Dated 15th September, 2006 INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION PROGRAMME AGREEMENT (amended and restated) ALLEN & OVERY LLP LONDON
Exhibit 1.1
CONFORMED COPY
Dated 15th September, 2006
U.S.$7,000,000,000
EURO MEDIUM TERM NOTE PROGRAMME
EURO MEDIUM TERM NOTE PROGRAMME
PROGRAMME AGREEMENT
(amended and restated)
(amended and restated)
XXXXX & XXXXX LLP
LONDON
CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
Clause | ||||||
1. | Definitions and Interpretation |
2 | ||||
2. | Agreements to Issue and Purchase Notes |
5 | ||||
3. | Conditions of Issue; Updating of Legal Opinions |
6 | ||||
4. | Representations, Warranties and Undertakings |
10 | ||||
5. | Undertakings of the Issuer |
13 | ||||
6. | Indemnity |
17 | ||||
7. | Authority to Distribute Documents |
19 | ||||
8. | Dealers’ Undertakings |
19 | ||||
9. | Fees, Expenses and Stamp Duties |
19 | ||||
10. | Termination of Appointment of Dealers |
20 | ||||
11. | Appointment of New Dealers |
20 | ||||
12. | Increase in the Aggregate Nominal Amount of the Programme |
20 | ||||
13. | Status of the Dealers and the Arranger |
21 | ||||
14. | Counterparts |
21 | ||||
15. | Communications |
21 | ||||
16. | Benefit of Agreement |
22 | ||||
17. | Calculation Agent |
22 | ||||
18. | Stabilisation |
22 | ||||
19. | Governing Law |
23 | ||||
20. | Effective Date |
23 | ||||
Schedules | ||||||
A. | Initial Documentation List |
24 | ||||
B. | Selling Restrictions |
27 | ||||
C. | Part I — Form of Dealer Accession Letter — Programme |
31 | ||||
Part II — Form of Confirmation Letter |
32 | |||||
Part III — Form of Dealer Accession Letter — Note Issue |
33 | |||||
Part IV — Form of Confirmation Letter — Note Issue |
34 | |||||
D. | Letter regarding increase in the nominal amount of the Programme |
35 | ||||
E. | Form of Subscription Agreement |
36 | ||||
Annexe A to the Subscription Agreement | 40 | |||||
Signatories | 41 |
PROGRAMME AGREEMENT
(amended and restated)
in respect of a
U.S.$7,000,000,000
EURO MEDIUM TERM NOTE PROGRAMME
(amended and restated)
in respect of a
U.S.$7,000,000,000
EURO MEDIUM TERM NOTE PROGRAMME
THIS AGREEMENT is made on 15th September, 2006 BETWEEN:
(1) | INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION of 00000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 0000, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the “Issuer”); | |
(2) | ABN AMRO Bank N.V. of 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX; | |
(3) | BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED of 0 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX; | |
(4) | BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.of Edificio Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxx xxxx, Xxxxxxxx xxx Xxxxx, 00000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx; | |
(5) | BARCLAYS BANK PLC of 0 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX; | |
(6) | BNP PARIBAS of 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0 0XX; | |
(7) | CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED of Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX; | |
(8) | CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (EUROPE) LIMITED of Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX; | |
(9) | DAIWA SECURITIES SMBC EUROPE LIMITED of 0 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX; | |
(10) | DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX; | |
(11) | HSBC BANK PLC of 0 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX; | |
(12) | X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LTD. of 000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX; | |
(13) | XXXXXX BROTHERS INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE) of 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX; | |
(14) | XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Financial Centre, 0 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX; | |
(15) | MITSUBISHI UFJ SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL PLC of 0 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX; | |
(16) | XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED of 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX; | |
(17) | SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE of Tour Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, 00, Cours Valmy 00000 Xxxxx xx Défense; and |
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(18) | UBS LIMITED of 0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX. |
WHEREAS:
(A) | The Issuer entered into an Amended and Restated Programme Agreement dated 15th September, 2005 (the “Principal Programme Agreement”) between the Issuer and the Dealers named therein. | |
(B) | Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft and WestLB AG have resigned as a Dealer under the Programme and Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A., Barclays Bank PLC, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited, Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe Limited, HSBC Bank plc and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc have acceded to the Programme as a Dealer. | |
(C) | The parties hereto have agreed to make certain modifications to the Principal Programme Agreement and the Programme. | |
(D) | This Agreement amends and restates the Principal Programme Agreement. Any Notes issued on or after the date hereof shall be issued pursuant to this Agreement. This does not affect any Notes issued prior to the date of this Agreement. |
IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
(1) | For the purposes of this Agreement, except where the context requires otherwise: | |
“Agency Agreement” means the agency agreement (amended and restated) dated 15th September, 2006 between the Issuer, the Agent and the other Paying Agents referred to therein under which, amongst other things, the Agent is appointed as issuing agent, principal paying agent and agent bank for the purposes of the Programme; | ||
“Agent” means Citibank, N.A. as Agent under the Agency Agreement and any successor agent appointed in accordance with the Agency Agreement; | ||
“Agreement Date” means, in respect of any Note, the date on which agreement is reached by the Dealer and the Issuer regarding the pricing terms for the issue of such Note; | ||
“Agreements” means each of this Agreement and the Agency Agreement; | ||
“Arranger” means Xxxxxx Brothers International (Europe) or any other entity appointed from time to time as the arranger for the Programme; | ||
“Base Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus relating to the Notes prepared in connection with the Programme and constituting a base prospectus for the purpose of Article 5.4 of the Prospectus Directive as revised, supplemented or amended from time to time by the Issuer in accordance with clause 5(2) including, in relation to each Tranche of Notes, the applicable Final Terms, any supplement to the Base Prospectus and such other documents as are from time to time incorporated therein by reference except that for the purpose of clauses 3(2)(m)(iii), 4(1) and 4(2) in respect of the Agreement Date, the Signing Date and the Issue Date, the Base Prospectus means the Base Prospectus as at the Agreement Date but, without |
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prejudice to the above, not including any subsequent revision, supplement or amendment thereto or incorporation of information therein; | ||
“Clearstream, Luxembourg” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme; | ||
“Confirmation Letter” means: |
(a) | in respect of the appointment of a third party as a Dealer for the duration of the Programme, the Confirmation Letter substantially in the form set out in Part II of Appendix C hereto; and | ||
(b) | in respect of the appointment of a third party as a Dealer for one or more particular issues of Notes under the Programme, the Confirmation Letter substantially in the form set out in Part IV of Appendix C hereto; |
“CSSF” means Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier; | ||
“Dealer” means each of the Initial Dealers and any New Dealer and excludes any entity whose appointment has been terminated pursuant to clause 10, and references in this Agreement to the “relevant Dealer” shall, in relation to any Note, be references to the Dealer or Dealers with whom the Issuer has agreed the issue and purchase of such Note; | ||
“Dealer Accession Letter” means: |
(a) | in respect of the appointment of a third party as a Dealer for the duration of the Programme, the Dealer Accession Letter substantially in the form set out in Part I of Appendix C hereto; and | ||
(b) | in respect of the appointment of a third party as a Dealer for one or more particular issues of Notes under the Programme, the Dealer Accession Letter substantially in the form set out in Part III of Appendix C hereto; |
“Dealer Indemnified Person” means each Dealer, its affiliates and each person who controls such Dealer (within the meaning of section 15 of the Securities Act or section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each of their directors, officers, employees and agents; | ||
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.; | ||
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; | ||
“Final Terms” means the final terms issued in relation to each Tranche of Notes (substantially in the form of Annexe C to the Procedures Memorandum) and giving details of that Tranche and, in relation to any particular Tranche of Notes, “applicable Final Terms” means the Final Terms applicable to that Tranche; | ||
“FSMA” means the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000; | ||
“Initial Dealers” means the Dealers set out as 2 to 13 of the list of parties hereto; | ||
“Initial Documentation List” means the lists of documents sets out in Appendix A to this Agreement; |
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“Law on Prospectuses for Securities” means the Luxembourg Act dated 10th July, 2005 on prospectuses for securities implementing the Prospectus Directive; | ||
“Lead Manager” means, in relation to any Tranche of Notes, the person named as the Lead Manager in the applicable Subscription Agreement; | ||
“Listing Agent” means, in relation to any Notes which are, or are to be, listed on a Stock Exchange, such listing agent as the Issuer may from time to time appoint for the purposes of liaising with such Stock Exchange; | ||
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service Limited; | ||
“New Dealer” means any entity appointed as an additional Dealer in accordance with clause 11; | ||
“Note” means a note issued or to be issued by the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement, which Note may be represented by a Global Note or be in definitive form including any receipts, coupons or talons relating thereto; | ||
“Procedures Memorandum” means the Operating and Administrative Procedures Memorandum as amended or varied from time to time (in respect of any Tranche) by agreement between the Issuer and the relevant Dealer or Lead Manager with the approval in writing of the Agent; | ||
“Programme” means the Euro Medium Term Note Programme that is the subject of this Agreement; | ||
“Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC; | ||
“Prospectus Regulation” means Commission Regulation (EC) No 809/2004 implementing the Prospectus Directive; | ||
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended; | ||
“Signing Date” means, in respect of any Note not issued on a syndicated basis, the date on which the applicable Final Terms is signed by the Issuer, or in the case of Notes issued on a syndicated basis or otherwise in relation to which a Subscription Agreement is entered into, the date upon which the relevant Subscription Agreement is signed by or on behalf of all the parties thereto; | ||
“Standard & Poor’s” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a Division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc.; | ||
“Stock Exchange” means the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange(s) on which any Notes may from time to time be listed, and references in this Agreement to the “relevant Stock Exchange” shall, in relation to any Notes, be references to the stock exchange or stock exchanges on which such Notes are from time to time, or are intended to be, listed; and | ||
“Subscription Agreement” means an agreement (by whatever name called) in or substantially in the form set out in Appendix E hereto or in such other form as may be agreed |
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between the Issuer and the Lead Manager which agreement shall be supplemental to this Agreement. | ||
(2) | Terms and expressions defined in the Agency Agreement, the Conditions and/or the applicable Final Terms and not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the same meanings in this Agreement, except where the context otherwise requires. | |
(3) | In this Agreement, clause headings are inserted for convenience and ease of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. | |
(4) | All references in this Agreement to the provisions of any statute shall be deemed to be references to that statute as from time to time modified, extended, amended or re-enacted. | |
(5) | All references in this Agreement to an agreement, instrument or other document (including this Agreement, the Agency Agreement, any Series of Notes and any Conditions appertaining thereto) shall be construed as a reference to that agreement, instrument or document as the same may be amended, modified, varied, supplemented, replaced or novated from time to time including, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement as supplemented by any Subscription Agreement. | |
(6) | Words denoting the singular number only shall include the plural number also and vice versa; words denoting the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender also; and words denoting persons only shall include firms and corporations and vice versa. | |
(7) | All references in this Agreement to Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg shall, wherever the context so permits, be deemed to include reference to any additional or alternative clearing system approved by the Issuer and the Agent. | |
(8) | As used herein, in relation to any Notes which are to have a “listing” or be “listed” (i) on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, “listing” and “listed” shall be construed to mean that such Notes have been admitted to trading on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange’s regulated market and have been listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and (ii) on any other Stock Exchange in a jurisdiction within the European Economic Area, “listing” and “listed” shall be construed to mean that the Notes have been admitted to trading on a market within that jurisdiction which is a regulated market for the purposes of the Investment Services Directive (Directive 93/22/EEC). | |
(9) | References in this Agreement to a Directive include any relevant implementing measure of each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented such Directive. | |
2. | AGREEMENTS TO ISSUE AND PURCHASE NOTES | |
(1) | Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuer may from time to time agree with any Dealer to issue, and any Dealer may agree to purchase, Notes. | |
(2) | Unless otherwise agreed between the parties, on each occasion upon which the Issuer and any Dealer agree on the terms of the issue by the Issuer and purchase by such Dealer of one or more Notes: |
(a) | the Issuer shall cause such Notes which shall be initially represented by a Temporary Global Note to be issued and delivered on the agreed Issue Date to (i) if the Notes are CGNs, a common depositary or (ii) if the Notes are NGNs, a common safekeeper in each case for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg; |
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(b) | the securities account of the relevant Dealer (in the case of Notes issued on a syndicated basis) or the Agent (in the case of Notes issued on a non-syndicated basis) with Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg (as specified by the relevant Dealer) will be credited with such Notes on the agreed Issue Date, as described in the Procedures Memorandum; and | ||
(c) | the relevant Dealer or, as the case may be, the Lead Manager shall, subject to such Notes being so credited, cause the net purchase moneys for such Notes to be paid in the relevant currency by transfer of funds to the designated account of the Issuer (in the case of Notes issued on a syndicated basis) or the Agent (in the case of Notes issued on a non-syndicated basis) so that such payment is credited to such account for value on such Issue Date, as described in the Procedures Memorandum. |
(3) | Unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer and the relevant Dealer, where more than one Dealer has agreed with the Issuer to purchase a particular Tranche of Notes pursuant to this clause, the obligations of such Dealers so to purchase the Notes shall be joint and several. | |
(4) | Where the Issuer agrees with two or more Dealers to issue, and such Dealers agree to purchase, Notes on a syndicated basis, the Issuer shall enter into a Subscription Agreement with such Dealers. The Issuer may also enter into a Subscription Agreement with one Dealer only. For the avoidance of doubt, the Signing Date in respect of such issue shall be the date on which the Subscription Agreement is signed on behalf of all parties thereto. | |
(5) | The procedures which the parties intend should apply for the purposes of issues to be subscribed on a non-syndicated basis are set out in Annexe A, Part 1 of the Procedures Memorandum. The procedures which the parties intend should apply for the purposes of issues to be subscribed on a syndicated basis are set out in Annexe A, Part 2 of the Procedures Memorandum. | |
(6) | Each of the Issuer and the Dealers acknowledges that any issue of Notes denominated in a currency in respect of which particular laws, guidelines, regulations, restrictions or reporting requirements apply may only be issued in circumstances which comply with such laws, guidelines, regulations, restrictions or reporting requirements from time to time. | |
3. | CONDITIONS OF ISSUE; UPDATING OF LEGAL OPINIONS | |
(1) | First issue | |
Before the Issuer reaches its first agreement with any Dealer for the issue and purchase of Notes, each Dealer shall have received, and found satisfactory (in its reasonable opinion), all of the documents and confirmations described in Part I of the Initial Documentation List. Any Dealer must notify the Arranger and the Issuer within three London business days of receipt of the documents and confirmations described in Part I of the Initial Documentation List if it considers any such document or confirmation to be unsatisfactory in its reasonable opinion and, in the absence of such notification, such Dealer shall be deemed to consider such documents and confirmations to be satisfactory and such further conditions precedent to be satisfied. |
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(2) | Each issue | |
The obligations of a Dealer under any agreement for the issue and purchase of Notes made pursuant to clause 2 are conditional upon: |
(a) | there having been, as at the proposed Issue Date, no material adverse change from that set forth in the Base Prospectus as at the relevant Agreement Date in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, nor the occurrence of any event making untrue or incorrect to an extent which is material as aforesaid any of the warranties contained in clause 4; | ||
(b) | there being no outstanding material breach of any of the obligations of the Issuer under this Agreement, the Agency Agreement or any Notes which has not been expressly waived by the relevant Dealer on or prior to the proposed Issue Date; | ||
(c) | subject to clause 12, the aggregate nominal amount (or, in the case of Notes denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the U.S. dollar equivalent (determined as provided in subclause (5)) of the aggregate nominal amount) of the Notes to be issued, when added to the aggregate nominal amount (or, in the case of Notes denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the U.S. dollar equivalent (determined as aforesaid) of the aggregate nominal amount) of all Notes outstanding (as defined in the Agency Agreement) on the proposed Issue Date (excluding for this purpose Notes due to be redeemed on such Issue Date) not exceeding U.S.$7,000,000,000; | ||
(d) | in the case of Notes which are intended to be listed, the relevant authority or authorities having agreed to list such Notes, subject only to the issue of the relevant Notes; | ||
(e) | no meeting of the holders of Notes (or any of them) having been duly convened but not yet held or, if held but adjourned, the adjourned meeting having not been held; | ||
(f) | there having occurred, between the Agreement Date and the Issue Date for such Notes, none of the following: (a) a suspension or material limitation (including any setting of minimum prices) in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange or any stock exchange on which such Notes are to be listed if the effect of any such event, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, is to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such relevant Dealer(s) of offers to purchase Notes or the purchase of Notes from the Issuer as principal on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (b) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities, in Europe declared by the European Central Bank or, in respect of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain or the United Kingdom, declared by the relevant national authorities, or in respect of the country (if not included in the foregoing list of countries) in whose currency the payments of interest or principal on the Notes are denominated, declared by the relevant national authority; (c) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain or the United Kingdom or the country (if not including in the foregoing list of countries) in whose currency the payments of interest or principal on the Notes are denominated, or the |
8
declaration by any such country of a national emergency or war (other than any such outbreak, escalation or declaration that does not represent a significant departure from the conditions that exist on such Agreement Date) if the effect of any such event, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, is to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such relevant Dealer(s) of offers to purchase Notes or the purchase of Notes from the Issuer as principal on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (d) the suspension in trading in the securities of the Issuer on any national securities exchange or quotation system on which they are listed or quoted if the effect of such event, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, is to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such relevant Dealer(s) of offers to purchase Notes or the purchase of Notes from the Issuer as principal on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (e) any downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating accorded the Issuer’s senior debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organisation”, as that term is defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; or (f) any material change in or affecting the business or properties of the Issuer that, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, materially impairs the investment quality of the Notes; | |||
(g) | there being in full force and effect all governmental or regulatory resolutions, approvals or consents required for the Issuer to issue the Notes on the proposed Issue Date and for the Issuer to fulfil its obligations under such Notes and the Issuer having delivered to the relevant Dealer (and, to the extent not previously delivered, to the Arranger) certified copies of such resolutions, approvals or consents and, where applicable, certified English translations thereof; | ||
(h) | there having been, between the Agreement Date and the Issue Date, no downgrading in the rating of any of the Issuer’s debt by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch Ratings Ltd. or the placing on “Creditwatch” with negative implications or similar publication of formal review by the relevant rating agency; | ||
(i) | the forms of the Final Terms, the applicable Global Notes, Notes in definitive form and Receipts, Coupons or Talons (each as applicable) in relation to the relevant Tranche and the relevant settlement procedures having been agreed by the Issuer, the relevant Dealer and the Agent; | ||
(j) | the relevant currency being accepted for settlement by Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg; | ||
(k) | the delivery to the common depositary or, as the case may be, the common safekeeper of the Temporary Global Note and/or the Permanent Global Note representing the relevant Notes as provided in the Agency Agreement; | ||
(l) | any calculations or determinations which are required by the relevant Conditions to have been made prior to the Issue Date having been duly made; and | ||
(m) | in the case of Notes which are intended to be listed on a European Economic Area Stock Exchange or offered to the public in a European Economic Area Member State in circumstances which require, or but for the fact that the denomination of the Notes |
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is €50,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) would require, the publication of a prospectus under the Prospectus Directive: |
(i) | the minimum denomination of the Notes being €50,000 (or, if the Notes are denominated in a currency other than euro, the equivalent amount in such currency) or such other amount as may be allowed or required from time to time by the relevant regulatory authority or any laws or regulations applicable to the currency of the Notes; | ||
(ii) | the Base Prospectus having been approved as a base prospectus by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and the applicable Final Terms having been published in accordance with the Prospectus Directive; and | ||
(iii) | either (A) there being no significant new factor, material mistake or inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Base Prospectus which is capable of affecting the assessment of the Notes or (B) if there is such a significant new factor, material mistake or inaccuracy, a supplement to the Base Prospectus having been published in accordance with the Prospectus Directive pursuant to clause 5(2). |
(n) | in the case of Notes which are intended to be listed on a European Economic Area Stock Exchange (other than the Luxembourg Stock Exchange) or offered to the public in a European Economic Area Member State (other than Luxembourg) in circumstances which require the publication of a prospectus under the Prospectus Directive, the competent authority of each relevant European Economic Area Member State having been notified in accordance with the procedures set out in Articles 17 and 18 of the Prospectus Directive and all requirements under those Articles having been satisfied and, if required pursuant to Article 19(4) of the Prospectus Directive, a summary having been drawn up. |
In the event that any of the foregoing conditions is not satisfied, the relevant Dealer shall be entitled (but not bound) by notice to the Issuer to be released and discharged from its obligations under the agreement reached under clause 2. | ||
(3) | Waiver | |
Subject to the discretion of the Lead Manager as provided in a Subscription Agreement, any Dealer, on behalf of itself only, may by notice in writing to the Issuer waive any of the conditions precedent contained in subclause (2) (save for the conditions precedent contained in subclauses (2)(c), (2)(m) and (2)(n)) in so far as they relate to an issue of Notes to that Dealer. | ||
(4) | Updating of legal opinions | |
Before the first issue of Notes occurring after each anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the Issuer will procure that further legal opinions, in substantially the respective forms and with substantially the content as the legal opinions delivered pursuant to the Initial Documentation List, are delivered, at the expense of the Issuer, to the Dealers from legal advisers (reasonably acceptable to the Dealers) as to New York law, California law, United States federal securities law and English law. |
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In addition, on such other occasions as a Dealer so requests the Issuer (on the basis of reasonable grounds, the Issuer will procure that a further legal opinion or further legal opinions, as the case may be, in such form and with such content as the Dealers may reasonably require, is or are delivered, at the expense of the Issuer to the Dealers from legal advisers (approved by the Dealers) as to New York law, California law, United States federal securities law and/or English law, as the case may be. If at or prior to the time of any agreement to issue and purchase Notes under clause 2, such a request is made with respect to the Notes to be issued, the receipt of the relevant opinion or opinions by the relevant Dealer in a form satisfactory to the relevant Dealer shall be a further condition precedent to the issue of those Notes to that Dealer. | ||
(5) | Determination of amounts outstanding | |
For the purposes of subclause (2)(c): |
(a) | the U.S. dollar equivalent of Notes denominated in another Specified Currency shall be determined, at the discretion of the Issuer, either as of the Agreement Date for such Notes or on the preceding day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets are open for business in London, in each case on the basis of the spot rate for the sale of the U.S. dollar against the purchase of such Specified Currency in the London foreign exchange market quoted by any leading international bank selected by the Issuer on the relevant day of calculation; | ||
(b) | the U.S. dollar equivalent of Dual Currency Notes, Index Linked Notes and Partly Paid Notes shall be calculated in the manner specified above by reference to the original nominal amount on issue of such Notes (in the case of Partly Paid Notes regardless of the amount of the subscription price paid); and | ||
(c) | the U.S. dollar equivalent of Zero Coupon Notes and other Notes issued at a discount or a premium shall be calculated in the manner specified above by reference to the net proceeds received by the Issuer for the relevant issue. |
4. | REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS | |
(1) | As at the date of this Agreement, the Issuer hereby represents, warrants and undertakes to the Dealers and each of them as follows: |
(a) | that (i) the latest audited annual financial statements of the Issuer and its subsidiaries included in the Issuer’s annual report on Form 10-K most recently filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as it may be amended by Form 10-K/A (the “Form 10-K”), and incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Issuer and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations for the periods specified and except as otherwise stated in the Form 10-K, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, (ii) the financial information included in the Base Prospectus, including financial statements incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, was prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Prospectus Regulation and (iii) except as disclosed in the Base Prospectus, since the date of such latest audited annual financial statements neither the Issuer nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transactions not in the ordinary course of business and there has not been any material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, |
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prospects or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; |
(b) | that the Base Prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact that is necessary in order to make the statements made in the Base Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and there is no other fact or matter omitted from the Base Prospectus which was or is necessary to enable investors and their professional advisers to make an informed assessment of the assets and liabilities, financial position, profits and losses and prospects of the Issuer and of the rights attaching to the Notes; | ||
(c) | that the Issuer has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good standing under California law with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Base Prospectus and to execute and perform its obligations under the Agreements and is duly qualified to conduct business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries considered as a whole; | ||
(d) | that the issue of Notes and the execution and delivery of the Agreements by the Issuer have been duly authorised by all corporate action on the part of the Issuer and, in the case of Notes, upon due execution, issue and delivery in accordance with the Agency Agreement, will constitute, and, in the case of the Agreements constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable in accordance with their respective terms subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganisation and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; | ||
(e) | that the execution and delivery of the Agreements, the issue, offering and distribution of Notes and the performance of the terms of any Notes and the Agreements will not infringe any law, regulation, order, rule, decree or statute applicable to the Issuer or to which its property may be subject and are not contrary to the provisions of the constitutional documents of the Issuer and will not result in any breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any instrument, agreement or order to which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer or its property is bound; | ||
(f) | that no Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or other condition would constitute an Event of Default is subsisting in relation to any outstanding Note and no event has occurred which would constitute (after an issue of Notes) an Event of Default thereunder or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or other condition would (after an issue of Notes) constitute such an Event of Default; | ||
(g) | that the Issuer (i) is not engaged (whether as defendant or otherwise) in, nor has the Issuer knowledge of the existence of, or any threat of, any legal, arbitration, administrative, governmental or other proceedings the result of which is reasonably expected to result in claims or amounts which would be material in the context of the Programme and/or the issue and offering of Notes thereunder or which would reasonably be expected to have or have had a material adverse effect on the consolidated or unconsolidated financial condition, results of operations or business of the Issuer and (ii) has not taken any action nor, to the best of its knowledge have any steps been taken or legal proceedings commenced for the winding up or dissolution of the Issuer; |
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(h) | that no consent, approval, authorisation, order, filing, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental authority is required and no other action or thing (including, without limitation, the payment of any stamp or other similar tax or duty) is required to be taken, fulfilled or done by the Issuer for or in connection with (i) the execution, issue and offering of Notes under the Programme and compliance by the Issuer with the terms of any Notes issued under the Programme or (ii) the execution and delivery of, and compliance with the terms of, the Agreements; | ||
(i) | that all corporate approvals and authorisations required by the Issuer for or in connection with (i) the execution, issue and offering of Notes under the Programme and compliance by the Issuer with the terms of any Notes issued under the Programme and (ii) the execution and delivery of, and compliance with the terms of, the Agreements have been obtained and are in full force and effect; | ||
(j) | that none of the Issuer, its affiliates and any persons acting on any of their behalf, has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (as defined in Rule 902(c) under the Securities Act) with respect to the Notes; | ||
(k) | that the Issuer, its affiliates, and each person acting on any of their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S under the Securities Act; | ||
(l) | that the Issuer is a reporting issuer (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); | ||
(m) | that since 31st December, 2005 the Issuer has filed all reports and all proxy or information statements required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) or the Exchange Act (the “Exchange Filed Information”). Each such report and statement filed by the Issuer and incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus, as amended to the date hereof and to the date of publication of any supplement to the Base Prospectus or a new Base Prospectus pursuant to clause 5(2)(b), contained all material statements required to be included therein by, and conformed in all material respects to and was filed in compliance with, the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; | ||
(n) | that the Issuer is not now and, as a result of the issue of any Notes, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; | ||
(o) | that in relation to each Tranche of Notes for which any Dealer is named as a Stabilising Manager in the applicable Final Terms, it has not issued and will not issue, without the prior consent of any such Dealer, any press or other public announcement referring to the proposed issue of Notes unless the announcement adequately discloses that stabilising action may take place in relation to the Notes to be issued and the Issuer authorises such Dealer to make such disclosure instead of the Issuer, if so agreed between the Issuer and the Dealer; and | ||
(p) | that any summary required pursuant to Article 19(4) of the Prospectus Directive is not misleading, inaccurate or inconsistent when read with other parts of the Base Prospectus and any translation of such summary prepared by or on behalf of the Issuer is accurate in all material respects. |
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(2) | With regard to each issue of Notes, the Issuer shall be deemed to repeat the representations, warranties and agreements contained in subclause (1) as at the Agreement Date for such Notes, as at the Signing Date (any agreement on such dates being deemed to have been made on the basis of, and in reliance on, such representations, warranties and agreements) and as at the Issue Date of such Notes. | |
(3) | The Issuer shall be deemed to repeat the representations, warranties and agreements contained in subclause (1) on each date on which the Base Prospectus is revised, supplemented or amended and on each date on which the aggregate nominal amount of the Programme is increased in accordance with clause 12. | |
(4) | The representations, warranties and agreements contained in this clause shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the actual or constructive knowledge of any Dealer with respect to any of the matters referred to in the representations and warranties set out above, any investigation by or on behalf of the Dealers or completion of the subscription and issue of any Notes. | |
5. | UNDERTAKINGS OF THE ISSUER | |
(1) | Notification of material developments | |
(a) | The Issuer shall promptly after becoming aware of the occurrence thereof notify each Dealer of (A) any Event of Default or any condition, event or act which would after an issue of Notes (or would with the giving of notice and/or the lapse of time) constitute an Event of Default, (B) any material breach of the representations and warranties or undertakings contained in the Agreements or (C) anything that would require the publication of a supplement to the Base Prospectus or a new Base Prospectus pursuant to clause 5(2)(b). | |
(b) | If, following the Agreement Date and before the Issue Date of the relevant Notes, the Issuer becomes aware that any of the conditions specified in clause 3(2) will not be satisfied in relation to that issue, the Issuer shall forthwith notify the relevant Dealer to this effect giving full details thereof. In such circumstances, the relevant Dealer shall be entitled (but not bound) by notice to the Issuer to be released and discharged from its obligations under the agreement reached under clause 2. | |
(c) | Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Issuer shall from time to time promptly furnish to each Dealer such information relating to the Issuer as such Dealer may reasonably request. | |
(2) | Updating of Base Prospectus | |
(a) | On or before each anniversary of the date of this Agreement, the Issuer shall update or amend the Base Prospectus (following consultation with the Arranger who will consult with the Dealers) by the publication of a supplement thereto or a new Base Prospectus, in a form approved by the Dealers. | |
(b) | In the event of (i) a significant new factor, material mistake or inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Base Prospectus which is capable of affecting the assessment of the Notes arising or being noted, (ii) a change in the condition of the Issuer which is material in the context of the Programme or the issue of any Notes or (iii) the Base Prospectus otherwise coming to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Base Prospectus to comply with, or reflect changes in, any |
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applicable laws or regulations the Issuer shall update or amend the Base Prospectus (following consultation with the Dealers or the relevant Dealer (if any)) by the publication in accordance with the Prospectus Directive of a supplement thereto or a new Base Prospectus in a form approved by the Dealers other than where a supplement has been prepared in accordance with subclause (c) below. | ||
(c) | On each occasion on which the Issuer publishes and files with the Commission on Form 10-Q any interim consolidated financial statements, the Issuer will prepare and publish in accordance with the Prospectus Directive a supplement to the Base Prospectus either setting out those financial statements or incorporating them by reference in the Base Prospectus. A copy of the final version of each such supplement will be provided to the Dealers. | |
(d) | The Base Prospectus shall, as specified therein, be deemed to incorporate by reference therein the Exchange Filed Information. Upon the publication of a revision, supplement or amendment to the Base Prospectus (“Revision”), the Issuer shall promptly supply to each Dealer and the Agent such number of copies of such Revision as each Dealer or the Agent (as the case may be) may reasonably request. Until a Dealer receives a Revision, the definition of “Base Prospectus” in clause 1(1) shall, in relation to such Dealer, mean the Base Prospectus prior to the receipt by such Dealer of such Revision. | |
(e) | If the terms of the Programme are modified or amended in a manner which would make the Base Prospectus inaccurate or misleading, a new Base Prospectus will be prepared and published in accordance with the Prospectus Directive in a form approved by the Dealers. | |
(3) | Listing | |
The Issuer: |
(a) | in the case of Notes which are intended to be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange shall cause an initial application to be made for Notes issued under the Programme to be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange; and | ||
(b) | in the case of Notes which are intended to be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or offered to the public in a European Economic Area Member State in circumstances which require the publication of a prospectus under the Prospectus Directive, confirms that the Base Prospectus has been approved as a base prospectus by the CSSF and that it and the applicable Final Terms have been published in accordance with the Prospective Directive. |
If in relation to any issue of Notes, it is agreed between the Issuer and the relevant Dealer or the Lead Manager, as the case may be, to list such Notes on a Stock Exchange, the Issuer undertakes, subject as provided herein, to use its best endeavours to obtain and maintain the listing of such Notes on such Stock Exchange PROVIDED THAT if (i) any Notes cease to be listed on the relevant Stock Exchange or (ii) if the maintenance of the listing of any Notes has, in the opinion of the Issuer, become unduly onerous for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to, the need for the Issuer to meet the requirements introduced following implementation of the Prospectus Directive or the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of transparency requirements with regard to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market (which test, for the avoidance of doubt, would be satisfied if the Issuer would be required to publish financial information more regularly than it would otherwise be required to or according to accounting principles or standards that are materially different from United States generally accepted accounting principles), the Issuer shall be entitled to terminate such |
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listing subject to its using its best endeavours to list, as soon as reasonably practicable after such cessastion of listing, such Notes on a stock exchange, within or outside the European Union, to be agreed between the Issuer and the relevant Dealer or, as the case may be, the Lead Manager. |
The Issuer shall comply with the rules of each relevant Stock Exchange (or any other relevant authority or authorities) and shall otherwise comply with any undertakings given by it from time to time to the relevant Stock Exchange (or any other relevant authority or authorities) in connection with any Notes listed on such Stock Exchange or the listing thereof and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall furnish or procure to be furnished to the relevant Stock Exchange (or any other relevant authority or authorities) all such information as the relevant Stock Exchange (or any other relevant authority or authorities) may require in connection with the listing on such Stock Exchange of any Notes. | ||
(4) | The Agency Agreement | |
The Issuer undertakes that it will not, except with the consent of the Dealers, appoint a different Agent under the Agency Agreement and that it will promptly notify each of the Dealers of any amendment to the Agency Agreement. | ||
(5) | Lawful compliance | |
The Issuer will at all times endeavour to ensure that all necessary action is taken and all necessary conditions are fulfilled (including, without limitation, the obtaining and, where relevant, maintenance in full force and effect of all necessary permissions, consents or approvals of all relevant governmental authorities) so that it may lawfully comply with its obligations under all Notes, the Agreements and, further, so that it may comply with any applicable laws, regulations and guidance from time to time promulgated by any governmental and regulatory authorities relevant in the context of the issue of Notes. | ||
The Issuer agrees to comply with the restrictions set out in paragraph 4 of Appendix B hereto. | ||
(6) | Authorised representative | |
The Issuer will notify the Dealers immediately in writing if any of the persons named in the list referred to in paragraph 3 of Part I of the Initial Documentation List ceases to be authorised to take action on its behalf or if any additional person becomes so authorised together, in the case of an additional authorised person, with evidence satisfactory to the Dealers that such person has been so authorised. | ||
(7) | Auditors’ comfort letters | |
The Issuer will (i) at the time of the preparation of the initial Base Prospectus, (ii) thereafter upon each occasion when the same may be revised, supplemented or amended, whether by means of information incorporated by reference or otherwise, (insofar as such revision, supplement, amendment or update concerns or contains financial information about the Issuer) and (iii) at other times whenever so requested by a Dealer (on the basis of reasonable grounds) deliver, at the expense of the Issuer to the Dealers a comfort letter or comfort letters from independent auditors of the Issuer in substantially the form and with such content as is consistent with the comfort letter or comfort letters delivered pursuant to the Initial Documentation List provided that no such letter or letters will be delivered under paragraph (ii) above if the only revision, supplement or amendment concerned is the publication or issue of any financial statements (including Form 10-K or 10-Q) of the Issuer. |
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If at or prior to the time of any agreement to issue and purchase Notes under clause 2 such a request is made with respect to the Notes to be issued, the receipt of the relevant comfort letter or letters in a form satisfactory to the relevant Dealer shall be a further condition precedent to the issue of those Notes to that Dealer. | ||
(8) | No other issues | |
During the period commencing on an Agreement Date and ending on the Issue Date with respect to any Notes which are to be listed, the Issuer will not, without the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or, as the case may be, the Lead Manager, issue or agree to issue any other listed notes, bonds or other debt securities of whatsoever nature (other than Notes to be issued to the same Dealer) where such notes, bonds or other debt securities would have the same maturity and currency as the Notes to be issued on the relevant Issue Date. | ||
(9) | Information on Noteholders’ meetings | |
The Issuer will, at the same time as it is despatched, furnish the Dealers with a copy of every notice of a meeting of the holders of the Notes (or any of them) which is despatched at the instigation of the Issuer and will notify the Dealers immediately upon its becoming aware that a meeting of the holders of the Notes (or any of them) has otherwise been convened. | ||
(10) | Ratings | |
The Issuer undertakes promptly to notify the Dealers of any change in the ratings given by Moody’s and/or Standard & Poor’s and/or Fitch Ratings Ltd. of the Issuer’s debt or upon it becoming aware that such ratings are listed on “Creditwatch” or other similar publication of formal review by the relevant rating agency. | ||
(11) | Commercial Paper | |
In respect of any Tranche of Notes having a maturity of less than one year, the Issuer will issue such Notes only if the following conditions apply (or the Notes can otherwise be issued without contravention of Section 19 of the FSMA): |
(a) | the relevant Dealer covenants in the terms set out in paragraph 2(ii) of Appendix B; and | ||
(b) | the redemption value of each Note is not less than £100,000 (or an amount of equivalent value denominated wholly or partly in a currency other than sterling), and no part of any Note may be transferred unless the redemption value of that part is not less than £100,000 (or such an equivalent amount). |
(12) | Annual Information Statement | |
The Issuer undertakes that it will at least annually provide a document that contains or refers to all information published or made available to the public by it over the preceding 12 months in compliance with applicable securities laws, as required by Article 10 of the Prospectus Directive. |
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6. | INDEMNITY | |
(1) | Without prejudice to the other rights or remedies of the Dealers, the Issuer undertakes with the Dealers and each of them that it will hold each Dealer Indemnified Person indemnified against any and all loss, liability, claim, action, damage or expense which that Dealer Indemnified Person may incur or which may be made against it as a result of or in relation to: |
(a) | any actual or alleged breach of the representations, warranties and undertakings contained in, or made or deemed to be made by the Issuer pursuant to, this Agreement; or | ||
(b) | any untrue or misleading (or allegedly untrue or misleading) statement in, or any omission (or alleged omission) from, the Base Prospectus; or | ||
(c) | any untrue or misleading (or allegedly untrue or misleading) statement in any additional written information provided by the Issuer to the Dealers pursuant to clause 7 below, |
and such indemnity shall extend to include all costs, charges and expenses which that Dealer Indemnified Person may pay or incur in disputing or defending any claim or action in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Issuer under this clause; provided, however that this indemnity shall not apply to any Dealer in respect of any loss, liability, claim, action, damage or expense to the extent arising out of, or based upon, any untrue or misleading (or allegedly untrue or misleading) statement in, or any omission (or alleged omission) from, the Base Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of such Dealer expressly for use in the Base Prospectus. | ||
(2) | Each Dealer severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Issuer within the meaning of section 15 of the Securities Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, action, damage and expense with respect to any untrue or misleading statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Base Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of such Dealer expressly for use in the Base Prospectus and such indemnity shall extend to include all costs, charges and expenses which the Issuer, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Issuer may pay or incur in disputing or defending any claim or action in respect of which indemnity may be sought against such Dealer under this clause. As at the date hereof, the parties hereto agree that the only information supplied by a Dealer for use in the Base Prospectus as aforesaid is such Dealer’s legal and business name as appearing therein. | |
(3) | Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In case any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, to assume the defence thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party of its election to assume the defence of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this clause 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defence thereof; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defence thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the |
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expense of such indemnified party unless the named parties to any such action shall include both such indemnified party and the indemnifying party and such indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defences available to it which are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party and in the reasonable judgment of such counsel it is advisable for such indemnified party to employ separate counsel. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (other than local counsel) for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party to the extent set forth in subclause (1) or (2) hereof, as applicable, from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding. | ||
(4) | If the indemnification provided for in this clause 6 shall for any reason be unavailable to an indemnified party under clause 6(1) or clause 6(2) hereof in respect of any loss, liability, claim, action or damage referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, action or damage, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer, on the other hand, and the Dealer whose claim is subject to contribution, on the other, from the offering of the relevant Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Issuer, on the one hand, and such Dealer, on the other, with respect to the breach of representations, warranties or undertakings or statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuer, on the one hand, and the Dealers, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the relevant Notes (before deducting expenses) received by the Issuer bear to the total discounts and commissions received by any Dealer with respect to such offering. Where relevant, the relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuer or any Dealer, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Issuer and the Dealers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this clause 6(4) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Dealers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, liability, claim, action or damage, referred to above in this clause 6(4) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this clause 6(4), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent not already paid or payable pursuant to another provisions of this clause 6. Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause 6(4), no Dealer shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes sold to such Dealer and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the |
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amount of any damages which such Dealer has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Dealers’ obligations under this clause 6(4) to contribute are several in proportion to the respective principal amounts of Notes purchased by each such Dealer in such offering and not joint. | ||
7. | AUTHORITY TO DISTRIBUTE DOCUMENTS | |
Subject to clause 8 below, the Issuer hereby authorises each of the Dealers on behalf of the Issuer to provide copies of the Base Prospectus (and any translation prepared by or on behalf of the Issuer of all or any part of the Base Prospectus or any summary drawn up pursuant to Article 19(4) of the Prospectus Directive, as the case may be) to actual and potential purchasers of Notes. Subject to clause 8 below, the Issuer hereby authorises each of the Dealers on behalf of the Issuer to provide copies of such additional written information as the Issuer shall provide to the Dealers and approve for the Dealers to use for such purpose to actual and potential purchasers of Notes. | ||
8. | DEALERS’ UNDERTAKINGS | |
Each Dealer agrees to comply with the restrictions and agreements set out in Appendix B hereto unless otherwise agreed with the Issuer. | ||
9. | FEES, EXPENSES AND STAMP DUTIES | |
The Issuer undertakes that it will: |
(a) | pay to each Dealer all commissions agreed between the Issuer and such Dealer in connection with the sale of any Notes to that Dealer (and any value added or other tax thereon); | ||
(b) | pay (together with any value added tax or other tax thereon): |
(i) | the fees and expenses of its legal advisers and auditors; | ||
(ii) | the cost of listing and maintaining the listing of any Notes which are to be listed on a Stock Exchange; | ||
(iii) | the cost of obtaining any credit rating for the Notes; | ||
(iv) | the fees and expenses of the agents appointed under the Agency Agreement; and | ||
(v) | all expenses in connection with the establishment of the Programme including, but not limited to, the preparation and printing of the Base Prospectus, all amendments and supplements to it, replacements of it and the cost of any publicity agreed by the Issuer; |
(c) | pay to Xxxxxx Brothers International (Europe) the reasonable fees and disbursements of the legal advisers appointed to represent the Dealers (including any value added tax or other tax thereon) in connection with the establishment of the Programme; and |
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(d) | pay promptly, and in any event before any penalty becomes payable, any stamp, documentary, registration or similar duty or tax (including any stamp duty reserve tax) payable in connection with the issue, sale and/or delivery of any Note and/or the execution and/or delivery of any of the Agreements. |
10. | TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT OF DEALERS | |
The Issuer or (as to itself) a Dealer may terminate the arrangements described in this Agreement by giving not less than 30 days’ written notice to the other parties hereto. The Issuer may terminate the appointment of a Dealer or Dealers by giving not less than 30 days’ written notice to such Dealer or Dealers (with a copy promptly thereafter to all the other Dealers and the Agent). Termination shall not affect any rights or obligations (including but not limited to those arising under clauses 6, 8 and/or 9) which have accrued at the time of termination or which accrue thereafter in relation to any act or omission or alleged act or omission which occurred prior to such time. | ||
11. | APPOINTMENT OF NEW DEALERS | |
(1) | Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Issuer from appointing one or more New Dealers for the duration of the Programme or, with regard to an issue of a particular Tranche of Notes, the Issuer from appointing one or more New Dealers for the purposes of that Tranche, in either case upon the terms of this Agreement and provided that, unless such appointment is effected pursuant to a Subscription Agreement: |
(a) | any New Dealer shall have first delivered to the Issuer an appropriate Dealer Accession Letter; and | ||
(b) | the Issuer shall have delivered to such New Dealer an appropriate Confirmation Letter. |
(2) | Upon receipt of the relevant Confirmation Letter or execution of the relevant Subscription Agreement, as the case may be, each such New Dealer shall, subject to the terms of the relevant Dealer Accession Letter or the relevant Subscription Agreement, as the case may be, become a party to this Agreement, vested with all authority, rights, powers, duties and obligations of a Dealer as if originally named as a Dealer hereunder provided further that, except in the case of the appointment of a New Dealer for the duration of the Programme, following the Issue Date of the relevant Tranche, the relevant New Dealer shall have no further such authority, rights, powers, duties or obligations except such as may have accrued or been incurred prior to, or in connection with, the issue of such Tranche. | |
(3) | The Issuer shall promptly notify the other Dealers and the Agent of any appointment of a New Dealer for the duration of the Programme by supplying to such parties a copy of any Dealer Accession Letter and Confirmation Letter. Such notice shall be required to be given in the case of an appointment of a New Dealer for a particular Tranche of Notes to the Agent only. | |
12. | INCREASE IN THE AGGREGATE NOMINAL AMOUNT OF THE PROGRAMME | |
(1) | From time to time the Issuer may wish to increase the aggregate nominal amount of the Notes that may be issued under the Programme. In such circumstances, the Issuer may give notification of such an increase (subject as set out in subclause (2)) by delivering to the Listing Agent and the Dealers with a copy to the Agent a letter substantially in the form set out in Appendix D hereto. Upon the date specified in such notice (which date may not be |
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earlier than seven London business days after the date the notice is given) and subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent set out in subclause (2), all references in the Agreements to a Euro Medium Term Note Programme of a certain nominal amount shall be deemed to be references to a Euro Medium Term Note Programme of the increased nominal amount. |
(2) | Notwithstanding subclause (1), the right of the Issuer to increase the aggregate nominal amount of the Programme shall be subject to each Dealer having received and found satisfactory all the documents and confirmations described in Part II of the Initial Documentation List (with such changes as may be relevant with reference to the circumstances at the time of the proposed increase as are agreed between the Issuer and the Dealers), and the satisfaction of any further conditions precedent that any of the Dealers may reasonably require, including, without limitation, the production of a new Base Prospectus or a supplement to the Base Prospectus by the Issuer and any further or other documents required by the relevant authority or authorities for the purpose of listing any Notes to be issued on the relevant Stock Exchange. The Arranger shall circulate to the Dealers all the documents and confirmations described in Part II of the Initial Documentation List and any further conditions precedent so required. Any Dealer must notify the Arranger and the Issuer within three London business days of receipt if it considers, in its reasonable opinion, such documents, confirmations and, if applicable, such further conditions precedent to be unsatisfactory and, in the absence of such notification, such Dealer shall be deemed to consider such documents and confirmations to be satisfactory and such further conditions precedent to be satisfied. | |
13. | STATUS OF THE DEALERS AND THE ARRANGER | |
(1) | Each of the Dealers agrees that the Arranger has only acted in an administrative capacity to facilitate the establishment and/or maintenance of the Programme and has no responsibility to it for (a) the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of any representation, warranty, undertaking, agreement, statement or information in the Base Prospectus, any Final Terms, this Agreement or any information provided in connection with the Programme or (b) the nature and suitability to it of all legal, tax and accounting matters and all documentation in connection with the Programme or any Tranche. | |
(2) | The Arranger shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in this Agreement. | |
14. | COUNTERPARTS | |
This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement and any party may enter into this Agreement by executing a counterpart. | ||
15. | COMMUNICATIONS | |
(1) | All communications shall be by telex, fax or letter delivered by hand or (but only where specifically provided in the Procedures Memorandum) by telephone. Each communication shall be made to the relevant party at the telex number, fax number or address or telephone number and, in the case of a communication by telex, fax or letter, marked for the attention of, or (in the case of a communication by telephone) made to, the person or department from time to time specified in writing by that party to the other for the purpose. The initial telephone number, telex number, fax number and person or department so specified by each party are set out in the Procedures Memorandum. |
22
(2) | A communication shall be deemed received (if by telex) when a confirmed answerback is received at the end of the transmission, (if by fax) when an acknowledgement of receipt is received, (if by telephone) when made or (if by letter) when delivered, in each case in the manner required by this clause. However, if a communication is received after business hours on any business day or on a day which is not a business day in the place of receipt it shall be deemed to be received and become effective on the next business day in the place of receipt. Every communication shall be irrevocable save in respect of any manifest error therein. | |
16. | BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT | |
(1) | This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure for the benefit of the Issuer and each Dealer and their respective successors and permitted assigns. | |
(2) | A Dealer may only assign or transfer its rights or obligations under this Agreement with the prior written consent of the Issuer except for an assignment and/or transfer of all of a Dealer’s rights and obligations hereunder in whatever form such Dealer determines may be appropriate to a partnership, corporation, trust or other organisation in whatever form that may succeed to, or to which the Dealer transfers, all or substantially all of the Dealer’s assets and business and that assumes such obligations by contract, operation of law or otherwise. Upon any such transfer and assumption of obligations such Dealer shall be relieved of and fully discharged from all obligations under this Agreement, whether such obligations arose before or after such transfer and assumption. | |
17. | CALCULATION AGENT | |
(1) | In the case of any Series of Notes which require the appointment of a Calculation Agent the Agent shall act as Calculation Agent, unless the relevant Dealer or, as the case may be, the Lead Manager requests the Issuer to appoint such Dealer or Lead Manager, or a person nominated by such Dealer or Lead Manager (a “Nominee”), as Calculation Agent. | |
(2) | Should such a request be made to the Issuer the appointment of that Dealer or Lead Manager shall be automatic upon the issue of the relevant Series of Notes and shall, except as agreed, be on the terms set out in the Calculation Agency Agreement set out in Schedule 1 to the Agency Agreement, and no further action shall be required to effect the appointment of such Dealer or Lead Manager as Calculation Agent in relation to that Series of Notes, and the Schedule to the Calculation Agency Agreement shall be deemed to be duly annotated to include such Series. The name of the Dealer or Lead Manager so appointed will be entered in the applicable Final Terms. | |
(3) | Should such a request be made to the Issuer for the appointment of a Nominee as the Calculation Agent, such Nominee must be reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and shall agree with the Issuer in writing to its appointment as Calculation Agent on the terms set out in the Calculation Agency Agreement set out in Schedule 1 to the Agency Agreement and no further action shall be required to effect the appointment of such Nominee as Calculation Agent in relation to that Series of Notes, and the Schedule to the Calculation Agency Agreement shall be deemed to be duly annotated to include such Series. The name of the Nominee so appointed will be entered in the applicable Final Terms. | |
18. | STABILISATION | |
In connection with the issue of any Tranche of Notes, the Dealer or Dealers (if any) designated as Stabilising Manager(s) (or persons acting on behalf of any Stabilising |
23
Manager(s)) in the applicable Final Terms may over-allot Notes (provided that, in the case of any Tranche of Notes to be admitted to listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, the aggregate principal amount of Notes allotted does not exceed 105 per cent. of the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Tranche) or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Notes and/or any associated securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail but the Stabilising Manager(s) (or persons acting on behalf of a Stabilising Manager) is not required to undertake stabilisation action. Any stabilisation action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the relevant Tranche of Notes is made and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue date of the relevant Tranche of Notes and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the relevant Tranche of Notes. Such Dealer shall act as principal and not as agent of the Issuer. Any loss resulting from over-allotment and stabilisation shall be borne, and any net profit arising therefrom shall be retained, by the Stabilising Manager for its own account. | ||
19. | GOVERNING LAW | |
(1) | This Agreement and every agreement for the issue and purchase of Notes as referred to in clause 2 shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. | |
(2) | Each of the parties to this Agreement agrees that any State or federal courts sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York (the “Courts”) are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and that accordingly any suit, action or proceedings (together referred to as “Proceedings”) arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought in such courts. | |
Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may have now or hereafter to the laying of the venue of any such Proceedings in any such court and any claim that any such Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and hereby further irrevocably agrees that a judgment in any such Proceedings brought in the Courts shall be conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in the courts of any other jurisdiction. | ||
Nothing contained in this clause shall limit any right to take Proceedings against any party to this Agreement in any other court of competent jurisdiction, nor shall the taking of Proceedings in one or more jurisdictions preclude the taking of Proceedings in any other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not. | ||
20. | EFFECTIVE DATE | |
This Agreement shall apply in relation to issues of Notes made on or after 15th September, 2006 but without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the parties under the Principal Programme Agreement in respect of any issue of Notes prior to this date. |
24
APPENDIX A
INITIAL DOCUMENTATION LIST
Part I
1. | A copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Issuer, certified by the Secretary of the Issuer. | |
2. | A copy of all resolutions and other authorisations, certified by the Secretary of the Issuer, required to be passed or given, and evidence of any other action required to be taken, on behalf of the Issuer: |
(a) | to approve its entry into the Agreements, the creation of the Programme and the issue of Notes; | ||
(b) | to authorise appropriate persons to execute each of the Agreements and any Notes and to take any other action in connection therewith; and | ||
(c) | to authorise appropriate persons to enter into agreements with any Dealer on behalf of the Issuer to issue Notes in accordance with clause 2 of this Agreement. |
3. | A list of the names, titles and specimen signatures of the persons authorised on behalf of the Issuer in accordance with paragraph 2(c) above, certified by the Secretary of the Issuer. | |
4. | Copies of any other governmental or other consents, authorisations and approvals required for the Issuer to issue Notes, to execute and deliver the Agreements and to fulfil its obligations under the Agreements. | |
5. | Confirmation that one or more master Temporary Global Notes and master Permanent Global Notes (from which copies can be made for each particular issue of Notes), duly executed by a person or persons authorised to take action on behalf of the Issuer as specified in paragraph 2(b) above, have been delivered to the Agent. | |
6. | Legal opinions addressed to each of the Dealers dated on or after the date of this Agreement, in such form and with such content as previously agreed to, from: |
(a) | O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP, legal advisers to the Issuer; | ||
(b) | General Counsel of the Issuer; and | ||
(c) | Xxxxx & Overy, legal advisers to the Dealers. |
7. | A conformed copy of each Agreement and confirmation that executed copies of such documents have been delivered, in the case of the Agency Agreement, to the Agent (for itself and the other agents party thereto). | |
8. | Confirmation of the execution and delivery by the Issuer of the Programme effectuation authorisation to each of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg (the “ICSDs”) and the execution and delivery of an Issuer—ICSDs Agreement by the parties thereto. | |
9. | A printed final version of the Base Prospectus and the Procedures Memorandum. |
25
10. | Confirmation from the Listing Agent that the Base Prospectus has been approved as a base prospectus by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and has been published in accordance with the Prospectus Directive as implemented in Luxembourg. | |
11. | Comfort letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors of the Issuer in such form and with such content as previously agreed to. | |
12. | Confirmation that the Programme has been rated A1 by Xxxxx’x, XX- by Standard & Poor’s and A+ by Fitch Ratings Ltd. |
26
Part II
1. | A copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Issuer, certified by the Secretary of the Issuer or confirmation that they have not been changed since they were last submitted to the Dealers. | |
2. | A copy of all resolutions and other authorisations required to be passed or given, and evidence of any other action required to be taken, on behalf of the Issuer to approve the increase in the amount of the Programme, certified by the Secretary of the Issuer. | |
3. | Copies of any other governmental or other consents, authorisations and approvals required for the increase. | |
4. | Confirmation that one or more master Temporary Global Notes and master Permanent Global Notes (from which copies can be made for each particular issue of Notes), duly executed by a person or persons authorised to take action on behalf of the Issuer as specified in paragraph 2(b) of Part I of the Initial Documentation List, have been delivered to the Agent. | |
5. | Legal opinions addressed to each of the Dealers dated on or after the date of this Agreement, in such form and with such content as previously agreed to, from: |
(a) | O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP, legal advisers to the Issuer; | ||
(b) | General Counsel to the Issuer; and | ||
(c) | Xxxxx & Overy LLP, legal advisers to the Dealers. |
6. | A printed final version of the Base Prospectus. | |
7. | Confirmation from the Listing Agent that that the Base Prospectus has been approved as a base prospectus by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and has been published in accordance with the Prospectus Directive as implemented in Luxembourg. | |
8. | Comfort letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors of the Issuer in such form and with such content as previously agreed to. | |
9. | Confirmation from Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings Ltd. that there has been no change in the rating assigned by them to the Programme as a result of the increase. |
00
XXXXXXXX X
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX
0. | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
(1) | The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each Dealer represents and agrees that it has offered and sold any Notes, and will offer and sell any Notes only in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (i) as part of their distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the completion of the distribution of all Notes of the Tranche of which such Notes are a part, as determined and certified as provided below. Each Dealer who has purchased Notes of a Tranche hereunder (or in the case of a sale of a Tranche of Notes issued to or through more than one Dealer, each of such Dealers as to the Notes of such Tranche purchased by or through it or, in the case of a syndicated issue, the relevant Lead Manager) shall determine and certify to the Agent the completion of the distribution of the Notes of such Tranche. On the basis of such notification or notifications, the Agent agrees to notify such Dealer/Lead Manager of the end of the distribution compliance period with respect to such Tranche. Each Dealer also agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of sale of Notes, it will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases Notes from it during the distribution compliance period a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect: | |
“The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the completion of the distribution of the Securities as determined and certified by the relevant Dealer, in the case of a non-syndicated issue, or the Lead Manager, in the case of a syndicated issue, and except in either case in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.” | ||
Terms used in this paragraph 1(1) have the meanings given to them by Regulation S. | ||
(2) | Each Dealer represents and agrees that it, its affiliates or any persons acting on its or their behalf have not engaged and will not engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to any Note, and it and they have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S. | |
(3) | In addition, |
(a) | except to the extent permitted under U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D) (the “D Rules”), each Dealer (a) represents that it has not offered or sold, and agrees that during the restricted period it will not offer or sell, Notes to a person who is within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person, and (b) represents that it has not delivered and agrees that it will not deliver within the United States or its possessions definitive Notes that are sold during the restricted period; | ||
(b) | each Dealer represents that it has, and agrees that throughout the restricted period it will have, in effect procedures reasonably designed to ensure that its employees or agents who are directly engaged in selling Notes are aware that such Notes may not |
28
be offered or sold during the restricted period to a person who is within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person, except as permitted by the D Rules; | |||
(c) | if it is a United States person, each Dealer represents that it is acquiring the Notes for purposes of resale in connection with their original issuance and if it retains Notes for its own account, it will only do so in accordance with the requirements of U.S. Treas. Reg. Section l.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(6); and | ||
(d) | with respect to each affiliate that acquires Notes from a Dealer for the purpose of offering or selling such Notes during the restricted period, such Dealer repeats and confirms the representations and agreements contained in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) on such affiliate’s behalf. |
Terms used in this paragraph 1(3) have the meanings given to them by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, including the D Rules. | ||
(4) | Each issue of Index Linked Notes or Dual Currency Notes shall be subject to such additional U.S. selling restrictions as the Issuer and the relevant Dealer may agree as a term of the issue and purchase of such Notes, which additional selling restrictions shall be set out in the applicable Final Terms. The relevant Dealer agrees that it shall offer, sell and deliver such Notes only in compliance with such additional U.S. selling restrictions. | |
2. | European Economic Area | |
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each Dealer represents and agrees that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of Notes to the public in that Relevant Member State, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of Notes to the public in that Relevant Member State: |
(a) | in (or in Germany, where the offer starts within) the period beginning on the date of publication of a prospectus in relation to those Notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive and ending on the date which is 12 months after the date of such publication; | ||
(b) | at any time to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; | ||
(c) | at any time to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or | ||
(d) | at any time in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. |
29
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an offer of Notes to the public in relation to any Notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State. | ||
3. | United Kingdom | |
Each Dealer represents and agrees that: |
(a) | in relation to any Notes having a maturity of less than one year, (i) it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (ii) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Notes other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the Notes would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the FSMA by the Issuer; | ||
(b) | it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Issuer; and | ||
(c) | it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to any Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom. |
4. | Japan | |
The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan (the “Securities and Exchange Law”) and each Dealer agrees that it will not offer or sell any Notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organised under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws and regulations of Japan. | ||
5. | France | |
The Issuer and each Dealer represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, Notes to the public in France (xxxxx public à l’ épargne), and has not distributed or caused to be distributed and will not distribute or cause to be distributed to the public in France, the Base Prospectus, the Relevant Final Terms or any other offering material relating to the Notes, and that such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall be made in France only to (a) providers of investment services relating to portfolio management for the account of third parties, and/or (b) qualified investors (investisseurs |
30
qualifiés) acting for their own account, all as defined in and in accordance with articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1of the French Code Monétaire et Financier. | ||
6. | The Netherlands | |
The Issuer and each Dealer represents and agrees that any Notes with a maturity of less than 12 months and a denomination of less than €50,000 will only be offered in the Netherlands in circumstances where another exemption or dispensation from the requirement to make a prospectus publicly available has been granted under Article 4 of the Securities Transactions Supervision Act 1995 (Wet toezicht effectenverkeer 1995). | ||
7. | General | |
Each Dealer agrees that it will (to the best of its knowledge and belief) comply with all applicable securities laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Notes or possesses or distributes the Base Prospectus and will obtain any consent, approval or permission required by it for the purchase, offer, sale or delivery by it of Notes under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes such purchases, offers, sales or deliveries and none of the Issuer and any other Dealer shall have any responsibility therefor. | ||
None of the Issuer and any of the Dealers represents that Notes may at any time lawfully be sold in compliance with any applicable registration or other requirements in any jurisdiction, or pursuant to any exemption available thereunder, or assumes any responsibility for facilitating such sale. | ||
With regard to each Tranche, the relevant Dealer will be required to comply with such other additional restrictions as the Issuer and the relevant Dealer shall agree and as shall be set out in the applicable Final Terms. |
31
APPENDIX C
PART I
FORM OF DEALER ACCESSION LETTER — PROGRAMME
[Date]
To: | INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION (the “Issuer”) |
Dear Sirs,
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
Euro Medium Term Note Programme
Euro Medium Term Note Programme
We refer to the amended and restated Programme Agreement dated 15th September, 2006 entered into in
respect of the above Euro Medium Term Note Programme and made between the Issuer and the Dealers
party thereto (which agreement, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, is herein
referred to as the “Programme Agreement”).
Conditions Precedent
We confirm that we are in receipt of the documents referenced below:
(i) | a copy of the Programme Agreement; and | |
(ii) | a copy of current versions of all documents referred to in Part I of Appendix A of the Programme Agreement, |
and have found them to our satisfaction.
For the purposes of the Programme Agreement our notice details are as follows:
[insert name, address, telephone, facsimile, telex (+ answerback) and attention].
In consideration of the appointment by the Issuer of us as a Dealer under the Programme Agreement
we hereby undertake, for the benefit of the Issuer and each of the other Dealers, that we will
perform and comply with all the duties and obligations expressed to be assumed by a Dealer under
the Programme Agreement.
This letter is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York.
Yours faithfully,
[Name of New Dealer]
[Name of New Dealer]
By: |
||
cc:
|
CITIBANK, N.A. as Agent | |
The other Dealers |
32
PART II
FORM OF CONFIRMATION LETTER — PROGRAMME
[Date]
To: [Name and address of New Dealer]
Dear Sirs,
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
Euro Medium Term Note Programme
Euro Medium Term Note Programme
We refer to the amended and restated Programme Agreement dated 15th September, 2006 (such
agreement, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “Programme Agreement”)
entered into in respect of the above Euro Medium Term Note Programme and hereby acknowledge receipt
of your Dealer Accession Letter to us dated [specify].
We hereby confirm that, with effect from the date hereof, you shall become a Dealer under the
Programme Agreement in accordance with clause 11(2) of the Programme Agreement.
Yours faithfully,
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
By:
cc: | CITIBANK, N.A. as Agent The other Dealers |
33
PART III
FORM OF DEALER ACCESSION LETTER — NOTE ISSUE
[Date]
To: | INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION (the “Issuer”) |
Dear Sirs,
We refer to the amended and restated Programme Agreement dated 15th September, 2006 and made
between the Issuer and the Dealers party thereto (which agreement, as amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Programme Agreement”).
Conditions Precedent
We confirm that we are in receipt of the documents referenced below:
(i) | a copy of the Programme Agreement; and | |
(ii) | a copy of current versions of such of the other documents referred to in Part I of Appendix A of the Programme Agreement as we have requested, |
and have found them to our satisfaction or (in the case of the documents referred to in (ii) above)
have waived such production.
For the purposes of the Programme Agreement our notice details are as follows:
[insert name, address, telephone, facsimile, telex (+ answerback) and attention].
In consideration of the appointment by the Issuer of us as a Dealer under the Programme Agreement
in respect of the issue of the Notes we hereby undertake, for the benefit of the Issuer and each of
the other Dealers, that, in relation to the issue of the Notes, we will perform and comply with all
the duties and obligations expressed to be assumed by a Dealer under the Programme Agreement.
This letter is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York.
Yours faithfully,
[Name of New Dealer]
[Name of New Dealer]
By:
cc: CITIBANK, N.A. as Agent
34
PART IV
FORM OF CONFIRMATION LETTER — NOTE ISSUE
[Date]
To: [Name and address of New Dealer]
Dear Sirs,
We refer to the amended and restated Programme Agreement dated 15th September, 2006 (such
agreement, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “Programme Agreement”) and
hereby acknowledge receipt of your Dealer Accession Letter to us dated [specify].
We hereby confirm that, with effect from the date hereof, in respect of the issue of the Notes, you
shall become a Dealer under the Programme Agreement in accordance with the provisions of clause
11(2) of the Programme Agreement.
Yours faithfully,
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
By:
cc: CITIBANK, N.A. as Agent
35
APPENDIX D
LETTER REGARDING INCREASE IN THE NOMINAL AMOUNT
OF THE PROGRAMME
OF THE PROGRAMME
[Date]
To: | The Dealers and the Listing Agent (as those expressions are defined in the amended and restated Programme Agreement dated 15th September, 2006 as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, (the “Programme Agreement”)) |
Dear Sirs,
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
Euro Medium Term Note Programme
Euro Medium Term Note Programme
We hereby require, pursuant to clause 12(1) of the Programme Agreement, that the aggregate nominal
amount of the above Programme be increased to U.S.$ [specify] from [specify date which is no
earlier than seven London business days after the date the notice is given] whereupon (but subject
as provided in the next paragraph) all references in the Agreements will be deemed amended
accordingly.
We understand that this increase is subject to the satisfaction of the condition set out in clause
12(2) of the Programme Agreement namely that each Dealer shall have received and found satisfactory
all the documents and confirmations described in the Part II of the Initial Documentation List
(with such changes as may be relevant, with reference to the circumstances at the time of the
proposed increase, as are agreed between the Issuer and the Dealers) and the delivery of any
further conditions precedent that any of the Dealers may reasonably require.
You must notify the Arranger and ourselves within three London business days of receipt by you of
those documents and confirmations and, if applicable, further conditions precedent if you consider
(in your reasonable opinion) such documents, confirmations and, if applicable, such further
conditions precedent to be unsatisfactory and, in the absence of such notification, you will be
deemed to consider such documents and confirmations to be satisfactory and such further conditions
precedent to be satisfied.
Terms used in this letter have the meanings given to them in the Programme Agreement.
Yours faithfully,
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
By:
cc: CITIBANK, N.A. as Agent
00
XXXXXXXX X
FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
[DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE]
[DATE]
To: | [Names of Dealers] (the “Managers”) |
c/o | [ Name of Lead Manager] (the “Lead Manager”) |
cc: | CITIBANK, N.A. as Agent |
Dear Sirs,
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION (the “Issuer”) proposes to issue [DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE]
(the “Notes”) pursuant to the U.S.$7,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note Programme established by it.
The terms of the issue shall be as set out in the form of Final Terms attached to this Agreement as
Annexe A.
This Agreement is made pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated Programme Agreement as
amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the “Programme Agreement”) dated 15th September,
2006 between the Issuer and the Dealers party thereto. All terms with initial capitals used
herein without definition have the meanings given to them in the Programme Agreement.
We wish to record the arrangements agreed between us in relation to the issue:
1. | This Agreement appoints each Manager which is not a party to the Programme Agreement (each a “New Dealer”) as a New Dealer in accordance with the provisions of clause 11 of the Programme Agreement for the purposes of the issue of the Notes. The Lead Manager confirms that it is in receipt of the documents referenced below: |
(i) | a copy of the Programme Agreement; and | ||
(ii) | a copy of such of the documents referred to in Part I of Appendix A of the Programme Agreement as the Lead Manager (on behalf of the Managers) has requested and has confirmed with each New Dealer that it has received copies of the documents referenced above and it has found them to be satisfactory or (in the case of any or all of the documents referred to in (ii)) has waived such production. |
For the purposes of the Programme Agreement the details of the Lead Manager for service of notices are as follows: | ||
[insert name, address, telephone, facsimile, telex (+ answerback) and attention]. |
37
In consideration of the Issuer appointing each New Dealer as a Dealer in respect of the Notes under the Programme Agreement, each New Dealer hereby undertakes, for the benefit of the Issuer, the Lead Manager (for itself and each of the other Dealers) and the Managers, that, in relation to the issue of the Notes, it will perform and comply with all the duties and obligations expressed to be assumed by a Dealer under the Programme Agreement, a copy of which it acknowledges it has received from the Lead Manager. The Issuer hereby confirms that each New Dealer shall be vested with all authority, rights, powers, duties and obligations of a Dealer in relation to the issue of the Notes as if originally named as a Dealer under the Programme Agreement provided that following the Issue Date of the Notes each New Dealer shall have no further such authority, rights, powers, duties or obligations except such as may have accrued or been incurred prior to, or in connection with, the issue of the Notes. | ||
2. | Subject to the terms and conditions of the Programme Agreement and this Agreement the Issuer hereby agrees to issue the Notes and the Managers jointly and severally agree to subscribe or procure subscribers for the Notes at a price of [ specify] per cent. of the principal amount of the Notes (the “Purchase Price”), being the issue price of [specify] per cent. less a selling [commission/concession] of [specify] per cent. of such principal amount and a combined management and underwriting commission of [specify] per cent. of such principal amount. | |
3. | The settlement procedures set out in Part [1/2] of Annexe A to the Procedures Memorandum shall apply as if set out in this Agreement provided that, for the purposes of this Agreement: |
(i) | the sum payable on the Issue Date shall represent the Purchase Price less any amount payable in respect of Managers’ expenses as provided in the agreement referred to in clause 4 of this Agreement); | ||
(ii) | “Issue Date” means [specify] a.m. ([specify] time) on [specify] or such other time and/or date as the Issuer and the Lead Manager on behalf of the Managers may agree; and | ||
(iii) | “Payment Instruction Date” means the Issue Date unless there is to be a pre-closing for the issue in which case it means the business day (being a day on which banks and foreign exchange markets are open for business in London) prior to the Issue Date. |
4. | The arrangements in relation to expenses have been separately agreed between the Issuer and the Lead Manager. | |
5. | The obligation of the Managers to purchase the Notes is conditional upon: |
(i) | the conditions set out in clause 3(2) (other than that set out in clause 3(2)(f)) of the Programme Agreement being satisfied as of the Payment Instruction Date (on the basis that the references therein to “relevant Dealer” shall be construed as references to the Lead Manager) and without prejudice to the aforesaid, the Base Prospectus dated [specify] , as supplemented by [[ ] and] the Final Terms attached hereto as Annex A, containing or incorporating by reference all material information relating to the assets and liabilities, financial position and profits and losses of the Issuer and nothing having happened or being expected to happen which would require the Base Prospectus [, as so supplemented,] to be [further] supplemented or updated; and | ||
(ii) | the delivery to the Lead Manager on the Payment Instruction Date of: |
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(A) | legal opinions addressed to the Managers dated the Payment Instruction Date in such form and with such contents as the Lead Manager, on behalf of the Managers, may reasonably require from the general counsel of the Issuer, O’Melveny & Xxxxx LLP, the legal advisers to the Issuer and Xxxxx & Overy LLP, the legal advisers to the Managers; | ||
(B) | a certificate dated as at the Payment Instruction Date signed by a duly authorised officer of the Issuer giving confirmation to the effect stated in paragraph (i) of this clause; | ||
(C) | a comfort letter dated the Payment Instruction Date from the independent auditors of the Issuer, in such form and with such content as the Managers may reasonably request; and | ||
(D) | such other conditions precedent as the Lead Manager may require. |
If any of the foregoing conditions is not satisfied on or before the Payment Instruction Date, this Agreement shall terminate on such date and the parties hereto shall be under no further liability arising out of this Agreement (except for any liability of the Issuer in relation to expenses as provided in the agreement referred to in clause 4 and except for any liability arising before or in relation to such termination), provided that the Lead Manager, on behalf of the Managers, may in its discretion waive any of the aforesaid conditions (other than the condition precedent contained in clause 3(2)(c) of the Programme Agreement) or any part of them. | ||
6. | The Lead Manager, on behalf of the Managers, may, by notice to the Issuer, terminate this Agreement at any time prior to payment of the net purchase money to the Issuer if any of the following occurs (after the date of this Agreement): (a) a suspension or material limitation (including any setting of minimum prices) in trading securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange or any stock exchange on which such Notes are to be listed if the effect of any such event, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, is to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such relevant Dealer(s) of offers to purchase Notes or the purchase of Notes from the Issuer as principal on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (b) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities, in Europe declared by the European Central Bank or, in respect of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain or the United Kingdom, declared by the relevant national authorities, or in respect of the country (if not included in the foregoing list of countries) in whose currency the payments of interest or principal on the Notes are denominated, declared by the relevant national authority; (c) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain or the United Kingdom or the country (if not included in the foregoing list of countries) in whose currency the payments of interest or principal on the Notes are denominated, or the declaration by any such country of a national emergency of war (other than any such outbreak, escalation or declaration that does not represent a significant departure from the conditions that exist on the date of this Agreement) if the effect of any such event, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, is to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such relevant Dealer(s) of offers to purchase Notes or the purchase of Notes from the relevant Issuer as principal on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (d) the suspension in trading in the securities of the Issuer on any national securities exchange or |
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quotation system on which they are listed or quoted if the effect of such event, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, is to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such relevant Dealer(s) of offers to purchase Notes or the purchase of Notes from the Issuer as principal on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; (e) any downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating accorded the Issuer’s senior debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; or (f) any material change in or affecting the business or properties of the Issuer that, in the judgment of the relevant Dealer or, if more than one, the relevant Lead Manager on behalf of the relevant Dealers, materially impairs the investment quality of the Notes. | ||
7. | Clause 19 of the Programme Agreement shall also apply to this Agreement as if expressly incorporated herein. | |
8. | This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement and any party may enter into this Agreement by executing a counterpart. |
Please confirm that this letter correctly sets out the arrangements agreed between us.
Yours faithfully,
For: INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
By:
We agree to the foregoing.
For: [NAMES OF MANAGERS]
By:
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ANNEXE A TO THE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
[Form of Final Terms]
41
SIGNATORIES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
The Issuer
INTERNATIONAL LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
By:
/s/ XXXX X. XXXX
The Dealers
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LIMITED
BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.
BARCLAYS BANK PLC
BNP PARIBAS
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS LIMITED
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (EUROPE) LIMITED
DAIWA SECURITIES SMBC EUROPE LIMITED
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH
HSBC BANK PLC
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LTD.
XXXXXX BROTHERS INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE)
XXXXXXX XXXXX INTERNATIONAL
MITSUBISHI UFJ SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL PLC
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE
UBS LIMITED
Each by
its duly authorised signatory:
/s/ XXXXX XXXXXX