Exhibit 4.16
EXECUTION VERSION
Date 16 December 2016
EURONAV NV
EURONAV TANKERS NV
EURONAV SHIPPING NV
as joint and several Borrowers
EURONAV TANKERS NV
EURONAV SHIPPING NV
as joint and several Borrowers
– and –
THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
listed in Schedule 1
as Lenders
– and –
THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
listed in Schedule 2
as Swap Banks
as Swap Banks
– and –
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S (DANMARKS SKIBSKREDIT A/S)
DNB (UK) LIMITED
ING BANK, a branch of ING-DiBa AG
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
as Mandated Lead Arrangers
– and –
BNP PARIBAS FORTIS SA/NV
as Lead Arranger
– and –
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA
KBC BANK NV
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED
as Co-Arrangers
– and –
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S (DANMARKS SKIBSKREDIT A/S)
DNB (UK) LIMITED
ING BANK, a branch of ING-DiBa AG
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL)
as Bookrunners
– and –
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA
as Co-ordinator
– and –
NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL), FILIAL I NORGE
as Agent
and Security Trustee
LOAN AGREEMENT
relating to a revolving credit facility of up to $409,500,000
INDEX
Clause | Page |
1 | Interpretation | 1 |
2 | Facility | 23 |
3 | Position of the Lenders and Swap Banks | 23 |
4 | Drawdown | 24 |
5 | Interest | 25 |
6 | Interest Periods | 29 |
7 | Default Interest | 30 |
8 | Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation | 30 |
9 | Conditions Precedent | 34 |
10 | Representations and Warranties | 35 |
11 | General Undertakings | 38 |
12 | Corporate Undertakings | 43 |
13 | Insurance | 46 |
14 | Ship Covenants | 50 |
15 | Security Cover | 55 |
16 | Payments and Calculations | 57 |
17 | Application of Receipts | 59 |
18 | Application of Earnings | 60 |
19 | Events of Default | 61 |
20 | Fees and Expenses | 65 |
21 | Indemnities | 66 |
22 | No Set-Off or Tax Deduction | 68 |
23 | Illegality, etc. | 70 |
24 | The Agent, the Arrangers and the Reference Banks | 71 |
25 | The Security Trustee | 80 |
26 | Conduct of Business by the Creditor Parties | 94 |
27 | Sharing among the Creditor Parties | 94 |
28 | Increased Costs | 96 |
29 | Set‑ Off | 98 |
30 | Transfers and Changes in Lending Offices | 99 |
31 | Confidential Information | 103 |
32 | Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations | 107 |
33 | Variations and Waivers | 108 |
34 | Bail-In | 109 |
35 | Notices | 110 |
36 | Joint and Several Liability | 112 |
37 | Supplemental | 115 |
38 | Law and Jurisdiction | 115 |
Schedules
Schedule 1 Lenders and Commitments | 117 |
Schedule 2 Swap Banks | 125 |
Schedule 3 Drawdown Notice | 127 |
Schedule 4 Condition Precedent Documents | 128 |
Part A | 128 |
Part B | 129 |
Part C | 131 |
Schedule 5 Transfer Certificate | 133 |
Schedule 6 Details of Ships | 137 |
Schedule 7 Designation Notice | 139 |
Schedule 8 Form of Certificate of Compliance | 140 |
Schedule 9 Timetables | 142 |
Execution
Execution Pages | 143 |
THIS AGREEMENT is made on December 2016
BETWEEN
(1) | EURONAV NV, EURONAV TANKERS NV and EURONAV SHIPPING NV, as joint and several Borrowers |
(2) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 1 (Lenders and Commitments), as Lenders |
(3) | THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Schedule 2 (Swap Banks), as Swap Banks |
(4) | ABN AMRO BANK N.V., DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S (DANMARKS SKIBSKREDIT A/S), DNB (UK) LIMITED, ING BANK, a branch of ING-DiBa AG, NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA and SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL) as Mandated Lead Arrangers |
(5) | BNP PARIBAS FORTIS SA/NV as Lead Arranger |
(6) | COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA, KBC BANK NV and NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED as Co-Arrangers |
(7) | ABN AMRO BANK N.V., DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S (DANMARKS SKIBSKREDIT A/S), DNB (UK) LIMITED, ING BANK, a branch of ING-DiBa AG, NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA and SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN AB (PUBL) as Bookrunners |
(8) | NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA, as Co-ordinator |
(9) | NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL), FILIAL I NORGE, as Agent |
(10) | NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL), FILIAL I NORGE, as Security Trustee |
BACKGROUND
(A) | The Lenders have agreed to make available to the Borrowers a revolving credit facility of up to $409,500,000 for the purpose of (i) refinancing the existing indebtedness of the Borrowers under the Existing Loan Agreement; and (ii) providing the Borrowers with funds for general corporate and working capital purposes. |
(B) | The Swap Banks may agree to enter into interest rate swap transactions with the Borrowers from time to time to hedge the Borrowers' exposure under this Agreement to interest rate fluctuations. |
(C) | The Lenders and the Swap Banks have agreed to share in the security to be granted to the Security Trustee pursuant to this Agreement on the terms described herein. |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1 | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | DEFINITIONS |
Subject to Clause 1.5 (General Interpretation), in this Agreement:
"Account Pledge" means, in respect of a Borrower, a deed or pledge creating security in respect of the Earnings Account in the name of that Borrower to be executed by that Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in the Agreed Form.
"Advance" means the principal amount of each borrowing by the Borrowers under this Agreement.
"Affected Lender" has the meaning given in Clause 5.9 (Market disruption).
"Affiliate" means, in relation to any person, a subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other subsidiary of that Holding Company.
"Agent" means Nordea Bank AB (publ), filial i Norge, acting in such capacity through its office at Essendropsgate 7, Oslo, Norway, or any successor of it.
"Agreed Form" means in relation to any document, that document in a form agreed in writing by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders or, if agreed in the Finance Documents, the Majority Lenders), or if otherwise approved in accordance with any other procedure specified in the relevant provision of any Finance Document.
"Anti-Corruption Laws" means the England and Wales Bribery Act 2010, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 or other applicable anti-corruption legislation in any other jurisdictions.
"Approved Classification Society" means any of DNV GL, Bureau Veritas, Lloyds Register of Shipping, American Bureau of Shipping, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai or such other classification society which the Agent has approved or selected (with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders).
"Approved Flag" means Belgian, French, Greek, Hong Kong, Liberian and Marshall Islands flags and any other flag approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders).
"Approved Manager" means:
(a) | in relation to the technical management of each Ship: |
(i) | Euronav Ship Management SAS of 15 Quai Ernest Renaud, Immeuble Les Salorges 1, 44000 Nantes, France (with a Belgian branch office at De Gerlachekaai 20, B 2000 Antwerp 1, Belgium); or |
(ii) | Anglo Eastern Ship Management Ltd, 23/F, 248 Queen's Road, East Wanchai, Hong Kong; or |
(iii) | Wallem of 9/F Dorset House, Taikou Place, 979 King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong; or |
(iv) | V. Ships of 63 Queen Victoria Street, EC4N 4UA, London, England; or |
(v) | Euronav Ship Management (Hellas) Ltd. (Greek Branch) of 69 Akti Miaouli Str, Piraeus 185 37, Greece; or |
(vi) | Northern Marine Limited, of Alba House, 2 Central Avenue, Clydebank, Glasgow, G81 2QR, Scotland; and |
(b) | in relation to the commercial management of each Ship: |
(i) | the Borrower which owns that Ship (as the case may be); |
(ii) | Borrower A; or |
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(iii) | any wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower A, |
or, in each case, any other company which the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, approve from time to time as the technical or commercial manager of that Ship (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld).
"Approved Shipbroker" means Clarksons Platou Securities AS, Arrow Sale & Purchase (UK) Limited, Braemar ACM, Fearnleys, Maersk Broker K/S or such other independent sale and purchase shipbrokers which the Agent has approved or selected (with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders) and Borrower A may agree.
"Arrangers" means, together, the Mandated Lead Arrangers, the Lead Arranger and the Co-Arrangers.
"Authorisation" means an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, permit, ruling, exemption, filing, notarisation, legalisation or registration.
"Available Commitment" means, in relation to a Lender and at any time, its Commitment less its Contribution at that time (and "Total Available Commitments" means the aggregate of the Available Commitments of all the Lenders).
"Availability Period" means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the earlier of:
(a) | the Maturity Date; or |
(b) | if earlier, the date on which the Total Commitments are fully cancelled or terminated. |
"Bail-In Action" means the exercise of any Write-down and Conversion Powers.
"Bail-In Legislation" means in relation to an EEA Member Country which has implemented, or which at any time implements, Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, the relevant implementing law or regulation as described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time.
"Bookrunners" means ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Danish Ship Finance A/S (Dansmarks Skibskredit A/S), DNB (UK) Limited, ING Bank, a branch of ING-DiBa AG, Nordea Bank Norge ASA and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ).
"Borrower A" means Euronav NV, a company incorporated in Belgium whose registered office is at De Gerlachekaai 20, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
"Borrower B" means Euronav Tankers NV, a company incorporated in Belgium whose registered office is at De Gerlachekaai 20, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
"Borrower C" means Euronav Shipping NV, a company incorporated in Belgium whose registered office is at De Gerlachekaai 20, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
"Borrowers" means collectively Borrower A, Borrower B and Borrower C and "Borrower" means any one of them.
"Break Costs" means the amount (if any) by which:
(a) | the interest (excluding the Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in the Loan or |
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Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in relation to the Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period, |
exceeds
(b) | the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank in the London interbank market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period. |
"Business Day" means a day on which banks are open in London, Oslo and Antwerp and, in respect of a day on which a payment is required to be made under a Finance Document, also in Melbourne, Stockholm and New York City.
"Change of Control" means, in relation to Borrower A, if 2 or more persons acting in concert or any individual person in each case other than the Permitted Holders:
(a) | acquires legally and/or beneficially, and either directly or indirectly, in excess of 50 per cent. of the issued share capital or voting rights of Borrower A; or |
(b) | has the right or the ability to control, either directly or indirectly, the affairs or composition of the majority of the board of directors (or equivalent) of Borrower A. |
"Co-Arrangers" means Commonwealth Bank of Australia, KBC Bank NV and National Australia Bank Limited.
"Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
"Commitment" means, in relation to a Lender, the amount set opposite its name in Schedule 1 (Lenders and Commitments), or, as the case may require, the amount specified in the relevant Transfer Certificate, as that amount may be reduced, cancelled or terminated in accordance with this Agreement (and "Total Commitments" means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders).
"Confidential Information" means all information relating to any Borrower, the Group, the Finance Documents or the Loan of which a Creditor Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Creditor Party or which is received by a Creditor Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Creditor Party under, the Finance Documents or the Loan from either:
(a) | any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
(b) | another Creditor Party, if the information was obtained by that Creditor Party directly or indirectly from any member of the Group or any of its advisers, |
in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes:
(i) | information that |
(A) | is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Creditor Party of Clause 31.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information); or |
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(B) | is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by any member of the Group or any of its advisers; or |
(C) | is known by that Creditor Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Creditor Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Creditor Party is aware, unconnected with the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Creditor Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality; and |
(ii) | any Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation. |
"Confidentiality Undertaking" means a confidentiality undertaking in substantially the appropriate form recommended by the Loan Market Association from time to time (as logically amended to reflect the terms of this Agreement) or in any other form agreed between the Borrowers and the Agent.
"Confirmation", in relation to any continuing Designated Transaction, has the meaning given in the relevant Master Agreement.
"Contractual Currency" has the meaning given in Clause 21.4 (Currency indemnity).
"Contribution" means, in relation to a Lender, the part of the Loan which is owing to that Lender.
"Co-ordinator" means Nordea Bank Norge ASA, acting in such capacity through its office at Essendropsgate 7, Oslo, Norway.
"Corresponding Debt" means any amount, other than any Parallel Debt, which a Borrower owes to a Creditor Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents.
"Creditor Party" means the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arrangers, any Lender or any Swap Bank, whether as at the date of this Agreement or at any later time.
"Deed of Covenant" means, in relation to each Ship and where (in the opinion of the Agent) it is appropriate in the context of the relevant Approved Flag, a deed of covenant collateral to the Mortgage on that Ship to be executed by the relevant Borrower in favour of the Security Trustee in the Agreed Form.
"Defaulting Lender" means any Lender:
(a) | which has failed to make available the relevant proportion of its Commitment in respect of any Advance or has given notice to the Agent that it will not make such amount available by the relevant Drawdown Date pursuant to Clause 4.3 (Notification to Lenders of receipt of a Drawdown Notice); or |
(b) | which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document; or |
(c) | with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, |
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:
(i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
(A) | administrative or technical error; or |
(B) | a Disruption Event; and |
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payment is made within 5 Business Days of its due date; or
(ii) | the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the relevant payment. |
"Designated Transaction" means a Transaction which fulfils the following requirements:
(a) | it is entered into by a Borrower pursuant to a Master Agreement with a Swap Bank; |
(b) | its purpose is the hedging of the exposure of the Borrowers (or any of them) under this Agreement to fluctuations in LIBOR arising from the funding of the Loan (or any part thereof) for a period expiring no later than the Maturity Date; |
(c) | which is for a period expiring no later than the Maturity Date; and |
(d) | it is designated by the relevant Borrower and/or by the relevant Swap Bank, by delivery by that Borrower and/or that Swap Bank to the Agent of a notice of designation in the form set out in Schedule 7 (Designation Notice), as a Designated Transaction for the purposes of the Finance Documents. |
"Disruption Event" means either or both of:
(a) | a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Loan (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, a party to this Agreement (a "Party"); or |
(b) | the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other, Party: |
(i) | from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
(ii) | from communicating with other parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents, |
and which (in each case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted.
"Dollars" and "$" means the lawful currency for the time being of the United States of America.
"Drawdown Date" means, in relation to an Advance, the date requested by the Borrowers for the Advance to be made, or (as the context requires) the date on which the Advance is actually made.
"Drawdown Notice" means a notice in the form set out in Schedule 3 (Drawdown Notice) (or in any other form which the Agent approves or reasonably requires).
"Earnings" means, in relation to a Ship, all moneys whatsoever which are now, or later become, payable (actually or contingently) to the relevant Borrower and which arise out of the use or operation of that Ship, including (but not limited to):
(a) | all freight, hire and passage moneys, compensation payable to the relevant Borrower in the event of requisition of that Ship for hire, remuneration for salvage and towage services, demurrage and detention moneys and damages for breach (or |
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payments for variation or termination) of any charterparty or other contract for the employment of that Ship;
(b) | all moneys which are at any time payable under Insurances in respect of loss of earnings; and |
(c) | if and whenever that Ship is employed on terms whereby any moneys falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) are pooled or shared with any other person, that proportion of the net receipts of the relevant pooling or sharing arrangement which is attributable to that Ship. |
"Earnings Account" means, in respect of each Borrower, an account in the name of that Borrower with the Agent in Oslo designated "[Name of Borrower] - Earnings Account", or any other account (with that or another office of the Agent or with a bank or financial institution other than the Agent) which is agreed by the Agent and the Borrowers as the Earnings Account for the purposes of this Agreement.
"Environmental Approval" means any present or future permit, ruling, variance or other Authorisation required under Environmental Laws.
"Environmental Claim" means:
(a) | any claim by any governmental, judicial or regulatory authority which arises out of an Environmental Incident or an alleged Environmental Incident or which relates to any Environmental Law; or |
(b) | any claim by any other person which relates to an Environmental Incident or to an alleged Environmental Incident, |
and "claim" means a claim for damages, compensation, fines, penalties or any other payment of any kind whether or not similar to the foregoing; an order or direction to take, or not to take, certain action or to desist from or suspend certain action; and any form of enforcement or regulatory action, including the arrest or attachment of any asset.
"Environmental Incident" means:
(a) | any release of Environmentally Sensitive Material from a Ship; or |
(b) | any incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released from a vessel other than a Ship and which involves a collision between a Ship and such other vessel or some other incident of navigation or operation, in either case, in connection with which a Ship is actually or is reasonably likely to be arrested, attached, detained or injuncted and/or a Ship and/or the relevant Borrower and/or any operator or manager of a Ship is at fault or allegedly at fault or is reasonably likely to be subject to any legal or administrative action; or |
(c) | any other incident in which Environmentally Sensitive Material is released otherwise than from a Ship and in connection with which a Ship is actually or reasonably likely to be arrested and/or where the relevant Borrower and/or any operator or manager of a Ship is at fault or allegedly at fault or is reasonably likely to be subject to any legal or administrative action. |
"Environmental Law" means any law relating to pollution or protection of the environment, to the carriage of Environmentally Sensitive Material or to actual or threatened releases of Environmentally Sensitive Material.
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"Environmentally Sensitive Material" means oil, oil products and any other substance (including any chemical, gas or other hazardous or noxious substance) which is (or is capable of being or becoming) polluting, toxic or hazardous.
"EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule" means the document described as such and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time.
"Event of Default" means any of the events or circumstances described in Clause 19.1 (Events of Default).
"Existing Loan Agreement" means the loan agreement dated 25 March 2014 and made between (i) Euronav Shipping NV and Euronav Tankers NV as borrowers, (ii) Euronav NV as guarantor, (iii) the banks and financial institutions listed therein as lenders, (iv) the banks and financial institutions listed therein as Swapbanks, (v) ABN Amro Bank N.V., Danish Ship Finance A/S (Dansmarks Skibskredit A/S), DNB Bank ASA, ING Bank N.V., Nordea Bank Norge ASA and Merchant Banking, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) as lead arrangers, (v) BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV, KBC Bank NV, Scotiabank Europe Plc as Co-arrangers, and (vii) Nordea Bank Norge ASA as agent and security trustee in relation to a term loan facility of originally $500,000,000.
"Facility Office" means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than 5 Business Days' written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.
"FATCA" means
(a) | sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations or other official guidance; |
(b) | any treaty, law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of paragraph (a) above; or |
(c) | any agreement pursuant to the implementation of paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction. |
"FATCA Application Date" means:
(a) | in relation to a "withholdable payment" described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014; |
(b) | in relation to a "withholdable payment" described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to "gross proceeds" from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2019; or |
(c) | in relation to a "passthru payment" described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2019, |
or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
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"FATCA Deduction" means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by or under FATCA.
"FATCA Exempt Party" means a party to a Finance Document that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.
"Fair Market Value" means, in relation to a Ship, a valuation of its market price as determined in accordance with Clause 15.3 (Valuation of Ships).
"Fee Letter" means any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement between any of the Arrangers, the Agent, the Co-ordinator and the Security Trustee and any Borrower setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 20.1 (Fees).
"Finance Documents" means:
(a) | this Agreement; |
(b) | any Fee Letter; |
(c) | each Drawdown Notice; |
(d) | the Mortgages; |
(e) | the Deeds of Covenant; |
(f) | the General Assignments; |
(g) | the Account Pledges; |
(h) | any other document (whether creating a Security Interest or not, other than a Manager's Undertaking) which is executed at any time by the Borrowers (or any of them) or any other person as security for, or to establish any form of subordination or priorities arrangement in relation to, any amount payable to the Lenders and/or the Swap Banks under this Agreement or any of the other documents referred to in this definition; or |
(i) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Borrowers. |
"Financial Indebtedness" means, in relation to a person (the "debtor"), a liability of the debtor:
(a) | for principal, interest or any other sum payable in respect of any moneys borrowed or raised by the debtor; |
(b) | under any loan stock, bond, note or other security issued by the debtor; |
(c) | under any acceptance credit, guarantee or letter of credit facility made available to the debtor; |
(d) | any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase, sale and sale back or sale and leaseback agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing or otherwise classified as borrowings under IFRS; |
(e) | receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis); |
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(f) | under a financial lease, a deferred purchase consideration arrangement or any other agreement having the commercial effect of a borrowing or raising of money by the debtor; |
(g) | under any foreign exchange transaction, any interest or currency swap or any other kind of derivative transaction entered into by the debtor or, if the agreement under which any such transaction is entered into requires netting of mutual liabilities, the liability of the debtor for the net amount; or |
(h) | under a guarantee, indemnity or similar obligation entered into by the debtor in respect of a liability of another person which would fall within paragraphs (a) to (e) if the references to the debtor referred to the other person. |
"First Advance" means the first Advance in the sum of up to $222,035,856.57 to refinance the existing indebtedness of the Borrowers under the Existing Loan Agreement and to be secured by the First Advance Ships.
"First Advance Ships" means each of m.v.s "NECTAR", "ILMA", "IRIS", "NAUTIC", "SARA" and "SANDRA".
"Funding Rate" means any individual rate notified by a Lender to the Agent pursuant to sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of Clause 5.10 (Cost of funds).
"General Assignment" means, in relation to each Ship, a deed to be executed by the Borrower owning that Ship in favour of the Security Trustee creating security in respect of the Earnings, the Insurances and any Requisition Compensation relating to that Ship and any Long Term Charter in relation to that Ship and any guarantee of such charter in the Agreed Form.
"Group" means Borrower A and each of its subsidiaries.
"Holding Company" means, in relation to a person, any other person in relation to which it is a subsidiary.
"IFRS" means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements.
"Impaired Agent" means the Agent at any time when:
(a) | it has failed to make (or has notified a party to a Finance Document that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for payment; |
(b) | the Agent otherwise rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document; |
(c) | (if the Agent is also a Lender), it is a Defaulting Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of "Defaulting Lender"; or |
(d) | an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Agent; |
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:
(i) | its failure to pay is caused by: |
(A) | administrative or technical error; or |
(B) | a Disruption Event; and |
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(ii) | payment is made within 10 Business Days of its due date; or |
(iii) | the Agent is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question. |
"Insolvency Event" in relation to a Lender means that Lender:
(a) | is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
(b) | becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due; |
(c) | makes a general assignment, arrangement, or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors; |
(d) | institutes or has instituted against it, by a regulator, supervisor or any similar official with primary insolvency, rehabilitative or regulatory jurisdiction over it in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organisation or the jurisdiction of its head or home office, a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors' rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation by it or such regulator, supervisor or similar official; |
(e) | has instituted against it a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors' rights, or a petition is presented for its winding-up or liquidation, and, in the case of any such proceeding or petition instituted or presented against it, such proceeding or petition is instituted or presented by a person or entity not described in paragraph (d) above and: |
(i) | results in a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or the entry of an order for relief or the making of an order for its winding-up or liquidation; or |
(ii) | is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained in each case within 30 days of the institution or presentation thereof; |
(f) | has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger); |
(g) | seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets (other than, for so long as it is required by law or regulation not to be publicly disclosed, any such appointment which is to be made, or is made, by a person or entity described in paragraph (d) above); |
(h) | has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets or has a distress, execution, attachment, sequestration or other legal process levied, enforced or sued on or against all or substantially all its assets and such secured party maintains possession, or any such process is not dismissed, discharged, stayed or restrained, in each case within 30 days thereafter; |
(i) | causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (h) above; or |
(j) | takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts. |
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"Insurances" means, in relation to a Ship:
(a) | all policies and contracts of insurance, including entries of that Ship in any protection and indemnity or war risks association, which are effected in respect of that Ship, its Earnings or otherwise in relation to it; and |
(b) | all rights and other assets relating to, or derived from, any of the foregoing, including any rights to a return of a premium. |
"Interest Period" means a period determined in accordance with Clause 6 (Interest Periods).
"Interpolated Screen Rate" means, in relation to the Loan or any part of the Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan; and |
(b) | the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan, |
each as of the Specified Time for dollars.
"ISM Code" means the International Safety Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (including the guidelines on its implementation), adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time (and the terms "safety management system", "Safety Management Certificate" and "Document of Compliance" have the same meanings as are given to them in the ISM Code).
"ISPS Code" means the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code as adopted by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Diplomatic Conference of December 2002, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
"ISSC" means an International Ship Security Certificate issued under the ISPS Code.
"Lead Arranger" means BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV.
"Lender" means a bank or financial institution listed in Schedule 1 (Lenders and Commitments) and acting through its branch indicated in Schedule 1 (Lenders and Commitments) (or through another branch notified to the Borrowers under Clause 30.13 (Change of lending office) or its transferee, successor or assign.
"LIBOR" means, in relation to the Loan or any part of the Loan:
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate as of the Specified Time for dollars and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan; or |
(b) | as otherwise determined pursuant to Clause 5.7 (Unavailability of Screen Rate), |
and if, in either case, that rate is less than zero, LIBOR shall be deemed to be zero.
"Loan" means the principal amount for the time being outstanding under this Agreement.
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"Long Term Charter" means any charter or other contract of employment for a Ship which is entered into by the Borrower owning that Ship for a term which exceeds 36 months' duration.
"Manager's Undertaking" means, in relation to a Ship, the undertaking to be given by the Approved Manager in favour of the Security Trustee in the Agreed Form.
"Mandated Lead Arrangers" means ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Danish Ship Finance A/S (Dansmarks Skibskredit A/S), DNB (UK) Limited, ING Bank, a branch of ING-DiBa AG, Nordea Bank Norge ASA and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ).
"Major Casualty" means, in relation to a Ship, any casualty to that Ship in respect of which the claim or the aggregate of the claims against all insurers, before adjustment for any relevant franchise or deductible, exceeds $5,000,000 or the equivalent in any other currency.
"Majority Lenders" means Lenders the aggregate of whose Commitments total at least 662/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments.
"Margin" means 2.25 per cent. per annum.
"Master Agreement" means each master agreement (on the 1992 or 2002 (as the case may be) ISDA (Multicurrency-Crossborder) form) in an agreed form made or to be made between a Borrower and a Swap Bank and includes all Designated Transactions from time to time
"Maturity Date" means 31 January 2023.
"Mortgage" means, in relation to each Ship, a first priority or preferred (as the case may be) mortgage on that Ship in the form appropriate to the relevant Approved Flag in each case executed by the Borrower owning that Ship in favour of the Security Trustee (and/or such other Creditor Parties as may be appropriate in the opinion of the Agent and in the context of the relevant Approved Flag), each such mortgage to be in the Agreed Form and, where the relevant Approved Flag is Belgian or French flag, the amount secured by such mortgage shall be limited to 125 per cent. of the Fair Market Value of the relevant Ship as at the date of the relevant mortgage.
"Non-Consenting Lender" means any Lender which does not and continues not to consent or agree to:
(a) | a request of the Borrowers or the Agent (at the request of the Borrowers) to give a consent in relation to, or to agree to a waiver or amendment of, any provision of the Finance Documents; |
(b) | the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the approval of all of the Lenders; and |
(c) | Lenders whose commitments aggregate more than 662/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments have consented or agreed to such waiver or amendment. |
"Notifying Lender" has the meaning given in Clause 23 (Illegality, etc.) or Clause 28.1 (Increased costs) as the context requires.
"Payment Currency" has the meaning given in Clause 21.4 (Currency indemnity).
Parallel Debt" means any amount which a Borrower owes to the Security Trustee under Clause 25.2 (Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Security Trustee)) or under that clause as incorporated by reference or in full in any other Finance Document.
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"Party" means a party to this Agreement.
"Permitted Holders" means each of Saverco and Victrix (and (in each case) any parallel vehicle thereof and their respective alternative investment vehicles) and their affiliates.
"Permitted Security Interests" means:
(a) | Security Interests created by the Finance Documents; |
(b) | liens for unpaid master's and crew's wages in accordance with usual maritime practice, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than 30 days overdue (unless the overdue amount is being contested by the relevant Borrower in good faith by appropriate steps); |
(c) | liens for salvage; |
(d) | liens arising by operation of law for not more than 2 months' prepaid hire under any charter in relation to a Ship not prohibited by this Agreement; |
(e) | liens for master's disbursements incurred in the ordinary course of trading and any other lien arising by operation of law or otherwise in the ordinary course of the operation, repair or maintenance of a Ship, provided such liens do not secure amounts more than 30 days overdue (unless the overdue amount is being contested by the relevant Borrower in good faith by appropriate steps); |
(f) | any Security Interest created in favour of a plaintiff or defendant in any action of the court or tribunal before whom such action is brought as security for costs and expenses where the relevant Borrower is prosecuting or defending such proceedings or arbitration in good faith by appropriate steps provided such Security Interest does not (and is not likely to) result in any sale, forfeiture or loss of a Ship; and |
(g) | Security Interests arising by operation of law in respect of taxes which are not overdue for payment or in respect of taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate steps and in respect of which appropriate reserves have been made. |
"Pertinent Document" means:
(a) | any Finance Document; |
(b) | any Master Agreement; |
(c) | any policy or contract of insurance contemplated by or referred to in Clause 13 (Insurance) or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document or Master Agreement; |
(d) | any other document contemplated by or referred to in any Finance Document; and |
(e) | any document which has been or is at any time sent by or to a Servicing Bank in contemplation of or in connection with any Finance Document or Master Agreement or any policy, contract or document falling within paragraphs (c) or (d). |
"Pertinent Jurisdiction" in relation to a company, means:
(a) | England and Wales; |
(b) | the country under the laws of which the company is incorporated or formed; |
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(c) | a country in which the company has the centre of its main interests or in which the company's central management and control is or has recently been exercised; |
(d) | a country in which the overall net income of the company is subject to corporation tax, income tax or any similar tax; |
(e) | a country in which assets of the company (other than securities issued by, or loans to, related companies) having a substantial value are situated, in which the company maintains a branch or a permanent place of business, or in which a Security Interest created by the company must or should be registered in order to ensure its validity or priority; and |
(f) | a country the courts of which have jurisdiction to make a winding up, administration or similar order in relation to the company, whether as main or territorial or ancillary proceedings or which would have such jurisdiction if their assistance were requested by the courts of a country referred to in paragraphs (b) or (c). |
"Pertinent Matter" means:
(a) | any transaction or matter contemplated by, arising out of, or in connection with a Pertinent Document; or |
(b) | any statement relating to a Pertinent Document or to a transaction or matter falling within paragraph (a); |
and covers any such transaction, matter or statement, whether entered into, arising or made at any time before the signing of this Agreement or on or at any time after that signing.
"Potential Event of Default" means an event or circumstance which, with the giving of any notice, the lapse of time, a reasonable determination of the Majority Lenders and/or the satisfaction of any other condition, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Quotation Date" means, in relation to any Interest Period (or any other period for which an interest rate is to be determined under any provision of a Finance Document), 3 Business days before the first day of that period or the day on which quotations would ordinarily be given by leading banks in the London Interbank Market for deposits in the currency in relation to which such rate is to be determined for delivery on the first day of that Interest Period or other period.
"Receiver" means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative receiver of the whole or any part of the Security Assets.
"Reduction Amount" means the amount of $23,360,000.
"Reference Banks" means Nordea Bank Norge ASA, its successors and assigns and/or such other entities as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with Borrower A.
"Reference Bank Quotation" means any quotation supplied to the Agent by a Reference Bank.
"Relevant Person" means:
(a) | each Borrower; |
(b) | each subsidiary of a Borrower; and |
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(c) | all respective directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives of each of the persons mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (b) above; |
"Repayment Date" means a date on which a repayment is required to be made under Clause 8 (Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation).
"Replacement Finance Documents" means, in relation to a Ship, a Mortgage, Deed of Covenant (if applicable) and General Assignment in relation to the relevant Ship executed by the relevant Borrower.
"Requisition Compensation" includes all compensation or other moneys payable by reason of any act or event such as is referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of "Total Loss".
"Resolution Authority" means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.
"Restricted Party" means a person:
(a) | that is listed on any Sanctions List (whether designated by name or by reason of being included in a class of person); |
(b) | that is domiciled, registered as located or having its main place of business in, or is incorporated under the laws of, a country which is subject to Sanctions Laws which attach legal effect to being domiciled, registered as located or having its main place of business in such country; or |
(c) | that is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a person referred to in paragraph (a) and/or (b) above; or |
(d) | with which any member of the Group is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in a transaction with by any Sanctions Laws; |
"Sanctions Authority" means the Norwegian State, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the member states of the European Union, the United States of America, Australia and Canada and any authority acting on behalf of any of them in connection with Sanctions Laws.
"Sanctions Laws" means the economic or financial sanctions laws and/or regulations, trade embargoes, prohibitions, restrictive measures, decisions, executive orders or notices from regulators implemented, adapted, imposed, administered, enacted and/or enforced by any Sanctions Authority.
"Sanctions List" means any list of persons or entities published in connection with Sanctions Laws by or on behalf of any Sanctions Authority as amended, revised, supplemented or substituted from time to time.
"Saverco" means Saverco NV, a company incorporated in Belgium whose registered office is at de Gerlachekaai 20, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
"Screen Rate" means the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for dollars for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page LIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Borrowers.
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"Second Advance" means the second Advance in the sum of up to $187,464,143.43 to be secured by the Second Advance Ships.
"Second Advance Ships" means each of m.v.s "SONIA", "INGRID", "NEWTON", "NOBLE" and "SIMONE".
"Secured Liabilities" means all liabilities which the Borrowers, the Security Parties or any of them have, at the date of this Agreement or at any later time or times, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Master Agreements or any judgment relating to any Finance Document or the Master Agreements; and for this purpose, there shall be disregarded any total or partial discharge of these liabilities, or variation of their terms, which is effected by, or in connection with, any bankruptcy, liquidation, arrangement or other procedure under the insolvency laws of any country.
"Security Assets" means all of the assets of the Borrowers which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security.
"Security Interest" means:
(a) | a mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating) or pledge, any maritime or other lien or any other security interest of any kind; |
(b) | the security rights of a plaintiff under an action in rem; and |
(c) | any arrangement entered into by a person (A) the effect of which is to place another person (B) in a position which is similar, in economic terms, to the position in which B would have been had he held a security interest over an asset of A; but this paragraph (c) does not apply to a right of set off or combination of accounts conferred by the standard terms of business of a bank or financial institution. |
"Security Party" means any person other than the Borrowers (except a Creditor Party) who, as a surety or mortgagor, as a party to any subordination or priorities arrangement, or in any similar capacity, executes a document falling within the last paragraph of the definition of "Finance Documents".
"Security Period" means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date on which the Agent notifies the Borrowers, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties that:
(a) | all amounts which have become due for payment by any Borrower or any Security Party under the Finance Documents and the Master Agreements have been paid; |
(b) | no amount is owing or has accrued (without yet having become due for payment) under any Finance Document or the Master Agreements and all Commitments have terminated; |
(c) | neither any Borrower nor any Security Party has any future or contingent liability under Clause 20 (Fees and Expenses), Clause 21 (Indemnities) or Clause 22 (No Set-Off or Tax Deduction) or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document or a Master Agreement; and |
(d) | the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Majority Lenders, acting reasonably, consider that there is no significant risk that any payment or transaction under a Finance Document or a Master Agreement would be set aside, or would have to be reversed or adjusted, in any present or possible future bankruptcy of a Borrower or a Security Party or in any present or possible future proceeding relating to a Finance Document or a Master Agreement or any asset covered (or previously covered) by a Security Interest created by a Finance Document. |
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"Security Property" means:
(a) | the Transaction Security expressed to be granted in favour of the Security Trustee as trustee for the Creditor Parties and all proceeds of that Transaction Security; |
(b) | all obligations expressed to be undertaken by a Borrower to pay amounts in relation to the Secured Liabilities to the Security Trustee as trustee for the Creditor Parties and secured by the Transaction Security together with all representations and warranties expressed to be given by a Borrower or any other person in favour of the Security Trustee as trustee for the Creditor Parties; |
(c) | the Security Trustee's interest in any turnover trust created under the Finance Documents; |
(d) | any other amounts or property, whether rights, entitlements, choses in action or otherwise, actual or contingent, which the Security Trustee is required by the terms of the Finance Documents to hold as trustee on trust for the Creditor Parties, |
except:
(i) | rights intended for the sole benefit of the Security Trustee; and |
(ii) | any moneys or other assets which the Security Trustee has transferred to the Agent or (being entitled to do so) has retained in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. |
"Security Trustee" means Nordea Bank AB (publ), filial i Norge, acting in such capacity through its office at Essendropsgate 7, Oslo, Norway, or any successor of it.
"Servicing Bank" means the Agent or the Security Trustee.
"Ship" means each of the 15 VLCC type vessels listed in Schedule 6 (Details of Ships) which are owned by the Borrowers (and which are also sometimes referred to in this Agreement by their individual names listed in Schedule 6 (Details of Ships)).
"Specified Time" means a day or time determined in accordance with Schedule 9 (Timetables).
"Swap Bank" means a bank or financial institution listed in Schedule 2 (Swap Banks) and acting through its branch indicated in that Schedule.
"Swap Counterparty" means, at any relevant time and in relation to a continuing Designated Transaction, the Swap Bank which enters into that Designated Transaction.
"Tankers International Pool" means the Tankers International tanker pool governed by a pooling agreement entered into in January 2000 (as amended and supplemented from time to time) made between the participants in the pool and Tankers International LLC of 3A Panteli Modestou Street, 3090 Limassol, Cyprus.
"Tax Deduction" has the meaning given in Clause 22.5 (Tax Deduction).
"Third Parties Act" has the meaning given in Clause 37.4 (Third Party rights).
"Total Loss" means, in relation to a Ship:
(a) | actual, constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of that Ship; |
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(b) | any expropriation, confiscation, requisition or acquisition of that Ship, whether for full consideration, a consideration less than its proper value, a nominal consideration or without any consideration, which is effected by any government or official authority or by any person or persons claiming to be or to represent a government or official authority (excluding a requisition for hire for a fixed period not exceeding 1 year without any right to an extension) unless it is within 90 days redelivered to the relevant Borrower's full control; |
(c) | any condemnation of that Ship by any tribunal or by any person claiming to be a tribunal; and |
(d) | any arrest, capture, seizure or detention of that Ship (including piracy or theft) unless it is within 90 days redelivered to the relevant Borrower's (as the case may be) full control. |
"Total Loss Date" means, in relation to a Ship:
(a) | in the case of an actual loss of that Ship, the date on which it occurred or, if that is unknown, the date when that Ship was last heard of; |
(b) | in the case of a constructive, compromised, agreed or arranged total loss of that Ship, the earliest of: |
(i) | the date on which a notice of abandonment is given to the insurers; and |
(ii) | the date of any compromise, arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the relevant Borrower with that Ship's insurers in which the insurers agree to treat that Ship as a total loss; and |
(c) | in the case of any other type of total loss, on the date (or the most likely date) on which it appears to the Agent that the event constituting the total loss occurred. |
"Transaction" has the meaning given in each Master Agreement.
"Transaction Security" means the Security Interest created or evidenced or expressed to be created or evidenced under the Finance Documents.
"Transfer Certificate" has the meaning given in Clause 30.2 (Transfer by a Lender).
"Unpaid Sum" means any sum due and payable but unpaid by a Borrower under the Finance Documents.
"VAT" means:
(a) | any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and |
(b) | any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (a) above, or imposed elsewhere. |
"Victrix" means Victrix NV, a company incorporated in Belgium whose registered office is at Le Grellelei 20, 2600 Berchem, Belgium.
"Write-down and Conversion Powers" means:
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(a) | in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; and |
(b) | in relation to any other applicable Bail-In Legislation: |
(i) | any powers under that Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and |
(ii) | any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation. |
1.2 | Construction of certain terms |
In this Agreement:
"administration notice" means a notice appointing an administrator, a notice of intended appointment and any other notice which is required by law (generally or in the case concerned) to be filed with the court or given to a person prior to, or in connection with, the appointment of an administrator.
"approved" means, for the purposes of Clause 13 (Insurance), approved in writing by the Agent acting with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders (which authorisation shall not be unreasonably withheld).
"asset" includes every kind of property, asset, interest or right, including any present, future or contingent right to any revenues or other payment.
"company" includes any partnership, joint venture and unincorporated association.
"consent" includes an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, registration, notarisation and legalisation.
"contingent liability" means a liability which is not certain to arise and/or the amount of which remains unascertained.
"document" includes a deed; also a letter or fax.
"excess risks" means, in relation to a Ship, the proportion of claims for general average, salvage and salvage charges not recoverable under the hull and machinery policies in respect of the Ship in consequence of its insured value being less than the value at which the Ship is assessed for the purpose of such claims.
"expense" means any kind of cost, charge or expense (including all legal costs, charges and expenses) and any applicable value added or other tax.
"law" includes any order or decree, any form of delegated legislation, any treaty or international convention and any regulation or resolution of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the United Nations or its Security Council.
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"legal or administrative action" means any legal proceeding or arbitration and any administrative or regulatory action or investigation.
"liability" includes every kind of debt or liability (present or future, certain or contingent), whether incurred as principal or surety or otherwise.
"months" shall be construed in accordance with Clause 1.3 (Meaning of "month").
"obligatory insurances" means, in relation to a Ship, all insurances effected, or which the relevant Borrower in relation to that Ship is obliged to effect or procure are effected, under Clause 13 (Insurance) or any other provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document.
"parent company" has the meaning given in Clause 1.4 (Meaning of "subsidiary").
"person" includes any company; any state, political sub-division of a state and local or municipal authority; and any international organisation.
"policy", in relation to any insurance, includes a slip, cover note, certificate of entry or other document evidencing the contract of insurance or its terms.
"protection and indemnity risks" means the usual risks covered by a protection and indemnity association including pollution risks and the proportion (if any) of any sums payable to any other person or persons in case of collision which are not recoverable under the hull and machinery policies by reason of the incorporation in them of clause 6 of the International Hull Clauses (01/11/02 or 01/11/03), clause 8 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls) (1/11/1995 or 1/10/83) or the Institute Amended Running Down Clause (1/10/71) or any equivalent provision.
"regulation" includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self‑regulatory or other authority or organisation.
"subsidiary" has the meaning given in Clause 1.4 (Meaning of "subsidiary").
"tax" includes any present or future tax, duty, impost, levy or charge of any kind which is imposed by any state, any political sub-division of a state or any local or municipal authority (including any such imposed in connection with exchange controls), and any connected penalty, interest or fine.
"war risks" includes the risk of mines and all risks excluded by clause 29 of the International Hull Clauses (1/11/02 or 1/11/03), clause 24 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls) (1/11/95) or clause 23 of the Institute Time Clauses (Hulls) (1/10/83).
any reference to:
(a) | Nordea Bank Norge ASA (either directly or indirectly in its capacity as Lender, Agent and/or Security Trustee or any other capacity) in the Finance Documents shall be automatically construed as a reference to Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, in the event of any corporate reconstruction, merger, amalgamation, consolidation between Nordea Bank Norge ASA and Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, where Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, is the surviving entity and acquires all the rights of and assumes all the obligations of Nordea Bank Norge ASA, and nothing in the Finance Documents shall be construed so as to restrict, limit or impose any notification or other requirement or condition on either Nordea Bank Norge ASA or Nordea Bank AB in respect of the acquisition of rights to or assumption of obligations by Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, hereunder or under any |
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other Finance Documents pursuant to such corporate reconstruction, merger, amalgamation or consolidation; and
(b) | Nordea Bank Finland plc (either directly or indirectly in its capacity as Swap Bank or any other capacity) in the Finance Documents shall be automatically construed as a reference to Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, in the event of any corporate reconstruction, merger, amalgamation, consolidation between Nordea Bank Finland plc and Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, where Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, is the surviving entity and acquires all the rights of and assumes all the obligations of Nordea Bank Finland plc, and nothing in the Finance Documents shall be construed so as to restrict, limit or impose any notification or other requirement or condition on either Nordea Bank Finland plc or Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, in respect of the acquisition of rights to or assumption of obligations by Nordea Bank AB, or any branch thereof, hereunder or under any other Finance Documents pursuant to such corporate reconstruction, merger, amalgamation or consolidation. |
1.3 | Meaning of "month" |
A period of 1 or more "months" ends on the day in the relevant calendar month numerically corresponding to the day of the calendar month on which the period started ("the numerically corresponding day"), but:
(a) | on the Business Day following the numerically corresponding day if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day or, if there is no later Business Day in the same calendar month, on the Business Day preceding the numerically corresponding day; or |
(b) | on the last Business Day in the relevant calendar month, if the period started on the last Business Day in a calendar month or if the last calendar month of the period has no numerically corresponding day; |
and "month" and "monthly" shall be construed accordingly.
1.4 | Meaning of "subsidiary" |
A company (S) is a subsidiary of another company (P) if:
(a) | a majority of the issued shares in S (or a majority of the issued shares in S which carry unlimited rights to capital and income distributions) are directly owned by P or are indirectly attributable to P; or |
(b) | P has direct or indirect control over a majority of the voting rights attaching to the issued shares of S; or |
(c) | P has the direct or indirect power to appoint or remove a majority of the directors of S; or |
(d) | P otherwise has the direct or indirect power to ensure that the affairs of S are conducted in accordance with the wishes of P; |
and any company of which S is a subsidiary is a parent company of S.
1.5 | General Interpretation |
In this Agreement:
(a) | references in Clause 1.1 (Definitions) to a Finance Document or any other document being in an "agreed form" are to the form agreed between the Agent (acting with the authorisation of each of the other Creditor Parties) and the Borrowers; |
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(b) | references to, or to a provision of, a Finance Document or any other document are references to it as amended or supplemented, whether before the date of this Agreement or otherwise; |
(c) | references to, or to a provision of, any law include any amendment, extension, re-enactment or replacement, whether made before the date of this Agreement or otherwise; |
(d) | words denoting the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa; |
(e) | Clauses 1.1 (Definitions) to 1.5 (General Interpretation) apply unless the contrary intention appears; and |
(f) | an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default is "continuing" if it has not been remedied or waived in writing. |
1.6 | Headings |
In interpreting a Finance Document or any provision of a Finance Document, all clause, sub‑clause and other headings in that and any other Finance Document shall be entirely disregarded.
2 | FACILITY |
2.1 | Amount of facility |
Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Lenders shall make available to the Borrowers a revolving credit facility not exceeding $409,500,000.
2.2 | Lenders' participations |
Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, each Lender shall participate in each Advance in the proportion which, as at the relevant Drawdown Date, its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments.
2.3 | Purpose of Advances |
The Borrowers undertake with each Creditor Party to use each Advance only for the purposes stated in the preamble to this Agreement.
3 | POSITION OF THE LENDERS AND SWAP BANKS |
3.1 | Interests several |
The rights of the Lenders and the Swap Banks under this Agreement are several.
3.2 | Individual right of action |
Each Lender and each Swap Bank shall be entitled to sue for any amount which has become due and payable by the Borrowers (or any of them) to it under a Finance Document or by a Borrower under a Master Agreement without joining the Agent, the Security Trustee, any Arranger, any other Lender or any other Swap Bank as additional parties in the proceedings.
3.3 | Proceedings requiring Majority Lender consent |
Except as provided in Clause 3.2 (Individual right of action), no Lender and no Swap Bank may commence proceedings against the Borrowers (or any of them) or any Security Party in connection with a Finance Document or a Master Agreement without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders.
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3.4 | Obligations several |
The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement and of the Swap Banks under the Master Agreement to which it is a party are several; and a failure of a Lender to perform its obligations under this Agreement or a failure by a Swap Bank to perform its obligations under the Master Agreement to which it is a party shall not result in:
(a) | the obligations of the other Lenders or other Swap Banks being increased; nor |
(b) | any Borrower, any Security Party, any other Lender or any other Swap Bank being discharged (in whole or in part) from its obligations under any Finance Document or under any Master Agreement; |
and in no circumstances shall a Lender or a Swap Bank have any responsibility for a failure of another Lender or another Swap Bank to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Master Agreement to which it is a party.
3.5 | Security Trustee as joint and several creditor |
(a) | Each Borrower and each of the Creditor Parties agrees that the Security Trustee shall be the joint creditor ("hoofdelijke schuldeiser") together with each other Creditor Party of each liability and obligation of the Borrowers (or any of them) towards any Creditor Party under any Finance Document, and that accordingly the Security Trustee will have its own independent right to demand performance by the Borrowers of those liabilities and obligations. However, any discharge of any liability or obligation of the Borrowers (or any of them) to one of the Security Trustee or another Creditor Party shall, to the same extent, discharge the corresponding liability or obligation owing to the others. |
(b) | Without limiting or affecting the Security Trustee's rights against the Borrowers (whether under this paragraph or under any other provision of the Finance Documents), the Security Trustee agrees with each other Creditor Party (on a several and separate basis) that, subject as set out in the next sentence, it will not exercise its rights as a joint creditor with a Creditor Party except with the consent of the relevant Creditor Party. However, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in the previous sentence shall in any way limit the Security Trustee's right to act in the protection or preservation of rights under or to enforce any Finance Document (or to do any act reasonably incidental to any of the foregoing). |
(c) | Subject to the provisions of this Clause 3.5 (Security Trustee as joint and several creditor), the Security Trustee holds any security created by a Finance Document in its name and the Security Trustee shall have full and unrestricted title to and authority in respect of that security, subject always to the terms of the Finance Documents. |
4 | DRAWDOWN |
4.1 | Request for Advance |
Subject to the following conditions, the Borrowers may request that an Advance be made by ensuring that the Agent receives a completed Drawdown Notice not later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) 3 Business Days prior to the intended Drawdown Date.
4.2 | Availability |
The conditions referred to in Clause 4.1 (Request for Advance) are that:
(a) | a Drawdown Date has to be a Business Day during the Availability Period and the first Drawdown Date will be on or before 31 December 2016; |
(b) | the First Advance shall refinance the indebtedness under the Existing Loan Agreement; |
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(c) | there shall be only one First Advance and that shall be utilised by 31 December 2016; |
(d) | there shall be only one Second Advance and that shall be utilised by 31 January 2017; |
(e) | there shall be no more than ten Advances outstanding at any one time; |
(f) | there shall be a minimum Advance of $1,000,000; and |
(g) | the aggregate amount of the Advances outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Total Commitments at that time. |
4.3 | Notification to Lenders of receipt of a Drawdown Notice |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders that it has received a Drawdown Notice and shall inform each Lender of:
(a) | the amount of the Advance and the Drawdown Date; |
(b) | the amount of that Lender's participation in the Advance; and |
(c) | the duration of the Interest Period for that Advance. |
4.4 | Drawdown Notice irrevocable |
A Drawdown Notice must be signed by a duly authorised person on behalf of each of the Borrowers; and once served, a Drawdown Notice cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the Agent, acting with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders.
4.5 | Lenders to make available Contributions |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each Lender shall, on and with value on each Drawdown Date, make available to the Agent for the account of the Borrowers the amount due from that Lender on that Drawdown Date under Clause 2.2 (Lenders' participations).
4.6 | Disbursement of Advances |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Agent shall on each Drawdown Date pay to the Borrowers the amounts which the Agent receives from the Lenders under Clause 4.5 (Lenders to make available Contributions); and that payment to the Borrowers shall be made to the account which the Borrowers specify in the Drawdown Notice.
4.7 | Disbursement of Advances to third party |
A payment by the Agent under Clause 4.6 (Disbursement of Advances) shall constitute the making of the relevant Advance and the Borrowers shall thereupon become indebted, as principal and direct obligor, to each Lender in an amount equal to that Lender's Contribution.
5 | INTEREST |
5.1 | Payment of normal interest |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, interest on each Advance in respect of an Interest Period shall be paid by the Borrowers on the last date of that Interest Period.
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5.2 | Normal rate of interest |
Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the rate of interest on each Advance in respect of an Interest Period shall be the aggregate of the Margin and LIBOR for that Interest Period.
5.3 | Payment of accrued interest |
In the case of an Interest Period longer than 3 months, accrued interest shall be paid every 3 months during that Interest Period and on the last day of that Interest Period.
5.4 | Notification of rates of interest |
(a) | The Agent shall notify the Borrowers and each Lender of each rate of interest as soon as practicable after each is determined. |
(b) | The Agent shall promptly notify each Borrower of each Funding Rate relating to the Loan, any part of the Loan or any Unpaid Sum. |
5.5 | Role of Reference Banks |
(a) | No Reference Bank is under any obligation to provide a quotation or any other information to the Agent. |
(b) | No Reference Bank will be liable for any action taken by it under or in connection with any Finance Document, or for any Reference Bank Quotation, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. |
(c) | No Party (other than the relevant Reference Bank) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of any Reference Bank in respect of any claim it might have against that Reference Bank or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document, or to any Reference Bank Quotation, and any officer, employee or agent of each Reference Bank may rely on this Clause 5.5 (Role of Reference Banks) subject to Clause 37.4 (Third Party rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act. |
5.6 | Third Party Reference Banks |
A Reference Bank which is not a Party may rely on Clause 5.5 (Role of Reference Banks), Clause 5.14 (Replacement of Screen Rate) and Clause 32 (Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations) subject to Clause 37.4 (Third Party rights) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.
5.7 | Unavailability of Screen Rate |
(a) | Interpolated Screen Rate: If no Screen Rate is available for LIBOR for the Interest Period of the Loan or any part of the Loan, the applicable LIBOR shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan. |
(b) | Reference Bank Rate: If no Screen Rate is available for LIBOR for: |
(i) | dollars; or |
(ii) | the Interest Period of the Loan or any part of the Loan and it is not possible to calculate the Interpolated Screen Rate, |
the applicable LIBOR shall be the Reference Bank Rate as of the Specified Time and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of the Loan or that part of the Loan.
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(c) | Cost of funds: If paragraph (b) above applies but no Reference Bank Rate is available for dollars or the relevant Interest Period there shall be no LIBOR for the Loan or that part of the Loan (as applicable) and Clause 5.10 (Cost of funds) shall apply to the Loan or that part of the Loan for that Interest Period. |
5.8 | Calculation of Reference Bank Rate |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (b) below, if LIBOR is to be determined on the basis of a Reference Bank Rate but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time, the Reference Bank Rate shall be calculated on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks. |
(b) | If at or about noon on the Quotation Date none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a quotation, there shall be no Reference Bank Rate for the relevant Interest Period. |
5.9 | Market disruption |
If before close of business in London on the Quotation Date for the relevant Interest Period the Agent receives notification from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in the Loan or the relevant part of the Loan exceed 50 per cent. of the Loan or the relevant part of the Loan as appropriate) (the "Affected Lender") that the cost to it of funding its participation in the Loan or that part of the Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in excess of LIBOR then Clause 5.10 (Cost of funds) shall apply to the Loan or that part of the Loan (as applicable) for the relevant Interest Period.
5.10 | Cost of funds |
(a) | If this Clause 5.10 (Cost of funds) applies, the rate of interest on each Lender's share of the Loan or the relevant part of the Loan for the relevant Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of: |
(i) | the Margin; and |
(ii) | the weighted average of the rates notified to the Agent by each Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to the relevant Lender of funding its participation in the Loan or that part of the Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select. |
(b) | If paragraph (c) below does not apply and any rate notified to the Agent under sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) above is less than zero, the relevant rate shall be deemed to be zero. |
(c) | If this Clause 5.10 (Cost of funds) applies pursuant to Clause 5.9 (Market disruption) and: |
(i) | a Lender's Funding Rate is less than LIBOR; or |
(ii) | a Lender does not supply a quotation by the time specified in sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) above, |
the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in the Loan or the relevant part of the Loan for that Interest Period shall be deemed, for the purposes of paragraph (a) above, to be LIBOR.
5.11 | Break Costs |
(a) | The Borrowers shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Creditor Party, pay to that Creditor Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of the Loan or Unpaid Sum being |
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paid by a Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for the Loan, the relevant part of the Loan or that Unpaid Sum.
(b) | Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue. |
5.12 | Notification of market disruption |
The Agent shall notify the Borrowers and each of the Lenders stating the circumstances falling within Clause 5.9 (Market disruption) which have caused its notice to be given.
5.13 | Suspension of drawdown |
If the Agent's notice under Clause 5.12 (Notification of market disruption) is served before an Advance is to be made the Lenders' obligations to make or participate in that Advance (as the case may be) shall be suspended while the circumstances referred to in the Agent's notice continue.
5.14 | Replacement of Screen Rate |
(a) | If the Screen Rate is not available for dollars, any amendment or waiver which relates to providing for another benchmark rate to apply in relation to dollars, in place of that Screen Rate (or which relates to aligning any provision of a Finance Document to the use of that benchmark rate) may be made with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Borrowers. |
(b) | If any Lender fails to respond to a request for an amendment or waiver described in paragraph (a) above within three Business Days (unless the Borrower and the Agent agree to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made: |
(i) | its Commitment shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and |
(ii) | its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request. |
5.15 | Negotiation of alternative rate of interest |
If the Agent's notice under Clause 5.12 (Notification of market disruption) is served after an Advance has been made, the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender shall use reasonable endeavours to agree, within the 15 days after the date on which the Agent serves its notice under Clause 5.12 (Notification of market disruption) (the "Negotiation Period"), an alternative interest rate or (as the case may be) an alternative basis for the Lenders or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender to fund or continue to fund their or its Contribution during the relevant Interest Period concerned.
5.16 | Application of agreed alternative rate of interest |
Any alternative interest rate or an alternative basis which is agreed during the Negotiation Period shall take effect in accordance with the terms agreed and shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Borrowers, be binding on all Parties.
5.17 | Alternative rate of interest in absence of agreement |
If an alternative interest rate or alternative basis is not agreed within the Negotiation Period, and the relevant circumstances are continuing at the end of the Negotiation Period, then
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the Agent shall, with the agreement of each Lender or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender, set an interest period and interest rate representing the cost of funding of the Lenders or (as the case may be) the Affected Lender in Dollars or in any available currency of their or its Contribution plus the Margin; and the procedure provided for by this Clause 5.17 (Alternative rate of interest in absence of agreement) shall be repeated if the relevant circumstances are continuing at the end of the interest period so set by the Agent.
5.18 | Notice of prepayment |
If the Borrowers do not agree with an interest rate set by the Agent under Clause 5.17 (Alternative rate of interest in absence of agreement), the Borrowers may give the Agent not less than 10 Business Days' notice of its intention to prepay the relevant Advance at the end of the interest period set by the Agent.
5.19 | Prepayment |
A notice under Clause 5.18 (Notice of prepayment) shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders or (as the case may require) the Affected Lender of the Borrowers' notice of intended prepayment; and on the last Business Day of the interest period set by the Agent, the Borrowers shall prepay (without premium or penalty) the relevant Advance, together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the Margin.
5.20 | Application of prepayment |
The provisions of Clause 8 (Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation) shall apply in relation to the prepayment.
6 | INTEREST PERIODS |
6.1 | Commencement of Interest Periods |
The first Interest Period applicable to an Advance shall commence on the Drawdown Date relating to that Advance and each subsequent Interest Period shall commence on the expiry of the preceding Interest Period.
6.2 | Duration of normal Interest Periods |
Subject to Clauses 6.3 (Duration of Interest Periods for repayment instalments) and 6.4 (No Interest Period to extend beyond final Maturity Date), each Interest Period shall be:
(a) | 1, 3 or 6 months as notified by the Borrowers to the Agent not later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) 3 Business Days before the commencement of the Interest Period; or |
(b) | 3 months, if the Borrowers fail to notify the Agent by the time specified in paragraph (a); or |
(c) | such other period as the Agent may, with the authorisation of all the Lenders, agree with the Borrowers. |
6.3 | Duration of Interest Periods for repayment instalments |
In respect of an amount due to be repaid under Clause 8 (Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation) on a particular Repayment Date, an Interest Period shall end on that Repayment Date.
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6.4 | No Interest Period to extend beyond final Maturity Date |
No Interest Period shall end after the Maturity Date and any Interest Period which would otherwise extend beyond the Maturity Date shall instead end on the Maturity Date.
6.5 | Non-availability of matching deposits for Interest Period selected |
If, after the Borrowers have selected and the Lenders have agreed an Interest Period longer than 3 months, any Lender notifies the Agent by 11.00 a.m. (London time) on the second Business Day before the commencement of that Interest Period that it is not satisfied that deposits in Dollars for a period equal to that Interest Period will be available to it in the London Interbank Market when that Interest Period commences, that Interest Period shall be of 3 months unless otherwise agreed by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) and the Borrowers.
6.6 | Non-Business Days |
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the precedent Business Day (if there is not).
7 | DEFAULT INTEREST |
7.1 | Default interest |
(a) | If a Borrower fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document other than a Master Agreement on its due date, interest shall accrue on the Unpaid Sum from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to paragraph (b) below, is two per centage points. per annum higher than the rate which would have been payable if the Unpaid Sum had, during the period of non-payment, constituted part of the Loan in the currency of the Unpaid Sum for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent. Any interest accruing under this Clause 7.1 (Default interest) shall be immediately payable by the Borrower on demand by the Agent. |
(b) | If an Unpaid Sum consists of all or part of the Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to the Loan or that part of the Loan: |
(i) | the first Interest Period for that Unpaid Sum shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to the Loan or that part of the Loan; and |
(ii) | the rate of interest applying to that Unpaid Sum during that first Interest Period shall be two per centage points. per annum higher than the rate which would have applied if that Unpaid Sum had not become due. |
(c) | Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an Unpaid Sum will be compounded with the Unpaid Sum at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that Unpaid Sum but will remain immediately due and payable. |
8 | REDUCTION, REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION |
8.1 | Reduction of Total Commitments |
The Total Commitments shall be reduced by equal consecutive semi-annual reductions, each in the amount of the Reduction Amount and:
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(a) | the first reduction shall take place on the date falling six months after the first Drawdown Date and the last reduction shall take place on or before the Maturity Date; |
(b) | each reduction in the Total Commitments pursuant to this Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments) shall cause the amount of the Total Commitments to be permanently reduced by the amount of the reduction; and |
(c) | the Borrower shall ensure that at all times the aggregate outstanding amount of the Advances is not greater than the then applicable Total Commitments and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower shall if necessary immediately prepay some or all of the outstanding Advances so that the aggregate outstanding amount of the Advances does not (taking into account the scheduled reduction of the Total Commitments) exceed the Total Commitments as reducing from time to time thereafter pursuant to this Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments). |
8.2 | Repayment of Advances |
Subject to the provisions of Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments):
(a) | each Advance shall be repaid in full on the last day of its Interest Period; and |
(b) | unless a Borrower notifies the Agent to the contrary not later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) 3 Business Days prior to the Repayment Date applicable to an Advance, then, notwithstanding paragraph (a) of Clause 8.2 (Repayment of Advances), where that Repayment Date is also a Drawdown Date in respect of another Advance, the Agent shall, on behalf of the Borrower, apply the Advance which would otherwise have been paid to the Borrower on that Drawdown Date in or towards the discharge of the amount payable by the Borrower on that Repayment Date pursuant to paragraph (a) of Clause 8.2 (Repayment of Advances) (but without prejudice to the obligation of the Borrower to pay any balance due after application of such amount). |
8.3 | Maturity Date |
On the Maturity Date, any undrawn Commitments shall be cancelled and the Borrowers shall additionally pay to the Agent for the account of the Creditor Parties all other sums then accrued or owing under any Finance Document.
8.4 | Voluntary prepayment |
(a) | Subject to the following conditions in Clauses 8.5 (Conditions for voluntary prepayment), 8.6 (Effect of notice of prepayment) and 8.7 (Notification of notice of prepayment), the Borrowers may prepay the whole or any part of the Loan. |
(b) | Any voluntary prepayment pursuant to this Clause 8.4 (Voluntary prepayment) shall be applied pro rata to any Advances then outstanding and pro rata against the future reductions of the Total Commitments pursuant to Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments). |
8.5 | Conditions for voluntary prepayment |
The conditions referred to in Clause 8.4 (Voluntary prepayment) are that:
(a) | a partial prepayment shall be $1,000,000 or a higher integral multiple of $1,000,000; |
(b) | the Agent has received from the Borrowers at least 3 Business Days' prior written notice specifying the amount to be prepaid and the date on which the prepayment is to be made; and |
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(c) | the Borrowers have provided evidence satisfactory to the Agent that any consent required by any Borrower or any Security Party in connection with the prepayment has been obtained and remains in force, and that any requirement relevant to this Agreement which affects any Borrower or any Security Party has been complied with. |
8.6 | Effect of notice of prepayment |
A prepayment notice may not be withdrawn or amended without the consent of the Agent, given with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, and the amount specified in the prepayment notice shall become due and payable by the Borrowers on the date for prepayment specified in the prepayment notice.
8.7 | Notification of notice of prepayment |
The Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receiving a prepayment notice, and shall provide any Lender which so requests with a copy of any document delivered by the Borrowers under paragraph (c) of Clause 8.5 (Conditions for voluntary prepayment).
8.8 | Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on sale or Total Loss |
(a) | The relevant proportion of the Total Commitments shall be cancelled (and the Borrowers shall be obliged to prepay any part of the Advances which exceeds the reduced Total Commitments): |
(i) | if a Ship which is subject to a Mortgage is sold, on or before the date on which the sale is completed by delivery of the Ship to the buyer; or |
(ii) | if a Ship which is subject to a Mortgage becomes a Total Loss, on the earlier of the date falling 90 days after the Total Loss Date and the date of receipt by the Security Trustee of the proceeds of insurance relating to such Total Loss, |
provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to make any prepayment pursuant to this Clause 8.8 (Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on sale or Total Loss) in connection with the sale of a Ship by a Borrower to another Borrower pursuant to (and in accordance with) Clause 14.15 (Transfer of Ships).
In this Clause 8.8 (Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on sale or Total Loss), "relevant proportion" means a fraction of which the numerator is the Fair Market Value of the Ship (determined as at the date of the most recent appraisal and not more than 6 months prior to the date of the sale or Total Loss) which is to be sold or the subject of Total Loss and the denominator is the aggregate of the most recently determined Fair Market Values of the Ships (determined on the same basis) mortgaged pursuant to this Agreement immediately prior to the sale or Total Loss.
Any cancellation and/or prepayment pursuant to this Clause 8.8 (Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on sale or Total Loss) shall be applied pro rata to any Advances then outstanding and pro rata against the future reductions of the Total Commitments pursuant to Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments).
If any Advance is cancelled and/or prepaid pursuant to this Clause 8.8 (Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on sale or Total Loss), then that amount may not be reborrowed and the Total Commitments will be permanently reduced by the amount of the cancellation and/or prepayment applicable to the Advance and future reductions pursuant to Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments) shall be reduced on a pro rata basis.
(b) | This Clause 8.8 (Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on sale or Total Loss) is without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 15.1 (Minimum required security cover). |
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8.9 | Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on Change of Control |
If there is a Change of Control, the Borrowers shall be obliged to prepay the Loan in full and the Commitments shall terminate not later than 60 days following the occurrence of the Change of Control.
8.10 | Mandatory prepayment and cancellation on breach of financial covenants |
If Borrower A is not in compliance with the financial covenants in Clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants) at any time during the Security Period, the Borrowers shall be obliged to repay the Loan in full (and the Commitments shall be cancelled) not later than 5 days following a request in writing from the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) to the Borrowers to repay the Loan.
8.11 | Amounts payable on prepayment |
A prepayment shall be made together with accrued interest (and any other amount payable under Clause 21 (Indemnities) or otherwise) in respect of the amount prepaid and, if the prepayment is not made on the last day of an applicable Interest Period, together with any sums payable under Clause 21.1(b) but without premium or penalty.
8.12 | Reborrowing |
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, any amount repaid may be reborrowed.
8.13 | Voluntary cancellation of Commitments |
Subject to the following conditions, the Borrowers may cancel the whole or any part of the Total Available Commitments.
8.14 | Conditions for cancellation of Commitments |
The conditions referred to in Clause 8.13 (Voluntary cancellation of Commitments) are that:
(a) | a partial cancellation shall be $1,000,000 or a higher integral multiple of $1,000,000; and |
(b) | the Agent has received from the Borrowers at least 3 Business Days' prior written notice specifying the amount of the Total Commitments to be cancelled and the date on which the cancellation is to take effect. |
8.15 | Effect of notice of cancellation |
The service of a cancellation notice given under Clause 8.14 (Conditions for cancellation of Commitments) shall cause the amount of the Total Commitments specified in the notice to be permanently cancelled and any partial cancellation shall be applied against the Commitment of each Lender pro rata and also on a pro rata basis against the future instalments repayable pursuant to Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments).
8.16 | Unwinding of Designated Transactions |
On or prior to any repayment or prepayment of the Loan under this Clause 8 (Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation) or any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrowers shall at their sole discretion have the right to wholly or partially reverse, offset, unwind or otherwise terminate one or more of the continuing Designated Transactions so that the notional principal amount of the continuing Designated Transactions thereafter remaining does not and will not in the future (taking into account the scheduled amortisation) exceed the amount of the Loan as reducing from time to time thereafter pursuant to Clause 8.1 (Reduction of Total Commitments).
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8.17 | Right of replacement or repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender |
(a) | So long as no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, if: |
(i) | any sum payable to any Lender by a Borrower is required to be increased under paragraph (c) of Clause 22.2 (Grossing-up for taxes) or under that clause as incorporated by reference or in full in any other Finance Document; or |
(ii) | any Lender claims indemnification from the Borrower under Clause 21.1 (e) (Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan) or Clause 28 (Increased Costs); |
the Borrower may whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lender's participation in the Loan.
(b) | On receipt of a notice of cancellation referred to in paragraph (a) above, any Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. |
(c) | On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Borrower has given notice of cancellation under paragraph (a) above in relation to a Lender (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Borrower in that notice), the Borrower shall repay that Lender's participation in the Loan. |
9 | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
9.1 | Documents, fees and no default |
Each Lender's obligation to contribute to an Advance is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) | that, on or before the date of this Agreement, the Agent receives the documents and fees described in Part A of Schedule 4 (Condition Precedent Documents) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its lawyers; |
(b) | that, on or before the initial Drawdown Date: |
(i) | the Agent receives the documents described in Part B of Schedule 4 (Condition Precedent Documents) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its lawyers; and |
(ii) | during the period from 30 June 2016 to the date of the initial Drawdown Notice and the relevant Drawdown Date, nothing shall have occurred (and neither the Agent nor any of the Lenders shall have become aware of any condition or circumstance not previously known to it or them) which the Agent or the Lenders shall determine has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect (A) on the rights or remedies of the Lenders, (B) on the performance of the Borrowers or Borrower A and its subsidiaries of their respective obligations to the Lenders, (C) with respect to the Loan or (D) on the property, assets, nature of assets, operations, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrowers or the Group; |
(c) | that both at the date of each Drawdown Notice and at each Drawdown Date: |
(i) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the borrowing of the relevant Advance; |
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(ii) | the representations and warranties in Clause 10 (Representations and Warranties) and those of any Borrower or any Security Party which are set out in the other Finance Documents would be true and not misleading if repeated on each of those dates with reference to the circumstances then existing; and |
(iii) | none of the circumstances contemplated by Clause 5.9 (Market disruption) has occurred and is continuing; |
(iv) | since the filing of the latest audited financial statements, nothing shall have occurred (and neither the Facility Agent nor any of the Lenders shall have become aware of any condition or circumstance not previously known to it or them) which the Lenders shall determine has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect (v) on the rights or remedies of the Lenders, (w) on the performance of the Borrowers or Euronav and its subsidiaries of their obligations to the Lenders, (x) with respect to this Agreement or (y) on the property, assets, nature of assets, operations, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrowers or Euronav and its subsidiaries; and |
(v) | the Agent receives in respect of the Drawdown Notice for the Second Advance the documents described in Part C of Schedule 4 (Condition Precedent Documents) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its lawyers. |
(d) | that, if the ratio set out in Clause 15.1 (Minimum required security cover) were applied on the basis of the most recently provided valuations and immediately following the making of the relevant Advance, the Borrowers would not be obliged to provide additional security or prepay part of the Loan under that Clause; and |
(e) | that the Agent has received, and found to be acceptable to it, any further opinions, consents, agreements and documents in connection with the Finance Documents which the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, reasonably request by notice to the Borrowers prior to the relevant Drawdown Date. |
9.2 | Waiver of conditions precedent |
If the Majority Lenders, at their discretion, permit an Advance to be borrowed before certain of the conditions referred to in Clause 9.1 (Documents, fees and no default) are satisfied, the Borrowers shall ensure that those conditions are satisfied within 5 Business Days after the relevant Drawdown Date (or such other period as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, specify).
10 | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
10.1 | General |
Each Borrower represents and warrants to each Creditor Party as follows.
10.2 | Status |
Each Borrower is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of, and has the centre of its main interests in, Belgium.
10.3 | Corporate power |
Each Borrower has the corporate capacity, and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents necessary for it:
(a) | to execute the Finance Documents and the Master Agreements to which that Borrower is a party; and |
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(b) | to borrow under this Agreement, to enter into Designated Transactions under the Master Agreements to which that Borrower is a party and to make all the payments contemplated by, and to comply with, those Finance Documents and those Master Agreements. |
10.4 | Consents in force |
All the consents referred to in Clause 10.3 (Corporate power) remain in force and nothing has occurred which makes any of them liable to revocation.
10.5 | Legal validity; effective Security Interests |
The Finance Documents and the Master Agreements to which each Borrower is a party, do now or, as the case may be, will, upon execution and delivery (and, where applicable, registration as provided for in the Finance Documents):
(a) | constitute that Borrower's legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against that Borrower in accordance with their respective terms; and |
(b) | create legal, valid and binding Security Interests enforceable in accordance with their respective terms over all the assets to which they, by their terms, relate; |
subject to any relevant mandatory insolvency laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general equity principles.
10.6 | No third party Security Interests |
Without limiting the generality of Clause 10.5 (Legal validity; effective Security Interests), at the time of the execution and delivery of each Finance Document and each Master Agreement:
(a) | each Borrower that is a party to that Finance Document or Master Agreement will have the right to create all the Security Interests which that Finance Document or Master Agreement purports to create; and |
(b) | no third party will have any Security Interest (except for Permitted Security Interests) or any other interest, right or claim over, in or in relation to any asset to which any such Security Interest, by its terms, relates. |
10.7 | No conflicts |
The execution by the Borrowers of each Finance Document and each Master Agreement to which it is a party, and the borrowing by the Borrowers of the Loan, and each Borrower's compliance with each Finance Document and each Master Agreement to which it is a party will not involve or lead to a contravention of:
(a) | any law or regulation; or |
(b) | the constitutional documents of that Borrower; or |
(c) | any contractual or other obligation or restriction which is binding on that Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective assets. |
10.8 | No default |
No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
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10.9 | Information |
All information which has been provided in writing by or on behalf of any Borrower or any Security Party to the Arrangers or any other Creditor Party in connection with any Finance Document satisfied the requirements of Clause 11.5 (Information provided to be accurate); all audited and unaudited accounts which have been so provided satisfied the requirements of Clause 11.7 (Form of financial statements); and there has been no material adverse change in the property, assets, nature of assets, operations, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower A and its subsidiaries since 30 June 2016.
10.10 | No litigation |
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings (including, but not limited to, investigative proceedings) involving any Borrower has been commenced or taken or, to any Borrower's knowledge, is likely to be commenced or taken which, in any case, would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the property, assets, nature of assets, operations, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of any Borrower and its subsidiaries or on the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents.
10.11 | Compliance with certain undertakings |
At the date of this Agreement, the Borrowers are in compliance with Clauses 11.2 (Title; negative pledge) and 11.13 (Principal place of business).
10.12 | Taxes paid |
Each Borrower has paid all taxes applicable to, or imposed on or in relation to, that Borrower and its business.
10.13 | No money laundering |
Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 2.3 (Purpose of Advances), in relation to the utilisation by each of the Borrowers of the Advances granted or to be granted to it under this Agreement, the performance and discharge of its obligations and liabilities under the Finance Documents to which it is a party, and the transactions and other arrangements effected or contemplated by the Finance Documents to which it is a party, each Borrower confirms that it is acting for its own account and that the foregoing will not involve or lead to contravention of any law, official requirement or other regulatory measure or procedure implemented to combat "money laundering" (as defined in Article 1 of the Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union of 26 October 2005).
10.14 | Anti-Corruption Laws |
Each Borrower has conducted its business in compliance with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
10.15 | Sanctions |
Each Relevant Person has been and is in compliance with all Sanctions Laws and no Relevant Person:
(a) | is a Restricted Party, or is involved in any transaction through which it is likely to become a Restricted Party; or |
(b) | has received formal notice in writing of any inquiry, claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation against it with respect to Sanctions Laws. |
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10.16 | ISM Code and ISPS Code compliance |
All requirements of the ISM Code and the ISPS Code as they relate to any Borrower, the Approved Manager and the Ships have been, or will be, complied with at the time of the Drawdown Date relating to each Ship.
10.17 | Pari passu obligations |
The payment obligations of each Borrower under this Agreement, the Master Agreements and the other Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to the companies generally.
10.18 | Environmental matters |
Except as many have been disclosed by a Borrower in writing to, and acknowledged in writing by, the Agent:
(a) | each Borrower has complied with the provisions of all Environmental Laws; |
(b) | each Borrower has obtained all Environmental Approvals and is in compliance with all Environmental Approvals; |
(c) | no Borrower has received notice of any Environmental Claim that alleges that it is not in compliance with any Environmental Law of any Environmental Approval; |
(d) | there is no Environmental Claim pending or, to the best of each Borrowers knowledge and belief (having made due enquiry), threatened against that Borrower or any Ship; and |
(e) | no Environmental Incident which could or might give rise to any Environmental Claim has occurred. |
10.19 | Deduction of Tax |
Each Borrower is not required to make any Tax Deduction from any payment it may make under any Finance Document.
11 | GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS |
11.1 | General |
Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 11 (General Undertakings) at all times during the Security Period except as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit.
11.2 | Title; negative pledge |
Each Borrower shall hold the legal title to, and own the entire beneficial interest in any Ship owned by that Borrower, its Earnings and Insurances, free from all Security Interests and other interests and rights of every kind, except for those created by the Finance Documents and the effect of assignments contained in the Finance Documents and except for Permitted Security Interests Provided that a Borrower may transfer any Ship owned by it to another Borrower subject to the provisions of Clause 14.15 (Transfer of Ships).
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11.3 | Disposal of assets |
No Borrower will transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or a substantial part of its assets, whether by one transaction or a number of transactions, whether related or not except in the usual course of its business and for fair market value.
11.4 | Maintenance of ownership of Borrowers |
Borrower A shall remain the legal and beneficial owner (directly or indirectly) of the entire issued and allotted share capital of each of Borrower B and Borrower C free of any Security Interest other than Security Interests created by the Finance Documents. At the date of this Agreement, each of Borrower B and Borrower C has issued 10,000 shares, 9,999 of such shares are registered in the ownership of Borrower A and 1 such share is registered in the ownership of Euronav Hong Kong Limited. Borrower A is, and shall remain, the direct legal and beneficial owner of the entire issued and allotted share capital of Euronav Ship Management SAS free of any Security Interest unless and until each of the Borrowers cease to be Borrowers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Borrower A shall procure that Euronav Ship Management SAS shall not create any Security Interest over the share that it holds, or any other shares it may from time to time hold, in each Borrower.
11.5 | Information provided to be accurate |
All financial and other information which is provided in writing by or on behalf of a Borrower under or in connection with any Finance Document will be true, accurate and not misleading and will not omit any material fact or consideration.
11.6 | Provision of financial statements |
The Borrowers will send to the Agent:
(a) | as soon as possible, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of each financial year of the Borrowers from and including the financial year ending 31 December 2016, the audited consolidated accounts of the Group and audited individual accounts of each Borrower; |
(b) | as soon as possible, but in no event later than 75 days after the end of each financial half-year of the Borrowers (which half-year end shall, for the avoidance of doubt, occur annually), the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Group certified as to its correctness by the chief financial officer of Borrower A and the audited individual balance sheet of each Borrower certified as to its correctness by an officer or director of that Borrower; |
(c) | as soon as possible, but in no event later than 60 days after the end of each financial quarter of the Borrowers and provided that these documents have not been published on Borrower A's website or sent to the Lenders in the form of a press release, unaudited consolidated income statements of the Group certified as to their correctness by the chief financial officer of Borrower A and unaudited individual income statements of each Borrower certified as to their correctness by an officer or director of that Borrower; |
(d) | as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after the end of each financial year of Borrower A, a financial projection for each Borrower and the Group for the next 3 years in a format which is acceptable to the Agent; and |
(e) | together with the annual audited consolidated accounts and with each balance sheet of the Group referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), a compliance certificate (together with supporting schedules, if any) signed by the chief financial officer of Borrower A in the form attached as Schedule 8 (Form of Certificate of Compliance) (or in any other format which the Agent may approve and with such other information as the Agent may require) evidencing |
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compliance with the financial undertakings in Clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants) and also listing the Fair Market Value of each of the Ships.
11.7 | Form of financial statements |
The audited accounts delivered under Clause 11.6 (Provision of financial statements) will:
(a) | be prepared in accordance with all applicable laws and IFRS consistently applied; |
(b) | give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group (or the Borrowers, as the case may be) at the date of those accounts and of profit for the period to which those accounts relate; and |
(c) | fully disclose or provide for all significant liabilities of the Group (or the Borrowers, as the case may be). |
11.8 | Provision of further information |
(a) | Borrower A will, as soon as practicable after receiving a request from the Agent provide the Agent with such additional financial information in relation to the Group which may be reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lender through the Agent. |
(b) | Each Borrower shall supply to the Agent, promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation with respect to Sanctions Laws against it, any of its direct or indirect owners, subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives. |
11.9 | Creditor notices |
Each Borrower will send the Agent, at the same time as they are despatched, copies of all material communications which are despatched to all of that Borrower's shareholders or creditors or to the whole of any class of them.
11.10 | Consents |
Each Borrower will maintain in force and promptly obtain or renew, and will promptly send certified copies to the Agent of, all consents required:
(a) | for that Borrower to perform its obligations under any Finance Document and any Master Agreement to which it is a party; |
(b) | for the validity or enforceability of any Finance Document and any Master Agreement to which it is a party; |
and that Borrower will comply with the terms of all such consents.
11.11 | Maintenance of Security Interests |
Each Borrower will:
(a) | at its own cost, do all that it reasonably can to ensure that any Finance Document to which it is a party validly creates the obligations and the Security Interests which it purports to create; and |
(b) | without limiting the generality of paragraph (a), at its own cost, promptly register, file, record or enrol any Finance Document to which it is a party with any court or authority in all Pertinent Jurisdictions, pay any stamp, registration or similar tax in all Pertinent Jurisdictions in respect of any Finance Document to which it is a party, give any notice or take any other |
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step which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, is or has become necessary for any Finance Document to which it is a party to be valid, enforceable or admissible in evidence or to ensure or protect the priority of any Security Interest which it creates.
11.12 | Notification of litigation |
Each Borrower will provide the Agent with details of any legal or administrative action involving that Borrower, any Security Party or any Ship as soon as such action is instituted or it becomes apparent to that Borrower that it is likely to be instituted, unless it is clear that the legal or administrative action cannot be considered material in the context of any Finance Document.
11.13 | Principal place of business |
Each Borrower will notify the Agent if it has a place of business in any jurisdiction which would require a Finance Document to which it is a party to be registered, filed or recorded with any court or authority in that jurisdiction or if the centre of its main interests changes.
11.14 | Notification of default |
Each Borrower will notify the Agent as soon as that Borrower becomes aware of:
(a) | the occurrence of an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default; or |
(b) | any matter which indicates that an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default may have occurred, |
and will keep the Agent fully up‑to‑date with all developments.
11.15 | Access to books and records |
Each Borrower shall permit one or more representatives of the Agent, at the request of the Agent, to have reasonable access to its books and records and to inspect the same during normal business hours at its offices upon reasonable prior written notice.
11.16 | Press releases |
Borrower A will send to the Agent, at the same time as they are dispatched, copies of all press releases which are issued by the Borrowers.
11.17 | Pari passu ranking |
Each Borrower's payment obligations under this Agreement and any other Finance Document to which it is a party shall rank at least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally.
11.18 | Conduct of business; compliance with laws |
Each Borrower shall conduct its business in a proper and efficient manner in compliance with:
(a) | its constitutional documents; |
(b) | all Sanctions Laws; |
(c) | all Anti-Corruption Laws; |
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(d) | all Environmental Laws; and |
(e) | all other laws and regulations applicable to its business, |
and shall notify the Agent immediately upon becoming aware of any breach of any such document, law or regulation.
11.19 | Know your customer requirements |
Promptly upon the Agent's request the Borrowers will supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent in order for each Creditor Party to carry out and be satisfied with the results of all necessary "know your client" or other checks which it is required to carry out in relation to the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents and to the identity of any parties to the Finance Documents (other than Creditor Parties) and their directors and officers.
11.20 | Compliance with Sanctions Laws |
Each Borrower shall:
(a) | ensure that neither it nor any subsidiary of any Borrower is or will become a Restricted Party. |
(b) | use reasonable endeavours to procure that no director, officer, employee, agent or representative of any Borrower or any subsidiary of any Borrower is or will become a Restricted Party; and |
(c) | procure that no proceeds of any Advance shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of a Restricted Party nor shall they otherwise be applied in a manner for a purpose prohibited by Sanctions Laws. |
11.21 | Documents to be provided following execution of a Master Agreement |
Following the execution of each Master Agreement, the Borrowers shall procure that promptly following the execution of such Master Agreement the Agent has received the following documents in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its lawyers:
(a) | if required by the Agent and in the case of each Mortgage an amendment or addenda to that Mortgage specifying such consequential amendments to that Mortgage as may be required as a consequence of the entry by each Borrower and the relevant Swap Bank into the Master Agreement; |
(b) | if required by the Agent and in the case of a Finance Document an amendment or addenda to that Mortgage specifying such consequential amendments to that Mortgage as may be required as a consequence of the entry by each Borrower and the relevant Swap Bank into the Master Agreement; |
(c) | in each case if required for the provisions of the legal opinions referred to in paragraph (f), copies of the resolutions of the directors and shareholders of the Borrowers authorising the execution of the Mortgage amendments and addenda referred to in paragraph (a); |
(d) | the original of any power of attorney under which any of the Mortgage amendments and addenda referred to in paragraph (a) are to be executed on behalf of a Borrower; |
(e) | documentary evidence that the Mortgage amendments and addenda referred to in paragraph (a) have been duly registered against that Ship as valid amendment or addenda to the Mortgage in accordance with the laws of the relevant Approved Flag; |
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(f) | if required by the Agent, favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of England, Belgium, the country where the Ship is registered following such transfer, Norway (in relation to the first such transfer) and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require; and |
(g) | if the Agent so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to above, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Agent. |
11.22 | Drawdown of Second Advance |
The Borrowers undertake to drawdown the Second Advance on or before 31 January 2017 and to provide the Finance Documents in relation to the Second Advance Ships on or before the second Drawdown Date.
12 | CORPORATE UNDERTAKINGS |
12.1 | General |
Each Borrower also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of this Clause 12 (Corporate Undertakings) at all times during the Security Period except as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit.
12.2 | Maintenance of status |
Each Borrower will maintain its separate corporate existence under the laws of, and the centre of its main interests in, Belgium and Borrower A shall maintain its listing on the First Market of Euronext Brussels and the New York Stock Exchange or such other reputable international stock exchange approved by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
12.3 | No change of business |
No Borrower will operate outside the scope of its Articles of Association as at the date of this Agreement.
12.4 | No merger etc. |
No Borrower will, and each Borrower will procure that none of its subsidiaries will, enter into any form of merger, sub-division, amalgamation or other reorganisation which may, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, have a material adverse effect on the financial position that Borrower.
12.5 | Financial Covenants |
Borrower A will ensure that the consolidated financial position of the Group shall at all times during the Security Period be such that:
(a) | Consolidated Working Capital shall not be less than $0; |
(b) | Free Liquid Assets are not less than the higher of: |
(i) | $50,000,000; |
(ii) | 5 per cent. of Total Indebtedness; |
(c) | the amount of Cash shall equal or exceed US$30,000,000; and |
(d) | the ratio of Stockholders' Equity to Total Assets is not less than 30 per cent. |
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In this Clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants):
"Cash" means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Group's credit balances on any deposit, savings or current account and cash in hand with recognised and reputable banks or financial institutions but excluding any such credit balances and cash subject to a Security Interest at any time;
"Consolidated Current Assets" means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the amount of the current assets of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet and including any amounts available under committed credit lines having remaining maturities of more than 12 months;
"Consolidated Current Liabilities" means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the amount of the current liabilities of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet;
"Consolidated Working Capital" means Consolidated Current Assets less Consolidated Current Liabilities;
"Free Liquid Assets" means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet but excluding any of those assets subject to a Security Interest (other than a Security Interest in favour of the Security Trustee pursuant to this Agreement) at any time and, for the avoidance of doubt, "cash and cash equivalents" include any amounts available under committed credit lines having remaining maturities of more than 6 months;
"Latest Balance Sheet" means, at any date, the consolidated balance sheet of the Group most recently delivered to the Agent pursuant to Clause 11.6 (Provision of financial statements) and/or most recently made publicly available;
"Stockholders' Equity" means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the amount of the capital and reserves of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet;
"Total Assets" means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the amount of the total assets of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet; and
"Total Indebtedness" means, at any date of determination under this Agreement, the amount of long-term loans (including finance leases, banks loans and other long-term loans) and short-term loans of the Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and as shown in the Latest Balance Sheet.
12.6 | Change in IFRS |
If, at any time after the date of this Agreement, any mandatory change is made to IFRS or any applicable law relating to the financial reporting (including but not limited to accounting bases, policies, practices and procedures or reference periods) of the Group generally or any member of the Group individually and the effect of complying with that change would result in the value for "Cash", "Consolidated Current Assets", "Consolidated Current Liabilities", "Consolidated Working Capital", "Free Liquid Assets", "Stockholders' Equity", "Total Assets" and/or "Total Indebtedness" being materially different from its value if calculated in accordance with IFRS and all applicable laws in effect at the date of this Agreement and of which the Lenders would reasonably expect to have been informed, Borrower A shall immediately notify the Agent of that change and procure that, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, Borrower A's auditors deliver to the Agent:
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(a) | a description of the change and what adjustments would need to be made to the financial statements of the Group following that change in order to reverse the effects of that change so that the values of "Cash", "Consolidated Current Assets", "Consolidated Current Liabilities", "Consolidated Working Capital", "Free Liquid Assets", "Stockholders' Equity", "Total Assets" and/or "Total Indebtedness" will be the same as if calculated in accordance with IFRS and all applicable laws in effect at the date of this Agreement; and |
(b) | such information, in form and substance acceptable to the Agent, as may be required: |
(i) | to enable the Lenders to determine whether there is a breach of any of the financial covenants in respect of the Group set out in Clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants) (based on IFRS and all applicable laws in effect at the date of this Agreement); and |
(ii) | to assist the Lenders in making an accurate comparison between the financial position of the Group indicated in the financial statements prepared following the change and those prepared prior to it. |
In the event that the Lenders are satisfied that, based on the information provided by Borrower A's auditors, the financial covenants in Clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants) have been complied with, the Lenders and the Borrowers shall enter into discussions with a view to agreeing amendments to this Agreement so as to mitigate the effect of the change.
12.7 | Change of accounting period |
Borrower A shall not change its fiscal year end date being 31 December.
12.8 | Restrictions on dividends |
Borrower A may only pay a dividend or make a distribution and/or buy-back its own common stock subject to the following conditions:
(a) | no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result upon payment of the proposed dividend, distribution or buy-back; and |
(b) | the payment of such dividend or distribution would not cause any breach of any of the financial covenants set out in Clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants). |
12.9 | Payment of taxes |
Each Borrower shall pay when due all taxes applicable to, or imposed on or in relation to that Borrower, its business or any Ship to be owned by it.
12.10 | Negative undertakings |
No Borrower will:
(a) | change its legal name, type of organisation or jurisdiction of incorporation; and |
(b) | provide any form of credit or financial assistance to any person or enter into any transaction with or involving any person on terms which are, in any respect, less favourable to the Borrower than those which it could obtain in a bargain made at arms' length. |
(c) | provide any form of credit or financial assistance to any other Borrower other than loans in relation to which the other Borrower's rights have been fully subordinated to those of the Creditor Parties. |
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12.11 | Notification of Sanctions |
Each Borrower shall:
(a) | supply to the Agent, promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any inquiry, claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation pursuant to Sanction Laws against (a) a Borrower, (b) any other Relevant Person or (c) any owners of any Relevant Person (other than any owner of the Borrower), as well as information on what steps are being taken with regards to answering or opposing the same; |
(b) | inform the Agent promptly upon becoming aware that any of (a) a Borrower, (b) any other Relevant Person or (c) any owners of any Relevant Person (other than any owner of a Borrower), has become or is likely to become a Restricted Party. |
12.13 | Incurrence of Financial Indebtedness |
No Borrower shall, without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders, incur any Financial Indebtedness or grant any guarantee in respect of Financial Indebtedness if, as a result of incurring that Financial Indebtedness or incurring the contingent liability under that guarantee (as assessed in accordance with IFRS), an Event of Default would occur, or one or more of the financial covenants in respect of Borrower A set out in Clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants) would be breached, on the date of such incurrence.
13 | INSURANCE |
13.1 | General |
Each Borrower also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the following provisions of Clause 13 (Insurance) at all times during the Security Period (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) (in the case of each Ship after the Drawdown Date applicable to it) except as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit.
13.2 | Maintenance of obligatory insurances |
Each Borrower shall keep each Ship owned by it insured at the expense of that Borrower against:
(a) | fire and usual marine risks and war risks (including hull and machinery, hull and freight interest, piracy, terrorism, missing vessel cover, blocking and trapping and confiscation); and |
(b) | protection and indemnity risks (including pollution risks), on "full entry terms". |
13.3 | Terms of obligatory insurances |
Each Borrower shall, effect such insurances in respect of each Ship owned by it:
(a) | in Dollars; |
(b) | in the case of fire and usual marine risks and war risks (including coverage for war protection and indemnity with a separate limit for the same amounts insured under war hull), in an amount on an agreed value basis at least the greater of (i) when aggregated with such insurances on the other Ships which are subject to a Mortgage, 125 per cent. of the Loan and (ii) the Fair Market Value of that Ship; |
(c) | in the case of hull and machinery insured values of each Ship in an amount not less than 70 per cent. of the total insured value of that Ship; |
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(d) | in the case of oil pollution liability risks, for an aggregate amount equal to the highest level of cover from time to time available under basic protection and indemnity club entry with a protection and indemnity association belonging to the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations; |
(e) | in relation to protection and indemnity risks in respect of the Ship's full tonnage on full entry terms; |
(f) | on approved terms; and |
(g) | through approved brokers and with approved insurance companies and/or underwriters or, in the case of war risks and protection and indemnity risks, in approved war risks and protection and indemnity risks associations. |
13.4 | Further protections for the Creditor Parties |
In addition to the terms set out in Clause 13.3 (Terms of obligatory insurances), each Borrower shall procure that the obligatory insurances shall:
(a) | in relation to the obligatory insurances for fire and usual marine risks and war risks, whenever the Security Trustee requires, name (or be amended to name) the Security Trustee as additional named assured for its rights and interests, warranted no operational interest and with full waiver of rights of subrogation against the Security Trustee, but without the Security Trustee thereby being liable to pay (but having the right to pay) premiums, calls or other assessments in respect of such insurance; |
(b) | name the Security Trustee as loss payee with such directions for payment as the Security Trustee may specify; |
(c) | provide that all payments by or on behalf of the insurers under the obligatory insurances to the Security Trustee shall be made without set‑off, counterclaim or deductions or condition whatsoever; |
(d) | provide that such obligatory insurances shall be primary without right of contribution from other insurances which may be carried by the Security Trustee or any other Creditor Party; and |
(e) | provide that the Security Trustee may make proof of loss if the relevant Borrower fails to do so. |
13.5 | Renewals |
The Borrowers shall ensure that:
(a) | before the expiry of any obligatory insurance, that obligatory insurance is renewed; and |
(b) | promptly after each such renewal, there is provided to the Security Trustee details of the terms and conditions on which such obligatory insurances have been renewed. |
If there is a change in the insurers and/or markets through whom the obligatory insurances are placed the Borrowers shall procure that the Security Trustee is notified within a reasonable time of the names of the insurers and/or markets employed for the purposes of the renewal of the obligatory insurance and of the amounts in which they are renewed.
13.6 | Letters of undertaking |
In relation to all obligatory insurances effected from time to time under Clause 13.2 (Maintenance of obligatory insurances), the Borrowers shall ensure that all brokers and any
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protection and indemnity or war risks associations in which any Ship is entered, in each case being approved by the Security Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), provide the Security Trustee with letters of undertaking:
(a) | in the case of a broker, in a form standard in the insurance market in which such broker operates or any professional association of which that approved broker is a member; |
(b) | in the case of a protection and indemnity or war risks association, in its standard form. |
If any of the obligatory insurances referred to in Clause 13.2(a) and/or 13.2(b) form part of a fleet cover, the Borrowers will procure that any letter of undertaking referred to in paragraph (a) of this Clause 13.6 (Letters of undertaking) is amended to provide that the relevant brokers shall undertake to the Security Trustee that they shall neither set-off against any claims in respect of the relevant Ship any premiums due in respect of other vessels under such fleet cover or any premiums due for other insurances, nor cancel the insurance for reason of non-payment of premiums for other vessels under such fleet cover or of premiums for such other insurances.
13.7 | Copies of certificates of entry |
The Borrowers shall ensure that any protection and indemnity and/or war risks associations in which each Ship is entered provides the Security Trustee with a certified copy of the certificate of entry for that Ship.
13.8 | Deposit of original policies |
The Borrowers shall ensure that all policies relating to obligatory insurances are deposited with the approved brokers through which the insurances are effected or renewed.
13.9 | Payment of premiums |
The Borrowers shall ensure that (taking account of any applicable grace periods) all premiums, calls or contributions or other sums of money from time to time due in respect of any obligatory insurances are paid in full and produce all relevant receipts when so required by the Security Trustee.
13.10 | Guarantees |
The Borrowers shall arrange for the execution and delivery of all guarantees and indemnities as may from time to time be required by any Ship's P&I Club or war risks association.
13.11 | Compliance with terms of insurances |
No Borrower shall do nor omit to do (nor permit to be done or not to be done) any act or thing which would or might render any obligatory insurance in relation to any Ship invalid, void, voidable or unenforceable or render any sum payable under an obligatory insurance repayable in whole or in part; and, in particular:
(a) | each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) take all necessary action and comply with all requirements which may from time to time be applicable to the obligatory insurances, and ensure that the obligatory insurances are not made subject to any exclusions or qualifications to which the Security Trustee has not given its prior approval; |
(b) | no Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) make any changes relating to the classification or classification society or manager or operator of any Ship approved by the underwriters of the obligatory insurances; |
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(c) | each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) make (and on request promptly supply copies to the Agent of) all quarterly or other voyage declarations which may be required by the protection and indemnity risks association in which any Ship it is entered to maintain cover for trading to the United States of America and Exclusive Economic Zone (as defined in the United States Oil Pollution Act 1990 or any other applicable legislation); and |
(d) | no Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) employ any Ship, nor allow it to be employed, otherwise than in conformity with the terms and conditions of the obligatory insurances, without first obtaining the consent of the insurers and complying with any requirements (as to extra premium or otherwise) which the insurers specify. |
13.12 | Alteration to terms of insurances |
The Borrowers will procure that:
(a) | no adverse alteration is made to any obligatory insurance (which alteration is, in the reasonable opinion of the Security Trustee, likely to materially adversely affect the Lenders) without the prior written consent of the Security Trustee; and |
(b) | all the steps under its control are taken to seek to avoid the occurrence of any act or omission which would enable cancellation of any obligatory insurance or render any obligatory insurance invalid, void or unenforceable or render any sum paid out under any obligatory insurance repayable in whole or in part. |
13.13 | Settlement of claims |
No Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) settle, compromise or abandon any claim under any obligatory insurance for Total Loss or for a Major Casualty, and each Borrower shall do all things necessary and provide all documents, evidence and information to enable the Security Trustee to collect or recover any moneys which at any time become payable in respect of the obligatory insurances.
13.14 | Provision of information |
Each Borrower shall promptly provide the Security Trustee (or any persons which it may designate) with any information which the Security Trustee (or any such designated person) reasonably requests for the purpose of:
(a) | obtaining or preparing any report from an independent marine insurance broker as to the adequacy of the obligatory insurances effected or proposed to be effected; and/or |
(b) | effecting or renewing any such insurances as are referred to in Clause 13.15 (Mortgagee's interest and additional perils insurances) or dealing with or considering any matters relating to any such insurances; |
and the Borrowers shall, forthwith upon demand, indemnify the Security Trustee in respect of all fees and other expenses reasonably incurred by or for the account of the Security Trustee in connection with any such report as is referred to in paragraph (a).
13.15 | Mortgagee's interest and additional perils insurances |
The Agent for the benefit of the Security Trustee, or the Security Trustee itself, shall effect, maintain and renew a mortgagee's interest additional perils insurance and a mortgagee's interest marine insurance in such amounts, on such terms reasonably available in the market, through such insurers and generally in such manner as the Security Trustee may from time to time consider appropriate and the Borrowers shall upon demand fully indemnify the Agent or the Security Trustee (as the case may be) in respect of all reasonable
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premiums and other reasonable expenses which are incurred in connection with or with a view to effecting, maintaining or renewing any such insurance or dealing with, or considering, any matter arising out of any such insurance Provided that the cover in respect of the mortgagee's interest marine insurance shall not exceed 110 per cent. of the Loan.
Notwithstanding the above, if at any time the Agent or Security Trustee proposes to effect any insurances of the nature referred to in this Clause, it shall first notify the Borrowers of the insurance which it proposes to effect, the terms on which it requires it to be effected and the date from which it requires it to be so effected. If, before the date on which the Agent or Security Trustee (as the case may be) requires that insurance to be effected, the Borrowers can demonstrate to the Agent or Security Trustee (as the case may be) that a firm of insurance brokers with a reputation acceptable to the Agent or the Security Trustee (as the case may be) is able to arrange that insurance upon the same terms, before that date, for a price lower than that for which any firm of insurance brokers nominated by the Agent or Security Trustee is prepared to arrange that insurance and with underwriters acceptable to the Agent or Security Trustee (as the case may be), and if that firm of insurance brokers will enter into such agreements with the Agent or Security Trustee (as the case may be) as it may require taking into account the identity of that firm of insurance brokers, the Agent or Security Trustee (as the case may be) shall not unreasonably refuse to effect that insurance through that firm of insurance brokers so nominated by the Borrowers.
14 | SHIP COVENANTS |
14.1 | General |
Each Borrower also undertakes with each Creditor Party to comply with the provisions of this Clause 14 (Ship Covenants) at all times during the Security Period (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) except as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, otherwise permit (such permission not to be unreasonably withheld in the case of Clause 14.2 (Ship's name and registration), 14.12 (Restrictions on chartering, appointment of managers etc.) and 14.14 (Sharing of Earnings).
14.2 | Ship's name and registration |
Subject to Clause 14.15 (Transfer of Ships), each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) keep each Ship owned by it registered in its name on an Approved Flag; and shall not do or allow to be done anything as a result of which such registration might be cancelled or imperilled and shall not change the name or country of registry of any Ship Provided that Borrower may change the registry of a Ship owned by it to any Approved Flag without the consent of the Lenders subject to the relevant Borrower, as the case may be, providing the Creditor Parties with replacement security at the time of such transfer (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) so that the Creditor Parties have the same security on that Ship and subject to any appropriate consequential amendments to the Finance Documents.
14.3 | Repair and classification |
Each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) keep each Ship owned by it in a good safe condition and state of repair:
(a) | consistent with first-class ship ownership and management practice; |
(b) | so as to maintain that Ship's class as at the date of this Agreement free of overdue recommendations and conditions affecting that Ship's class with a classification society which has been approved by the Agent; and |
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(c) | so as to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to vessels registered on the applicable Approved Flag or to vessels trading to any jurisdiction to which that Ship may trade from time to time, including but not limited to the ISM Code and the ISPS Code. |
14.4 | Modification |
No Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) make any modification or repairs to, or replacement of, any Ship or equipment installed on it which would or might materially and adversely alter the structure, type or performance characteristics of any Ship or reduce its value.
14.5 | Removal of parts |
No Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) remove any material part of any Ship, or any item of equipment installed on any Ship, except in the normal course of maintenance and repair, unless the part or item so removed is forthwith replaced by a suitable part or item which is in the same condition as or better condition than the part or item removed, is free from any Security Interest or any right in favour of any person other than the Security Trustee and becomes on installation on the Ship the property of the relevant Borrower and subject to the security constituted by the relevant Mortgage Provided that the Borrower owning the relevant Ship may install equipment owned by a third party if the equipment can be removed without any risk of damage to the Ship concerned.
14.6 | Surveys |
Each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) submit each Ship regularly to such periodical or other surveys which may be required for that Ship's classification purposes and shall comply with all conditions and recommendations affecting that Ship's class of the relevant classification society in accordance with their terms unless waived.
14.7 | Inspection |
Each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) permit the Agent (by surveyors or other persons appointed by it for that purpose, at the Borrowers' expense once per year) to board any Ship at all reasonable times to inspect its condition (without interfering with that Ship's operation) or to satisfy themselves about proposed or executed repairs and shall afford all proper facilities for such inspections.
14.8 | Prevention of and release from arrest |
Each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) promptly discharge, unless the same is being contested in good faith by that Borrower:
(a) | all liabilities which give or may give rise to maritime or possessory liens on or claims enforceable against any such Ship, its Earnings or the Insurances in relation any such Ship; |
(b) | all taxes, dues and other amounts charged in respect of any such Ship, its Earnings or the Insurances in relation to any such Ship; and |
(c) | all other outgoings whatsoever in respect of any such Ship, its Earnings or the Insurances in relation to any such Ship; |
and, forthwith upon receiving notice of the arrest of any Ship, or of its detention in exercise or purported exercise of any lien or claim, unless the same is being contested in good faith by that Borrower, the Borrowers shall as soon as possible or in any event within 30 days (or
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such greater period as may be agreed by the Agent) procure its release by providing bail or otherwise as the circumstances may require.
14.9 | Compliance with laws etc. |
Each Borrower shall:
(a) | comply, or procure compliance with all laws or regulations: |
(i) | relating to its business generally; and |
(ii) | relating to each Ship owned by that Borrower, its ownership, employment, operation, management and registration, |
including the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws, all Sanctions Laws and the laws of the Approved Flag in relation to each Ship owned by that Borrower;
(b) | obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect any consents required to be obtained and maintained by that Borrower in connection with any Environmental Laws; |
(c) | without limiting paragraph (a) above, not employ any Ship owned by that Borrower nor allow its employment, operation or management in any manner contrary to any law or regulation including but not limited to the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, all Environmental Laws and all Sanctions Laws; and |
(d) | procure that no Borrower nor any member of the Group is or becomes a Restricted Person. |
14.10 | Provision of information |
Each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ship owned by that Borrower) promptly provide the Agent with any information which it reasonably requests regarding:
(a) | any Ship, its employment, position and engagements; |
(b) | the Earnings and payments and amounts due to any Ship's master and crew; |
(c) | any expenses incurred, or likely to be incurred, in connection with the operation, maintenance or repair of any Ship and any payments made in respect of any Ship; |
(d) | any towages and salvages; |
(e) | that Borrower, the Approved Managers' or any Ship's compliance with the ISM Code and/or the ISPS Code, |
and, upon the Agent's request, to provide copies of any current charter relating to any Ship and of any current charter guarantee (unless that Borrower is prohibited to do so under applicable confidentiality provisions and if there is any such confidentiality provision, that Borrower shall use all reasonable endeavours to provide such copies) and copies of any Ship's Safety Management Certificate.
14.11 | Notification of certain events |
The Borrowers shall immediately notify the Agent by email, confirmed forthwith by letter, of:
(a) | any casualty of any Ship which is or is likely to be or to become a Major Casualty; |
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(b) | any occurrence as a result of which any Ship has become or is, by the passing of time or otherwise, likely to become a Total Loss; |
(c) | any requirement or recommendation made by any insurer or classification society or by any competent authority in respect of any Ship which is not complied with within the applicable time limit; |
(d) | any arrest or detention of a Ship, any exercise of any lien on any Ship or its Earnings or any requisition of a Ship for hire which may be material in the context of this Agreement; |
(e) | any Environmental Claim made against any Borrower or in connection with a Ship, or any Environmental Incident; |
(f) | any claim for breach of the ISM Code or the ISPS Code being made against an Borrower, an Approved Manager or otherwise in connection with a Ship; or |
(g) | any other matter, event or incident, actual or threatened, the effect of which will or could lead to the ISM Code or the ISPS Code not being complied with; |
and the Borrowers shall keep the Agent advised in writing on a regular basis and in such detail as the Agent shall require of any Borrower's, the Approved Manager's or any other person's response to any of those events or matters.
14.12 | Restrictions on chartering, appointment of managers etc. |
No Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower):
(a) | let any Ship on demise charter for any period; |
(b) | enter into any charter in relation to any Ship under which more than 2 months' hire (or the equivalent) is payable in advance; |
(c) | charter any Ship otherwise than on bona fide arm's length terms at the time when that Ship is fixed; |
(d) | appoint a manager of any Ship other than the Approved Managers or agree to any material alteration to the terms of an Approved Manager's appointment; or |
(e) | put any Ship into the possession of any person for the purpose of work being done upon it in an amount exceeding or likely to exceed $5,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency) unless either: |
(i) | that person has first given to the Security Trustee and in terms satisfactory to it a written undertaking not to exercise any lien on that Ship or its Earnings for the cost of such work or for any other reason; or |
(ii) | the cost of such work is covered by insurances; or |
(iii) | the Borrower owning the relevant Ship establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent that it has sufficient funds to pay for the cost of such work. |
14.13 | Notice of Mortgage |
Each Borrower shall (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) keep each Mortgage registered against the relevant Ship as a valid first priority mortgage, carry on board each Ship a certified copy of the relevant Mortgage and place and maintain in a conspicuous place in the navigation room and the Master's cabin of each Ship a framed printed notice stating that that Ship is mortgaged by the relevant Borrower to the Security Trustee.
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14.14 | Sharing of Earnings |
No Borrower will (in the case of any Ships owned by that Borrower) enter into any agreement or arrangement for the sharing of any Earnings other than pursuant to a pooling agreement relating to the Tankers International Pool.
14.15 | Transfer of Ships |
Notwithstanding Clause 14.2 (Ship's name and registration), a Borrower may transfer the ownership of a Ship owned by it to any other Borrower provided that on or before the date of such transfer the Agent has received the following documents in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its lawyers:
(a) | a duly executed original of the Replacement Finance Documents in relation to the relevant Ship (and of each document required to be delivered by their respective terms); |
(b) | in each case if required for the provisions of the legal opinions referred to in paragraph (f), copies of the resolutions of the directors of the relevant Borrower authorising the execution of each of the Replacement Finance Documents in relation to the relevant Ship; |
(c) | the original of any power of attorney under which any of the Replacement Finance Documents in relation to the relevant Ship are to be executed on behalf of the relevant Borrower; |
(d) | documentary evidence that the relevant Ship: |
(i) | is definitively and permanently registered in the name of the relevant Borrower as new owner under the relevant Approved Flag; |
(ii) | is in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of the relevant Borrower as new owner save as contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
(iii) | the Mortgage granted by the relevant Borrower as new owner in relation to it has been duly registered against that Ship as valid first priority or preferred (as the case may be) ship mortgage in accordance with the laws of the relevant Approved Flag; and |
(iv) | notwithstanding the transfer of ownership to the relevant Borrower as new owner, it is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and all requirements therein in respect of insurances have been complied with. |
(e) | documents establishing that the Ship will, as from the date of such transfer, be managed by the Approved Manager on terms acceptable to the Lenders, together with: |
(i) | a Manager's Undertaking in respect of the Ship; and |
(ii) | copies of the relevant Approved Manager's Document of Compliance and of that Ship's Safety Management Certificate (together with any other details of the applicable safety management system which the Agent requires) and ISSC; |
(f) | favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of England, Belgium, the country where the Ship is registered following such transfer and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require; |
(g) | a favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant acceptable to the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the relevant Ship as the Agent may require; |
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(h) | if required by the Agent, a duly executed original of a supplemental agreement to this Agreement specifying such consequential amendments to the Loan Agreement and other Finance Documents as may be required as a consequence of: |
(i) | the transfer of ownership of the relevant Ship; |
(ii) | the execution of the Replacement Finance Documents in relation to the relevant Ship; and |
(iii) | the transfer of the relevant Advance by the Borrower transferring ownership of the relevant Ship to the new Borrower; |
(i) | if Borrower A transfers the ownership of all Ships owned by it, it shall provide a guarantee of the obligations of the other Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents in a form approved by the Agent; and |
(j) | if the Agent so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to above, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Agent. |
14.16 | Commitments and Loan |
Subject to the satisfaction of Clause 14.15 (Transfer of Ships), if the ownership of a Ship is transferred from one Borrower to another Borrower this shall not affect the Commitments.
15 | SECURITY COVER |
15.1 | Minimum required security cover |
Clause 15.2 (Provision of additional security; prepayment) applies if the Agent notifies the Borrowers that:
(a) | the aggregate of the Fair Market Values (determined as provided in Clause 15.3 (Valuation of Ships) of each Ship subject to a Mortgage; plus |
(b) | the net realisable value of any additional security previously provided under this Clause 15 (Security Cover); |
is below 125 per cent. of the Loan.
15.2 | Provision of additional security; prepayment |
If the Agent serves a notice on the Borrowers under Clause 15.1 (Minimum required security cover), the Borrowers shall, within 30 days after the date on which the Agent's notice is served:
(a) | provide, or ensure that a third party provides, acceptable additional security which, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, has a net realisable value (taking into account the amount of any prepayment made pursuant to paragraph (b) of Clause 15.2 (Provision of additional security; prepayment) in response to the same notice) at least equal to the shortfall and is documented in such terms as the Agent may, with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, approve or require and, for this purpose, it is agreed that acceptable additional security shall include cash collateral in Dollars valued at par; and/or |
(b) | prepay such part of the Loan as will eliminate the shortfall (taking into account the net realisable value of any additional security provided pursuant to paragraph (a) of Clause 15.2 (Provision of additional security; prepayment)in response to the same notice). |
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15.3 | Valuation of Ships |
The Fair Market Value of a Ship at any date is that shown by the average of 2 valuations:
(a) | as at a date not more than 30 days previously; |
(b) | by an Approved Shipbroker; |
(c) | without physical inspection of that Ship; |
(d) | on the basis of a sale for prompt delivery for cash on normal arm's length commercial terms as between a willing seller and a willing buyer, free of any existing charter or other contract of employment; |
(e) | after deducting the estimated amount of the usual and reasonable expenses which would be incurred in connection with the sale. |
The Borrowers shall provide (at their own cost) the valuations addressed to the Agent of each Ship which are required to determine its Fair Market Value pursuant to this Clause 15.3 (Valuation of Ships) at the same time as Borrower A provides to the Agent the compliance certificates pursuant to paragraph (e) of Clause 11.6 (Provision of financial statements) and, after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, whenever requested by the Agent.
15.4 | Value of additional vessel security |
The net realisable value of any additional security which is provided under Clause 15.2 (Provision of additional security; prepayment) and which consists of a Security Interest over a vessel shall be that shown by a valuation complying with the requirements of Clause 15.3 (Valuation of Ships).
15.5 | Valuations binding |
Any valuation under Clause 15.2 (Provision of additional security; prepayment), 15.3 (Valuation of Ships) or 15.4 (Value of additional vessel security) shall be binding and conclusive as regards the Borrowers and the Lenders, as shall be any valuation which the Majority Lenders make of any additional security which does not consist of or include a Security Interest over a vessel.
15.6 | Provision of information |
The Borrowers shall promptly provide the Agent and any shipbroker or expert acting under Clause 15.3 (Valuation of Ships) or 15.4 (Value of additional vessel security) with any information which the Agent or the shipbroker or expert may reasonably request for the purposes of its valuation.
15.7 | Payment of valuation expenses |
Without prejudice to the generality of the Borrowers' obligations under Clauses 20.2 (Costs of negotiation, preparation etc.), 20.3 (Costs of variations, amendments, enforcement etc.) and 21.3 (Miscellaneous indemnities), the Borrowers shall, on demand, pay the Agent the amount of the fees and expenses of any shipbroker or expert instructed by the Agent under this Clause and all legal and other expenses incurred by any Creditor Party in connection with any matter arising out of this Clause.
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15.8 | Application of prepayment |
Clause 8 (Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation) shall apply in relation to any prepayment pursuant to paragraph (b) of Clause 15.2 (Provision of additional security; prepayment).
16 | PAYMENTS AND CALCULATIONS |
16.1 | Currency and method of payments |
All payments to be made by the Lenders or by any Borrower under a Finance Document shall be made to the Agent or to the Security Trustee, in the case of an amount payable to it:
(a) | by not later than 11.00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due date; |
(b) | in same day Dollar funds settled through the New York Clearing House Interbank Payments System (or in such other Dollar funds and/or settled in such other manner as the Agent shall specify as being customary at the time for the settlement of international transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement); |
(c) | in the case of an amount payable by a Lender to the Agent or by any Borrower to the Agent or any Lender, to such account with such bank as the Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrowers and the other Creditor Parties; and |
(d) | in the case of an amount payable to the Security Trustee, to such account as it may from time to time notify to the Borrowers and the other Creditor Parties. |
16.2 | Payment on non-Business Day |
If any payment by any Borrower under a Finance Document would otherwise fall due on a day which is not a Business Day:
(a) | the due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day; or |
(b) | if the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, the due date shall be brought forward to the immediately preceding Business Day; |
and interest shall be payable during any extension under paragraph (a) at the rate payable on the original due date.
16.3 | Basis for calculation of periodic payments |
All interest and commitment fee and any other payments under any Finance Document which are of an annual or periodic nature shall accrue from day to day and shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360 day year.
16.4 | Distribution of payments to Creditor Parties |
Subject to Clause 16.5 (Permitted deductions by Agent), Clause 16.6 (Agent only obliged to pay when monies received) and Clause 16.7 (Refund to Agent of monies not received):
(a) | any amount received by the Agent under a Finance Document for distribution or remittance to a Lender, a Swap Counterparty or the Security Trustee shall be made available by the Agent to that Lender, that Swap Counterparty or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee by payment, with funds having the same value as the funds received, to such account as the Lender and the Swap Counterparty or the Security Trustee may have notified to the Agent not less than 5 Business Days previously; and |
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(b) | amounts to be applied in satisfying amounts of a particular category which are due to the Lenders and/or the Swap Counterparties generally shall be distributed by the Agent to each Lender and each Swap Counterparty pro rata to the amount in that category which is due to it. |
16.5 | Permitted deductions by Agent |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent may, before making an amount available to a Lender or a Swap Counterparty, deduct and withhold from that amount any sum which is then due and payable to the Agent from that Lender or that Swap Counterparty under any Finance Document or any sum which the Agent is then entitled under any Finance Document to require that Lender or that Swap Counterparty to pay on demand.
16.6 | Agent only obliged to pay when monies received |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Finance Document, the Agent shall not be obliged to make available to any Borrower or any Lender or that Swap Counterparty any sum which the Agent is expecting to receive for remittance or distribution to that Borrower or that Lender or that Swap Counterparty until the Agent has satisfied itself that it has received that sum.
16.7 | Refund to Agent of monies not received |
If and to the extent that the Agent makes available a sum to a Borrower or a Lender or a Swap Counterparty, without first having received that sum, that Borrower or (as the case may be) the Lender or the Swap Counterparty concerned shall, on demand:
(a) | refund the sum in full to the Agent; and |
(b) | pay to the Agent the amount (as certified by the Agent) which will indemnify the Agent against any funding or other loss, liability or expense incurred by the Agent as a result of making the sum available before receiving it. |
16.8 | Agent may assume receipt |
Clause 16.7 (Refund to Agent of monies not received) shall not affect any claim which the Agent has under the law of restitution, and applies irrespective of whether the Agent had any form of notice that it had not received the sum which it made available.
16.9 | Creditor Party accounts |
Each Creditor Party shall maintain accounts showing the amounts owing to it by the Borrowers and each Security Party under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrowers and any Security Party.
16.10 | Agent's memorandum account |
The Agent shall maintain a memorandum account showing the amounts advanced by the Lenders and all other sums owing to the Agent, the Security Trustee and each Lender from the Borrowers under the Finance Documents and all payments in respect of those amounts made by the Borrowers and any Security Party.
16.11 | Accounts prima facie evidence |
If any accounts maintained under Clauses 16.9 (Creditor Party accounts) and 16.10 (Agent's memorandum account) show an amount to be owing by a Borrower or a Security Party to a
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Creditor Party, those accounts shall be prima facie evidence that that amount is owing to that Creditor Party.
16.12 | Impaired Agent |
(a) | If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, a Borrower or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent in accordance with Clause 16.1 (Currency and method of payments) may instead either pay that amount direct to the required recipient or pay that amount to an interest-bearing account held with a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A or higher by S&P or Fitch or A2 or higher by Moody's or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Borrower or the Lender making the payment and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Creditor Party or Creditor Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents. In each case such payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the beneficiaries of that trust account pro rata to their respective entitlements. |
(c) | Where a Borrower or a Lender has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 16.12 (Impaired Agent) it shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account. |
(d) | Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Agent in accordance with Clause 24 (The Agent, the Arrangers and the Reference Banks) each party which has made a payment to a trust account in accordance with this Clause 16.12 (Impaired Agent) shall give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued interest) to the successor Agent for distribution in accordance with Clause 16.4 (Distribution of payments to Creditor Parties). |
17 | APPLICATION OF RECEIPTS |
17.1 | Normal order of application |
Except as any Finance Document may otherwise provide, any sums which are received or recovered by any Creditor Party under or by virtue of any Finance Document shall be applied:
(a) | FIRST: in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agent and the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents; |
(b) | SECONDLY: in or towards satisfaction of any amounts then due and payable to the Creditor Parties (other than the Swap Banks) under the Finance Documents (or any of them) in such order of application and/or such proportions as the Agent, acting with the authorisation of the Lenders, may specify by notice to the Borrowers, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties, |
(c) | THIRDLY: in retention of an amount equal to any amount not then due and payable to the Creditor Parties (other than the Swap Banks) under any Finance Document but which the Agent, by notice to the Borrowers, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties, states in its opinion will or may become due and payable in the future and, upon those amounts becoming due and payable, in or towards satisfaction of them in accordance with the provisions of Clause (b); |
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(d) | FOURTHLY: in or towards satisfaction pro rata of any amount then due and payable under any Master Agreement which relates to a Designated Transaction; |
(e) | FIFTHLY: in retention of an amount equal to any amount not then due and payable under any Master Agreement which relates to a Designated Transaction but which the Agent, by notice to the Borrowers, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties, states in its opinion will or may become due and payable in the future and, upon those amounts becoming due and payable, in or towards satisfaction of them in accordance with the provisions of Clause (d); and |
(f) | SIXTHLY: any surplus shall be paid to the Borrowers or to any other person appearing to be entitled to it. |
17.2 | Variation of order of application |
The Agent may, with the authorisation of the Lenders, by notice to the Borrowers, the Security Parties and the other Creditor Parties provide for a different manner of application from that set out in Clause 17.1 (Normal order of application) either as regards a specified sum or sums or as regards sums in a specified category or categories.
17.3 | Notice of variation of order of application |
The Agent may give notices under Clause 17.2 (Variation of order of application) from time to time; and such a notice may be stated to apply not only to sums which may be received or recovered in the future, but also to any sum which has been received or recovered on or after the third Business Day before the date on which the notice is served.
17.4 | Appropriation rights overridden |
This Clause 17 (Application of Receipts) and any notice which the Agent gives under Clause 17.2 (Variation of order of application) shall override any right of appropriation possessed, and any appropriation made, by any Borrower or any Security Party.
18 | APPLICATION OF EARNINGS |
18.1 | Earnings |
Each Borrower undertakes with each Creditor Party to ensure that throughout the Security Period (and subject only to the provisions of the General Assignments) all the Earnings of each Ship owned by it and proceeds under any Insurances in relation to any Ship owned by is are paid to the Earnings Account in relation to that Borrower without delay or deductions Provided that the Earnings in respect of each Ship shall be available to the Borrowers unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
18.2 | Location of accounts |
Each Borrower shall promptly:
(a) | comply with any requirement of the Agent as to the location or re‑location of the Earnings Account in relation to that Borrower; and |
(b) | execute any documents which the Agent reasonably specifies to create or maintain in favour of the Security Trustee a Security Interest over (and/or rights of set-off, consolidation or other rights in relation to) the Earnings Account in relation to that Borrower. |
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19 | EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
19.1 | Events of Default |
An Event of Default occurs if:
(a) | any Borrower or any Security Party fails to pay within 3 Business Days of the date when due or, if payable on demand, within 3 Business Days of such demand, any sum payable under a Finance Document or under any document relating to a Finance Document; or |
(b) | any breach occurs of Clause 9.2 (Waiver of conditions precedent), Clause 10.15 (Sanctions), Clause 11.2 (Title; negative pledge), Clause 11.3 (Disposal of assets), Clause 11.4 (Maintenance of ownership of Borrowers), Clause 11.18 (Conduct of business; compliance with laws) in so far as it relates to Sanctions Laws, Clause 11.20 (Compliance with Sanctions Laws), Clause 12.2 (Maintenance of status), Clause 12.3 (No change of business), Clause 12.4 (No merger etc.), Clause 12.8 (Restrictions on dividends), Clause 12.11 (Notification of Sanctions), Clause 13 (Insurance), paragraph (c) of Clause 14.9 (Compliance with laws etc.), or Clause 15.2 (Provision of additional security; prepayment); or |
(c) | (subject to any applicable grace period in the relevant Finance Documents) any breach by any Borrower or any Security Party occurs of any provision of a Finance Document (other than a breach covered by paragraphs (a) or (b)) and if, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, such default is capable of remedy, such default continues unremedied 10 days after written notice from the Agent requesting action to remedy the same; or |
(d) | any representation, warranty or statement made by, or by an officer of, any Borrower or a Security Party in a Finance Document or in a Drawdown Notice or any other notice or document relating to a Finance Document is untrue or misleading in any material respect when it is made; or |
(e) | any of the following occurs in relation to a Relevant Person: |
(i) | a Relevant Person becomes, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, unable to pay its debts as they fall due; or |
(ii) | a Relevant Person fails to comply with or pay any sum due from it under any final judgment or any final order made or given by any court of competent jurisdiction or any assets of a Relevant Person are subject to any form of execution, attachment, arrest, sequestration or distress in respect of a sum of, or sums aggregating, $10,000,000 or more or the equivalent in another currency; or |
(iii) | an administrator is appointed (whether by the court or otherwise) in respect of a Relevant Person or any administrative or other receiver is appointed over any asset of a Relevant Person; or |
(iv) | a Relevant Person makes any formal declaration of bankruptcy or any formal statement to the effect that it is insolvent or likely to become insolvent, or an administration notice is given or filed in relation to a Relevant Person, or a winding up or administration order is made in relation to a Relevant Person, or the members or directors of a Relevant Person pass a resolution to the effect that it should be wound up, placed in administration or cease to carry on business, save that this paragraph does not apply to a fully solvent winding up of a Relevant Person other than any Borrower which is, or is to be, effected for the purposes of an amalgamation or reconstruction previously approved by the Majority Lenders and effected not later than 3 months after the commencement of the winding up; or |
(v) | a petition is presented in any Pertinent Jurisdiction for the winding up or administration, or the appointment of a provisional liquidator, of a Relevant Person |
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unless the petition is being contested in good faith and on substantial grounds and is dismissed or withdrawn within 30 days of the presentation of the petition; or
(vi) | a Relevant Person petitions a court, or presents any proposal for, any form of judicial or non‑judicial suspension or deferral of payments, reorganisation of its debt (or certain of its debt) or arrangement with all or a substantial proportion (by number or value) of its creditors or of any class of them or any such suspension or deferral of payments, reorganisation or arrangement is effected by court order, contract or otherwise; or |
(vii) | any meeting of the members or directors of a Relevant Person is summoned for the purpose of considering a resolution or proposal to authorise or take any action of a type described in paragraphs (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi); or |
(viii) | in a Pertinent Jurisdiction other than England, any event occurs or any procedure is commenced which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is similar to any of the foregoing; or |
(f) | any repayment of principal in respect of, or any payment of interest on, any Financial Indebtedness of a Borrower is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period (unless the due date for payment thereof is rescheduled with the agreement of the relevant creditor before the expiry of such grace period);or |
(g) | any Financial Indebtedness of a Borrower is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (howsoever described); or |
(h) | any commitment to a Borrower for any Financial Indebtedness is cancelled by a creditor of that Borrower by reason of an event of default (however described); or |
(i) | any Financial Indebtedness of a Borrower becomes capable of being declared due and payable prior to its specified maturity or any commitment to a Borrower for any Financial Indebtedness becomes capable of being cancelled in either case as a result of an event of default (howsoever described) and the event giving rise to that event of default is not waived or remedied to the satisfaction of the relevant creditor within 30 days of its occurrence; |
provided that (with respect to sub-paragraphs (f) to (i) above) no Event of Default will occur under these sub-paragraphs (f) to (i) above if the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within sub-paragraphs (f) to (i) above is less than $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies).
(j) | any Borrower ceases or suspends carrying on its business or a part of its business which, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, is material in the context of this Agreement; or |
(k) | it becomes unlawful in any Pertinent Jurisdiction or impossible: |
(i) | for any Borrower or any Security Party to discharge any liability under a Finance Document or to comply with any other obligation which the Majority Lenders consider material under a Finance Document; or |
(ii) | for the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Lenders to exercise or enforce any right under, or to enforce any Security Interest created by, a Finance Document; or |
(l) | any provision which the Majority Lenders consider material of a Finance Document proves to have been or becomes invalid or unenforceable, or a Security Interest created by a Finance Document proves to have been or becomes invalid or unenforceable or such a Security |
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Interest proves to have ranked after, or loses its priority to, another Security Interest or any other third party claim or interest; or
(m) | any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders determine has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on: |
(i) | the ability of any Borrower to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents; or |
(ii) | the property, assets, nature of assets, operations, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of any Borrower or any of their respective subsidiaries; or |
(n) | at any time, any Borrower is not in compliance with all material Environmental Laws relating to each Ship, its ownership, operation and management or to the business of the relevant Borrower; or |
(o) | a Borrower rescinds or repudiates a Finance Document. |
19.2 | Actions following an Event of Default |
On, or at any time after, the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing:
(a) | the Agent may, and if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, the Agent shall: |
(i) | serve on the Borrowers a notice stating that the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrowers under this Agreement are terminated; and/or |
(ii) | serve on the Borrowers a notice stating that the Loan, all accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or owing under this Agreement are immediately due and payable or are due and payable on demand; and/or |
(iii) | take any other action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice served under paragraph (i) or (ii), the Agent and/or the Lenders are entitled to take under any Finance Document or any applicable law; and/or |
(b) | the Security Trustee may, and if so instructed by the Agent, acting with the authorisation of the Majority Lenders, the Security Trustee shall take any action which, as a result of the Event of Default or any notice served under paragraph (a) (i) or (ii), the Security Trustee, the Agent and/or the Lenders and/or the Swap Counterparties are entitled to take under any Finance Document or any applicable law. |
19.3 | Termination of Commitments |
On the service of a notice under paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 19.2 (Actions following an Event of Default), the Commitments and all other obligations of each Lender to the Borrowers under this Agreement shall terminate.
19.4 | Acceleration of Loan |
On the service of a notice under paragraph (a)(ii) of Clause 19.2 (Actions following an Event of Default), the Loan, all accrued interest and all other amounts accrued or owing from any Borrower or any Security Party under this Agreement and every other Finance Document shall become immediately due and payable or, as the case may be, payable on demand.
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19.5 | Multiple notices; action without notice |
The Agent may serve notices under paragraphs (a)(i) and (ii) of Clause 19.2 (Actions following an Event of Default) simultaneously or on different dates and it and/or the Security Trustee may take any action referred to in Clause 19.2 (Actions following an Event of Default) if no such notice is served or simultaneously with or at any time after the service of both or either of such notices.
19.6 | Notification of Creditor Parties and Security Parties |
The Agent shall send to each Lender, the Security Trustee and each Security Party a copy or the text of any notice which the Agent serves on the Borrowers under Clause 19.2 (Actions following an Event of Default); but the notice shall become effective when it is served on the Borrowers, and no failure or delay by the Agent to send a copy or the text of the notice to any other person shall invalidate the notice or provide any Borrower or any Security Party with any form of claim or defence.
19.7 | Creditor Party rights unimpaired |
Nothing in this Clause shall be taken to impair or restrict the exercise of any right given to individual Lenders or a Swap Counterparty under a Finance Document, a Master Agreement or the general law; and, in particular, this Clause is without prejudice to Clause 3.1 (Interests several).
19.8 | Exclusion of Creditor Party liability |
No Creditor Party, and no receiver or manager appointed by the Security Trustee, shall have any liability to a Borrower or a Security Party:
(a) | for any loss caused by an exercise of rights under, or enforcement of a Security Interest created by, a Finance Document or by any failure or delay to exercise such a right or to enforce such a Security Interest; or |
(b) | as mortgagee in possession or otherwise, for any income or principal amount which might have been produced by or realised from any asset comprised in such a Security Interest or for any reduction (however caused) in the value of such an asset; |
except that this does not exempt a Creditor Party or a receiver or manager from liability for losses shown to have been directly and mainly caused by the dishonesty or the wilful misconduct of such Creditor Party's own officers and employees or (as the case may be) such receiver's or manager's own partners or employees.
In no event shall any Creditor Party be liable on any theory of liability for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages and each Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim for any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favour.
19.9 | Relevant Persons |
In this Clause 19 (Events of Default) a "Relevant Person" means a Borrower, a Security Party or any of a Borrower's subsidiaries, but excluding any company which is dormant and the value of whose gross assets is $5,000,000 or less.
19.10 | Interpretation |
In Clause 19.1(e) references to an event of default or a termination event include any event, howsoever described, which is similar to an event of default in a facility agreement or a termination event in a finance lease; and in Clause 19.1(e) "petition" includes an application.
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19.11 | Position of Swap Counterparties |
Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee shall be obliged, in connection with any action taken or proposed to be taken under or pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Clause 19 (Events of Default), to have any regard to the requirements of a Swap Counterparty except to the extent that such Swap Counterparty is also a Lender.
20 | FEES AND EXPENSES |
20.1 | Fees |
The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent:
(a) | on the date of this Agreement or as otherwise agreed, the fees in amounts previously agreed in writing between the Agent and the Borrowers; and |
(b) | quarterly in arrears on each 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December and on the first Drawdown Date (or, if earlier, the date on which this Agreement is terminated) during the period from the date of this Agreement to the last day of the Availability Period (or, if earlier, the date on which this Agreement is terminated), for the account of the Lenders, a commitment fee at the rate of 35 per cent. of the Margin per annum on the Total Available Commitments, for distribution among the Lenders pro rata to their Commitments. |
20.2 | Costs of negotiation, preparation etc. |
The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent on its demand the amount of all expenses incurred by the Agent or the Security Trustee in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution or registration of any Finance Document or any related document or with any transaction contemplated by a Finance Document or a related document.
20.3 | Costs of variations, amendments, enforcement etc. |
The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, on the Agent's demand, for the account of the Creditor Party concerned the amount of all expenses incurred by a Creditor Party in connection with:
(a) | any amendment or supplement to a Finance Document or any proposal for such an amendment to be made; |
(b) | any consent or waiver by the Lenders, the Swap Banks, the Majority Lenders or the Creditor Party concerned under or in connection with a Finance Document, or any request for such a consent or waiver; |
(c) | the valuation of any security provided or offered under Clause 15 (Security Cover) or any other matter relating to such security; or |
(d) | any step taken by the Creditor Party concerned with a view to the protection, exercise or enforcement of any right or Security Interest created by a Finance Document or for any similar purpose. |
There shall be recoverable under paragraph (d) the full amount of all legal expenses, whether or not such as would be allowed under rules of court or any taxation or other procedure carried out under such rules.
20.4 | Documentary taxes |
The Borrowers shall promptly pay any tax payable on or by reference to any Finance Document, and shall, on the Agent's demand, fully indemnify each Creditor Party against any
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claims, expenses, liabilities and losses resulting from any failure or delay by the Borrowers to pay such a tax.
20.5 | Certification of amounts |
A notice which is signed by 2 officers of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 20 (Fees and Expenses) and which indicates (without necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due.
21 | INDEMNITIES |
21.1 | Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan |
The Borrowers shall fully indemnify the Agent and each Lender on the Agent's demand and the Security Trustee on its demand in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are made or brought against or incurred by that Creditor Party as a result of or in connection with:
(a) | an Advance not being borrowed on the date specified in the relevant Drawdown Notice for any reason other than a default by the Lender claiming the indemnity; |
(b) | the receipt or recovery of all or any part of the Loan or an overdue sum otherwise than on the last day of the applicable Interest Period or other relevant period; |
(c) | any failure (for whatever reason) by the Borrowers to make payment of any amount due under a Finance Document on the due date or, if so payable, on demand (after giving credit for any default interest paid by the Borrowers on the amount concerned under Clause 7 (Default Interest)); |
(d) | the occurrence and/or continuance of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default and/or the acceleration of repayment of the Loan under Clause 19 (Events of Default); and |
(e) | in respect of any tax (other than tax on its overall net income under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Creditor Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Creditor Party is treated as resident for tax purposes or to the extent a claim, liability or loss relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a party to this Agreement) for which a Creditor Party is liable in connection with any amount paid or payable to that Creditor Party (whether for its own account or otherwise) under any Finance Document. |
21.2 | Breakage costs |
Without limiting its generality, Clause 21.1 (Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan) covers any Break Costs.
21.3 | Miscellaneous indemnities |
The Borrowers shall fully indemnify each Creditor Party severally on their respective demands in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which may be made or brought against or incurred by a Creditor Party, in any country, as a result of or in connection with:
(a) | any action taken, or omitted or neglected to be taken, under or in connection with any Finance Document by the Agent, the Security Trustee or any other Creditor Party or by any receiver appointed under a Finance Document; or |
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(b) | any other Pertinent Matter; |
other than claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are shown to have been caused by the gross negligence, dishonesty or wilful misconduct of the officers or employees of the Creditor Party concerned.
21.4 | Currency indemnity |
If any sum due from any Borrower or any Security Party to a Creditor Party under a Finance Document or under any order or judgment relating to a Finance Document has to be converted from the currency in which the Finance Document provided for the sum to be paid (the "Contractual Currency") into another currency (the "Payment Currency") for the purpose of:
(a) | making or lodging any claim or proof against any Borrower or any Security Party, whether in its liquidation, any arrangement involving it or otherwise; or |
(b) | obtaining an order or judgment from any court or other tribunal; or |
(c) | enforcing any such order or judgment; |
the Borrowers shall indemnify within 3 Business Days of demand the Creditor Party concerned against the loss arising when the amount of the payment actually received by that Creditor Party is converted at the available rate of exchange into the Contractual Currency.
In this Clause 21.4 (Currency indemnity), the "available rate of exchange" means the rate at which the Creditor Party concerned is able at the opening of business (London time) on the Business Day after it receives the sum concerned to purchase the Contractual Currency with the Payment Currency.
This Clause 21.4 (Currency indemnity) creates a separate liability of the Borrowers which is distinct from their other liabilities under the Finance Documents and which shall not be merged in any judgment or order relating to those other liabilities.
21.5 | Sanctions and regulatory indemnities |
The Borrowers shall pay to the Agent on demand, and the Borrowers shall indemnify each Lender against, all costs, charges, expenses, claims, liabilities, losses, duties and fees (including, but not limited to, legal fees and expenses on a full indemnity basis) and taxes thereon suffered or incurred by a Lender (other than in each case by reason of a Lender's gross negligence, dishonesty or wilful misconduct):
(a) | arising or asserted under or in connection with any law relating to safety at sea, the ISM Code, any Environmental Law or any Sanctions Law; or |
(b) | as a result of any claim, action, civil penalty or fine against, any settlement, and any other kind of loss or liability, and as a result of conduct of any Borrower or any of their partners, directors, officers, employees or agents that violates any Sanctions Laws. |
21.6 | Application to Master Agreements |
For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 21.4 (Currency indemnity) does not apply in respect of sums due from a Borrower to a Swap Counterparty under or in connection with a Master Agreement as to which sums the provisions of section 8 (Contractual Currency) of that Master Agreement shall apply.
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21.7 | Certification of amounts |
A notice which is signed by 2 officers of a Creditor Party, which states that a specified amount, or aggregate amount, is due to that Creditor Party under this Clause 21 (Indemnities) and which indicates (without necessarily specifying a detailed breakdown) the matters in respect of which the amount, or aggregate amount, is due shall be prima facie evidence that the amount, or aggregate amount, is due.
21.8 | Sums deemed due to a Lender |
For the purposes of this Clause 21 (Indemnities), a sum payable by the Borrowers to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender.
22 | NO SET-OFF OR TAX DEDUCTION |
22.1 | No deductions |
All amounts due from the Borrowers (or any of them) under a Finance Document shall be paid:
(a) | without any form of set‑off, cross-claim or condition; and |
(b) | free and clear of any Tax Deduction except a Tax Deduction which a Borrower is required by law to make. |
22.2 | Grossing-up for taxes |
Subject as provided in Clause 30.17 (Tax indemnity, tax gross-up and increased costs on assignment, transfer and change of lending office), if a Borrower is required by law to make a Tax Deduction from any payment:
(a) | that Borrower shall notify the Agent as soon as it becomes aware of the requirement; |
(b) | that Borrower shall pay the tax deducted to the appropriate taxation authority promptly, and in any event before any fine or penalty arises; |
(c) | the amount due in respect of the payment shall be increased by the amount necessary to ensure that each Creditor Party receives and retains (free from any liability relating to the Tax Deduction) a net amount which, after the Tax Deduction, is equal to the full amount which it would otherwise have received; and |
(d) | that Borrower shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after making the relevant Tax Deduction, deliver to the Agent a copy of the receipt from the relevant taxation authority evidencing that the tax had been paid to that authority. |
22.3 | Evidence of payment of taxes |
Promptly, and in any event within 1 month after making any Tax Deduction, the Borrower concerned shall deliver to the Agent for the Creditor Party entitled to the payment an original receipt (or certified copy thereof) satisfactory to that Creditor Party evidencing that the tax had been paid to the appropriate taxation authority.
22.4 | Tax credit |
A Creditor Party which has obtained (and has derived full use and benefit, on an affiliated group basis, of) a repayment or credit in respect of tax on account of which the Borrowers (or any of them) have made an increased payment under Clause 22.2 (Grossing-up for taxes)
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shall pay to the relevant Borrowers a sum equal to the proportion of the repayment or credit which that Creditor Party allocates to the amount due from the relevant Borrowers in respect of which the relevant Borrowers made the increased payment Provided that:
(a) | the Creditor Party shall not be obliged to allocate to this transaction any part of a tax repayment or credit which is referable to a class or number of transactions; |
(b) | nothing in this Clause 22.4 (Tax credit) shall oblige a Creditor Party to arrange its tax affairs in any particular manner, to claim any type of relief, credit, allowance or deduction instead of, or in priority to, another or to make any such claim within any particular time; |
(c) | nothing in this Clause 22.4 (Tax credit) shall oblige a Creditor Party to make a payment which would leave it in a worse position than it would have been in if the Borrowers had not been required to make a Tax Deduction from a payment; |
(d) | any allocation or determination made by a Creditor Party under or in connection with this Clause 22.4 (Tax credit) shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and the other Creditor Parties; |
(e) | nothing in this Clause 22.4 (Tax credit) shall oblige any Creditor Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or those of its ultimate parent company (or any subsidiary thereof) or any computations in respect of tax; and |
(f) | the Creditor Party's tax affairs for its tax year in respect of which such credit or repayment was obtained have been finally settled. |
22.5 | Tax Deduction |
In this Clause 22 (No Set-Off or Tax Deduction) "Tax Deduction" means any deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax other than a FATCA Deduction.
22.6 | Value Added Tax |
(a) | All amounts expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any party to a Creditor Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT. If VAT is chargeable on any supply made by any Creditor Party to any part in connection with a Finance Document, that party shall pay to the Creditor Party (in additional to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT. |
(b) | Where a Finance Document requires any party to reimburse a Creditor Party for any costs or expenses, that party shall also at the same time pay and indemnify the Creditor Party against all VAT incurred by the Creditor Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the extent that the Creditor Party reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment of the VAT. |
22.7 | Application to Master Agreements |
For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 22 (No Set-Off or Tax Deduction) does not apply in respect of sums due from a Borrower to a Swap Counterparty under or in connection with a Master Agreement as to which sums the provisions of section 2(d) (Deduction or Withholding for Tax) of that Master Agreement shall apply.
22.8 | FATCA information |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, each Party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party: |
(i) | confirm to that other Party whether it is: |
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(A) | a FATCA Exempt Party; or |
(B) | not a FATCA Exempt Party; |
(ii) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party's compliance with FATCA; and |
(iii) | supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Party's compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime. |
(b) | If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly. |
(c) | Paragraph (a) above shall not oblige any Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of: |
(i) | any law or regulation; |
(ii) | any fiduciary duty; or |
(iii) | any duty of confidentiality. |
(d) | If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (a)(i) or (ii) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (c) above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information. |
22.9 | FATCA Deduction |
(a) | Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction. |
(b) | Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Borrowers and the Agent and the Agent shall notify the other Creditor Parties. |
23 | ILLEGALITY, ETC. |
23.1 | Illegality, etc. |
This Clause 23 (Illegality, etc.) applies if a Lender (the "Notifying Lender") notifies the Agent that it has become, or will with effect from a specified date, become:
(a) | unlawful or prohibited as a result of the introduction of a new law, an amendment to an existing law or a change in the manner in which an existing law is or will be interpreted or applied; or |
(b) | contrary to, or inconsistent with, any regulation and/or contrary to or declared by any Sanctions Authority to be contrary to Sanctions Laws, |
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for the Notifying Lender to maintain or give effect to any of its obligations under this Agreement in the manner contemplated by this Agreement.
23.2 | Notification of illegality |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers, the Security Parties, the Security Trustee and the other Lenders of the notice under Clause 23 (Illegality, etc.
Illegality) which the Agent receives from the Notifying Lender.
23.3 | Prepayment; termination of Commitment |
On the Agent notifying the Borrowers under Clause 23.2 (Notification of illegality), the Notifying Lender's Commitment shall terminate; and thereupon or, if later, on the date specified in the Notifying Lender's notice under Clause 23 (Illegality, etc.) as the date on which the notified event would become effective the Borrowers shall prepay the Notifying Lender's Contribution in accordance with Clause 8 (Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation).
23.4 | Mitigation |
If circumstances arise which would result in a notification under Clause 23 (Illegality, etc.) then, without in any way limiting the rights of the Notifying Lender under Clause 23.3 (Prepayment; termination of Commitment), the Notifying Lender shall use reasonable endeavours to transfer its obligations, liabilities and rights under this Agreement and the Finance Documents to another office or financial institution not affected by the circumstances but the Notifying Lender shall not be under any obligation to take any such action if, in its opinion, to do would or might:
(a) | have an adverse effect on its business, operations or financial condition; or |
(b) | involve it in any activity which is unlawful or prohibited or any activity that is contrary to, or inconsistent with, any regulation; or |
(c) | involve it in any expense (unless indemnified to its satisfaction) or tax disadvantage. |
24 | THE AGENT, THE ARRANGERS AND THE REFERENCE BANKS |
24.1 | Appointment of the Agent |
(a) | Each of the Arrangers, the Lenders and the Swap Banks appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Each of the Arrangers, the Lenders and the Swap Banks authorises the Agent to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under, or in connection with, the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
24.2 | Instructions |
(a) | The Agent shall: |
(i) | unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by: |
(A) | all Lenders if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision; and |
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(B) | in all other cases, the Majority Lenders; and |
(ii) | not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with sub-paragraph (i) above (or, if this Agreement stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties, in accordance with instructions given to it by that Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties). |
(b) | The Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties, from that Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives any such instructions or clarification that it has requested. |
(c) | Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Agent by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Creditor Parties. |
(d) | Paragraph (a) above shall not apply: |
(i) | where a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document; |
(ii) | where a Finance Document requires the Agent to act in a specified manner or to take a specified action; |
(iii) | in respect of any provision which protects the Agent's own position in its personal capacity as opposed to its role of Agent for the relevant Creditor Parties. |
(e) | If giving effect to instructions given by the Majority Lenders would in the Agent's opinion have an effect equivalent to an amendment or waiver referred to in Clause 33 (Variations and Waivers), the Agent shall not act in accordance with those instructions unless consent to it so acting is obtained from each Party (other than the Agent) whose consent would have been required in respect of that amendment or waiver. |
(f) | In exercising any discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under the Finance Documents where it has not received any instructions as to the exercise of that discretion the Agent shall do so having regard to the interests of all the Creditor Parties. |
(g) | The Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability (together with any applicable VAT) which it may incur in complying with those instructions. |
(h) | Without prejudice to the remainder of this Clause 24.2 (Instructions), in the absence of instructions, the Agent shall not be obliged to take any action (or refrain from taking action) even if it considers acting or not acting to be in the best interests of the Creditor Parties. The Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Creditor Parties. |
(i) | The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Creditor Party (without first obtaining that Creditor Party's consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This paragraph (i) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Finance Documents or enforcement of the Finance Documents. |
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24.3 | Duties of the Agent |
(a) | The Agent's duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. |
(b) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party. |
(c) | Without prejudice to Clause 30.3 (Transfer Certificate, delivery and notification), paragraph (b) above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate. |
(d) | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. |
(e) | If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to any Finance Document, describing an Event of Default and stating that the circumstance described is an Event of Default, it shall promptly notify the other Creditor Parties. |
(f) | If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Creditor Party (other than the Agent, the Arranger or the Security Trustee) under this Agreement, it shall promptly notify the other Creditor Parties. |
(g) | The Agent shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to be a party (and no others shall be implied). |
24.4 | Role of the Arranger |
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arrangers have no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.
24.5 | No fiduciary duties |
(a) | Nothing in any Finance Document constitutes the Agent or the Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. |
(b) | Neither the Agent nor the Arranger shall be bound to account to other Creditor Party for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account. |
24.6 | Application of receipts |
Except as expressly stated to the contrary in any Finance Document, any moneys which the Agent receives or recovers in its capacity as Agent shall be applied by the Agent in accordance with Clause 17 (Application of Receipts).
24.7 | Business with the Group |
The Agent and the Arrangers may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with, any member of the Group.
24.8 | Rights and discretions |
(a) | The Agent may: |
(i) | rely on any representation, communication, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; |
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(ii) | assume that: |
(A) | any instructions received by it from the Majority Lenders, any Creditor Parties or any group of Creditor Parties are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents; and |
(B) | unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked; and |
(iii) | rely on a certificate from any person: |
(A) | as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or |
(B) | to the effect that such person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing, |
as sufficient evidence that that is the case and, in the case of paragraph (A) above, may assume the truth and accuracy of that certificate.
(b) | The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Creditor Parties) that: |
(i) | no Event of Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of an Event of Default arising under paragraph (a) of Clause 19.1 (Events of Default); |
(ii) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Creditor Parties has not been exercised; and |
(iii) | any notice or request made by any Borrower (other than a Drawdown Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Borrowers. |
(c) | The Agent may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts. |
(d) | Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) above or paragraph (e) below, the Agent may at any time engage and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to the Agent (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Lenders) if the Agent in its reasonable opinion deems this to be desirable. |
(e) | The Agent may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts (whether obtained by the Agent or by any other Party) and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its so relying. |
(f) | The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents and the Security Property through its officers, employees and agents and shall not: |
(i) | be liable for any error of judgment made by any such person; or |
(ii) | be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for any loss incurred by reason of misconduct, omission or default on the part of any such person, |
unless such error or such loss was directly caused by the Agent's gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
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(g) | Unless a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise the Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under the Finance Documents. |
(h) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the Arrangers are obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might, in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. |
(i) | Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Agent is not obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. |
24.9 | Responsibility for documentation |
Neither the Agent nor the Arrangers are responsible or liable for:
(a) | the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arrangers, a Borrower or any other person in, or in connection with, any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; or |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Pertinent Document or the Security Property or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Pertinent Document or the Security Property. |
24.10 | No duty to monitor |
The Agent shall not be bound to enquire:
(a) | whether or not any Event of Default has occurred; |
(b) | as to the performance, default or any breach by any Borrower of its obligations under any Finance Document; or |
(c) | whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred. |
24.11 | Exclusion of liability |
(a) | Without limiting paragraph (b) below (or any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Agent), the Agent will not be liable for: |
(i) | any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any action under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
(ii) | exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Security Property or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Security Property; or |
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(iii) | any shortfall which arises on the enforcement or realisation of the Security Property; or |
(iv) | without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i) to (iii) above, any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of: |
(A) | any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or |
(B) | the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction, |
including (in each case and without limitation) such damages, costs, losses, diminution in value or liability arising as a result of nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any regulation, currency restriction, devaluation or fluctuation; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets (including any Disruption Event); breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or systems; natural disasters or acts of God; war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or strikes or industrial action.
(b) | No Party other than the Agent may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document or any Security Property and any officer, employee or agent of the Agent may rely on this Clause. |
(c) | The Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Agent if the Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Agent for that purpose. |
(d) | Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arrangers to carry out: |
(i) | any "know your customer" or other checks in relation to any person; or |
(ii) | any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any Creditor Party, |
on behalf of any Creditor Party and each Creditor Party confirms to the Agent and the Arrangers that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arrangers.
(e) | Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the Agent's liability, any liability of the Agent arising under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been finally judicially determined to have been suffered (as determined by reference to the date of default of the Agent or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Agent at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall the Agent be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages. |
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24.12 | Lenders' indemnity to the Agent |
(a) | Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agent's gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by a Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document). |
(b) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Borrowers shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (a) above. |
(c) | Paragraph (b) above shall not apply to the extent that the indemnity payment in respect of which the Lender claims reimbursement relates to a liability of the Agent to a Borrower. |
24.13 | Resignation of the Agent |
(a) | The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office as successor by giving notice to the other Creditor Parties and the Borrowers. |
(b) | Alternatively, the Agent may resign by giving 30 days' notice to the other Creditor Parties and the Borrowers, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrowers) may appoint as a successor Agent any reputable financial institution. |
(c) | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Agent (after consultation with the Borrowers) may appoint as a successor Agent any reputable financial institution. |
(d) | The retiring Agent shall make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents. |
(e) | The Agent's resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor. |
(f) | Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under paragraph (d) above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 21.1 (Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan) and this Clause 24 (The Agent, the Arrangers and the Reference Banks) and any other provisions of a Finance Document which are expressed to limit or exclude its liability (or to indemnify it) in acting as Agent. Any fees for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date). Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party. |
(g) | After consultation with the Borrowers, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. |
(h) | The consent of any Borrower (or any other Borrower) is not required for an assignment or transfer of rights and/or obligations by the Agent. |
(i) | The Agent shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either: |
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(i) | the Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 22.8 (FATCA information) and a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; |
(ii) | the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to Clause 22.8 (FATCA information) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or |
(iii) | the Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; |
and (in each case) a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and that Lender, by notice to the Agent, requires it to resign.
24.14 | Confidentiality |
(a) | In acting as Agent for the Creditor Parties, the Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments. |
(b) | If information is received by a division or department of the Agent other than the division or department responsible for complying with the obligations assumed by it under the Finance Documents, that information may be treated as confidential to that division or department, and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it nor shall it be obliged to disclose such information to any Party. |
(c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the Arrangers are obliged to disclose to any other person (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would, or might in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty. |
24.15 | Relationship with the other Creditor Parties |
(a) | The Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender or Swap Bank at the opening of business (in the place of the Agent's principal office as notified to the Creditor Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office or, as the case may be, the Swap Bank: |
(i) | entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and |
(ii) | entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day, |
unless it has received not less than five Business Days' prior notice from that Lender or Swap Bank to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b) | Each Creditor Party shall supply the Agent with any information that the Security Trustee may reasonably specify (through the Agent) as being necessary or desirable to enable the Security Trustee to perform its functions as Security Trustee. Each Creditor Party shall deal with the Security Trustee exclusively through the Agent and shall not deal directly with the Security Trustee and any reference to any instructions being given by or sought from any Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties by or to the Security Trustee in this Agreement must be given or sought through the Agent. |
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(c) | Any Lender may by notice to the Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax number and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted under Clause 35.7 (Electronic communication) electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the transmission of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a substitute address, fax number, electronic mail address (or such other information), department and officer by that Lender for the purposes of Clause 35.2 (Addresses for communications) and Clause 35.7 (Electronic communication) and the Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender. |
24.16 | Credit appraisal by the Creditor Parties |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Borrower for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Document, each Creditor Party confirms to the Agent and the Arrangers that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under, or in connection with, any Document including but not limited to:
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document, the Security Property and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property; |
(c) | whether that Creditor Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Security Property, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property; |
(d) | the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other person under, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
(e) | the right or title of any person in or to or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Security Assets, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Security Assets. |
24.17 | Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent |
If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents, the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.
24.18 | Reliance and engagement letters |
Each Secured Party confirms that each of the Arranger and the Agent has authority to accept on its behalf (and ratifies the acceptance on its behalf of any letters or reports already
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accepted by the Arrangers or the Agent) the terms of any reliance letter or engagement letters or any reports or letters provided by accountants, auditors or providers of due diligence reports in connection with the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents and to bind it in respect of those, reports or letters and to sign such letters on its behalf and further confirms that it accepts the terms and qualifications set out in such letters.
24.19 | Full freedom to enter into transactions |
Without prejudice to Clause 24.7 (Business with the Group) or any other provision of a Finance Document and notwithstanding any rule of law or equity to the contrary, the Agent shall be absolutely entitled:
(a) | to enter into and arrange banking, derivative, investment and/or other transactions of every kind with or affecting any Borrower or any person who is party to, or referred to in, a Finance Document (including, but not limited to, any interest or currency swap or other transaction, whether related to this Agreement or not, and acting as syndicate agent and/or security trustee for, and/or participating in, other facilities to such Borrower or any person who is party to, or referred to in, a Finance Document); |
(b) | to deal in and enter into and arrange transactions relating to: |
(i) | any securities issued or to be issued by any Borrower or any other person; or |
(ii) | any options or other derivatives in connection with such securities; and |
(c) | to provide advice or other services to any Borrower or any person who is a party to, or referred to in, a Finance Document, |
and, in particular, the Agent shall be absolutely entitled, in proposing, evaluating, negotiating, entering into and arranging all such transactions and in connection with all other matters covered by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, to use (subject only to insider dealing legislation) any information or opportunity, howsoever acquired by it, to pursue its own interests exclusively, to refrain from disclosing such dealings, transactions or other matters or any information acquired in connection with them and to retain for its sole benefit all profits and benefits derived from the dealings transactions or other matters.
25 | THE SECURITY TRUSTEE |
25.1 | Trust |
(a) | The Security Trustee declares that it holds the Security Property on trust for the Creditor Parties on the terms contained in this Agreement and shall deal with the Security Property in accordance with this Clause 25 (The Security Trustee) and the other provisions of the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Each other Creditor Party authorises the Security Trustee to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Security Trustee under, or in connection with, the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
25.2 | Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Security Trustee) |
(a) | Each Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Security Trustee its Parallel Debt which shall be amounts equal to, and in the currency or currencies of, its Corresponding Debt. |
The Parallel Debt of a Borrower:
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(i) | shall become due and payable at the same time as its Corresponding Debt; |
(ii) | is independent and separate from, and without prejudice to, its Corresponding Debt. |
(b) | For purposes of this Clause 25.2 (Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Security Trustee)), the Security Trustee: |
(i) | is the independent and separate creditor of each Parallel Debt; |
(ii) | acts in its own name and not as agent, representative or trustee of the Creditor Parties and its claims in respect of each Parallel Debt shall not be held on trust; and |
(iii) | shall have the independent and separate right to demand payment of each Parallel Debt in its own name (including, without limitation, through any suit, execution, enforcement of security, recovery of guarantees and applications for and voting in any kind of insolvency proceeding). |
(c) | The Parallel Debt of a Borrower shall be: |
(i) | decreased to the extent that its Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably and unconditionally paid or discharged; and |
(ii) | increased to the extent that its Corresponding Debt has increased, |
and the Corresponding Debt of a Borrower shall be:
(A) | decreased to the extent that its Parallel Debt has been irrevocably and unconditionally paid or discharged; and |
(B) | increased to the extent that its Parallel Debt has increased, |
in each case provided that the Parallel Debt of a Borrower shall never exceed its Corresponding Debt.
(d) | All amounts received or recovered by the Security Trustee in connection with this Clause 25.2 (Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Security Trustee)) to the extent permitted by applicable law, shall be applied in accordance with Clause 17 (Application of Receipts). |
(e) | This Clause 25.2 (Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Security Trustee)) shall apply, with any necessary modifications, to each Finance Document. |
25.3 | Enforcement through Security Trustee only |
The Creditor Parties shall not have any independent power to enforce, or have recourse to, any of the Transaction Security or to exercise any right, power, authority or discretion arising under the Finance Documents except through the Security Trustee.
25.4 | Instructions |
(a) | The Security Trustee shall: |
(i) | unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Security Trustee in accordance with any instructions given to it by: |
(A) | all Lenders (or the Agent on their behalf) if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision; and |
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(B) | in all other cases, the Majority Lenders (or the Agent on their behalf); and |
(ii) | not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with sub-paragraph (i) above (or if this Agreement stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties, in accordance with instructions given to it by that Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties). |
(b) | The Security Trustee shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or the Agent on their behalf) (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties, from that Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Security Trustee may refrain from acting unless and until it receives any such instructions or clarification that it has requested. |
(c) | Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Security Trustee by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Creditor Parties. |
(d) | Paragraph (a) above shall not apply: |
(i) | where a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document; |
(ii) | where a Finance Document requires the Security Trustee to act in a specified manner or to take a specified action; |
(iii) | in respect of any provision which protects the Security Trustee's own position in its personal capacity as opposed to its role of Security Trustee for the relevant Secured Parties. |
(iv) | in respect of the exercise of the Security Trustee's discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under any of: |
(A) | Clause 25.28 (Application of receipts); |
(B) | Clause 25.29 (Permitted Deductions); and |
(C) | Clause 25.30 (Prospective liabilities). |
(e) | If giving effect to instructions given by the Majority Lenders would in the Security Trustee's opinion have an effect equivalent to an amendment or waiver referred to in Clause 33 (Variations and Waivers), the Security Trustee shall not act in accordance with those instructions unless consent to it so acting is obtained from each Party (other than the Security Trustee) whose consent would have been required in respect of that amendment or waiver. |
(f) | In exercising any discretion to exercise a right, power or authority under the Finance Documents where either: |
(i) | it has not received any instructions as to the exercise of that discretion; or |
(ii) | the exercise of that discretion is subject to sub-paragraph (iv) of paragraph (d) above, |
the Security Trustee shall do so having regard to the interests of all the Creditor Parties.
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(g) | The Security Trustee may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Creditor Party or group of Creditor Parties until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability (together with any applicable VAT) which it may incur in complying with those instructions. |
(h) | Without prejudice to the remainder of this Clause 25.4 (Instructions), in the absence of instructions, the Security Trustee may (but shall not be obliged to) take such action in the exercise of its powers and duties under the Finance Documents as it considers in its discretion to be appropriate. |
(i) | The Security Trustee is not authorised to act on behalf of a Creditor Party (without first obtaining that Creditor Party's consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This paragraph (i) shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Finance Documents or enforcement of the Finance Documents. |
25.5 | Duties of the Security Trustee |
(a) | The Security Trustee's duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. |
(b) | The Security Trustee shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Security Trustee for that Party by any other Party. |
(c) | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Security Trustee is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. |
(d) | If the Security Trustee receives notice from a Party referring to any Finance Document, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the other Creditor Parties. |
(e) | The Security Trustee shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to be a party (and no others shall be implied). |
25.6 | No fiduciary duties |
(a) | Nothing in any Finance Document constitutes the Security Trustee as an agent, trustee or fiduciary of any Borrower. |
(b) | The Security Trustee shall not be bound to account to any other Secured Party for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account. |
25.7 | Business with the Group |
The Security Trustee may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with, any member of the Group.
25.8 | Rights and discretions |
(a) | The Security Trustee may: |
(i) | rely on any representation, communication, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; |
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(ii) | assume that: |
(A) | any instructions received by it from the Majority Lenders, any Creditor Parties or any group of Creditor Parties are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents; |
(B) | unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked; |
(C) | if it receives any instructions to act in relation to the Transaction Security, that all applicable conditions under the Finance Documents for so acting have been satisfied; and |
(iii) | rely on a certificate from any person: |
(A) | as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or |
(B) | to the effect that such person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing, |
as sufficient evidence that that is the case and, in the case of paragraph (A) above, may assume the truth and accuracy of that certificate.
(b) | The Security Trustee shall be entitled to carry out all dealings with the other Creditor Parties through the Agent and may give to the Agent any notice or other communication required to be given by the Security Trustee to any Creditor Party. |
(c) | The Security Trustee may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as security trustee for the Creditor Parties) that: |
(i) | no Event of Default has occurred; |
(ii) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Creditor Parties has not been exercised; and |
(iii) | any notice or request made by any Borrower (other than a Drawdown Notice) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Borrowers. |
(d) | The Security Trustee may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts. |
(e) | Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (c) above or paragraph (f) below, the Security Trustee may at any time engage and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to the Security Trustee (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Agent or the Lenders) if the Security Trustee in its reasonable opinion deems this to be desirable. |
(f) | The Security Trustee may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts (whether obtained by the Security Trustee or by any other Party) and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its so relying. |
(g) | The Security Trustee may act in relation to the Finance Documents and the Security Property through its officers, employees and agents and shall not: |
(i) | be liable for any error of judgment made by any such person; or |
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(ii) | be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for any loss incurred by reason of misconduct, omission or default on the part of any such person, |
unless such error or such loss was directly caused by the Security Trustee's gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
(h) | Unless a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise the Security Trustee may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as security trustee under the Finance Documents. |
(i) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Security Trustee is not obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might, in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. |
(j) | Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Security Trustee is not obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. |
25.9 | Responsibility for documentation |
None of the Security Trustee or any Receiver is responsible or liable for:
(a) | the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arranger, a Borrower or any other person in, or in connection with, any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; or |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or the Security Property or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Security Property. |
25.10 | No duty to monitor |
The Security Trustee shall not be bound to enquire:
(a) | whether or not any Event of Default has occurred; |
(b) | as to the performance, default or any breach by any Borrower of its obligations under any Finance Document; or |
(c) | whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred. |
25.11 | Exclusion of liability |
(a) | Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Security Trustee or any Receiver), none of the Security Trustee nor any Receiver will be liable for: |
(i) | any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any action under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct; |
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(ii) | exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Security Property or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Security Property; or |
(iii) | any shortfall which arises on the enforcement or realisation of the Security Property; or |
(iv) | without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (i) to (iii) above, any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of: |
(A) | any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or |
(B) | the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction, |
including (in each case and without limitation) such damages, costs, losses, diminution in value or liability arising as a result of nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any regulation, currency restriction, devaluation or fluctuation; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets (including any Disruption Event); breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or systems; natural disasters or acts of God; war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or strikes or industrial action.
(b) | No Party other than the Security Trustee or that Receiver (as applicable) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Security Trustee or a Receiver in respect of any claim it might have against the Security Trustee or a Receiver or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document or any Security Property. |
(c) | The Security Trustee will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Security Trustee if the Security Trustee has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Security Trustee for that purpose. |
(d) | Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Security Trustee to carry out: |
(i) | any "know your customer" or other checks in relation to any person; or |
(ii) | any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any Creditor Party, |
on behalf of any Creditor Party and each Creditor Party confirms to the Security Trustee that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Security Trustee.
(e) | Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Security Trustee or any Receiver, any liability of the Security Trustee or any Receiver arising under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been finally judicially determined to have been suffered (as determined by reference to the date of default of the Security Trustee or Receiver or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Security Trustee or any Receiver at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall |
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the Security Trustee or any Receiver be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Security Trustee or the Receiver has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.
25.12 | Lenders' indemnity to the Security Trustee |
(a) | Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Security Trustee and every Receiver, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them (otherwise than by reason of the Security Trustee's or Receiver's gross negligence or wilful misconduct) in acting as Security Trustee or Receiver under the Finance Documents (unless the Security Trustee or Receiver has been reimbursed by a Borrower pursuant to a Finance Document). |
(b) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Borrowers shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Security Trustee pursuant to paragraph (a) above. |
(c) | Paragraph (b) above shall not apply to the extent that the indemnity payment in respect of which the Lender claims reimbursement relates to a liability of the Security Trustee to a Borrower. |
25.13 | Resignation of the Security Trustee |
(a) | The Security Trustee may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office as successor by giving notice to the other Creditor Parties and the Borrowers. |
(b) | Alternatively, the Security Trustee may resign by giving 30 days' notice to the other Creditor Parties and the Borrowers, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Borrowers) may appoint as a successor Security Trustee any reputable financial institution. |
(c) | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Security Trustee in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Security Trustee (after consultation with the Borrowers) may appoint as a successor Security Trustee any reputable financial institution. |
(d) | The retiring Security Trustee shall make available to the successor Security Trustee such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Security Trustee may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Security Trustee under the Finance Documents. The Borrowers shall, within three Business Days of demand, reimburse the retiring Security Trustee for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) properly incurred by it in making available such documents and records and providing such assistance. |
(e) | The Security Trustee's resignation notice shall only take effect upon: |
(i) | the appointment of a successor; and |
(ii) | the transfer, by way of a document expressed as a deed, of all the Security Property to that successor. |
(f) | Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Security Trustee shall be discharged, by way of a document executed as a deed, from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under paragraph (b) of Clause 25.25 (Winding up of trust) and paragraph (d) above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 21.1 (Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan) and this Clause 25 (The Security |
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Trustee) and any other provisions of a Finance Document which are expressed to limit or exclude its liability (or to indemnify it) in acting as Security Trustee. Any fees for the account of the retiring Security Trustee shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date). Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.
(g) | The Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Security Trustee, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. In this event, the Security Trustee shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above but the cost referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be for the account of the Borrowers. |
(h) | The consent of any Borrower (or any other Borrower) is not required for an assignment or transfer of rights and/or obligations by the Security Trustee. |
25.14 | Confidentiality |
(a) | In acting as Security Trustee for the Creditor Parties, the Security Trustee shall be regarded as acting through its trustee division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments. |
(b) | If information is received by a division or department of the Security Trustee other than the division or department responsible for complying with the obligations assumed by it under the Finance Documents, that information may be treated as confidential to that division or department, and the Security Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of it nor shall it be obliged to disclose such information to any Party. |
(c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Security Trustee is not obliged to disclose to any other person (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would, or might in its reasonable opinion, constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty. |
25.15 | Credit appraisal by the Creditor Parties |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Borrower for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Creditor Party confirms to the Security Trustee that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under, or in connection with, any Finance Document including but not limited to:
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group; |
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document, the Security Property and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property; |
(c) | whether that Creditor Party has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Security Property, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Property; |
(d) | the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Security Trustee, any Party or by any other person under, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and |
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(e) | the right or title of any person in or to or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Security Assets, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Security Assets. |
25.16 | Security Trustee's management time |
(a) | In the event of: |
(i) | an Event of Default; |
(ii) | the Security Trustee being requested by a Borrower or the Majority Lenders to undertake duties which the Security Trustee and the Borrowers agree to be of an exceptional nature or outside the scope of the normal duties of the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents; or |
(iii) | the Security Trustee and the Borrowers agreeing that it is otherwise appropriate in the circumstances, |
the Borrowers shall pay to the Security Trustee any additional remuneration (together with any applicable VAT) that may be agreed between them or determined pursuant to paragraph (b) below.
(b) | If the Security Trustee and the Borrowers fail to agree upon the nature of the duties, or upon the additional remuneration referred to in paragraph (a) above or whether additional remuneration is appropriate in the circumstances, any dispute shall be determined by an investment bank (acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator) selected by the Security Trustee and approved by the Borrowers or, failing approval, nominated (on the application of the Security Trustee) by the President for the time being of the Law Society of England and Wales (the costs of the nomination and of the investment bank being payable by the Borrowers) and the determination of any investment bank shall be final and binding upon the Parties. |
25.17 | Reliance and engagement letters |
Each Secured Party confirms that the Security Trustee has authority to accept on its behalf (and ratifies the acceptance on its behalf of any letters or reports already accepted by the Security Trustee) the terms of any reliance letter or engagement letters or any reports or letters provided by accountants, auditors or providers of due diligence reports in connection with the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents and to bind it in respect of those, reports or letters and to sign such letters on its behalf and further confirms that it accepts the terms and qualifications set out in such letters.
25.18 | No responsibility to perfect Transaction Security |
The Security Trustee shall not be liable for any failure to:
(a) | require the deposit with it of any deed or document certifying, representing or constituting the title of any Borrower to any of the Security Assets; |
(b) | obtain any licence, consent or other authority for the execution, delivery, legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; |
(c) | register, file or record or otherwise protect any of the Transaction Security (or the priority of any of the Transaction Security) under any law or regulation or to give notice to any person of the execution of any Finance Document or of the Transaction Security; |
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(d) | take, or to require any Borrower to take, any step to perfect its title to any of the Security Assets or to render the Transaction Security effective or to secure the creation of any ancillary Security under any law or regulation; or |
(e) | require any further assurance in relation to any Finance Document. |
25.19 | Insurance by Security Trustee |
(a) | The Security Trustee shall not be obliged: |
(i) | to insure any of the Security Assets; |
(ii) | to require any other person to maintain any insurance; or |
(iii) | to verify any obligation to arrange or maintain insurance contained in any Finance Document, |
and the Security Trustee shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person as a result of the lack of, or inadequacy of, any such insurance.
(b) | Where the Security Trustee is named on any insurance policy as an insured party, it shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person as a result of its failure to notify the insurers of any material fact relating to the risk assumed by such insurers or any other information of any kind, unless the Majority Lenders request it to do so in writing and the Security Trustee fails to do so within 14 days after receipt of that request. |
25.20 | Custodians and nominees |
The Security Trustee may appoint and pay any person to act as a custodian or nominee on any terms in relation to any asset of the trust as the Security Trustee may determine, including for the purpose of depositing with a custodian this Agreement or any document relating to the trust created under this Agreement and the Security Trustee shall not be responsible for any loss, liability, expense, demand, cost, claim or proceedings incurred by reason of the misconduct, omission or default on the part of any person appointed by it under this Agreement or be bound to supervise the proceedings or acts of any person.
25.21 | Delegation by the Security Trustee |
(a) | Each of the Security Trustee and any Receiver may, at any time, delegate by power of attorney or otherwise to any person for any period, all or any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it in its capacity as such. |
(b) | That delegation may be made upon any terms and conditions (including the power to sub delegate) and subject to any restrictions that the Security Trustee or that Receiver (as the case may be) may, in its discretion, think fit in the interests of the Secured Parties. |
(c) | No Security Trustee or Receiver shall be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for any damages, costs or losses incurred by reason of any misconduct, omission or default on the part of any such delegate or sub delegate. |
25.22 | Additional Security Trustees |
(a) | The Security Trustee may at any time appoint (and subsequently remove) any person to act as a separate trustee or as a co-trustee jointly with it: |
(i) | if it considers that appointment to be in the interests of the Creditor Parties; or |
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(ii) | for the purposes of conforming to any legal requirement, restriction or condition which the Security Trustee deems to be relevant; or |
(iii) | for obtaining or enforcing any judgment in any jurisdiction, |
and the Security Trustee shall give prior notice to the Borrowers and the Creditor Parties of that appointment.
(b) | Any person so appointed shall have the rights, powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those given to the Security Trustee under or in connection with the Finance Documents) and the duties, obligations and responsibilities that are given or imposed by the instrument of appointment. |
(c) | The remuneration that the Security Trustee may pay to that person (after consultation with the Borrowers), and any costs and expenses (together with any applicable VAT) incurred by that person in performing its functions pursuant to that appointment shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be treated as costs and expenses incurred by the Security Trustee. |
25.23 | Acceptance of title |
The Security Trustee shall be entitled to accept without enquiry, and shall not be obliged to investigate, any right and title that any Borrower may have to any of the Security Assets and shall not be liable for or bound to require any Borrower to remedy any defect in its right or title.
25.24 | Releases |
Upon a disposal of any of the Security Assets pursuant to the enforcement of the Transaction Security by a Receiver or the Security Trustee, the Security Trustee is irrevocably authorised (at the cost of the Borrowers and without any consent, sanction, authority or further confirmation from any other Creditor Party) to release, without recourse or warranty, that property from the Transaction Security and to execute any release of the Transaction Security or other claim over that asset and to issue any certificates of non-crystallisation of floating charges that may be required or desirable.
25.25 | Winding up of trust |
If the Security Trustee, with the approval of the Agent determines that:
(a) | all of the Secured Liabilities and all other obligations secured by the Finance Documents have been fully and finally discharged; and |
(b) | no Secured Party is under any commitment, obligation or liability (actual or contingent) to make advances or provide other financial accommodation to any Borrower pursuant to the Finance Documents, |
then
(i) | the trusts set out in this Agreement shall be wound up and the Security Trustee shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of the Transaction Security and the rights of the Security Trustee under each of the Finance Documents; and |
(ii) | any Security Trustee which has resigned pursuant to Clause 25.13 (Resignation of the Security Trustee) shall release, without recourse or warranty, all of its rights under each Finance Document. |
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25.26 | Powers supplemental to Trustee Acts |
The rights, powers, authorities and discretions given to the Security Trustee under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000 and in addition to any which may be vested in the Security Trustee by law or regulation or otherwise.
25.27 | Disapplication of Trustee Acts |
Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Security Trustee in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement and the other Finance Documents. Where there are any inconsistencies between (i) the Trustee Acts 1925 and 2000 and (ii) the provisions of this Agreement and any other Finance Document, the provisions of this Agreement and any other Finance Document shall, to the extent permitted by law and regulation, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000, the provisions of this Agreement and any other Finance Document shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of the Trustee Act 2000.
25.28 | Application of receipts |
All amounts from time to time received or recovered by the Security Trustee pursuant to the terms of any Finance Document, under Clause 25.2 (Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Security Trustee)) or in connection with the realisation or enforcement of all or any part of the Security Property (for the purposes of this Clause 25 (The Security Trustee), the "Recoveries") shall be held by the Security Trustee on trust to apply them at any time as the Security Trustee (in its discretion) sees fit, to the extent permitted by applicable law (and subject to the remaining provisions of this Clause 25 (The Security Trustee), in the following order of priority:
(a) | in discharging any sums owing to the Security Trustee (in its capacity as such) (other than pursuant to Clause 25.2 (Parallel Debt (Covenant to pay the Security Trustee)) or any Receiver; |
(b) | in payment or distribution to the Agent, on its behalf and on behalf of the other Creditor Parties, for application towards the discharge of all sums due and payable by any Borrower under any of the Finance Documents in accordance with Clause 17 (Application of Receipts); |
(c) | if none of the Borrowers are under any further actual or contingent liability under any Finance Document, in payment or distribution to any person to whom the Security Trustee is obliged to pay or distribute in priority to any Borrower; and |
(d) | the balance, if any, in payment or distribution to the relevant Borrower. |
25.29 | Permitted Deductions |
The Security Trustee may, in its discretion:
(a) | set aside by way of reserve amounts required to meet, and to make and pay, any deductions and withholdings (on account of Taxes or otherwise) which it is or may be required by any applicable law to make from any distribution or payment made by it under this Agreement; and |
(b) | pay all Taxes which may be assessed against it in respect of any of the Security Property, or as a consequence of performing its duties, or by virtue of its capacity as Security Trustee under any of the Finance Documents or otherwise (other than in connection with its remuneration for performing its duties under this Agreement). |
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25.30 | Prospective liabilities |
Following acceleration the Security Trustee may, in its discretion, or at the request of the Agent, hold any Recoveries in an interest bearing suspense or impersonal account(s) in the name of the Security Trustee with such financial institution (including itself) and for so long as the Security Trustee shall think fit (the interest being credited to the relevant account) for later payment to the Agent for application in accordance with Clause 25.28 (Application of receipts) in respect of:
(a) | any sum to the Security Trustee or any Receiver; and |
(b) | any part of the Secured Liabilities, |
that the Security Trustee or, in the case of paragraph (b) only, the Agent, reasonably considers, in each case, might become due or owing at any time in the future.
25.31 | Investment of proceeds |
Prior to the payment of the proceeds of the Recoveries to the Agent for application in accordance with Clause 25.28 (Application of receipts) the Security Trustee may, in its discretion, hold all or part of those proceeds in an interest bearing suspense or impersonal account(s) in the name of the Security Trustee with such financial institution (including itself) and for so long as the Security Trustee shall think fit (the interest being credited to the relevant account) pending the payment from time to time of those moneys in the Security Trustee's discretion in accordance with the provisions of Clause 25.28 (Application of receipts).
25.32 | Currency conversion |
(a) | For the purpose of, or pending the discharge of, any of the Secured Liabilities the Security Trustee may convert any moneys received or recovered by the Security Trustee from one currency to another, at a market rate of exchange. |
(b) | The obligations of any Borrower to pay in the due currency shall only be satisfied to the extent of the amount of the due currency purchased after deducting the costs of conversion. |
25.33 | Good discharge |
(a) | Any payment to be made in respect of the Secured Liabilities by the Security Trustee may be made to the Agent on behalf of the Creditor Parties and any payment made in that way shall be a good discharge, to the extent of that payment, by the Security Trustee. |
(b) | The Security Trustee is under no obligation to make the payments to the Agent under paragraph (a) above in the same currency as that in which the obligations and liabilities owing to the relevant Creditor Party are denominated. |
25.34 | Amounts received by Borrowers |
If any of the Borrowers receives or recovers any amount which, under the terms of any of the Finance Documents, should have been paid to the Security Trustee, that Borrower will hold the amount received or recovered on trust for the Security Trustee and promptly pay that amount to the Security Trustee for application in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
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25.35 | Full freedom to enter into transactions |
Without prejudice to Clause 25.7 (Business with the Group) or any other provision of a Finance Document and notwithstanding any rule of law or equity to the contrary, the Security Trustee shall be absolutely entitled:
(a) | to enter into and arrange banking, derivative, investment and/or other transactions of every kind with or affecting any Borrower or any person who is party to, or referred to in, a Finance Document (including, but not limited to, any interest or currency swap or other transaction, whether related to this Agreement or not, and acting as syndicate agent and/or security trustee for, and/or participating in, other facilities to such Borrower or any person who is party to, or referred to in, a Finance Document); |
(b) | to deal in and enter into and arrange transactions relating to: |
(i) | any securities issued or to be issued by any Borrower or any other person; or |
(ii) | any options or other derivatives in connection with such securities; and |
(c) | to provide advice or other services to the Borrowers or any person who is a party to, or referred to in, a Finance Document, |
and, in particular, the Security Trustee shall be absolutely entitled, in proposing, evaluating, negotiating, entering into and arranging all such transactions and in connection with all other matters covered by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, to use (subject only to insider dealing legislation) any information or opportunity, howsoever acquired by it, to pursue its own interests exclusively, to refrain from disclosing such dealings, transactions or other matters or any information acquired in connection with them and to retain for its sole benefit all profits and benefits derived from the dealings transactions or other matters.
26 | CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE CREDITOR PARTIES |
No provision of this Agreement will:
(a) | interfere with the right of any Creditor Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; |
(b) | oblige any Creditor Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or |
oblige any Creditor Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.
27 | SHARING AMONG THE CREDITOR PARTIES |
27.1 | Payments to Creditor Parties |
If a Creditor Party (a "Recovering Creditor Party") receives or recovers any amount from a Borrower other than in accordance with Clause 16 (Payments and Calculations) (a "Recovered Amount") and applies that amount to a payment due to it under the Finance Documents then:
(a) | the Recovering Creditor Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery, to the Agent; |
(b) | the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Creditor Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 16 (Payments and Calculations), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and |
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(c) | the Recovering Creditor Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the "Sharing Payment") equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Creditor Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 17.1 (Normal order of application). |
27.2 | Redistribution of payments |
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Borrower and distribute it among the Creditor Parties (other than the Recovering Creditor Party) (the "Sharing Creditor Parties") in accordance with Clause 17.1 (Normal order of application) towards the obligations of that Borrower to the Sharing Creditor Parties.
27.3 | Recovering Creditor Party's rights |
On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 27.2 (Redistribution of payments) of a payment received by a Recovering Creditor Party from Borrower, as between the relevant Borrower and the Recovering Creditor Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that Borrower.
27.4 | Reversal of redistribution |
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Creditor Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Creditor Party, then:
(a) | each Sharing Creditor Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of that Recovering Creditor Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Creditor Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Creditor Party is required to pay) (the "Redistributed Amount"); and |
(b) | as between the relevant Borrower and each relevant Sharing Creditor Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Borrower. |
27.5 | Exceptions |
(a) | This Clause 27 (Sharing among the Creditor Parties) shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Creditor Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Borrower. |
(b) | A Recovering Creditor Party is not obliged to share with any other Creditor Party any amount which the Recovering Creditor Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if: |
(i) | it notified that other Creditor Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and |
(ii) | that other Creditor Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings. |
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28 | INCREASED COSTS |
28.1 | Increased costs |
(a) | Subject to Clause 28.3 (Exceptions), the Borrowers shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Creditor Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Creditor Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of: |
(i) | the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation; or |
(ii) | compliance with any law or regulation made, |
in each case after the date of this Agreement; or
(iii) | the implementation, application of or compliance with Basel III or CRD IV or any law or regulation that implements or applies Basel III or CRD IV. |
(b) | In this Agreement: |
(i) | "Basel III" means: |
(A) | the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in "Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems", "Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring" and "Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer" published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated; |
(B) | the rules for global systemically important banks contained in "Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement - Rules text" published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and |
(C) | any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to "Basel III". |
(ii) | "CRD IV" means: |
(A) | Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and amending regulation (EU) No. 648/2012; |
(B) | Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC; and |
(C) | any other law or regulation which implements Basel III. |
(iii) | "Increased Costs" means: |
(A) | a reduction in the rate of return from a Facility or on a Creditor Party's (or its Affiliate's) overall capital; |
(B) | an additional or increased cost; or |
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(C) | a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document, |
which is incurred or suffered by a Creditor Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Creditor Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document.
28.2 | Increased cost claims |
(a) | A Creditor Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 28 (Increased Costs) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers. |
(b) | Each Creditor Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs. |
28.3 | Exceptions |
Clause 28 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:
(a) | attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by a Borrower; |
(b) | attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party; |
(c) | compensated for by Clause 21.1 (e) (Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan) 22.2 (Grossing-up for taxes) (or would have been compensated for under Clauses 21.1 (e) (Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan) or Clause 22.2 (Grossing-up for taxes) but was not so compensated solely because of any of the exclusions therein applied), Clause 30.17 (Tax indemnity, tax gross-up and increased costs on assignment, transfer and change of lending office) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 30.17 (Tax indemnity, tax gross-up and increased costs on assignment, transfer and change of lending office) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in Clause 30.17 (Tax indemnity, tax gross-up and increased costs on assignment, transfer and change of lending office)applied); |
(d) | attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Creditor Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation; or |
(e) | incurred by a Swap Bank in its capacity as such. |
28.4 | Notification to Borrowers of claim for increased costs |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Security Parties of the notice which the Agent received from the Notifying Lender under Clause 28.1 (Increased costs) and there shall then be a 60 day consultation period for the Borrowers and Notifying Lender to discuss the particular increased cost and amount to be paid to the Notifying Lender.
28.5 | Payment of increased costs |
Unless something to the contrary is agreed by the Borrowers and the Notifying Lender during the 60 day consultation period referred to in 28.4 (Notification to Borrowers of claim for increased costs), the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent, on the Agent's demand, for the account of the Notifying Lender the amounts which the Agent from time to time notifies the Borrowers that the Notifying Lender has specified to be necessary to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost.
28.6 | Notice of prepayment |
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If the Borrowers are not willing to continue to compensate the Notifying Lender for the increased cost under Clause 28.5 (Payment of increased costs), the Borrowers may give the Agent not less than 5 Business Days' notice of their intention to prepay the Notifying Lender's Contribution or to procure a Transferee Lender.
28.7 | Prepayment; termination of Commitment |
A notice of prepayment under Clause 28.6 (Notice of prepayment) shall be irrevocable; the Agent shall promptly notify the Notifying Lender of the Borrowers' notice of intended prepayment; and:
(a) | on the date on which the Agent serves that notice, the Commitment of the Notifying Lender shall be cancelled; and |
(b) | on the date specified in its notice of intended prepayment, the Borrowers shall prepay (without premium or penalty) the Notifying Lender's Contribution, together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate plus the applicable Margin. |
28.8 | Application of prepayment |
Clause 8 (Reduction, Repayment, Prepayment and Cancellation) shall apply in relation to the prepayment.
29 | SET‑ OFF |
29.1 | Application of credit balances |
Each Creditor Party may, at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, without prior notice:
(a) | apply any balance (whether or not then due) which at any time stands to the credit of any account in the name of a Borrower at any office in any country of that Creditor Party in or towards satisfaction of any sum then due from that Borrower to that Creditor Party under any of the Finance Documents; and |
(b) | for that purpose: |
(i) | break, or alter the maturity of, all or any part of a deposit of that Borrower; |
(ii) | convert or translate all or any part of a deposit or other credit balance into Dollars; |
(iii) | enter into any other transaction or make any entry with regard to the credit balance which the Creditor Party concerned considers appropriate. |
29.2 | Existing rights unaffected |
No Creditor Party shall be obliged to exercise any of its rights under Clause 29.1 (Application of credit balances); and those rights shall be without prejudice and in addition to any right of set‑off, combination of accounts, charge, lien or other right or remedy to which a Creditor Party is entitled (whether under the general law or any document).
29.3 | Sums deemed due to a Lender |
For the purposes of this Clause 29 (Set‑ Off), a sum payable by any Borrower to the Agent or the Security Trustee for distribution to, or for the account of, a Lender shall be treated as a sum due to that Lender; and each Lender's proportion of a sum so payable for distribution to, or for the account of, the Lenders shall be treated as a sum due to such Lender.
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29.4 | No Security Interest |
This Clause 29 (Set‑ Off) gives the Creditor Parties a contractual right of set‑off only and does not create any equitable charge or other Security Interest over any credit balance of any Borrower.
30 | TRANSFERS AND CHANGES IN LENDING OFFICES |
30.1 | Transfer by Borrowers |
No Borrower may, without the consent of the Agent given on the instructions of all the Lenders, transfer any of its rights, liabilities or obligations under any Finance Document.
30.2 | Transfer by a Lender |
Subject to Clause 30.4 (Effective Date of Transfer Certificate), a Lender (the "Transferor Lender") may, at its own cost, with the prior written consent of the Borrowers (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) or without the consent of the Borrowers if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or if to an Affiliate of the Lender, cause:
(a) | its rights in respect of all or pro rata parts of its Contribution; or |
(b) | its obligations in respect of all or pro rata parts of its Commitment; or |
(c) | a combination of (a) and (b); |
to be (in the case of its rights) transferred to, or (in the case of its obligations) assumed by, another bank (a "Transferee Lender") by delivering to the Agent a completed certificate in the form set out in Schedule 5 (Transfer Certificate) with any modifications approved or required by the Agent (a "Transfer Certificate") executed by the Transferor Lender and the Transferee Lender Provided that a Lender may make such transfer to any wholly owned subsidiary of it, to its parent company or to another subsidiary of its parent company without the consent of the Borrowers or the Agent and the fee referred to in Clause 30.11 (Registration fee) shall not apply in relation to any such transfer.
Without prejudice to the foregoing, any such transfer by a Lender shall be subject to the following further conditions:
(i) | the amount of the Contribution and/or Commitment of the Lender which is to be transferred shall not be less than $10,000,000 or, if less, the remaining amount of its Contribution and Commitment, unless the Agent agrees otherwise; |
(ii) | where no Potential Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Agent shall approve the transfer (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld); |
(iii) | payment of the fee in accordance with Clause 30.11 (Registration fee). |
30.3 | Transfer Certificate, delivery and notification |
As soon as reasonably practicable after a Transfer Certificate is delivered to the Agent, it shall (unless it has reason to believe that the Transfer Certificate may be defective):
(a) | sign the Transfer Certificate on behalf of itself, the Borrowers, the Security Parties, the Security Trustee and each of the other Lenders and each of the Swap Banks; |
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(b) | on behalf of the Transferee Lender, send to the Borrowers and each Security Party letters or faxes notifying them of the Transfer Certificate and attaching a copy of it; |
(c) | send to the Transferee Lender copies of the letters or faxes sent under paragraph (b). |
30.4 | Effective Date of Transfer Certificate |
A Transfer Certificate becomes effective on the date, if any, specified in the Transfer Certificate as its effective date Provided that it is signed by the Agent under Clause 30.3 (Transfer Certificate, delivery and notification) on or before that date.
30.5 | No transfer without Transfer Certificate |
No assignment or transfer of any right or obligation of a Lender under any Finance Document is binding on, or effective in relation to, any Borrower, any Security Party, the Agent or the Security Trustee unless it is effected, evidenced or perfected by a Transfer Certificate.
30.6 | Lender re-organisation; waiver of Transfer Certificate |
However, if a Lender enters into any merger, de-merger or other reorganisation as a result of which all its rights or obligations vest in another person (the "successor"), the Agent may, if it sees fit, by notice to the successor and the Borrowers and the Security Trustee waive the need for the execution and delivery of a Transfer Certificate; and, upon service of the Agent's notice, the successor shall become a Lender with the same Commitment and Contribution as were held by the predecessor Lender.
30.7 | Effect of Transfer Certificate |
A Transfer Certificate takes effect in accordance with English law as follows:
(a) | to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate, all rights and interests (present, future or contingent) which the Transferor Lender has under or by virtue of the Finance Documents are assigned to the Transferee Lender absolutely, free of any defects in the Transferor Lender's title and of any rights or equities which any Borrower or any Security Party had against the Transferor Lender; |
(b) | the Transferor Lender's Commitment is discharged to the extent specified in the Transfer Certificate; |
(c) | the Transferee Lender becomes a Lender with a Contribution and Commitment of the amounts specified in the Transfer Certificate; |
(d) | the Transferee Lender becomes bound by all the provisions of the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including those about pro‑rata sharing and the exclusion of liability on the part of, and the indemnification of, the Agent and the Security Trustee and, to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes bound by those provisions (other than those relating to exclusion of liability), the Transferor Lender ceases to be bound by them; |
(e) | any part of the Loan which the Transferee Lender advances after the Transfer Certificate's effective date ranks in point of priority and security in the same way as it would have ranked had it been advanced by the transferor, assuming that any defects in the Transferor Lender's title and any rights or equities of any Borrower or any Security Party against the Transferor Lender had not existed; |
(f) | the Transferee Lender becomes entitled to all the rights under the Finance Documents which are applicable to the Lenders generally, including but not limited to those relating to the |
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Majority Lenders and those under Clause 5.9 (Market disruption) and Clause 20 (Fees and Expenses), and to the extent that the Transferee Lender becomes entitled to such rights, the Transferor Lender ceases to be entitled to them; and
(g) | in respect of any breach of a warranty, undertaking, condition or other provision of a Finance Document or any misrepresentation made in or in connection with a Finance Document, the Transferee Lender shall be entitled to recover damages by reference to the loss incurred by it as a result of the breach or misrepresentation, irrespective of whether the original Lender would have incurred a loss of that kind or amount. |
The rights and equities of any Borrower or any Security Party referred to above include, but are not limited to, any right of set off and any other kind of cross‑claim.
30.8 | Maintenance of register of Lenders |
During the Security Period the Agent shall maintain a register in which it shall record the name, Commitment, Contribution and administrative details (including the lending office) from time to time of each Lender holding a Transfer Certificate and the effective date (in accordance with Clause 30.4 (Effective Date of Transfer Certificate)) of the Transfer Certificate; and the Agent shall make the register available for inspection by any Lender, the Security Trustee and the Borrowers during normal banking hours, subject to receiving at least 3 Business Days prior notice.
30.9 | Reliance on register of Lenders |
The entries on that register shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive in determining the identities of the Lenders and the amounts of their Commitments and Contributions and the effective dates of Transfer Certificates and may be relied upon by the Agent and the other parties to the Finance Documents for all purposes relating to the Finance Documents.
30.10 | Authorisation of Agent to sign Transfer Certificates |
Each Borrower, the Security Trustee, each Lender and each Swap Bank irrevocably authorise the Agent to sign Transfer Certificates on its behalf.
30.11 | Registration fee |
In respect of any Transfer Certificate, the Agent shall be entitled to recover a registration fee of $5,000 from the Transferor Lender or (at the Agent's option) the Transferee Lender.
30.12 | Sub-participation; subrogation assignment |
(a) | A Lender may sub‑participate all or any part of its rights and/or obligations under or in connection with the Finance Documents without the consent of, or any notice to, any Security Party, the Agent or the Security Trustee and (where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) any Borrower. Where no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing the Borrowers' consent to such sub-participation shall be required, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
(b) | The Lenders may assign, in any manner and terms agreed by the Majority Lenders, the Agent and the Security Trustee, all or any part of those rights to an insurer or surety who has become subrogated to them. |
30.13 | Change of lending office |
A Lender may change its lending office by giving notice to the Agent and the change shall become effective on the later of:
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(a) | the date on which the Agent receives the notice; and |
(b) | the date, if any, specified in the notice as the date on which the change will come into effect. |
30.14 | Notification |
On receiving such a notice, the Agent shall notify the Borrowers, each other Security Party and the Security Trustee; and, until the Agent receives such a notice, it shall be entitled to assume that a Lender is acting through the lending office of which the Agent last had notice.
30.15 | Replacement of Reference Bank |
If any Reference Bank ceases to be a Lender or is unable on a continuing basis to supply quotations for the purposes of Clause 5 (Interest) then, unless the Borrowers, the Agent and the Majority Lenders otherwise agree, the Agent, acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders, and after consulting the Borrowers, shall appoint another bank (whether or not a Lender) to be a replacement Reference Bank; and, when that appointment comes into effect, the first‑mentioned Reference Bank's appointment shall cease to be effective.
30.16 | Security over Lenders' rights |
In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 30 (Transfers and Changes in Lending Offices), each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Borrower or any Security Party, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create a Security Interest in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:
(a) | any charge, assignment or other Security Interest to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and |
(b) | in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security Interest granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities; |
except that no such charge, assignment or Security Interest shall:
(i) | release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or Security Interest for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or |
(ii) | require any payments to be made by any Borrower or any Security Party or grant to any person any more extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents. |
30.17 | Tax indemnity, tax gross-up and increased costs on assignment, transfer and change of lending office |
If:
(a) | a Lender assigns or transfers any rights or obligations under the Finance Documents pursuant to Clause 30.2 (Transfer by a Lender) or changes its lending office; and |
(b) | as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs the Borrowers would be obliged to make a payment to the Transferee Lender or Lender acting through its new lending office under Clause 21.1 (Indemnities regarding borrowing and repayment of Loan) in respect of any tax, Clause 22 (No Set-Off or Tax Deduction) or Clause 28 (Increased Costs), |
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then the Transferee Lender or the Lender acting through its new lending office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Transferor Lender or the Lender acting through its previous lending office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.
30.18 | Replacement of Lender by Borrowers |
The Borrowers may, at any time unless a Potential Event of Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing in respect of:
(a) | a Lender whose costs of funds charged to the Borrowers are (in the Borrowers' reasonable opinion) materially higher than those of the other Lenders generally; |
(b) | a Lender which is a Defaulting Lender; or |
(c) | a Lender which is a Non-Consenting Lender, |
by giving 10 Business Days' notice to the Agent and that Lender (the "Outgoing Lender") replace the Outgoing Lender by requiring it to (and the Outgoing Lender must) transfer in accordance with Clause 30 (Transfers and Changes in Lending Offices) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a Lender or other bank (a "Replacement Lender") selected by the Borrowers and (unless the Agent is an Impaired Agent) which is acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Outgoing Lender's Contribution and all accrued interest, break costs and other amounts payable in relation to that Contribution under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents.
Any transfer of rights and obligations of an Outgoing Lender under this Clause is subject to the following conditions:
(i) | neither the Agent nor the Outgoing Lender will have any obligation to the Borrowers to find a Replacement Lender; |
(ii) | the transfer must take place no later than 10 Business Days after the Borrowers' notice referred to above; |
(iii) | in no event will the Outgoing Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Outgoing Lender under this Agreement and the other Finance Documents; and |
(iv) | the Outgoing Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations under this Clause once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer and the Outgoing Lender shall perform the checks described in this paragraph (iv) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in this Clause and shall notify the Agent and the Borrowers when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks. |
31 | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION |
31.1 | Confidentiality |
Each Creditor Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 31.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) and Clause 31.3 (Disclosure to numbering service providers) and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.
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31.2 | Disclosure of Confidential Information |
Any Creditor Party may disclose:
(a) | to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Creditor Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (a) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information; |
(b) | to any person: |
(i) | to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents or which succeeds (or which may potentially succeed) it as Agent or Security Trustee and, in each case, to any of that person's Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers; |
(ii) | with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Borrowers and to any of that person's Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers; |
(iii) | appointed by any Creditor Party or by a person to whom sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) of paragraph (b) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under paragraph (d) of Clause 24.15 (Relationship with the other Creditor Parties); |
(iv) | who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) of paragraph (b) above; |
(v) | to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation; |
(vi) | to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitrations, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes; |
(vii) | to whom or for whose benefit that Creditor Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 30.16 (Security over Lenders' rights); |
(viii) | who is a Party, a member of the Group or any related entity of a Borrower; |
(ix) | as a result of the registration of any Finance Document as contemplated by any Finance Document or any legal opinion obtained in connection with any Finance Document; or |
(x) | with the consent of the Borrowers; |
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in each case, such Confidential Information as that Creditor Party shall consider appropriate if:
(A) | in relation to sub-paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (b) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information; |
(B) | in relation to sub-paragraph (iv) of paragraph (b) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information; |
(C) | in relation to sub-paragraphs (v) , (vi) and (vii) of paragraph (b) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Creditor Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances; |
(c) | to any person appointed by that Creditor Party or by a person to whom sub-paragraph (i) or (ii) of paragraph (b) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this paragraph (c) if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered in to a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/ Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Borrower and the relevant Creditor Party. |
31.3 | Disclosure to numbering service providers |
(a) | Any Creditor Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Creditor Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Loan and/or one or more Borrowers the following information: |
(i) | names of Borrowers; |
(ii) | country of domicile of Borrowers; |
(iii) | place of incorporation of Borrowers; |
(iv) | date of this Agreement; |
(v) | Clause 38 (Law and Jurisdiction); |
(vi) | the names of the Agent and the Arrangers; |
(vii) | date of each amendment and restatement of this Agreement; |
(viii) | amounts of, and names of, the relevant Loan; |
(ix) | amount of Total Commitments; |
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(x) | currency of the relevant Loan; |
(xi) | type of the relevant Loan; |
(xii) | ranking of the relevant Loan; |
(xiii) | Maturity Date(s) for the Loan; |
(xiv) | changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to sub-paragraphs (i) to (xiii) above; and |
(xv) | such other information agreed between such Creditor Party and the Borrowers, |
to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.
(b) | The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Loan and/or one or more Borrowers by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider. |
(c) | Each Borrower represents that none of the information set out in sub-paragraphs (i) to (xv) of paragraph (a) above is, nor will at any time be, unpublished price-sensitive information. |
31.4 | Entire agreement |
This Clause 31 (Confidential Information) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Creditor Parties under the Finance Documents regarding Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.
31.5 | Inside information |
Each of the Creditor Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Creditor Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.
31.6 | Notification of disclosure |
Each of the Creditor Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Borrowers:
(a) | of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to sub-paragraph (v) of paragraph (b) of Clause 31.2 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and |
(b) | upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 31 (Confidential Information). |
31.7 | Continuing obligations |
The obligations in this Clause 31 (Confidential Information) are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Creditor Party for a period of 12 months from the earlier of:
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(a) | the date on which all amounts payable by the Borrowers under or in connection with this Agreement have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and |
(b) | the date on which such Creditor Party otherwise ceases to be a Creditor Party. |
32 | CONFIDENTIALITY OF FUNDING RATES AND REFERENCE BANK QUOTATIONS |
32.1 | Confidentiality and disclosure |
(a) | The Agent and each Borrower agree to keep each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) below. |
(b) | The Agent may disclose: |
(i) | any Funding Rate (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any Reference Bank Quotation) to the Borrowers pursuant to Clause 5.4 (Notification of rates of interest)); and |
(ii) | any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation to any person appointed by it to provide administration services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents to the extent necessary to enable such service provider to provide those services if the service provider to whom that information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Agent and the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be. |
(c) | The Agent may disclose any Funding Rate or any Reference Bank Quotation, and each Borrower may disclose any Funding Rate, to: |
(i) | any of its Affiliates and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives, if any person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given pursuant to this paragraph (i) is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to it; |
(ii) | any person to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Borrower, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; |
(iii) | any person to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes if the person to whom that Funding Rate or Reference Bank Quotation is to be given is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that it may be price sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of the Agent or the relevant Borrower, as the case may be, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; and |
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(iv) | any person with the consent of the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be. |
(d) | The Agent's obligations in this Clause 32 (Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations) relating to Reference Bank Quotations are without prejudice to its obligations to make notifications under Clause 5.4 (Notification of rates of interest) provided that (other than pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (b) above) the Agent shall not include the details of any individual Reference Bank Quotation as part of any such notification. |
32.2 | Related obligations |
(a) | The Agent and each Borrower acknowledge that each Funding Rate (and, in the case of the Agent, each Reference Bank Quotation) is or may be price sensitive information and that its use may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and the Agent and each Borrower undertake not to use any Funding Rate or, in the case of the Agent, any Reference Bank Quotation for any unlawful purpose. |
(b) | The Agent and each Borrower agree (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the relevant Lender or Reference Bank, as the case may be: |
(i) | of the circumstances of any disclosure made pursuant to sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (c) of Clause 32.1 (Confidentiality and disclosure) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that paragraph during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and |
(ii) | upon becoming aware that any information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 32 (Confidentiality of Funding Rates and Reference Bank Quotations). |
33 | VARIATIONS AND WAIVERS |
33.1 | Variations, waivers etc. by Majority Lenders |
Subject to Clause 33.2 (Variations, waivers etc. requiring agreement of all Lenders), a document shall be effective to vary, waive, suspend or limit any provision of a Finance Document, or any Creditor Party's rights or remedies under such a provision or the general law, only if the document is signed, or specifically agreed to by fax, by the Borrowers, by the Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders, by the Agent and the Security Trustee in their own rights, and, if the document relates to a Finance Document to which a Security Party is party, by that Security Party.
The consent of the Borrowers or any Security Party shall not be required to any amendment or variation to a Finance Document if such amendment or variation does not, in the opinion of the Agent (acting reasonably), materially and adversely affect the rights or interests of the Borrowers or the Security Parties.
33.2 | Variations, waivers etc. requiring agreement of all Lenders |
However, as regards the following, Clause 33.1 (Variations, waivers etc. by Majority Lenders) applies as if the words "by the Agent on behalf of the Majority Lenders" were replaced by the words "by or on behalf of every Lender":
(a) | a reduction in the Margin or change to the definition of LIBOR; |
(b) | a change to the date for, the amount of, any payment of principal, interest, fees, or other sum payable under this Agreement; |
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(c) | a change to any Lender's Commitment; |
(d) | a change to the definition of "Majority Lenders" or "Finance Documents"; |
(e) | a change to the preamble or to Clause 2 (Facility), Clause 3 (Position of the Lenders and Swap Banks), Clause 4 (Drawdown), Clause 5.1 (Payment of normal interest), paragraph (b) of Clause 16.1 (Currency and method of payments), Clause 17 (Application of Receipts), Clause 18 (Application of Earnings) or Clause 38 (Law and Jurisdiction); |
(f) | a change to this Clause 31 (Confidential Information); |
(g) | any release of, or material variation to, a Security Interest, guarantee, indemnity or subordination arrangement set out in a Finance Document; |
(h) | a change to the identity of the Borrowers (or any of them); and |
(i) | any other change or matter as regards which this Agreement or another Finance Document expressly provides that each Lender's consent is required. |
33.3 | Exclusion of other or implied variations |
Except for a document which satisfies the requirements of Clauses 33.1 (Variations, waivers etc. by Majority Lenders) and 33.2 (Variations, waivers etc. requiring agreement of all Lenders), no document, and no act, course of conduct, failure or neglect to act, delay or acquiescence on the part of the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) shall result in the Creditor Parties or any of them (or any person acting on behalf of any of them) being taken to have varied, waived, suspended or limited, or being precluded (permanently or temporarily) from enforcing, relying on or exercising:
(a) | a provision of this Agreement or another Finance Document; or |
(b) | an Event of Default; or |
(c) | a breach by a Borrower or a Security Party of an obligation under a Finance Document or the general law; or |
(d) | any right or remedy conferred by any Finance Document or by the general law; |
and there shall not be implied into any Finance Document any term or condition requiring any such provision to be enforced, or such right or remedy to be exercised, within a certain or reasonable time.
34 | BAIL-IN |
Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding between the parties to a Finance Document, each Party acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any party to a Finance Document under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be subject to Bail-In Action by the relevant Resolution Authority and acknowledges and accepts to be bound by the effect of:
(a) | any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability, including (without limitation): |
(i) | a reduction, in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest) in respect of any such liability; |
(ii) | a conversion of all, or part of, any such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership that may be issued to, or conferred on, it; and |
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(iii) | a cancellation of any such liability; and |
(b) | a variation of any term of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-In Action in relation to any such liability. |
35 | NOTICES |
35.1 | General |
Unless otherwise specifically provided, any notice under or in connection with any Finance Document shall be given by letter or fax and references in the Finance Documents to written notices, notices in writing and notices signed by particular persons shall be construed accordingly.
35.2 | Addresses for communications |
A notice shall be sent:
(a) | to the Borrowers: | de Gerlachekaai 20 B-2000 Antwerp Belgium Fax No: 32 3 247 4409 Attn: Chief Financial Officer |
(b) | to a Lender: | At the address below its name in Schedule 1 (Lenders and Commitments) or (as the case may require) in the relevant Transfer Certificate. |
(c) | to a Swap Bank: | At the address below its name in Schedule 2 (Swap Banks). |
to the Agent and | Essendropsgate 7 | |
(d) | the Security Trustee: | Oslo Norway Loan administration matters: Fax No: (47) 22 48 66 88 Attn: International Loans Administration Credit matters: Fax No: (47) 22 48 44 91 Attn: Shipping, Offshore and Oil Services |
or to such other address as the relevant party may notify the Agent or, if the relevant party is the Agent or the Security Trustee, the Borrowers, the Lenders, the Swap Banks and the Security Parties.
35.3 | Effective date of notices |
Subject to Clauses 35.4 (Service outside business hours) and 35.5 (Illegible notices):
(a) | a notice which is delivered personally or posted shall be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, at the time when it is delivered; |
(b) | a notice which is sent by fax shall be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, 2 hours after its transmission is completed. |
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35.4 | Service outside business hours |
However, if under Clause 35.3 (Effective date of notices) a notice would be deemed to be served:
(a) | on a day which is not a business day in the place of receipt; or |
(b) | on such a business day, but after 5 p.m. local time; |
the notice shall (subject to Clause 35.5 (Illegible notices) be deemed to be served, and shall take effect, at 9 a.m. on the next day which is such a business day.
35.5 | Illegible notices |
Clauses 35.3 (Effective date of notices) and 35.4 (Service outside business hours) do not apply if the recipient of a notice notifies the sender within 1 hour after the time at which the notice would otherwise be deemed to be served that the notice has been received in a form which is illegible in a material respect.
35.6 | Valid notices |
A notice under or in connection with a Finance Document shall not be invalid by reason that its contents or the manner of serving it do not comply with the requirements of this Agreement or, where appropriate, any other Finance Document under which it is served if:
(a) | the failure to serve it in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement or other Finance Document, as the case may be, has not caused any party to suffer any significant loss or prejudice; or |
(b) | in the case of incorrect and/or incomplete contents, it should have been reasonably clear to the party on which the notice was served what the correct or missing particulars should have been. |
35.7 | Electronic communication |
Any communication to be made between the Agent and another Creditor Party or any Borrower under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means (including by way of the Agent's Intralinks system), if the Agent and the relevant Creditor Party or Borrower:
(a) | agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication; |
(b) | 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 |
(c) | notify each other of any change to their respective addresses or any other such information supplied to them. |
Any electronic communication made between the Agent and another Creditor Party or any Borrower will be effective only when actually received in readable form and, in the case of any electronic communication made by a Creditor Party or a Borrower to the Agent, only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent shall specify for this purpose.
All Creditor Parties confirm that they have consented to the use of the Agent's Intralinks systems as an accepted method of communication under or in connection with the Finance Documents and agree that the Intralinks system (or another electronic collaborative website) will be the primary method of communication between the Agent and the other
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Creditor Parties. The Creditor Parties acknowledge that a communication via Intralinks (or such other electronic collaborative website) will be effective once the communication is posted (in a readable form) to Intralinks (or such other electronic collaborative website) by the Agent.
35.8 | English language |
Any notice under or in connection with a Finance Document shall be in English.
35.9 | Meaning of "notice" |
In this Clause 35 (Notices), "notice" includes any demand, consent, authorisation, approval, instruction, waiver or other communication.
36 | JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY |
36.1 | General |
All liabilities and obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement shall, whether expressed to be so or not, be several and, if and to the extent consistent with Clause 36.2 (No impairment of Borrower's obligations), joint.
36.2 | No impairment of Borrower's obligations |
The liabilities and obligations of a Borrower shall not be impaired by:
(a) | this Agreement being or later becoming void, unenforceable or illegal as regards any other Borrower; |
(b) | any Lender or the Security Trustee entering into any rescheduling, refinancing or other arrangement of any kind with any other Borrower; |
(c) | any Lender or the Security Trustee releasing any other Borrower or any Security Interest created by a Finance Document; or |
(d) | any combination of the foregoing. |
36.3 | Principal debtors |
Each Borrower declares that it is and will, throughout the Security Period, remain a principal debtor for all amounts owing under this Agreement and the Finance Documents and no Borrower shall in any circumstances be construed to be a surety for the obligations of any other Borrower under this Agreement.
36.4 | Waiver of rights and defences |
Without limiting the generality of Clause 36.3 (Principal debtors), no Borrower shall be discharged by, nor have any claim against any Creditor Party in respect of:
(a) | any amendment or supplement being made to the Finance Documents or the Master Agreements; |
(b) | any arrangement or concession (including a rescheduling or acceptance of partial payments) relating to, or affecting, the Finance Documents or the Master Agreements; |
(c) | any release or loss of any right or Security Interest created by the Finance Documents or the Master Agreements; |
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(d) | any failure promptly or properly to exercise or enforce any such right or Security Interest, including a failure to realise for its full market value an asset covered by such a Security Interest; or |
any other Finance Document or the Master Agreements or any Security Interest now being or later becoming void, unenforceable, illegal or invalid or otherwise defective for any reason, including a neglect to register it.
36.5 | Subordination |
Subject to Clause 36.6 (Borrower's required action), during the Security Period, no Borrower shall:
(a) | claim any amount which may be due to it from any other Borrower whether in respect of a payment made, or matter arising out of, this Agreement or any Finance Document, or any matter unconnected with this Agreement or any Finance Document; or |
(b) | take or enforce any form of security from any other Borrower for such an amount, or in any other way seek to have recourse in respect of such an amount against any asset of any other Borrower; or |
(c) | set off such an amount against any sum due from it to any other Borrower; or |
(d) | prove or claim for such an amount in any liquidation, administration, arrangement or similar procedure involving any other Borrower or other Security Party; or |
(e) | claim any subrogation or other right in respect of any Finance Document or any Master Agreement or any sum received or recovered by any Creditor Party under a Finance Document or a Master Agreement; or |
(f) | exercise or assert any combination of the foregoing. |
36.6 | Borrower's required action |
If during the Security Period, the Agent, by notice to a Borrower, requires it to take any action referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of 36.5 (Subordination), in relation to any other Borrower, that Borrower shall take that action as soon as practicable after receiving the Agent's notice.
36.7 | Guarantee by Borrowers |
Each Borrower (a "Guaranteeing Borrower") unconditionally and irrevocably:
(a) | guarantees the due payment of all amounts payable by each other Borrower under or in connection with the Master Agreements to which any of the other Borrowers are a party; |
(b) | undertakes to pay to the Security Trustee on the Security Trustee's demand, any such amount which is not paid by such other Borrower when such amount becomes due; |
(c) | undertakes to procure that the other Borrowers shall perform all their other obligations under the Master Agreements to which any of them are a party; and |
(d) | shall fully indemnify the Security Trustee and each Swap Bank on its demand in respect of all claims, expenses, liabilities and losses which are made or brought against or incurred by the Security Trustee or a Swap Bank as a result of or in connection with any obligation or liability of such other Borrowers which are hereby guaranteed being or becoming unenforceable, invalid, void or illegal; and the amount recoverable under this indemnity shall be equal to |
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the amount which the Security Trustee or the Swap Bank would otherwise have been entitled to recover.
36.8 | No limit on number of demands on Borrowers |
The Security Trustee may serve any number of demands under Clause 36.7 (Guarantee by Borrowers).
36.9 | Borrowers as principal and independent debtors |
Each Guaranteeing Borrower shall be liable under this guarantee as a principal and independent debtor and accordingly it shall not have, as regards this guarantee, any of the rights or defences of a surety.
36.10 | Waiver of Borrowers' rights and defences |
Without limiting the generality of Clause 36.9 (Borrowers as principal and independent debtors), no Guaranteeing Borrower shall either be discharged by, or have any claim against the Security Trustee or a Swap Bank in respect of:
(a) | any amendment or supplement being made to a Master Agreement to which any other Borrower is a party; |
(b) | any arrangement or concession (including a rescheduling or acceptance of partial payments) relating to, or affecting any such Master Agreement; |
(c) | any release or loss whatsoever of any right created by any such Master Agreement; |
(d) | the release of any other Security Party from its obligations under any of the Finance Documents or any such Master Agreement; |
(e) | any failure whatsoever promptly or properly to exercise or enforce any such right; or |
(f) | any such Master Agreement now being or later becoming void, unenforceable, illegal or invalid or otherwise defective for any reason. |
36.11 | Invalidity of Master Agreements |
In relation to a Guaranteeing Borrower and in the event of:
(a) | any Master Agreement to which any other Borrower is a party or any provision thereof now being or later becoming void, illegal, unenforceable or otherwise invalid for any reason whatsoever; or |
(b) | a bankruptcy of the other Borrowers (or any of them), the introduction of any law or any other matter resulting in the other Borrowers (or any of them) being discharged from liability under any Master Agreement to which any of them are a party and/or any such Master Agreement ceasing to operate, |
these Clauses 36.7 (Guarantee by Borrowers) and 36.11 (Invalidity of Master Agreements) shall cover any amount which would have been or become payable under or in connection with any Master Agreement to which any other Borrower is a party if such Master Agreement had been and remained entirely valid and enforceable and the relevant Borrower had remained fully liable under it; and references in these Clauses 36.7 (Guarantee by Borrowers) and 36.11 (Invalidity of Master Agreements) to amounts payable by the a Borrower under or in connection with any Master Agreement shall include references to any amount which would have so been or become payable as aforesaid.
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37 | SUPPLEMENTAL |
37.1 | Rights cumulative, non-exclusive |
The rights and remedies which the Finance Documents give to each Creditor Party are:
(a) | cumulative; |
(b) | may be exercised as often as appears expedient; and |
(c) | shall not, unless a Finance Document explicitly and specifically states so, be taken to exclude or limit any right or remedy conferred by any law. |
37.2 | Severability of provisions |
If any provision of a Finance Document is or subsequently becomes void, unenforceable or illegal, that shall not affect the validity, enforceability or legality of the other provisions of that Finance Document or of the provisions of any other Finance Document.
37.3 | Counterparts |
A Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts.
37.4 | 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.
38 | LAW AND JURISDICTION |
38.1 | English law |
This Agreement (other than Clause 3.5 (Security Trustee as joint and several creditor) and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law. Clause 3.5 (Security Trustee as joint and several creditor) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, Belgian law.
38.2 | Exclusive English jurisdiction |
Subject to Clause 38.3 (Choice of forum for the exclusive benefit of the Creditor Parties), the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any Dispute.
38.3 | Choice of forum for the exclusive benefit of the Creditor Parties |
Clause 38.2 (Exclusive English jurisdiction) is for the exclusive benefit of the Creditor Parties, each of which reserves the right:
(a) | to commence proceedings in relation to any Dispute in the courts of any country other than England and which have or claim jurisdiction to that Dispute; and |
(b) | to commence such proceedings in the courts of any such country or countries concurrently with or in addition to proceedings in England or without commencing proceedings in England. |
No Borrower shall commence any proceedings in any country other than England in relation to a Dispute.
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38.4 | Process agent |
Each Borrower irrevocably appoints Euronav (UK) Agencies Limited at its registered office for the time being, presently at 99 King's Road, London, SW3 4PA, England, to act as its agent to receive and accept on its behalf any process or other document relating to any proceedings in the English courts which are connected with this Agreement.
38.5 | Creditor Party rights unaffected |
Nothing in this Clause 38 (Law and Jurisdiction) shall exclude or limit any right which any Creditor Party may have (whether under the law 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.
38.6 | Meaning of "proceedings" |
In this Clause 38 (Law and Jurisdiction), "proceedings" means proceedings of any kind, including an application for a provisional or protective measure and a "Dispute" means any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.
THIS AGREEMENT has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
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SCHEDULE 1
LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS
LENDERS AND COMMITMENTS
Lender | Lending Office | Total Commitment ($) |
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. | Coolsingel 93 3012 AE The Netherlands Credit Matters: Kees Tiemstra Coolsingel 93, GL1610 3012 AE The Netherlands Tel: +31 10 4015192 Fax: +31 10 4015323 Email: kees.tiemstra@nl.abnamro.com Operations/Adminstrations: Peter van Wijk / Martin van den Berg OPS NL Credits / Mid-Office Coolsingel 93, GL0914/GL1610 3012 AE The Netherlands Tel: +31 10 4016254 / +31 10 4016876 Fax: +31 10 4016118 / +31 10 4015323 Email: pieter.van.wijk@nl.abnamro.com / martijn.m.van.den.berg@nl.abnamro.com / loket.leningenadministratie.ccs@nl.abnamro.com | 45,000,000 |
Belfius Bank NV/SA | Boulevard Pacheco 44 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 222 11 11 Credit Matters: Erik De Witte Pachecolaan 44, RT 30/02 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 2 222 66 26 Fax: +32 2 222 23 11 Email: Erik.DeWitte@Belfius.be | 13,750,000 |
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Operations / Administrations Katrien De Schepper / Niek Poppe Pachecolaan 44, RT 20/03 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 222 76 20 / +32 2 222 20 69 Fax: 32 2 222 79 80 Email: loans.corp.specials@belfius.be | ||
BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV | 3, Montagne du Parc/1KA1E, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Geert Sterck Tel: +32 2 656 2355 Fax: +32 2 565 3403 Email: geert.sterck@bnpparibasfortis.com Laura Falzone Tel: +32 2 312 07 30 Fax: +32 2 565 3403 Email: laura.falzone@bnpparibasfortis.com Credit Matters: Hélène Pantalacci 16 Rue de Hanovre, 75078 Paris CEDEX 2 France Tel: +33 (0) 1 58 16 03 97 Fax: +33 1 42 98 61 66 Email: Helene.pantalacci@bnpparibas.com Guy Haesevoets 3, Montagne du Parc/1KB3D, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0) 2 565 8219 Fax: +32 2 565 9593 Email: guy.haesevoets@bnpparibasfortis.com Operations / Administrations: Geert Sterck 3, Montagne du Parc/1KB1A, 1000 Brussels, | 34,000,000 |
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Belgium Tel: +32 2 565 2355 Fax: +32 2 565 3403 Email: geert.sterck@bnpparibasfortis.com Laura Falzone 3, Montagne du Parc/1KB1A, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 312 07 30 Fax: +32 2 565 3403 Email: laura.falzone@bnpparibasfortis.com / bruxelles_bo_export_project_finance.cib@bnpparibasfortis.com | ||
Commonwealth Bank of Australia | Level 2, 1 New Ludgate Hill London EC4M 7AW Telephone:+44 207 7103607 Credit Matters: Simon Baker / Will Barrand Level 2, 1 New Ludgate Hill London EC4M 7AW Telephone:+44 207 7103607 / +44 2077103576 Telefax: N/A E-mail: Simon.Baker2@cba.com.au / William-James.Barrand@cba.com.au Operations/Administrations: Roy Nasse / James Smiles Level 1, 1 New Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7AW Telephone: +44 207 7103930 / +44 207 7103969 E-mail: nasserp@cba.com.au / SMAILEJ@cba.com.au Christopher Black Level 26, Tower 1 201 Sussex Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone:+61 2 9117 1331 | 32,000,000 |
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E-mail: Christopher.Black2@cba.com.au / postdealmanagement@cba.com.au | ||
Danish Ship Finance A/S (Danmarks Skibskredit A/S) | Sankt Annae Plads 3, DK-1250 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel: +45 33 33 93 33 Credit Matters: Morten Müller Sankt Annae Plads 3, DK-1250 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel: +45 33 33 93 33 Fax: +45 33 33 96 66 Email: mul@shipfinance.dk Operations/Administrations: Loan Admin Sankt Annae Plads 3, DK-1250 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel: +45 33 33 93 33 Email: loanadmin@shipfinance.dk | 45,000,000 |
DNB (UK) Limited | 8th Floor, The Walbrook Building, 25 Walbrook, London 8AF Credit Matters Telephone: 0207 621 6010 Telefax: 0207 283 6931 E-mail: Shipping Offshore and Logistics Admin Matters Telephone: 0207 621 6048 Telefax: 0207 283 5935 E-mail: LAD@DNB.no | 45,000,000 |
ING Bank, a branch of ING-DiBa AG | Hamburger Allee1 60486 Frankfurt am Main Tel: +49 69 759 36415 Credit Matters: Alexandra Asche / Alexa Baranj | 45,000,000 |
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Hamburger Allee1 60486 Frankfurt am Main Tel: +4969 759 36415 / 36329 Fax: +49 69 759 36212 E-mail: Alexandra.asche@ing.de / SP_LADMCOLLATERAL@ing-diba.de Operations/administrations: Lending Ops STF Hamburger Allee1 60486 Frankfurt am Main Tel: +49 69 759 36415 Email: SP_CB-DE-ING-Loan_Administration@ing.de | ||
KBC Bank NV | Eiermarkt 20 2000 Antwerpen Belgium Credit Matters: Anja Goris Eiermarkt 20 2000 Antwerpen Belgium Tel: +32 3 202 90 81 Fax: +32 3 202 92 72 Email: anja.goris@kbc.be Operations / Administrations: Credit Administration BR2 Havenlaan 6 1000 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 429 08 20 / +32 2 429 42 76 / +32 2 429 36 95 Email: creditadmin.br2@kbc.be | 23,000,000 |
National Australia Bank Limited | c/o Lending Administration Australia Will Taylor Leval 24, 255 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 Email: NAB.EST.Lending.Administration@nab.com | 23,000,000 |
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.au Telephone: +61 (0) 2 9936 4830 Telefax: +61 1300 652 199 Credit Matters: Simon Wilkinson, Senior Associate Level 25, 255 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: +61 (0) 2 9237 1966 Mobile: +61 (0) 477 322 725 E-mail: simon.wilkinson@nab.com.au Geir Bakkelund, Head of AF&L Asia 12 Marina View, #20-02 Asia Square Tower 2, Singapore 018961 Telephone: +65 6419 6777 Mobile: +65 8111 0451 E-mail: geir.bakkelund@nabasia.com Operations / Administrations: Specialised Transaction Management Lucille Yon / Amy Knowles Level 29, 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Telephone:+61 3 8641 3149 / +61 476 812381 Telefax:+61 1300 652 199 E-mail: Lucille.Yon@nab.com.au Amy.Knowles@nab.com.au Wholesale.Banking.Transaction.Management.Group@nab.com.au Copy to: NAB EST Lending Administration Level 24, 255 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: +61 2 9466 7130 Telefax: +61 1300 652 199 E-mail: NAB.EST.Lending.Administration@nab.com.au | ||
Nordea Bank Norge ASA | Essendropsgate 7 Oslo Norway | 45,000,000 |
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Credit Matters: Tel: +47 22 48 50 00 Fax: +47 22 48 66 68 Attn: Shipping, Offshore and Oil Services Administration Matters: Tel: (47) 22 48 50 00 Fax: (47) 22 48 42 78 Attn: International Loan Administration | ||
Scotiabank Europe plc | 201 Bishopsgate, 6th Floor, London EC2M 3NS, United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7638 5644 Credit Matters: Michael Weinberg / Julien Poisson Scotiabank Europe plc 201 Bishopsgate, 6th Floor, London, EC2M 3NS Telephone: +44 207 826 5893 / +44 207 826 5719 Telefax: +44 207 638 8488 E-mail: michael.weinberg@scotiabank.com / julien.poisson@scotiabank.com Please ensure that David Sparkes (david.sparkes@scotiabank.com) is also copied in on all email correspondence relating to Credit matters. Operations / Administrations: Tony Sposato / Savi Rampat Tel: +44 207 826 5660 Fax: +44 207 826 5666 Email: tony.sposato@scotiabank.com / savi.rampat@scotiabank.com / gwsloansops.uk.gtb@scotiabank.com | 13,750,000 |
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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) | Filipstad Brygge 1, Pb 18473 Vika, 0123 Oslo Tel: + 47 22827000 Credit Matters: Egil Aarrestad (Client Executive) Filipstad Brygge 1, Pb 18473 Vika, 0123 Oslo Norway Tel: +47 22827021 Email: egil.aarrestad@seb.no Cecilie Landberg (Account Manager) Filipstad Brygge 1, Pb 18473 Vika, 0123 Oslo Telephone: +22827105 E-mail: cecilie.landberg@seb.no Operations / Administrations: Structured Credits Operations / Henrik Ekman Risneleden 110, 106 40, Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 (0)8 763 86 07 Email: sco@seb.se / Henrik.ekman@seb.se | 45,000,000 |
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SCHEDULE 2
SWAP BANKS
SWAP BANKS
Swap Bank | Booking Office |
Belfius Bank NV/SA | Pachecolaan 44, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 222 11 11 Credit Matters: Mr Koen Vinck Pachecolaan 44, PA 04/02 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 222 38 47 Fax: +32 2 222 23 11 Email: koen.vinck@belfius.be |
DNB Bank ASA | 8th Floor, The Walbrook Building, 25 Walbrook, London 8AF |
ING Bank N.V. | ING Wholesale Banking/Financial Markets/Corporate Clients/Treasury Dealing Avenue Marnixlaan 24 B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Attn : Kurt Lemaire Tel : +32 2 557 15 71 Fax : +32 2 557 19 72 Email: kurt.lemaire@ing.be |
KBC Bank NV | Havenlaan 2 1080 Brussels Belgium Attn: Mr. Joris Vermeulen Tel: +32 2 417 49 61 |
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Nordea Bank Finland Plc | Aleksanterinkatu 36 (FIN – 00020 NORDEA) 01000 Helsinki Finland |
Scotiabank Europe plc | 201 Bishopsgate, 6th Floor, London EC2M 3NS, United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7638 5644 Credit Matters: Michael Weinberg / Julien Poisson Scotiabank Europe plc 201 Bishopsgate, 6th Floor, London, EC2M 3NS Telephone: +44 207 826 5893 / +44 207 826 5719 Telefax: +44 207 638 8488 E-mail: michael.weinberg@scotiabank.com / julien.poisson@scotiabank.com Please ensure that David Sparkes (david.sparkes@scotiabank.com) is also copied in on all email correspondence relating to Credit matters. Operations / Administrations: Tony Sposato / Savi Rampat Tel: +44 207 826 5660 Fax: +44 207 826 5666 Email: tony.sposato@scotiabank.com / savi.rampat@scotiabank.com / gwsloansops.uk.gtb@scotiabank.com |
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) | Kungstradgardsgatan 8 SE-106 40 Stockholm Sweden Credit Matters: Tel: +47 22 82 70 21 Attn: Egil Aarrestad Administration Matters: Tel: +46 8 763 8551 Fax: +46 8 611 0384 Attn: Structured Credits Operations |
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SCHEDULE 3
DRAWDOWN NOTICE
DRAWDOWN NOTICE
To: Nordea Bank AB (publ), filial i Norge
Essendropsgate 7
Oslo
Norway
Attn: Loans Administration
[l]
DRAWDOWN NOTICE
1 | We refer to the loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") dated [l] 2016 and made between ourselves, as joint and several Borrowers, the Lenders referred to therein, the Swap Banks referred to therein, the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Lead Arranger, Co-Arrangers and Bookrunners referred to therein, yourselves as Co-ordinator, Agent and Security Trustee in connection with a revolving credit facility of US$409,500,000. Terms defined in the Loan Agreement have their defined meanings when used in this Drawdown Notice. |
2 | We request to borrow the Advance as follows: |
(a) | Amount: US$[l]; |
(b) | Drawdown Date: [l]; |
(c) | Duration of the [first] Interest Period shall be [l] months; |
(d) | Payment instructions: account of [l] and numbered [l] with [l] of [l]. |
3 | We represent and warrant that: |
(a) | the representations and warranties in Clause 10 (Representations and Warranties) of the Loan Agreement would remain true and not misleading if repeated on the date of this notice with reference to the circumstances now existing; |
(b) | no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default has occurred or will result from the borrowing of the Advance. |
4 | This notice cannot be revoked without the prior consent of the Majority Lenders. |
[Name of Signatory]
______________________________
for and on behalf of
EURONAV NV
EURONAV SHIPPING NV
EURONAV SHIPPING NV
EURONAV TANKER NV
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SCHEDULE 4
CONDITION PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS
CONDITION PRECEDENT DOCUMENTS
PART A
The following are the documents and fees referred to in Clause 9.1(a).
1 | A duly executed original of this Agreement. |
2 | Copies of the certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents of each Borrower and each Security Party. |
3 | In each case if required for the provisions of the legal opinions referred to in paragraph 11, copies of the resolutions of the directors and shareholders of each Borrower and each Security Party authorising the execution of each of the Finance Documents to which that Borrower or Security Party (as the case may be) is a party. |
4 | The original of any power of attorney under which any Finance Document is to be executed on behalf of a Borrower or Security Party. |
5 | The originals of any mandates or other documents required in connection with the opening or operation of the Earnings Accounts. |
6 | Copies of all consents which any Borrower or Security Party requires to enter into, or make any payment under any Finance Document. |
7 | Documentary evidence that the agent for service of process named in Clause 38 (Law and Jurisdiction) has accepted its appointment. |
8 | The Agent and Lenders have been provided with all information and documentation they have requested in order to carry out and be reasonably satisfied with all necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to satisfy all internal compliance policies of the Agent and the Lenders in relation to "know you customer" requirements. |
9 | The Agent has received all fees pursuant to the Fee letter or letters separately agreed between the Borrowers and the Agent. |
10 | The Agent has received all fees pursuant to the Fee letter or letters separately agreed between the Borrowers and the Co-ordinator. |
11 | Evidence that all other fees, costs and expenses then due from the Borrowers pursuant to Clause 20 (Fees and Expenses) have been paid or will be paid by the Drawdown Date. |
12 | Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of England, Belgium and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require. |
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PART B
The following are the documents referred to in Clause 9.1(b). The "Ship" means the particular First Advance Ship to which the Advance relates and the "Borrower" means the particular Borrower which owns that First Advance Ship.
1 | In respect of the documents delivered by the Borrowers to the Agent pursuant to Part A of this Schedule 4 (Condition Precedent Documents), such other updating documents as the Agent may require (including but not limited to a written confirmation from the Borrowers stating that none of the documents delivered by it to the Agent under Part A of this Schedule 4 (Condition Precedent Documents) have been modified, amended or supplemented, or if any such document has been revoked, attaching a certified copy of any document replacing the one that has been revoked). |
2 | A duly executed original of the Mortgage, the Deed of Covenant (if applicable), the Account Pledge in relation to each Borrower and the General Assignment in relation to the relevant Ship executed on or prior to the relevant Drawdown Date (and of each document required to be delivered by their respective terms). |
3 | Written confirmation from the Borrowers stating that no Long Term Charter has been entered into by it in respect of any Ship. |
4 | In each case if required for the provisions of the legal opinions referred to in paragraph 10, copies of the resolutions of the directors and shareholders of the Borrower authorising the execution of each of the Finance Documents to which the Borrower is a party. |
5 | The original of any power of attorney under which any Finance Document is to be executed on behalf of each Borrower. |
6 | The Agent and Lenders have been provided with all information and documentation they have requested in order to carry out and be reasonably satisfied with all further necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to satisfy all internal compliance policies of the Agent and the Lenders in relation to "know you customer" requirements. |
7 | Documentary evidence that the relevant Ship: |
(a) | is definitively and permanently registered in the name of the Borrower under the relevant Approved Flag; |
(b) | is in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of the Borrower save as contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
(c) | maintains class acceptable to the Agent free of all overdue recommendations and conditions of an Approved Classification Society; |
(d) | the Mortgage in relation to it has been duly registered against that Ship as valid first priority or preferred (as the case may be) ship mortgage in accordance with the laws of the relevant Approved Flag; and |
(e) | it is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and all requirements therein in respect of insurances have been complied with. |
8 | Documents establishing that the Ship will, as from the relevant Drawdown Date, be managed by the Approved Manager on terms acceptable to the Lenders, together with: |
(a) | the Manager's Undertaking in respect of the Ship; and |
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(b) | copies of the relevant Approved Manager's Document of Compliance and of that Ship's Safety Management Certificate (together with any other details of the applicable safety management system which the Agent requires) and ISSC. |
9 | Valuations of each Ship to determine its Fair Market Value, addressed to the Agent and the Lenders, stated to be for the purposes of this Agreement and dated not earlier than the date falling 30 days prior to the date of this Agreement and obtained in accordance with Clause 15 (Security Cover) and showing that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Ships is equal to or greater than 125 per cent. of the Total Commitments. It being understood that the valuation provided by Braemar ACM Valuations Limited dated 19 October 2016 and the valuation provided by Clarksons Valuations Limited dated 14 October 2016 shall be satisfactory. |
10 | Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of England, Belgium, France, Norway and, if a different jurisdiction, the country where the relevant Borrower is incorporated and the country where the Ship is registered and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require. |
11 | A favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant acceptable to the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the relevant Ship as the Agent may require. |
12 | If the Agent so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to above, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Agent. |
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PART C
The following are the documents referred to in Clause 9.1(b). The "Ship" means the particular Second Advance Ship to which the Advance relates.
1 | In respect of the documents delivered by the Borrowers to the Agent pursuant to Part A of this Schedule 4 (Condition Precedent Documents), such other updating documents as the Agent may require (including but not limited to a written confirmation from the Borrowers stating that none of the documents delivered by it to the Agent under Part A of this Schedule 4 (Condition Precedent Documents) have been modified, amended or supplemented, or if any such document has been revoked, attaching a certified copy of any document replacing the one that has been revoked). |
2 | A duly executed original of the Mortgage, the Account Pledge in relation to Borrower A and the General Assignment in relation to the relevant Ship executed on or prior to the relevant Drawdown Date (and of each document required to be delivered by their respective terms). |
3 | Written confirmation from the Borrowers stating that no Long Term Charter has been entered into by it in respect of any Ship. |
4 | In each case if required for the provisions of the legal opinions referred to in paragraph 10, copies of the resolutions of the directors and shareholders of Borrower A authorising the execution of each of the Finance Documents to which Borrower A is a party. |
5 | The original of any power of attorney under which any Finance Document is to be executed on behalf of Borrower A. |
6 | The Agent and Lenders have been provided with all information and documentation they have requested in order to carry out and be reasonably satisfied with all further necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to satisfy all internal compliance policies of the Agent and the Lenders in relation to "know you customer" requirements. |
7 | Documentary evidence that the relevant Ship: |
(a) | is definitively and permanently registered in the name of Borrower A under the relevant Approved Flag; |
(b) | is in the absolute and unencumbered ownership of Borrower A save as contemplated by the Finance Documents; |
(c) | maintains class acceptable to the Agent free of all overdue recommendations and conditions of an Approved Classification Society; |
(d) | the Mortgage in relation to it has been duly registered against that Ship as valid first priority or preferred (as the case may be) ship mortgage in accordance with the laws of the relevant Approved Flag; and |
(e) | it is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and all requirements therein in respect of insurances have been complied with. |
8 | Documents establishing that the Ship will, as from the relevant Drawdown Date, be managed by the Approved Manager on terms acceptable to the Lenders, together with: |
(a) | the Manager's Undertaking in respect of the Ship; and |
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(b) | copies of the relevant Approved Manager's Document of Compliance and of that Ship's Safety Management Certificate (together with any other details of the applicable safety management system which the Agent requires) and ISSC. |
9 | Valuations of each Ship to determine its Fair Market Value, addressed to the Agent and the Lenders, stated to be for the purposes of this Agreement and dated not earlier than the date falling 30 days prior to the date of this Agreement and obtained in accordance with Clause 15 (Security Cover) and showing that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Ships is equal to or greater than 125 per cent. of the Total Commitments. It being understood that the valuation provided by Braemar ACM Valuations Limited dated 19 October 2016 and the valuation provided by Clarksons Valuations Limited dated 14 October 2016 shall be satisfactory. |
10 | Favourable legal opinions from lawyers appointed by the Agent on such matters concerning the laws of England, Belgium, and Norway and, if a different jurisdiction, the country where the relevant Borrower is incorporated and the country where the Ship is registered and such other relevant jurisdictions as the Agent may require. |
11 | A favourable opinion from an independent insurance consultant acceptable to the Agent on such matters relating to the insurances for the relevant Ship as the Agent may require. |
12 | If the Agent so requires, in respect of any of the documents referred to above, a certified English translation prepared by a translator approved by the Agent. |
132
SCHEDULE 5
TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
The Transferor and the Transferee accept exclusive responsibility for ensuring that this Certificate and the transaction to which it relates comply with all legal and regulatory requirements applicable to them respectively.
To: | [Name of Agent] for itself and for and on behalf of each Borrower, each Security Party, the Security Trustee, each Lender, each Swap Bank and each Arranger, as defined in the Loan Agreement referred to below. |
1 | This Certificate relates to a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") dated [l] 2016 and made between (1) Euronav NV, Euronav Shipping NV and Euronav Tankers NV (the "Borrowers"), (2) the banks and financial institutions named therein as Lenders, (3) the banks and financial institutions named therein as Swap Banks, (4) the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Lead Arranger and Co-Arrangers as defined therein, (5) [l], Nordea Bank Norge ASA and [l] as Bookrunners, (6) Nordea Bank Norge ASA as Co-ordinator and Nordea Bank AB (publ), filial i Norge as Agent and Security Trustee for a revolving credit facility of US$409,500,000. |
2 | In this Certificate, terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall, unless the contrary intention appears, have the same meanings and: |
"Relevant Parties" means the Agent, each Borrower, each Security Party, the Security Trustee, each Arranger and each Lender and each Swap Bank;
"Transferor" means [full name] of [lending office]; and
"Transferee" means [full name] of [lending office].
3 | The effective date of this Certificate is [l] Provided that this Certificate shall not come into effect unless it is signed by the Agent on or before that date. |
4 | The Transferor assigns to the Transferee absolutely all rights and interests (present, future or contingent) which the Transferor has as Lender under or by virtue of the Loan Agreement and every other Finance Document in relation to [l] per cent. of its Contribution, which percentage represent $[l]. |
5 | By virtue of this Transfer Certificate and Clause 30 (Transfers and Changes in Lending Offices) of the Loan Agreement, the Transferor is discharged [entirely from its Commitment which amount to $[l] [from [l] per cent. of its Commitment, which percentage represent $[l]], and the Transferee acquires a Commitment of $[l]. |
6 | The Transferee undertakes with the Transferor and each of the Relevant Parties that the Transferee will observe and perform all the obligations under the Finance Documents which Clause 30 (Transfers and Changes in Lending Offices) of the Loan Agreement provides will become binding on it upon this Certificate taking effect. |
7 | The Agent, at the request of the Transferee (which request is hereby made) accepts, for the Agent itself and for and on behalf of every other Relevant Party, this Certificate as a Transfer Certificate taking effect in accordance with Clause 30 (Transfers and Changes in Lending Offices) of the Loan Agreement. |
8 | The Transferor: |
(a) | warrants to the Transferee and each Relevant Party that: |
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(i) | the Transferor has full capacity to enter into this transaction and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents which are required in connection with this transaction; and |
(ii) | this Certificate is valid and binding as regards the Transferor; |
(b) | warrants to the Transferee that the Transferor is absolutely entitled, free of encumbrances, to all the rights and interests covered by the assignment in paragraph 4; and |
(c) | undertakes with the Transferee that the Transferor will, at its own expense, execute any documents which the Transferee reasonably requests for perfecting in any relevant jurisdiction the Transferee's title under this Certificate or for a similar purpose. |
9 | The Transferee: |
(a) | confirms that it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement and each other Finance Document; |
(b) | agrees that it will have no rights of recourse on any ground against either the Transferor, the Agent, the Security Trustee, any Arranger, any Lender or any Swap Bank in the event that: |
(i) | any of the Finance Documents prove to be invalid or ineffective, |
(ii) | any Borrower or any Security Party fails to observe or perform its obligations, or to discharge its liabilities, under any of the Finance Documents; |
(iii) | it proves impossible to realise any asset covered by a Security Interest created by a Finance Document, or the proceeds of such assets are insufficient to discharge the liabilities of any Borrower or Security Party under the Finance Documents; |
(c) | agrees that it will have no rights of recourse on any ground against the Agent, the Security Trustee, any Arranger, any Lender or any Swap Bank in the event that this Certificate proves to be invalid or ineffective; |
(d) | warrants to the Transferor and each Relevant Party that: |
(i) | it has full capacity to enter into this transaction and has taken all corporate action and obtained all consents which it needs to take or obtain in connection with this transaction; and |
(ii) | this Certificate is valid and binding as regards the Transferee; and |
(e) | confirms the accuracy of the administrative details set out below regarding the Transferee. |
10 | The Transferor and the Transferee each undertake with the Agent and the Security Trustee severally, on demand, fully to indemnify the Agent and/or the Security Trustee in respect of any claim, proceeding, liability or expense (including all legal expenses) which they or either of them may incur in connection with this Certificate or any matter arising out of it, except such as are shown to have been mainly and directly caused by the gross and culpable negligence or dishonesty of the Agent's or the Security Trustee's own officers or employees. |
11 | The Transferee shall repay to the Transferor on demand so much of any sum paid by the Transferor under paragraph 10 as exceeds one-half of the amount demanded by the Agent or the Security Trustee in respect of a claim, proceeding, liability or expense which was not reasonably foreseeable at the date of this Certificate; but nothing in this paragraph shall affect the liability of each of the Transferor and the Transferee to the Agent or the Security Trustee for the full amount demanded by it. |
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12 | The Transferee confirms to the Transferor and each of the Creditor Parties that it: |
(a) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Borrower and its related entities in connection with its participation in the Loan and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Transferor or any other Creditor Party in connection with any Finance Document or the Security Interests created by the Finance Documents; and |
(b) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Borrower and its related entities throughout the Security Period. |
13 | The Transferor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to the Transferee for the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded. |
[Name of Transferor] | [Name of Transferee] |
By: | By: |
Date: | Date: |
Agent
Signed for itself and for and on behalf of itself
as Agent and for every other Relevant Party
[Name of Agent]
By:
Date:
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Administrative Details of Transferee
Name of Transferee:
Lending Office:
Contact Person
(Loan Administration Department):
Telephone:
Telex:
Fax:
Contact Person
(Credit Administration Department):
Telephone:
Telex:
Fax:
Account for payments:
Note: | This Transfer Certificate alone may not be sufficient to transfer a proportionate share of the Transferor's interest in the security constituted by the Finance Documents in the Transferor's or Transferee's jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of each Lender to ascertain whether any other documents are required for this purpose. |
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SCHEDULE 6
DETAILS OF SHIPS
DETAILS OF SHIPS
Borrower | Ship name | DWT | Built | Flag |
Borrower A | NECTAR | 307,284 | 2008 | Marshall Islands |
Borrower A | ILMA | 318,477 | 2012 | Belgian |
Borrower A | IRIS | 318,478 | 2012 | Belgian |
Borrower B | NAUTIC | 307,284 | 2008 | Marshall Islands |
Borrower B | SARA | 323,183 | 2011 | French |
Borrower B (to be transferred to Borrower A prior to the Second Advance) | SONIA | 322,000 | 2012 | Belgian |
Borrower B | SANDRA | 323,527 | 2011 | French |
Borrower C (to be transferred to Borrower A prior to the Second Advance) | INGRID | 318,478 | 2012 | Belgian |
Borrower C (to be transferred | NEWTON | 307 284 | 2009 | Belgian |
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to Borrower A prior to the Second Advance) | ||||
Borrower C (to be transferred to Borrower A prior to the Second Advance) | NOBLE | 307,284 | 2008 | Belgian |
Borrower C (to be transferred to Borrower A prior to the Second Advance) | SIMONE | 323,182 | 2012 | Belgian |
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SCHEDULE 7
DESIGNATION NOTICE
DESIGNATION NOTICE
To: Nordea Bank AB (publ), filial i Norge
Essendropsgate 7
Oslo
Norway
[date]
Dear Sirs
Loan Agreement dated [l] 2016 made between (i) Euronav NV, Euronav Shipping NV and Euronav Tankers NV as joint and several Borrowers, (ii) the Lenders as referred to therein, (iii) the Swap Banks as referred to therein, (iv) the Mandated Lead Arrangers, Lead Arranger and the Co-Arrangers as referred to therein and (v) yourselves as Co-ordinator, Agent and Security Trustee for a revolving credit facility of up to US$409,500,000 (the "Loan Agreement")
We refer to:
1 | the Loan Agreement; |
2 | the Master Agreement dated as of [l] made between [l] [and [l]]; and |
3 | a Confirmation delivered pursuant to the said Master Agreement dated [l] and addressed by [l] to [l]. |
In accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, we hereby give you notice of the said Confirmation and hereby confirm that the Transaction evidenced by it will be designated as a "Designated Transaction" for the purposes of the Loan Agreement and the Finance Documents.
Yours faithfully
................................................. | ................................................. |
for and on behalf of | for and on behalf of |
[l] | [SWAP BANK] |
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SCHEDULE 8
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
To: Nordea Bank AB (publ), filial i Norge
Essendropsgate 7
Oslo
Norway
Oslo
Norway
From: Euronav NV
[Date]
OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE
This Certificate is rendered pursuant to clause 11.6(e) of the loan agreement dated [l] 2016 (the "Loan Agreement") and entered into between (i) [l], [l] and [l], as joint and several Borrowers, (ii) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 1 therein as Lenders, (iii) the banks and financial institutions listed in Schedule 2 therein as Swap Banks, (iv) the Mandated Lead Arrangers as referred to therein, (v) the Lead Arranger as referred to therein, (vi) the Co‑Arrangers as referred to therein, (vii) Nordea Bank Norge ASA as Co-ordinator and (viii) Nordea Bank AB (publ), filial i Norge as Agent and Security Trustee, relating to a revolving credit facility of up to US$409,500,000. Words and expressions defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.
I, the Chief Financial Officer of Borrower A, hereby certify that:
1 | Attached to this Certificate [are][is] the latest [audited consolidated accounts of the Group and audited individual accounts of Borrower A for the financial year ending on [l]] [unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Group and the unaudited individual balance sheet of Borrower A in relation to the [first] [second] six months of the financial year ending on [l]] (the "Accounts"). |
2 | Set out below are the respective amounts, in US Dollars, of the Cash, Consolidated Current Assets, Consolidated Current Liabilities, Free Liquid Assets, Stockholders' Equity, Total Assets and Total Indebtedness of the Group as at [l]: |
US Dollars | |
Cash | [l] |
Consolidated Current Assets | [l] |
Consolidated Current Liabilities | [l] |
Free Liquid Assets | [l] |
Stockholders' Equity | [l] |
Total Assets | [l] |
Total Indebtedness | [l] |
3 | Accordingly, as at the date of this Certificate the financial covenants set out in clause 12.5 (Financial Covenants) of the Loan Agreement [are] [are not] complied with, in that as at [l]: |
(a) | Consolidated Working Capital is US$[l]; |
140
(b) | Free Liquid Assets are US$[l]; |
(c) | Cash is US$[l]; and |
(d) | the ratio of Stockholders' Equity to Total Assets is [l] per cent.; |
[or, as the case may be, specify in what respect any of the financial covenants are not complied with.]
4 | As at [l] no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
[or, specify/identify any Event of Default]
The Borrowers are in compliance with clause 15.1 of the Loan Agreement.
[If not, specify this and what is proposed as regards Clause 15.2]
The Fair Market Value of the Ships which are subject to a Mortgage is as follows as at [date]:
Name of Ship | Name of first shipbroker providing valuation | Name of second shipbroker providing valuation | Average market value |
[l] | [l] | [l] | [l] |
…………………………………………
Chief Financial Officer
EURONAV NV
Note: Supporting Schedules to be attached.
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SCHEDULE 9
TIMETABLES
TIMETABLES
LIBOR is fixed | Quotation Date as of 11:00 am London time |
Reference Bank Rate calculated by reference to available quotations in accordance with Clause 5.8 (Calculation of Reference Bank Rate) | Noon on the Quotation Date |
142
EXECUTION PAGES
BORROWERS
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Kathryn Palmer |
) Kathryn Palmer | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
EURONAV NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Kathryn Palmer |
) Kathryn Palmer | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
EURONAV SHIPPING NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Kathryn Palmer |
) Kathryn Palmer | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
EURONAV TANKERS NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
LENDERS
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
BELFIUS BANK NV/SA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
143
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
BNP PARIBAS FORTIS SA/NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S (DANMARKS | ) |
SKIBSKREDIT A/S) | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
DNB (UK) LIMITED | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
ING BANK, a branch of ING DiBa AG | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
KBC BANK NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
144
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Quincy Chan |
) Quincy Chan | |
for and on behalf of | ) Asset Finance and Leasing |
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Christine Teo
Christine Teo
Senior Associate
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
SCOTIABANK EUROPE PLC | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA | ) |
BANKEN AB (PUBL) | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SWAP BANKS
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
BELFIUS BANK NV/SA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
DNB BANK ASA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
145
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
ING BANK N.V. | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
KBC BANK NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
NORDEA BANK FINLAND PLC | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
SCOTIABANK EUROPE PLC | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA | ) |
BANKEN AB (PUBL) | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
MANDATED LEAD ARRANGERS
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
146
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S (DANMARKS | ) |
SKIBSKREDIT A/S) | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
DNB (UK) LIMITED | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
ING BANK, a branch of ING-DiBa AG | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA | ) |
BANKEN AB (PUBL) | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
147
LEAD ARRANGER
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
BNP PARIBAS FORTIS SA/NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
CO-ARRANGERS
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF | ) |
AUSTRALIA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
KBC BANK NV | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Quincy Chan |
) Quincy Chan | |
for and on behalf of | ) Asset Finance and Leasing |
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Christine Teo
Christine Teo
Senior Associate
BOOKRUNNERS
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V. | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
148
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
DANISH SHIP FINANCE A/S (DANMARKS | ) |
SKIBSKREDIT A/S) | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
DNB (UK) LIMITED | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
ING BANK, a branch of ING-DiBa AG | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA | ) |
BANKEN AB (PUBL) | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
149
CO-ORDINATOR
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
NORDEA BANK NORGE ASA | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
AGENT
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL), FILIAL I NORGE | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
SECURITY TRUSTEE
SIGNED by | ) /s/ Philippos Arcoumanis |
) Philippos Arcoumanis | |
for and on behalf of | ) Attorney-in-Fact |
NORDEA BANK AB (PUBL), FILIAL I NORGE | ) |
in the presence of: | ) |
/s/ Emeline Yew
Emeline Yew
Solicitor
London EC2A HB
150