SECURITIES ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT March 5, 2009
Exhibit 99.3
March 5,
2009
BARCLAYS
BANK PLC (the Secured Party”); FLAGSTONE RÉASSURANCE SUISSE SA (the
“Customer”); and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the “Bank”) hereby
agree as follows:
PREAMBLE
1.
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The
Bank will establish at the request of the Customer a securities custody
account in the name of Customer (the “Account”) and following such
establishment the Bank will confirm in writing to the Secured Party that
the Account is subject to this
Agreement.
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2.
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The
Customer has granted the Secured Party a security interest in the Account
pursuant to that certain Security Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2009, by
and between the Customer and the Secured Party (as such agreement has been
amended, amended and restated, replaced, novated, supplemented, or
otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security
Agreement”).
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3.
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The
Secured Party and the Customer and the Bank, at the request of the Secured
Party and the Customer, are entering into this Securities Account Control
Agreement (this “Agreement”) to provide for the control of the Account and
to perfect the security interest of Secured Party in the
Account. It is understood that the Bank has no responsibility
with respect to the validity or perfection of the security interest
otherwise than to act in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
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DEFINITIONS
As used herein the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
Entitlement Holder shall mean
a person identified in the records of the Bank as the person having a Security
Entitlement against the Bank.
Entitlement Order shall mean a
notification communicated to the Bank directing transfer or redemption of a
Financial Asset which the Entitlement Holder has a Security
Entitlement.
Financial Assets shall mean
any securities and other property held in the Account, but does not include any
cash credit balance that may be maintained in the Account.
Pledged Assets shall mean any
Financial Assets and any cash credit balance which may be maintained in the
Account.
Security Entitlement shall
mean the rights and property interest of an Entitlement Holder with respect to a
Financial Asset specified in Part 5 of Article 8 of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code (the “UCC”).
TERMS
Section 1. The
Account. Pledged Assets currently maintained in the
Account do not reflect any Financial Assets which are registered in the name of
the Customer, payable to the Customer’s order, or specifically endorsed to the
Customer, which have not been endorsed to the Bank or in blank. To
the Bank’s knowledge, the Security Entitlements arising out of the Financial
Assets carried in the Account are valid and legally binding obligations of the
Bank, and except for the claims and interest of the Secured Party and the
Customer in the Account (subject to any claim in favor of the Bank permitted
under Section 2 hereof), the Bank has not been notified in writing of any claim
to or interest in the Account. The Bank agrees that it shall not
change the name or account number of the Account unless the Account, following
such change, remains subject to this Agreement. In the event of such
a change, the Bank will promptly notify the Secured Party of any change to the
name or account number of the Account.
Section 2. Pledged Assets. The Secured
Party and the Customer agree that all securities that are currently held in the
Account as Pledged Assets or are subsequently transferred into the Account as
Pledged Assets are and shall be fully paid for and that all trade settlements of
transactions for such securities are and shall be completed prior to transfer of
such securities into the Account as Pledged Assets. The Bank shall be
entitled to reverse any cash credit previously made to the Account due to error
or the non-receipt of any income or divided distribution. The Bank
hereby agrees that all Pledged Assets, excluding cash, shall be treated as
“financial assets” within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(9) of the
UCC.
Section 3. Priority of
Lien. The Bank hereby acknowledges the security interest
granted to the Secured Party by the Customer. The Bank hereby waives
and releases all liens, encumbrances, claims and rights of setoff it may have
against the Account or any Pledged Assets carried in the Account. The
Bank will not agree with any third party to comply with Entitlement Orders
concerning the Account originated by such third party without the prior written
consent of the Secured Party and the Customer; provided that following receipt
of a Notice of Exclusive Control that has not been withdrawn by the Secured
Party, only the consent of the Secured Party shall be required in connection
with any such agreement with a third party as to Entitlement
Orders.
Section
4. Control. The Bank will comply with Entitlement
Orders and other directions originated by the Secured Party concerning the
Account without further consent by the Customer. (Exhibit A attached hereto
contains the names of persons authorized to give to the Bank Entitlement Orders
and other directives regarding the Pledged Assets on behalf of the Secured
Party.) Except as otherwise provided by Section 3 above and 5 below,
the Bank shall comply with directions (other than Entitlement Orders) concerning
Pledged Assets held in the Account at the direction of the Customer or its
authorized representatives; provided, however, under no
circumstances will the Bank comply with any direction or Entitlement Order that
has not been consented to in writing by the Secured Party or issued jointly by
the Customer and the Secured Party requesting a free delivery of any Pledged
Assets from the Account or the delivery of such Pledged Assets to the Customer
(other than as set forth in Section 5(a)(i) below). After the Bank
receives the Notice of Exclusive Control and until the Bank shall be notified by
the Secured Party in writing that it is withdrawing such Notice of Exclusive
Control, the Bank will promptly cease complying with any directions concerning
the Account originated by the Customer or its representatives.
Section 5. Payment of
Income; Voting Rights; Withdrawals. Unless the Bank has
received a Notice of Exclusive Control, the Bank shall (a) without further
action by the Customer or Secured Party, (i) remit or make available to the
Customer all interest, dividends and other income on the Financial Assets in the
Account, and (ii) send to the Customer any proxies and other voting rights and
corporate actions received by the Bank in respect of the Pledged Assets and
follow any instructions and directions from the Customer in respect of such
proxies and rights, and (b) comply with each directive (other than Entitlement
Orders originated by the Customer) received from the Customer; provided, however, under no
circumstances will the Bank comply with any direction or Entitlement Order that
has not been consented to in writing by the Secured Party or issued jointly by
the Customer and the Secured Party requesting a free delivery of any Pledged
Assets from the Account or the delivery of such Pledged Assets to the Customer,
other than as set forth in Section 5(a)(i) above.
Section 6. Statements,
Confirmations and Notices of Adverse Claims. The Bank will
send or make available by electronic means copies of all statements and
confirmations concerning the Account to each of the Customer and the Secured
Party, at the address set forth in the heading of this Agreement or such other
address or location as instructed by the Customer and the Secured
Party. Such statements will include the previous month’s detailed
listing of unaudited valued securities holdings of all Pledged Assets, which
listing shall be prepared, updated and available to each of the Customer and the
Secured Party as of the last business day of each month the Bank shall be open
for commercial banking business (“the Information”). Such monthly
statements shall be prepared by the Bank utilizing the same pricing information
and sources the Bank generally uses for this purpose. If any person
notifies the Bank of its assertion of any lien, encumbrance or adverse claim
against the Account or in any Financial Asset contained therein, the Bank will
promptly notify the Secured Party and the Customer thereof.
Section 7. Responsibility
of the Bank. The Bank shall have no responsibility or
liability to the Secured Party for executing settlements of Financial Assets
held in the Account at the direction of the Customer or its authorized
representatives, or complying with directions (other than Entitlement Orders)
concerning the Account from the Customer or its authorized representatives,
which are received by the Bank before the Bank has received, and had a
reasonable opportunity to comply with, a Notice of Exclusive
Control. The Bank shall have no responsibility or liability to the
Customer for complying with a Notice of Exclusive Control or complying with
Entitlement Orders or other directives concerning the Account originated by the
Secured Party. The Bank shall have no duty to investigate or make any
determination as to whether a default exists under any agreement between the
Customer and the Secured Party and shall comply with a Notice of Exclusive
Control even if it believes that no such default exists. This
Agreement does not create any obligation or duty for the Bank other than those
expressly set forth herein.
Section 8. Standard of
Care. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein or in any
other document or instrument to the contrary, neither the Bank nor any of its
officers, employees or agents shall be liable for (i) following the instruction
of the Secured Party and (ii) in all other respects, shall not be liable for any
action taken or not taken by it (or them) under or in connection with this
Agreement, except for the Bank’s (or their) own gross negligence or willful
misconduct. In no event shall the Bank be liable for indirect,
special or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including lost profits
and lost business opportunity) even if it is advised of the possibility of such
damages and regardless of the form of action in which any such damages may be
claimed. Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding any
provision to the contrary elsewhere, the Bank and its officers, employees and
agents:
a.
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shall
have no responsibilities, obligations or duties other than those expressly
set forth in this Agreement, and no implied duties, responsibilities or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Bank; without
limiting the foregoing, the Bank shall have no duty to preserve, exercise
or enforce rights in the Pledged Assets (against prior parties or
otherwise);
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b.
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may
in any instance where the Bank determines that it lacks or is uncertain as
to its authority to take or refrain from taking certain action, or as to
the requirements of this Agreement under any circumstance before it, delay
or refrain from taking action unless and until it has received
instructions from the Secured Party or advice from legal counsel (or other
appropriate advisor), as the case may
be;
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c.
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so
long as it and they shall have acted (or refrained from acting) in good
faith, shall not be liable for any error of judgment in any action taken,
suffered or omitted by, or for any act done or step taken, suffered or
omitted by, or for any mistake of fact or law, unless such action
constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on its (or their)
part;
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d.
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may
consult with legal counsel selected by it (or other experts for the
Secured Party or the Customer), and shall not be liable for any action
taken or not taken by it or them in good faith in accordance with the
advice of such experts;
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e.
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will
not be responsible to the Secured Party for any statement, warranty or
representation made by any party other than the Bank in connection with
this Agreement;
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f.
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will
have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance
by the Customer of any of the terms, conditions or covenants of any
security agreement with the Secured
Party;
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g.
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will
not be responsible to the Secured Party or the Customer for the due
execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, effectiveness
or sufficiency of this Agreement by, against or as to the Secured Party or
the Customer, (provided, however, that the Bank warrants below that the
Bank has legal capacity to enter into this
Agreement);
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h.
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will
not incur any liability by acting or not acting in reliance upon any
notice, consent, certificate, statement or other instrument or writing
believed by it or them to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper
party or parties;
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i.
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will
not incur liability for any notice, consent, certificate, statement, wire
instruction, telecopy, or other writing which is delayed, canceled or
changed without the actual knowledge of the
Bank;
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j.
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shall
not be deemed to have or be charged with notice or knowledge of any fact
or matter unless a written notice thereof has been received by the Bank at
the address and to the person designated in (or as subsequently designated
pursuant to) this Agreement;
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k.
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shall
not be obligated or required by any provision of this Agreement to expend
or risk the Bank’s own funds, or to take any action (including but not
limited to the institution or defense of legal proceedings) which in its
or their judgment may cause it or them to incur or suffer any expense or
liability; provided, however, if the Bank elects to take any such action
it shall be entitled to security or indemnity for the payment of the
costs, expenses (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees) and
liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby, satisfactory to the
Bank;
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l.
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shall
not incur any liability for acts or omissions of any domestic or foreign
depository or book-entry system for the central handling of Financial
Assets or any domestic or foreign custodian or subcustodian;
and
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m.
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shall
not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any Financial
Asset in or delivered into the
Account.
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Section 9. Indemnification
of the Bank.
(a) The Customer agrees to
indemnify and hold the Bank and its directors, officers, agents and employees
(collectively the “Indemnitees”) harmless from and against any and all claims,
liabilities, losses, damages, fines, penalties, and expenses, including
out-of-pocket and incidental expenses and legal fees (collectively “Losses”)
that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, the Indemnitees or any
of them for following any Entitlement Orders, instructions or other directions
upon which the Bank is authorized to rely pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
(b) In addition to and not
in limitation of paragraph (a) immediately above, the Customer agrees to
indemnify and hold the Indemnitees and each of them harmless from and against
any and all Losses that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, the
Indemnitees or any of them in connection with or arising out of the Bank’s
performance under this Agreement, provided the Indemnitees have not acted with
gross negligence or engaged in willful misconduct.
(c) The foregoing indemnifications
shall survive any termination of this Agreement
Section 10. Compliance
with Legal Process and Judicial Orders. If any Pledged Assets
subject to this Agreement are at any time attached or levied upon, or in case
the transfer, delivery, redemption or withdrawal of any such Pledged Assets
shall be stayed or enjoined, or in the case of any other legal process or
judicial order affecting such Pledged Assets, the Bank is authorized to comply
with any such order in any matter as the Bank or its legal counsel reasonably
deems appropriate. If the Bank complies with any process, order,
writ, judgment or decree relating to the Pledged Assets subject to this
Agreement, then the Bank shall not be liable to the Customer or the Secured
Party or to any other person or entity even if such order or process is
subsequently modified, vacated or otherwise determined to have been without
legal force or effect.
Section 11. Force
Majeure. The Bank shall not be responsible for delays or
failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such
acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots,
acts of war or terrorism, epidemics, nationalization, expropriation, currency
restrictions, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire,
communication line failures, power failures, earthquakes or other
disasters.
Section
12. Representations. Each of the parties represents
and warrants that (i) it is duly incorporated or organized and is validly
existing in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization,
(ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all documents
and instruments to be delivered hereunder or thereunder have been duly
authorized, (iii) the person executing this Agreement on its behalf has been
duly authorized to act on its behalf, (iv) this Agreement constitutes its legal,
valid, binding and enforceable agreement, and (v) its entry into this Agreement
will not violate any agreement, law, rule or regulation by which it is bound or
by which any of its assets are affected.
Section 13. Customer
Agreement. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and any
other agreement between the Bank and the Customer relating to the Account, the
terms of this Agreement will prevail, and in all other respects the terms of the
other agreement relating to the Account shall apply with respect to any matters
not covered by this Agreement. Regardless of any provision in any
such agreement, the State of New York shall be deemed to be the Bank’s location
for the purposes of this Agreement and the perfection and priority of the
Secured Party’s security interest in the Account.
Section
14. Termination. The rights and powers granted
herein to the Secured Party have been granted in order to perfect its security
interest in the Account, are powers coupled with an interest and will neither be
affected by the bankruptcy of the Customer nor by the lapse of
time. The obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall continue
in effect (i) until the security interest of the Secured Party in the Account
has been terminated and the Secured Party has notified the Bank of such
termination in writing, or (ii) this Agreement is terminated. Any of
the parties may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days’ prior written notice to
both of the other parties hereto; provided, however, that any Pledged Assets
which have not been released by the Secured Party at or prior to the time of
termination shall be transferred to a substitute bank designated by the Customer
and acceptable to the Secured Party. The provisions of Sections 7 and
8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Section 15. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the exhibits hereto and the
agreements and instruments required to be executed and delivered hereunder set
forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersede and discharge all prior agreements (written or oral) and
negotiations and all contemporaneous oral agreements concerning such subject
matter and negotiations. There are no oral conditions precedent to
the effectiveness of this Agreement.
Section
16. Amendments. No amendment, modification or
termination of this Agreement or waiver of any right hereunder shall be binding
on any party hereto unless it is in writing and is signed by the party to be
charged.
Section
17. Severability. If any term or provision set
forth in this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this
Agreement, or the application of such terms or provisions to persons or
circumstances, other than those to which it is held invalid or unenforceable,
shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable term or
provision were omitted.
Section
18. Successors. The terms of this Agreement shall
be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns.
Section 19. Rules of
Construction. In this Agreement, words in the singular number
include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; words of the
masculine gender include the feminine and the neuter, and when the sense so
indicates words of the neuter gender may refer to any gender and the word “or”
is disjunctive but not exclusive. The captions and section numbers
appearing in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of
convenience. They do not define, limit or describe the scope or
intent of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section
20. Notices. Any notice, request, Entitlement Order
or other communication required or permitted to be given under this Agreement
shall be in writing and deemed to have been properly given when delivered in
person, or when sent by telecopy or other electronic means (acceptable to the
Bank, if to the Bank) and electronic confirmation of error free receipt is
received, or after being sent by certified or registered United States mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid:
If to the
Bank:
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
North
American Insurance – Client Services
4 New
York Plaza – 15th Floor
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000 XXX
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telephone:
x0 000 000 0000
Telecopier:
x0 000 000 0000
If to the
Customer:
FLAGSTONE
RÉASSURANCE SUISSE XX
Xxx xx
Xxxxxxx 0,
XX-0000,
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Telephone:x00
00 000 00 00
Telecopier:x00
00 000 0000
If to the
Secured Party:
Barclays
Bank PLC
0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Attention:Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Telephone:x00 (0) 0000 000
000
Telecopier:x00 (0) 00 0000
0000
Section
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Agreement by signing and
delivering one or more counterparts.
Section 22. Choice of
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to laws as to
conflicts of laws, and shall be binding on the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns.
Section
23. Fees. The Customer shall pay to the Bank the
compensation agreed upon in writing from time to time and any other includable
expenses incurred in connection herewith.
Section 24. Consent to
Jurisdiction and Service. The Secured Party and the Customer
each hereby absolutely and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction
of the courts of the State of New York and of any Federal court located in the
County and State of New York in connection with any actions or proceedings
brought against the Secured Party or the Customer by the Bank or by the Secured
Party or the Customer against the Bank and arising out of or relating to this
Agreement. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives any objection
on the grounds of venue, forum non conveniens, or any similar grounds, and
irrevocably consents to service of process by mail or in any other manner
permitted by New York law, and irrevocably waives its right to any jury
trial.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto
have entered into this Agreement as of the date set forth above.
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By:
s/ _____________________
Name: Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Title: Client Relation
Manager
FLAGSTONE
RÉASSURANCE SUISSE SA
By:
s/ __________________ By:
s/ _____________________
Name:
Xxxx
Xxxxxx Name:
Xxx
Xxxxxx
Title:
Corporate
Secretary Title:
CEO
Director
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
By:
s/ _____________________
Name: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice
President
EXHIBIT
A
Names,
titles and signatures of authorized signers on behalf of Secured
Party
Name Title Signature
Xxxxx
Xxxxx Relationship
Directors _____________________
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Relationship
Directors _____________________
Xxxx
Xxxxxx Relationship
Directors _____________________
EXHIBIT
B
[to
be placed on Secured Party’s Letterhead]
NOTICE OF EXCLUSIVE
CONTROL
________________ 20___
JPMorgan
Chase Bank
[Address]_______________
________________________
________________________
Attention:______________
Re: Account Control Agreement dated as
of
_________________ (the “Agreement”)
among
_________________________________________________,
as Secured Party,
____________________________________________________,
as Customer,
and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Bank,
relating to
Securities
Account No.__________
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
This constitutes the Notice of
Exclusive Control referred to in the above referenced Agreement. You
are hereby instructed not to accept any direction, instruction or entitlement
orders with respect to the Securities Account listed above or the financial
assets credited thereto from any person other than the undersigned, unless
otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
[Secured Party’s Name]
By:_____________________
Name:
Title: