EXHIBIT 10.48
EXECUTION VERSION
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN
OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
PURSUANT TO RULE 24B-2 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS
AMENDED. THE OMITTED CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION APPEARS ON EIGHT
(8) PAGES OF THIS EXHIBIT
LOAN AGREEMENT
[N330AT]
dated as of August 31,
2006
among
A IR T
RAN A IRWAYS ,
I NC ., as Borrower,
T HE P
ARTIES I DENTIFIED IN S
CHEDULE 1 HERETO AS L
ENDERS , as Lenders,
and
T HE R
OYAL B ANK OF S
COTLAND PLC N EW
Y ORK B RANCH , as
Security Agent
One (1) Boeing model 737-7BD
aircraft
equipped with
Two (2) CFM International model CFM56-7B20
engines
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1.
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DEFINITIONS
AND CONSTRUCTION
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1
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2.
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SECURED
LOANS; CLOSING
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1
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2.1
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M AKING OF L
OANS ; I SSUANCE OF E
QUIPMENT N OTES .
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1
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2.2
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P ROCEDURE FOR F UNDING OF S
ECURED L OANS .
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2
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2.3
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T ERMS OF R
EPAYMENT .
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4
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2.4
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C LOSING .
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5
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2.5
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C OMMITMENT T ERMINATION .
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6
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2.6
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N O W
INGLET N OTICE .
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6
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2.7
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P RO R
ATA T REATMENT AND P AYMENTS .
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7
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2.8
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U SE OF
P ROCEEDS .
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7
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3.
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CLOSING
CONDITIONS
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7
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3.1
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C ONDITIONS TO EACH L ENDER ’ S O
BLIGATIONS .
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7
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3.2
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C ONDITIONS TO B
ORROWER ’ S O
BLIGATIONS .
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11
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3.3
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P OST -R EGISTRATION O PINION .
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11
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4.
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FEES, COSTS,
FIXED RATE OPTION AND ILLEGALITY
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11
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4.1
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T RANSACTION E XPENSES .
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11
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4.2
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[I NTENTIONALLY O MITTED ].
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11
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4.3
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C OMMITMENT F EE
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11
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4.4
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I NCREASED C OSTS /C APITAL A DEQUACY
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12
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4.5
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F IXED R ATE O PTION .
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14
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4.6
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P AST D UE
I NTEREST .
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15
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4.7
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I LLEGALITY .
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16
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4.8
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C LEAR M ARKET .
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16
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5.
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
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16
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5.1
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B ORROWER ’ S R
EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES .
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16
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5.2
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L ENDER ’ S R
EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES .
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20
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6.
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CERTAIN
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES.
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20
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6.1
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B ORROWER C OVENANTS .
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20
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6.2
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M ERGER OF B
ORROWER .
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23
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6.3
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L ENDER C OVENANTS .
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24
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6.4
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S ECURITY A GENT C OVENANTS .
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25
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7.
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ASSIGNMENT
OR TRANSFER OF INTEREST; SALE-LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS; JUNIOR LOANS;
TERMINATION OF CROSS-COLLATERALIZATION AND
CROSS-DEFAULT
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7.1
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L ENDERS .
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7.2
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E FFECT OF T
RANSFER ; C OSTS .
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7.3
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J UNIOR L OANS .
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27
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7.4
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S ALE -L EASEBACK T RANSACTION .
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28
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7.5
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T ERMINATION OF C
ROSS -C OLLATERALIZATION AND C ROSS -D EFAULTS .
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29
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8.
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CONFIDENTIALITY
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30
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9.
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INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSES
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30
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9.1
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G ENERAL I NDEMNITY .
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30
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9.2
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E XPENSES .
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35
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9.3
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G ENERAL T AX
I NDEMNITY .
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35
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9.4
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P AYMENTS .
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45
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9.5
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I
NTEREST .
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46
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9.6
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B
ENEFIT OF I
NDEMNITIES .
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46
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10.
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S
ECURITY A GENT .
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46
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10.1
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A
PPOINTMENT AND P OWERS .
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46
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10.2
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L
IMITATION ON S
ECURITY A GENT ’ S L
IABILITY .
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47
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10.3
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R
IGHTS AS L
ENDER .
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47
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10.4
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I
NDEMNIFICATION .
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48
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10.5
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N
ON - RELIANCE ON S
ECURITY A GENT AND OTHER L ENDERS .
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48
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10.6
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S
UCCESSOR S ECURITY A GENT .
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48
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10.7
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N
OTICE OF D
EFAULT .
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50
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10.8
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I
NSTRUCTIONS FROM A M
AJORITY IN I
NTEREST OF L
ENDERS .
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50
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10.9
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R
EPORTS , N OTICES , ETC .
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50
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11.
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M
ISCELLANEOUS
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50
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11.1
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A
MENDMENTS .
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50
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11.2
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S
EVERABILITY .
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11.3
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S
URVIVAL .
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11.4
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R
EPRODUCTION OF D
OCUMENTS .
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11.5
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C
OUNTERPARTS .
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52
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11.6
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N
O W AIVER .
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52
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11.7
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N
OTICES .
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52
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11.8
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G
OVERNING L AW
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11.9
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S
UBMISSION TO J
URISDICTION ; W AIVERS .
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53
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11.10
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T
HIRD -P ARTY B ENEFICIARY .
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53
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11.11
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E
NTIRE A GREEMENT .
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54
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11.12
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A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS .
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54
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11.13
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F
URTHER A SSURANCES .
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54
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11.14
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S
ECTION 1110.
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54
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11.15
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A
DJUSTMENTS ; S ET -O FF .
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54
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11.16
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S
UCCESSORS AND A SSIGNS .
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55
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11.17
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W
AIVERS OF J
URY T RIAL .
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11.18
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R
EGISTRATIONS WITH I NTERNATIONAL R EGISTRY .
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56
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ANNEX A – D
EFINITIONS
EXHIBIT A – F
ORM OF M ORTGAGE
EXHIBIT B – F
ORM OF D RAWDOWN N OTICE
EXHIBIT C – F
ORM OF T RANSFER A GREEMENT
EXHIBIT D – F
ORM OF C ONSENT AND A GREEMENT
EXHIBIT E – F
ORM OF E NGINE C ONSENT AND A GREEMENT
EXHIBIT F – F
ORM OF GEES
A CKNOWLEDGMENT
AND A GREEMENT
SCHEDULE 1 – A
CCOUNTS A DDRESSES
SCHEDULE 2 – C
OMMITMENTS ; T RANSACTION E XPENSES
SCHEDULE 3 – P
ERMITTED C OUNTRIES
ii
LOAN AGREEMENT
[N330AT]
T HIS L OAN A GREEMENT [N330AT] (this “Agreement”) is
entered into as of August 31, 2006 among (a) A
IR T RAN A IRWAYS ,
I NC . (“Borrower”), a Delaware
corporation, (b) T HE P
ARTIES I DENTIFIED IN S
CHEDULE 1 HERETO AS L
ENDERS (the “Lenders”) and
(c) T HE
R OYAL B ANK OF S
COTLAND PLC N EW
Y ORK B RANCH , as
agent for the Lenders (the “Security
Agent”).
RECITALS
A. Borrower and Airframe
Manufacturer have entered into the Purchase Agreement, pursuant to
which Airframe Manufacturer agreed to manufacture and sell to
Borrower, and Borrower agreed to purchase and take delivery of,
among other things, one (1) Boeing model 737-7BD aircraft
bearing manufacturer’s serial number 33935 and equipped with
two (2) CFM International model CFM56-7B20 engines (the
“Aircraft”).
B. To enable Borrower to purchase
and take delivery of the Aircraft on the Delivery Date, Borrower
desires to borrow from Lenders, and Lenders desire to lend to
Borrower, a portion of the purchase price of the
Aircraft.
C. The parties to this Agreement
wish to set forth in this Agreement the terms and conditions upon
and subject to which the foregoing transactions shall be
effected.
The parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. D EFINITIONS AND C ONSTRUCTION
The terms defined in Annex A, when
capitalized as in Annex A, have the same meanings when used in this
Agreement. Annex A also contains rules of usage that control
construction in this Agreement.
2. S ECURED L OANS ; C LOSING
2.1 Making of Loans; Issuance of
Equipment Notes .
Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, on the Delivery Date (the “Closing
Date”):
(a) each Lender agrees to make a
secured loan to Borrower in an amount not to exceed such
Lender’s Commitment; and
(b) pursuant to Article 2 of the
Mortgage, Borrower shall issue an Equipment Note to each Lender
making such loan, dated the Closing Date, for an aggregate
principal amount equal to the amount of the secured loan made by
such Lender.
If any Lender shall default in its
obligation to make the amount of its Commitment available pursuant
to this Article 2, except as provided below in this
Section 2.1 with respect to RBS, no other Lender shall have an
obligation to increase the amount of its Commitment and,
1
notwithstanding the further provisions of this
paragraph, the obligations of the non-defaulting Lenders shall
remain subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. If a Lender to whom RBS has transferred its Commitment
in whole or in part pursuant to Section 7.1 without the
consent of Borrower fails to perform its obligation to make a
secured loan on the Closing Date, RBS shall be obligated to make an
additional secured loan on the Closing Date in an amount equal to
the amount of the secured loan that such Lender was so obligated
to, but did not, make. In the event that the preceding sentence is
applicable and RBS is obligated to make an additional secured loan,
the Commitment of RBS shall be increased by the amount of such
additional secured loan, and the Commitment of the affected Lender
shall be reduced by an equivalent amount, effective on the Closing
Date. In the circumstances of the second preceding sentence, such
Lender shall be liable to RBS (but not the Borrower) for any
damages attributable to its failure to make the secured loan in
question which was made, instead, by RBS.
2.2 Procedure for Funding of
Secured Loans .
(a) Notice of Scheduled Delivery
Date . Borrower agrees to give each Lender written notice or
telephonic notice (to be confirmed promptly in writing) of the date
the Aircraft is scheduled to be delivered (the “Scheduled
Delivery Date”) so that such notice is received by each
Lender not later than 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on the tenth
(10th) day prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date. Borrower
undertakes to promptly notify each Lender of any amendment or
change in the Scheduled Delivery Date.
(b) Drawdown Notice . No
later than 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on the fourth
(4th) Business Day prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date,
Borrower shall deliver to Security Agent on behalf of each Lender
the Drawdown Notice, receipt of which shall, subject to the
conditions contained in this Agreement, oblige Borrower to borrow
an amount equal to the aggregate Commitment (or such lesser amount
specified in such Drawdown Notice) on the date stated and on the
terms herein contained.
(c) Amortization Schedule .
No later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day
prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date, Security Agent shall deliver
the amortization schedule for the Aircraft to Borrower and Borrower
shall no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such day
deliver written confirmation of such amortization schedule to
Security Agent. In the event a Postponement Notice is delivered
pursuant to Section 2.2(e), Security Agent shall deliver to
Borrower by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day
prior to the date to which the Scheduled Delivery Date is so
postponed or as promptly as practicable thereafter, an amortization
schedule reflecting the postponed Scheduled Delivery Date for the
Aircraft and Borrower shall deliver by 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on such day or as promptly as practicable thereafter, written
confirmation of such schedule to Security Agent.
(d) Prospective International
Interest. Prior to the Scheduled Delivery Date, a Prospective
International Interest in the Airframe and Engines constituted by
the Mortgage shall have been duly registered on the International
Registry.
(e) Disbursement of Funds .
Each Lender agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, to make its Commitment available for disbursement to
or
2
on behalf of Borrower, in each case
in immediately available funds by 12:00 Noon, New York City time,
on the Scheduled Delivery Date in the amount set out in the
Drawdown Notice. In order to facilitate the timely closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby, Borrower, by delivery of the
Drawdown Notice to Security Agent, instructs, subject to its rights
to postpone under Section 2.2(e) below, the Lenders to wire
transfer (for receipt by no later than 12:00 Noon New York City
time) on the Scheduled Delivery Date its Commitment by the wiring
of immediately available funds to the account of Security Agent
specified in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Account”). The
funds so paid by each Lender (the “Deposit”) into the
Account are to be held by Security Agent for the account of such
Lender. Upon the fulfillment or waiver of the conditions precedent
set forth in Article 3 hereof, such Lender shall instruct Security
Agent to disburse the Deposit for application of its Commitment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Postponement Notice postponing
the Scheduled Delivery Date shall have been received by Security
Agent by 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day
preceding the postponed Scheduled Delivery Date and if a Lender has
not already wired its Commitment to the Account, (i) such
Lender shall not make its Commitment available for disbursement on
the postponed Scheduled Delivery Date and (ii) each such
Lender shall cancel, terminate or otherwise unwind its funding
arrangements made in the London interbank market to fund its
Commitment on the Scheduled Delivery Date, subject, however, to
such Lender’s continuing commitment to fund as provided
herein.
(f) Postponement of Scheduled
Delivery Date .
(1) Borrower may change or postpone
(indefinitely, or to a specified date) the Scheduled Delivery Date
by telephonic notice (to be confirmed promptly in writing) to
Security Agent, provided such notice (specifying the new Delivery
Date, if any) is received by Security Agent not later than 3:30
p.m. on such Scheduled Delivery Date being postponed (the
“Postponement Notice”). Such revised Scheduled Delivery
Date shall be deemed the “Scheduled Delivery Date” for
all purposes of the Operative Agreements.
(2) If the Scheduled Delivery Date
is postponed and the Deposit has been paid by the Lenders into the
Account, then the Deposit will, pending any return contemplated by
Section 2.2(e)(4) below, be invested, together with earnings
thereon, and reinvested by Security Agent at the sole direction,
for the account, and at the risk of Borrower in an overnight
investment selected by Borrower and acceptable to Security Agent
(acting reasonably and in good faith). Upon Borrower’s oral
(to be confirmed in writing) instructions, earnings on any such
investments shall be applied to Borrower’s payment
obligations to each Lender under Section 2.2(e)(3) to the
extent of such earnings.
(3) If the Scheduled Delivery Date
is postponed and the Deposit has been paid by the Lenders into the
Account, then Borrower shall pay interest hereunder to each Lender
on the amount of its Deposit for the period from and including the
original Scheduled Delivery Date to but excluding the earlier of
(i) the actual Delivery Date or (ii) the date of return
of the Deposit to such Lender pursuant to clause (4) below if
such amounts are received by such Lender before
3
12:00 Noon, New York City time, on
such date (and if such amounts are received by such Lender after
12:00 Noon, New York City time, the next succeeding Business Day).
For each Lender, such interest shall accrue on the amount of such
Lender’s Deposit at the applicable Debt Rate. Interest on the
Deposit accrued pursuant to the preceding sentence shall
(i) if accrued to the Delivery Date, be paid on the first
Payment Date following such date and (ii) if accrued to the
date of return of the Deposit, be paid to each Lender on such
date.
(4) If for any reason, other than
the failure of any Lender to comply with the terms hereof, the
Scheduled Delivery Date is postponed beyond the earliest of
(x) three (3) Business Days after the Scheduled Delivery
Date, (y) the Commitment Termination Date or (z) such
earlier date as Borrower shall specify (the “Cutoff
Date”), then each such Lender shall promptly cancel,
terminate or otherwise unwind its funding arrangements made in the
London interbank market or otherwise (including any Swap
Transaction) to fund its Commitment, and such Lender shall notify
Security Agent thereof, and Security Agent shall return its
Deposit, subject, however, to such Lender’s continuing
commitment to fund at a later Closing Date as provided
herein.
(5) In the event of the occurrence
of the events described in Section 2.2(d)(ii) or clause
(4) above, Borrower agrees to pay each Lender promptly (but in
any event within three (3) Business Days of the relevant
Cutoff Date) (i) as compensation for the cancellation or
termination of its Commitment (in addition to interest owing under
clause (3) above, if any), an amount of damages equal to any
loss incurred in connection with the unwinding or liquidating of
any deposits or funding or financing arrangement with its funding
source and, if applicable, any Swap Break Amount, and
(ii) without duplication of the amounts covered by the
preceding clause (i) or to be paid pursuant to
Section 4.1 hereof, the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and
expenses of such Lender (including, without limitation, reasonable
legal costs and expenses) incurred by such Lender in respect of
such cancellation or termination to the extent described in the
definition of Transaction Expenses.
2.3 Terms of Repayment
.
(1) Borrower shall make payments to
Security Agent on each Equipment Note of principal scheduled to be
paid thereon on such date in accordance with the amortization
schedule attached thereto and accrued interest due and payable on
such Equipment Note on such date. The amortization schedules in the
aggregate for all Equipment Notes shall be calculated as follows:
using the Debt Rate (calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days
and actual number of days elapsed or if the Fixed Rate Option has
been elected under Section 4.5, on the basis of a year of 360
days consisting of twelve 30-day months) for the Equipment Notes
(being, if the Fixed Rate Option has been elected, the Fixed Rate
for the Equipment Notes, otherwise, the initial Debt Rate for the
Equipment Notes), mortgage-style (level pay) payments payable on
each Payment Date from the Delivery Date through the Maturity Date,
payments on
4
each Payment Date during such period
sufficient to amortize the Equipment Notes to an aggregate
outstanding principal balance balloon payment due on the Maturity
Date, after giving effect to the installment of principal due on
such date, of Five Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars
(US$5,900,000), or if Borrower shall have delivered a No-Winglet
Notice pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof, of Five Million Eight
Hundred Forty Thousand Dollars (US$5,840,000). In respect of the
amortization schedule for any particular Equipment Note, the
payments due on any Payment Date set forth on such amortization
schedule shall be pro rated based on the ratio by which the
Original Amount of such Equipment Note bears to the aggregate
Original Amount of all of the Equipment Notes.
(2) Interest on each Equipment Note
will accrue at the Debt Rate for such Equipment Note (calculated on
the basis of a year of 360 days and actual number of days elapsed
or if the Fixed Rate Option has been elected under
Section 4.5, on the basis of a year of 360 days consisting of
twelve 30-day months) and will be payable on each Payment Date or
other date for the payment of interest provided herein or in such
Equipment Note. The interest payable on each Payment Date or other
date, as aforesaid, for any Equipment Note shall include interest
accrued to such Payment Date or other date, as
aforesaid.
(3) The Debt Rate for each Interest
Period shall be established by Security Agent in accordance with
relevant provisions of this Agreement. Security Agent shall give
prompt notice to Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable Debt
Rate determined by Security Agent from time to time in accordance
with the applicable provisions hereof and the rate, if any,
furnished by each Reference Bank and used by Security Agent for the
purpose of determining the LIBOR Rate. Each determination by
Security Agent of a Debt Rate pursuant hereto shall be presumed
correct, absent manifest error.
(4) Each payment received by
Security Agent in respect of an Equipment Note shall be applied:
first, to pay amounts due hereunder or under such Equipment Note
other than as specified in the following clauses, second, to pay
accrued interest and any Breakage Amount on such Equipment Note (as
well as any interest on any overdue amount) to the date of such
payment, third, to pay the principal of such Equipment Note then
due, and fourth, the balance, if any, remaining thereafter, to pay
installments of the principal of such Equipment Note remaining
unpaid in the inverse order of its maturity.
(5) Amounts repaid or prepaid on the
Equipment Notes may not be reborrowed.
2.4 Closing .
(a) Location . The closing
(the “Closing”) of the Transactions shall take place on
the Closing Date at the offices of Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York
10017.
5
(b) Funds . Except as
provided above, all payments (including prepayments) by Borrower
pursuant to this Article 2 and on any Equipment Note whether on
account of principal, interest, Breakage Amount, fees or otherwise
shall be made in immediately available funds without set-off,
counterclaim or defense to the account of Security Agent as set
forth in Schedule 1 hereto.
(c) Business Days . If any
payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend
such payment into another calendar month, in which event such
payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In
the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to
the preceding sentence, interest thereon shall be payable at the
Debt Rate during such extension.
2.5 Commitment
Termination.
Notwithstanding any provision in
this Loan Agreement to the contrary, in the event the delivery of
the Aircraft is postponed to a date that is three (3) months
beyond the last day of the Scheduled Delivery Month but such date
is prior to the Commitment Termination Date, Security Agent, acting
at the written direction of all (and not less than all) of the
Lenders committed to financing the acquisition of the Aircraft by
Borrower, may terminate the Commitment under this Agreement upon
written notice to Borrower within thirty (30) days of Security
Agent’s receipt of written notice from Borrower informing
Security Agent of such postponement. Notwithstanding any provision
in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event the delivery of the
Aircraft has been cancelled, Borrower may terminate the Commitment
under this Loan Agreement, in whole, but not in part, upon written
notice to Security Agent but Borrower may not otherwise reduce or
terminate the Commitments under this Loan Agreement (except as
provided in Section 2.6 hereof). If an Event of Default as
defined in the form of Mortgage attached hereto as Exhibit A
(determined without regard to Section 7.5 hereof) shall have
occurred and be continuing, Security Agent (acting at the direction
of the Majority in Interest of the Lenders) may, by written notice
to the Borrower, cancel the Commitment(s), and upon such notice,
such Commitment(s) shall be cancelled and of no further effect. If
an Event of Default under Sections 5.1(e), (f) or
(g) under the form of Mortgage, as aforesaid, shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Commitment(s) shall automatically,
without any action or notice, be cancelled and of no further
effect. The day on which the Commitment(s) under this Agreement is
terminated by Security Agent or Borrower pursuant to the foregoing
shall for purposes of this Agreement be deemed a “Termination
Date”.
2.6 No Winglet Notice
.
At any time (but in no event later
than four (4) Business Days prior to the Scheduled Delivery
Date) Borrower may deliver written notice to Security Agent of
Borrower’s intent not to finance the acquisition of winglets
for installation on the Aircraft (the “No Winglet
Notice”), in which case the Commitment shall be adjusted as
provided in Schedule 2 hereof and the Commitment Fee from and after
the date on which Security Agent receives such notice shall be
calculated based on the adjusted Commitment.
6
2.7 Pro Rata Treatment and
Payments .
(1) Each borrowing by Borrower from
the Lenders hereunder, each payment by Borrower on account of any
Commitment Fee and, except as provided in Section 2.5, any
reduction of the Commitment of the Lenders shall be made pro rata
according to the respective Commitment of the Lenders.
(2) Each payment (including each
prepayment) by Borrower on account of principal of and interest on
the Equipment Notes shall be made pro rata according to the
respective outstanding principal amounts of the Equipment Notes
then held by the Lenders (except as otherwise provided in the
Mortgage).
2.8 Use of Proceeds
.
Borrower agrees that it shall use
the proceeds of each secured loan described in Section 2.1(a)
to pay all or a portion of the amount, after giving effect to the
return of any advance payments, of the remaining balance of the
purchase price of the Aircraft to the Airframe
Manufacturer.
3. C LOSING C ONDITIONS
3.1 Conditions to each
Lender’s Obligations .
Each Lender’s obligation to
make the secured loans described in Section 2.1(a) and to
participate in the Transactions is subject to the fulfillment or
waiver before or on the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Equipment Notes .
Borrower tenders to such Lender the Equipment Notes in accordance
with Article 2 of the Mortgage.
(b) Delivery of Documents .
Each Lender and Security Agent receives executed counterparts of
the following documents and such counterparts (x) have been
duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the parties thereto and
(y) are in full force and effect:
(1) the Mortgage and any supplement
thereto;
(2) the broker’s report and
insurance certificates required by Section 4.6 of the
Mortgage;
(3) the Holdings
Guarantee;
(4) the Consent and Agreement, the
Engine Consent and Agreement and the GEES Acknowledgment and
Agreement;
(5) the Bills of Sale;
7
(6) (A) a copy of
Borrower’s certificate of incorporation, by-laws, and
resolutions, in each case certified as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of Borrower, duly authorizing Borrower’s
execution, delivery, and performance of the Operative Agreements to
which it is party required to be executed and delivered by Borrower
on or before the Closing Date in accordance with the provisions
hereof and thereof; (B) incumbency certificate of Borrower as
to the person(s) authorized to execute and deliver the Operative
Agreements on its behalf; and (C) good-standing certificate
from the Secretary of States of Delaware and Florida dated as of a
date reasonably near the Closing Date, as to the due incorporation
and good standing of Borrower;
(7) Officer’s Certificate of
Borrower, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that its
representations and warranties in this Agreement are true and
correct as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent that any such
representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date,
true and correct as of such earlier date) and that no Default or
Event of Default exists as of such date;
(8) the Financing
Statements;
(9) the following opinions of
counsel, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to Security Agent and dated as of the Closing Date: (A) an
opinion of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, special counsel
to Borrower; (B) an opinion of Borrower’s Legal
Department; and (C) an opinion of FAA Counsel;
(10) a copy of a duly-executed
application for registration of the Aircraft with the FAA in
Borrower’s name;
(11) Holdings’s audited
consolidated balance sheet for the most-recent fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005 and for the most-recent fiscal year, and the
related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for
the period then ended, prepared in accordance with GAAP;
(12) a duly completed and executed
Drawdown Notice;
(13) the Entry Point Filing
Forms;
(14) Officer’s Certificate of
Holdings, dated as of the Closing Date, (A) affirming the
Holdings Guarantee after giving effect to the delivery of the
Aircraft and the execution and delivery of the Operative Agreements
related thereto; and (B) stating that its representations and
warranties in the Holdings Guarantee are true and correct in all
material respects as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent that
any such representation and warranty expressly relates to an
earlier date, true and correct in all material respects as of such
earlier date);
(15) (A) a copy of
Holding’s articles of incorporation, by-laws, and
resolutions, in each case certified as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the
8
Closing Date by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of Holdings, duly authorizing Holdings’
execution, delivery, and performance of the Holdings Guarantee
required to be executed and delivered by Holdings on or before the
Closing Date in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof;
(B) incumbency certificate of Holdings as to the person(s)
authorized to execute and deliver the Holdings Guarantee on its
behalf; and (C) good-standing certificate from the Secretary
of State of Nevada dated as of a date reasonably near the Closing
Date, as to the due incorporation and good standing of
Holdings;
(16) the Fee Letter; and
(17) such other documents as
Security Agent may reasonably request.
(c) Perfected Security Interest
and Registered International Interest . (1) After giving
effect to the filing of the FAA-Filed Documents and the Financing
Statements, Security Agent shall have a duly-perfected
first-priority security interest in all of Borrower’s right,
title, and interest in the Aircraft and all other then-existing
Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens. (2) Security
Agent’s International Interest in the Airframe and each
Engine shall have been duly registered with the International
Registry (if a Prospective International Interest therein has not
theretofore been registered with the International Registry),
subject to no prior registered International Interest (or
Prospective International Interest), and Security Agent shall have
received a copy of the “priority search certificate”
(as defined in the Regulations for the International Registry) as
to each such Airframe and Engine evidencing the same.
(d) Violation of Law . No
change shall have occurred after the date of this Agreement in any
applicable Law that makes it a violation of Law for
(i) Holdings, Borrower, any Lender or Security Agent to
execute, deliver, and perform the Operative Agreements to which any
of them is a party or (ii) any Lender to make the loan
contemplated to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.1 or to
realize the benefits of the security afforded by the
Mortgage.
(e) Representations, Warranties
and Covenants . The representations and warranties of the
Borrower contained in Section 5(a) of this Agreement and the
representations and warranties of Holdings contained in
Section 9 of the Holdings Guarantee shall be true and accurate
in all material respects as of the Closing Date (unless any such
representation and warranty was made with reference to a specified
date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true
and accurate in all material respects as of such specified
date).
(f) No Event of Default . On
the Closing Date, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or
would result from the borrowing hereunder and the mortgaging of the
Aircraft and the other Collateral, the use of proceeds of such
borrowing or the consummation of the Transactions contemplated in
the Operative Agreements.
(g) No Event of Loss . No
Event of Loss with respect to the Airframe or any Engine shall have
occurred, and no circumstance, condition, act, or event has
occurred that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would
give rise to or constitute an Event of Loss with respect to the
Airframe or any Engine.
9
(h) Title . Borrower shall
have good and valid title (subject to filing of the FAA Bill of
Sale with the FAA) to the Aircraft, free and clear of all Liens,
except Permitted Liens. The sale of the Airframe and each Engine as
evidenced by the Bills of Sale therefor shall have been, or shall
be in the process of being, registered on the International
Registry.
(i) Certification . The
Aircraft shall have been duly certificated by the FAA as to type
and has (or, upon registration in Borrower’s name, will be
eligible for) an FAA airworthiness certificate and Security Agent
shall have received a copy of such certification.
(j) Section 1110 .
Security Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section 1110 (as currently in effect) with respect to the
right to take possession of the Airframe and Engines as provided in
the Mortgage in the event of a case under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy Code in which Borrower is a debtor.
(k) Filing . The FAA-Filed
Documents shall be in the process of being duly filed for
recordation with the FAA in accordance with the Transportation
Code, and the Financing Statements shall have been duly filed or
shall be in the process of being duly filed in the appropriate
jurisdiction.
(l) No Proceedings . No
action or proceeding shall have been instituted, nor shall any
action be, to the Actual Knowledge of Borrower or Holdings
threatened, before any Governmental Entity, nor has any order,
judgment, or decree been issued or proposed to be issued by any
Governmental Entity, to set aside, restrain, enjoin, or prevent the
completion and consummation of any Operative Agreement or the
Transactions.
(m) Governmental Actions .
All appropriate action required to have been taken before the
Closing Date by the FAA, or any other Governmental Entity of the
United States, in connection with the Transactions has been taken,
and all orders, permits, waivers, authorizations, exemptions, and
approvals of such entities required to be in effect on the Closing
Date in connection with the Transactions have been issued and all
such orders, permits, waivers, authorizations, exemptions and
approvals shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
Date.
(n) No Material Adverse
Change . Since December 31, 2005, there shall have been no
Material Adverse Change to Borrower or Holdings on the Closing
Date, and each Lender and Security Agent shall have received
Officer’s Certificates of Borrower and Holdings to such
effect.
(o) Fees . Security Agent
shall have received payment of the fees then due and payable under
the Fee Letter.
(p) Delivery Condition . The
Aircraft shall be new, ex factory, in a serviceable
condition.
10
3.2 Conditions to
Borrower’s Obligations .
It is hereby agreed that
Borrower’s obligation to participate in the Transactions is
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver), on or before the Closing
Date, of the conditions in this Section 3.2.
(a) Documents . Borrower
shall have received (or has waived receipt of) (i) executed
original counterparts of the documents as described in
Section 3.1(b) (other than the Equipment Notes, as to which it
shall receive a copy only) and such documents shall be reasonably
satisfactory to Borrower, (ii) an Officer’s Certificate
of each Lender, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that its
representations and warranties in this Agreement are true and
correct as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent that any such
representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date,
true and correct as of such earlier date) and (cc) such other
documents as Borrower may reasonably request from Security Agent or
any Lender, unless the failure to receive any such document is the
result of any action or inaction by Borrower.
(b) Other Conditions . Each
of the conditions in subsections (d), (e), (g), (i), (k),
(l) and (m) of Section 3.1 are satisfied or have
been waived by Borrower unless the failure of any such condition to
be satisfied is the result of any action or inaction by
Borrower.
3.3 Post-Registration Opinion
.
Promptly after the registration of
the Aircraft and the recordation of the FAA-Filed Documents,
Borrower will cause FAA Counsel to deliver to Borrower, each Lender
and Security Agent a favorable opinion or opinions addressed to
each of them with respect to such registration and
recordation.
4. F EES , C OSTS , F IXED R ATE O PTION AND I LLEGALITY
4.1 Transaction Expenses
.
If the Transactions are consummated,
or do not close for any reason other than any Lender’s breach
of its obligations under Article 2 hereof, Borrower agrees to the
pay the Transaction Expenses, subject to the limits set forth in
Section 3 of Schedule 2.
4.2 [Intentionally
Omitted].
4.3 Commitment Fee
.
Borrower agrees to pay a Commitment
Fee to Security Agent in arrears on the last day of the calendar
quarter following the date of this Agreement and on the last day of
each calendar quarter thereafter and on the Closing Date or the
Termination Date (as the case may be), such Commitment Fee shall be
calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual number of
days elapsed and shall accrue from the date of this Agreement until
the Closing Date or Termination Date (as the case may be). The
Commitment Fee shall be payable by Borrower to Security Agent on
the due date thereof in immediately available funds no later than
12:00 Noon,
11
New York City time, on such date to the account
of Security Agent on Schedule 1. Security Agent shall distribute
the Commitment Fee when received to the Lenders in the manner
provided in Section 2.7(1). The Commitment Fee shall abate for
any day that interest is accruing pursuant to
Section 2.2(e)(3) on the Deposit funded.
4.4 Increased Costs/Capital
Adequacy
(a) Subject to the provisions of
Section 4.4(e) below, Borrower shall promptly pay directly to
each Lender such amounts as are reasonably necessary to compensate
such Lender for any increase in costs which are attributable to
such Lender’s making, maintaining or continuing of its
Commitment or the loans evidenced by its Equipment Notes or funding
arrangements utilized in connection with such loans (including any
hedging arrangement relating to any Fixed Rate), or any reduction
in any amount receivable by such Lender hereunder in respect of its
Commitment or under the Equipment Notes, such loans or such
arrangements (such increases in costs and reductions in amounts
receivable being herein called “Additional Costs”),
applicable to the period commencing thirty (30) days prior to
Lender’s notification thereof pursuant to Section 4.4(c)
and resulting from the adoption of or any change after the date
hereof in Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or
compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or
not having the force of Law but, if not having the force of Law, is
generally applied by Lender with respect to similar credits under
similar circumstances) from any central bank or other Governmental
Entity made subsequent to the date hereof that:
(1) shall impose any tax that is the
functional equivalent of any reserve, special deposit or similar
requirements of the sort covered by clause (2) below;
or
(2) shall impose or modify any
reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement
against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the
account of advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any
other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender;
or
(3) imposes any other condition
affecting this Agreement or its Equipment Notes (or any of such
extensions of credit or liabilities) or any such
obligation.
(b) Without duplication of any
amounts payable by Borrower under Section 4.4(a), if any
Lender shall have determined, acting reasonably and in good faith,
that after the date hereof, the adoption of or any change in any
Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or
application thereof, or compliance by such Lender or any
corporation controlling such Lender with any request or directive
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of Law
but, if not having the force of law, is generally applied by such
Lender with respect to similar credits under similar circumstances)
from any Governmental Entity made subsequent to the date hereof,
shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such
Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence
of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which
such
12
Lender or such corporation could
have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking
into consideration such Lender’s or such corporation’s
policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by
such Lender to be material acting reasonably and in good faith,
then from time to time, after submission by such Lender to Borrower
(with a copy to Security Agent) of a written request therefor,
Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts
as will compensate such Lender or such corporation for such
reduction attributable to the period commencing thirty
(30) days prior to Lender’s notification thereof
pursuant to Section 4.4(c).
(c) Each Lender will furnish to
Borrower (with a copy to Security Agent) an Officer’s
Certificate setting forth in reasonable detail (i) the events
giving rise to the request by such Lender for compensation under
subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 4.4,
(ii) the basis for determining such compensation and
(iii) the amount of each request by such Lender for
compensation under subsection (a) or (b) of this
Section 4.4, together with a statement that the determinations
made in respect of the such compensation comply with the provisions
of this Section 4.4 and that none of the exceptions set forth
in Section 4.4(d) apply with respect to such compensation.
Determinations set forth in such Officer’s Certificate shall
be presumed correct, absent manifest error.
(d) Borrower shall not be required
to make payments under this Section 4.4 to any Lender if
(i) a claim hereunder arises through circumstances peculiar to
such Lender and which do not affect commercial banks in the same
jurisdiction generally, or (ii) the claim arises out of a
relocation by such Lender of its lending office (except any such
relocation effected pursuant to Section 4.4(e)), or
(iii) if a comparably situated borrower is being treated more
favorably by such Lender (as reasonably determined by such Lender)
in respect of a claim made hereunder.
(e) Each Lender will, if requested
by Borrower, to the extent not inconsistent with any applicable
legal or regulatory restrictions and subject to the overall policy
considerations of such Lender, use commercially reasonable efforts
to designate a different lending office for the Equipment Notes of
such Lender affected by such event or, failing that, to take other
reasonable measures requested by Borrower (including transferring
such Equipment Notes pursuant to Section 7.1(d) hereof) to
mitigate the amount of payment of Additional Costs or other amounts
under this Section 4.4, if as a result thereof the additional
amounts that would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender
pursuant to this Section 4.4 would be reduced or eliminated
and if the making, funding or maintaining of its interest in the
Equipment Notes through such other lending office or the taking of
such other reasonable measures would not, in the good faith
judgment of such Lender, result in any economic, legal or
regulatory disadvantage (other than de minimis
disadvantages) or adverse tax consequences to such Lender (other
than adverse tax consequences for which Borrower agrees to
indemnify such Lender); provided, that such Lender will not be
obligated to utilize such other lending office pursuant to this
Section 4.4 unless Borrower agrees to pay all incremental
out-of-pocket expenses, if any, reasonably incurred by such Lender
as a result of utilizing such other lending office as described
above; provided, further, that such Lender shall have no obligation
to designate another lending office that does not maintain loans
comparable to the loan evidenced by such Lender’s Equipment
Note. An Officer’s Certificate as to the
13
amount of any such expenses (setting
forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount and
the calculation thereof) submitted by such Lender to Borrower shall
be presumed correct, absent manifest error. If after using
commercially reasonably efforts as aforesaid such Lender is not
able to mitigate the amount of or the need for the Additional Costs
to the reasonable satisfaction of Borrower within thirty (30)
days of such Lender’s notice described in Section 4.4(c)
hereof, Borrower may prepay in accordance with Section 2.10 of
the Mortgage the unpaid Original Amount of the affected Equipment
Notes plus interest accrued thereon. Nothing in this Section shall
affect or postpone any of the obligations of Borrower or the rights
of any Lender pursuant to this Section 4.4.
4.5 Fixed Rate Option
.
(a) At Borrower’s written
request, which shall be made in the Drawdown Notice in accordance
with Article 2 hereof (the “Fixed Rate Option”),
each Lender agrees that the Equipment Notes shall bear interest at
a Fixed Rate. If Borrower exercises the Fixed Rate Option, the
aggregate Commitment shall be reduced to the amount specified in
Section 2 of Schedule 2 of this Agreement. If such request is
so made by Borrower, Borrower shall conduct a swap auction in which
each Lender and Acceptable Potential Swap Counterparty selected by
Borrower shall be invited to submit its fixed-rate quote to act as
Swap Counterparty in the Swap Transaction with each Lender. At
Borrower’s option, Borrower shall have the right to conduct a
second swap auction on the second Business Day before the scheduled
Closing Date in which each Lender and Acceptable Potential Swap
Counterparty selected by Borrower shall be invited to submit its
fixed-rate quote to act as Swap Counterparty in the Swap
Transaction. Three basis points shall be added to the fixed rate
quote submitted by each Acceptable Potential Swap Counterparty that
is not a Lender (such quote as so adjusted, the “Adjusted
Fixed Rate Quote”). Subject to the next succeeding sentence,
the institution submitting the lowest fixed-rate quote (as adjusted
in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence) in such swap
auction (or, if a second swap auction is held, such second swap
auction) shall be the Swap Counterparty, and
(1) if such institution is a Lender,
its quote in such swap auction (or, if a second swap auction is
held, such second swap auction) shall be the Debt Rate for the
Equipment Notes, or
(2) if such institution is not a
Lender, its Adjusted Fixed Rate Quote in such swap auction (or, if
a second swap auction is held, such second swap auction) shall be
the Debt Rate for the Equipment Notes.
(b) If a Lender submits a fixed-rate
quote equal to the lowest Adjusted Fixed Rate Quote submitted by a
non-Lender and no other Lender has submitted a lower fixed-rate
quote, then such Lender shall be the Swap Counterparty; provided,
if there shall be two or more such Lenders, each such Lender shall
be a Swap Counterparty for a pro rata portion of the Swap
Transaction with each Lender. Security Agent and Borrower shall
promptly notify the Lenders of the Debt Rate determined in
accordance with the above procedures and the identity of the
“winning” Swap Counterparty and at the Closing Date,
each Lender shall enter into a Swap Transaction with each such Swap
Counterparty.
14
(c) Each Lender agrees that
(A) on the date of any redemption or prepayment (whether
voluntary or mandatory) of the Equipment Notes for any reason
(including any redemption of the Equipment Notes effected pursuant
to Sections 2.9 and 2.10 of the Mortgage) each such Lender
will, and (B) upon or at any time following the acceleration
of the Equipment Notes upon or following the occurrence of an Event
of Default, such Lender may ask the Swap Counterparty to settle-out
the Swap Transaction, and in furtherance thereof will request the
Swap Counterparty to notify Borrower and such Lender by
1:00 p.m., New York time, on such date (the “Settlement
Date”) of the Swap Break Amount; provided, that if the
Obligations are paid in full and the Lien of the Mortgage is
discharged, then such Lender will promptly settle-out the Swap
Transaction.
(d) Subject to due compliance with
and after payment in full of all amounts then due and owing to all
Lenders under the Equipment Notes and if no Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, each Lender shall pay over
to Borrower any Swap Breakage Gain that it receives from the Swap
Counterparty as a result of a payment contemplated by
Section 4.5(c), promptly after such Lender receives such
payment, in immediately available funds, to such account as
Borrower directs; provided, if a Default or Event of Default is
then in existence, such payment shall be made to Security Agent as
security for Borrower’s obligations under the Operative
Agreements, and at such time as such Default or Event of Default no
longer exists, such payment and any gain realized as a result of
investments required to be made pursuant to Article 6 of the
Mortgage shall be (to the extent not applied as provided in the
Mortgage) paid over to Borrower.
(e) If a Lender (or any of its
Affiliates) is the “winning” Swap Counterparty with
respect to such Lender’s Equipment Notes, then:
(1) such Lender shall be deemed to
have entered into a Swap Transaction with itself (or its Affiliate)
satisfying in each case the terms and conditions of
Section 4.5(a); and
(2) such Lender (in its capacity as
Swap Counterparty) agrees, or will cause its Affiliate to agree, to
the swap settlement and unwind procedures contained in
Section 4.5(c), and covenants to pay any Swap Breakage Gain
promptly as if it were a third party Swap Counterparty (and in its
capacity as a Lender to apply such amounts as provided in the
Operative Agreements) and to comply with all of the terms and
conditions thereof applicable to the Swap Counterparty.
4.6 Past Due Interest
.
Any amounts not paid under the
Operative Agreements by Borrower when due shall bear interest at
the Past-Due Rate (calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days
and actual number of days elapsed or if the Fixed Rate Option has
been elected under Section 4.5, on the basis of a year of 360
days consisting of twelve 30-day months), and shall be payable on
demand.
15
4.7 Illegality .
In the event that at any time any
Lender shall determine that due to a change of Law it shall become
unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain or fund all or a
portion of the Equipment Notes it holds in the manner contemplated
by the Operative Agreements, then such Lender shall give prompt
notice thereof to Borrower. Thereafter, the affected Lender agrees
that it will, if requested by Borrower, to the extent not
inconsistent with any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions
and subject to the overall policy considerations of such Lender,
use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid such illegality by
designating a different lending office for the affected Equipment
Notes of such Lender affected by such illegality or, failing that,
shall take other reasonable measures requested by Borrower
(including transferring such Equipment Notes pursuant to
Section 7.1(d) hereof) to avoid such illegality and if the
making, funding and maintaining of its interest in the affected
Equipment Notes through such other lending office or the taking of
such other reasonable measures would not, in the good faith
judgment of such Lender, result in any economic, legal or
regulatory disadvantage (other than a de minimis
disadvantage) or adverse tax consequences to such Lender (other
than adverse tax consequences for which Borrower agrees to
indemnify such Lender); provided, that such Lender shall not be
obligated to utilize such other lending office pursuant to this
Section 4.7 unless Borrower agrees to pay all incremental
out-of-pocket expenses, if any, reasonably incurred by such Lender
as a result of utilizing such other lending office as described
above; provided, further that such Lender shall have no obligation
to designate another lending office that does not maintain loans
comparable to the loan evidenced by such Lender’s Equipment
Note. If after using commercially reasonable efforts as aforesaid
such Lender is not able to avoid such illegality within
thirty (30) days after such Lender’s notice thereof to
Borrower, the affected Equipment Notes may be prepaid by Borrower
in accordance with Section 2.10 of the Mortgage.
4.8 Clear Market .
Borrower agrees that no other
long-term debt financing for aircraft shall be launched, mandated,
arranged, syndicated or privately placed by or on behalf of
Borrower in the debt or capital markets until October 19, 2006
with respect to aircraft scheduled to be delivered to Borrower
under the Purchase Agreement from and after January 1,
2008.
5. R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES .
5.1 Borrower’s
Representations and Warranties .
Borrower represents and warrants to
each Lender and Security Agent that:
(a) Organization;
Qualification . Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State
of Delaware, and has the corporate power and authority to conduct
the business in which it is currently engaged and to own or hold
under lease its properties and to enter into and perform its
obligations under each of the Operative Agreements to which
Borrower is or will be a party. Borrower is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the nature and extent of the business
conducted by it, or the ownership of its properties, requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified does not
constitute or would not give rise to a Material Adverse Change with
respect to Borrower.
16
(b) Corporate Authorization .
The execution and delivery by Borrower of, and performance by
Borrower of its obligations under, this Agreement and the other
Operative Agreements to which Borrower is a party will have been,
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Borrower and do not require any stockholder approval, or approval
or consent of any trustee or holder of any indebtedness or
obligations of Borrower, except such as have been duly obtained and
are in full force and effect.
(c) No Violation .
Borrower’s execution and delivery of, and performance of its
obligations under, this Agreement do not, and, on the Closing Date,
each of the other Operative Agreements to which Borrower is a party
will not, (1) violate any provision of Borrower’s
certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (2) violate any Law
applicable to or binding on Borrower, or (3) violate or
constitute any default under, or result in the creation of any Lien
(other than as permitted under the Mortgage) upon the Aircraft or
the other Collateral under, any material lease, loan or other
agreement to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or any
of its properties is bound.
(d) Approvals .
Borrower’s execution and delivery of, and performance of its
obligations under, this Agreement do not, and, on the Closing Date,
each of the other Operative Agreements to which Borrower is a party
and the consummation by Borrower of any transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby will not, require the consent or approval of, the
giving of notice to, the registration with, the recording or filing
of any documents with, or the taking of any other action in respect
of (1) any trustee or other holder of any debt of Borrower, or
(2) any Government Entity, other than (x) the FAA-Filed
Documents and the Financing Statements (and continuation statements
related thereto), (y) the registrations described herein with
the International Registry and (z) filings, recordings,
notices, or other ministerial actions pursuant to any routine
recording, contractual, or regulatory requirements.
(e) Valid and Binding
Agreements . This Agreement and each of the other Operative
Agreements to which Borrower is or is to become a party have been
duly authorized and when duly executed and delivered by Borrower,
assuming the due authorization, execution, and delivery thereof by
the other parties hereto and thereto, this Agreement constitutes,
and, on the Closing Date, each of the other Operative Agreements to
which Borrower is a party will constitute, legal, valid, and
binding obligations of Borrower enforceable against Borrower in
accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, and other similar Laws affecting
the rights of creditors generally or by general principles of
equity.
(f) Litigation . Except as
set forth in Holdings’ most recent annual report on Form
10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q or current report on Form 8-K
filed by Holdings with the SEC on or prior to December 31,
2005, no action, claim or proceeding is now pending or, to
Borrower’s Actual Knowledge, threatened, against Borrower
before any Governmental Entity, that is reasonably likely to be
determined adversely to Borrower and if determined adversely to
Borrower would result in a Material Adverse Change with respect to
Borrower, and there is no action, suit or proceeding now pending,
or to the Actual Knowledge of Borrower threatened, before or by any
court, arbitrator or administrative agency, body or official to
which Borrower is subject, that questions the validity of the
Operative Agreements.
17
(g) Financial Condition . The
financial statements delivered by Borrower pursuant to
Section 3.1(b)(11) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
and fairly present in all material respects in accordance with GAAP
the financial condition of Holdings and its consolidated
subsidiaries as of such dates and the results of its operations and
cash flows for such periods, and since the date of such balance
sheet, there has been no material adverse change in such financial
condition or results of operations, except for matters disclosed in
(1) the financial statements referred to above, or
(2) any subsequent report filed with the SEC.
(h) Registration and
Recordation . (1) Except for the security interest and the
International Interest granted to Security Agent for the ratable
benefit of the Lenders pursuant to the Mortgage and except for
Permitted Liens, Borrower will own each item of the Collateral free
and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. No financing
statement or other public notice with respect to all or any part of
the Collateral will then be on file or of record in any public
office, except such as have been filed in favor of Security Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, pursuant to the Mortgage.
On the Closing Date, except for (1) registering with the
International Registry the sale of the ownership interest to the
Borrower in the Airframe and each Engine effected by the Bills of
Sale, and the filing with the FAA of the Entry Point Filing Forms
(and the procurement of authorization codes) with respect thereto,
(2) registering with the International Registry the
International Interest of Security Agent with respect to the
Airframe and each Engine, and the filing with the FAA of the Entry
Point Filing Forms (and the procurement of authorization codes)
with respect thereto, (3) registering the Aircraft with the
FAA in Borrower’s name, (4) filing for recordation (and
recording) the FAA-Filed Documents, (5) filing the Financing
Statements (and continuation statements relating thereto at
periodic intervals), and (6) affixing the nameplates referred
to in Section 4.2(f) of the Mortgage, no further action,
including filing or recording any document (including any financing
statement under UCC Article 9) is necessary in order to establish
and perfect Security Agent’s first priority Lien on the
Aircraft and the other Collateral, as against Borrower and any
other Person, in any applicable jurisdiction in the United States.
The security interests and the International Interest granted
pursuant to the Mortgage, upon completion of the filings specified
in the prior sentence, will constitute valid first priority
security interests in all of the Collateral and an International
Interest in and to the Airframe and each Engine in favor of
Security Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as
collateral security for the Obligations, enforceable in accordance
with the terms hereof against all creditors of Borrower and any
Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from Borrower, in any
applicable jurisdiction in the United States.
(2) On the date hereof,
Borrower’s jurisdiction of organization, identification
number from the jurisdiction of organization (if any) and the
location of Borrower’s chief executive office are as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Jurisdiction of Organization:
|
|
Delaware
|
|
Identification
Number:
|
|
2350036
|
|
Chief Executive
Offices:
|
|
9955 AirTran
Blvd
|
|
|
|
Orlando,
Florida 32827
|
18
(i) Securities Law . Neither
Borrower nor any Person authorized to act on its behalf has
directly or indirectly offered any beneficial interest or Security
relating to the ownership of the Aircraft or any interest in the
Collateral, or any of the Equipment Notes, for sale to, or
solicited any offer to acquire any such interest or security from,
or has sold any such interest or security to, any Person in
violation of the registration requirements of the Securities Act or
in violation of the registration requirements of applicable state
or foreign securities Laws.
(j) Section 1110 .
Security Agent will be entitled to the benefits of
Section 1110 (as currently in effect) with respect to the
right to take possession of the Airframe and Engines and to enforce
its other rights or remedies, as provided in the Mortgage, in the
event of a case under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in which
Borrower is a debtor.
(k) Title . On the Closing
Date, Borrower will have good and valid title to the Aircraft, free
and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens.
(l) Insurance . The insurance
required by the Mortgage will be in full force and effect, and all
premiums which have become due or are due with respect to the
insurance required to be provided by Borrower in respect of the
Aircraft or required under Section 4.6 of the Mortgage will
have been paid.
(m) Citizenship . Borrower is
a Citizen of the United States and a U.S. Air Carrier.
(n) Compliance with Laws .
Borrower holds all material licenses, permits, and franchises from
the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to authorize
Borrower to engage in air transportation and to carry on scheduled
commercial passenger service as currently conducted.
(o) Investment Company Act .
Borrower is not an “investment company” or a company
controlled by an “investment company” within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(p) Broker’s Fees . No
Person acting on behalf of Borrower is or will be entitled to any
broker’s fee, commission, or finder’s fee in connection
with the Transactions, other than Borrower’s
Advisor.
(q) Margin Requirements .
Borrower will not directly or indirectly use any of the proceeds
from the issuance of the Equipment Notes so as to result in a
violation of Regulation T, U, or X of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
(r) No Defaults . Borrower is
not (A) in default under any indenture, mortgage, lease or
credit agreement or under any other agreement or instrument of a
material nature to which Borrower is now a party or by which it is
bound or (B) in
19
violation of any law, order,
injunction, decree, rule or regulation applicable to Borrower of
any court or administrative body, which violation or default
referred to in the preceding clause (A) or
(B) (x) would reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Change or (y) would involve a material risk
of the sale, forfeiture or loss of or the creation of any Lien on,
the Aircraft.
(s) ERISA . Assuming the
representations of the Lenders in Section 5.2(c) hereof are
correct, none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
any of the Operative Agreements or the consummation of the
Transactions contemplated herein or therein will involve any
prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
5.2 Lender’s
Representations and Warranties .
Each Lender represents and warrants
to Borrower that:
(a) Valid and Binding
Agreements . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed,
and delivered by it and, assuming the due authorization, execution,
and delivery thereof by the other parties hereto, this Agreement
constitutes its legal, valid, and binding obligation enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, and other
similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or general
principles of equity.
(b) Broker’s Fees . No
Person acting on behalf of it is or will be entitled to any
broker’s fee, commission, or finder’s fee in connection
with the Transactions (except any such fees which have been paid in
full, in the case of Lenders other than The Royal Bank of Scotland
plc New York Branch).
(c) ERISA . Either
(i) no portion of the funds used by it to purchase the
Equipment Notes constitute “plan assets” (within the
meaning of the Department of Labor regulations codified at 29
C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101) of any Plan or (ii) the
purchase of the Equipment Notes do not constitute a non-exempt
prohibited transaction under Section 406(a) of ERISA or
Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code.
(d) Securities Laws . Neither
it nor any Person authorized to act on its behalf has directly or
indirectly offered any beneficial interest or Security relating to
the ownership of the Aircraft or any interest in the Collateral or
any of the Equipment Notes for sale to, or solicited any offer to
acquire any such interest or security from, or has sold any such
interest or security to, any Person in violation of the
registration requirements of the Securities Act or in violation of
the registration requirements of applicable state or foreign
securities Laws.
6. C ERTAIN C OVENANTS OF THE P ARTIES .
6.1 Borrower Covenants
.
Borrower agrees for the benefit of
Security Agent and each applicable Lender as follows:
(a) Corporate Existence, U.S. Air
Carrier . Borrower shall at all times maintain its corporate
existence, except as permitted by Section 4.7 of the Mortgage,
and shall at all times remain a U.S. Air Carrier.
20
(b) Notice of Change of Name or
Location . Borrower will give to Security Agent timely written
notice (but in any event at least thirty (30) days before the
expiration of the period of time specified under applicable Law to
prevent lapse of perfection) of any change of its name of or its
jurisdiction of organization (as defined in UCC Article 9), and
will promptly take any action required by Section 6.1(c)(3) as
a result of such change of name or relocation.
(c) Certain Assurances
.
(1) Borrower shall duly execute,
acknowledge, and deliver (or cause to be executed, acknowledged,
and delivered) all such further documents, and shall do and cause
to be done such further things, as Security Agent reasonably
requests to accomplish the purposes of the Operative Agreements,
provided that any document so executed by Borrower will not expand
any obligations or limit any rights of Borrower in respect of the
Transactions.
(2) Borrower shall, at its own cost,
promptly take such action with respect to the recording, filing,
re-recording, and re-filing of the Mortgage, and any supplements
thereto, as shall be necessary to continue the perfection and
priority of the Lien created by the Mortgage.
(3) Borrower will cause the
FAA-Filed Documents, the Financing Statement, all continuation
statements (and any amendments necessitated by any combination,
consolidation, or merger of Borrower, or any change in its name or
of its jurisdiction of organization) in respect of the Financing
Statements, to be prepared and duly and timely filed and recorded,
or filed for recordation, to the extent permitted under the
Transportation Code (with respect to the FAA-Filed Documents) or
the UCC or similar law of any other applicable jurisdiction (with
respect to such other documents).
(4) Borrower, at its own cost and
expense, from time to time, shall promptly enter into such
amendments of the Operative Agreements or into new Operative
Agreements (in form satisfactory to the parties), make or approve
registrations, filings and recordings, and/or do or cause to be
done such additional acts and things which may be reasonably
requested by Security Agent as being required by or advisable under
applicable Law, in order that (x) the Operative Agreements
effectively constitute International Interests, while retaining the
commercial and business agreements of the parties as described
therein in any such new Operative Agreements, and provide to the
Lenders and the Security Agent the full benefit of the Cape Town
Convention with respect to the Airframe and the Engines, and
(y) the Operative Agreements contain such provisions as may be
necessary to confirm the commercial and business agreements of
the
21
parties therein to the greatest
extent permitted under the Cape Town Convention, including, without
limitation, with respect to:
(A) matters concerning the
documentation and registration in the International Registry of
International Interest(s) or Prospective International Interest(s)
which are, or may be, vested in Security Agent or any Lender under
this Agreement or any other Operative Agreements and the relative
priority thereof contemplated in the Operative Agreements as
against competing interests;
(B) matters concerning Sales and
Prospective Sales which are required or permitted by this Agreement
or the other Operative Agreements, including with respect to
documentation and registration in the International Registry and
the relative priority thereof contemplated in the Operative
Agreements as against competing interests;
(C) matters concerning any
Assignment of Associated Rights or Prospective Assignment of
Associated Rights which is required or permitted or constituted by
this Agreement or any other Operative Agreement, the documentation
and registration thereof in the International Registry and the
relative priority thereof contemplated in the Operative Agreements
as against competing interests; and
(D) subject to the preceding
provisions of this Section 6.1(c)(4) and to the provisions of
Section 5.4 of the Mortgage, including or excluding in writing
the application of any provisions of the Cape Town Convention
and/or the Protocol that Security Agent, acting reasonably may deem
advisable in connection with the foregoing.
Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing or any other provisions of the Operative Agreements,
the Borrower hereby consents, pursuant to Article XV of the
Protocol, to any Assignment of Associated Rights within the scope
of Article 33(1) of the Cape Town Convention which is permitted or
required by the Operative Agreements and further agrees that the
provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply, in particular,
with respect to Articles 31(4) and 36(1) of the Cape Town
Convention to the extent applicable to any such Assignment of
Associated Rights.
(d) Securities Laws . Neither
Borrower nor any Person authorized to act on its behalf will
directly or indirectly offer any beneficial interest or Security
relating to the ownership of the Aircraft or any interest in the
Collateral or any of the Equipment Notes, for sale to, or solicit
any offer to acquire any such interest or security from, or sell
any such interest or security to, any Person in violation of the
registration requirements of the Securities Act or in violation of
the registration requirements of applicable state or foreign
securities Laws.
22
(e) Financial Information
.
(1) Borrower shall provide to
Security Agent, copies of the (x) audited consolidated
financial statements of Holdings for its financial year ended
December 31, 2005 and for each financial year thereafter as
soon as they are available but in any event not later than 120 days
after the close of the relevant period and (y) the unaudited
financial statements of Holdings for each quarterly period as soon
as they are available but in any event not later than sixty
(60) days after the close of the relevant period. Each
financial statement provided hereunder shall have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP and each annual financial statement shall be
accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate of Borrower, stating
that, based on an examination sufficient to enable such officer to
make an informed statement, no Default or Event of Default under
the Operative Agreements has occurred or is continuing or, if such
is not the case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and
its nature, when it occurred and the steps being taken by Borrower
with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the
contrary, if Holdings is subject to, and so long as Holdings is
complying with the reporting requirements under the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the timely delivery (or public posting on the
website of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
of a copy of Holdings’ report on Form 10-K (or any successor
form) with respect to the relevant year shall satisfy the
requirements of clause (x) and the timely delivery (or public
posting on the SEC’s website) a copy of Holdings’
report on Form 10Q (or any successor form) for the relevant quarter
shall satisfy the requirements of clause (y); and
(2) Without limiting Security
Agent’s inspection rights in the Mortgage, promptly upon the
reasonable request of Security Agent, (x) such additional
financial statements, financial information and other information
regarding Borrower or Holdings that has been publicly disclosed and
which Borrower or Holdings releases or otherwise makes available to
lessors and/or creditors generally and (y) (i) so long as
no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such
other information regarding the Collateral which Borrower generally
releases or otherwise makes available to lessors and/or creditors
regarding similar property and (ii) if an Event of Default is
in existence, other information (not subject to a confidentiality
agreement that prohibits disclosure to the Lenders) regarding the
Collateral.
6.2 Merger of Borrower
.
(a) In General . Borrower
shall not convey all or substantially all of its assets in one or a
series of related transactions to, or consolidate with or merge
with or into any other Person under circumstances in which Borrower
is not the surviving corporation, unless:
(1) after giving effect to such
conveyance, consolidation or merger, such Person is organized,
existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the United States,
any state of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and,
upon consummation of such transaction, such Person will be a U.S.
Air Carrier with respect to which, absent a change in law or court
interpretation, Security Agent will be entitled to the benefits of
Section 1110;
23
(2) such Person executes and
delivers to Security Agent a duly authorized, legal, valid and
binding agreement, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to
Security Agent, containing an effective assumption by such Person
of the due and punctual performance and observance of each
covenant, agreement, and condition in the Operative Agreements to
be performed or observed by Borrower, together with customary
officer’s certificates and legal opinions in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Security Agent;
(3) such Person, immediately after
giving effect to such conveyance, consolidation or merger, shall
have a tangible net worth of not less than the lesser of
(aa) Borrower’s tangible net worth (determined in each
case in accordance with GAAP) as of the calendar quarter ending
June 30, 2006 or (bb) Borrower’s tangible net worth
(determined in each case in accordance with GAAP) immediately prior
to such conveyance, consolidation or merger, and
(4) immediately after giving effect
to such conveyance, consolidation or merger, no Event of Default
has occurred or is continuing, and
(5) Borrower has at least
thirty (30) days prior to such conveyance, consolidation or
merger, given written notice of such transaction to Security
Agent.
(b) Effect of Merger . Upon
any such conveyance, consolidation or merger of Borrower with or
into any Person in accordance with this Section 6.2, such
Person will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise
every right and power of, Borrower under the Operative Agreements
with the same effect as if such Person had been named as
“Borrower” therein. No such conveyance, consolidation
or merger shall have the effect of releasing Borrower or such
Person from any of the obligations, liabilities, covenants, or
undertakings of Borrower under the Mortgage.
6.3 Lender Covenants
.
Each Lender agrees for the benefit
of Borrower as follows:
(a) Quiet Enjoyment .
Notwithstanding the effect of any provision in the Cape Town
Convention to the contrary, which by the terms of the Cape Town
Convention may be derogated from or varied, it agrees that so long
as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, it
shall not, and shall not permit any Affiliate or other Person
claiming by, through or under it to, and shall not instruct
Security Agent to interfere with Borrower’s or any Permitted
Lessee’s right of continuing possession, use and operation
of, and quiet enjoyment of, the Aircraft subject to the
restrictions therein provided in the Operative
Agreements.
(b) Liens . No Lender
(1) will directly or indirectly create, incur, assume, or
suffer to exist any Lien on all or any part of the Collateral
arising as a result of (a) claims
24
against such Lender not related to
its interest in the Aircraft or the Collateral or the transactions
contemplated by the Operative Agreements or (b) acts of such
Lender not permitted by, or the failure of such Lender to take any
action required by, the Operative Agreements and (2) will, at
its own cost and expense, promptly take such action as is necessary
to discharge any such Lien attributable to such Lender on all or
any part of the Collateral.
6.4 Security Agent Covenants
.
Security Agent agrees for the
benefit of Borrower and each Lender as follows:
(a) Liens . Security Agent
(1) will not directly or indirectly create, incur, assume, or
suffer to exist any Lien on all or any part of the Collateral
arising as a result of (a) claims against Security Agent not
related to its interest in the Aircraft or the Collateral or the
transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements or
(b) acts of the Security Agent not permitted by, or the
failure of the Security Agent to take any action required by, the
Operative Agreements and (2) will, at its own cost and
expense, promptly take such action as is necessary to discharge any
such Lien attributable to Security Agent on all or any part of the
Collateral.
(b) Securities Laws .
Security Agent will not offer any beneficial interest or security
relating to the ownership of the Aircraft or any interest in the
Collateral, or any of the Equipment Notes for sale to, or solicit
any offer to acquire any such interest or security from, or sell
any such interest or security to, any Person in violation of the
registration requirements of the Securities Act or in violation of
the registration requirements of applicable state or foreign
securities Laws.
7. A SSIGNMENT OR T RANSFER OF I NTEREST ; S ALE -L EASEBACK T RANSACTIONS ; J UNIOR L OANS ; T ERMINATION OF C ROSS -C OLLATERALIZATION AND C ROSS -D EFAULT
7.1 Lenders .
(a) Transfer . Subject to
Section 7.1(b) and (c) below and Section 2.6 of the
Mortgage, any Lender may, at any time, Transfer or grant
participations in all or any portion of its Commitment, Equipment
Notes or all or any portion of its interest in or represented by
its Commitment or Equipment Notes to a Transferee; provided, that
any participant in any such participation shall not have any direct
rights under the Operative Agreements or any Lien on all or any
part of the Aircraft or the Collateral except that each participant
shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.4, 9.3 and 11.15 to
the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its
interest by Transfer pursuant to this Section 7.1; further
provided, no such Transfer or participation shall diminish
Borrower’s rights or increase Borrower’s liability or
obligations or the amounts thereof (including with respect to
withholding Taxes) above (x) in the case of a Transfer, that
which would result had any such Transfer not occurred (except to
the extent resulting from a change in Law after the date of such
Transfer) or (y) in the case of a participation, that which
would have resulted had the relevant Lender retained the interest
in the Commitment or the Equipment Notes that is the subject
of such participation. In the case of any Transfer,
the
25
Transferee, by execution and
delivery of a Transfer Agreement in connection with such Transfer,
shall be bound, to the extent provided therein, by all of the
covenants of the transferring Lender in the Operative Agreements.
In connection with any Transfer or participation, Article 8 shall
continue to apply with respect to any confidential and proprietary
information of Borrower and, prior to disclosing such information
to a Transferee or participant or potential Transferee or
participant, Lender shall obtain the agreements of Transferee(s)
and such other Persons as contemplated by clause (b) of
Article 8. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Operative
Agreements to the contrary, no Lender shall be entitled to Transfer
or grant participations to any Person in all or any portion of its
Commitment, Equipment Notes or all or any portion of its beneficial
interest in its Commitment or Equipment Notes, unless such Transfer
or participation is in respect of a Commitment amount or an unpaid
Original Amount that is greater than or equal to Five Million
Dollars (US$5,000,000), or if less, the outstanding Original Amount
of the Equipment Notes or the outstanding amount of such
Lender’s Commitment, as the case may be.
(b) Securities Law . Each
Lender agrees that it will not Transfer or grant participations in
its Commitment, any Equipment Note which it holds or any interest
in, or represented by, its Commitment or any Equipment Note which
it holds in violation of the registration requirements of the
Securities Act or in violation of the registration requirements of
applicable state or foreign securities Laws.
(c) ERISA . Each Lender
agrees that it will not Transfer any Equipment Note which it holds
or any interest in, or represented by any Equipment Note which it
holds unless the proposed Transferee thereof first provides
Borrower with a written representation in the applicable Transfer
Agreement that either (a) no portion of the funds used by it
to purchase such Equipment Note constitutes “plan
assets” (within the meaning of the Department of Labor
regulations codified at 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101) of any
Plan, or (b) its purchase of such Equipment Note will not
constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under
Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code or
Section 406(a) of ERISA.
(d) Transfer at Request of
Borrower . In the event that Indemnified Withholding Taxes
become payable by Borrower pursuant to Section 9.3(a) hereof
with respect to payments by Borrower to a Lender under an Equipment
Note or pursuant to any Operative Agreement and the elimination or
sufficient reduction of such Indemnified Withholding Taxes pursuant
to a transfer described in the last sentence of such
Section 9.3(a) is not accomplished, such Lender shall, upon
the written request of Borrower, sell in accordance with this
Section 7.1 the affected Equipment Notes to a Person
identified by Borrower to which payments under the Equipment Notes
would not be subject to withholding Taxes under then applicable Law
for an amount which, together with any supplemental payment by
Borrower in connection with such sale, shall be equal to the par
value of such affected Equipment Notes plus accrued but unpaid
interest thereon plus any Breakage Amount. In the circumstances
required in Section 4.4 and Section 4.7, the affected
Lender shall, upon the written request of Borrower, sell in
accordance with this Section 7 the affected Equipment Notes to
a Person identified by Borrower for an amount which, together with
any supplemental payment by Borrower in connection with
such
26
sale, shall be equal to the par
value of such affected Equipment Notes plus accrued but unpaid
interest thereon plus any Breakage Amount. Out-of-pocket costs and
expenses, if any, (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel) reasonably incurred by any Lender or Security Agent in
connection with any such transfer shall be for the account of
Borrower.
(e) Federal Reserve Bank .
Any Lender may at any time pledge or grant a security interest in
its interest in the Equipment Notes it holds and in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of
such Lender, including any pledge or grant of a security interest
to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and
Section 7.1 shall not apply to any such pledge or grant of a
security interest; provided that no such pledge or grant of a
security interest shall release a Lender from any of its
obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or grantee for
such Lender as a party hereto; and provided, further, that no such
pledge or grant shall diminish Borrower’s rights or increase
Borrower’s liability or obligations or the amounts thereof
(including with respect to withholding Taxes) above that which
would result had any such pledge or grant not occurred (except to
the extent resulting from a change in Law after the date of such
pledge or grant) and that in connection with any such pledge or
grant, (except to the Federal Reserve Bank, but subject to
confidentiality arrangements as are customary in pledges or grants
to the Federal Reserve Bank) Article 8 shall continue to apply with
respect to any confidential and proprietary information of Borrower
and, prior to disclosing such information to pledgee or grantee,
Lender shall obtain the agreements of pledgee(s), grantee(s) and
such other Persons as contemplated by clause (b) of Article
8.
7.2 Effect of Transfer; Costs
.
Upon any Transfer in accordance with
Section 7.1 (other than any Transfer by any Lender to the
extent it only grants participations in Equipment Notes it holds or
in its interest therein or represented thereby), the Transferee
shall be deemed a “Lender” for all purposes of the
Operative Agreements, and the transferring Lender shall be released
from all of its liabilities and obligations with respect to such
transferred Equipment Note under the Operative Agreements to the
extent such liabilities and obligations arise with respect to the
period after such Transfer (or as otherwise agreed between the
transferring Lender and the Transferee) and, in each case, to the
extent such liabilities and obligations are assumed by the
Transferee; provided, that such transferring Lender (and its
Affiliates, successors, assigns, agents, representatives,
directors, and officers) will continue to have the benefit of any
rights or indemnities under any Operative Agreement vested or
relating to circumstances, conditions, acts, or events before such
Transfer (or as otherwise agreed between the transferring Lender
and the Transferee). The transferring Lender agrees that it shall
reimburse, or shall cause the Transferee to reimburse, Borrower and
Security Agent for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket costs and
expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel)
incurred in connection with any such Transfer.
7.3 Junior Loans .
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in any Operative Agreement upon not less than thirty
(30) days’ prior written notice to the parties hereto,
if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower
shall have the right to issue, at any time within eighteen
(18) months
27
following the closing date of the financing of
the final Eligible Aircraft, additional debt secured by a Lien on
the Aircraft junior to the Lien of the Mortgage (a “Junior
Loan”); provided, that there shall be no more than three
(3) Eligible Aircraft secured by a Junior Loan at any time. In
connection with any such Junior Loan with respect to the Aircraft,
each of the parties hereto (or their successors) and the lender(s)
providing such Junior Loan will execute and deliver an
intercreditor agreement dealing with the terms of subordination and
enforcement of remedies and other intercreditor matters in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the parties hereto (or their
successors) and the lender(s) providing such Junior Loan, which
agreement shall ensure there is no diminution of Security
Agent’s first priority and perfected Lien in the Aircraft and
all other then-existing Collateral. Borrower shall reimburse
Security Agent and the Lenders for all of their reasonable
out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred in connection with documenting
any such Junior Loan.
7.4 Sale-Leaseback
Transaction .
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in any Operative Agreement, upon not less than thirty
(30) days’ prior written notice to the parties hereto,
if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower
shall have the right to sell, at any time within eighteen
(18) months following the closing date of the financing of the
final Eligible Aircraft, and transfer title to the Aircraft to an
owner trustee for the benefit of an owner participant in a
transaction in which such owner trustee assumes all of
Borrower’s obligations under the Equipment Notes and the
Mortgage on a non-recourse basis (with Borrower being released from
such obligations, except to the extent accrued before the
assumption), leases the Aircraft to Borrower, and assigns such
lease to Security Agent pursuant to an amended and restated
mortgage (a “Sale-Leaseback”); provided, that there
shall be no more than three (3) Eligible Aircraft subject to a
Sale-Leaseback at any time. In connection with such Sale-Leaseback
with respect to the Aircraft, each of the parties hereto (or their
successors) will execute and deliver appropriate documentation, if
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to it, permitting the
owner trustee to assume Borrower’s obligations under the
Equipment Notes and the Mortgage on a non-recourse basis, releasing
Borrower from all obligations in respect of the Equipment Notes and
Mortgage (except to the extent accrued before the assumption), and
take all other actions as are reasonably necessary to permit such
assumption by the owner trustee. In connection with any such
Sale-Leaseback, (a) the documents, each in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to Security Agent, shall include, but not be
limited to, (1) a participation agreement among the parties
hereto (or their successors), the owner trustee, and the owner
participant, (2) a net lease agreement between Borrower and
the owner trustee providing for minimum rent payments equal in
timing and amounts to all required debt service payments under the
Operative Agreements and for a covenant or obligation equivalent to
all other financial and non-financial obligations of Borrower under
the Operative Agreements, (3) an amended and restated mortgage
(amending and restating the Mortgage) between Security Agent and
owner trustee, (4) a purchase agreement assignment, and
(5) a trust agreement between the owner trustee and the owner
participant; and (b) the Equipment Notes shall be delivered to
Security Agent for cancellation in exchange for new equipment notes
to be issued to the Lenders by the owner trustee. Borrower shall
reimburse Security Agent and the Lenders for all of their
reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in connection with any
such Sale-Leaseback.
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7.5 Termination of
Cross-Collateralization and Cross-Defaults .
(a) Majority . If at any time
a majority of the aggregate unpaid Original Amount of all Equipment
Notes in respect of the Aircraft ceases to be held by the same
Lender or Lenders as the “lender” or
“lenders” holding a majority (or more) of the aggregate
unpaid Original Amount of all Related Equipment Notes in respect of
any one or more other Related Aircraft and/or holding a majority
(or more) of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all PDP
Notes, then unless such change of holding occurred as the result of
the lawful exercise of remedies following an Event of Default
(x) the Related Equipment Notes issued, and the Related
Mortgages entered into, in respect of such one or more other
Related Aircraft and/or the PDP Notes and the PDP Security
Agreements, as the case may be, shall, without further act of the
parties hereto or thereto, no longer be deemed to be “Related
Notes” or “Related Mortgages” for purposes of
this Agreement or the Mortgage and (y) the Lenders accept and
agree that, unless otherwise agreed therein, the Equipment Notes
and the Mortgage shall, without further act of the parties hereto
or thereto, no longer be deemed to be “Related Notes”
or a “Related Mortgage” under the terms of the Related
Mortgage(s) in respect of such one or more other Related Aircraft
and/or the PDP Security Agreements, as the case may be.
(b) Sale-Leaseback; Junior
Loan . If the Aircraft is one of three (3) Eligible
Aircraft which are subjected to a Sale-Leaseback pursuant to
Section 7.4 or is one of three (3) Eligible Aircraft
which are subjected to a Junior Loan pursuant to Section 7.3
then (x) the Related Equipment Notes issued, and the Related
Mortgages entered into, in respect of the Eligible Aircraft not
subjected to a Sale-Leaseback with the same owner participants (in
the case of Section 7.4) or to a Junior Loan with the same
lenders (in the case of Section 7.3) (for purposes of this
Section 7.5(b) only, the “No-Cross Aircraft”) and
the PDP Notes and PDP Security Agreements shall, without further
act of the parties hereto or thereto, no longer be deemed to be
“Related Notes” or “Related Mortgages” for
purposes of this Agreement or the Mortgage and (y) the Lenders
accept and agree that, unless otherwise agreed therein, the
Equipment Notes and the Mortgage shall, without further act of the
parties hereto or thereto, no longer be deemed to be “Related
Notes” or a “Related Mortgage” under the terms of
the Related Mortgage(s) in respect of the No-Cross Aircraft and the
PDP Security Agreements.
(c) Payment . If the unpaid
Original Amount of (plus the unpaid and accrued interest thereon
and all other amounts due under the Operative Agreements with
respect to) all Equipment Notes are paid in full and the Lien of
the Mortgage is discharged and terminated in accordance with the
terms thereof, (x) then the Related Equipment Notes issued,
and the Related Mortgages entered into, in respect of the Related
Aircraft and the PDP Notes and the PDP Security Agreements shall,
without further act of the parties hereto or thereto, no longer be
deemed to be “Related Notes” or “Related
Mortgages” for purposes of this Agreement or the Mortgage and
(y) the Lenders accept and agree that, unless otherwise agreed
therein, the Equipment Notes and the Mortgage shall, without
further act of the parties hereto or thereto, no longer be deemed
to be “Related Notes” or a “Related
Mortgage” under the terms of the Related Mortgage(s) in
respect of such one or more other Related Aircraft and the PDP
Security Agreements.
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8. C ONFIDENTIALITY
Each of Security Agent and each
Lender agrees to keep confidential all non-public information
provided to it by Borrower, Holdings, Security Agent or any Lender
pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement that is designated
by the provider thereof as confidential; provided that nothing
herein shall prevent Security Agent or any Lender from disclosing
any such information (a) to Security Agent, any other Lender
or any Affiliate thereof or of such Lender, (b) subject to an
agreement by such Transferee or participant to comply with the
provisions of this Section, to any actual or prospective Transferee
(and its employees, directors, agents, attorneys, accountants and
advisors or those of any of its Affiliates) or participant,
(c) to its employees, directors, agents, attorneys,
accountants and other professional advisors or those of any of its
Affiliates, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental
Entity, (e) in response to any order of any court or other
Governmental Entity or as may otherwise be required pursuant to any
Law, (f) if requested or required to do so in connection with
any litigation or similar proceeding, (g) that has been
publicly disclosed by Borrower, (h) to the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization
or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to
information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in
connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, or
(i) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or
under any other Operative Agreement; provided, that any and all
disclosures permitted by clauses (d), (e), (f), (h) or
(i) above shall be made only to the extent reasonably deemed
necessary to meet the specific requirements or needs of the Persons
making such disclosures. If Borrower intends to issue any press
release or make any public announcement of this transaction or its
terms, Borrower agrees to present such press release or
announcement to Security Agent for its review and approval prior to
releasing any such press release or making any such announcement;
provided, Borrower need not provide such release or announcement to
Security Agent for review and approval so long as such release or
announcement does not contain specific references to the Lenders or
the Security Agent or to the economic terms of this
transaction.
9. I NDEMNIFICATION A ND E XPENSES
9.1 General Indemnity
.
(a) Indemnity . Whether or
not any of the Transactions are consummated, Borrower shall
indemnify, protect, defend, and hold harmless each Indemnitee from,
against, and in respect of, and shall pay on an After-Tax Basis,
any and all Expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be
imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Indemnitee,
relating to, resulting from, or arising out of or in connection
with any one or more of the following:
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(1)
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the Operative
Agreements or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or the enforcement of any of the Operative Agreements
during the existence of a Default;
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(2)
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the Aircraft,
the Airframe, any Engine, or any Part or any engine installed on
the Airframe or any airframe on which an Engine is installed,
including, with respect thereto, (A) whether or not arising
out of the
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30
manufacture, design, installation,
purchase, acceptance, non-acceptance, rejection, ownership,
registration, re-registration, deregistration, delivery,
non-delivery, lease, sublease, assignment, possession, use,
non-use, operation, maintenance, testing, repair, overhaul,
condition, alteration, modification, addition, improvement,
storage, airworthiness, replacement, financing, refinancing, sale,
substitution, return, abandonment, redelivery, transfer of title or
other disposition of the Aircraft, any Engine, or any Part,
(B) any claim or penalty arising out of violations of
applicable Laws by Borrower (or any Permitted Lessee),
(C) tort liability, whether or not arising out of the
negligence of any Indemnitee (whether active, passive, or imputed),
(D) latent or other defects, whether or not discoverable,
death or property damage of passengers, shippers, or others,
(E) environmental control, noise, or pollution and any claim
for patent, trademark or copyright infringement, (F) any Liens
in respect of the Aircraft, any Engine, or any Part, and
(G) the offer, sale or delivery by Borrower of any Equipment
Notes issued on the Closing Date; and
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(3)
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any breach of
or failure to perform or observe, or any other noncompliance with,
any covenant, agreement, or other obligation to be performed by
Borrower under any Operative Agreement to which it is party or the
falsity of any representation or warranty of Borrower in any
Operative Agreement to which it is party, including, without
limitation, any Default or Event of Default under any of the
Operative Agreements.
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(b) Exceptions .
Notwithstanding anything in Section 9.1(a), Borrower shall not
be required to indemnify, protect, defend or hold harmless any
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 9.1(a) against any Expense of
such Indemnitee:
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(1)
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for any Taxes
or a loss of Tax Benefit, whether or not Borrower is required to
indemnify therefor pursuant to Section 9.3;
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(2)
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to the extent
attributable to any Transfer (voluntary or involuntary) by or on
behalf of such Indemnitee of any Equipment Note, Commitment or
interest therein, except for reasonable out-of-pocket costs and
expenses incurred as a result of any such Transfer requested in
writing by Borrower or made or effected as required by or pursuant
to the terms of the Operative Agreements or made or effected in
connection with or pursuant to the exercise of remedies under any
Operative Agreement;
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(3)
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to the extent
attributable to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Indemnitee or any “Related Indemnitee” (as defined at
the end of this Section 9.1(b)) (other than gross negligence
or willful misconduct imputed to such Person solely by reason of
its interest in the Aircraft or being party to any Operative
Agreement);
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(4)
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to the extent
attributable to the incorrectness or breach of any representation
or warranty of such Indemnitee or any Related Indemnitee, contained
in or made pursuant to any Operative Agreement;
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(5)
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to the extent
attributable to the failure by such Indemnitee or any Related
Indemnitee to perform or observe any express agreement, covenant,
or condition on its part to be performed or observed in any
Operative Agreement;
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(6)
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to the extent
attributable to the offer or sale by such Indemnitee or any Related
Indemnitee of any interest in the Equipment Notes or its Commitment
in violation of the registration requirements of the Securities Act
or in violation of the registration requirements of any applicable
state or foreign securities Laws (other than any thereof caused by
acts or omissions of Borrower);
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(7)
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to the extent
attributable to Security Agent’s failure to distribute funds
received and distributable by it in accordance with the Operative
Agreements;
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(8)
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other than
during the existence of an Event of Default, to the extent
attributable to the authorization or giving or withholding of any
future amendments, supplements, waivers, or consents with respect
to any Operative Agreement, other than any requested by Borrower or
required by or made pursuant to the terms of the Operative
Agreements (unless such requirement results from the actions of an
Indemnitee not required by or made pursuant to the Operative
Agreements);
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(9)
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to the extent
attributable to any amount which any Indemnitee expressly agrees to
pay or such Indemnitee expressly agrees shall not be paid by or be
reimbursed by Borrower;
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(10)
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to the extent
that it is an ordinary and usual operating or overhead
expense;
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(11)
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for any Lien
attributable to such Indemnitee or any Related Indemnitee that
Borrower is not obligated to discharge under the Operative
Agreements;
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(12)
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if another
provision of an Operative Agreement specifies the extent of
Borrower’s responsibility or obligation with respect to such
Expense, to the extent arising from a cause other than
Borrower’s failure to comply with such specified
responsibility or obligation; or
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(13)
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to the extent
imposed on an Indemnitee as a result of any non-exempt
“prohibited transaction” under 406(a) of ERISA or
Section 4975(c)(1) of the Code caused by such
Indemnitee.
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For purposes of this
Section 9.1, a Person shall be considered a “Related
Indemnitee” of an Indemnitee if that Person is an Affiliate
or employer of such Indemnitee, a director, officer, employee,
agent, or servant of such Indemnitee or any such
Affiliate.
(c) Separate Agreement . The
provisions of this Section 9.1 constitute a separate agreement
with respect to each Indemnitee, and is enforceable directly by
each such Indemnitee.
(d) Notice . If an Indemnitee
makes a claim for any Expense indemnifiable under this
Section 9.1, such Indemnitee shall give prompt written notice
thereof to Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
Indemnitee’s failure to notify Borrower as provided in this
Section 9.1(d), or in Section 9.1(e), shall not release
Borrower from any of its obligations to indemnify such Indemnitee
hereunder, except to the extent that such failure results in an
additional Expense to Borrower (in which event Borrower shall not
be responsible for such additional Expense) or materially impairs
Borrower’s ability to contest such claim.
(e) Notice of Proceedings;
Defense of Claims; Limitations .
(1) If any action, suit, or
proceeding for which Borrower is responsible under this
Section 9.1 is brought against any Indemnitee, such Indemnitee
shall notify Borrower of the commencement thereof, and Borrower
may, at its expense, participate in and, to the extent that it so
desires (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph),
assume and control the defense thereof and, subject to
Section 9.1(e)(3), settle or compromise it.
(2) Borrower or its insurer(s) shall
have the right, at its or their cost and expense, to investigate
and the right in Borrower’s sole discretion, acting through
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the respective Indemnitee, if
Borrower has acknowledged in writing that it will indemnify such
Indemnitee for such Expense (except that such acknowledgment does
not apply if its is determined that Borrower is not liable
hereunder) (A) in any judicial or administrative proceeding
that involves an Expense and other claims which do not involve such
Indemnitee, to assume responsibility for and control of the defense
thereof, (B) in any judicial or administrative proceeding that
involves an Expense and other claims against such Indemnitee
related or unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the
Operative Agreements, (x) to assume responsibility for and
control of the defense of such Expense to the extent that the same
may be and is severed from such other claims (and such Indemnitee
shall use its reasonable efforts to obtain such severance) or
(y) if such Expense is not severable from other claims that
are material to such Indemnitee in relation to the Equipment Notes
held by such Indemnitee, to assume responsibility for and control
of the defense of such Expense if such assumption would not, in
such Indemnitee’s reasonable judgment, prejudice or impair in
any material respect, such Indemnitee’s management of such
other claims and (C) in any other case, to be consulted by
such Indemnitee and in which case such Indemnitee agrees to
cooperate with reasonable requests of Borrower, each such request
at Borrower’s
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cost and expense, with respect to
judicial proceedings subject to the control of such Indemnitee and
to be allowed, at Borrower’s cost and expense, to participate
therein. The Indemnitee may participate at its own cost and expense
and with its own counsel in any judicial proceeding controlled by
Borrower pursuant to the preceding provisions; provided that such
Indemnitee’s participation does not, in Borrower’s
reasonable judgment, prejudice or impair in any material respect
the defense and management of such case. Borrower shall not be
entitled to control the defense of any such action, suit, or
proceeding, or to compromise any such Expense (and the relevant
Indemnitee shall be entitled to assume such control), while
(a) any Event of Default exists, or (b) if such
proceedings will involve (i) a material risk of the sale,
forfeiture, or loss of, or the creation of any Lien (other than
Permitted Lien) on the Aircraft, or the Collateral, unless Borrower
shall have posted a bond or other security or collateral reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnitee in respect to such risk,
(c) if such proceedings are likely to entail any risk of
criminal liability or material risk of civil liability being
imposed on such Indemnitee that, in the case of civil liability in
the reasonable opinion of such Indemnitee, adversely affects in any
material respect the business reputation of such Indemnitee or if,
in the reasonable opinion of such Indemnitee, control by Borrower
would be inappropriate due to a conflict of interest.
(3) In no event shall any Indemnitee
enter into a settlement or other compromise with respect to any
Expense without Borrower’s prior written consent (which shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless such Indemnitee
waives its right to be indemnified with respect to such Expense
under this Section 9.1 or is required by Law to do
so.
(4) To the extent that any Expense
indemnified by Borrower hereunder may be covered by insurance
maintained by Borrower, at Borrower’s expense, each
Indemnitee agrees to cooperate with all reasonable requests of
insurers in the exercise of their rights to investigate, defend, or
compromise such Expense as may be required to retain the benefits
of such insurance with respect to such Expense.
(5) If an Indemnitee is not a party
to this Agreement, Borrower may require such Indemnitee to agree in
writing to the terms of this Section 9.1 and Section 11.8
before making any payment to such Indemnitee under this Article
9.
(6) Nothing in this
Section 9.1(e) shall require an Indemnitee to assume
responsibility for or control of any judicial proceeding with
respect thereto.
(f) Information . Borrower
will provide the relevant Indemnitee with such information not
within the control of such Indemnitee (but in Borrower’s
control or reasonably available to Borrower) which such Indemnitee
reasonably requests, and will otherwise cooperate with such
Indemnitee so as to enable such Indemnitee to fulfill its
obligations under Section 9.1(e). The Indemnitee shall supply
Borrower with such information not within the control of Borrower
(but in such Indemnitee’s control or reasonably available to
such Indemnitee) which Borrower reasonably requests to control or
participate in any proceeding to the extent permitted by
Section 9.1(e).
34
(g) Effect of Other
Indemnities . Upon payment in full by or on behalf of Borrower
of any indemnity provided for under this Agreement, Borrower,
without any further action and to the full extent permitted by Law,
will be subrogated to all rights and remedies of the Person
indemnified (other than with respect to any of such
Indemnitee’s insurance policies or in connection with any
indemnity claim of such Indemnitee under Section 10.4) in
respect of the matter as to which such indemnity was paid. Each
Indemnitee will give such further assurances or agreements and
cooperate with Borrower to permit Borrower to pursue such claims,
to the extent reasonably requested by Borrower and at
Borrower’s expense.
(h) Refunds . If an
Indemnitee receives any refund from any party other than Borrower
or its insurers, in whole or in part, with respect to any Expense
paid by Borrower hereunder, that Indemnitee will promptly pay the
amount refunded (but not an amount in excess of the amount Borrower
or any of its insurers has paid in respect of such Expense) over to
Borrower unless a Default or Event of Default exists, in which case
such amount shall be paid over to Security Agent to hold as
security for Borrower’s obligations under the relevant
Operative Agreements until such time as such Default or Event of
Default no longer exists, in which case such amount and any gain
realized as a result of investments required to be made pursuant to
Article 6 of the Mortgage shall be (except to the extent
theretofore applied as provided in the Mortgage) paid over to
Borrower.
9.2 Expenses .
Except as otherwise provided with
respect to particular matters in the Operative Agreements, Borrower
shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses
(including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel)
incurred by Security Agent in connection with any waiver, consent
or approval or amendment or modification of any Operative Agreement
requested by Borrower; and each Lender agrees that it shall
reimburse Borrower and Security Agent for all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by Borrower and Security Agent
in connection with any waiver, consent or approval or amendment or
modification of any Operative Agreement requested by it.
9.3 General Tax Indemnity
.
(a) Withholding Taxes .
Except as provided in Section 9.3(c), Borrower agrees that
each payment paid by Borrower under the Equipment Notes, and any
other payment or indemnity paid by Borrower to a Lender under any
Operative Agreement, shall be free of all withholdings or
deductions with respect to Taxes of any nature unless the
withholding or deduction is required by law, and if any such
withholding or deduction for any such payment is required by
applicable Law, (1) all such withholdings or deductions shall
be made as provided in Section 2.3(b) of the Mortgage,
(2) if and to the extent that all or any portion of the
required withholdings or deductions constitutes
Indemnified
35
Withholding Taxes, the amount
payable by Borrower shall be increased so that, after making all
required withholdings or deductions, such Lender receives the same
amount that it would have received had no such withholdings or
deductions with respect to such Indemnified Withholding Taxes been
made, with the amount payable by Borrower with respect to such
Indemnified Withholding Taxes being calculated on an After-Tax
Basis and (3) Borrower or Security Agent, as the case may be,
shall pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant
Taxing Authority in accordance with applicable law. The term
“Indemnified Withholding Taxes” shall mean, with
respect to any Equipment Note, withholding taxes imposed by any
Government, other than United States withholding Taxes imposed as
of the time the Lender owning such Equipment Note became a Lender
(except to the extent that (i) such Lender acquired such
Equipment Note by assignment from another Lender and
(ii) immediately prior to such assignment Borrower was paying
additional amounts to the assigning Lender pursuant to this
Section 9.3(a) with respect to United States withholding Taxes
that were Indemnified Taxes). For the avoidance of doubt, in the
event that the amount of United States withholding Taxes payable
with respect to an Equipment Note changes after the date the Lender
owning such Equipment Note became a Lender, such United States
withholding Taxes shall constitute Indemnified Withholding Taxes
only to the extent that, as the result of a change in U.S. federal
tax law or regulation or the interpretation thereof or a change in
a tax treaty to which the United States is a party, in each case
that occurs after the date the Lender owing such Equipment Notes
becomes a Lender, such withholding Taxes become applicable with
respect to a payment by Borrower to the Lender (if none had
previously been imposed or required) or the rate applicable to a
previously imposed or required withholding Tax is increased. In the
event that Indemnified Withholding Taxes become payable by Borrower
as provided above, the Lender will use commercially reasonable
efforts to transfer the Equipment Notes to another jurisdiction
that is mutually acceptable to Borrower and such Lender so that
either (1) no such Indemnified Withholding Taxes would be
applicable to subsequent payments to such Lender following such
transfer (taking into account the provisions of Treas. Reg. §
1.881-3 and the limitation on benefits provisions of any applicable
tax treaty) or (2) the rate of the Indemnified Withholding
Taxes applicable to subsequent payments to such Lender following
such transfer (taking into account the provisions of Treas. Reg.
§ 1.881-3 and the limitation on benefits provisions of any
applicable tax treaty) would not exceed the rate of the Indemnified
Withholding Taxes applicable to payments to such Lender prior to
such transfer and, in the case of United States withholding Taxes,
the applicable change in U.S. federal tax law or regulation or the
interpretation thereof or change in tax treaty; provided that such
Lender shall not be required to transfer the Equipment Notes as
provided above in this sentence if such transfer would cause such
Lender to suffer economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage that is
not indemnified by Borrower in a manner reasonably acceptable to
such Lender; and provided further, that nothing in this sentence
shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of Borrower or the
rights of such Lender pursuant to this Section 9.3(a) prior to
such transfer of the affected Equipment Notes.
(b) General Tax Indemnity .
Except as provided in Section 9.3(c) and whether or not any of
the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, Borrower
shall pay, indemnify, protect, defend, and hold harmless each Tax
Indemnitee from all Taxes imposed by any Taxing Authority imposed
on or asserted against any Tax Indemnitee or
36
the Aircraft, the Airframe, any
Engine, or any Part, or any interest in any of the foregoing
(whether or not indemnified against by any other Person), upon or
with respect to the Operative Agreements or the transactions or
payments contemplated thereby, including any Tax imposed upon or
with respect to (x) the Aircraft, the Airframe, any Engine,
any Part, any Operative Agreement (including any Equipment Notes),
any data, or any other thing delivered or to be delivered under an
Operative Agreement, (y) the purchase, manufacture,
acceptance, rejection, sale, transfer of title, return, ownership,
mortgaging, delivery, transport, charter, rental, lease, re-lease,
sublease, assignment, possession, repossession, presence, use,
condition, storage, preparation, maintenance, modification,
alteration, improvement, operation, registration, transfer or
change of registration, re-registration, repair, replacement,
overhaul, location, control, imposition of any Lien, financing,
refinancing requested by Borrower, abandonment, or other
disposition of the Aircraft, the Airframe, any Engine, any Part,
any data, or any other thing delivered or to be delivered under an
Operative Agreement or (z) interest, fees, or other income,
proceeds, receipts, or earnings, whether actual or deemed, arising
upon, in connection with, or in respect of any of the Operative
Agreements (including the property or income or other proceeds with
respect to property held as part of the Collateral) or the
transactions contemplated thereby.
(c) Certain Exceptions . The
provisions of Section 9.3(a) and Section 9.3(b) shall not
apply to, and Borrower shall have no liability hereunder for,
Taxes:
(1) imposed on a Tax Indemnitee by
any Taxing Authority or governmental subdivision thereof or therein
(A) on, based on, or measured by gross or net income or gross
or net receipts, including capital gains taxes, excess profits
taxes, minimum taxes from tax preferences, alternative minimum
taxes, branch profits taxes, accumulated earnings taxes, personal
holding company taxes, succession taxes and estate taxes, and any
withholding taxes on, based on, or measured by gross or net income
or receipts, or (B) on, or with respect to, or measured by
capital or net worth or in the nature of a franchise tax or a tax
for the privilege of doing business (other than, in the case of
clause (A) or (B), (y) sales, use, license, or property
Taxes, or (z) any Taxes imposed by any Taxing Authority (other
than a Taxing Authority within whose jurisdiction such Tax
Indemnitee (i) is incorporated or organized or maintains its
principal place of business or (ii) maintains a permanent
establishment in the United States, if and to the extent that the
income, receipts or gains to which such Taxes relate
are effectively connected with such permanent
establishment, other than by reason of a change in law occurring
after the date such Tax Indemnitee acquires an interest in the
Commitment or an Equipment Note.) if such Tax Indemnitee would not
have been subject to Taxes of such type by such jurisdiction but
for (i) the location, use, or operation of the Aircraft, the
Airframe, any Engine, or any Part thereof by an Borrower Person
within the jurisdiction of the Taxing Authority imposing such Tax,
or (ii) the activities of any Borrower Person in such
jurisdiction, including use of any other aircraft by Borrower in
such jurisdiction, (iii) the status of any Borrower Person as
a foreign entity or as an entity owned in whole or in part by
foreign persons, (iv) Borrower having made (or having been
deemed to have made) payments to such Tax Indemnitee from the
relevant
37
jurisdiction, or (v) in the
case of Lender, Borrower’s being incorporated or organized or
maintaining a place of business or conducting activities in such
jurisdiction);
(2) on, with respect to, or measured
by any fees, commissions, or compensation received by Security
Agent;
(3) that are being contested as
provided in Section 9.3(e);
(4) imposed on any Tax Indemnitee to
the extent that such Taxes result from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Tax Indemnitee or any Affiliate
thereof;
(5) imposed on or with respect to a
Tax Indemnitee (including the transferee in those cases in which
the Tax on transfer is imposed on, or is collected from, the
transferee) as a result of a transfer or other disposition
(including a deemed transfer or disposition) by such Tax Indemnitee
or a related Tax Indemnitee of any interest in the Aircraft, the
Airframe, any Engine, or any Part, any interest arising under the
Operative Agreements, or any Equipment Note, or as a result of a
transfer or disposition (including a deemed transfer or
disposition) of any interest in a Tax Indemnitee (other than
(1) a substitution or replacement of the Aircraft, the
Airframe, any Engine, or any Part by a Borrower Person that is
treated for Tax purposes as a transfer or disposition, or
(2) a transfer pursuant to an exercise of remedies upon a
then-existing Event of Default);
(6) in excess of those that would
have been imposed had there not been a transfer or other
disposition described in clause (6) of this
Section 9.3(c) by or to such Tax Indemnitee or a related Tax
Indemnitee (except to the extent resulting from a change in Law
after the date of such transfer or disposition);
(7) consisting of any interest,
penalties, or additions to tax imposed on a Tax Indemnitee as a
result (in whole or in part) of a failure of such Tax Indemnitee or
a related Tax Indemnitee to file any return properly and timely,
unless such failure is caused by Borrower’s failure to
fulfill its obligations (if any) under Section 9.3(g) with
respect to such return;
(8) resulting from, or that would
not have been imposed but for, any Liens arising as a result of
claims against, or acts or omissions of, or otherwise attributable
to such Tax Indemnitee or a related Tax Indemnitee that Borrower is
not obligated to discharge under the Operative
Agreements;
(9) imposed on any Tax Indemnitee as
a result of the breach by such Tax Indemnitee or a related Tax
Indemnitee of any covenant of such Tax Indemnitee or any Affiliate
thereof contained in any Operative Agreement or the inaccuracy of
any representation or warranty by such Tax Indemnitee or any
Affiliate thereof in any Operative Agreement;
38
(10) in the nature of an intangible
or similar Tax upon or with respect to the value or principal
amount of the interest of any Lender in any Equipment Note or the
loan evidenced thereby, but only if such Taxes are in the nature of
franchise Taxes or result from the conduct of business by such Tax
Indemnitee in the taxing jurisdiction and are imposed because of
the place of incorporation or the activities unrelated to the
Transactions in the taxing jurisdiction of such Tax
Indemnitee;
(11) imposed on a Tax Indemnitee by
a Taxing Authority, to the extent that such Taxes result from a
connection between the Tax Indemnitee or a related Tax Indemnitee
and such jurisdiction imposing such Tax unrelated to the
Transactions; or
(12) to the extent imposed on an
Indemnitee as a result of any non-exempt “prohibited
transaction” under 406(a) of ERISA or Section 4975(c)(1)
of the Code caused by such Indemnitee.
For purposes hereof, a Tax
Indemnitee and any other Tax Indemnitees who are successors,
assigns, agents, or Affiliates of such Tax Indemnitee shall be
related Tax Indemnitees.
(d) Payment .
(1) Borrower’s indemnity
obligation to a Tax Indemnitee under this Section 9.3 shall
equal the amount which, after taking into account any Tax imposed
upon the receipt or accrual of the amounts payable under this
Section 9.3 and any Tax Benefits realized by such Tax
Indemnitee as a result of the indemnifiable Tax (including any
benefits realized as a result of such Tax Indemnitee’s use of
an indemnifiable Tax as a credit against Taxes not indemnifiable
under this Section 9.3), shall equal the amount of the Tax
indemnifiable under this Section 9.3.
(2) At Borrower’s request, in
the event there is a dispute with respect to the computation of the
amount of any indemnity payment owed by Borrower or any amount owed
by a Tax Indemnitee to Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.3
(including, without limitation, whether a Tax refund has been
received that a Tax Indemnitee would be required to pay to Borrower
pursuant to Section 9.3(f) and whether a Tax Benefit has been
realized that a Tax Indemnitee would be required to pay to Borrower
pursuant to Section 9.3(d)(5)) such computation shall be
verified and certified by an independent public accounting firm
selected by such Tax Indemnitee and reasonably satisfactory to
Borrower. Each Tax Indemnitee shall upon request provide to such
accounting firm such information in such Tax Indemnitee’s
possession or control as is reasonably necessary (which such
determination is in such accounting firm’s sole discretion,
exercised in good faith), for the performance of such verification
(subject to the accounting firm’s execution and delivery of a
confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Tax Indemnitee); provided, however, that in no
event shall the tax returns, filings and confidential work papers
of such Tax Indemnitee
39
be required to be disclosed
(provided that the disclosure of information set forth in such tax
returns, filings and confidential work papers (as distinct from
such returns, filings and work papers), shall be provided and shall
not be protected from disclosure if needed for the verification of
the computation of such indemnity payment or such amount owed to
Borrower). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall Borrower
have the right to receive any information provided to the
accounting firm pursuant to the prior sentence. Such verification
shall be binding. The costs of such verification (including the fee
of such public accounting firm) shall be borne by Borrower unless
such verification results in an adjustment in Borrower’s
favor that exceeds the greater of (A) 7.5% of the net present
value of the payment as computed by such Tax Indemnitee or
(B) $15,000, in which case the costs shall be paid by such Tax
Indemnitee.
(3) Each Tax Indemnitee shall
provide Borrower with such certifications, and such information and
documentation in such Tax Indemnitee’s possession or control,
and Borrower reasonably requests to minimize any indemnity payment
pursuant to this Section 9.3.
(4) Each Tax Indemnitee shall
promptly forward to Borrower any written notice, bill, or advice
that such Tax Indemnitee receives from any Taxing Authority
concerning any Tax for which it seeks indemnification under this
Section 9.3. Borrower shall pay any amount for which it is
liable pursuant to this Section 9.3 directly to the
appropriate Taxing Authority if legally permissible, or, upon
demand of a Tax Indemnitee, to such Tax Indemnitee within thirty
(30) days of such demand (or, if a contest occurs in
accordance with Section 9.3(d), within thirty (30) days
after a Final Determination (as defined below)), but in no event
more than three (3) Business Days before the related Tax is
due. If requested by a Tax Indemnitee in writing, Borrower shall
furnish to the appropriate Tax Indemnitee the original or a
certified copy of a receipt for Borrower’s payment of any Tax
paid by Borrower (if such a receipt is reasonably obtainable from
the applicable Taxing Authority), or such other evidence of payment
of such Tax as is reasonably acceptable to such Tax Indemnitee.
Borrower shall also furnish promptly upon written request such data
as any Tax Indemnitee reasonably requires to enable such Tax
Indemnitee to comply with the requirements of any taxing
jurisdiction, unless such data are not within the possession or
control of Borrower or (unless such data are specifically requested
by a Taxing Authority) are not customarily furnished by U.S.
domestic air carriers under similar circumstances. For purposes of
this Section 9.3, a “Final Determination” is
(A) a decision, judgment, decree, or other order by any court
of competent jurisdiction that occurs pursuant to the provisions of
Section 9.3(e), which decision, judgment, decree, or other
order has become final and unappealable, (B) a closing
agreement or settlement agreement entered into in accordance with
Section 9.3(e) that has become binding and is not subject to
further review or appeal (absent fraud, misrepresentation, etc.),
or (C) the termination of administrative proceedings and the
expiration of the time for instituting a claim in a court
proceeding.
40
(5) If any Tax Indemnitee actually
realizes a Tax Benefit by reason of any Tax paid or indemnified by
Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.3 (whether such tax
savings arise by means of a foreign tax credit, depreciation or
cost recovery deduction, or otherwise), and such Tax Benefit is not
otherwise taken into account in computing such payment or
indemnity, such Tax Indemnitee shall pay to Borrower an amount
equal to the lesser of (A) the amount of such tax savings,
plus any additional tax savings recognized as the result of any
payment made pursuant to this sentence, and (B) the amount of
all payments pursuant to this Section 9.3 by Borrower to such
Tax Indemnitee (less any payments previously made by such Tax
Indemnitee to Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.3(d)(5))
(and the excess, if any, of the amount described in clause
(A) over the amount described in clause (B) shall be
carried forward and applied to reduce pro tanto any subsequent
obligations of Borrower to make payments to such Tax Indemnitee
pursuant to this Section 9.3); provided, that such Tax
Indemnitee shall not be required to make any payment pursuant to
this sentence so long as an Event of Default of a monetary nature
exists. If a Tax Benefit is later disallowed or denied, the
disallowance or denial shall be treated as a Tax indemnifiable
under Section 9.3(b) without regard to the provisions of
Section 9.3(c) (other than Section 9.3(c)(5), (8) or
(10)). Each such Tax Indemnitee shall in good faith use reasonable
efforts in filing its tax returns and in dealing with Taxing
Authorities to seek and claim any such Tax Benefit; provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, the positions taken by such Tax
Indemnitee on its Tax returns and filings, and, subject to the
provisions of Section 9.3(e) hereof, in any Tax proceedings
shall be within the sole, good-faith discretion of such Tax
Indemnitee and, subject to the provisions of Section 9.3(d)(2)
hereof, no Person shall have the right to require disclosure of the
Tax returns or filings of such Tax Indemnitee.
(e) Contest .
(1) If a written claim is made
against a Tax Indemnitee for Taxes with respect to which Borrower
could be liable for payment or indemnity hereunder, or if a Tax
Indemnitee determines that a Tax is due for which Borrower could
have an indemnity obligation hereunder, such Tax Indemnitee shall
promptly notify Borrower in writing of such claim (provided, that
failure so to notify Borrower shall not relieve Borrower of its
indemnity obligations hereunder except to the extent that such
failure increases the amount of Taxes subject to such claim as the
result of the imposition of penalties or interest or unless the
failure to notify effectively forecloses Borrower’s rights to
successfully contest such claim), and shall take no action with
respect to such claim without Borrower’s prior written
consent for thirty (30) days following Borrower’s
receipt of such notice. In addition, such Tax Indemnitee shall
(provided that Borrower shall have agreed to keep such information
confidential other than to the extent necessary in order to contest
the claim) furnish Borrower with copies of any requests for
information from any Taxing Authority relating to such Taxes with
respect to which Borrower may be required to indemnify hereunder.
If requested by Borrower in writing within thirty (30) days
after its receipt of such notice, such Tax Indemnitee shall, at
Borrower’s expense (including all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses,
41
including reasonable
attorneys’ and accountants’ fees and disbursements
incurred in connection with, and reasonably allocable to, the
contest of such Tax), in good faith contest (or, if permitted by
applicable law and to the extent provided below, allow Borrower to
contest) through appropriate administrative and judicial
proceedings the validity, applicability, or amount of such Taxes by
(x) resisting payment thereof, (y) not paying the Taxes
except under protest if protest is necessary and proper, or
(z) if the payment is made, using reasonable efforts to obtain
a refund thereof in an appropriate administrative or judicial
proceeding (with the determination of which alternative to be used
made in the sole discretion of the party controlling the contest).
If requested to do so by Borrower, the Tax Indemnitee shall appeal
any adverse administrative or judicial decision, except that the
Tax Indemnitee shall not be required to pursue any appeals to the
United States Supreme Court. Borrower shall have the right, at its
cost and expense, (A) in any judicial or administrative
proceeding that involves an indemnified Tax and other Taxes which
do not involve such Tax Indemnitee, to assume responsibility for
and control of the defense thereof, (B) in any judicial or
administrative proceeding that involves an indemnified Tax and
other Taxes asserted against such Tax Indemnitee related or
unrelated to the transactions contemplated by the Operative
Agreements, (x) to assume responsibility for and control of
the defense of such indemnified Tax to the extent that the same may
be and is severed from such other claims (and such Tax Indemnitee
shall use its reasonable efforts to obtain such severance) or
(y) if such indemnified Tax is not severable from other claims
with respect to Taxes asserted against such Tax Indemnitee that are
material to such Tax Indemnitee, to assume responsibility for and
control of the defense of such indemnified Tax if such assumption
would not, in such Tax Indemnitee’s reasonable judgment,
prejudice or impair in any material respect, such Tax
Indemnitee’s management of such other claims and (C) in
any other case, to be consulted by such Tax Indemnitee and in which
case such Tax Indemnitee agrees to cooperate with reasonable
requests of Borrower, each such request at Borrower’s cost
and expense, with respect to judicial proceedings subject to the
control of such Tax Indemnitee and to be allowed, at
Borrower’s cost and expense, to participate therein. The Tax
Indemnitee may participate at its own cost and expense and with its
own counsel in any judicial proceeding controlled by Borrower
pursuant to the preceding provisions; provided that such Tax
Indemnitee’s participation does not, in Borrower’s
reasonable judgment, prejudice or impair in any material respect
the defense and management of such case. Borrower shall not be
entitled to control the defense of any such judicial or
administrative proceeding (and the relevant Tax Indemnitee shall be
entitled to assume such control) if such proceedings are likely to
entail any risk of criminal liability or material risk of civil
liability being imposed on such Tax Indemnitee that, in the case of
civil liability in the reasonable opinion of such Tax Indemnitee,
adversely affects in any material respect the business reputation
of such Tax Indemnitee or if, in the reasonable opinion of such Tax
Indemnitee, control by Borrower would be inappropriate due to a
conflict of interest. A Tax Indemnitee shall not fail to take any
action expressly required by this Section 9.3(e) (including
any action regarding any appeal of an adverse determination
with
42
respect to any claim) or settle or
compromise any claim without Borrower’s prior written consent
(except as contemplated by Sections 9.3(e)(2) or (3), which consent
may not be unreasonably withheld).
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in no event shall a Tax Indemnitee be required to pursue any
contest (or to permit Borrower to pursue any contest) unless
(A) Borrower agrees to pay such Tax Indemnitee on demand all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses that such Tax
Indemnitee incurs in connection with contesting such Taxes,
including all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses and
reasonable attorneys’ and accountants’ fees and
disbursements, in each case, to the extent reasonably allocable to
the contest of such Taxes, (B) if such contest involves the
payment of the claim, Borrower advances the amount thereof (to the
extent indemnified hereunder) that is required to be paid before
commencing the contest on an interest-free After-Tax Basis to such
Tax Indemnitee (and such Tax Indemnitee shall promptly pay to
Borrower any net realized tax benefits resulting from such advance,
including any Tax Benefits resulting from making such payment),
(C) the action to be taken will not result in any material
risk of forfeiture, sale, or loss of the Aircraft (unless Borrower
makes provisions to protect the interests of any such Tax
Indemnitee in a manner reasonably satisfactory to such Tax
Indemnitee) (provided, that such Tax Indemnitee shall notify
Borrower in writing promptly after it becomes aware of any such
risk), (D) no Event of Default exists, unless Borrower has
provided security for its obligations hereunder by advancing to
such Tax Indemnitee, before proceeding or continuing with such
contest, the amount of the Tax being contested, plus any interest
and penalties and an amount estimated in good faith by such Tax
Indemnitee for expenses, and (E) Borrower has acknowledged in
writing its obligations to indemnify the Tax Indemnitee for the Tax
to be contested; provided, however, that Borrower will not be bound
by the acknowledgment of liability if the contest is resolved on a
basis that clearly establishes that Borrower would not have been
liable to the Tax Indemnitee under this Agreement in the absence of
such acknowledgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Tax
Indemnitee releases, waives, compromises, or settles any claim that
may be indemnifiable by Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.3
without Borrower’s written permission (which permission may
not be unreasonably withheld), Borrower’s obligation to
indemnify such Tax Indemnitee with respect to such claim (and all
directly-related claims, and claims based on the outcome of such
claim) shall terminate, and such Tax Indemnitee shall repay to
Borrower any amount previously paid or advanced to such Tax
Indemnitee with respect to such claim, plus interest at the rate
that would have been payable by the relevant Taxing Authority on a
refund of such Tax.
(3) Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Section 9.3, a Tax Indemnitee will not be
required to contest the imposition of any Tax, and shall be
permitted to settle or compromise any claim without
Borrower’s consent, if such Tax Indemnitee (A) waives
its right to indemnity under this Section 9.3 with respect to
such Tax (and any directly-related claim, and any claim the outcome
of which is determined based upon the outcome of such claim), and
(B) pays to
43
Borrower any amount previously paid
or advanced by Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.3 with
respect to such Tax, plus interest at the rate that would have been
payable by the relevant Taxing Authority on a refund of such
Tax.
(f) Refund . If in the
ordinary course of administering its Tax affairs any Tax Indemnitee
determines or discovers the existence of a refund, or that such Tax
Indemnitee is entitled to a credit against other liability, which
such refund or credit is in whole or in part directly attributable
to any Taxes paid, reimbursed, or advanced by Borrower pursuant to
Section 9.3, such Tax Indemnitee shall pay to Borrower within
thirty (30) days of such receipt an amount equal to the lesser
of (i) the amount of such refund or credit that is directly
attributable to Taxes paid, reimbursed or advanced by Borrower,
plus any net tax benefit (taking into account any Taxes incurred by
such Tax Indemnitee by reason of the receipt of such refund or
realization of such credit) actually realized by such Tax
Indemnitee as a result of any payment by such Tax Indemnitee made
pursuant to this sentence (including this clause (i)), and
(ii) such tax payment, reimbursement, or advance by Borrower
to such Tax Indemnitee theretofore made pursuant to this
Section 9.3 (and the excess, if any, of the amount described
in clause (i) over the amount described in clause
(ii) shall be carried forward and applied to reduce pro tanto
any subsequent obligation of Borrower to make payments to such Tax
Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 9.3). If, in addition to
such refund or credit, such Tax Indemnitee receives (or is credited
with) an amount representing interest on the amount of such refund
or credit, such Tax Indemnitee shall pay to Borrower within thirty
(30) days after receiving or realizing such credit that
proportion of such interest fairly attributable to Taxes paid,
reimbursed, or advanced by Borrower before the receipt of such
refund or realization of such credit. If a Tax Indemnitee pays
Borrower any amount under this Section 9.3(f) and if and to
the extent that it is subsequently determined pursuant to a contest
conducted in accordance with Section 9.3(e) that such Tax
Indemnitee was not entitled to the refund for which such Tax
Indemnitee made such payment to Borrower, such determination shall
be treated as the imposition of a Tax for which Borrower is
obligated to indemnify such Tax Indemnitee pursuant to the
provisions of Section 9.3(b), without regard to the provisions
of Section 9.3(c) (other than Section 9.3(c)(5),
(8) or (10)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
if Borrower provides a Tax Indemnitee with a written notice setting
forth facts and circumstances which create a reasonable possibility
of a refund of (or a credit against other liability with respect
to) an indemnified Tax, such Tax Indemnitee shall make a
determination as to whether it has received such a refund (or is
entitled to such a credit). If a Tax Indemnitee determines that it
has received such a refund (or is entitled to such a credit) it
shall pay such refund (or the amount of such credit) to Borrower in
accordance with the terms of this Section 9.3(f). For the
avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Tax Indemnitee be
required to make available any of its Tax Documents (or any other
information relating to its Taxes its deems confidential), to
Borrower or any other Person (except as provided in
Section 9.3(d)(2) of this Agreement).
(g) Tax Filing . Borrower
shall timely file any report, return, or statement that is required
to be filed with respect to any Tax which is subject to
indemnification under this Section 9.3 (except for any such
report, return, or statement which a Tax Indemnitee has timely
notified Borrower in writing that such Tax Indemnitee intends to
file, or for
44
which such Tax Indemnitee is
required by law to file, in its own name); provided, that the
relevant Tax Indemnitee shall furnish Borrower with any information
in such Tax Indemnitee’s possession or control that is
reasonably necessary to file any such return, report, or statement
and that Borrower reasonably requests in writing. Borrower shall
either file such report, return, or statement and send a copy to
such Tax Indemnitee, or, if Borrower is not permitted to file such
report, return, or statement, it shall notify such Tax Indemnitee
in writing of such requirement and prepare and deliver such report,
return, or statement to such Tax Indemnitee in a manner reasonably
satisfactory to such Tax Indemnitee within a reasonable time before
the time such report, return, or statement is to be filed;
provided, that the relevant Tax Indemnitee shall furnish Borrower
with any information in such Tax Indemnitee’s possession or
control that is reasonably necessary to file any such return,
report, or statement and that Borrower reasonably requests in
writing.
(h) Forms . Each Tax
Indemnitee agrees to furnish from time to time to Borrower,
Security Agent, or such other Person as Borrower or Security Agent
shall designate, at Borrower’s or Security Agent’s
request, such duly-executed and properly-completed forms as may be
necessary or appropriate in order to claim any reduction of or
exemption from any withholding or other Tax imposed by any Taxing
Authority, if (i) such reduction or exemption is available to
such Tax Indemnitee, and (ii) Borrower has provided such Tax
Indemnitee with any information necessary to complete such form not
otherwise reasonably available to such Tax Indemnitee. For the
avoidance of doubt, by failing to comply with this
Section 9.3(h) (whether by failing to provide a form when
required to do so or by providing an inaccurate or invalid form),
such Tax Indemnitee shall be in breach of the foregoing covenant
and responsible for damages resulting therefrom.
(i) Non-Parties . If a Tax
Indemnitee is not a party to this Agreement, Borrower may require
the Tax Indemnitee to agree in writing, in a form reasonably
acceptable to Borrower, to the terms of this Section 9.3 and
Section 11.8 before any payment shall be due to such Tax
Indemnitee under this Section 9.3.
(j) Subrogation . Upon
payment of any Tax by Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.3 to
or on behalf of a Tax Indemnitee, without any further action,
Borrower shall be subrogated to any claims that such Tax Indemnitee
may have relating to that Tax. Such Tax Indemnitee shall cooperate
reasonably and in good faith with Borrower to permit Borrower to
pursue such claims.
9.4 Payments .
Except as otherwise provided herein,
any payments which Borrower or an Indemnitee or Tax Indemnitee is
obligated to make pursuant to Section 9.1 or Section 9.3
shall be paid on the thirtieth (30 th ) day after demand, but not
before five (5) days before the date such Expense or Tax is
due or payable by such Indemnitee or Tax Indemnitee, as applicable.
If Borrower shall have requested to contest a Tax or Expense as
provided in this Article 9 and shall have duly complied with all
the terms of this Article 9, Borrower’s liability for
indemnification under this Article 9 shall, at Borrower’s
election, be deferred until a final determination is made
with
45
respect to such contest. At such time, Borrower
shall become obligated for the payment of any indemnification
hereunder resulting from the outcome of such contest, and within
fifteen (15) days following such final determination, any
amounts so due hereunder shall be paid by Borrower to the
Indemnitee or Tax Indemnitee, as applicable. Such payments shall be
made directly to the relevant Indemnitee or Tax Indemnitee or to
Borrower, in immediately available funds at such bank or to such
account as specified by such Indemnitee or Tax Indemnitee or
Borrower (as applicable) in written directives to the payor, or, if
no such direction has been given, by check of the payor payable to
the order of, and mailed to, such Indemnitee or Tax Indemnitee or
Borrower (as applicable) by certified mail, postage prepaid, at its
address as set forth in this Agreement.
9.5 Interest .
If any amount, payable by Borrower,
any Indemnitee, or any Tax Indemnitee under Section 9.1 or
Section 9.3 is not paid when due, the Person obligated to make
such payment shall pay on demand, to the extent permitted by Law,
to the Person entitled thereto, interest on any such amount for the
period from and including the due date for such amount to but
excluding the date the amount is paid, at the Past-Due Rate. Such
interest shall be paid in the same manner as the unpaid amount in
respect of which such interest is due.
9.6 Benefit of Indemnities
.
Borrower’s obligations for
indemnities, obligations, adjustments, and payments in
Section 9.1 or Section 9.3 are expressly made for the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Indemnitee or Tax
Indemnitee entitled thereto as and to the extent provided herein,
notwithstanding any provision of the Mortgage.
10. S ECURITY A GENT .
10.1 Appointment and
Powers.
Each Lender hereby and by acceptance
of an Equipment Note irrevocably appoints, designates and
authorizes The Royal Bank of Scotland plc New York Branch as
Security Agent under this Agreement and under each other Operative
Agreement, irrevocably appoints The Royal Bank of Scotland plc New
York Branch as a “secured party” and
“representative” of the Lenders within the meaning of
Section 9-102 of the UCC and irrevocably authorizes Security
Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of
this Agreement and each other Operative Agreements and to exercise
the powers and perform the duties as are expressly delegated to it
by the terms of this Agreement or any other Operative Agreement,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
Security Agent hereby accepts such appointments, designations and
authorizations. Further, each Lender hereby and by the acceptance
of an Equipment Note authorizes The Royal Bank of Scotland plc New
York Branch (and its successors and assigns as secured party) to
act as its “representative” and “secured
party” on its behalf under the terms of any Related Mortgage
under which such Lender holds secured obligations thereunder.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this
Agreement or in any other Operative Agreement, Security Agent shall
not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set
forth herein and in the Operative Agreements, nor
46
shall Security Agent have or be deemed to have
any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied
covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or
liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other
Operative Agreement or otherwise exist against Security
Agent.
10.2 Limitation on Security
Agent’s Liability .
Neither Security Agent nor any of
its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable or
responsible to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it or them under or in connection with the Operative
Agreements, except for its or their own gross negligence, willful
misconduct or knowing violations of Law. Security Agent shall not
be responsible to any Lender for (a) any recitals, statements,
representations or warranties contained in the Operative Agreements
or in any certificate or other document referred to or provided for
in, or received by any of the Lenders under, the Operative
Agreements, (b) the value, validity, effectiveness,
genuineness or enforceability of the Operative Agreements or any
such certificate or other document, (c) the value or
sufficiency of the Collateral or (d) any failure by Borrower
to perform any of its obligations under the Operative Agreements.
Security Agent may exercise any of its duties under this Agreement
and the other Operative Agreements by or through agents or
attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel
concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Security Agent
shall not be responsible to any Lender for the negligence or
misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact so long as
Security Agent was not grossly negligent in selecting or directing
such agents or attorneys-in-fact. Security Agent shall not be under
any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the
observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or
conditions of, this Agreement or any other Operative Documents, or
to inspect the properties, books or records of Borrower. Security
Agent shall be entitled to rely and shall be fully protected in
relying upon any certification, notice or other communication
(including any thereof by telephone or telecopier) believed by it
to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or given by or on
behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and
statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other
experts selected by Security Agent. Security Agent shall be fully
justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this
Agreement or any other Operative Agreements unless it shall first
receive such advice or concurrence of the Majority in Interest of
the Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders, or
as otherwise provided in Section 2.5) as it deems appropriate
or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction in accordance
with Section 10.4 against any and all liability and expense
that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to
take any such action. Security Agent shall in all cases in respect
of the Lenders be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from
acting, under this Agreement and the other Operative Agreements in
accordance with a request of the Majority in Interest of the
Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders, or as
otherwise provided in Section 2.5), and such request and any
action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding
upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Equipment
Notes.
10.3 Rights as Lender
.
Each Person acting as Security Agent
that is also a Lender shall, in its capacity as a Lender, have the
same rights and powers under the Operative Agreements as any other
Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as
Security Agent, and the term “Lender” or
“Lenders” shall include such Person in its individual
capacity. Each Person acting as Security
47
Agent (whether or not such Person is a Lender)
and its Affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any
Lender) accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in
any kind of banking, trust or other business with Borrower and its
Affiliates as if it were not acting as Security Agent.
10.4 Indemnification
.
Each Lender agrees, as between
itself and Security Agent, to indemnify Security Agent (to the
extent not reimbursed by Borrower under the Operative Agreements
and without limiting the obligation of Borrower to do so), ratably
on the basis of the unpaid Original Amounts of the Equipment Notes
held by such Lenders (or, if no Equipment Notes are at the time
issued, ratably on the basis of their respective Commitments), for
any and all Expenses that may be imposed on, incurred by or
asserted against Security Agent (including the costs and expenses
that Borrower is obligated to pay under the Operative Agreements)
in any way relating to or arising out of the Operative Agreements
or any other documents contemplated thereby or referred to therein
or the transactions contemplated thereby or the enforcement of any
of the terms thereof or of any such other documents, provided that
no such Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the
extent such Expenses result from Security Agent’s gross
negligence, willful misconduct or knowing violations of Law by
Security Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.4 shall
survive the payment of the Equipment Notes and all other amounts
payable under the Operative Agreements.
10.5 Non-reliance on Security
Agent and other Lenders .
Each Lender agrees that it has made
and will continue to make, independently and without reliance on
Security Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and
information as it deems appropriate, its own credit analysis of
Borrower, its own evaluation of the Collateral and its own decision
to enter into the Operative Agreements and to take or refrain from
taking any action in connection therewith. Security Agent shall not
be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or
observance by Borrower of the Operative Agreements or any other
document referred to or provided for therein or to inspect the
properties or books of Borrower or the Collateral. Except for
notices, reports and other documents and information expressly
required to be furnished to the Lenders by Security Agent under the
Operative Agreements, Security Agent shall have no obligation to
provide any Lender with any information concerning the business,
status or condition of Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, the
Operative Agreements or the Collateral that may come into the
possession of Security Agent or any of its Affiliates.
10.6 Successor Security
Agent.
(a) The institution acting as
Security Agent or any successor thereto may resign at any time
without cause by giving at least thirty (30) days’ prior
written notice to Borrower and each Lender, such resignation to be
effective upon the acceptance by a successor institution of its
appointment as Security Agent. In addition, a Majority in Interest
of the Lenders may at any time (but only with the consent of
Borrower (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing), which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
delayed or conditioned) remove the institution acting as
Security
48
Agent without cause by an instrument
in writing delivered to Borrower and Security Agent, and Security
Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof in writing, such
removal to be effective upon the acceptance by a successor
institution of its appointment as Security Agent. In the case of
the resignation or removal of the institution acting as Security
Agent, a Majority in Interest of the Lenders may appoint a
successor agent by an instrument signed by such holders, subject to
approval by Borrower (unless an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing), which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, whereupon such successor agent
shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of Security Agent
and the term “Security Agent” shall mean such successor
agent effective upon such appointment and approval and the former
Security Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Security Agent
shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on
the part of such former Security Agent or any of the parties to
this Agreement or any holder of the Equipment Notes. If a successor
is not appointed within thirty (30) days after such notice of
resignation or removal, Security Agent, Borrower or any Lender may
apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor
to act until such time as agent by an instrument signed by such
holders, as a successor is appointed as provided above. The
court-appointed successor shall immediately and without further act
be superseded by any successor appointed by the Majority in
Interest of the Lenders as provided for above. After any retiring
Security Agent’s resignation as Security Agent, the
provisions of this Section 10 shall inure to its benefit as to
any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
Security Agent under this Agreement and the other Operative
Agreements.
(b) Any successor institution acting
as Security Agent, however appointed, shall execute and deliver to
Borrower and the predecessor institution acting as Security Agent
an instrument accepting such appointment and assuming the
obligations of Security Agent arising from and after the time of
such appointment, and thereupon, without further act, such
successor shall become vested with all the estates, properties,
rights, powers, and duties of the predecessor hereunder and under
the other Operative Agreements as if originally named Security
Agent herein and therein; but nevertheless upon the written request
of such successor Security Agent, such predecessor shall execute
and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor, all the
estates, properties, rights, and powers of such predecessor, and
such predecessor shall duly assign, transfer, deliver, and pay over
to such successor all money or other property then held by such
predecessor hereunder and thereunder. Any successor Security Agent
shall be bound by all actions taken or omitted to be taken under
the Operative Agreements by each predecessor Security
Agent.
(c) Any successor institution acting
as Security Agent, however appointed, shall be a bank or trust
company or a branch of a foreign commercial bank that is subject to
regulatory supervision by the Federal Reserve Board (within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)(A)) and that, in
the case of such bank, trust company or branch, has its principal
place of business in the United States of America, and that has (or
the bank of which such branch is a branch has) (or whose
obligations under the Operative Agreements are guaranteed by an
affiliated entity that has) a combined capital and surplus of at
least $500,000,000, if such an institution is then willing, able,
and legally qualified to perform the duties of Security Agent under
the Operative Agreements upon reasonable or customary
terms.
49
10.7 Notice of
Default.
If Security Agent obtains Actual
Knowledge of a Default, Security Agent shall notify each Lender.
Subject to Sections 5.6 of the Mortgage and Section 10.8
hereof, Security Agent shall take such action, or refrain from
taking such action, with respect to an Event of Default or Default
(including with respect to the exercise of any rights or remedies
hereunder) as Security Agent shall be instructed in writing by a
Majority in Interest of the Lenders. Unless it has Actual
Knowledge, Security Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or
notice of a Default or an Event of Default unless notified in
writing by Borrower or one or more Lenders.
10.8 Instructions from a Majority
in Interest of Lenders.
Except as provided in Sections 2.5,
10.2 and 11.1 hereof or in Section 7.1 of the Mortgage, upon
the written instructions at any time and from time to time of a
Majority in Interest of the Lenders, Security Agent shall take such
of the following actions as shall be specified in such
instructions: (a) give such notice or direction or take any
discretionary action which it is entitled to take or exercise such
right, remedy, or power under any of the Operative Agreements as
shall be specified in such instructions, (b) approve as
satisfactory to Security Agent all matters required by any of the
Operative Agreements to be satisfactory to Security Agent, and
(c) enter into any amendment, modification or supplement of
any of the Operative Agreements or grant consents, waivers or
approvals requested by Borrower under any of the Operative
Agreements. Adequate opportunity, in the particular circumstances,
shall be afforded the Lenders to give or to withhold the
instructions referred to in the preceding sentence.
10.9 Reports, Notices,
etc.
Security Agent will furnish to each
Lender, promptly upon receipt thereof, duplicates or copies of all
reports, notices, requests, demands, certificates, and other
instruments furnished by Borrower to Security Agent under any of
the Operative Agreements.
11. M ISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Amendments .
No provision of this Agreement may
be amended, supplemented, waived, modified, discharged, terminated,
or otherwise varied orally, but only by an instrument in writing
that specifically identifies the provision of this Agreement that
it purports to amend, supplement, waive, modify, discharge,
terminate, or otherwise vary and is signed by the party against
whom the enforcement of the amendment, supplement, waiver,
modification, discharge, termination, or variance is sought. The
Majority in Interest of the Lenders and Borrower may, or, with the
written consent of the Majority in Interest of the Lenders, parties
to the Operative Agreements may, from time to time, and Security
Agent shall, at the direction of the Majority in Interest of the
Lenders, (unless its respective rights or obligations as Security
Agent are adversely affected thereby), (a) enter into written
amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other
Operative Agreements for the purpose of adding any provisions to
this Agreement or the other
50
Operative Agreements or changing in any manner
the rights of the Lenders, Security Agent or Borrower hereunder or
thereunder, or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the
Majority in Interest of the Lenders may specify in such instrument,
any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Operative
Agreements or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences;
provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment,
supplement or modification shall (i) forgive the principal
amount or extend the final scheduled date of maturity of any
Equipment Note, extend the scheduled date of any payment of
principal of any Equipment Note, reduce the stated rate of any
interest payable on any Equipment Note or any interest or fee
payable hereunder or extend the scheduled date of any payment
thereof or, increase the amount or extend the expiration date of
the Commitments, in each case without the written consent of each
Lender directly affected thereby; (ii) eliminate or reduce the
voting rights of any Lender under this Section 11.1 without
the written consent of such Lender; (iii)(w) reduce any
percentage specified in the definition of Majority in Interest of
the Lenders, (x) consent to the assignment or transfer by
Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
and the other Operative Agreements or (y) reduce, modify or
amend any indemnities in favor of Security Agent or the Lenders, in
any such case without the consent of each Person affected thereby;
(iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 10
without the written consent of Security Agent; or (v) take any
action inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 11.1
without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby. Any
such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification
shall apply equally to each of the applicable Lenders and shall be
binding upon Borrower, the applicable Lenders, Security Agent and
all future holders of the Equipment Notes. In the case of any
waiver, Borrower, the Lenders and Security Agent shall be restored
to their former position and rights hereunder and under the other
Operative Agreements, and any Default or Event of Default waived
shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of
Default, or impair any right consequent thereon. Each such
amendment, supplement, waiver, modification, discharge,
termination, or variance shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given. No
provision of this Agreement shall be varied or contradicted by oral
communication, course of dealing or performance, or other manner
not set forth in writing and signed by the party against whom
enforcement of the same is sought.
11.2 Severability
.
If any provision of this Agreement
is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect in any
jurisdiction, then, to the extent permitted by Law, (a) the
remainder of any affected provision (to the extent not invalid,
illegal or unenforceable) and all other provisions hereof shall
remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction, and
(b) such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of such provision
in any other jurisdiction. If, however, any Law pursuant to which
any provision is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable may be
waived, the parties hereto hereby waive that Law to the full extent
permitted, to the end that this Agreement shall be a valid and
binding agreement in all respects, enforceable in accordance with
its terms.
11.3 Survival .
The indemnities and representations
and warranties (as of and when made) made in this Agreement, in the
other Operative Agreements and in any document, certificate or
statement
51
delivered pursuant hereto or in connection
herewith shall survive the delivery of the Aircraft, the Transfer
of any interest by any Lender in an Equipment Note it holds, and
the expiration or other termination of any Operative Agreement,
except to the extent otherwise provided therein.
11.4 Reproduction of
Documents .
This Agreement (including all
schedules and exhibits hereto) and all documents relating hereto
(other than Equipment Notes), including (a) future consents,
waivers, and modifications, and (b) past and future financial
statements, certificates, and other information furnished to any
party hereto, may be reproduced by any party by any photographic,
photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic, or
other similar process, and such party may destroy any original
documents so reproduced. Any such reproduction shall be as
admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or
administrative proceeding (whether or not the original exists and
whether or not such party made the reproduction in the regular
course of business), and any enlargement, facsimile, or further
reproduction of such reproduction also shall be so admissible in
evidence.
11.5 Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts (or upon separate signature pages bound
together into one or more counterparts), each fully-executed set
taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this
Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery
of a manually executed counterpart hereof. A set of the copies of
this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with
Borrower and Security Agent.
11.6 No Waiver .
No failure on the part of any party
hereto to exercise, and no delay by any party hereto in exercising,
any of its rights, powers, remedies, or privileges under this
Agreement or otherwise available to it shall impair, prejudice, or
waive any such right, power, remedy, or privilege or be construed
as a waiver of any breach hereof or default hereunder or as an
acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such right, power, remedy, or privilege preclude any other or
further exercise thereof by it or the exercise of any other right,
power, remedy, or privilege by it. No notice to or demand on any
party hereto in any case shall, unless otherwise required under
this Agreement, entitle such party to any other or further notice
or demand in similar or other circumstances, or waive the rights of
any party hereto to any other or further action in any
circumstances without notice or demand. To the extent permitted by
applicable Law, the rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein
provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies,
powers and privileges provided by Law.
11.7 Notices .
Unless otherwise expressly permitted
by the terms hereof, all notices, requests, demands,
authorizations, directions, consents, waivers, and other
communications required or permitted to be made, given, furnished,
or filed hereunder shall be in writing (and the specification of a
writing in certain instances and not in others does not imply an
intention that a writing is not required as to the latter), shall
refer specifically to this Agreement, and shall be
personally
52
delivered, sent by fax or telecommunications
transmission (which in either case provides written confirmation to
the sender of its delivery), sent by registered mail or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or sent by
next-business-day courier service, in each case to the address or
fax number set forth for such party in Schedule 1, or to such other
address or number as such party hereafter specifies by notice to
the other parties hereto. Each such notice, request, demand,
authorization, direction, consent, waiver, or other communication
shall be effective when received or, if made, given, furnished, or
filed by fax or telecommunication transmission, when
confirmed.
11.8 Governing Law
.
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
11.9 Submission to Jurisdiction;
Waivers .
Each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its
property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this
Agreement and the other Operative Agreements to which it is a
party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in
respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the
courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States
for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts
from any thereof;
(b) consents that any such action or
proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection
that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action
or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding
was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or
claim the same;
(c) agrees that service of process
in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy
thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially
similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party, at its
address set forth on Schedule 1 or at such other address of
which the Security Agent shall have been notified pursuant
thereto;
(d) agrees that nothing herein shall
affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner
permitted by Law or shall limit the right to sue in any other
jurisdiction; and
(e) waives, to the maximum extent
not prohibited by Law, any right it may have to claim or recover in
any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section any
special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.
11.10 Third-Party Beneficiary
.
This Agreement is not intended to,
and shall not, provide any Person not a party hereto (except the
Persons referred to in Section 9 who are intended third-party
beneficiaries of Section
53
9) with any rights of any nature whatsoever
against any of the parties hereto, and no Person not a party hereto
shall have any right, power, or privilege in respect of any party
hereto, or have any benefit or interest, arising out of this
Agreement.
11.11 Entire Agreement
.
This Agreement, together with the
other Operative Agreements, on and as of the date hereof,
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof, and all prior understandings or
agreements, whether written or oral, among any of the parties
hereto with respect to such subject matter are hereby superseded in
their entireties.
11.12 Acknowledgments
.
Borrower hereby acknowledges
that:
(a) it has been advised by counsel
in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the Operative Agreements;
(b) neither Security Agent nor any
Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to Borrower
arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the
other Operative Agreements, and the relationship between Security
Agent and the Lenders, on one hand, and Borrower, on the other
hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of
creditor and debtor respectively; and
(c) no joint venture is created
hereby or by the other Operative Agreements or otherwise exists by
virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or
among Borrower, Security Agent and the Lenders.
11.13 Further Assurances
.
Each party hereto shall execute,
acknowledge, and deliver (or shall cause to be executed,
acknowledged, and delivered) all such further agreements,
instruments, certificates, or other documents, and shall do and
cause to be done such further things, as any other party hereto
reasonably requests in connection with the administration of, or to
carry out more effectively the purposes of, or to assure and
confirm better to such other party the rights and benefits to be
provided under, this Agreement and the other Operative
Agreements.
11.14 Section
1110.
Borrower and the Lenders intend that
Security Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section 1110 in the event of a case under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy Code in which Borrower is a debtor.
11.15 Adjustments;
Set-Off.
(a) Except to the extent this
Agreement expressly provides for payments to be allocated to a
particular Lender, if any Lender (a “Benefitted
Lender”) shall, at any time after the Equipment Notes and
other amounts payable hereunder shall immediately
54
become due and payable pursuant to
Article 5 of the Mortgage, receive any payment of all or part
of the obligations owing to it, or receive any collateral in
respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set off,
pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in
Article 5 of the Mortgage or otherwise), in a greater
proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any
other Lender, if any, in respect of the Equipment Notes owing to
such other Lender, such Benefitted Lender shall purchase for cash
from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of
the Equipment Notes owing to each such other Lender, or shall
provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such
collateral, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefitted Lender
to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral ratably
with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any
portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered
from such Benefitted Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and
the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such
recovery, but without interest.
(b) In addition to any rights and
remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, each Lender shall have the
right, without prior notice to Borrower, any such notice being
expressly waived by Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable
Law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by Borrower hereunder
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), to
set off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all
deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or
claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or
owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the
credit or the account of Borrower. Each Lender agrees promptly to
notify Borrower and the Security Agent after any such setoff and
application made by such Lender, provided that the failure
to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff
and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section are
in addition to other rights and remedies that such Lender may
have.
11.16 Successors and
Assigns.
The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted
hereby, except that (i) Borrower may not assign or otherwise
transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the
prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment
or transfer by Borrower without such consent shall be null and
void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its
rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with
Section 7.1.
11.17 Waivers of Jury
Trial.
THE BORROWER, THE SECURITY AGENT AND
THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT
OR ANY OTHER OPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM
THEREIN.
55
11.18 Registrations with
International Registry.
Each of the parties hereto consents
to the registrations with the International Registry of the
International Interest (or Prospective International Interest)
constituted by the Mortgage, and each party hereto covenants and
agrees that it will take all such action reasonably requested by
Borrower or Security Agent in order to make any registrations with
the International Registry, including becoming a registry user
entity with the International Registry and providing consents to
any registration as may be contemplated by the Operative
Agreements.
If the financing of the Aircraft
shall fail to occur utilizing the Commitments hereunder, Security
Agent agrees to discharge from the International Registry any
Prospective International Interest which may have been registered
with the International Registry.
[The rest of this page is
intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the
parties has executed this Loan Agreement [N330AT].
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AIRTRAN
AIRWAYS, INC., Borrower
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By
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Name:
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Title:
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THE ROYAL BANK
OF SCOTLAND PLC
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NEW YORK
BRANCH, as Lender
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By
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Name:
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Title:
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THE ROYAL BANK
OF SCOTLAND PLC
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NEW YORK
BRANCH, as Security Agent
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By
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Name:
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Title:
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ANNEX A
D EFINITIONS
G ENERAL P ROVISIONS
(a) In the Loan Agreement, unless
otherwise expressly provided, a reference to:
(1) each of “Borrower”,
“Lender”, “Security Agent” and any other
Person includes any successor in interest to it and any permitted
transferee, permitted purchaser, or permitted assignee of
it;
(2) any agreement or other document
(including any annex, schedule, or exhibit thereto, or any other
part thereof) includes that agreement or other document as amended,
supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance
with its terms and in accordance with the Loan Agreement, and any
agreement or other document entered into in substitution or
replacement therefor;
(3) any provision of any Law
includes any such provision as amended, modified, supplemented,
substituted, reissued, or reenacted before the date of the Loan
Agreement, and thereafter from time to time;
(4) “Agreement”,
“this Agreement”, “hereby”,
“herein”, “hereto”, “hereof”,
“hereunder”, and words of similar import, when used in
the Loan Agreement, refer to the Loan Agreement as a whole and not
to any particular provision of the Loan Agreement;
(5) “including”,
“include”, and terms or phrases of similar import means
“including, without limitation”;
(6) a reference to a
“Section”, an “Exhibit”, an
“Annex”, or a “Schedule” in the Loan
Agreement, or in any annex thereto, is a reference to a section of,
or an exhibit, an annex, or a schedule to, the Loan Agreement or
such annex, respectively; and
(7) Each exhibit, annex, and
schedule to the Loan Agreement is incorporated in, and is a part
of, the Loan Agreement.
(b) Unless otherwise defined or
specified in the Loan Agreement, all accounting terms therein shall
be construed and all accounting determinations thereunder shall be
made in accordance with GAAP.
(c) Headings used in the Loan
Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not in any way affect
the construction of, or be taken into consideration in
interpreting, the Loan Agreement.
A-1
D EFINED T ERMS
Acceptable Potential Swap
Counterparties :
(A) JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Bank, BNP Paribas,
Calyon, Bayern Landesbank, CIBC, Royal Bank of Canada, ING,
Hypo-Vereinsbank, Dresdner, Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank,
Citibank, Wachovia, N.A., Halifax Bank of Scotland or HSH Nordbank;
provided, that each such bank agrees to a mutual break clause on
the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the exercise
of the Fixed Rate Option, or (B) such other banks as Security
Agent (acting at the instruction of the Majority in Interest of the
Lenders) and Borrower may mutually agree. It is understood and
agreed that if any Lender does not have either (x) sufficient
lines of credit for any bank listed in clause (A) above or
(y) an existing ISDA agreement in place with any bank listed
in clause (A) above and so informs the Borrower and the
Security Agent prior to the opening of business on the third
(3 rd ) Business Day prior to the
day on which a swap auction is being conducted pursuant to
Section 4.5 of the Loan Agreement, such bank will no longer be
an “Acceptable Potential Swap Counterparty” and the
Security Agent (acting as aforesaid) and Borrower shall cooperate
in good faith to select a replacement bank as Security Agent
(acting as aforesaid) and Borrower may mutually agree prior to the
date of such swap auction.
Account: as defined in Section 2.2(d) of the Loan
Agreement.
Actual Knowledge
: as it applies to any Person,
actual knowledge of a vice president or more-senior officer of such
Person or any other officer of such Person having responsibility
for the transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements;
provided, that each of Borrower and Security Agent shall be deemed
to have “Actual Knowledge” of any matter as to which it
has received notice pursuant to Section 11.7 of the Loan
Agreement.
Additional Costs
: as defined in Section 4.4(a)
of the Loan Agreement.
Adjusted Fixed Rate
Quote : has the meaning
set forth in Section 4.5(a) of the Loan Agreement.
Affiliate : of any Person, any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control”
means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or
otherwise, and “controlling”, “controlled
by”, and “under common control with” have
correlative meanings.
After-Tax Basis
: a basis such that any payment to
be received or receivable by any Person is supplemented by a
further payment to that Person so that the sum of the two payments,
after deducting all Taxes (taking into account any credits or
deductions attributable to the event or circumstance giving rise to
the requirement that the original payment be made) payable by such
Person or any of its Affiliates under any applicable Law or
governmental authority, is equal to the payment due to such
Person.
AGTA-CQT : the Aircraft General Terms Agreement AGTA-CQT,
dated as of July 3, 2003, by and between Airframe Manufacturer
and Borrower.
Aircraft : defined in the recitals of the Loan
Agreement.
A-2
Aircraft Bill of Sale
: the full warranty bill of sale
covering the Aircraft delivered by Seller to Borrower on the
Closing Date or pursuant to Section 4.5(c) of the
Mortgage.
Airframe Manufacturer
: The Boeing Company.
Assignment
: as defined in the Cape Town
Convention.
Associated Rights:
as defined in the Cape Town
Convention.
Aviation Authority
: the FAA or, if the Aircraft is
registered with any other Governmental Entity under and in
accordance with Section 4.2(e) of the Mortgage, such other
Governmental Entity.
Bankruptcy Code
: the United States Bankruptcy Code,
11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.
Bills of Sale
: the FAA Bill of Sale and the
Aircraft Bill of Sale.
Borrower Person
: Borrower, any lessee, assignee,
successor, or other user or Person in possession of the Aircraft,
the Airframe, or an Engine with or without color of right, or any
Affiliate of any of the foregoing (but excluding, in each case, any
Tax Indemnitee or any related Tax Indemnitee with respect thereto,
or any Person using or claiming any rights with respe