PLEDGE AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.2
PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of
22 January 2009, (this
“Agreement”)
made among FLAGSTONE
REASSURANCE SUISSE, S.A., a company organized and existing under the laws
of Switzerland. whose
address of its registered or principal office is at Xxx xx Xxxxxxx 0, XX-0000,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx (the “Pledgor”),
and CITIBANK EUROPE PLC
(the “Pledgee”).
PRELIMINARY
STATEMENTS.
(1)
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The Pledgor
and the Pledgee have entered into one or more Master Agreements (as
defined in Exhibit A)
pursuant to which the Pledgee may, from time to time in its sole
discretion, issue, or procure the issuance of, for the account of the
Pledgor, letters of credit or similar or equivalent instruments (each a
“Credit” and, collectively,
the “Credits”).
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(2)
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The Pledgor
has agreed to collateralize its obligations to the Pledgee that result
from time to time under each Master Agreement and in respect of the
Credits issued thereunder, whether now existing or from time to time
hereafter incurred or arising, as such obligations are more fully defined
in Section
3 of this Agreement as the Secured
Obligations.
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(3)
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The Pledgor
and the Pledgee desire to execute and deliver this Agreement for the
purpose of securing the Secured Obligations and subjecting the property
hereinafter described to the Lien of this Agreement as security for the
performance of the Secured
Obligations.
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(4)
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The Pledgor
has opened account number G-00055 (together with any successor account
opened and maintained for this purpose, the “Account”) with JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A., (the “New York Custodian”) at
its office at 0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000,
X.X.X.
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(5)
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The Pledgor
has entered into a Security Agreement with the Pledgee (the “Security
Agreement”) under which certain of Pledgor’s deposits in and
securities held at Citibank, N.A., in the United Kingdom (the “London
Custodian”) are pledged to and under the control of Pledgee with
the intention of providing Pledgee with a perfected first priority
security interest in such deposits and securities as further security for
the performance of the Secured
Obligations.
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(6)
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The Pledgor
and the Pledgee desire that the collateral pledged hereunder and the
collateral pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement shall both be
considered in determining whether, at all times and pursuant to Section
6(h) hereof, the aggregate of the New York Collateral Value (as defined
below) and the London Collateral Value (as defined below) shall be equal
to or exceed the Required Account Value (as defined
below).
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NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and in order to induce the Pledgee to enter into
transactions with and to provide services to the Pledgor and its subsidiaries
pursuant to separate agreements or arrangements between such persons and the
Pledgee, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section
1. Defined
Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
Exhibit
A.
Section
2. Grant of
Security. Subject to and in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Pledgor hereby assigns,
pledges and grants to the Pledgee a first priority security interest in and a
Lien on all of the Pledgor’s right, title and interest, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, in all of the following (collectively, the “Collateral”):
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(i)
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the
Account;
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(ii)
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the
Securities and any Instruments or other Financial Assets credited to the
Account or otherwise acquired by the Pledgee in any manner and under its
control hereunder as Collateral (the “Pledged
Securities”) including, without
limitation, any Securities Account and Security Entitlement in respect of
the Account, the Pledged Securities or any of
them;
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(iii)
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all
additional Investment Property (including without limitation) Securities,
Security Entitlements, Financial Assets, or other property and all funds,
cash or cash equivalents (together with any applicable Account or
Securities Account) from time to time (A) received, receivable or
otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange or substitution for any
other Collateral (all such funds, cash or cash equivalents to be Financial
Assets for the purposes of this Agreement) or (B) otherwise acquired by
the Pledgee in any manner and delivered to the Pledgee or under the
control of the Pledgee as Collateral;
and
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(iv)
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all proceeds
(including, without limitation, cash proceeds) of any or all of the
foregoing, including without limitation, proceeds that constitute property
of the types described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
above.
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Section
3. Security
of Obligations. This Agreement (and the Collateral pledged
hereunder) secures the payment of all obligations of the Pledgor now or
hereafter existing under each Master Agreement (including all contingent
obligations and unreimbursed or refinanced drawings with respect to Credit(s)
issued or procured for issuance by the Pledgee for the Pledgor’s account) and
this Agreement, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether
for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise and the payment of any and
all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the
Pledgee in enforcing any rights under this Agreement and the Master Agreements
(all such obligations being the “Secured
Obligations”). This Agreement is intended to convey to the Pledgee, and
hereby grants to the Pledgee control over and the right and power to exercise
exclusive control over all Security Entitlements in, and the sole right and
power to direct dispositions of all cash deposits in the Account for the
purposes of sections 9-106(c) and 9-104(b) of the NYUCC.
Section
4. Delivery
of Security Collateral.
(a)
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On or prior
to the date hereof, the Pledgor shall transfer or credit, or cause to be
transferred or credited, all of the Pledged Securities to the Pledgee or
to an Account or a Securities Account under arrangements acceptable to the
Pledgee in its sole discretion. Pledgor shall deliver all other
Collateral to the Pledgee or to a Securities Intermediary subject to the
control of the Pledgee under arrangements acceptable to the Pledgee in its
sole discretion. Upon the occurrence of and during the
continuance of an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined) or a failure
to perform any of the obligations under each Master Agreement or this
Agreement, the Pledgor expressly authorizes the Pledgee and the Pledgee
shall have the right, at any time it reasonably determines is necessary or
desirable to enable the Pledgee to better perfect or protect the security
interests granted hereunder, upon notice to the Pledgor, to transfer to or
to register in the name of the Pledgee or any of its nominees any or all
of the Collateral.
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(b)
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At any time
and upon written notice, the Pledgee may transfer, or require the Pledgor
to transfer the Collateral from the Account to an account at Citibank,
N.A. (London, England branch) and to execute a replacement deposit
agreement (in substantially the customary form used by the Pledgee, a copy
of which deposit agreement has been provided to Pledgor) in substitution
for this Agreement.
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Section
5. Use of
Proceeds. Proceeds that are received in respect of any
Collateral shall be held as cash Collateral as provided in Section 2 of this
Agreement.
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Section
6. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants. The Pledgor
represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
(a)
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The Pledgor
is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its
incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority
(including, without limitation, all governmental licenses, permits and
other approvals except where such failure would not have a material
adverse effect on the Pledgor’s business) to own or lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed
to be conducted.
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(b)
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The
execution, delivery and performance by the Pledgor of this Agreement, and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, are within the
Pledgor’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action.
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(c)
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The Pledgor’s
exact legal name, as defined in Section 9-503(a) of the NYUCC, is
correctly set forth in Schedule 3
hereto. Such Pledgor has only the trade names listed on
Schedule
3 hereto. Such Pledgor is (i) located (within the
meaning of Section 9-307 of the NYUCC) and (ii) has its chief executive
office in the state or jurisdiction set forth in Schedule 3
hereto. The information set forth in Schedule 3
hereto with respect to such Pledgor is true and accurate in all
respects. Such Pledgor has not previously changed its name,
location, chief executive office, type of organization, jurisdiction of
organization or organizational identification number from those set forth
in Schedule
3 hereto except as disclosed in Schedule 4
hereto.
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(d)
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All
Collateral consisting of certificated securities and instruments has been
delivered to the New York
Custodian.
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(e)
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The Pledgor
is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral free and clear of any
Lien, claim, option or right of others, except for the security interest
created under this Agreement. No effective financing statement
or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any part of such
Collateral or listing the Pledgor or any trade name of the Pledgor as
debtor with respect to such Collateral is on file in any recording office,
except such as may have been filed in favor of the
Pledgee.
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(f)
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No consent of
any other Person and no authorization, approval or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or
other third party is required either (i) for the grant by the Pledgor of
the assignment and security interest granted hereby, for the pledge by the
Pledgor of the Collateral pursuant hereto or for the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement by the Pledgor, (ii) for the perfection
or maintenance of the pledge, assignment and security interest created
hereby (including the first priority nature of such pledge, assignment or
security interest), except for the filing of financing and continuation
statements under the NYUCC, which financing statements have been duly
filed and are in full force and effect, and the actions described in
Section 4 with respect to the Collateral, which actions have been taken
and are in full force and effect or (iii) for the exercise by the Pledgee
of its rights provided for in this Agreement or the remedies in respect of
the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except as may be required in
connection with the disposition of any portion of the Collateral by-laws
affecting the offering and sale of securities
generally.
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(g)
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The
execution, delivery and performance by the Pledgor of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, do not and will
not (i) violate any provision of law, rule or regulation applicable to the
Pledgor; (ii) conflict with the charter or by-laws or substantively
similar constitutive documents of the Pledgor; or (iii) conflict with or
result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien (other than the Lien in favor of the
Pledgee created hereby) upon any of the property or assets of the Pledgor
or any of its subsidiaries, under any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
deed of trust or other instrument or agreement to which the Pledgor or any
of its subsidiaries may be or become a party or by which it may be or
become bound or to which the property or assets of the Pledgor or any of
its subsidiaries may be or become
subject.
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(h)
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The Pledgor
shall cause Securities of the type specified in Schedule 1 (the
“Qualifying
Collateral”) to be pledged as
Collateral so that at all times the Letter of Credit Value of such
Securities (such value, the “New York
Collateral Value”) shall, when added to the London Collateral Value
of property pledged in London to the Pledgee pursuant to the Security
Agreement, equal or exceed an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the
then outstanding Credits together with any unreimbursed or refinanced
drawings thereunder (the “Required
Account Value”); and without limiting
the foregoing, if at any time the Pledgor is not in compliance with the
requirements of this subsection (h), the Pledgor shall within one Business
Day cause additional Qualifying Collateral to be held as Collateral
pursuant to Section 2 hereunder or additional Deposits and/or Securities
(in each case as defined in the Security Agreement) to be transferred to
the London Custodian to the extent necessary to cause the aggregate of the
New York Collateral Value and the London Collateral Value to equal or
exceed the Required Account Value.
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(i)
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The Pledgor
is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral and the Pledgor has
and shall at all times have rights in, and good and marketable title to,
the Collateral, free and clear of all Liens and “adverse claims” (as such
term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(1) of the NYUCC), save as may have
been disclosed by the Pledgor to the Pledgee in writing prior to the date
of this Agreement. Liens in favor of Citibank, N.A., securing
the Pledgor’s reimbursement obligations to Citibank, N.A., in connection
with the issuance of letters of credit shall be deemed to have been
disclosed in writing to the Pledgee. The Pledgor undertakes,
upon becoming aware that it is to be subject to a Change of Control, to
promptly inform the Pledgee of such fact and to enter into such additional
documentation as may be required in order to ensure that the rights of the
Pledgee under this Agreement are in no way prejudiced including, but not
limited to, the entering into of new Master Agreement and/or Pledge
Agreement on substantially the same terms as those existing at such
time.
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(j)
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(i) This
Agreement and the pledge and assignment of the Collateral pursuant hereto
create a valid security in the Collateral, securing the payment of the
Secured Obligations, (ii) this Agreement and the related Account Control
Agreement are sufficient to perfect such security interest, and (iii)
assuming the Pledgee has no notice of any Liens or “adverse claims” (as
such terms is defined in Section 8-102(a)(1) of the NYUCC) with respect to
the Collateral, the Pledgee will take the Collateral free and clear of any
Liens and adverse claims.
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(k)
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The Pledgor
agrees to promptly provide the following to the Pledgee, each in form and
substance satisfactory to the Pledgee: (i) a counterpart of this Agreement
duly executed by the Pledgor and the Pledgee; (ii) certified copies of the
resolutions of the Pledgor’s Board of Directors approving this Agreement
and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and
governmental and third party approvals, if any, with respect to this
Agreement; (iii) a certificate of the Pledgor’s Secretary or Assistant
Secretary certifying the names and true signatures of the Pledgor’s
officers authorized to sign this Agreement and any other documents to be
delivered hereunder; and (iv) opinion(s) from counsel to the Pledgor as to
such matters as the Pledgee may reasonably
request.
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Section
7 Further
Assurances.
(a)
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The Pledgor
agrees that from time to time, at the expense of the Pledgor, the Pledgor
will promptly execute and deliver, or otherwise authenticate, all further
Instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be
necessary or desirable, or that the Pledgee may request, in order to
continue, perfect and protect any pledge, assignment or security interest
granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Pledgee to
exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any
Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Pledgor will execute and file such financing or continuation
statements, or amendments thereto, and such other Instruments or notices,
as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Pledgee may request, in order
to perfect and preserve the pledge, assignment and security interest
granted or purported to be granted
hereby.
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(b)
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The Pledgor
hereby authorizes the Pledgee to file one or more financing or
continuation statements, and amendments thereto, in each case without the
signature of the Pledgor, and regardless of whether any particular asset
described in such financing statements falls within the scope of the
NYUCC, so long as the asset falls within the definition of
Collateral. A photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement
or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof
shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by
law. The Pledgor ratifies its authorization for the Pledgee to
have filed such financing statements, continuation statements or
amendments filed prior to the date
hereof.
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(c)
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The Pledgor
will furnish to the Pledgee from time to time statements and schedules
further identifying and describing the Collateral of the Pledgor and such
other reports in connection with such Collateral as the Pledgee may
reasonably request, all in reasonable
detail.
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(d)
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The Pledgor
will furnish to the Pledgee, at any time upon the request of the Pledgee,
an opinion of counsel, from outside counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Pledgee, to the effect that all financing or continuation statements have
been filed, and all other action has been taken (including, without
limitation, action necessary to give the Pledgee control over the
Collateral as provided in Section 9-106 of the UCC) to perfect
continuously from the date hereof the security interest granted
hereunder.
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Section
8. Post-Closing
Changes. The Pledgor will
not change its name, type of organization, jurisdiction of organization,
organizational identification number or location from those set forth in Schedule 3 without
first giving at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the Pledgee and taking
all action required by the Pledgee for the purpose of perfecting or protecting
the security interest granted by this Agreement. The Pledgor will not
become bound by a security agreement authenticated by another Person (determined
as provided in Section 9-203(d) of the NYUCC) without giving the Pledgee 30
days’ prior written notice thereof and taking all action required by the Pledgee
to ensure that the perfection and first priority nature of the Pledgee’s
security interest in the Collateral will be maintained. The Pledgor
will hold and preserve its records relating to the Collateral and will permit
representatives of the Pledgee at any time during normal business hours to
inspect and make abstracts from such records and other documents. If
the Pledgor does not have an organizational identification number and later
obtains one, it will forthwith notify the Pledgee of such organizational
identification number.
Section
9. Distributions.
(a)
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Other than
upon and during the continuance of an Event of
Default,
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(i)
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the Pledgor
shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and other consensual
rights pertaining to the Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose;
provided however
that the Pledgor will not exercise or refrain from exercising any such
right if such action would have a material adverse effect on the value of
the Collateral or any part thereof.
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(ii)
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to the extent
consistent with Section 6(h), the Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and
retain any and all distributions paid in respect of the Pledged
Securities; provided, however, that
to the extent consistent with Section 6(h) and the Account Control
Agreement, any and all
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(A)
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distributions
paid or payable other than in cash in respect of, and Instruments,
Financial Assets and other property received, receivable
or
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otherwise
distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Collateral;
and
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(B)
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cash paid,
payable or otherwise distributed in respect of principal of, or in
redemption of, or in exchange for, any
Collateral,
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shall be forthwith
delivered to the Pledgee to hold as Collateral and shall, if received by the
Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Pledgee, be segregated from
the other property or funds of the Pledgor and be forthwith delivered to the
Pledgee as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary
endorsement) to the extent the Collateral is less than the Required Account
Value.
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(b)
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The Pledgee
shall execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to the
Pledgor all such proxies and other instruments as the Pledgor may
reasonably request for the purpose of enabling the Pledgor to exercise the
voting and other rights that it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph
(a)(i) above and to receive the dividends or interest payments that
it is authorized to receive and retain pursuant to paragraph
(a)(ii) above.
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Section
10. Transfer
and Other Liens. The Pledgor shall not (i) sell, assign or
otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of the
Collateral, or (ii) create or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to
any of the Collateral, including any right to give any Entitlement Order with
respect to the Collateral, except for the pledge, assignment and security
interest created by this Agreement.
Section
11. Pledgee
Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. The Pledgor hereby
irrevocably appoints the Pledgee as the Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact, with full
authority upon failure to perform any of the obligations under each Master
Agreement or this Agreement in the place and stead of the Pledgor and in the
name of the Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time, in the Pledgee’s
discretion, to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Pledgee
may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement,
including, without limitation:
(a)
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to ask for,
demand, collect, xxx for, recover, compromise, receive and give
acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in
respect of any of the Collateral,
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(b)
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to receive,
indorse and collect any drafts or other instruments or documents, in
connection with clause (a) above,
and
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(c)
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to file any
claims or take any action or institute any proceedings that the Pledgee
may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the
Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of the Pledgee with respect
to any of the Collateral.
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Section
12. Pledgee
May Perform. If the Pledgor fails to perform any agreement contained
herein, the Pledgee may, but without any obligation to do so and without notice,
itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of the
Pledgee incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the Pledgor under
Section 16(b)
hereof.
Section
13. The
Pledgee’s Duties.
The powers conferred on the Pledgee hereunder are solely to protect its
interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any
such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its
possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the
Pledgee shall have no duty as to any Collateral, as to ascertaining or taking
action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or
other matters relative to any Collateral, whether or not the Pledgee has or is
deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or as to the taking of any necessary
steps to preserve rights against any parties or any other rights pertaining to
any Collateral. The Pledgee shall be deemed to have exercised
reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its
possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that
which the Pledgee accords its own property.
Section
14. Security
Interest Absolute. The obligations of the
Pledgor under this Agreement are independent of the Secured Obligations and any
agreement with respect to the Secured Obligations, and a separate action or
actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Pledgor to enforce this
Agreement, irrespective of whether any action is brought against the Pledgor
under the Master Agreements or whether the Pledgor is joined in any such action
or actions. All rights of the Pledgee and the pledge, assignment and
security interest hereunder, and all obligations of the Pledgor hereunder, shall
be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and the Pledgor
irrevocably waives (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) any
defenses it may now have or may hereafter acquire in any way relating to, any or
all of the following:
(a)
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any lack of
validity or enforceability of this Agreement, each Master Agreement or any
other agreement or instrument relating
thereto;
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(b)
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any change in
the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or
any of the Secured Obligations or any other amendment or waiver of or any
consent to any departure from this Agreement or each Master Agreement,
including, without limitation, any increase in the Secured
Obligations;
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(c)
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any taking,
exchange, release or non-perfection of any other collateral, or any
taking, release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any
guaranty for all or any of the Secured
Obligations;
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(d)
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any manner of
application of the Collateral, or proceeds thereof, to all or any of the
Secured Obligations, or any manner of sale or other disposition of any
Collateral for all or any of the Secured Obligations or any other assets
of the Pledgor or any of its
subsidiaries;
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(e)
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any change,
restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of
the Pledgor or any of its subsidiaries;
or
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(f)
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any other
circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a
discharge of, the Pledgor or a third party grantor of a security
interest.
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Section
15. Remedies
If an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a)
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The Pledgee
may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and
remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights
and remedies of a secured party upon default under the NYUCC and also may
without notice except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part
thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of the
Pledgee’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future
delivery, and upon such other terms as the Pledgee may deem commercially
reasonable. The Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of
sale shall be required by law, at least ten days’ notice to the Pledgor of
the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private
sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable
notification. The Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any
sale of Collateral regardless of a notice of sale having been
given. The Pledgee may adjourn any public or private sale from
time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and
such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to
which it was so adjourned.
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(b)
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Any cash held
by or on behalf of the Pledgee and all cash proceeds received by the
Pledgee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization
upon all or any part of the Collateral may, in the discretion of the
Pledgee, be held by the Pledgee as Collateral for, and/or then or at any
time thereafter applied (after payment of any amounts payable to the
Pledgee pursuant to Section 16) in whole or in part by the Pledgee against
all or any part of the Secured Obligations in such order as the Pledgee
shall elect. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by
the Pledgee and remaining after payment in full of all the Secured
Obligations shall be paid over to the Pledgor or to whomsoever may be
lawfully entitled to receive such
surplus.
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(c)
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The Pledgee
may, without notice to the Pledgor, except as required by law and at any
time or from time to time, charge, set-off and otherwise apply all or any
part of the Secured Obligations against the Collateral or any part
thereof.
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(d)
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All payments
received by the Pledgor in respect of the Collateral shall be received in
trust for the benefit of the Pledgee, shall be segregated from other funds
of the Pledgor that do not constitute Collateral and shall be forthwith
paid over to the Pledgee or credited to the Account in the same form as so
received (with any necessary
indorsement).
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7
Section
16. Indemnity
and Expenses.
(a)
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The Pledgor
agrees to indemnify, defend and save and hold harmless the Pledgee and its
affiliates and its (and its affiliates’) officers, directors, employees,
agents, attorneys and advisors (each, an “Indemnified
Party”) from and against, and shall pay on demand, any and
all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may be incurred
by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case
arising out of or in connection with or resulting from this Agreement
(including, without limitation, enforcement of this Agreement), except to
the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense is found in an
final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to
have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
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(b)
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The Pledgor
will upon demand pay to the Pledgee the amount of any and all reasonable
expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of
any experts and agents that the Pledgee may incur in connection with (i)
the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use
or operation of, or the sale of, collection from or other realization
upon, any of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise or enforcement (whether
through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any of the rights
of the Pledgee hereunder or (iv) the failure by the Pledgor to perform or
observe any of the provisions
hereof.
|
Section
17. Currency.
(a)
|
For the
purpose of or pending the discharge of any of the Secured Obligations, the
Pledgee may convert any monies received, recovered or realised or subject
to application by the Pledgee under this Agreement (including the proceeds
of any previous conversion under this Section) from their existing
currency of denomination into such other currency of denomination as the
Pledgee may think fit, and any such conversion shall be effected at the
Pledgee’s then prevailing spot rate of exchange for obtaining such other
currency with the existing
currency.
|
(b)
|
References
herein to any currency extend to any funds of that currency and for the
avoidance of doubt funds of one currency may be converted into different
funds of the same currency.
|
Section
18. Amendments;
Waivers; Etc. No amendment or waiver
of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by the
Pledgor herefor, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in
writing and signed by the Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given. No failure on the part of the Pledgee to exercise, and no
delay in exercising any right hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.
Section
19. Addresses
for Notices. All
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be either (i) in
writing (including telegraphic, telecopier or telex communication) and mailed,
telegraphed, telecopied, telexed or otherwise delivered or (ii) by electronic
mail (if electronic mail addresses are designated as provided below) confirmed
immediately in writing, in the case of the Pledgee, addressed to Insurance
Letter of Credit Department, Citibank Europe Plc, 0 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, XXXX,
Xxxxxx 0, Xxxxxxx; Attention: Peadar Mac Canna and, in the case of
the Pledgor, addressed to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx; or, as to any party, at such other
address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other
parties. All such notices and other communications shall, when
mailed, telegraphed, telecopied, telexed, sent by electronic mail or otherwise,
be effective when deposited in the mails, delivered to the telegraph company,
telecopied, confirmed by telex answerback, sent by electronic mail and confirmed
in writing, or otherwise delivered (or confirmed by a signed receipt),
respectively, addressed as aforesaid; except that notices and other
communications to the Pledgee shall not be effective until received by the
Pledgee. Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of any
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or of any Schedule hereto
shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart
thereof.
8
Section
20. Continuing
Security Interest; Assignments. This Agreement shall create
a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (a) remain in full
force and effect until the payment in full in cash of the Secured Obligations,
(b) be binding upon the Pledgor and the Pledgee and their respective successors
and permitted assigns and (c) inure, together with the rights and remedies of
the Pledgee and its respective successors, transferees and
assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c),
the Pledgee may assign or otherwise transfer to any other Person all or any
portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any other Person,
and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in
respect thereof granted to the Pledgee herein or otherwise. The
Pledgor will, at its own expense, make, execute, endorse, acknowledge, file
and/or deliver to the Pledgee such confirmatory assignments, conveyances,
financing statements, transfer endorsements, powers of attorney, certificates,
reports and other assurances or instruments and take such further steps related
to the Collateral and other property or rights covered by the security interest
hereby granted, which the Pledgee deems reasonably advisable to perfect,
preserve or protect its security interest in the Collateral, including any
actions which may be required or advisable as a result of any amendment or
supplement to applicable laws, including the NYUCC.
Section
21. Release
and Termination.
Upon the later of (i) the payment in full in cash of the Secured Obligations or
(ii) any termination as provided in each Master Agreement, the pledge,
assignment and security interest granted hereby shall terminate and all rights
to the Collateral shall revert to the Pledgor. Upon any such
termination, the Pledgee will, at the Pledgor’s expense execute and deliver to
the Pledgor such documents as the Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence
such termination.
Section
22. Governing
Law; Terms. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York, except to the extent that the validity or perfection of the
security interest hereunder in respect of any particular collateral is
mandatorily governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of New
York, in which case the laws of such other jurisdiction shall govern such
matters.
Section
23. Jurisdiction,
Venue.
(a)
|
This Agreement shall be deemed to
have been made in New York County, New York, regardless of the order in
which the signatures of the parties shall be affixed hereto.
The Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for
itself and its property, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York
State or Federal court (to the extent such court has subject matter
jurisdiction) sitting in New York City and any appellate court from any
such court in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment, and the
Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in
respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such
New York State court or in such Federal court. The Pledgor
hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall
be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law. The Pledgor
hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it
may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any New York State or
federal court. The Pledgor hereby irrevocably waives, to the
fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court. The Pledgor irrevocably consents to the service of any
and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies
of such process to such Pledgor at its address specified in Section
19. The Pledgor agrees that a final judgment in any such
action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other
jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by
applicable law.
|
(b)
|
Nothing in
this Section
23 shall affect the right of the Pledgee to serve legal process in
any other manner permitted by applicable law or affect any right which the
Pledgee would otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding against the
Pledgor or its property in the courts of any other
jurisdiction.
|
9
(c)
|
To the extent
that the Pledgor has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from
jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through
service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of
execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the
Pledgor, to the extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably waives such
immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement and, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, agrees that the waivers set
forth in this subsection (c)
shall have the fullest scope permitted under the United States Foreign
Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended, and are intended to be
irrevocable for purposes of such
Act.
|
Section
24. WAIVER OF
JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE
PLEDGOR AND THE PLEDGEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN
ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PLEDGEE IN THE NEGOTIATION,
ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.
Section
25. Execution
in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or
electronic transmission (i.e. “PDF” or “TIFF” files) shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section
26. Severability.
If any term or provision of this Agreement is or shall become illegal, invalid
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, all other terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall remain legal, valid and enforceable in such jurisdiction and
such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision shall be legal, valid and
enforceable in any other jurisdiction.
Section
27. Termination
of Prior Agreement. The parties agree that any prior pledge agreement
between the Pledgor and the Pledgee with respect to the Collateral is terminated
as of the effective date of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by
its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above
written.
FLAGSTONE
REASSURANCE SUISSE, S.A.
BY:
/s/ Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial
Officer
CITIBANK
EUROPE PLC
BY:
/s/ Xxxx
X'Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxx X'Xxxxx
Title:
10
SCHEDULE
1
Letter
of Credit Value and Pledgee's Requirements for “Qualifying
Collateral”
Pledgee's
Requirements
|
|||
Description of
component part of Charged
Portfolio
|
Issuer
|
Rating
|
Letter of Credit Value
|
Securities
|
|||
Government
Securities
|
US Government
or the central government of an OECD (Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development) country
|
AA or
AA equivalent or better
|
90% of the
fair market value of such Securities
|
US Government
Agency Securities
|
The Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or any successor thereto;
The Federal
National Mortgage Association or any successor thereto;
and/or
The
Government National Mortgage Association or any successor
thereto.
|
AA or
AA equivalent or better
|
90% of the
fair market value of such Securities
|
Corporate
Bonds
|
US/OECD
Domiciled Corporate Entities, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that (i) a maximum
of $100,000,000 in issued Credits can be secured with Corporate Bonds;
(ii) not more than 10% by value shall be represented by bonds issued by
any one issuer; and (iii) each Bond shall mature not more than 10
years after the date upon which it comes within the Charged
Portfolio.
|
AA or
AA equivalent or better
|
82.5% of the
fair market value of such
Securities
|
CREDITS
WITH A TENOR IN EXCESS OF 15 MONTHS (INCLUSIVE OF ANY NOTICE PERIOD TO THE
BENEFICIARIES) MAY ONLY BE SECURED BY GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OR US GOVERNMENT
AGENCY SECURITIES
11
SCHEDULE
2
Currency
Margins
1.
|
Where the
Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in the same
currency as a Credit (the "Credit Currency"), the
Qualifying Collateral or such portion thereof shall have a value of 100%
of its value in the relative Credit Currency; and for this purpose the
Pledgee shall notionally match each Credit with the Collateral or a
portion thereof denominated in the relative Credit
Currency.
|
2.
|
Where the
Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in a currency
other than the relative Credit Currency, both the Letter of Credit Value
(or, where only a portion of the Qualifying Collateral is in the relative
Credit Currency, the balance of the Letter of Credit Value remaining
unmatched) and the Qualifying Collateral or such portion thereof shall be
notionally converted into a common base currency (as the Pledgee may in
its discretion determine); and following such notional conversion the
Qualifying Collateral or such portion thereof shall suffer a deduction of
the Relevant Percentage, to cover exchange movements that may from time to
time affect the value of the underlying unmatched Qualifying Collateral or
a portion thereof and the contingent obligations to which it
relates.
|
3.
|
The "Relevant Percentage"
means:
|
|
(a)
|
where the
Qualifying Collateral or a portion is denominated in U.S. dollars,
Canadian dollars or English Pounds Sterling,
10%;
|
|
(b)
|
where the
Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in Euro, Swiss
Francs or Japanese yen, 15%; and
|
|
(c)
|
where the
Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in any other
currency, 25%.
|
4.
|
For the
purposes of each notional conversion to be effected hereunder the
provisions of Section 17(a)
shall apply mutatis
mutandis
|
12
SCHEDULE
3
LOCATION,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TYPE OF ORGANIZATION, JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION AND
ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
Pledgor
|
Location
(Jurisdiction of Organization)
|
Chief
Executive Office
|
||
Flagstone
Réassurance Suisse, SA, Xxx xx Xxxxxxx 0, XX-0000, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Facsimile
no: x00 00 000 00 00
Company
Number: CH-621.3.007.041-9
|
Same
|
13
SCHEDULE
4
CHANGES
IN NAME, LOCATION
1.
|
Changes in
the Pledgor’s Name (including new Pledgor with a new name and names
associated with all predecessors in interest of the
Pledgor):
|
Pledgor
|
Changes
|
||
2.
|
Changes in
the Pledgor’s Location:
|
Pledgor
|
Changes
|
||
3.
|
Changes in
the Pledgor’s Chief Executive
Office:
|
Pledgor
|
Changes
|
||
4.
|
Changes in
Type of Organization:
|
Pledgor
|
Changes
|
||
5.
|
Changes in
the Jurisdiction of Organization:
|
Pledgor
|
Changes
|
||
6.
|
Changes in
the Organizational Identification
Number:
|
Pledgor
|
Changes
|
||
14
EXHIBIT
A
CERTAIN
DEFINED TERMS
(a)
|
Capitalized
terms used herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them
below:
|
“Account Control Agreement”
means the Account Control Agreement, dated December 17, 2008, by and
among the Pledgor, the Pledgee and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
“Business Day” means a day
(other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which the banks are generally open for
business in London, New York and Dublin.
“Collateral” has the meaning
specified therefor in Section 2
hereof.
“Change of Control” is deemed
to have occurred if:
(a) the
Persons owning the Voting Interests of Pledgor as of the date hereof shall cease
to own 51% or more of the Voting Interests of Pledgor; or
(b) Continuing
Directors shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the board of
directors of Pledgor.
“Continuing Directors” means
the directors of Pledgor on the date hereof and each other director if, in each
case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of directors of
Pledgor is recommended by at least a majority of the then Continuing
Directors.
“Entitlement Holder” means a
Person that (a) is an “entitlement holder” as
defined in Section 8-102(a)(7) of the NYUCC (except in respect of a Book-entry
Security); and (b) in respect of any book-entry Security, is an “entitlement
holder” as defined in 31 C.F.R. 357.2 (or, as applicable to such book-entry
Security, the corresponding Federal Book-Entry Regulations governing such
book-entry Security) which, to the extent required or permitted by the Federal
Book-Entry Regulations, is also an “entitlement holder” as defined in Section
8-102(a)(7) of the NYUCC.
“Entitlement Order” has the
meaning set forth in Section 8-102(a)(8) of the NYUCC and shall include, without
limitation, any notice or related instructions from the Pledgee directing the
transfer or redemption of the Collateral or any part thereof.
“Event of Default” means a
breach of, or default or event of default under, any Master Agreement or any
failure of the Pledgor to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or
the Security Agreement, which failure shall continue unremedied for five (5)
Business Days.
“Federal Book-Entry
Regulations” means the federal regulations contained in Subpart B ("Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt
Entry System (TRADES)” governing book-entry
securities consisting of United States Treasury securities, U.S. Treasury bonds,
notes and bills) and Subpart D (“Additional Provisions”) of 31
C.F.R. Part 357, 31 C.F.R. 357.10 through 357.14 and“357.41
through 357.44 (including related defined terms in 31 C.F.R. 357.2), as amended
by regulations published at 61 Fed. Reg. 43626 (August 23, 1996) and as amended
by an subsequent regulations.
“Letter of Credit Value”
means
(a) in respect of each component of the
Qualifying Collateral, (x) the market value of the Security or (y) the cash
value, in each case
(i) subject
to the provisions of Schedules 1 and 2 and
15
(ii)
|
multiplied by
the percentage specified in the table set out in Schedule 1 under the
column headed “Letter of Credit Value” for that type of Security or for
cash; and if at any time there is more than one component part to the
Qualifying Collateral, the Letter of Credit Value for the Qualifying
Collateral shall be the sum of the Letter of Credit values for each
component part of the Qualifying Collateral;
or
|
(b) such other amount calculated in such
other manner as may be notified from time to time by the Pledgee to the
Pledgor.
“Lien” means any mortgage,
pledge, attachment, lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, lease or security
interest, easement, right of first or last refusal, right of first offer or
other option or contingent purchase right.
“London Collateral Value” has
the meaning specified therefor in the Security Agreement.
“Master Agreement” means each
agreement (as from time to time amended, varied supplemented, novated or
assigned) between the Pledgor (or by any person for or on behalf of the Pledgor)
and the Pledgee, pursuant to which the Pledgee has established, maintained,
amended, renewed or substituted or arranged for the establishment, maintenance,
amendment, renewal or substitution of a Credit.
“New York Collateral Value”
has the meaning specified therefor in Section 6(h) hereof.
“NYUCC” means the Uniform
Commercial Code from time to time in effect in the State of New
York.
“Person” means any individual,
corporation, partnership, joint venture, foundation, association, joint-stock
company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any political
subdivision thereof or any agency or instrumentality of any
thereof.
“Qualifying Collateral” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section 6(h) hereof.
“Required Account Value” has
the meaning specified therefor in Section 6(h) hereof.
“Securities Intermediary”
means a Person that (a) is a “securities intermediary” as
defined in Section 8-102(a)(14) of the NYUCC and (b) in respect of any U.S.
Government Obligations, is also a “securities intermediary” as
defined in 31 C.F.R. 357.2.
“Secured Obligations” has the
meaning specified therefor in Section 3
hereof.
“Security Entitlement” means
(a) security entitlement” as defined in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the NYUCC
(except in respect of a U.S. Government Obligation); and (b) in respect of any
U.S. Government Obligation, a “security entitlement” as
defined in 31 C.F.R. 357.2 which, to the extent required or permitted by the
Federal Book-Entry Regulations, is also a “security entitlement” as
defined in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the NYUCC.
“STRIPS” has the meaning
thereof set forth in Section 357.2 of the Federal Book-Entry
Regulations.
“U.S. Government Obligations”
means all of the United States Treasury securities (including STRIPS) maintained
in the commercial book-entry system entitled Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt
Entry System (“TRADES”)
pursuant to the Federal Book-Entry Regulations or pursuant to a successor
system.
“Voting Interests” of any
Person means shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent
equity interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in
the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or
persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to
vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
16
(b) NYUCC
Terms. Terms defined or referenced in the NYUCC and not
otherwise defined or referenced herein are used herein as therein defined or
referenced. In particular, the following terms are used herein as
defined or referenced in the respective NYUCC sections indicated below: “Account”: Section 9-102(2);
“Entitlement Order”:
Section 8-102(a)(8); “Financial Asset”: Section 8-102(a)(9);
“Instrument”: Section
9-102(47); “Investment
Property”: Section 9-102(49); “Person”: Section 1-201(30);
“Securities Account”:
Section 8-501(a); “Security”: Section
8-102(a)(15).
17