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Exhibit
10.4
EXECUTION
COPY
COLLATERAL AGENCY
AGREEMENT
among
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
in its capacity as Collateral
Agent and Securities Intermediary
SOCIÉTÉ
GÉNÉRALE,
in its capacity as
Administrative Agent
SABINE PASS LNG,
L.P.,
as Borrower
Dated as of February 25,
2005
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER
MATTERS
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1 |
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1.01
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Definitions |
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1 |
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1.02
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Interpretation |
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3 |
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1.03
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Uniform
Commercial Code |
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4 |
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ARTICLE II THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACCOUNTS
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4 |
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2.01
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Collateral Agent |
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4 |
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2.02
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The
Collateral Accounts |
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6 |
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2.03
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Grant of
Lien on Collateral Accounts |
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8 |
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ARTICLE III PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO
COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
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8 |
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3.01
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Permitted
Investments |
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8 |
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3.02
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Withdrawal and Transfer Procedure |
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9 |
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3.03
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Transfer
of Amounts |
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12 |
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3.04
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Trigger
Event |
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12 |
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3.05
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Distribution of Collateral Proceeds |
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13 |
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3.06
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Closing
of Collateral Accounts |
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13 |
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3.07
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Disposition of Collateral Accounts upon Termination
Date |
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14 |
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ARTICLE IV THE COLLATERAL
ACCOUNTS
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14 |
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4.01
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Construction Account and Punchlist Retention
Subaccount |
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14 |
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4.02
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Revenue
Account |
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17 |
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4.03
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Operating
Account |
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20 |
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4.04
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Debt
Service Accrual Account |
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20 |
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4.05
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Debt
Service Reserve Account |
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21 |
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4.06
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Income
Tax Reserve Account |
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21 |
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4.07
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Distribution Account |
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22 |
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4.08
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Insurance
Proceeds Account |
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22 |
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ARTICLE V AGREEMENTS WITH
AGENTS
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27 |
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5.01
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Stamp and
Other Similar Taxes |
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27 |
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5.02
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Filing
Fees, Excise Taxes, Etc. |
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27 |
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ARTICLE VI THE COLLATERAL
AGENT
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28 |
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6.01
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General |
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28 |
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6.02
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Reliance
by the Collateral Agent |
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28 |
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6.03
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Court
Orders |
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29 |
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6.04
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Resignation or Removal |
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29 |
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6.05
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Exculpatory Provisions |
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29 |
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6.06
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Fees;
Expenses |
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30 |
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6.07
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Reports;
Documents |
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31 |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS
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31 |
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7.01
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No
Waiver; Remedies Cumulative |
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31 |
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7.02
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Notices |
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31 |
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7.03
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Amendments |
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31 |
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7.04
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Benefit
of Agreement; Successors and Assigns |
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31 |
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7.05
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Third-Party Beneficiaries |
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32 |
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7.06
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Counterparts |
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32 |
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7.07
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Effectiveness |
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32 |
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7.08
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Entire
Agreement |
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32 |
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7.09
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Severability |
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32 |
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7.10
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Conflict
with Other Agreements |
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32 |
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7.11
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Dealings
With the Borrower |
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33 |
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7.12
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Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury
Trial |
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33 |
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7.13
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Termination |
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33 |
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7.14
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Reinstatement |
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33 |
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7.15
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Attorney-In-Fact |
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34 |
ATTACHMENTS
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SCHEDULE I
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Account
Names and Numbers |
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SCHEDULE II
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Schedule
of Fees |
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EXHIBIT A
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Form of
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate |
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EXHIBIT B
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Form of
Distribution Certificate |
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EXHIBIT C
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Form of
Secured Party Addition Agreement |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
AGREEMENT
COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
(the “ Agreement ”), dated as of February 25,
2005 among SABINE PASS LNG, L.P. , a Delaware limited
partnership (the “ Borrower ”), HSBC BANK
USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as Collateral Agent
(the “ Collateral Agent ”) and Securities
Intermediary (the “ Securities Intermediary ”),
and SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE , in its capacity
as Administrative Agent (the “ Administrative Agent
”).
RECITALS
A. The Borrower has entered
into that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of February 25, 2005
(as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time, the
“ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the
financial institutions from time to time parties thereto
(collectively, “ Lenders ”), HSBC Bank USA,
National Association, as Collateral Agent, and Société
Générale, as Administrative Agent, pursuant to which the
Lenders have agreed to make certain Loans to the Borrower in the
amounts specified and on the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth therein.
B. It is a condition
precedent to the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement that the
parties hereto shall have executed and delivered this
Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW , THEREFORE
, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valid
consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby
expressly acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER
MATTERS
| 1.01 |
Definitions . Unless otherwise defined herein,
terms defined in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement are used
herein (including the introductory paragraph and recitals of this
Agreement) as defined therein. In addition, for purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings: |
“ Agents ”
means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent.
“ Agreement
” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory
paragraph hereof.
“ Capacity
Reservation Fees ” shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in the Omnibus Agreements.
“ Collateral
Accounts ” means the Collateral Accounts set out in
Section 2.02 .
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
“ Committed
Available Amounts ” means (a) cash actually deposited
into the Insurance Proceeds Account or the Construction Account,
respectively, by any Person or (b) irrevocable commitments to
deposit cash into the Insurance Proceeds Account or the
Construction Account, respectively, in the form of cash equity
contributions to the Borrower by such a Person.
“ Construction
Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.02(a)(i) .
“ Construction
Payment Subaccount ” has the meaning assiged to such term
in Section 2.02(a)(x) .
“ Debt Service
Accrual Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 2.02(a)(v) .
“ Debt Service
Reserve Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 2.02(a)(iv) .
“ Depository
Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.03 .
“ Distribution
Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.02(a)(vii) .
“ Distribution
Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the
form of Exhibit B and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 3.02(c)(ii) .
“ Executed
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate ” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.02(b) .
“ Income Tax Reserve
Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.02(a)(vi) .
“ Insurance Proceeds
Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.02(a)(ix) .
“ Monthly Transfer
Date ” means the 26 th day of each month or, if
such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business
Day.
“ Operating
Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.02(a)(iii) .
“ Payment
Instruction ” means an irrevocable written instruction
delivered by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent directing that
either: (a) a wire transfer be made or (b) a check be issued by the
Collateral Agent, in each case from amounts available in cash and
standing to the credit of a Collateral Account, such Payment
Instruction to specify the amount of funds to be transferred and
the Person or account to which such funds are to be transferred,
which information and instructions shall be consistent in all
material respects with that set out in the Executed
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate which transferred such amounts into
such Account.
“ Permitted
Distribution ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.07(b) .
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
“ Punchlist
” has the meaning assigned to such term in the EPC
Contract.
“ Punchlist
Retention Subaccount ” has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.02(a)(ii) .
“ Remedies
Direction ” means a written notice and instruction to the
Collateral Agent from the Administrative Agent (acting on the
direction of the Supermajority Lenders directing the Administrative
Agent) to take the actions specified therein with respect to a
Trigger Event which has occurred and is continuing.
“ Required Accrual
Amount ” means an amount equal to the product of (1)
one-sixth (1/6) of the Debt Service in respect of the Secured
Obligations payable at the next succeeding Semi-Annual Date or
Principal Payment Date (as applicable), multiplied by the number of
months since the next preceding Semi-Annual Date or Principal
Payment Date, as applicable.
“ Restoration
Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.08(b)(iii) .
“ Restoration
Work ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.08(b)(iii) .
“ Revenue
Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.02(a)(viii) .
“ Secured Party
Addition Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit C .
“ Termination
Date ” means the date on which the Secured Parties have
received final and indefeasible payment in full of all Secured
Obligations and all other amounts owing to the Secured Parties
under the Financing Documents.
“ Trigger Event
” means any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement which
is designated as a “Trigger Event” by the
Administrative Agent in writing to the Borrower and the Collateral
Agent.
“ Trigger Event
Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.04(a) .
“ Withdrawal
Date ” means any Monthly Transfer Date or any other date
on which a withdrawal of transfer is to be made from a Collateral
Account.
“
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate ” means a certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit A and delivered by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 3.02 .
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(a) |
Principles of Construction . The principles of
construction and interpretation set forth in Sections 1.02 and 1.03
of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this Agreement as if set
forth herein, mutatis mutandis . |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(b) |
Withdrawals to Occur on a Business Day . In the event
that any withdrawal, transfer or payment to or from any Collateral
Account contemplated under this Agreement shall be required to be
made on a day that is not a Business Day, such withdrawal, transfer
or payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day. |
| 1.03 |
Uniform Commercial Code . As used herein, the
term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect from time to time in the State of New York. All terms
defined in the UCC shall have the respective meanings given to
those terms in the UCC, except where the context otherwise
requires. |
ARTICLE II
THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACCOUNTS
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(a) |
Acceptance of Appointment of the Collateral Agent . The
Collateral Agent is hereby appointed to act as Collateral Agent and
it hereby agrees to act as Collateral Agent under the express terms
of this Agreement. Each of the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Collateral Agent shall act
solely as Collateral Agent under the express terms of this
Agreement. The Collateral Agent is, and shall act as, the
“Securities Intermediary” (within the meaning of
Section 8-102(a)(14)(ii) of the UCC) with respect to the Collateral
Accounts and pursuant to this Agreement. |
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(b) |
Collateral Accounts Established . The Collateral Agent
acknowledges, confirms and agrees that it has established the
Collateral Accounts as set out in Section 2.02(a) , which
shall be maintained in the name of the Borrower but under the
exclusive “control” (within the meaning of Section
8-106(d) of the UCC) of the Collateral Agent at all times until the
termination of this Agreement. |
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(c) |
Confirmation and Agreement . The Collateral Agent
acknowledges, confirms and agrees that, as of the Closing Date and
as of each date on which any Collateral Account is established
pursuant to this Agreement: |
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(i) |
each Collateral Account is a “securities account”
(within the meaning of Section 8-501 of the UCC) in respect of
which the Collateral Agent is a securities intermediary and to the
extent of any cash credited to such Collateral Account is a
“deposit account” (within the meaning of Section 9-102
of the UCC); |
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(ii) |
the Collateral Agent is the “entitlement holder”
(within the meaning of 8-102(a)(7) of the UCC) of all
“security entitlements” (within the meaning of
8-102(a)(17) of the UCC) carried in or credited to the Collateral
Accounts; |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(iii) |
all property delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this
Agreement will be promptly credited to a Collateral
Account; |
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(iv) |
all “financial assets” (within the meaning of
Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC) in registered form or payable to or
to the order of and credited to any Collateral Account shall be
registered in the name of, payable to or to the order of, or
specially endorsed to, the Collateral Agent or in blank, or
credited to another securities account maintained in the name of
the Collateral Agent; |
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(v) |
the Collateral Agent shall promptly comply with all written
instructions (including instructions directing the disposition of
funds or financial assets) and/or “entitlement orders”
(within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(8) of the UCC) originated
by the Administrative Agent with respect to any Collateral Account;
and |
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(vi) |
the Collateral Agent shall not change the name or account
number of any Collateral Account without the prior written consent
of the other Agents and the Borrower. |
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(d) |
Financial Assets Election . The Collateral Agent agrees
that each item of property (whether cash, a security, an instrument
or obligation, share, participation, interest or other property
whatsoever) credited to any Collateral Account shall be treated as
a financial asset under Article 8 of the UCC. |
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(e) |
Entitlement Orders; Control . The parties to this
Agreement hereby agree that until the Collateral Agent’s
obligations under this Agreement shall terminate in accordance with
the terms hereof, the Collateral Agent shall have
“control” (within the meaning of Section 8-106(d) of
the UCC) of the Borrower’s security entitlements with respect
to the financial assets credited to the Collateral
Accounts. |
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(f) |
Degree of Care; Liens . The Collateral Agent shall
exercise the same degree of care in administering the funds held in
the Collateral Accounts and the investments purchased from such
funds in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as the
Collateral Agent exercises in the ordinary course of its day-to-day
business in administering other funds and investments for its own
account and as required by applicable law. The Collateral Agent
shall perform its obligations hereunder in accordance with
generally accepted banking industry standards. The Collateral Agent
is not party to and shall not execute and deliver, or otherwise
become bound by, any agreement under which the Collateral Agent
agrees with any Person to comply with entitlement orders or
instructions originated by such Person relating to any of the
Collateral Accounts or the security entitlements that are the
subject of this Agreement. The Collateral Agent shall not grant or
suffer to exist any lien, pledge or security interest in any
financial asset that is the subject of any security entitlement
that is the subject of this Agreement and shall, if any such lien,
pledge or security interest shall nevertheless be created, cause
the prompt release or discharge of the same. |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(g) |
Subordination of Lien; Waiver of Set-Off . The financial
assets standing to the credit of the Collateral Accounts will not
be subject to deduction, set-off, banker’s lien, or any other
right in favor of any Person other than the Collateral Agent
(except to the extent of returned items and chargebacks either for
uncollected checks or other items of payment and transfers
previously credited to one or more of the Collateral Accounts, and
the Borrower hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to debit the
relevant Collateral Account(s) for such amounts). |
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(h) |
No Other Agreements . Neither the Collateral Agent nor
the Borrower have entered or will enter into any agreement with
respect to any Collateral Account or any security entitlements or
any financial assets carried in or credited to any Collateral
Account, other than this Agreement and the other Financing
Documents. |
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(i) |
Notice of Adverse Claims . The Collateral Agent hereby
represents that, except for the claims and interests of the
Borrower in each of the Collateral Accounts, the Collateral Agent,
as of the Closing Date, has no knowledge of, and has received no
notice of any claim to, or interest in, any Collateral Account or
in any security entitlement or financial asset carried therein or
credited thereto. If any Person asserts any lien (including any
writ, garnishment, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or
similar process) against any Collateral Account or in any security
entitlement or financial asset carried therein or credited thereto
and if the Collateral Agent has notice of such assertion, the
Collateral Agent will promptly notify the other Agents and the
Borrower thereof. |
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(j) |
Rights and Powers of the Collateral Agent . The rights
and powers granted to the Collateral Agent by the Secured Parties
have been granted in order to perfect the lien of the Secured
Parties in the Collateral Accounts and the security entitlements
and financial assets carried therein or credited
thereto. |
| 2.02 |
The Collateral Accounts . |
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(a) |
Establishment of Collateral Accounts . As of the Closing
Date, the Collateral Agent has established the following special,
segregated and irrevocable collateral accounts at its offices
located in New York City bearing the names and account numbers
identified in Schedule I (such accounts, collectively, the
“ Collateral Accounts ”) (each such Collateral
Account being a securities account) each of which shall be
maintained at all times by the Collateral Agent until the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section
7.13 (unless this Agreement otherwise expressly contemplates
closure of such Collateral Account prior to the date of the
termination of this Agreement): |
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(i) |
the Construction Account (the “ Construction
Account ”); |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(ii) |
the Punchlist Retention Subaccount (the “ Punchlist
Retention Subaccount ”), a sub-account of the
Construction Account; |
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(iii) |
the Operating Account (the “ Operating Account
”); |
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(iv) |
the Debt Service Reserve Account (the “ Debt Service
Reserve Account ”); |
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(v) |
the Debt Service Accrual Account (the “ Debt Service
Accrual Account ”); |
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(vi) |
the Income Tax Reserve Account (the “ Income Tax
Reserve Account ”); |
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(vii) |
the Distribution Account (the “ Distribution
Account ”); |
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(viii) |
the Revenue Account (the “ Revenue Account
”); |
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(ix) |
the Insurance Proceeds Account (the “ Insurance
Proceeds Account ”); and |
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(x) |
the Construction Payment Subaccount (the “
Construction Payment Subaccount ”). |
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(b) |
Account Names and Numbers . The names and account
numbers of the Collateral Accounts established hereunder on or
prior to the Closing Date are set out on Schedule I . The
Collateral Agent shall advise the Agent and the Borrower in writing
of the account name and number of any Collateral Account
established hereunder by the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, if
any, after the Closing Date. |
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(c) |
No Other Accounts . The Borrower shall not open or
maintain or cause to be opened or maintained with any bank or other
financial institution any deposit, savings or other account other
than the Collateral Accounts, the account held by the Borrower at
JPMorgan Chase (f/k/a Bank One) with the account name of Sabine
Pass LNG, LP and account number 653519421, provided that such
account shall be closed by the Borrower and the remaining balance
transferred to the Construction Account upon the clearance of all
checks issued in respect of such account as of the Closing Date and
any other accounts expressly permitted by the Financing Documents
or otherwise established with the consent of the Collateral
Agent. |
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(d) |
Collateral Accounts Constitute Collateral . |
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(i) |
Each Collateral Account and all amounts from time to time held
in such Collateral Account shall be subject to the Lien of the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties. |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(ii) |
Each Collateral Account and all amounts from time to time held
in such Collateral Account shall be held in the custody of, and
maintained by the Collateral Agent for the purposes and on the
express terms set out in this Agreement. All such amounts shall
constitute a part of the Depository Collateral and shall not
constitute payment of any Secured Obligations or any other
obligations of the Borrower until expressly applied thereto in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Credit
Agreement. |
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(e) |
Standing Instructions . The Borrower and the
Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably instruct and authorize the
Collateral Agent to deposit funds (promptly upon receipt thereof)
into, and transfer and withdraw funds from, the Collateral Accounts
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other
Financing Documents. |
| 2.03 |
Grant of Lien on Collateral Accounts . As
collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and
performance when due of the Secured Obligations, the Borrower has,
pursuant to the Security Agreement, assigned, granted and pledged
to the Collateral Agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, a security interest in (a) each Collateral Account
and (b) all cash, investments, investment property, securities or
other property at any time on deposit in or credited to any
Collateral Account, including all income or gain earned thereon and
any proceeds thereof (the “ Depository Collateral
”). |
ARTICLE III
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO
COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
| 3.01 |
Permitted Investments . |
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(a) |
Permitted
Investments . Pending the application of funds in accordance
with Articles III and IV , funds held in any
Collateral Account shall be invested and reinvested by the
Collateral Agent upon written direction of the Borrower (which may
be in the form of a standing instruction) only in Permitted
Investments, and with respect to those amounts next anticipated to
be transferred or withdrawn, having a scheduled maturity no later
than such next anticipated cash withdrawal or transfer from such
Collateral Account; provided , however , that: (i)
upon the receipt by the Borrower of notice of a Trigger Event
delivered by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
3.04 and unless otherwise directed therein, or (ii) in the
event of any failure by the Borrower to so direct the Collateral
Agent in writing on or prior to the day on which any funds are (A)
received by the Collateral Agent or (B) transferred between
Collateral Accounts in accordance with this Agreement as to the
investment of such funds, such investments and reinvestments shall
be made by the Collateral Agent in Permitted Investments of the
type referred to in clause (f) of the definition of “
Permitted Investments ”. All funds in a Collateral
Account that are invested pursuant to this Section 3.01(a)
shall be deemed to be held in such Collateral
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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Account for purposes of
this Agreement and the other Financing Documents and shall
constitute part of the Collateral. The Borrower shall bear all risk
of loss of capital from investments in Permitted
Investments.
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(b) |
Liability of Collateral Agent . |
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(i) |
Other than with respect to Permitted Investments required to be
invested by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the proviso in
Section 3.01(a) , the Collateral Agent shall not have any
duty to determine whether any investment or reinvestment of monies
in any Collateral Account satisfies the criteria set out in the
definition of “Permitted Investment”. |
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(ii) |
The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any loss resulting
from any investment in any Permitted Investment or the sale,
disposition, redemption or liquidation of such investment or by
reason of the fact that the proceeds realized in respect of such
sale, disposition, redemption or liquidation were less than that
which might otherwise have been obtained. |
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(c) |
Liquidation to Make Disbursements . If and when cash is
required for the making of any transfer, disbursement or withdrawal
in accordance with Articles III and IV , the Borrower
shall cause Permitted Investments to be sold or otherwise
liquidated into cash (without regard to maturity) as and to the
extent necessary in order to make such transfers, disbursements or
withdrawals required pursuant to Articles III and IV
by giving written notice of such sale or liquidation to the
Collateral Agent. In the event any such investments are redeemed
prior to the maturity thereof, the Collateral Agent shall not be
liable for any loss or penalties relating thereto. |
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(d) |
Income from Investments . The proceeds from the
investment of monies in any Collateral Account in Permitted
Investments shall be deposited by the Collateral Agent into the
Revenue Account on or before the second Business Day following the
month in which such interest, gain or other amount is earned and
received; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, such
proceeds shall consist of interest, gain and other amounts received
in respect of an investment of principal and not the principal
itself. Any interest, gain or other amount of income earned on
Permitted Investments shall be for the account of the Borrower for
income tax purposes. |
| 3.02 |
Withdrawal and Transfer Procedure . |
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(a) |
Maintenance of Funds in Accounts; Withdrawals . Until
withdrawn or transferred pursuant to and in accordance with this
Agreement, any amounts deposited into a Collateral Account (other
than income from investments transferred to the Revenue Account
pursuant to Section 3.01(d) ) shall be held in such
Collateral Account. All withdrawals and transfers from any
Collateral Account shall be made in accordance with the provisions
of Articles III and IV . |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(b) |
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate . Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, the Borrower shall not be entitled to
request withdrawals or transfers of monies from any Collateral
Account without having provided a Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate
authorizing such withdrawal and/or transfer. Withdrawals or
transfers from any Collateral Account (except as otherwise
expressly provided herein) shall be made by the Collateral Agent
following receipt of (and in accordance with) a Withdrawal/Transfer
Certificate signed by the Borrower and countersigned by the
Administrative Agent (an “ Executed Withdrawal/Transfer
Certificate ”). Each Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate
shall request withdrawals and transfers to and from Collateral
Accounts in the amounts, at the times and in the order of priority
set out in Article IV . |
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(c) |
Delivery to Agent and Form of Withdrawal/Transfer
Certificate . On the Funding Date and no later than five
Business Days prior to each Monthly Transfer Date, at least five
Business Days prior to the Final Funding Date, the Borrower shall
deliver for purposes of any withdrawal or transfer on the next
succeeding Withdrawal Date (unless no withdrawal or transfer is
anticipated in respect of such Withdrawal Date): |
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(i) |
to each Agent a Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate signed by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower specifying: |
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(A) |
each Collateral Account from which a withdrawal or transfer is
requested and, in the case of any transfer, the relevant Collateral
Account(s) to which, and/or other Person(s) to whom, such transfer
is to be made; |
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(B) |
the amount requested to be withdrawn or transferred from each
such Collateral Account (and the calculation thereof, if required,
in accordance with the relevant provisions of Article IV
); |
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(C) |
the relevant Withdrawal Date on which such withdrawal or
transfer is to be made; |
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(D) |
the purpose for which the amount so withdrawn or transferred is
to be applied (if not evident from the nature of the payment or
identity of the intended payee); and |
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(E) |
all other information required to be provided in such
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate under, or to evidence compliance
with, the relevant provisions of Articles III and IV
; and |
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(ii) |
to each Agent, in the event that the applicable
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate shall request any transfers,
payments or withdrawals constituting Restricted Payments, a
Distribution Certificate. |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(d) |
Agents’ Review of Certificates; Delivery to Collateral
Agent . |
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(i) |
In the event that, prior to the relevant Withdrawal Date, the
Administrative Agent shall determine that either or both: (A) any
amounts specified in a Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate (or an
amended Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate, as applicable) have been
incorrectly calculated; and/or (B) such Withdrawal/Transfer
Certificate (or an amended Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate, as
applicable) is inconsistent with, or otherwise fails to satisfy the
requirements of, the provisions of this Agreement and the other
Financing Documents, the Administrative Agent shall notify the
Collateral Agent and the Borrower in writing promptly but in no
case later than the third Business Day following the Administrative
Agent’s receipt of such Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and
may either (I) return such Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate (or such
amended certificate, as applicable) to the Borrower with its
determinations noted thereon; or (II) in consultation with the
Borrower, make such corrections as it reasonably deems necessary to
satisfy the requirements of this Agreement. In the event that the
Administrative Agent makes any revisions to a Withdrawal/Transfer
Certificate as described above, it shall promptly provide a copy of
the same, as so revised, to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.
The Administrative Agent and the Borrower will endeavor to agree
and complete the final form Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate (or any
amended or corrected certificate), and deliver such certificate to
the Collateral Agent, no later than the Business Day prior to the
Withdrawal Date to which such certificate relates. |
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(ii) |
The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent each shall
countersign any accepted Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate (or any
amended or corrected Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate, as
applicable) (which acceptance or counter-signature shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), and the Collateral Agent shall
implement such Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate (or such
amended or corrected certificate, as applicable) in accordance with
Section 3.02(e) and the other provisions of this
Agreement. |
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(iii) |
Nothing in this Section 3.02(d) shall preclude any Agent
from consulting with the Borrower, any Secured Party or any
consultant or expert advisor in making its determinations with
respect to the accuracy of any Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate (or
any amended or corrected Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate, as
applicable). |
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(e) |
Implementation of Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate .
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, following receipt
of an Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate, the Collateral
Agent shall pay or transfer the amount(s) specified in such
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate by initiating such payment or
transfer not later than 11:30 a.m. (New York time) on the
Withdrawal Date set out in such Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate for
such payment or transfer |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
(or if such certificate is
not received by the Collateral Agent at least one Business Day
prior to such Withdrawal Date, by 11:30 a.m. (New York time) on the
next succeeding Business Day following delivery of such
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate to the Collateral
Agent).
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(f) |
Failure of the Borrower to Submit Withdrawal/Transfer
Certificate . Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, if at any time the Borrower fails to
timely submit or cause to be timely submitted an Executed
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate to the Collateral Agent for the
withdrawal, transfer or payment of amounts to any Collateral
Account or Person, the Collateral Agent may (but shall not be
obligated to) effect any withdrawal, transfer or payment, as the
case may be, of any amounts then due and payable or required to be
transferred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other
Financing Document. The Collateral Agent shall, as soon as
practicable, provide written notice to the Borrower regarding any
such withdrawals, transfer or payments. |
| 3.03 |
Transfer of Amounts . Amounts improperly or
inadvertently deposited into any Collateral Account shall be
transferred by the Collateral Agent into the correct Collateral
Accounts. Any withdrawals and transfers hereunder shall only be
made to the extent that sufficient funds are then available
(including as Permitted Investments) in the Collateral Account from
which such withdrawal is to be made. |
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(a) |
The Trigger Event Date . Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, on and after receipt by the
Collateral Agent and the Borrower of written notice from the
Administrative Agent that a Trigger Event has occurred and is
continuing (the date of such notice, the “ Trigger Event
Date ”): (i) no transfer or withdrawal of funds from any
Collateral Account shall be requested by the Borrower or
implemented by the Collateral Agent pursuant to any
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate or otherwise, and (ii) such funds
shall be retained in the applicable Collateral Account for
application by the Collateral Agent in accordance with a Remedies
Direction. |
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(b) |
Accounting . Promptly upon receipt of notice of the
occurrence of (but no later than two Business Days after) any
Trigger Event Date, the Collateral Agent shall render an accounting
to the other Agents and the Borrower of all monies in the
Collateral Accounts as of the Trigger Event Date. Such accounting
may be satisfied by delivery to the other Agents and the Borrower
of the most recently available bank statement for such Collateral
Account (including any electronically available statement) and a
transaction or activity report for each Collateral Account covering
the period from the closing date of the last statement through the
delivery date thereof. |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
| 3.05 |
Distribution of Collateral Proceeds . |
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(a) |
Priority of Payments . Upon the occurrence and during
the continuation of a Trigger Event and following delivery of a
Remedies Direction to the Collateral Agent in connection with the
sale, disposition or other realization, collection or recovery of
any amounts in the Collateral Accounts or any other Collateral (or
any portion thereof), the Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds
of such sale, disposition, or other realization, collection or
recovery toward the payment of the Secured Obligations in the
following order of priority: |
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(i) |
first , to any fees, costs, charges and expenses then
due and payable to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent
and the Securities Intermediary under any Financing Document pro
rata based on such respective amounts then due to such
Persons; |
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(ii) |
second , to the respective outstanding fees, costs,
charges and expenses then due and payable to the Secured Parties
under any Financing Document pro rata based on such respective
amounts then due to such Persons; |
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(iii) |
third , to any accrued but unpaid Interest Expense owed
to the Secured Parties on the Secured Obligations pro rata based on
such respective amounts then due to the Secured
Parties; |
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(iv) |
fourth , to the respective overdue principal and other
Debt Service with respect to the Secured Obligations owed to the
Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement, pro rata based on such
respective amounts then due to the Secured Parties; |
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(v) |
fifth , to the unpaid principal and other Debt Service
with respect to the Secured Obligations then due and payable to the
Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement, pro rata based on such
respective amounts then due to the Secured Parties; and |
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(vi) |
sixth , after final payment in full of the amounts
described in this Section 3.05 and the Termination Date
shall have occurred, in accordance with Section 3.07
. |
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(b) |
Borrower Remains Liable for Deficiency . It is
understood that the Borrower shall remain liable to the extent of
any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Depository
Collateral and any other Collateral and the aggregate of the sums
referred to in clauses first through fifth of paragraph (a)
above. |
| 3.06 |
Closing of Collateral Accounts . At any point
prior to the Termination Date and subject to the other terms and
conditions of this Agreement, if the Borrower requests in writing
(and the Administrative Agent consents thereto in writing) at any
time after the date on which a Collateral Account is no longer
intended to be utilized pursuant to this Agreement that such
Collateral Account be closed, the Administrative Agent shall
direct |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
the Collateral Agent to close
such Collateral Account and transfer any amount standing to the
credit of that Collateral Account (together with any accrued
interest or profit on or income from such amount) to the Revenue
Account for application pursuant to Section 4.02(b)
.
| 3.07 |
Disposition of Collateral Accounts upon Termination
Date . Upon the Termination Date, the Collateral Agent
shall pay any sums remaining in the Collateral Accounts to the
order of the Borrower or as otherwise required by applicable law
upon receipt of a certificate of an authorized officer of the
Borrower certifying that the Termination Date has occurred, which
certificate shall be acknowledged by the Administrative Agent and
the Collateral Agent (which acknowledgement shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
ARTICLE IV
THE COLLATERAL
ACCOUNTS
| 4.01 |
Construction Account and Punchlist Retention
Subaccount . |
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(a) |
Deposits to Construction Account . The following amounts
shall be deposited into the Construction Account: |
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(i) |
the Equity Contribution Amount; |
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(ii) |
the proceeds of all Loans made pursuant to the Credit Agreement
(other than Loans used to pay Debt Service, which amounts shall be
advanced directly to the Secured Parties entitled
thereto); |
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(iii) |
Capacity Reservation Fees payable pursuant to the Omnibus
Agreements received between the Closing Date and the Final Funding
Date; |
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(iv) |
each other contribution by any Person prior to the Term
Conversion Date for the purposes of paying Project Costs;
and |
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(v) |
deposits from the Revenue Account pursuant to Section
4.02(b)(ii) below. |
If any such amounts are
remitted to the Borrower, the Borrower shall hold such amounts in
trust for the Collateral Agent and shall, as promptly as possible
after the receipt thereof, remit such amounts to the Collateral
Agent for deposit in the Construction Account, with any necessary
endorsements.
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(b) |
Transfers or Payments from the Construction Account Prior to
the Final Funding Date . Prior to the Final Funding Date, on
each Monthly Transfer Date, subject to Section 3.05 , the
Collateral Agent shall, provided that it has received an
Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in relation thereto, make
the following withdrawals and transfers of amounts to the extent
then available in the Construction Account as specified in and in
accordance with such Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in
the following order of priority: |
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(i) |
First , to the account of the EPC Contractor or such
other Person or account specified therein, the amounts specified in
the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and certified therein
to be equal to the Project Costs then due and payable; |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(ii) |
Second , after making the withdrawal and transfer above,
to the Construction Payment Subaccount, the amounts specified in
the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and certified therein
to be equal to the Project Costs due and payable within a 30-day
period from the Withdrawal Date; |
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(iii) |
Third , on each Monthly Transfer Date prior to the Term
Conversion Date, after making the withdrawals and transfers above,
to the Operating Account an amount set forth on the Executed
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate (without duplication of any amounts
transferred pursuant to Section 4.02(b)(i)) and certified therein
to be equal to the Operation and Maintenance Expenses then due and
payable or to become due and payable within the next 30 days, net
of any surplus remaining in the Operating Account from prior
deposit of funds therein; |
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(iv) |
Fourth , after making the withdrawals and transfers
above, to pay to each Secured Party entitled thereto, all Debt
Service and all fees, costs, indemnities and expenses then due and
payable to such Person pursuant to the Financing Documents;
and |
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(v) |
Fifth , after making the withdrawals and transfers
above, on the Funding Date, to the Pledgors an amount equal to the
portion of Project Costs reasonably expended by or on behalf of the
Borrower in excess of the Equity Contribution Amount (including any
Estimated Amounts). |
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(c) |
Transfers or Payments from the Construction Account on and
after the Final Funding Date . Subject to Section 3.05 ,
on the Final Funding Date and, in the case of transfers pursuant to
clause first , on each Monthly Transfer Date thereafter, the
Collateral Agent shall, provided that it has received an
Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in relation thereto, make
the following withdrawals and transfers of amounts to the extent
then available in the Construction Account as specified in and in
accordance with such Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in
the following order of priority: |
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(i) |
First , if applicable, to the account of the EPC
Contractor or such other Person or account specified therein the
amounts specified in the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate
and certified therein to be equal to the Project Costs then due and
payable; |
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(ii) |
Second , after making the withdrawal and transfer above,
to the Construction Payment Subaccount, the amounts specified in
the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and certified therein
to be equal to the Project Costs due and payable on or prior to
Final Completion; |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(iii) |
Third , after making the withdrawals and transfers
above, if applicable, to the Punchlist Retention Subaccount an
amount specified in the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate
and certified therein to be equal to the total cost of the
Punchlist items as notified by the EPC Contractor to the Borrower
pursuant to Section 11.6B of the EPC Contract; |
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(iv) |
Fourth , after making the withdrawals and transfers
above, to pay to each Secured Party entitled thereto, all fees,
costs, indemnities and expenses then due and payable to such Person
pursuant to the Financing Documents; |
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(v) |
Fifth , after making each applicable withdrawal and
transfer above, to the Debt Service Reserve Account, an amount
necessary such that the balance in the Debt Service Reserve Account
is equal to the Required Debt Service Reserve Amount;
and |
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(vi) |
Sixth , after making each applicable withdrawal and
transfer above, any remaining amounts to the Pledgors until the
Debt to Equity ratio, after giving effect to the aggregate
borrowings pursuant to the Credit Agreement, is no greater than
80:20, and thereafter to the Pledgors and the Secured Parties (for
application to the principal amount of the Secured Obligations) in
such proportion as to maintain a Debt to Equity ratio of no greater
than 80:20. |
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(d) |
Construction Payment Subaccount . Subject to Section
3.05 , all amounts from time to time on deposit in the
Construction Payment Subaccount shall be available at all times to
the Borrower to be applied solely for the payment when due of
Project Costs. Upon the receipt of a Payment Instruction, the
Collateral Agent shall transfer funds from the Construction Payment
Subaccount on the date (provided that the date specified for
payment must be at least one (1) Business Day following receipt by
the Collateral Agent), in the amount and to the Person or account
specified therein. |
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(e) |
Punchlist Retention Subaccount . Subject to Section
3.05 , funds on deposit in the Punchlist Retention Subaccount
may be withdrawn by the Borrower at any time upon delivery to the
Collateral Agent of an Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate to
be applied in payment of all costs in connection with completion of
the Punchlist items to be completed under the EPC Contract after
the Final Funding Date. |
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(f) |
Excess Amounts . Upon Final Completion pursuant to the
EPC Contract, any amount remaining in the Construction Account,
Construction Payment Subaccount or the Punchlist Retention
Subaccount shall be transferred by the Collateral Agent upon
receipt of an Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate to the
Revenue Account for application as set forth in Section 4.02
. |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(g) |
Capacity Reservation Fees . Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 4.01 , all Capacity
Reservation Fees received by the Collateral Agent from the Funding
Date to the Final Funding Date, shall be transferred to the
Distribution Account. |
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(a) |
Deposits to the Revenue Account . The Borrower shall or
shall cause the following amounts to be deposited in the Revenue
Account: |
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(i) |
all Project Revenues received at any time by or on behalf of
the Borrower; |
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(ii) |
the proceeds of all Permitted Indebtedness other than the Loans
under the Credit Agreement; and |
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(iii) |
all other amounts received at any time by or on behalf of the
Borrower (including, without limitation, all payments in respect of
Permitted Swap Agreements and all proceeds of Collateral received
by the Collateral Agent pursuant to an exercise of remedies in
accordance with the Financing Documents). |
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that any such payments, proceeds or other
amounts constituting Project Revenues are received by the Borrower,
the Borrower shall promptly pay, endorse, transfer and deliver the
same to the Collateral Agent for deposit to the Revenue Account,
and, until such delivery, the Borrower shall hold such payments and
other amounts in trust for the Collateral Agent.
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(b) |
Transfers and Payments from the Revenue Account Prior to the
Term Conversion Date . Prior to the Term Conversion Date, on
each Monthly Transfer Date, the Collateral Agent shall, subject to
Section 3.05 , provided that it has received an
Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in relation thereto and in
each case without duplication of any amount transferred pursuant to
Section 4.01(b) , make the following withdrawals and
transfers of amounts to the extent then available in the Revenue
Account, as specified and in accordance with such Executed
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in the following order of
priority: |
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(i) |
First , to the Operating Account an amount set forth on
the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and certified therein
to be equal to the amount necessary to pay Operation and
Maintenance Expenses then due and payable; |
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(ii) |
Second
, after making the withdrawal and transfer above, to the
Construction Payment Subaccount Account to pay any Project Costs in
an amount set forth on the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate
and
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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certified therein to be
equal to Project Costs due or to become due and payable in the next
succeeding 30-day period and not otherwise funded from the
Construction Account pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(i)
;
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(iii) |
Third , after making each applicable withdrawal and
transfer above, to pay each Secured Party entitled thereto, all
Debt Service and all fees, costs, indemnities and expenses then due
and payable to such Person pursuant to the Financing Documents and
not otherwise funded from the Construction Account pursuant to
Section 4.01(b)(iv); and |
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(iv) |
Fourth , after making each applicable withdrawals and
transfers above, to the Punchlist Retention Subaccount, an amount,
if any, set forth on the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate
and certified therein to be equal to the difference between the
proceeds of the final Loan under the Credit Agreement and the cost
of Punchlist items notified by the EPC Contractor to the Borrower
pursuant to Section 11.6B of the EPC Contract; |
provided , that in the
case of paragraphs (ii) and (iv) above, the Borrower shall have (a)
delivered to the Independent Engineer and the Administrative Agent
all invoices in relation thereto, and (b) received written approval
of the Administrative Agent (acting in consultation with the
Independent Engineer) for such withdrawal and transfer.
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(c) |
Withdrawals from the Revenue Account following the Term
Conversion Date . Subject to Section 3.05 , on each
Monthly Transfer Date on or following the Term Conversion Date, the
Collateral Agent shall, provided that it has received an
Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in relation thereto, make
the following withdrawals and transfers of amounts to the extent
then available in the Revenue Account, as specified in and in
accordance with such Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate in
the following order of priority: |
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(i) |
First , to the Operating Account an amount set forth on
the Executed Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and certified therein
to be equal to the Operation and Maintenance Expenses then due and
payable or to become due and payable within the next 30 days, net
of any surplus remaining in the Operating Account from prior
deposits of funds therein; |
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(ii) |
Second , after making the withdrawal and transfer above,
to the Borrower in an amount set forth on the Executed
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and certified therein to be equal
to any Emergency Capital Expenditures, provided , that the
Borrower may request withdrawals from the Revenue Account for the
purposes of making Emergency Capital Expenditures on any date other
than a Monthly Transfer Date upon delivery of an Executed
Withdrawal/Transfer Certificate and receipt of the written approval
of the Agent and the Independent Engineer; |
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COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT |
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(iii) |
Third , after making each applicable withdrawal and
transfer above, to each Secured Party entitled thereto, all fees,
costs, indemnities and expenses and unscheduled payments (other
than prepayments of principal (and interest thereon) of Loans) then
due and payable to such Person in accordance with the terms of the
Financing Documents; |
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(iv) |
Fourth , after making each applicable withdrawal and
transfer above, to the Debt Ser |
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