Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement (4(2) Program; Guaranteed) Among: INGERSOLL- RAND GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, a Bermuda company, as Issuer, INGERSOLL- RAND COMPANY LIMITED, a Bermuda company, as Guarantor and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as...
Commercial
Paper Dealer Agreement (4(2) Program; Guaranteed)
Among:
XXXXXXXXX-XXXX
GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED,
a
Bermuda company, as Issuer,
XXXXXXXXX-XXXX
COMPANY LIMITED,
a
Bermuda company, as Guarantor and
BANC
OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as
Dealer
Concerning
Notes to be issued pursuant to an Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement (the
“Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement”), dated as of May 22, 2008, among the
Issuer, the Guarantor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Issuing
and Paying Agent.
Dated
as
of May 22, 2008
4(2)
Program; Guaranteed
This
agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the understandings among the Issuer, the
Guarantor and the Dealer, each named on the cover page hereof, in connection
with the issuance and sale by the Issuer of its short-term promissory notes
(the
“Notes”) through the Dealer.
The
Guarantor has agreed unconditionally and irrevocably to guarantee payment
in
full of the principal of and interest (if any) on all such Notes of the Issuer,
pursuant to a guarantee, dated the date hereof, in the form of Exhibit C
hereto
(the “Guarantee”).
Certain
terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 6 hereof.
The
Addendum to this Agreement, and any Annexes or Exhibits described in this
Agreement or such Addendum, are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and
made
fully a part hereof.
1.
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Offers,
Sales and Resales of
Notes.
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1.1. |
While
(i) the Issuer has and shall have no obligation to sell the Notes
to the
Dealer or to permit the Dealer to arrange any sale of the Notes
for the
account of the Issuer, and (ii) the Dealer has and shall have no
obligation to purchase the Notes from the Issuer or to arrange
any sale of
the Notes for the account of the Issuer, the parties hereto agree
that in
any case where the Dealer purchases Notes from the Issuer, or arranges
for
the sale of Notes by the Issuer, such Notes will be purchased or
sold by
the Dealer in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants
and
agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantor contained herein or
made
pursuant hereto and on the terms and conditions and in the manner
provided
herein.
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1.2. |
So
long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, and in addition
to the
limitations contained in Section 1.7 hereof, neither the Issuer
nor the
Guarantor shall, without the consent of the Dealer, offer, solicit
or
accept offers to purchase, or sell, any Notes except (a) in transactions
with one or more dealers which may from time to time after the
date hereof
become dealers with respect to the Notes by executing with the
Issuer and
the Guarantor one or more agreements which contain provisions
substantially identical to those contained in Section 1 of this
Agreement,
of which the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby undertake to provide
the
Dealer prompt notice or (b) in transactions with the other dealers
listed
on the Addendum hereto, which are executing agreements with the
Issuer and
the Guarantor which contain provisions substantially identical
to Section
1 of this Agreement contemporaneously herewith. In no event shall
the
Issuer or the Guarantor offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase,
or
sell, any Notes directly on its own behalf in transactions with
persons
other than broker-dealers as specifically permitted in this Section
1.2.
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1.3. |
The
Notes shall be in a minimum denomination of $250,000 or integral
multiples
of $1,000 in excess thereof, will bear such interest rates, if
interest
bearing, or will be sold at such discount from their face amounts,
as
shall be agreed upon by the Dealer and the Issuer, and shall have
a
maturity not exceeding 397 days from the date of issuance.
The Notes shall not contain any provision for extension, renewal
or
automatic “rollover.”
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2
1.4. |
The
authentication and issuance of, and payment for, the Notes shall
be
effected in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement,
and
the Notes shall be either individual physical certificates or book-entry
notes evidenced by one or more master notes (each, a “Master Note”)
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its
nominee, in the form or forms annexed to the Issuing and Paying
Agency
Agreement.
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1.5. |
If
the Issuer and the Dealer shall agree on the terms of the purchase
of any
Note by the Dealer or the sale of any Note arranged by the Dealer
(including, but not limited to, agreement with respect to the date
of
issue, purchase price, principal amount, maturity and interest
rate or
interest rate index and margin (in the case of interest-bearing
Notes) or
discount thereof (in the case of Notes issued on a discount basis),
and
appropriate compensation for the Dealer’s services hereunder) pursuant to
this Agreement, the Issuer shall cause such Note to be issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of the Issuing and Paying
Agency
Agreement and payment for such Note shall be made by the purchaser
thereof, either directly or through the Dealer, to the Issuing
and Paying
Agent, for the account of the Issuer. Except as otherwise agreed,
in the
event that the Dealer is acting as an agent and a purchaser shall
either
fail to accept delivery of or make payment for a Note on the date
fixed
for settlement, the Dealer shall promptly notify the Issuer, and
if the
Dealer has theretofore paid the Issuer for the Note, the Issuer
will
promptly return such funds to the Dealer against its return of
the Note to
the Issuer, in the case of a certificated Note, and upon notice
of such
failure in the case of a book-entry Note. If such failure occurred
for any
reason other than default by the Dealer, the Issuer and the Guarantor
agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Dealer on an equitable
basis for the Dealer’s loss of the use of such funds for the period such
funds were credited to the Issuer’s
account.
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1.6. |
The
Dealer, the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby establish and agree
to observe
the following procedures in connection with offers, sales and subsequent
resales or other transfers of the
Notes:
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(a)
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Offers
and sales of the Notes by or through the Dealer shall be made only
to: (i)
investors reasonably believed by the Dealer to be Qualified Institutional
Buyers, Institutional Accredited Investors or Sophisticated Individual
Accredited Investors and (ii) non-bank fiduciaries or agents that
will be
purchasing Notes for one or more accounts, each of which is reasonably
believed by the Dealer to be an Institutional Accredited Investor
or
Sophisticated Individual Accredited
Investor.
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(b)
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Resales
and other transfers of the Notes by the holders thereof shall be
made only
in accordance with the restrictions in the legend described in
clause (e)
below.
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(c)
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No
general solicitation or general advertising shall be used in connection
with the offering of the Notes. Without limiting the generality
of the
foregoing, without the prior written approval of the Dealer, neither
the
Issuer nor the Guarantor shall issue any press release or place
or publish
any “tombstone” or other advertisement relating to the
Notes.
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3
(d)
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No
sale of Notes to any one purchaser shall be for less than $250,000
principal or face amount, and no Note shall be issued in a smaller
principal or face amount. If the purchaser is a non-bank fiduciary
acting
on behalf of others, each person for whom such purchaser is acting
must
purchase at least $250,000 principal or face amount of
Notes.
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(e)
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Offers
and sales of the Notes by the Issuer through the Dealer acting
as agent
for the Issuer shall be made in accordance with Rule 506 under
the
Securities Act, and shall be subject to the restrictions described
in the
legend appearing on Exhibit A hereto. A legend substantially to
the effect
of such Exhibit A shall appear as part of the Private Placement
Memorandum
used in connection with offers and sales of Notes hereunder, as
well as on
each individual certificate representing a Note and each Master
Note
representing book-entry Notes offered and sold pursuant to this
Agreement.
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(f)
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The
Dealer shall furnish or shall have furnished to each purchaser
of Notes
for which it has acted as the dealer a copy of the then-current
Private
Placement Memorandum unless such purchaser has previously received
a copy
of the Private Placement Memorandum as then in effect. The Private
Placement Memorandum shall expressly state that any person to whom
Notes
are offered shall have an opportunity to ask questions of, and
receive
information from the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Dealer and shall
provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons
from
whom information regarding the Issuer and the Guarantor may be
obtained.
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(g)
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The
Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree for the
benefit of
the Dealer and each of the holders and prospective purchasers from
time to
time of the Notes that, if at any time the Issuer and the Guarantor
shall
not be subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the
Issuer and
the Guarantor will furnish, upon request and at their expense,
to the
Dealer and to holders and prospective purchasers of Notes information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4)(i) in compliance with Rule 144A(d).
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(h)
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In
the event that any Note offered or to be offered by the Dealer
would be
ineligible for resale under Rule 144A, the Issuer shall immediately
notify
the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing) of such fact and
shall
promptly prepare and deliver to the Dealer an amendment or supplement
to
the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Notes that are
ineligible,
the reason for such ineligibility and any other relevant information
relating thereto.
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(i)
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The
Issuer and the Guarantor represent that neither the Issuer nor
the
Guarantor is currently issuing commercial paper in the United States
market in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(3)
of the
Securities Act. The Issuer and the Guarantor agree that if the
Issuer or
the Guarantor shall issue commercial paper after the date hereof
in
reliance upon such exemption (a) the proceeds from the sale of
the Notes
will be segregated from the proceeds of the sale of any such commercial
paper by being placed in a separate account; (b) the Issuer and the
Guarantor will institute appropriate corporate procedures to ensure
that
the offers and sales of notes issued by the Issuer or the Guarantor,
as
the case may be, pursuant to the Section 3(a)(3) exemption are
not
integrated with offerings and sales of Notes hereunder; and (c)
the Issuer
and the Guarantor will comply with each of the requirements of
Section
3(a)(3) of the Securities Act in selling commercial paper or other
short-term debt securities other than the Notes in the United States.
The
parties hereto acknowledge that the Guarantor is currently issuing
commercial paper in the United States market in reliance upon the
exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act (the “Existing
Program Notes”).
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4
(j)
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The
Issuer and the Guarantor hereby agree that, not later than 15 days
after
the first sale of Notes as contemplated by this Agreement, they
will file
with the SEC a notice on Form D in accordance with Rule 503 under
the
Securities Act and that they will thereafter file such amendments
to such
notice as Rule 503 may require.
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1.7. |
Each
of the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby represents and warrants
to the
Dealer, in connection with offers, sales and resales of Notes,
as
follows:
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(a) |
Other
than the Existing Program Notes, the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby
confirm to the Dealer that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i))
within
the preceding six months neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor nor
any
person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in
Section
1.2 hereof acting on behalf of the Issuer or the Guarantor has
offered or
sold any Notes, or any substantially similar security of the Issuer
or the
Guarantor (including, without limitation, medium-term notes issued
by the
Issuer or the Guarantor), to, or solicited offers to buy any such
security
from, any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred
to in
Section 1.2 hereof. The Issuer and the Guarantor also agree that
(except
pursuant to the Existing Program Notes or as permitted by Section
1.6(i)),
as long as the Notes are being offered for sale by the Dealer and
the
other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof as contemplated
hereby and
until at least six months after the offer of Notes hereunder has
been
terminated, neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor nor any person
other than
the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof
(except
as contemplated by Section 1.2 hereof) will offer the Notes or
any
substantially similar security of the Issuer for sale to, or solicit
offers to buy any such security from, any person other than the
Dealer or
the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof, it being understood
that such agreement is made with a view to bringing the offer and
sale of
the Notes within the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the
Securities
Act and Rule 506 thereunder and shall survive any termination of
this
Agreement. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby represents
and
warrants that it has not taken or omitted to take, and will not
take or
omit to take, any action that would cause the offering and sale
of Notes
hereunder to be integrated with any other offering of securities,
whether
such offering is made by the Issuer or the Guarantor or some other
party
or parties.
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(b) |
The
Issuer represents and agrees that the proceeds of the sale of the
Notes
are not currently contemplated to be used for the purpose of buying,
carrying or trading securities within the meaning of Regulation
T and the
interpretations thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System. In the event that the Issuer determines to use
such
proceeds for the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities,
whether in connection with an acquisition of another company or
otherwise,
the Issuer shall give the Dealer at least five business days’ prior
written notice to that effect. The Issuer shall also give the Dealer
prompt notice of the actual date that it commences to purchase
securities
with the proceeds of the Notes. Thereafter, in the event that the
Dealer
purchases Notes as principal and does not resell such Notes on
the day of
such purchase, to the extent necessary to comply with Regulation
T and the
interpretations thereunder, the Dealer will sell such Notes either
(i)
only to offerees it reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional
Buyers or to Qualified Institutional Buyers it reasonably believes
are
acting for other Qualified Institutional Buyers, in each case in
accordance with Rule 144A or (ii) in a manner which would not cause
a
violation of Regulation T and the interpretations
thereunder.
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5
2.
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Representations
and Warranties of the Issuer and the
Guarantor.
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Each
of
the Issuer and the Guarantor represents and warrants as to itself
that:
2.1 |
The
Issuer is a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
and has
all the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its
obligations under the Notes, this Agreement and the Issuing and
Paying
Agency Agreement.
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2.2 |
The
Guarantor is a company duly incorporated, validly existing and
in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
and has
all the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its
obligations under the Guarantee, this Agreement and the Issuing
and Paying
Agency Agreement.
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2.3 |
This
Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement have been
duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and the Guarantor
and
constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer and
the
Guarantor enforceable against the Issuer and the Guarantor in accordance
with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
and similar
laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to
enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
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2.4 |
The
Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided in
the
Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly and validly issued
and
will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer
enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms,
subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general
principles
of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding
in
equity or at law).
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2.5 |
The
Guarantee has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Guarantor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation
of the
Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with
its terms
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought
in a
proceeding in equity or at
law).
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6
2.6 |
The
offer and sale of the Notes and the Guarantee in the manner contemplated
hereby do not require registration of the Notes or the Guarantee
under the
Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption from registration contained
in
Section 4(2) thereof and Regulation D thereunder, and no indenture
in
respect of the Notes or the Guarantee is required to be qualified
under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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2.7 |
The
Notes and the Guarantee will rank at least pari passu with all
other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer and the
Guarantor,
respectively.
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2.8 |
Except
as provided in Section 1.6(j) hereof, no consent or action of,
or filing
or registration with, any governmental or public regulatory body
or
authority, including the SEC, is required to authorize, or is otherwise
required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance
of,
this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying
Agency
Agreement, except as may be required by the securities or Blue
Sky laws of
the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the
Notes,
provided that the Notes are not issued or registered in Bermuda
and the
register of holders of the Notes is not maintained in
Bermuda.
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2.9 |
Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Guarantee and
the
Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, nor the issuance of the Notes
in
accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, nor the
fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof
or
thereof by the Issuer or the Guarantor, will (i) result in the
creation or
imposition of any mortgage, lien, charge or encumbrance of any
nature
whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets which would have
a
material adverse effect on the Guarantor and its subsidiaries,
taken as a
whole, or (ii) violate or result in a breach or a default under
any of the
terms of the charter documents or by-laws of the Issuer or the
Guarantor,
any contract or instrument to which the Issuer or the Guarantor
is a party
or by which it or its property is bound, or any law or regulation,
or any
order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or government
instrumentality, to which the Issuer or the Guarantor is subject
or by
which it or its property is bound, which breach or default might
have a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
operations or business prospects of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or the ability of the Issuer or the Guarantor
to perform
its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee
or the
Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
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2.10 |
There
is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the
knowledge
of the Issuer or the Guarantor threatened, against or affecting
the Issuer
or the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries which might result
in a
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
operations or business prospects of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or the ability of the Issuer or the Guarantor
to perform
its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee
or the
Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
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2.11 |
Neither
the Issuer nor the Guarantor is an “investment company” within the meaning
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
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2.12 |
Neither
the Private Placement Memorandum nor the Company Information contains
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
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2.13 |
Each
(a) issuance of Notes by the Issuer hereunder and (b) amendment
or
supplement of the Private Placement Memorandum shall be deemed
a
representation and warranty by each of the Issuer and the Guarantor
to the
Dealer, as of the date thereof, that, both before and after giving
effect
to such issuance and after giving effect to such amendment or supplement,
(i) the representations and warranties given by the Issuer and
the
Guarantor set forth in this Section 2 remain true and correct on
and as of
such date as if made on and as of such date, (ii) in the case of
an
issuance of Notes, the Notes being issued on such date have been
duly and
validly issued and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations
of the
Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their
terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought
in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and are guaranteed pursuant to
the
Guarantee, (iii) in the case of an issuance of Notes, since the
date of
the most recent Private Placement Memorandum, there has been no
material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), operations
or
business prospects of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, taken
as a
whole, which has not been disclosed to the Dealer in writing and
(iv) neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor is in default of any of its
obligations hereunder or under the Notes, the Guarantee or the
Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement.
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2.14 |
Under
the laws of Bermuda, neither the Issuer or the Guarantor nor any
of their
respective revenues, assets or properties has any right of immunity
from
service of process or from the jurisdiction of competent courts
of Bermuda
or the United States or the State of New York in connection with
any suit,
action or proceeding, attachment prior to judgment, attachment
in aid of
execution of a judgment or execution of a judgment or from any
other legal
process with respect to its obligations under this Agreement, the
Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement, the Notes or the
Guarantee.
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2.15 |
Each
of the Issuer and the Guarantor is permitted to make all payments
under
this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Notes
and the
Guarantee, as applicable, to holders of the Notes that are non-residents
of Bermuda, free and clear of and without deduction or withholding
for or
on account of any taxes or other governmental charges imposed by
Bermuda.
There is no stamp or documentary tax or other charge imposed by
any
governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Issuer or the
Guarantor
in connection with the execution, delivery, issuance, payment,
performance, enforcement or introduction into evidence in a court
of
Bermuda of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement,
the
Guarantee or any Note.
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2.16 |
The
choice of New York law to govern this Agreement, the Issuing and
Paying
Agency Agreement, the Guarantee and the Notes is, under the laws
of
Bermuda, a valid, effective and irrevocable choice of law, and
the
submission by the Issuer and the Guarantor in Section 7.3 (b) of
the
Agreement to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States
District
Court and the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan
is
valid and binding upon the Issuer and the Guarantor under the laws
of
Bermuda.
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2.17 |
Any
final judgment rendered by any court referred to in Section 2.16
in an
action to enforce the obligations of the Issuer or the Guarantor
under
this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Notes
or the
Guarantee, as applicable, is capable of being enforced in the courts
of
Bermuda.
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2.18 |
As
a condition to the admissibility in evidence of this Agreement,
the
Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes
in the
courts of Bermuda, it is not necessary that this Agreement, the
Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes be filed
or
recorded with any court or other
authority.
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3.
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Covenants
and Agreements of the Issuer and the
Guarantor.
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Each
of
the Issuer and the Guarantor covenants and agrees as to itself
that:
3.1 |
The
Issuer and the Guarantor will give the Dealer prompt notice (but
in any
event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder) of any
amendment to, modification of or waiver with respect to, the Notes,
the
Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, including
a complete
copy of any such amendment, modification or waiver.
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3.2 |
The
Issuer and the Guarantor shall, whenever there shall occur any
change in
the condition (financial or otherwise), operations or business
prospects
of the Issuer or the Guarantor or any development or occurrence
in
relation to the Issuer or the Guarantor that would be material
to holders
of the Notes or potential holders of the Notes (including any downgrading
or receipt of any notice of intended or potential downgrading or
any
review for potential change in the rating accorded any of the securities
of the Issuer or the Guarantor by any nationally recognized statistical
rating organization which has published a rating of the Notes),
promptly,
and in any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder,
notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing) of such
change,
development or occurrence.
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3.3 |
The
Issuer and the Guarantor shall from time to time furnish to the
Dealer
such information as the Dealer may reasonably request, including,
without
limitation, any press releases or material provided by the Issuer
or the
Guarantor to any national securities exchange or rating agency,
regarding
(i) the operations and financial condition of the Issuer or the
Guarantor,
(ii) the due authorization and execution of the Notes and the Guarantee,
(iii) the Issuer’s ability to pay the Notes as they mature and (iv) the
Guarantor’s ability to fulfill its obligations under the Guarantee.
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3.4 |
The
Issuer and the Guarantor will take all such action as the Dealer
may
reasonably request to ensure that each offer and each sale of the
Notes
will comply with any applicable state Blue Sky laws; provided,
however,
that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall be obligated to
file any
general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified
or subject
itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction
in
which it is not otherwise so subject.
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9
3.5 |
Neither
the Issuer nor the Guarantor will be in default of any of its obligations
hereunder or under the Notes, the Guarantee or the Issuing and
Paying
Agency Agreement, at any time that any of the Notes are
outstanding.
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3.6 |
The
Issuer shall not issue Notes hereunder until the Dealer shall have
received (a) opinion(s) of counsel to the Issuer and the Guarantor,
addressed to the Dealer, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance
to
the Dealer, (b) a copy of the executed Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement
as then in effect, (c) a copy of the executed Guarantee, (d) a
copy of the
resolutions adopted by the Boards of Directors of the Issuer and
the
Guarantor, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Dealer and
certified by the Secretary or similar officer of the Issuer or
the
Guarantor, as the case may be, authorizing execution and delivery
by the
Issuer and the Guarantor of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying
Agency
Agreement, the Guarantee and the Notes and consummation by the
Issuer and
the Guarantor of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
(e)
prior to the issuance of any book-entry Notes represented by a
master note
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, a copy of the executed
Letter of Representations among the Issuer, the Guarantor, the
Issuing and
Paying Agent and DTC and of the executed master note, (f) prior
to the
issuance of any Notes in physical form, a copy of such form (unless
attached to this Agreement or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement)
and
(g) such other certificates, opinions, letters and documents as the
Dealer shall have reasonably
requested.
|
3.7 |
The
Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall reimburse
the
Dealer for all of the Dealer’s out-of-pocket expenses related to this
Agreement, including expenses incurred in connection with its preparation
and negotiation, and the transactions contemplated hereby (including,
but
not limited to, the printing and distribution of the Private Placement
Memorandum), and, if applicable, for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket
expenses of the Dealer’s counsel.
|
4.
|
Disclosure.
|
4.1 |
The
Private Placement Memorandum and its contents (other than the Dealer
Information) shall be the sole responsibility of the Issuer and
the
Guarantor. The Private Placement Memorandum shall contain a statement
expressly offering an opportunity for each prospective purchaser
to ask
questions of, and receive answers from, the Issuer and the Guarantor
concerning the offering of Notes and to obtain relevant additional
information which the Issuer possesses or can acquire without unreasonable
effort or expense.
|
4.2 |
Each
of the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees to promptly furnish the
Dealer the
Company Information as it becomes available.
|
4.3 |
(a)
Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor further agrees to notify the
Dealer
promptly upon the occurrence of any event relating to or affecting
the
Issuer or the Guarantor that would cause the Company Information
then in
existence to include an untrue statement of a material fact or
to omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
contained
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not
misleading.
|
10
(b)
In
the event that the Issuer or the Guarantor gives the Dealer notice pursuant
to
Section 4.3(a) and the Dealer notifies the Issuer that it then has Notes
it is
holding in inventory, the Issuer and the Guarantor agree promptly to supplement
or amend the Private Placement Memorandum so that the Private Placement
Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, shall not contain an untrue statement
of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, and the Issuer and the Guarantor shall make such supplement
or
amendment available to the Dealer.
(c)
In
the event that (i) the Issuer or the Guarantor gives the Dealer notice pursuant
to Section 4.3(a), (ii) the Dealer does not notify the Issuer or the
Guarantor that it is then holding Notes in inventory and (iii) the Issuer
or the Guarantor chooses not to promptly amend or supplement the Private
Placement Memorandum in the manner described in clause (b) above, then all
solicitations and sales of Notes shall be suspended until such time as the
Issuer and the Guarantor have so amended or supplemented the Private Placement
Memorandum, and made such amendment or supplement available to the
Dealer.
(d)
Without limiting the generality of Section 4.3(a), the Issuer and the Guarantor
shall review, amend and supplement the Private Placement Memorandum on a
periodic basis, but no less than at least once annually, to incorporate
current
financial information of the Issuer and
the
Guarantor to the extent necessary to ensure that the information provided
in the
Private Placement Memorandum is accurate and complete.
5.
|
Indemnification
and Contribution.
|
5.1 |
The
Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, will indemnify
and hold
harmless the Dealer, each individual, corporation, partnership,
trust,
association or other entity controlling the Dealer, any affiliate
of the
Dealer or any such controlling entity and their respective directors,
officers, employees, partners, incorporators, shareholders, servants,
trustees and agents (hereinafter the “Indemnitees”) against any and all
liabilities, penalties, suits, causes of action, losses, damages,
claims,
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements
of counsel) or judgments of whatever kind or nature (each a “Claim”),
imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against
the Indemnitees arising out of or based upon (i) any allegation
that the
Private Placement Memorandum, the Company Information or any information
provided by the Issuer or the Guarantor to the Dealer included
(as of any
relevant time) or includes an untrue statement of a material fact
or
omitted (as of any relevant time) or omits to state any material
fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) the breach by
the
Issuer or the Guarantor of any agreement, covenant or representation
made
in or pursuant to this Agreement. This indemnification shall not
apply to
the extent that the Claim arises out of or is based upon Dealer
Information.
|
11
5.2 |
Provisions
relating to claims made for indemnification under this Section
5 are set
forth in Exhibit B to this
Agreement.
|
5.3 |
In
order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances
in
which the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is held
to be
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the Indemnitees,
although applicable in accordance with the terms of this Section
5, the
Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall contribute
to the
aggregate costs incurred by the Dealer in connection with any Claim
in the
proportion of the respective economic interests of the Issuer,
the
Guarantor and the Dealer; provided, however, that such contribution
by the
Issuer and the Guarantor shall be in an amount such that the aggregate
costs incurred by the Dealer do not exceed the aggregate of the
commissions and fees earned by the Dealer hereunder with respect
to the
issue or issues of Notes to which such Claim relates. The respective
economic interests shall be calculated by reference to the aggregate
proceeds to the Issuer of the Notes issued hereunder and the aggregate
commissions and fees earned by the Dealer
hereunder.
|
6.
|
Definitions.
|
6.1 |
“Claim”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1.
|
6.2 |
“Company
Information” at any given time shall mean the Private Placement Memorandum
together with, to the extent applicable, (i) the Guarantor’s most recent
report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and each of its reports
on Form
10-Q or 8-K filed with the SEC since the most recent Form 10-K,
(ii) the
Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s most recent annual audited financial
statements and each interim financial statement or report prepared
subsequent thereto, if not included in item (i) above, (iii) the
Issuer’s
and the Guarantor’s and their affiliates’ other publicly available recent
reports, including, but not limited to, any publicly available
filings or
reports provided to their respective shareholders, (iv) any other
information or disclosure prepared pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof
and (v)
any information prepared or approved by the Issuer or the Guarantor
for
dissemination to investors or potential investors in the
Notes.
|
6.3 |
“Dealer
Information” shall mean material concerning the Dealer provided by the
Dealer in writing expressly for inclusion in the Private Placement
Memorandum.
|
6.4 |
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
|
6.5 |
“Indemnitee”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1.
|
6.6 |
“Institutional
Accredited Investor” shall mean an institutional investor that is an
accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities
Act and that has such knowledge and experience in financial and
business
matters that it is capable of evaluating and bearing the economic
risk of
an investment in the Notes, including, but not limited to, a bank,
as
defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or a savings
and loan
association or other institution, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A)
of the
Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or fiduciary
capacity.
|
6.7 |
“Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement” shall mean the issuing and paying agency
agreement described on the cover page of this Agreement, as such
agreement
may be amended or supplemented from time to
time.
|
12
6.8 |
“Issuing
and Paying Agent” shall mean the party designated as such on the cover
page of this Agreement, as issuing and paying agent under the Issuing
and
Paying Agency Agreement, or any successor thereto in accordance
with the
Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
|
6.9 |
“Non-bank
fiduciary or agent” shall mean a fiduciary or agent other than (a) a bank,
as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or (b) a savings
and
loan association, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities
Act.
|
6.10 |
“Private
Placement Memorandum” shall mean offering materials prepared in accordance
with Section 4 (including materials referred to therein or incorporated
by
reference therein, if any) provided to purchasers and prospective
purchasers of the Notes, and shall include amendments and supplements
thereto which may be prepared from time to time in accordance with
this
Agreement (other than any amendment or supplement that has been
completely
superseded by a later amendment or
supplement).
|
6.11 |
“Qualified
Institutional Buyer” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Rule
144A under the Securities Act.
|
6.12 |
“Regulation
D” shall mean Regulation D under the Securities
Act.
|
6.13 |
“Rule
144A” shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities
Act.
|
6.14 |
“SEC”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
|
6.15 |
“Securities
Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
|
6.16 |
“Sophisticated
Individual Accredited Investor” shall mean an individual who (a) is
an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under
the
Securities Act and (b) based on his or her pre-existing relationship
with
the Dealer, is reasonably believed by the Dealer to be a sophisticated
investor (i) possessing such knowledge and experience (or represented
by a
fiduciary or agent possessing such knowledge and experience) in
financial
and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating and
bearing
the economic risk of an investment in the Notes and (ii) having
not less
than $5 million in investments (as defined, for purposes of this
section,
in Rule 2a51-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended).
|
7.
|
General
|
7.1 |
Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices under this Agreement
to
parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be effective when
received at
the address of the respective party set forth
below.
|
If
to the Issuer:
|
Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx
Global Holding Company Limited
|
Attention:
Corporate Treasury
|
|
000-X
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
13
If
to the Guarantor:
|
Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx
Company Limited
|
Attention:
Corporate Treasury
|
|
000-X
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
|
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
If
to the Dealer:
|
Banc
of America Securities LLC
|
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
|
|
Attention:
|
|
Telephone:
|
|
Facsimile:
|
7.2 |
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws
of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of laws
provisions.
|
7.3 |
(a) Each
of the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees that any suit, action or
proceeding
brought by the Issuer or the Guarantor against the Dealer in connection
with or arising out of this Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes
or the
offer and sale of the Notes shall be brought solely in the United
States
federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan or the courts
of the
State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan. EACH OF
THE DEALER,
THE ISSUER AND THE GUARANTOR WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
|
(b) Each
of
the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably accepts and submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of each of the aforesaid courts in personam,
generally and unconditionally, for itself and in respect of its properties,
assets and revenues, with respect to any suit, action or proceeding in
connection with or arising out of this Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes
or
the offer and sale of the Notes.
14
(c) Each
of
the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and
empowers Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx Company, with offices at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000, as its designee, appointee and agent to receive,
accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and its properties, assets
and
revenues, service for any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents
which may be served in any such action, suit or proceeding brought in the
courts
listed in Section 7.3(a) which may be made on such designee, appointee and
agent
in accordance with legal procedures prescribed for such courts, with respect
to
any suit, action or proceeding in connection with or arising out of this
Agreement, the Notes or the Guarantee or the offer and sale of the Notes.
If for
any reason such designee, appointee and agent hereunder shall cease to be
available to act as such, the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees to designate
a new
designee, appointee and agent in The City of New York on the terms and for
the
purposes of this Section 7.3 satisfactory to the Dealer. Each of the Issuer
and
the Guarantor further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service
of
any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents out of any of the
aforesaid courts in any such action, suit or proceeding by serving a copy
thereof upon the agent for service of process referred to in this Section
7.3
(whether or not the appointment of such agent shall for any reason prove
to be
ineffective or such agent shall accept or acknowledge such service) or by
mailing copies thereof by registered or certified airmail, postage prepaid,
to
it at its address specified in or designated pursuant to this Agreement.
Each of
the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees that the failure of any such designee,
appointee and agent to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair
or
affect in any way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in
any
action or proceeding based thereon. Nothing herein shall in any way be deemed
to
limit the ability of the holders of any Notes or the Dealer to serve any
such
legal process, summons, notices and documents in any other manner permitted
by
applicable law or to obtain jurisdiction over the undersigned or bring actions,
suits or proceedings against the undersigned in such other jurisdictions,
and in
such other manner, as may be permitted by applicable law. Each of the Issuer
and
the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection
which
it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid
actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement brought in the courts listed in Section 7.3(a) and hereby further
irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in
any
such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court
has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(d) To
the
extent that the Issuer or the Guarantor or any of their respective properties,
assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have
attributed to them, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty
or
otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding in connection with or
arising out of this Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes or the offer and
sale
of the Notes, from the giving of any relief in any thereof, from setoff or
counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process,
from
attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution
of
judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding
for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any
jurisdiction in which proceeding may at any time be commenced, with respect
to
its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of
or in
connection with this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement,
the
Guarantee or the Notes, it hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives,
and
agrees for the benefit of the Dealer and any holder from time to time of
the
Notes not to plead or claim, any such immunity, and consents to such relief
and
enforcement.
7.4 |
This
Agreement may be terminated, at any time, by the Issuer, upon one
business
day’s prior notice to such effect to the Dealer, or by the Dealer upon
one
business day’s prior notice to such effect to the Issuer. Any such
termination, however, shall not affect the obligations of the Issuer
and
the Guarantor under Sections 3.7, 5 and 7.3 hereof or the respective
representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, rights or
responsibilities of the parties made or arising prior to the termination
of this Agreement.
|
7.5 |
This
Agreement is not assignable by any party hereto without the written
consent of the other parties; provided, however, that the Dealer
may
assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any affiliate
of
the Dealer.
|
15
7.6 |
This
Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall
be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto
and
hereto were upon the same
instrument.
|
7.7 |
This
Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and
their
respective permitted successors and assigns hereunder, and shall
not be
deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to
any other
person whatsoever; provided,
however,
that Sections 7.3(b), (c) and (d), Section 7.8 and Section 8 are
hereby
specifically and exclusively acknowledged to also be for the benefit
of
the holders from time to time of the Notes, as third-party
beneficiaries.
|
7.8 |
(a) Any
payments to the Dealer hereunder or to any holder from time to
time of
Notes shall be in United States dollars and shall be free of all
withholding and other taxes and of all other governmental charges
of any
nature whatsoever imposed by the jurisdiction in which the Issuer
or the
Guarantor is located. In the event any withholding is required
by law in
Bermuda, the Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree
to (i)
pay the same and, subject to the exceptions set forth in Article
8 for
which additional amounts will not be paid, (ii) pay such additional
amounts (as defined in Article 8) to the Dealer or any such holder
which,
after deduction of any such withholding, or other taxes or governmental
charges of any nature whatsoever imposed with respect to the payment
of
such additional amount, shall equal the amount withheld pursuant
to clause
(i). The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, will
promptly
pay any stamp duty or other similar taxes or governmental charges
payable
in connection with the execution, delivery, payment or performance
of this
Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Guarantee
or the
Notes and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer and each
holder of
Notes from all liabilities arising from any failure to pay, or
delay in
paying, such taxes or charges.
|
(b) Each
of
the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer
and each holder from time to time of Notes against any loss incurred by the
Dealer or such holder as a result of any judgment or order being given or
made
for any amount due hereunder or under the Notes or the Guarantee and such
judgment or order being expressed and paid in a currency (the “Judgment
Currency”) other than United States dollars and as a result of any variation as
between (i) the rate of exchange at which the United States dollar amount
is
converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or
order,
and (ii) the rate of exchange at which the Dealer or such holder is able
to
purchase United States dollars with the amount of Judgment Currency actually
received by the Dealer or such holder. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute
separate and independent obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantor and shall
continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order
as
aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of
exchange payable in connection with the purchase of, or conversion into,
the
relevant currency.
16
7.9 |
The
Issuer and the Guarantor acknowledge and agree that the Dealer
is acting
solely in the capacity of an arm's length contractual counterparty
to the
Issuer and the Guarantor with respect to the offering of the Notes
contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the
price
and terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a
fiduciary
to, or an agent of (except to the extent explicitly set forth herein),
the
Issuer, the Guarantor or any other person. The Dealer has not assumed
an
advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Issuer or
the
Guarantor with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the
process
leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Dealer has advised
or is
currently advising the Issuer or the Guarantor on other matters)
or any
other obligation to the Issuer or the Guarantor except the obligations
expressly set forth in this Agreement. Additionally, the Dealer
is not
advising the Issuer, the Guarantor or any other person as to any
legal,
tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction.
The
Issuer and the Guarantor shall consult with its own advisors concerning
such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent
investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby,
and
the Dealer shall have no responsibility or liability to the Issuer
or the
Guarantor with respect thereto. Any review by the Dealer of the
Issuer or
the Guarantor, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters
relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the
benefit of
the Dealer and shall not be on behalf of the Issuer or the
Guarantor.
|
7.10 |
This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether
written or oral) between the Issuer and the Dealer with respect
to the
subject matter hereof.
|
8.
|
Taxes
and Withholdings
|
All
payments made by the Issuer and the Guarantor in respect of the Notes to
the
holder of any of the Notes or to the Dealer (collectively referred to as
a
"Payment Recipient") shall be paid without set-off or counterclaim and free
and
clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any
present
or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge or any interest or
penalty thereon imposed, levied, collected, assessed or required to be deducted,
withheld or paid by or for the account of Bermuda only or any taxing authority
or political subdivision thereof or therein (collectively a "Tax") unless
the
Issuer or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is required to withhold or deduct
Tax by law or by the interpretation or administration thereof. If any such
Tax
is required by law to be withheld or deducted from any such payment, the
Issuer
and the Guarantor shall pay such additional amounts ("Additional Amounts")
as
may be necessary so that the net amount received by a Payment Recipient after
such withholding or deduction will equal the amount that such Payment Recipient
would have received if such Tax had not been required to be withheld or
deducted; provided that no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect
to a
payment made to a Payment Recipient to the extent:
(a)
that
any such Tax is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the existence of
any
present or former connection (other than the mere fact of a Payment Recipient
owning such Notes or, in the case of the Dealer, becoming a party to this
Agreement) between such Payment Recipient (or between a fiduciary, settler,
beneficiary or person holding a power over such Payment Recipient, if such
Payment Recipient is an estate or trust, or a member of such Payment Recipient,
if such Payment Recipient is a partnership or limited liability company)
and the
taxing authority imposing such Tax ;
(b)
of
any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or excise
Tax
or any similar Tax;
(c)
that
any such Tax would not have been so imposed but for the presentation, surrender
or demand by the Payment Recipient for payment on a date more than 30 days
after
the date on which such payment became due and payable;
17
(d)
that
any such Tax is payable by any method other than withholding or deduction
from
payments of principal (or amounts in respect thereof) and/or interest on
the
Notes or payments to a Payment Recipient;
(e)
that
any such Tax would not have been so imposed but for the failure by the Payment
Recipient to make a valid declaration of non-residence or other similar claim
for exemption (provided that the Payment Recipient is entitled to make such
declaration or claim), if (i) such compliance is required or imposed by statute,
treaty, regulations, ruling or administrative practice of the relevant taxing
authority as a precondition to, an exemption from, or reduction in, the relevant
Tax and (ii) at least 60 days prior to the first payment date with respect
to
which the Issuer or Guarantor shall apply this subclause (e), the Issuer
or the
Guarantor shall have notified all Payment Recipients in writing that they
shall
be required to provide such declaration or claim; or
(f)
any
combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
18
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
as
of the date and year first above written.
Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx
Global Holding Company Limited, as Issuer
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Vice
President & Treasurer
|
Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx
Company Limited, as Guarantor
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Vice
President & Treasurer
|
Banc
of America Securities LLC, as
Dealer
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Managing
Director
|
19
Addendum
The
following additional clauses shall apply to the Agreement and be deemed a
part
thereof.
1.
|
The
other dealers referred to in Section 1.2(b) of the Agreement are
|
Citigroup
Global Markets Inc.
|
X.X.
Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
|
Deutsche
Bank Securities Inc.
|
20
Exhibit
A
Form
of Legend for Private Placement Memorandum and Notes
THE
NOTES
AND THE GUARANTEE THEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW, AND OFFERS
AND SALES THEREOF MAY BE MADE ONLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS. BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER WILL BE DEEMED
TO
REPRESENT THAT (I) IT HAS BEEN AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE MATTERS
RELATING TO THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTOR, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEE, (II)
IT IS
NOT ACQUIRING SUCH NOTE WITH A VIEW TO ANY DISTRIBUTION THEREOF AND (III)
IT IS
EITHER (A)(1) AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR OR SOPHISTICATED INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR
THAT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a) UNDER THE
ACT
AND WHICH, IN THE CASE OF AN INDIVIDUAL, (i) POSSESSES SUCH KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE IN FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS MATTERS THAT HE OR SHE IS CAPABLE OF
EVALUATING AND BEARING THE ECONOMIC RISK OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES AND
(ii)
HAS NOT LESS THAN $5 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED
INVESTOR” OR “SOPHISTICATED INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”, RESPECTIVELY) AND
(2)(i) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, (ii) A BANK (AS DEFINED IN SECTION
3(a)(2) OF THE ACT) OR A SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OR OTHER INSTITUTION
(AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(5)(A) OF THE ACT) ACTING IN ITS INDIVIDUAL OR FIDUCIARY
CAPACITY OR (iii) A FIDUCIARY OR AGENT (OTHER THAN A U.S. BANK OR SAVINGS
AND
LOAN ASSOCIATION) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS EACH OF WHICH
ACCOUNTS IS SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR SOPHISTICATED
INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR; OR (B) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (“QIB”)
WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING NOTES FOR
ITS
OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS, EACH OF WHICH ACCOUNTS IS A QIB;
AND
THE PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS AWARE THAT THE SELLER MAY RELY UPON
THE
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE ACT PROVIDED
BY
RULE 144A. BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER THEREOF SHALL ALSO
BE
DEEMED TO AGREE THAT ANY RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER THEREOF WILL BE MADE ONLY
(A)
IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT, EITHER (1) TO THE
ISSUER OR TO A PLACEMENT AGENT DESIGNATED BY THE ISSUER AS A PLACEMENT AGENT
FOR
THE NOTES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PLACEMENT AGENTS”), NONE OF WHICH SHALL HAVE ANY
OBLIGATION TO ACQUIRE SUCH NOTE, (2) THROUGH A PLACEMENT AGENT TO AN
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, SOPHISTICATED INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
OR A QIB, OR (3) TO A QIB IN A TRANSACTION THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE
144A AND (B) IN MINIMUM AMOUNTS OF $250,000.
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Exhibit
B
Further
Provisions Relating to Indemnification
(a)
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The
Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse
each
Indemnitee for all expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements
of internal and external counsel) as they are incurred by it in
connection
with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability
or
action in respect of which indemnification may be sought under
Section 5
of the Agreement (whether or not it is a party to any such
proceedings).
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(b)
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Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnitee of notice of the existence of a
Claim, such
Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against
the
Issuer or the Guarantor, notify the Issuer or the Guarantor in
writing of
the existence thereof; provided that (i) the omission to so notify
the
Issuer or the Guarantor will not relieve it from any liability
which it
may have hereunder unless and except to the extent it did not otherwise
learn of such Claim and such failure results in the forfeiture
by it of
substantial rights and defenses, and (ii) the omission to so notify
the
Issuer or the Guarantor will not relieve it from liability which
it may
have to an Indemnitee otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. In case any such Claim is made against any Indemnitee
and it
notifies the Issuer or the Guarantor of the existence thereof,
the Issuer
and the Guarantor will be entitled to participate therein, and
to the
extent that it may elect by written notice delivered to the Indemnitee,
to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory
to such
Indemnitee; provided that if the defendants in any such Claim include
both
the Indemnitee and either the Issuer or the Guarantor or both,
and the
Indemnitee shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses
available
to it which are different from or additional to those available
to the
Issuer or the Guarantor, neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall
have
the right to direct the defense of such Claim on behalf of such
Indemnitee, and the Indemnitee shall have the right to select separate
counsel to assert such legal defenses on behalf of such Indemnitee.
Upon
receipt of notice from the Issuer to such Indemnitee of the election
of
the Issuer and the Guarantor to assume the defense of such Claim
and
approval by the Indemnitee of counsel, the Issuer and the Guarantor
will
not be liable to such Indemnitee for expenses incurred thereafter
by the
Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof (other than reasonable
costs of investigation) unless (i) the Indemnitee shall have employed
separate counsel in connection with the assertion of legal defenses
in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it
being
understood, however, that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor
shall be
liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition
to
any local counsel in the jurisdiction in which any Claim is brought),
approved by the Dealer, representing the Indemnitee who is party
to such
Claim), (ii) the Issuer and the Guarantor shall not have employed
counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee to represent the Indemnitee
within a reasonable time after notice of existence of the Claim
or (iii)
the Issuer or the Guarantor has authorized in writing the employment
of
counsel for the Indemnitee. The indemnity, reimbursement and contribution
obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor hereunder shall be
in addition
to any other liability the Issuer or the Guarantor may otherwise
have to
an Indemnitee and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of any
successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the
Issuer, the
Guarantor and any Indemnitee. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor
agrees
that without the Dealer’s prior written consent, it will not settle,
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any Claim
in respect
of which indemnification may be sought under the indemnification
provision
of the Agreement (whether or not the Dealer or any other Indemnitee
is an
actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement,
compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of
each
Indemnitee from all liability arising out of such Claim and (ii)
does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability
or failure
to act, by or on behalf of any
Indemnitee.
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22
Exhibit
C
Form
of Guarantee
GUARANTEE
GUARANTEE,
dated as of May 22, 2008, of Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx Company Limited, a corporation
organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Guarantor”).
The
Guarantor, for value received, hereby agrees as follows for the benefit of
the
holders from time to time of the Notes hereinafter described:
1.
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The
Guarantor irrevocably guarantees payment in full, as and when the
same
becomes due and payable, of the principal of and interest, if any,
on the
promissory notes (the “Notes”) issued by Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx Global Holding
Company Limited, a
Bermuda corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Guarantor
(the
“Issuer”), from time to time pursuant to the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2008, as the same may be amended,
supplemented or modified from time to time, among the Issuer ,
the
Guarantor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (the
“Agreement”).
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2.
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The
Guarantor’s obligations under this Guarantee shall be unconditional,
irrespective of the validity or enforceability of any provision
of the
Agreement or the Notes.
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3.
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This
Guarantee is a guaranty of the due and punctual payment
(and not merely of collection) of the
principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes by the Guarantor
and shall
remain in full force and effect until all amounts have been validly,
finally and irrevocably
paid in full, and shall not be affected in any way by any circumstance
or
condition whatsoever, including without limitation (a) the absence of
any action to obtain such amounts from the Issuer, (b) any variation,
extension, waiver, compromise or release of any or all of the obligations
of the Issuer under the Agreement of the Notes or of any collateral
security therefore or (c) any change in the existence or structure
of, or the bankruptcy or insolvency of, the Issuer or by any other
circumstance (other than by complete, irrevocable payment) that
might
otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense
of a
guarantor or surety. The Guarantor waives all requirements as to
diligence, presentment, demand for payment, protest and notice
of any kind
with respect to the Agreement and the
Notes.
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4.
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In
the event of a default in payment of principal of or interest on
any
Notes, the holders of such Notes, may institute legal proceedings
directly
against the Guarantor to enforce this Guarantee without first proceeding
against the Issuer.
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5.
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This
Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect or shall be reinstated
(as
the case may be) if at any time any payment by the Issuer of the
principal
of or interest, if any, on the Notes, in whole or in part, is rescinded
or
must otherwise be returned by the holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy
or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise, all as though such
payment
had not been made.
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6.
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This
Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws
of the State of New York.
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7. |
(a)
The Guarantor hereby irrevocably accepts and submits to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States federal courts located in the
Borough of
Manhattan and the courts of the State of New York located in the
Borough
of Manhattan.
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(b)
The Guarantor hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers
Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxx Company , with offices at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000x York, as its designee, appointee and
agent to
receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and its
properties,
assets and revenues, service for any and all legal process, summons,
notices and documents which may be served in any such action, suit
or
proceeding brought in the courts listed in Section 7(a) which may
be made
on such designee, appointee and agent in accordance with legal
procedures
prescribed for such courts, with respect to any suit, action or
proceeding
in connection with or arising out of this Guarantee. If for any
reason
such designee, appointee and agent hereunder shall cease to be
available
to act as such, the Guarantor agrees to designate a new designee,
appointee and agent in the City of New York on the terms and for
the
purposes of this Section 7 satisfactory to the Dealer. The Guarantor
further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of
any and
all legal process, summons, notices and documents out of any of
the
aforesaid courts in any such action, suit or proceeding by serving
a copy
thereof upon the agent for service of process referred to in this
Section
7 (whether or not the appointment of such agent shall for any reason
prove
to be ineffective or such agent shall accept or acknowledge such
service)
or by mailing copies thereof by registered or certified airmail,
postage
prepaid, to it at its address specified in or designated pursuant
to this
Guarantee. The Guarantor agrees that the failure of any such designee,
appointee and agent to give any notice of such service to it shall
not
impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any
judgment
rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon. Nothing herein
shall
in any way be deemed to limit the ability of the holders of any
Notes to
serve any such legal process, summons, notices and documents in
any other
manner permitted by applicable law or to obtain jurisdiction over
the
undersigned or bring actions, suits or proceedings against the
undersigned
in such other jurisdictions, and in such other manner, as may be
permitted
by applicable law. The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of
venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising
out of
or in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts listed
in
Section 7(a) and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally
waives and
agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action,
suit
or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.
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8. |
All
payments made by the Guarantor under this Guarantee to any holder
of Notes
(such holders collectively referred to as a "Payment Recipient")
shall be
paid without set-off or counterclaim and free and clear of, and
without
deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future
tax,
assessment or other governmental charge or any interest or penalty
thereon
imposed, levied, collected, assessed or required to be deducted,
withheld
or paid by or for the account of Bermuda only or any taxing authority
or
political subdivision thereof or therein (collectively a "Tax")
unless the
Guarantor is required to withhold or deduct Tax by law or by the
interpretation or administration thereof. If any such Tax is required
by
law to be withheld or deducted from any such payment, the Guarantor
shall
pay such additional amounts ("Additional Amounts") as may be necessary
so
that the net amount received by a Payment Recipient after such
withholding
or deduction will equal the amount that such Payment Recipient
would have
received if such Tax had not been required to be withheld or deducted;
provided that no Additional Amounts will be payable with respect
to a
payment made to a Payment Recipient to the
extent:
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(a)
that
any such Tax is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the existence of
any
present or former connection (other than the mere fact of a Payment Recipient
owning such Notes) between such Payment Recipient (or between a fiduciary,
settler, beneficiary or person holding a power over such Payment Recipient,
if
such Payment Recipient is an estate or trust, or a member of such Payment
Recipient, if such Payment Recipient is a partnership or limited liability
company) and the taxing authority imposing such Tax ;
(b)
of
any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or excise
Tax
or any similar Tax;
(c)
that
any such Tax would not have been so imposed but for the presentation, surrender
or demand by the Payment Recipient for payment on a date more than 30 days
after
the date on which such payment became due and payable;
(d)
that
any such Tax is payable by any method other than withholding or deduction
from
payments of principal (or amounts in respect thereof) and/or interest on
the
Notes or payments to a Payment Recipient;
(e)
that
any such Tax would not have been so imposed but for the failure by the Payment
Recipient to make a valid declaration of non-residence or other similar claim
for exemption (provided that the Payment Recipient is entitled to make such
declaration or claim), if (i) such compliance is required or imposed by statute,
treaty, regulations, ruling or administrative practice of the relevant taxing
authority as a precondition to, an exemption from, or reduction in, the relevant
Tax and (ii) at least 60 days prior to the first payment date with respect
to
which the Guarantor shall apply this subclause (e), the Guarantor shall have
notified all Payment Recipients in writing that they shall be required to
provide such declaration or claim; or
(f)
any
combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed
as
of the day and year first above written.
XXXXXXXXX-XXXX
COMPANY
LIMITED
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By:
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