Exhibit 10.4
Dated [o] January 2005
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GRANITE MASTER ISSUER PLC
as Master Issuer
NORTHERN ROCK PLC
as Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider
- and -
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Issuer Security Trustee
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START-UP LOAN AGREEMENT
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SIDLEY XXXXXX XXXXX & XXXX
WOOLGATE EXCHANGE
00 XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXX XX0X 0XX
TELEPHONE 000 0000 0000
FACSIMILE 020 7626 7937
CONTENTS
1. Definitions and Interpretation..........................................1
2. The Start-Up Loan Tranche...............................................2
3. Interest................................................................2
4. Repayment...............................................................3
5. Acceleration............................................................4
6. Payments................................................................4
7. Subordination and Security..............................................4
8. Notices.................................................................5
9. Taxes...................................................................6
10. Remedies and Waivers....................................................6
11. Assignments and Transfer................................................6
12. Alternative Payment Arrangements........................................7
13. Issuer Security Trustee as a Party......................................7
14. No Partnership..........................................................7
15. Variation...............................................................7
16. Execution in Counterparts; Severability.................................7
17. Third Party Rights......................................................8
18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction; Appropriate Forum.......................8
SCHEDULE 1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...................................9
SCHEDULE 2 START-UP LOAN TRANCHE SUPPLEMENT................................10
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THIS AGREEMENT is made on [o] January, 2005
BETWEEN:
(1) GRANITE MASTER ISSUER PLC (registered number 5250668), a private
limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales at
Xxxxx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX as Master Issuer;
(2) NORTHERN ROCK PLC (registered number 3273685), a public limited
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales whose
registered office is at Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx xxxx
Xxxx XX0 0XX in its capacity as Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider; and
(3) THE BANK OF NEW YORK, whose principal office is at 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX in its capacity as Issuer Security
Trustee.
WHEREAS:
(A) From time to time, the Master Issuer will issue Issuer Notes pursuant
to the Programme.
(B) Under the terms of the Global Intercompany Loan Agreement, the Master
Issuer has agreed that it will lend the proceeds (or, as applicable,
the sterling equivalent thereof) of any issue of Issuer Notes by it
to Funding 2.
(C) The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider and the Master Issuer have agreed
that, on each occasion that the Master Issuer makes an issuance of
Issuer Notes, the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider may make a loan to
the Master Issuer to be applied towards the funding the Issuer
Reserve Fund (in whole or in part) and/or towards the payment (in
whole or in part) of the fees and expenses incurred by the Master
Issuer and Funding 2 in respect of the issuance of the Issuer Notes
and the lending of the proceeds thereof to Funding 2.
(D) This Agreement sets out the agreement between the Master Issuer and
the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider in relation to the making of such
loans.
IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
1. Definitions and Interpretation
1.1 The provisions of:
(a) the Programme Master Definitions Schedule signed for the
purposes of identification by Sidley Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxx and
Xxxxx & Overy LLP on [o] January 2005; and
(b) the Issuer Master Definitions Schedule signed for the purposes
of identification by Sidley Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxx and Xxxxx &
Overy LLP on [o] January 2005,
(as the same have been and may be amended, varied or supplemented
from time to time with the consent of the parties hereto) are
expressly and specifically incorporated
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into and shall apply to this Agreement. The Issuer Master
Definitions Schedule specified above shall prevail to the extent
that it conflicts with the Programme Master Definitions Schedule.
2. The Start-Up Loan Tranches
2.1 Subject to the terms of this Agreement, simultaneously with the issue
by the Master Issuer of a Series of Issuer Notes on a Closing Date,
the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider may make available to the Master
Issuer a Start-Up Loan Tranche in the amount described in a
supplement entered into on such date by the parties hereto
substantially in the form of Schedule 3 (each such supplement being a
"Start-Up Loan Tranche Supplement").
2.2 Each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement will only be
used by the Master Issuer for the purposes of:
(a) funding the Issuer Reserve Fund (in whole or in part); and/or
(b) funding the payment of the costs and expenses incurred by the
Master Issuer and Funding 2 in connection with the issuance by
the Master Issuer of the Issuer Notes, the making of Loan
Tranches by the Master Issuer to Funding 2 under the Global
Intercompany Loan Agreement and the acquisition by Funding 2 of
an additional share of the Trust Property using the proceeds
thereof.
Each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement shall be
deposited into the Issuer Transaction Account.
2.3 Each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement will constitute
a separate debt due from the Master Issuer to the Issuer Start-Up
Loan Provider.
3. Interest
3.1 The first Interest Period in respect of each Start-Up Loan Tranche
made under this Agreement will commence on (and include) the Closing
Date in relation to that Start-Up Loan Tranche (as specified in the
applicable Start-Up Loan Tranche Supplement) and end on (but exclude)
the first Payment Date falling thereafter. Each subsequent Interest
Period in respect of each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this
Agreement shall commence on (and include) a Payment Date and end on
(but exclude) the next following Payment Date.
3.2 Prior to the service of an Issuer Enforcement Notice, the Master
Issuer shall pay interest on each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under
this Agreement in arrear on each Payment Date. Such payment will be
made if, and only to the extent that, there are Issuer Available
Revenue Receipts available therefor after making the payments and
provisions referred to in the Issuer Pre-Enforcement Revenue Priority
of Payments. The amount of interest due on each Start-Up Loan Tranche
made under this Agreement will rank pari passu with the amount of
interest due on each other Start-Up Loan Tranche and will be paid pro
rata among such Start-Up Loan Tranches.
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3.3 Each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement will bear
interest calculated in accordance with Clause 3.4 at the rate
specified in the applicable Start-Up Loan Tranche Supplement.
3.4 Interest shall be calculated on each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under
this Agreement by reference to any Interest Period on the basis of
the actual number of days elapsed and a 365 day year (or, in the case
of a leap year, a 366 day year).
3.5 Subject to Clause 4.3, to the extent that there are insufficient
funds available to pay, on any Payment Date, interest accrued on a
Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement, the shortfall in the
interest amount payable will not then fall due but will instead be
due on the following Payment Date on which sufficient funds are
available to pay such interest, and pending such payment, will accrue
interest at the rate specified in the applicable Start-Up Loan
Tranche Supplement.
3.6 The Payment Dates for each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this
Agreement will be specified in the applicable Start-Up Loan Tranche
Supplement.
4. Repayment
4.1 Prior to the service of an Issuer Enforcement Notice, the Master
Issuer shall repay principal of each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under
this Agreement on each Payment Date. Such repayment will be made if,
and only to the extent that, there are Issuer Available Revenue
Receipts available therefor after making the payments and provisions
referred to in the Issuer Pre-Enforcement Revenue Priority of
Payments. The obligation to repay each Start-Up Loan Tranche made
under this Agreement will rank pari passu with the obligation to
repay each other Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement and
will be paid pro rata among such Start-Up Loan Tranches.
4.2 The Issuer Cash Manager is responsible, pursuant to the Issuer Cash
Management Agreement, for determining:
(a) the interest and principal amounts payable by the Master Issuer
under Clause 3 and Clause 4 of this Agreement; and
(b) the amount of Issuer Available Revenue Receipts as at any
Payment Date available therefor,
and each determination so made shall (in the absence of negligence,
willful default, bad faith or manifest error) be final and binding on
the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider.
4.3 Subject to Clauses 5 (but not withstanding any other terms of this
Agreement), on the earlier to occur of:
(a) any Payment Date on which all Issuer Notes issued by the Master
Issuer have been repaid in full; or
(b) the Final Maturity Date of the last outstanding series and
Class of Notes,
each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement (including any
interest accrued but unpaid), shall, subject to the Issuer Deed of
Charge, become immediately due and payable.
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4.4 The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider hereby acknowledges that from time
to time the Master Issuer may enter into other Start-Up Loan
Agreements with other Issuer Start-Up Loan Providers and that the
obligation of the Master Issuer to repay the Start-Up Loan Tranches
made under this Agreement and any Start-Up Loan Tranches made under
any other Start-Up Loan Agreement will rank pari passu and will be
paid pro rata between themselves. The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider
further acknowledges that the Issuer Pre-Enforcement Revenue Priority
of Payments and the Issuer Post-Enforcement Priority of Payments set
out in the Issuer Deed of Charge, respectively, may be amended to
reflect the entry by the Master Issuer into another Start-Up Loan
Agreement and related agreements from time to time and agrees to
execute such documents as are necessary or required by the Rating
Agencies for the purpose of including any other Issuer Start-Up Loan
Provider (and any other relevant party) in the Transaction Documents
to effect those amendments.
5. Acceleration
5.1 Each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement (including any
interest accrued but unpaid) shall, subject to the Issuer Deed of
Charge, become immediately due and payable following the service of
an Issuer Enforcement Notice on the Master Issuer.
6. Payments
6.1 All payments to be made hereunder by the Master Issuer shall be made
in sterling in immediately available cleared funds to the Issuer
Start-Up Loan Provider's account as specified in writing to the
Master Issuer for this purpose. If any sum falls due hereunder
otherwise than on a London Business Day, it shall be paid on the next
succeeding London Business Day.
6.2 Following the service of an Issuer Enforcement Notice on the Master
Issuer, all amounts of interest, principal and any other amounts due
hereunder shall be paid only after making the payments and provisions
referred to in the Issuer Post-Enforcement Priority of Payments.
7. Subordination and Security
7.1 The parties hereby agree that repayments in respect of each Start-Up
Loan Tranche made under this Agreement shall be subordinated to,
inter alia, payments of principal and interest on the Issuer Notes
and all other payments or provisions ranking in priority to payments
to be made to the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider under this Agreement
in accordance with the Issuer Priority of Payments and the Issuer
Deed of Charge.
7.2 The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider further agrees that, without
prejudice to Clause [8] (Upon Enforcement) of the Issuer Deed of
Charge and subject to Clause 4.3 of this Agreement, its rights
against the Master Issuer under this Agreement are limited to the
extent that the Master Issuer has sufficient assets to meet the
Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider's claim or any part thereof having
taken into account all other liabilities, both actual and contingent,
of the Master Issuer which pursuant to the Issuer Deed of Charge rank
pari passu with or in priority to its liabilities to the Issuer
Start-Up Loan Provider under this Agreement and so that the Master
Issuer shall not be obliged to
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make any payment to the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider hereunder if
and to the extent that the making of such payment would deem the
Master Issuer to be unable to pay its debts within the meaning of
Section 123 of the Insolvency Xxx 0000. However, if there are Issuer
Available Revenue Receipts available but the Master Issuer to pay
interest or repay principal in respect of any Start-Up Loan Tranche,
such non-repayment will cause each Start-Up Loan Tranche made under
this Agreement (including any interest accrued but unpaid) to become
immediately due and payable.
7.3 The Master Issuer undertakes that its obligations to the Issuer
Start-Up Loan Provider hereunder shall at all times be secured by the
Issuer Deed of Charge.
7.4 The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider further covenants that, except as
permitted under the Issuer Deed of Charge, it will not set off or
claim to set off any Start-Up Loan Tranche made under this Agreement
(including any interest accrued but unpaid) or any part thereof
against any liability owed by it to the Master Issuer under this
Agreement.
7.5 The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider undertakes that it will not
institute against the Master Issuer any winding-up, administration,
insolvency or similar proceedings for so long as any sum is
outstanding under the Issuer Notes or for two years plus one day
since the last day on which any such sum was outstanding nor
participate in any ex parte proceedings nor seek to enforce any
judgment against the Master Issuer, except as permitted under the
provisions of the Issuer Deed of Charge.
7.6 The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider acknowledges hereby that it is not
entitled, other than by virtue of Section 208 of the Income and
Corporation Taxes Act 1988 ("ICTA"), to any exemption from Tax in
respect of any interest payable to it under this Agreement.
7.7 The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider further represents that, pursuant
to Section 212 of ICTA, any interest payable to it under this
Agreement is paid to it within the charge to UK corporation tax.
7.8 The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider further represents that it is an
institution which is a bank for the purposes of Section 840A of ICTA.
7.9 Each party to this Agreement other than the Issuer Security Trustee
hereby makes the representations and warranties to each of the other
parties to this Agreement that are specified in Schedule 1 hereto.
8. Notices
Any notices to be given pursuant to this Agreement or to any of the
parties hereto shall be sufficiently served if sent by prepaid first
class post or by facsimile transmission and shall be deemed to be
given (in the case of facsimile transmission) when despatched, (where
delivered by hand) on the day of delivery if delivered before 17.00
hours on a Business Day or on the next Business Day if delivered
thereafter or (in the case of first class post) when it would be
received in the ordinary course of the post and shall be sent:
(a) in the case of the Master Issuer , to Granite Master Issuer
plc, Xxxxx Xxxxx, 000
0
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX (facsimile number 020 7696 5243 for the
attention of the Company Secretary with a copy to Northern Rock plc,
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx xxxx Xxxx XX0 0XX
Facsimile: 0191 213 2203 for the attention of the Group Secretary;
(b) in the case of the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider, to Northern
Rock plc, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx xxxx Xxxx
XX0 0XX Facsimile: 0191 213 2203 for the attention of the Group
Secretary; and
(c) in the case of the Issuer Security Trustee, to The Bank of New
York, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX (facsimile
020 7964 6399) for the attention of Corporate Trust
Administration,
or to such other address or facsimile number as may from time to time
be notified by any party to the other by written notice in accordance
with the provisions of this Clause 8.
9. Taxes
9.1 All payments to be made by the Master Issuer to the Issuer Start-Up
Loan Provider hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without
deduction for or on account of Tax unless the Master Issuer is
required by law to make such a payment subject to the deduction or
withholding of Tax, in which case the Master Issuer shall promptly
upon becoming aware thereof notify the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider
of such obligation, and shall make such payments subject to such
deduction or withholding of Tax which it is required to make.
9.2 If the Master Issuer makes any payment hereunder in respect of which
it is required to make any deduction or withholding, it shall pay the
full amount required to be deducted or withheld to the relevant
taxation or other authority within the time allowed for such payment
under applicable law and shall deliver to the Issuer Start-Up Loan
Provider, within thirty days after such payment falls due to the
applicable authority, any original receipt (or a certified copy
thereof) issued by such authority evidencing such payment.
10. Remedies and Waivers
No failure by the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider to exercise, nor any
delay by the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider in exercising, any right
or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further
or other exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or
remedy. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and
not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
11. Assignments and Transfer
11.1 The Master Issuer (other than in respect of any assignment by way of
security pursuant to the Issuer Deed of Charge) may not assign and/or
transfer any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement.
The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider may assign and/or transfer its
rights under this Agreement without obtaining the prior written
consent of the Master Issuer, provided that such assignment and/or
transfer is
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to a person within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as
regards any interest received by it under this Agreement and such
assignee or transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions
contained in the Issuer Deed of Charge as if it were named as an
original party thereto in place of the Issuer Start-Up Loan
Provider.
11.2 If there is any change in the identity of the Issuer Security Trustee
pursuant to the terms of the Issuer Deed of Charge, the Issuer
Start-Up Loan Provider and the Master Issuer shall execute such
documents and take such actions as the new security trustee and the
outgoing security trustee may reasonably require for the purpose of
vesting in the new security trustee the rights and obligations of the
outgoing security trustee and releasing the outgoing security trustee
from its future obligations under this Agreement.
12. Alternative Payment Arrangements
If at any time it shall become impracticable for the Master Issuer to
make any payments hereunder in the manner specified in Clause 6.1,
then the parties hereto may agree alternative arrangements for such
payments to be made.
13. Issuer Security Trustee as a Party
The Issuer Security Trustee has agreed to become a party to this
Agreement for the better preservation and enforcement of its rights
under this Agreement and the Issuer Security Trustee shall assume no
obligations or liabilities whatsoever to the Issuer Start-Up Loan
Provider or to the Master Issuer. Furthermore, any liberty or power
which may be exercised or any determination which may be made
hereunder by the Issuer Security Trustee may be exercised or made in
the Issuer Security Trustee's absolute discretion without any
obligation to give reasons therefor, but in any event must be
exercised or made in accordance with the provisions of the Issuer
Deed of Charge.
14. No Partnership
Nothing in this Agreement (or in any of the arrangements contemplated
hereby) shall, or shall be deemed to, constitute a partnership
amongst the parties hereto.
15. Variation
No variation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in
writing and signed by or on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
16. Execution in Counterparts; Severability
16.1 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
(manually or by facsimile) and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed
to be an original and all of which when taken together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
16.2 Where any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations under this Agreement, or of such provision or obligation
in any other jurisdiction, shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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17. Third Party Rights
A person who is not a party to this Agreement may not enforce any of
its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000, but
this shall not affect any right or remedy of a third party which
exists or is available apart from that Act.
18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction; Appropriate Forum
18.1 This Agreement is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance
with, English law.
18.2 Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that the courts of
England are to have jurisdiction to settle any suit, action or
proceeding and to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in
connection with this Agreement and, for such purposes, irrevocably
submit to the jurisdiction of such courts.
18.3 Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives any objection which it
might now or hereafter have to the courts of England being nominated
as the forum to hear and determine any Proceedings and to settle any
disputes, and agrees not to claim that any such court is not a
convenient or appropriate forum.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed
as of the date first above written.
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SCHEDULE 1
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each party to the Start-Up Loan Agreement (the "Agreement") hereby makes the
following representations and warranties to each of the other parties to such
Agreement:
1. Status: It is duly incorporated, validly existing and registered
under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated,
capable of being sued in its own right and not subject to any
immunity from any proceedings, and it has the power to own its
property and assets and to carry on its business as it is being
conducted.
2. Powers and authority: It has the power to enter into, perform and
deliver, and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to
authorise the execution, delivery and performance by it of the
Agreement, which has been duly executed and delivered by it.
3. Legal validity: The Agreement constitutes, or when executed in
accordance with its terms will constitute, its legal, valid and
binding obligation.
4. Non-conflict: The execution by it of the Agreement and the exercise
by it of its rights and the performance of its obligations under the
Agreement will not:
(a) result in the existence or imposition of, nor oblige it to
create, any Security Interest in favour of any person over
all or any of its present or future revenues or assets save
for any which are created under or pursuant to the Issuer
Deed of Charge;
(b) conflict with any document which is binding upon it or any
of its assets;
(c) conflict with its constitutional documents; or
(d) conflict with any law, regulation or official or judicial
order of any government, governmental body or court,
domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over it.
5. No litigation: It is not a party to any material litigation,
arbitration or administrative proceedings and, to its knowledge, no
material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings are
pending or threatened against it.
6. Consents and Licences: All governmental consents, licences and other
approvals and authorisations required in connection with the entry
into, performance, validity and enforceability of, the transaction
contemplated by the Agreement have been obtained or effected (as
appropriate) and are in full force and effect.
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SCHEDULE 2
START-UP LOAN TRANCHE SUPPLEMENT
This Start-Up Loan Tranche Supplement is made between Northern Rock plc (the
"Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider"), Granite Master Issuer plc ("Master Issuer")
and the Bank of New York (the "Issuer Security Trustee") in relation to the
provision of a Start-Up Loan Tranche by the Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider to
the Master Issuer on the following terms:
o Closing Date - [o]
o Principal amount - (GBP)[o]
o Interest rate - [o]
o Payment Dates - [o]
Capitalised terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the start-up loan agreement dated [o] January,
2005 between the parties hereto.
This Start-Up Loan Tranche Supplement is made on [o] January, 2005.
Master Issuer
Executed by
GRANITE MASTER ISSUER PLC
as follows:
Signed for and on its behalf by one of its duly
authorised attorneys/signatories By
----------------------------------------------
Duly Authorised Attorney/Signatory
Name
----------------------------------------------
The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider
Executed by
NORTHERN ROCK PLC
as follows:
Signed for and on its behalf by one of its duly
authorised attorneys/signatories By
----------------------------------------------
Duly Authorised Attorney/Signatory
Name
----------------------------------------------
The Issuer Security Trustee
Executed by
BANK OF NEW YORK
as follows:
Signed for and on its behalf by one of its duly
authorised attorneys/signatories By
----------------------------------------------
Duly Authorised Attorney/Signatory
Name
----------------------------------------------
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EXECUTION PAGE
Master Issuer
Executed by
GRANITE MASTER ISSUER PLC
as follows:
Signed for and on its behalf by one of its duly
authorised attorneys/signatories By
----------------------------------------------
Duly Authorised Attorney/Signatory
Name
----------------------------------------------
The Issuer Start-Up Loan Provider
Executed by
NORTHERN ROCK PLC
as follows:
Signed for and on its behalf by one of its duly
authorised attorneys/signatories By
----------------------------------------------
Duly Authorised Attorney/Signatory
Name
----------------------------------------------
The Issuer Security Trustee
Executed by
BANK OF NEW YORK
as follows:
Signed for and on its behalf by one of its duly
authorised attorneys/signatories By
----------------------------------------------
Duly Authorised Attorney/Signatory
Name
----------------------------------------------
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