properly, or if our distributors’ financial condition or operations weaken, our revenue and gross margins could be adversely affected.
A substantial portion of our products and services is sold through our channel partners, and the remainder is sold through direct sales. Our channel partners include systems integrators, service providers, other resellers, and distributors. Systems integrators and service providers typically sell directly to end users and often provide system installation, technical support, professional services, and other support services in addition to network equipment sales. Systems integrators also typically integrate our products into an overall solution, and a number of service providers are also systems integrators. Distributors stock inventory and typically sell to systems integrators, service providers, and other resellers. We refer to sales through distributors as our two-tier system of sales to the end customer. Revenue from distributors is generally recognized based on a sell-through method using information provided by them. These distributors are generally given business terms that allow them to return a portion of inventory, receive credits for changes in selling prices, and participate in various cooperative marketing programs. If sales through indirect channels increase, this may lead to greater difficulty in forecasting the mix of our products and, to a degree, the timing of orders from our customers.

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Historically, we have seen fluctuations in our gross margins based on changes in the balance of our distribution channels. Although variability to date has not been significant, there can be no assurance that changes in the balance of our distribution model in future periods would not have an adverse effect on our gross margins and profitability.
Some factors could result in disruption of or changes in our distribution model, which could harm our sales and margins, including the following:

				
 	•	 	We compete with some of our channel partners, including through our direct sales, which may lead these channel partners to use other suppliers that do not directly sell their own products or otherwise compete with them	

				
 	•	 	Some of our channel partners may demand that we absorb a greater share of the risks that their customers may ask them to bear	

				
 	•	 	Some of our channel partners may have insufficient financial resources and may not be able to withstand changes and challenges in business conditions	

				
 	•	 	Revenue from indirect sales could suffer if our distributors’ financial condition or operations weaken	
In addition, we depend on our channel partners globally to comply with applicable regulatory requirements. To the extent that they fail to do so, that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Further, sales of our products outside of agreed territories can result in disruption to our distribution channels.
THE MARKETS IN WHICH WE COMPETE ARE INTENSELY COMPETITIVE, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ACHIEVEMENT OF REVENUE GROWTH
The markets in which we compete are characterized by rapid change, converging technologies, and a migration to networking and communications solutions that offer relative advantages. These market factors represent a competitive threat to us. We compete with numerous vendors in each product category. The overall number of our competitors providing niche product solutions may increase. Also, the identity and composition of competitors may change as we increase our activity in newer product categories such as data center and collaboration and in key growth areas. For example, as products related to network programmability, such as software-defined-networking products, become more prevalent, we expect to face increased competition from companies who develop networking products based on commoditized hardware, referred to as "white box" hardware, to the extent customers decide to purchase those product offerings instead of ours. In addition, the growth in demand for technology delivered as a service enables new competitors to enter the market.
As we continue to expand globally, we may see new competition in different geographic regions. In particular, we have experienced price-focused competition from competitors in Asia, especially from China, and we anticipate this will continue. Our competitors include Alcatel-Lucent; Amazon Web Services LLC; Arista Networks, Inc.; ARRIS Group, Inc.; Aruba Networks, Inc.; Avaya Inc.; Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.; Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.; Citrix Systems, Inc.; Dell Inc.; LM Ericsson Telephone Company; Extreme Networks, Inc.; F5 Networks, Inc.; FireEye, Inc.; Fortinet, Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; International Business Machines Corporation; Juniper Networks, Inc.; Lenovo Group Limited; Microsoft Corporation; Palo Alto Networks, Inc.; Polycom, Inc.; Riverbed Technology, Inc.; Ruckus Wireless, Inc.; Symantec Corporation; and VMware, Inc.; among others.
Some of these companies compete across many of our product lines, while others are primarily focused in a specific product area. Barriers to entry are relatively low, and new ventures to create products that do or could compete with our products are regularly formed. In addition, some of our competitors may have greater resources, including technical and engineering resources, than we do. As we expand into new markets, we will face competition not only from our existing competitors but also from other competitors, including existing companies with strong technological, marketing, and sales positions in those markets. We also sometimes face competition from resellers and distributors of our products. Companies with whom we have strategic alliances in some areas may be competitors in other areas, and in our view this trend may increase.
For example, the enterprise data center is undergoing a fundamental transformation arising from the convergence of technologies, including computing, networking, storage, and software, that previously were segregated. Due to several factors, including the availability of highly scalable and general purpose microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits offering advanced services, standards based protocols, cloud computing and virtualization, the convergence of technologies within the enterprise data center is spanning multiple, previously independent, technology segments. Also, some of our current and potential competitors for enterprise data center business have made acquisitions, or announced new strategic alliances, designed to position them to provide end-to-end technology solutions for the enterprise data center. As a result of all of these developments, we face greater competition in the development and sale of enterprise data center technologies, including competition from entities that are among

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our long-term strategic alliance partners. Companies that are strategic alliance partners in some areas of our business may acquire or form alliances with our competitors, thereby reducing their business with us.
The principal competitive factors in the markets in which we presently compete and may compete in the future include:

				
 	•	 	The ability to provide a broad range of networking and communications products and services	

				
 	•	 	Product performance	

				
 	•	 	Price	

				
 	•	 	The ability to introduce new products, including products with price-performance advantages	

				
 	•	 	The ability to reduce production costs	

				
 	•	 	The ability to provide value-added features such as security, reliability, and investment protection	

				
 	•	 	Conformance to standards	

				
 	•	 	Market presence	

				
 	•	 	The ability to provide financing	

				
 	•	 	Disruptive technology shifts and new business models	
We also face competition from customers to which we license or supply technology and suppliers from which we transfer technology. The inherent nature of networking requires interoperability. As such, we must cooperate and at the same time compete with many companies. Any inability to effectively manage these complicated relationships with customers, suppliers, and strategic alliance partners could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition and accordingly affect our chances of success.
OUR INVENTORY MANAGEMENT RELATING TO OUR SALES TO OUR TWO-TIER DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL IS COMPLEX, AND EXCESS INVENTORY MAY HARM OUR GROSS MARGINS
We must manage our inventory relating to sales to our distributors effectively, because inventory held by them could affect our results of operations. Our distributors may increase orders during periods of product shortages, cancel orders if their inventory is too high, or delay orders in anticipation of new products. They also may adjust their orders in response to the supply of our products and the products of our competitors that are available to them, and in response to seasonal fluctuations in end-user demand. Revenue to our distributors generally is recognized based on a sell-through method using information provided by them, and they are generally given business terms that allow them to return a portion of inventory, receive credits for changes in selling price, and participate in various cooperative marketing programs. Inventory management remains an area of focus as we balance the need to maintain strategic inventory levels to ensure competitive lead times against the risk of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements. When facing component supply-related challenges, we have increased our efforts in procuring components in order to meet customer expectations. If we ultimately determine that we have excess inventory, we may have to reduce our prices and write down inventory, which in turn could result in lower gross margins.

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SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, INCLUDING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OF CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS OR COMPONENT SUPPLIERS, OR A SHORTAGE OF ADEQUATE COMPONENT SUPPLY OR MANUFACTURING CAPACITY THAT INCREASED OUR COSTS OR CAUSED A DELAY IN OUR ABILITY TO FULFILL ORDERS, COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATING RESULTS, AND OUR FAILURE TO ESTIMATE CUSTOMER DEMAND PROPERLY MAY RESULT IN EXCESS OR OBSOLETE COMPONENT SUPPLY, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR GROSS MARGINS
The fact that we do not own or operate the bulk of our manufacturing facilities and that we are reliant on our extended supply chain could have an adverse impact on the supply of our products and on our business and operating results:

				
 	•	 	Any financial problems of either contract manufacturers or component suppliers could either limit supply or increase costs	

				
 	•	 	Reservation of manufacturing capacity at our contract manufacturers by other companies, inside or outside of our industry, could either limit supply or increase costs	
A reduction or interruption in supply; a significant increase in the price of one or more components; a failure to adequately authorize procurement of inventory by our contract manufacturers; a failure to appropriately cancel, reschedule, or adjust our requirements based on our business needs; or a decrease in demand for our products could materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition and could materially damage customer relationships. Furthermore, as a result of binding price or purchase commitments with suppliers, we may be obligated to purchase components at prices that are higher than those available in the current market. In the event that we become committed to purchase components at prices in excess of the current market price when the components are actually used, our gross margins could decrease. We have experienced longer than normal lead times in the past. Although we have generally secured additional supply or taken other mitigation actions when significant disruptions have occurred, if similar situations occur in the future, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. See the risk factor above entitled “Our revenue for a particular period is difficult to predict, and a shortfall in revenue may harm our operating results.”
Our growth and ability to meet customer demands depend in part on our ability to obtain timely deliveries of parts from our suppliers and contract manufacturers. We have experienced component shortages in the past, including shortages caused by manufacturing process issues, that have affected our operations. We may in the future experience a shortage of certain component parts as a result of our own manufacturing issues, manufacturing issues at our suppliers or contract manufacturers, capacity problems experienced by our suppliers or contract manufacturers, or strong demand in the industry for those parts. Growth in the economy is likely to create greater pressures on us and our suppliers to accurately project overall component demand and component demands within specific product categories and to establish optimal component levels and manufacturing capacity, especially for labor-intensive components, components for which we purchase a substantial portion of the supply, or the re-ramping of manufacturing capacity for highly complex products. During periods of shortages or delays the price of components may increase, or the components may not be available at all, and we may also encounter shortages if we do not accurately anticipate our needs. We may not be able to secure enough components at reasonable prices or of acceptable quality to build new products in a timely manner in the quantities or configurations needed. Accordingly, our revenue and gross margins could suffer until other sources can be developed. Our operating results would also be adversely affected if, anticipating greater demand than actually develops, we commit to the purchase of more components than we need, which is more likely to occur in a period of demand uncertainties such as we are currently experiencing. There can be no assurance that we will not encounter these problems in the future. Although in many cases we use standard parts and components for our products, certain components are presently available only from a single source or limited sources, and a global economic downturn and related market uncertainty could negatively impact the availability of components from one or more of these sources, especially during times such as we have recently seen when there are supplier constraints based on labor and other actions taken during economic downturns. We may not be able to diversify sources in a timely manner, which could harm our ability to deliver products to customers and seriously impact present and future sales.
We believe that we may be faced with the following challenges in the future:  

				
 	•	 	New markets in which we participate may grow quickly, which may make it difficult to quickly obtain significant component capacity	

				
 	•	 	As we acquire companies and new technologies, we may be dependent, at least initially, on unfamiliar supply chains or relatively small supply partners	

				
 	•	 	We face competition for certain components that are supply-constrained, from existing competitors, and companies in other markets	

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Manufacturing capacity and component supply constraints could continue to be significant issues for us. We purchase components from a variety of suppliers and use several contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing services for our products. During the normal course of business, in order to improve manufacturing lead-time performance and to help ensure adequate component supply, we enter into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that either allow them to procure inventory based upon criteria as defined by us or that establish the parameters defining our requirements. In certain instances, these agreements allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to firm orders being placed. When facing component supply-related challenges, we have increased our efforts in procuring components in order to meet customer expectations which in turn contributes to an increase in purchase commitments. Increases in our purchase commitments to shorten lead times could also lead to excess and obsolete inventory charges if the demand for our products is less than our expectations. If we fail to anticipate customer demand properly, an oversupply of parts could result in excess or obsolete components that could adversely affect our gross margins. For additional information regarding our purchase commitments with contract manufacturers and suppliers, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
WE DEPEND UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PRODUCTS, AND IF WE FAIL TO PREDICT AND RESPOND TO EMERGING TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS AND CUSTOMERS’ CHANGING NEEDS, OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND MARKET SHARE MAY SUFFER
The markets for our products are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, new product introductions, and evolving methods of building and operating networks. Our operating results depend on our ability to develop and introduce new products into existing and emerging markets and to reduce the production costs of existing products. Many of our strategic initiatives and investments are aimed at meeting the requirements that a network capable of multiple-party, collaborative interaction would demand, and the investments we have made and our architectural approach are designed to enable the increased use of the network as the platform for all forms of communications and IT. For example, in fiscal 2009 we launched our Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS), our next-generation enterprise data center platform architected to unite computing, network, storage access and virtualization resources in a single system, which is designed to address the fundamental transformation occurring in the enterprise data center. While our Cisco UCS offering remains a significant focus area for us, several market transitions are also shaping our strategies and investments.
One such market transition we are focusing on is the move towards more programmable, flexible and virtual networks. In our view, this evolution is in its very early stages, and we believe the successful products and solutions in this market will combine application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), hardware and software elements together. Other examples include our focus on the IoE market transition, a potentially significant transition in the IT industry, and a transition in cloud where we have announced plans to architect the Cisco Intercloud solution.
The process of developing new technology, including technology related to more programmable, flexible and virtual networks and technology related to other market transitions, including IoE and cloud, is complex and uncertain, and if we fail to accurately predict customers’ changing needs and emerging technological trends our business could be harmed. We must commit significant resources, including the investments we have been making in our priorities to developing new products before knowing whether our investments will result in products the market will accept. In particular, if our model of the evolution of networking does not emerge as we believe it will, or if the industry does not evolve as we believe it will, or if our strategy for addressing this evolution is not successful, many of our strategic initiatives and investments may be of no or limited value. For example, if we do not introduce products related to network programmability, such as software-defined-networking products, in a timely fashion, or if product offerings in this market that ultimately succeed are based on technology, or an approach to technology, that differs from ours, such as, for example, networking products based on “white box” hardware, our business could be harmed. Similarly, our business could be harmed if we fail to develop, or fail to develop in a timely fashion, offerings to address other transitions, or if the offerings addressing these other transitions that ultimately succeed are based on technology, or an approach to technology, different from ours.
Furthermore, we may not execute successfully on our vision or strategy because of challenges with regard to product planning and timing, technical hurdles that we fail to overcome in a timely fashion, or a lack of appropriate resources. This could result in competitors, some of which may also be our strategic alliance partners, providing those solutions before we do and loss of market share, revenue, and earnings. In addition, the growth in demand for technology delivered as a service enables new competitors to enter the market. The success of new products depends on several factors, including proper new product definition, component costs, timely completion and introduction of these products, differentiation of new products from those of our competitors, and market acceptance of these products. There can be no assurance that we will successfully identify new product opportunities, develop and bring new products to market in a timely manner, or achieve market acceptance of our products or that products and technologies developed by others will not render our products or technologies obsolete or noncompetitive. The products and technologies in our other product categories and key growth areas may not prove to have the market success we anticipate, and we may not successfully identify and invest in other emerging or new products.

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CHANGES IN INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND MARKET CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO CHARGES RELATED TO DISCONTINUANCES OF CERTAIN OF OUR PRODUCTS OR BUSINESSES, ASSET IMPAIRMENTS AND WORKFORCE REDUCTIONS OR RESTRUCTURINGS
In response to changes in industry and market conditions, we may be required to strategically realign our resources and to consider restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise exiting businesses. Any resource realignment, or decision to limit investment in or dispose of or otherwise exit businesses, may result in the recording of special charges, such as inventory and technology-related write-offs, workforce reduction or restructuring costs, charges relating to consolidation of excess facilities, or claims from third parties who were resellers or users of discontinued products. Our estimates with respect to the useful life or ultimate recoverability of our carrying basis of assets, including purchased intangible assets, could change as a result of such assessments and decisions. Although in certain instances our supply agreements allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to firm orders being placed, our loss contingencies may include liabilities for contracts that we cannot cancel with contract manufacturers and suppliers. Further, our estimates relating to the liabilities for excess facilities are affected by changes in real estate market conditions. Additionally, we are required to perform goodwill impairment tests on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances, and future goodwill impairment tests may result in a charge to earnings.
In August 2014, as part of our strategy of continuing to invest in growth, innovation and talent, while also managing costs and driving efficiencies, we announced a restructuring plan. We began taking action under this plan in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The implementation of this restructuring plan may be disruptive to our business, and following completion of the restructuring plan our business may not be more efficient or effective than prior to implementation of the plan. Our restructuring activities, including any related charges and the impact of the related headcount restructurings, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
OVER THE LONG TERM WE INTEND TO INVEST IN ENGINEERING, SALES, SERVICE AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES, AND THESE INVESTMENTS MAY ACHIEVE DELAYED, OR LOWER THAN EXPECTED, BENEFITS WHICH COULD HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
While we intend to focus on managing our costs and expenses, over the long term, we also intend to invest in personnel and other resources related to our engineering, sales, service and marketing functions as we realign and dedicate resources on key growth areas, such as data center virtualization, software, security, and cloud, and we also intend to focus on maintaining leadership in routing, switching and services. We are likely to recognize the costs associated with these investments earlier than some of the anticipated benefits, and the return on these investments may be lower, or may develop more slowly, than we expect. If we do not achieve the benefits anticipated from these investments, or if the achievement of these benefits is delayed, our operating results may be adversely affected.
OUR BUSINESS SUBSTANTIALLY DEPENDS UPON THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE INTERNET AND INTERNET-BASED SYSTEMS
A substantial portion of our business and revenue depends on growth and evolution of the Internet, including the continued development of the Internet and the anticipated transition to IoE, and on the deployment of our products by customers who depend on such continued growth and evolution. To the extent that an economic slowdown or uncertainty and related reduction in capital spending adversely affect spending on Internet infrastructure, including spending or investment related to IoE, we could experience material harm to our business, operating results, and financial condition.
Because of the rapid introduction of new products and changing customer requirements related to matters such as cost-effectiveness and security, we believe that there could be performance problems with Internet communications in the future, which could receive a high degree of publicity and visibility. Because we are a large supplier of networking products, our business, operating results, and financial condition may be materially adversely affected, regardless of whether or not these problems are due to the performance of our own products. Such an event could also result in a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock independent of direct effects on our business.
WE HAVE MADE AND EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE ACQUISITIONS THAT COULD DISRUPT OUR OPERATIONS AND HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
Our growth depends upon market growth, our ability to enhance our existing products, and our ability to introduce new products on a timely basis. We intend to continue to address the need to develop new products and enhance existing products through acquisitions of other companies, product lines, technologies, and personnel. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the following:

				
 	•	 	Difficulties in integrating the operations, systems, technologies, products, and personnel of the acquired companies, particularly companies with large and widespread operations and/or complex products, such as Scientific-Atlanta, WebEx, Starent, Tandberg and NDS Group Limited	

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 	•	 	Diversion of management’s attention from normal daily operations of the business and the challenges of managing larger and more widespread operations resulting from acquisitions	

				
 	•	 	Potential difficulties in completing projects associated with in-process research and development intangibles	

				
 	•	 	Difficulties in entering markets in which we have no or limited direct prior experience and where competitors in such markets have stronger market positions	

				
 	•	 	Initial dependence on unfamiliar supply chains or relatively small supply partners	

				
 	•	 	Insufficient revenue to offset increased expenses associated with acquisitions	

				
 	•	 	The potential loss of key employees, customers, distributors, vendors and other business partners of the companies we acquire following and continuing after announcement of acquisition plans	
Acquisitions may also cause us to:  

				
 	•	 	Issue common stock that would dilute our current shareholders’ percentage ownership	

				
 	•	 	Use a substantial portion of our cash resources, or incur debt, as we did in fiscal 2006 when we issued and sold $6.5 billion in senior unsecured notes to fund our acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta	

				
 	•	 	Significantly increase our interest expense, leverage and debt service requirements if we incur additional debt to pay for an acquisition	

				
 	•	 	Assume liabilities	

				
 	•	 	Record goodwill and intangible assets that are subject to impairment testing on a regular basis and potential periodic impairment charges	

				
 	•	 	Incur amortization expenses related to certain intangible assets	

				
 	•	 	Incur tax expenses related to the effect of acquisitions on our intercompany R&D cost sharing arrangement and legal structure	

				
 	•	 	Incur large and immediate write-offs and restructuring and other related expenses	

				
 	•	 	Become subject to intellectual property or other litigation	
Mergers and acquisitions of high-technology companies are inherently risky and subject to many factors outside of our control, and no assurance can be given that our previous or future acquisitions will be successful and will not materially adversely affect our business, operating results, or financial condition. Failure to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions could materially harm our business and operating results. Prior acquisitions have resulted in a wide range of outcomes, from successful introduction of new products and technologies to a failure to do so. Even when an acquired company has already developed and marketed products, there can be no assurance that product enhancements will be made in a timely fashion or that pre-acquisition due diligence will have identified all possible issues that might arise with respect to such products.
From time to time, we have made acquisitions that resulted in charges in an individual quarter. These charges may occur in any particular quarter, resulting in variability in our quarterly earnings. In addition, our effective tax rate for future periods is uncertain and could be impacted by mergers and acquisitions. Risks related to new product development also apply to acquisitions. Please see the risk factors above, including the risk factor entitled “We depend upon the development of new products and enhancements to existing products, and if we fail to predict and respond to emerging technological trends and customers’ changing needs, our operating results and market share may suffer” for additional information.
ENTRANCE INTO NEW OR DEVELOPING MARKETS EXPOSES US TO ADDITIONAL COMPETITION AND WILL LIKELY INCREASE DEMANDS ON OUR SERVICE AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
As we focus on new market opportunities and key growth areas, we will increasingly compete with large telecommunications equipment suppliers as well as startup companies. Several of our competitors may have greater resources, including technical and engineering resources, than we do. Additionally, as customers in these markets complete infrastructure deployments, they may require greater levels of service, support, and financing than we have provided in the past, especially in emerging countries. Demand

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for these types of service, support, or financing contracts may increase in the future. There can be no assurance that we can provide products, service, support, and financing to effectively compete for these market opportunities.
Further, provision of greater levels of services, support and financing by us may result in a delay in the timing of revenue recognition. In addition, entry into other markets has subjected and will subject us to additional risks, particularly to those markets, including the effects of general market conditions and reduced consumer confidence. For example, as we add direct selling capabilities globally to meet changing customer demands, we will face increased legal and regulatory requirements.
INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION MAY LEAD TO INCREASED COMPETITION AND MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
There has been a trend toward industry consolidation in our markets for several years. We expect this trend to continue as companies attempt to strengthen or hold their market positions in an evolving industry and as companies are acquired or are unable to continue operations. For example, some of our current and potential competitors for enterprise data center business have made acquisitions, or announced new strategic alliances, designed to position them with the ability to provide end-to-end technology solutions for the enterprise data center. Companies that are strategic alliance partners in some areas of our business may acquire or form alliances with our competitors, thereby reducing their business with us. We believe that industry consolidation may result in stronger competitors that are better able to compete as sole-source vendors for customers. This could lead to more variability in our operating results and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Furthermore, particularly in the service provider market, rapid consolidation will lead to fewer customers, with the effect that loss of a major customer could have a material impact on results not anticipated in a customer marketplace composed of more numerous participants.

PRODUCT QUALITY PROBLEMS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED REVENUE, GROSS MARGINS, AND NET INCOME
We produce highly complex products that incorporate leading-edge technology, including both hardware and software. Software typically contains bugs that can unexpectedly interfere with expected operations. There can be no assurance that our pre-shipment testing programs will be adequate to detect all defects, either ones in individual products or ones that could affect numerous shipments, which might interfere with customer satisfaction, reduce sales opportunities, or affect gross margins. From time to time, we have had to replace certain components and provide remediation in response to the discovery of defects or bugs in products that we had shipped. There can be no assurance that such remediation, depending on the product involved, would not have a material impact. An inability to cure a product defect could result in the failure of a product line, temporary or permanent withdrawal from a product or market, damage to our reputation, inventory costs, or product reengineering expenses, any of which could have a material impact on our revenue, margins, and net income. For example, in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $655 million related to the expected remediation costs for certain products sold in prior fiscal years containing memory components manufactured by a single supplier between 2005 and 2010. The corresponding liability was reduced by $164 million related to an adjustment recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.
DUE TO THE GLOBAL NATURE OF OUR OPERATIONS, POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC CHANGES OR OTHER FACTORS IN A SPECIFIC COUNTRY OR REGION COULD HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
We conduct significant sales and customer support operations in countries around the world. As such, our growth depends in part on our increasing sales into emerging countries. We also depend on non-U.S. operations of our contract manufacturers, component suppliers and distribution partners. Although sales in several of our emerging countries decreased in recent periods, including in fiscal 2014 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2015, several of our emerging countries generally have been relatively fast growing, and we have announced plans to expand our commitments and expectations in certain of those countries. We expect that the weakness we experienced in recent periods in several emerging countries will continue for at least a few quarters. Our future results could be materially adversely affected by a variety of political, economic or other factors relating to our operations inside and outside the United States, including impacts from the U.S. federal budget including the effect of the sequestration beginning in 2013; global central bank monetary policy; issues related to the political relationship between the United States and other countries which can affect the willingness of customers in those countries to purchase products from companies headquartered in the United States; and the challenging and inconsistent global macroeconomic environment, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition, including, among others, the following:  

				
 	•	 	Foreign currency exchange rates	

				
 	•	 	Political or social unrest	

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 	•	 	Economic instability or weakness or natural disasters in a specific country or region; environmental and trade protection measures and other legal and regulatory requirements, some of which may affect our ability to import our products, to export our products from, or sell our products in various countries	

				
 	•	 	Political considerations that affect service provider and government spending patterns	

				
 	•	 	Health or similar issues, such as a pandemic or epidemic	

				
 	•	 	Difficulties in staffing and managing international operations	

				
 	•	 	Adverse tax consequences, including imposition of withholding or other taxes on our global operations	
WE ARE EXPOSED TO THE CREDIT RISK OF SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND TO CREDIT EXPOSURES IN WEAKENED MARKETS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN MATERIAL LOSSES
Most of our sales are on an open credit basis, with typical payment terms of 30 days in the United States and, because of local customs or conditions, longer in some markets outside the United States. We monitor individual customer payment capability in granting such open credit arrangements, seek to limit such open credit to amounts we believe the customers can pay, and maintain reserves we believe are adequate to cover exposure for doubtful accounts. Beyond our open credit arrangements, we have also experienced demands for customer financing and facilitation of leasing arrangements. We expect demand for customer financing to continue, and recently we have been experiencing an increase in this demand as the credit markets have been impacted by the challenging and inconsistent global macroeconomic environment, including increased demand from customers in certain emerging countries.
We believe customer financing is a competitive factor in obtaining business, particularly in serving customers involved in significant infrastructure projects. Our loan financing arrangements may include not only financing the acquisition of our products and services but also providing additional funds for other costs associated with network installation and integration of our products and services.
Our exposure to the credit risks relating to our financing activities described above may increase if our customers are adversely affected by a global economic downturn or periods of economic uncertainty. Although we have programs in place that are designed to monitor and mitigate the associated risk, including monitoring of particular risks in certain geographic areas, there can be no assurance that such programs will be effective in reducing our credit risks.
In the past, there have been significant bankruptcies among customers both on open credit and with loan or lease financing arrangements, particularly among Internet businesses and service providers, causing us to incur economic or financial losses. There can be no assurance that additional losses will not be incurred. Although these losses have not been material to date, future losses, if incurred, could harm our business and have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. A portion of our sales is derived through our distributors. These distributors are generally given business terms that allow them to return a portion of inventory, receive credits for changes in selling prices, and participate in various cooperative marketing programs. We maintain estimated accruals and allowances for such business terms. However, distributors tend to have more limited financial resources than other resellers and end-user customers and therefore represent potential sources of increased credit risk, because they may be more likely to lack the reserve resources to meet payment obligations. Additionally, to the degree that turmoil in the credit markets makes it more difficult for some customers to obtain financing, those customers’ ability to pay could be adversely impacted, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
WE ARE EXPOSED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE MARKET VALUES OF OUR PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS AND IN INTEREST RATES; IMPAIRMENT OF OUR INVESTMENTS COULD HARM OUR EARNINGS
We maintain an investment portfolio of various holdings, types, and maturities. These securities are generally classified as available-for-sale and, consequently, are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. Our portfolio includes fixed income securities and equity investments in publicly traded companies, the values of which are subject to market price volatility to the extent unhedged. If such investments suffer market price declines, as we experienced with some of our investments in the past, we may recognize in earnings the decline in the fair value of our investments below their cost basis when the decline is judged to be other than temporary. For information regarding the sensitivity of and risks associated with the market value of portfolio investments and interest rates, refer to the section titled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.” Our investments in private companies are subject to risk of loss of investment capital. These investments are inherently risky because the markets for the technologies or products they have under development are typically in the early stages and may never materialize. We could lose our entire investment in these companies.

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WE ARE EXPOSED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS AND CASH FLOWS
Because a significant portion of our business is conducted outside the United States, we face exposure to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. These exposures may change over time as business practices evolve, and they could have a material adverse impact on our financial results and cash flows. Historically, our primary exposures have related to nondollar-denominated sales in Japan, Canada, and Australia and certain nondollar-denominated operating expenses and service cost of sales in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, where we sell primarily in U.S. dollars. Additionally, we have exposures to emerging market currencies, which can have extreme currency volatility. An increase in the value of the dollar could increase the real cost to our customers of our products in those markets outside the United States where we sell in dollars, and a weakened dollar could increase the cost of local operating expenses and procurement of raw materials to the extent that we must purchase components in foreign currencies.
Currently, we enter into foreign exchange forward contracts and options to reduce the short-term impact of foreign currency fluctuations on certain foreign currency receivables, investments, and payables. In addition, we periodically hedge anticipated foreign currency cash flows. Our attempts to hedge against these risks may result in an adverse impact on our net income.
OUR PROPRIETARY RIGHTS MAY PROVE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE
We generally rely on patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secret laws to establish and maintain proprietary rights in our technology and products. Although we have been issued numerous patents and other patent applications are currently pending, there can be no assurance that any of these patents or other proprietary rights will not be challenged, invalidated, or circumvented or that our rights will, in fact, provide competitive advantages to us. Furthermore, many key aspects of networking technology are governed by industrywide standards, which are usable by all market entrants. In addition, there can be no assurance that patents will be issued from pending applications or that claims allowed on any patents will be sufficiently broad to protect our technology. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. The outcome of any actions taken in these foreign countries may be different than if such actions were determined under the laws of the United States. Although we are not dependent on any individual patents or group of patents for particular segments of the business for which we compete, if we are unable to protect our proprietary rights to the totality of the features (including aspects of products protected other than by patent rights) in a market, we may find ourselves at a competitive disadvantage to others who need not incur the substantial expense, time, and effort required to create innovative products that have enabled us to be successful.
WE MAY BE FOUND TO INFRINGE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF OTHERS
Third parties, including customers, have in the past and may in the future assert claims or initiate litigation related to exclusive patent, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights to technologies and related standards that are relevant to us. These assertions have increased over time as a result of our growth and the general increase in the pace of patent claims assertions, particularly in the United States. Because of the existence of a large number of patents in the networking field, the secrecy of some pending patents, and the rapid rate of issuance of new patents, it is not economically practical or even possible to determine in advance whether a product or any of its components infringes or will infringe on the patent rights of others. The asserted claims and/or initiated litigation can include claims against us or our manufacturers, suppliers, or customers, alleging infringement of their proprietary rights with respect to our existing or future products or components of those products. Regardless of the merit of these claims, they can be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and diversion of technical and management personnel, or require us to develop a non-infringing technology or enter into license agreements. Where claims are made by customers, resistance even to unmeritorious claims could damage customer relationships. There can be no assurance that licenses will be available on acceptable terms and conditions, if at all, or that our indemnification by our suppliers will be adequate to cover our costs if a claim were brought directly against us or our customers. Furthermore, because of the potential for high court awards that are not necessarily predictable, it is not unusual to find even arguably unmeritorious claims settled for significant amounts. If any infringement or other intellectual property claim made against us by any third party is successful, if we are required to indemnify a customer with respect to a claim against the customer, or if we fail to develop non-infringing technology or license the proprietary rights on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. For additional information regarding our indemnification obligations, see Note 12(g) to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our exposure to risks associated with the use of intellectual property may be increased as a result of acquisitions, as we have a lower level of visibility into the development process with respect to such technology or the care taken to safeguard against infringement risks. Further, in the past, third parties have made infringement and similar claims after we have acquired technology that had not been asserted prior to our acquisition.

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WE RELY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THIRD-PARTY LICENSES
Many of our products are designed to include software or other intellectual property licensed from third parties. It may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of these products. There can be no assurance that the necessary licenses would be available on acceptable terms, if at all. The inability to obtain certain licenses or other rights or to obtain such licenses or rights on favorable terms, or the need to engage in litigation regarding these matters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Moreover, the inclusion in our products of software or other intellectual property licensed from third parties on a nonexclusive basis could limit our ability to protect our proprietary rights in our products.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED AND DAMAGE TO OUR REPUTATION MAY OCCUR DUE TO PRODUCTION AND SALE OF COUNTERFEIT VERSIONS OF OUR PRODUCTS
As is the case with leading products around the world, our products are subject to efforts by third parties to produce counterfeit versions of our products. While we work diligently with law enforcement authorities in various countries to block the manufacture of counterfeit goods and to interdict their sale, and to detect counterfeit products in customer networks, and have succeeded in prosecuting counterfeiters and their distributors, resulting in fines, imprisonment and restitution to us, there can be no guarantee that such efforts will succeed. While counterfeiters often aim their sales at customers who might not have otherwise purchased our products due to lack of verifiability of origin and service, such counterfeit sales, to the extent they replace otherwise legitimate sales, could adversely affect our operating results.
OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS COULD BE MATERIALLY HARMED BY UNCERTAINTIES OF REGULATION OF THE INTERNET
Currently, few laws or regulations apply directly to access or commerce on the Internet. We could be materially adversely affected by regulation of the Internet and Internet commerce in any country where we operate. Such regulations could include matters such as voice over the Internet or using IP, encryption technology, sales or other taxes on Internet product or service sales, and access charges for Internet service providers. The adoption of regulation of the Internet and Internet commerce could decrease demand for our products and, at the same time, increase the cost of selling our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
CHANGES IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION AND TARIFFS COULD HARM OUR PROSPECTS AND FUTURE SALES
Changes in telecommunications requirements, or regulatory requirements in other industries in which we operate, in the United States or other countries could affect the sales of our products. In particular, we believe that there may be future changes in U.S. telecommunications regulations that could slow the expansion of the service providers’ network infrastructures and materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition, including proposed "net neutrality" rules to the extent they impact decisions on investment in network infrastructure.
Future changes in tariffs by regulatory agencies or application of tariff requirements to currently untariffed services could affect the sales of our products for certain classes of customers. Additionally, in the United States, our products must comply with various requirements and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory authorities. In countries outside of the United States, our products must meet various requirements of local telecommunications and other industry authorities. Changes in tariffs or failure by us to obtain timely approval of products could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
FAILURE TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT KEY PERSONNEL WOULD HARM OUR ABILITY TO MEET KEY OBJECTIVES
Our success has always depended in large part on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled technical, managerial, sales, and marketing personnel. Competition for these personnel is intense, especially in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California. Stock incentive plans are designed to reward employees for their long-term contributions and provide incentives for them to remain with us. Volatility or lack of positive performance in our stock price or equity incentive awards, or changes to our overall compensation program, including our stock incentive program, resulting from the management of share dilution and share-based compensation expense or otherwise, may also adversely affect our ability to retain key employees. As a result of one or more of these factors, we may increase our hiring in geographic areas outside the United States, which could subject us to additional geopolitical and exchange rate risk. The loss of services of any of our key personnel; the inability to retain and attract qualified personnel in the future; or delays in hiring required personnel, particularly engineering and sales personnel, could make it difficult to meet key objectives, such as timely and effective product introductions. In addition, companies in our industry whose employees accept positions with competitors frequently claim that competitors have engaged in improper hiring practices. We have received these claims in the past and may receive additional claims to this effect in the future.

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ADVERSE RESOLUTION OF LITIGATION OR GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS MAY HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS OR FINANCIAL CONDITION
We are a party to lawsuits in the normal course of our business. Litigation can be expensive, lengthy, and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict. For example, Brazilian authorities have investigated our Brazilian subsidiary and certain of its current and former employees, as well as a Brazilian importer of our products, and its affiliates and employees, relating to alleged evasion of import taxes and alleged improper transactions involving the subsidiary and the importer. Brazilian tax authorities have assessed claims against our Brazilian subsidiary based on a theory of joint liability with the Brazilian importer for import taxes, interest, and penalties. In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Brazilian federal tax authorities asserted an additional claim against our Brazilian subsidiary based on a theory of joint liability with respect to an alleged underpayment of income taxes, social taxes, interest, and penalties by a Brazilian distributor. The asserted claims by Brazilian federal tax authorities are for calendar years 2003 through 2008 and the related asserted claims by the tax authorities from the state of Sao Paulo are for calendar years 2005 through 2007. The total asserted claims by Brazilian state and federal tax authorities aggregate to approximately $291 million for the alleged evasion of import and other taxes, approximately $1.1 billion for interest, and approximately $1.3 billion for various penalties, all determined using an exchange rate as of April 25, 2015 . We have completed a thorough review of the matters and believe the asserted claims against our Brazilian subsidiary are without merit, and we are defending the claims vigorously. While we believe there is no legal basis for the alleged liability, due to the complexities and uncertainty surrounding the judicial process in Brazil and the nature of the claims asserting joint liability with the importer, we are unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome against our Brazilian subsidiary and are unable to reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any. We do not expect a final judicial determination for several years. An unfavorable resolution of lawsuits or governmental investigations could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial condition. For additional information regarding certain of the matters in which we are involved, see Item 1, “Legal Proceedings,” contained in Part II of this report.
CHANGES IN OUR PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES OR ADVERSE OUTCOMES RESULTING FROM EXAMINATION OF OUR INCOME TAX RETURNS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS
Our provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries that have lower tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries that have higher tax rates; by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; by expiration of or lapses in the R&D tax credit or domestic manufacturing deduction laws; by expiration of or lapses in tax incentives; by transfer pricing adjustments, including the effect of acquisitions on our intercompany R&D cost sharing arrangement and legal structure; by tax effects of nondeductible compensation; by tax costs related to intercompany realignments; by changes in accounting principles; or by changes in tax laws and regulations, treaties, or interpretations thereof, including possible changes to the taxation of earnings of our foreign subsidiaries, the deductibility of expenses attributable to foreign income, or the foreign tax credit rules. Significant judgment is required to determine the recognition and measurement attribute prescribed in the accounting guidance for uncertainty in income taxes. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international association of 34 countries including the United States, is contemplating changes to numerous long-standing tax principles. These contemplated changes, if finalized and adopted by countries, will increase tax uncertainty and may adversely affect our provision for income taxes. Further, as a result of certain of our ongoing employment and capital investment actions and commitments, our income in certain countries is subject to reduced tax rates and in some cases is wholly exempt from tax. Our failure to meet these commitments could adversely impact our provision for income taxes. In addition, we are subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these continuous examinations will not have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.
OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS ARE ESPECIALLY SUBJECT TO THE RISKS OF EARTHQUAKES, FLOODS, AND OTHER NATURAL CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
Our corporate headquarters, including certain of our research and development operations are located in the Silicon Valley area of Northern California, a region known for seismic activity. Additionally, a certain number of our facilities are located near rivers that have experienced flooding in the past. Also certain of our suppliers and logistics centers are located in regions that have or may be affected by earthquake, tsunami and flooding activity which in the past has disrupted, and in the future could disrupt, the flow of components and delivery of products. A significant natural disaster, such as an earthquake, a hurricane, volcano, or a flood, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

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MAN-MADE PROBLEMS SUCH AS COMPUTER VIRUSES OR TERRORISM MAY DISRUPT OUR OPERATIONS AND HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS
Despite our implementation of network security measures our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins, and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Efforts to limit the ability of malicious third parties to disrupt the operations of the Internet or undermine our own security efforts may meet with resistance. In addition, the continued threat of terrorism and heightened security and military action in response to this threat, or any future acts of terrorism, may cause further disruptions to the economies of the United States and other countries and create further uncertainties or otherwise materially harm our business, operating results, and financial condition. Likewise, events such as widespread blackouts could have similar negative impacts. To the extent that such disruptions or uncertainties result in delays or cancellations of customer orders or the manufacture or shipment of our products, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
IF WE DO NOT SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE OUR STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, WE MAY NOT REALIZE THE EXPECTED BENEFITS FROM SUCH ALLIANCES AND WE MAY EXPERIENCE INCREASED COMPETITION OR DELAYS IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
We have several strategic alliances with large and complex organizations and other companies with which we work to offer complementary products and services and have established a joint venture to market services associated with our Cisco Unified Computing System products. These arrangements are generally limited to specific projects, the goal of which is generally to facilitate product compatibility and adoption of industry standards. There can be no assurance we will realize the expected benefits from these strategic alliances or from the joint venture. If successful, these relationships may be mutually beneficial and result in industry growth. However, alliances carry an element of risk because, in most cases, we must compete in some business areas with a company with which we have a strategic alliance and, at the same time, cooperate with that company in other business areas. Also, if these companies fail to perform or if these relationships fail to materialize as expected, we could suffer delays in product development or other operational difficulties. Joint ventures can be difficult to manage, given the potentially different interests of joint venture partners.
OUR STOCK PRICE MAY BE VOLATILE
Historically, our common stock has experienced substantial price volatility, particularly as a result of variations between our actual financial results and the published expectations of analysts and as a result of announcements by our competitors and us. Furthermore, speculation in the press or investment community about our strategic position, financial condition, results of operations, business, security of our products, or significant transactions can cause changes in our stock price. In addition, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of many technology companies, in particular, and that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. These factors, as well as general economic and political conditions and the announcement of proposed and completed acquisitions or other significant transactions, or any difficulties associated with such transactions, by us or our current or potential competitors, may materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock in the future. Additionally, volatility, lack of positive performance in our stock price or changes to our overall compensation program, including our stock incentive program, may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, virtually all of whom are compensated, in part, based on the performance of our stock price.
THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION WILL NOT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY OUR INCURRENCE OF DEBT
As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we have senior unsecured notes outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of $20.3 billion that mature at specific dates from calendar year 2015 through 2040. We have also established a commercial paper program under which we may issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes on a private placement basis up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $3.0 billion , and we had commercial paper notes outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million under this program as of April 25, 2015 . The outstanding senior unsecured notes bear fixed-rate interest payable semiannually, except $2.35 billion of the notes which bears interest at a floating rate payable quarterly. The fair value of the long-term debt is subject to market interest rate volatility. The instruments governing the senior unsecured notes contain certain covenants applicable to us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries that may adversely affect our ability to incur certain liens or engage in certain types of sale and leaseback transactions. In addition, we will be required to have available in the United States sufficient cash to service the interest on our debt and repay all of our notes on maturity. There can be no assurance that our incurrence of this debt or any future debt will be a better means of providing liquidity to us than would our use of our existing cash resources, including cash currently held offshore. Further, we cannot be assured that our maintenance of this indebtedness or incurrence of future indebtedness will not adversely affect our operating results or financial condition. In addition, changes by any rating agency to our credit rating can negatively impact the value and liquidity of both our debt and equity securities, as well as the terms upon which we may borrow under our commercial paper program or future debt issuances.

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Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	
		
(a)	None.	
		
(b)	None.	
		
(c)	Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (in millions, except per-share amounts):	

														
Period	Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased	 	Average Price Paid
per Share 	 	Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs  	 	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares
That May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs	
January 25, 2015 to February 21, 2015	11		 	$	27.79		 	11		 	$	6,030		
February 22, 2015 to March 21, 2015	16		 	$	29.01		 	16		 	$	5,555		
March 22, 2015 to April 25, 2015	8		 	$	27.94		 	8		 	$	5,326		
Total	35		 	$	28.39		 	35		 	 	
On September 13, 2001, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized a stock repurchase program. As of April 25, 2015 , our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to $97 billion of common stock under this program. As of April 25, 2015 , we had repurchased and retired 4.4 billion shares of our common stock at an average price of $20.80 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $91.7 billion since inception of the stock repurchase program, and the remaining authorized amount for stock repurchases under this program was $5.3 billion with no termination date.
For the majority of restricted stock units granted, the number of shares issued on the date the restricted stock units vest is net of shares withheld to meet applicable tax withholding requirements. Although these withheld shares are not issued or considered common stock repurchases under our stock repurchase program and therefore are not included in the preceding table, they are treated as common stock repurchases in our financial statements as they reduce the number of shares that would have been issued upon vesting (see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

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Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	
None.

		
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	
Not Applicable.

		
Item 5.	Other Information	
The information below is reported in lieu of information that would be reported under Items 1.01, 1.02 and 2.03 under Form 8-K.
Entry into New Credit Facility :
On May 15, 2015, Cisco entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among Cisco, certain lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”), and Bank of America, N.A., as administration agent, swing line lender and a letter of credit issuer (“Administrative Agent”). The Credit Agreement is the successor to the Prior Credit Facility (as defined below), which was terminated on May 15, 2015.
The Credit Agreement provides for a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) that is scheduled to expire on May 15, 2020. Cisco may also, upon the agreement of either the then existing Lenders or of additional lenders not currently parties to the Credit Agreement, increase the commitments under the Facility by up to an additional $2.0 billion, and/or extend the expiration date of the Facility up to May 15, 2022. Cisco has not borrowed any funds under the Credit Agreement.
The interest rate applicable to outstanding balances under the Credit Agreement will be based on either (i) the highest of (a) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) Bank of America’s “prime rate” as announced from time to time, (c) the London interbank offered rate or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent (“Eurocurrency Rate”) for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%, or (ii) the Eurocurrency Rate plus a margin that is based on Cisco’s senior debt credit ratings as published by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., provided that in no event will the Eurocurrency Rate be less than zero. Cisco will pay an annual commitment fee during the term of the Credit Agreement which may vary depending on Cisco’s credit ratings.
The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties as well as customary affirmative and negative covenants. Negative covenants include, among others, limitations on incurrence of liens and secured indebtedness, and limitations on incurrence of any indebtedness by Cisco’s subsidiaries. In addition, the Credit Agreement requires that Cisco maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense of not less than 3.0 to 1.0.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, the Lenders may declare the outstanding loans and all other obligations under the Credit Agreement immediately due and payable.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers for the Facility.
Cisco and its affiliates maintain various commercial and service relationships with certain of the Lenders and their affiliates in the ordinary course of business. In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the Lenders and the other parties to the Credit Facility and their respective affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial banking, investment banking, financial advisory or other services with Cisco and its affiliates for which they have in the past and/or may in the future receive customary compensation and expense reimbursement.
The description of the Credit Agreement contained herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Termination of Existing Credit Facility :
In connection with its entry into the Credit Agreement, Cisco terminated its five-year $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, dated February 17, 2012, with the lenders party thereto and Bank of America N.A., as administration agent, swing line lender and a letter of credit issuer, as amended (the “Prior Credit Facility”). No borrowings were outstanding at the termination of the Prior Credit Facility.
Cisco and its affiliates maintain various commercial and service relationships with certain of the lender parties under and the other parties to the Prior Credit Facility and their respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business. In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the lenders under and the other parties to the Prior Credit Facility and their respective affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial banking, investment banking, financial advisory or other services with Cisco and its affiliates for which they have in the past and/or may in the future receive customary compensation and expense reimbursement.

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Item 6.	Exhibits	
The following documents are filed as Exhibits to this report:

		
10.1	Credit Agreement dated as of May 15, 2015, by and among Cisco Systems, Inc. and Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administration agent, swing line lender and an L/C issuer	
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
31.2	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
32.1	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
32.2	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document	
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document	
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document	
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document	

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

	

 	 	 	 	 	Cisco Systems, Inc.	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Date:	May 20, 2015	 	 	 	By	 	/s/ Kelly A. Kramer	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Kelly A. Kramer
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and duly authorized signatory)	

EXHIBIT INDEX

			
10.1	 	Credit Agreement dated as of May 15, 2015, by and among Cisco Systems, Inc. and Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administration agent, swing line lender and an L/C issuer	
31.1	 	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
31.2	 	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
32.1	 	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer	
32.2	 	Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer	
101.INS	 	XBRL Instance Document	
101.SCH	 	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	
101.CAL	 	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document	
101.DEF	 	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	
101.LAB	 	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document	
101.PRE	 	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document	

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Exhibit 10.1

Published CUSIP Number: 17277EAD1

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of May 15, 2015

among

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.,
as Borrower,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and an L/C Issuer,

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC and
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

CITIBANK. N.A.,
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES, INC.,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Syndication Agents

CITIBANK, N.A.,
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as L/C Issuers

	
				
Table of Contents	 	
Section	 	Page	
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS	1		
1.01	Defined Terms.	1		
1.02	Other Interpretive Provisions.	21		
1.03	Accounting Terms.	22		
1.04	Rounding.	23		
1.05	Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.	23		
1.06	Additional Alternative Currencies.	23		
1.07	Change of Currency.	24		
1.08	Times of Day.	24		
1.09	Letter of Credit Amounts.	25		
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS	25		
2.01	Committed Loans.	25		
2.02	Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.	25		
2.03	Letters of Credit.	27		
2.04	Swing Line Loans.	35		
2.05	Prepayments.	38		
2.06	Termination or Reduction of Commitments.	39		
2.07	Repayment of Loans.	40		
2.08	Interest.	40		
2.09	Fees.	41		
2.10	Computation of Interest and Fees.	41		
2.11	Evidence of Debt.	41		
2.12	Payments Generally; Administrative Agent's Clawback.	42		
2.13	Sharing of Payments by Lenders.	44		
2.14	Extension of Maturity Date.	44		
2.15	Increase in Commitments.	46		
2.16	Cash Collateral.	47		
2.17	Defaulting Lenders.	48		
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY	50		
3.01	Taxes.	50		
3.02	Illegality.	54		
3.03	Inability to Determine Rates.	55		
3.04	Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.	56		
3.05	Compensation for Losses.	57		

i

	
				
3.06	Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.	58		
3.07	Survival.	58		
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS	59		
4.01	Conditions to Effectiveness.	59		
4.02	Conditions to all Credit Extensions.	60		
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES	61		
5.01	Existence, Qualification and Power.	61		
5.02	Authorization; No Contravention.	61		
5.03	Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.	61		
5.04	Binding Effect.	61		
5.05	Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.	62		
5.06	Litigation.	62		
5.07	No Default.	62		
5.08	[Reserved].	62		
5.09	[Reserved].	62		
5.10	[Reserved].	62		
5.11	Taxes.	62		
5.12	ERISA Compliance.	63		
5.13	Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.	63		
5.14	[Reserved].	63		
5.15	Compliance with Laws.	63		
5.16	Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information.	64		
5.17	OFAC.	64		
5.18	Anti-Corruption Laws.	64		
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS	64		
6.01	Financial Statements.	64		
6.02	Certificates; Other Information.	65		
6.03	Notices.	66		
6.04	Payment of Taxes.	66		
6.05	Preservation of Existence, Etc.	67		
6.06	Maintenance of Properties.	67		
6.07	Maintenance of Insurance.	67		
6.08	Compliance with Laws.	67		
6.09	Books and Records.	67		
6.10	Inspection Rights.	67		
6.11	Use of Proceeds.	68		

ii

	
				
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS	68		
7.01	Liens.	68		
7.02	[Reserved].	69		
7.03	Fundamental Changes.	70		
7.04	Dispositions.	70		
7.05	[Reserved].	70		
7.06	Sanctions.	70		
7.07	Anti-Corruption Laws.	70		
7.08	Financial Covenant.	70		
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES	70		
8.01	Events of Default.	70		
8.02	Remedies Upon Event of Default.	72		
8.03	Application of Funds.	73		
ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT	74		
9.01	Appointment and Authority.	74		
9.02	Rights as a Lender.	74		
9.03	Exculpatory Provisions.	74		
9.04	Reliance by Administrative Agent.	75		
9.05	Delegation of Duties.	75		
9.06	Resignation of Administrative Agent.	76		
9.07	Non‑Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.	77		
9.08	No Other Duties, Etc.	77		
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS	78		
10.01	Amendments, Etc.	78		
10.02	Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.	79		
10.03	No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.	81		
10.04	Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.	82		
10.05	Payments Set Aside.	84		
10.06	Successors and Assigns.	84		
10.07	Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.	88		
10.08	Right of Setoff.	89		
10.09	Interest Rate Limitation.	89		
10.10	Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.	90		
10.11	Survival of Representations and Warranties.	90		
10.12	Severability.	90		
10.13	Replacement of Lenders.	90		
10.14	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.	91		

iii

	
				
10.15	Waiver of Jury Trial.	92		
10.16	No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.	92		
10.17	USA PATRIOT Act Notice.	93		
10.18	Judgment Currency.	93		
10.19	Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.	94		

		
SCHEDULES	 	
1.01	Mandatory Cost Formulae	
2.01	Commitments and Applicable Percentages	
10.02	Administrative Agent's Office; Certain Addresses for Notices	
 	 	
EXHIBITS	 	
 	Form of	
2.02	Committed Loan Notice	
2.03	Letter of Credit Report	
2.04	Swing Line Loan Notice	
2.11	Note	
3.01	U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates	
6.02	Compliance Certificate	
10.06	Assignment and Assumption	

iv

CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into as of May 15, 2015, among CISCO SYSTEMS, INC, a California corporation (the " Borrower "), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the " Lenders " and individually, a " Lender "), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I 
 
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01     Defined Terms .

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

" Acquisition ", by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of either (a) all or any substantial portion of the property of, or a line of business or division of, another Person or (b) at least a majority of the voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person.

" Administrative Agent " means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

" Administrative Agent Fee Letter " means the fee letter agreement, dated as of April 16, 2015, among the Borrower, Administrative Agent and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

" Administrative Agent's Office " means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent's address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

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

" 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.

" Aggregate Commitments " means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

" Agreement " means this Credit Agreement.

" Alternative Currency " means each of Euro, Sterling, Yen and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.06 .

" Alternative Currency Equivalent " means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.

" Alternative Currency Sublimit " means an amount equal to the lesser of the Aggregate Commitments and $1,000,000,000. The Alternative Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

" Applicable Anniversary Date " has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a) .

" Applicable Percentage " means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender's Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17 . If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

" Applicable Rate " means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

	
						
Pricing
Level	Debt Rating of Borrower	Commitment Fee	Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Rate Loans	Letter of Credit Fee	Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans	
I	> AA-/Aa3	0.04%	0.625%	0.625%	0.00%	
II	A+/A1	0.05%	0.750%	0.750%	0.00%	
III	A/A2	0.07%	0.875%	0.875%	0.00%	
IV	A-/A3	0.10%	1.000%	1.000%	0.00%	
V

	< BBB+/Baa1 or unrated by S&P and Moody's	0.125%	1.125%	1.125%	0.125%	

Each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

" Applicable Time " means, with respect to any borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.

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" Approved Fund " means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

" Arrangers " means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.

" Assignee Group " means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

" Assignment and Assumption " means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b) ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit 10.06 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

" Attributable Indebtedness " means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

" Audited Financial Statements " means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended July 26, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

" Availability Period " means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 , and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02 .

" Bank of America " means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

" Base Rate " means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its "prime rate" and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate for an Interest Period of one month plus 1.00%; and if the Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement. The "prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America's costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

" Base Rate Committed Loan " means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

" Base Rate Loan " means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

3

" Borrower " has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

" Borrower Materials " has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

" Borrowing " means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

" Business Day " means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in the State of New York or the state where the Administrative Agent's Office with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located, and:

(a)    if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market;

(b)    if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a TARGET Day;

(c)    if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency; and

(d)    if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.

" Cash Collateralize " means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the L/C Issuers or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
" Change in Law " means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty 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) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules,

4

guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) 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 or issued.
" Change of Control " means an event or series of events by which any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d‑3 and 13d‑5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully‑diluted basis.

" Citi Fee Letter " means the fee letter agreement, dated as of April 16, 2015, among the Borrower and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

" Closing Date " means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01 .

" Code " means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

" Commitment " means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. The aggregate amount of the Commitments on the Closing Date is $3,000,000,000.

" Committed Borrowing " means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 .

" Committed Loan " has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

" Committed Loan Notice " means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.02 or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

" Compliance Certificate " means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 6.02 .

" Connection Income Taxes " means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

5

" Consolidated EBITDA " means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, determined in accordance with GAAP, (iv) non-cash charges or expenses relating to the refinancing or redemption of Indebtedness in such period, (v) non-cash charges or expenses relating to the impairment of property, plant and equipment, investments, goodwill or other intangible assets in such period, and charges for in-process research and development, (vi) non-recurring non-cash charges in connection with acquisitions, Dispositions and discontinued operations, and cash and non-cash restructuring charges, (vii) non-cash charges or expenses related to stock option awards or other equity compensation, (viii) the cumulative effect of changes in accounting, and (ix) other non‑recurring expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period and minus (b) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, all non‑cash items of the types set forth in clauses (iv) through (vii) above increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.

" Consolidated Interest Charges " means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP.

" Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio " means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four prior fiscal quarters ending on such date to (b) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period.

" Consolidated Net Income " means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses and excluding income (loss) attributable to discontinued operations) for that period, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP.

" Consolidated Tangible Net Worth " means, as of any date of determination, the total book value of all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries minus the total book value of all intangible assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in accordance with GAAP.

" Contractual Obligation " means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

" 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.

" Credit Extension " means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

" Debt Rating " means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody's (collectively, the " Debt Ratings ") of the Borrower's non‑credit‑enhanced, senior unsecured long‑term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating

6

for Pricing Level I being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level V being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level V shall apply.

" 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 an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

" Default Rate " means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided , however , that with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate and any Mandatory Cost) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

" Defaulting Lender " means, subject to Section 2.17(b) , any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that 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. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such

7

status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.17(b) ) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

" Designated Jurisdiction " means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

" Deutsche Bank Fee Letter " means the fee letter agreement, dated as of April 16, 2015, among the Borrower, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

" Disposition " or " Dispose " means the sale, transfer, exclusive license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of property of any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

" Dollar " and " $ " mean lawful money of the United States.

" Dollar Equivalent " means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.

" Domestic Subsidiary " means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

" Eligible Assignee " means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii) ).

" EMU " means the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

" EMU Legislation " means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

" Environmental Laws " means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

" Environmental Liability " means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law,

8

(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 Interests " means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

" ERISA " means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

" ERISA Affiliate " means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

" ERISA Event " means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

" Euro ", " EUR " and "€" mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.

" Eurocurrency Rate " means,

(a)    for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”) or a comparable or successor rate which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

(b)    for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day;

9

provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection with any rate set forth in this definition, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided , further that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; and if the Eurocurrency Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

" Eurocurrency Rate Loan " means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of "Eurocurrency Rate". Eurocurrency Rate Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency. All Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

" Event of Default " has the meaning specified in Section 8.01 .

" Excluded Taxes " means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any 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 or, in the case of any Lender, its 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, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 10.13 ) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c) , amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender's assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

" Existing Credit Agreement " means that certain credit agreement dated as of February 17, 2012 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto.

" Existing Maturity Date " has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a) .

" FATCA " means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.

" Federal Funds Rate " means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

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" Fee Letters " means the Administrative Agent Fee Letter, the Citi Fee Letter, the Deutsche Bank Fee Letter, the JPM Fee Letter and the Wells Fargo Fee Letter.

" Foreign Lender " means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

" Foreign Subsidiary " means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, a State thereof or the District of Columbia.

" FRB " means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

" Fronting Exposure " means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to an L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to such L/C Issuer other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

" Fund " means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

" GAAP " means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

" Governmental Authority " means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of 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 bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

" Guarantee " means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness payable or performable by another Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable

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amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term "Guarantee" as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

" 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 and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

" Indebtedness " means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a)    all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b)    all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers' acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c)    net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract as determined in accordance with GAAP;

(d)    all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not past due for more than 60 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created or which is being contested in good faith);

(e)    indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f)    capital leases (as determined under GAAP as in effect on the date of this Agreement) and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

(g)    all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

(h)    all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer to the extent that such Person is liable therefore as a result of such Person's ownership of such partnership or joint venture, except to the extent that such Indebtedness is expressly made non‑recourse to such Person. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

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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 the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

" Indemnitees " has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b) .

" Information " has the meaning specified in Section 10.07 .

" Interest Payment Date " means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided , however , that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each January, April, July and October and the Maturity Date.

" Interest Period " means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one week or one, two, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability), as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and consented to by all the Lenders; provided that:

(i)    any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii)    any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii)    no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

" Investment " means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit.

" IRS " means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

" ISP " means, with respect to any standby Letter of Credit, the "International Standby Practices 1998" published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

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" Issuer Documents " means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by an L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of such L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

" JPM Fee Letter " means the fee letter agreement, dated as of April 16, 2015, among the Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.

" Laws " means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

" L/C Advance " means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender's funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

" L/C Borrowing " means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

" L/C Commitment " means, as to each L/C Issuer, its obligation to issue Letters of Credit for the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed 20% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit (which, as of the Closing Date, would be $50,000,000 per L/C Issuer), as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

" L/C Credit Extension " means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

" L/C Issuer " means, with respect to any particular Letter of Credit, (a) Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (b) Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (c) Citibank, N.A. in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (d) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (e) Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder or, in each case, any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder or (f) if the L/C Issuers in clauses (a) through (e) above are unable to issue Letters of Credit for the reasons set forth in Sections 2.03(a)(iii)(B) or (E) , such other Lender selected by the Borrower and consented to by such Lender (upon notice to the Administrative Agent) from time to time to issue such Letter of Credit.

" L/C Obligations " means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09 . For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be "outstanding" in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

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" Lender " has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

" Lending Office " means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender's Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent which office may include any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to a Lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.

" Letter of Credit " means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.

" Letter of Credit Application " means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer.

" Letter of Credit Expiration Date " means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

" Letter of Credit Fee " has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h) .

" Letter of Credit Sublimit " means an amount equal to $250,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

" LIBOR " has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate.

" Lien " means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

" Loan " means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

" Loan Documents " means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of this Agreement and the Fee Letters.

" Mandatory Cost " means, with respect to any period, the percentage rate per annum determined in accordance with Schedule 1.01 .

" Material Adverse Effect " means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, the operations, business, assets, properties or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Documents.

" Maturity Date " means the later of (a) May 15, 2020 and (b) if maturity is extended pursuant to Section 2.14 , such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section; provided , however , that with respect to any Non-Extending Lender, its Maturity Date shall be the Existing Maturity Date; provided

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further , that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

" Minimum Collateral Amount " means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 100% of the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuers with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (ii) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16(a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) , an amount equal to 100% of the Outstanding Amount of all LC Obligations, and (iii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers in their sole discretion.

" Moody's " means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

" Multiemployer Plan " means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

" Non-Consenting Lender " means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (ii) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

" Non-Defaulting Lender " means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

" Non-Extending Lender " has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(b) .

" Note " means a promissory note made by a Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender to the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.11 .

" Obligations " means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

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

" Organization Documents " means the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents).

" 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 Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having 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 any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

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" 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, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06 ).

" Outstanding Amount " means (a) with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Committed Loans occurring on such date; (b) with respect to Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Swing Line Loans occurring on such date; and (c) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

" Overnight Rate " means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer, or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.

" Participant " has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d) .

" Participant Register " has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d) .

" Participating Member State " means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.

" PBGC " means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

" Pension Plan " means any "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

" Permitted Acquisitions " means Investments consisting of an Acquisition by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

" Person " means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

" Plan " means any "employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

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" Platform " has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

" Public Lender " has the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .

" Recipient " means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder.

" Register " has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c) .

" Related Parties " means, with respect to any Person, such Person's Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, representatives and advisors of such Person and of such Person's Affiliates.

" Reportable Event " means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

" Request for Credit Extension " means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

" Required Lenders " means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; provided that, the amount of any participation in any Swing Line Loan and Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swing Line Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in making such determination.

" Responsible Officer " means the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or, assistant treasurer of the Borrower and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II , any other officer of the Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a written notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.

" Revaluation Date " means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02 , and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (iii) each date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

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" Revolving Credit Exposure " means, as to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Committed Loans and such Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans at such time.

" Sanction(s) " means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury ("HMT").

" S&P " means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

" Same Day Funds " means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.

" SEC " means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

" Special Notice Currency " means at any time an Alternative Currency, other than the currency of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at such time located in North America or Europe.

" Spot Rate " for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 10:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made (which shall be no less favorable to the Borrower than the rate then generally quoted by the Administrative Agent or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, for transactions of like size); provided that the Administrative Agent or such L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or such L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that such L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

" Sterling " and " £ " mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

" Subsidiary " of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity which is consolidated with such Person under GAAP. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

" Swap Contract " means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross‑currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or

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any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any similar master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a "Master Agreement"), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

" Swap Termination Value " means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark‑to‑market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid‑market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

" Swing Line Borrowing " means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04 .

" Swing Line Lender " means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

" Swing Line Loan " has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a) .

" Swing Line Loan Notice " means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b) , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.04 or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approve by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

" Swing Line Sublimit " means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $250,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

" Synthetic Lease Obligation " means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so‑called synthetic, off‑balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

" TARGET Day " means any day on which the Trans‑European Automated Real‑time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system (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.

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

" Threshold Amount " means $150,000,000.

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" Total Credit Exposure " means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time.

" Total Outstandings " means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

" Type " means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

" UCC " means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.

" UCP " means, with respect to any standby Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

" Unfunded Pension Liability " means the excess of a Pension Plan's benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 or Section 4.30 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

" United States " and " U.S. " mean the United States of America.

" Unreimbursed Amount " has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i) .

" U.S. Person " means any Person that is a "United States person" as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

" U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate " has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(III) .
" Wells Fargo Fee Letter " means the fee letter agreement, dated as of April 16, 2015, among the Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

" Yen " and " ¥ " mean the lawful currency of Japan.

1.02     Other Interpretive Provisions.
With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a)    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 ." Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and assigns, (iii) the words " herein ," " hereof " and " hereunder ," and words of similar

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import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words " asset " and " property " shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(b)    In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word " from " means " from and including ;" the words " to " and " until " each mean " to but excluding ;" and the word " through " means " to and including ."

(c)    Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

1.03     Accounting Terms .

(a)     Generally . All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 (or any other accounting principle, if, in each case, such accounting principle results in the amount of such Indebtedness to be below or above the stated principal amount of such Indebtedness) on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

(b)     Changes in GAAP . If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that , until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

(c)     Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities . All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB Interpretation No. 46 – Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (January 2003) as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

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1.04     Rounding .
Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number with the same number of places as such ratio is expressed herein (with a rounding‑up if there is no nearest number).

1.05     Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents .
(a)    The Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Borrower hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, as applicable.

(b)    Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Committed Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Committed Borrowing, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be.

(c)    The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto.

1.06     Additional Alternative Currencies .
(a)    The Borrower may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of "Alternative Currency;" provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars. In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; and in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers.

(b)    Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., ten Business Days (20 Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Administrative Agent shall

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promptly notify each Lender thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer thereof. Each Lender (in the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans) or the applicable L/C Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 10:00 a.m., five Business Days (ten Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.

(c)    Any failure by a Lender or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Lenders consent to making Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Committed Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans; and if the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.06 , the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower.

1.07     Change of Currency .
(a)    Each obligation of the Borrower to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation). If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Committed Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Committed Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

(b)    Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

(c)    Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.

1.08     Times of Day .
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Pacific time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

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1.09     Letter of Credit Amounts .
Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

ARTICLE II 
 
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01     Committed Loans .
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a " Committed Loan ") to the Borrower in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender's Commitment; provided , however , that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment, and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit. Within the limits of each Lender's Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 , prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this Section 2.01 . Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

2.02     Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans .
(a)    Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice. Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Committed Loans, (ii) four Business Days (or five Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans; provided , however , that if the Borrower wishes to request Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one week or one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of "Interest Period," the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) five Business Days (or six Business days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. Not later than 11:00 a.m.,

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(i) three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) four Business Days (or five Business days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c)  and 2.04(c) , each Committed Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (vi) the currency of the Committed Loans to be borrowed. If the Borrower fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Committed Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided , however , that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one month. Any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. No Committed Loan may be converted into or continued as a Committed Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Committed Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.

(b)    Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount (and currency) of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation of Committed Loans denominated in a currency other than Dollars, in each case as described in the preceding clause. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent's Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m., in the case of any Committed Loan denominated in Dollars, and not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of any Committed Loan in an Alternative Currency, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided , however , that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing denominated in Dollars is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first , shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and, second , shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

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(c)    Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether in Dollars or any Alternative Currency) without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

(d)    The Administrative Agent shall promptly (and in any event on the date of determination) notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America's prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e)    After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

2.03     Letters of Credit .
(a)     The Letter of Credit Commitment .

(i)    Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03 , (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as specified by the Borrower in requesting such Letter of Credit, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with clause (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (w) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment, (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (z) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations of any L/C Issuer shall not exceed such L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower's ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

(ii)    An L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:

(A)    subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii) , the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

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(B)    the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

(iii)    An L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(A)    any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B)    the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

(C)    except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000;

(D)    except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;

(E)    the L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of such requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency;

(F)    such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or

(G)    any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv )) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

(iv)    An L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

(v)    An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (a) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (b) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

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(vi)    An L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (a) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term "Administrative Agent" as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (b) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

(b)     Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto‑Extension Letters of Credit .

(i)    Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to applicable L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the applicable L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer. The Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may reasonably require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to such L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as such L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

(ii)    Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer's usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each

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Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from such L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

(iii)    If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an " Auto‑Extension Letter of Credit "); provided that any such Auto‑Extension Letter of Credit must permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve‑month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the " Non‑Extension Notice Date ") in each such twelve‑month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto‑Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided , however , that such L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) such L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a)  or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non‑Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

(iv)    Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c)     Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations .

(i)    Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) such L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Borrower shall have notified such L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Borrower will reimburse such L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by such L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (each such date, an " Honor Date "), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent

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shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the " Unreimbursed Amount "), and the amount of such Lender's Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i)  may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii)    Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i)  make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agent's Office for Dollar‑denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to such L/C Issuer in Dollars.

(iii)    With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii)  shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03 .

(iv)    Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)  to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer.

(v)    Each Lender's obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c) , shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against such L/C Issuer, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided , however , that each Lender's obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)  is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

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(vi)    If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c)  by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii) , such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender's Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the applicable L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d)     Repayment of Participations .

(i)    At any time after the applicable L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender's L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c) , if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in Dollars and in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii)    If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i)  is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its reasonable discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e)     Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

(i)    any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

(ii)    the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), such L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

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(iii)    any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv)    any payment by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor‑in‑possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;

(v)    any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally;

(vi)    waiver by such L/C Issuer of any requirement that exists for such L/C Issuer’s protection and not the protection of the Borrower or any waiver by such L/C Issuer which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrower;
(vii)    honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft;
(viii)    any payment made by such L/C Issuer in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable; or
(ix)    any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower's instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the applicable L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against such L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(f)     Role of L/C Issuer . Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuers shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided ,

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however , that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower's pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuers shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (ix) of Section 2.03(e) ; provided , however , that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuers may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction were caused by the L/C Issuers' willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuers' failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of the Letter of Credit, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, and the L/C Issuers shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason. The L/C Issuers may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication ("SWIFT") message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

(g)     Applicability of ISP and UCP; Limitation of Liability . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required under any law, order, or practice that is required to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, as applicable.

(h)     Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, in Dollars, a Letter of Credit fee (the " Letter of Credit Fee ") for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09 . Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the last Business Day of each of January, April, July and October, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(i)     Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer . The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to

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each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in either the Administrative Agent Fee Letter, the Citi Fee Letter, the Deutsche Bank Fee Letter, the JPM Fee Lettter or the Wells Fargo Fee Letter computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each January, April, July and October, in respect of the most recently‑ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09 . In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the applicable L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable promptly following demand and are nonrefundable.

(j)     Conflict with Issuer Documents . In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

(k)     Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower's business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

(l)     Resignation of an L/C Issuer . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon 30 days' notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, an L/C Issuer may resign as L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer hereunder with the consent of such Lender and the Required Lenders; provided , however , that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such L/C Issuer. The resigning L/C Issuer shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) ). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and (ii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to such retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of such retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

(m)     Reporting of Letter of Credit Information . On (i) the last Business Day of each calendar month, and (ii) each date that an L/C Credit Extension occurs with respect to any Letter of Credit, each L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report in the form of Exhibit 2.03 hereto, appropriately completed with the information for every Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer that is outstanding hereunder.

2.04     Swing Line Loans .
(a)     The Swing Line . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04 , to make loans in

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Dollars (each such loan, a " Swing Line Loan ") to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit; provided , however , that (w) after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment, (x) the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan, (y) the Swing Line Lender shall not be under any obligation to make any Swing Line Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Extension may have, Fronting Exposure and (z) the obligation of the Swing Line Lender to make any Swing Line Loan shall be at its sole discretion if, after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan, the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, would exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04 , prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this Section 2.04 . Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b)     Borrowing Procedures . Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) by a Swing Line Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swing Line Loan Notice. Each such Swing Line Loan Notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $5,000,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a) , or (B)  that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 2:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in Same Day Funds (or by wire transfer to such account as may be designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender).

(c)     Refinancing of Swing Line Loans .

(i)    Each Swing Line Loan shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day following the making of such Swing Line Loan; provided that the Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of

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Section 2.02 , without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 . The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent's Office for Dollar‑denominated payments not later than 12:00 noon on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii) , each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii)    If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) , the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i)  shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii)    If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c)  by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i) , the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender's Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv)    Each Lender's obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c)  shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided , however , that each Lender's obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c)  is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 . No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d)     Repayment of Participations .

(i)    At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line

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Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii)    If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e)     Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender . The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender's Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

(f)     Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender . The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

2.05     Prepayments .
(a)    The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (B) four Business Days (or five, in the case of prepayment of Loans denominated in Special Notice Currencies) prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iv) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurocurrency Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 . Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(b)    The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the

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Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(c)    If the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower at any time that the Total Outstandings at such time exceed an amount equal to 105% of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall prepay Loans and/or the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect; provided , however , that, subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 , the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c)  unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect. The Administrative Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the initial deposit of such Cash Collateral, request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of further exchange rate fluctuations.

(d)    If the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies at such time exceeds an amount equal to 105% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall prepay Loans in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect.

(e)    If the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time exceeds an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations as of such date of payment to an amount not to exceed 100% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect.

2.06     Termination or Reduction of Commitments .
The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Alternative Currency Sublimit, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. The amount of any such Aggregate Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Borrower. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

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2.07     Repayment of Loans .
(a)    The Borrower shall repay to each Lender, on the applicable Maturity Date, the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans made to the Borrower by such Lender outstanding on such date and such Lender's Commitment shall terminate on such date.

(b)    The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

2.08     Interest .
(a)    Subject to the provisions of clause (b) below, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate plus (in the case of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan of any Lender which is lent from a Lending Office in the United Kingdom or a Participating Member State) the Mandatory Cost; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b)    (i)    If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(ii)    If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iii)    Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iv)    Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c)    Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

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2.09     Fees .
In addition to certain fees described in clauses (h) and (i) of Section 2.03 :

(a)     Commitment Fee . The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.17 . The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each January, April, July and October, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b)     Other Fees .

(i)    The Borrower shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the applicable Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(ii)    The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10     Computation of Interest and Fees .
(a)    All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360‑day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365‑day year), or, in the case of interest in respect of Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a) , bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

2.11     Evidence of Debt .
(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.

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In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender to the Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender's Loans to the Borrower in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b)    In addition to the accounts and records referred to in clause (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

2.12     Payments Generally; Administrative Agent's Clawback .
(a)     General . All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent's Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent's Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent on the dates specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. If, for any reason, the Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender's Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent (i) after 1:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b)    (i)  Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02 ) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available

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to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender's Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii)     Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate. Any such payment by the Lenders is without prejudice to any claim the Lenders may have against the Borrower for failure to pay such amount. If the Borrower in fact made such payment then the Administrative Agent shall remit such payment promptly to the Lenders.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this clause (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c)     Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent . If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to the Borrower as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II , and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d)     Obligations of Lenders Several . The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c)  are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c)  on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c) .

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(e)     Funding Source . Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

2.13     Sharing of Payments by Lenders .
If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender's receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:

(i)    if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii)    the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.16 or (C) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

2.14     Extension of Maturity Date .
(a)     Requests for Extension . The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) request that each Lender extend such Lender's Maturity Date for an additional year from the Maturity Date then in effect (each such date, an " Existing Maturity Date "); provided that the Borrower may request no more than two such extensions during the term of this Agreement.

(b)     Lender Elections to Extend . Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Swing Line Lender given prior to the date (the " Notice Date ") that is 15 days subsequent to the date the Borrower requests an extension of the Maturity Date, advise the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Swing Line Lender whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Maturity Date (a " Non‑Extending Lender ") shall notify the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Swing Line Lender of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date) and any Lender that does not so advise the

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Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Swing Line Lender on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non‑Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree.

(c)     Notification by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of each Lender's determination under this Section no later than the date 15 days after the Notice Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).

(d)     Additional Commitment Lenders . The Borrower shall have the right to replace each Non‑Extending Lender, at any time after such Lender becomes a Non-Extending Lender with, and add as "Lenders" under this Agreement in place thereof (subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an " Additional Commitment Lender ") as provided in Section 10.13 ; provided that each of such Additional Commitment Lenders shall enter into an Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall, effective no later than the Existing Maturity Date, undertake a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender's Commitment hereunder on such date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase in the Commitment of any existing Lender in connection with an extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be subject to the prior written approval of each L/C Issuer.

(e)     Minimum Extension Requirement . If (and only if) (i) the total of the Commitments of the Lenders that have agreed so to extend their Maturity Date (each, an " Extending Lender ") and the additional Commitments of the Additional Commitment Lenders shall be more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Extension Effective Date (as defined below) and (ii) the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender consent to the extension of the Maturity Date, then, effective as of the date specified by the Borrower and agreed to by Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers, the Swing Line Lenders and the Additional Commitment Lenders (the " Extension Effective Date "), the Maturity Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date falling one year after the most recent Existing Maturity Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Maturity Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender, if applicable, shall thereupon become a "Lender" for all purposes of this Agreement.

(f)     Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions . As a condition precedent to such extension, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Borrower dated as of the Extension Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Extending Lender and each Additional Commitment Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the Borrower approving or consenting to such extension and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such extension, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Extension Effective Date, except in each case to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14 , the representations and warranties contained in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 , and (B) no Default exists. In addition, on the Existing Maturity Date applicable to any Non-Extending Lender, the Borrower shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05 ) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders effective as of such date.

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(g)     Conflicting Provisions . This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

2.15     Increase in Commitments .
(a)     Request for Increase . Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $2,000,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $100,000,000. At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

(b)     Lender Elections to Increase . Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.

(c)     Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders . The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders' responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase in the Commitment of any existing Lender in connection with an increase in the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be subject to the prior written approval of each L/C Issuer.

(d)     Effective Date and Allocations . If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall determine the effective date (the " Increase Effective Date ") and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

(e)     Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase . As a condition precedent to such increase, and in addition to the other requirements set forth in this Section 2.15 , the following conditions precedent shall be satisfied:

(i)    the Aggregate Commitments shall not exceed $5,000,000,000 without the consent of the Required Lenders;

(ii)    no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Increase Effective Date;

(iii)    the representations and warranties set forth in Article V shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except (i) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date and (ii) that for purposes of this Section 2.15(e) , the representations and

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warranties contained in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 ;

(iv)    the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) additional Commitments in a corresponding amount of such requested increase from either existing Lenders and/or one or more other institutions that qualify as Eligible Assignees (it being understood and agreed that no existing Lender shall be required to provide an additional Commitment) and (B) documentation from each institution providing an additional Commitment evidencing its additional Commitment and its obligations under this Agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(v)    the Administrative Agent shall have received all documents (including resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower) it may reasonably request relating to the corporate or other necessary authority for such increase and the validity of such increase in the Aggregate Commitments, and any other matters relevant thereto, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(vi)    if any Loans are outstanding at the time of the increase in the Aggregate Commitments, the Borrower shall, if applicable, prepay one or more existing Committed Loans (such prepayment to be subject to Section 3.05 ) in an amount necessary such that after giving effect to the increase in the Aggregate Commitments, each Lender will hold its pro rata share (based on its Applicable Percentage of the increased Aggregate Commitments) of outstanding Loans.

(f)     Conflicting Provisions . This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

2.16     Cash Collateral .
(a)     Certain Credit Support Events . If (i) an L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing that is not repaid when due, (ii) as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, (iii) the Borrower shall be required to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 8.02(c) , or (iv) there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower shall immediately (in the case of clause (iii) above) or within one Business Day (in all other cases) following any request by the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer, provide Cash Collateral in an amount not less than the applicable Minimum Collateral Amount (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to clause (iv) above, after giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

(b)     Grant of Security Interest . The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.16(c) . If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuers as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in a blocked, non-interest bearing deposit account at Bank of America. The

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Borrower shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.
(c)     Application . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.16 or Sections 2.03 , 2.05 , 2.17 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.
(d)     Release . Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi) )) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided , however, the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuers may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.
2.17     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 that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i)     Waivers and Amendments . Such Defaulting Lender's right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of "Required Lenders" and Section 10.01 .
(ii)     Defaulting Lender Waterfall . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08 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 , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers' Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.16 ; fourth , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), 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 reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer's future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.16 ; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default

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or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , 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 or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii)     Certain Fees .
(A)    No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(B)    Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.16 .
(C)    With respect to any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to (B) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the L/C Issuers the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer's Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.
(iv)     Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure . All or any part of such Defaulting Lender's participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation (and, unless the Borrower shall have otherwise notified the Administrative Agent at such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time), and (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender's Commitment. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-

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Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender's increased exposure following such reallocation.
(v)     Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans . If the reallocation described in clause (a)(iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lender's Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.16 .
(b)     Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers agree in writing that a Lender is no longer 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 (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that 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 Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.17(a)(iv) ), whereupon such 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 the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; 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.

ARTICLE III 

 TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01     Taxes .
(a)     Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes .

(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, then the Administrative Agent or the Borrower shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

(ii)    If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or

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deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01 ) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(iii)    If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01 ) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(b)     Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c)     Tax Indemnifications . (i) The Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 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 3.01 ) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and 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 Borrower by a Lender or an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or an L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.

(ii)    Each Lender and each L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower in connection with any Loan Document, 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

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error. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii) .

(d)     Evidence of Payments . Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01 , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(e)     Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation . (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to 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 Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A) , (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) 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, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

(A)    any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender 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 the 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 the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(I)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies 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 any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as

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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;

(II)    executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI,

(III)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.01(a) to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the 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) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

(IV)     to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies 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 3.01(b) or Exhibit 3.01(c) , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; 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 3.01(d) on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C)    any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the 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 the 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 the 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 any Loan Document 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 the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the 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 the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the 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.

(i)      (iii)    Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update

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such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(f)     Treatment of Certain Refunds . Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or an L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If any Recipient determines, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01 , it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

(g)     Survival . Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

3.02     Illegality .
If any Law has made it unlawful, or any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency), or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars, to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable and such Loans are denominated in Dollars, convert all such Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base

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Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

3.03     Inability to Determine Rates .
If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan (in each case with respect to clauses (a) and (b) above, “ Impacted Loans ”), or (c) the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Required Lenders have made the determination described in this section, the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower and in consultation with the Required Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans , in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of this section, (2) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Borrower written notice thereof.

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3.04     Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans .
(a)     Increased Costs Generally . 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 or participated in by, any Lender (except (A) any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) and (B) the requirements of the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank reflected in the Mandatory Cost, other than as set forth below) or the applicable L/C Issuer;

(ii)    subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

(iii)    result in the failure of the Mandatory Cost, as calculated hereunder, to represent the cost to any Lender of complying with the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank in relation to its making, funding or maintaining Eurocurrency Rate Loans; or

(iv)    impose on any Lender or any L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)     Capital Requirements . If any Lender or any L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's capital or on the capital of such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's policies and the policies of such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's holding company for any such reduction suffered.

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(c)     Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in clause (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 Business Days after receipt thereof.

(d)     Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six‑month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(e)     Additional Reserve Requirements . The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as "Eurocurrency liabilities"), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) and not reflected in the Mandatory Cost, and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) and not reflected in the Mandatory Cost, which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan; provided that the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days' prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or costs from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or costs shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.

3.05     Compensation for Losses .
Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a)    any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(b)    any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower;

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(c)    any failure by the Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency; or

(d)    any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13 ;

including any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate used in determining the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

3.06     Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .
(a)     Designation of a Different Lending Office . Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to the Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, L/C Issuer or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then at the request of the Borrower such Lender or L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04 , as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or an L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)     Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a) , or if any Lender delivers a notice under Section 3.02 the effect of which would be to suspend such Lender’s obligation to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans) in any currency, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13 .

3.07     Survival .
All of the Borrower's obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

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ARTICLE IV 
 
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01     Conditions to Effectiveness .
This Agreement shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a)     Loan Documents . Receipt by the Administrative Agent of executed counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and, in the case of this Agreement, by each Lender.

(b)     Opinions of Counsel . Receipt by the Administrative Agent of favorable opinions of legal counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent on behalf of each Lender, dated as of the Closing Date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(c)     No Material Adverse Change . There shall not have occurred from July 26, 2014 through and including the date of this Agreement any event or condition that has had or would be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d)     Organization Documents, Resolutions, Etc.  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i)    copies of the Organization Documents of the Borrower certified to be true and complete as of a recent date prior to the date of this Agreement by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of the Borrower to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

(ii)    such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party; and

(iii)    such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation, the state of its principal place of business and each other jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)     Officer's Closing Certificate . Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions specified in Section 4.01(c) , Section 4.02(a) (but without giving effect to the first parenthetical therein) and Section 4.02(b) have been satisfied.

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(f)     Fees . Receipt by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders of any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date.

(g)     Attorney Costs . The Borrower shall have paid all reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

(h)     Termination and Repayment of Existing Credit Agreement . Receipt by the Administrative Agent of evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated and all principal, interest, fees and other amounts owing thereunder shall have been paid in full.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01 , each Lender that has signed 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 proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

4.02     Conditions to all Credit Extensions .
The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a)    The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (other than Sections 5.05(c) and 5.06 ) and in each other Loan Document or in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except (i) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (and in all respects if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect) as of such earlier date and (ii) that for purposes of this Section 4.02 , the representations and warranties contained in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 .

(b)    No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c)    The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

(d)    In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent,

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the Required Lenders (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) or the L/C Issuers (in the case of any Letter of Credit to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) would make it impracticable for such Credit Extension to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a)  and (b)  have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V 
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

5.01     Existence, Qualification and Power .
The Borrower (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.02     Authorization; No Contravention .
The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of the Borrower's Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation to which the Borrower is a party or affecting the Borrower or the properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

5.03     Governmental Authorization; Other Consents .
No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than any Form 8-K that may be required to be filed by the Borrower with the SEC.

5.04     Binding Effect .
This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

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5.05     Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect .
(a)    The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) to the extent required by GAAP, show or reflect all material indebtedness and other material liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b)    The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated January 24, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year‑end audit adjustments.

(c)    Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.06     Litigation .
Except for such matters as are described in the Borrower’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 24, 2015, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending (of which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has received notice) or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, expressly threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties that (a) purport to materially affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07     No Default .
No Default has occurred and is continuing.

5.08     [Reserved] .
5.09     [Reserved] .
5.10     [Reserved] .
5.11     Taxes .
The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have (a) filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and (b) paid all material Federal, material state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are (i) being contested in good faith by appropriate

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proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided to the extent required by GAAP or (ii) would not have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement with any Person other than the Borrower or one or more Subsidiaries thereof.

5.12     ERISA Compliance .
Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(a)    Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter or opinion letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a variance of minimum funding standards pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b)    There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan.

(c)    (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

5.13     Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .
(a)    The Borrower is not engaged and does not intend to engage, principally or as one of its principal activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) that are subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.04 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e)  will be margin stock.

(b)    None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.14     [Reserved] .
5.15     Compliance with Laws .

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The Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.16     Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information .
The true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number of the Borrower is set forth on Schedule 10.02 .

5.17     OFAC .
Neither the Borrower, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer or employee thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List or (iii) organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction in violation of Sanctions.

5.18     Anti-Corruption Laws .
Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries are in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions the effect of which is or would reasonably be expected to be material to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

ARTICLE VI 
 
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01 , 6.02 , and 6.03 ) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01     Financial Statements .
Deliver to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Lender):

(a)    as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or another independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in

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accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any "going concern" or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and

(b)    as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower's fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year‑end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c) , the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

6.02     Certificates; Other Information .
Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(a)    concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a)  and (b) , a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower;

(b)    promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(c)    promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a)  or (b) or Section 6.02(b) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower's website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower's behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third‑party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to

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the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions ( i.e. , soft copies or internet links to soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, " Borrower Materials ") by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, Debt Domain, Syndtrak or another similar electronic system (the " Platform ") and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a " Public Lender ") may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non‑public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market‑related activities with respect to such Persons' securities. The 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 Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non‑public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws ( provided , however , that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07 ); (C) all Borrower Materials marked "PUBLIC" are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated "Public Investor" (and the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers agree that only Borrower Materials marked "Public" shall be made available through the portion of the Platform designated "Public Investor"); 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 Investor." Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials "PUBLIC."

6.03     Notices .
Promptly (and in any event, within three Business Days) after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders):

(a)    of the occurrence of any Default; and

(b)    of any announcement by Moody's or S&P of any change in a Debt Rating.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(e) ) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a)  shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.04     Payment of Taxes .
Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested

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in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP, to the extent required, are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

6.05     Preservation of Existence, Etc.
(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.03 ; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non‑preservation of which is expected by the Borrower to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06     Maintenance of Properties .
(a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except, in each of clause (a) and (b) above, where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07     Maintenance of Insurance .
Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons; provided that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may self-insure in amounts that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.08     Compliance with Laws .
Comply in all respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.09     Books and Records .
(a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.10     Inspection Rights .
Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or

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abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided , however , that unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent and Lenders shall not exercise such rights more than two times (in the aggregate) in any calendar year, and provided , further , that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

6.11     Use of Proceeds .
Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for (a) Permitted Acquisitions, (b) repurchases of Equity Interests of the Borrower (not in violation of Regulation U of the FRB) or (c) working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

ARTICLE VII 
 
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

7.01     Liens .
Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a)    Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b)    Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required by GAAP;

(c)    carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required by GAAP;

(d)    pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA securing obligations in excess of the Threshold Amount;

(e)    deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(f)    easements, rights‑of‑way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially

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detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(g)    Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) , or securing appeal or other surety bonds or similar instruments with respect to such judgments;

(h)    Liens securing capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness (and accessions thereto) and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition and related expenses;

(i)    Liens securing Indebtedness in connection with Permitted Acquisitions; provided that such Liens (i) existed at the time of such Acquisition, (ii) were not incurred in contemplation of such Acquisition, and (iii) do not at any time encumber any property other than the property acquired in connection with such Acquisition;

(j)    Liens in connection with repurchase agreements entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such bank or trust company shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations;

(k)    Liens arising from any lease receivables or accounts receivables financing accounted for under GAAP as a sale by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to a Person other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that (i) such financing shall be non-recourse to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries except to the extent customary for such transactions, and (ii) such Liens do not encumber any assets other than the receivables being financed, the property securing or otherwise relating to such receivables, and the proceeds thereof;

(l)    precautionary filings in respect of operating leases;

(m)    leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

(n)    Liens securing obligations under Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes, and Liens arising under repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, securities lending and borrowing arrangements and similar arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business; and

(o)    other Liens securing obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

7.02     [Reserved] .

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7.03     Fundamental Changes .
Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

(a)    the Borrower may merge with another Person in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b)    any Subsidiary may merge with or into any other Person; and

(c)    any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if such liquidation or dissolution does not cause or is not reasonably expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect.

7.04     Dispositions .
Dispose of all or substantially all of the assets (by voluntary liquidation or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

7.05     [Reserved] .
7.06     Sanctions .
Directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner, in each case that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

7.07     Anti-Corruption Laws .
Directly or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would violate the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the UK Bribery Act 2010.

7.08     Financial Covenant .
Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 3.0 to 1.0.

ARTICLE VIII 
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01     Events of Default .

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Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a)     Non‑Payment . The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b)     Specific Covenants .

(i)    The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03 , 6.05(a) , 6.10 , or 6.11 or Article VII ; or

(ii)    The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01 , 6.02 , 6.05 (other than 6.05(a) ) and such failure continues for five Business Days; or

(c)     Other Defaults . The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in clause (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer of the Borrower having actual knowledge of such Default or (ii) the receipt by the Borrower of notice from the Administrative Agent of such Default; or

(d)     Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made; or

(e)     Cross‑Default . (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform (after any applicable grace, cure or notice period) any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) failure (after any applicable grace, cure or notice period) to pay any Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a result of any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined), which Swap Termination Value is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

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(f)     Insolvency Proceedings, Etc . The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g)     [Reserved] ; or

(h)     Judgments . There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third‑party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage); or

(i)     ERISA . (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount which is not extinguished or funded within 15 days of such ERISA Event, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(j)     [Reserved] ; or

(k)     Change of Control . There occurs any Change of Control.

8.02     Remedies Upon Event of Default .
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a)    declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b)    declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(c)    require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount with respect thereto); and

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(d)    exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents;

provided , however , that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under Debtor Relief Laws, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03     Application of Funds .
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02 ), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.16 and 2.17 , be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the applicable L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and such L/C Issuer and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the applicable L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the applicable L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth , to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.16 ; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c) and 2.16 , amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

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ARTICLE IX 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01     Appointment and Authority .
Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article (other than Section 9.06 with respect to appointments of successor administrative agents) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions (other than Section 9.06 with respect to appointments of successor administrative agents). It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (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. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

9.02     Rights as a Lender .
The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

9.03     Exculpatory Provisions .
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(a)    shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b)    shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents or the other documents executed or delivered in connection therewith that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief

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Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

(c)    shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any of the 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.

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request 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 shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

9.04     Reliance by Administrative Agent .
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

9.05     Delegation of Duties .
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document or the other documents executed or delivered in connection therewith by or through any one or more sub‑agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The

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Administrative Agent and any such sub‑agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or 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 facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

9.06     Resignation of Administrative Agent .
(a)    The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the prior consent of the Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (unless a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in which case in consulation with the Borrower), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.
(b)    If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Removal Effective Date ”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c)    With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, 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 and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable) and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of

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such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub‑agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
(d)    Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) .  If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c) . Upon the appointment by the Borrower of a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

9.07     Non‑Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders .
Each Lender and each L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own 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.

9.08     No Other Duties, Etc.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers, syndication agents, documentation agents or co-agents shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the bookrunners, arrangers, syndication agents, documentation agents or co-agents shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any other Lender. Each such Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any bookrunner, arranger, syndication agent, documentation or other co-agent in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

9.09     Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim .

In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any

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Loan or L/C Obligation 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 the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations 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, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h)  and (i) , 2.09 and 10.04 ) 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;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each L/C Issuer 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 and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04 .

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 or any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

ARTICLE X 
 
MISCELLANEOUS

10.01     Amendments, Etc.
No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a)    extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;

(b)    postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(c)    reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the final proviso to this Section 10.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder

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or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided , however , that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of "Default Rate" or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;

(d)    change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

(e)    amend Section 1.06 or the definition of "Alternative Currency" without the written consent of each Lender; or

(f)    change any provision of this Section or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

and; provided further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuers in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuers under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

10.02     Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication .
(a)     Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in clause (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i)    if to a Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 ; and

(ii)    if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

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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 facsimile 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). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in clause (B) below, shall be effective as provided in such clause (b).

(b)     Electronic Communications . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e‑mail, FpML messaging, and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuers or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e‑mail 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 e‑mail or other written acknowledgement) and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e‑mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefore; provided that if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, e-mail or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

(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 Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower's or the Administrative Agent's transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or 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 gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided , however , that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d)     Change of Address, Etc . The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other

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communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. 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 Borrower Materials that are not made available through the "Public Side Information" portion of the Platform and that may contain material non‑public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

(e)     Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower, provided that such indemnity shall not be available as to any Indemnitee to the extent that such losses, costs, expenses and liabilities 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. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

10.03     No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies .
No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) each L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13 ), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower

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under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

10.04     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .
(a)     Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers 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 incurred by the L/C Issuers in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b)     Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub‑agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, 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 related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub‑agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01 ), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the applicable L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; 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, (B) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for a material breach of such Indemnitee's obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent

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jurisdiction or (C) result from a claim by an Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee that does not involve an act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (but excluding any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or other expenses relating to an Indemnitee acting in its capacity as an agent, arranger, issuing bank or similar role) for which an Indemnitee would otherwise be entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.04(b) . Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c) , this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c)     Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under clause (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub‑agent thereof), the applicable L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing (and without limiting its obligations to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub‑agent), such L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender 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 based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders' Applicable Percentage (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 (or any such sub‑agent), the Swing Line Lender or such L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub‑agent), the Swing Line Lender or such L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d) .

(d)     Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in clause (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e)     Payments . All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

(f)     Survival . The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

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10.05     Payments Set Aside .
To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

10.06     Successors and Assigns .
(a)     Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of clause (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of clause (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of clause (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in clause (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)     Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this clause (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i)     Minimum Amounts .

(A)    in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B)    in any case not described in clause (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder)

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or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if "Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $10,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(ii)     Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender's rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

(iii)     Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by clause (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A)    the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;

(B)    the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

(C)    the consent of each L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

(iv)     Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided , however , that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v)     No Assignment to Certain Persons . No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) , (C) to a natural Person or (D) to any Person that, through its Lending Officers, is not capable of lending one or more Alternative Currencies to the Borrower, or is not capable of lending one or more Alternative Currencies without the imposition of any additional Indemnified Taxes.
(vi)     Certain Additional Payments . 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

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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 Borrower 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, the L/C Issuers or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. 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.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (C) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the 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 3.01 , 3.04 , 3.05 , and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender's having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause 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 clause (d) of this Section.

(c)     Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent's Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the " Register "). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d)     Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or any L/C Issuer, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a " Participant ") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender's participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in

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connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation); provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04 , with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower's request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, 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 obligations under the Loan Documents (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, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. 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 a Participant Register.

(e)     Certain Pledges . Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(f)     Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time a Lender assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to clause (b) above, such Lender, as applicable, may, (i) upon 30 days' notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days' notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder with the consent of such Lender; provided , however , that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor

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shall affect the resignation of such Lender as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If such Lender resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c) ). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c) . Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (A) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (B) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to such Lender to effectively assume the obligations of such Lender with respect to such Letters of Credit.

10.07     Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality .
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (A) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates' respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it or its Affiliates (including any self‑regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15(c) , (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction with such Lender relating to a Borrower and its obligations or (iii) any insurer or insurance broker of, or direct or indirect provider of credit protection to any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or (i) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments. In the event the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the L/C Issuer is required to disclose the Information pursuant to applicable law or regulation or by subpoena or similar legal process, such party shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Borrower unless legally prohibited from doing so.

For purposes of this Section, " Information " means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than

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any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non‑public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non‑public information and (c) it will handle such material non‑public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

10.08     Right of Setoff .
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

10.09     Interest Rate Limitation .
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non‑usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the " Maximum Rate "). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the

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effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

10.10     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness .
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents 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. Except as provided in Section 4.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging means (e.g. "pdf" or "tif") shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

10.11     Survival of Representations and Warranties .
All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

10.12     Severability .
If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

10.13     Replacement of Lenders .
If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06 , or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto then the Borrower may, at its sole expense, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to (and such Lender shall) assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06 ), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments

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pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04 ) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

(a)    the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b) ;

(b)    such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(c)    in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d)    such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(e)    in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

10.14     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a)     GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b)     SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, THE L/C ISSUER, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN MANHATTAN, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT

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PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, LITIGATION 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. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c)     WAIVER OF VENUE . THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d)     SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02 . NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

10.15     Waiver of Jury Trial .
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) 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 (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

10.16     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 Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates' understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers, are arm's‑length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the

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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 Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Arrangers has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; 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 Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Arrangers has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

10.17     USA PATRIOT Act Notice .
Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107‑56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the " Act "), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The Borrower 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 in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable "know your customer" and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

10.18     Judgment Currency .
If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “ Agreement Currency ”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures 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 Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower in the Agreement Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

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10.19     Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents .
The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, Swing Line Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, 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 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 notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

94

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

				
BORROWER:	CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.,	 	
 	a California corporation	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Roger Biscay	 	
 	Name: Roger Biscay	 	
 	Title: Vice President, Treasurer	 	

ADMINISTRATIVE	 	 	 	
AGENT:	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,	 	
 	as Administrative Agent	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Joan Mok	 	
 	Name: Joan Mok	 	
 	Title: Vice President	 	

LENDERS:	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,	 	
 	as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Jeannette Lu	 	
 	Name: Jeannette Lu	 	
 	Title: Vice President	 	

 	DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,	 	
 	as a Lender and L/C Issuer	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Virginia Cosenza	 	
 	Name: Virginia Cosenza	 	
 	Title: Vice President	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	 /s/ Ming K. Chu	 	
 	Name: Ming K. Chu	 	
 	Title: Vice President	 	

 	CITIBANK, N.A.,	 	
 	as a Lender and L/C Issuer	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Susan Olsen	 	
 	Name: Susan Olsen	 	
 	Title: Vice President	 	

	
				
 	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,	 	
 	as a Lender and L/C Issuer	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Peter B. Thauer	 	
 	Name: Peter B. Thauer	 	
 	Title: Managing Director	 	

 	WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,	
 	as a Lender and L/C Issuer	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Lacy Houstoun	 	
 	Name: Lacy Houstoun	 	
 	Title: Director	 	

 	THE BANK OF TOKYO MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., as a Lender	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Richard Ong Pho	 	
 	Name: Richard Ong Pho	 	
 	Title: Director	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,	
 	as a Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Michael King	 	
 	Name: Michael King	 	
 	Title: Vice President	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	BARCLAYS BANK PLC,	 	
 	as a Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Christine Aharonian	 	
 	Name: Christine Aharonian	 	
 	Title: Vice President	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,	
 	as a Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Franziska Schoch	 	
 	Name: Franziska Schoch	 	
 	Title: AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY	 	

	

 	By:	/s/ Nupur Kumar	 	
 	Name: NUPUR KUMAR	 	
 	Title: AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,	
 	as a Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ David Wagstaff	 	
 	Name: David Wagstaff	 	
 	Title: Managing Director	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	BNP PARIBAS,	 	
 	as a Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Jamie Dillon	 	
 	Name: Jamie Dillon	 	
 	Title: Managing Director	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Todd Rodgers	 	
 	Name: Todd Rodgers	 	
 	Title: Director	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,	 	
 	as a Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Mark Gronich	 	
 	Name: Mark Gronich	 	
 	Title: Authorized Signatory	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,	 	
 	as a Lender	 	
 	 	 	 	
 	By:	/s/ Ryan Durkin	 	
 	Name: Ryan Durkin	 	
 	Title: Authorized Signatory	 	

SCHEDULE 1.01

MANDATORY COST FORMULAE

1.    The Mandatory Cost (to the extent applicable) is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with:

(a)    the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions); or

(b)    the requirements of the European Central Bank.

2.    On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Administrative Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the “ Additional Cost Rate ”) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Administrative Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders’ Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum. The Administrative Agent will, at the request of the Borrower or any Lender, deliver to the Borrower or such Lender as the case may be, a statement setting forth the calculation of any Mandatory Cost.

3.    The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Lending Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Administrative Agent. This percentage will be certified by such Lender in its notice to the Administrative Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of such Lender’s participation in all Loans made from such Lending Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of Loans made from that Lending Office.

4.    The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from a Lending Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Administrative Agent as follows:

(a)    in relation to any Loan in Sterling:

	
		
AB+C(B‑D)+E x 0.01	per cent per annum	
100 ‑ (A+C)		

Where:

“A”	is the percentage of Eligible Liabilities (assuming these to be in excess of any stated minimum) which that Lender is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash ratio deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio requirements.	

“B”	is the percentage rate of interest (excluding the Applicable Rate, the Mandatory Cost and any interest charged on overdue amounts pursuant to the first sentence of Section 2.08(b)  and, in the case of interest (other than on overdue amounts) charged at the Default Rate, without counting any increase in interest rate effected by the charging of the Default Rate) payable for the relevant Interest Period of such Loan.	

“C”	is the percentage (if any) of Eligible Liabilities which that Lender is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing Special Deposits with the Bank of England.	

		
“D”	is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Administrative Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits.	

“E”	is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Administrative Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000.	

5.    For the purposes of this Schedule:

(a)	“ Eligible Liabilities ” and “ Special Deposits ” have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England;	

(b)	“ Fees Rules ” means the rules on periodic fees contained in the FSA Supervision Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits;	

(c)	“ Fee Tariffs ” means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and	

(d)	“ Tariff Base ” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules.	

6.	In application of the above formulae, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5% will be included in the formula as 5 and not as 0.05). A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B shall be taken as zero. The resulting figures shall be rounded to four decimal places.	

7.	If requested by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, each Lender with a Lending Office in the United Kingdom or a Participating Member State shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the rate of charge payable by such Lender to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by such Lender as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to such Lender for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of such Lender.	

8.	Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information in writing on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender:	

(a)	the jurisdiction of the Lending Office out of which it is making available its participation in the relevant Loan; and	

(b)	any other information that the Administrative Agent may reasonably require for such purpose.	

Each Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.

		
9.	The percentages of each Lender for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Lender for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Administrative Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 above and on the assumption that, unless a Lender notifies the Administrative Agent to the contrary, each Lender’s obligations in relation to cash ratio deposits and Special Deposits are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction of incorporation with a Lending Office in the same jurisdiction as its Lending Office.	

10.	The Administrative Agent shall have no liability to any Person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over‑ or under‑compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender pursuant to paragraphs 3 , 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects.	

11.	The Administrative Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender pursuant to paragraphs 3 , 7 and 8 above.	

12.	Any determination by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.	

13.	The Administrative Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, determine and notify to all parties any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.	

SCHEDULE 2.01

COMMITMENTS AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES

	
			
Bank	Commitment	Applicable Percentage
	
Bank of America, N.A.	$322,000,000.00	10.733333332%	
Citibank, N.A.	$322,000,000.00	10.733333333%	
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch	$322,000,000.00	10.733333333%	
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.	$322,000,000.00	10.733333333%	
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association	$322,000,000.00	10.733333333%	
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.	$117,500,000.00	3.916666667%	
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.	$117,500,000.00	3.916666667%	
Barclays Bank PLC	$235,000,000.00	7.833333333%	
Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch	$235,000,000.00	7.833333333%	
HSBC Bank USA, National Association	$235,000,000.00	7.833333333%	
BNP Paribas	$150,000,000.00	5.000000001%	
Royal Bank of Canada	$150,000,000.00	5.000000001%	
Goldman Sachs Bank USA	$150,000,000.00	5.000000001%	
TOTAL	$3,000,000,000.00	100.000000000%	

EXHIBIT 2.02

FORM OF COMMITED LOAN NOTICE

Date: ___________, 20__

To:	Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent	

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the " Credit Agreement "; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “ Borrower "), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

A Borrowing of Committed Loans	A conversion or continuation of Loans	

1.    On      (a Business Day).

2.    In the amount of $              .

3.    Comprised of                  .

         [Type of Loan requested or to which existing
Loans are to be continued or converted]

4.    For Eurodollar Rate Loans: with an Interest Period of      months.

5.    The currency of the Committed Loans to be borrowed is: _______________________.

The Committed Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the requirements of Section 2.01  of the Credit Agreement.

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.,
a California corporation

By:                     
Name:                     
Title:                     

EXHIBIT 2.04

FORM OF SWING LINE LOAN NOTICE

Date: ___________, 20__

To:    Bank of America, N.A., as Swing Line Lender
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the " Credit Agreement "; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “ Borrower "), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

The undersigned hereby requests a Swing Line Loan:

1.    On                  (a Business Day).

2.    In the amount of $              .

The Swing Line Borrowing requested herein complies with the requirements of Section 2.04(a)  of the Credit Agreement.

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.,
a California corporation

By:                     
Name:                     
Title:                     

EXHIBIT 2.11

FORM OF NOTE

Date: ___________, 20__

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the " Borrower ") hereby promises to pay to _____________________ or its registered assigns (the " Lender "), in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the " Credit Agreement "; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Credit Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.04(f) of the Credit Agreement with respect to Swing Line Loans, all payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in the currency in which such Committed Loan was denominated and in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for such currency. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Credit Agreement.

This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Credit Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Credit Agreement. Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.,
a California corporation

By:                     
Name:                     
Title:                     

EXHIBIT 3.01(a)

[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “ Borrower "), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

		
[NAME OF LENDER]	
By: _______________________	
 	Name: ________________________	
 	Title: ________________________	
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHBIT 3.01(b)

[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “ Borrower "), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

		
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]	
By: _______________________	
 	Name: ________________________	
 	Title: ________________________	
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHIBIT 3.01(c)

[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “ Borrower "), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

		
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]	
By: _______________________	
 	Name: ________________________	
 	Title: ________________________	
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHIBIT 3.01(d)

[FORM OF]
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Cisco Systems, Inc. (the “ Borrower "), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

		
[NAME OF LENDER]	
By: _______________________	
 	Name: ________________________	
 	Title: ________________________	
Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHIBIT 6.02
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Financial Statement Date: ___________, 20__

To:	Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent	

Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 15 , 2015 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the " Credit Agreement "; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Cisco Systems, Inc. (the " Borrower "), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the                              of the Borrower, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the Borrower, and that:

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year‑end financial statements]
1.    Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the year‑end audited financial statements required by Section 6.01(a)  of the Credit Agreement for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant required by such section.

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter‑end financial statements]

1.    Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the unaudited financial statements required by Section 6.01(b)  of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the above date. Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year‑end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
2.    The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Credit Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Lenders, as applicable, during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements.
3.     A review of the activities of t he Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Borrower performed and observed all its Obligations under the Loan Documents, and
[select one:]
[to the best knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the Borrower performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default has occurred and is continuing.]
—or—
[to the best knowledge of the undersigned, during such fiscal period the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]

4.    Attached hereto as Schedule 2 are calculations demonstrating compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.08 of the Credit Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Compliance Certificate as
of              ,          .

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.,
a California corporation

By:                     
Name:                     
Title:                     

Schedule 1 to
Compliance Certificate

Financial Statements

Schedule 2 to
Compliance Certificate

For the Quarter / Year ended _______________ the “ Financial Statement Date ”)

	
			
 	Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio
	 	
I.	Consolidated EBITDA ( For the period of the four prior fiscal quarters ending on the Financial Statement Date (see Schedule A))
	$    	
II.	Consolidated Interest Charges
	$    	
III.	Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (I ÷ II)
	_______________ to 1.0	
 	Maximum Permitted:	3.0 to 1.0	

SCHEDULE A
to Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)

Consolidated EBITDA
(in accordance with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA
as set forth in the Credit Agreement)

	

Consolidated
EBITDA	Quarter
Ended	Quarter
Ended	Quarter
Ended	Quarter
Ended	Twelve Months
Ended	
Consolidated Net Income	 	 	 	 	 	
+ Consolidated Interest Charges	 	 	 	 	 	
+ income taxes	 	 	 	 	 	
+ depreciation expense	 	 	 	 	 	
+ amortization expense	 	 	 	 	 	
+ non-cash expenses relating to the refinancing or redemption of Indebtedness	 	 	 	 	 	
+ non-cash expenses relating to the impairment of property, plant and equipment, goodwill or other intangible assets in such period, and charges for in-process research and development	 	 	 	 	 	
+ non-recurring non-cash charges in connection with acquisitions, Dispositions and discontinued operations, and cash and non-cash restructuring charges	 	 	 	 	 	
+ non-cash expenses related to stock option awards or other equity compensation	 	 	 	 	 	
+ the cumulative effect of changes in accounting	 	 	 	 	 	
+ non-recurring non-cash expenses reducing Consolidated Net Income	 	 	 	 	 	
- non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income of the types set forth above	 	 	 	 	 	
= Consolidated EBITDA	 	 	 	 	 	

EXHIBIT 10.06

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (this " Assignment and Assumption ") is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between the Assignor (identified in item 1 below) and the Assignee (identified in item 2 below). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the " Credit Agreement "), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor's rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including, without limitation, the Letters of Credit and the Swing Line Loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by the Assignor to the Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the " Assigned Interest "). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

1.     Assignor :    ______________________________

2.	Assignee :    ______________________________	
[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [ identify Lender ]]

3.     Borrower :    Cisco Systems, Inc.

4.	Administrative Agent :    Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement	

5.	Credit Agreement :    Credit Agreement, dated as of May [__], 2015, among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer	

6.     Assigned Interest :

	
				
Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment/Loans
for all Lenders *
	Amount of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned *	Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/
Loans	

CUSIP
 Number	
$_______________
	$_______________
	____________%	 	
$_______________
	$_______________
	____________%	 	
$_______________
	$_______________
	____________%	 	

[7.     Trade Date :    __________________]

Effective Date: __________________, 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

By: _____________________________
Title:

ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By: _____________________________
Title:

__________________________________

* Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
1 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.
2 To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

[Consented to and] Accepted:

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

By: _________________________________
Title:

[Consented to:]

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
a California corporation

By: _________________________________
Title:

[Consented to:]

[BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as an L/C Issuer] [and Swing Line Lender]

By: _________________________________
Title:

[CITIBANK, N.A.,
as an L/C Issuer]

By: _________________________________
Title:

[DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
as an L/C Issuer]

By: _________________________________
Title:

[JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as an L/C Issuer]

By: _________________________________
Title:

[WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as an L/C Issuer]

By: _________________________________
Title:
_____________________________
3 To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
4 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
5 To be added only if the consent of Swing Line Lender and/or L/C Issuers is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1.     Representations and Warranties .

1.1.     Assignor . the Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2.     Assignee . the Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(v) of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 5.05 thereof or delivered pursuant to Section 6.02 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, 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 the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2.     Payments . From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3.     General Provisions . This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This

Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John T. Chambers, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cisco Systems, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 20, 2015

	
 	
/s/ John T. Chambers	
John T. Chambers	
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	
(Principal Executive Officer)	

Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
EXCHANGE ACT RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Kelly A. Kramer , certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cisco Systems, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 20, 2015

	
 	
/s/ Kelly A. Kramer	
Kelly A. Kramer	
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)	

Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John T. Chambers, do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
		
•	the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended April 25, 2015 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and	
		
•	the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.	

Date: May 20, 2015

	
 	
/s/ John T. Chambers	
John T. Chambers	
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	
(Principal Executive Officer)	

Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Kelly A. Kramer , do hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
		
•	the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended April 25, 2015 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and	
		
•	the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.	

Date: May 20, 2015

	
 	
/s/ Kelly A. Kramer	
Kelly A. Kramer	
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)