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Exhibit
10.12
FOURTH AMENDED AND
RESTATED
LETTER OF CREDIT
REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
dated as of June 4,
2004
among
MAX RE LTD.
as the Borrower,
VARIOUS FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS,
as the Lenders,
ING BANK N.V., LONDON
BRANCH
and
CITIBANK, NA
as Co-Agents,
and
BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Fronting Bank and as
Administrative Agent,
and LC Administrator for the
Lenders
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
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2 |
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SECTION 1.1
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Definitions
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2 |
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SECTION 1.2
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Other Interpretive Provisions
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16 |
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SECTION 1.3
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Accounting Principles
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17 |
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ARTICLE II. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF
COMMITMENT
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17 |
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SECTION 2.1
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Letter of Credit Commitment
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17 |
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SECTION 2.2
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Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of
Letters of Credit
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18 |
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SECTION 2.3
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Drawings and Reimbursements
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20 |
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SECTION 2.4
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Repayment of LC Advances
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23 |
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SECTION 2.5
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Role of the Lenders
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23 |
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SECTION 2.6
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Obligations Absolute
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24 |
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SECTION 2.7
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Continuing Letters of Credit
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25 |
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SECTION 2.8
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Applicability of ISP98
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25 |
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SECTION 2.9
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Interest
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25 |
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SECTION 2.10
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Payments by the Borrower
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26 |
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SECTION 2.11
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Warranty
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26 |
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SECTION 2.12
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Termination or Reduction of
Commitments
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26 |
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SECTION 2.13
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Mandatory Reduction/Cash
Collateralization of Letters of Credit
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27 |
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SECTION 2.14
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Fees
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28 |
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SECTION 2.15
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Computation of Fees and
Interest
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29 |
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SECTION 2.16
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Sharing of Payments, Etc.
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29 |
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SECTION 2.17
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Commitment Termination Date
Extension
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30 |
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SECTION 2.18
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Optional Increase in LC
Commitments
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31 |
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ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND
ILLEGALITY
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32 |
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SECTION 3.1
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Taxes
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32 |
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SECTION 3.2
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Illegality
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33 |
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SECTION 3.3
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Increased Costs and Reduction of
Return
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33 |
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SECTION 3.4
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Certificates of Lenders
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34 |
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SECTION 3.5
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Substitution of Lenders
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34 |
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SECTION 3.6
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Survival
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35 |
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ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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35 |
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SECTION 4.1
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Due Organization, Authorization,
etc.
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35 |
i
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SECTION 4.2
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Litigation and Contingent
Liabilities
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35 |
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SECTION 4.3
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Employee Benefit Plans
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36 |
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SECTION 4.4
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Regulated Entities
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36 |
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SECTION 4.5
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Regulations U and X
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36 |
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SECTION 4.6
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Proceeds
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36 |
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SECTION 4.7
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Business Locations
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36 |
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SECTION 4.8
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Accuracy of Information
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36 |
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SECTION 4.9
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Subsidiaries
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36 |
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SECTION 4.10
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Insurance Licenses
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36 |
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SECTION 4.11
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Taxes
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37 |
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SECTION 4.12
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Securities Laws
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37 |
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SECTION 4.13
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Compliance with Laws
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37 |
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SECTION 4.14
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Financial Condition
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38 |
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SECTION 4.15
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Insurance Act
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38 |
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SECTION 4.16
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First Priority Security
Interest
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38 |
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ARTICLE V. AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
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38 |
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SECTION 5.1
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Reports, Certificates and Other
Information
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38 |
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SECTION 5.2
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Corporate Existence; Foreign
Qualification
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41 |
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SECTION 5.3
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Books, Records and
Inspections
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42 |
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SECTION 5.4
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Insurance
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42 |
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SECTION 5.5
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Taxes and Liabilities
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42 |
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SECTION 5.6
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Compliance with Laws
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42 |
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SECTION 5.7
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Maintenance of Permits
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42 |
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SECTION 5.8
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Conduct of Business
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42 |
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SECTION 5.9
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Use of Letters of Credit
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42 |
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SECTION 5.10
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Further Assurances
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42 |
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ARTICLE VI. NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
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43 |
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SECTION 6.1
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Net Worth
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43 |
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SECTION 6.2
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Unencumbered Reserve
Requirement
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43 |
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SECTION 6.3
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Debt
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43 |
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SECTION 6.4
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Mergers, Consolidations and
Sales
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43 |
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SECTION 6.5
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Other Agreements
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43 |
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SECTION 6.6
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Transactions with Affiliates
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44 |
ii
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SECTION 6.7
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Liens
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44 |
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SECTION 6.8
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Restrictions On Negative Pledge
Agreements
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44 |
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SECTION 6.9
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Dividends, Etc.
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45 |
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SECTION 6.10
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Eligible Investments
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45 |
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ARTICLE VII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR
EFFECT
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45 |
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SECTION 7.1
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Events of Default
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45 |
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SECTION 7.2
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Effect of Event of Default
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47 |
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SECTION 7.3
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LC Collateral Account
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47 |
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ARTICLE VIII. CONDITIONS
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48 |
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SECTION 8.1
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Conditions to Occurrence of the
Amendment Effective Date
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48 |
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SECTION 8.2
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Conditions to All Credit
Extensions
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49 |
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ARTICLE IX. THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT
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50 |
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SECTION 9.1
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Appointment and Authorization
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50 |
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SECTION 9.2
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Delegation of Duties
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50 |
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SECTION 9.3
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Liability of Administrative
Agent
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50 |
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SECTION 9.4
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Reliance by Administrative
Agent
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51 |
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SECTION 9.5
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Notice of Default
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51 |
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SECTION 9.6
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Credit Decision
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52 |
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SECTION 9.7
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Indemnification
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52 |
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SECTION 9.8
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Administrative Agent in Individual
Capacity
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52 |
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SECTION 9.9
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Successor Administrative
Agent
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53 |
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SECTION 9.10
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Withholding Tax
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53 |
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SECTION 9.11
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Co-Agents
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54 |
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ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
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54 |
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SECTION 10.1
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Amendments and Waivers
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54 |
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SECTION 10.2
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Notices
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55 |
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SECTION 10.3
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No Waiver; Cumulative
Remedies
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56 |
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SECTION 10.4
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Costs and Expenses
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56 |
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SECTION 10.5
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Indemnity
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57 |
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SECTION 10.6
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Payments Set Aside
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57 |
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SECTION 10.7
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Successors and Assigns
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57 |
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SECTION 10.8
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Assignments, Participations,
etc.
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57 |
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SECTION 10.9
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Confidentiality
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59 |
iii
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SECTION 10.10
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Set-off
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59 |
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SECTION 10.11
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Notification of Addresses, Lending
Offices, Etc.
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60 |
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SECTION 10.12
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Counterparts; Facsimile
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60 |
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SECTION 10.13
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Severability
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60 |
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SECTION 10.14
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No Third Parties Benefitted
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60 |
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SECTION 10.15
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Governing Law and
Jurisdiction
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60 |
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SECTION 10.16
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Waiver of Jury Trial
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61 |
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SECTION 10.17
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Currency Indemnity
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61 |
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SECTION 10.18
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Service of Process
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62 |
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SECTION 10.19
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Entire Agreement
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62 |
iv
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| SCHEDULE 1.1 |
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Concentration Limits |
| SCHEDULE
2.1 |
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Commitments |
| SCHEDULE
2.7 |
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Continuing Letters of Credit |
| SCHEDULE
4.1 |
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Jurisdictions |
| SCHEDULE
4.2 |
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Litigation |
| SCHEDULE
4.7 |
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Locations |
| SCHEDULE
4.9 |
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Subsidiaries |
| SCHEDULE 4.10 |
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Insurance
Licenses |
| SCHEDULE
6.7 |
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Liens |
| SCHEDULE
10.2 |
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Addresses |
| EXHIBIT
A |
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Form of
Compliance Certificate |
| EXHIBIT
B |
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Form of
Borrowing Base Certificate |
| EXHIBIT
C |
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Form of
Assignment and Acceptance |
| EXHIBIT
D |
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Form of
Security Agreement |
| EXHIBIT
E |
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Form of
Letter of Credit |
| EXHIBIT
F |
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Form of
Commitment Increase Request |
v
FOURTH AMENDED AND
RESTATED
LETTER OF CREDIT
REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND
RESTATED LETTER OF CREDIT REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of June
4, 2004, is entered into by and among Max Re Ltd., a Bermuda
company (the “Borrower”), various financial
institutions which are parties hereto (the “Lenders”),
Bank of America, National Association, as fronting bank (in such
capacity, the “Fronting Bank”), Bank of America,
National Association, as letter of credit administrator (in such
capacity, the “LC Administrator”) and Bank of America,
National Association, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in
such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).
W I T
N E S S E T
H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower, Bank
of America, National Association, as LC Administrator and
Administrative Agent, and the Lenders entered into that certain
Third Amended and Restated Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement
dated as of June 5, 2003 (as amended or modified at and in effect
immediately prior to the Amendment Effective Date, the
“Existing Credit Agreement”) whereby Bank of America,
National Association and the Lenders severally issued letters of
credit and/or Bank of America, National Association issued (and the
Lenders participated in) letters of credit, in each case to
counterparties to support the Borrower’s obligations under
Reinsurance Agreements Primary Policies;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has
requested the Lenders to amend and restate the Existing Credit
Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
to set forth, among other things, the terms and conditions under
which the Lenders hereafter will make credit extensions to the
Borrower; it being the intention of the Borrower, the Lenders, the
Administrative Agent and the LC Administrator that this Agreement
and the Credit Documents executed in connection herewith shall not
effect the novation of the obligations of the Borrower under the
Existing Credit Agreement but be merely a restatement and, where
applicable, an amendment of and substitution for the terms
governing such obligations hereafter; and
WHEREAS, the Credit
Extensions listed on Schedule 2.7 pursuant to the Existing
Credit Agreement shall deem to be issued and outstanding hereunder
for all purposes hereof and of the Credit Documents after giving
effect to the Amendment Effective Date;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants
contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1
Definitions . When used herein the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
ABS means any
fixed-income instrument which is rated AAA/Aaa by S&P or
Moody’s or the equivalent rating from another nationally
recognized rating agency that entitles the holder of, or beneficial
owner under, the instrument to the whole or any part of the rights
or entitlements of a holder of a receivable or other asset and any
other rights or entitlements in respect of a pool of receivables or
other assets or any money payable by obligors under those
receivables or other assets (whether or not the money is payable to
the holder of, or beneficial owner under, the instrument on the
same terms and conditions as under the receivables or other assets)
in relation to receivables or other assets; provided
however , such receivables or assets shall be limited to
automobile loans, credit card receivables and home equity loans and
such other ABS assets as may be acceptable to the Administrative
Agent.
Administrative Agent
means (a) BofA, in its capacity as administrative agent for the
Lenders, and (b) each other Person as shall have subsequently been
appointed as the successor Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 9.9 .
Adjusted Fair Market
Value means, with respect to any Eligible Investments, an
amount equal to the product of the Fair Market Value of such
Eligible Investments and the applicable percentage with respect to
such Eligible Investment as set forth on Schedule 1.2
.
Affiliate of any
Person means any other Person which, directly or indirectly,
controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such
Person (excluding any trustee under, or any committee with
responsibility for administering, any Plan). A Person shall be
deemed to be:
(a) “controlled
by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly
or indirectly, power:
(i) to vote 20% or more of
the securities having at the time of any determination hereunder
voting power for the election of directors of such Person;
or
(ii) to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by
contract or otherwise; or
(b) “controlled
by” or “under common control with” such other
Person if such other Person is the executor, administrator, or
other personal representative of such Person.
Agent-Related Persons
means the Fronting Bank, the Administrative Agent, the LC
Administrator (and any successor administrative agent or letter of
credit administrator arising under Section 9.9 ), together
with its Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents
and attorneys-in-fact of such Person and Affiliates.
Agent’s Payment
Office means the address for payments set forth on Schedule
10.2 in relation to the Administrative Agent, or such other
address as the Administrative Agent may from time to time
specify.
Agreement means this
Fourth Amended and Restated Letter of Credit Reimbursement
Agreement.
2
Amendment Effective
Date means the date on which the conditions precedent for the
effectiveness of this Agreement specified in Section 8.1
shall be met.
Annual Statement
means, as to any Person, the annual financial statement of such
Person as required to be filed with the Minister (or similar
Governmental Authority) of such Person’s domicile, together
with all exhibits or schedules filed therewith, prepared in
conformity with SAP.
Assignee is defined in
Section 10.8(a) .
Assignment and
Acceptance is defined in Section 10.8(a) .
Attorney Costs means
and includes all fees and disbursements of any law firm or other
external counsel, the allocated cost of internal legal services and
all disbursements of internal counsel.
Authorized Officers
means those officers of the Borrower whose signatures and
incumbency shall have been certified to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to Section 8.1(c) .
Base Rate means, for
any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a)
Federal Funds Rate plus 1
/ 2 of 1%; and (b) the rate
of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time
to time by BofA as its prime commercial lending rate for Dollar
loans made in the United States. The “prime rate” is a
rate set by BofA based upon various factors including BofA’s
costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other
factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans,
which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any
change in the “prime rate” announced by BofA shall take
effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the
public announcement of such change.
Beneficiary means each
Person for whose benefit a Letter of Credit has been issued
hereunder.
BofA means Bank of
America, National Association, a national banking
association.
Borrower is defined in
the Preamble .
Borrowing Base
Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit B with such changes therein as the Administrative
Agent may request from time to time.
Business Day means any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banks in New York City, Chicago, or Hamilton, Bermuda are
authorized or required by law to close.
Capital Adequacy
Regulation means any guideline, request or directive of any
central bank or other Governmental Authority, or any other law,
rule or regulation, whether or not having the force of law, in each
case, regarding capital adequacy of any bank or of any Person
controlling a bank.
3
Capital Stock means,
as to any Person, any and all shares, interests, partnership
interest, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however
designated) of such Person’s equity interest (however
designated).
Capitalized Lease
means, as to any Person, any lease which is or should be
capitalized on the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, together
with any other lease which is in substance a financing lease,
including, without limitation, any lease under which (a) such
Person has or will have an option to purchase the property subject
thereto at a nominal amount or an amount less than a reasonable
estimate of the fair market value of such property as of the date
the lease is entered into or (b) the term of the lease approximates
or exceeds the expected useful life of the property leased
thereunder.
Cash shall mean
Dollars held by the Borrower in the Custody Account.
Cash Equivalents
means, at any time:
(a) Government Debt, maturing
not more than one year after such time;
(b) commercial paper,
maturing not more than one year from the date of issue, which is
issued by
(i) a corporation (except an
Affiliate of the Borrower) rated at least A-1 by S&P or P-1 by
Moody’s or the equivalent rating from another nationally
recognized agency, or
(ii) any Lender (or its
holding company);
(c) any certificate of
deposit or bankers’ acceptance or eurodollar time deposit,
maturing not more than one year after the date of issue, which is
issued by either
(i) a financial institution
which is rated at least BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Moody’s or
2 or above by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,
or
(ii) any Lender;
or
(d) any repurchase agreement
with a term of one year or less which
(i) is entered into
with
(A) any Lender, or
(B) any other commercial
banking institution of the stature referred to in clause
(c)(i) , and
(ii) is secured by a fully
perfected Lien in any obligation of the type described in any of
clauses (a) through (c) that has a market value at
the time such repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than
100% of the repurchase obligation of such Lender (or other
commercial banking institution) thereunder;
4
(e) investments in money
market funds that invest solely in Cash Equivalents described in
clauses (a) through (d) ; and
(f) investments in short-term
asset management accounts offered by any Lender for the purpose of
investing in loans to any corporation (other than an Affiliate of
the Borrower) organized under the laws of any state of the United
States or of the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by
S&P or P-1 by Moody’s.
Change in Control
shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) any sale, lease, exchange
or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of Parent
or the Borrower occurs; (b) any “person” as such term
is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is or
becomes, directly or indirectly, the “beneficial
owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of
securities of the Parent that represent 51% or more of the combined
voting power of the Parent’s then outstanding securities
other than Moore Holdings and Capital Z Partners, (c) during any
period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning
of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Borrower
(together with any new directors whose election by the Board of
Directors or whose nomination by the stockholders of Parent was
approved by a vote of the directors of the Parent then still in
office who are either directors at the beginning of such period or
whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
Parent’s Board of Directors then in office; or (d) the Parent
ceases to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Capital Stock of
and beneficial interest in the Borrower entitled to vote upon
general matters submitted to shareholders including election of the
board of directors.
Code means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and any successor statute
of similar import, together with the regulations thereunder, as
amended, reformed or otherwise modified and in effect from time to
time. References to sections of the Code shall be construed to also
refer to successor sections.
Collateral means all
property and assets that are from time to time subject to the
Security Agreement.
Commitment means the
Tranche A Commitments and the Tranche B Commitments.
Commitment Termination
Date means the earliest to occur of (a) June 3, 2005 as such
date may be extended pursuant to Section 2.17 or (b) the
date on which any Commitment Termination Event occurs.
Commitment Termination
Event means (a) the occurrence of a Default described in
Section 7.1(e) or (b) the occurrence and continuance of any
other Event of Default and either (i) the Obligations are declared
to be due and payable pursuant to Section 7.2 , or (ii) in
the absence of such declaration, the Administrative Agent, acting
at the direction of the Required Lenders, gives notice to the
Borrower that the Commitments have been terminated.
Compliance Certificate
means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A
but with such changes as the Administrative Agent may from time to
time request for purposes of monitoring the Borrower’s
compliance herewith.
5
Concentration Limits
means the limitations on issuers and other investment parameters
set forth on Schedule 1.1 .
Contingent Liability
means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which any Person
(outside the ordinary course of business) guarantees, endorses,
acts as surety for or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable
for (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to
provide funds for payment by, to supply funds to, or otherwise to
invest in, a debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against
loss) the Debt, obligation or other liability of any other Person
(other than by endorsements of instruments in the course of
collection), or for the payment of dividends or other distributions
upon the shares of any other Person or undertakes or agrees
(contingently or otherwise) to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise
acquire or become responsible for any Debt, obligation or liability
or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or
discharge thereof (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock
purchases, capital contributions or otherwise), or to maintain
solvency, assets, level of income, or other financial condition of
any other Person, or to make payment or transfer property to any
other Person other than for fair value received; provided ,
however , that obligations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries under Reinsurance Agreements and Primary Policies
which are entered into in the ordinary course of business shall not
be deemed to be Contingent Liabilities for the purposes of this
Agreement. The amount of any Person’s obligation under any
Contingent Liability shall (subject to any limitation set forth
therein) be deemed to be the outstanding principal amount (or
maximum permitted principal amount, if larger) of the Debt,
obligation or other liability guaranteed or supported
thereby.
Continuing Letters of
Credit is defined in Section 2.7 .
Contractual Obligation
means, relative to any Person, any obligation, commitment or
undertaking under any agreement or other instrument to which such
Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound or
subject.
Corporate/Municipal
Securities means publicly traded securities (other than
preferred stock) issued by a corporation organized in the United
States or by any state or municipality located in the United
States.
Credit Documents means
this Agreement, each LC Application, each LC Amendment Application,
the Security Agreement and all other agreements, instruments,
certificates, documents, schedules or other written indicia
delivered by the Borrower in connection with any of the
foregoing.
Credit Extension means
the issuance of any Letter of Credit or the amendment or extension
of the stated expiry date of any existing Letter of
Credit.
Custody Account means
account no. MRLF0010302 at Mellon Bank N.A. as to which Mellon Bank
N.A. and the Administrative Agent have entered into that certain
Control Agreement dated as of February 25, 2000, as amended by
Amendment to Account Control Agreement as of July 30,
2001.
Debt means, with
respect to any Person, at any date, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money or in respect of
loans or advances; (b) all
6
obligations of such Person evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (c) all
obligations in respect of letters of credit which have been drawn
but not reimbursed by the Person for whose account such letter of
credit was issued, and bankers’ acceptances issued for the
account of such Person; (d) all obligations in respect of
Capitalized Leases of such Person; (e) all net Hedging Obligations
of such Person; (f) whether or not so included as liabilities in
accordance with GAAP, all obligations of such Person to pay the
deferred purchase price of property or services; (g) Debt of such
Person secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by
such Person (including Debt arising under conditional sales or
other title retention agreements) whether or not such Debt is
limited in recourse; (h) any Debt of another Person secured by a
Lien on any assets of such first Person, whether or not such Debt
is assumed by such first Person (it being understood that if such
Person has not assumed or otherwise become personally liable for
any such Debt, the amount of the Debt of such person in connection
therewith shall be limited to the lesser of the face amount of such
Debt and the fair market value of all property of such Person
securing such Debt); (i) any Debt of a partnership in which such
Person is a general partner unless such Debt is nonrecourse to such
Person; and (j) all Contingent Liabilities of such Person whether
or not in connection with the foregoing; provided that,
notwithstanding anything to contrary contained herein, Debt shall
not include (x) contingent liabilities arising out of endorsements
of checks and other negotiable instruments for deposit or
collection in the ordinary course of business or, (y) unsecured
current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and
paid within 90 days after the due date (unless contested diligently
in good faith by appropriate proceedings and, if requested by the
Administrative Agent, reserved against in conformity with GAAP)
other than liabilities that are for money borrowed or are evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (except as
described in clause (x) above) or (z) any obligations of such
Person under any Reinsurance Agreement or Primary
Policy.
Default means any
condition or event, which, after notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute an Event of Default.
Dollar(s) and the sign
“ $ ” means lawful money of the United States of
America.
Drawing Request is
defined in Section 2.3(a) .
Drawing Request Date
is defined in Section 2.3(a) .
Eligible Assignee
means a Person who is(a) a commercial bank organized under the laws
of the United States, or any state thereof, and having a combined
capital and surplus of at least $250,000,000; (b) a commercial bank
organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the
“OECD”), or a political subdivision of any such
country, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$250,000,000, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or
agency located in the United States; (c) a Person that is primarily
engaged in the business of commercial banking and that is (i) a
Subsidiary of a Lender, (ii) a Subsidiary of a Person of which a
Lender is a Subsidiary, or (iii) a Person of which a Lender is a
Subsidiary; or (d) mutual funds, pension funds and other
institutional investors (except an Affiliate of the Borrower)
regularly engaged in the making of commercial loans.
7
Eligible Investments
means Cash, Cash Equivalents, MBS Investments, ABSs,
Corporate/Municipal Securities, Government Securities and G7
Securities which (a) have the required rating as set forth on
Schedule 1.2 , (b) are capable of being marked to market on
a daily basis and (c) are held in the Custody Account.
ERISA means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and
any successor statute of similar import, together with the
regulations promulgated thereunder and under the Code, in each case
as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA
also refer to successor sections.
Event of Default means
any of the events described in Section 7.1 .
Executive Officer
means, as to any Person, the president, the chief financial
officer, the chief executive officer or a senior vice president who
performs similar functions.
Fair Market Value
shall mean (a) with respect to any publicly-traded security (other
than those set forth in clause (b)) the closing price for such
security on the largest exchange on which such security is traded
(or if not traded on an exchange, then the average of the closing
bid and ask prices quoted over-the-counter) on the date of the
determination (as such prices are reported in The Wall Street
Journal (Midwest Edition) or if not so reported, in any nationally
recognized financial journal or newspaper), (b) with respect to
Cash and Cash Equivalents, the amounts thereof, (c) with respect to
any Private Fund Investment, on any date of calculation, the amount
that would be received with respect thereto if the entire amount of
the applicable capital or other similar account relating thereto
were withdrawn on such date (regardless of whether a contractual
right exists to make any withdrawal on such date) and (d) with
respect to any Investment (other than those set forth in clauses
(a) , (b) and (c) ), the price for such
Investment on the date of calculation obtained from a generally
recognized source approved by the Administrative Agent or the most
recent bid quotation from such approved source (or, if no generally
recognized source exists as to a particular Investment, any other
source specified by the Borrower to which the Administrative Agent
does not reasonably object).
Federal Funds Rate
means, for any day, the rate set forth in the weekly statistical
release designated as H.15(519), or any successor publication,
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (including any
such successor, “H.15(519)”) on the preceding Business
Day opposite the caption “Federal Funds (Effective)”;
or, if for any relevant day such rate is not so published on any
such preceding Business Day, the rate for such day will be the
arithmetic mean as determined by the Administrative Agent of the
rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal funds arranged
prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that day by each of
three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York
City selected by the Administrative Agent.
Fee Letter is defined
in Section 2.14 .
Final Maturity Date
means the first anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date set
forth in clause (a) of the definition thereof as extended
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.17 .
Fiscal Quarter means
any quarter of a Fiscal Year.
8
Fiscal Year means any
period of twelve consecutive calendar months ending on the last day
of December.
Fleet Agreement is
defined in Section 8.1(h) .
FRB means the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any Governmental
Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Fronting Bank means
BofA in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit in which the
Lenders have a Risk Participation.
G7 Government
Securities means any evidence of Debt, maturing not more than
five years after such time, issued or guaranteed by any country
which is a member of the G7 other than the United
States.
GAAP means generally
accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and
statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and
authority within the U.S. accounting profession), which are
applicable to the circumstances as of the date of
determination.
Governmental Authority
means any nation or government, any state or other political
subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government.
Government Debt means
evidence of Debt issued or guaranteed by the United States
Government or any agency thereof.
Hedging Obligations
means, with respect to any Person, (a) the net liability of such
Person under any futures contract or options contract (including
property catastrophe futures and options), interest rate swap
agreements and interest rate collar agreements and all other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against
catastrophic events, fluctuations in interest rates or currency
exchange rates and (b) Total Return Equity Swaps.
Indemnified
Liabilities is defined in Section 10.5 .
Indemnified Person is
defined in Section 10.5 .
Individual Commitment
means, with respect to any Lender, the amount of such
Lender’s Percentage times the Total Commitments, it being
understood that each Lender’s Individual Commitment shall be
the total amount such Lender is obligated to extend to the Borrower
under its Tranche A Commitment and its Tranche B Commitment
notwithstanding that the Tranche A Commitment and the Tranche B
Commitment of such Lender may exceed its Individual Commitment. The
initial amount of the Individual Commitment of each Lender is set
forth on Schedule 2.1.
9
Individual Outstanding
Amount means, with respect to any Lender, the sum of (a) such
Lender’s Tranche A LC Obligations plus (b) such
Lender’s Tranche B LC Obligations.
Insurance Code means,
with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the insurance
regulation of such Person’s domicile and any successor
statute of similar import, together with the regulations
thereunder, as amended or otherwise modified and in effect from
time to time. References to sections of the Insurance Code shall be
construed to also refer to successor sections.
Insurance Policies
means policies purchased from insurance companies by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries for its own account to insure against
its own liability and property loss (including, without limitation,
casualty, liability and workers’ compensation
insurance).
Investment means, as
to any Person, any investment of any Person, whether by means of
security purchase, capital contribution, loan, time deposit or
otherwise, and shall include without limitation Cash and Cash
Equivalents.
Investment Grade
Assets means Cash Equivalents, Government Debt, MBS
Investments, ABSs, Corporate/Municipal Securities and G7 Securities
which are rated at least BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by
Moody’s.
IRS means the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental Authority succeeding
to any of its principal functions under the Code.
Issue means, with
respect to any Letter of Credit, to issue, to amend or to extend
the expiry of, or to renew or increase the amount of, such Letter
of Credit; and the terms “Issued”,
“Issuing” and “Issuance” have corresponding
meanings.
Issuer means, with
respect to any Letter of Credit, the Person or Persons who have
issued such Letter of Credit.
January 7, 2002 Letter
Agreement means the January 7, 2002 Letter Agreement whereby
the Lenders consented to the pledge of collateral and limited
guaranty by MDS of the referenced letter of credit
facility.
LC Administrator means
BofA’s Letter of Credit Operations located at 231 South
LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60697, as letter of credit
administrator for the Lenders, together with any replacement LC
Administrator arising under Section 9.9 .
LC Advance means each
Lender’s participation in any LC Borrowing in accordance with
its Percentage.
LC Advance Date is
defined in Section 2.3(c) .
LC Amendment
Application means an application form for amendment of an
outstanding letter of credit as shall at any time be in use by the
LC Administrator.
10
LC Application means
an application form for issuances of a letter of credit as shall at
any time be in use by the LC Administrator.
LC Borrowing means an
extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of
Credit which shall not have been reimbursed by the Borrower on the
date when made.
LC Collateral Account
is defined in Section 2.13 .
LC Obligations means,
at any time, the sum, without duplication, of the Tranche A LC
Obligations and the Tranche B LC Obligations.
LC Related Documents
means the Letters of Credit, the LC Applications and any other
document relating to any Letter of Credit, including any of the LC
Administrator’s standard form documents for Letter of Credit
issuances or amendments.
Lenders is defined in
the Preamble .
Lending Office means,
as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender specified as
its “Lending Office” on Schedule 10.2 , or such
other office or offices as such Lender may from time to time notify
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
Letter of Credit means
a standby letter of credit having terms and provisions which are
permitted by this Agreement and which otherwise are reasonably
satisfactory to the LC Administrator issued pursuant to Section
2.2 .
License(s) is defined
in Section 4.10 .
Lien means, when used
with respect to any Person, any interest in any real or personal
property, asset or other right held, owned or being purchased or
acquired by such Person for its own use, consumption or enjoyment
which secures payment or performance of any obligation and shall
include any mortgage, lien, pledge, encumbrance, charge, retained
title of a conditional vendor or lessor, or other security
agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, chattel mortgage, assignment,
pledge, retention of title, financing or similar statement or
notice, or other encumbrance arising as a matter of law, judicial
process or otherwise.
Margin Stock means
“margin stock” as such term is defined in Regulation U
or X of the FRB.
Material Adverse
Effect means, the occurrence of an event (including any adverse
determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental
investigation or proceeding), which has or could reasonably be
expected to have a materially adverse effect on:
(a) the assets, business,
financial condition, operation or prospects of the Borrower;
or
(b) the ability of the
Borrower to perform any of its payment or other material
obligations under any of the Credit Documents; or
11
(c) the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Credit
Document that by its terms purports to bind the
Borrower.
MBS (Agency
Pass-Throughs) means any instrument, issued by the Federal
National Mortgage Association, the Government National Mortgage
Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, that
entitles the holder of, or beneficial owner under, the instrument
to the whole or any part of the rights or entitlements of a
mortgagee and any other rights or entitlements in respect of a pool
of mortgages or any money payable by mortgagors under those
mortgages in relation to real estate mortgages, and the money
payable to the holder of, or beneficiary owner under, the
instrument is based on actual or scheduled payments on the
underlying mortgages.
MBS (Agency CMOs)
means collateralized mortgage obligations or real estate mortgage
investment conduit pass through securities, in any case issued by
the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Government National
Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation.
MBS Investments means
MBS (Agency CMOs) and MBS (Non-Agency CMOs) which constitute TACs,
PACs and Sequentials (as such terms are defined by Bloomberg Inc.)
and shall not include Support Tranches (as such term is defined by
Bloomberg Inc.) and MBS (Agency Pass-Throughs). The weighted
average duration of such MBS Investments shall be less than or
equal to seven years. The maximum weighted average life of any
single MBS Investment shall not exceed 12 years. To the extent MBS
Investments included within Eligible Investments violate the
restrictions set forth herein, the Fair Market Value of such MBS
Investments shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base; provided,
however, that only those MBS Investments having the lowest
aggregate Fair Market Value whose exclusions will result in
compliance shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base.
MBS (Non-Agency CMOs)
means collateralized commercial mortgage obligations or commercial
real estate mortgage investment conduit pass through securities,
not issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the
Government National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation.
MDS means Max Re
Diversified Strategies Ltd.
MDS Shares means
common shares of MDS so long as (a) MDS is an investment vehicle
which is not required to be registered as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (b) MDS permits equity
withdrawals not less frequently than quarterly, (c) MDS has Moore
Capital Management LLC as either its manager or investment advisor,
(d) the Borrower possesses directly or indirectly, (x) power to
vote the securities having at the time of any determination
hereunder more than 51% of the voting power for the election of
directors of MDS and (y) power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of MDS whether by contract or
otherwise, and (e) not less than 85% of MDS’s investments are
capable of being marked to market daily.
Minister means the
Minister of Finance of Bermuda or similar Governmental Authority in
the applicable jurisdiction.
12
Moody’s means
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Net Worth means, for
any Person, shareholders equity calculated in accordance with
GAAP.
Obligations means all
obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent, the LC Administrator, the Fronting Bank or any of the
Lenders, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, primary or secondary, joint or
several, recourse or nonrecourse or now or hereafter existing or
due or to become due, whether for LC Advances, interest, fees,
expenses, claims, indemnities or otherwise, under or in connection
with this Agreement, or any other Credit Document.
Ordinary Course
Litigation is defined in Section 4.2 .
Organization Documents
means, for any corporation, the certificate or articles of
incorporation, the bylaws, any certificate of determination or
instrument relating to the rights of preferred shareholders of such
corporation, any shareholder rights agreement, and all applicable
resolutions of the board of directors (or any committee thereof) of
such corporation.
Other Taxes means any
present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or
property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any
payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or
registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or
any other Credit Documents.
Parent means MaxRe
Capital Ltd., a Bermuda company (f/k/a Maximus Capital Holdings,
Ltd.).
Participating Bank
means, from time to time, with respect to Letters of Credit Issued
by the Issuers severally based on their respective Percentages,
each Lender for whose Percentage the Fronting Bank has agreed to be
liable.
Participants is
defined in Section 10.8(d) .
PBGC means the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all
of its functions.
Percentage means as to
any Lender at any time, the percentage equivalent (expressed as a
decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) at such time of such
Lender’s Commitment divided by the combined Commitments of
all Lenders.
Permitted Guarantees
means (a) guarantees by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of
the obligations of another Subsidiary under Reinsurance Agreements
and Primary Policies issued by such Subsidiary, (b) the guarantee
listed on Schedule 4.2 and (c) agreements by the Borrower in favor
of a Subsidiary to maintain the capital of such Subsidiary at 150%
of the required regulatory level.
13
Person means any
natural person, corporation, partnership, firm, trust, association,
government, governmental agency or other entity, whether acting in
an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.
Plan means any
“employee pension benefit plan” or “employee
welfare benefit plan” as such terms are defined in ERISA, and
as to which the Borrower has or may have any liability, including
any liability by reason of having been a substantial employer
within the meaning of section 4063 of ERISA for any time within the
preceding five years or by reason of being deemed to be a
contributing sponsor under section 4069 of ERISA.
Primary Policies means
any insurance policies issued by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.
Purchase Money Debt
means and includes (a) Debt (other than the Obligations) for the
payment of all or any part of the purchase price of any fixed
assets, (b) any Debt (other than the Obligations) incurred at the
time of or within ten (10) days prior to or after the acquisition
of any fixed assets for the purpose of financing all or any part of
the purchase price thereof, and (c) any renewals, extensions, or
refinancings thereof, but not any increases in the principal
amounts thereof outstanding at such time, but excluding, for
purposes of this definition, any such Debt constituting a
Capitalized Lease.
Purchase Money Lien
means a Lien upon fixed assets which secures Purchase Money Debt,
but only if such Lien shall at all times be confined solely to the
fixed assets the purchase price of which was financed through the
incurrence of the Purchase Money Debt secured by such
Lien.
Reinsurance Agreements
means any agreement, contract, treaty, certificate or other
arrangement whereby the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries agrees
to assume from or reinsure another insurer or reinsurer all or part
of the liability of such insurer or reinsurer under a policy or
policies of insurance issued by such insurer or
reinsurer.
Required Lenders
means, at any time, Lenders then having at least 50% of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments have
been terminated, Lenders then holding at least 50% of the then
aggregate outstanding Credit Extensions.
Requirement of Law for
any Person means the Organization Documents of such Person, and any
law, treaty, rule, ordinance or regulation or determination of an
arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case
applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or
to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
Risk Participation is
defined in Section 2.5 .
SAP means the
statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the
Minister (or other similar Governmental Authority) in the
Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s domicile for the
preparation of Annual Statements and other financial reports by
insurance corporations of the same type as the Borrower or such
Subsidiary as the case may be.
14
Security Agreement
means the Security Agreement dated as of February 25, 2000 between
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, as such Security
Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time.
S&P means Standard
& Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc.
Subsidiary means a
corporation of which the indicated Person and/or its other
Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, own, directly or
indirectly, such number of outstanding shares as have at the time
of any determination hereunder more than 50% of the ordinary voting
power. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” shall
mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
Taxes means any and
all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges
or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto,
excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent,
such taxes (including income taxes or franchise taxes) as are
imposed on or measured by each Lender’s net income by the
jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws
of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may
be, is organized or maintains a lending office.
Total Commitments
means $300,000,000 as such amount may be increased pursuant to
Section 2.18 or decreased pursuant to Section 2.12
.
Total Outstanding
Amount means, on any date, the sum of (a) the Tranche A LC
Obligations plus (b) the Tranche B LC Obligations as of such
date.
Total Return Equity
Swap shall mean any total return equity swap entered into by
the Borrower in connection with the common shares of
MDS.
Tranche A Borrowing
Base means, on any date, an amount equal to the sum of the
Adjusted Fair Market Value of all Eligible Investments.
Tranche A Commitment
means, as to any Lender, the commitment of such Lender to issue
Tranche A Letters of Credit for the account of the Company pursuant
to Section 2.1 . The initial amount of the Tranche A
Commitment of each Lender is set forth on Schedule 2.1
.
Tranche A LC
Obligations means, at any time, the sum, without duplication,
of (a) the aggregate undrawn stated amount of all outstanding
Tranche A Letters of Credit plus (b) the aggregate unpaid amount of
all LC Advances with respect to Tranche A Letters of
Credit.
Tranche A Letter of
Credit means a Letter of Credit issued pursuant to the Tranche
A Commitment.
Tranche B Borrowing
Base means, the sum of (a) 50% of the Fair Market Value of all
MDS Shares held in the Custody Account plus (b) an amount equal to
the difference between the Tranche A Borrowing Base and the Tranche
A LC Obligations.
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Tranche B Commitment
means, as to any Lender, the commitment of such Lender to issue
Tranche B Letters of Credit for the account of the Company pursuant
to Section 2.1 . The initial amount of the Tranche B
Commitment of each Lender is set forth on Schedule 2.1
.
Tranche B LC
Obligations means, at any time, the sum, without duplication,
of (a) the aggregate undrawn stated amount of all outstanding
Tranche B Letters of Credit plus (b) the aggregate unpaid amount of
all LC Advances with respect to Tranche B Letters of
Credit.
Tranche B Letter of
Credit means any Letter of Credit issued under the Tranche B
Commitment.
Unencumbered Asset Reserve
Requirement is defined in Section 6.2 .
Unencumbered Assets
means Investment Grade Assets of the Borrower and MDS Shares which
are not subject to any Liens.
SECTION 1.2 Other
Interpretive Provisions .
(a) The meanings of defined
terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of
the defined terms.
(b) The words
“hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder”
and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement; and subsection, Section,
Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified.
(c) (i) The term
“documents” includes any and all instruments,
documents, agreements, certificates, indentures, notices and other
writings, however evidenced.
(ii) The term
“including” is not limiting and means “including
without limitation.”
(iii) In the computation of
periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date,
the word “from” means “from and including”;
the words “to” and “until” each mean
“to but excluding”, and the word “through”
means “to and including.”
(d) Unless otherwise
expressly provided herein, (i) references to agreements (including
this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed
to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications
thereto, but only to the extent such amendments and other
modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Credit
Document, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to
be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions
consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting
the statute or regulation.
(e) The captions and headings
of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) This Agreement and other
Credit Documents may use several different limitations, tests or
measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such
limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each
be performed in accordance with their terms.
16
(g) This Agreement and the
other Credit Documents are the result of negotiations among and
have been reviewed by counsel to the Administrative Agent, the
Borrower and the other parties, and are the products of all
parties. Accordingly, they shall not be construed against the
Lenders or the Administrative Agent merely because of the
Administrative Agent’s or Lenders’ involvement in their
preparation.
SECTION 1.3 Accounting
Principles . Unless otherwise defined or the context otherwise
requires, all financial and accounting terms used herein or in any
of the Credit Documents or any certificate or other document made
or delivered pursuant hereto shall be defined in accordance with
GAAP or SAP, as the context may require. When used in this
Agreement, the term “financial statements” shall
include the notes and schedules thereto. In addition, when used
herein, the terms “best knowledge of” or “to the
best knowledge of” any Person shall mean matters within the
actual knowledge of such Person (or an Executive Officer of such
Person) or which should have been known by such Person after
reasonable inquiry.
ARTICLE II.
AMOUNT AND TERMS OF
COMMITMENT
SECTION 2.1 Letter of
Credit Commitment .
(a) Upon and subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, (i) the Fronting Bank hereby agrees to
issue Letters of Credit at the request of and for the account of
the Borrower from time to time before the Commitment Termination
Date, (ii) each Issuer hereby agrees to issue Letters of Credit at
the request of and for the account of the Borrower from time to
time before the Commitment Termination Date in such Issuer’s
Percentage of such aggregate stated amounts of Letters of Credit as
the Borrower may from time to time request, (iii) each Lender
hereby agrees to purchase Risk Participations in the obligations of
the Fronting Bank under Letters of Credit Issued by the Fronting
Bank, and (iv) with respect to Letters of Credit Issued by the
Issuers severally based on their respective Percentages, the
Fronting Bank shall be severally (and not jointly) liable for an
amount equal to its Percentage plus each Participating Bank’s
Percentage and each Participating Bank hereby agrees to purchase
Risk Participations in the obligations of the Fronting Bank under
any such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to such Participating
Bank’s Percentage; provided that no Issuer shall be obligated
to issue (and no Participating Bank shall be obligated to
participate in) any Letter of Credit if as of the date of issuance
of such Letter of Credit (A) in the case of a Tranche A Letter of
Credit, the Tranche A LC Obligations outstanding shall exceed the
lesser of (x) the combined Tranche A Commitments and (y) the
Tranche A Borrowing Base, (B) with respect to any Tranche B Letter
of Credit, the aggregate amount of Tranche B LC Obligations
outstanding shall exceed the lesser of (x) the combined Tranche B
Commitments and (y) the Tranche B Borrowing Base, (C) after giving
effect to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, the Total
Outstanding Amount would exceed the Total Commitments or (D) the
conditions in Section 2.1(b) are not met.
(b) No Issuer shall be under
any obligation to Issue any Letter of Credit and no Participating
Bank shall have any obligation to participate in any Letter of
Credit if:
(i) such issuance would be
prohibited under Section 3.2 ;
17
(ii) the Administrative Agent
or LC Administrator has received written notice from the Fronting
Bank or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, or the Borrower,
on or prior to the Business Day prior to the requested date of
Issuance of such Letter of Credit, that one or more of the
applicable conditions contained in Section 8.2 is not then
satisfied;
(iii) the expiry date of such
Letter of Credit is less than five Business Days prior to the Final
Maturity Date, unless all of the Lenders have approved such expiry
date in writing;
(iv) in the case of Letters
of Credit issued by the Lenders (other than a Participating Bank),
such Letter of Credit is not substantially in the form of Exhibit E
hereto, or is not otherwise in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the LC Administrator and
the Fronting Bank; provided that the Administrative Agent and the
LC Administrator can and will, agree to reasonable changes to such
form, not adverse to the interests of the Lenders, requested by
applicable insurance regulators; or
(v) such Letter of Credit is
denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or
(vi) after giving effect to
issuance of such Letter of Credit, any Lender’s Individual
Outstanding Amount would exceed such Lender’s Individual
Commitment; or
(vii) a Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing.
(c) The Letters of Credit
Issued by and the Risk Participations of each Lender and the
reimbursement obligations with respect thereto shall be evidenced
by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the
ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by
the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive (absent manifest
error) as to the amount of the LC Advances made to the Borrower and
the Letters of Credit Issued for the account of the Borrower, and
the amounts of principal, interest and fees owing hereunder. Any
failure so to record or any error in doing so shall not, however,
limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder
to pay any amount owing with respect to any LC Advance or any
Letter of Credit.
SECTION 2.2 Issuance,
Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit
(a) Each Letter of Credit
shall be Issued upon the irrevocable written request of the
Borrower received by the LC Administrator at least 5 Business Days
(or such shorter time as the Administrative Agent, the LC
Administrator and the Issuer may agree in a particular instance in
their sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of issuance. The
LC Administrator shall promptly advise the Administrative Agent of
any such request. Each such request for issuance of a Letter of
Credit shall be by facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original
writing, in the form of an LC Application, and shall specify in
form and detail satisfactory to the LC Administrator: (i) the
proposed date of issuance of the Letter of Credit (which shall be a
Business Day); (ii) the face amount of the Letter of Credit; (iii)
the expiry date of the Letter of Credit; (iv) the name and address
of the Beneficiary thereof; (v) the documents to be presented by
the Beneficiary of the Letter of Credit in case of any drawing
thereunder; (vi) the full text of any certificate to be
18
presented by the Beneficiary in case of
any drawing thereunder; (vii) whether such Letter of Credit is to
be issued by the Fronting Bank or by the Issuers (it being agreed
that in the event an Issuer advises the LC Administrator that such
Issuer is unable (due to regulatory restrictions or other legal
impediments) to Issue a Letter of Credit because of its
relationship to the Beneficiary, such Letter of Credit will be
issued by the Fronting Bank); (viii) whether such Letter of Credit
is to be a Tranche A Letter of Credit or a Tranche B Letter of
Credit; and (ix) such other matters as the LC Administrator may
require. The LC Administrator is hereby authorized to execute and
deliver each Letter of Credit to be Issued by the Issuers on behalf
of the Issuers provided, that at the request of the Borrower, such
Letter of Credit will be executed by each of the Issuers. In the
event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and
the provisions of an LC Application, this Agreement shall govern.
The LC Administrator shall use each Issuer’s Percentage as
its “Commitment Share” under each Letter of Credit
Issued by the Issuers provided that the Fronting Bank shall be
severally (and not jointly) liable for an amount equal to its
Percentage plus the Percentage of each Participating Bank. The LC
Administrator shall not amend any Letter of Credit Issued by the
Issuers to change the “Commitment Shares” or add or
delete an Issuer liable thereunder unless such amendment is done in
connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.8 or in
connection with the addition of an Issuer or a Participating Bank
pursuant to Section 2.18 .
(b) From time to time while a
Letter of Credit is outstanding and prior to the Commitment
Termination Date, the Issuer will, upon the written request of the
Borrower received by the LC Administrator at least 5 Business Days
(or such shorter time as the Administrative Agent, the LC
Administrator and the Issuer may agree in a particular instance in
their sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of amendment,
amend any Letter of Credit Issued by them. The LC Administrator
shall promptly advise the Administrative Agent of any such request.
Each such request for amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be made
by facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original writing, made in
the form of an LC Amendment Application and shall specify in form
and detail satisfactory to the LC Administrator: (i) the Letter of
Credit to be amended; (ii) the proposed date of amendment of such
Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the nature
of the proposed amendment; and (iv) such other matters as the LC
Administrator may require. No Issuer shall have any obligation to
amend any Letter of Credit if: (A) such Issuer would have not been
obligated at such time to Issue or participate in such Letter of
Credit in its amended form under the terms of this Agreement; or
(B) the Beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the
proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit. The Issuers and the
Fronting Bank agree, upon the request of the Borrower and as long
as no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, to amend any Letter of Credit to extend the expiry date
thereof to a date not later than five Business Days prior to the
Final Maturity Date. The LC Administrator is hereby authorized to
execute and deliver each amendment to a Letter of Credit Issued by
the Issuers on behalf of the Issuers provided that, upon request of
the Borrower, such amendment will be executed by each
Issuers.
(c) The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify each Lender of the receipt of a written
request from the Borrower for the issuance of or an amendment to a
Letter of Credit and, with respect to the issuance of or Risk
Participation in a Letter of Credit, the amount of such
Lender’s share of such Letter of Credit which shall equal its
Percentage thereof. In addition, at least two Business Days prior
to the issuance or amendment of any Letter of Credit, the
Administrative Agent will confirm to the Lenders (by telephone or
in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of
the LC Application or LC Amendment Application from the
Borrower.
19
(d) With respect to a request
to Issue a Letter of Credit, unless the Administrative Agent has
received, on or before the Business Day immediately preceding the
date on which such Letter of Credit will be Issued, (i) notice from
the Fronting Bank or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, or
the Borrower directing the Administrative Agent not to permit the
issuance of such Letter of Credit because such issuance is not then
permitted under Section 2.1(a) as a result of the
limitations set forth therein or (ii) a notice described in
Section 2.1(b)(ii) , then, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the LC Administrator shall, on the requested
date, cause a Letter of Credit to be Issued by the Fronting Bank or
by the Issuers in accordance with their Percentages (provided that
the Fronting Bank shall be severally (and not jointly) liable for
an amount equal to its Percentage plus the Percentage of each
Participating Bank), as the case may be, for the account of the
Borrower in accordance with the LC Administrator’s usual and
customary business practices.
(e) The LC Administrator may,
at its election (or at the direction of the Administrative Agent,
the Fronting Bank or the Required Lenders, as the case may be),
deliver any notices of termination or other communications to any
Beneficiary or transferee, and take any other action as necessary
or appropriate, at any time and from time to time, in order to
cause the expiry date of such Letter of Credit to be a date not
later than five Business Days prior to the Final Maturity
Date.
(f) This Agreement shall
control in the event of any conflict with any LC Related Document
(other than any Letter of Credit).
(g) The LC Administrator,
concurrently or promptly following the delivery of a Letter of
Credit, or amendment to or renewal of a Letter of Credit, to a
Beneficiary, shall send to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
a true and complete copy of each such Letter of Credit or amendment
to or renewal of a Letter of Credit. After giving effect to the
Issuance of any Letter of Credit, there shall be no more than 25
Letters of Credit outstanding.
(h) The status of a Lender as
a Participating Bank at any time shall be determined solely by the
Fronting Bank and such Lender. In the event a Lender becomes a
Participating Bank or ceases to be a Participating Bank, the LC
Administrator is authorized to amend each Letter of Credit to
reflect such change in status and fees owed by any Participating
Bank pursuant to Section 2.14(c)(i) shall accrue only during
such period as such Lender is a Participating Bank with respect to
any such Letter of Credit.
SECTION 2.3 Drawings and
Reimbursements .
(a) With respect to each
Letter of Credit for which the LC Administrator receives a request
for a drawing which is in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the LC Administrator (a “Drawing
Request”), if such Drawing Request is received prior to 10:00
a.m. (Chicago time) on any Business Day, such Business Day shall be
the “Drawing Request Date” and if such Drawing Request
is received after 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on any Business Day,
the following Business Day shall be the “Drawing Request
Date.” Upon receiving a Drawing
20
Request, the LC Administrator shall
promptly notify the Borrower of such Drawing Request (which notice
may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing (including by
facsimile)) and upon receipt of such notification, the Borrower
shall promptly reimburse the Administrative Agent on behalf of the
Issuer for the amount of such drawing by delivering to the LC
Administrator in immediately available funds the amount of the
Drawing Request. Nothing herein stated shall be deemed a waiver by
the Lenders of the obligation of the Borrower to make such prompt
reimbursement. To the extent that funds are received by the LC
Administrator prior to 3:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on the first
Business Day after the Drawing Request Date, the LC Administrator
shall promptly, on behalf of the Issuer, make an equivalent amount
available to the Beneficiary of the related Letter of Credit on
such first Business Day after the Drawing Request Date and shall
reimburse itself for such amount with the funds provided by the
Borrower.
(b) With respect to any
Drawing Request, if immediately available funds are not received by
the LC Administrator from the Borrower prior to 3:00 p.m. (Chicago
time) on the first Business Day after the Drawing Request Date in
the amount of such Drawing Request, the LC Administrator shall
promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative
Agent shall notify each Lender on the first Business Day after the
Drawing Request Date of such Drawing Request and such
Lender’s share of such Drawing Request (which shall be an
amount equal to (i) such Lender’s Percentage multiplied by
the lesser of (ii)(A) the maximum amount available to be drawn
under such Letter of Credit and (B) the amount of such drawing
which was not reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section
2.3(a) ) and the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested an
LC Borrowing in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing which
was not reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section.3(a). Any
notice given by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders pursuant to
this Section 2.3(b) may be oral if immediately confirmed in
writing (including by facsimile); provided that (i) the failure of
the Administrative Agent to give any such notice in sufficient time
to enable any Lender to effect such payment at the time required
under Section 2.3(c) or (ii) the failure of the
Administrative Agent to deliver an immediate confirmation of such
notice shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of
such notice or relieve any Lender from its obligations under this
Section 2.3 .
(c) Upon receiving a Drawing
Request, each Lender shall make available to the Administrative
Agent for the account of LC Administrator at the Administrative
Agent’s Payment Office by 3:00 p.m. (Chicago time) in
immediately available funds on the second Business Day after the
Drawing Request Date (such date, an “LC Advance Date”)
its share of such request; provided that in the case of a Letter of
Credit issued by the Fronting Bank, if a Lender shall fail to make
such funds so available, the Fronting Bank shall make such funds
available and provided further that if a Participating Bank shall
fail to make such funds so available, the Fronting Bank shall make
such funds available. Upon delivering such funds to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) , such
Lender (or the Fronting Bank, if the Fronting Bank has made such
funds available after the failure of such Lender to do so) shall be
deemed to have made an LC Advance to the Borrower in such amount.
To the extent that immediately available funds are received by the
Administrative Agent from the Lenders prior to 3:00 p.m. (Chicago
time) on any LC Advance Date, the Administrative Agent shall notify
the LC Administrator and the LC Administrator shall promptly make
such funds available to the Beneficiary of the related Letter of
Credit on such date. To the extent that the LC Administrator has
not delivered funds to any Beneficiary on behalf of a Lender
pursuant to the first sentence of Section 2.3(d) and that
immediately available funds are received by the Administrative
Agent
21
from such Lender: (i) after 3:00 p.m. on
any LC Advance Date, the LC Administrator shall make such funds
available to such Beneficiary on the next Business Day following
such LC Advance Date; (ii) prior to 3:00 p.m. on any Business Day
after the LC Advance Date, the LC Administrator shall make those
funds available to such Beneficiary on such Business Day; and (iii)
after 3:00 p.m. on any Business Day after the LC Advance Date, the
LC Administrator shall make those funds available to such
Beneficiary on the next Business Day following such Business
Day.
(d) Unless the Administrative
Agent or LC Administrator receives notice from a Lender prior to
any LC Advance Date that such Lender will not make available as and
when required hereunder to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Borrower the amount of such Lender’s LC Advance on
such LC Advance Date, the Administrative Agent and the LC
Administrator may assume that such Lender has made such amount
available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available
funds on the LC Advance Date and the LC Administrator may (but
shall not be required), in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the Beneficiary of the related Letter of Credit on
such date such Lender’s LC Advance. If and to the extent (i)
any Lender shall not have made its full amount available to the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds and (ii) the LC
Administrator in such circumstances has made available to the
Beneficiary such amount, then such Lender shall, on the Business
Day following such LC Advance Date, make such amount available to
the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon until the
date made available (i) at the Federal Funds Rate for the period
ending two Business Days after such LC Advance Date and (ii) at the
Base Rate plus 2.00% thereafter; provided, however, that if a
Lender has failed to make such an amount available with respect to
a Letter of Credit issued by the Fronting Bank, the Fronting Bank
shall make such amount available and provided further that if a
Participating Bank has failed to make such an amount available with
respect to a Letter of Credit, the Fronting Bank shall make such
amount available. If a Participating Bank fails to make such amount
available, it shall pay interest to the Fronting Bank. If the
Fronting Bank shall fail to make such amount available, it shall
pay such interest to the LC Administrator and if a Lender fails to
make such amount available, it shall pay such interest to the
Fronting Bank. A notice of the Administrative Agent submitted to a
Lender with respect to amounts owing under Section 2.3(b)
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such amount is so
made available, together with interest thereon, such payment to the
Administrative Agent shall constitute such Lender’s LC
Advance on the LC Advance Date for all purposes of this Agreement.
If such amount, together with interest thereon, is not made
available to the Administrative Agent on the Business Day following
the LC Advance Date, the Administrative Agent will notify the
Borrower of such failure to fund and, upon demand by the
Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay such amount to the
Administrative Agent for the LC Administrator’s account,
together with interest thereon for each day elapsed since the date
of such LC Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal the Base Rate plus
2.00%.
(e) The failure of any Lender
to make any LC Advance on any LC Advance Date shall not relieve any
other Lender of any obligation hereunder to make an LC Advance on
such LC Advance Date, and neither the Administrative Agent, the LC
Administrator nor any Lender shall be responsible for the failure
of any other Lender to make any LC Advance on any LC Advance Date.
Each Lender’s obligation in accordance with this Agreement to
make LC Advances, as contemplated by this Section 2.3 , as a
result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit, shall be
22
absolute and unconditional and without
recourse to the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Bank or the LC
Administrator and shall not be affected by any circumstance,
including (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which such Lender may have against the Administrative
Agent, the LC Administrator, the Fronting Bank, the Borrower or any
other Person for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the occurrence or
continuance of an Event of Default, an Default or a Material
Adverse Effect; or (iii) any other circumstance, happening or event
whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;
provided the LC Administrator shall exercise the same care in
examining documents and determining whether or not to honor a
Drawing Request as it would exercise if the LC Administrator had
Issued such Letter of Credit for its own account. Nothing contained
in this Agreement, and no actions taken by the Lenders, the LC
Administrator, the Fronting Bank or the Administrative Agent
pursuant hereto or in connection with a Letter of Credit shall be
deemed to constitute the Lenders, together or with the
Administrative Agent, the Fronting Bank and the LC Administrator, a
partnership, association, joint venture or other entity.
SECTION 2.4 Repayment of
LC Advances . Upon (and only upon) receipt by the
Administrative Agent of immediately available funds from the
Borrower in repayment of any LC Advances, the Administrative Agent
(i) shall deduct and retain from such repayment an amount not to
exceed the aggregate unreimbursed payments, if any, which were made
by the LC Administrator pursuant to the first sentence of
Section 2.3(d) , and then (ii) shall pay to each Lender, in
the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent, such
Lender’s Percentage of any funds remaining after giving
effect to clause (i) above; provided, that if the Fronting
Bank has advanced funds on behalf of a Lender, the Fronting Bank
shall be repaid out of such funds in full before any payment shall
be made to such Lender. The Borrower shall repay any LC Advances on
the date such LC Advances were made.
SECTION 2.5 Role of the
Lenders . Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying
any drawing under a Letter of Credit, neither the LC Administrator
nor any Issuer shall have any responsibility to obtain any document
(other than any sight draft and certificate expressly required by
such Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the
validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the
Person executing or delivering any such document; provided that the
LC Administrator and the Issuers shall exercise that standard of
care customarily exercised by them in the review and processing of
drawings under letters of credit issued by them.
(a) No Agent-Related Person
nor any of their respective correspondents, participants or
assignees shall be liable to any Lender for: (i) any action taken
or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the
approval of the Lenders (including the Required Lenders, as
applicable); (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of
gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution,
effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any LC Related
Document.
(b) The Borrower hereby
assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any Beneficiary or
transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit;
provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall
not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and
remedies as it may have against the Beneficiary or transferee at
law or under any other agreement. Neither any Agent-Related Person,
any Issuer nor any of their respective correspondents, participants
or
23
assignees shall be liable or responsible
for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through
(vii) of Section 2.6 ; provided that, anything
in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may
have a claim against the Administrative Agent, the LC Administrator
or any Lender, and the Administrative Agent, the LC Administrator
or any Lender may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but
only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or
exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower, in
a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, proves were
caused primarily by the Administrative Agent’s or LC
Administrator’s or such Lender’s willful misconduct or
gross negligence or the LC Administrator’s or such
Lender’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit
after the presentation to it by the Beneficiary of a sight draft
and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions
of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of
the foregoing: (i) the LC Administrator may accept documents that
appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for
further investigation; and (ii) neither the LC Administrator nor
any Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of
any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer
or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder
or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be
invalid or ineffective for any reason.
(c) Concurrently with the
issuance by the Fronting Bank of any Letter of Credit and any
amendment thereto, the Fronting Bank shall be deemed to have sold
and transferred to each other Lender, and each other Lender shall
be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to have purchased and
received from the Fronting Bank, without recourse or warranty, an
undivided interest and participation (a “Risk
Participation”), to the extent of such Lender’s
Percentage, in such Letter of Credit and the Borrower’s
reimbursement obligations with respect thereto.
SECTION 2.6 Obligations
Absolute . The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement
and any LC Related Document to reimburse the Administrative Agent,
the LC Administrator, the Fronting Bank and the Lenders for a
drawing under a Letter of Credit and to repay any LC Borrowing
shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and each such other
L/C-Related Document under all circumstances, including the
following:
(i) any lack of validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or any LC Related
Document;
(ii) any change in the time,
manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any
of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any Letter of
Credit or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to
departure from all or any of the LC Related Documents;
(iii) the existence of any
claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have
at any time against any Beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter
of Credit (or any Person for whom any such Beneficiary or any such
transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, the LC
Administrator, the Fronting Bank, any Lender or any other Person,
whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions
contemplated hereby or by the LC Related Documents or any unrelated
transaction;
24
(iv) any draft, demand,
certificate or other document presented under any Letter of Credit
proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any
respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of
any document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter
of Credit;
(v) any payment by an Issuer
under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or
certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such
Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the Issuers under any
Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in
bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of
creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or
successor to any Beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of
Credit, including any arising in connection with any Insolvency
Proceeding;
(vi) any exchange, release or
non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or
waiver of or consent to departure from any guarantee, for all or
any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any Letter of
Credit; or
(vii) any other circumstance
or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise
constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower
or a guarantor.
SECTION 2.7 Continuing
Letters of Credit . On and after the Amendment Effective Date,
the Letters of Credit listed on Schedule 2.7 (the “
Continuing Letters of Credit ”) shall be deemed to be
Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement for all purposes,
including for purposes of the fees to be collected pursuant to
Section 2.14 and reimbursement of costs and expenses to the
extent provided herein. On the Amendment Effective Date, the Risk
Participation of each Lender in the Continuing Letters of Credit
which, as shown on Schedule 2.7 , were issued by the
Fronting Bank on behalf of the Lenders (the “Fronted Letters
of Credit”) shall be equal to each Lender’s
Percentage.
SECTION 2.8 Applicability
of ISP98 . Unless otherwise agreed by the Issuer and the
Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued and subject to
applicable laws, the rules of the “International Standby
Practices 1998” (ISP98) or the “Uniform Customs and
Practices for Documentary Credits (1993) (ICC Publication
500)” or such later revision as may be published by the
International Chamber of Commerc
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