Contract
(as borrower)
NORWEGIAN GEM, LTD.
(as guarantors)
particulars of which are set out in Schedule 1
(as lenders)
(as agent)
(as Lower Saxony guarantee agent)
UP TO EUR624,000,000
REVOLVING LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
dated 7 October 2005
Page | ||||||
1
|
Definitions and Construction | 2 | ||||
2
|
Amendment of Original Facility Agreement and other Security Documents | 3 | ||||
3
|
Conditions Precedent | 4 | ||||
4
|
Representations and Warranties | 6 | ||||
5
|
Fee and Expenses | 7 | ||||
6
|
Further Assurance | 7 | ||||
7
|
Counterparts | 7 | ||||
8
|
Notices | 7 | ||||
9
|
Governing Law | 8 | ||||
10
|
Jurisdiction | 8 | ||||
Schedule 1
|
Particulars of Agent, Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and Lenders | 13 | ||||
Schedule 2
|
Amended and Restated Facility Agreement | 14 | ||||
Schedule 3
|
Amended and Restated Guarantee — Norwegian Pearl | 125 | ||||
Schedule 4
|
Amended and Restated Guarantee — Norwegian Gem | 143 | ||||
Schedule 5
|
Amended and Restated Deed of Covenants — Norwegian Pearl | 161 | ||||
Schedule 6
|
Amended and Restated Deed of Covenants — Norwegian Gem | 162 |
(1) | NCL CORPORATION LTD. of Xxxxxx House, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx as borrower (the “Borrower”); | |
(2) | NORWEGIAN PEARL, LTD. and NORWEGIAN GEM, LTD. each being a company incorporated in and existing under the laws of Bermuda with its registered office at Xxxxxx House, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx as guarantors (collectively the “Guarantors” and each individually a “Guarantor”); | |
(3) | THE SEVERAL BANKS particulars of which are set out in Schedule 1 as lenders (collectively the “Lenders” and each individually a “Lender”); | |
(4) | DnB NOR BANK ASA of Stranden 21, NO-0021 Oslo, Norway as agent for itself and the Lenders (the “Agent”); and | |
(5) | COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT of Ness 7-9, 20457 Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany as German State of Lower Saxony agent (the “Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent”). |
(A) | By a secured loan facility agreement dated 7 October 2005 as amended by a first supplemental deed dated 13 November 2006 (the “Original Facility Agreement”) made between (among others) (1) the Borrower as borrower (2) the Lenders as lenders (3) the Agent as agent and (4) the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent as agent, the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower a revolving loan facility of up to six hundred and twenty four million euro (EUR624,000,000) or the equivalent in Dollars (the “Facility”) in two (2) tranches. The repayment of the Facility by the Borrower has been secured by (among other things) guarantees and indemnities dated 28 November 2006 and 1 October 2007 granted by the Guarantors respectively (the “Original Guarantees”) and first priority statutory Bahamian ship mortgages granted by the Guarantors respectively over their Vessels “NORWEGIAN PEARL” (ex Hull No S.669) and “NORWEGIAN GEM” (ex Hull No S.670) (the “Original Mortgages”). |
(B) | The Borrower has requested the amendment of certain provisions of the Original Facility Agreement, the Original Guarantees and the deeds of covenants which constitute part of the Original Mortgages (the “Original Deeds of Covenants”), (among other things) to enable NCL Investment Ltd. (“Investor I”) and NCL Investment II Ltd. (“Investor II” and together with Investor I the “Investors”), each a subsidiary of the private equity group Apollo Management, LP, to make a one billion Dollar (USD1,000,000,000) cash equity investment in the Borrower. |
1
(C) | The consent of the Lenders, the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent is given in respect of the above matters on the terms of this Deed which shall be executed as a deed. |
1 | Definitions and Construction |
1.1 | In this Deed including the preamble and recitals hereto (unless the context otherwise requires) any term or expression defined in the preamble or the recitals shall have the meaning ascribed to it therein and terms and expressions not defined herein but whose meanings are defined in the Facility Agreement shall have the meanings set out therein. In addition, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings set out below: | ||
“Apollo Transaction Documents” means the documents referred to in Clause 3.1.1(c) and any documents entered into pursuant to or contemplated by the Apollo Transaction Documents; | |||
“Deeds of Covenants” means the Original Deeds of Covenants as amended and restated by this Deed and as set out in Schedule 5 and Schedule 6; | |||
“Facility Agreement” means the Original Facility Agreement as amended and restated by this Deed and as set out in Schedule 2; | |||
“Guarantees” means the Original Guarantees as amended and restated by this Deed and as set out in Schedule 3 and Schedule 4; | |||
“New Shares” means the new ordinary shares in the Borrower to be issued to the Investors upon completion under the Subscription Agreement which will represent fifty per cent (50%) of the Borrower’s enlarged share capital; | |||
“Restatement Date” means the date on which the conditions precedent set out in Clause 3.1 are fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Agent; | |||
“Shareholders’ Agreement” means the shareholders’ agreement dated 17 August 2007 made or to be made between Star, the Investors (directly in the case of Investor I and by way of joinder in the case of Investor II) and the Borrower pursuant to which the affairs of the management of the Borrower and the rights and obligations of Star and the Investors as shareholders will be regulated; | |||
“Subscription Agreement” means the subscription agreement dated 17 August 2007 made or to be made between Star, the Investors (directly in the case of Investor I and by way of assignment in the case of Investor II) and the Borrower pursuant to which the parties have agreed that the Investors shall subscribe for |
2
and the Borrower shall allot and issue the New Shares to the Investors for the Subscription Price; and | |||
“Subscription Price” means the aggregate subscription price of one billion Dollars (USD1,000,000,000) payable in cash by the Investors for the New Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreement). | |||
1.2 | The provisions of Clauses 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 of the Facility Agreement shall apply hereto (mutatis mutandis). |
2 | Amendment of Original Facility Agreement and other Security Documents |
2.1 | Subject to Clause 3.1, the parties hereto agree that immediately upon and with effect from the Restatement Date each of the Original Facility Agreement, the Original Guarantees and the Original Deeds of Covenants shall be amended and restated to read in accordance with the amended and restated facility agreement, guarantees and deeds of covenants as set out in Schedule 2, Schedule 3, Schedule 4, Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 and (as so amended and restated) will continue to be binding upon each of the parties thereto in accordance with its terms as so amended and restated. | ||
2.2 | The Borrower and each of the Guarantors hereby confirms to the Lenders, the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent that with effect from the Restatement Date: |
2.2.1 | all references to the Original Facility Agreement in the Security Documents to which it is a party shall be construed as references to the Facility Agreement and all terms used in such Security Documents whose meanings are defined by reference to the Original Facility Agreement shall be defined by reference to the Facility Agreement; | ||
2.2.2 | the Security Documents to which it is a party shall apply to, and extend to secure, the whole of the Outstanding Indebtedness as defined in clause 1.1 of the Facility Agreement; | ||
2.2.3 | its obligations under the Security Documents to which it is a party shall not be discharged, impaired or otherwise affected by reason of the execution of this Deed or of any of the documents or transactions contemplated hereby; and | ||
2.2.4 | its obligations under the Security Documents to which it is a party shall remain in full force and effect as security for the obligations of the Borrower under the Facility Agreement and the other Security Documents as amended by this Deed. |
2.3 | With effect from the Restatement Date the Lenders and the Agent acknowledge and agree that, to the extent a provision of a Security Document which has not been amended and restated by this Deed conflicts with a provision of the Facility Agreement and/or any other Security Document which has been amended and restated by this Deed, the provision of the Facility Agreement and/or the amended and restated Security Document shall prevail. Further, the Lenders and the Agent will do or procure the doing of all such acts and/or execute or procure the |
3
execution of all such documents in a form satisfactory to the Agent as the Agent may reasonably consider necessary for giving full effect to this Clause 2.3. |
2.4 | Except as expressly amended hereby or pursuant hereto the Original Facility Agreement, the Original Guarantees, the Original Deeds of Covenants and the other Security Documents shall remain in full force and effect and nothing herein contained shall relieve the Borrower, either of the Guarantors or any other Obligor from any of its respective obligations under any such documents. |
3 | Conditions Precedent |
3.1 | The amendment and restatement of the Original Facility Agreement, the Original Guarantees and the Original Deeds of Covenants provided for in Clause 2 is conditional upon and shall not be effective unless and until the Agent has received the following in form and substance satisfactory to it: |
3.1.1 | on the date of this Deed: |
(a) | one (1) counterpart of this Deed duly executed by the Borrower and each of the Guarantors; | ||
(b) | a written confirmation from the Process Agent that it will act for the Borrower and each of the Guarantors as agent for service of process in England in respect of this Deed; | ||
(c) | a Certified Copy of each of the following: |
(i) | the Subscription Agreement; | ||
(ii) | the Shareholders’ Agreement; and | ||
(iii) | the reimbursement and distribution agreement dated 17 August 2007 under which, among other things, Xxxx has agreed to bear certain costs and expenses of the NCL America business; |
(d) | the following corporate documents in respect of the Borrower and each of the Guarantors (together the “Relevant Parties”): |
(i) | Certified Copies of any consents required from any ministry, governmental, financial or other authority for the execution of and performance by the respective Relevant Party of its obligations under this Deed or if no such consents are required a certificate from a duly appointed officer of the Relevant Party to this effect confirming that no such consents are required; | ||
(ii) | notarially attested secretary’s certificate of each of the Relevant Parties: |
(1) | attaching a copy of its Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws |
4
(or equivalent constitutional documents) evidencing power to enter into the transactions contemplated in this Deed; | |||
(2) | giving the names of its present officers and directors; | ||
(3) | setting out specimen signatures of such persons as are authorised by the Relevant Party to sign documents or otherwise undertake the performance of that Relevant Party’s obligations under this Deed; | ||
(4) | giving the legal owner of its shares and the number of such shares held; | ||
(5) | attaching copies of resolutions passed at duly convened meetings of the directors and, if required by the Agent, the shareholders of the Relevant Parties authorising (as applicable) the execution of this Deed and the issue of any power of attorney to execute the same; and | ||
(6) | containing a declaration of solvency as at the date of the certificate of the duly appointed officer of the Relevant Party; |
(e) | the original powers of attorney, if any, issued pursuant to the resolutions referred to above and notarially attested; |
3.1.2 | evidence of completion having taken place under the Subscription Agreement and in particular but without limitation of the issue of the New Shares to the Investors and of the payment of the Subscription Price by the Investors to the Borrower; | ||
3.1.3 | evidence that each of the Lenders has received payment of the restructuring fee to which it is entitled as more particularly described in Clause 5.1; and | ||
3.1.4 | the issue of such favourable written legal opinions including in respect of Bermuda in such form as the Agent may require relating to all aspects of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Apollo Transaction Documents governed by any applicable law, |
5
3.2 | If the Agent in accordance with clause 20 of the Original Facility Agreement decides to permit the amendment and restatement of the Original Facility Agreement, the Original Guarantee and the Original Deed of Covenants hereby without having received all of the documents or evidence referred to in Clause 3.1, the Borrower will nevertheless deliver the remaining documents or evidence to the Agent within fourteen (14) days of the Restatement Date (or such other period as the Agent may stipulate) and the amendment and restatement of the Original Facility Agreement, the Original Guarantee and the Original Deed of Covenants as aforesaid shall not be construed as a waiver of the Agent’s right to receive the documents or evidence as aforesaid nor shall this provision impose on the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders any obligation to permit the amendment and restatement in the absence of such documents or evidence. |
4 | Representations and Warranties |
4.1 | The Borrower and each of the Guarantors represents and warrants to the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders that: |
4.1.1 | it has the power to enter into and perform this Deed and the transactions and documents contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorise the entry into and performance of this Deed and such transactions and documents; | ||
4.1.2 | this Deed constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; | ||
4.1.3 | its entry into and performance of this Deed and the transactions and documents contemplated hereby do not and will not conflict with: |
(a) | any law or regulation or any official or judicial order; or | ||
(b) | its constitutional documents; or | ||
(c) | any agreement or document to which it is a party or which is binding upon it or any of its assets, |
4.1.4 | all authorisations, approvals, consents, licences, exemptions, filings, registrations, notarisations and other matters, official or otherwise, required in connection with the entry into, performance, validity and enforceability of this Deed and each of the other documents contemplated hereby and thereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect; |
6
4.1.5 | all information furnished by it to the Agent or its agents relating to the business and affairs of an Obligor in connection with this Deed and the other documents contemplated hereby and thereby was and remains true and correct in all material respects and there are no other material facts or considerations the omission of which would render any such information misleading; and |
4.1.6 | it has fully disclosed in writing to the Agent all facts relating to its business which it knows or should reasonably know and which might reasonably be expected to influence the Agent in deciding whether or not to enter into this Deed. |
5 | Fee and Expenses |
5.1 | The Borrower shall pay to each of the Lenders not later than five (5) Business Days from the date of this Deed a non-refundable restructuring fee of [*] provided that a Lender which is the provider of any other loan or other facility to the Borrower or any other member of the NCLC Group shall only be entitled to receive one (1) such fee of [*]. Notwithstanding any provision of this Deed, the Original Facility Agreement or the Facility Agreement to the contrary, no Lender shall be required to share with the other Lenders, the Agent and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent any such restructuring fee received. | ||
5.2 | The Borrower and the Guarantors jointly and severally undertake to reimburse the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders on demand of the Agent on a full indemnity basis for the reasonable charges and expenses (together with value added tax or any similar tax thereon and including without limitation the fees and expenses of legal and other advisers) incurred by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders in respect of the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, registration and enforcement of this Deed and any other documents required in connection with the implementation of this Deed. |
6 | Further Assurance |
7 | Counterparts |
8 | Notices |
8.1 | Any notice, demand or other communication (unless made by telefax) to be made or delivered to the Borrower and/or a Guarantor pursuant to this Deed shall (unless the Borrower or the Guarantor has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to |
7
the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) specified another address) be made or delivered to the Borrower and/or the Guarantor at/c/o 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx (marked for the attention of the Chief Financial Officer and the Legal Department) (but one (1) copy shall suffice). Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered by the Borrower or a Guarantor pursuant to this Deed shall (unless the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the Borrower or the Guarantor specified another address) be made or delivered to the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent at its Lending Branch, the details of which are set out in Schedule 1. | |||
8.2 | Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered pursuant to this Deed may be sent by telefax to the relevant telephone numbers (which at the date hereof in respect of the Borrower and the Guarantors is x0 000 000 0000 (marked for the attention of the Chief Financial Officer) and x0 000 000 0000 (marked for the attention of the Legal Department) and in the case of the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent is as recorded in Schedule 1) specified by it from time to time for the purpose and shall be deemed to have been received when transmission of such telefax communication has been completed. Each such telefax communication, if made to the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent by the Borrower or a Guarantor, shall be signed by the person or persons authorised in writing by the Borrower or the Guarantor (as the case may be) and whose signature appears on the list of specimen signatures contained in the secretary’s certificate required to be delivered by Clause 3 and shall be expressed to be for the attention of the department or officer whose name has been notified for the time being for that purpose by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) to the Borrower and the Guarantor. | ||
8.3 | The provisions of clauses 21.1, 21.5 and 21.6 of the Original Facility Agreement shall apply to this Deed. |
9 | Governing Law |
10 | Jurisdiction |
10.1 | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Deed (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (a “Dispute”). Each party to this Deed agrees that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no party will argue to the contrary. | ||
This Clause 10.1 is for the benefit of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders only. As a result, no such party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, any such party may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions. | |||
10.2 | Neither the Borrower nor either of the Guarantors may, without the Agent’s prior written consent, terminate the appointment of the Process Agent; if the Process Agent resigns or its appointment ceases to be effective, the Borrower and/or the |
8
Guarantors (as the case may be) shall within fourteen (14) days appoint a company which has premises in London and has been approved by the Agent to act as the Borrower’s and/or the Guarantors’ (as the case may be) process agent with unconditional authority to receive and acknowledge service on behalf of the Borrower and/or the Guarantors of all process or other documents connected with proceedings in the English courts which relate to this Deed. | |||
10.3 | For the purpose of securing its obligations under Clause 10.2, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors irrevocably agrees that, if it for any reason fails to appoint a process agent within the period specified in Clause 10.2, the Agent may appoint any person (including a company controlled by or associated with the Agent or any Lender) to act as the Borrower’s or that Guarantor’s (as the case may be) process agent in England with the unconditional authority described in Clause 10.2. | ||
10.4 | No neglect or default by a process agent appointed or designated under this Clause (including a failure by it to notify the Borrower or the Guarantors (as the case may be) of the service of any process or to forward any process to the Borrower or the Guarantors (as the case may be)) shall invalidate any proceedings or judgment. | ||
10.5 | The Borrower and each of the Guarantors appoints in the case of the courts of England the Process Agent to receive, for and on its behalf service of process in England of any legal proceedings with respect to this Deed. | ||
10.6 | A judgment relating to this Deed which is given or would be enforced by an English court shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and/or the Guarantors (as the case may be) and may be enforced without review in any other jurisdiction. | ||
10.7 | Nothing in this Clause shall exclude or limit any right which the Agent or the Lenders may have (whether under the laws of any country, an international convention or otherwise) with regard to the bringing of proceedings, the service of process, the recognition or enforcement of a judgment or any similar or related matter in any jurisdiction. | ||
10.8 | In this Clause “judgment” includes order, injunction, declaration and any other decision or relief made or granted by a court. |
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||||
by Xxxx Xxxxxx
|
) | |||||
for and on behalf of
|
) | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
NCL CORPORATION LTD.
|
) | |||||
in the presence of: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
) |
9
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxx Xxxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
NORWEGIAN PEARL, LTD. |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxx Xxxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
NORWEGIAN GEM, LTD. |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT |
) | |||
Bremen Branch |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
DnB NOR BANK ASA |
) | |||
as a Lender and the Agent |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
KfW |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) |
10
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
NORDDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK |
) | |||
GIROZENTRALE |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
DEUTSCHE SCHIFFSBANK |
) | |||
AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Bremen and Hamburg |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) |
11
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
FOKUS BANK |
) | |||
(Norwegian Branch of Danske Bank A/S) |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
HSH NORDBANK AG |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN |
) | |||
AB (publ) |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
) | |||
by Xxxxx Xxxxx |
) | |||
for and on behalf of |
) | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||
COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT |
) | |||
as the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent |
) | |||
in the presence of: As above |
) |
12
13
14
(as borrower)
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA
(as lead arrangers)
KfW
NORDDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE
(as co-arrangers)
particulars of which are set out in Schedule 1
(as original lenders)
(as agent)
(as Lower Saxony guarantee agent)
REVOLVING LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON
21 DECEMBER 2007
15
1 |
Definitions and Construction | 20 | ||||||
1.1 | Definitions | 20 | ||||||
1.2 | Construction | 37 | ||||||
1.3 | Agent | 38 | ||||||
1.4 | Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent | 38 | ||||||
1.5 | Third party rights | 38 | ||||||
2 |
The Facility | 38 | ||||||
2.1 | Availability | 38 | ||||||
2.2 | Purpose and Application | 39 | ||||||
2.3 | Drawdown | 39 | ||||||
2.4 | Break costs | 40 | ||||||
2.5 | Conditions of drawdown | 41 | ||||||
2.6 | Several obligations of the Lenders | 41 | ||||||
2.7 | Xxxxxx's failure to perform | 41 | ||||||
2.8 | Fulfilment of conditions after drawdown | 41 | ||||||
2.9 | Conditions subsequent | 41 | ||||||
3 |
Currency Option | 41 | ||||||
3.1 | Selection of Dollars | 41 | ||||||
3.2 | Conversion | 42 | ||||||
3.3 | Conditions and restrictions to conversion | 42 | ||||||
3.4 | Repayment in same currency | 43 | ||||||
3.5 | Exercise of currency option | 43 | ||||||
3.6 | No prepayment | 43 | ||||||
3.7 | No discharge | 43 | ||||||
4 |
Repayment, Reduction, Cancellation and Prepayment of the Facility | 43 | ||||||
4.1 | Repayment | 43 | ||||||
4.2 | Scheduled reductions of Commitments to a Tranche | 44 | ||||||
4.3 | Sale or Total Loss of a Vessel: mandatory cancellation | 44 | ||||||
4.4 | Amounts payable on prepayment | 44 | ||||||
4.5 | Notice of prepayment | 45 | ||||||
4.6 | Voluntary cancellation of Commitments to a Tranche | 46 | ||||||
4.7 | Additional partial cancellation | 46 | ||||||
4.8 | Prepayment during Term | 46 | ||||||
4.9 | Mandatory cancellation in case of illegality | 46 | ||||||
4.10 | Voluntary cancellation following imposition of Substitute Basis | 47 | ||||||
4.11 | Cancellation in case of Total Loss of a Vessel | 47 | ||||||
4.12 | Cancellation in case of sale of a Vessel | 48 | ||||||
4.13 | Cancellation in case of non-delivery of a Vessel | 48 | ||||||
4.14 | Cancellation in case of reduction in the Owners’ Supply Costs | 48 | ||||||
5 |
Interest | 48 | ||||||
5.1 | Payment of interest | 48 | ||||||
5.2 | Selection and duration of Interest Periods | 48 |
16
5.3 | No notice and unavailability | 49 | ||||||
5.4 | Extension and shortening of Interest Periods | 49 | ||||||
5.5 | Interest Rate | 49 | ||||||
5.6 | Bank basis | 49 | ||||||
5.7 | Default interest | 49 | ||||||
6 |
Substitute Basis of Funding | 50 | ||||||
6.1 | Market disturbance | 50 | ||||||
6.2 | Suspension of drawdown | 50 | ||||||
6.3 | Certificates of Substitute Basis | 51 | ||||||
6.4 | Review | 51 | ||||||
7 |
Payments | 51 | ||||||
7.1 | Place for payment | 51 | ||||||
7.2 | Deductions and grossing-up | 51 | ||||||
7.3 | Production of receipts for Taxes | 52 | ||||||
7.4 | Currency of account | 53 | ||||||
7.5 | Money of account | 53 | ||||||
7.6 | Accounts | 54 | ||||||
7.7 | Earnings | 54 | ||||||
7.8 | Continuing security | 54 | ||||||
7.9 | Mitigation | 54 | ||||||
8 |
Yield Protection and Force Majeure | 55 | ||||||
8.1 | Increased costs | 55 | ||||||
8.2 | Force majeure | 56 | ||||||
9 |
Representations and Warranties | 57 | ||||||
9.1 | Duration | 57 | ||||||
9.2 | Representations and warranties | 57 | ||||||
10 |
Undertakings | 61 | ||||||
10.1 | Duration | 61 | ||||||
10.2 | Information | 61 | ||||||
10.3 | Financial Undertakings | 63 | ||||||
10.4 | Dividends | 63 | ||||||
10.5 | Notification of default | 65 | ||||||
10.6 | Consents and registrations | 65 | ||||||
10.7 | Negative pledge | 65 | ||||||
10.8 | Disposals | 65 | ||||||
10.9 | Purchases | 66 | ||||||
10.10 | Change of name or business | 66 | ||||||
10.11 | Mergers | 67 | ||||||
10.12 | Maintenance of status and franchises | 67 | ||||||
10.13 | Financial records | 68 | ||||||
10.14 | Subordination of indebtedness | 68 | ||||||
10.15 | Guarantees | 68 | ||||||
10.16 | Further assurance | 68 | ||||||
10.17 | Valuation of the Vessels | 68 | ||||||
10.18 | Marginal security | 69 |
17
10.19 | Financial year end | 69 | ||||||
10.20 | Maintenance and insurance | 70 | ||||||
10.21 | Lower Saxony Guarantees | 70 | ||||||
10.22 | Vessels | 70 | ||||||
11 |
Rights of the Agent and the Lenders | 70 | ||||||
11.1 | No derogation of rights | 70 | ||||||
11.2 | Enforcement of remedies | 71 | ||||||
12 |
Default | 71 | ||||||
12.1 | Events of default | 71 | ||||||
12.2 | Acceleration | 77 | ||||||
12.3 | Default indemnity | 77 | ||||||
12.4 | Set off | 78 | ||||||
12.5 | Master Agreement rights | 78 | ||||||
13 |
Application of Funds | 78 | ||||||
13.1 | Total Loss proceeds/proceeds of sale | 78 | ||||||
13.2 | General funds/Event of Default monies | 80 | ||||||
13.3 | Application of proceeds of Insurances | 82 | ||||||
13.4 | Suspense account | 82 | ||||||
14 |
Fees | 83 | ||||||
14.1 | Commitment fee | 83 | ||||||
14.2 | Other fees | 83 | ||||||
14.3 | Lower Saxony Guarantee fee | 83 | ||||||
15 |
Expenses | 84 | ||||||
15.1 | Initial expenses | 84 | ||||||
15.2 | Enforcement expenses | 84 | ||||||
15.3 | Stamp duties | 84 | ||||||
16 |
Waivers, Remedies Cumulative | 85 | ||||||
16.1 | No waiver | 85 | ||||||
16.2 | Remedies cumulative | 85 | ||||||
16.3 | Severability | 85 | ||||||
16.4 | Time of essence | 85 | ||||||
17 |
Counterparts | 85 | ||||||
18 |
Changes to the Lenders | 85 | ||||||
18.1 | Assignments and transfers by the Lenders | 85 | ||||||
18.2 | Conditions of assignment or transfer | 86 | ||||||
18.3 | Assignment or transfer fee | 87 | ||||||
18.4 | Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders | 87 | ||||||
18.5 | Procedure for transfer | 88 | ||||||
18.6 | Copy of Transfer Certificate to Borrower | 89 | ||||||
18.7 | Disclosure of information | 89 | ||||||
18.8 | Xxxxxxxx’s co-operation | 89 |
18
19 |
Changes to the Borrower | 89 | ||||||
20 |
Reference Xxxxx, Agent and Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent | 90 | ||||||
20.1 | Reference Banks | 90 | ||||||
20.2 | Decision making | 90 | ||||||
20.3 | The Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent | 92 | ||||||
20.4 | Retirement and replacement of the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent | 97 | ||||||
21 |
Notices | 99 | ||||||
21.1 | Mode of communication | 99 | ||||||
21.2 | Address | 99 | ||||||
21.3 | Telefax communication | 99 | ||||||
21.4 | Electronic mail | 99 | ||||||
21.5 | Receipt | 100 | ||||||
21.6 | Language | 100 | ||||||
22 |
Governing Law | 100 | ||||||
23 |
Waiver of Immunity | 101 | ||||||
24 |
Jurisdiction | 101 | ||||||
Schedule 1 Particulars of Agent, Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent, Lead Arrangers, Co-Arrangers and Original Lenders | 106 | |||||||
Schedule 2 Notice of Drawdown | 107 | |||||||
Schedule 3 Part I: Conditions Precedent | 108 | |||||||
Part II: Condition Subsequent | 109 | |||||||
Schedule 4 Confidentiality Undertaking | 110 | |||||||
Schedule 5 Transfer Certificate | 111 | |||||||
Schedule 6 Quarterly Statement of Financial Covenants | 113 | |||||||
Schedule 7 Apollo-Related Transactions | 114 |
19
(1) | NCL CORPORATION LTD. of Xxxxxx House, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx as borrower (the “Borrower”); | |
(2) | DnB NOR BANK ASA of Stranden 21, NO-0021 Oslo, Norway and NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA of Xxxxxxxxxxx xxxx 00, XX-0000 Xxxx, Xxxxxx as lead arrangers (collectively the “Lead Arrangers” and each individually a “Lead Arranger”); | |
(3) | THE SEVERAL BANKS particulars of which are set out in Schedule 1 as co-arrangers (collectively the “Co-Arrangers” and each individually a “Co-Arranger”); | |
(4) | THE SEVERAL BANKS particulars of which are set out in Schedule 1 as lenders (collectively the “Original Lenders” and each individually an “Original Lender”); | |
(5) | DnB NOR BANK ASA of Xxxxxxxx 00, XX-0000 Xxxx, Xxxxxx as agent (the “Agent”); and | |
(6) | COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT of Ness 7-9, 20457 Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany as German State of Lower Saxony agent (the “Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent”). |
1 | Definitions and Construction |
1.1 | Definitions | ||
In this Agreement: | |||
“Accounts” means the audited consolidated profit and loss account and balance sheet (including all additional information and notes thereto) of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries together with the relative directors’ and auditors’ reports; | |||
“Advance Date”, in relation to any Drawing, means the date on which that Drawing is advanced to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 2.3 and applied in accordance with Clause 2.2; |
20
“Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange” means the Agent’s spot rate of exchange for the purchase of one currency with another currency in the London foreign exchange market at or about 11.00 a.m. London time on a particular day; | |||
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any other person controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such person and for purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to vote ten per cent (10%) or more of the securities having voting power for the election of directors of such person, or otherwise to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise; | |||
“Agreement” means this agreement; | |||
“Apollo” means the Fund and any Fund Affiliate; | |||
“Apollo-Related Transactions” means the transactions described in Schedule 7; | |||
“Apollo Transaction Documents” means the Subscription Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement and the Reimbursement Agreement; | |||
“Applicable Margin” means, in respect of a Drawing or the commitment fee payable pursuant to Clause 14.1, the rate per annum set out in the table below determined on the Quotation Date for the relevant Interest Period in the case of a Drawing and on the relevant payment date in respect of the said commitment fee based on the ratio of Total Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four (4) consecutive financial quarters ending at the end of the previous financial quarter for which the Agent has received, or should have received, accounts: [*]. | |||
PROVIDED THAT the highest rate appearing in the respective column in the table above shall apply if the accounts required to determine the Applicable Margin have not been received by the Agent; | |||
“Approved Stock Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or such other stock exchange in the United States of America as is approved in writing by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders); | |||
“Arrasas” means Arrasas Limited of International House, Castle Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Road, Xxxxxxx, Isle of Man IM2 4RB, British Isles; | |||
“Associated Company” in relation to any company, means any company which is a Subsidiary or Holding Company of that company or the majority of whose shares are beneficially owned by the same person or persons as own the majority of the shares of that company; | |||
“Availability Period” means the Tranche A Availability Period or the Tranche B Availability Period; |
21
“Available Commitment” means, in relation to a Lender, the amount of its Commitment in respect of the Facility or a Tranche (as the case may be) less the amount of its Contribution to the Facility or the Tranche (as the case may be); | |||
“Builder” means Xxx. X. Xxxxx GmbH of Industriegebiet Süd, 26871 Papenburg, Federal Republic of Germany, the shipbuilder constructing the Vessels pursuant to the Building Contracts; | |||
“Building Contracts” means, in respect of Hull No S.669, the shipbuilding contract dated 24 December 2004 between the Builder, the Borrower and Norwegian Pearl for the construction and delivery of Hull No S.669 and Specification Hull No S.669 dated 22 November 2004 and the appendices thereto marked 1, 2, 3 and 4 and, in respect of Hull No S.670, the shipbuilding contract dated as of 3 May 2005 between the Builder, the Borrower and Norwegian Gem for the construction and delivery of Hull No S.670 and Specification Hull No S.670 dated as of 3 May 2005 and the appendices thereto marked 1, 2, 3 and 4; | |||
“Business Day” means any day on which banks and financial markets in London, Oslo, Frankfurt am Main and New York are open for the transaction of business of the nature contemplated by this Agreement; | |||
“Cash Balance” means, at any date of determination, the unencumbered and otherwise unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the NCLC Group; | |||
“Certified Copy” means, in relation to any document delivered or issued by or on behalf of any company, a copy of such document certified as a true, complete and up-to-date copy of the original by any of the directors or the secretary or assistant secretary for the time being of that company; | |||
“Charges” means the two (2) valid and effective first priority shares charges one (1) to be executed in respect of each of the Owners by the Shareholder as holder (legally and beneficially) of all the authorised and issued shares in the relevant Owner in favour of the Agent such charges to be in the form and on the terms and conditions agreed between the Lenders and the Borrower and as specified in paragraph 26 of Part I of Schedule 3; | |||
“Commitment” means, as to each Original Lender, the sums set out opposite its name in Schedule 1 as the amount of each Tranche which, subject to the terms of this Agreement, it is obliged to advance to the Borrower under Clause 2 (or, where the context so admits, such amount which any successor in title, assignee or transferee (including any Transferee) of any Original Lender or Lender shall be obliged to advance to the Borrower under Clause 2, following the assumption of all or any portion of such liability from any Original Lender or Lender hereunder) in each case as such amount may be reduced, cancelled or terminated under this Agreement PROVIDED THAT a schedule setting out the Commitments in respect of a Tranche expressed in Dollars shall be agreed between the Agent and the Borrower on the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of that Tranche and shall from such date be deemed to be a part of this Agreement in substitution for Schedule 1 (or any substitute therefor); | |||
“Commitment Period” means, in respect of a Tranche, the period beginning on the Signing Date and ending on the earlier of the last day of the relevant |
22
Availability Period and the date on which the relevant Tranche or the Facility is cancelled hereunder; | |||
“Compulsory Acquisition” means requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition of a Vessel including its capture, seizure, detention or confiscation or expropriation but excluding any requisition for hire by or on behalf of any government or governmental authority or agency or by any persons acting or purporting to act on behalf of any such government or governmental authority or agency; | |||
“Confidentiality Undertaking” means the undertaking to be entered into relating to the release of financial information pertaining to the NCLC Group by the Agent or any Lender to a potential Transferee or assignee such undertaking to be in the form of Schedule 4; | |||
“Confirmation” means a Confirmation exchanged or deemed to be exchanged between a Lender or its Affiliate (as the case may be) and the Borrower as contemplated by the relevant Master Agreement; | |||
“Consolidated Debt Service” means, for any relevant period, the sum (without double counting), determined in accordance with US GAAP, of: |
(i) | the aggregate principal payable or paid during such period on any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of any member of the NCLC Group, other than: |
(a) | principal of any such Indebtedness for Borrowed Money prepaid at the option of the relevant member of the NCLC Group; | ||
(b) | principal of any such Indebtedness for Borrowed Money prepaid upon the sale or Total Loss of any vessel owned or leased under a capital lease by any member of the NCLC Group or under an Apollo-Related Transaction; and | ||
(c) | balloon payments of any such Indebtedness for Borrowed Money payable during such period (and for the purpose of this paragraph (c) a “balloon payment” shall not include any scheduled repayment instalment of such Indebtedness for Borrowed Money which forms part of the balloon) or under an Apollo-Related Transaction; |
(ii) | Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; | ||
(iii) | the aggregate amount of any dividend or distribution of present or future assets, undertakings, rights or revenues to any shareholder of any member of the NCLC Group (other than the Borrower or one of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) or any distribution in respect of share capital during such period (“Distributions”) other than the Distributions described in Clauses 10.4.1(a) and (d); and | ||
(iv) | all rent under any capital lease obligations by which the Borrower or any consolidated Subsidiary is bound which are payable or paid during such |
23
period and the portion of any debt discount that must be amortised in such period, |
as calculated in accordance with US GAAP and derived from the then latest unaudited consolidated accounts of the NCLC Group delivered to the Agent in the case of any period ending at the end of any of the first three (3) financial quarters of each financial year of the Borrower and the then latest Accounts delivered to the Agent in the case of the final quarter of each such financial year; | |||
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any relevant period, the aggregate of: |
(i) | Consolidated Net Income from the Borrower’s operations for such period; and | ||
(ii) | the aggregate amounts deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period in respect of gains and losses from the sale of assets or reserves relating thereto, Consolidated Interest Expense, depreciation and amortisation, impairment charges and any other non-cash charges and deferred income tax expense for such period; |
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any relevant period, the consolidated interest expense (excluding capitalised interest) of the NCLC Group for such period; | |||
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any relevant period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the NCLC Group for such period as determined in accordance with US GAAP; | |||
“Contract Prices” means, in respect of Hull No S.669, three hundred and eighty nine million euro (EUR389,000,000) being the price agreed between the Builder, the Borrower and Norwegian Pearl for the construction of Hull No S.669 under article 8, clause 1.1 of the relevant Building Contract and, in respect of Hull No S.670, three hundred and ninety one million euro (EUR391,000,000) being the price agreed between the Builder, the Borrower and Norwegian Gem for the construction of Hull No S.670 under article 8, clause 1.1 of the relevant Building Contract subject, in each case, to article 8, clause 1.1(ii) of the relevant Building Contract; | |||
“Contribution” means, as to each Original Lender, the portion of the sums set out opposite its name in Schedule 1 or any substitute schedule for Schedule 1 advanced to the Borrower and for the time being outstanding; | |||
“converted” means actually or notionally (as the case may require) converted by the Agent at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the particular date for that conversion pursuant to Clause 3, and the words “convert” and “conversion” shall be construed accordingly; | |||
“Credit Support Document” means any document described as such in a Master Agreement and any other document referred to in any such document which has the effect of creating security in favour of the Agent or the Lenders; | |||
“Credit Support Provider” means any person (other than the Borrower) described as such in a Master Agreement; |
24
“Currency Conversion Date” means the date on which a Drawing is advanced in or converted to Dollars pursuant to Clause 3.1; | |||
“Delivery Date” means the date on which a Vessel is delivered to and accepted by the relevant Owner pursuant to the relevant Building Contract which date is expected to be 8 February 2007 in respect of Hull No S.669 and 1 October 2007 in respect of Hull No S.670; | |||
“Disclosure Letter” means the letter so designated, given by the Borrower and acknowledged by the Agent on the Signing Date and containing details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings affecting any Obligor which have been instituted and served, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened (and for this purpose proceedings shall be deemed to be material if they involve a claim in an amount exceeding ten million Dollars (USD10,000,000) or the equivalent in another currency); | |||
“Dollar Drawing” means the principal amount of a Drawing denominated in Dollars or (as the context may require) the amount thereof for the time being drawn down and/or denominated in Dollars and outstanding hereunder; | |||
“Dollars” and “USD” means the lawful currency of the United States of America; | |||
“Drawdown Notice” means a notice to be given by the Borrower to the Agent pursuant to Clause 2.3.1; | |||
“Drawing” means any amount of a Tranche advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 2.3; | |||
“Earnings” means, in respect of a Vessel, (whether earned or to be earned) any and all freights, hire, fares and passage monies, proceeds of requisition (other than proceeds of Compulsory Acquisition), rebates and commissions, all earnings deriving from contracts of employment, demurrage, charterparties, contracts of affreightment, pooling agreements and joint ventures, compensation, remuneration for salvage and towage services, damages howsoever arising and detention monies, damages for breach of any charterparty or other contract for the employment of that Vessel, any amounts payable in consideration of the termination or variation of any charterparty or other such contract and any other earnings whatsoever due or to become due to the relevant Owner; | |||
“Earnings Assignments” means the two (2) valid and effective first legal assignments of the Earnings of the Vessels (together with the notices thereof and the acknowledgements) one (1) to be executed by each of the Owners in respect of its Vessel in favour of the Agent such assignments, notices and acknowledgements to be in the form and on the terms and conditions agreed between the Lenders and the Borrower and as specified in paragraph 24.9 of Part I of Schedule 3; | |||
“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, assignment, hypothecation, title retention, preferential right or trust arrangement or any other security agreement or arrangement; | |||
“Equivalent Amount” means the Dollar equivalent of a euro amount determined at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange for conversion of euro to Dollars at |
25
10.00 a.m. London time five (5) Business Days prior to the relevant first Currency Conversion Date; | |||
“EURIBOR” means with respect to any Interest Period with respect to a euro Drawing the rate of interest (expressed as an annual rate) determined by the Agent to be: |
(i) | the offered rate for deposits in euro for a period equivalent to such Interest Period which appears on the page of the Reuters screen which displays the average EURIBOR rate as agreed with EURIBOR FBE for deposits in euro of the relevant amount at or about 11.00 a.m. London time on the Quotation Date; or | ||
(ii) | if no rate is provided for the respective Interest Period on the said Reuters screen, the interpolated rate per annum for deposits in euro in an amount approximately equal to the euro Drawing as calculated by the Agent, such interpolated rate to be based on the said Reuters screen PROVIDED THAT EURIBOR for periods of less than one (1) week will be ascertained under sub-section (iii) below; |
or (if the said Reuters screen is discontinued or if the Agent is unable to make the said determination due to technical breakdown in the relevant system or the Interest Period is less than one (1) week) |
(iii) | the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest one-sixteenth of one per cent (1/16%)) of the rates per annum notified to the Agent by each of the Reference Banks as the rate at which deposits in euro in an amount approximately equal to the euro Drawing are offered to such Reference Bank by leading banks in the London Interbank Market at such Reference Bank’s request at or about 11.00 a.m. London time on the Quotation Date for a period equal to the Interest Period and for delivery on the first Business Day thereof; |
“EURIBOR FBE” means the Banking Federation of the European Union; | |||
“euro” and “EUR” means the lawful currency of the Federal Republic of Germany; | |||
“euro Drawing” means the principal amount of a Drawing denominated in euro or (as the context may require) the amount thereof for the time being drawn down and outstanding hereunder; | |||
“Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Clause 12; | |||
“Facility” means the facility granted hereunder in the amount of the aggregate of the Maximum Tranche Amounts or (as the context may require) the amount thereof for the time being advanced and outstanding under this Agreement in whatever currency or currencies it is for the time being denominated; | |||
“Final Maturity Date”, in respect of each Tranche, means the date falling one hundred and forty four (144) months from the relevant Delivery Date or such other date as is determined by the provisions of Clause 4; |
26
“Financial Indebtedness” means any obligation for the payment or repayment of money, whether as principal or as surety and whether present or future, actual or contingent; | |||
“Force Majeure” means, in relation to the Agent or any Lender, any event or circumstance which is beyond the reasonable control of such party, which cannot be foreseen or if foreseeable which is unavoidable, which occurs after the Signing Date and which prevents that party from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement; | |||
“Free Liquidity” means, at any date of determination, the aggregate of the Cash Balance and any amounts freely available for drawing under the Facility or any other revolving or other credit facilities of the NCLC Group, which remain undrawn, could be drawn for general working capital purposes or other general corporate purposes and would not, if drawn, be repayable within six (6) months; | |||
“Fund” means Apollo Management VI, LP a Delaware limited partnership with its principal place of business at 0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America and other affiliated co-investment partnerships; | |||
“Fund Affiliate” means the Investors and (i) each other Affiliate (as defined in Schedule 7) of the Fund that is neither a “portfolio company” (which means a company actively engaged in providing goods to unaffiliated customers), whether or not controlled, nor a company controlled by a portfolio company and (ii) any individual who is a partner or employee of Apollo Management, LP, Apollo Management IV, LP or Apollo Management V, LP; | |||
“Guarantees” means the two (2) joint and several guarantees one (1) to be executed by each of the Owners in favour of the Agent such guarantees to be in the form and on the terms and conditions agreed between the Lenders and the Borrower and as specified in paragraph 25 of Part I of Schedule 3; | |||
“Holding Company” has the meaning defined in the United Kingdom Companies Act 1985, Section 736 as substituted by the United Kingdom Companies Act 1989, Section 144; | |||
“Hull No S.669” means hull no S.669 at the yard of the Builder which, upon construction as a cruise vessel with two thousand three hundred and eighty four (2,384) lower berths, is to be delivered to Norwegian Pearl pursuant to the relevant Building Contract and registered in the name of Norwegian Pearl under the laws and flag of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; | |||
“Hull No S.670” means hull no S.670 at the yard of the Builder which, upon construction as a cruise vessel with two thousand three hundred and eighty four (2,384) lower berths, is to be delivered to Norwegian Gem pursuant to the relevant Building Contract and registered in the name of Norwegian Gem under the laws and flag of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; | |||
“Indebtedness for Borrowed Money” means Financial Indebtedness (whether present or future, actual or contingent, long-term or short-term, secured or unsecured) in respect of: |
(i) | moneys borrowed or raised; |
27
(ii) | the advance or extension of credit (including interest and other charges on or in respect of any of the foregoing); | ||
(iii) | the amount of any liability in respect of leases which, in accordance with US GAAP, are capital leases; | ||
(iv) | the amount of any liability in respect of the purchase price for assets or services payment of which is deferred for a period in excess of one hundred and eighty (180) days; | ||
(v) | all reimbursement obligations whether contingent or not in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar instrument; and | ||
(vi) | (without double counting) any guarantee of Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraphs (i) to (v) above; |
PROVIDED THAT the following shall not constitute Indebtedness for Borrowed Money: |
(a) | loans and advances made by other members of the NCLC Group which are subordinated to the rights of the Lenders; | ||
(b) | loans and advances made by any shareholder of the Borrower which are subordinated to the rights of the Lenders; and | ||
(c) | any Master Agreement Liabilities and any similar liabilities of the Borrower or any other member of the NCLC Group to a counterparty under any other master agreement relating to interest or currency exchange transactions of a non-speculative nature; |
“Insurance Assignments” means the two (2) valid and effective first legal assignments of the Insurances of the Vessels (together with the notices thereof) one (1) to be executed by each of the Owners in respect of its Vessel in favour of the Lenders and/or the Agent such assignments and notices to be in the form and on the terms and conditions agreed between the Lenders and the Borrower and as specified in paragraph 24.10 of Part I of Schedule 3; | |||
“Insurances” means all policies and contracts of insurance and entries of a Vessel in a protection and indemnity or war risks association which are effected in respect of that Vessel, her freights, disbursements, profits or otherwise and all benefits, including all claims and returns of premiums thereunder and shall also include all compensation payable by virtue of Compulsory Acquisition; | |||
“Interest Payment Date” means the last day of each Interest Period and if an Interest Period is longer than six (6) months’ duration the date falling at the end of each successive period of six (6) months during such Interest Period from its commencement; | |||
“Interest Period” means each period ascertained in accordance with Clause 5.2 or Clause 5.7; | |||
“Interest Rate” means the rate of interest applicable to a Drawing calculated in accordance with Clause 5.5, Clause 5.7 or Clause 6.3; |
28
“Investor I” means NCL Investment Ltd. a company organised and existing under the laws of Bermuda with its registered office at Clarendon House, 0 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx; | |||
“Investor II” means NCL Investment II Ltd. a company organised and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands with its registered office at c/o Walkers SPV Limited, Xxxxxx House, 87 Xxxx Street, Xxxxxx Town, Grand Cayman KY1-0000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx; | |||
“Investors” means Investor I and Investor II; | |||
“LIBOR” means with respect to any Interest Period with respect to a Dollar Drawing the rate of interest (expressed as an annual rate) determined by the Agent to be: |
(i) | the offered rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equivalent to such Interest Period which appears on the Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01 at or about 11.00 a.m. London time on the Quotation Date; or | ||
(ii) | if no rate is provided for the respective Interest Period on the Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01, the interpolated rate per annum for deposits in Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the Dollar Drawing as calculated by the Agent, such interpolated rate to be based on the Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01 PROVIDED THAT LIBOR for periods of less than one (1) week will be ascertained under sub-section (iii) below; |
OR (if Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01 is discontinued or if the Agent is unable to make the said determination due to technical breakdown in the relevant system or the Interest Period is less than one (1) week) |
(iii) | the arithmetic mean (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest one-sixteenth of one per cent (1/16%)) of the rates per annum notified to the Agent by each of the Reference Banks as the rate at which deposits in Dollars in an amount approximately equal to the Dollar Drawing are offered to such Reference Bank by leading banks in the London Interbank Market at such Reference Bank’s request at or about 11.00 a.m. London time on the Quotation Date for a period equal to the Interest Period and for delivery on the first Business Day thereof; |
“Lender” means: |
(i) | any Original Lender; and | ||
(ii) | any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a party to this Agreement in accordance with Clause 18, | ||
which in each case has not ceased to be a party to this Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; | |||
“Lending Branch” means in respect of the Agent and each Original Lender its office at the address set out beneath its name in Schedule 1 or such other office as it shall from time to time select and notify through the Agent to the Borrower and |
29
the Agent and in the case of any other Lender such office as it shall from time to time select and notify through the Agent to the Borrower and the Agent; | |||
“Lim Family” means: |
(i) | the late Tan Sri Xxx Xxx Xxxx; | ||
(ii) | his spouse; | ||
(iii) | his direct lineal descendants; | ||
(iv) | the personal estate of any of the above persons; and | ||
(v) | any trust created for the benefit of one or more of the above persons and their estates; |
“Lower Saxony Guaranteed Amount” means the amount guaranteed from time to time under a Lower Saxony Guarantee; | |||
“Lower Saxony Guarantees” means the two (2) guarantees to be issued by the German State of Lower Saxony in favour of the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent substantially in the form appended to the Borrower’s acknowledgements referred to in paragraph 20 of Part I of Schedule 3 as security for approximately but not more than eighty per cent (80%) of Portion B of each Maximum Tranche Amount, the maximum amount payable under each of such guarantees (assuming that the amount of three hundred and eleven million two hundred thousand euro (EUR311,200,000) is capable of being drawn down hereunder in respect of Tranche A and the amount of three hundred and twelve million eight hundred thousand euro (EUR312,800,000) is capable of being drawn down hereunder in respect of Tranche B) being sixty two million two hundred and forty thousand euro (EUR62,240,000) or the amount in Dollars agreed between the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the German State of Lower Saxony and approved by the Lenders if the currency option contained in Clause 3 is exercised; | |||
“Majority Lenders” means Lenders the aggregate of whose Commitments exceed sixty seven per cent (67%) of the aggregate total of the Commitments of all the Lenders; | |||
“Management Agreements” means the agreements entered into between the Owners and the Manager in respect of the Vessels providing for the commercial and technical management and crewing of the Vessels such agreements to be in the form and on the terms and conditions agreed between the Agent and the Borrower; | |||
“Management Agreement Assignments” means the two (2) valid and effective first legal assignments of the Management Agreements (together with the notices thereof and the acknowledgements) one (1) to be executed by each of the Owners in respect of its Vessel in favour of the Agent such assignments, notices and acknowledgements to be in the form and on the terms and conditions agreed between the Lenders and the Borrower; | |||
“Manager” means NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. of Xxxxxx House, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx, the company providing commercial and technical |
30
management and crewing services for the Vessels pursuant to the Management Agreements; | |||
“Mandatory Cost” means the cost imputed to a Lender of compliance with the mandatory liquid asset requirements of any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or other authority; | |||
“Master Agreement” means any ISDA Master Agreement (or any other form of master agreement relating to interest or currency exchange transactions of a non-speculative nature) entered into between a Lender or its Affiliate and the Borrower before the Signing Date in relation to the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and/or the Building Contracts, including each Schedule to any Master Agreement and each Confirmation exchanged under any Master Agreement; | |||
“Master Agreement Liabilities” means, at any relevant time, all liabilities of the Borrower to a Lender or its Affiliate (as the case may be) under the relevant Master Agreement, whether actual or contingent, present or future; | |||
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the validity or enforceability of any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or the rights or remedies of the Lenders or their Affiliates (as the case may be) thereunder (ii) the ability of any Obligor to perform its obligations under any of the Security Documents or (iii) the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower, either of the Owners or the NCLC Group taken as a whole; | |||
“Maturity Date” in relation to a Drawing means the last day of its Term; | |||
“Maximum Tranche Amount” means: |
(i) | before the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of a Tranche, the lower of (a) eighty per cent (80%) of the relevant Contract Price and (b) three hundred and eleven million two hundred thousand euro (EUR311,200,000) in the case of Tranche A and three hundred and twelve million eight hundred thousand euro (EUR312,800,000) in the case of Tranche B, as reduced from time to time pursuant to Clause 4.2; and | ||
(ii) | from the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of a Tranche, the Equivalent Amount of the amounts referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (i) of this definition, as reduced from time to time pursuant to Clause 4.2; |
“month” means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month save that, where any such period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, it shall end on the next Business Day, unless that day falls in the calendar month succeeding that in which it would otherwise have ended, in which case it shall end on the preceding Business Day PROVIDED THAT, if a period starts on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which that period ends, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that later month; |
31
“Mortgages” means the two (2) first priority statutory Bahamian ship mortgages and deeds of covenants collateral thereto one (1) to be granted by each of the Owners over its Vessel in each case in favour of the Lenders and/or the Agent as security pursuant hereto and to the Master Agreements such mortgages and deeds of covenants to be in the forms and on the terms and conditions agreed between the Lenders and the Borrower and as specified in paragraph 24.8 of Part I of Schedule 3; | |||
“NCL America Holdings” means NCL America Holdings, Inc. of Corporation Trust Center, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx; | |||
“NCLC Fleet” means the vessels owned by the companies in the NCLC Group; | |||
“NCLC Group” means the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries provided that for the purposes of the definitions of “Cash Balance”, “Consolidated Debt Service”, “Consolidated Interest Expense”, “Consolidated Net Income”, “Total Capitalisation” and “Total Net Funded Debt” in this Clause 1.1, Clause 10.2 and Clause 10.3 “NCLC Group” means the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and any other entity which is required to be consolidated in the Borrower’s accounts in accordance with US GAAP; | |||
“Norwegian Gem” means Norwegian Gem, Ltd. of Xxxxxx House, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx; | |||
“Norwegian Pearl” means Norwegian Pearl, Ltd. of Xxxxxx House, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx; | |||
“Obligors” means the Borrower, the Owners, the Shareholder, the Manager, any other Credit Support Provider and any other party from time to time to any of the Security Documents excluding the Agent, the Lenders and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent; | |||
“Outstanding Indebtedness” means all sums of any kind payable actually or contingently to the Agent or the Lenders under or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (whether by way of repayment of principal, payment of interest or default interest, payment of any indemnity or counter indemnity, reimbursement for fees, costs or expenses or otherwise howsoever) and any Master Agreement Liabilities; | |||
“Owners” means Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem; | |||
“Owner’s Supply Costs” means up to twenty five million euro (EUR25,000,000) being the cost of the Buyers’ Supplies (as defined in the relevant Building Contract) in respect of a Vessel; | |||
“Permitted Indebtedness” means monies borrowed or raised other than from any direct or indirect shareholder of the Borrower for the purpose of acquiring a vessel, or refinancing a vessel, for a member of the NCLC Group: |
(i) | prior to the Signing Date and notified by the Borrower to the Agent prior to the Signing Date; |
32
(ii) | hereunder; | ||
(iii) | after the Signing Date, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at arm’s length on usual terms and subject to the Borrower first notifying the Agent with full details of the amount(s) to be borrowed or raised and the Encumbrances to be created to secure the repayment of such monies; and | ||
(iv) | Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; |
“Permitted Liens” means (i) any Encumbrance created by or pursuant to the Security Documents (ii) liens on a Vessel up to an aggregate amount at any time not exceeding [*] for current crew’s wages and salvage and liens incurred in the ordinary course of trading a Vessel (iii) any deposits or pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders, bonds or contracts (iv) any other Encumbrance notified by any of the Obligors to the Agent prior to the Signing Date (v) without prejudice to Clause 10.11, any Encumbrance in respect of existing Financial Indebtedness of a person which becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged with or into the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (vi) liens on assets leased, acquired or upgraded after the Signing Date or assets newly constructed or converted after the Signing Date provided that (a) such liens secure Financial Indebtedness otherwise permitted under this Agreement (b) such liens are incurred within one (1) year following such lease, acquisition, upgrade, construction or conversion and (c) the Financial Indebtedness secured by such liens does not exceed the cost of such upgrade or the cost of such assets acquired or leased (vii) statutory and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business unrelated to Financial Indebtedness and securing obligations not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established (viii) without prejudice to Clause 12.1.9, liens arising out of the existence of judgments or awards in respect of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (ix) any other lien that may be created by the Borrower from time to time in the ordinary course of business and (x) any deposits, liens or other Encumbrances placed or incurred in connection with any bond or other surety from time to time provided to the US Federal Maritime Commission in order to comply with laws, regulations and rules applicable to the operators of passenger vessels operating to or from ports in the United States of America PROVIDED THAT the aggregate amount of all cash and the fair market value of all other property subject to such liens as are described in paragraphs (vi) to (ix) above does not exceed [*] and PROVIDED FURTHER THAT any such lien as is described in paragraphs (vii) to (ix) above does not imperil the security created by any of the Security Documents and/or affect the ability of any Obligor duly to perform any of its obligations under any Security Document to which it is or may be a party at any time, in each case in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders; | |||
“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any monies borrowed or raised at arm’s length on usual terms and other than from any direct or indirect shareholder of the Borrower which are used to refinance any Permitted Indebtedness including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; | |||
“Portion A” means (i) the first seventy five per cent (75%) of the Maximum Tranche Amount in respect of Tranche A or Tranche A (as the context may require) and (ii) the first seventy five point one three per cent (75.13%) of the |
33
Maximum Tranche Amount in respect of Tranche B or Tranche B (as the context may require); | |||
“Portion B” means (i) the last twenty five per cent (25%) of the Maximum Tranche Amount in respect of Tranche A or Tranche A (as the context may require) and (ii) the last twenty four point eight seven per cent (24.87%) of the Maximum Tranche Amount in respect of Tranche B or Tranche B (as the context may require); | |||
“Process Agent” means Clifford Chance Secretaries Limited whose registered office is presently at 00 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX or any other person in England nominated by the Borrower or any other Obligor and approved by the Agent as agent to accept service of legal proceedings on their behalf under any of the Security Documents; | |||
“Quotation Date” means, in relation to any Interest Period, the day on which quotations would ordinarily be given in the relevant interbank eurocurrency market for Dollar or euro (as the case may be) deposits for delivery on the first day of that Interest Period PROVIDED THAT if such quotation date is not a Business Day the quotation date shall be the preceding Business Day; | |||
“Reduction Dates” means, in respect of each Tranche, subject to the provisions of Clause 4, (i) the last day of each of the twenty three (23) consecutive periods of six (6) months the first such period commencing on the relevant Delivery Date and the twenty third (23rd) such period terminating eleven and a half (111/2) years thereafter and (ii) the relevant Final Maturity Date; | |||
“Reference Banks” means the principal London offices (if any) of the Lead Arrangers and the Co-Arrangers; | |||
“Reimbursement Agreement” means the reimbursement and distribution agreement dated 17 August 2007, by and among Xxxxxxxx X, the Borrower and Star; | |||
“Renewal Date”, in relation to any Drawing, means a date on which that Drawing is extended by any Renewal Notice for such Drawing; | |||
“Renewal Notice” means a notice to be given by the Borrower to the Agent to extend the period of a Term; | |||
“Restatement Date” has the meaning set out in the Second Supplemental Deed; | |||
“Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01” means the display currently designated as Reuters BBA Page LIBOR 01, which includes London Interbank Offered Rates of four (4) major banks, which are members of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such other service as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for displaying the London Interbank Offered Rates of major banks in the London Interbank Market; | |||
“Same Day Funds” means Dollar funds settled through the New York Clearing House Interbank Payments System or euro funds settled through TARGET or such other funds for payment in Dollars or euro (as the case may be) as the Agent shall specify by notice to the Borrower as being customary at the time for the |
34
settlement of international transactions in New York or Frankfurt am Main (as the case may be) of the type contemplated by this Agreement; | |||
“Second Supplemental Deed” means the second supplemental deed dated 21 December 2007 to this Agreement; | |||
“Security Documents” means this Agreement, the Charges, the Mortgages, the Guarantees, the Earnings Assignments, the Insurance Assignments, the Management Agreement Assignments, the Master Agreements and any other Credit Support Documents, the commitment letter referred to in Clause 14.2 and any other fee letter in relation to the Facility and all such other documents as may be executed at any time in favour of the Agent, the Lenders and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent as security for the obligations of the Borrower and/or the other Obligors whether executed pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement or otherwise howsoever but excluding the Lower Saxony Guarantees; | |||
“Security Period” means the period beginning on the first Advance Date and ending on the date on which the amounts outstanding under this Agreement and under each of the other Security Documents are finally and irrevocably repaid and/or cancelled in full; | |||
“Shareholder” means NCL International, Ltd. of Xxxxxx House, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx; | |||
“Shareholders’ Agreement” means the shareholders’ agreement dated 17 August 2007 made or to be made between Star, the Investors (directly in the case of Investor I and by way of joinder in the case of Investor II) and the Borrower; | |||
“Signing Date” means the date of this Agreement; | |||
“Star” means Star Cruises Limited a company organised and existing under the laws of Bermuda with its registered office at Canon’s Court, 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX 00, Xxxxxxx; | |||
“Subscription Agreement” means the subscription agreement dated 17 August 2007 made or to be made between Star, the Investors (directly in the case of Investor I and by way of assignment in the case of Investor II) and the Borrower; | |||
“Subsidiary” has the meaning defined in the United Kingdom Companies Act 1985, Section 736 as substituted by the United Kingdom Companies Act 1989, Section 144; | |||
“Substitute Basis” means an alternative basis for maintaining a Drawing certified by the Agent pursuant to Clause 6.3.1; | |||
“Suspension Notice” means a notice given by the Agent to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 6.1; | |||
“TARGET” means trans European automated real time gross settlement express transfer system; | |||
“Taxes” means all present and future income and other taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, compulsory liens and withholdings whatsoever together with interest |
35
thereon and penalties with respect thereto, if any, and any payments made on or in respect thereof and “Taxation” shall be construed accordingly; | |||
“Term” means, in relation to a Drawing, the last day of the Interest Period in respect of that Drawing as specified in the Drawdown Notice for such Drawing and as extended by any Renewal Notice for such Drawing PROVIDED THAT no Event of Default has occurred before the relevant Renewal Date and the renewal of such Drawing would not constitute an Event of Default and PROVIDED THAT the Term shall not extend beyond the relevant Final Maturity Date; | |||
“Third Party” means any person or group of persons acting in concert (as the expression “acting in concert” is defined in the City Code on Take-overs and Mergers) who or which is not a member of the Lim Family or Apollo; | |||
“Total Capitalisation” means, at any date of determination, Total Net Funded Debt plus the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the NCLC Group at such date determined in accordance with US GAAP and derived from the then latest unaudited and consolidated accounts of the NCLC Group delivered to the Agent in the case of the first three (3) quarters of each financial year and the then latest Accounts delivered to the Agent in the case of the final quarter of each financial year; | |||
“Total Funded Debt” means, as at any relevant date, Total Net Funded Debt excluding Indebtedness for Borrowed Money related to vessels under construction for a member of the NCLC Group; | |||
“Total Loss” means any actual or constructive or arranged or agreed or compromised total loss or Compulsory Acquisition of a Vessel; | |||
“Total Net Funded Debt” means, as at any relevant date: |
(i) | Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of the NCLC Group; and | ||
(ii) | the amount of any Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of any person which is not a member of the NCLC Group but which is guaranteed by a member of the NCLC Group as at such date; |
less an amount equal to any Cash Balance as at such date; | |||
“Tranche A” means, of the Facility, the revolving credit facility granted hereunder in the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount or (as the context may require) the principal amount thereof for the time being advanced and outstanding under this Agreement; | |||
“Tranche A Availability Period” means the period beginning on the Delivery Date in respect of Hull No S.669 and ending one (1) month before the relevant Final Maturity Date; | |||
“Tranche B” means, of the Facility, the revolving credit facility granted hereunder in the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount or (as the context may require) the principal amount thereof for the time being advanced and outstanding under this Agreement; |
36
“Tranche B Availability Period” means the period beginning on the Delivery Date in respect of Hull No S.670 and ending one (1) month before the relevant Final Maturity Date; | |||
“Tranches” means Tranche A and Tranche B; | |||
“Transaction” means a transaction entered into between a Lender or its Affiliate (as the case may be) and the Borrower governed by the relevant Master Agreement; | |||
“Transaction Documents” means the Security Documents, the Building Contracts, the Drawdown Notices, the Renewal Notices, the Management Agreements and any other material document now or hereafter issued in connection with the documents or the transaction herein referred to but excluding the Lower Saxony Guarantees; | |||
“Transfer Certificate” means the certificate attached hereto as Schedule 5; | |||
“Transfer Date” means, in relation to any Transfer Certificate, the date specified in such Transfer Certificate as the date for the making of the transfer or, where such transfer is specified as being subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, the date on which the Agent receives a certificate from the Lender making the transfer confirming that all such conditions have been fulfilled; | |||
“Transferee” means any reputable bank acceptable to the Agent which becomes a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to Clause 18; | |||
“US GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America consistently applied (or, if not consistently applied, accompanied by details of the inconsistencies) including, without limitation, those set forth in the opinion and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board; and | |||
“Vessels” means: |
(i) | Hull No S.669; and | ||
(ii) | Hull No S.670. |
1.2 | Construction | ||
In this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires: |
1.2.1 | clause headings are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction of this Agreement; | ||
1.2.2 | references to Clauses and to Schedules are to be construed as references to clauses of and schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise stated and references to this Agreement are to be construed as references to this Agreement including its Schedules; | ||
1.2.3 | subject to Clause 9.2.21 and Clause 9.1, references to (or to any specified provision of) this Agreement or any other document shall be construed as |
37
references to this Agreement, that provision or that document as from time to time amended, supplemented and/or novated; | |||
1.2.4 | references to any Act or any statutory instrument shall be construed as references to that Act or that statutory instrument as from time to time re-enacted, amended or supplemented; | ||
1.2.5 | references to any party to this Agreement or any other document shall include reference to such party’s successors and permitted assigns; | ||
1.2.6 | words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa; | ||
1.2.7 | references to a person shall be construed as references to an individual, firm, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any state or any agency thereof; | ||
1.2.8 | where any matter requires the approval or consent of the Agent such approval or consent shall not be deemed to have been given unless given in writing; where any matter is required to be acceptable to the Agent shall not be deemed to have accepted such matter unless its acceptance is communicated in writing; the Agent may give or withhold its consent, approval or acceptance at its unfettered discretion; and | ||
1.2.9 | a certificate by the Agent as to any amount due or calculation made hereunder shall be conclusive except for manifest error. |
1.3 | Agent | ||
The Agent has been appointed by the Lenders and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent as agent under Clause 20.3 and (unless the context otherwise requires) references herein to the Agent shall be construed as references to itself, the Lenders and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent. The Borrower shall only communicate with the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Security Documents through the Agent and as hereinafter referred to. | |||
1.4 | Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent | ||
The Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent has been appointed by the Lenders and the Agent as agent under Clause 20.3 and (unless the context otherwise requires) references herein to the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall be construed as references to itself, the Lenders and the Agent. | |||
1.5 | Third party rights | ||
A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or to enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement. |
2 | The Facility |
2.1 | Availability |
2.1.1 | The Lenders grant to the Borrower the Facility which is of a revolving nature. Each Tranche shall be available to the Borrower during the |
38
relevant Availability Period subject to the provisions of Clause 2.2, Clause 2.3 and Clause 3. Each Drawing shall be repaid on its Maturity Date. However, a Term may be extended to the end of the succeeding Interest Period in respect of that Drawing by the giving of a Renewal Notice by the Borrower to the Agent not later than 9.00 a.m. London time five (5) Business Days prior to the commencement of the relevant Interest Period. | |||
2.1.2 | Each Lender shall advance its Contribution to a Drawing in the proportion which its Commitment for the time being bears to the other Commitments of the Lenders to the relevant Tranche. | ||
2.1.3 | None of the Agent or any other Lender shall be liable for any failure or delay on the part of any Lender in making any advance hereunder nor shall the Agent have any obligation to seek to procure additional Lenders in the event of such a failure PROVIDED THAT if any Lender should fail to advance its Contribution to an advance hereunder, that Xxxxxx and the Agent will take all reasonable steps to mitigate the effect of that failure. Notwithstanding the aforesaid proviso, no Lender shall be obliged to increase its Contribution hereunder in respect of the failure by any other Lender to fund any Contribution. |
2.2 | Purpose and Application | ||
The Borrower shall apply or procure the application by the Owners of the Facility as follows: |
2.2.1 | An amount of Tranche A equal to the amount due to the Builder under the relevant Building Contract on the relevant Delivery Date shall be applied in part payment of the relevant Contract Price. If the whole or any part of Tranche A is prepaid in accordance with Clause 4 such whole or part may be applied for general corporate and working capital purposes for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and | ||
2.2.2 | An amount of Tranche B equal to the amount due to the Builder under the relevant Building Contract on the relevant Delivery Date shall be applied in part payment of the relevant Contract Price. If the whole or any part of Tranche B is prepaid in accordance with Clause 4 such whole or part may be applied for general corporate and working capital purposes for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. |
None of the Lenders or the Agent shall be bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed under this Agreement. | |||
2.3 | Drawdown | ||
The Borrower shall only draw down a Drawing if: |
2.3.1 | the Agent receives at least five (5) Business Days’ notice of the Borrower’s request for the Drawing in the form of Schedule 2; | ||
2.3.2 | the Advance Date proposed is a Business Day within the relevant Availability Period; |
39
2.3.3 | the first Drawing in respect of a Tranche is to be applied in part payment of the relevant Contract Price due to the Builder under the relevant Building Contract on the relevant Delivery Date; | ||
2.3.4 | the Drawing is in a minimum amount of one million euro (EUR1,000,000) in the case of a euro Drawing or one million Dollars (USD1,000,000) in the case of a Dollar Drawing or a whole multiple thereof; | ||
2.3.5 | on any Advance Date not more than five (5) Drawings will be outstanding in respect of the relevant Tranche; | ||
2.3.6 | the drawdown of the Drawing would not result in the amount of the relevant Tranche exceeding the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount on the Advance Date; | ||
2.3.7 | no Event of Default has occurred before the relevant Advance Date and such drawing would not constitute an Event of Default; | ||
2.3.8 | the representations and warranties set out in Clause 9 and each of the other Security Documents are correct on the relevant Advance Date; | ||
2.3.9 | no written notice has been received indicating that the Lower Saxony Guarantees do not, or the relevant Lower Guarantee does not (as the case may be), validly exist without restriction; and | ||
2.3.10 | it is then lawful for each of the Lenders to make available its relevant Contribution to the Drawing; |
PROVIDED THAT the Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 3.1 if, on the relevant Advance Date or on the commencement of the relevant Interest Period, no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the conversion and the representations made by the Borrower under Clause 9 are true in all material respects. | |||
Each Drawing advanced under this Clause 2.3 shall be deemed to have been advanced pro rata from Portion A and Portion B of the relevant Tranche. | |||
2.4 | Break costs | ||
If for any reason a Drawing is not drawn down by the Borrower hereunder after the relevant Drawdown Notice has been given to the Agent pursuant to Clause 2.3, the Borrower will pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders such amount as the Agent may certify as necessary to compensate the Lenders (other than any Lender whose default has caused the Drawing not to be drawn down) for any loss (including any losses under any Master Agreements) or expense on account of funds borrowed, contracted for or utilised in order to fund its Contribution to the Drawing. Each Lender shall supply to the Agent a certificate of break costs which in the absence of manifest error shall be conclusive as to the amounts due. |
40
2.5 | Conditions of drawdown | ||
The Agent shall not be under any obligation to advance a Drawing hereunder until all the documents and evidence referred to in the relevant part of Part I of Schedule 3 are in the possession of the Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. | |||
2.6 | Several obligations of the Lenders | ||
The obligations and rights of each Lender hereunder are several and if for any reason the Borrower receives an amount greater than the aggregate of the Contributions to the Drawing, the Borrower forthwith upon the demand of the Agent shall pay to the Agent (for the account of those Xxxxxxx whose Contributions were exceeded) the amount certified by the Agent as representing the excess of the amount paid to the Borrower over the due and proper amount of the Contributions of the Lenders actually received by the Agent. | |||
2.7 | Xxxxxx’s failure to perform | ||
Subject to Clause 2.1.3, the failure by a Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower towards any other party hereto nor shall any such other party be liable for the failure by such Xxxxxx to perform its obligations hereunder. | |||
2.8 | Fulfilment of conditions after drawdown | ||
If the Lenders, acting unanimously, decide (or the Agent in accordance with Clause 20 decides) to permit the advance of a Drawing to the Borrower hereunder without the Agent having received all of the documents or evidence referred to in the relevant part or parts of Part I of Schedule 3, the Borrower will nevertheless deliver the remaining documents or evidence to the Agent within such period as the Agent may stipulate and the advance of the Drawing shall not be construed as a waiver of the Agent’s right to receive the documents or evidence as aforesaid nor shall this provision impose on the Agent or the Lenders any obligation to permit the advance of the Drawing in the absence of any of such documents or evidence. | |||
2.9 | Conditions subsequent | ||
The Borrower undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered to the Agent the additional documents and other evidence listed in Part II of Schedule 3. |
3 | Currency Option |
3.1 | Selection of Dollars | ||
The selection of Dollars as the currency in which a Drawing is denominated is subject to the conditions of, and the observance of the restrictions to, conversion set out in Clause 3.3. The Borrower may in accordance with this Clause 3.1 select Dollars as the currency in which it wishes a Drawing to be denominated. A selection shall be made either by the Borrower: |
41
3.1.1 | specifying the Dollar amount to be advanced in the Drawdown Notice relating to the relevant Drawing; or | ||
3.1.2 | giving notice to the Agent to be received by the Agent not later than 9.00 a.m. London time five (5) Business Days prior to the commencement of the next Interest Period relating to the Drawing pursuant to Clause 5.2. |
3.2 | Conversion | ||
If the Borrower selects Dollars as the currency in which a Drawing is to be made in accordance with Clause 3.1, the Drawing shall be converted from euro into Dollars on, and with effect from, the beginning of the relevant Interest Period. The Drawing shall remain denominated in Dollars until its Maturity Date and no further Drawings of the relevant Tranche may be made in euro. Further, the Maturity Date of any euro Drawing of the relevant Tranche shall be the next Interest Payment Date in respect of that Drawing (notwithstanding the Maturity Date previously selected for the Drawing), on which date the Drawing shall be repaid in accordance with Clause 4.1. | |||
3.3 | Conditions and restrictions to conversion | ||
The conversion into and denomination of any Drawing in Dollars shall be subject to Clause 2.3 and the following: |
3.3.1 | any Drawing up to the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount is available for conversion; | ||
3.3.2 | no Drawing may at any time be converted into and/or denominated in more than one (1) currency and any Drawdown Notice or other written instruction from the Borrower requesting otherwise shall be of no effect; | ||
3.3.3 | a Drawing may only be converted into and denominated in Dollars if deposits in Dollars for the amount of the Drawing and for the Interest Period selected are available to the Lenders in the London Interbank Market in the ordinary course of business on the relevant date. If such deposits are not so available to the Lenders, the Drawing in question shall be advanced and denominated or remain denominated (as the case may be) in euro; | ||
3.3.4 | the Agent being in possession of evidence in form and substance satisfactory to it that from the relevant first Currency Conversion Date the sums insured under the Insurances of the relevant Vessel will be denominated in Dollars in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Mortgage; and | ||
3.3.5 | the Agent having been able to arrange for the sums insured under the mortgagee interest insurance and the mortgagee interest insurance for pollution risks (each as more particularly described in the relevant Mortgage) to be in Dollars from the relevant first Currency Conversion Date. |
42
3.4 | Repayment in same currency | ||
During each Interest Period in respect of a Dollar Drawing, the obligation of the Borrower to repay that Drawing in accordance with Clause 4.1 or Clause 4.5 and to pay interest in respect of that Drawing shall be an obligation to repay the Drawing and to pay interest (and any default interest pursuant to Clause 5.7) in respect of the Drawing in Dollars. | |||
3.5 | Exercise of currency option | ||
All losses, damages, expenses, profits or currency risks arising from the exercise of the currency option contained in this Clause 3 shall be for the account of the Borrower. | |||
3.6 | No prepayment | ||
The conversion of a euro Drawing into Dollars or the operation of this Clause 3 shall not constitute or be construed as a prepayment pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4. | |||
3.7 | No discharge | ||
Notwithstanding the drawdown of a euro Drawing or the subsequent conversion of the relevant euro Drawing into Dollars it is expressly acknowledged and agreed by the parties hereto that the Security Documents shall remain in full force and effect and that they shall stand as security for the Facility in whatever currency or currencies it is for the time being denominated. |
4 | Repayment, Reduction, Cancellation and Prepayment of the Facility |
4.1 | Repayment | ||
The Borrower shall repay each Drawing on its Maturity Date in the currency in which it was made available. If a Drawing (the “new Drawing”) is to be made on a day on which another Drawing (the “maturing Drawing”) is due to be repaid then, subject to the terms of this Agreement: |
4.1.1 | the maturing Drawing shall be deemed to have been repaid on its Maturity Date either in whole (if the new Drawing is equal to or greater than the maturing Drawing) or in part (if the new Drawing is less than the maturing Drawing); and | ||
4.1.2 | to the extent that the maturing Drawing is so deemed to have been repaid, the principal amount of the new Drawing to be made on such date shall be deemed to have been credited to the account of the Borrower by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Lenders shall only be obliged to make available to the Borrower pursuant to Clause 2.3 a principal amount equal to the amount by which the new Drawing exceeds the maturing Drawing. |
On a Final Maturity Date, all relevant outstanding Drawings and other sums (if any) then owing under this Agreement shall in any event be repaid or paid in full. |
43
4.2 | Scheduled reductions of Commitments to a Tranche |
4.2.1 | Subject to the second paragraph of this Clause 4.2.1, on each of the first twenty three (23) Reduction Dates in respect of a Tranche the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount as at the relevant Delivery Date shall be reduced in euro by one thirtieth (1/30th) and on the Final Maturity Date the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount as at the relevant Delivery Date shall be reduced in euro by seven thirtieths (7/30ths). | ||
If the Borrower exercises the currency option contained in Clause 3 after the first Reduction Date in respect of a Tranche the amounts of the reductions to be made in Dollars on the Reduction Dates in respect of that Tranche falling after the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of that Tranche shall be calculated on the first of such Reduction Dates by dividing the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount as at the relevant Reduction Date by the number of one thirtieths (1/30ths) of the Tranche which have not been reduced prior to that Reduction Date. A reduction schedule setting out the amounts of the reductions to be made in Dollars on the Reduction Dates remaining after the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of that Tranche shall be agreed between the Agent and the Borrower on the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of that Tranche and shall from such date be deemed to be a part of this Agreement. Any reduction to be made on a Reduction Date in respect of a Tranche falling on or prior to the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of that Tranche shall be made in euro. | |||
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent in euro or in Dollars (as the case may be) all accrued interest on the reduction amount to that Reduction Date. Amounts repaid by the Borrower pursuant to this Clause 4.2.1 shall not be available for reborrowing. | |||
4.2.2 | Without prejudice to any other provision of this Agreement, the Commitments to a Tranche shall be reduced to zero on the relevant Final Maturity Date. |
4.3 | Sale or Total Loss of a Vessel: mandatory cancellation | ||
If at any time during the Security Period a Vessel is sold or is or becomes a Total Loss, the Commitments to the relevant Tranche shall be reduced to zero on the date on which the proceeds of such sale or Total Loss are made available. | |||
4.4 | Amounts payable on prepayment | ||
Any prepayment of a Drawing or a Tranche under this Clause 4 shall be made together with: |
4.4.1 | accrued interest on the amount to be prepaid to the date of such prepayment (calculated in respect of any period during which a Substitute Basis has applied by virtue of Clause 6.3, at the rate per annum more particularly described in Clause 6.2); | ||
4.4.2 | any additional amounts payable under Clause 7.2 and Clause 8.1; |
44
4.4.3 | costs certified by the Agent as necessary to compensate the Lenders for the cost of repaying fixed deposits borrowed to fund any part of any Drawing or the Tranche which is prepaid before the relevant Maturity Date or the fixed term by reference to which the relevant Interest Rate has been ascertained; and | ||
4.4.4 | all other sums payable by the Borrower to the relevant Lender or the German State of Lower Saxony under this Agreement including, without limitation, any accrued commitment fee payable under Clause 14.1 and any accrued Lower Saxony Guarantee fee payable under Clause 14.3. |
4.5 | Notice of prepayment | ||
No voluntary prepayment of a Drawing may be effected under this Clause 4 unless the Borrower shall have given the Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ notice of its intention to make such prepayment. Every notice of prepayment shall be effective only on actual receipt by the Agent, shall be irrevocable, shall specify the amount to be prepaid and shall oblige the Borrower to make such prepayment on the date specified. Unless and to the extent that the Commitments to a Tranche are cancelled or reduced on or with effect from the date of any such prepayment, amounts prepaid may be re-drawn under this Agreement. The Borrower may not prepay any Drawing or any part thereof save as expressly provided in this Agreement. | |||
The Drawing(s) to be wholly or partially prepaid pursuant to Clause 4.2.1 and Clause 4.8 shall be selected by the Borrower by not fewer than five (5) Business Days’ notice to the Agent, which shall be irrevocable. The Borrower shall not be permitted to make any selection pursuant to this Clause which would result in partial prepayment of more than one (1) Drawing. If the Borrower fails to give notice to the Agent selecting the Drawing(s) to be prepaid, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected to prepay first any Drawings having an Interest Period ending on the Reduction Date in question. If there are no such Drawings or the aggregate amount of the Drawing(s) having an Interest Period ending on the Reduction Date in question either exceeds or falls short of the amount required to be prepaid, the Borrower shall prepay, in full or in part, the Drawing(s) selected by the Agent. |
45
4.6 | Voluntary cancellation of Commitments to a Tranche | ||
The Borrower may at any time during an Availability Period by notice to the Agent (effective only on actual receipt) cancel with effect from a date not less than five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Agent of such notice the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of ten million euro (EUR10,000,000) or ten million Dollars (USD10,000,000) (as the case may be) or a whole multiple thereof but not more than the Available Commitments of all of the Lenders to the relevant Tranche as at such date) of the total of the Available Commitments to the relevant Tranche as at such date of all the Lenders. Any such notice of cancellation, once given, shall be irrevocable and upon such cancellation taking effect the Commitment of each of the Lenders to the relevant Tranche shall be permanently reduced proportionately and the Borrower shall on the date designated in its notice prepay such amount of the outstanding Drawings as will ensure that immediately thereafter the aggregate amount of the Drawings will not exceed the Commitments to the relevant Tranche as so reduced by virtue of the Borrower’s cancellation. | |||
4.7 | Additional partial cancellation | ||
The Borrower may also at any time during an Availability Period by notice to the Agent (effective only on actual receipt) cancel with effect from a date not less than five (5) Business Days after receipt by the Agent of such notice the whole but not part only, but without prejudice to its obligations under Clause 7.2 and Clause 8.1, of the Commitment to the relevant Tranche of any Lender to which the Borrower shall have become obliged to pay additional amounts under Clause 7.2 or Clause 8.1. Upon any notice of such prepayment being given, the Commitment of the relevant Lender to the relevant Tranche shall be reduced to zero and the Borrower shall be obliged to prepay the Contribution of such Lender to the relevant Tranche on such date. | |||
4.8 | Prepayment during Term | ||
The Borrower may at any time by notice to the Agent (effective only on actual receipt) prepay the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of ten million euro (EUR10,000,000) or ten million Dollars (USD10,000,000) (as the case may be) or such lesser amount as is acceptable to the Agent) of any Drawing prior to its Maturity Date on not less than five (5) Business Days’ notice (whether or not any part of the Commitment to the relevant Tranche is also being cancelled on such date pursuant to any provision of this Agreement) and the Borrower shall when making such prepayment, make such prepayment together with any amounts as referred to in Clause 4.4. | |||
4.9 | Mandatory cancellation in case of illegality | ||
If any change in, or in the interpretation or application of, any law, regulation or treaty shall make it unlawful in any jurisdiction applicable to any of the Lenders for that Lender to make available or maintain its Contribution to a Tranche or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby, the Agent may, by notice thereof to the Borrower, declare that the relevant Lender’s obligations shall be terminated forthwith whereupon (if any of the relevant Tranche has then been advanced) the Borrower shall prepay forthwith to the relevant Lender its Contribution to the Tranche together with interest thereon to the date of such |
46
prepayment and all other amounts due to such Lender under Clause 4.4 and under the Security Documents (or, if permitted by the relevant law, regulation or treaty, at the end of the then current Interest Period). | |||
A Lender affected by any provision of this Clause 4.9 shall promptly inform the Agent after becoming aware of the relevant change and the Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, notify the Borrower of the change and its possible results. Without affecting the Borrower’s obligations under this Clause 4.9 and in consultation with the Agent, the affected Lender will then take all such reasonable steps as may be open to it to mitigate the effect of the change (for example (and if then possible and subject to the prior consent of the German State of Lower Saxony) by changing its Lending Branch or transferring some or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to another financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Agent). The reasonable costs of mitigating the effect of any such change shall be borne by the Borrower save where such costs are of an internal administrative nature and are not incurred in dealings by any Lender with third parties. | |||
4.10 | Voluntary cancellation following imposition of Substitute Basis | ||
The Borrower may notify the Agent within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt of a certificate from the Agent of a Substitute Basis under Clause 6.3 whether or not it wishes to cancel a Tranche or the relevant part thereof, in which event the Borrower shall forthwith cancel the Tranche or such relevant part thereof and prepay such amount of the outstanding Drawings as will ensure that immediately thereafter the aggregate of the amount of the Drawings will not exceed the Commitments to the Tranche or relevant part thereof as so reduced by virtue of the Borrower’s cancellation. | |||
4.11 | Cancellation in case of Total Loss of a Vessel | ||
If a Vessel is or becomes a Total Loss, then the Borrower will, within thirty (30) days thereof or, if the Agent is satisfied in its sole discretion that the Total Loss is adequately covered by the Insurances and that the relevant insurance proceeds will be payable to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders within one hundred and fifty (150) days thereof, by no later than the date which is one hundred and fifty (150) days after the date of the event giving rise to such Total Loss cancel and prepay the relevant Tranche in accordance with Clause 4.3 and Clause 13.1. | |||
For the purposes of this Clause 4.11, a Total Loss shall be deemed to have occurred: |
4.11.1 | if it consists of an actual loss, at noon Greenwich Mean Time on the actual date of loss or, if that is not known, on the date on which the Vessel was last heard of; | ||
4.11.2 | if it consists of a Compulsory Acquisition, at noon Greenwich Mean Time on the date on which the requisition is expressed to take effect by the person requisitioning the Vessel; or | ||
4.11.3 | if it consists of a constructive or compromised or arranged or agreed total loss or damage to the Vessel rendering repair impracticable or uneconomical or rendering the Vessel permanently unfit for normal use, at |
47
noon Greenwich Mean Time on the date on which notice claiming the loss of the Vessel is given to its insurers. |
4.12 | Cancellation in case of sale of a Vessel | ||
If a Vessel is sold by the relevant Owner with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders (which consent is not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), then the Borrower will concurrent with completion of the sale cancel and prepay the relevant Tranche in accordance with Clause 4.3 and Clause 13.1. Subject to Clause 4.4, prepayment of a Tranche consequent upon the permitted sale of the relevant Vessel shall absolve the Borrower from any liability to pay prepayment fees or costs other than legal, registration or other costs incurred in relation to the release and discharge of the Security Documents and the release of the relevant Lower Saxony Guarantee. | |||
4.13 | Cancellation in case of non-delivery of a Vessel | ||
If Hull No S.669 has not been delivered to Norwegian Pearl within two hundred and forty (240) days after 8 February 2007 or Hull No S.670 has not been delivered to Norwegian Gem within two hundred and forty (240) days after 1 October 2007 the relevant Tranche will be cancelled. | |||
4.14 | Cancellation in case of reduction in the Owners’ Supply Costs | ||
If the amount of a Tranche advanced on the Delivery Date of the relevant Vessel exceeds the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount when the Owners’ Supply Costs in respect of the relevant Vessel, as evidenced by the information to be provided pursuant to paragraph 1 of Part II of Schedule 3, are determined, the Borrower shall forthwith cancel the relevant Tranche and prepay the relevant outstanding Drawings in each case by such an amount that the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount is no longer exceeded, in accordance with Clause 4.4 and Clause 13.2. |
5 | Interest |
5.1 | Payment of interest | ||
The Borrower shall pay interest on each Drawing at the Interest Rate applicable for each Interest Period in respect thereof which interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date. | |||
5.2 | Selection and duration of Interest Periods | ||
The Borrower may give notice to the Agent to be received by the Agent not later than 9.00 a.m. London time five (5) Business Days prior to the commencement of each Interest Period, specifying whether that Interest Period is to be of one (1), three (3) or six (6) months’ duration or of such other period as the Borrower and all the Lenders may agree PROVIDED THAT no more than three (3) Interest Periods of one (1) month’s duration may be requested in any one (1) calendar year in respect of a Tranche. Interest Periods shall commence, in the case of the first in respect of a Drawing, on the relevant Advance Date and, in the case of Interest Periods other than the first, on the expiry of the preceding Interest Period. Each Interest Period shall, subject to the following provisions of this Clause 5, be of a |
48
duration selected by the Borrower as above PROVIDED THAT the final Interest Period in respect of a Drawing shall end on the Maturity Date of that Drawing. | |||
5.3 | No notice and unavailability | ||
If the Borrower fails to select an Interest Period in accordance with Clause 5.2 or the Agent certifies that deposits for the period selected by the Borrower are not available to each of the Lenders in the ordinary course of business in the relevant interbank eurocurrency market to fund the Drawing, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of three (3) months (or such other period as the Agent may in its sole discretion decide). | |||
5.4 | Extension and shortening of Interest Periods |
5.4.1 | If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, the Interest Period shall be extended until the next following Business Day unless the next following Business Day falls in the next calendar month in which case the Interest Period will be shortened to expire on the preceding Business Day. | ||
5.4.2 | If an Interest Period commences on the last Business Day in a month and if there is no day in the month in which the Interest Period will end which corresponds numerically to the day on which it begins, the Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in that month. |
5.5 | Interest Rate | ||
Subject to Clause 5.7 and Clause 6, the rate of interest applicable to a Drawing during an Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of EURIBOR or LIBOR (as the case may be), the Applicable Margin and Mandatory Costs. | |||
5.6 | Bank basis | ||
Interest, commitment fee and any other payments hereunder or under the commitment letter referred to in Clause 14.2 or any other fee letter of an annual nature shall accrue from day to day and be computed on the basis of a year of three hundred and sixty (360) days and for the actual number of days elapsed. | |||
5.7 | Default interest | ||
If the Borrower fails to pay on the due date any sum due under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents to which it may at any time be a party, the Borrower shall, without affecting any other remedy of the Agent or the Lenders, on demand pay interest on such sum from the due date to the actual date of payment (as well after as before judgment). Such interest shall accrue on a daily basis at the higher of the Interest Rate fixed for the latest Interest Period and the rate computed by the Agent and certified by the Agent to the Borrower as being the aggregate of (a) the Applicable Margin, Mandatory Costs and two per cent (2%) and (b) the greater of (i) in the case of the Lenders, the average (rounded upwards if necessary to the next integral multiple of one-sixteenth of one per cent (1/16%)) of the respective rates per annum at which each of the Lenders is able to acquire in accordance with its normal practice deposits in euro or Dollars (as the case may be) in successive periods of one (1) month (or for such shorter period as the Agent may in its sole discretion select) in the relevant interbank eurocurrency market in an amount equivalent to or comparable with its relevant Contribution to such sum, and, in the case of the Agent, the rate per annum at which it is able to acquire in accordance with its normal practice deposits in euro or Dollars (as the |
49
case may be) in successive periods of one (1) month (or for such shorter period as the Agent may in its sole discretion select) in the relevant interbank eurocurrency market in an amount equivalent to such sum, as at approximately 11.00 a.m. Brussels time (in the case of euro) and as at approximately 11.00 a.m. London time (in the case of Dollars) on any relevant day and (ii) in the case of the Lenders, the average (rounded upwards if necessary to the next integral multiple of one-sixteenth of one per cent (1/16%)) of the cost to each of the Lenders of funding its relevant Contribution to such sum, and, in the case of the Agent, the cost of funding such sum, such interest to be compounded at the end of the period selected by the Agent and to be payable on demand. In the event of EURIBOR or LIBOR (as the case may be) not being available then the Agent shall in its discretion use the Substitute Basis for its calculation as set out in Clause 6.3. |
6 | Substitute Basis of Funding |
6.1 | Market disturbance | ||
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if prior to the commencement of any Interest Period the Agent shall determine in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding on the parties hereto) that: |
6.1.1 | by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant interbank eurocurrency market adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the Interest Rate during such Interest Period pursuant to Clause 5; or | ||
6.1.2 | deposits in euro or Dollars (as the case may be) of equal duration to such Interest Period will not be available to any of the Lenders in the relevant interbank eurocurrency market in sufficient amounts in the ordinary course of business to fund its relevant Contribution during such Interest Period; or | ||
6.1.3 | by reason of any material change in applicable law or regulation or of any change in national or international financial or economic conditions any of the Lenders is unable to fund or to continue to fund its relevant Contribution during such Interest Period by deposits obtained in the relevant interbank eurocurrency market, |
then the Agent shall promptly give a notice (being a Suspension Notice), containing full particulars thereof in reasonable detail to the Borrower. | |||
6.2 | Suspension of drawdown | ||
If a Suspension Notice is given by the Agent before the advance of a Drawing in accordance with Clause 2 then the Agent shall not be obliged to advance any Drawing until notice to the contrary is given by the Agent. During the period of thirty (30) days from the giving of such Suspension Notice, the Agent and any Lender affected by the relevant market disturbance shall consult in good faith with the Borrower with a view to agreeing to an alternative basis for advancing of the Facility or any relevant part thereof. If such alternative basis is agreed |
50
between the Borrower, the Agent, the relevant Lender or Lenders and the German State of Lower Saxony, it shall apply in accordance with its terms. | |||
6.3 | Certificates of Substitute Basis |
6.3.1 | If a Drawing has been advanced before a Suspension Notice is given, the Lender or Lenders affected by the relevant market disturbance shall within thirty (30) days following the date of the Suspension Notice, certify (through the Agent) in good faith to the Borrower an alternative basis (being the Substitute Basis) for maintaining its relevant Contribution affected by the relevant market disturbance. Such Substitute Basis may be retroactive to the beginning of the then current Interest Period in respect of the Drawing and may include an alternative method of fixing the Interest Rate (which shall reflect the cost to the relevant Lender or Lenders of funding its relevant Contribution from other sources plus the Applicable Margin) or alternative Interest Periods for the relevant Drawing, provided always that so far as practicable any such Substitute Basis shall be computed in a manner and for periods as similar as possible to those provided in Clause 5. | ||
6.3.2 | Each Substitute Basis so certified shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders and shall be treated as part of this Agreement. |
6.4 | Review | ||
So long as any Substitute Basis is in force, the Agent, in consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, shall from time to time, but not less often than monthly, review whether or not the circumstances referred to in Clause 6.1 still prevail with a view to returning to the normal provisions of this Agreement. |
7 | Payments |
7.1 | Place for payment | ||
Subject to Clause 14.3, all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents to which it may at any time be a party shall be made to the Agent in Same Day Funds and: |
7.1.1 | if in euro through the EBA clearing system to DnB NOR Bank ASA, London (BIC:XXXXXX0X) in favour of DnB NOR Bank ASA, Oslo (BIC:XXXXXXXX) by 10.00 a.m. Brussels time; and | ||
7.1.2 | if in Dollars to Bank of New York, New York, for the account of DnB NOR Bank ASA, Oslo account no 8033261374 by 10.00 a.m. New York time, |
or such other account or bank as the Agent may from time to time designate. | |||
7.2 | Deductions and grossing-up |
7.2.1 | Each payment to be made by the Borrower to the Agent, the Lenders or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent hereunder or under the commitment letter referred to in Clause 14.2 or any other fee letter shall be made free |
51
and clear of and without deduction for or on account of Taxes unless the Borrower is required by law to make such a payment subject to the deduction or withholding of Taxes, in which case the sum payable by the Borrower in respect of which such deduction or withholding is required to be made shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of such deduction or withholding, the Agent, the Lenders or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent receives and retains (free from any liability in respect of any such deduction or withholding) a net sum equal to the sum which it would have received and so retained had no such deduction or withholding been made or required to be made. | |||
7.2.2 | Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 7.2.1, if any Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent is required to make any payment on account of tax (not being a tax imposed on the net income of its Lending Branch by the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or in which its Lending Branch is located or any other tax existing and applicable on the Signing Date under the laws of any jurisdiction) or otherwise on or in relation to any sum received or receivable hereunder by such Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (including, without limitation, any sum received or receivable under this Clause 7) or any liability in respect of any such payment is asserted, imposed, levied or assessed against such Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent, the Borrower shall, upon demand of the Agent, indemnify such Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent against such payment or liability, together with any interest, penalties and expenses payable or incurred in connection therewith other than interest penalties and expenses that are otherwise imposed or asserted on account of the bad faith or wilful neglect of such Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent. If any Lender, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent proposes to make a claim under the provisions of this Clause 7.2.2 it shall certify to the Borrower in reasonable detail within thirty (30) days (or such longer period as any Lender, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent may reasonably require) after becoming aware of the event by reason of which it is entitled to make its claim or claims the basis of its claim or claims, such certificate to be conclusive, save for manifest error. |
7.3 | Production of receipts for Taxes | ||
If the Borrower makes any payment hereunder in respect of which it is required by law to make any deduction or withholding, it shall pay the full amount to be deducted or withheld to the relevant taxation or other authority within the time allowed for such payment under applicable law and shall deliver to the Agent within thirty (30) days after it has made such payment to the applicable authority any original receipt issued by such authority evidencing the payment to such authority of all amounts so required to be deducted or withheld from such payment. | |||
If an additional payment is made under Clause 7.2.2 and any Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent determines that it has received or been granted a credit against or relief of or calculated with |
52
reference to the deduction or withholding giving rise to such additional payment, such Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall, to the extent that it can do so without prejudice to the retention of the amount of such credit, relief, remission or repayment, pay to the Borrower such amount as such Lender or the Agent on its behalf, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall in its opinion have concluded to be attributable to the relevant deduction or withholding. Any such payment shall be conclusive evidence of the amount due to the Borrower hereunder and shall be accepted by the Borrower in full and final settlement of its rights of reimbursement hereunder in respect of such deduction or withholding. Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of any Lender, the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent to arrange their respective tax affairs in whatever manner they think fit. | |||
7.4 | Currency of account | ||
Unless the Agent agrees or requires otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement: |
7.4.1 | a repayment or payment of all or part of the Facility, a Tranche, a Drawing or any sum due and payable but unpaid by any Obligor under the Security Documents shall be made in the currency in which the Facility, such Tranche, such Drawing or such unpaid sum is denominated on its due date; | ||
7.4.2 | each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued; and | ||
7.4.3 | each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred |
7.5 | Money of account | ||
If any sum due from the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Security Document to which it may at any time be a party, or any order or judgment given or made in relation thereto, has to be converted from the currency (the “first currency”) in which the same is payable under such Security Document, order or judgment into another currency (the “second currency”) for the purpose of: |
7.5.1 | making or filing a claim or proof against the Borrower; | ||
7.5.2 | obtaining an order or judgment in any court or other tribunal; or | ||
7.5.3 | enforcing any order or judgment given or made in relation thereto; |
the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and each of the Lenders from and against any damages or losses suffered as a result of any discrepancy between (a) the rate of exchange used to convert the sum in question from the first currency into the second currency and (b) the rate or rates of exchange at which each Lender, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent may in the ordinary course of business purchase the first currency with the second currency upon receipt of a sum paid to it in satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any such order, judgment, claim or proof. The above |
53
indemnity shall constitute an obligation of the Borrower separate and independent from its other obligations and shall apply irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any of the Lenders. | |||
7.6 | Accounts | ||
The Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts evidencing the amounts from time to time lent by and owing to each of the Lenders hereunder or under any of the other Security Documents. In any legal action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any other Security Documents, the entries made in the accounts so maintained shall be prima facie evidence, save in the case of manifest error, of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower recorded therein. | |||
7.7 | Earnings | ||
Provided no Event of Default has occurred (following which the Agent shall (inter alia) be entitled to request the Owners to give notice pursuant to clause 4 of the Earnings Assignments and apply the Earnings in accordance with Clause 13.2) the Earnings shall throughout the Security Period be at the free disposal of the Owners. | |||
7.8 | Continuing security | ||
The security created by this Agreement, each of the other Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantee shall be held by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders as a continuing security for the repayment of the Outstanding Indebtedness and the security so created shall not be satisfied by any intermediate payment or satisfaction of any part of the amount hereby or thereby secured or by any amendment of this Agreement, any of the other Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees. Such security shall be in addition to and shall not in any way be prejudiced or affected by any collateral or other security now or hereafter held by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders or any of them for all or any part of the amount hereby or thereby secured or any other right or remedy of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders or any of them under this Agreement, any of the other Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees, by operation of law or otherwise howsoever arising. All the powers arising from any and all such security may be exercised from time to time as the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders or any of them may deem expedient. | |||
7.9 | Mitigation | ||
Without affecting the Borrower’s obligations under Clause 7.2 the affected Lender, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall take such reasonable steps as may be open to it to mitigate the effect of any tax withholding requirement, subject to the prior consent of the German State of Lower Saxony. The reasonable costs of mitigating the effect shall be borne by the Borrower. |
54
8 | Yield Protection and Force Majeure |
8.1 | Increased costs |
8.1.1 | If by reason of: |
(a) | any change in law or in its interpretation or administration; and/or | ||
(b) | compliance with any request from or requirement of any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or other authority including but without limitation the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision whether or not having the force of law: |
(i) | any of the Lenders or an Associated Company incurs a cost as a result of the relevant Lender performing its obligations under this Agreement and/or its advancing its Contribution hereunder; or | ||
(ii) | there is any increase in the cost to any of the Lenders or an Associated Company of the relevant Lender funding or maintaining all or any of the advances comprised in a class of advances formed by or including its Contribution advanced or to be advanced by it hereunder; or | ||
(iii) | any of the Lenders or an Associated Company incurs a cost as a result of the relevant Lender having entered into and/or its assuming or maintaining its commitment under this Agreement; or | ||
(iv) | any of the Lenders or an Associated Company becomes liable to make any payment on account of Tax or otherwise (other than Tax on its overall net income) on or calculated by reference to the amount of the relevant Lender’s Contribution advanced or to be advanced hereunder and/or any sum received or receivable by it hereunder; or | ||
(v) | any of the Lenders or an Associated Company suffers any decrease in its rate of return as a result of any changes in the requirements relating to capital ratios, monetary control ratios, reserve assets, the payment of special deposits, liquidity costs or other similar requirements affecting that Lender or Associated Company, |
except to the extent included in the Mandatory Cost then the Borrower shall from time to time on demand pay to the Agent for the account of the relevant Lender, Lenders, Associated Company or Associated Companies amounts sufficient to indemnify the relevant Lender, Lenders, Associated Company or Associated Companies against, as the case may be, such cost, such increased cost (or such proportion of such increased cost as is in the reasonable opinion of the relevant Lender, Lenders, Associated Company or Associated Companies attributable to the funding or maintaining of the relevant Lender or Lenders’ Contribution(s) hereunder) or such liability. |
55
8.1.2 | A Lender affected by any provision of Clause 8.1.1 shall promptly inform the Agent after becoming aware of the relevant change or request and its possible results and the Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, notify the Borrower of the change or request and its possible results. Without affecting the Borrower’s obligations under Clause 8.1.1 and in consultation with the Agent, the affected Lender will then take all such reasonable steps as may be open to it to mitigate the effect of the change or request (for example (if then possible) by changing its Lending Branch or transferring some or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to another financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Agent and after consultation with the Borrower). The reasonable costs of mitigating the effect of any such change shall be borne by the Borrower save where such costs are of an internal administrative nature and are not incurred in dealings by any Lender with third parties. |
8.2 | Force majeure | ||
Where the Agent or any Lender (the “Non-Performing Party”) is prevented from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of Force Majeure this Agreement shall remain in effect but the Non-Performing Party’s relevant obligations shall be suspended for so long as the Force Majeure continues and to the extent that the Non-Performing Party is so prevented, PROVIDED THAT: |
8.2.1 | the suspension of performance is of no greater scope and of no longer duration than is required by the Force Majeure; | ||
8.2.2 | the obligations of the Non-Performing Party shall not be excused as a result of the Force Majeure; and | ||
8.2.3 | in respect of the suspension of the Non-Performing Party’s obligations: |
(a) | the Non-Performing Party gives the Agent prompt written notice which the Agent shall forthwith upon receipt send to the Borrower describing the circumstances of Force Majeure (including the nature of the occurrence, its expected duration and the effects of the Force Majeure on the ability of the Non-Performing Party to perform its relevant obligations), and continues to furnish weekly reports with respect thereto during the period of Force Majeure; | ||
(b) | the Non-Performing Party uses all reasonable efforts to remedy its inability to perform and to mitigate the effects of the Force Majeure; and | ||
(c) | as soon as reasonably possible after the cessation of the Force Majeure the Non-Performing Party shall notify the Agent (who shall notify the Borrower) in writing of such cessation and shall resume performance of its obligations under this Agreement if such resumption is then possible. |
56
9 | Representations and Warranties |
9.1 | Duration | ||
The representations and warranties in Clause 9.2 shall survive the execution of this Agreement and shall be deemed to be repeated, with reference mutatis mutandis to the facts and circumstances subsisting, as if made on each day until the Borrower has no remaining obligations, actual or contingent, under or pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents. | |||
9.2 | Representations and warranties | ||
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent and each of the Lenders that: |
9.2.1 | Status Each Obligor is a corporation duly organised, constituted and validly existing under the laws of the country of its incorporation, possessing perpetual corporate existence, the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name and the power to own and charge its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted. | ||
9.2.2 | Powers and authority Each of the Obligors has the power to enter into and perform this Agreement and those of the other Security Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and has taken all necessary action to authorise the entry into and performance of this Agreement and such other Security Documents and such transactions. | ||
9.2.3 | Legal validity This Agreement constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its terms and in entering into this Agreement and borrowing the Facility, the Borrower is acting on its own account. Each other Transaction Document and each Apollo Transaction Document constitutes (or will constitute when executed) legal, valid and binding obligations of each Obligor expressed to be a party thereto enforceable in accordance with their respective terms. | ||
9.2.4 | Non-conflict with laws The entry into and performance of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the Apollo Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not conflict with: |
(a) | any law or regulation or any official or judicial order; or | ||
(b) | the constitutional documents of any Obligor; or | ||
(c) | any agreement or document to which any Obligor is a party or which is binding upon such Obligor or any of its assets, |
nor result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on an Obligor or its assets pursuant to the provisions of any such agreement or document. | |||
9.2.5 | No default Save as disclosed in writing to the Agent prior to the Signing Date, no event has occurred which constitutes a default under or in respect |
57
of any Transaction Document to which any Obligor is a party or by which any Obligor may be bound (including (inter alia) this Agreement) and no event has occurred which constitutes a default under or in respect of any agreement or document to which any Obligor is a party or by which any Obligor may be bound to an extent or in a manner which might have a material adverse effect on its business, assets or financial condition. | |||
9.2.6 | Consents Except for the prior consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the granting of the security interest over the shares comprised in the Charged Property (as defined in the Charges) and the transfer and registration of the shares comprised in the said Charged Property to or in the name of the Agent or its nominee under clause 9.2.4 of the Charges, for the filing of those Security Documents which require registration in the Companies Registries in England and Wales, the United States of America and/or Bermuda, which filing must be completed within twenty one (21) days of the execution of the relevant Security Document(s) in the case of England and Wales, and for the registration of the Mortgages through the Bahamas Maritime Authority, all authorisations, approvals, consents, licences, exemptions, filings, registrations, notarisations and other matters, official or otherwise, required in connection with the entry into, performance, validity and enforceability of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect. | ||
9.2.7 | Accuracy of information All information furnished by any Obligor relating to the business and affairs of any Obligor in connection with this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees was and remains true and correct in all material respects and there are no other material facts or considerations the omission of which would render any such information misleading. | ||
9.2.8 | Full disclosure Each Obligor has fully disclosed in writing to the Agent all facts relating to each Obligor which it knows or should reasonably know and which might reasonably be expected to influence the Lenders in deciding whether or not to enter into this Agreement. | ||
9.2.9 | No Encumbrances None of the assets or rights of any Obligor is subject to any Encumbrance except Permitted Liens or Encumbrances created in respect of Permitted Indebtedness. | ||
9.2.10 | Pari passu or priority status The claims of the Agent and the Lenders against the Borrower under this Agreement will rank at least pari passu with the claims of all unsecured creditors of the Borrower (other than claims of such creditors to the extent that they are statutorily preferred) and in priority to the claims of any creditor of the Borrower who is also an Obligor. | ||
9.2.11 | Solvency The Obligors are and shall remain, after the advance to them of the Facility or any of it, solvent in accordance with the laws of Bermuda and the United Kingdom and in particular with the provisions of the United Kingdom’s Insolvency Act 1986 (as from time to time amended) and the requirements thereof. |
58
9.2.12 | Winding-up, etc. Subject to Clause 10.11, neither the Borrower nor any other Obligor has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of its knowledge and belief) threatened against any of them for the winding-up, dissolution or for the appointment of a liquidator, administrator, receiver, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of any of them or any or all of their assets or revenues nor have either sought any other relief under any applicable insolvency or bankruptcy law. | ||
9.2.13 | Accounts The consolidated audited accounts of the NCLC Group for the period ending on 31 December of each financial year during the period of this Agreement (which accounts will be prepared in accordance with US GAAP) will fairly represent the financial condition of the NCLC Group as shown in such audited accounts. | ||
9.2.14 | Litigation Save as disclosed in the Disclosure Letter, no litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings are current or pending or, to its knowledge, threatened, which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect. For the avoidance of doubt, the disclosure of any such litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings after the Signing Date shall not be deemed to be a fact and circumstance subsisting at any time that this representation is deemed to be repeated pursuant to Clause 9.1. | ||
9.2.15 | Tax liabilities The NCLC Group has complied with all taxation laws in all jurisdictions in which it is subject to Taxation and has paid all Taxes due and payable by it; no material claims are being asserted against it with respect to Taxes, which might, if such claims were successful, have a material adverse effect on its business, assets or financial condition. | ||
9.2.16 | Ownership of assets Each member of the NCLC Group has good and marketable title to all its assets which is reflected in the audited accounts referred to in Clause 9.2.13. | ||
9.2.17 | No immunity None of the Obligors nor any of their respective assets enjoys any right of immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from set-off, suit or execution in respect of their obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or by any relevant or applicable law. | ||
9.2.18 | Taxes on payments As at the Signing Date all amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder may be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxation. | ||
9.2.19 | Place of business None of the Obligors has a place of business in any jurisdiction (except as already disclosed) which requires any of the Security Documents to be filed or registered in that jurisdiction to ensure the validity of the Security Documents to which it is a party. | ||
9.2.20 | Ownership of shares All the authorised and issued shares in each of the Owners and the Manager are legally and beneficially owned by the Shareholder, all the authorised and issued shares in the Shareholder are legally and beneficially owned by Xxxxxxx and all the authorised and issued shares in Arrasas are legally and beneficially owned by the |
59
Borrower and such structure shall remain so throughout the Security Period. Further, no Event of Default has occurred under Clause 12.1.16 in respect of the ownership and/or control of the shares in the Borrower. | |||
9.2.21 | Completeness of documents The copies of the Building Contracts, the Management Agreements, the Apollo Transaction Documents and any other relevant third party agreements delivered to the Agent are true and complete copies of each such document constituting valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and no amendments thereto or variations thereof have been agreed other than (if applicable), in the case of the Management Agreements, in accordance with clause 6.1.17 of the two (2) deeds of covenants collateral to the two (2) first priority statutory Bahamian ship mortgages to be granted by each of the Owners over its Vessel nor has any action been taken by the parties thereto which would in any way render such document inoperative or unenforceable. | ||
9.2.22 | No undisclosed commissions There are and will be no commissions, rebates, premiums or other payments by or to or on account of any Obligor, their shareholders or directors in connection with the transaction as a whole other than as disclosed to the Agent in writing. | ||
9.2.23 | Environment Each of the Obligors: |
(a) | is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, foreign and international laws, regulations, conventions and agreements relating to pollution prevention or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, navigable waters, water of the contiguous zone, ocean waters and international waters), including without limitation, laws, regulations, conventions and agreements relating to: |
(i) | emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous materials, oil, hazard substances, petroleum and petroleum products and by-products (“Materials of Environmental Concern”); or | ||
(ii) | the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (such laws, regulations, conventions and agreements the “Environmental Laws”); |
(b) | has all permits, licences, approvals, rulings, variances, exemptions, clearances, consents or other authorisations required under applicable Environmental Laws (“Environmental Approvals”) and are in compliance with all Environmental Approvals required to operate its business as presently conducted or as reasonably anticipated to be conducted; | ||
(c) | has not received any notice, claim, action, cause of action, investigation or demand by any other person, alleging potential |
60
liability for, or a requirement to incur, investigatory costs, clean-up costs, response and/or remedial costs (whether incurred by a governmental entity or otherwise), natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorney’s fees and expenses or fines or penalties, in each case arising out of, based on or resulting from: |
(i) | the presence or release or threat of release into the environment of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location, whether or not owned by such person; or | ||
(ii) | circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law or Environmental Approval (“Environmental Claim”); and |
there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with such full compliance in the future. | |||
There is no Environmental Claim pending or threatened against any of the Obligors. | |||
There are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that could form the basis of any Environmental Claim against any of the Obligors. | |||
9.2.24 | Money laundering Any borrowing by the Borrower hereunder, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and under the other Security Documents, will be for its own account and will not involve any breach by it of any law or regulatory measure relating to “money laundering” as defined in Article 1 of the Directive (91/308/EEC) of the Council of the European Communities. |
10 | Undertakings |
10.1 | Duration | ||
The undertakings in this Clause 10 shall remain in full force and effect until the Borrower has no remaining obligations, actual or contingent, under or pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents. | |||
10.2 | Information | ||
The Borrower will provide to the Agent (or will procure the provision of): |
10.2.1 | as soon as practicable (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of each of its financial years) a Certified Copy of its Accounts (commencing with the audited accounts made up to 31 December 2005); | ||
10.2.2 | as soon as practicable (and in any event within sixty (60) days after the close of each quarter of each financial year) a Certified Copy of the |
61
unaudited consolidated accounts of the NCLC Group for that quarter (commencing with the unaudited accounts made up to 30 June 2005); | |||
10.2.3 | as soon as practicable (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of each financial year), beginning with the financial year ending 31 December 2005, annual cash flow projections on a consolidated basis of the NCLC Group showing on a monthly basis advance ticket sales (for at least twelve (12) months following the date of such statement) for the NCLC Group; | ||
10.2.4 | as soon as practicable (and in any event not later than 31 January of each financial year): |
(a) | a budget for the NCLC Group for such new financial year including a twelve (12) month liquidity budget for such new financial year; | ||
(b) | updated financial projections of the NCLC Group for at least the next five (5) years (including an income statement and projected results for the operation of the vessels owned and/or operated by any member of the NCLC Group); and | ||
(c) | an outline of the assumptions supporting the budget and financial projections referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Clause 10.2.4; |
10.2.5 | within fifteen (15) days of a request from the Agent (but at intervals no more frequently than annually at the Borrower’s expense unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), a valuation of each of the Vessels obtained in accordance with the provisions of Clause 10.17; | ||
10.2.6 | as soon as practicable (and in any event within sixty (60) days after the close of each of the first three (3) quarters of its financial year and within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of each financial year) a statement signed by the NCLC Group’s chief financial officer in the form of Schedule 6 (commencing with the second quarter of the financial year ending 31 December 2005) and such other information as the Agent may request; | ||
10.2.7 | promptly, such further information in its possession or control regarding its financial condition and operations and those of any company in the NCLC Group as the Agent may request; and | ||
10.2.8 | details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which affect any Obligor as soon as the same are instituted and served, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened (and for this purpose proceedings shall be deemed to be material if they involve a claim in an amount exceeding twenty five million Dollars (USD25,000,000) or the equivalent in another currency). |
All accounts required under this Clause 10.2 shall be prepared in accordance with US GAAP and shall fairly represent the financial condition of the relevant company. |
62
10.3 | Financial Undertakings | ||
The Borrower will ensure that: |
10.3.1 | at all times the minimum Free Liquidity will be not less than fifty million Dollars (USD50,000,000); | ||
10.3.2 | either: |
(a) | as at 30 September 2006 and as at the end of each subsequent financial quarter the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Debt Service for the NCLC Group, computed for the period of the four (4) consecutive financial quarters ending at the end of the relevant financial quarter, shall not be less than one point two five (1.25) to one (1.0); or | ||
(b) | at all times during the period of twelve (12) months ending as at the end of the relevant financial quarter the NCLC Group has maintained a minimum Free Liquidity in an amount which is not less than one hundred million Dollars (USD100,000,000); and |
10.3.3 | as at 30 September 2006 and as at the end of each subsequent financial quarter, the ratio of Total Net Funded Debt to Total Capitalisation of the NCLC Group shall not exceed [**]. | ||
Amounts available for drawing under the Facility or any other revolving or other credit facilities of the NCLC Group which remain undrawn at the time of the relevant calculation shall not be counted as cash or indebtedness for the purposes of this ratio. |
Save as specified in Clause 10.3.2, the ratios referred to in this Clause 10.3 will be measured on a quarterly basis by reference to the consolidated accounts of the NCLC Group. | |||
10.4 | Dividends |
10.4.1 | During any financial year of the Borrower until the date on which the Borrower becomes a listed company on an Approved Stock Exchange (on which date the restriction contained in this Clause 10.4.1 shall cease to apply), the Borrower shall not and shall procure that no other member of the NCLC Group shall, pay any dividends or make any other distributions in respect of its share capital to any person other than payments, distributions or dividends: |
(a) | constituting Apollo-Related Transactions; | ||
(b) | by the Borrower which, in any financial year of the Borrower ending on or after 31 December 2007, do not exceed fifty per cent (50%) of the aggregate of: |
(i) | Consolidated Net Income (if positive) of the NCLC Group for such financial year; and |
63
(ii) | that portion of Consolidated Net Income (if positive) of the NCLC Group in respect of each previous financial year of the Borrower ending on or after 31 December 2007, retained by the Borrower and not previously applied pursuant to this Clause 10.4.1(b), provided that the Borrower shall specify in a written notice to the Agent a calculation (in reasonable detail) of the amount of the current and retained Consolidated Net Income immediately prior to such payment, distribution or dividend and the amount thereof elected to be so applied; |
(c) | to another member of the NCLC Group; | ||
(d) | in respect of the tax liability to each relevant jurisdiction in respect of consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated tax returns for the relevant jurisdiction of any member of the NCLC Group or holder of the Borrower’s share capital attributable to any member of the NCLC Group; or | ||
(e) | by the Borrower which are used to purchase or redeem the share capital of the Borrower (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held by then present or future directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Borrower or any other member of the NCLC Group or by any employee pension benefit plan upon such person’s death, disability, retirement, or termination of employment or under the terms of any such employee pension benefit plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; PROVIDED THAT the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions under this paragraph (e) shall not exceed in any fiscal year [*] (plus the amount of net proceeds contributed to the Borrower that were (x) received by the Borrower during such calendar year from sales of equity interests of the Borrower to directors, consultants, officers or employees of the Borrower or any other member of the NCLC Group in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements and (y) from any key-man life insurance policies received during such calendar year), which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent calendar year, |
PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT (whether before or after the Borrower becomes a listed company on an Approved Stock Exchange) the NCLC Group shall not be entitled to pay any dividend or make any distribution in respect of any of its share capital if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of the payment of such dividend or the making of such distribution and the Borrower shall provide the Agent with a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the NCLC Group confirming that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of the payment of a dividend or the making of a distribution before the dividend is paid or the distribution is made. | |||
10.4.2 | The Borrower will procure that any dividends or other distributions and interest paid or payable in connection therewith received by the |
64
Shareholder, NCL America Holdings and/or Arrasas will be paid to the Borrower by way of dividend promptly on receipt. |
10.5 | Notification of default | ||
The Borrower will notify the Agent of any Event of Default forthwith upon any Obligor becoming aware of the occurrence thereof. Upon the Agent’s request from time to time the Borrower will issue a certificate stating whether any Obligor is aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default. | |||
10.6 | Consents and registrations | ||
The Borrower will procure that (and will promptly furnish Certified Copies to the Agent of) all such authorisations, approvals, consents, licences and exemptions as may be required under any applicable law or regulation to enable it or any Obligor to perform its obligations under, and ensure the validity or enforceability of, each of the Transaction Documents are obtained and promptly renewed from time to time and will procure that the terms of the same are complied with at all times. Insofar as such filings or registrations have not been completed on or before the relevant Delivery Date the Borrower will procure the filing or registration within applicable time limits of each Security Document which requires filing or registration together with all ancillary documents required to preserve the priority and enforceability of the Security Documents. | |||
10.7 | Negative pledge | ||
The Borrower will not create or permit to subsist any Encumbrance on the whole or any part of the present or future assets of the Owners or any other owner or prospective owner of a mortgaged vessel in the NCLC Fleet except for: |
10.7.1 | Encumbrances created with the prior written consent of the Lenders; | ||
10.7.2 | Permitted Liens; | ||
10.7.3 | Encumbrances created in respect of Permitted Indebtedness; and | ||
10.7.4 | Encumbrances created pursuant to an Apollo-Related Transaction, |
PROVIDED THAT an Encumbrance constituting a Permitted Lien under any of paragraphs (iii), (vi), (ix) or (x) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” in Clause 1.1, or an Encumbrance described in Clause 10.7.3 or Clause 10.7.4, may not be created over any asset which is subject to an Encumbrance constituted by a Security Document relating to this Agreement save with the prior written consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and (if appropriate having regard to the nature of the Encumbrance) following the entry by the beneficiary of the Encumbrance into intercreditor arrangements acceptable to the Agent. | |||
10.8 | Disposals | ||
Except with the prior consent of all the Lenders, the Borrower shall not (and will procure that no other company in the NCLC Group shall), either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions whether related or not and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or a |
65
substantial part of its assets except that the following disposals shall not be taken into account: |
10.8.1 | disposals made in the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity (excluding disposal of ships) including without limitation, the payment of cash as consideration for the purchase or acquisition of any asset or service or in the discharge of any obligation incurred for value in the ordinary course of trading; | ||
10.8.2 | disposals of cash raised or borrowed for the purposes for which such cash was raised or borrowed; | ||
10.8.3 | disposals of assets in exchange for other assets comparable or superior as to type and value; | ||
10.8.4 | a vessel or any other asset owned by any member of the NCLC Group (other than the Owners) may be sold provided such sale is on a willing seller willing buyer basis at or about market rate and at arm’s length subject always to the provisions of any loan documentation for the financing of such vessel or other asset; and | ||
10.8.5 | disposals of assets constituting Apollo-Related Transactions. |
10.9 | Purchases | ||
Except with the prior consent of all the Lenders, the Borrower shall not (and will procure that no other company in the NCLC Group shall), either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions whether related or not purchase any asset: |
10.9.1 | other than on arm’s length terms; | ||
10.9.2 | which is not for its use in its ordinary course of business; | ||
10.9.3 | the cost of which is more than its fair market value at the date of acquisition; or | ||
10.9.4 | other than an asset constituting an Apollo-Related Transaction. |
10.10 | Change of name or business | ||
Except with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders and the German State of Lower Saxony, the Borrower shall not (and will procure that no other Obligor shall): |
10.10.1 | change its name or make or threaten to make any substantial change in its business as presently conducted or cease to perform its current business activities; or | ||
10.10.2 | carry on any other business which is substantial in relation to its business as presently conducted |
if to do the same would imperil the security created by any of the Security Documents or affect the ability of any Obligor duly to perform its obligations under any Security Document to which it is or may be a party from time to time, |
66
in each case in the opinion of the Agent and the German State of Lower Saxony, PROVIDED THAT any new leisure or hospitality venture embarked upon by any member of the NCLC Group (other than the Borrower) shall not constitute a substantial change in its business and PROVIDED FURTHER THAT any change of or discontinuation in the business activities of any Obligor in accordance with the Apollo-Related Transactions shall be permitted. | |||
10.11 | Mergers | ||
Except with the prior consent of the Majority Lenders and the German State of Lower Saxony, the Borrower will not enter into any amalgamation, restructure, substantial reorganisation, merger, de-merger or consolidation or anything analogous to the foregoing nor will it acquire any equity, share capital, or obligations of any corporation or other entity and will procure that no company in the NCLC Group (other than the Shareholder or NCL America Holdings) shall do so. | |||
However, the prior consent of the Majority Lenders shall not be required in respect of any consolidation, reorganisation or restructure (including the winding-up, dissolution or cessation of business of any existing Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than the Obligors, or the creation of new Subsidiaries) (a) pursuant to the Apollo-Related Transactions or (b) involving wholly owned (whether directly or indirectly) Subsidiaries of the Borrower only which does not imperil the security created by any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or affect the ability of any Obligor duly to perform any of its obligations under any Security Document to which it is or may be a party at any time, PROVIDED THAT, except in relation to the Apollo-Related Transactions, the Borrower has first consulted with the Agent with regard to the proposed consolidation, reorganisation or restructure and provides evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the Borrower will be in compliance with the financial undertakings contained in Clause 10.3 after any such reorganisation or restructure SUBJECT TO: |
10.11.1 | Clause 9.2.20; and | ||
10.11.2 | the cash flows from which the Outstanding Indebtedness will be repaid remaining comparable as to amount (relative to the amount of the Outstanding Indebtedness) and accessibility for the Borrower to the cash flows as at the Signing Date, in the sole discretion of the Agent. |
For the avoidance of doubt, if the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent are satisfied the Borrower will be in compliance with the financial undertakings contained in Clause 10.3 after the acquisition by a member of the NCLC Group of any shares in any company or corporation, such acquisition shall not in itself constitute a merger or consolidation with such company or corporation requiring the consent of the Majority Lenders and the German State of Lower Saxony under this Clause 10.11. | |||
10.12 | Maintenance of status and franchises | ||
The Borrower will do all such things as are necessary to maintain its corporate existence in good standing and will ensure that it has the right and is duly qualified to conduct its business as it is conducted in all applicable jurisdictions |
67
and will obtain and maintain all franchises and rights necessary for the conduct of its business. | |||
10.13 | Financial records | ||
The Borrower will keep proper books of record and account, in which proper and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets, liabilities and business of the Borrower in accordance with US GAAP. | |||
10.14 | Subordination of indebtedness | ||
The Borrower shall procure that any and all of its indebtedness with any other Obligor and/or any shareholder of the Borrower is at all times fully subordinated to the Security Documents and the obligations of the Borrower hereunder. The Borrower shall also procure that any and all of the indebtedness, except Permitted Indebtedness, of the owners or prospective owners of mortgaged vessels in the NCLC Fleet is at all times fully subordinated to the Security Documents and the obligations of the Borrower hereunder. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall not make or permit to be made any repayments of principal, payments of interest or of any other costs, fees, expenses or liabilities arising from or representing such indebtedness. | |||
10.15 | Guarantees | ||
Save as contemplated by this Agreement or notified by the Borrower to the Agent prior to the Restatement Date, the Borrower will procure that none of the owners or prospective owners of mortgaged vessels in the NCLC Fleet will issue or enter into any guarantee or indemnity or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any other person, firm or corporation, otherwise than in the ordinary course of its business as owner of its vessel. | |||
10.16 | Further assurance | ||
The Borrower will, from time to time on being required to do so by the Agent, do or procure the doing of all such acts and/or execute or procure the execution of all such documents in a form satisfactory to the Agent as the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent may reasonably consider necessary for giving full effect to any of the Transaction Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or securing to the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders the full benefit of the rights, powers and remedies conferred upon the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders in any such Transaction Document or the Lower Saxony Guarantees. | |||
10.17 | Valuation of the Vessels |
10.17.1 | Each of the Vessels shall for the purposes of this Clause 10.17 be valued in Dollars by two (2) independent firms of shipbrokers or shipvaluers nominated by the Borrower and approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) or failing such nomination and approval, appointed by the Agent (acting on such instructions) in its sole discretion (each such valuation to be made without, unless reasonably required by the Agent, physical inspection and on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash at arm’s length on normal commercial terms as |
68
between a willing buyer and a willing seller without taking into account the benefit of any charterparty or other engagement concerning the Vessel). The first such valuations shall be obtained on or about thirty (30) days prior to the Delivery Date in respect of a Vessel and thereafter they shall be obtained within fifteen (15) days of a request from the Agent (but at intervals no more frequently than annually at the Borrower’s expense unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). The average of the valuations shall constitute the value of the Vessel for the purposes of this Clause 10.17. | |||
10.17.2 | The Borrower shall procure that forthwith upon the issuance of any valuation obtained pursuant to this Clause 10.17 a copy thereof is sent directly to the Agent for review. | ||
10.17.3 | Prior to the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of a Tranche any valuation obtained pursuant to this Clause 10.17 shall be converted into euro at the Agent’s Spot Rate of Exchange on the date of the valuation. |
10.18 | Marginal security | ||
If at any time the value of the Vessels as assessed in accordance with the provisions of Clause 10.17 is: |
10.18.1 | less than one hundred and five per cent (105%) of the amount of the aggregate of the Available Commitments and the Contributions to the Facility during the period commencing on the first Delivery Date and ending twenty four (24) months after the second Delivery Date; and | ||
10.18.2 | thereafter, is less than one hundred and twenty per cent (120%) of the amount of the aggregate of the Available Commitments and the Contributions to the Facility, |
then the Borrower shall, upon notice from the Agent, within ten (10) Business Days either: |
(a) | provide the Agent with additional security acceptable to the Majority Lenders such that the security value of the Vessels and any additional security provided to the Agent hereunder (at valuations reasonably estimated by the Agent from time to time) is at least one hundred and five per cent (105%) or one hundred and twenty per cent (120%) (as the case may be) of the aggregate of the Available Commitments and the Contributions to the Facility; or | ||
(b) | reduce the Available Commitments by such an amount that the value of the security is at least one hundred and five per cent (105%) or one hundred and twenty per cent (120%) (as the case may be) of the amount of the aggregate of the Available Commitments and the Contributions to the Facility. |
10.19 | Financial year end | ||
The Borrower shall not change its financial year end. |
69
10.20 | Maintenance and insurance | ||
The Borrower will keep, and will procure that each member of the NCLC Group keeps, all of its real property and assets properly maintained and in existence and will comprehensively insure, and will procure that each member of the NCLC Group comprehensively insures, for its full reinstatement cost all of its property which is of an insurable nature in such name as the Agent shall in writing approve and on such terms, for such amounts and of such types as would be effected by prudent companies carrying on business similar to the Borrower or its Subsidiary (as the case may be). In particular but without limitation, the Borrower shall procure that each of the Owners maintains and insures its Vessel in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Mortgage. | |||
10.21 | Lower Saxony Guarantees | ||
The Lenders have claims arising from this Agreement guaranteed by the German State of Lower Saxony (represented by PwC Deutsche Revision) by way of the Lower Saxony Guarantees. The unrestricted existence of the relevant Lower Saxony Guarantee is a condition precedent to drawdown of the relevant Tranche as referred to in Clause 2.3.8 and to the maintenance of the Facility in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. | |||
The terms and conditions of the Lower Saxony Guarantees are incorporated herein and in so far as they impose terms, conditions and/or obligations on the Agent and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders in relation to the Borrower or any other Obligor then such terms, conditions and obligations are binding on the parties hereto. Further in the event of any conflict between the terms of the Lower Saxony Guarantees and the terms of this Agreement the terms of the Lower Saxony Guarantees shall be paramount and prevail and any breach of those terms as applied to the Borrower or any other Obligor shall be deemed to be an Event of Default. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower has no interest or entitlement in the proceeds of the Lower Saxony Guarantees. | |||
10.22 | Vessels | ||
The Borrower will procure that each of the Vessels is traded within the NCLC Fleet from her Delivery Date and throughout the remainder of the Security Period. |
11 | Rights of the Agent and the Lenders |
11.1 | No derogation of rights | ||
Any rights conferred on the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders or any of them by this Agreement, any other Security Document or the Lower Saxony Guarantees shall be in addition to and not in substitution for or in derogation of any other right which the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders or any of them might at any time have to seek from the Borrower or any other person for payment of sums due from the Borrower or indemnification against liabilities as a result of the Borrower’s default in payment of sums due from it under this Agreement, any other Security Document or the Lower Saxony Guarantees. |
70
11.2 | Enforcement of remedies | ||
None of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders shall be obliged before taking steps to enforce any rights conferred on it or them by this Clause or this Agreement or exercising any of the rights, powers and remedies conferred on it or them hereby or by law: |
11.2.1 | to take action or obtain judgment in any court against the Borrower or any other person from whom it or they may seek payment of any sum due from the Borrower under this Agreement, any other Security Document or a Lower Saxony Guarantee; | ||
11.2.2 | to make or file any claim in a bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation or re-organisation of the Borrower or any other such person; | ||
11.2.3 | to enforce or seek to enforce any other rights it or they may have against the Borrower or any other such person; or | ||
11.2.4 | to enforce a Lower Saxony Guarantee. |
12 | Default |
12.1 | Events of default | ||
Each of the events set out below is an Event of Default: |
12.1.1 | Non-payment | ||
The Borrower or any other Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount of principal or interest of the Facility (provided however that if any such amount is not paid when due solely by reason of some error or omission on the part of the bank or banks through whom the relevant funds are being transmitted no Event of Default shall occur for the purposes of this Clause 12.1.1 until the expiry of three (3) Business Days following the date on which such payment is due), or within three (3) days of the due date any other amount, payable by it under any Security Document to which it may at any time be a party, at the place and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable. | |||
12.1.2 | Breach of other obligations |
(a) | Any Obligor fails to comply with any other material provision of any Security Document or a Lower Saxony Guarantee or there is any other material breach in the sole opinion of the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (in the case of a Lower Saxony Guarantee) of any of the Transaction Documents or a Lower Saxony Guarantee and such failure (if in the opinion of the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (in the case of a Lower Saxony Guarantee) in its sole discretion it is capable of remedy) continues unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of its occurrence and in any such case as aforesaid the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (in the case of a Lower Saxony Guarantee) in its sole discretion considers that such failure is or could reasonably be expected to become materially prejudicial to the interests, rights or position of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders; or |
71
(b) | If there is a repudiation or termination of any Transaction Document or a Lower Saxony Guarantee or if any of the parties thereto becomes entitled to terminate or repudiate any of them and evidences an intention so to do. |
12.1.3 | Misrepresentation | ||
Any representation warranty or statement made or repeated in, or in connection with, any Security Document or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or in any accounts, certificate, statement or opinion delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor thereunder or in connection therewith is materially incorrect when made or would, if repeated at any time hereafter by reference to the facts subsisting at such time, no longer be materially correct. | |||
12.1.4 | Cross default |
(a) | Any event of default occurs under any financial contract or financial document relating to any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the NCLC Group. | ||
(b) | Any such Financial Indebtedness or any sum payable in respect thereof is not paid when due (after the expiry of any applicable grace period(s)) whether by acceleration or otherwise. | ||
(c) | Any Encumbrance over any assets of any member of the NCLC Group becomes enforceable. | ||
(d) | Any other Financial Indebtedness of any member of the NCLC Group is not paid when due or is or becomes capable of being declared due prematurely by reason of default or any security for the same becomes enforceable by reason of default, |
PROVIDED THAT: |
(i) | No Event of Default will arise if the relevant Financial Indebtedness is not accelerated or, if it is accelerated but, in aggregate, the Financial Indebtedness is less than fifteen million Dollars (USD15,000,000); | ||
(ii) | Financial Indebtedness being contested by the Borrower in good faith will be disregarded PROVIDED first that full details of the dispute shall be submitted to the Agent forthwith upon its occurrence and second if the dispute remains unresolved for a period of one hundred and fifty (150) days this Clause 12.1.4(ii) shall not apply to that Financial Indebtedness; and | ||
(iii) | If at any time hereafter the Borrower or any other member of the NCLC Group agrees to the incorporation of a cross default |
72
provision into any financial contract or financial document relating to any Financial Indebtedness that is more onerous than this Clause 12.1.4, then the Borrower shall immediately notify the Agent and that cross default provision shall be deemed to apply to this Agreement as if set out in full herein with effect from the date of such financial contract or financial document and during the currency of that financial contract or financial document. |
12.1.5 | Winding-up | ||
Subject to Clause 10.11, any order is made or an effective resolution passed or other action taken for the suspension of payments or dissolution, termination of existence, liquidation, winding-up or bankruptcy of any member of the NCLC Group. | |||
12.1.6 | Moratorium or arrangement with creditors | ||
A moratorium in respect of all or any debts of any member of the NCLC Group or a composition or an arrangement with creditors of any member of the NCLC Group or any similar proceeding or arrangement by which the assets of any member of the NCLC Group are submitted to the control of its creditors is applied for, ordered or declared or any member of the NCLC Group commences negotiations with any one or more of its creditors with a view to the general readjustment or rescheduling of all or a significant part of its Financial Indebtedness. | |||
12.1.7 | Appointment of liquidators etc. | ||
A liquidator, trustee, administrator, receiver, manager or similar officer is appointed in respect of any member of the NCLC Group or in respect of all or any substantial part of the assets of any member of the NCLC Group and in any such case such appointment is not withdrawn within thirty (30) days (the “Grace Period”) unless the Agent considers in its sole discretion that the interest of the Lenders might reasonably be expected to be adversely affected in which event the Grace Period shall not apply. | |||
12.1.8 | Insolvency | ||
Any member of the NCLC Group becomes or is declared insolvent or is unable, or admits in writing its inability, to pay its debts as they fall due or becomes insolvent within the terms of any applicable law. | |||
12.1.9 | Legal process | ||
Any distress, execution, attachment or other process affects the whole or any substantial part of the assets of any member of the NCLC Group and remains undischarged for a period of twenty one (21) days or any uninsured judgment in excess of twenty five million Dollars (USD25,000,000) following final appeal remains unsatisfied for a period of thirty (30) days in the case of a judgment made in the United States of America and otherwise for a period of sixty (60) days PROVIDED THAT no Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred unless the distress, execution, attachment, other process or judgment adversely |
73
affects any Obligor’s ability to meet any of its material obligations under any Security Document and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantees to which it is or may be a party or cause to occur any of the events specified in Clauses 12.1.5 to 12.1.8 (the determination of which shall be in the Majority Lenders’ sole discretion). | |||
12.1.10 | Analogous events | ||
Anything analogous to or having a substantially similar effect to any of the events specified in sub-clauses 12.1.5 to 12.1.9 of this Clause shall occur under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction. | |||
12.1.11 | Cessation of business | ||
Subject to Clause 10.11, any member of the NCLC Group ceases to carry on all or a substantial part of its business. | |||
12.1.12 | Revocation of consents | ||
Any authorisation, approval, consent, licence, exemption, filing, registration or notarisation or other requirement necessary to enable any Obligor to comply with any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents is materially adversely modified, revoked or withheld or does not remain in full force and effect and within ninety (90) days of the date of its occurrence such event is not remedied to the satisfaction of the Agent and the Agent considers in its sole discretion that such failure is or might be expected to become materially prejudicial to the interests, rights or position of the Lenders PROVIDED THAT the Borrower shall not be entitled to the aforesaid ninety (90) day period if the modification, revocation or withholding of the authorisation, approval or consent is due to an act or omission of any Obligor and the Agent is satisfied in its sole discretion that the Lenders’ interests might reasonably be expected to be materially adversely affected. | |||
12.1.13 | Unlawfulness | ||
At any time it is unlawful or impossible for: |
(a) | any Obligor to perform any of its obligations under any Security Document to which it is a party or a Lower Saxony Guarantee; or | ||
(b) | the German State of Lower Saxony to perform any of its obligations under a Lower Saxony Guarantee; or | ||
(c) | the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any Lender to exercise any of its rights under any of the Security Documents or a Lower Saxony Guarantee; |
PROVIDED THAT no Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred (except where the unlawfulness or impossibility adversely affects any Obligor’s or the German State of Lower Saxony’s payment obligations under this Agreement, the other Security Documents and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantees (the determination of which shall be in the |
74
Agent’s sole discretion) in which case the following provisions of this Clause 12.1.13 shall not apply) where the unlawfulness or impossibility prevents any Obligor from performing its obligations (other than its payment obligations under this Agreement and the other Security Documents) and is cured within a period of twenty one (21) days of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the unlawfulness or impossibility and the relevant Obligor, within the aforesaid period, performs its obligation(s) and PROVIDED FURTHER THAT no Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred where the Agent and/or any relevant Lender could, in its sole discretion, mitigate the consequences of unlawfulness or impossibility in the manner described in Clause 4.9. The costs of mitigation shall be determined in accordance with Clause 4.9. | |||
12.1.14 | Insurances | ||
An Owner fails to insure its Vessel in the manner specified in the relevant Mortgage or fails to renew the Insurances at least ten (10) days prior to the date of expiry thereof and produce prompt confirmation of such renewal to the Agent. | |||
12.1.15 | Total Loss | ||
If the Vessel shall become a Total Loss and the proceeds of the Insurances in respect thereof shall not have been received by the Agent within one hundred and fifty (150) days after the date of the event giving rise to such Total Loss. | |||
12.1.16 | Ownership and control of the Borrower | ||
If: |
(a) | at any time when the ordinary share capital of the Borrower is not publicly listed on an Approved Stock Exchange or at any time when a dividend is to be paid to the existing shareholders of the Borrower by way of a share issue pursuant to a public offering on an Approved Stock Exchange, the Lim Family (together or individually) and Apollo in the aggregate do not or will not, directly or indirectly, control the Borrower and beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least fifty one per cent (51%) of the issued share capital of, and equity interest in, the Borrower; or | ||
(b) | at any time following the listing of the ordinary share capital of the Borrower on an Approved Stock Exchange: |
(i) | any Third Party: |
(A) | owns legally and/or beneficially and either directly or indirectly at least thirty three per cent (33%) of the ordinary share capital of the Borrower; or | ||
(B) | has the right or the ability to control either directly or indirectly the affairs of or the composition of the majority of |
75
the board of directors (or equivalent) of the Borrower, |
and, at the same time as any of the events described in paragraphs (A) or (B) of this Clause have occurred and are continuing, the Lim Family (together or individually) and Apollo in the aggregate do not, directly or indirectly, beneficially own at least fifty one per cent (51%) of the issued share capital of, and equity interest in, the Borrower; or | |||
(ii) | the Borrower ceases to be a listed company on an Approved Stock Exchange without the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders, |
(and, for the purpose of this Clause 12.1.16 “control” of any company, limited partnership or other legal entity (a “body corporate”) by a member of the Lim Family and Apollo means that one (1) or more members of the Lim Family or Apollo in the aggregate has, directly or indirectly, the power to direct the management and policies of such a body corporate, whether through the ownership of more than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued voting capital of that body corporate or by contract, trust or other arrangement). | |||
12.1.17 | Disposals | ||
If the Borrower or any other member of the NCLC Group shall have concealed, removed, or permitted to be concealed or removed, any part of its property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors or any of them, or made or suffered a transfer of any of its property which may be fraudulent under any bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance or similar law; or shall have made any transfer of its property to or for the benefit of a creditor with the intention of preferring such creditor over any other creditor. | |||
12.1.18 | Prejudice to security | ||
Anything is done or suffered or omitted to be done by any Obligor which in the reasonable opinion of the Agent would or might be expected to imperil the security created by any of the Security Documents or either of the Lower Saxony Guarantees. | |||
12.1.19 | Material Adverse Effect | ||
Any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders believe has had or reasonably believe will have a Material Adverse Effect. | |||
12.1.20 | Governmental intervention | ||
The authority of any member of the NCLC Group in the conduct of its business is wholly or substantially curtailed by any seizure or intervention by or on behalf of any authority and within ninety (90) days of the date of its occurrence any such seizure or intervention is not relinquished or |
76
withdrawn and the Agent reasonably considers that the relevant occurrence is or might be expected to become materially prejudicial to the interests, rights or position of the Lenders PROVIDED THAT the Borrower shall not be entitled to the aforesaid ninety (90) day period if the seizure or intervention executed by any authority is due to an act or omission of any member of the NCLC Group and the Agent is satisfied, in its sole discretion, that the Lenders’ interest might reasonably be expected to be materially adversely affected. | |||
12.1.21 | Master Agreement termination | ||
A notice is given by a Lender or its Affiliate (as the case may be) under section 6(a) of the relevant Master Agreement, or by any person under section 6(b)(iv) of a Master Agreement, in either case designating an Early Termination Date for the purpose of the Master Agreement, or a Master Agreement is for any other reason terminated, cancelled, suspended, rescinded, revoked or otherwise ceases to remain in full force and effect. |
12.2 | Acceleration |
12.2.1 | On the occurrence of an Event of Default and at any time thereafter whilst such event shall be continuing the Agent may if a Drawing has not yet been drawn down, by notice to the Borrower cancel the obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement. | ||
12.2.2 | On the occurrence of an Event of Default and at any time thereafter whilst such event shall be continuing, if a Drawing has been drawn down the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) may: |
(a) | by notice to the Borrower declare the whole or any part of the Facility due and repayable in accordance with the terms of such notice whereupon the same shall become due and repayable accordingly together with all interest accrued thereon and all other amounts payable hereunder and under any of the other Security Documents; and/or | ||
(b) | from time to time exercise all or any of its rights under any of the Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees in such order and in such manner as it shall deem appropriate; and/or | ||
(c) | at its sole discretion terminate or continue with the Management Agreements. |
12.3 | Default indemnity | ||
The Borrower shall on demand indemnify the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders, without prejudice to any of their other rights under this Agreement, the other Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees, against any loss or expense which the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders shall certify as sustained or incurred by any of them as a consequence of: |
77
12.3.1 | any default in payment by the Borrower of any sum under this Agreement, any of the other Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees when due, including, without limitation, any liability incurred by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders by reason of any delay or failure of the Borrower to pay any such sums; | ||
12.3.2 | any break in funding (including without limitation warehousing and other related costs) due to the occurrence of any Event of Default; | ||
12.3.3 | any prepayment of the Facility or any part thereof being made at any time for any reason; and/or | ||
12.3.4 | a Drawing not being drawn for any reason (excluding any default by the Agent or any Lender) after the relevant Drawdown Notice has been given, |
including, in any such case, but not limited to, any loss or expense sustained or incurred in maintaining or funding a Drawing or in liquidating or re-employing deposits from third parties acquired to effect or maintain the Drawing and also any loss or expense (including without limitation warehousing and other related costs) incurred in connection with any Master Agreement. | |||
12.4 | Set off | ||
Following the occurrence of any Event of Default and for so long as the same is continuing, the Borrower irrevocably authorises the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders and each of their respective Affiliates without prior notice to apply any credit balance to which the Borrower is entitled upon any account of the Borrower with any branch of any of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent, the Lenders and any such Affiliates in or towards satisfaction of any sum due to the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any Lender hereunder but unpaid, and to combine any accounts of the Borrower for this purpose. If such set-off requires a credit balance in a currency other than euro to be transferred to an account maintained in connection herewith the transfer shall be effected by crediting to the account in question the amount of euro which the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lender or any such Affiliate (as the case may be) could obtain by exchanging such currency for euro at the rate of exchange at which its Lending Branch would, at the opening of business on the date on which the combination is effected, have sold the currency of that credit balance for euro for immediate delivery. | |||
12.5 | Master Agreement rights | ||
The rights conferred on the Agent and the Lenders by Clause 12.4 shall be in addition to, and without prejudice to or limitation of, the rights of netting and set off conferred on the Lenders and/or their Affiliates by the Master Agreements. |
13 | Application of Funds |
13.1 | Total Loss proceeds/proceeds of sale | ||
In the event of a Vessel becoming a Total Loss or if a Vessel is sold then the Total Loss proceeds or proceeds of sale of the Vessel shall be held by the Agent and applied in the following manner and order: |
78
FIRSTLY | to the payment of all fees, expenses and charges (including brokers’ commissions), the expenses of any sale, the expenses of retaining any attorney, solicitors’ fees, court costs and any other expenses or advances made or incurred by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any Lender in the protection of the Agent’s, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent’s and the Lender’s rights or the pursuance of its or their remedies hereunder and under the other Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees or to any payments whether voluntary or not which the Agent considers advisable to protect its or their security and to provide adequate indemnity against liens claiming priority over or equality with the lien of the Security Documents or any other Encumbrances; | |||||||
SECONDLY | in or towards payment in such order as the Lenders may require of any accrued (but unpaid) fees and interest thereon to which the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Lenders, the Agent and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent are entitled hereunder and/or under the other Security Documents (other than the Master Agreements) and/or under the Lower Saxony Guarantees in connection with the Facility; | |||||||
THIRDLY | in or towards satisfaction of all interest accrued on Portion A of the relevant Tranche; | |||||||
FOURTHLY | in retention by the Agent in its discretion in a suspense or impersonal interest bearing security realised account of such sum as it considers appropriate by way of security for the Outstanding Indebtedness (other than the Master Agreement Liabilities) relating to Portion A of the relevant Tranche or for any actual or contingent liability of the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders or any of them in connection with the transactions herein contemplated so far as they relate to Portion A of the relevant Tranche; | |||||||
FIFTHLY | in or towards payment of Portion A of the relevant Tranche (whether or not then due and payable); | |||||||
SIXTHLY | in or towards payment of all losses, damages, expenses or currency risks arising from the exercise by the Borrower of the currency option contained in Clause 3 up to the amount of two thirtieths (2/30ths) of the relevant Portion A as at the relevant Delivery Date; | |||||||
SEVENTHLY | in or towards satisfaction of any other amounts due from the Borrower to the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders under the Security Documents (other than the Master Agreement Liabilities) and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee relating to Portion A of the relevant Tranche using in the |
79
discretion of the Agent the same order of application as FIRSTLY to SIXTHLY; | ||||||||
EIGHTHLY | in or towards satisfaction of all interest accrued on Portion B of the relevant Tranche; | |||||||
NINTHLY | in retention by the Agent in its discretion in a suspense or impersonal interest bearing security realised account of such sum as it considers appropriate by way of security for the Outstanding Indebtedness (other than the Master Agreement Liabilities) relating to Portion B of the relevant Tranche or for any actual or contingent liability of the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders or any of them in connection with the transactions herein contemplated so far as they relate to Portion B of the relevant Tranche; | |||||||
TENTHLY | in or towards payment of Portion B of the relevant Tranche (whether or not then due and payable); | |||||||
ELEVENTHLY | in retention of such other sum or sums as the Agent may require as security for any further monies which may reasonably be expected to become due and payable to the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders under this Agreement, any of the other Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees in respect of the relevant Tranche and which the assigned Earnings may be insufficient to satisfy; | |||||||
TWELFTHLY | in or towards satisfaction of any additional security or amount to be prepaid in accordance with Clause 10.18; | |||||||
THIRTEENTHLY | in or towards satisfaction of the Master Agreement Liabilities in respect of the relevant Tranche in the same order in which the Transactions were entered into by the Borrower with the Lenders and/or their Affiliates (as the case may be); and | |||||||
FOURTEENTHLY | the balance, if any, in payment to the Borrower or whomsoever shall then be entitled thereto. | |||||||
In the event of the proceeds being insufficient to pay the amounts referred to above the Agent shall be entitled to collect the balance from the Borrower. | ||||||||
13.2 | General funds/Event of Default monies | |||||||
If an Event of Default has occurred and any monies are received by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any other Finance Party or, pursuant to Clause 12.4, any Affiliate under or pursuant to the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or if any other monies are received by or in the possession of the Agent or any other Finance Party or, pursuant to Clause 12.4, any Affiliate under or pursuant to the Security Documents which are expressed |
80
hereunder and/or under the Security Documents to be distributed in accordance with the provisions of this Clause or where no express provisions are made for disposal, such monies shall be applied in the discretion of the Agent as follows: | ||||||||
FIRSTLY | to the payment of all fees, expenses and charges (including brokers’ commissions), the expenses of any sale, the expenses of retaining any attorney, solicitors’ fees, court costs and any other expenses or advances made or incurred by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any Lender in the protection of the Agent’s, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent’s and the Lender’s rights or the pursuance of its or their remedies hereunder and under the other Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees or to any payments whether voluntary or not which the Agent considers advisable to protect its or their security and to provide adequate indemnity against liens claiming priority over or equality with the lien of the Security Documents or any other Encumbrances; | |||||||
SECONDLY | in or towards payment in such order as the Lenders may require of any accrued (but unpaid) fees and interest thereon to which the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Lenders, the Agent and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent are entitled hereunder and/or under the other Security Documents (other than the Master Agreements) and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantees in connection with the Facility; | |||||||
THIRDLY | in or towards satisfaction of all interest accrued on Portion A of each Tranche pro rata; | |||||||
FOURTHLY | in retention by the Agent in its discretion in a suspense or impersonal interest bearing security realised account of such sum as it considers appropriate by way of security for the Outstanding Indebtedness (other than the Master Agreement Liabilities) relating to Portion A of each Tranche or for any actual or contingent liability of the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders or any of them in connection with the transactions herein contemplated so far as they relate to Portion A of each Tranche; | |||||||
FIFTHLY | in or towards payment of Portion A of each Tranche pro rata; | |||||||
SIXTHLY | in or towards payment of all losses, damages, expenses or currency risks arising from the exercise by the Borrower of the currency option contained in Clause 3 up to the amount of two thirtieths (2/30ths) of the relevant Portion A as at the relevant Delivery Date of each Tranche in respect of which the currency option has been exercised; | |||||||
SEVENTHLY | in or towards satisfaction of any other amounts due from the Borrower to the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the |
81
Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders under the Security Documents (other than the Master Agreement Liabilities) and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantees relating to Portion A of each of the Tranches pro rata using in the discretion of the Agent the same order of application as FIRSTLY to SIXTHLY; | ||||||||
EIGHTHLY | in or towards satisfaction of all interest accrued on Portion B of each Tranche pro rata; | |||||||
NINTHLY | in retention by the Agent in its discretion in a suspense or impersonal interest bearing security realised account of such sum as it considers appropriate by way of security for the Outstanding Indebtedness (other than the Master Agreement Liabilities) relating to Portion B of each Tranche or for any actual or contingent liability of the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lenders or any of them in connection with the transactions herein contemplated so far as they relate to Portion B of each Tranche; | |||||||
TENTHLY | in or towards payment of Portion B of each Tranche (whether or not then due and payable) pro rata; | |||||||
ELEVENTHLY | in retention of such other sum or sums as the Agent may require as security for any further monies which may reasonably be expected to become due and payable to the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or the Lenders under this Agreement, any of the other Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees and which the assigned Earnings may be insufficient to satisfy; | |||||||
TWELFTHLY | in or towards satisfaction of the Master Agreement Liabilities in the same order in which the Transactions were entered into by the Borrower with the Lenders and/or their Affiliates (as the case may be); and | |||||||
THIRTEENTHLY | the balance (if any) shall be released to the Borrower or to its order or whomsoever else may be entitled thereto. | |||||||
13.3 | Application of proceeds of Insurances | |||||||
Proceeds of the Insurances for partial losses shall be applied in accordance with the relevant Insurance Assignment and/or the loss payable clause endorsed on the Insurances in the form approved by the Agent and in the case of a Total Loss of a Vessel in accordance with Clause 4.11 and Clause 13.1. | ||||||||
13.4 | Suspense account | |||||||
Any monies received or recovered by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any Lender under or in connection with the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees and credited to any suspense or impersonal interest |
82
bearing security realised account in accordance with FOURTHLY or NINTHLY of Clause 13.1 or Clause 13.2 may be held in such account for so long as the Agent thinks fit pending application at the Agent’s discretion in accordance with FOURTHLY or NINTHLY (as the case may be) of Clause 13.1 or Clause 13.2 (as the case may be). |
14 | Fees |
14.1 | Commitment fee | ||
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for distribution to the Lenders quarterly in arrears during the relevant Commitment Period and on the last day of the relevant Commitment Period, forty per cent (40%) of the Applicable Margin on the relevant payment date on the daily undrawn, uncancelled amount of the relevant Tranche during the relevant Commitment Period. The commitment fee payable in respect of a Tranche shall accrue in euro until the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of that Tranche and thereafter in Dollars and be payable in euro and/or in Dollars (as the case may be). | |||
14.2 | Other fees | ||
The Borrower will pay to the Agent on behalf of itself, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers and/or the Lenders, such fees as are set out in a separate commitment letter dated 10 May 2005. | |||
14.3 | Lower Saxony Guarantee fee | ||
Throughout the period of the validity of a Lower Saxony Guarantee, the Borrower shall pay to the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent quarterly in arrears commencing on the first Advance Date in respect of the relevant Tranche for prompt on-payment to the German State of Lower Saxony a guarantee fee in euro on the relevant Lower Saxony Guaranteed Amount PROVIDED THAT: |
14.3.1 | the Lower Saxony Guaranteed Amount shall not be reduced pro rata with the reductions of the relevant Tranche made on the relevant Reduction Dates until the date on which the relevant Maximum Tranche Amount as at the relevant Delivery Date has been reduced by three thirtieths (3/30ths); and | ||
14.3.2 | the Lower Saxony Guaranteed Amount shall thereafter reduce by one thirtieth (1/30th) on each subsequent relevant Reduction Date that a reduction is made; and |
if the Borrower exercises the currency option contained in Clause 3 in respect of the relevant Tranche: |
14.3.3 | the guarantee fee shall be payable at the applicable rate thereafter as aforesaid; and | ||
14.3.4 | the guarantee fee shall continue to be payable in euro calculated at the relevant rate on the relevant Lower Saxony Guaranteed Amount. |
83
The Lower Saxony Guarantee fee shall be calculated at the rate of one per cent (1.00%) per annum on the daily drawn amount of the Lower Saxony Guaranteed Amount and at the rate of nought point five per cent (0.5%) per annum on the daily undrawn amount of the Lower Saxony Guaranteed Amount. For the purpose of calculating the Lower Saxony Guarantee fee as aforesaid any voluntary prepayment pursuant to Clause 4.8 shall be deemed to have been applied in prepayment pro rata of Portion A and Portion B of the relevant Tranche. | |||
A Lower Saxony Guarantee fee schedule setting out the amounts of the fee to be paid shall be agreed between the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Borrower on or before the relevant Delivery Date in respect of a Tranche and shall from such date be deemed to be a part of this Agreement. If the currency option contained in Clause 3 is exercised in respect of a Tranche to take effect after the relevant Delivery Date, a new Lower Saxony Guarantee fee schedule shall be agreed between the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Borrower on the first Currency Conversion Date in respect of that Tranche and shall from such date be deemed to be a part of this Agreement in substitution for the previously agreed Lower Saxony Guarantee fee schedule in respect of that Tranche. |
15 | Expenses |
15.1 | Initial expenses | ||
The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent on demand on a full indemnity basis for the charges and expenses (together with value added tax or any similar tax thereon and including without limitation travel expenses and the fees and expenses of legal, insurance and other advisers) incurred by the Lead Arrangers, the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent in respect of the arrangement and syndication of the Facility and the negotiation, preparation, issue, printing, execution and registration of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees and any other documents required in connection with the implementation of this Agreement. | |||
15.2 | Enforcement expenses | ||
The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders on demand on a full indemnity basis for all charges and expenses (including value added tax or any similar tax thereon and including the fees and expenses of legal advisers) incurred by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and each of the Lenders in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, this Agreement, the other Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees. | |||
15.3 | Stamp duties | ||
The Borrower shall pay or indemnify the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and each of the Lenders on demand against any and all stamp, registration and similar Taxes which may be payable in any jurisdiction in connection with the entry into, performance and enforcement of this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents or a Lower Saxony Guarantee. |
84
16 | Waivers, Remedies Cumulative |
16.1 | No waiver | ||
No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising on the part of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any of the Lenders any right or remedy under any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver by the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any of the Lenders shall be effective unless it is in writing. | |||
16.2 | Remedies cumulative | ||
The rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. | |||
16.3 | Severability | ||
If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such prohibition or unenforceability shall not invalidate the remaining provisions hereof or affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. | |||
16.4 | Time of essence | ||
Time is of the essence in respect of all of the obligations of the Borrower under the Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees provided however that none of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any of the Lenders shall be entitled to terminate or treat this Agreement or any of the other Security Documents as having been repudiated otherwise than in circumstances which constitute an Event of Default. |
17 | Counterparts | |
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and all such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. | ||
18 | Changes to the Lenders |
18.1 | Assignments and transfers by the Lenders | ||
Subject to this Clause 18, a Lender (the “Existing Lender”) may: |
18.1.1 | assign any of its rights under the Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees; or | ||
18.1.2 | transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations under the Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees, |
to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the “New Lender”) PROVIDED THAT any such assignment or transfer shall be in respect of an |
85
amount of its Commitment and/or Contribution of not less than five million euro (EUR5,000,000) or five million Dollars (USD5,000,000) (as the case may be). | |||
Further, the Borrower shall have the right to require that an Existing Lender assigns or transfers the whole of its Commitment and Contribution to a New Lender proposed by the Borrower and approved by the Lenders if the cost to the Existing Lender of funding any part of the Facility is materially higher than the cost to the other Lenders or if the Existing Lender is affected by the provisions of Clauses 4.9, 7.2 or 8.1 and the cost to the Borrower is materially higher than in respect of the other Lenders similarly affected. | |||
18.2 | Conditions of assignment or transfer |
18.2.1 | The consent of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Borrower is required for an assignment or transfer by a Lender, unless the assignment or transfer is to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender. The said consents of the Agent and the Borrower may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and, in the case of the Borrower, shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. | ||
Each Lender may, however, without the prior approval of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Borrower and without payment of a fee to the Agent, at any time transfer or assign all of its rights and benefits hereunder and under the Security Documents to the German State of Lower Saxony or its nominee. | |||
18.2.2 | An assignment will only be effective on: |
(a) | receipt by the Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the Agent and the other Lenders as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; and | ||
(b) | performance by the Agent of all “know your customer” or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender. |
18.2.3 | A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 18.5 is complied with. | ||
18.2.4 | If: |
(a) | a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees or changes its Lending Branch; and | ||
(b) | as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, the Borrower would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Lending Branch under Clause 7, |
86
then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Lending Branch is only entitled to receive payment under that Clause to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Lending Branch would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred. |
18.3 | Assignment or transfer fee | ||
The Existing Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of three thousand Dollars (USD3,000). | |||
18.4 | Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders |
18.4.1 | Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
(a) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Security Documents, the Lower Saxony Guarantees or any other documents; | ||
(b) | the financial condition of the Borrower or the German State of Lower Saxony; | ||
(c) | the performance and observance by any Obligor or the German State of Lower Saxony of its obligations under the Security Documents, the Lower Saxony Guarantees or any other documents; or | ||
(d) | the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Security Document, either Lower Saxony Guarantee or any other document, |
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded. | |||
18.4.2 | Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender, the Agent and the other Lenders that it: |
(a) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and the German State of Lower Saxony and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Security Document or either Lower Saxony Guarantee; and | ||
(b) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and the German State of Lower Saxony and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or any Commitment is in force. |
87
18.4.3 | Nothing in any Security Document or either Lower Saxony Guarantee obliges an Existing Lender to: |
(a) | accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 18; or | ||
(b) | support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Security Documents, the Lower Saxony Guarantees or otherwise. |
18.5 | Procedure for transfer |
18.5.1 | Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 18.2, a transfer is effected in accordance with Clause 18.5.3 when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to Clause 18.5.2, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate. | ||
18.5.2 | The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender. | ||
18.5.3 | On the Transfer Date: |
(a) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees each of the Borrower and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees and their respective rights against one another shall be cancelled (being the “Discharged Rights and Obligations”); | ||
(b) | each of the Borrower and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as the Borrower and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of the Borrower and the Existing Lender; | ||
(c) | the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent, the New Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Existing Lender shall each be released |
88
from further obligations to each other under this Agreement and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantees; and | |||
(d) | the New Lender shall become a party as a “Lender”. |
18.6 | Copy of Transfer Certificate to Borrower | ||
The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, send to the Borrower a copy of that Transfer Certificate. | |||
18.7 | Disclosure of information | ||
Any Lender may disclose to any of its Affiliates and/or the German State of Lower Saxony and/or the Federal Republic of Germany and/or the European Union and/or any agency thereof or any person acting or purporting to act on any of their behalves and any other person: |
18.7.1 | to (or through) whom that Lender assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; | ||
18.7.2 | with (or through) whom that Xxxxxx enters into (or may potentially enter into) any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to, this Agreement or the Borrower; or | ||
18.7.3 | to whom, and to the extent that, information is required to be disclosed by any applicable law or regulation, |
any information about any Obligor, the Transaction Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees as that Lender shall consider appropriate if, in relation to Clauses 18.7.1 and 18.7.2, the person to whom the information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking. In the case of the German State of Lower Saxony and/or the Federal Republic of Germany and/or the European Union and/or any agency thereof or any person acting or purporting to act on any of their behalves, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that any such information may be used by such persons for statistical purposes and/or for reports of a general nature. | |||
18.8 | Xxxxxxxx’s co-operation | ||
The Borrower shall co-operate fully with the Lender in relation to any assignment or transfer proposed by the Lender and shall execute, or procure the execution of, any documents which the Lender may require. |
19 | Changes to the Borrower | |
The Borrower may not assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees. |
89
20 | Reference Banks, Agent and Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent |
20.1 | Reference Banks | ||
If: |
20.1.1 | the whole of the Contribution (if any) of any Reference Bank is prepaid; | ||
20.1.2 | the Commitment of any Reference Bank is cancelled or reduced to zero in accordance with Clause 4.9 or any other relevant provision hereof; | ||
20.1.3 | a Reference Bank transfers the whole of its rights and obligations (if any) as a Lender under this Agreement; or | ||
20.1.4 | where applicable, any Reference Bank ceases to provide quotations to the Agent for the purposes of determining LIBOR, |
the Agent may, acting on the instructions of the Majority Xxxxxxx, terminate the appointment of such Reference Bank and appoint another Lender to replace such Reference Bank. | |||
20.2 | Decision making |
20.2.1 | Save as expressly provided in Clause 20.2.2 or as otherwise expressly provided herein, any proposed course of action in connection with any matter requiring the consent of the Lenders under or in connection howsoever with this Agreement shall only be taken with the consent of all the Lenders including, but without limitation to the generality of the foregoing: |
(a) | the release of the Borrower from any of its obligations hereunder; | ||
(b) | the amendment of any of the provisions of this Agreement; | ||
(c) | any time or other indulgence to be granted to the Borrower in respect of its obligations under this Agreement. |
20.2.2 | Proposals in connection with the following matters shall, in the absence of agreement thereon by all of the Lenders or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, be determined by the Majority Lenders and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent: |
(a) | the making of any declaration by the Agent under Clause 12.2; | ||
(b) | the institution of any legal proceedings for the enforcement of any rights or powers whatsoever pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; | ||
(c) | any course of action whatsoever from time to time (other than the making of a demand for payment hereunder) whether of a legal or commercial nature or otherwise howsoever for the purpose of achieving a full or partial recovery of any principal, interest or other amount due and payable by the Borrower hereunder or |
90
otherwise in connection therewith following the making of a declaration by the Agent under Clause 12.2; | |||
(d) | any other matter in respect of which this Agreement expressly provides that the consent of the Majority Lenders shall be required. |
20.2.3 | Any determination of the Lenders shall be ascertained by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) either: |
(a) | by means of a telefax sent by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) to each of the Lenders in identical terms on the proposal or matter in issue; or | ||
(b) | by means of the vote of representatives of each Lender at a meeting convened by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) and held for the purpose of discussing (inter alia) such proposal or matter in issue. |
Furthermore, it is hereby agreed by the Lenders that: |
(i) | where a decision of the Lenders is sought by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) by means of a telefax sent in accordance with paragraph (a) above and PROVIDED THAT the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) verifies forthwith by telephone with each relevant Lender that it has received such telefax in good order, then the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) may in its telefax: |
(1) | recommend a proposed course of action to be taken by the Lenders; and | ||
(2) | specify a time limit (of not less than three (3) Business Days) within which the Lenders are required to respond to the Agent’s or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent’s (as the case may be) recommendation |
so that, if any Lender fails to notify the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) within such time limit of its response to the recommendation, such Lender shall be deemed to have accepted and approved the course of action proposed by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be); and | |||
(ii) | where the approval of the Majority Lenders is required in respect of any matter, the approval shall be deemed to have been given as soon as the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) receives the requisite number of votes in favour of the proposal so that the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) may act on the basis of such votes without having to wait for the response of (or to give any |
91
notification to) any other Lender who has yet to reply to the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be). |
20.3 | The Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent |
20.3.1 | Each of the Lenders and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent hereby appoints the Agent to act as its agent under this Agreement and the Security Documents with such rights, powers and discretions as are expressly delegated to the Agent hereunder and thereunder. | ||
20.3.2 | Each of the Lenders and the Agent hereby appoints the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent to act as its agent under the Lower Saxony Guarantees with such rights, powers and discretions as are expressly delegated to the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent hereunder and thereunder. | ||
20.3.3 | The Agent shall: |
(a) | promptly inform the Lenders of the contents of any notice or request received by it from the Borrower under this Agreement (whether such notice or request is addressed to the Agent alone or the Agent on behalf of the Lenders) and of any information delivered to it pursuant to Clause 10.2 and of any other matters which the Agent considers material; | ||
(b) | promptly deliver to the Lenders copies of any accounts and certificates delivered to it pursuant to Clause 10.2 and, as soon as reasonably practicable, copies of the documents delivered in satisfaction of the requirements of Schedule 3; | ||
(c) | promptly inform the Lenders in reasonable detail of any exercise by it of any of the rights, powers and/or discretions vested in it hereunder (but without the Agent being under any obligation to give prior notice to the Lenders of any such exercise); | ||
(d) | promptly notify the Lenders of the occurrence of any Event of Default or any other default by the Borrower in the due performance of or compliance with its material obligations under this Agreement of which the Agent has actual knowledge or actual notice and the occurrence of which the Agent has verified; | ||
(e) | if directed by the Majority Lenders, exercise (or refrain from exercising) any right, power or discretion vested in it hereunder in accordance with the directions (subject to Clause 20.2.1) of the Majority Lenders provided, however, that it may refrain from acting in accordance with any such directions until it has received such security as it may require (whether by way of payment in advance or otherwise) for all costs, claims, expenses (including legal fees) and liabilities which it will or may expend or incur in complying with such directions and for this purpose the Agent shall make a demand for such security addressed to all the Lenders; |
92
(f) | receive from the Borrower all payments of principal, interest and other moneys expressed to be payable to the Agent hereunder on behalf of all or any of the Lenders and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and shall promptly distribute the same amongst the Lenders, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent, the German State of Lower Saxony and itself in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Lower Saxony Guarantees pending which the Agent shall hold any and all such moneys on trust for the Lenders, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent, the German State of Lower Saxony and itself; and | ||
(g) | enter into any amendment to any of the Security Documents or grant any waiver of any obligation of any of the Obligors under any of such Security Documents if so instructed by the Lenders. |
20.3.4 | The Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall: |
(a) | promptly inform the Lenders of the contents of any notice or request received by it from the German State of Lower Saxony under a Lower Saxony Guarantee (whether such notice or request is addressed to the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent alone or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent on behalf of the Lenders) and of any other matters which the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent considers material; | ||
(b) | promptly inform the Lenders in reasonable detail of any exercise by it of any of the rights, powers and/or discretions vested in it hereunder (but without the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent being under any obligation to give prior notice to the Lenders of any such exercise); | ||
(c) | promptly notify the Lenders of the occurrence of any Event of Default or any other default by the Borrower in the due performance of or compliance with its material obligations under a Lower Saxony Guarantee of which the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent has actual knowledge or actual notice and the occurrence of which the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent has verified; | ||
(d) | if directed by the Majority Lenders, exercise (or refrain from exercising) any right, power or discretion vested in it hereunder in accordance with the directions (subject to Clause 20.2.1) of the Majority Lenders provided, however, that it may refrain from acting in accordance with any such directions until it has received such security as it may require (whether by way of payment in advance or otherwise) for all costs, claims, expenses (including legal fees) and liabilities which it will or may expend or incur in complying with such directions and for this purpose the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall make a demand for such security addressed to all the Lenders; | ||
(e) | receive from the Borrower the Lower Saxony guarantee fee and shall promptly on-pay the same to the German State of Lower Saxony in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the |
93
Lower Saxony Guarantees pending which the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall hold any and all such moneys on trust for the German State of Lower Saxony; and | |||
(f) | receive from the German State of Lower Saxony all payments expressed to be payable under a Lower Saxony Guarantee on behalf of all or any of the Lenders and the Agent and shall promptly pay the same to the Agent who shall distribute the same amongst the Lenders, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and itself in accordance with the terms of this Agreement pending which the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Agent in turn shall hold any and all such moneys on trust for the Lenders, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) and itself. |
20.3.5 | The relationship between the Agent on the one part and each Lender and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent on the other and between the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent on the one part and each Lender and the Agent on the other is that of agent and principal and, except in relation to any moneys referred to in Clause 20.3.3(f) and any moneys received by the Agent from the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and in each case held by the Agent pending distribution hereunder and in relation to any moneys referred to in Clause 20.3.4(e) held by the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent pending distribution by the Agent hereunder, neither the Agent nor the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall have a fiduciary relationship with or be, or be deemed to be, a trustee of or for any such party. | ||
20.3.6 | In addition to the powers expressly given to the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent by this Agreement: |
(a) | the Lenders may give the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (generally or in any particular case) any powers which the Lenders consider appropriate; and | ||
(b) | each of the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent has power to take any other action which it considers to be reasonably incidental or conducive to the performance of its functions under this Agreement or otherwise appropriate in the context of those functions, including the exercise of any powers given to it by the Lenders. |
20.3.7 | The rights, powers and discretions vested in the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent by this Agreement shall only be exercised by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders or (if so required in accordance with the provisions of Clause 20.2.1) the Lenders provided however that the Agent and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) shall be entitled (but not bound) to exercise or refrain from exercising any such right, power or discretion without the directions of the Majority Lenders or the Lenders (as the case may be) if the Agent and/or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) believes that the immediate exercise of such right, power or discretion is necessary or |
94
desirable to protect the interests of the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement. | |||
Where any right, power or discretion is vested in the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) under this Agreement but is expressed as being exercisable in accordance with the directions of the Lenders or the Majority Lenders, such right, power or discretion shall not be exercised by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) without the lawful directions of the Lenders or the Majority Lenders (as the case may be). | |||
20.3.8 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressed or implied herein, neither the Agent nor the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall: |
(a) | be bound to enquire as to the occurrence or otherwise of any Event of Default or as to the performance by the Borrower of its obligations under this Agreement; | ||
(b) | be bound to disclose to any other person any information relating to the Borrower if such disclosure would or might in its opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or be otherwise actionable at the suit of any person; | ||
(c) | have any responsibility to the Lenders or each other for: |
(i) | the financial position, creditworthiness, affairs or prospects of the Borrower; | ||
(ii) | the performance or non-performance howsoever by the Borrower of any of its obligations hereunder; | ||
(iii) | the due execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any document relating hereto or any filing or recording thereof or the taking of any other action whatsoever and howsoever in connection therewith or the collectability of any sum due hereunder; | ||
(iv) | any computations and/or information supplied to the Lenders by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) in reliance upon which the Lenders have entered into this Agreement; |
(d) | be under any liability whatsoever for any consequence of relying on: |
(i) | any written communication or document believed by it to be genuine or correct and to have been communicated or signed by the person by whom it is purported to have been communicated or signed; or | ||
(ii) | the advice or opinions of any professional advisers selected by it; |
95
(e) | be under any duty to account to any Lender or the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) for any sum received by it for its own account or the profit element of any such sum; or | ||
(f) | be under any obligation other than those for which express provision is made herein. |
20.3.9 | Each of the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent may: |
(a) | carry out its duties hereunder through such officers, directors, employees, consultants or independent agents as it may in its unfettered discretion think fit; | ||
(b) | assume that no Event of Default has occurred and that the Borrower is not in breach of its obligations under this Agreement unless the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) has actual knowledge or actual notice to the contrary; | ||
(c) | engage and pay for the advice or services of any internal or external lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts whose advice or services may to it seem necessary, expedient or desirable and rely upon any advice so obtained; | ||
(d) | rely as to any matters of fact which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of the Borrower upon a certificate signed by or on behalf of the Borrower; and | ||
(e) | rely upon any communication or document believed by it to be genuine. |
20.3.10 | It is understood that each of the Lenders has itself been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of and investigations into the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status and nature of the Borrower and the German State of Lower Saxony and, accordingly, each of the Lenders warrants to the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent that it has not relied and will not rely on the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be): |
(a) | to check or enquire on its behalf into the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Borrower or the German State of Lower Saxony in connection with this Agreement or a Lower Saxony Guarantee; or | ||
(b) | to assess or keep under review on its behalf the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status or nature of the Borrower or the German State of Lower Saxony. |
20.3.11 | Subject to the terms of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be serviced, supervised and administered by the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with its usual practices. In performing its duties and functions hereunder, |
96
each of the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall exercise the same care as it normally exercises in making and administering loans for its own account, but assumes no further responsibility in respect of such performance. | |||
20.3.12 | Neither the Agent nor the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall be under any liability as a result of taking or omitting to take any action in relation to this Agreement and/or a Lower Saxony Guarantee save in the case of gross negligence or wilful misconduct and the Lenders will not assert or seek to assert against any director, officer or employee of the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent any claim they might have against any of them in respect of the matters referred to in this Clause 20.3.12. | ||
20.3.13 | Neither the Agent (nor any officer thereof) nor the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (nor any officer thereof) shall be precluded by reason of so acting from underwriting, guaranteeing the subscription of or subscribing for or otherwise acquiring, holding or dealing with any debentures, shares or securities whatsoever of the Borrower or from entering into any contract or financial or other transaction with or from engaging in any banking or other business with the Borrower and shall not be liable to account for any profit made or payment received by it thereby or in connection therewith. |
20.4 | Retirement and replacement of the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent |
20.4.1 | Each of the Agent and the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent may retire at any time without assigning any reason by giving to the Borrower, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) and the Lenders not less than thirty (30) days notice of its intention to do so. Unless the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) in its notice of retirement nominates any of its associated companies to be its successor, the successor Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent may be appointed by the Majority Lenders (with the prior written consent of the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) during such thirty (30) day period PROVIDED THAT, should they fail to do so, the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) may then appoint as its successor a reputable and experienced bank with an office in London. | ||
20.4.2 | If any Lender is dissatisfied with the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and wants it to be replaced, such Lender shall consult with the other relevant Lenders and the Borrower for a period of up to thirty (30) days to decide whether the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) should be replaced and, if so, by whom (such replacement being one of the relevant Lenders or an associated company thereof). If at the end of such period the relevant Lenders unanimously agree that the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) should be replaced by a particular Lender or one of its associated companies, and if the Borrower consents in writing to the identity of the proposed replacement (such consent (a) not to be unreasonably withheld and (b) not to be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), then notice shall be given by the |
97
relevant Lenders to the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) specifying the date, being not fewer than five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice, on which the appointment of the successor Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) is, subject to Clause 20.4.4, to take effect. | |||
20.4.3 | For the purposes of this Clause 20.4: |
(a) | an “associated company” of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or any Lender shall mean any company which is a holding company of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and/or such Lender or a wholly-owned subsidiary of it or its parent company; and | ||
(b) | “relevant Lenders” means all of the Lenders other than that Lender which acts as Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or whose associated company acts in such capacity. |
20.4.4 | Any appointment of a successor Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent under Clause 20.4.1 or 20.4.2 shall take effect upon: |
(a) | the successor confirming in writing its agreement to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement; and | ||
(b) | notice thereof by the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) and its successor (which notice, shall specify the banks to which payments to the new Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall be made thereafter) being given to each of the other parties to this Agreement. |
20.4.5 | If a successor to the Agent or the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent is appointed under the provisions of this Clause 20.4: |
(a) | the outgoing Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation under this Agreement; | ||
(b) | its successor and each of the other parties hereto shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been a party hereto in place of the outgoing Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be); | ||
(c) | Clause 20 and the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect for the benefit and protection of the outgoing Agent or Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent (as the case may be) in relation to any claim or loss which may be brought against or incurred by it in connection with or as a result of any act, omission, breach, neglect or other occurrence or matter relating to or arising out of this Agreement which took place before its resignation. |
98
21 | Notices |
21.1 | Mode of communication | ||
Except as otherwise provided herein, each notice, request, demand or other communication or document to be given or made hereunder shall be given in writing but unless otherwise stated, may be made by telefax. | |||
21.2 | Address | ||
Any notice, demand or other communication (unless made by telefax) to be made or delivered by the Agent to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall (unless the Borrower has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the Agent specified another address) be made or delivered to the Borrower at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx (marked for the attention of the Chief Financial Officer and the Legal Department) (but one (1) copy shall suffice). Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered by the Borrower to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall (unless the Agent has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the Borrower specified another address) be made or delivered to the Agent at its Lending Branch, the details of which are set out in Schedule 1. | |||
21.3 | Telefax communication | ||
Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered pursuant to this Agreement may be sent by telefax to the relevant telephone numbers (which at the date hereof in respect of the Borrower is x0 000 000 0000 (marked for the attention of the Chief Financial Officer) and x0 000 000 0000 (marked for the attention of the Legal Department) and in the case of the Agent or any Original Lender is as recorded in Schedule 1) specified by it from time to time for the purpose and shall be deemed to have been received when transmission of such telefax communication has been completed. Each such telefax communication, if made to the Agent or any Lender by the Borrower, shall be signed by the person or persons authorised in writing by the Borrower and whose signature appears on the list of specimen signatures contained in the secretary’s certificate required to be delivered by paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 3 and shall be expressed to be for the attention of the department or officer whose name has been notified for the time being for that purpose by the Agent or any Lender to the Borrower. | |||
21.4 | Electronic mail | ||
Any notice, demand or other communication other than a Drawdown Notice or a Renewal Notice to be made or delivered pursuant to this Agreement may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means, if the Agent, the Borrower and/or the Lender: |
21.4.1 | agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication; and | ||
21.4.2 | notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and |
99
21.4.3 | notify each other of any change to their electronic mail address or any other such information supplied by them. |
Any Original Lender which sets out an email address beneath its name in Schedule 1 is deemed to agree to receiving notices, demands or other communications from the Agent by electronic mail. | |||
Any electronic communication made: |
(a) | by the Agent to the Borrower or a Lender will be effective when it is sent by the Agent unless the Agent receives a message indicating failed delivery and, if upon the sender’s express request, a confirmation of receipt is requested, such confirmation has been sent; and | ||
(b) | by the Borrower or a Lender to the Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent and then only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify to that party for this purpose. |
The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders and the Borrower or a Lender shall notify the Agent in each case promptly upon becoming aware that its electronic mail system or other electronic means of communication cannot be used due to technical failure (and that failure is continuing for more than two (2) Business Days). Until the Agent, the Borrower or that Xxxxxx has notified as aforesaid that the failure has been remedied, all notices between the Agent and the Borrower or that Lender shall be sent by fax or letter in accordance with this Clause 21. | |||
21.5 | Receipt | ||
Each such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been made or delivered (in the case of any letter) when delivered to its office for the time being or, if sent by post, five (5) days after being deposited in the post first class or express airmail (as the case may be) postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address or, if sent by electronic mail, in accordance with Clause 21.4. | |||
21.6 | Language | ||
Each notice, demand or other communication made or delivered by one (1) party to another pursuant to this Agreement, any other Security Document or the Lower Saxony Guarantees shall be in the English language or accompanied by a certified English translation. In the event of any conflict between the translation and the original text the translation shall prevail unless the original text is a statutory instrument, legal process or any other document of a similar type or a notice, demand or other communication from the German State of Lower Saxony or in relation to a Lower Saxony Guarantee. |
22 | Governing Law | |
This Agreement shall be governed by English law. |
100
23 | Waiver of Immunity | |
To the extent that the Borrower may in any jurisdiction claim for itself or its assets immunity from suit, execution, attachment (whether in aid of execution, before judgment or otherwise) or other legal process in relation to this Agreement or the other Security Documents and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to itself or its assets such immunity (whether or not claimed) the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees throughout the Security Period not to claim and hereby irrevocably waives such immunity to the full extent permitted by the laws of such jurisdiction. In respect of any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in connection with any of the Security Documents the Borrower hereby consents generally as a matter of procedure in relation to the waiver of immunity (but not so as to prejudice any defence which the Borrower may have on the merits of the substantive issue) to the giving of any relief or the issue of any process in connection with such legal action or proceedings including without limitation, the making, enforcement or execution against any property whatsoever (irrespective of its uses or intended uses) of any order or judgment which may be made or given in such legal action or proceedings. | ||
24 | Jurisdiction |
24.1 | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (a “Dispute”). Each party to this Agreement agrees that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no party will argue to the contrary. | ||
This Clause 24.1 is for the benefit of the Lenders and the Agent only. As a result, no such party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, any such party may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions. | |||
24.2 | The Borrower may not, without the Agent’s prior written consent, terminate the appointment of the Process Agent; if the Process Agent resigns or its appointment ceases to be effective, the Borrower shall within fourteen (14) days appoint a company which has premises in London and has been approved by the Agent to act as the Borrower’s process agent with unconditional authority to receive and acknowledge service on behalf of the Borrower of all process or other documents connected with proceedings in the English courts which relate to this Agreement. | ||
24.3 | For the purpose of securing its obligations under Clause 24.2, the Borrower irrevocably agrees that, if it for any reason fails to appoint a process agent within the period specified in Clause 24.2, the Agent may appoint any person (including a company controlled by or associated with the Agent or any Lender) to act as the Borrower’s process agent in England with the unconditional authority described in Clause 24.2. | ||
24.4 | No neglect or default by a process agent appointed or designated under this Clause (including a failure by it to notify the Borrower of the service of any process or to forward any process to the Borrower) shall invalidate any proceedings or judgment. |
101
24.5 | The Borrower appoints in the case of the courts of England the Process Agent to receive, for and on its behalf service of process in England of any legal proceedings with respect to this Agreement and any other Security Document. | ||
24.6 | A judgment relating to this Agreement which is given or would be enforced by an English court shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and may be enforced without review in any other jurisdiction. | ||
24.7 | Nothing in this Clause shall exclude or limit any right which the Agent or a Lender may have (whether under the laws of any country, an international convention or otherwise) with regard to the bringing of proceedings, the service of process, the recognition or enforcement of a judgment or any similar or related matter in any jurisdiction. | ||
24.8 | In this Clause “judgment” includes order, injunction, declaration and any other decision or relief made or granted by a court. |
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
NCL CORPORATION LTD.
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
DnB NOR BANK ASA
|
) | |||
as a Lead Arranger, an Original Lender and the Agent
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA
|
) | |||
as a Lead Arranger and an Original Lender
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) |
102
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
|
) | |||
Hamburg Branch
|
) | |||
as a Co-Arranger and the
|
) | |||
Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
KfW
|
) | |||
as a Co-Arranger and an Original Lender
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
NORDDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK
|
) | |||
GIROZENTRALE
|
) | |||
as a Co-Arranger and an Original Lender
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
|
) | |||
Bremen Branch
|
) | |||
as an Original Lender
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) |
103
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF
|
) | |||
THE BANK OF SCOTLAND
|
) | |||
(now known as Bank of Scotland plc)
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND
|
) | |||
VEREINSBANK AG
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
DEUTSCHE SCHIFFSBANK
|
) | |||
AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
FOKUS BANK ASA
|
) | |||
(now known as the Norwegian Branch of
|
) | |||
Danske Bank A/S)
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
HSH NORDBANK AG
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) |
104
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA XXXXXX XX
|
) | |||
(publ)
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) |
105
and Original Lenders
106
107
108
109
110
111
Administrative Details of Transferee
112
113
1 | Subscription Agreement |
1.1 | At the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement (the “Closing”), the Investors shall pay to the Borrower USD1,000,000,000 as payment for newly-issued ordinary shares (“Ordinary Shares”) in the capital of the Borrower, par value USD1.00 per share (the “Subscribed Ordinary Shares”). The Subscribed Ordinary Shares shall represent fifty per cent (50%) of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Borrower as of the Closing. | ||
1.2 | On the Jade Transfer Date (i) NCL America Holdings will transfer the Jade Assets to the Shareholder (or one of the Shareholder’s existing or newly-formed subsidiaries), and the Jade Vessel shall be re-flagged in connection with such transfer from the US flag to the Bahamas flag PROVIDED THAT in the event that the transfer of the Jade Assets can be effected in a manner that the parties to the Subscription Agreement agree is more advantageous from a tax perspective than the manner set forth above, such transfer shall be effected in an alternative manner and (ii) the Shareholder (or one of its existing or newly-formed subsidiaries) will assume the Jade Liabilities (such transactions together the “Jade Transfer”). | ||
1.3 | Effective as of the Closing, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained therein, the Borrower has released, waived and forever discharged Star, its Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors, successors, assigns, officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents and their respective counsel (for the benefit of Star and its Subsidiaries) from any and all actions, causes of actions, demands, suits, contracts, agreements, Encumbrances, Liabilities, or Losses of any type, based on any fact or circumstance arising prior to the Closing based on Star’s relationship with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing (including any claims relating to actual or alleged breaches of fiduciary or other duties by Star’s directors, officers or shareholders), whether based on contract or any applicable law (including tort, statute, local ordinance, regulation or any comparable law) in any jurisdiction. | ||
1.4 | Star, the Borrower and the Investors have stated their mutual intention that, following the Closing, Star and the Borrower continue their current policies and practices of close collaboration in support of their mutual efforts to develop their respective cruise line businesses, including providing assistance to each other in mutually-beneficial strategic initiatives, consultation, co-ordination, collaboration in shipbuilding and sharing of ship design and providing or assisting in obtaining any necessary consents and approvals relating to such initiatives, shipbuilding or ship design PROVIDED THAT in no event shall Star or the Borrower be obligated to engage in any such efforts if such efforts could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the operation or prospects of such party’s respective cruise line business. | ||
1.5 | Star has indemnification obligations running in favour of the Investors. In the event that the Investors suffer any indemnifiable Losses in cash, Star may elect in its sole discretion to have all or a portion of the indemnity obligation of Star |
114
deemed satisfied by having the Borrower issue to the Investors additional Ordinary Shares. | |||
1.6 | If the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement upon the Closing are consummated, at the Closing (as described in clause 1.1 of this Schedule), the Borrower shall pay, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, to each Person who is the payee of any outstanding Borrower Transaction Expenses as of the Closing Date, the amount owed to such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that the Closing Date transaction fee payable to either (i) an Affiliate of the Investors or (ii) Star or an Affiliate thereof exceeds, in either case, an amount which is equal to half of the amount paid to Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof for its mergers and acquisitions advisory fee, such excess amount shall be paid, with respect to (i), by Star, or with respect to (ii), by the Investors. If the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement upon the Closing (as described in clause 1.1 of this Schedule) are not consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses. |
2 | Shareholders’ Agreement |
3 | Reimbursement Agreement |
3.1 | NCL America Holdings Undertakings | ||
Star and Investor I have agreed (the “NCLA Undertakings”) to cause the Borrower to conduct the NCLA Business in the usual and ordinary course of business after the Closing Date. In connection therewith, Star shall periodically reimburse the Borrower for any NCLA Cash Losses up to the amount of the Cash Losses Cap. | |||
3.2 | Star Termination Election | ||
At any time after the Closing Date, Star may give notice (the “Star Termination Election”) to the Borrower and Investor I that it is terminating the NCLA Undertakings. Following receipt by the Borrower of the Star Termination Election, the parties to the Reimbursement Agreement shall then within thirty (30) days thereafter either (i) enter into the NCLA Continuation Agreement (as defined in clause 3.4 of this Schedule) or (ii) make the NCLA Wind-up Determination (as defined in clause 3.5 of this Schedule). | |||
3.3 | Borrower Termination Election | ||
In the event the Star Termination Election has not been delivered prior to 1 December 2008, then on the earlier of (i) such date and (ii) the date on which |
115
the aggregate amount of NCLA Cash Losses actually accrued equals or exceeds USD37,500,000, the Borrower may give notice to Star (the “Borrower Termination Election”) that it is terminating the NCLA Undertakings. Following receipt by Star of the Borrower Termination Election (a) the parties to the Reimbursement Agreement shall undertake the Shut Down Procedure (b) the America Assets shall be transferred by NCL America Holdings to the Shareholder (or one of its existing or newly-formed subsidiaries), which transfer shall be accomplished through liquidations to the extent necessary and the Shareholder (or one of its existing or newly-formed subsidiaries) shall assume any liabilities associated with the America Assets, and the Pride of America Vessel shall be re-flagged in connection with such transfer from the US flag to the Bahamas flag (such transactions together the “America Transfer”) (c) the Borrower shall pay to Star an amount equal to USD460,000,000 less any America Accumulated Book Depreciation and less any Allocable America Indebtedness (d) the Borrower shall prepay and/or cancel the relevant percentage of the term loan and revolving credit facilities outstanding under the credit facilities related to the Aloha Assets (and the lenders under such facilities shall release all of their liens on the Aloha Assets) and cause the transfer to Star (or one of its subsidiaries) of all of NCL America Holdings’ right, title and interest in the Aloha Assets free and clear of any Encumbrances through liquidations that qualify as complete liquidations under section 331 of the Code of NCL America Holdings, Pride of Aloha, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and each of NCL America Holdings’ other subsidiaries, to the extent necessary and (e) Star shall reimburse the Borrower for any and all Shut Down Costs up to USD35,000,000 (each such payment, distribution or transaction, the “Wind Up Transactions”). Following any decision to shut down the NCLA Business, any decision to sell or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of the NCLA Business (other than the Pride of America Vessel, the Pride of Aloha Vessel and their respective related assets) as part of the Shut Down Procedure shall be determined solely by Star. The net proceeds of any such sale or disposition(s) shall be deducted from and shall reduce the Shut Down Costs by such amount of net proceeds. | |||
3.4 | NCL America Holdings Continuation Agreement | ||
In the event that Star has provided the Borrower and Investor I with the Star Termination Election, then within thirty (30) days thereafter, the Borrower and Star will mutually agree in writing that the Borrower shall continue to operate and manage the NCLA Business (the “NCLA Continuation Agreement”), in which case (i) Star’s obligations to reimburse the Borrower for the NCLA Cash Losses shall terminate, and Star shall not be obligated to pay for any Shut Down Costs and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to Star an amount equal to USD800,000,000, less the Aloha Accumulated Book Depreciation, less the America Accumulated Book Depreciation, less the Allocable Aloha Indebtedness and less the Allocable America Indebtedness (such amounts together the “Payment”) PROVIDED THAT the Payment shall be funded in part by an incremental equity contribution to the Borrower by each of Star and Investor I in the amount of USD170,000,000, less one-half of the Aloha Accumulated Book Depreciation and less one-half of the Allocable Aloha Indebtedness. | |||
Subject to the proviso in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Borrower shall use reasonable best efforts to fund any payments to Star pursuant to the NCLA Continuation Agreement, NCLA Wind Up Transactions or the Borrower Termination Election by either the use of funds generated internally by the |
116
Borrower or generated from the incurrence of additional Indebtedness from existing or new debt facilities. In the event that the Borrower is unable to fund payments in such a manner, Star and Investor I acknowledge and agree that such funds shall be generated by the net proceeds of a primary offering of additional Ordinary Shares to the existing shareholders of the Borrower at the Subscription Price. | |||
3.5 | NCL America Holdings Wind-up Determination | ||
In the event that the Borrower and Star have not entered into the NCLA Continuation Agreement by the end of such thirty (30) day period or the Borrower provides to Star notice prior to the expiration of such thirty (30) day period that the Borrower has elected to shut down the NCLA Business (either such circumstance, the “NCLA Wind-up Determination”) the parties shall consummate the Wind Up Transactions. | |||
If none of the Borrower Termination Election, the NCLA Continuation Agreement or the NCLA Wind-up Determination has been made by 31 December 2008, the provisions of the Reimbursement Agreement shall apply as if the Borrower and Star have entered into the NCLA Continuation Agreement. |
4 | Indenture |
117
118
119
120
(i) | with respect to the Investors, any Transfer by an Investor to an Affiliate of the Investor (including (a) the partners, members and stockholders of the Investor, and, if such Affiliate is an entity, the partners, members and stockholders of such Affiliate (b) any limited partner which has directly or indirectly invested, or otherwise has ownership interests, in Apollo Investment Fund VI, LP or one of its Affiliated investment funds or (c) prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, of up to forty per cent (40%) of the Equity Securities held by the Investor as at the Closing Date in the aggregate to any funds, financial institutions or individuals acting as a co-investor in the Borrower with the Investor; and | |
(ii) | with respect to Star, any Transfer by Star to (a) any wholly-owned Subsidiary of Star or (b) any Existing Star Controlling Shareholder; |
121
122
123
Mar- | Jun- | Jul- | Aug- | Sep- | Oct- | Nov- | Dec- | Jan- | Feb- | Mar- | Apr- | May- | Jun- | Jul- | Aug- | Sep- | Oct- | Nov- | Dec- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USD in millions | 07 | 07 | 07 | 07 | 07 | 07 | 07 | 07 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | 08 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pride of Aloha |
Opening NBV |
A | 301.1 | 299.9 | 298.8 | 297.6 | 296.5 | 295.3 | 294.2 | 293.2 | 292.2 | 291.2 | 290.2 | 289.2 | 288.2 | 287.2 | 286.2 | 285.2 | 284.2 | 283.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation |
B | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FY07 capex |
C | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation |
D | — | — | — | — | — | — | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Closing NBV |
304.6 | 301.1 | 299.9 | 298.8 | 297.6 | 296.5 | 295.3 | 294.2 | 293.2 | 292.2 | 291.2 | 290.2 | 289.2 | 288.2 | 287.2 | 286.2 | 285.2 | 284.2 | 283.2 | 282.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pride of America |
Opening NBV |
A | 349.6 | 348.8 | 348.0 | 347.1 | 346.3 | 345.5 | 344.7 | 343.9 | 343.2 | 342.4 | 341.6 | 340.9 | 340.1 | 339.3 | 338.5 | 337.7 | 337.0 | 336.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation |
B | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (0.9 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FY07 capex |
C | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation |
D | — | — | — | — | — | — | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Closing NBV |
352.3 | 349.6 | 348.8 | 348.0 | 347.1 | 346.3 | 345.5 | 344.7 | 343.9 | 343.2 | 342.4 | 341.6 | 340.9 | 340.1 | 339.3 | 338.5 | 337.7 | 337.0 | 336.2 | 335.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes: | ||
A — | Net book value at March 31 and June 30, 2007 as provided by management | |
B — | Monthly depreciation based on YTD07 P&L; assuming no change in depreciation rates for current net book value going forward | |
C — | FY07 and FY08 monthly capital expenditure per ship based on total FY07 and FY08 capital expenditure forecast prepared by management; assuming equal monthly spend | |
D — | Depreciation on FY07 and Fy08 capital expenditure spend per ship based on 5-year life, i.e. 20% depreciation per year, phased equally on monthly basis |
124
125
(as guarantor)
(as agent for the lenders)
in respect of the obligations of
NCL CORPORATION LTD.
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON
21 DECEMBER 2007)
126
Page | ||||||
1.
|
Definitions | 128 | ||||
2.
|
Guarantee and Indemnity | 129 | ||||
3.
|
Survival of the Guarantor’s Liability | 130 | ||||
4.
|
Continuing Guarantee | 131 | ||||
5.
|
Exclusion of Guarantor’s Rights | 132 | ||||
6.
|
Payments | 133 | ||||
7.
|
Enforcement | 133 | ||||
8.
|
Representations and Warranties | 133 | ||||
9.
|
General Undertakings: Positive Covenants | 136 | ||||
10.
|
General Undertakings: Negative Covenants | 137 | ||||
11.
|
Discharge | 139 | ||||
12.
|
Assignment and Transfer | 139 | ||||
13.
|
Miscellaneous Provisions | 140 | ||||
14.
|
Set-off | 140 | ||||
15.
|
Waiver of Immunity | 140 | ||||
16.
|
Notices | 141 | ||||
17.
|
Governing Law | 141 | ||||
18.
|
Jurisdiction | 141 |
127
(A) | By a secured loan facility agreement dated 7 October 2005 as amended and/or restated by a first supplemental deed thereto dated 13 November 2006 and a second supplemental deed thereto dated 21 December 2007 (as the same may from time to time be further amended, restated, novated, varied and/or supplemented the “Facility Agreement”) entered into between (among others) (1) NCL Corporation Ltd. as borrower (the “Borrower”) (2) the banks whose names and Lending Branches appear in Schedule 1 to the Facility Agreement as lenders (the “Lenders”) and (3) the Agent, the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower a revolving loan facility of up to six hundred and twenty four million euro (EUR624,000,000) or the equivalent in Dollars in two (2) tranches (the “Facility”). | |
(B) | Pursuant to clause 20.3 of the Facility Agreement it has been agreed that the benefit of this Deed shall be held by the Agent as agent for itself, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders and its and their respective successors, assignees and transferees (together the “Beneficiaries”). | |
(C) | It is a condition precedent to the Lenders making the Facility available to the Borrower that the Guarantor enters into this Deed. |
1 | Definitions |
1.1 | In this Deed the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings set out below; in addition, terms and expressions not defined herein but whose meanings are defined in the Facility Agreement shall have the meanings set out therein. | ||
“Accounts” means the audited consolidated profit and loss account and balance sheet (including all additional information and notes thereto) of the NCLC Group together with the relative directors’ and auditors’ reports; | |||
“Event of Default” means any of the events specified in clause 12 of the Facility Agreement; | |||
“Outstanding Indebtedness” means all sums of any kind at any time owing, actually or contingently, by any Obligor to the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries |
128
under or pursuant to the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any of the Obligors is a party (whether by way of repayment of principal, payment of interest or default interest, payment upon any indemnity or counter-indemnity, reimbursement for fees, costs or expenses or otherwise howsoever). |
1.2 | In this Deed unless the context otherwise requires: |
1.2.1 | clause headings are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction of this Deed; | ||
1.2.2 | references to Clauses and to Schedules are to be construed as references to clauses of and schedules to this Deed unless otherwise stated and references to this Deed are to be construed as references to this Deed including its Schedules; | ||
1.2.3 | references to (or to any specified provision of) this Deed or any other document shall be construed as references to this Deed, that provision or that document as from time to time amended, supplemented or novated; | ||
1.2.4 | references to any Act or any statutory instrument shall be construed as references to that Act or that statutory instrument as from time to time re-enacted, amended or supplemented; | ||
1.2.5 | references to any party to this Deed or any other document shall include reference to such party’s successors and permitted assigns; | ||
1.2.6 | words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa; | ||
1.2.7 | references to a person shall be construed as references to an individual, firm, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any state or any agency thereof; | ||
1.2.8 | where any matter requires the approval or consent of the Agent such approval or consent shall not be deemed to have been given unless given in writing; where any matter is required to be acceptable to the Agent, the Agent shall not be deemed to have accepted such matter unless its acceptance is communicated in writing; the Agent may give or withhold its consent, approval or acceptance at its unfettered discretion; and | ||
1.2.9 | a certificate by the Agent as to any amount due or calculation made hereunder shall be conclusive except for manifest error. |
1.3 | The provisions of clauses 1.3 and 1.4 of the Facility Agreement shall apply hereto (mutatis mutandis) as if set out herein. |
2 | Guarantee and Indemnity |
2.1 | In consideration of the Lenders making the Facility available to the Borrower, the payment by the Agent to the Guarantor of ten Dollars (USD10) and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and adequacy of which the Guarantor hereby acknowledges) the Guarantor: |
129
2
.1.1 | as primary obligor as and for its own debt and not merely as surety hereby undertakes to the Agent to be responsible for and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries): |
(i) | the due and punctual payment by each of the Obligors to the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) (as and when due by acceleration, demand or otherwise howsoever) of the Outstanding Indebtedness and every part thereof; and | ||
(ii) | the due and punctual performance of all the obligations to be performed by each of the Obligors under or pursuant to the Facility Agreement and the other Security Documents; and |
2.1.2 | irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes immediately on demand by the Agent from time to time to pay and/or perform its obligations under Clause 2.1.1. |
2.2 | For the same consideration as referred to in Clause 2.1 the Guarantor (as a separate and independent obligation) irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes immediately on demand by the Agent from time to time to indemnify the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries and hold each of them harmless in respect of: |
2.2.1 | any loss incurred by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries as a result of any Transaction Document to which any of the Obligors is a party or any provision thereof becoming invalid, void, voidable or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever after execution hereof; and | ||
2.2.2 | all loss or damage of any kind arising directly or indirectly from any failure on the part of any of the Obligors to perform any obligation to be performed by any of the Obligors under and pursuant to any Transaction Document to which such Obligor is a party. |
3 | Survival of the Guarantor’s Liability |
3.1 | The Guarantor’s liability to the Agent under this Deed shall not be discharged, impaired or otherwise affected by reason of any of the following events or circumstances (regardless of whether any such events or circumstances occur with or without the Guarantor’s knowledge or consent): |
3.1.1 | any time, forbearance or other indulgence given or agreed by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries to or with any of the Obligors in respect of any of their obligations under the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any of the Obligors is a party; or | ||
3.1.2 | any legal limitation, disability or incapacity relating to any of the Obligors; or | ||
3.1.3 | any invalidity, irregularity, unenforceability, imperfection or avoidance of or any defect in any security granted by, or the obligations of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony under, the Facility Agreement, each other Security Document and the Lower Saxony Guarantees to which any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower |
130
Saxony is a party or any amendment to or variation thereof or of any other document or security comprised therein; or | |||
3.1.4 | any change in the name, constitution or otherwise of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony or the merger or amalgamation of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony with any other corporate or other entity; or | ||
3.1.5 | the liquidation, bankruptcy or dissolution (or proceedings analogous thereto) of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony or the appointment of a receiver or administrative receiver or administrator or trustee or similar officer of any of the assets of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony or the occurrence of any circumstances whatsoever affecting any Obligor’s or the German State of Lower Saxony’s liability to discharge its obligations under the Facility Agreement, each other Security Document and the Lower Saxony Guarantees to which it is a party; or | ||
3.1.6 | any challenge, dispute or avoidance by any liquidator of any of the Obligors in respect of any claim by the Guarantor by right of subrogation in any such liquidation; or | ||
3.1.7 | any release of any other Obligor or the German State of Lower Saxony or any renewal, exchange or realisation of any security or obligation provided under or by virtue of any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or the provision to the Agent or the Beneficiaries at any time of any further security for the obligations of the Borrower under any of the Security Documents; or | ||
3.1.8 | the release of any other co-guarantor and/or indemnitor who is now or may hereafter become under a joint and several liability with the Guarantor under this Deed or the release of any other guarantor, indemnitor or other third party obligor in respect of the obligations of any Obligor under any of the Security Documents; or | ||
3.1.9 | any failure on the part of the Agent or the Beneficiaries (whether intentional or not) to take or perfect any security agreed to be taken under or in relation to any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or to enforce any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees; or | ||
3.1.10 | any other act, matter or thing (save for repayment in full of the Outstanding Indebtedness) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of any of the Guarantor’s obligations under this Deed; or | ||
3.1.11 | any variation or amendment of any Transaction Document or a Lower Saxony Guarantee. |
4 | Continuing Guarantee |
4.1 | This Deed shall be: |
131
4.1.1 | a continuing guarantee remaining in full force and effect until irrevocable payment in full has been received by the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) of each and every part and the ultimate balance of the Outstanding Indebtedness in accordance with the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any of the Obligors is a party; and | ||
4.1.2 | in addition to and not in substitution for or in derogation of any other security held by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries from time to time in respect of the Outstanding Indebtedness or any part thereof; and | ||
4.1.3 | a guarantee of payment and not of collection. |
4.2 | Any satisfaction of obligations by the Guarantor to the Agent or any discharge given by the Agent to the Guarantor or any other agreement reached between the Agent and the Guarantor in relation to this Deed shall be, and be deemed always to have been, void ab initio if any act satisfying any of the said obligations or on the faith of which any such discharge was given or any such agreement was entered into is subsequently avoided in whole or in part by or pursuant to any provision of any applicable law whatsoever. | ||
4.3 | This Deed shall remain the property of the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) and, notwithstanding that all moneys and liabilities due or incurred by any of the Obligors to the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries which are guaranteed hereunder shall have been paid or discharged, the Agent shall be entitled not to discharge this Deed or any security held by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries for the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder for such period as may in the reasonable opinion of the Agent be necessary or appropriate under any applicable insolvency law after the last of such moneys and liabilities have been paid or discharged and in the event of bankruptcy, winding-up or any similar proceedings being commenced in respect of any of the Obligors, the Agent shall be at liberty not to discharge this Deed or any security held by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries for the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder for and during such further period as the Agent may determine in its sole discretion. |
5 | Exclusion of Guarantor’s Rights |
5.1 | Until the obligations of any Obligor under the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any Obligor is a party have been fully performed, the Guarantor shall not: |
5.1.1 | be entitled to share in or succeed to or benefit from (by subrogation or otherwise) any rights which the Agent may have in respect of the Outstanding Indebtedness or any security therefor or all or any of the proceeds of such rights or security; or | ||
5.1.2 | without the prior written consent of the Agent: |
(i) | exercise in respect of any amount paid by it hereunder any right of indemnity, subrogation, contribution or any other right or remedy which it may have in respect thereof; or |
132
(ii) | claim payment of any other moneys for the time being due to it or to which it may become entitled or exercise or enforce or benefit from any other right, remedy or security in respect thereof; or | ||
(iii) | prove in a liquidation of any Obligor in competition with the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries for any moneys owing to the Guarantor by any other Obligor on any account whatsoever, |
PROVIDED ALWAYS that if the Guarantor, in breach of this Clause, receives or recovers any moneys pursuant to any such exercise, claim or proof, such moneys shall be held by the Guarantor as trustee upon trust for the Agent and the Beneficiaries to apply the same as if they were moneys received or recovered by the Agent under this Deed. |
6 | Payments |
6.1 | Each payment to be made by the Guarantor hereunder shall be made in immediately available funds in the currency in which such payment is due without set-off, counterclaim, deduction or retention of any kind by payment to the relevant account referred to in clause 7.1 of the Facility Agreement or such account of the Agent with such other bank or financial institution as the Agent may from time to time notify to the Guarantor in writing. | ||
6.2 | The certificate of the Agent from time to time as to sums owed by any Obligor under the Security Documents and sums owed by the Guarantor hereunder shall, save for manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes and prima facie evidence of the existence and extent of such debts in any legal action or proceedings arising in connection herewith. |
7 | Enforcement |
7.1 | The Agent shall not be obliged before taking steps to enforce this Deed to take any action whatsoever against any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony under the Facility Agreement, any other Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees to which they are a party and the Guarantor hereby waives all such formalities or rights to which it would otherwise be entitled or which the Agent would otherwise first be required to satisfy or fulfil before proceeding or making demand against the Guarantor hereunder PROVIDED THAT the Agent shall not be entitled to enforce its rights under this Deed otherwise than in circumstances which would constitute an Event of Default. |
8 | Representations and Warranties |
8.1 | The Guarantor represents and warrants to the Agent that: |
8.1.1 | it is a limited liability company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Bermuda, possessing perpetual corporate existence, the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name and the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted; | ||
8.1.2 | it has the power to enter into and perform this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party, that all necessary corporate or other action has been taken to authorise the entry into and performance of this |
133
Deed and such other Security Documents and that entering into this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party is for its corporate benefit; |
8.1.3 | this Deed constitutes and the other Security Documents to which it is a party will when executed constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; |
8.1.4 | the entry into and performance of this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not be a breach of or conflict with: |
(i) | any law or regulation or any official or judicial order; or | ||
(ii) | its constitutional documents; or | ||
(iii) | any agreement or document to which it is a party or which is binding upon it or any of its assets, |
nor result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than a Permitted Lien on any of its assets pursuant to the provisions of any such agreement or document; | |||
8.1.5 | the entry into and performance of this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not result in the Guarantor becoming insolvent; | ||
8.1.6 | no event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a default under or in respect of any agreement or document to which the Guarantor is a party or by which it may be bound (including, inter alia, this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party); | ||
8.1.7 | all authorisations, approvals, consents, licences, exemptions, filings, registrations, notarisations and other matters, official or otherwise, required in connection with the entry into, performance, validity and enforceability of this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect; | ||
8.1.8 | all information furnished by or on behalf of the Guarantor relating to the business and affairs of any member of the NCLC Group in connection with this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party was and remains true and correct in all material respects and there are no other material facts or considerations the omission of which would render any such information misleading; | ||
8.1.9 | the Guarantor has fully disclosed in writing to the Lenders through the Agent all facts relating to the NCLC Group which it knows or should reasonably know and which might reasonably be expected to influence the Lenders in deciding whether or not to enter into the Facility Agreement; | ||
8.1.10 | the Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2006 (which accounts will be prepared in accordance with US GAAP) will fairly |
134
represent the consolidated financial condition of the NCLC Group as at 31 December 2006 and from that date there will be no material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of the NCLC Group as shown in such audited accounts save as disclosed in writing to the Agent; | |||
8.1.11 | the claims of the Agent and the Beneficiaries against the Guarantor under this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party will rank at least pari passu with the claims of all other unsecured creditors of the Guarantor other than claims of such creditors to the extent that the same are statutorily preferred; | ||
8.1.12 | subject to clause 10.11 of the Facility Agreement, no member of the NCLC Group has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Guarantor’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any member of the NCLC Group for its winding-up or dissolution or for the appointment of a liquidator, administrator, receiver, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or any or all of its assets or revenues nor has any member of the NCLC Group sought any other relief under any applicable insolvency or bankruptcy law; | ||
8.1.13 | no litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings are current or pending or (to the best of the Guarantor’s knowledge and belief) threatened, which might, if adversely determined, have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Guarantor or any other member of the NCLC Group; | ||
8.1.14 | each member of the NCLC Group has complied with all taxation laws in all jurisdictions in which it is subject to Taxation and has paid all Taxes due and payable by it; no material claims are being asserted against any member of the NCLC Group with respect to Taxes which might, if such claims were successful, have a material adverse effect on its business, assets or financial condition; | ||
8.1.15 | neither the Guarantor nor any of its assets enjoys any right of immunity from set-off, suit or execution in respect of its obligations under this Deed or any of the other Security Documents to which it is a party; | ||
8.1.16 | all amounts payable by the Guarantor hereunder may be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes; | ||
8.1.17 | all of the twelve thousand (12,000) authorised and issued shares in the Guarantor are beneficially owned by the Shareholder, all of the authorised and issued shares in the Shareholder are wholly owned by Xxxxxxx and all of the authorised and issued shares in Arrasas are wholly owned by the Borrower and such structure shall remain so throughout the Security Period; | ||
8.1.18 | except for the filing of those Security Documents to which it is a party which require registration in the Registrar of Companies or Companies Registries in Bermuda and/or England and Wales, which filings must be completed within twenty one (21) days of the execution of the relevant Security Documents in the case of England and Wales, and for the |
135
registration of the relevant Mortgage over the Guarantor’s Vessel through the Bahamas Maritime Authority, the Guarantor does not have a place of business in any jurisdiction which would require this Deed or any of the other Security Documents to which it is a party to be filed or registered (if it had a place of business in that jurisdiction) to ensure the validity of this Deed or any of the other Security Documents to which it is a party; and | |||
8.1.19 | it has reviewed and agrees to all the terms and conditions of the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any Obligor is a party. |
8.2 | The representations and warranties set out in Clause 8.1 other than those set out in Clauses 8.1.4(a), 8.1.9, 8.1.16 and 8.1.19 shall survive the execution of this Deed and shall be deemed to be repeated, with reference mutatis mutandis to the facts and circumstances then subsisting, on each day until the actual and contingent obligations of each Obligor have been performed in full. |
9 | General Undertakings: Positive Covenants |
9.1 | The undertakings contained in this Clause 9 shall remain in full force from the date of this Deed until the end of the Security Period. | ||
9.2 | The Guarantor will provide to the Agent: |
9.2.1 | as soon as practicable (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of each of the NCLC Group’s financial years) a Certified Copy of the Accounts (commencing with audited accounts made up to 31 December 2006); | ||
9.2.2 | promptly, such further information in its possession or control regarding its financial condition and operations and those of any company in the NCLC Group as the Agent may request; and |
9.2.3 | details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which affect any Obligor as soon as the same are instituted and served, or, to the knowledge of the Guarantor, threatened (and for this purpose proceedings shall be deemed to be material if they involve a claim in an amount exceeding twenty five million Dollars (USD25,000,000) or the equivalent in another currency). |
All accounts required under this Clause 9.2 shall be prepared in accordance with US GAAP and shall fairly represent the financial condition of the relevant company. In this Clause 9.2 “NCLC Group” means the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and any other entity which is required to be consolidated in the Borrower’s accounts in accordance with US GAAP. | |||
9.3 | The Guarantor will keep proper books of record and account in which proper and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets, liabilities and business of the Guarantor in accordance with US GAAP. | ||
9.4 | The Guarantor will notify the Agent of any Event of Default forthwith upon the Guarantor becoming aware of the occurrence thereof. |
136
9.5 | The Guarantor will procure that all such authorisations, approvals, consents, licences and exemptions as may be required under any applicable law or regulation to enable it to perform its obligations under, and ensure the validity or enforceability of, this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party are obtained and promptly renewed from time to time and will promptly furnish certified copies thereof to the Agent and will procure that the terms of the same are complied with at all times. | ||
9.6 | The Guarantor will do all such things as are necessary to maintain its corporate existence in good standing and will ensure that it has the right and is duly qualified to conduct its business as it is conducted in all applicable jurisdictions and will obtain and maintain all franchises and rights necessary for the conduct of its business. |
10 | General Undertakings: Negative Covenants |
10.1 | The undertakings contained in this Clause 10 shall remain in full force from the date of this Deed until the end of the Security Period. | ||
10.2 | The Guarantor will not, and will procure that none of its Subsidiaries will, create or permit to subsist any Encumbrance on the whole or any part of its present or future assets except for Permitted Liens and Encumbrances created prior to the date hereof. | ||
10.3 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent, the Guarantor will not, and will procure that no other member of the NCLC Group will, either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions whether related or not and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, agree to or actually sell, assign, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of all or any of its assets or any share or interest therein except that: |
10.3.1 | disposals may be made in the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity (excluding disposal of ships) including without limitation, the payment of cash as consideration for the purchase or acquisition of any asset or service or in the discharge of any obligation incurred for value in the ordinary course of trading; | ||
10.3.2 | disposals of cash raised or borrowed may be made for the purposes for which such cash was raised or borrowed; | ||
10.3.3 | disposals of assets in exchange for other assets comparable or superior as to type and value may be made; | ||
10.3.4 | the Guarantor may agree to sell the Vessel with the prior consent of the Agent on the condition that contemporaneously with the completion of such sale Tranche A is cancelled and prepaid in accordance with the provisions of clause 4.3 and clause 4.12 of the Facility Agreement; | ||
10.3.5 | the Guarantor may let the Vessel on charter in accordance with the provisions of clause 6.1.16 of the relevant Mortgage; | ||
10.3.6 | a vessel owned by any member of the NCLC Group (other than the Guarantor) may be sold provided such sale is on a willing seller willing |
137
buyer basis at or about market rate and at arm’s length subject always to the provisions of any loan documentation for the financing of such vessel; and | |||
10.3.7 | disposals of assets constituting Apollo-Related Transactions may be made. |
10.4 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent, the Guarantor will not, and will procure that no other member of the NCLC Group will, make any loan or advance or extend credit to any person, firm or corporation (except any loan, advance or credit made available to passengers on board a vessel for gambling purposes or to ship’s agents and except any loan, advance or credit to the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, which loan, advance or credit is fully subordinated to the rights of the Beneficiaries under the Security Documents). In this Clause “fully subordinated” shall mean that any claim of the lender against the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) in relation to such indebtedness shall rank after and be in all respects subordinate to all of the rights and claims of the Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Security Documents and that the lender shall not take any steps to enforce its rights to recover any monies owing to it by the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) and in particular but without limitation the lender will not institute any legal or quasi-legal proceedings under any jurisdiction at any time against the Vessels, their Earnings or Insurances or the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) and it will not compete with the Agent or the Lenders in a liquidation or other winding-up or bankruptcy of the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) or in any proceedings in connection with the Vessels, their Earnings or Insurances. | ||
10.5 | Save as contemplated by this Deed and otherwise in the ordinary course of its business as owner of the Vessel, issue or enter into any guarantee or indemnity or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any other person, firm or corporation. | ||
10.6 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent and subject to clause 10.10 of the Facility Agreement, the Guarantor will not, and will procure that no other member of the NCLC Group will, make or threaten to make any substantial change in its business as presently conducted, or carry on any other business which is substantial in relation to its business as presently conducted. | ||
10.7 | Except with the prior consent of the Agent and the German State of Lower Saxony and subject to clause 10.11 of the Facility Agreement, the Guarantor will not enter into any amalgamation, discontinuation, restructure, substantial reorganisation, merger, de-merger or consolidation or anything analogous to the foregoing nor will it acquire any equity, share capital or obligations of any corporation or other entity and will procure that no company in the NCLC Group (other than the Shareholder or NCL America Holdings) shall do so. | ||
However, the prior consent of the Agent shall not be required in respect of any reorganisation or restructure (including the winding-up, dissolution or cessation of business of any existing Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than the Obligors, or the creation of new Subsidiaries) (a) pursuant to the Apollo-Related Transactions or (b) involving wholly owned (whether directly or indirectly) Subsidiaries of the |
138
Guarantor only which does not imperil the security created by any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or affect the ability of any Obligor duly to perform any of its obligations under any Security Document to which it may be a party at any time, PROVIDED THAT except in relation to the Apollo-Related Transactions, the Borrower has first consulted with the Agent with regard to the proposed consolidation, reorganisation or restructure. | |||
10.8 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent, the Guarantor will not alter its financial year end. | ||
10.9 | The Guarantor has not taken and shall not take from any other Obligor any security or counter-security in respect of any of its obligations under this Deed PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT if the Guarantor, in breach of this Clause, takes any security or counter-security as aforesaid, such security shall be held by the Guarantor as trustee upon trust for the Agent and the Beneficiaries. |
11 | Discharge |
11.1 | Subject to Clause 4.3, following the irrevocable repayment or payment to the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) of all the Outstanding Indebtedness the Agent will at the Guarantor’s request return this Deed to the Guarantor and the Agent shall, at the request and cost of the Guarantor, transfer to the Guarantor such rights as the Agent may at such time have in the security for the Outstanding Indebtedness and to the proceeds of any such rights or security. |
12 | Assignment and Transfer |
12.1 | This Deed shall be binding upon the Guarantor and its successors and permitted assigns and enure to the benefit of the Agent and the Beneficiaries and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns. | ||
12.2 | The Guarantor shall not be entitled to assign or transfer all or any part of its rights, benefits or obligations under this Deed. | ||
12.3 | The Agent and each Lender may assign or transfer its respective rights hereunder to any person (including any other Lending Branch) to whom the rights, or the rights and obligations, of the Agent or that Lender under the Facility Agreement are wholly or partially assigned or transferred in accordance with the Facility Agreement. | ||
12.4 | Any Lender may disclose to any actual or potential assignee or Transferee or to any person who may otherwise enter or propose to enter into contractual relations with such Lender in relation to the Facility Agreement and this Deed any information about the Obligors and the NCLC Group as such Lender shall reasonably consider necessary for the purposes of inviting expressions of interest from other banks or financial institutions SUBJECT ALWAYS to the relevant Lender procuring the execution by the potential assignee or Transferee or any other person as aforesaid of a Confidentiality Undertaking. | ||
12.5 | A person (including any body of persons) who is not a party to this Deed has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Deed but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act. |
139
13 | Miscellaneous Provisions |
13.1 | No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising on the part of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any of the Lenders any right or remedy under this Deed, any other of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver by the Agent or any of the Beneficiaries shall be effective unless it is in writing. | ||
13.2 | The rights and remedies of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and each of the Beneficiaries provided herein, in the other Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. | ||
13.3 | If any provision of this Deed, the Facility Agreement or any other Security Document to which any Obligor is a party is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such prohibition or unenforceability shall not invalidate the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. | ||
13.4 | Time is of the essence in respect of all of the obligations of the Guarantor under this Deed. |
14 | Set-off |
14.1 | Following the occurrence of any Event of Default and for so long as the same is continuing, the Guarantor irrevocably authorises the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders to apply any credit balance to which the Guarantor is entitled upon any account of the Guarantor with any branch of any of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders in or towards satisfaction of any sum due to the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any Lender hereunder but unpaid, and to combine any accounts of the Guarantor for this purpose. If such set-off requires a credit balance in a currency other than euro to be transferred to an account maintained in connection herewith the transfer shall be effected by crediting to the account in question the amount of euro which the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lender (as the case may be) could obtain by exchanging such currency for euro at the rate of exchange at which its Lending Branch would, at the opening of business on the date on which the combination is effected, have sold the currency of that credit balance for euro for immediate delivery. |
15 | Waiver of Immunity |
15.1 | The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally: |
15.1.1 | waives any right of immunity which it or its assets now has or may hereafter acquire in relation to any legal proceedings (including, but without limitation, actions in rem and/or in personam) brought against it or its assets by the Agent or the Beneficiaries in relation to this Deed; and | ||
15.1.2 | consents generally in respect of any such proceedings to the giving of any relief including, without limitation, the issue of any process in connection |
140
with such proceedings and the making, enforcement or execution against any property whatsoever (irrespective of its use or intended use) of any order or judgment which may be made or given in such proceedings. |
16 | Notices |
16.1 | Each notice, demand or other communication to be made under this Deed shall be made in writing which, unless otherwise stated, includes telex or telefax. | ||
16.2 | Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered by the Agent to the Guarantor pursuant to this Deed shall (unless the Guarantor has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the Agent specified another address) be made or delivered to the Guarantor at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx (marked for the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, telefax no x0 000 000 0000 and the Legal Department, telefax no x0 000 000 0000) (but one copy shall suffice) and shall be deemed to have been made or delivered (in the case of telefax) when transmission of such telefax communication has been completed or (in the case of any letter) when delivered to the aforesaid address or (as the case may be) five (5) days after being deposited in the post first class postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address. Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered by the Guarantor to the Agent or the Beneficiaries pursuant to this Deed shall (unless the Agent has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the Guarantor specified another address) be made or delivered to the Agent at its office for the time being which is at present at Xxxxxxxx 00, XX-0000 Xxxx, Xxxxxx (marked for the attention of Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, telefax no x00 00 000000) and shall be deemed to have made or delivered when transmission of such telefax communication has been completed or (in the case of any letter) when delivered to the aforesaid address or (as the case may be) five (5) days after being deposited in the post first class postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address. | ||
16.3 | Each notice, demand or other communication made or delivered by one (1) party to the other pursuant to this Deed shall be in the English language or accompanied by a certified English translation. |
17 | Governing Law |
17.1 | This Deed shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. |
18 | Jurisdiction |
18.1 | For the exclusive benefit of the Agent and the Beneficiaries, the Guarantor agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of this Deed may be brought in the High Court of Justice in England and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of that court. The submission by the Guarantor to such jurisdiction shall not limit the right of the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries to commence any proceedings arising out of this Deed in whatsoever jurisdiction they may choose, nor shall the commencement of any such legal action or proceeding in one (1) jurisdiction preclude the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries from beginning any further or other such legal action or proceeding in the same or any other jurisdiction. |
141
18.2 | The Guarantor appoints in the case of the courts of England the Process Agent to receive, for and on its behalf, service of process in England of any legal proceedings with respect to this Deed. |
IN WITNESS whereof this Deed of Guarantee and Indemnity has been executed by the parties hereto as a deed on the day first written above. |
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
NORWEGIAN PEARL, LTD.
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||
by
|
) | |||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||
DnB NOR BANK ASA
|
) | |||
in the presence of:
|
) |
142
143
(as guarantor)
(as agent for the lenders)
in respect of the obligations of
NCL CORPORATION LTD.
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON
21 DECEMBER 2007)
144
Page | ||||||
1.
|
Definitions | 146 | ||||
2.
|
Guarantee and Indemnity | 147 | ||||
3.
|
Survival of the Guarantor’s Liability | 148 | ||||
4.
|
Continuing Guarantee | 149 | ||||
5.
|
Exclusion of Guarantor’s Rights | 150 | ||||
6.
|
Payments | 151 | ||||
7.
|
Enforcement | 151 | ||||
8.
|
Representations and Warranties | 151 | ||||
9.
|
General Undertakings: Positive Covenants | 154 | ||||
10.
|
General Undertakings: Negative Covenants | 155 | ||||
11.
|
Discharge | 157 | ||||
12.
|
Assignment and Transfer | 157 | ||||
13.
|
Miscellaneous Provisions | 158 | ||||
14.
|
Set-off | 158 | ||||
15.
|
Waiver of Immunity | 158 | ||||
16.
|
Notices | 159 | ||||
17.
|
Governing Law | 159 | ||||
18.
|
Jurisdiction | 159 |
145
(A) | By a secured loan facility agreement dated 7 October 2005 as amended and/or restated by a first supplemental deed thereto dated 13 November 2006 and a second supplemental deed thereto dated 21 December 2007 (as the same may from time to time be further amended, restated, novated, varied and/or supplemented the “Facility Agreement”) entered into between (among others) (1) NCL Corporation Ltd. as borrower (the “Borrower”) (2) the banks whose names and Lending Branches appear in Schedule 1 to the Facility Agreement as lenders (the “Lenders”) and (3) the Agent, the Lenders agreed to make available to the Borrower a revolving loan facility of up to six hundred and twenty four million euro (EUR624,000,000) or the equivalent in Dollars in two (2) tranches (the “Facility”). | |
(B) | Pursuant to clause 20.3 of the Facility Agreement it has been agreed that the benefit of this Deed shall be held by the Agent as agent for itself, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders and its and their respective successors, assignees and transferees (together the “Beneficiaries”). | |
(C) | It is a condition precedent to the Lenders continuing to make the Facility available to the Borrower that the Guarantor enters into this Deed. |
1 | Definitions |
1.1 | In this Deed the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings set out below; in addition, terms and expressions not defined herein but whose meanings are defined in the Facility Agreement shall have the meanings set out therein. | ||
“Accounts” means the audited consolidated profit and loss account and balance sheet (including all additional information and notes thereto) of the NCLC Group together with the relative directors’ and auditors’ reports; | |||
“Event of Default” means any of the events specified in clause 12 of the Facility Agreement; | |||
“Outstanding Indebtedness” means all sums of any kind at any time owing, actually or contingently, by any Obligor to the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries under or pursuant to the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which |
146
any of the Obligors is a party (whether by way of repayment of principal, payment of interest or default interest, payment upon any indemnity or counter-indemnity, reimbursement for fees, costs or expenses or otherwise howsoever). | |||
1.2 | In this Deed unless the context otherwise requires: |
1.2.1 | clause headings are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction of this Deed; | ||
1.2.2 | references to Clauses and to Schedules are to be construed as references to clauses of and schedules to this Deed unless otherwise stated and references to this Deed are to be construed as references to this Deed including its Schedules; | ||
1.2.3 | references to (or to any specified provision of) this Deed or any other document shall be construed as references to this Deed, that provision or that document as from time to time amended, supplemented or novated; | ||
1.2.4 | references to any Act or any statutory instrument shall be construed as references to that Act or that statutory instrument as from time to time re-enacted, amended or supplemented; | ||
1.2.5 | references to any party to this Deed or any other document shall include reference to such party’s successors and permitted assigns; | ||
1.2.6 | words importing the plural shall include the singular and vice versa; | ||
1.2.7 | references to a person shall be construed as references to an individual, firm, company, corporation, unincorporated body of persons or any state or any agency thereof; | ||
1.2.8 | where any matter requires the approval or consent of the Agent such approval or consent shall not be deemed to have been given unless given in writing; where any matter is required to be acceptable to the Agent, the Agent shall not be deemed to have accepted such matter unless its acceptance is communicated in writing; the Agent may give or withhold its consent, approval or acceptance at its unfettered discretion; and | ||
1.2.9 | a certificate by the Agent as to any amount due or calculation made hereunder shall be conclusive except for manifest error. |
1.3 | The provisions of clauses 1.3 and 1.4 of the Facility Agreement shall apply hereto (mutatis mutandis) as if set out herein. |
2 | Guarantee and Indemnity |
2.1 | In consideration of the Lenders continuing to make the Facility available to the Borrower, the payment by the Agent to the Guarantor of ten Dollars (USD10) and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and adequacy of which the Guarantor hereby acknowledges) the Guarantor: |
2.1.1 | as primary obligor as and for its own debt and not merely as surety hereby undertakes to the Agent to be responsible for and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries): |
147
(i) | the due and punctual payment by each of the Obligors to the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) (as and when due by acceleration, demand or otherwise howsoever) of the Outstanding Indebtedness and every part thereof; and | ||
(ii) | the due and punctual performance of all the obligations to be performed by each of the Obligors under or pursuant to the Facility Agreement and the other Security Documents; and |
2.1.2 | irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes immediately on demand by the Agent from time to time to pay and/or perform its obligations under Clause 2.1.1. |
2.2 | For the same consideration as referred to in Clause 2.1 the Guarantor (as a separate and independent obligation) irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes immediately on demand by the Agent from time to time to indemnify the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries and hold each of them harmless in respect of: |
2.2.1 | any loss incurred by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries as a result of any Transaction Document to which any of the Obligors is a party or any provision thereof becoming invalid, void, voidable or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever after execution hereof; and | ||
2.2.2 | all loss or damage of any kind arising directly or indirectly from any failure on the part of any of the Obligors to perform any obligation to be performed by any of the Obligors under and pursuant to any Transaction Document to which such Obligor is a party. |
3 | Survival of the Guarantor’s Liability |
3.1 | The Guarantor’s liability to the Agent under this Deed shall not be discharged, impaired or otherwise affected by reason of any of the following events or circumstances (regardless of whether any such events or circumstances occur with or without the Guarantor’s knowledge or consent): |
3.1.1 | any time, forbearance or other indulgence given or agreed by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries to or with any of the Obligors in respect of any of their obligations under the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any of the Obligors is a party; or | ||
3.1.2 | any legal limitation, disability or incapacity relating to any of the Obligors; or | ||
3.1.3 | any invalidity, irregularity, unenforceability, imperfection or avoidance of or any defect in any security granted by, or the obligations of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony under, the Facility Agreement, each other Security Document and the Lower Saxony Guarantees to which any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony is a party or any amendment to or variation thereof or of any other document or security comprised therein; or | ||
3.1.4 | any change in the name, constitution or otherwise of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony or the merger or amalgamation of any |
148
of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony with any other corporate or other entity; or | |||
3.1.5 | the liquidation, bankruptcy or dissolution (or proceedings analogous thereto) of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony or the appointment of a receiver or administrative receiver or administrator or trustee or similar officer of any of the assets of any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony or the occurrence of any circumstances whatsoever affecting any Obligor’s or the German State of Lower Saxony’s liability to discharge its obligations under the Facility Agreement, each other Security Document and the Lower Saxony Guarantees to which it is a party; or | ||
3.1.6 | any challenge, dispute or avoidance by any liquidator of any of the Obligors in respect of any claim by the Guarantor by right of subrogation in any such liquidation; or | ||
3.1.7 | any release of any other Obligor or the German State of Lower Saxony or any renewal, exchange or realisation of any security or obligation provided under or by virtue of any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or the provision to the Agent or the Beneficiaries at any time of any further security for the obligations of the Borrower under any of the Security Documents; or | ||
3.1.8 | the release of any other co-guarantor and/or indemnitor who is now or may hereafter become under a joint and several liability with the Guarantor under this Deed or the release of any other guarantor, indemnitor or other third party obligor in respect of the obligations of any Obligor under any of the Security Documents; or | ||
3.1.9 | any failure on the part of the Agent or the Beneficiaries (whether intentional or not) to take or perfect any security agreed to be taken under or in relation to any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or to enforce any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees; or | ||
3.1.10 | any other act, matter or thing (save for repayment in full of the Outstanding Indebtedness) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of any of the Guarantor’s obligations under this Deed; or | ||
3.1.11 | any variation or amendment of any Transaction Document or a Lower Saxony Guarantee. |
4 | Continuing Guarantee |
4.1 | This Deed shall be: |
4.1.1 | a continuing guarantee remaining in full force and effect until irrevocable payment in full has been received by the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) of each and every part and the ultimate balance of the Outstanding Indebtedness in accordance with the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any of the Obligors is a party; and |
149
4.1.2 | in addition to and not in substitution for or in derogation of any other security held by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries from time to time in respect of the Outstanding Indebtedness or any part thereof; and | ||
4.1.3 | a guarantee of payment and not of collection. |
4.2 | Any satisfaction of obligations by the Guarantor to the Agent or any discharge given by the Agent to the Guarantor or any other agreement reached between the Agent and the Guarantor in relation to this Deed shall be, and be deemed always to have been, void ab initio if any act satisfying any of the said obligations or on the faith of which any such discharge was given or any such agreement was entered into is subsequently avoided in whole or in part by or pursuant to any provision of any applicable law whatsoever. | ||
4.3 | This Deed shall remain the property of the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) and, notwithstanding that all moneys and liabilities due or incurred by any of the Obligors to the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries which are guaranteed hereunder shall have been paid or discharged, the Agent shall be entitled not to discharge this Deed or any security held by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries for the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder for such period as may in the reasonable opinion of the Agent be necessary or appropriate under any applicable insolvency law after the last of such moneys and liabilities have been paid or discharged and in the event of bankruptcy, winding-up or any similar proceedings being commenced in respect of any of the Obligors, the Agent shall be at liberty not to discharge this Deed or any security held by the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries for the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder for and during such further period as the Agent may determine in its sole discretion. |
5 | Exclusion of Guarantor’s Rights |
5.1 | Until the obligations of any Obligor under the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any Obligor is a party have been fully performed, the Guarantor shall not: |
5.1.1 | be entitled to share in or succeed to or benefit from (by subrogation or otherwise) any rights which the Agent may have in respect of the Outstanding Indebtedness or any security therefor or all or any of the proceeds of such rights or security; or | ||
5.1.2 | without the prior written consent of the Agent: |
(i) | exercise in respect of any amount paid by it hereunder any right of indemnity, subrogation, contribution or any other right or remedy which it may have in respect thereof; or |
(ii) | claim payment of any other moneys for the time being due to it or to which it may become entitled or exercise or enforce or benefit from any other right, remedy or security in respect thereof; or |
(iii) | prove in a liquidation of any Obligor in competition with the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries for any moneys owing to the Guarantor by any other Obligor on any account whatsoever, |
150
PROVIDED ALWAYS that if the Guarantor, in breach of this Clause, receives or recovers any moneys pursuant to any such exercise, claim or proof, such moneys shall be held by the Guarantor as trustee upon trust for the Agent and the Beneficiaries to apply the same as if they were moneys received or recovered by the Agent under this Deed. |
6 | Payments |
6.1 | Each payment to be made by the Guarantor hereunder shall be made in immediately available funds in the currency in which such payment is due without set-off, counterclaim, deduction or retention of any kind by payment to the relevant account referred to in clause 7.1 of the Facility Agreement or such account of the Agent with such other bank or financial institution as the Agent may from time to time notify to the Guarantor in writing. | ||
6.2 | The certificate of the Agent from time to time as to sums owed by any Obligor under the Security Documents and sums owed by the Guarantor hereunder shall, save for manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes and prima facie evidence of the existence and extent of such debts in any legal action or proceedings arising in connection herewith. |
7 | Enforcement |
7.1 | The Agent shall not be obliged before taking steps to enforce this Deed to take any action whatsoever against any of the Obligors or the German State of Lower Saxony under the Facility Agreement, any other Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees to which they are a party and the Guarantor hereby waives all such formalities or rights to which it would otherwise be entitled or which the Agent would otherwise first be required to satisfy or fulfil before proceeding or making demand against the Guarantor hereunder PROVIDED THAT the Agent shall not be entitled to enforce its rights under this Deed otherwise than in circumstances which would constitute an Event of Default. |
8 | Representations and Warranties |
8.1 | The Guarantor represents and warrants to the Agent that: |
8.1.1 | it is a limited liability company, duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of Bermuda, possessing perpetual corporate existence, the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name and the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted; | ||
8.1.2 | it has the power to enter into and perform this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party, that all necessary corporate or other action has been taken to authorise the entry into and performance of this Deed and such other Security Documents and that entering into this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party is for its corporate benefit; | ||
8.1.3 | this Deed constitutes and the other Security Documents to which it is a party will when executed constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; |
151
8.1.4 | the entry into and performance of this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not be a breach of or conflict with: |
(i) | any law or regulation or any official or judicial order; or | ||
(ii) | its constitutional documents; or | ||
(iii) | any agreement or document to which it is a party or which is binding upon it or any of its assets, |
nor result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than a Permitted Lien on any of its assets pursuant to the provisions of any such agreement or document; |
8.1.5 | the entry into and performance of this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not result in the Guarantor becoming insolvent; | ||
8.1.6 | no event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a default under or in respect of any agreement or document to which the Guarantor is a party or by which it may be bound (including, inter alia, this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party); | ||
8.1.7 | all authorisations, approvals, consents, licences, exemptions, filings, registrations, notarisations and other matters, official or otherwise, required in connection with the entry into, performance, validity and enforceability of this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect; | ||
8.1.8 | all information furnished by or on behalf of the Guarantor relating to the business and affairs of any member of the NCLC Group in connection with this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party was and remains true and correct in all material respects and there are no other material facts or considerations the omission of which would render any such information misleading; | ||
8.1.9 | the Guarantor has fully disclosed in writing to the Lenders through the Agent all facts relating to the NCLC Group which it knows or should reasonably know and which might reasonably be expected to influence the Lenders in deciding whether or not to enter into the Facility Agreement; | ||
8.1.10 | the Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2007 (which accounts will be prepared in accordance with US GAAP) will fairly represent the consolidated financial condition of the NCLC Group as at 31 December 2007 and from that date there will be no material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of the NCLC Group as shown in such audited accounts save as disclosed in writing to the Agent; | ||
8.1.11 | the claims of the Agent and the Beneficiaries against the Guarantor under this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party will rank at least pari passu with the claims of all other unsecured creditors of the |
152
Guarantor other than claims of such creditors to the extent that the same are statutorily preferred; | |||
8.1.12 | subject to clause 10.11 of the Facility Agreement, no member of the NCLC Group has taken any corporate action nor have any other steps been taken or legal proceedings been started or (to the best of the Guarantor’s knowledge and belief) threatened against any member of the NCLC Group for its winding-up or dissolution or for the appointment of a liquidator, administrator, receiver, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of it or any or all of its assets or revenues nor has any member of the NCLC Group sought any other relief under any applicable insolvency or bankruptcy law; | ||
8.1.13 | no litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings are current or pending or (to the best of the Guarantor’s knowledge and belief) threatened, which might, if adversely determined, have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or financial condition of the Guarantor or any other member of the NCLC Group; | ||
8.1.14 | each member of the NCLC Group has complied with all taxation laws in all jurisdictions in which it is subject to Taxation and has paid all Taxes due and payable by it; no material claims are being asserted against any member of the NCLC Group with respect to Taxes which might, if such claims were successful, have a material adverse effect on its business, assets or financial condition; | ||
8.1.15 | neither the Guarantor nor any of its assets enjoys any right of immunity from set-off, suit or execution in respect of its obligations under this Deed or any of the other Security Documents to which it is a party; | ||
8.1.16 | all amounts payable by the Guarantor hereunder may be made free and clear of and without deduction for or on account of any Taxes; | ||
8.1.17 | all of the twelve thousand (12,000) authorised and issued shares in the Guarantor are beneficially owned by the Shareholder, all of the authorised and issued shares in the Shareholder are wholly owned by Xxxxxxx and all of the authorised and issued shares in Arrasas are wholly owned by the Borrower and such structure shall remain so throughout the Security Period; | ||
8.1.18 | except for the filing of those Security Documents to which it is a party which require registration with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda and/or England and Wales, which filings must be completed within twenty one (21) days of the execution of the relevant Security Documents in the case of England and Wales, and for the registration of the relevant Mortgage over the Guarantor’s Vessel through the Bahamas Maritime Authority, the Guarantor does not have a place of business in any jurisdiction which would require this Deed or any of the other Security Documents to which it is a party to be filed or registered (if it had a place of business in that jurisdiction) to ensure the validity of this Deed or any of the other Security Documents to which it is a party; and |
153
8.1.19 | it has reviewed and agrees to all the terms and conditions of the Facility Agreement and each other Security Document to which any Obligor is a party. |
8.2 | The representations and warranties set out in Clause 8.1 other than those set out in Clauses 8.1.4(a), 8.1.9, 8.1.16 and 8.1.19 shall survive the execution of this Deed and shall be deemed to be repeated, with reference mutatis mutandis to the facts and circumstances then subsisting, on each day until the actual and contingent obligations of each Obligor have been performed in full. |
9 | General Undertakings: Positive Covenants |
9.1 | The undertakings contained in this Clause 9 shall remain in full force from the date of this Deed until the end of the Security Period. | ||
9.2 | The Guarantor will provide to the Agent: |
9.2.1 | as soon as practicable (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of each of the NCLC Group’s financial years) a Certified Copy of the Accounts (commencing with audited accounts made up to 31 December 2007); | ||
9.2.2 | promptly, such further information in its possession or control regarding its financial condition and operations and those of any company in the NCLC Group as the Agent may request; and | ||
9.2.3 | details of any material litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which affect any Obligor as soon as the same are instituted and served, or, to the knowledge of the Guarantor, threatened (and for this purpose proceedings shall be deemed to be material if they involve a claim in an amount exceeding twenty five million Dollars (USD25,000,000) or the equivalent in another currency). |
All accounts required under this Clause 9.2 shall be prepared in accordance with US GAAP and shall fairly represent the financial condition of the relevant company. In this Clause 9.2 “NCLC Group” means the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and any other entity which is required to be consolidated in the Borrower’s accounts in accordance with US GAAP. |
9.3 | The Guarantor will keep proper books of record and account in which proper and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets, liabilities and business of the Guarantor in accordance with US GAAP. | ||
9.4 | The Guarantor will notify the Agent of any Event of Default forthwith upon the Guarantor becoming aware of the occurrence thereof. | ||
9.5 | The Guarantor will procure that all such authorisations, approvals, consents, licences and exemptions as may be required under any applicable law or regulation to enable it to perform its obligations under, and ensure the validity or enforceability of, this Deed and the other Security Documents to which it is a party are obtained and promptly renewed from time to time and will promptly furnish certified copies thereof to the Agent and will procure that the terms of the same are complied with at all times. |
154
9.6 | The Guarantor will do all such things as are necessary to maintain its corporate existence in good standing and will ensure that it has the right and is duly qualified to conduct its business as it is conducted in all applicable jurisdictions and will obtain and maintain all franchises and rights necessary for the conduct of its business. |
10 | General Undertakings: Negative Covenants |
10.1 | The undertakings contained in this Clause 10 shall remain in full force from the date of this Deed until the end of the Security Period. | ||
10.2 | The Guarantor will not, and will procure that none of its Subsidiaries will, create or permit to subsist any Encumbrance on the whole or any part of its present or future assets except for Permitted Liens and Encumbrances created prior to the date hereof. | ||
10.3 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent, the Guarantor will not, and will procure that no other member of the NCLC Group will, either in a single transaction or in a series of transactions whether related or not and whether voluntarily or involuntarily, agree to or actually sell, assign, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of all or any of its assets or any share or interest therein except that: |
10.3.1 | disposals may be made in the ordinary course of trading of the disposing entity (excluding disposal of ships) including without limitation, the payment of cash as consideration for the purchase or acquisition of any asset or service or in the discharge of any obligation incurred for value in the ordinary course of trading; | ||
10.3.2 | disposals of cash raised or borrowed may be made for the purposes for which such cash was raised or borrowed; | ||
10.3.3 | disposals of assets in exchange for other assets comparable or superior as to type and value may be made; | ||
10.3.4 | the Guarantor may agree to sell the Vessel with the prior consent of the Agent on the condition that contemporaneously with the completion of such sale Tranche B is cancelled and prepaid in accordance with the provisions of clause 4.3 and clause 4.12 of the Facility Agreement; | ||
10.3.5 | the Guarantor may let the Vessel on charter in accordance with the provisions of clause 6.1.16 of the relevant Mortgage; | ||
10.3.6 | a vessel owned by any member of the NCLC Group (other than the Guarantor) may be sold provided such sale is on a willing seller willing buyer basis at or about market rate and at arm’s length subject always to the provisions of any loan documentation for the financing of such vessel; and | ||
10.3.7 | disposals of assets constituting Apollo-Related Transactions may be made. |
10.4 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent, the Guarantor will not, and will procure that no other member of the NCLC Group will, make any loan or advance or extend credit to any person, firm or corporation (except any loan, advance or |
155
credit made available to passengers on board a vessel for gambling purposes or to ship’s agents and except any loan, advance or credit to the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, which loan, advance or credit is fully subordinated to the rights of the Beneficiaries under the Security Documents). In this Clause “fully subordinated” shall mean that any claim of the lender against the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) in relation to such indebtedness shall rank after and be in all respects subordinate to all of the rights and claims of the Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Security Documents and that the lender shall not take any steps to enforce its rights to recover any monies owing to it by the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) and in particular but without limitation the lender will not institute any legal or quasi-legal proceedings under any jurisdiction at any time against the Vessels, their Earnings or Insurances or the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) and it will not compete with the Agent or the Lenders in a liquidation or other winding-up or bankruptcy of the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (as the case may be) or in any proceedings in connection with the Vessels, their Earnings or Insurances. | |||
10.5 | Save as contemplated by this Deed and otherwise in the ordinary course of its business as owner of the Vessel, issue or enter into any guarantee or indemnity or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for the obligations of any other person, firm or corporation. | ||
10.6 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent and subject to clause 10.10 of the Facility Agreement, the Guarantor will not, and will procure that no other member of the NCLC Group will, make or threaten to make any substantial change in its business as presently conducted, or carry on any other business which is substantial in relation to its business as presently conducted. | ||
10.7 | Except with the prior consent of the Agent and the German State of Lower Saxony and subject to clause 10.11 of the Facility Agreement, the Guarantor will not enter into any amalgamation, discontinuation, restructure, substantial reorganisation, merger, de-merger or consolidation or anything analogous to the foregoing nor will it acquire any equity, share capital or obligations of any corporation or other entity and will procure that no company in the NCLC Group (other than the Shareholder or NCL America Holdings) shall do so. | ||
However, the prior consent of the Agent shall not be required in respect of any reorganisation or restructure (including the winding-up, dissolution or cessation of business of any existing Subsidiary of the Borrower, other than the Obligors, or the creation of new Subsidiaries) (a) pursuant to the Apollo-Related Transactions or (b) involving wholly owned (whether directly or indirectly) Subsidiaries of the Guarantor only which does not imperil the security created by any of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees or affect the ability of any Obligor duly to perform any of its obligations under any Security Document to which it may be a party at any time, PROVIDED THAT except in relation to the Apollo-Related Transactions, the Borrower has first consulted with the Agent with regard to the proposed consolidation, reorganisation or restructure. | |||
10.8 | Except with the prior written consent of the Agent, the Guarantor will not alter its financial year end. |
156
10.9 | The Guarantor has not taken and shall not take from any other Obligor any security or counter-security in respect of any of its obligations under this Deed PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT if the Guarantor, in breach of this Clause, takes any security or counter-security as aforesaid, such security shall be held by the Guarantor as trustee upon trust for the Agent and the Beneficiaries. |
11 | Discharge |
11.1 | Subject to Clause 4.3, following the irrevocable repayment or payment to the Agent (on behalf of the Beneficiaries) of all the Outstanding Indebtedness the Agent will at the Guarantor’s request return this Deed to the Guarantor and the Agent shall, at the request and cost of the Guarantor, transfer to the Guarantor such rights as the Agent may at such time have in the security for the Outstanding Indebtedness and to the proceeds of any such rights or security. |
12 | Assignment and Transfer |
12.1 | This Deed shall be binding upon the Guarantor and its successors and permitted assigns and enure to the benefit of the Agent and the Beneficiaries and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns. | ||
12.2 | The Guarantor shall not be entitled to assign or transfer all or any part of its rights, benefits or obligations under this Deed. | ||
12.3 | The Agent and each Lender may assign or transfer its respective rights hereunder to any person (including any other Lending Branch) to whom the rights, or the rights and obligations, of the Agent or that Lender under the Facility Agreement are wholly or partially assigned or transferred in accordance with the Facility Agreement. | ||
12.4 | Any Lender may disclose to any actual or potential assignee or Transferee or to any person who may otherwise enter or propose to enter into contractual relations with such Lender in relation to the Facility Agreement and this Deed any information about the Obligors and the NCLC Group as such Lender shall reasonably consider necessary for the purposes of inviting expressions of interest from other banks or financial institutions SUBJECT ALWAYS to the relevant Lender procuring the execution by the potential assignee or Transferee or any other person as aforesaid of a Confidentiality Undertaking. | ||
12.5 | A person (including any body of persons) who is not a party to this Deed has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Deed but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party which exists or is available apart from that Act. |
13 | Miscellaneous Provisions |
13.1 | No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising on the part of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any of the Lenders any right or remedy under this Deed, any other of the Security Documents or the Lower Saxony Guarantees shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver by the Agent or any of the Beneficiaries shall be effective unless it is in writing. |
157
13.2 | The rights and remedies of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and each of the Beneficiaries provided herein, in the other Security Documents and the Lower Saxony Guarantees are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. | ||
13.3 | If any provision of this Deed, the Facility Agreement or any other Security Document to which any Obligor is a party is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such prohibition or unenforceability shall not invalidate the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. | ||
13.4 | Time is of the essence in respect of all of the obligations of the Guarantor under this Deed. |
14 | Set-off |
14.1 | Following the occurrence of any Event of Default and for so long as the same is continuing, the Guarantor irrevocably authorises the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders to apply any credit balance to which the Guarantor is entitled upon any account of the Guarantor with any branch of any of the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent and the Lenders in or towards satisfaction of any sum due to the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or any Lender hereunder but unpaid, and to combine any accounts of the Guarantor for this purpose. If such set-off requires a credit balance in a currency other than euro to be transferred to an account maintained in connection herewith the transfer shall be effected by crediting to the account in question the amount of euro which the Agent, the Lower Saxony Guarantee Agent or the Lender (as the case may be) could obtain by exchanging such currency for euro at the rate of exchange at which its Lending Branch would, at the opening of business on the date on which the combination is effected, have sold the currency of that credit balance for euro for immediate delivery. |
15 | Waiver of Immunity |
15.1 | The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally: |
15.1.1 | waives any right of immunity which it or its assets now has or may hereafter acquire in relation to any legal proceedings (including, but without limitation, actions in rem and/or in personam) brought against it or its assets by the Agent or the Beneficiaries in relation to this Deed; and | ||
15.1.2 | consents generally in respect of any such proceedings to the giving of any relief including, without limitation, the issue of any process in connection with such proceedings and the making, enforcement or execution against any property whatsoever (irrespective of its use or intended use) of any order or judgment which may be made or given in such proceedings. |
16 | Notices |
16.1 | Each notice, demand or other communication to be made under this Deed shall be made in writing which, unless otherwise stated, includes telex or telefax. |
158
16.2 | Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered by the Agent to the Guarantor pursuant to this Deed shall (unless the Guarantor has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the Agent specified another address) be made or delivered to the Guarantor at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx (marked for the attention of the Chief Financial Officer, telefax no x0 000 000 0000 and the Legal Department, telefax no x0 000 000 0000) (but one copy shall suffice) and shall be deemed to have been made or delivered (in the case of telefax) when transmission of such telefax communication has been completed or (in the case of any letter) when delivered to the aforesaid address or (as the case may be) five (5) days after being deposited in the post first class postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address. Any notice, demand or other communication to be made or delivered by the Guarantor to the Agent or the Beneficiaries pursuant to this Deed shall (unless the Agent has by fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the Guarantor specified another address) be made or delivered to the Agent at its office for the time being which is at present at Xxxxxxxx 00, XX-0000 Xxxx, Xxxxxx (marked for the attention of Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, telefax no x00 00 000000) and shall be deemed to have made or delivered when transmission of such telefax communication has been completed or (in the case of any letter) when delivered to the aforesaid address or (as the case may be) five (5) days after being deposited in the post first class postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address. | ||
16.3 | Each notice, demand or other communication made or delivered by one (1) party to the other pursuant to this Deed shall be in the English language or accompanied by a certified English translation. |
17 | Governing Law |
17.1 | This Deed shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. |
18 | Jurisdiction |
18.1 | For the exclusive benefit of the Agent and the Beneficiaries, the Guarantor agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of this Deed may be brought in the High Court of Justice in England and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of that court. The submission by the Guarantor to such jurisdiction shall not limit the right of the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries to commence any proceedings arising out of this Deed in whatsoever jurisdiction they may choose, nor shall the commencement of any such legal action or proceeding in one (1) jurisdiction preclude the Agent and/or the Beneficiaries from beginning any further or other such legal action or proceeding in the same or any other jurisdiction. | ||
18.2 | The Guarantor appoints in the case of the courts of England the Process Agent to receive, for and on its behalf, service of process in England of any legal proceedings with respect to this Deed. |
159
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||||
by
|
) | |||||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||||
NORWEGIAN GEM, LTD.
|
) | |||||
in the presence of:
|
) | |||||
SIGNED SEALED and DELIVERED as a DEED
|
) | |||||
by
|
) | |||||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||||
DnB NOR BANK ASA
|
) | |||||
in the presence of:
|
) |
160
161
162