EXHIBIT 10.1
(Multicurrency -- Cross Border)
ISDA(R)
International Swap Dealers Association, Inc.
MASTER AGREEMENT
dated as of 28 January, 2004
Northern Rock plc ("Party A") The Bank of New York (as "Note Trustee")
Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc ("Party B")
....................................and..........................................
have entered and/or anticipate entering into one or more transactions (each a
"Transaction") that are or will be governed by this Master Agreement, which
includes the schedule (the "Schedule"), and the documents and other confirming
evidence (each a "Confirmation") exchanged between the parties confirming
those Transactions.
Accordingly, the parties agree as follows: --
1. Interpretation
(a) Definitions. The terms defined in Section 14 and in the Schedule will have
the meanings therein specified for the purpose of this Master Agreement.
(b) Inconsistency. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of
the Schedule and the other provisions of this Master Agreement, the Schedule
will prevail. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of any
Confirmation and this Master Agreement (including the Schedule), such
Confirmation will prevail for the purpose of the relevant Transaction.
(c) Single Agreement. All Transactions are entered into in reliance on the
fact that this Master Agreement and all Confirmations form a single agreement
between the parties (collectively referred to as this "Agreement"), and the
parties would not otherwise enter into any Transactions.
2. Obligations
(a) General Conditions.
(i) Each party will make each payment or delivery specified in each
Confirmation to be made by it, subject to the other provisions of this
Agreement.
(ii) Payments under this Agreement will be made on the due date for value
on that date in the place of the account specified in the relevant
Confirmation or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement, in freely
transferable funds and in the manner customary for payments in the
required currency. Where settlement is by delivery (that is, other than
by payment), such delivery will be made for receipt on the due date in
the manner customary for the relevant obligation unless otherwise
specified in the relevant Confirmation or elsewhere in this Agreement.
(iii) Each obligation of each party under Section 2(a)(i) is subject to
(1) the condition precedent that no Event of Default or Potential Event
of Default with respect to the other party has occurred and is
continuing, (2) the condition precedent that no Early Termination Date in
respect of the relevant Transaction has occurred or been effectively
designated and (3) each other applicable condition precedent specified in
this Agreement.
(b) Change of Account. Either party may change its account for receiving a
payment or delivery by giving notice to the other party at least five Local
Business Days prior to the scheduled date for the payment or delivery to which
such change applies unless such other party gives timely notice of a
reasonable objection to such change.
(c) Netting. If on any date amounts would otherwise be payable:--
(i) in the same currency; and
(ii) in respect of the same Transaction,
by each party to the other, then, on such date, each party's obligation to
make payment of any such amount will be automatically satisfied and discharged
and, if the aggregate amount that would otherwise have been payable by one
party exceeds the aggregate amount that would otherwise have been payable by
the other party, replaced by an obligation upon the party by whom the larger
aggregate amount would have been payable to pay to the other party the excess
of the larger aggregate amount over the smaller aggregate amount.
The parties may elect in respect of two or more Transactions that a net amount
will be determined in respect of all amounts payable on the same date in the
same currency in respect of such Transactions, regardless of whether such
amounts are payable in respect of the same Transaction. The election may be
made in the Schedule or a Confirmation by specifying that subparagraph (ii)
above will not apply to the Transactions identified as being subject to the
election, together with the starting date (in which case subparagraph (ii)
above will not, or will cease to, apply to such Transactions from such date).
This election may be made separately for different groups of Transactions and
will apply separately to each pairing of Offices through which the parties
make and receive payments or deliveries.
(d) Deduction or Withholding for Tax.
(i) Gross-Up. All payments under this Agreement will be made without any
deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax unless such
deduction or withholding is required by any applicable law, as modified
by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue authority, then in
effect. If a party is so required to deduct or withhold, then that party
("X") will:--
(1) promptly notify the other party ("Y") of such requirement;
(2) pay to the relevant authorities the full amount required to be
deducted or withheld (including the full amount required to be
deducted or withheld from any additional amount paid by X to Y under
this Section 2(d)) promptly upon the earlier of determining that
such deduction or withholding is required or receiving notice that
such amount has been assessed against Y;
(3) promptly forward to Y an official receipt (or a certified copy),
or other documentation reasonably acceptable to Y, evidencing such
payment to such authorities; and
(4) if such Tax is an Indemnifiable Tax, pay to Y, in addition to
the payment to which Y is otherwise entitled under this Agreement,
such additional amount as is necessary to ensure that the net amount
actually received by Y (free and clear of Indemnifiable Taxes,
whether assessed against X or Y) will equal the full amount Y would
have received had no such deduction or withholding been required.
However, X will not be required to pay any additional amount to Y to
the extent that it would not be required to be paid but for:--
(A) the failure by Y to comply with or perform any agreement
contained in Section 4(a)(i), 4(a)(iii) or 4(d); or
(B) the failure of a representation made by Y pursuant to
Section 3(f) to be accurate and true unless such failure would
not have occurred but for (I) any action taken by a taxing
authority, or brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, on
or after the date on which a Transaction is entered into
(regardless of whether such action is taken or brought with
respect to a party to this Agreement) or (II) a Change in Tax
Law.
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(ii) Liability. If: --
(1) X is required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice
of any relevant governmental revenue authority, to make any
deduction or withholding in respect of which X would not be required
to pay an additional amount to Y under Section 2(d)(i)(4);
(2) X does not so deduct or withhold; and
(3) a liability resulting from such Tax is assessed directly against
X,
then, except to the extent Y has satisfied or then satisfies the
liability resulting from such Tax, Y will promptly pay to X the amount
of such liability (including any related liability for interest, but
including any related liability for penalties only if Y has failed to
comply with or perform any agreement contained in Section 4(a)(i),
4(a)(iii) or 4(d)).
(e) Default Interest; Other Amounts. Prior to the occurrence or effective
designation of an Early Termination Date in respect of the relevant
Transaction, a party that defaults in the performance of any payment
obligation will, to the extent permitted by law and subject to Section 6(c),
be required to pay interest (before as well as after judgment) on the overdue
amount to the other party on demand in the same currency as such overdue
amount, for the period from (and including) the original due date for payment
to (but excluding) the date of actual payment, at the Default Rate. Such
interest will be calculated on the basis of daily compounding and the actual
number of days elapsed. If, prior to the occurrence or effective designation
of an Early Termination Date in respect of the relevant Transaction, a party
defaults in the performance of any obligation required to be settled by
delivery, it will compensate the other party on demand if and to the extent
provided for in the relevant Confirmation or elsewhere in this Agreement.
3. Representations
Each party represents to the other party (which representations will be deemed
to be repeated by each party on each date on which a Transaction is entered
into and, in the case of the representations in Section 3(f), at all times
until the termination of this Agreement) that:--
(a) Basic Representations.
(i) Status. It is duly organised and validly existing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its organisation or incorporation and, if relevant
under such laws, in good standing;
(ii) Powers. It has the power to execute this Agreement and any other
documentation relating to this Agreement to which it is a party, to
deliver this Agreement and any other documentation relating to this
Agreement that it is required by this Agreement to deliver and to perform
its obligations under this Agreement and any obligations it has under any
Credit Support Document to which it is a party and has taken all
necessary action to authorise such execution, delivery and performance;
(iii) No Violation or Conflict. Such execution, delivery and performance
do not violate or conflict with any law applicable to it, any provision
of its constitutional documents, any order or judgment of any court or
other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets or any
contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or any of its assets;
(iv) Consents. All governmental and other consents that are required to
have been obtained by it with respect to this Agreement or any Credit
Support Document to which it is a party have been obtained and are in
full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been
complied with; and
(v) Obligations Binding. Its obligations under this Agreement and any
Credit Support Document to which it is a party constitute its legal,
valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganisation,
insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and subject, as to enforceability, to equitable principles of
general application (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding in equity or at law)).
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(b) Absence of Certain Events. No Event of Default or Potential Event of
Default or, to its knowledge, Termination Event with respect to it has
occurred and is continuing and no such event or circumstance would occur as a
result of its entering into or performing its obligations under this Agreement
or any Credit Support Document to which it is a party.
(c) Absence of Litigation. There is not pending or, to its knowledge,
threatened against it or any of its Affiliates any action, suit or proceeding
at law or in equity or before any court, tribunal, governmental body, agency
or official or any arbitrator that is likely to affect the legality, validity
or enforceability against it of this Agreement or any Credit Support Document
to which it is a party or its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or such Credit Support Document.
(d) Accuracy of Specified Information. All applicable information that is
furnished in writing by or on behalf of it to the other party and is
identified for the purpose of this Section 3(d) in the Schedule is, as of the
date of the information, true, accurate and complete in every material
respect.
(e) Payer Tax Representation. Each representation specified in the Schedule as
being made by it for the purpose of this Section 3(e) is accurate and true.
(f) Payee Tax Representations. Each representation specified in the Schedule
as being made by it for the purpose of this Section 3(f) is accurate and true.
4. Agreements
Each party agrees with the other that, so long as either party has or may have
any obligation under this Agreement or under any Credit Support Document to
which it is a party:--
(a) Furnish Specified Information. It will deliver to the other party or, in
certain cases under subparagraph (iii) below, to such government or taxing
authority as the other party reasonably directs:--
(i) any forms, documents or certificates relating to taxation specified
in the Schedule or any Confirmation;
(ii) any other documents specified in the Schedule or any Confirmation;
and
(iii) upon reasonable demand by such other party, any form or document
that may be required or reasonably requested in writing in order to allow
such other party or its Credit Support Provider to make a payment under
this Agreement or any applicable Credit Support Document without any
deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax or with such
deduction or withholding at a reduced rate (so long as the completion,
execution or submission of such form or document would not materially
prejudice the legal or commercial position of the party in receipt of
such demand), with any such form or document to be accurate and completed
in a manner reasonably satisfactory to such other party and to be
executed and to be delivered with any reasonably required certification,
in each case by the date specified in the Schedule or such Confirmation or, if
none is specified, as soon as reasonably practicable.
(b) Maintain Authorisations. It will use all reasonable efforts to maintain in
full force and effect all consents of any governmental or other authority that
are required to be obtained by it with respect to this Agreement or any Credit
Support Document to which it is a party and will use all reasonable efforts to
obtain any that may become necessary in the future.
(c) Comply with Laws. It will comply in all material respects with all
applicable laws and orders to which it may be subject if failure so to comply
would materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or any Credit Support Document to which it is a party.
(d) Tax Agreement. It will give notice of any failure of a representation made
by it under Section 3(f) to be accurate and true promptly upon learning of
such failure.
(e) Payment of Stamp Tax. Subject to Section 11, it will pay any Stamp Tax
levied or imposed upon it or in respect of its execution or performance of
this Agreement by a jurisdiction in which it is incorporated,
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organised, managed and controlled, or considered to have its seat, or in which
a branch or office through which it is acting for the purpose of this
Agreement is located ("Stamp Tax Jurisdiction") and will indemnify the other
party against any Stamp Tax levied or imposed upon the other party or in
respect of the other party's execution or performance of this Agreement by any
such Stamp Tax Jurisdiction which is not also a Stamp Tax Jurisdiction with
respect to the other party.
5. Events of Default and Termination Events
(a) Events of Default. The occurrence at any time with respect to a party or,
if applicable, any Credit Support Provider of such party or any Specified
Entity of such party of any of the following events constitutes an event of
default (an "Event of Default") with respect to such party:--
(i) Failure to Pay or Deliver. Failure by the party to make, when due,
any payment under this Agreement or delivery under Section 2(a)(i) or
2(e) required to be made by it if such failure is not remedied on or
before the third Local Business Day after notice of such failure is given
to the party;
(ii) Breach of Agreement. Failure by the party to comply with or perform
any agreement or obligation (other than an obligation to make any payment
under this Agreement or delivery under Section 2(a)(i) or 2(e) or to give
notice of a Termination Event or any agreement or obligation under
Section 4(a)(i), 4(a)(iii) or 4(d)) to be complied with or performed by
the party in accordance with this Agreement if such failure is not
remedied on or before the thirtieth day after notice of such failure is
given to the party;
(iii) Credit Support Default.
(1) Failure by the party or any Credit Support Provider of such
party to comply with or perform any agreement or obligation to be
complied with or performed by it in accordance with any Credit
Support Document if such failure is continuing after any applicable
grace period has elapsed;
(2) the expiration or termination of such Credit Support Document or
the failing or ceasing of such Credit Support Document to be in full
force and effect for the purpose of this Agreement (in either case
other than in accordance with its terms) prior to the satisfaction
of all obligations of such party under each Transaction to which
such Credit Support Document relates without the written consent of
the other party; or
(3) the party or such Credit Support Provider disaffirms, disclaims,
repudiates or rejects, in whole or in part, or challenges the
validity of, such Credit Support Document;
(iv) Misrepresentation. A representation (other than a representation
under Section 3(e) or (f)) made or repeated or deemed to have been made
or repeated by the party or any Credit Support Provider of such party in
this Agreement or any Credit Support Document proves to have been
incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or repeated or
deemed to have been made or repeated;
(v) Default under Specified Transaction. The party, any Credit Support
Provider of such party or any applicable Specified Entity of such party
(1) defaults under a Specified Transaction and, after giving effect to
any applicable notice requirement or grace period, there occurs a
liquidation of, an acceleration of obligations under, or an early
termination of, that Specified Transaction, (2) defaults, after giving
effect to any applicable notice requirement or grace period, in making
any payment or delivery due on the last payment, delivery or exchange
date of, or any payment on early termination of, a Specified Transaction
(or such default continues for at least three Local Business Days if
there is no applicable notice requirement or grace period) or (3)
disaffirms, disclaims, repudiates or rejects, in whole or in part, a
Specified Transaction (or such action is taken by any person or entity
appointed or empowered to operate it or act on its behalf);
(vi) Cross Default. If "Cross Default" is specified in the Schedule as
applying to the party, the occurrence or existence of(1) a default, event
of default or other similar condition or event (however
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described) in respect of such party, any Credit Support Provider of such
party or any applicable Specified Entity of such party under one or more
agreements or instruments relating to Specified Indebtedness of any of
them (individually or collectively) in an aggregate amount of not less
than the applicable Threshold Amount (as specified in the Schedule) which
has resulted in such Specified Indebtedness becoming, or becoming capable
at such time of being declared, due and payable under such agreements or
instruments, before it would otherwise have been due and payable or (2) a
default by such party, such Credit Support Provider or such Specified
Entity (individually or collectively) in making one or more payments on
the due date thereof in an aggregate amount of not less than the
applicable Threshold Amount under such agreements or instruments (after
giving effect to any applicable notice requirement or grace period);
(vii) Bankruptcy. The party, any Credit Support Provider of such party or
any applicable Specified Entity of such party: --
(1) is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation,
amalgamation or merger); (2) becomes insolvent or is unable to pay
its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to
pay its debts as they become due; (3) makes a general assignment,
arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors;
(4) institutes or has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a
judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any
bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting
creditors' rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or
liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition
instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition (A)
results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an
order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or
liquidation or (B) is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or
restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or
presentation thereof; (5) has a resolution passed for its
winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant
to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); (6) seeks or becomes
subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional
liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other
similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets;
(7) has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all
its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration
or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or
substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains
possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed
or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; (8) causes or
is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the
applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any
of the events specified in clauses (1) to (7) (inclusive); or (9)
takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to,
approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts; or
(viii) Merger Without Assumption. The party or any Credit Support Provider
of such party consolidates or amalgamates with, or merges with or into,
or transfers all or substantially all its assets to, another entity and,
at the time of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer:--
(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee entity fails to assume
all the obligations of such party or such Credit Support Provider
under this Agreement or any Credit Support Document to which it or
its predecessor was a party by operation of law or pursuant to an
agreement reasonably satisfactory to the other party to this
Agreement; or
(2) the benefits of any Credit Support Document fail to extend
(without the consent of the other party) to the performance by such
resulting, surviving or transferee entity of its obligations under
this Agreement.
(b) Termination Events. The occurrence at any time with respect to a party or,
if applicable, any Credit Support Provider of such party or any Specified
Entity of such party of any event specified below constitutes an Illegality if
the event is specified in (i) below, a Tax Event if the event is specified in
(ii) below or a Tax Event Upon Merger if the event is specified in (iii)
below, and, if specified to be applicable, a Credit Event
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Upon Merger if the event is specified pursuant to (iv) below or an Additional
Termination Event if the event is specified pursuant to (v) below:--
(i) Illegality. Due to the adoption of, or any change in, any applicable
law after the date on which a Transaction is entered into, or due to the
promulgation of, or any change in, the interpretation by any court,
tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any
applicable law after such date, it becomes unlawful (other than as a
result of a breach by the party of Section 4(b)) for such party (which
will be the Affected Party):--
(1) to perform any absolute or contingent obligation to make a
payment or delivery or to receive a payment or delivery in respect
of such Transaction or to comply with any other material provision
of this Agreement relating to such Transaction; or
(2) to perform, or for any Credit Support Provider of such party to
perform, any contingent or other obligation which the party (or such
Credit Support Provider) has under any Credit Support Document
relating to such Transaction;
(ii) Tax Event. Due to (x) any action taken by a taxing authority, or
brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, on or after the date on
which a Transaction is entered into (regardless of whether such action is
taken or brought with respect to a party to this Agreement) or (y) a
Change in Tax Law, the party (which will be the Affected Party) will, or
there is a substantial likelihood that it will, on the next succeeding
Scheduled Payment Date (1) be required to pay to the other party an
additional amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section
2(d)(i)(4) (except in respect of interest under Section 2(e), 6(d)(ii) or
6(e)) or (2) receive a payment from which an amount is required to be
deducted or withheld for or on account of a Tax (except in respect of
interest under Section 2(e), 6(d)(ii) or 6(e)) and no additional amount
is required to be paid in respect of such Tax under Section 2(d)(i)(4)
(other than by reason of Section 2(d)(i)(4)(A) or (B));
(iii) Tax Event Upon Merger. The party (the "Burdened Party") on the next
succeeding Scheduled Payment Date will either (1) be required to pay an
additional amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under Section
2(d)(i)(4) (except in respect of interest under Section 2(e), 6(d)(ii) or
6(e)) or (2) receive a payment from which an amount has been deducted or
withheld for or on account of any Indemnifiable Tax in respect of which
the other party is not required to pay an additional amount (other than
by reason of Section 2(d)(i)(4)(A) or (B)), in either case as a result of
a party consolidating or amalgamating with, or merging with or into, or
transferring all or substantially all its assets to, another entity
(which will be the Affected Party) where such action does not constitute
an event described in Section 5(a)(viii);
(iv) Credit Event Upon Merger. If "Credit Event Upon Merger" is specified
in the Schedule as applying to the party, such party ("X"), any Credit
Support Provider of X or any applicable Specified Entity of X
consolidates or amalgamates with, or merges with or into, or transfers
all or substantially all its assets to, another entity and such action
does not constitute an event described in Section 5(a)(viii) but the
creditworthiness of the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is
materially weaker than that of X, such Credit Support Provider or such
Specified Entity, as the case may be, immediately prior to such action
(and, in such event, X or its successor or transferee, as appropriate,
will be the Affected Party); or
(v) Additional Termination Event. If any "Additional Termination Event"
is specified in the Schedule or any Confirmation as applying, the
occurrence of such event (and, in such event, the Affected Party or
Affected Parties shall be as specified for such Additional Termination
Event in the Schedule or such Confirmation).
(c) Event of Default and Illegality. If an event or circumstance which would
otherwise constitute or give rise to an Event of Default also constitutes an
Illegality, it will be treated as an Illegality and will not constitute an
Event of Default.
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6. Early Termination
(a) Right to Terminate Following Event of Default. If at any time an Event of
Default with respect to a party (the "Defaulting Party") has occurred and is
then continuing, the other party (the "Non-defaulting Party") may, by not more
than 20 days notice to the Defaulting Party specifying the relevant Event of
Default, designate a day not earlier than the day such notice is effective as
an Early Termination Date in respect of all outstanding Transactions. If,
however, "Automatic Early Termination" is specified in the Schedule as
applying to a party, then an Early Termination Date in respect of all
outstanding Transactions will occur immediately upon the occurrence with
respect to such party of an Event of Default specified in Section
5(a)(vii)(1), (3), (5), (6) or, to the extent analogous thereto, (8), and as
of the time immediately preceding the institution of the relevant proceeding
or the presentation of the relevant petition upon the occurrence with respect
to such party of an Event of Default specified in Section 5(a)(vii)(4) or, to
the extent analogous thereto, (8).
(b) Right to Terminate Following Termination Event.
(i) Notice. If a Termination Event occurs, an Affected Party will,
promptly upon becoming aware of it, notify the other party, specifying
the nature of that Termination Event and each Affected Transaction and
will also give such other information about that Termination Event as the
other party may reasonably require.
(ii) Transfer to Avoid Termination Event. If either an Illegality under
Section 5(b)(i)(l) or a Tax Event occurs and there is only one Affected
Party, or if a Tax Event Upon Merger occurs and the Burdened Party is the
Affected Party, the Affected Party will, as a condition to its right to
designate an Early Termination Date under Section 6(b)(iv), use all
reasonable efforts (which will not require such party to incur a loss,
excluding immaterial, incidental expenses) to transfer within 20 days
after it gives notice under Section 6(b)(i) all its rights and
obligations under this Agreement in respect of the Affected Transactions
to another of its Offices or Affiliates so that such Termination Event
ceases to exist.
If the Affected Party is not able to make such a transfer it will give
notice to the other party to that effect within such 20 day period,
whereupon the other party may effect such a transfer within 30 days after
the notice is given under Section 6(b)(i).
Any such transfer by a party under this Section 6(b)(ii) will be subject
to and conditional upon the prior written consent of the other party,
which consent will not be withheld if such other party's policies in
effect at such time would permit it to enter into transactions with the
transferee on the terms proposed.
(iii) Two Affected Parties. If an Illegality under Section 5(b)(i)(1) or
a Tax Event occurs and there are two Affected Parties, each party will
use all reasonable efforts to reach agreement within 30 days after notice
thereof is given under Section 6(b)(i) on action to avoid that
Termination Event.
(iv) Right to Terminate. If:--
(1) a transfer under Section 6(b)(ii) or an agreement under Section
6(b)(iii), as the case may be, has not been effected with respect to
all Affected Transactions within 30 days after an Affected Party
gives notice under Section 6(b)(i); or
(2) an Illegality under Section 5(b)(i)(2), a Credit Event Upon
Merger or an Additional Termination Event occurs, or a Tax Event
Upon Merger occurs and the Burdened Party is not the Affected Party,
either party in the case of an Illegality, the Burdened Party in the case
of a Tax Event Upon Merger, any Affected Party in the case of a Tax Event
or an Additional Termination Event if there is more than one Affected
Party, or the party which is not the Affected Party in the case of a
Credit Event Upon Merger or an Additional Termination Event if there is
only one Affected Party may, by not more than 20 days notice to the other
party and provided that the relevant Termination Event is then
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continuing, designate a day not earlier than the day such notice is
effective as an Early Termination Date in respect of all Affected
Transactions.
(c) Effect of Designation.
(i) If notice designating an Early Termination Date is given under
Section 6(a) or (b), the Early Termination Date will occur on the date so
designated, whether or not the relevant Event of Default or Termination
Event is then continuing.
(ii) Upon the occurrence or effective designation of an Early Termination
Date, no further payments or deliveries under Section 2(a)(i) or 2(e) in
respect of the Terminated Transactions will be required to be made, but
without prejudice to the other provisions of this Agreement. The amount,
if any, payable in respect of an Early Termination Date shall be
determined pursuant to Section 6(e).
(d) Calculations.
(i) Statement. On or as soon as reasonably practicable following the
occurrence of an Early Termination Date, each party will make the
calculations on its part, if any, contemplated by Section 6(e) and will
provide to the other party a statement (1) showing, in reasonable detail,
such calculations (including all relevant quotations and specifying any
amount payable under Section 6(e)) and (2) giving details of the relevant
account to which any amount payable to it is to be paid. In the absence
of written confirmation from the source of a quotation obtained in
determining a Market Quotation, the records of the party obtaining such
quotation will be conclusive evidence of the existence and accuracy of
such quotation.
(ii) Payment Date. An amount calculated as being due in respect of any
Early Termination Date under Section 6(e) will be payable on the day that
notice of the amount payable is effective (in the case of an Early
Termination Date which is designated or occurs as a result of an Event of
Default) and on the day which is two Local Business Days after the day on
which notice of the amount payable is effective (in the case of an Early
Termination Date which is designated as a result of a Termination Event).
Such amount will be paid together with (to the extent permitted under
applicable law) interest thereon (before as well as after judgment) in
the Termination Currency, from (and including) the relevant Early
Termination Date to (but excluding) the date such amount is paid, at the
Applicable Rate. Such interest will be calculated on the basis of daily
compounding and the actual number of days elapsed.
(e) Payments on Early Termination. If an Early Termination Date occurs, the
following provisions shall apply based on the parties' election in the
Schedule of a payment measure, either "Market Quotation" or "Loss", and a
payment method, either the "First Method" or the "Second Method". If the
parties fail to designate a payment measure or payment method in the Schedule,
it will be deemed that "Market Quotation" or the "Second Method", as the case
may be, shall apply. The amount, if any, payable in respect of an Early
Termination Date and determined pursuant to this Section will be subject to
any Set-off.
(i) Events of Default. If the Early Termination Date results from an
Event of Default: --
(1) First Method and Market Quotation. If the First Method and
Market Quotation apply, the Defaulting Party will pay to the
Non-defaulting Party the excess, if a positive number, of(A) the sum
of the Settlement Amount (determined by the Non-defaulting Party) in
respect of the Terminated Transactions and the Termination Currency
Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts owing to the Non-defaulting Party
over (B) the Termination Currency Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts
owing to the Defaulting Party.
(2) First Method and Loss. If the First Method and Loss apply, the
Defaulting Party will pay to the Non-defaulting Party, if a positive
number, the Non-defaulting Party's Loss in respect of this
Agreement.
(3) Second Method and Market Quotation. If the Second Method and
Market Quotation apply, an amount will be payable equal to (A) the
sum of the Settlement Amount (determined by the
9
Non-defaulting Party) in respect of the Terminated Transactions and
the Termination Currency Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts owing to
the Non-defaulting Party less (B) the Termination Currency
Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts owing to the Defaulting Party. If
that amount is a positive number, the Defaulting Party will pay it
to the Non-defaulting Party; if it is a negative number, the
Non-defaulting Party will pay the absolute value of that amount to
the Defaulting Party.
(4) Second Method and Loss. If the Second Method and Loss apply, an
amount will be payable equal to the Non-defaulting Party's Loss in
respect of this Agreement. If that amount is a positive number, the
Defaulting Party will pay it to the Non-defaulting Party; if it is a
negative number, the Non-defaulting Party will pay the absolute
value of that amount to the Defaulting Party.
(ii) Termination Events. If the Early Termination Date results from a
Termination Event:--
(1) One Affected Party. If there is one Affected Party, the amount
payable will be determined in accordance with Section 6(e)(i)(3), if
Market Quotation applies, or Section 6(e)(i)(4), if Loss applies,
except that, in either case, references to the Defaulting Party and
to the Non-defaulting Party will be deemed to be references to the
Affected Party and the party which is not the Affected Party,
respectively, and, if Loss applies and fewer than all the
Transactions are being terminated, Loss shall be calculated in
respect of all Terminated Transactions.
(2) Two Affected Parties. If there are two Affected Parties: --
(A) if Market Quotation applies, each party will determine a
Settlement Amount in respect of the Terminated Transactions,
and an amount will be payable equal to (I) the sum of (a)
one-half of the difference between the Settlement Amount of the
party with the higher Settlement Amount ("X") and the
Settlement Amount of the party with the lower Settlement Amount
("Y") and (b) the Termination Currency Equivalent of the Unpaid
Amounts owing to X less (II) the Termination Currency
Equivalent of the Unpaid Amounts owing to Y; and
(B) if Loss applies, each party will determine its Loss in
respect of this Agreement (or, if fewer than all the
Transactions are being terminated, in respect of all Terminated
Transactions) and an amount will be payable equal to one-half
of the difference between the Loss of the party with the higher
Loss ("X") and the Loss of the party with the lower Loss ("Y").
If the amount payable is a positive number, Y will pay it to X; if
it is a negative number, X will pay the absolute value of that
amount to Y.
(iii) Adjustment for Bankruptcy. In circumstances where an Early
Termination Date occurs because "Automatic Early Termination" applies in
respect of a party, the amount determined under this Section 6(e) will be
subject to such adjustments as are appropriate and permitted by law to
reflect any payments or deliveries made by one party to the other under
this Agreement (and retained by such other party) during the period from
the relevant Early Termination Date to the date for payment determined
under Section 6(d)(ii).
(iv) Pre-Estimate. The parties agree that if Market Quotation applies an
amount recoverable under this Section 6(e) is a reasonable pre-estimate
of loss and not a penalty. Such amount is payable for the loss of bargain
and the loss of protection against future risks and except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement neither party will be entitled to recover any
additional damages as a consequence of such losses.
10
7. Transfer
Subject to Section 6(b)(ii), neither this Agreement nor any interest or
obligation in or under this Agreement may be transferred (whether by way of
security or otherwise) by either party without the prior written consent of
the other party, except that:
(a) a party may make such a transfer of this Agreement pursuant to a
consolidation or amalgamation with, or merger with or into, or transfer of all
or substantially all its assets to, another entity (but without prejudice to
any other right or remedy under this Agreement); and
(b) a party may make such a transfer of all or any part of its interest in any
amount payable to it from a Defaulting Party under Section 6(e).
Any purported transfer that is not in compliance with this Section will be
void.
8. Contractual Currency
(a) Payment in the Contractual Currency. Each payment under this Agreement
will be made in the relevant currency specified in this Agreement for that
payment (the "Contractual Currency"). To the extent permitted by applicable
law, any obligation to make payments under this Agreement in the Contractual
Currency will not be discharged or satisfied by any tender in any currency
other than the Contractual Currency, except to the extent such tender results
in the actual receipt by the party to which payment is owed, acting in a
reasonable manner and in good faith in converting the currency so tendered
into the Contractual Currency, of the full amount in the Contractual Currency
of all amounts payable in respect of this Agreement. If for any reason the
amount in the Contractual Currency so received falls short of the amount in
the Contractual Currency payable in respect of this Agreement, the party
required to make the payment will, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
immediately pay such additional amount in the Contractual Currency as may be
necessary to compensate for the shortfall. If for any reason the amount in the
Contractual Currency so received exceeds the amount in the Contractual
Currency payable in respect of this Agreement, the party receiving the payment
will refund promptly the amount of such excess.
(b) Judgments. To the extent permitted by applicable law, if any judgment or
order expressed in a currency other than the Contractual Currency is rendered
(i) for the payment of any amount owing in respect of this Agreement, (ii) for
the payment of any amount relating to any early termination in respect of this
Agreement or (iii) in respect of a judgment or order of another court for the
payment of any amount described in (i) or (ii) above, the party seeking
recovery, after recovery in full of the aggregate amount to which such party
is entitled pursuant to the judgment or order, will be entitled to receive
immediately from the other party the amount of any shortfall of the
Contractual Currency received by such party as a consequence of sums paid in
such other currency and will refund promptly to the other party any excess of
the Contractual Currency received by such party as a consequence of sums paid
in such other currency if such shortfall or such excess arises or results from
any variation between the rate of exchange at which the Contractual Currency
is converted into the currency of the judgment or order for the purposes of
such judgment or order and the rate of exchange at which such party is able,
acting in a reasonable manner and in good faith in converting the currency
received into the Contractual Currency, to purchase the Contractual Currency
with the amount of the currency of the judgment or order actually received by
such party. The term "rate of exchange" includes, without limitation, any
premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or
conversion into the Contractual Currency.
(c) Separate Indemnities. To the extent permitted by applicable law, these
indemnities constitute separate and independent obligations from the other
obligations in this Agreement, will be enforceable as separate and independent
causes of action, will apply notwithstanding any indulgence granted by the
party to which any payment is owed and will not be affected by judgment being
obtained or claim or proof being made for any other sums payable in respect of
this Agreement.
(d) Evidence of Loss. For the purpose of this Section 8, it will be sufficient
for a party to demonstrate that it would have suffered a loss had an actual
exchange or purchase been made.
11
9. Miscellaneous
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes
all oral communication and prior writings with respect thereto.
(b) Amendments. No amendment, modification or waiver in respect of this
Agreement will be effective unless in writing (including a writing evidenced
by a facsimile transmission) and executed by each of the parties or confirmed
by an exchange of telexes or electronic messages on an electronic messaging
system.
(c) Survival of Obligations. Without prejudice to Sections 2(a)(iii) and
6(c)(ii), the obligations of the parties under this Agreement will survive the
termination of any Transaction.
(d) Remedies Cumulative. Except as provided in this Agreement, the rights,
powers, remedies and privileges provided in this Agreement are cumulative and
not exclusive of any rights, powers, remedies and privileges provided by law.
(e) Counterparts and Confirmations.
(i) This Agreement (and each amendment, modification and waiver in
respect of it) may be executed and delivered in counterparts (including
by facsimile transmission), each of which will be deemed an original.
(ii) The parties intend that they are legally bound by the terms of each
Transaction from the moment they agree to those terms (whether orally or
otherwise). A Confirmation shall he entered into as soon as practicable
and may he executed and delivered in counterparts (including by facsimile
transmission) or be created by an exchange of telexes or by an exchange
of electronic messages on an electronic messaging system, which in each
case will be sufficient for all purposes to evidence a binding supplement
to this Agreement. The parties will specify therein or through another
effective means that any such counterpart, telex or electronic message
constitutes a Confirmation.
(f) No Waiver of Rights. A failure or delay in exercising any right, power or
privilege in respect of this Agreement will not be presumed to operate as a
waiver, and a single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege will
not be presumed to preclude any subsequent or further exercise, of that right,
power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
(g) Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and are not to affect the construction of or to be taken into
consideration in interpreting this Agreement.
10. Offices; Multibranch Parties
(a) If Section 10(a) is specified in the Schedule as applying, each party that
enters into a Transaction through an Office other than its head or home office
represents to the other party that, notwithstanding the place of booking
office or jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation of such party, the
obligations of such party are the same as if it had entered into the
Transaction through its head or home office. This representation will be
deemed to be repeated by such party on each date on which a Transaction is
entered into.
(b) Neither party may change the Office through which it makes and receives
payments or deliveries for the purpose of a Transaction without the prior
written consent of the other party.
(c) If a party is specified as a Multibranch Party in the Schedule, such
Multibranch Party may make and receive payments or deliveries under any
Transaction through any Office listed in the Schedule, and the Office through
which it makes and receives payments or deliveries with respect to a
Transaction will be specified in the relevant Confirmation.
11. Expenses
A Defaulting Party will, on demand, indemnify and hold harmless the other
party for and against all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including legal
fees and Stamp Tax, incurred by such other party by reason of the enforcement
and protection of its rights under this Agreement or any Credit Support
Document
12
to which the Defaulting Party is a party or by reason of the early
termination of any Transaction, including, but not limited to, costs of
collection.
12. Notices
(a) Effectiveness. Any notice or other communication in respect of this
Agreement may be given in any manner set forth below (except that a notice or
other communication under Section 5 or 6 may not be given by facsimile
transmission or electronic messaging system) to the address or number or in
accordance with the electronic messaging system details provided (see the
Schedule) and will be deemed effective as indicated:--
(i) if in writing and delivered in person or by courier, on the date it
is delivered;
(ii) if sent by telex, on the date the recipient's answerback is
received;
(iii) if sent by facsimile transmission, on the date that transmission is
received by a responsible employee of the recipient in legible form (it
being agreed that the burden of proving receipt will be on the sender and
will not be met by a transmission report generated by the sender's
facsimile machine);
(iv) if sent by certified or registered mail (airmail, if overseas) or
the equivalent (return receipt requested), on the date that mail is
delivered or its delivery is attempted; or
(v) if sent by electronic messaging system, on the date that electronic
message is received,
unless the date of that delivery (or attempted delivery) or that receipt, as
applicable, is not a Local Business Day or that communication is delivered (or
attempted) or received, as applicable, after the close of business on a Local
Business Day, in which case that communication shall be deemed given and
effective on the first following day that is a Local Business Day.
(b) Change of Addresses. Either party may by notice to the other change the
address, telex or facsimile number or electronic messaging system details at
which notices or other communications are to be given to it.
13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law specified in the Schedule.
(b) Jurisdiction. With respect to any suit, action or proceedings relating to
this Agreement ("Proceedings"), each party irrevocably:--
(i) submits to the jurisdiction of the English courts, if this Agreement
is expressed to be governed by English law, or to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States
District Court located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, if
this Agreement is expressed to be governed by the laws of the State of
New York; and
(ii) waives any objection which it may have at any time to the laying of
venue of any Proceedings brought in any such court, waives any claim that
such Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and further
waives the right to object, with respect to such Proceedings, that such
court does not have any jurisdiction over such party.
Nothing in this Agreement precludes either party from bringing Proceedings in
any other jurisdiction (outside, if this Agreement is expressed to be governed
by English law, the Contracting States, as defined in Section 1(3) of the
Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Xxx 0000 or any modification, extension or
re-enactment thereof for the time being in force) nor will the bringing of
Proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the bringing of
Proceedings in any other jurisdiction.
(c) Service of Process. Each party irrevocably appoints the Process Agent (if
any) specified opposite its name in the Schedule to receive, for it and on its
behalf, service of process in any Proceedings. If for any
13
reason any party's Process Agent is unable to act as such, such party will
promptly notify the other party and within 30 days appoint a substitute
process agent acceptable to the other party. The parties irrevocably consent
to service of process given in the manner provided for notices in Section 12.
Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of either party to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.
(d) Waiver of Immunities. Each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, with respect to itself and its revenues and
assets (irrespective of their use or intended use), all immunity on the
grounds of sovereignty or other similar grounds from (i) suit, (ii)
jurisdiction of any court, (iii) relief by way of injunction, order for
specific performance or for recovery of property, (iv) attachment of its
assets (whether before or after judgment) and (v) execution or enforcement of
any judgment to which it or its revenues or assets might otherwise be entitled
in any Proceedings in the courts of any jurisdiction and irrevocably agrees,
to the extent permitted by applicable law, that it will not claim any such
immunity in any Proceedings.
14. Definitions
As used in this Agreement:-- "Additional Termination Event" has the meaning
specified in Section 5(b).
"Affected Party" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
"Affected Transactions" means (a) with respect to any Termination Event
consisting of an Illegality, Tax Event or Tax Event Upon Merger, all
Transactions affected by the occurrence of such Termination Event and (b) with
respect to any other Termination Event, all Transactions.
"Affiliate" means, subject to the Schedule, in relation to any person, any
entity controlled, directly or indirectly, by the person, any entity that
controls, directly or indirectly, the person or any entity directly or
indirectly under common control with the person. For this purpose, "control"
of any entity or person means ownership of a majority of the voting power of
the entity or person.
"Applicable Rate" means:--
(a) in respect of obligations payable or deliverable (or which would have been
but for Section 2(a)(iii)) by a Defaulting Party, the Default Rate;
(b) in respect of an obligation to pay an amount under Section 6(e) of either
party from and after the date (determined in accordance with Section 6(d)(ii))
on which that amount is payable, the Default Rate;
(c) in respect of all other obligations payable or deliverable (or which would
have been but for Section 2(a)(iii)) by a Non-defaulting Party, the
Non-default Rate; and
(d) in all other cases, the Termination Rate.
"Burdened Party" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
"Change in Tax Law" means the enactment, promulgation, execution or
ratification of, or any change in or amendment to, any law (or in the
application or official interpretation of any law) that occurs on or after the
date on which the relevant Transaction is entered into.
"consent" includes a consent, approval, action, authorisation, exemption,
notice, filing, registration or exchange control consent.
"Credit Event Upon Merger" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
"Credit Support Document" means any agreement or instrument that is specified
as such in this Agreement.
"Credit Support Provider" has the meaning specified in the Schedule.
"Default Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the cost (without proof or
evidence of any actual cost) to the relevant payee (as certified by it) if it
were to fund or of funding the relevant amount plus 1% per annum.
14
"Defaulting Party" has the meaning specified in Section 6(a).
"Early Termination Date" means the date determined in accordance with Section
6(a) or 6(b)(iv).
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 5(a) and, if
applicable, in the Schedule.
"Illegality" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
"Indemnifiable Tax" means any Tax other than a Tax that would not be imposed
in respect of a payment under this Agreement but for a present or former
connection between the jurisdiction of the government or taxation authority
imposing such Tax and the recipient of such payment or a person related to
such recipient (including, without limitation, a connection arising from such
recipient or related person being or having been a citizen or resident of such
jurisdiction, or being or having been organised, present or engaged in a trade
or business in such jurisdiction, or having or having had a permanent
establishment or fixed place of business in such jurisdiction, but excluding a
connection arising solely from such recipient or related person having
executed, delivered, performed its obligations or received a payment under, or
enforced, this Agreement or a Credit Support Document).
"law" includes any treaty, law, rule or regulation (as modified, in the case
of tax matters, by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue
authority) and "lawful" and "unlawful" will be construed accordingly.
"Local Business Day" means, subject to the Schedule, a day on which commercial
banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign exchange and
foreign currency deposits) (a) in relation to any obligation under Section
2(a)(i), in the place(s) specified in the relevant Confirmation or, if not so
specified, as otherwise agreed by the parties in writing or determined
pursuant to provisions contained, or incorporated by reference, in this
Agreement, (b) in relation to any other payment, in the place where the
relevant account is located and, if different, in the principal financial
centre, if any, of the currency of such payment, (c) in relation to any notice
or other communication, including notice contemplated under Section 5(a)(i),
in the city specified in the address for notice provided by the recipient and,
in the case of a notice contemplated by Section 2(b), in the place where the
relevant new account is to be located and (d) in relation to Section
5(a)(v)(2), in the relevant locations for performance with respect to such
Specified Transaction.
"Loss" means, with respect to this Agreement or one or more Terminated
Transactions, as the case may be, and a party, the Termination Currency
Equivalent of an amount that party reasonably determines in good faith to be
its total losses and costs (or gain, in which case expressed as a negative
number) in connection with this Agreement or that Terminated Transaction or
group of Terminated Transactions, as the case may be, including any loss of
bargain, cost of funding or, at the election of such party but without
duplication, loss or cost incurred as a result of its terminating,
liquidating, obtaining or re-establishing any hedge or related trading
position (or any gain resulting from any of them). Loss includes losses and
costs (or gains) in respect of any payment or delivery required to have been
made (assuming satisfaction of each applicable condition precedent) on or
before the relevant Early Termination Date and not made, except, so as to
avoid duplication, if Section 6(e)(i)(1) or (3) or 6(e)(ii)(2)(A) applies.
Loss does not include a party's legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses referred
to under Section 11. A party will determine its Loss as of the relevant Early
Termination Date, or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as of the
earliest date thereafter as is reasonably practicable. A party may (but need
not) determine its Loss by reference to quotations of relevant rates or prices
from one or more leading dealers in the relevant markets.
"Market Quotation" means, with respect to one or more Terminated Transactions
and a party making the determination, an amount determined on the basis of
quotations from Reference Market-makers. Each quotation will be for an amount,
if any, that would be paid to such party (expressed as a negative number) or
by such party (expressed as a positive number) in consideration of an
agreement between such party (taking into account any existing Credit Support
Document with respect to the obligations of such party) and the quoting
Reference Market-maker to enter into a transaction (the "Replacement
Transaction") that would have the effect of preserving for such party the
economic equivalent of any payment or delivery (whether the underlying
obligation was absolute or contingent and assuming the satisfaction of each
applicable condition precedent) by the parties under Section 2(a)(i) in
respect of such Terminated Transaction or group of Terminated Transactions
that would, but for the occurrence of the relevant Early Termination Date,
have
15
been required after that date. For this purpose, Unpaid Amounts in respect of
the Terminated Transaction or group of Terminated Transactions are to be
excluded but, without limitation, any payment or delivery that would, but for
the relevant Early Termination Date, have been required (assuming satisfaction
of each applicable condition precedent) after that Early Termination Date is
to be included. The Replacement Transaction would be subject to such
documentation as such party and the Reference Market-maker may, in good faith,
agree. The party making the determination (or its agent) will request each
Reference Market-maker to provide its quotation to the extent reasonably
practicable as of the same day and time (without regard to different time
zones) on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant Early
Termination Date. The day and time as of which those quotations are to be
obtained will be selected in good faith by the party obliged to make a
determination under Section 6(e), and, if each party is so obliged, after
consultation with the other. If more than three quotations are provided, the
Market Quotation will be the arithmetic mean of the quotations, without regard
to the quotations having the highest and lowest values. If exactly three such
quotations are provided, the Market Quotation will be the quotation remaining
after disregarding the highest and lowest quotations. For this purpose, if
more than one quotation has the same highest value or lowest value, then one
of such quotations shall be disregarded. If fewer than three quotations are
provided, it will be deemed that the Market Quotation in respect of such
Terminated Transaction or group of Terminated Transactions cannot be
determined.
"Non-default Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the cost (without proof or
evidence of any actual cost) to the Non-defaulting Party (as certified by it)
if it were to fund the relevant amount.
"Non-defaulting Party" has the meaning specified in Section 6(a).
"Office" means a branch or office of a party, which may be such party's head
or home office.
"Potential Event of Default" means any event which, with the giving of notice
or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Reference Market-makers" means four leading dealers in the relevant market
selected by the party determining a Market Quotation in good faith (a) from
among dealers of the highest credit standing which satisfy all the criteria
that such party applies generally at the time in deciding whether to offer or
to make an extension of credit and (b) to the extent practicable, from among
such dealers having an office in the same city
"Relevant Jurisdiction" means, with respect to a party, the jurisdictions (a)
in which the party is incorporated, organised, managed and controlled or
considered to have its seat, (b) where an Office through which the party is
acting for purposes of this Agreement is located, (c) in which the party
executes this Agreement and (d) in relation to any payment, from or through
which such payment is made.
"Scheduled Payment Date" means a date on which a payment or delivery is to be
made under Section 2(a)(i) with respect to a Transaction.
"Set-off" means set-off, offset, combination of accounts, right of retention
or withholding or similar right or requirement to which the payer of an amount
under Section 6 is entitled or subject (whether arising under this Agreement,
another contract, applicable law or otherwise) that is exercised by, or
imposed on, such payer.
"Settlement Amount" means, with respect to a party and any Early Termination
Date, the sum of: --
(a) the Termination Currency Equivalent of the Market Quotations (whether
positive or negative) for each Terminated Transaction or group of Terminated
Transactions for which a Market Quotation is determined; and
(b) such party's Loss (whether positive or negative and without reference to
any Unpaid Amounts) for each Terminated Transaction or group of Terminated
Transactions for which a Market Quotation cannot be determined or would not
(in the reasonable belief of the party making the determination) produce a
commercially reasonable result.
"Specified Entity" has the meanings specified in the Schedule.
16
"Specified Indebtedness" means, subject to the Schedule, any obligation
(whether present or future, contingent or otherwise, as principal or surety or
otherwise) in respect of borrowed money.
"Specified Transaction" means, subject to the Schedule, (a) any transaction
(including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter
entered into between one party to this Agreement (or any Credit Support
Provider of such party or any applicable Specified Entity of such party) and
the other party to this Agreement (or any Credit Support Provider of such
other party or any applicable Specified Entity of such other party) which is a
rate swap transaction, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap,
commodity option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option,
bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap
transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction,
cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar
transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions),
(b) any combination of these transactions and (c) any other transaction
identified as a Specified Transaction in this Agreement or the relevant
confirmation.
"Stamp Tax" means any stamp, registration, documentation or similar tax.
"Tax" means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, assessment
or fee of any nature (including interest, penalties and additions thereto)
that is imposed by any government or other taxing authority in respect of any
payment under this Agreement other than a stamp, registration, documentation
or similar tax.
"Tax Event" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
"Tax Event Upon Merger" has the meaning specified in Section 5(b).
"Terminated Transactions" means with respect to any Early Termination Date (a)
if resulting from a Termination Event, all Affected Transactions and (b) if
resulting from an Event of Default, all Transactions (in either case) in
effect immediately before the effectiveness of the notice designating that
Early Termination Date (or, if "Automatic Early Termination" applies,
immediately before that Early Termination Date).
"Termination Currency" has the meaning specified in the Schedule.
"Termination Currency Equivalent" means, in respect of any amount denominated
in the Termination Currency, such Termination Currency amount and, in respect
of any amount denominated in a currency other than the Termination Currency
(the "Other Currency"), the amount in the Termination Currency determined by
the party making the relevant determination as being required to purchase such
amount of such Other Currency as at the relevant Early Termination Date, or,
if the relevant Market Quotation or Loss (as the case may be), is determined
as of a later date, that later date, with the Termination Currency at the rate
equal to the spot exchange rate of the foreign exchange agent (selected as
provided below) for the purchase of such Other Currency with the Termination
Currency at or about 11:00 a.m. (in the city in which such foreign exchange
agent is located) on such date as would be customary for the determination of
such a rate for the purchase of such Other Currency for value on the relevant
Early Termination Date or that later date. The foreign exchange agent will, if
only one party is obliged to make a determination under Section 6(e), be
selected in good faith by that party and otherwise will be agreed by the
parties.
"Termination Event" means an Illegality, a Tax Event or a Tax Event Upon
Merger or, if specified to be applicable, a Credit Event Upon Merger or an
Additional Termination Event.
"Termination Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the arithmetic mean of the
cost (without proof or evidence of any actual cost) to each party (as
certified by such party) if it were to fund or of funding such amounts.
"Unpaid Amounts" owing to any party means, with respect to an Early
Termination Date, the aggregate of (a) in respect of all Terminated
Transactions, the amounts that became payable (or that would have become
payable but for Section 2(a)(iii)) to such party under Section 2(a)(i) on or
prior to such Early Termination Date and which remain unpaid as at such Early
Termination Date and (b) in respect of each Terminated Transaction, for each
obligation under Section 2(a)(i) which was (or would have been but for Section
2(a)(iii)) required to be settled by delivery to such party on or prior to
such Early Termination Date and which has not been so settled as at such Early
Termination Date, an amount equal to the fair market
17
value of that which was (or would have been) required to be delivered as of
the originally scheduled date for delivery, in each case together with (to the
extent permitted under applicable law) interest, in the currency of such
amounts, from (and including) the date such amounts or obligations were or
would have been required to have been paid or performed to (but excluding)
such Early Termination Date, at the Applicable Rate. Such amounts of interest
will be calculated on the basis of daily compounding and the actual number of
days elapsed. The fair market value of any obligation referred to in clause
(b) above shall be reasonably determined by the party obliged to make the
determination under Section 6(e) or, if each party is so obliged, it shall be
the average of the Termination Currency Equivalents of the fair market values
reasonably determined by both parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this document on the respective
dates specified below with effect from the date specified on the first page of
this document.
Northern Rock plc, Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc,
being Party A being Party B
------------------------------ --------------------------------
(Name of Party) (Name of Party)
By: By:
--------------------------- -----------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Date: Date:
The Bank of New York,
being the Note Trustee
------------------------------
(Name of Party)
By:
---------------------------
Name:
Title:
Date:
18
(Basis Rate Swap)
From: Northern Rock plc
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
XX0 0XX
To: Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc
Xxxxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
Attention: Securitisation Team, Risk Operations
To: The Bank of New York
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Attention: Global Structured Finance (Corporate Trust)
28 January, 2004
Dear Sirs,
Confirmation - Issuer Basis Rate Swap
The purpose of this letter is to confirm the terms and conditions of the swap
transaction entered into between us on the Trade Date specified below (the
"Swap Transaction"). This letter constitutes a "Confirmation" as referred to
in the 1992 ISDA Master Agreement (Multicurrency-Cross Border) entered into
between us and both of you on the date hereof as amended and supplemented from
time to time (the "Agreement").
The definitions and provisions contained in the 2000 ISDA Definitions as
published by the International Swaps & Derivatives Association, Inc. (the
"Definitions") are incorporated into this Confirmation. In the event of any
inconsistency between the Definitions and this Confirmation, this Confirmation
shall prevail. Any terms not otherwise defined herein or in the Definitions
shall have the meanings given to them in the Master Definitions Schedule as
amended and restated by (and appearing in Appendix 1 to) the Master
Definitions Schedule Seventh Amendment Deed executed by, among others, the
Note Trustee on 26 January, 2004 and the Issuer Master Definitions Schedule
1
signed for the purposes of identification by Sidley Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxx and
Xxxxx & Xxxxx on 28 January, 2004 (as the same have been and may be amended,
varied or supplemented from time to time with the consent of the parties
hereto). The Issuer Master Definitions Schedule specified above shall prevail
to the extent that it conflicts with the Master Definitions Schedule. The
following expressions shall have the following meanings:
The term "Transaction" as used herein shall, for the purposes of the
Definitions, have the same meaning as "Swap Transaction".
Aggregate Issuer Amount means, in respect of a Payment Date, the aggregate of
the Issuer Amounts calculated in respect of the Swap Determination Periods
which end in the Interest Period relating to such Payment Date.
Aggregate Swap Provider Amount means, in respect of a Payment Date, the
aggregate of the Swap Provider Amounts calculated in respect of the Swap
Determination Periods which end in the Interest Period relating to such
Payment Date.
Average Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan Balance means, in respect of a Swap
Determination Period, an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate of the
outstanding current balances of the Fixed Rate Mortgage Loans at the start of
business on the first day of such Swap Determination Period as notified to the
Calculation Agent by the Cash Manager in accordance with the Cash Management
Agreement.
Average Flexible Mortgage Loan Balance means, in respect of a Swap
Determination Period, an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate of the
outstanding current balances of the Flexible Mortgage Loans at the start of
business on the first day of such Swap Determination Period as notified to the
Calculation Agent by the Cash Manager in accordance with the provisions of the
Cash Management Agreement.
Average Mortgage Loan Balance means, in respect of a Swap Determination
Period, the sum of the Average Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan Balance, the Average
Variable Rate Mortgage Loan Balance and the Average Flexible Mortgage Loan
Balance.
Average Variable Rate Mortgage Loan Balance means, in respect of a Swap
Determination Period, an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate of the
outstanding current balances of the Variable Rate Mortgage Loans at the start
of business on the first day of such Swap Determination Period as notified to
the Calculation Agent by the Cash Manager in accordance with the provisions of
the Cash Management Agreement.
Blended Rate means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, a rate of
interest equal to the sum of (i) the Weighted Average Fixed Rate for such Swap
Determination Period multiplied by the Fixed Rate Ratio for such Swap
Determination Period; (ii) the Variable Rate Swap SVR for such Swap
Determination Period multiplied by the Variable Rate Ratio for such Swap
Determination Period and (iii) the Flexible Swap Rate for such Swap
Determination Period multiplied by the Flexible Ratio for such Swap
Determination Period.
2
Blended Spread means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, a percentage
equal to the sum of (i) the Fixed Rate Spread for such Swap Determination
Period multiplied by the Fixed Rate Ratio for such Swap Determination Period;
(ii) the Variable Rate Spread for such Swap Determination Period multiplied by
the Variable Rate Ratio for such Swap Determination Period and (iii) the
Flexible Spread for such Swap Determination Period multiplied by the Flexible
Ratio for such Swap Determination Period.
Current Issuer means Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc.
Exchange Rate means: For the Series 1 Notes:
GBP1.00: USD 1.8367
For the Series 2 Class A1 Notes:
GBP 1:00: USD 1.8340
For the Series 2 Notes (excluding the Series 2
Class A1 Notes):
GBP1.00: EUR 1.45
Fixed Rate Mortgage Loans means those Mortgage Loans within the Mortgage
Portfolio from time to time which are subject to fixed rates of interest set
by reference to a pre-determined interest rate or series of interest rates for
a fixed period or periods or are subject to a maximum rate of interest (and
charge interest at the lesser of a variable rate and such maximum rate) for a
fixed period or periods (and shall, for the avoidance of doubt, exclude
Variable Rate Mortgage Loans and Flexible Mortgage Loans save for Flexible
Mortgage Loans which are, at the relevant time, subject to such fixed rates of
interest or such maximum rates of interest arrangements and shall also exclude
any Fixed Rate Mortgage Loans which have become Re-Fixed Mortgage Loans since
the immediately preceding Payment Date).
Fixed Rate Ratio means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, the Average
Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan Balance divided by the Average Mortgage Loan Balance.
Fixed Rate Spread means 0.00% per annum or such other percentage amount as
Party A may notify to Party B and the Note Trustee in writing from time to
time in accordance with paragraph 6 of this Confirmation.
Flexible Mortgage Loans means those Mortgage Loans within the Mortgage
Portfolio that typically incorporate features that give the borrower options
(which may be subject to certain conditions) to, among other things, make
further drawings on the mortgage loan account, and/or to overpay or underpay
interest and principal in a given month and/or to take a payment holiday (and
shall, for the avoidance of doubt, exclude: (i) Flexible Mortgage Loans which
are, at the relevant time, subject to fixed rates of interest set by reference
to a pre-determined interest rate or series of interest rates for a fixed
period or are subject to a maximum rate of interest (and charge interest at
the lesser of a variable rate and such maximum rate) for a fixed period or
periods (which shall, for such fixed period, constitute Fixed Mortgage Loans);
and (ii) Variable Rate Mortgage Loans).
Flexible Ratio means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, the Average
Flexible Mortgage Loan Balance divided by the Average Mortgage Loan Balance.
3
Flexible Spread means 1.55% per annum or such other percentage amount as Party
A may notify to Party B and the Note Trustee in writing from time to time in
accordance with paragraph 6 of this Confirmation.
Flexible Swap Rate means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, a rate of
interest equal to the Variable Rate Swap SVR for such Swap Determination
Period minus the weighted average of the discounts charged to borrowers of
Flexible Mortgage Loans as at the start of business on the first day of such
Swap Determination Period (the weighted average being calculated by reference
to the then outstanding current balances of such Flexible Mortgage Loans as at
that date), as determined by the Cash Manager in accordance with the
provisions of the Cash Management Agreement.
Funding means Granite Finance Funding Limited.
Interest Period means in relation to the Current Issuer Notes a period from
(and including) a Payment Date (or in respect of the first Interest Period,
the Closing Date) to (but excluding) the next following (or first) Payment
Date.
Issuer Amount means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, an amount in
Sterling equal to the amount produced by applying the Blended Rate for the
Swap Determination Period to the Notional Amount, such amount to be calculated
by the Calculation Agent on the basis of the actual number of days in such
Swap Determination Period, divided by 365.
Monthly Calculation Date means the twentieth day of each calendar month or, if
such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.
Monthly Calculation Period means, in respect of any Swap Provider Amount
and/or any Issuer Amount, the period from (and including) the Closing Date to
(but excluding) the next following Monthly Calculation Date and thereafter
from (and including) one Monthly Calculation Date to (but excluding) the next
Monthly Calculation Date.
Mortgage Portfolio has the meaning given to such term in the Master
Definitions Schedule.
Notes means the Current Issuer Notes.
Notional Amount means, in respect of any Swap Determination Period, an amount
in Sterling equal to (a) the aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding of the
Notes (converted to GBP at the applicable Exchange Rate in the case of Notes
denominated in USD or in EUR) on the Payment Date occurring in the Swap
Determination Period (or, if none, on the Payment Date immediately preceding
such Swap Determination Period), or, in respect of the Swap Determination
Periods ending in the first Interest Period, the aggregate Principal Amount
Outstanding of the Notes on the Closing Date (converted into GBP at the
applicable Exchange Rate in the case of Notes denominated in USD or EUR) minus
(b) the balance of the Principal Deficiency Ledger on such Payment Date as
determined after taking account of any changes made on such date to the
balance of the Principal Deficiency Ledger (converted to GDP at the applicable
Exchange Rate in the
4
case of the Principal Deficiency Ledger entries in USD or in EUR) minus (c)
the aggregate outstanding principal balance on such Payment Date of any Fixed
Rate Mortgage Loans which have become Re-Fixed Mortgage Loans since such
Payment Date.
Payment Date means the twentieth day of March, June, September and December in
each year or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business
Day, beginning in March 2004.
Principal Deficiency Ledger means the Issuer Principal Deficiency Ledger of
such name maintained for the Current Issuer by the Cash Manager pursuant to
the Current Issuer Cash Management Agreement.
Reference Lenders means Abbey National plc, Alliance & Leicester plc, Woolwich
plc, HBOS plc, Lloyds TSB Bank plc, National Westminster Bank Plc and Bradford
and Bingley plc (or their respective successors) and such additional or
replacement residential mortgage lenders as shall be determined by the
Calculation Agent and Reference Lender means any one of them.
Swap Determination Date means the first Business Day of any calendar month.
Swap Determination Period means the period from (and including) the Closing
Date to (but excluding) the first Swap Determination Date and thereafter from
(and including) one Swap Determination Date to (but excluding) the next Swap
Determination Date.
Swap Provider Amount means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, an
amount in Sterling which is equal to the amount produced by applying a rate
equal to the Three Month LIBOR applicable to the Interest Period in which such
Swap Determination Period ends plus the Blended Spread for the Swap
Determination Period to the Notional Amount, such amount to be calculated by
the Calculation Agent on the basis of the actual number of days in the Monthly
Calculation Period in which such Swap Determination Period ends, divided by
365.
Three Month LIBOR means, in respect of an Interest Period, the London
Interbank Offered Rate for three-month Sterling deposits for such Interest
Period (as determined by the Agent Bank in accordance with Condition 4 of the
Current Issuer Notes and notified to the parties on the Payment Date on which
the relevant Interest Period began); provided however that for the first
Interest Period such rate shall be interpolated as set forth in Condition 4.
Variable Rate Mortgage Loans means those Mortgage Loans within the Mortgage
Portfolio from time to time which are subject to a rate of interest which at
any time may be varied in accordance with the relevant Mortgage Conditions
(and shall, for the avoidance of doubt, exclude Fixed Rate Mortgage Loans and
Flexible Mortgage Loans).
Variable Rate Ratio means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, the
Average Variable Rate Mortgage Loan Balance divided by the Average Mortgage
Loan Balance.
5
Variable Rate Spread means 1.75% per annum or such other percentage amount as
Party A may notify to Party B and the Note Trustee in writing from time to
time in accordance with paragraph 6 of this Confirmation.
Variable Rate Swap SVR means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period, the
rate equal to the average of the standard variable rates or their equivalent
charged to existing borrowers on residential mortgage loans as published from
time to time as at the start of business on the first day of such Swap
Determination Period after excluding the highest and lowest rate, of the
Reference Lenders, as determined by the Cash Manager in good faith and
notified to the Calculation Agent from time to time in accordance with the
Cash Management Agreement.
Weighted Average Fixed Rate means, in respect of a Swap Determination Period,
the rate equal to the weighted average of the fixed rates of interest charged
to borrowers of Fixed Rate Mortgage Loans as at the start of business on the
first day of such Swap Determination Period (the weighted average being
calculated by reference to the then outstanding current balances of such Fixed
Rate Mortgage Loans as at that date) as notified by the Cash Manager to the
Calculation Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Cash Management
Agreement.
1. This Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to, the
Agreement. All provisions contained in the Agreement govern this
Confirmation except as expressly modified below.
2. The terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as
follows:
Party A: Northern Rock plc
Party B: Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc
Trade Date: 21 January, 2004
Effective Date: 28 January, 2004
Termination Date: The earlier of (i) the Payment Date falling in
March 2044, and (ii) the date on which the outstanding
principal balance of the Notes is reduced to zero.
Business Day
centers
for all Payments: London
Calculation of
Amounts: On the Swap Determination Date immediately
preceding each Payment Date, the Calculation Agent
shall calculate the Aggregate Swap Provider Amount
for such Payment Date and the Aggregate Issuer
Amount for such Payment Date, and forthwith notify
Party A, Party B, the Cash Manager and the Current
Issuer Cash Manager of the
6
amounts so determined and of the net amount determined
as set out below.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Confirmation, if on any date (i) additional Mortgage
Loans are added to the Mortgage Portfolio or (ii)
Funding draws down a new intercompany loan (any such
date, a "New Loan Date"), then the Calculation Agent
may make any adjustments it deems appropriate to the
Average Fixed Rate Mortgage Loan Balance, the Average
Flexible Mortgage Loan Balance, the Average Variable
Rate Mortgage Loan Balance and the Weighted Average
Fixed Rate for the Swap Determination Period in which
such New Loan Date occurs in order to reflect the
addition of such Mortgage Loans.
Payments: If in relation to any Payment Date:
(i) the Aggregate Swap Provider Amount for such
Payment Date exceeds the Aggregate Issuer Amount
for such Payment Date, Party A shall pay the
amount of such excess to Party B on such Payment
Date;
(ii) the Aggregate Issuer Amount for such Payment
Date exceeds the Aggregate Swap Provider Amount
for such Payment Date, Party B shall pay the
amount of such excess to Party A on such Payment
Date;
(iii) the Aggregate Swap Provider Amount for such
Payment Date is equal to the Aggregate Issuer
Amount for such Payment Date, no amount shall be
due and payable by either party hereunder in
relation to such Payment Date.
Calculation
Agent: Northern Rock plc acting in its capacity of
Administrator pursuant to the Administration Agreement
or of Cash Manager pursuant to the Cash Management
Agreement, as the case may be.
3. In relation to Part 5(f) of the Agreement, in the case of a redemption
in full of the Notes pursuant to Condition 5(F) of the terms and
conditions of the Notes, "Market Quotation" in respect of the Terminated
Transactions shall be determined based on the anticipated rate of
reduction in the Notional Amount had such redemption not occurred.
4. Account Details:
7
Payments to Party A: Bank: Northern Rock plc
Account Name: Northern Rock Group
Treasury
Sort Code: 30-00-59
Reference: Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc
Payments to Party B: Bank: Citibank N.A.
Account Name: Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc
Account Number: 00000000
Sort Code: 18-50-08
Reference: Northern Rock plc
5. Notice Details:
Party A: Northern Rock plc
Address: Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx xxxx Xxxx
XX0 0XX
Facsimile Number: 0000-000-0000
Attention: Treasury Settlements Manager
Party B: Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc
Address: Xxxxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
With a copy to: Northern Rock plc
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx xxxx Xxxx
XX0 0XX
Facsimile Number: 0000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
With a copy to the
Note Trustee: The Bank of New York
Address: One Canada Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
0
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Facsimile Number: 0207 964 6262
Attention: Global Structured Finance
(Corporate Trust)
6. Miscellaneous
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Confirmation, if on any date
Funding draws down a new intercompany loan, then to reflect prevailing
market conditions, provided the Rating Agencies have confirmed that the
then current ratings by the Rating Agencies of the existing Notes of any
Issuer, Party A may, by notice in writing to Party B and to the Note
Trustee on such date, make any adjustments it deems appropriate to the
Fixed Rate Spread, the Floating Rate Spread and the Variable Rate Spread
(or any of them) for the Swap Determination Period in which such date
occurs and for all Swap Determination Periods occurring after such date.
9
Yours faithfully,
NORTHERN ROCK PLC
By:
Name:
Title:
Confirmed as of the date first written:
GRANITE MORTGAGES 04-1 PLC
By:
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Note Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
10
(Basis Rate Swap)
SCHEDULE
to the
Master Agreement
dated as of 28 January, 2004
between
(1) NORTHERN ROCK PLC ("Party A");
(2) GRANITE MORTGAGES 04-1 plc ("Party B"); and
(3) THE BANK OF NEW YORK (as Note Trustee and which has agreed to become a
party to this Agreement solely for the purpose of taking the benefit of
Parts 5(c) and (h) and undertaking the obligations in Part 5(k)(vii) of
the Schedule to this Agreement).
Part 1. Termination Provisions
(a) "Specified Entity" means in relation to Party A for the purpose of:-
Section 5(a)(v), none
Section 5(a)(vi), none
Section 5(a)(vii), none
Section 5(b)(iv), none
and in relation to Party B for the purpose of:-
Section 5(a)(v), none
Section 5(a)(vi), none
Section 5(a)(vii), none
Section 5(b)(iv), none
(b) "Specified Transaction" will have the meaning specified in Section 14.
(c) The "Cross Default" provisions of Section 5(a)(vi), will not apply to
Party A and will not apply to Party B.
(d) The "Credit Event Upon Merger" provisions of Section 5(b)(iv) will apply
to Party A and will not apply to Party B.
1
(e) The "Automatic Early Termination" provision of Section 6(a) will not
apply to Party A and will not apply to Party B.
(f) Payments on Early Termination. For the purposes of Section 6(e) of this
Agreement:-
(i) Market Quotation will apply.
(ii) The Second Method will apply.
(g) "Termination Currency" means Sterling.
Part 2. Tax Representations
(a) Payer Representations. For the purpose of Section 3(e) of this
Agreement, Party A and Party B will each make the following
representation:
It is not required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice of
any relevant governmental revenue authority, of any Relevant
Jurisdiction to make any deduction or withholding for or on account of
any Tax from any payment (other than interest under Section 2(e),
6(d)(ii) or 6(e) of this Agreement) to be made by it to the other party
under this Agreement. In making this representation, it may rely on (i)
the accuracy of any representations made by the other party pursuant to
Section 3(f) of this Agreement, (ii) the satisfaction of the agreement
of the other party contained in Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this
Agreement and the accuracy and effectiveness of any document provided by
the other party pursuant to Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this
Agreement and (iii) the satisfaction of the agreement of the other party
contained in Section 4(d) of this Agreement, provided that it shall not
be a breach of this representation where reliance is placed on clause
(ii) and the other party does not deliver a form or document under
Section 4(a)(iii) by reason of material prejudice to its legal or
commercial position.
(b) Payee Representations. For the purposes of Section 3(f) of the
Agreement, Party A makes the representation specified below (the
"Additional Tax Representation").
(i) it is a party to each Transaction solely for the purposes of a
trade (or part of a trade) carried on by it in the United Kingdom
through a branch or agency; or
(ii) it is resident in the United Kingdom or in a jurisdiction with
which the United Kingdom has a double tax treaty which makes
provision, whether for relief or otherwise, in relation to
interest.
(c) Additional Termination Event. The Additional Tax Representation proves
to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect with
respect to one or more Transactions (each an "Affected Transaction" for
the purposes of this Additional Termination Event) when made or repeated
or deemed to have been made or repeated. The Affected Party shall be
Party A only.
2
Part 3. Agreement to Deliver Documents
For the purpose of Sections 4(a)(i) and (ii) of this Agreement, each party
agrees to deliver the following documents, as applicable:-
(a) Tax forms, documents or certificates to be delivered are:-
Party required to Form/Document/ Date by which to be delivered
deliver document Certificate
None
(b) Other documents to be delivered are:-
Party required Form/Document/Certificate Date by which Covered by
to deliver to be delivered Section 3(d)
document Representation
Party A and Appropriate evidence of On signing of Yes
Party B its signatory's Authority this Agreement
Party B Certified copy of board On signing of Yes
resolution this Agreement
Party A Legal opinion of counsel On signing of No
to Party B this Agreement
Part 4. Miscellaneous
(a) Addresses for Notices. For the purpose of Section 12(a) of this
Agreement:-
Address for notices or communications to Party A:-
Address: Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx xxxx Xxxx
XX0 0XX
Attention: Senior Manager, Treasury Settlement
Facsimile No.: 0191 279 4694
Address for notices or communications to Party B:-
Address: Granite Mortgages 04-1 plc
Xxxxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
0
Xxxxxx
XX0X 0XX
With a copy to: Northern Rock plc
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx xxxx Xxxx
XX0 0XX
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile No.: 0191 279 4694
With a copy to the Note Trustee:-
Address: The Bank of New York
One Canada Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Attention: Corporate Trust (Global Structured Finance)
Facsimile No.: 020 7364 6555
(b) Process Agent. For this purpose of Section 13(c) of this Agreement:-
Party A appoints as its Process Agent: None.
Party B appoints as its Process Agent: None.
(c) Offices. The provisions of Section 10(a) will apply to this Agreement.
(d) Multibranch Party. For the purpose of Section 10(c) of this Agreement:-
Party A is not a Multibranch Party.
Party B is not a Multibranch Party.
(e) Calculation Agent. The Calculation Agent shall be as specified in each
Confirmation.
(f) Credit Support Document. Details of any Credit Support Document:-
In respect of Party A: None.
In respect of Party B: None.
4
(g) Credit Support Provider.
Credit Support Provider means in relation to Party A, none.
Credit Support Provider means in relation to Party B, none.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with English law.
(i) Netting of Payments. Sub-paragraph (ii) of Section 2(c) of this
Agreement will not apply to Transactions entered into under this
Agreement unless otherwise specified in a Confirmation.
(j) "Affiliate" will have the meaning specified in Section 14 of this
Agreement.
Part 5. Other Provisions
(a) Definitions and Interpretation
Capitalised terms used in this Agreement shall, except where the context
otherwise requires and save where otherwise defined in this Agreement,
bear the meanings given to them in the Master Definitions Schedule as
amended and restated by (and appearing in Appendix 1 to) the Master
Definitions Schedule Seventh Amendment Deed executed by, among others,
the Note Trustee on 26 January, 2004 and the Issuer Master Definitions
Schedule signed for the purposes of identification by Sidley Xxxxxx
Xxxxx & Xxxx and Xxxxx & Xxxxx on 28 January, 2004 (as the same have
been and may be amended, varied or supplemented from time to time with
the consent of the parties hereto). The Issuer Master Definitions
Schedule specified above shall prevail to the extent that it conflicts
with the Master Definitions Schedule.
(b) No Set-Off
(i) All payments under this Agreement shall be made without set-off or
counterclaim, except as expressly provided for in Section 6.
(ii) Section 6(e) shall be amended by the deletion of the following
sentence; "The amount, if any, payable in respect of an Early
Termination Date and determined pursuant to this Section will be
subject to any Set-off."
(c) Security Interest
Notwithstanding Section 7, Party A hereby agrees and consents to the
assignment by way of security by Party B of its interests under this
Agreement (without prejudice to, and after giving effect to, any
contractual netting provision contained in this Agreement) to the Note
Trustee (or any successor thereto) pursuant to and in accordance with
the Current Issuer Deed of Charge and acknowledges notice of such
assignment. Each of the parties hereby confirms and agrees that the Note
Trustee shall not be liable for any of the obligations of Party B
hereunder.
5
(d) Disapplication of certain Events of Default
Section 5(a)(ii), Section 5(a)(iii), Section 5(a)(iv), Section 5(a)(v),
Section 5(a)(vii)(2), (5),(6),(7) and (9) and Section 5(a)(viii) will
not apply in respect of Party B.
Section 5(a)(vii)(8) will not apply to Party B to the extent that it
applies to Section 5(a)(vii)(2) (5),(6),(7) and (9).
(e) Disapplication of certain Termination Events
The "Tax Event" and "Tax Event Upon Merger" provisions of Section
5(b)(ii) and 5(b)(iii) will not apply to Party A or to Party B.
(f) Additional Event of Default and Additional Termination Event
The following shall constitute an additional Event of Default with
respect to Party B:
"Note Enforcement Notice. The Note Trustee serves a Note Enforcement
Notice on Party B (in which case Party B shall be the Defaulting
Party)."
The following shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with
respect to Party B:
"Redemption and Prepayment of Current Issuer Notes. The Current Issuer
serves a notice pursuant to Condition 5(F) of the terms and conditions
of the Current Issuer Notes (in which case Party B shall be the sole
Affected Party and all Transactions shall be Affected Transactions)."
(g) Northern Rock plc as Party B's Agent
Party B hereby declares that pursuant to the Current Issuer Cash
Management Agreement it has appointed Northern Rock plc to act as its
agent for the purpose, inter alia, of the operation of this Agreement
and dealing with payments hereunder. Accordingly, unless and until
written notice is received by Party A from the Note Trustee that such
appointment has been terminated, Party A shall be entitled to treat all
communications and acts relating to this Agreement received from or
carried out by Northern Rock plc as agent for Party B under the Current
Issuer Cash Management Agreement as being those of Party B and Party B
hereby agrees to ratify and confirm the same.
(h) Security, Enforcement and Limited Recourse
(i) Party A agrees with Party B and the Note Trustee to be bound by
the terms of the Current Issuer Deed of Charge and the Current
Issuer Cash Management Agreement and, in particular, confirms
that: (i) save as otherwise expressly set out in the Current
Issuer Cash Management Agreement or, as applicable, the Current
Issuer Deed of Charge, no sum shall be payable by or on behalf of
Party B to it except in accordance with the Current Issuer
Priority of Payments as set out in the Current Issuer Cash
Management Agreement or, as applicable, the Current Issuer Deed of
Charge (as the same may be amended from time to time); and (ii) it
will not take any steps for the winding up, dissolution or
reorganisation or for the
6
appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver,
trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar officer of Party B or
of any or all of its revenues and assets nor participate in any ex
parte proceedings nor seek to enforce any judgment against Party B
except as provided in the Current Issuer Deed of Charge.
(ii) In relation to all sums due and payable by Party B to Party A,
Party A agrees that it shall have recourse only to sums available
to Party B for the purpose of making payments to Party A in
accordance with the relevant Current Issuer Priority of Payments,
the Current Issuer Cash Management Agreement and/or, as applicable
the Current Issuer Deed of Charge.
(i) Reserved
(j) Authorised Person
For the purposes of Section 3 of this Agreement, Party A represents to
Party B (which representation will be deemed to be repeated by Party A
on each date on which a Transaction is entered into and throughout the
course of any Transaction) that it is an authorised person for the
purposes of the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000.
(k) Ratings Downgrade of Party A
(i) In the event that the short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated
debt obligations of Party A (or its successor) cease to be rated
at least as high as "A-1" (or its equivalent) by Standard & Poor's
Rating Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies Inc.
("S&P") and as a result of such downgrade the then current rating
of the Notes may, in the reasonable opinion of S&P, be downgraded
or placed under review for possible downgrade (a "S&P Note
Downgrade Event"), then Party A will, on a reasonable efforts
basis within 30 days of the occurrence of such S&P Note Downgrade
Event, at its own cost attempt to transfer all of its rights and
obligations with respect to this Agreement to a replacement third
party whose short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt
obligations are rated at least as high as "A-1" (or its
equivalent) by S&P or such other rating as is commensurate with
the rating assigned to the Notes by S&P from time to time.
In the event that Party A is unable to make such transfer within
such 30 day period, then it will continue, on a reasonable efforts
basis, to attempt to make such transfer and pending such transfer,
Party A will, on a reasonable efforts basis and at its own cost
either:
(A) put in place an appropriate xxxx-to-market collateral
agreement, (which may be based on the credit support
documentation published by ISDA, or otherwise, and relates
to collateral in the form of cash or securities or both) in
support of its obligations under this Agreement provided
that (x) Party A shall be deemed to have satisfied the
requirements of S&P if the amount of collateral agreed to be
provided in the form of cash and/or securities (the
"Collateral Amount") is determined on a basis which is no
7
more onerous than the S&P Criteria (as defined below) and
(y) the Collateral Amount shall not be required to exceed
such amount as would be required (in accordance with the S&P
Criteria) to restore the rating of the Notes to the level
they would have been at immediately prior to such
downgrading; or
(B) procure another person to become co-obligor in respect of
the obligations of Party A under this Agreement whose
short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations
are rated at least as high as "A-1" (or its equivalent) by
S&P or such other rating as is commensurate with the rating
assigned to the Notes by S&P from time to time; or
(C) take such other action as Party A may agree with S&P as will
result in the rating of the Notes then outstanding following
the taking of such action being rated no lower than the
rating of the Notes immediately prior to such downgrade.
"S&P Criteria" means the criteria published in January 1999 as
amended in June 2000 which enable entities rated lower than a
specified level to participate in structured finance transactions
which, through collateralisation, are rated at a higher level (as
referred to, in part, in the article entitled New Interest Rate
Currency Swap Criteria Broadens Allowable Counterparties in the
January 1999 issue of S&P's Structured Finance publication)
(ii) In the event that:
(aa) the long-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations
of Party A (or its successor) and, if relevant, any Credit
Support Provider of Party A, cease to be rated at least as
high as "A2" (or its equivalent) by Moody's; or
(bb) the short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt
obligations of Party A (or its successor) and, if relevant,
any Credit Support Provider of Party A, cease to be rated at
least as high as "Prime-1" (or its equivalent) by Moody's
such cessation being, for the purposes of this sub-part (k)(ii),
an "Initial Moody's Note Downgrade Event", then Party A will, on a
reasonable efforts basis and at its own cost attempt to:
(A) transfer all of its rights and obligations with respect to
this Agreement to either (x) a replacement third party with
the Required Ratings (as defined below) domiciled in the
same legal jurisdiction as Party A or Party B or (y) a
replacement third party in relation to whom Moody's has
confirmed that there would be no Initial Moody's Note
Downgrade Event; or
(B) procure another person to become co-obligor in respect of
the obligations of Party A under this Agreement. Such
co-obligor may be either (x) a person with the Required
Ratings domiciled in the same legal jurisdiction
8
as Party A or Party B, or (y) a person in relation to whom
Moody's has confirmed that there would be no Initial Moody's
Note Downgrade Event; or
(C) take such other action as Moody's shall confirm to Party A
will remedy an Initial Moody's Note Downgrade Event.
Pending compliance with any of (k)(ii)(A), (k)(ii)(B) or
(k)(ii)(C) above, Party A will, at its own cost:
(D) within 30 days of the occurrence of such downgrade, put in
place a xxxx-to-market collateral agreement in a form and
substance acceptable to Moody's (which may be based on the
credit support documentation published by ISDA, or
otherwise, and relates to collateral in the form of cash or
securities or both) in support of its obligations under this
Agreement which complies with Moody's Criteria (or such
other amount as may be agreed with Moody's).
If any of (k)(ii)(A), (k)(ii)(B) or (k)(ii)(C) are satisfied at
any time, all collateral (or the equivalent thereof, as
appropriate) transferred by Party A pursuant to (k)(ii)(D) will be
retransferred to Party A and Party A will not be required to
transfer any additional collateral.
(iii) In the event that:
(aa) the long-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations
of Party A (or its successor) and, if relevant, any Credit
Support Provider of Party A, cease to be rated at least as
high as "A3" (or its equivalent) by Moody's; or
(bb) the short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt
obligations of Party A (or its successor) and, if relevant,
any Credit Support Provider of Party A, cease to be rated at
least as high as "Prime-2" (or its equivalent) by Moody's,
such cessation being, for the purposes of this sub-part (k)(iii),
a "Subsequent Moody's Note Downgrade Event", then Party A will, on
a reasonable efforts basis, within 30 days of the occurrence of
such Subsequent Moody's Note Downgrade Event, and at its own cost:
(A) transfer all of its rights and obligations with respect to
this Agreement to either (x) a replacement third party with
the Required Ratings domiciled in the same legal
jurisdiction as Party A or Party B, or (y) a replacement
third party in relation to whom Moody's has confirmed that
there would be no Subsequent Moody's Note Downgrade Event;
or
(B) procure another person to become co-obligor in respect of
the obligations of Party A under this Agreement. Such
co-obligor may be either (x) a
9
person with the Required Ratings domiciled in the same legal
jurisdiction as Party A or Party B, or (y) a person in
relation to whom Moody's has confirmed that there would be
no Subsequent Moody's Note Downgrade Event; or
(C) take such other action as Moody's shall confirm to Party A
will remedy a Subsequent Moody's Note Downgrade Event.
In the event that Party A is unable to comply with either
(k)(iii)(A), (k)(iii)(B) or (k)(iii)(C) within such 30 day period
then it will continue, on a best efforts basis, to comply with the
same.
Pending compliance with (k)(iii)(A), (k)(iii)(B) or (k)(iii)(C),
Party A will at its own cost:
(D) put in place a xxxx-to-market collateral agreement in a form
and substance acceptable to Moody's (which may be based on
the credit support documentation published by ISDA, or
otherwise, and relates to collateral in the form of cash or
securities or both) in support of its obligations under this
Agreement which complies with Moody's Criteria (or such
other amount as may be agreed with Moody's).
If any of (k)(iii)(A), (k)(iii)(B) or (k)(iii)(C) are satisfied at
any time, all collateral (or the equivalent thereof, as
appropriate) transferred by Party A pursuant to (k)(iii)(D) will
be retransferred to Party A and Party A will not be required to
transfer any additional collateral.
For the purposes of (k)(ii) and (k)(iii), "Required Ratings" means
in respect of the relevant entity, its long-term, unsecured and
unsubordinated debt obligations are rated at least as high as "A1"
and its short-term unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations
are rated at least as high as "Prime-1" by Moody's or such other
ratings as may be agreed with Moody's from time to time.
"Moody's Criteria" means that the Collateral Amount shall not
exceed an amount equal to 102 per cent. of the xxxx-to-market
value (updated weekly) of the outstanding Transactions as
determined by Party A in good faith from time to time provided
that:
(a) if the long-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt
obligations of Party A (or its successor) cease to be rated
at least as high as "A2" (or its equivalent) by Moody's or
the short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt
obligations of Party A (or its successor) cease to be rated
at least as high as "Prime-1" (or its equivalent) by Moody's
then the applicable Collateral Amount shall equal the sum
of:
(i) an amount equal to 102 per cent. of the xxxx-to-market
value (updated weekly) of the outstanding Transactions
determined by Party A in good faith from time to time
(for the avoidance of
10
doubt, taking into account, inter alia, expected
future prepayment rates); and
(ii) the sum of:
(A) the aggregate of the amounts determined in
respect of each class of Notes, equal to the
principal amount outstanding of that class of
Notes multiplied by the weighted average life of
that class of Notes as at the date of the
determination (expressed in days), divided by
365 (such aggregate, the "Buffer Notional")
multiplied by the product of 0.20 per cent. and
the Fixed Rate Ratio; and
(B) the Buffer Notional multiplied by the product of
0.10 per cent. and the sum of the Variable Rate
Ratio and the Flexible Ratio;
(b) if the long-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt
obligations of Party A (or its successor) cease to be rated
as high as "A3" (or its equivalent) by Moody's or the short
term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of Party
A (or its successor) cease to be rated as high as "Prime-2"
(or its equivalent) by Moody's then the applicable
Collateral Amount shall equal the sum of:
(i) an amount equal to 102 per cent. of the xxxx-to-market
value (updated weekly) of the outstanding Transactions
determined by Party A in good faith from time to time
(for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account,
inter alia, expected future prepayment rates and
assuming that the Issuer will not exercise its option
to redeem the Notes on the Step-up Date); and
(ii) the sum of:
(A) the Buffer Notional multiplied by the product of
0.40 per cent. and the Fixed Rate Ratio; and
(B) the Buffer Notional multiplied by the product of
0.20 per cent. and the sum of the Variable Rate
Ratio and the Flexible Ratio.
In relation to (k)(ii)(D) and (k)(iii)(D) above Party A will, upon
receipt of reasonable notice from Moody's, demonstrate to Moody's
the calculation by it of the xxxx-to-market value of the
outstanding Transactions. In relation to (k)(iii)(D) above Party A
will, at its own cost, upon receipt of reasonable notice from
Moody's, arrange an audit by the Auditor of the methodology used
by Party A in the calculation of the xxxx-to-market value of the
outstanding Transactions.
11
Party A will calculate the weighted average life of the Notes
using the assumptions referred to in the Offering Circular under
the headings "Maturity and Prepayment Considerations" (as amended
herein), provided that (x) such assumptions shall reflect the then
current expectations of the Issuer and/or be based upon such
circumstances as Party A may, in good faith, determine applicable;
and (y) in relation to the calculation of the Buffer Notional
under part (b) of the definition of the Moody's Criteria, it shall
be assumed that the Issuer will not exercise its option to redeem
the Notes on the Step-up Date.
(iv) In the event that the short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated
debt obligations of Party A (or its successor or assignee) cease
to be rated at least as high as "F1" (or its equivalent) by Fitch
Ratings Ltd ("Fitch") and as a result of such downgrade the then
current rating of the Notes may in the reasonable opinion of Fitch
be downgraded or placed on credit watch for possible downgrade (an
"Initial Fitch Note Downgrade Event"), then Party A will, on a
reasonable efforts basis, within 30 days of the occurrence of such
Initial Fitch Note Downgrade Event, at its own cost, either:
(A) attempt to transfer all of its rights and obligations with
respect to this Agreement to a replacement third party whose
short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt ratings are
rated at least as high as "F1" (or its equivalent) by Fitch
or such other rating as is commensurate with the rating
assigned to the Notes by Fitch from time to time; or
(B) put in place an appropriate xxxx-to-market collateral
agreement (which may be based on the credit support
documentation published by ISDA, or otherwise, and relates
to collateral in the form of cash or securities or both) in
support of its obligations under this Agreement which
complies with the Fitch Criteria (or such other amount as
may be agreed with Fitch); or
(C) procure another person to become co-obligor or guarantor in
respect of the obligations of Party A under this Agreement
whose short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt ratings
are rated at least as high as "F1" (or its equivalent) by
Fitch or such other rating as is commensurate with the
rating assigned to the Notes by Fitch from time to time; or
(D) take such other action as Party A may agree with Fitch as
will result in the rating of the Notes then outstanding
being maintained.
(v) In the event that the short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated
debt obligations of Party A (or its successor), or any Credit
Support Provider of Party A, cease to be rated at least as high as
"F2" (or its equivalent) by Fitch and as a result the then current
rating of the Notes may in the reasonable opinion of Fitch be
downgraded or placed on credit watch for possible downgrade (a
"Subsequent Fitch Note Downgrade Event"), then Party A will, on a
reasonable efforts basis, within 30
12
days of the occurrence of such Subsequent Fitch Note Downgrade
Event, at its own cost, either:-
(A) attempt to transfer all of its rights and obligations with
respect to this Agreement to a replacement third party whose
short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt ratings are
rated at least as high as "F1" (or its equivalent) by Fitch
or such other rating as is commensurate with the rating
assigned to the Notes by Fitch from time to time; or
(B) procure another person to become co-obligor or guarantor in
respect of the obligations of Party A under this Agreement
whose short-term, unsecured and unsubordinated debt ratings
are rated at least as high as "F1" (or its equivalent) by
Fitch or such other rating as is commensurate with the
rating assigned to the Notes by Fitch from time to time; or
(C) take such other action as Party A may agree with Fitch as
will result in the rating of the Notes then outstanding
being maintained.
Pending compliance with (k)(v)(A), (k)(v)(B) or (k)(v)(C), Party A
will at its own cost:
(D) put in place an appropriate xxxx-to-market collateral
agreement (which may be based on the credit support
documentation published by ISDA, or otherwise, and relates
to collateral in the form of cash or securities or both) in
support of its obligations under this Agreement which
complies with the Fitch Criteria (or such other amount as
may be agreed with Fitch).
If any of (k)(v)(A), (k)(v)(B) or (k)(v)(C) are satisfied at any
time, all collateral (or the equivalent thereof, as appropriate)
transferred by Party A pursuant to (k)(v)(D) will be retransferred
to Party A and Party A will not be required to transfer any
additional collateral.
"Fitch Criteria" means the Collateral Amount shall equal the sum
of:
(i) the product of 100 per cent. multiplied by the
xxxx-to-market value of the outstanding Transactions
determined by Party A in good faith from time to time; and
(ii) the sum of:
(A) the current aggregate notional amount of the
outstanding Transactions multiplied by the product of
2.50 per cent. and the Fixed Rate Ratio; and
(B) the current aggregate notional amount of the
outstanding Transactions multiplied by the product of
1.25 per cent. and the sum of the Variable Rate Ratio
and the Flexible Ratio.
13
(vi) If Party A does not take any of the measures described in (k)(i)
above such failure shall not be or give rise to an Event of
Default but shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with
respect to Party A and shall be deemed to have occurred on the
thirtieth day following such S&P Note Downgrade Event with Party A
as the sole Affected Party and all Transactions shall be Affected
Transactions.
If Party A does not take the measures described in (k)(ii)(D)
above such failure shall not be or give rise to an Event of
Default but shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with
respect to Party A and shall be deemed to have occurred on the
thirtieth day following such Initial Xxxxx'x Note Downgrade Event
with Party A as the sole Affected Party and all Transactions shall
be Affected Transactions.
If Party A does not take the measures described in (k)(iii)(D)
above such failure shall give rise to an Event of Default with
respect to Party A and shall be deemed to have occurred on the
thirtieth day following such Subsequent Xxxxx'x Note Downgrade
Event (or, if Party A has put in place a collateral agreement in
accordance with the requirements of (k)(ii)(D) above, such Event
of Default shall be deemed to have occurred on the tenth day
following such Subsequent Xxxxx'x Note Downgrade Event) with Party
A as the sole Defaulting Party. Further, it shall constitute an
Additional Termination Event with respect to Party A if, even
after satisfying the requirements of (k)(iii)(D), Party A has
failed, to either transfer as described in (k)(iii)(A), find a
co-obligor as described in (k)(iii)(B) or take such other action
as described in (k)(iii)(C), and such Additional Termination Event
shall be deemed to have occurred on the thirtieth day following
such Subsequent Xxxxx'x Note Downgrade Event with Party A as the
sole Affected Party and all Transactions shall be Affected
Transactions.
If Party A does not take any of the measures described in (k)(iv)
above such failure shall not be or give rise to an Event of
Default but shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with
respect to Party A and shall be deemed to have occurred on the
thirtieth day following such Initial Fitch Note Downgrade Event
with Party A as the sole Affected Party and all Transactions shall
be Affected Transactions.
If Party A does not take the measures described in (k)(v)(A), (B),
(C) or (D) above such failure shall not be or give rise to an
Event of Default but shall constitute an Additional Termination
Event with respect to Party A and shall be deemed to have occurred
on the thirtieth day following such Subsequent Fitch Note
Downgrade Event with Party A as the sole Affected Party and all
Transactions shall be Affected Transactions.
Each Additional Termination Event described in this sub-part (vi)
shall, on its occurrence, constitute a "Downgrade Termination
Event".
(vii) Each of Party B and the Note Trustee shall use their reasonable
endeavours to co-operate with Party A in putting in place such
credit support documentation,
14
including agreeing to such arrangements in such documentation as
may satisfy S&P, Xxxxx'x and Fitch with respect to the operation
and management of the collateral (subject always to proviso (x)
and (y) in (k)(i)(A) above) and entering into such documents as
may reasonably be requested by Party A in connection with the
provision of such collateral.
(l) Additional Representation
Section 3 is amended by the addition at the end thereof of the following
additional representations:
(i) "(g)" No Agency. It is entering into this Agreement and each
Transaction as principal and not as agent of any person."
(ii) The following additional representation shall be given by Party A
only:
"(h) Pari Passu. Its obligations under this Agreement rank pari
passu with all of its other unsecured, unsubordinated obligations
except those obligations preferred by operation of law."
(m) Recording of Conversations
Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees to the tape
recording of conversations between the parties to this Agreement whether
by one or other or both of the parties.
(n) Relationship between the parties
The Agreement is amended by the insertion after Section 14 of an
additional Section 15, reading in its entirety as follows:
"15. Relationship between the parties
Each party will be deemed to represent to the other party on the date on
which it enters into a Transaction that (absent a written agreement
between the parties that expressly imposes affirmative obligations to
the contrary for that Transaction):
(i) Non Reliance. It is acting for its own account, and it has made
its own decisions to enter into that Transaction and as to whether
that Transaction is appropriate or proper for it based upon its
own judgment and advice from such advisers as it has deemed
necessary. It is not relying on any communication (written or
oral) of the other party as investment advice or as a
recommendation to enter into that Transaction; it being understood
that information and explanations related to the terms and
conditions of a Transaction shall not be considered investment
advice or a recommendation to enter into that Transaction. It has
not received from the other party any assurance or guarantee as to
the expected results of that Transaction.
15
(ii) Assessment and Understanding. It is capable of assessing the
merits of and understanding (through independent professional
advice), and understands and accepts, the terms, conditions and
risks of that Transaction. It is also capable of assuming, and
assumes, the financial and other risks of that Transaction.
(iii) Status of Parties. The other party is not acting as a fiduciary or
an adviser for it in respect of that Transaction."
(o) Tax
The Agreement is amended by deleting Section 2(d) in its entirety and
replacing it with the following:
"(d) Deduction or Withholding for Tax
(i) Requirement to Withhold
All payments under this Agreement will be made without any
deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax unless such
deduction or withholding is required (including, for the avoidance
of doubt, if such deduction or withholding is required in order
for the payer to obtain relief from Tax) by any applicable law, as
modified by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue
authority, then in effect. If a party ("X") is so required to
deduct or withhold, then that party (the "Deducting Party"):
(A) will promptly notify the other party ("Y") of such
requirement;
(B) will pay to the relevant authorities the full amount
required to be deducted or withheld (including the full
amount required to be deducted or withheld from any Gross Up
Amount (as defined below) paid by the Deducting Party to Y
under this Section 2(d)) promptly upon the earlier of
determining that such deduction or withholding is required
or receiving notice that such amount has been assessed
against Y;
(C) will promptly forward to Y an official receipt (or a
certified copy), or other documentation reasonably
acceptable to Y, evidencing such payment to such
authorities; and
(D) if X is Party A, X will promptly pay in addition to the
payment to which Party B is otherwise entitled under this
Agreement, such additional amount (the "Gross Up Amount") as
is necessary to ensure that the net amount actually received
by Party B will equal the full amount which Party B would
have received had no such deduction or withholding been
required.
(ii) Liability
If:
16
(A) X is required by any applicable law, as modified by the
practice of any relevant governmental revenue authority, to
make any deduction or withholding for or on account of any
Tax in respect of payments under this Agreement; and
(B) X does not so deduct or withhold; and
(C) a liability resulting from such Tax is assessed directly
against X,
then, except to the extent that Y has satisfied or then satisfies the
liability resulting from such Tax, (A) where X is Party B, Party A will
promptly pay to Party B the amount of such liability (the "Liability
Amount") (including any related liability for interest and together with
an amount equal to the Tax payable by Party B on receipt of such amount
but including any related liability for penalties only if Party A has
failed to comply with or perform any agreement contained in Section
4(a)(i), 4(a)(iii) or 4(d)) and Party B will promptly pay to the
relevant government revenue authority the amount of such liability
(including any related liability for interest and penalties) and (B)
where X is Party A and Party A would have been required to pay a Gross
Up Amount to Party B, Party A will promptly pay to the relevant
government revenue authority the amount of such liability (including any
related liability for interest and penalties).
(iii) Tax Credit etc.
(a) Where Party A pays an amount in accordance with Section 2(d)(i)(D)
or Section 2(d)(ii)(C) above, Party B undertakes as follows:
(1) To the extent that Party B obtains any Tax credit,
allowance, set-off or repayment from the tax authorities of
any jurisdiction relating to any deduction or withholding
giving rise to such payment or in the case of Section
2(d)(ii)(C) the amount to be assessed ("Tax Credit"), it
shall pay to Party A on the next Payment Date after receipt
of the same so much of the cash benefit (as calculated
below) relating thereto which it has received as will leave
Party B in substantially the same (but in any event no
worse) position as Party B would have been in if no such
deduction or withholding had been required or the amount had
not so been assessed;
(2) The "cash benefit" shall, in the case of credit, allowance
or set-off, be the additional amount of Tax which would have
been payable by Party B in the jurisdiction referred to in
(1) above but for the obtaining by it of the said Tax
credit, allowance or set-off and, in the case of a
repayment, shall be the amount of the repayment together, in
either case, with any related interest or similar payment
obtained by Party B; and
(3) It will use all reasonable endeavours to obtain any Tax
Credit as soon as is reasonably practicable provided that it
shall be the sole judge of the amount of any such Tax Credit
and of the date on which the same is received and shall not
be obliged to disclose to Party A any information regarding
its tax affairs or tax computations save that Party B shall,
upon
17
request by Party A, supply Party A with a reasonably
detailed explanation of its calculation of the amount of any
such Tax Credit and of the date on which the same is
received.
The definition of "Indemnifiable Tax" in Section 14 shall be
deleted and the following shall be substituted therefor:
""Indemnifiable Tax" means any Tax."
(p) Change of Account
Section 2(b) of this Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of the
following at the end thereof:
"; provided that such new account shall be in the same legal and tax
jurisdiction as the original account and such new account, in the case
of Party B, is held with a financial institution with a short term
unsecured, unsubordinated and unguaranteed debt obligation rating of at
least P-1 (in the case of Xxxxx'x) and A-1+ (in the case of S&P)."
(q) Condition Precedent
Section 2(a)(iii) shall be amended by the deletion of the words "a
Potential Event of Default" in respect of conditions precedent to the
obligations of Party A only.
(r) Representations
(i) Section 3(a)(v) shall be amended by the addition of the words
"(with the exception of Section 11 insofar as it relates to any
Stamp Tax)" after the words "this Agreement".
(ii) Section 3(b) shall be amended by the deletion of the words "or
Potential Event of Default" in respect of the representation given
by Party B only.
(s) Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000
A person who is not a party to this Agreement shall have no right under
the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 to enforce any of its
terms but this shall not affect any right or remedy of a third party
which exists or is available apart from that Act.
(t) Calculations if an Early Termination Date occurs as a result of an Event
of Default or Additional Termination Event where Party A is the
Defaulting Party or the sole Affected Party.
Subject to compliance with Clause 15.3(k) (Basis Rate Swap Agreement) of
the Current Issuer Deed of Charge, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default or an Additional Termination Event with respect to Party A,
Party B will be entitled (but not obliged in the event that it does not
designate an Early Termination Date) to proceed in accordance with
Section 6 of the Agreement subject to the following:
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(i) For the purposes of Clause 6(d)(i), Party B's obligation with
respect to the extent of information to be provided with its
calculations is limited to information Party B has already
received in writing and provided Party B is able to release this
information without breaching the provisions of any law applicable
to, or any contractual restriction binding upon, Party B.
(ii) The following amendments shall be deemed to be made to the
definitions of "Market Quotation":
(a) the word "firm" shall be added before the word "quotations"
in the second line; and
(b) the words "provided that the documentation relating thereto
is either the same as this Agreement and the existing
confirmations hereto (and the long-term unsecured and
unsubordinated debt obligations of the Reference
Market-maker are rated not less than "AA-" by S&P, "A1" by
Xxxxx'x and "AA-" by Fitch (or, if such Reference
Market-maker is not rated by a Rating Agency, at such
equivalent rating (by another Rating Agency) that is
acceptable to such Rating Agency) or the Rating Agencies
have confirmed in writing such proposed documentation will
not adversely impact the ratings of the Notes" shall be
added after "agree" in the sixteenth line; and
(c) the last sentence shall be deleted and replaced with the
following:
"If, on the last date set for delivery of quotations,
exactly two quotations are provided, the Market Quotation
will be either (a) the lower of the two quotations where
there would be a sum payable by Party A to Party B, or (b)
the higher of the two quotations where there would be a sum
payable by Party B to Party A. If only one quotation is
provided on such date, Party B may, in its discretion,
accept such quotation as the Market Quotation and if Party B
does not accept such quotation (or if no quotation has been
provided), it will be deemed that the Market Quotation in
respect of the Terminated Transaction cannot be determined."
(iii) For the purpose of the definition of "Market Quotation", and
without limitation of the general rights of Party B under the
Agreement:
(A) Party B will undertake to use its reasonable efforts to
obtain at least three firm quotations as soon as reasonably
practicable after the Early Termination Date and in any
event within the time period specified pursuant to (iii)(C)
below;
(B) Party A shall, for the purposes of Section 6(e), be
permitted to obtain quotations from Reference Market-makers;
and
(C) If no quotations have been obtained within 10 Local Business
Days after the occurrence of the Early Termination Date or
such longer period as
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Party B may specify in writing to Party A, then it will be
deemed that the Market Quotation in respect of the
Terminated Transaction cannot be determined.
(iv) Party B will be deemed to have discharged its obligations under
(iii)(A) above if it promptly requests, in writing, Party A (such
request to be made within two Local Business Days after the
occurrence of the Early Termination Date) to obtain quotations
from Reference Market-makers and Party A agrees to act in
accordance with such request.
(v) Party B will not be obliged to consult with Party A as to the day
and time of obtaining any quotations.
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