Exhibit 4.5
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STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
XXXX XXXXXXXXXX
DALLPOINT INVESTMENTS LLC
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
BANCO RIO DE LA PLATA S.A.
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BUENOS AIRES, OCTOBER 22ND, 2004
STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT
This Stock Pledge Agreement (the "Agreement") is made in the City of Buenos
Aires, Argentina, this 22 day of October, 2004, by and among:
o Banco Rio de la Plata S.A. (the "Collateral Agent"), domiciled at Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000, Xxxx xx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, hereat represented by Xx.
Xxxxxxx del Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, in their capacity as
attorneys-in-fact with full power to execute these presents;
o The Bank of New York ("BONY"), domiciled at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0 Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America, hereat represented by Xx. Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx, in his/her capacity as attorney-in-fact with full power to
execute these presents;
o Dallpoint Investments LLC ("Dallpoint"), domiciled at Corporation Trust
Center, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx xx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx of Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
xx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America, hereat represented by Xx. Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, in his capacity as attorney-in-fact with full power to execute these
presents, and Messrs. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx (the "Xxxxxxxxxx Brothers"), all of them domiciled at
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx 365, piso 2(o), oficina "310", City of Buenos Aires
(hereinafter, Dallpoint and the Mastellone Brothers are collectively
referred to as the "Pledgors").
Each of the Collateral Agent, BONY and Pledgors are referred to in this
Agreement individually as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties".
WHEREAS
(i) Pursuant to the Indenture dated March 31, 1998, as amended, among
Xxxxxxxxxx Hermanos S.A. (the "Company"), as issuer, BONY, as Trustee,
Co-Registrar and Principal Paying Agent, and Banco Rio de la Plata
S.A., as Registrar and Paying Agent, the Company issued 11.75% Senior
Notes due 2008 (the "Existing Notes") in the principal amount of
US$225,000,000, 100% of which principal amount remained outstanding as
of October 22nd, 2004 (the "Cut-off Date");
(ii) In addition to its indebtedness under the Existing Notes, the Company
had as of the Cut-off Date financial debt originally owed to banking
institutions in the amount of approximately US$104.000.000 (or its
equivalent) (the "Existing Bank Debt" and, together with the Existing
Notes, and interest accrued on the Existing Notes and the Existing Bank
Debt to the Cut-off Date, the "Debt Subject to the Offers");
(iii) On September 16, 2004, pursuant to an Offering Memorandum dated on the
same date (as amended and supplemented) the Company made a cash tender
offer and an exchange offer (the "Offers") to the holders of Existing
Notes and Existing Bank Debt;
(iv) The Offers made by the Company have been accepted by a majority of its
creditors, whose claims account for approximately 97,8% of the
principal amount of the Debt Subject to the Offers as of October 19,
2004;
(v) Pursuant to the Offers the Company will issue Exchange Notes and
Exchange Floating Rate Debt, to be delivered in exchange for the Debt
Subject to the Offers;
(vi) In addition, and as provided for under the Offer, upon the issuance of
the Exchange Notes but not later than 180 days thereafter, the Company
shall issue another series of notes which will be registered with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC New Notes"), and
will be offered in exchange for the Exchange Notes (the Exchange Notes,
and the SEC New Notes, issued under the Indenture, collectively
referred to herein as the "Secured Debt");
(vii) As provided in the Offering Memorandum, the terms and conditions of the
Secured Debt are governed by an Indenture (the "Indenture") executed on
the date hereof by and between the Company and BONY, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Schedule A;
(viii) Both the Offers and the Indenture, the terms and conditions of which
Pledgors hereby acknowledge and accept, provide that on the one hand
the Secured Debt and on the other hand the Exchange Floating Rate Debt
will be respectively secured with a first rank pledge of an aggregate
of shares equal to 49% of the Company's capital tock and voting rights,
which shall be proportionally distributed between each pledge, as it is
set forth in the Offering Memorandum. The obligation of the Pledgors to
constitute this Pledge is evidenced in the Shareholders' Meeting of the
Company dated March 5, 2004, whereby the issuance of the Offers was
approved;
(ix) As provided for under the foregoing documents, Pledgors hereby create
on the date hereof a stock pledge for the benefit of holders of the
Secured Debt (collectively, "Secured Creditors"), and, by a separate
instrument, Pledgors hereby create another stock pledge for the benefit
of holders of the Exchange
Floating Rate Debt, in such proportions as are contemplated under
clause (viii) above;
(x) The Offering Memorandum, the Offers and the Indenture provide that
Banco Rio de la Plata S.A. will act as collateral agent under the
Pledge agreement, with full power to execute this agreement on behalf
of the Secured Creditors;
(xi) The Indenture and the Offering Memorandum as supplemented in order to
participate in the Offers, authorize BONY and the Collateral Agent to
execute this Agreement on behalf of the Secured Creditors;
(xii) This Agreement is executed by BONY, as Trustee, Co-Registrar and
Principal Paying Agent, under the Indenture, and as Closing Agent under
the Offering Memorandum. In addition, this Agreement is executed by
Banco Rio de la Plata S.A. as Collateral Agent, assuming its rights and
liabilities under the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree to enter into this Agreement, subject to the
following terms and conditions:
1. PURPOSE.
Pledgors hereby create in favor of the Collateral Agent, acting on behalf of the
Secured Creditors, as security for the Secured Debt, a first commercial pledge,
in accordance with the provisions of section 580 et seq. of the Argentine
Commercial Code (the "Pledge") on such number of registered non endorsable
shares of par value Pesos 1 each as shall represent 32,51% (thirty two with
fifty one per cent) of the capital stock and voting rights of the Company (the
"Shares"). The quantity, number and class of Shares and the number of votes per
Share are listed in Schedule B hereto.
The liability of Pledgors to the Secured Creditors is limited exclusively to
this pledge security; therefore, Pledgors shall no be deemed to be sureties
and/or guarantors of the Company in respect of the Secured Debt. Accordingly,
the liability of Pledgors shall, in all events, including, without limitation,
damages upon breach of this Agreement, be limited exclusively to this Pledge
security and the value of the Shares.
2. SCOPE OF PLEDGE.
The Pledge is not limited to the Shares listed on Schedule B, but includes
32,51% of all such shares of the Company issued hereafter which will be
automatically subject to this Pledge Agreement, until the Secured Debt is
discharged as it is necessary to make subject to the Pledge in order to maintain
the percentage of 32,51% of the capital stock and voting rights mentioned in the
previous Section, whether any such shares are issued under any capital increase,
capitalization of irrevocable contributions, and/or payment of capital in cash
or in kind, accounting revaluation, and/or distribution of stock dividends
and/or merger or spin-off, and/or otherwise.
In all the foregoing events, Pledgors agree to notify the Collateral Agent and
the Company in writing within 10 (ten) banking days following the relevant
Stockholders' Meeting and/or Board Meeting, and to pledge, and deliver to the
Collateral Agent, any and all shares issued that are required to be pledged
under the provisions of the foregoing paragraph, which shares shall be subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
3. DEBT SECURED BY THE PLEDGE.
This Pledge is granted by Pledgors to secure payment of all the obligations to
the Secured Creditors assumed by the Company with respect to the Secured Debt
under the Indenture, including, without limitation, the Exchange Notes, the SEC
New Notes to be issued in exchange for the Exchange Notes, and any such
refinancing and or restructuring, whether total or partial, as may be
hereinafter made in respect thereof. The Pledge secures the payment of principal
and interest of the Secured Debt, as well as the payment of any default
interest, expenses and costs of litigation as may result from the breach of the
terms and conditions of the Secured Debt. This Pledge is created without
prejudice to any other security interest in real or personal property previously
or hereafter granted by the Company and/or its subsidiaries to the Secured
Creditors, and the Secured Creditors shall be entitled to enforce, jointly or
severally, any of their guarantees against the Company and/or its Subsidiaries,
in such order and manner as the Secured Creditors shall deem fit.
4. DELIVERY OF THE SHARES AND REGISTRATION OF THE PLEDGE.
To give effect to the security granted hereunder, Pledgors hereby deliver to the
Collateral Agent, and the Collateral Agent hereby receives to its satisfaction,
the Shares certificates. The pledge granted hereunder is duly registered in the
Shares certificates and has further been registered by the Company in accordance
with the provisions of
sections 213 and 215 of the Argentine Business Company Act No. 19, 550, as
amended and supplemented (the "BCA"). The creation of the Pledge was entered in
the Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Directors dated October 22nd, 2004,
attached hereto as Schedule C, at which meeting it was resolved that the Pledge
be registered in the Company's Stock Ledger (the "Stock Ledger "), which was
duly effected on the date hereof, as evidenced by the certified copy of folio 27
of the Stock Ledger, attached hereto as Schedule D.
5. RESTRICTIONS ON THE SHARES.
Until full payment of the Secured Debt and the resulting termination of the
Company's obligations under the Indenture, Pledgors may not sell, assign and/or
otherwise transfer the Shares and/or the preemptive rights, or any other rights
thereon, except in the manner and to the extent permitted under the Indenture.
Pledgors may not create any second priority lien on, or any beneficial interest
in, the Shares, and may not make or adopt any decision in any manner affecting
the economic or voting rights on the Shares, or on any other shares as may be
pledged hereafter pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
6. OBLIGATION OF PLEDGORS IN THE EVENT OF AN INCREASE OF THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL
STOCK.
In the event of an increase of the Company's Capital Stock, Pledgors shall be
obligated to exercise their preemptive rights with respect to a number of shares
which shall allow them to maintain an amount of shares representing not less
than 32,51% of the Company's capital stock and voting rights, in order to
prevent the rights herein granted to the Secured Creditors being affected.
Without prejudice to the foregoing, in the event of a capital increase, whether
or not such increase involves any disbursement by Pledgors, the new shares
resulting from the exercise of the preemptive rights on the Shares will be
incorporated to the Pledge created hereunder, to such extent and in such number
as it may be necessary for the Shares subject to this Pledge to continue
representing 32,51% (thirty two with fifty one per cent) of the capital stock
and voting rights of the Company. The share certificates issued shall be
delivered to the Collateral Agent not later than three (3) days from issuance,
and record of the Pledge shall be entered in the relevant certificates and the
Stock Ledger.
7. EXERCISE OF VOTING RIGHTS ON THE SHARES.
Pledgors shall retain the right to vote at Stockholders' Meetings of the Company
carried by the Shares, as long as the Company and the Pledgors are not in
default with respect to the obligations assumed under the Secured Debt and under
this Agreement. To permit or facilitate the free exercise of such right, BONY
shall notify the Collateral Agent, based on reports it receives from the Company
pursuant to Sections 10.08 (a) and 10.08 (b) of the Indenture, of the Company's
compliance with its obligations and upon such notice it shall issue to Pledgors
appropriate certificates of their respective holdings and of the custody of the
Shares.
8. AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF PLEDGORS.
Until the Company's Secured Debt and obligations under the Indenture are
discharged in full, Pledgors irrevocably agree as follows:
A) To give notice to the Collateral Agent of any event or act that may
materially affect the economic and financial condition of the Company.
B) To cause that the Collateral Agent be given access to the Company's
accounting books and records and to any other documentation reasonably
requested to the Company, and to permit the Collateral Agent to conduct
reasonable inspections in the Company to verify compliance with the
obligations hereunder.
C) To give notice to the Collateral Agent of any change in the Company's
capital structure.
D) To give notice to the Collateral Agent of any Meeting of Stockholders
and/or Board of Directors of the Company called to discuss irrevocable
contributions to, or spin-off, merger and/or transformation of, the
Company, not later than twenty (20) banking days after such meeting was
held.
9. TERMINATION OF THE PLEDGE AND RETURN OF THE SHARES.
The Parties agree that upon Company's full payment of the Secured Debt, the
Pledge hereunder shall terminate and the Collateral Agent shall return the
Shares not later than 15 (fifteen) days thereafter. Upon termination of the
Pledge, the Collateral Agent shall issue a certificate to the Company certifying
that the Company's obligations under the Secured Debt have been discharged in
full and consenting to the registration of the Pledge termination in the Share
certificates and the Stock Ledger.
10. DUTIES OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT.
The Collateral Agent shall perform hereunder the duties listed below, and shall
do such other things and perform such other duties -which at its own discretion-
are convenient and appropriate to protect the rights and interests of the
Secured Creditors under this Pledge Agreement.
10.1. Custody of the Shares. To hold the certificates evidencing the Shares and
any new shares as may be issued hereafter and delivered to it pursuant to
Section 2 hereof.
10.2. To monitor that any new shares issued and delivered to it pursuant to
Section 2 hereof contain the notation of the Pledge in their respective
certificates and that the Pledge on such shares has been registered in the Stock
Ledger. For such purpose, the Pledgors covenant to (i) instruct the Company to
make available the Company's books to the Agent and (ii) to make available the
newly issued shares certificates to the Collateral Agent in order to verify
registration of the Pledge.
10.3. In the event the Company determines to invalidate and/or exchange any
Shares, to deliver and receive the appropriate Shares, ensuring that the Secured
Creditors are not adversely affected.
10.4. To give notice, through the Trustee, to the Secured Creditors holding
Secured Debt of any event that may constitute an Event of Default (as defined
below) hereunder, in order to allow the Secured Creditors to act thereon with
the majorities required by the Indenture and this Agreement, and to exercise all
the relevant rights and actions, as the case may be.
10.5. To enforce the Pledge, when so instructed by the majorities required by
Section 12 of this Agreement.
11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
The events of default ("Events of Default") upon the occurrence of which the
Collateral Agent is entitled to institute proceedings to enforce the Pledge, or
to take any other action or exercise any remedy shall mean Events of Default as
defined under the Indenture.
In addition to the Events of Default set forth in the Indenture, the occurrence
at any time, with respect to any Pledgor, of any of the events specified below
shall constitute
an Event of Default hereunder, provided it is declared as such by the above
mentioned majorities of Secured Creditors:
A) Pledgors' failure to deliver to the Collateral Agent new shares of the
Company to make them subject to the Pledge pursuant to Section 2 hereof.
B) Inaccuracy of any of the representations, statements or warranties made by
Pledgors in this Agreement.
C) Pledgors' failure to comply with any of their obligations hereunder in a
timely manner, and
D) The commencement of voluntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings by any
of the Pledgors, the execution of an APE or the filing of a petition in
bankruptcy against any of the Pledgors, which shall have not been
dismissed.
12. COMMENCEMENT OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE PLEDGE.
For the Collateral Agent to be entitled to commence enforcement of the Pledge,
he shall receive in writing from BONY a written communication signed by a
Responsible Officer (as such term is defined in the Indenture) instructing the
Collateral Agent to proceed in such respect, provided however that BONY has
received such direction from the required Secured Creditors. Such instruction
shall be given not later than 10 days after the Secured Creditors representing
the majority in principal amount of the Secured Debt shall have requested in
writing the enforcement of the Pledge upon a declaration of acceleration of the
Secured Debt under Section 5.02 of the Indenture.
13. PLEDGE ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS.
Upon the requirement provided for in Section 12 having been complied with, the
Collateral Agent may enforce the Pledge on the Shares and on any shares as shall
have been pledged hereafter. For enforcement purposes, the procedure set forth
in section 585 and related sections of the Argentine Commercial Code shall
apply. The notice required under the above mentioned regulation shall be
published during 5 (five) days in at least 2 (two) leading newspapers in Buenos
Aires, selected at the discretion of the Collateral Agent.
The Collateral Agent may enforce the security interest granted herein without
prior demand (whether judicial or administrative), by causing the sale in cash
of the Shares and any shares pledged hereafter to the highest bidder. For such
purpose, the Collateral Agent shall designate the auctioneer or stock exchange
broker who will conduct the auction, which will be held at the Buenos Aires
Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires) or, in default thereof, at
any such place as the Collateral Agent shall designate within the City of Buenos
Aires. The sale by auction shall be made in U.S. dollars, at an opening bid
price equal to the Secured Debt outstanding at that date, which outstanding
amount shall be previously notified in writing by BONY to the Collateral Agent.
The Collateral Agent will notify the potential bidders of such outstanding
amount of the Secured Debt. If no bid is submitted, a second auction shall be
conducted half and hour later at the opening bid price reduced by 50% (fifty
percent). If no bid is submitted thereat, a new auction shall be conducted on a
later date, starting at the opening bid price reduced by 50%; if this auction
fails, a new auction may be conducted within half an hour without an opening bid
price. The proceeds of the auction shall be applied as follows:
A) To the payment of any tax on the transfer of the Shares sold upon
enforcement, the auctioneer's or stock broker's fees, professional fees
and other auction expenses.
B) The Collateral Agent will receive the total remaining balance of the
proceeds and apply such balance to the repayment of the Secured Debt,
for which purpose the Collateral Agent shall transfer to the Trustee
such funds to be distributed among the Secured Creditors.
C) The remaining balance, if any, shall be distributed by the Collateral
Agent ratably among Pledgors, according to their equity interest,
within 15 (fifteen) days after the relevant payments.
D) If the sale proceeds are not sufficient to cover the Secured Debt,
Pledgors shall be released from any obligation to the Collateral Agent
and the Secured Creditors, since its personal liability is limited
exclusively to the value of the Shares, notwithstanding the Secured
Creditors right to enforce any other collateral or to file any other
proceedings to protect their rights.
E) The Secured Creditors may not set-off their claims at the auction.
14. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PLEDGORS.
Pledgors make the following representations and warranties to the Collateral
Agent with respect to the Shares:
A) The Company is a validly existing corporation, duly organized under the
laws of the Republic of Argentina on October 22, 1973, as evidenced in its
Bylaws, filed with the Argentine Registry of Commerce - Registrar of
Companies of the City of Buenos Aires on May 17, 1976 under number 1163,
Book 85, Volume "A" of Corporations;
B) The Shares have been validly issued, are 100% (one hundred per cent)
paid-in and are not subject to call options or similar rights of any
person;
C) The Stock Ledger is duly notarized, its records are complete and it is kept
by the Company as required by law;
D) As evidenced in folio 27 of the Stock Ledger, Pledgors hold 100% (one
hundred per cent) of the shares representing the entire Capital Stock of
the Company, the structure of which is shown in the following table:
CLASS B CLASS A
FIVE VOTE ONE VOTE PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDERS SHARES SHARES TOTAL SHARES TOTAL VOTES TOTAL SHARES
--------------------------- ----------- ----------- ------------ -------------- ------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx......... 35,211,300 56,333,283 91,544,583 232,389,783 22.3332647%
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx.. 35,211,297 56,333,278 91,544,575 232,389,763 22.3332627%
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx............ 35,211,297 56,333,278 91,544,575 232,389,763 22.3332627%
Dallpoint Investments LLC.. 68,548,112 66,720,533 135,268,645 409,461,093 33.0002099%
----------- ----------- ------------ -------------- ------------
Total...................... 174,182,006 235,720,372 409,902,378 1,106,630,402 100.00%
=========== =========== ============ ============== ============
The Pledgors hereby represent and warrant that there are not shares pending to
be issued, nor an agreement with third parties to issue new shares, or to
increase or decrease the Company's stock capital, or any other document that
could vary the Company's stock capital.
E) Pledgors are the sole holders of the Shares and are not subject to any
restriction preventing the creation of the Pledge; and
F) The Shares are not subject to any attachment, pledge, beneficial interest or
any injunction or lien of any nature;
15. ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS OF PLEDGORS.
Additionally, Pledgors represent to the Collateral Agent that:
A) Either no authorization is required for the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by Pledgors and the consummation of the
events contemplated hereby, or such authorization has been duly given by
the appropriate corporate authority.
B) This Agreement has been validly executed and delivered by Pledgors and
constitute their legal and binding obligation, enforceable against Pledgors
in accordance with its terms and the provisions of Argentine law.
C) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Pledgors does
not, and no other document to be executed and delivered by Pledgors
hereunder in compliance with the terms and conditions hereof will, (i)
contravene or conflict with any provision of the Bylaws of the Company or
of Pledgors, as the case may be, (ii) contravene or result in violation of,
or default under, or constitute grounds for acceleration or amendment of,
the terms and conditions of any agreement which is binding upon the Company
or Pledgors; (iii) contravene any law applicable to Pledgors or any of
their respective assets (iv) contravene any resolution, decision or ruling
by any government or judicial authority applicable to the Company or
Pledgors or any of their respective assets.
16. SPOUSE'S CONSENT.
For purposes of the consent required by section 1277 of the Argentine Civil
Code, this agreement is also executed by Xxx. Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Libreta
Civica N(o) 3.981.886, spouse of Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, and by Xxx. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Ubellart, Libreta Civica N(o) 4.231.272, spouse of Xx. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx.
17. RIGHTS AND INDEMNITIES OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT.
17.1. Compensation: During the effectiveness hereof, the Collateral Agent
shall be entitled to receive an annual compensation, payable in
advance, equivalent to US$3,187.50 together with any taxes applicable
thereon (including, without limitation, Value Added Tax), which shall
be paid by the Company not more than five days after execution hereof
and on each anniversary of the transaction; provided however, that the
Collateral Agent may
-at its option- debit the aforementioned compensation from the
Company's Account, with this Agreement constituting an express and
irrevocable instruction by the Company in such respect.
17.2. Indemnity: The Pledgors and/or the Company covenant to indemnify and
hold the Collateral Agent and BONY, and their respective directors,
officers, employees and agents harmless against any liabilities,
expenses, damages and other costs of any kind or nature (including
fees of legal counsel) incurred by or claimed against them as a result
of or in connection with the performance of their duties as Collateral
Agent hereunder, unless such damages are a direct result of their
gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Parties agree that the
Pledgors may comply with this obligation either directly or through
the Company, in which event the Pledgors shall take the relevant
actions for such purpose within the Company. The obligations assumed
hereunder shall survive discharge of the Pledge and termination of the
Collateral Agent or BONY. The Collateral Agent may at any time obtain
independent advise as to any alternative relating to this Agreement.
If the Company incurs in default in compliance with its obligations
under the Secured Debt, or if the Pledgors incur in default in
compliance with their obligations hereunder, the Pledgors and/or the
Company shall be required to reimburse the fees as may be payable for
such advise, to the extent that they are reasonable. In no event shall
BONY or the Collateral Agent be liable for any indirect, special,
punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever,
including but not limited to, lost profits, even if BONY or the
Collateral Agent have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or
damage and regardless of the form of action. In no event shall BONY or
the Collateral Agent be liable for any failure or delay in the
performance of their obligations hereunder because of circumstances
beyond their control, including, but not limited to, acts of God,
flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot,
embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances,
regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or
prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Agreement.
17.3. Resignation and Removal: The Collateral Agent may resign at any time
and without cause as Collateral Agent hereunder upon not less than 60
calendar days prior due notice in writing to the Company, in which
event the Company shall appoint a substitute Collateral Agent to whom
it shall deliver all the certificates evidencing the Shares received
from the Pledgors within a term of 30 days after it being so notified.
If within 10 days after expiration of the aforementioned 60 day term,
the Company shall have not designated the substitute Collateral Agent,
the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to appoint its successor from
among the financial institutions authorized to operate in Argentina.
17.4. Upon express instructions from the majority of Secured Creditors, the
Company may at any time and without cause remove the Collateral Agent
by means of due notice in writing, in which event, the latter shall
deliver to BONY all the certificates evidencing the Shares received
from the Pledgors not more than 10 days after being so notified.
18. MISCELLANEOUS.
18.1 Assignment: No Pledgor may assign its rights and obligations hereunder, or
any right provided for herein, whether such right arises by operation of law or
otherwise, without the previous and written consent of the Collateral Agent.
Additionally, this pledge is accessory to the Secured Debt; therefore it shall
be understood that the Pledgees have automatically assigned their rights
hereunder -in the applicable proportion- upon any assignment or transfer by the
Pledgees of the Secured Debt under the terms of the Indenture. No person shall
hold any right hereunder unless such person holds Secured Debt. This Agreement
shall be binding on the Parties' successors and permitted assignees.
18.2 Entire agreement and severability: Unless otherwise provided herein, this
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes
all prior oral or written agreements or understandings between the Parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and does not purport to grant any right or
remedy to any other person. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge
any provision or portion thereof to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect,
then such provision shall be limited to the terms that the court shall hold
enforceable and remain valid as such. The declaration of invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability of any provision or portion thereof by a court shall not
affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
18.3 Schedules: Any matter included in any Schedule of this Agreement shall be
deemed incorporated into this Agreement for all purposes hereof.
18.4 Notices: All notices required hereunder shall be in writing and delivered
to the Parties personally or by telex, letter document, registered mail with
return receipt requested or any other means of notice meeting the rules for
submission as evidence, and shall be deemed delivered upon receipt thereof at
the following addresses:
To the Collateral Agent
Banco Rio de la Plata S.A.
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx 480
City of Buenos Aires
Attn: Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Sapey - Xxx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: (5411) 0000-0000/1018
To Pledgors:
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx 365 - 2(o) floor, Of. 310
City of Buenos Aires
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: (0000) 0 000-0000
With copy to:
Cibils Robirosa - Labougle - Ibanez
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx 000, xxxx 0(x),
Xxxx xx Xxxxxx Aires
Attn: Dres. Xxxxxxx Labougle/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: (5411) 0000-0000
The foregoing domiciles shall be valid unless notice of change is given to the
other Parties by any means of notice meeting the rules for submission as
evidence.
18.5 Governing Law: This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the Republic of Argentina.
18.6. Jurisdiction: For all purposes of this Agreement, the Parties irrevocably
submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts of the City of
Buenos Aires, hereby waiving any other venue or jurisdiction as may otherwise
apply.
18.7 Representation of the Collateral Agent: The Collateral Agent hereby
represents that as of the date hereof it is not a creditor of the Company as a
holder of Secured Debt.
18.8 Interpretation: For all purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise
expressly provided herein or required by context:
(a) the terms defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned
to them herein and include the plural as well as the singular number;
(b) words importing gender include both genders;
(c) any reference to a "Section" or a "Schedule" refers to a Section or a
Schedule, as the case may be, of this Agreement;
(d) all references to this Agreement or Pledge and the words "herein",
"hereof", "hereto" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article,
Section, Schedule or other subdivision;
(e) any reference to "includes" or "including" shall mean "including,
without limitation";
(f) all references to any agreement or contract, including this Agreement,
shall mean such agreement or contract together with all schedules,
annexes and attachments thereto and as such agreement or contract may
be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, and
(g) The headings of the sections, paragraphs, and subsections of this
Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not
affect the interpretation hereof.
(h) unless otherwise expressly defined in this Agreement capitalized terms
shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Offering Memorandum, a
copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule E.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date and
in the place first above written, in three (3) counterparts, one for each Party,
each of which shall be deemed an original and together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx /s/ Nicolas del Xxxxx Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
SCHEDULE A
INDENTURE
SCHEDULE B
SHARES PLEDGED UNDER THE PLEDGE AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE C
MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGISTERING THE PLEDGE
SCHEDULE D
COPY OF THE RELEVANT FOLIO 27 OF THE STOCK LEDGER OF
XXXXXXXXXX HNOS. S.A. SHOWING THE REGISTRATION OF THE PLEDGE.
SCHEDULE E
OFFERING MEMORANDUM
