EXHIBIT 10.30
EXECUTION COPY
$200,000,000
364-DAY
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
December 11, 1997
among
ACE Limited,
as Borrower,
A.C.E. Insurance Company, Ltd.,
Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Ltd.
and
Tempest Reinsurance Company Limited,
as Guarantors,
The Banks Listed Herein
and
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
as Administrative Agent
______________
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
and
Mellon Bank N.A.,
Co-Syndication Agents
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
Documentation Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
___________
PAGE
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINATIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions................................................. 1
Section 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations......................... 11
Section 1.03. Types of Borrowings......................................... 00
Xxxxxxx 0.00. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Dollars....................................... 12
ARTICLE 2
THE CREDITS
Section 2.01. Commitments to Lend......................................... 12
Section 2.02. Notice of Committed Borrowing............................... 13
Section 2.03. Money Market Borrowings..................................... 13
Section 2.04. Notice of Banks; Funding of Loans........................... 17
Section 2.05. Notes....................................................... 18
Section 2.06. Maturity of Loans........................................... 19
Section 2.07. Interest Rates.............................................. 19
Section 2.08. Facility Fee................................................ 21
Section 2.09. Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments............ 21
Section 2.10. Scheduled Termination of Commitments........................ 21
Section 2.11. Method of Electing Interest Rates........................... 21
Section 2.12. Optional Prepayments........................................ 23
Section 2.13. General Provisions as to Payments........................... 23
Section 2.14. Funding Losses.............................................. 24
Section 2.15. Computation of Interest and Fees............................ 25
Section 2.16. Regulation D Compensation................................... 25
ARTICLE 3
CONDITIONS
Section 3.01. Closing..................................................... 25
Section 3.02. Borrowings.................................................. 27
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ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power............................... 27
Section 4.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No
Contravention......................................................... 27
Section 4.03. Binding Effect.............................................. 28
Section 4.04. Financial Information....................................... 28
Section 4.05. Litigation.................................................. 29
Section 4.06. ERISA....................................................... 30
Section 4.07. Taxes....................................................... 30
Section 4.08. Not an Investment Company................................... 30
Section 4.09. Full Disclosure............................................. 30
Section 4.10. Compliance with Laws........................................ 30
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
Section 5.01. Information................................................. 31
Section 5.02. Payment of Obligations...................................... 33
Section 5.03. Maintenance of Property; Insurance.......................... 33
Section 5.04. Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence............ 33
Section 5.05. Compliance with Laws........................................ 33
Section 5.06. Inspection of Property, Book and Records.................... 34
Section 5.07. Leverage.................................................... 34
Section 5.08. Subsidiary Debt............................................. 34
Section 5.09. Minimum Tangible Net Worth.................................. 34
Section 5.10. Negative Pledge............................................. 35
Section 5.11. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets................. 36
Section 5.12. Use of Proceeds............................................. 36
Section 5.13. ERISA....................................................... 36
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS
Section 6.01. Events of Default........................................... 37
Section 6.02. Notice of Default........................................... 40
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ARTICLE 7
THE AGENTS
Section 7.01. Appointment and Authorization............................... 40
Section 7.02. Administrative Agent and Affiliates......................... 40
Section 7.03. Action by Administrative Agent.............................. 40
Section 7.04. Consultation with Experts................................... 40
Section 7.05. Liability of Administrative Agent........................... 40
Section 7.06. Indemnification............................................. 41
Section 7.07. Credit Decision............................................. 41
Section 7.08. Successor Administrative Agent.............................. 41
Section 7.09. Administrative Agent's Fee.................................. 42
Section 7.10. Other Agents................................................ 42
ARTICLE 8
CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES
Section 8.01. Basis for Determination Interest Rate Inadequate or
Unfair................................................................ 42
Section 8.02. Illegality.................................................. 43
Section 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return........................... 43
Section 8.04. Taxes....................................................... 45
Section 8.05. Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate Loans... 47
Section 8.06. Substitution of Bank........................................ 47
ARTICLE 9
GUARANTY
Section 9.01. The Guaranty................................................ 48
Section 9.02. Guaranty Unconditional...................................... 48
Section 9.03. Discharge Only upon Payment in Full; Reinstatement in
Certain Circumstances................................................. 49
Section 9.04. Waiver by Each of the Guarantors............................ 49
Section 9.05. Subrogation................................................. 50
Section 9.06. Stay of Acceleration........................................ 50
Section 9.07. Limit of Liability.......................................... 50
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PAGE
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ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01. Notices.................................................... 50
Section 10.02. No Waivers................................................. 51
Section 10.03. Expenses; Indemnification.................................. 51
Section 10.04. Sharing; Set-Offs.......................................... 51
Section 10.05. Amendments and Waivers..................................... 52
Section 10.06. Successors and Assigns..................................... 53
Section 10.07. Collateral................................................. 54
Section 10.08. Governing Law.............................................. 54
Section 10.09. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness................... 54
Section 10.10. Judicial Proceedings....................................... 55
Section 10.11. Judgment Currency.......................................... 56
Section 10.12. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL....................................... 57
Section 10.13. Existing Credit Agreement.................................. 57
Section 10.14. Confidentiality............................................ 57
EXHIBIT A - NOTE
EXHIBIT B - FORM OF MONEY MARKET QUOTE REQUEST
EXHIBIT C - FORM OF INVITATION FOR MONEY MARKET
QUOTES
EXHIBIT D - FORM OF MONEY MARKET QUOTE
EXHIBIT E - FORM OF XXXXXX AND CALDER OPINION
EXHIBIT F - FORM OF XXXXXXX, XXXX & XXXXXXX OPINION
EXHIBIT G - FORM OF XXXXX, XXXXX & XXXXX OPINION
EXHIBIT H - FORM OF XXXXX XXXX & XXXXXXXX OPINION
EXHIBIT I - ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT J - LETTER FROM CT CORPORATION SYSTEM
iv
364-DAY
CREDIT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of December 11, 1997 among ACE LIMITED, A.C.E. INSURANCE
COMPANY, LTD., CORPORATE OFFICERS & DIRECTORS ASSURANCE LTD. and TEMPEST
REINSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, the BANKS listed on the signature pages hereof and
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to replace the existing Credit Agreement
dated as of November 15, 1996 among the Borrower, certain of the Guarantors,
certain banks and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as agent, by
entering into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Banks agree to do so.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Definitions
Section 1.01. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:
"ABSOLUTE RATE AUCTION" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting
forth Money Market Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.03.
"ACE INSURANCE" means A.C.E. Insurance Company, Ltd., a Bermuda limited
liability company, and its successors.
"ACE US" means ACE US Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
successors.
"ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT" means Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York in
its capacity as administrative agent for the Banks under the Financing
Documents, and its successors in such capacity.
"AGENT" means each of the Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agent,
the Syndication Agents, the Managing Agent and the Co-Agents, and "AGENTS" means
any combination of them, as the context may require.
"ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE" means, with respect to each Bank, an
administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent
and submitted to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) duly
completed by such Bank.
"APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICE" means, with respect to any Bank, (i) in the
case of its Base Rate Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the case of
its Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-Dollar Lending Office and (iii) in the case of
its Money Market Loans, its Money Market Lending Office.
"ASSIGNEE" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06(c).
"AUTHORIZED OFFICER" means any of (i) the Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Borrower, (ii) the General Counsel and Secretary of the
Borrower, (iii) the President of ACE Insurance, (iv) the Chief Financial Officer
of the Borrower, (v) the Chief Investment Officer of the Borrower, (vi) the
Chairman of ACE UK Ltd., or (vii) any other Person designated in a notice given
to the Administrative Agent by any two of the foregoing Persons, and "AUTHORIZED
OFFICERS" means all of the foregoing Persons.
"BANK" means each bank listed on the signature pages hereof, each Assignee
which becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 10.06(c), and their respective
successors.
"BASE RATE" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher of (i)
the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the sum of 1/2 of 1% plus the Federal Funds
Rate for such day.
"BASE RATE LOAN" means a Committed Loan which bears interest at the Base
Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or Notice of
Interest Rate Election or the provisions of Section 2.11(a) or Article 8.
"BERMUDA COMPANIES LAW" means The Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
"BERMUDA INSURANCE LAW" means The Insurance Xxx 0000 of Bermuda, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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"BORROWER" means ACE Limited, a Cayman Islands company limited by shares,
and its successors.
"BORROWING" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.
"CO-AGENT" means each Bank designated as a Co-Agent on the signature pages
hereof, in its capacity as co-agent in respect of this Agreement.
"CLOSING DATE" means the date on or after the Effective Date on which the
Administrative Agent shall have received the documents specified in or pursuant
to Section 3.01.
"CODA" means Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Ltd., a Bermuda
limited liability company, and its successors.
"COMMITMENT" means, with respect to each Bank, the amount set forth
opposite the name of such Bank on the signature pages hereof, as such amount may
be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09.
"COMMITTED LOAN" means a loan made by a Bank pursuant to Section 2.01;
provided that, if any such loan or loans (or portions thereof) are combined or
subdivided pursuant to a Notice of Interest Rate Election, the term "COMMITTED
LOAN" shall refer to the combined principal amount resulting from such
combination or to each of the separate principal amounts resulting from such
subdivision, as the case may be.
"CONSOLIDATED DEBT" means at any date the Debt of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis as of such date.
"CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, for any period, the net income of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis
for such period.
"CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARY" means at any date any Subsidiary or other entity
the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Borrower in its
consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared as of such
date.
"CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH" means at any date the consolidated
stockholders' equity of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries less
their consolidated Intangible Assets, all determined as of such date; provided
that such determination for purposes of Sections 5.07, 5.09 and 5.10 shall be
made without giving effect to adjustments pursuant to Statement No. 115 of the
Financial
3
Accounting Standards Board. For purposes of this definition "INTANGIBLE ASSETS"
means the amount (to the extent reflected in determining such consolidated
stockholders' equity) of (i) all write-ups (other than write-ups resulting from
foreign currency translations and write-ups of assets of a going concern
business made within twelve months after the acquisition of such business)
subsequent to June 30, 1997 in the book value of any asset owned by the Borrower
or a Consolidated Subsidiary and (ii) all unamortized debt discount and expense,
unamortized deferred charges, deferred acquisition costs, goodwill, patents,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, anticipated future benefit of tax loss
carry-forwards, copyrights, organization or developmental expenses and other
intangible assets.
"DEBT" of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii)
all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
business, (iv) all obligations of such Person as lessee which are capitalized in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (v) all non-contingent
obligations (and, solely for purposes of Section 5.10 and the definitions of
Material Debt and Material Financial Obligations, all contingent obligations) of
such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid
under a letter of credit or similar instrument, (vi) all Debt secured by a Lien
on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is otherwise an obligation
of such Person, and (vii) all Debt of others Guaranteed by such Person, provided
that the term "DEBT" shall not include obligations of an insurance company under
insurance policies or surety bonds issued by it.
"DEFAULT" means any condition or event which constitutes an Event of
Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
"DERIVATIVES OBLIGATIONS" of any Person means all obligations of such
Person in respect of any rate swap transaction, basis swap, forward rate
transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap,
equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign
exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction,
currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option
or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of
the foregoing transactions) or any combination of the foregoing transactions.
"DOCUMENTATION AGENT" means Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York in
its capacity as documentation agent in respect of this Agreement.
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"DOMESTIC BUSINESS DAY" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized by law to close.
"DOMESTIC LENDING OFFICE" means, as to each Bank, its office located at its
address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in its
Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office) or such other
office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by
notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
"EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date this Agreement becomes effective in
accordance with Section 10.09.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, or any successor statute.
"ERISA GROUP" means, with respect to any Person, such Person, any
Subsidiary of such Person and all members of a controlled group of corporations
and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control
which, together with such Person or any such Subsidiary, are treated as a single
employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
"EURO-DOLLAR BUSINESS DAY" means any Domestic Business Day on which
commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in
dollar deposits) in London.
"EURO-DOLLAR LENDING OFFICE" means, as to each Bank, its office, branch or
affiliate located at its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire
(or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its Euro-Dollar Lending
Office) or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent.
"EURO-DOLLAR LOAN" means a Committed Loan which bears interest at a Euro-
Dollar Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or Notice
of Interest Rate Election.
"EURO-DOLLAR MARGIN" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).
"EURO-DOLLAR RATE" means a rate of interest determined pursuant to Section
2.07(b) on the basis of a London Interbank Offered Rate.
5
"EURO-DOLLAR RESERVE PERCENTAGE" means for any day that percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars in
respect of "EUROCURRENCY LIABILITIES" (or in respect of any other category of
liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Euro-Dollar Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other
assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Bank to United
States residents).
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.
"FEDERAL FUNDS RATE" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Domestic Business Day
next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if such day is not a Domestic
Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Domestic Business Day as so published on the
next succeeding Domestic Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published
on such next succeeding Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such
day shall be the average rate quoted to Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New
York on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
"FINANCING DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement and the Notes.
"FIXED RATE LOANS" means Euro-Dollar Loans or Money Market Loans (excluding
Money Market LIBOR Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant to Section
8.01(a)) or any combination of the foregoing.
"GROUP OF LOANS" means at any time a group of Committed Loans consisting of
(i) all Base Rate Loans which are outstanding at such time or (ii) all Euro-
Dollar Loans having the same Interest Period at such time; provided that, if a
Committed Loan of any particular Bank is converted to or made as a Base Rate
Loan pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.04, such Loan shall be included in the same
Group or Groups of Loans from time to time as it would have been in if it had
not been so converted or made.
"GUARANTEE" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct
6
or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt (whether
arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to
purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain
financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the holder of such Debt of the payment
thereof or to protect such holder against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part), provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "GUARANTEE"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
"GUARANTORS" means ACE Insurance, CODA and Tempest.
"INDEMNITEE" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.03(b).
"INTEREST PERIOD" means: (1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar Loan, the
period commencing on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice of
Committed Borrowing or on the date specified in an applicable Notice of Interest
Rate Election and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the
Borrower may elect in the applicable notice; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which
is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall, subject to clause (c) below, be
extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-
Dollar Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such
Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar
Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Euro-
Dollar Business Day of a calendar month; and
(c) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date;
(2) with respect to each Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such whole number of months
thereafter as the Borrower may elect in accordance with Section 2.03; provided
that:
7
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which
is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall, subject to clause (c) below, be
extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-
Dollar Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such
Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar
Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Euro-
Dollar Business Day of a calendar month; and
(c) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date; and
(3) with respect to each Money Market Absolute Rate Borrowing, the
period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such number of days
thereafter (but not less than 7 days) as the Borrower may elect in accordance
with Section 2.03; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which
is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall, subject to clause (b) below, be
extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day; and
(b) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date.
"INTERNAL REVENUE CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor statute.
"LIBOR AUCTION" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting forth
Money Market Margins based on the London Interbank Offered Rate pursuant to
Section 2.03.
"LIEN" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of
preferential arrangement that has the practical effect of creating a security
interest, in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset
which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor
under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention
agreement relating to such asset.
8
"LOAN" means a Base Rate Loan or a Euro-Dollar Loan or a Money Market Loan
and "LOANS" means Base Rate Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or Money Market Loans or
any combination of the foregoing.
"LONDON INTERBANK OFFERED RATE" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07(b).
"MANAGING AGENT" means Citibank, N.A. in its capacity as managing agent in
respect of this Agreement.
"MATERIAL DEBT" means Debt (other than the Notes) of the Borrower and/or
one or more of its Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related or unrelated
transactions, in an aggregate principal or face amount exceeding $25,000,000.
"MATERIAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS" means a principal or face amount of Debt
and/or current payment obligations in respect of Derivatives Obligations of the
Borrower and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related
or unrelated transactions, exceeding in the aggregate $25,000,000.
"MONEY MARKET ABSOLUTE RATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).
"MONEY MARKET ABSOLUTE RATE LOAN" means a loan to be made by a Bank
pursuant to an Absolute Rate Auction.
"MONEY MARKET LENDING OFFICE" means, as to each Bank, its Domestic Lending
Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Money Market Lending Office by notice to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent; provided that any Bank may from time to time by
notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent designate separate Money
Market Lending Offices for its Money Market LIBOR Loans, on the one hand, and
its Money Market Absolute Rate Loans, on the other hand, in which case all
references herein to the Money Market Lending Office of such Bank shall be
deemed to refer to either or both of such offices, as the context may require.
"MONEY MARKET LIBOR LOAN" means a loan to be made by a Bank pursuant to a
LIBOR Auction (including such a loan bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant
to Section 8.01(a)).
"MONEY MARKET LOAN" means a Money Market LIBOR Loan or a Money Market
Absolute Rate Loan.
"MONEY MARKET MARGIN" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).
9
"MONEY MARKET QUOTE" means an offer by a Bank to make a Money Market Loan
in accordance with Section 2.03.
"NOTES" means promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in the form
of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to repay the
Loans, and "NOTE" means any one of such promissory notes issued hereunder.
"NOTICE OF BORROWING" means a Notice of Committed Borrowing (as defined in
Section 2.02) or a Notice of Money Market Borrowing (as defined in Section
2.03(f)).
"NOTICE OF COMMITTED BORROWING" has the meaning set forth in Section .
"NOTICE OF INTEREST RATE ELECTION" has the meaning set forth in Section
elec.int.rates2.11.
"OBLIGORS" means the Borrower and each of the Guarantors.
"OTHER TAXES" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04(b).
"PARENT" means, with respect to any Bank, any Person controlling such Bank.
"PARTICIPANT" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06(b).
"PERSON" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited
liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization,
including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality
thereof.
"PRIME RATE" means the rate of interest publicly announced by Xxxxxx
Guaranty Trust Company of New York in New York City from time to time as its
Prime Rate.
"REFERENCE BANKS" means the principal London offices of Deutsche Bank AG,
Mellon Bank N.A. and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York.
"REGULATION U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
"RELATED DOCUMENTS" means (i) the Financing Documents, (ii) the "Financing
Documents" as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement of even
10
date herewith among the parties hereto, (iii) the "Financing Documents" as
defined in the Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement dated as of December
11, 1997 among ACE Insurance, the Banks parties thereto and Xxxxxx Guaranty
Trust Company of New York, as Issuing Bank and Administrative Agent for such
Banks and (iv) the "Financing Documents" as defined in the Term Loan Agreement
of even date herewith among ACE US, the Borrower, the Banks parties thereto and
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as administrative agent for such
Banks, in each case as the same may be amended and in effect from time to time.
"REQUIRED BANKS" means at any time Banks having at least 66 2/3% of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments shall have been
terminated, holding Notes evidencing at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Loans.
"SUBSIDIARY" means, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of
which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person; unless
otherwise specified, "SUBSIDIARY" means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
"SYNDICATION AGENT" means either X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. or Mellon Bank
N.A. in its capacity as a syndication agent in respect of this Agreement, and
"SYNDICATION AGENTS" means both of them.
"TAXES" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04(a).
"TEMPEST" means Tempest Reinsurance Company Limited, a Bermuda limited
liability company, and its successors.
"TERMINATION DATE" means December 10, 1998 or, if such day is not a Euro-
Dollar Business Day, the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day.
"WHOLLY-OWNED CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARY" means any Consolidated Subsidiary
all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of which (except
directors' qualifying shares) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by
the Borrower.
Section 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all
accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements
required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with United
States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time,
11
applied on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower's
independent public accountants) with the most recent audited consolidated
financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered
to the Banks; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent
that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article 5 to eliminate the
effect of any change in generally accepted accounting principles on the
operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower
that the Required Banks wish to amend Article 5 for such purpose), then the
Borrower's compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of
generally accepted accounting principles in effect immediately before the
relevant change in generally accepted accounting principles became effective,
until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner
satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Banks.
Section 1.03. Types of Borrowings. The term "BORROWING" denotes the
aggregation of Loans of one or more Banks to be made to the Borrower pursuant to
Article 2 on a single date and for a single Interest Period. Borrowings are
classified for purposes of this Agreement either by reference to the pricing of
Loans comprising such Borrowing (e.g., a "EURO-DOLLAR BORROWING" is a Borrowing
comprised of Euro-Dollar Loans) or by reference to the provisions of Article 2
under which participation therein is determined (i.e., a "COMMITTED BORROWING"
is a Borrowing under Section 2.01 in which all Banks participate in proportion
to their Commitments, while a "MONEY MARKET BORROWING" is a Borrowing under
Section 2.03 in which the Bank participants are determined on the basis of their
bids in accordance therewith).
Section 1.04. United States Dollars. Each reference herein to "DOLLARS" or
"$" shall refer to United States Dollars.
ARTICLE 2
The Credits
Section 2.01. Commitments to Lend. Each Bank severally agrees, on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make loans to the
Borrower pursuant to this Section from time to time prior to the Termination
Date in amounts such that the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans by
such Bank at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the amount of its
Commitment. Each Borrowing under this Section shall be in an aggregate principal
amount of $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000 (except that any such
Borrowing may be in the aggregate amount available in accordance with Section
3.02(c)) and shall be made from the several Banks ratably in proportion to their
respective
12
Commitments. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this
Section, repay, or to the extent permitted by Section 2.12, prepay Loans and
reborrow at any time prior to the Termination Date.
Section 2.02. Notice of Committed Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent notice (such notice to be signed by any two of the
Authorized Officers and hereinafter referred to as a "NOTICE OF COMMITTED
BORROWING") not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the date of
each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before each
Euro-Dollar Borrowing, specifying:
(a) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business Day in
the case of a Base Rate Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the case of a
Euro-Dollar Borrowing,
(b) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing,
(c) whether the Loans comprising such Borrowing are to be Base Rate Loans
or Euro-Dollar Loans, and
(d) in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, the duration of the Interest
Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the definition of
Interest Period.
Section 2.03. Money Market Borrowings. (a) The Money Market Option. In
addition to Committed Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.01, the Borrower may, as
set forth in this Section, request the Banks prior to the Termination Date to
make offers to make Money Market Loans to the Borrower. The Banks may, but shall
have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall have no
obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this Section.
(b) Money Market Quote Request. When the Borrower wishes to request offers
to make Money Market Loans under this Section, it shall transmit to the
Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission a Money Market Quote
Request substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto so as to be received no
later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the fifth Euro-Dollar Business
Day prior to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a LIBOR
Auction or (y) the Domestic Business Day next preceding the date of Borrowing
proposed therein, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case,
such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have
mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the date of
the Money Market
13
Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which
such change is to be effective) specifying:
(i) the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-
Dollar Business Day in the case of a LIBOR Auction or a Domestic Business
Day in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction,
(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be
$10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,
(iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period, and
(iv) whether the Money Market Quotes requested are to set forth a
Money Market Margin or a Money Market Absolute Rate.
The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more than
one Interest Period in a single Money Market Quote Request. No Money Market
Quote Request shall be given within five Euro-Dollar Business Days (or such
other number of days as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree) of
any other Money Market Quote Request.
(c) Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Promptly upon receipt of a Money
Market Quote Request, the Administrative Agent shall send to the Banks by telex
or facsimile transmission an Invitation for Money Market Quotes substantially in
the form of Exhibit C hereto, which shall constitute an invitation by the
Borrower to each Bank to submit Money Market Quotes offering to make the Money
Market Loans to which such Money Market Quote Request relates in accordance with
this Section.
(d) Submission and Contents of Money Market Quotes. (i) Each Bank may
submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or offers to make Money Market
Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Each Money Market
Quote must comply with the requirements of this subsection (d) and must be
submitted to the Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission at its
offices specified in or pursuant to Section 10.01 not later than (x) 2:00 P.M.
(New York City time) on the fourth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 9:30 A.M. (New
York City time) on the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute
Rate Auction (or, in either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to
the Banks not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the
first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be
14
effective); provided that Money Market Quotes submitted by the Administrative
Agent (or any affiliate of the Administrative Agent) in the capacity of a Bank
may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Administrative Agent or such
affiliate notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers contained
therein not later than (x) one hour prior to the deadline for the other Banks,
in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 15 minutes prior to the deadline for the
other Banks, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction. Subject to Articles 3 and
6, any Money Market Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with the written
consent of the Administrative Agent given on the instructions of the Borrower.
(ii) Each Money Market Quote shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit
D hereto and shall in any case specify:
(A) the proposed date of Borrowing,
(B) the principal amount of the Money Market Loan for which
each such offer is being made, which principal amount (w) may be
greater than or less than the Commitment of the quoting Bank, (x) must
be $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, (y) may not exceed
the principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers were
requested and (z) may be subject to an aggregate limitation as to the
principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers being made by
such quoting Bank may be accepted,
(C) in the case of a LIBOR Auction, the margin above or
below the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (the "MONEY MARKET
MARGIN") offered for each such Money Market Loan, expressed as a
percentage (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) to be added to
or subtracted from such base rate,
(D) in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of
interest per annum (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) (the
"MONEY MARKET ABSOLUTE RATE") offered for each such Money Market Loan,
and
(E) the identity of the quoting Bank.
A Money Market Quote may set forth up to five separate offers by the
quoting Bank with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related
Invitation for Money Market Quotes.
(iii) Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded if it:
15
(A) is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit D hereto
or does not specify all of the information required by subsection
(d)(ii);
(B) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language;
(C) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set
forth in the applicable Invitation for Money Market Quotes; or
(D) arrives after the time set forth in subsection (d)(i).
(e) Notice to Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
Borrower of the terms (x) of any Money Market Quote submitted by a Bank that is
in accordance with subsection (d) and (y) of any Money Market Quote that amends,
modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Money Market Quote
submitted by such Bank with respect to the same Money Market Quote Request. Any
such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be disregarded by the Administrative
Agent unless such subsequent Money Market Quote is submitted solely to correct a
manifest error in such former Money Market Quote. The Administrative Agent's
notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of Money
Market Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest Period
specified in the related Money Market Quote Request, (B) the respective
principal amounts and Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as
the case may be, so offered and (C) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate
principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers in any single Money
Market Quote may be accepted.
(f) Acceptance and Notice by Borrower. Not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York
City time) on (x) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed date
of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) the proposed date of
Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such
other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have
mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the date of
the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate
Auction for which such change is to be effective), the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers so
notified to it pursuant to subsection (e). In the case of acceptance, such
notice (such notice to be signed by any two of the Authorized Officers and
hereinafter referred to as a "NOTICE OF MONEY MARKET BORROWING") shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Interest Period that are
accepted. The Borrower may accept any Money Market Quote in whole or in part;
provided that:
16
(i) the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market
Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related
Money Market Quote Request,
(ii) the principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing must be
$10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,
(iii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of
ascending Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case
may be, and
(iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in
subsection (d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements
of this Agreement.
(g) Allocation by Administrative Agent. If offers are made by two or more
Banks with the same Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the
case may be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect
of which such offers are accepted for the related Interest Period, the principal
amount of Money Market Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall
be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such Banks as nearly as possible
(in multiples of $1,000,000, as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate)
in proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such offers. Determinations
by the Administrative Agent of the amounts of Money Market Loans shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
Section 2.04. Notice of Banks; Funding of Loans. (a) Upon receipt of a
Notice of Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of
the contents thereof and of such Bank's share (if any) of such Borrowing and
such Notice of Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.
(b) Not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date of each
Borrowing, each Bank participating therein shall make available its share of
such Borrowing, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York
City, to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 10.01.
Unless the Administrative Agent determines that any applicable condition
specified in Article 3 has not been satisfied, the Administrative Agent will
make the funds so received from the Banks available to the Borrower at the
Administrative Agent's aforesaid address.
(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Bank
prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Bank will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Bank's share of such Borrowing, the
17
Administrative Agent may assume that such Bank has made such share available to
the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with
subsection (b) of this Section 2.04 and the Administrative Agent may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Bank shall not have so
made such share available to the Administrative Agent, such Bank and the
Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on
demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day
from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such
amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the
Borrower, a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable thereto
pursuant to Section 2.07 and (ii) in the case of such Bank, the Federal Funds
Rate. If such Bank shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding
amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Bank's Loan included in such
Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
Section 2.05. Notes. (a) The Loans of each Bank shall be evidenced by a
single Note payable to the order of such Bank for the account of its Applicable
Lending Office in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
such Bank's Loans.
(b) Each Bank may, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent,
request that its Loans of a particular type be evidenced by a separate Note in
an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Loans. Each
such Note shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto with
appropriate modifications to reflect the fact that it evidences solely Loans of
the relevant type. Each reference in this Agreement to the "NOTE" of such Bank
shall be deemed to refer to and include any or all of such Notes, as the context
may require.
(c) Upon receipt of each Bank's Note pursuant to Section 3.01(a), the
Administrative Agent shall forward such Note to such Bank. Each Bank shall
record the date, amount, type and maturity of each Loan made by it and the date
and amount of each payment of principal made by the Borrower with respect
thereto, and may, if such Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or
enforcement of its Note, endorse on the schedule forming a part thereof
appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each
such Loan then outstanding; provided that the failure of any Bank to make any
such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of any Obligor
hereunder or under the Notes. Each Bank is hereby irrevocably authorized by the
Borrower so to endorse its Note and to attach to and make a part of its Note a
continuation of any such schedule as and when required.
18
Section 2.06. Maturity of Loans. (a) The Committed Loans shall mature,
and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, together with accrued
interest thereon, on the Termination Date.
(b) Each Money Market Loan included in any Money Market Borrowing shall
mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, together with
accrued interest thereon, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to
such Money Market Borrowing.
Section 2.07. Interest Rates. (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest
on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from the date such
Loan is made until it becomes due, at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate
for such day. Such interest shall be payable at maturity, quarterly in arrears
on the last day of each March, June, September and December prior to maturity,
and with respect to the principal amount of any Base Rate Loan converted to a
Euro-Dollar Loan, on the date such amount is so converted. Any overdue
principal of or interest on any Base Rate Loan shall bear interest, payable on
demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus
the rate otherwise applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.
(b) Each Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof, for each day during each Interest Period applicable thereto, at
a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Euro-Dollar Margin for such day plus
the London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Interest Period. Such
interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof and,
if such Interest Period is longer than three months, at intervals of three
months after the first day thereof.
"EURO-DOLLAR MARGIN" means (i) 0.24% per annum, for each day on which the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans is equal to or less than 50%
of the aggregate amount of the Commitments, and (ii) 0.29% per annum, for any
other day.
The "LONDON INTERBANK OFFERED RATE" applicable to any Interest Period means
the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the
respective rates per annum at which deposits in dollars are offered to each of
the Reference Banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M.
(London time) two Euro-Dollar Business Days before the first day of such
Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount of the
Euro-Dollar Loan of such Reference Bank to which such Interest Period is to
apply and for a period of time comparable to such Interest Period.
19
(c) Any overdue principal of or interest on any Euro-Dollar Loan shall
bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum
equal to the higher of (i) the sum of 2% plus the Euro-Dollar Margin plus the
London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Loan at the date of such
payment was due and (ii) the sum of 2% plus the Euro-Dollar Margin plus the
quotient obtained (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%)
by dividing (x) the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher
1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which one day (or, if such
amount due remains unpaid more than three Euro-Dollar Business Days, then for
such other period of time not longer than six months as the Administrative Agent
may select) deposits in dollars in an amount approximately equal to such overdue
payment due to each of the Reference Banks are offered to such Reference Bank in
the London interbank market for the applicable period determined as provided
above by (y) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage (or, if the
circumstances described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 8.01 shall exist, at a
rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the rate applicable to Base Rate
Loans for such day).
(d) Subject to Section 8.01(a), each Money Market LIBOR Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period
applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the London Interbank
Offered Rate for such Interest Period (determined in accordance with Section
2.07(b) as if the related Money Market LIBOR Borrowing were a Euro-Dollar
Borrowing) plus (or minus) the Money Market Margin quoted by the Bank making
such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03. Each Money Market Absolute Rate Loan
shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the
Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the Money
Market Absolute Rate quoted by the Bank making such Loan in accordance with
Section 2.03. Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the
last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months, at
intervals of three months after the first day thereof. Any overdue principal of
or interest on any Money Market Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for
each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the Base
Rate for such day.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable
to the Loans hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to
the Borrower and the participating Banks of each rate of interest so determined,
and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest
error.
(f) Each Reference Bank agrees to use its best efforts to furnish
quotations to the Administrative Agent as contemplated by this Section. If any
Reference Bank does not furnish a timely quotation, the Administrative Agent
20
shall determine the relevant interest rate on the basis of the quotation or
quotations furnished by the remaining Reference Bank or Banks or, if none of
such quotations is available on a timely basis, the provisions of Section 8.01
shall apply.
Section 2.08. Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Banks ratably a facility fee at the rate of 0.06%
per annum. Such facility fee shall accrue (i) from and including the Closing
Date to but excluding the Termination Date (or earlier date of termination of
the Commitments in their entirety), on the daily aggregate amount of the
Commitments (whether used or unused) and (ii) from and including the Termination
Date or such earlier date of termination to but excluding the date the Loans
shall be repaid in their entirety, on the daily aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Loans. Accrued fees under this Section shall be payable quarterly
in arrears on each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 and upon the
date of termination of the Commitments in their entirety (and, if later, the
date the Loans shall be repaid in their entirety).
Section 2.09. Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The
Borrower may, upon at least three Domestic Business Days' notice to the
Administrative Agent, (i) terminate the Commitments at any time, if no Loans are
outstanding at such time or (ii) ratably reduce from time to time by an
aggregate amount of $25,000,000 or any larger multiple of $5,000,000, the
aggregate amount of the Commitments in excess of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Loans. Upon receipt of any notice pursuant to this
Section 2.09, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Banks of the
contents of such notice.
Section 2.10. Scheduled Termination of Commitments. The Commitments shall
terminate on the Termination Date, and any Loans then outstanding (together with
accrued interest thereon) shall be due and payable on such date.
Section 2.11. Method of Electing Interest Rates. (a) The Loans included
in each Committed Borrowing shall bear interest initially at the type of rate
specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing.
Thereafter, the Borrower may from time to time elect to change or continue the
type of interest rate borne by each Group of Loans (subject to subsection (d) of
this Section and the provisions of Article ), as follows:
(i) if such Loans are Base Rate Loans, the Borrower may elect to
convert such Loans to Euro-Dollar Loans as of any Euro-Dollar Business Day;
and
21
(ii) if such Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower may elect
to convert such Loans to Base Rate Loans or elect to continue such Loans as
Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period, subject to Section
2.14 if any such conversion or continuation is effective on any day other
than the last day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loans.
Each such election shall be made by delivering a notice (a "NOTICE OF INTEREST
RATE ELECTION") to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York
City time) on the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before the conversion or
continuation selected in such notice is to be effective. A Notice of Interest
Rate Election may, if it so specifies, apply to only a portion of the aggregate
principal amount of the relevant Group of Loans; provided that (i) such portion
is allocated ratably among the Loans comprising such Group and (ii) the portion
to which such notice applies, and the remaining portion to which it does not
apply, are each at least $10,000,000 or any larger amount in multiples of
$1,000,000 (unless such portion is comprised of Base Rate Loans). If no such
notice is timely received before the end of an Interest Period for any Group of
Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected that such Group
of Loans be converted to Base Rate Loans at the end of such Interest Period.
(b) Each Notice of Interest Rate Election shall specify:
(i) the Group of Loans (or portion thereof) to which such
notice applies;
(ii) the date on which the conversion or continuation selected
in such notice is to be effective, which shall comply with the applicable
clause of subsection (a) above;
(iii) if the Loans comprising such Group are to be converted, the
new type of Loans and, if the Loans resulting from such conversion are to
be Euro-Dollar Loans, the duration of the initial Interest Period
applicable thereto; and
(iv) if such Loans are to be continued as Euro-Dollar Loans for
an additional Interest Period, the duration of such additional Interest
Period.
Each Interest Period specified in a Notice of Interest Rate Election shall
comply with the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.
(c) Promptly after receiving a Notice of Interest Rate Election from the
Borrower pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Administrative Agent shall notify
22
each Bank of the contents thereof and such notice shall not thereafter be
revocable by the Borrower.
(d) The Borrower shall not be entitled to elect to convert any Committed
Loans to, or continue any Committed Loans for an additional Interest Period as,
Euro-Dollar Loans if (i) the aggregate principal amounts of any Group of Euro-
Dollar Loans created or continued as a result of such election would be less
than $10,000,000 or (ii) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing when
the Borrower delivers notice of such election to the Administrative Agent.
Section 2.12. Optional Prepayments. (a) Subject in the case of any Euro-
Dollar Loan to Section 2.14, the Borrower may, in the case of the Group of Base
Rate Loans (or any Money Market Borrowing bearing interest at the Base Rate
pursuant to Section 8.01(a)), upon at least one Domestic Business Day's notice
to the Administrative Agent, prepay such Group or Borrowing, or in the case of
any Group of Euro-Dollar Loans, upon at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days'
notice to the Administrative Agent, prepay such Group, in each case in whole at
any time, or from time to time in part in amounts aggregating $10,000,000 or any
larger multiple of $1,000,000, by paying the principal amount to be prepaid
together with accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment. Each such
optional prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably the Loans of the several
Banks included in such Group or Borrowing.
(b) Except as provided in Section 2.12(a), the Borrower may not prepay all
or any portion of the principal amount of any Money Market Loan prior to the
maturity thereof.
(c) Upon receipt of a notice of prepayment pursuant to this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and
of such Bank's ratable share (if any) of such prepayment and such notice shall
not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.
Section 2.13. General Provisions as to Payments. (a) The Borrower shall
make each payment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans and of fees
hereunder, not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date when due,
in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City and in the
lawful currency of the United States, to the Administrative Agent at its address
referred to in Section 10.01. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute
to each Bank its ratable share of each such payment received by the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks. Whenever any payment of
principal of, or interest on, the Base Rate Loans or of fees shall be due on a
day which is not a Domestic Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be
extended to the next succeeding Domestic Business Day. Whenever any payment of
principal of, or
23
interest on, the Euro-Dollar Loans shall be due on a day which is not a Euro-
Dollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next
succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls
in another calendar month, in which case the date for payment thereof shall be
the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day. Whenever any payment of principal
of, or interest on, the Money Market Loans shall be due on a day which is not a
Euro-Dollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the
next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day. If the date for any payment of
principal is extended by operation of law or otherwise, interest thereon shall
be payable for such extended time.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the
Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks hereunder
that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent
may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative
Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such
assumption, cause to be distributed to each Bank on such due date an amount
equal to the amount then due such Bank. If and to the extent that the Borrower
shall not have so made such payment, each Bank shall repay to the Administrative
Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Bank together with
interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such
Bank until the date such Bank repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at
the Federal Funds Rate.
Section 2.14. Funding Losses. If the Borrower makes any payment of
principal with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan or any Fixed Rate Loan is
converted to a different type of Loan (pursuant to Article 2, or otherwise)
on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or
the last day of an applicable period fixed pursuant to Section 2.07(c), or if
the Borrower fails to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any Fixed Rate Loans
after notice has been given to any Bank in accordance with Section 2.04(a),
2.11(c) or 2.12(c), the Borrower shall reimburse each Bank within 15 days after
demand for any resulting loss or expense incurred by it (or by an existing or,
in the case of the failure of the Borrower to borrow any Fixed Rate Loans,
prospective Participant in the related Loan), including (without limitation) any
loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third
parties, but excluding loss of margin for the period after any such payment,
conversion or continuation or failure to borrow, prepay, convert or continue,
provided that such Bank shall have delivered to the Borrower a certificate as to
the amount of such loss or expense and setting forth the calculation thereof,
which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
24
Section 2.15. Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest based on the
Prime Rate hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or
366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day). All other interest and
all facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid
for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the
last day).
Section 2.16. Regulation D Compensation. For so long as any Bank
maintains reserves against "EUROCURRENCY LIABILITIES" (or any other category of
liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Euro-Dollar Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other
assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of such Bank to United
States residents), and as a result the cost to such Bank (or its Euro-Dollar
Lending Office) of making or maintaining its Euro-Dollar Loans is increased,
then such Bank may require the Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each
payment of interest on the Euro-Dollar Loans, additional interest on the related
Euro-Dollar Loan of such Bank at a rate per annum up to but not exceeding the
excess of (i) (A) the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate divided by (B)
one minus the Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage over (ii) the applicable London
Interbank Offered Rate. Any Bank wishing to require payment of such additional
interest (x) shall so notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in which
case such additional interest on the Euro-Dollar Loans of such Bank shall be
payable to such Bank at the place indicated in such notice with respect to each
Interest Period commencing at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days after the
giving of such notice and (y) shall furnish to the Borrower at least five Euro-
Dollar Business Days prior to each date on which interest is payable on the
Euro-Dollar Loans an officer's certificate setting forth the amount to which
such Bank is then entitled under this Section (which shall be consistent with
such Bank's good faith estimate of the level at which the related reserves are
maintained by it). Each such certificate shall be accompanied by such
information as the Borrower may reasonably request as to the computation set
forth therein.
ARTICLE 3
Conditions
Section 3.01. Closing. The closing hereunder shall occur upon (x)
termination of the Commitments (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to
below in this clause (x)) under the Credit Agreement dated as of November 15,
1996 among the Borrower, ACE Insurance, CODA, the banks listed therein and
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as administrative agent, and payment
in full of all amounts owing thereunder to any of such banks or such
25
administrative agent and (y) receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
following documents, each dated the Closing Date unless otherwise indicated:
(a) a duly executed Note for the account of each Bank dated on or before
the Closing Date complying with the provisions of Section 2.05;
(b) an opinion of Xxxxxx and Calder, counsel for the Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto and covering such additional
matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the Required Banks
may reasonably request;
(c) an opinion of Xxxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxx, special Bermuda counsel for the
Guarantors, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto and covering such
additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Required Banks may reasonably request;
(d) an opinion of Xxxxx, Xxxxx & Xxxxx, New York counsel for the Borrower
and the Guarantors, substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto and covering
such additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Required Banks may reasonably request;
(e) an opinion of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, special United States counsel for
the Agents, substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto and covering such
additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Required Banks may reasonably request;
(f) a letter from CT System in New York, New York, substantially in the
form of Exhibit J hereto, evidencing CT System's agreement to act as agent for
service of process for the Obligors pursuant to Section 10.10(b); and
(g) all documents the Administrative Agent may reasonably request relating
to the existence of the Borrower and the Guarantors, the corporate authority for
and the validity of this Agreement and the Notes, and any other matters relevant
hereto, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Banks of the
Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding on all parties
hereto.
Section 3.02. Borrowings. The obligation of any Bank to make a Loan on
the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions:
26
(a) the fact that the Closing Date shall have occurred on or prior to
December 31, 1997;
(b) receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing as
required by Section 2.02 or 2.03, as the case may be;
(c) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Loans will not exceed the aggregate amount
of the Commitments;
(d) the fact that, immediately before and after such Borrowing, no Default
shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(e) the fact that the representations and warranties of each Obligor
contained in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of such
Borrowing.
Each Borrowing hereunder shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by
the Obligors on the date of such Borrowing as to the facts specified in clauses
(c), (d) and (e) of this Section.
ARTICLE 4
Representations and Warranties
The Obligors jointly and severally represent and warrant that:
Section 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower is a company
limited by shares and each of the Guarantors is a limited liability company, in
each case duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation and the Borrower is in good standing under the
laws of the Cayman Islands. Each of the Obligors has all corporate powers and
all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals
required to carry on its respective business as now conducted. Each of the
Guarantors is a Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower.
Section 4.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention.
The execution, delivery and performance by each Obligor of this Agreement and by
the Borrower of the Notes are within its corporate powers, have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action, require no action or consent by or
in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do
not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law
or regulation or of the Memorandum of Association, Articles of
27
Association or Bye-Laws (or any comparable document) of any Obligor or of any
agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon
any Obligor or any of their respective Subsidiaries or result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Obligor or any of their respective
Subsidiaries.
Section 4.03. Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of each Obligor and each Note, when executed and delivered in
accordance with this Agreement, will constitute a valid and binding obligation
of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms.
Section 4.04. Financial Information. (a) The consolidated balance sheet
of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and
the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Coopers & Xxxxxxx LLP,
copies of which have been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present, in all
material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles,
the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and
cash flows for such fiscal year.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1997 and the related unaudited
consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the nine months then
ended, copies of which have been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present,
in all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles (except for the absence of footnotes) applied on a basis consistent
with the financial statements referred to in subsection (a) of this Section, the
consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and
cash flows for such nine month period (subject to normal year-end adjustments).
(c) Since June 30, 1997 there has been no material adverse change in the
business, financial position, or results of operations of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.
(d) The consolidated balance sheet of ACE Insurance and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and the related consolidated statements of
operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for the fiscal year then
ended, all reported on by Coopers & Xxxxxxx LLP, copies of which have been
delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present, in all material respects, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the consolidated
financial position of ACE Insurance and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such
28
date and their consolidated results of operations and retained earnings and cash
flows for such fiscal year.
(e) Since September 30, 1996 there has been no material adverse change in
the business, financial position or results of operations of ACE Insurance and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.
(f) The balance sheet of CODA as of September 30, 1996 and the related
statements of operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for the fiscal
year then ended, all reported on by Coopers & Xxxxxxx LLP, copies of which have
been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present, in all material respects,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the financial
position of CODA as of such date and its results of operations and retained
earnings and cash flows for such fiscal year.
(g) Since September 30, 1996 there has been no material adverse change in
the business, financial position or results of operations of CODA.
(h) The balance sheet of Tempest as of November 30, 1996 and the related
statements of operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for the fiscal
year then ended, all reported on by Coopers & Xxxxxxx LLP, copies of which have
been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present, in all material respects,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the financial
position of Tempest as of such date and its results of operations and retained
earnings and cash flows for such fiscal year.
(i) Since November 30, 1996 there has been no material adverse change in
the business, financial position or results of operations of Tempest.
Section 4.05. Litigation. Except as disclosed in the notes to the
financial statements referred to in Section 4.04(a), there is no action, suit or
proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened
against or affecting, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court
or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official in which there is a
reasonable likelihood of an adverse decision which could materially adversely
affect the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated results of
operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a
whole, or which in any manner draws into question the validity of this Agreement
or the Notes.
Section 4.06. ERISA. Neither the Borrower, nor any Guarantor, nor any
member of their respective ERISA Groups, maintains or contributes to, or has
within the previous six years (whether or not while a member of such Person's
current ERISA Group) maintained or contributed to, or been required to maintain
29
or been jointly and severally liable for contributions to, or liability upon
withdrawal from, any plan or arrangement subject to (i) the minimum funding
standards of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) Part 3 of Subtitle B of
Title I of ERISA or (iii) Title IV of ERISA.
Section 4.07. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all
income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be
filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant
to any assessment received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary. The charges,
accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in
respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the
Borrower, adequate.
Section 4.08. Not an Investment Company. No Obligor is an "INVESTMENT
COMPANY" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 4.09. Full Disclosure. All written information heretofore
furnished by the Obligors to the Administrative Agent or any Bank for purposes
of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby
is, and all such information hereafter furnished by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent or any Bank will be, true and accurate in all material
respects on the date as of which such information is stated or certified. The
Borrower has disclosed to the Banks in writing any and all facts which
materially and adversely affect or may affect (to the extent the Obligors can
now reasonably foresee) the business, operations or financial condition of any
Obligor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the ability of
any Obligor to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 4.10. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each Subsidiary are
in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable laws, ordinances,
rules, regulations, guidelines and other requirements of governmental
authorities except where the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and any reserves required under generally
accepted accounting principles with respect thereto have been established and
except where any such failure could not reasonably be expected to materially
adversely affect the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated
results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
considered as a whole.
30
ARTICLE 5
Covenants
The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any Commitment hereunder
or any amount payable under any Note remains unpaid:
Section 5.01. Information. The Borrower will deliver to each of the Banks:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the
related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in a manner acceptable to
the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the
Required Banks by Coopers & Xxxxxxx LLP or other independent public accountants
of nationally recognized standing;
(b) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of operations
and cash flows for such quarter and for the portion of the Borrower's fiscal
year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in the case of such
statements of operations and cash flows in comparative form the figures for the
corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the Borrower's previous
fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to
fairness of presentation, generally accepted accounting principles and
consistency by the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of
the Borrower;
(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements
referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of the chief financial
officer or the chief accounting officer of the Borrower (i) setting forth in
reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower
was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 5.07 to 5.10, inclusive, on
the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether any Default
exists on the date of such certificate and, if any Default then exists, setting
forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto;
(d) within five days after any executive officer of the Borrower obtains
knowledge of any Default, if such Default is then continuing, a certificate of
the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the Borrower
setting forth
31
the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to
take with respect thereto;
(e) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Borrower
generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so
mailed;
(f) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements
(other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or
its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents)
which the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(g) as soon as available and in any event within 20 days after submission,
each statutory statement of the Guarantors (or any of them) in the form
submitted to The Insurance Division of the Office of Registrar of Companies of
Bermuda;
(h) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year of each Guarantor, a consolidated balance sheet of each
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (if any) as of the end of such fiscal year and
the related statements of income and changes in financial position for such
fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the
previous fiscal year, all reported on by the independent public accountants
which reported on the financial statements referred to in clause (a) above;
(i) promptly after any executive officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge
thereof, (i) a copy of any notice from the Minister of Finance or the Registrar
of Companies or any other Person of the revocation, the suspension or the
placing of any restriction or condition on the registration as an insurer of any
Guarantor under the Bermuda Insurance Law or of the institution of any
proceeding or investigation which could result in any such revocation,
suspension or placing of such a restriction or condition, (ii) copies of any
correspondence by, to or concerning any Guarantor relating to an investigation
conducted by the Minister of Finance, whether pursuant to Section 132 of the
Bermuda Companies Law or otherwise and (iii) a copy of any notice of or
requesting or otherwise relating to the winding up or any similar proceeding of
or with respect to either Guarantor; and
(j) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial
position, results of operations or business of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Bank, may
reasonably request from time to time.
32
Section 5.02. Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will pay and
discharge, and will cause each Subsidiary to pay and discharge, at or before
maturity, all their respective material obligations and liabilities, including,
without limitation, tax liabilities, except where the same may be contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings, and will maintain, and will cause each
Subsidiary to maintain, in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, appropriate reserves for the accrual of any of the same.
Section 5.03. Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) The Borrower will
keep, and will cause each Subsidiary to keep, all property useful and necessary
in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear
excepted.
(b) The Borrower will maintain, and will cause each Subsidiary to maintain,
physical damage insurance on all real and personal property on an all risks
basis (including the perils of flood and quake), covering the repair and
replacement cost of all such property and consequential loss coverage for
business interruption and extra expense. The Borrower will deliver to the Banks
upon request of any Bank through the Administrative Agent from time to time,
full information as to the insurance carried.
Section 5.04. Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. The
Borrower will continue, and will cause each Subsidiary to continue, to engage in
business of the same general type as now conducted by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, and will preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect, and
will cause each Subsidiary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect,
their respective existence and their respective rights, privileges and
franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of business; provided
that nothing in this Section 5.04 shall prohibit (i) the merger of a Subsidiary
(other than a Guarantor) into the Borrower or the merger or consolidation of a
Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) with or into another Person if the
corporation surviving such consolidation or merger is a Subsidiary and if, in
each case, after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, (ii) any merger of an Obligor permitted by Section 5.11 or (iii) the
termination of the corporate existence of any Subsidiary (other than a
Guarantor) if the Borrower in good faith determines that such termination is in
the best interest of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the
Banks.
Section 5.05. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will comply, and cause
each Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations, guidelines and other requirements of
governmental authorities except where the necessity of compliance therewith is
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and any reserves required
under generally
33
accepted accounting principles with respect thereto have been established and
except where any such failure could not reasonably be expected to materially
adversely affect the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated
results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
considered as a whole.
Section 5.06. Inspection of Property, Book and Records. The Borrower will
keep, and will cause each Subsidiary to keep, proper books of record and account
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in which full, true
and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation
to its business and activities; and will permit, and will cause each Subsidiary
to permit, representatives of any Bank at such Bank's expense to visit and
inspect any of their respective properties, to examine and make abstracts from
any of their respective books and records and to discuss their respective
affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees and
independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as may
reasonably be desired.
Section 5.07. Leverage. Consolidated Debt will at no time exceed 35% of
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
Section 5.08. Subsidiary Debt. The Borrower will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to create, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except (i) Debt
under the Related Documents, (ii) Debt owing to the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned
Consolidated Subsidiary, (iii) Debt of Tripar Partnership, a Bermuda general
partnership, owing to other Subsidiaries or Debt of such other Subsidiaries
owing to Tripar Partnership, (iv) Debt in respect of letters of credit issued in
the ordinary course of business, (v) Debt created by exercise of overdraft
privileges on a basis not more frequent than once each calendar month for not
more than five Euro-Dollar Business Days in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000
in the aggregate at any one time, (vi) subordinated Debt of ACE US owing to ACE
Insurance, (vii) Debt in an amount not to exceed $70,000,000 incurred in
connection with the development by the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries
of the "Bermudiana Site" in Hamilton, Bermuda, and (viii) Debt not permitted by
the foregoing clauses of this Section in an aggregate principal amount not to
exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding.
Section 5.09. Minimum Tangible Net Worth. Consolidated Tangible Net Worth
will at no time be less than (i) $1,400,000,000 plus (ii) 25% of Consolidated
Net Income for each fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended after December 31, 1997
and on or prior to such date of determination and for which such Consolidated
Net Income is positive (but with no deduction on account of any fiscal quarter
for which Consolidated Net Income is negative) plus (iii) 50%
34
of the aggregate amount by which Consolidated Tangible Net Worth shall have been
increased by reason of the issuance and sale after the Effective Date and on or
prior to such date of determination of any capital stock or the conversion or
exchange of any Debt of the Borrower into or with capital stock of the Borrower
consummated after the Effective Date and on or prior to such date of
determination.
Section 5.10. Negative Pledge. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or
hereafter acquired by it, except:
(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing Debt outstanding
on the date of this Agreement in an aggregate principal or face amount not
exceeding $25,000,000;
(b) any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation at the time such
corporation becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(c) any Lien on any asset securing Debt incurred or assumed for the purpose
of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset, provided that
such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 90 days after the
acquisition thereof;
(d) any Lien on any asset of any corporation existing at the time such
corporation is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Subsidiary
and not created in contemplation of such event;
(e) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the
Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;
(f) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or
refunding of any Debt secured by any Lien permitted by any of the foregoing
clauses of this Section, provided that such Debt is not increased and is not
secured by any additional assets;
(g) Liens arising in the ordinary course of its business which (i) do not
secure Debt or Derivatives Obligations, (ii) do not secure any obligation in an
amount exceeding $25,000,000 and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially
detract from the value of its assets or materially impair the use thereof in the
operation of its business;
35
(h) Liens on cash and cash equivalents securing Derivatives Obligations,
provided that the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents subject to such
Liens may at no time exceed $25,000,000;
(i) Liens securing obligations in respect of letters of credit issued
pursuant to any of the Related Documents; and
(j) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section
securing Debt in an aggregate principal or face amount at any date not to exceed
10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
Section 5.11. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. No Obligor
will (i) consolidate with or merge into any other Person or (ii) sell, lease or
otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, all or any substantial part of its
assets to any other Person; provided that if both immediately before and after
giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then (A)
any Guarantor may merge or consolidate with any other Person so long as the
surviving entity is the Guarantor or a Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary and,
if such Guarantor is not the surviving entity, such surviving entity shall have
assumed the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder pursuant to an instrument in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Banks and shall have
delivered such opinions of counsel with respect thereto as the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request and (B) the Borrower may merge with another Person
so long as the Borrower is the surviving entity.
Section 5.12. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans made under this
Agreement will be used by the Borrower for its general corporate purposes. None
of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether
immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any "MARGIN STOCK"
within the meaning of Regulation U.
Section 5.13. ERISA. Neither the Borrower, nor any Guarantor, nor any
member of their respective ERISA Groups will maintain or contribute to, or
become obligated to maintain or become jointly and severally liable for
contributions to, or have liability upon withdrawal from, any plan or
arrangement subject to (i) the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code, (ii) Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or (iii)
Title IV of ERISA.
36
ARTICLE 6
Defaults
Section 6.01. Events of Default. If one or more of the following events
("EVENTS OF DEFAULT") shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay when due any principal of any Loan or
shall fail to pay within five Business Days of the due date thereof any interest
on any Loan, any fees or any other amount payable hereunder or any Guarantor
shall fail to pay when due any such principal, interest, fees or other amount
payable hereunder; provided that, for purposes of this Section 6.01(a), no such
payment default by the Borrower shall be continuing if the Guarantors pay the
amount thereof at the time and otherwise in the manner provided in Article 9;
(b) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant contained in
Sections 5.07 through 5.12, inclusive;
(c) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement
contained in this Agreement (other than those covered by clause (a) or (b)
above) for 30 days after notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent at the request of any Bank;
(d) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by any
Obligor in this Agreement or in any certificate, financial statement or other
document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect
in any material respect when made (or deemed made);
(e) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment in
respect of any Material Financial Obligations when due or within any applicable
grace period;
(f) any event or condition shall occur which results in the acceleration of
the maturity of any Material Debt or enables (or, with the giving of notice or
lapse of time or both, would enable) the holder of such Debt or any Person
acting on such holder's behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof; or, without
limiting the foregoing, any "Event of Default" (as defined in any of the other
Related Documents) shall occur;
(g) (i) (x) a resolution or other similar action is passed authorizing the
voluntary winding up of the Borrower or any other similar action with respect to
the Borrower or a petition is filed for the winding up of the Borrower or the
taking of any other similar action with respect to the Borrower in the Grand
Court of the Cayman Islands or (y) any corporate action is taken authorizing the
winding up,
37
the liquidation, any arrangement or the taking of any other similar action of or
with respect to any Guarantor or authorizing any corporate action to be taken to
facilitate any such winding up, liquidation, arrangement or other similar action
or any petition shall be filed seeking the winding up, the liquidation, any
arrangement or the taking of any other similar action of or with respect to any
Guarantor by the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda, one or more holders of
insurance policies or reinsurance certificates issued by any Guarantor or by any
other Person or Persons or any petition shall be presented for the winding up of
any Guarantor to a court of Bermuda as provided under the Bermuda Companies Law
and in either such case such petition shall remain undismissed and unstayed for
a period of 60 days or any creditors' or members' voluntary winding up of any
Guarantor as provided under the Bermuda Companies Law shall be commenced or any
receiver shall be appointed by a creditor of any Guarantor or by a court of
Bermuda on the application of a creditor of any Guarantor as provided under any
instrument giving rights for the appointment of a receiver;
(ii) a proceeding shall be commenced by any Person seeking the
rehabilitation, liquidation, dissolution or conservation of the assets of any
Guarantor or any substantial part thereof or any similar remedy and such
proceedings shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days;
(iii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or
other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with
respect to itself or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee,
receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any
substantial part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the
appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case
or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for
the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they
become due, or shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the
foregoing; or
(iv) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against
the Borrower or any Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or other
relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee,
receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any
substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding
shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or an order for
relief shall be entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary under the United
States federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect;
38
(h) a judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000
shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and such judgment or
order shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of 45 days;
(i) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) shall have acquired
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act) of 30% or more of the
outstanding shares of voting stock of the Borrower; or, during any period of 12
consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Borrower on
the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board
of directors of the Borrower; or any Guarantor shall cease to be a Wholly-Owned
Consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower;
(j) any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official
which has jurisdiction in the matter shall decide, rule or order that any
provision of any of the Financing Documents is invalid or unenforceable in any
material respect, or any Obligor shall so assert in writing; or
(k) the registration of any Guarantor as an insurer shall be revoked,
suspended or otherwise have restrictions or conditions placed upon it unless, in
the case of the placing of any such restrictions or conditions, such
restrictions or conditions could not have a material adverse effect on the
interests of the Administrative Agent and the Banks under the Financing
Documents;
then, and in every such event, the Administrative Agent shall (i) if requested
by Banks having more than 50% in aggregate amount of the Commitments, by notice
to the Borrower terminate the Commitments and they shall thereupon terminate,
and (ii) if requested by Banks holding Notes evidencing more than 50% in
aggregate principal amount of the Loans, by notice to the Borrower declare the
Notes (together with accrued interest thereon) to be, and the Notes (together
with accrued interest thereon) shall thereupon become, immediately due and
payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of
which are hereby waived by the Obligors; provided that in the case of any of the
Events of Default specified in clause (g) above with respect to any Obligor,
without any notice to any Obligor or any other act by the Administrative Agent
or the Banks, the Commitments shall thereupon terminate and the Notes (together
with accrued interest thereon) shall become immediately due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Obligors.
39
Section 6.02. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall give
notice to the Borrower under Section 6.01(c) promptly upon being requested to do
so by any Bank and shall thereupon notify all the Banks thereof.
ARTICLE 7
The Agents
Section 7.01. Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank irrevocably
appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on
its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Financing Documents as are
delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together
with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
Section 7.02. Administrative Agent and Affiliates. Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust
Company of New York shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement
as any other Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though
it were not the Administrative Agent, and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New
York and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally
engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or affiliate
of the Borrower as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
Section 7.03. Action by Administrative Agent. The obligations of the
Administrative Agent under this Agreement are only those expressly set forth
herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative
Agent shall not be required to take any action with respect to any Default,
except as expressly provided in Article 6.
Section 7.04. Consultation with Experts. The Administrative Agent may
consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for any Obligor), independent
public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.
Section 7.05. Liability of Administrative Agent. Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any of its affiliates nor any of their respective
directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or
not taken by it in connection herewith (i) with the consent or at the request of
the Required Banks (or such different number of Banks as any provision hereof
expressly requires for such consent or request) or (ii) in the absence of its
own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Neither the Administrative Agent
nor any of its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers,
agents or employees shall be responsible
40
for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into or verify (i) any statement,
warranty or representation made in connection with the Financing Documents or
any borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance of any of the
covenants or agreements of any Obligor; (iii) the satisfaction of any condition
specified in Article 3, except receipt of items required to be delivered to the
Administrative Agent; or (iv) the validity, effectiveness or genuineness of any
Financing Document or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection
herewith. The Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability by acting in
reliance upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement, or other writing
(which may be a bank wire, telex, facsimile transmission or similar writing)
believed by it to be genuine or to be signed by the proper party or parties.
Section 7.06. Indemnification. Each Bank shall, ratably in accordance
with its Commitment, indemnify the Administrative Agent, its affiliates and
their respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not
reimbursed by the Obligors) against any cost, expense (including counsel fees
and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as
result from such indemnitees' gross negligence or willful misconduct) that such
indemnitees may suffer or incur in such capacity in connection with the
Financing Documents or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder
or thereunder.
Section 7.07. Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Bank, and based
on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Bank also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or
any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking any action under this Agreement.
Section 7.08. Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent
may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrower.
Upon any such resignation, the Required Banks shall have the right to appoint a
successor Administrative Agent, which successor Administrative Agent shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Borrower. If no successor Administrative Agent
shall have been so appointed by the Required Banks, and shall have accepted such
appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice
of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the
Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial
bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United States of America or of
any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$100,000,000. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent
hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor
41
Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the
rights and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as
Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article shall inure to its benefit
as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative
Agent.
Section 7.09. Administrative Agent's Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times
previously agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
Section 7.10. Other Agents. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
construed to impose any obligation or duty whatsoever on either Syndication
Agent, on the Documentation Agent, on the Managing Agent or on any Co-Agent in
its capacity as such an Agent.
ARTICLE 8
Change in Circumstances
Section 8.01. Basis for Determination Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.
If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Fixed Rate
Borrowing:
(a) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Reference Banks that
deposits in dollars (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered to the
Reference Banks in the London interbank market for such Interest Period, or
(b) in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, Banks having 50% or more of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments advise the Administrative Agent that the
London Interbank Offered Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent will not
adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of funding their Euro-
Dollar Loans for such Interest Period,
the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the
Borrower and the Banks, whereupon until the Administrative Agent notifies the
Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist
(i) the obligations of the Banks to make Euro-Dollar Loans, or to continue or
convert outstanding Loans as or into Euro-Dollar Loans, shall be suspended and
(ii) each outstanding Euro-Dollar Loan shall be converted into a Base Rate Loan
on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto. Unless
the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least two Domestic Business
Days before the date of any
42
Fixed Rate Borrowing for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously been given
that it elects not to borrow on such date, (i) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a
Euro-Dollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall instead be made as a Base Rate
Borrowing and (ii) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Money Market LIBOR
Borrowing, the Money Market LIBOR Loans comprising such Borrowing shall bear
interest for each day from and including the first day to but excluding the last
day of the Interest Period applicable thereto at the Base Rate for such day.
Section 8.02. Illegality. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the
adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any
applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any Bank (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) with any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank (or its
Euro-Dollar Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund its Euro-Dollar Loans and
such Bank shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent
shall forthwith give notice thereof to the other Banks and the Borrower,
whereupon until such Bank notifies the Borrower and the Administrative Agent
that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the
obligation of such Bank to make Euro-Dollar Loans, or to continue or convert
outstanding Loans as or into Euro-Dollar Loans, shall be suspended. Before
giving any notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section, such
Bank shall designate a different Euro-Dollar Lending Office if such designation
will avoid the need for giving such notice and will not, in the judgment of such
Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. If such notice is given, each
Euro-Dollar Loan of such Bank then outstanding shall be converted to a Base Rate
Loan either (a) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable
to such Euro-Dollar Loan if such Bank may lawfully continue to maintain and fund
such Loan as a Euro-Dollar Loan to such day or (b) immediately if such Bank
shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain and fund such Loan
as a Euro-Dollar Loan to such day.
Section 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return. (a) If on or after (x)
the date hereof, in the case of any Committed Loan or any obligation to make
Committed Loans or (y) the date of the related Money Market Quote, in the case
of any Money Market Loan, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or
regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental
authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its Applicable Lending
Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
of any such authority,
43
central bank or comparable agency shall impose, modify or deem applicable any
reserve (including, without limitation, any such requirement imposed by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but excluding with respect to
any Euro-Dollar Loan any such requirement with respect to which such Bank is
entitled to compensation during the relevant Interest Period under Section
2.16), special deposit, insurance assessment or similar requirement against
assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Bank
(or its Applicable Lending Office) or shall impose on any Bank (or its
Applicable Lending Office) or on the London interbank market any other condition
affecting its Fixed Rate Loans, its Note or its obligation to make Fixed Rate
Loans and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such
Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) of making or maintaining any Fixed Rate
Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Bank (or
its Applicable Lending Office) under this Agreement or under its Note with
respect thereto, by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then, within
15 days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the
Borrower shall pay to such Bank such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Bank for such increased cost or reduction.
(b) If any Bank shall have determined that, after the date hereof, the
adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy,
or any change in any such law, rule or regulation, or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central
bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not
having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency (including any determination by any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency that, for purposes of capital adequacy requirements, the
Commitments hereunder do not constitute commitments with an original maturity of
one year or less), has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return
on capital of such Bank (or its Parent) as a consequence of such Bank's
obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Bank (or its Parent)
could have achieved but for such adoption, change, request or directive (taking
into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount
deemed by such Bank to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after
demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower
shall pay to such Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Bank (or its Parent) for such reduction.
(c) Each Bank will promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof,
which will entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section and will
designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid
the
44
need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the
judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. A certificate
of any Bank claiming compensation under this Section and setting forth the
additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Bank may use
any reasonable averaging and attribution methods. Notwithstanding the foregoing
subsections and of this Section , the Borrower shall only be obligated to
compensate any Bank for any amount arising or accruing during (i) any time or
period commencing not more than 180 days prior to the date on which such Bank
notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it proposes to demand
such compensation and identifies to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
the statute, regulation or other basis upon which the claimed compensation is or
will be based and (ii) any time or period during which because of the
retroactive application of such statute, regulation or other such basis, such
Bank did not know in good faith that such amount would arise or accrue.
Section 8.04. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by any Obligor hereunder
shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or
future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all
penalties, interest, expenses and similar liabilities with respect thereto,
excluding (i) in the case of each Bank and the Administrative Agent, taxes
imposed on its income, and franchise and similar taxes imposed on it, by the
jurisdiction under the laws of which such Bank or the Administrative Agent, as
the case may be, shall be organized or any political subdivision thereof, (ii)
in the case of each Bank, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise and similar
taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction of such Bank's Applicable Lending
Office or any political subdivision thereof or in which such Bank's principal
executive office is located or any political subdivision thereof and (iii) any
Taxes imposed as a result of a change of such Bank's Applicable Lending Office
to the extent such Taxes would not have been imposed absent such change;
provided however, that (x) a change in such Bank's Applicable Lending Office to
which the Obligor has consented and (y) a change in such Bank's Applicable
Lending Office as a result of legal or regulatory restrictions shall not
constitute a change for the purposes of this Section 8.04 (all such non-excluded
taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being
hereinafter referred to as "TAXES"). Each Obligor agrees that, if any Obligor
shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum
payable hereunder to any Bank or the Administrative Agent, (A) the sum payable
to such Bank or the Administrative Agent shall be increased as may be necessary
so that after making all required deductions for Taxes (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 8.04), such Bank or the
Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall receive an amount equal to the
sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (B) such Obligor
shall make such deductions and (C) such
45
Obligor shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority or
other authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, each Obligor agrees to pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies which shall arise from any payment made under, or from the execution,
delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any
Note (all such taxes, charges or levies being hereinafter referred to as "OTHER
TAXES").
(c) Each Obligor agrees to indemnify each Bank and the Administrative Agent
for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes
imposed on amounts payable under this Section 8.04) paid by such Bank or the
Administrative Agent or any penalties, interest, expenses and similar
liabilities arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes
or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted provided that such Bank has
acted in good faith with respect to such Taxes or Other Taxes and that such Bank
reasonably cooperates with the Obligors in challenging such Taxes or Other
Taxes. Each indemnification under this paragraph (c) shall be made within 30
days from the date such Bank or the Administrative Agent makes demand therefor.
(d) Each Bank shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and
regulatory restrictions) (x) to file any certificate or document or to furnish
any information as reasonably requested by any Obligor pursuant to any
applicable treaty, law, rule or regulation or (y) to designate a different
Lending Office if the making of such a filing, the furnishing of such
information or the designation of such other Lending Office would avoid the need
for or reduce the amount of any additional amounts payable by any Obligor
pursuant to this Section 8.04 and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such
Bank, be disadvantageous to such Bank. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is
understood and agreed that nothing in this Section 8.04 shall interfere with the
rights of any Bank to conduct its fiscal or tax affairs in such manner as it
deems fit.
(e) Within 90 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the Obligors
will furnish to the Administrative Agent notarized copies for each Bank of the
original receipt evidencing payment thereof. If no Taxes shall be payable in
respect of any payment under this Agreement, the Obligors will, upon the
reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, furnish to the Administrative
Agent a certificate in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent's
counsel confirming that such payment is exempt from or not subject to Taxes.
(f) For any period with respect to which a Bank has failed to provide the
Obligors with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 8.04(d) (unless such
failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation occurring subsequent to
the
46
date on which such form originally was required to be provided), such Bank shall
not be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.04(a) or (b) with respect to
Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that if a Bank, which is otherwise
exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, becomes subject to
Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Obligors
shall take such steps as such Bank shall reasonably request to assist such Bank
to recover such Taxes.
Section 8.05. Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate Loans.
If (i) the obligation of any Bank to make or to continue or convert outstanding
Loans as or to Euro-Dollar Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02 or
(ii) any Bank has demanded compensation under Section 8.03 or 8.04 with respect
to its Euro-Dollar Loans and the Borrower shall, by at least five Euro-Dollar
Business Days' prior notice to such Bank through the Administrative Agent, have
elected that the provisions of this Section shall apply to such Bank, then,
unless and until such Bank notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving
rise to such suspension or demand for compensation no longer exist:
(a) all Loans which would otherwise be made by such Bank as (or continued
as or converted to) Euro-Dollar Loans shall instead be Base Rate Loans (on which
interest and principal shall be payable contemporaneously with the related Euro-
Dollar Loans of the other Banks), and
(b) after each of its Euro-Dollar Loans has been repaid (or converted), all
payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to repay such Euro-Dollar
Loans shall be applied to repay its Base Rate Loans instead.
If such Bank notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such
suspension or demand for compensation no longer exist, the principal amount of
each such Base Rate Loan shall be converted into a Euro-Dollar Loan on the first
day of the next succeeding Interest Period applicable to the related Euro-Dollar
Loans of the other Banks.
Section 8.06. Substitution of Bank. If (i) the obligation of any Bank to
make or to convert or continue outstanding Loans as or into Euro-Dollar Loans
has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02 or (ii) any Bank has demanded
compensation under Section 8.03 or 8.04, the Borrower shall have the right, with
the assistance of the Administrative Agent, to designate a substitute bank or
banks (which may be one or more of the Banks) mutually satisfactory to the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent (whose consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld) and the issuing banks under the Related Documents to purchase for
cash, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement in substantially the
form of Exhibit I hereto, the outstanding loans of such Bank and assume the
commitment and letter
47
of credit liabilities of such Bank (and its affiliates) under each of the
Related Documents, without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, such Bank,
for a purchase price equal to the principal amount of all of such Bank's
outstanding loans and funded letter of credit liabilities plus any accrued but
unpaid interest thereon and the accrued but unpaid fees in respect of such
Bank's commitments and letter of credit liabilities plus such amount, if any, as
would be payable pursuant to the funding loss indemnities in the Related
Documents if the outstanding loans of such Bank were prepaid in their entirety
on the date of consummation of such assignment.
ARTICLE 9
Guaranty
Section 9.01. The Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally,
jointly and severally, absolutely and irrevocably guarantees the full and
punctual payment (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) of
all amounts payable by the Borrower under the Financing Documents including,
without limitation, the principal of and interest on each Note issued by the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. Upon failure by the Borrower to pay
punctually any such amount, each Guarantor shall forthwith on demand pay the
amount not so paid at the place and in the manner specified in this Agreement.
Section 9.02. Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of each Guarantor
hereunder shall be unconditional, absolute and irrevocable and, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise
affected by:
(a) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in
respect of any obligation of any other Obligor under any of the Financing
Documents, by operation of law or otherwise;
(b) any modification or amendment of or supplement to any of the Financing
Documents;
(c) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any direct or indirect
security for any obligation of any other Obligor under any of the Financing
Documents;
(d) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any
Obligor, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar
proceeding
48
affecting any other Obligor or its assets or any resulting release or discharge
of any obligation of any other Obligor contained in any of the Financing
Documents;
(e) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights which any Obligor
may have at any time against any other Obligor, the Administrative Agent, any
Bank or any other corporation or person, whether in connection with any of the
Financing Documents or any unrelated transactions, provided that nothing herein
shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory
counterclaim;
(f) any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any other
Obligor for any reason of any of the Financing Documents, or any provision of
applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by any other
Obligor of the principal of or interest on any Note or any other amount payable
under any of the Financing Documents; or
(g) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by any Obligor,
the Administrative Agent, any Bank or any other corporation or person or any
other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this
paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of or defense to any
Guarantor's obligations hereunder.
Section 9.03. Discharge Only upon Payment in Full; Reinstatement in
Certain Circumstances. Each Guarantor's obligations hereunder shall remain in
full force and effect until the Commitments shall have terminated and the
principal of and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the
Borrower under the Financing Documents shall have been paid in full. If at any
time any payment of the principal of or interest on any Note or any other amount
payable by the Borrower under the Financing Documents is rescinded or must be
otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization
of the Borrower or otherwise, each Guarantor's obligations hereunder with
respect to such payment shall be reinstated as though such payment had been due
but not made at such time.
Section 9.04. Waiver by Each of the Guarantors. Each Guarantor
irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any
notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any
action be taken by any corporation or person against any other Obligor or any
other corporation or person.
Section 9.05. Subrogation. Upon the making by any Guarantor of any
payment hereunder, such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the payee
against the Borrower with respect to such payment; provided that such Guarantor
49
shall not enforce any right to receive any payment by way of subrogation until
all amounts of principal of and interest on the Loans and all other amounts
payable by the Borrower under this Agreement shall have been paid in full and
the Commitments shall have terminated.
Section 9.06. Stay of Acceleration. If acceleration of the time for
payment of any amount payable by the Borrower under any of the Financing
Documents is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the
Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of
this Agreement shall nonetheless be payable by each Guarantor hereunder
forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent made at the request of the
requisite proportion of the Banks specified in Article 6.
Section 9.07. Limit of Liability. The obligations of each Guarantor
hereunder shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount
that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.
ARTICLE 10
Miscellaneous
Section 10.01. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing (including bank wire, telex, facsimile
transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party: (x) in the
case of any Obligor or the Administrative Agent, at its address, facsimile
number or telex number set forth on the signature pages hereof, (y) in the case
of any Bank, at its address, facsimile number or telex number set forth in its
Administrative Questionnaire or (z) in the case of any party, such other
address, facsimile number or telex number as such party may hereafter specify
for the purpose by notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. Each
such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by
telex, when such telex is transmitted to the telex number specified in this
Section and the appropriate answerback is received, (ii) if given by facsimile
transmission, when transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section
and confirmation of receipt is received, (iii) if given by mail, 10 days after
such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid,
addressed as aforesaid or (iv) if given by any other means, when delivered at
the address specified in this Section; provided that notices to the
Administrative Agent under Article 2 or Article 8 shall not be effective until
received.
Section 10.02. No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Administrative
Agent or any Bank in exercising any right, power or privilege under any
Financing Document shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or
partial exercise
50
thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies provided in the
Financing Documents shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or
remedies provided by law.
Section 10.03. Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i)
all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, including fees and
disbursements of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, special counsel for the Agents,
reasonably incurred in connection with the preparation of the Financing
Documents, any waiver or consent hereunder or thereunder or any amendment hereof
or thereof or any Default or alleged Default hereunder or thereunder and (ii) if
an Event of Default occurs, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent and each Bank, including (without duplication) the fees and
disbursements of outside counsel and the allocated cost of inside counsel, in
connection with such Event of Default and collection, bankruptcy, insolvency and
other enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom.
(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each
Bank, their respective affiliates and the respective directors, officers, agents
and employees of the foregoing (each an "INDEMNITEE") and hold each Indemnitee
harmless from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and
expenses of any kind, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel, which may be reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in
connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding
(whether or not such Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto) brought or
threatened relating to or arising out of the Financing Documents or any actual
or proposed use of proceeds of Loans; provided that no Indemnitee shall have the
right to be indemnified hereunder for such Indemnitee's own gross negligence or
willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 10.04. Sharing; Set-Offs. (a) Each Bank agrees that if it shall,
by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment
of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with
respect to any Note held by it which is greater than the proportion received by
any other Bank in respect of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due
with respect to any Note held by such other Bank, the Bank receiving such
proportionately greater payment shall purchase such participations in the Notes
held by the other Banks, and such other adjustments shall be made, as may be
required so that all such payments of principal and interest with respect to the
Notes held by the Banks shall be shared by the Banks pro rata; provided that
nothing in this Section shall impair the right of any Bank to exercise any right
of set-off or counterclaim it may have and to apply the amount subject to such
exercise to the payment of indebtedness of any Obligor other than its
indebtedness hereunder. Each Obligor
51
agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law,
that any holder of a participation in a Note, whether or not acquired pursuant
to the foregoing arrangements, may exercise rights of set-off or counterclaim
and other rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such holder
of a participation were a direct creditor of such Obligor in the amount of such
participation.
(b) Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default and (ii) the making of the request specified by Section 6.01 to
Administrative Agent to declare the Notes due and payable pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6.01, each Bank and each of its affiliates is hereby
authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, to set off and otherwise apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at
any time owing by such Bank or such affiliate to or for the credit or the
account of any Obligor against any and all of the obligations of such Obligor to
such Bank now or hereafter existing under the Financing Documents, irrespective
of whether such Bank shall have made any demand for payment thereof and although
such obligations may be unmatured. Each Bank agrees promptly to notify such
Obligor after any such setoff and application; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and
application. The rights of each Bank and its affiliates under this Section are
in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other
rights of setoff) that such Bank and its affiliates may have.
Section 10.05. Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement or
the Notes may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is
in writing and is signed by the Obligors and the Required Banks (and, if the
rights or duties of the Administrative Agent are affected thereby, by the
Administrative Agent); provided that no such amendment or waiver shall, unless
signed by all the Banks, (i) increase or decrease the Commitment of any Bank
(except for a ratable decrease in the Commitments of all Banks) or subject any
Bank to any additional obligation, (ii) reduce the principal of or rate of
interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder, (iii) postpone the date fixed for
any payment of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder or for
any reduction or termination of any Commitment, (iv) release any Guarantor
hereunder, (v) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Notes, or the number of Banks, which shall be
required for the Banks or any of them to take any action under this Section or
any other provision of this Agreement or (vi) amend this Section 10.05.
Section 10.06. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Obligors may not
assign or
52
otherwise transfer any of their rights under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of all Banks.
(b) Any Bank may at any time grant to one or more banks or other
institutions (each a "PARTICIPANT") participating interests in its Commitment or
any or all of its Loans. In the event of any such grant by a Bank of a
participating interest to a Participant, whether or not upon notice to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent, such Bank shall remain responsible for
the performance of its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank
in connection with such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any
agreement pursuant to which any Bank may grant such a participating interest
shall provide that such Bank shall retain the sole right and responsibility to
enforce the obligations of the Borrower hereunder including, without limitation,
the right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement; provided that such participation agreement may provide that such
Bank will not agree to any modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement
described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 10.05 without the
consent of the Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall, to
the extent provided in its participation agreement and subject to subsection (e)
below, be entitled to the benefits of Article 8 with respect to its
participating interest. An assignment or other transfer which is not permitted
by subsection (c) or (d) below shall be given effect for purposes of this
Agreement only to the extent of a participating interest granted in accordance
with this subsection (b).
(c) Any Bank may at any time assign to one or more banks or other
institutions (each an "ASSIGNEE") all, or a proportionate part (equivalent to an
initial participation in the Related Documents of not less than $15,000,000,
unless the Borrower shall otherwise consent or the assignment is for all of the
rights and obligations of the transferor Bank) of all, of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, and such Assignee shall assume
such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement
in substantially the form of Exhibit I hereto executed by such Assignee and such
transferor Bank, with (and subject to) the subscribed consent of the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided
that if an Assignee is an affiliate of such transferor Bank or was a Bank
immediately prior to such assignment, no such consent of the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent shall be required; and provided further that such
assignment may, but need not, include rights of the transferor Bank in respect
of outstanding Money Market Loans; and provided further that, unless the
Borrower shall otherwise consent or the assignment is for all of the rights and
obligations of the transferor Bank, the participation in the Related Documents
of such transferor Bank after giving effect to such assignment (together with
the participations of its affiliates) shall not be
53
less than $15,000,000; and provided further that such assignment shall be
accompanied by a ratably equivalent assignment of the rights and obligations of
the transferor Bank (and its affiliates) under each of the other Related
Documents. Upon execution and delivery of such instrument and payment by such
Assignee to such transferor Bank of an amount equal to the purchase price agreed
between such transferor Bank and such Assignee, such Assignee shall be a Bank
party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Bank
with a Commitment as set forth in such instrument of assumption, and the
transferor Bank shall be released from its obligations hereunder to a
corresponding extent, and no further consent or action by any party shall be
required. Upon the consummation of any assignment pursuant to this subsection
(c), the transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make
appropriate arrangements so that, if required, a new Note is issued to the
Assignee. In connection with any such assignment, the transferor Bank shall pay
to the Administrative Agent an administrative fee for processing such assignment
in the amount of $2,500.
(d) Any Bank may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights under
this Agreement and its Note to a Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall
release the transferor Bank from its obligations hereunder.
(e) No Assignee, Participant or other transferee of any Bank's rights shall
be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 8.03 or 8.04 than such
Bank would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred,
unless such transfer is made with the Borrower's prior written consent or by
reason of the provisions of Section 8.02, 8.03 or 8.04 requiring such Bank to
designate a different Applicable Lending Office under certain circumstances or
at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such greater payment did not
exist.
Section 10.07. Collateral. Each of the Banks represents to the
Administrative Agent and each of the other Banks that it in good faith is not
relying upon any "MARGIN STOCK" (as defined in Regulation U) as collateral in
the extension or maintenance of the credit provided for in this Agreement.
Section 10.08. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Note shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 10.09. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement
may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original,
with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
among the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter
54
hereof. This Agreement shall become effective upon receipt by the Administrative
Agent of counterparts hereof signed by each of the parties hereto (or, in the
case of any party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been
received, receipt by the Administrative Agent in form satisfactory to it of
telegraphic, telex, facsimile or other written confirmation from such party of
execution of a counterpart hereof by such party).
Section 10.10. Judicial Proceedings. (a) Consent to Jurisdiction. Each
Obligor irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any federal court sitting in
New York City and, in the event that jurisdiction cannot be obtained or
maintained in a federal court, to the jurisdiction of any New York State court
sitting in New York City over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to any of the Financing Documents. Each Obligor irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought
in such court and any claim that any suit, action or proceeding brought in such
a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each Obligor agrees that a
final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court
shall be conclusive and binding upon it and will be given effect in Bermuda or
the Cayman Islands, as the case may be, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law and may be enforced in any federal or New York State court
sitting in New York City (or any other courts to the jurisdiction of which such
Obligor is or may be subject) by a suit upon such judgment, provided that
service of process is effected upon it in one of the manners specified herein or
as otherwise permitted by law.
(b) Appointment of Agent for Service of Process. Each Obligor hereby
irrevocably designates and appoints CT Corporation System having an office on
the date hereof at 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 as its authorized
agent, to accept and acknowledge on its behalf, service of any and all process
which may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to
in subsection (a) above in any federal or New York State court sitting in New
York City. Each Obligor represents and warrants that such agent has agreed in
writing to accept such appointment and that a true copy of such designation and
acceptance has been delivered to the Administrative Agent. Said designation and
appointment shall be irrevocable until the Commitments shall have terminated and
all principal and interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the
Notes shall have been paid in full in accordance with the provisions hereof and
thereof. If such agent shall cease so to act, each Obligor covenants and agrees
to designate irrevocably and appoint without delay another such agent
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and to deliver promptly to the
Administrative Agent evidence in writing of such other agent's acceptance of
such appointment.
55
(c) Service of Process. Each Obligor hereby consents to process being
served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in subsection
(a) above in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City by
service of process upon the agent of such Obligor for service of process in such
jurisdiction appointed as provided in subsection (b) above; provided that, to
the extent lawful and possible, notice of said service upon such agent shall be
mailed by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, to such Obligor at its address specified on the signature page hereof
or to any other address of which such Obligor shall have given written notice to
the Bank. Each Obligor irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, all claim of error by reason of any such service in such manner and agrees
that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process
upon such Obligor in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid and personal
service upon and personal delivery to such Obligor.
(d) No Limitation on Service or Suit. Nothing in this Section 10.10 shall
affect the right of the Administrative Agent or any Bank to serve process in any
other manner permitted by law or limit the right of the Administrative Agent or
any Bank to bring proceedings against any Obligor in the courts of any
jurisdiction or jurisdictions.
Section 10.11. Judgment Currency. If, under any applicable law and
whether pursuant to a judgment being made or registered against any Obligor or
for any other reason, any payment under or in connection with any of the
Financing Documents is made or satisfied in a currency (the "OTHER CURRENCY")
other than that in which the relevant payment is due (the "REQUIRED CURRENCY")
then, to the extent that the payment (when converted into the Required Currency
at the rate of exchange on the date of payment or, if it is not practicable for
the party entitled thereto (the "PAYEE") to purchase the Required Currency with
the Other Currency on the date of payment, at the rate of exchange as soon
thereafter as it is practicable for it to do so) actually received by the Payee
falls short of the amount due under the terms of this Agreement and the Notes,
each Obligor shall, to the extent permitted by law, as a separate and
independent obligation, indemnify and hold harmless the Payee against the amount
of such short-fall. For the purpose of this Section, "RATE OF EXCHANGE" means
the rate at which the Payee is able on the relevant date to purchase the
Required Currency with the Other Currency and shall take into account any
premium and other costs of exchange.
Section 10.12. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE OBLIGORS, THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE BANKS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
56
AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
Section 10.13. Existing Credit Agreement. On the Closing Date and
simultaneously with the closing the Borrower hereby gives notice to Xxxxxx
Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as agent, under Section 2.09 of the Credit
Agreement referred to in clause (x) of Section 3.01 of the termination of the
Commitments (as defined therein) and the Banks hereby waive the requirement that
prior notice of such termination be given as therein provided.
Section 10.14. Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent and each Bank
agrees to keep any information delivered or made available by any Obligor
pursuant to this Agreement confidential from anyone other than persons employed
or retained by such Bank and its affiliates who are engaged in evaluating,
approving, structuring or administering the credit facility contemplated hereby;
provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Bank from disclosing such
information (a) to any other Bank or to the Administrative Agent, (b) subject to
provisions substantially similar to those contained in this Section 10.14, to
any other Person if reasonably incidental to the administration of the credit
facility contemplated hereby, (c) upon the order of any court or administrative
agency, (d) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority,
(e) which had been publicly disclosed other than as a result of a disclosure by
the Administrative Agent or any Bank prohibited by this Agreement, (f) in
connection with any litigation relating to the Related Documents to which the
Administrative Agent, any Bank or its subsidiaries or Parent may be a party, (g)
to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder,
(h) to such Bank's or Administrative Agent's legal counsel and independent
auditors and (i) subject to provisions substantially similar to those contained
in this Section 10.14, to any actual or proposed Participant or Assignee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 10.14 shall not apply to information
that is or becomes publicly available, information that was available to a Bank
on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure hereunder and information
which becomes available to a Bank on a non-confidential basis from a source that
is not, to such Bank's knowledge, subject to a confidentiality agreement with
any Obligor.
57
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first
above written.
ACE LIMITED
By________________________________
Title:
Xxx XXX Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx
number:3543ACEILBA
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
The Common Seal of ACE
Limited was hereunto affixed
in the presence of:
Director
_________________________
Director/Secretary
__________________________
58
A.C.E. INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.,
as Guarantor
By______________________
Title:
The ACE Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx
Telex number:3543ACEILBA
Facsimile number: (000)000-0000
The Common Seal of A.C.E.
Insurance Company, Ltd. was
hereunto affixed
in the presence of:
Director
________________________________
Director/Secretary
________________________________
59
CORPORATE OFFICERS &
DIRECTORS ASSURANCE LTD.,
as Guarantor
By______________________
Title:
The ACE Building
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx
Telex number: 3543ACEILBA
Facsimile number: (441)
The Common Seal of Corporate
Officers & Directors Assurance
Ltd. was hereunto affixed
in the presence of:
Director
__________________________________
Director/Secretary
__________________________________
60
TEMPEST REINSURANCE COMPANY
LIMITED, as Guarantor
By______________________________
Title:
The ACE Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx
Telex number:3543ACEILBA
Facsimile number: (000)000-0000
The Common Seal of Tempest
Reinsurance Company Limited
was hereunto affixed in the
presence of:
Director
________________________
Director/Secretary
________________________
Commitments
-----------
$18,000,000 XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By_____________________________
Title:
$18,000,000 MELLON BANK, N.A.
By______________________________
Title:
61
Managing Agent
$17,000,000 CITIBANK, N.A.
By____________________________
Title:
Co-Agents
$14,000,000 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By____________________________
Title:
$14,000,000 THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI,
LTD.
By____________________________
Title:
$14,000,000 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By____________________________
Title:
62
$14,000,000 DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK
AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS
BRANCH
By____________________________
Title:
By:___________________________
Title:
$14,000,000 FLEET NATIONAL BANK
By____________________________
Title:
$14,000,000 ING BANK, N.V.
By____________________________
Title:
By____________________________
Title:
$14,000,000 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
By____________________________
Title:
63
Other Banks
$7,000,000 THE BANK OF BERMUDA, LTD.
By_____________________________
Title:
$7,000,000 BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS
By____________________________
Title:
By____________________________
Title:
$7,000,000 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
By____________________________
Title:
$7,000,000 CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK
BRANCH
By_____________________________
Title:
64
$7,000,000 DRESDNER BANK A.G., NEW YORK
BRANCH AND GRAND CAYMAN
BRANCH
By____________________________
Title:
By____________________________
Title:
$7,000,000 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO
By____________________________
$7,000,000 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY
By____________________________
Title:
_______________
Total Commitments
$200,000,000
===============
65
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
as Administrative Agent
By____________________________
Title
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telex number: 177615
Facsimile number: 000-000-0000
00
XXXXXXX X
XXXX
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
December 11, 1997
For value received, ACE Limited, a Cayman Islands company limited by shares
(the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of (the "Bank"),
for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, the unpaid principal amount of
each Loan made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement
referred to below on the maturity date therefor specified in the Credit
Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount
of each such Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the
Credit Agreement. All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in
lawful money of the United States in Federal or other immediately available
funds at the office of Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx.
All Loans made by the Bank, the respective types and maturities thereof and
all repayments of the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Bank and, if
the Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement hereof,
appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each
such Loan then outstanding may be endorsed by the Bank on the schedule attached
hereto, or on a continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part
hereof; provided that the failure of the Bank to make any such recordation or
endorsement shall not affect the obligations of any Obligor hereunder or under
the Credit Agreement.
This note is one of the Notes referred to in the 364-Day Credit Agreement
dated as of December 11, 1997 among the Borrower, A.C.E. Insurance Company,
Ltd., Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Ltd. and Tempest Reinsurance
Company Limited, as Guarantors, the banks listed on the signature pages thereof
and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Administrative Agent (as the
same may be amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"). Terms defined
in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. Reference is
made to the Credit Agreement for provisions for the prepayment hereof and the
acceleration of the maturity hereof.
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement payment of principal and interest on this
Note is unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors named above.
ACE LIMITED
By_________________________________
Title:
2
Note (cont'd)
LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
Date Amount of Type of Amount of Maturity Notation
Loan Loan Principal Date Made By
Repaid
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3
EXHIBIT B
Form of Money Market Quote Request
----------------------------------
[Date]
To: Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York
(the "Administrative Agent")
From: [Name of Borrower]
Re: 364-Day Credit Agreement (as amended, the "Credit Agreement") dated as of
December 11, 1997 among the Borrower, A.C.E. Insurance Company, Ltd.,
Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Ltd. and Tempest Reinsurance
Company Limited, as Guarantors, the Banks listed on the signature pages
thereof and the Administrative Agent
We hereby give notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement
that we request Money Market Quotes for the following proposed Money Market
Borrowing(s):
Date of Borrowing: __________________
Principal Amount/*/ Interest Period/**/
---------------- ---------------
$
Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Absolute
Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate]
____________________
/*/ Amount must be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.
/**/ Not less than one month (LIBOR Auction) or not less than 7 days (Absolute
Rate Auction), subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest
Period.
Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement.
ACE LIMITED
By:___________________________
Title:
2
EXHIBIT C
Form of Invitation for Money Market Quotes
------------------------------------------
To: [Name of Bank]
Re: Invitation for Money Market Quotes to [Name of Borrower] (the
"Borrower")
Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of
December 11, 1997, as amended, among the Borrower, A.C.E. Insurance Company,
Ltd., Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Ltd. and Tempest Reinsurance
Company Limited, as Guarantors, the Banks parties thereto and the undersigned,
as Administrative Agent, we are pleased on behalf of the Borrower to invite you
to submit Money Market Quotes to the Borrower for the following proposed Money
Market Borrowing(s):
Date of Borrowing: __________________
Principal Amount Interest Period
---------------- ---------------
$
Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Absolute
Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate. ]
Please respond to this invitation by no later than [2:00 P.M.] [9:30
A.M.] (New York City time) on [date].
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By:___________________________
Authorized Officer
EXHIBIT D
Form of Money Market Quote
--------------------------
To: Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
as Administrative Agent
Re: Money Market Quote to [Name of Borrower] (the "Borrower")
In response to your invitation on behalf of the Borrower dated
_____________, 19__, we hereby make the following Money Market Quote on the
following terms:
1. Quoting Bank: ________________________________
2. Person to contact at Quoting Bank:
_____________________________
3. Date of Borrowing: ____________________/*/
4. We hereby offer to make Money Market Loan(s) in the following principal
amounts, for the following Interest Periods and at the following rates:
Principal Interest Money Market
Amount/**/ Period/***/ [Margin/****/] [Absolute Rate/*****/]
---------- ----------- -------------------------------------
$
_______________________
/*/ As specified in the related Invitation.
/**/ Principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed
principal amount requested. Specify limitation if the individual offers exceeds
the amount the Bank is willing to lend. Bids must be made for $5,000,000 or a
larger multiple of $1,000,000.
/***/ Not less than one month or not less than 7 days, as specified in
the related Invitation. No more than five bids are permitted for each Interest
Period.
/****/ Margin over or under the London Interbank Offered Rate determined
for the applicable Interest Period. Specify percentage (to the nearest 1/10,000
of 1%) and specify whether "PLUS" or "MINUS".
/*****/ Specify rate of interest per annum (to the nearest 1/10,000th of
1%).
$
[Provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for
which the above offers may be accepted shall not exceed $____________.]/**/
We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to the
satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the 364-Day Credit
Agreement dated as of December 11, 1997 among the Borrower, A.C.E. Insurance
Company, Ltd. and Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Ltd. and Tempest
Reinsurance Company Limited, as Guarantors, the Banks listed on the signature
pages thereof and yourselves, as Administrative Agent, irrevocably obligates us
to make the Money Market Loan(s) for which any offer(s) are accepted, in whole
or in part.
Very truly yours,
[NAME OF BANK]
Dated:________________ By____________________________
Authorized Officer
2
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF XXXXX XXXX & XXXXXXXX OPINION
-------------------------------------
December 11, 1997
To the Banks and the Administrative Agent
Referred to Below
c/x Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company
of New York, as Administrative Agent
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have participated in the preparation of the 364-Day Credit Agreement
(the "Credit Agreement") dated as of December 11, 1997 among ACE Limited, a
Cayman Islands company limited by shares, A.C.E. Insurance Company, Ltd., a
Bermuda limited liability company, Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance
Ltd., a Bermuda limited liability company, and Tempest Reinsurance Company
Limited, a Bermuda limited liability company, as Guarantors, the Banks listed on
the signature pages thereof (the "Banks") and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of
New York, as Administrative Agent, and have acted as special United States
counsel for the Agents for the purpose of rendering this opinion pursuant to
Section 3.01(e) of the Credit Agreement. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement
are used herein as therein defined.
We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public
officials and other instruments and have conducted such other investigations of
fact and law as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this
opinion.
Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the
Credit Agreement and the Notes are within the Borrower's corporate powers and
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.
To the Bank and the Agent 2 December 11, 1997
Referred to Below
2. The execution, delivery and performance by each Guarantor of the
Credit Agreement are within such Guarantor's corporate powers and have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action.
3. The Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of
the Borrower and each Note constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the
Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the
same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.
4. The Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of
each Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the same may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and by general principles of equity.
In giving the foregoing opinion we have relied, with your consent and
without independent investigation, as to all matters governed by the laws of (i)
the Cayman Islands, upon the opinion of Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx dated the date hereof,
a copy of which has been delivered by you pursuant to Section 3.01(b) of the
Credit Agreement and (ii) Bermuda, upon the opinion of Xxxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxx
dated the date hereof, a copy of which has been delivered to you pursuant to
Section 3.01(c) of the Credit Agreement.
This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above matter.
This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon
by any other Person without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
EXHIBIT I
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of __________ __, 19__ among [ASSIGNOR] (the
"Assignor"), [ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee"), ACE Limited, ACE US Holdings, Inc.
("ACE US"), A.C.E. Insurance Company, Ltd ("ACE Insurance") and XXXXXX GUARANTY
TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Issuing Bank and as Administrative Agent (the
"Administrative Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, this Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Assignment
Agreement") relates to (i) the Five-Year Credit Agreement (as amended from time
to time, the "Five Year Credit Agreement") and the 364-Day Credit Agreement (as
amended from time to time, the "364-Day Credit Agreement") each dated as of
December 11, 1997 among ACE Limited, as Borrower, A.C.E. Insurance Company,
Ltd., Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Ltd. and Tempest Reinsurance
Company Limited, as Guarantors, the Assignor and the other Banks party thereto,
as Banks, and the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Term Loan Agreement (as amended
from time to time, the "Term Loan Agreement") the dated as of December 11, 1997
among ACE US, as Borrower, ACE Limited, as Guarantor, the Assignor and the other
Banks party thereto, as Banks, and the Administrative Agent and (iii) the
Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement dated as of December 11, 1997 among
ACE Insurance, the Assignor and the other Banks party thereto and the
Administrative Agent (the "Reimbursement Agreement" and together with the Five-
Year Credit Agreement, the 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement,
collectively, "the Facilities");
WHEREAS, under the Five-Year Credit Agreement, the Assignor has a
Commitment to make Loans to ACE Limited and participate in Letters of Credit in
an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $__________;
WHEREAS, Committed Loans made to ACE Limited by the Assignor under the
Five-Year Credit Agreement in the aggregate principal amount of $__________ are
outstanding at the date hereof;
WHEREAS, Letters of Credit with a total amount available for drawing under
the Five-Year Credit Agreement of $____________ are outstanding at the date
hereof;
WHEREAS, under the 364-Day Credit Agreement, the Assignor has a Commitment
to make Loans to ACE Limited in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding not to exceed $_________;
WHEREAS, Committed Loans made to ACE Limited by the Assignor under the 364-
Day Credit Agreement in the aggregate principal amount of $_________ are
outstanding at the date hereof;
WHEREAS, under the Term Loan Agreement, the Assignor has [a Commitment to
make][outstanding] Loans to ACE US in an aggregate principal amount of
$_____________;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Reimbursement Agreement, the Assignor is a
participant to the extent of _____% in up to (Pounds)153,683,466 of Letters of
Credit outstanding thereunder;
WHEREAS, the Assignor proposes to assign to the Assignee an aggregate
interest in the Facilities of $__________, comprised as follows: (i) all of the
rights of the Assignor under the Five-Year Credit Agreement in respect of a
portion of its Commitment thereunder in an amount equal to $__________ (the
"Five-Year Assigned Amount"), together with a corresponding portion of its
outstanding Committed Loans and Letter of Credit Liabilities thereunder, (ii)
all of the rights of the Assignor under the 364-Day Credit Agreement in respect
of a portion of its Commitment thereunder in an amount equal to $_____________
(the "364-Day Assigned Amount"), together with a corresponding portion of its
outstanding Committed Loans thereunder, (iii) all of the rights of the Assignor
under the Term Loan Agreement in respect of a portion of its [Commitment]
[Loans] thereunder in an amount equal to $_______________ (the "Term Loan
Assigned Amount" and, together with the Five-Year Assigned Amount and the 364-
Day Assigned Amount, collectively the "Assigned Amounts"), and (iv) a portion of
the rights and obligations of the Assignor under the Reimbursement Agreement
equivalent to a Participation Percentage of ____% (the "Assigned Percentage"),
and the Assignee proposes to accept assignment of such rights and assume the
corresponding obligations from the Assignor on such terms;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein
-----------
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Five-Year Credit Agreement,
the 364-Day Credit Agreement, the Term Loan Agreement and the Reimbursement
Agreement, as applicable.
SECTION 2. Assignment. The Assignor hereby assigns and sells to the
----------
Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under each of the Five-Year Credit
Agreement, the 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement to the
extent of the Five-Year Assigned Amount, the 364-Day Assigned Amount and the
Term Loan Assigned Amount, respectively, and under the Reimbursement Agreement
to the extent of the Assigned Percentage, and the Assignee hereby accepts such
assignment from the Assignor and assumes all of the obligations of the Assignor
under each of the Five-Year Credit Agreement, the 364-Day Credit Agreement and
the Term Loan Agreement to the extent of the Five-year Assigned Amount, the 364-
Day Assigned Amount and the Term Loan Assigned Amount and under the
Reimbursement Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Percentage, including the
purchase from the Assignor of the corresponding portion of the principal amount
of the Committed Loans made by the Assignor and Letter of Credit Liabilities of
and the corresponding portion of the participating interests of the Assignor in
the Letters of Credit under the Reimbursement Agreement, outstanding at the date
hereof. Upon the execution and delivery hereof by the Assignor, the Assignee,
ACE Limited, ACE US, ACE Insurance, the Issuing Bank(s) and the Administrative
Agent and the payment of the amounts specified in Section 3 required to be paid
on the date hereof (i) the Assignee shall, as of the date hereof, succeed to the
rights and be obligated to perform the obligations of the Assignor under each of
the Five-Year Credit Agreement, the 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Term Loan
Agreement with a Commitment in an amount equal to the Five-Year Assigned Amount,
the 364-Day Assigned Amount and the Term Loan Assigned Amount, respectively and
under the Reimbursement Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Percentage, and
(ii) the Commitment of the Assignor under each of the Facilities and the
Participation Percentage of the Assignor under the Reimbursement Agreement
shall, as of the date hereof, be reduced by the corresponding amount and the
Assignor released from its obligations under each of the Five-Year Credit
Agreement, the 364-Day Credit Agreement, the Term Loan Agreement and the
Reimbursement Agreement to the extent such obligations have been assumed by the
Assignee. The assignment provided for herein shall be without recourse to the
Assignor.
SECTION 3. Payments. As consideration for the assignment and sale
--------
contemplated in Section 2 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on the
date hereof in Federal funds the amount heretofore agreed between them./******/
It is understood that ticking and/or facility fees accrued to the date hereof
are for the account of the Assignor and such fees accruing from and including
the date hereof are for the account of the Assignee. Each of the Assignor and
the Assignee hereby agrees that if it receives any amount under any Related
Document which is for the account of the other party hereto, it shall receive
the same for the account of such other party to the extent of such other party's
interest therein and shall promptly pay the same to such other party.
SECTION 4. Consents. This Agreement is conditioned upon the consent of
--------
the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank(s) and ACE Limited, ACE US and ACE
Insurance, pursuant to Section 10.06(c) of each of the Five-Year Credit
Agreement, the 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement and Section
8.06(c) of the Reimbursement Agreement. The execution of this Agreement by such
persons is evidence of such consents. Pursuant to Section 10.06(c) of each of
the 364-Day Credit Agreement, the Five-Year Credit Agreement and the Term Loan
Agreement, each of ACE Limited and ACE US, respectively, agrees to execute and
deliver a Note payable to the order of the Assignee to evidence the assignment
and assumption provided for herein.
SECTION 5. Non-Reliance on Assignor. The Assignor makes no representation
------------------------
or warranty in connection with, and shall have no responsibility with respect
to, the solvency, financial condition, or statements of any of ACE Limited and
its subsidiaries or the validity and enforceability of the obligations of ACE
Limited and its subsidiaries under the Related Documents. The Assignee
acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance on the Assignor,
and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and will
continue to be responsible for making its own independent appraisal of the
business, affairs and financial condition of ACE Limited and its subsidiaries.
SECTION 6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
-------------
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of
------------
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
_______________________
/******/ Amount should combine principal together with accrued interest and
breakage compensation, if any, to be paid by the Assignee, net of any portion of
any upfront fee to be paid by the Assignor to the Assignee.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above
written.
[ASSIGNOR]
By___________________________________________
Title:
[ASSIGNEE]
By___________________________________________
Title:
ACE LIMITED
By___________________________________________
Title:
ACE US HOLDINGS, INC.
By___________________________________________
Title:
A.C.E. INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD.
By___________________________________________
Title:
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Issuing
Bank and as Administrative Agent
By___________________________________________
Title:
EXHIBIT J
[CT Corporation System]
December 11, 1997
To the Persons Identified on
on Schedule A Attached Hereto:
We have reviewed (i) the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of December
11, 1997 (the "Five-Year Credit Agreement") and the 364-Day Credit Agreement
(the "364-Day Credit Agreement") each among ACE LIMITED, as Borrower, A.C.E.
INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD., CORPORATE OFFICERS & DIRECTORS ASSURANCE LTD. and
TEMPEST REINSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, as Guarantors, the Banks listed therein,
and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Administrative Agent, (ii) the
Term Loan Agreement (the "Term Loan Agreement") dated as of December 11, 1997
among ACE US HOLDINGS, INC., as Borrower, ACE LIMITED, as Guarantor, the Banks
listed therein and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Administrative
Agent, (iii) the Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of December 11, 1997 (the
"Subordinated Loan Agreement") among ACE US HOLDINGS, INC., as Borrower, A.C.E.
INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD., as Lender and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New
York, as Administrative Agent and (iv) the Amended and Restated Reimbursement
Agreement dated as of December 11, 1997 among A.C.E. INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD., as
Account Party, the Banks listed therein and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New
York, as Issuing Bank and Agent (the "Amended and Restated Reimbursement
Agreement" and together with the Five-Year Credit Agreement, the 364-Year Credit
Agreement, the Term Loan Agreement and the Subordinated Loan Agreement,
collectively, the "Agreements"), in each of which CT Corporation System is named
as agent to receive service of process in the State of New York on behalf of (a)
the Borrower and each Guarantor under each of the Five-Year Credit Agreement and
the 364-Day Credit Agreement, (b) the Borrower and the Guarantor under the Term
Loan Agreement, (c) the Borrower and the Lender under the Subordinated Loan
Agreement and (d) the Account Party under the Amended and Restated Reimbursement
Agreement, at the address of 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000. Upon
review of our appointment outlined in Section 10.10(b) of each of the 364-Day
Credit Agreement, the Five-Year Credit Agreement and the
Term Loan Agreement, Section 8(c) of the Subordinated Loan Agreement and Section
8.10(b) of the Amended and Restated Reimbursement Agreement, we understand that
our role as registered agent is confined to receiving service of process only.
We also understand that the term of our appointment as registered agent under
each such Agreements shall remain in effect until each of the Agreements shall
have been terminated and all obligations thereunder of each Borrower, each
Guarantor, the Lender and the Account Party shall have been paid in full, or
until such time as we are instructed in writing by the Administrative Agent to
discontinue our service.
We accept and confirm our appointment as registered agent and we understand
that any notice or process received by us in our capacity as registered agent
shall be promptly sent by telephone, fax, telex, cable or any other means of
instant communication, and thereafter by reputable overnight carrier to:
On Behalf of the Borrower and each Guarantor under each of the 364-Day
Credit Agreement and the Five-Year Credit Agreement and the Guarantor under the
Term Loan Agreement:
ACE Limited
The ACE Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx
(Fax 000-000-0000)
with copy to: Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust
Company of New York
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
(Fax 000-000-0000)
On behalf of the Borrower under the Term Loan Agreement and the
Subordinated Loan Agreement
ACE US Holdings, Inc.
Six Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
with copy to: Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust
Company of New York
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
(Fax 000-000-0000)
On behalf of the Account Party under the Amended and Restated Reimbursement
Agreement and the Lender under the Subordinated Loan Agreement
A.C.E. Insurance Company, Ltd.
The ACE Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx
(Fax 000-000-0000)
with copy to: Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust
Company of New York
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
(Fax 000-000-0000)
We appreciate this opportunity to be of service.
Very truly yours,
CT CORPORATION SYSTEM
By:___________________________
Title:
SCHEDULE A
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company
of New York, as Issuing Bank
and as Administrative Agent
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company
of New York
Mellon Bank, N.A.
Citibank, N.A.
The Bank of New York
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.
Barclays Bank PLC
Deutsche Bank AG, New York and/or
Cayman Islands Branch
Fleet National Bank
ING Bank, N.V.
Royal Bank of Canada
The Bank of Bermuda, Ltd.
Banque Nationale de Paris
The Chase Manhattan Bank
Credit Lyonnais New York Branch
Dresdner Bank A.G., New York Branch
and Grand Cayman Branch
The First National Bank of Chicago
State Street Bank and Trust Company
ACE Limited, as Borrower under the
364-Day Credit Agreement and the
Five-Year Credit Agreement and as
Guarantor under the Term Loan Agreement
A.C.E. Insurance Company, Ltd., as Guarantor
under the 364-Day Credit Agreement and
the Five-Year Credit Agreement, as
Account Party under the Amended and Restated
Reimbursement Agreement and as Lender under
the Subordinated Loan Agreement
Corporate Officers & Directors
Assurance Ltd., as Guarantor under
the 364-Day Credit Agreement and
the Five-Year Credit Agreement
Tempest Reinsurance Company Limited,
as Guarantor under the 364-Day Credit
Agreement and the Five-Year Credit
Agreement
ACE US Holdings, Inc., as Borrower under
the Term Loan Agreement and as Borrower
under the Subordinated Loan Agreement
