Contract
EXHIBIT NO. 10.3
U.S. PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of April 29, 2009 (this “Agreement”), among SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS, an exempted limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Borrower”), SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY, an exempted limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Intermediate Holdings”), each subsidiary of the Borrower listed on Schedule I hereto (each such subsidiary individually, a “Subsidiary Pledgor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Pledgors”; the Borrower, Intermediate Holdings and the Subsidiary Pledgors are referred to herein individually as a “Pledgor” and collectively as the “Pledgors”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMCB”), as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent “) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).
Reference is made to (a) the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 3, 2009 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, Intermediate Holdings, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and the Administrative Agent, and (b) the U.S. Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 29, 2009 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “U.S. Guarantee Agreement”), among the Guarantors (as defined therein) and the Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
The Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower, and the Issuing Banks have agreed to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, pursuant to, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions specified in, the Credit Agreement. The Pledgors have agreed to guarantee, among other things, all the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of a Pledge Agreement in the form hereof to secure the Obligations.
Accordingly, the Pledgors and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and each Secured Party (and each of their respective successors or assigns), hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Pledge. As security for the payment and performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby pledges and grants to the
Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a) the Equity Interests owned by it that are listed on Schedule II hereto and, subject to applicable law, any Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Pledgor and the certificates representing all such Equity Interests (the “Pledged Interests”), provided that, to the extent that applicable law requires that a Subsidiary of such Pledgor issue directors’ qualifying shares, the Pledged Interests shall not include such qualifying shares (b)(i) the debt securities owned by it that are listed opposite the name of such Pledgor on Schedule II hereto, (ii) subject to applicable law, any debt securities in the future issued to such Pledgor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments evidencing such debt securities (the “Pledged Debt Securities”) (c) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms hereof; (d) subject to Section 5, all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed, in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of the securities referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above; (e) subject to Section 5, all rights and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above; and (f) all proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above being collectively referred to as the “Collateral”). Upon delivery to the Administrative Agent, (x) any Pledged Interests in certificated form, any Pledged Debt Securities or any stock certificates, notes or other securities now or hereafter included in the Collateral (the “Pledged Securities”) shall be accompanied by stock powers duly executed in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (y) all other property comprising part of the Collateral shall be accompanied by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Pledgor and such other instruments or documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities theretofore and then being pledged hereunder, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II and made a part hereof. Each schedule so delivered shall supersede any prior schedules so delivered.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, (A) the Collateral shall not include any securities or other property referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above, or any rights and privileges with respect to, or proceeds of, any of such securities or other property, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines, after consultation with the Borrower that granting a security interest in such securities or other property would (x) violate the law of the jurisdiction in which such securities or other property are located or the law of the jurisdiction where the Person owning such securities or property is organized, (y) violate the terms of any material contract binding on Intermediate Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary (but only to the extent that the
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restrictions in all such contracts, taken as a whole, do not materially limit the Collateral that would otherwise be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and Section 5.13(c) of the Credit Agreement to secure the Obligations) or (z) result in a material adverse tax consequence to the Loan Party granting such security interest or (ii) if the Administrative Agent shall determine that the cost to Intermediate Holdings, the Borrower or any Grantor of granting and perfecting a Lien in such securities or other property would be excessive in view of the related benefits to be received by the Lenders therefrom, provided that any securities or other property excluded as Collateral pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be specified on Schedule III, as modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time, and (B) (i) the pledge of Equity Interests of any CFC Subsidiaries of a U.S. Subsidiary to secure the Obligations of any U.S. Loan Party shall not include (x) more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of each “first tier” CFC Subsidiary directly owned by such U.S. Subsidiary or (y) any Equity Interests of any CFC Subsidiary of such U.S. Subsidiary that is not a “first tier” CFC Subsidiary of such U.S. Subsidiary and (ii) the pledge of Equity Interests of any Qualified CFC Holding Company of any U.S. Subsidiary to secure the Obligations of any U.S. Loan Party shall not include (x) more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of each “first tier” Qualified CFC Holding Company directly owned by such U.S. Subsidiary and (y) any Equity Interests of any Qualified CFC Holding Company of such U.S. Subsidiary that is not a “first tier” Qualified CFC Holding Company of such U.S. Subsidiary.
SECTION 2. Delivery of the Collateral. (a) Each Pledgor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent any and all Pledged Securities, and any and all certificates or other instruments or documents representing the Collateral.
(b) Each Pledgor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money owed to the Pledgor by any Person to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note that is pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms thereof, provided that if such Person is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, such Pledgor need not evidence such Indebtedness with a promissory note unless the principal amount thereof is in excess of $10,000,000.
SECTION 3. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each Pledgor hereby represents, warrants and covenants, as to itself and the Collateral pledged by it hereunder, to and with the Administrative Agent that:
(a) the Pledged Interests represent that percentage as set forth on Schedule II of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer with respect thereto;
(b) except for the security interest granted hereunder, such Pledgor (i) is and will at all times continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens (other than any Lien expressly permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement), (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or
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transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Collateral, other than pursuant hereto or pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted under Section 6.02 or 6.05 of the Credit Agreement, and (iv) subject to Section 5, will cause any and all Collateral, whether for value paid by such Pledgor or otherwise, to be forthwith deposited with the Administrative Agent and pledged or assigned hereunder;
(c) such Pledgor (i) has the power and authority to pledge the Collateral in the manner hereby done or contemplated and (ii) will take all commercially reasonable actions to defend its title or interest thereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than the Lien created by this Agreement or any Lien expressly permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement), however arising, of all Persons whomsoever;
(d) no consent of any other Person (including stockholders or creditors of any Pledgor) and no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority or any securities exchange was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby other than any such consent or approval that has been obtained;
(e) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of this Agreement, when the Pledged Securities, certificates or other documents representing or evidencing the Collateral are delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent will have a valid and perfected first lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations;
(f) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral as set forth herein;
(g) all of the Pledged Interests have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable;
(h) all information set forth herein relating to the Pledged Interests is accurate and complete in all material respects as of the date hereof; and
(i) the pledge of the Pledged Interests pursuant to this Agreement does not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board or any successor thereto as of the date hereof.
SECTION 4. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the Pledgors, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Administrative Agent. Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Administrative Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Pledgor. The Administrative Agent shall at all times have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement.
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SECTION 5. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc. (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:
(i) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that such Pledgor will not be entitled to exercise any such right if the result thereof could, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, materially impair the Collateral, or could materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder, of the Pledged Securities or the rights and remedies of any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.
(ii) The Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to each Pledgor, or cause to be executed and delivered to each Pledgor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Pledgor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i) above and to receive the cash dividends it is entitled to receive pursuant to subparagraph (iii) below.
(iii) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all cash dividends, interest and principal paid on the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such cash dividends, interest and principal are permitted by, and otherwise paid in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable laws. All noncash dividends, interest and principal, and all dividends, interest and principal paid or payable in cash or otherwise in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution, return of capital, capital surplus or paid-in surplus, and all other distributions (other than distributions referred to in the preceding sentence) made on or in respect of the Pledged Securities, whether paid or payable in cash or otherwise, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding capital stock of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Collateral, and, if received by any Pledgor, shall not be commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).
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(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all rights of any Pledgor to dividends, interest or principal that such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) above shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, which shall, subject to the provisions of this paragraph (b), have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest or principal. All dividends, interest or principal received by the Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Pledgor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Administrative Agent in an account to be established by the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 7. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, the Administrative Agent shall promptly repay to each Pledgor all cash dividends, interest or principal (without interest), that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) above and that remain in such account.
(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all rights of any Pledgor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 5, and the obligations of the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 5, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers, provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Pledgors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, each Pledgor will have the right to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers that it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(i) above.
SECTION 6. Remedies upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, subject to applicable regulatory and legal requirements, the Administrative Agent may sell the Collateral, or any part thereof, at public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate. The Administrative Agent shall be authorized at any such sale (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Administrative Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Pledgor, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Pledgors hereby waive all rights of redemption, stay, valuation and appraisal any Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.
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The Administrative Agent shall give a Pledgor 10 days’ prior written notice (which each Pledgor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Administrative Agent’s intention to make any sale of such Pledgor’s Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Administrative Agent may fix and state in the notice of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Administrative Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Administrative Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Administrative Agent until the sale price is paid in full by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, private) sale made pursuant to this Section 6, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free from any right of redemption, stay or appraisal on the part of any Pledgor (all said rights being also hereby waived and released), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any Obligation then due and payable to it from such Pledgor as a credit against the purchase price, and it may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability to such Pledgor therefor, except that any remaining proceeds thereof shall be delivered to the Pledgors to the extent required by Section 7. For purposes hereof, (a) a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof, (b) the Administrative Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and (c) such Pledgor shall not be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Administrative Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Administrative Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose upon the Collateral and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver.
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SECTION 7. Application of Proceeds of Sale. The Administrative Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of the Collateral, as well as any Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:
FIRST, to the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as such hereunder or under any other Loan Document) in connection with such collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement or any of the Obligations, including all court costs and the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Pledgor and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document;
SECOND, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts so applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance with the amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date of any such distribution); and
THIRD, to the Pledgors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
The Administrative Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of the Collateral by the Administrative Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the purchase money by the Administrative Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Administrative Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.
SECTION 8. Reimbursement of Administrative Agent. (a) Each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to pay upon demand to the Administrative Agent the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of its counsel and of any experts or agents, that the Administrative Agent may incur in connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody or preservation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise, enforcement or protection of any of the rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure by such Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof applicable to it.
(b) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other Loan Documents, each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Indemnitees against, and hold each of them harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel, incurred by or asserted against any of them arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating hereto or to the Collateral, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
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(c) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The provisions of this Section 8 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due under this Section 8 shall be payable on written demand therefor and shall bear interest at the rate payable under Section 2.12(c)(ii) of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 9. Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Pledgor hereby appoints the Administrative Agent the attorney-in-fact of such Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, with full power of substitution either in the Administrative Agent’s name or in the name of such Pledgor, to ask for, demand, xxx for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all moneys due or to become due under and by virtue of any Collateral, to endorse checks, drafts, orders and other instruments for the payment of money payable to the Pledgor representing any interest or dividend or other distribution payable in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof or on account thereof and to give full discharge for the same, to settle, compromise, prosecute or defend any action, claim or proceeding with respect thereto, and to sell, assign, endorse, pledge, transfer and to make any agreement respecting, or otherwise deal with, the same; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Administrative Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Administrative Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby. The Administrative Agent shall give prior or simultaneous notice to the Borrower of its intent to begin taking actions under this Section 9; provided, however, that any failure to give such notice shall in no way affect the Administrative Agent’s, right, power or authority to take such actions. The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Pledgor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 10. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any
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abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent hereunder and of the other Secured Parties under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Pledgor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any Pledgor in any case shall entitle such Pledgor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into between the Administrative Agent and the Pledgor or Pledgors with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification relates, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 11. Securities Act, etc. In view of the position of the Pledgors in relation to the Pledged Securities, or because of other current or future circumstances, a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter in effect, or any similar statute hereafter enacted analogous in purpose or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in effect being called the “Federal Securities Laws”) with respect to any disposition of the Pledged Securities permitted hereunder. Each Pledgor understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course of conduct of the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent were to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Securities, and might also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any Pledged Securities could dispose of the same. Similarly, there may be other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Administrative Agent in any attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Securities under applicable Blue Sky or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect. Each Pledgor recognizes that in light of such restrictions and limitations the Administrative Agent may, with respect to any sale of the Pledged Securities, limit the purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire such Pledged Securities for their own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Securities or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with a single potential purchaser to effect such sale, in either case in accordance with a valid exemption from registration under the Federal Securities Laws. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions. In the event of any such sale, the Administrative Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged Securities at a price that the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good xxxxx xxxx reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might
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have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or if more than a single purchaser were approached. The provisions of this Section 11 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which the Administrative Agent sells.
SECTION 12. [Intentionally Omitted]
SECTION 13. Security Interest Absolute. All rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder, the grant of a security interest in the Collateral and all obligations of each Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (c) any exchange, release or nonperfection of any other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to or departure from any guaranty, for all or any of the Obligations or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Pledgor in respect of the Obligations or in respect of this Agreement (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Loan Document Obligations).
SECTION 14. Termination or Release. (a) This Agreement and the security interests granted hereby shall terminate when all the Loan Document Obligations have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments have expired or been terminated, the principal and interest on each Loan and all fees payable under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been terminated (or otherwise provided for in a manner satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed.
(b) In the event that a Pledgor ceases to be a Subsidiary (as such term is used in the Credit Agreement) pursuant to a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents, such Pledgor shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement and the Collateral of such Pledgor shall be released without further action.
(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Pledgor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Credit Agreement to any Person that is not a Pledgor, or, upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement, the security interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released.
(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 14, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor, at such Pledgor’s expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 14 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.
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SECTION 15. [Intentionally Omitted]
SECTION 16. Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Pledgor shall be given to it at its address or telecopy number set forth on Schedule I hereto, with a copy to the Borrower.
SECTION 17. Further Assurances. Each Pledgor agrees to do such further acts and things, and to execute and deliver such additional conveyances, assignments, agreements and instruments, as the Administrative Agent may at any time reasonably request in connection with the administration and enforcement of this Agreement or with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or in order better to assure and confirm unto the Administrative Agent its rights and remedies hereunder.
SECTION 18. Binding Effect; Several Agreement; Assignments. Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Pledgor that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of each party thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Pledgor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Pledgor shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Pledgor and the Administrative Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Pledgor, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Pledgor shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such attempted assignment shall be void), except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Pledgor and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Pledgor without the approval of any other Pledgor and without affecting the obligations of any other Pledgor hereunder.
SECTION 19. Survival of Agreement; Severability. (a) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by each Pledgor herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Administrative Agent, the other Secured Parties and each Pledgor and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit by the Issuing Banks and, regardless of any investigation made by the Secured Parties or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Secured Party may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement, and shall continue in full force and effect until this Agreement shall terminate pursuant to the first sentence of Section 14.
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(b) In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
SECTION 20. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 21. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall become effective as provided in Section 18. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or Adobe .pdf transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 22. Rules of Interpretation; Headings. The rules of interpretation specified in Section 1.03 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Agreement. Article and Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 23. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties 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. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Pledgor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
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(b) Each Pledgor hereby 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 or any other Loan Documents in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 23. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(c) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 16. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. Each Pledgor, other than the Pledgors that are organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, hereby appoints Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc. as its agent for service of process in the United States, and Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc. hereby accepts such appointment.
SECTION 24. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 24.
SECTION 25. Additional Pledgors. Pursuant to Section 5.12 of the Credit Agreement and the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (a) each U.S. Loan Party that is formed or acquired after the Second Restatement Effective Date and (b) each other Loan Party that is formed or acquired after the Second Restatement Effective Date that owns Equity Interests in a Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America (including any State thereof and the District of Columbia) that would constitute Collateral if such Subsidiary Loan Party were a party hereto, in each case is required to enter into this Agreement as a Subsidiary Pledgor upon becoming a Subsidiary Loan Party. Upon execution and delivery, after the date hereof, by the Administrative Agent and such a Subsidiary Loan Party of an instrument in the form of Annex 1 hereto, such Subsidiary Loan Party shall become a Subsidiary Pledgor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary Pledgor herein. The execution and delivery of any instrument adding an additional Subsidiary Pledgor as party to this Agreement shall not require the consent of any other Pledgor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Subsidiary Pledgor as a party to this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| Executed as a deed by: | ||
| SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Secretary, General Counsel and Senior Vice President | |
| WITNESS: | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Executive Assistant | |
[Signature Page to U.S. Pledge Agreement]
| Executed as a deed by: | ||
| SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
| Title: | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | |
| WITNESS: | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
| Title: | Executive Assistant | |
[Signature Page to U.S. Pledge Agreement]
| SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY (US) HOLDINGS, INC., | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Secretary and General Counsel | |
[Signature Page to U.S. Pledge Agreement]
| MAXTOR CORPORATION, | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Corporate Secretary, General Counsel and Senior Vice President | |
[Signature Page to U.S. Pledge Agreement]
| SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC, | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Secretary, General Counsel and Senior Vice President | |
[Signature Page to U.S. Pledge Agreement]
| I365 INC., | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Assistant Secretary | |
[Signature Page to U.S. Pledge Agreement]
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
[Signature Page to U.S. Pledge Agreement]
Schedule I to the
PLEDGORS
| Grantor |
Address | |
| Seagate Technology | 000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | |
| Seagate Technology HDD Holdings | 000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | |
| Seagate Technology (US) Holdings, Inc. | 000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | |
| Maxtor Corporation | 000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | |
| i365 Inc. | 0000 Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 | |
| Seagate Technology LLC | 000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | |
Schedule II to the
CAPITAL STOCK OR OTHER EQUITY INTERESTS
| Issuer |
Number of Certificate |
Registered Owner |
Number and Class of Shares |
Percentage of Shares or Other Equity Interests |
DEBT SECURITIES
| Issuer |
Principal Amount |
Date of Note |
Maturity Date |
Schedule III to the
U.S. Pledge Agreement
PLEDGE EXCLUSIONS
Annex 1 to the
U.S. Pledge Agreement
SUPPLEMENT NO. [ ] dated as of [ ] (this “Supplement”), to the U.S. PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of April 29, 2009 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “U.S. Pledge Agreement”), among SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS, an exempted limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Borrower”), SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY, an exempted limited liability company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Intermediate Holdings”), each subsidiary of the Borrower from time to time party thereto (each such subsidiary individually, a “Subsidiary Pledgor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Pledgors”; the Borrower, Intermediate Holdings and the Subsidiary Pledgors are referred to herein individually as a “Pledgor” and collectively as the “Pledgors”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).
A. Reference is made to (a) the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 3, 2009 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, Intermediate Holdings, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and the Administrative Agent, and (b) the U.S. Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 29, 2009 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “U.S. Guarantee Agreement”), among the Guarantors (as defined therein) and the Administrative Agent.
B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the U.S. Pledge Agreement and the Credit Agreement.
C. The Pledgors have entered into the U.S. Pledge Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit. Pursuant to Section 5.12 of the Credit Agreement and the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (a) each Subsidiary that is a U.S. Loan Party that is formed or acquired after the Second Restatement Effective Date and (b) each other Loan Party that is formed or acquired after the Second Restatement Effective Date that owns Equity Interests in a Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States of America (including any State thereof and the District of Columbia) that would constitute Collateral if such Loan Party were a party hereto, in each case is required to enter into this Agreement as a Subsidiary Pledgor upon becoming a Subsidiary Loan Party. Section 25 of the U.S. Pledge Agreement provides that such Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary Pledgors under the U.S. Pledge Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Subsidiary (the “New Pledgor”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary
Pledgor under the U.S. Pledge Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.
Accordingly, the Administrative Agent and the New Pledgor agree as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 25 of the U.S. Pledge Agreement, the New Pledgor by its signature below becomes a Pledgor under the U.S. Pledge Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Pledgor and the New Pledgor hereby agrees (a) to all the terms and provisions of the U.S. Pledge Agreement applicable to it as a Pledgor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Pledgor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof except to the extent a representation and warranty expressly relates solely to a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct on such date. In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Pledgor, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations, does hereby create and grant to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of the New Pledgor’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the U.S. Pledge Agreement) of the New Pledgor. Each reference to a “Subsidiary Pledgor” or a “Pledgor” in the U.S. Pledge Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Pledgor. The U.S. Pledge Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The New Pledgor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 3. This Supplement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that, when taken together, bear the signatures of the New Pledgor and the Administrative Agent. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile or Adobe .pdf transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.
SECTION 4. The New Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that set forth on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of all its Pledged Securities.
SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the U.S. Pledge Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 7. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, neither party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the U.S. Pledge Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
SECTION 8. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 16 of the U.S. Pledge Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Pledgor shall be given to it at the address set forth under its signature hereto, below, with a copy to the Borrower.
SECTION 9. The New Pledgor agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Pledgor and the Administrative Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the U.S. Pledge Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| [NAME OF NEW PLEDGOR], | ||
| by |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, | ||
| by |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Schedule I to
Supplement No. [ ]
to the U.S. Pledge Agreement
Pledged Securities of the New Pledgor
CAPITAL STOCK OR OTHER EQUITY INTERESTS
| Issuer |
Number of Certificate |
Registered Owner |
Number and Class Equity Interests |
Percentage of Shares or Other Equity Interests |
DEBT SECURITIES
| Issuer |
Principal Amount |
Date of Note |
Maturity Date |
