UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2014
ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Bermuda | 001-31909 | Not Applicable |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
141 Front Street
Hamilton HM 19
Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (441) 295-8201
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Section 1 - Registrant’s Business and Operations
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On December 18, 2014, Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited’s wholly-owned subsidiary Aspen Bermuda Limited (“Aspen Bermuda”) and Citibank Europe plc, as successor by assignment to Citibank, N.A. (“Citi Europe” and, together with Aspen Bermuda, the “Parties”) entered into an Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 (the “Pledge Agreement”). The Pledge Agreement and the collateral pledged thereunder (the “Collateral”) secures the payment of all obligations of Aspen Bermuda pursuant to the letters of credit or similar instruments (each a “Credit”) which Citi Europe may issue for the account of Aspen Bermuda under the Master Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2003, as amended (the “Master Agreement”), between the Parties.
The terms of the Pledge Agreement were amended, among other things, to (i) change the types of securities or other assets that qualify as Collateral and to establish the method whereby securities or other assets are deemed to qualify as Collateral, (ii) provide Aspen Bermuda the right to give certain directions or entitlement orders to The Bank of New York Mellon, as securities intermediary (“BNY Mellon”), relating to the Collateral without the consent of Citi Europe provided certain conditions are satisfied, (iii) provide Citi Europe, subject to the provisions set forth in the Amended and Restated Account Control Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 (the “Control Agreement”), among Aspen Bermuda, Citi Europe and BNY Mellon, with the right and power to exercise exclusive control over the accounts set forth in the Control Agreement and (iv) provide a schedule of currency margins such that if the Collateral is denominated in a currency other than the Credit currency, the Collateral shall be reduced by a specified percentage. The summary above is qualified by the actual terms of the Pledge Agreement which is filed hereto as exhibit 10.1.
All other agreements relating to the letter of credit facility between Aspen Bermuda and Citi Europe, as previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, remain in full force and effect and are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2 - Financial Information
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet
Arrangement of a Registrant
The information contained above under “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is hereby incorporated by reference.
Section 9- Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) The following exhibit is filed as part of this report:
10.1 Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014, between Aspen Bermuda Limited and Citibank Europe plc, as successor by assignment to Citibank, N.A.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| | ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED (Registrant) |
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Dated: December 18, 2014 | | By: | | /s/ Scott Kirk |
| | Name: | | Scott Kirk |
| | Title: | | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
MENDED AND RESTATED ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT
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AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AGREEMENT |
AMENDED AND RESTATED PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 18, 2014 (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), made among ASPEN BERMUDA LIMITED, a company organized and existing under the laws of Bermuda whose address of its registered or principal office is at 141 Front Street, Hamilton, HM19 Bermuda (the “Pledgor”) and CITIBANK EUROPE plc (as successor by assignment to Citibank, N.A.; referred to herein as the “Pledgee”).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS.
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(1) | The Pledgor and the Pledgee have entered into a master agreement, dated as of December 15, 2003 (as form time to time amended, the "Master Agreement") pursuant to which the Pledgee may, from time to time in its sole discretion, issue for the account of the Pledgor letters of credit or similar or equivalent instruments (each a "Credit" and, collectively, the "Credits"). |
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(2) | The Pledgor has agreed to collateralize its obligations to the Pledgee that result from time to time under the Master Agreement and in respect of the Credits issued thereunder, whether now existing or from time to time hereafter incurred or arising, as such obligations are more fully defined in Section 3 of this Agreement as the Secured Obligations (as such term is defined in Section 3 below). |
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(3) | The Pledgor and the Pledgee desire to execute and deliver this Agreement for the purpose of securing the Secured Obligations and subjecting the property hereinafter, described to the Lien of this Agreement as security for the performance of the Secured Obligations. |
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(4) | The Pledgor has opened the accounts as set forth in the Amended and Restated Account Control Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014 (as amended from time to time, the “Control Agreement”) among Pledgor, Pledgee and The Bank of New York Mellon, including the Deposit Account defined in the Control Agreement (the “Deposit Account”), the Securities Account defined in the Control Agreement (the “Securities Account”) and the Money Market Funds Account defined in the Control Agreement (the “Money Market Funds Account” and together with the Deposit Account and the Securities Account, the “Account”) with The Bank of New York Mellon at its office at 101 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10286 U.S.A. (“Financial Institution”). |
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce the Pledgee to enter into transactions with and to provide services to the Pledgor and its subsidiaries pursuant to separate agreements or arrangements between such persons and the Pledgee, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Defined Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in Appendix A.
Section 2. Grant of Security. Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Pledgor hereby assigns, pledges and grants to the Pledgee a first priority security interest in and a Lien on all of the Pledgor's right, title and interest, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in all of the following (collectively, the "Collateral”):
(i) the Account;
(ii)the Securities and any Instruments or other Financial Assets credited to the Account or otherwise acquired by the Pledgee in any manner and under its control as Collateral (the "Pledged Securities") including, without limitation Securities of the type and in the aggregate amounts specified in Schedule I hereto and any Securities Account and Security Entitlement in respect of the Account, the Pledged Securities or any of them;
(iii)all additional Investment Property (including without limitation) Securities, Security Entitlements, Financial Assets, or other property and all funds, cash or cash equivalents (together with any applicable Account or Securities Account) from time to time (A) received, receivable or otherwise
distributed in respect of or in exchange or substitution for any other Collateral (all such funds, cash or cash equivalents to be Financial Assets for the purposes of this Agreement) or (B) otherwise acquired by the Pledgor in any manner and delivered to Pledgee or under the control of Pledgee as Collateral; and
(iv)All proceeds (including, without limitation, cash proceeds) of any or all of the foregoing, including without limitation, proceeds that constitute property of the types described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above.
Section 3. Security of Obligations. This Agreement (and the Collateral pledged hereunder) secures the payment of all obligations of the Pledgor now or hereafter existing under each Master Agreement (including all contingent obligations with respect to credit(s) issued or procured for issuance by the Pledgee for the Pledgor’s account) and this Agreement, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise and the payment of any and all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Pledgee in enforcing any rights under this Agreement (all such obligations being the “Secured Obligations”). Subject to the provisions set forth in the Control Agreement, this Agreement is intended to convey to the Pledgee, and hereby grants to the Pledgee, the right and power to exercise exclusive control over the Account and all Security Entitlements relating thereto, and the sold right and power to direct dispositions of all cash deposits in the Account for the purposes of sections 9-106(c) and 9-104(b) of the NYUCC.
Section 4. Delivery of Security Collateral.
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A. | On or prior to the date hereof, the Pledgor shall transfer or credit, or cause to be transferred or credited, all of the Pledged Securities to the Pledgee or to the Account under arrangements acceptable to the Pledgee in its sole discretion. Pledgor shall deliver all other Collateral to the Pledgee or to a Securities Intermediary subject to the control of the Pledgee under arrangements acceptable to the Pledgee in its sole discretion. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (and until such time as such Event of Default is cured to the satisfaction of Pledgee), the Pledgee shall have the right, at any time it reasonably determines is necessary or desirable to enable the Pledgee to better perfect or protect the security interests granted hereunder, upon notice to the Pledgor, to transfer to or to register in the name of the Pledgee or any of its nominees any or all of the Collateral. |
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B. | At any time and upon thirty (30) days notice, the Pledgee may require the Pledgor to transfer the Collateral from the Account to an account at Citibank, N.A. (London, England branch) ("CBNA-UK") and to execute a replacement deposit agreement (in substantially the customary form used by CBNA-UK, a copy of which deposit agreement has been provided to Pledgor) in substitution for this Agreement. |
Section 5. Use of Proceeds. Proceeds that are received in respect of any Collateral shall be held as cash as Collateral as provided in Section 2 of this Agreement and shall be deposited and maintained in the Account.
Section 6. Representations and Warranties. The Pledgor represents and warrants as follows:
(a)The Pledgor is a corporation duly organized and, validly existing under the laws of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority (including, without limitation, all governmental licenses, permits and other approvals except where such failure would not have a material adverse effect on the Pledgor's business), to own or lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted. All of the outstanding capital stock of the Pledgor has been validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable.
(b)The execution, delivery and performance by the Pledgor of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, are within the Pledgor's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.
(c)The execution, delivery and performance by the Pledgor of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) violate any provision of law, rule or regulation applicable to the Pledgor; (ii) conflict with the charter or bylaws or substantively similar constitutive documents of the Pledgor; or (iii) conflict with or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien upon any of the property or assets of the Pledgor or any of its subsidiaries, under any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument or agreement to which the Pledgor
or any of its subsidiaries may be or become a party or by which it may be or become bound or to which the property or assets of the Pledgor of any of its subsidiaries may be or become subject.
(d)No consent of any other Person and no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or other third party is required either (i) for the grant by the Pledgor of the assignment and security interest granted hereby, for the pledge by the Pledgor of the Collateral pursuant hereto or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Pledgor, (ii) for the perfection or maintenance of the pledge, assignment and security interest created hereby (including the first priority nature of such pledge, assignment or security interest) or (iii) for the exercise by the Pledgee of its rights provided for in this Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except as may be required in connection with the disposition of any portion of the Collateral by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally or as may be applicable to the Pledgee.
(e)This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Pledgor. This Agreement constitutes, or when executed and delivered will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Pledgor enforceable against the Pledgor in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforceability to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally.
(f)The Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral and Pledgor has and shall at all times have rights in, and good and valid title to, the Collateral, free and clear of all Liens and "adverse claims" (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(1) of the NYUCC).
(g)To the best of the Pledgor's knowledge, no default has occurred under or with respect to any Collateral as of the date hereof.
(h)(i) This agreement and the pledge and assignment of the Collateral pursuant hereto create a valid security in the Collateral, securing the payment of the Secured Obligations, (ii) this Agreement and the Control Agreement are sufficient to perfect such security interests, and (iii) assuming the Pledgee has no notice of any Liens or “adverse claims” (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(1) of the NYUCC) with respect to the Collateral, the Pledgee will take the Collateral free and clear of all Liens and adverse claims.
(i)The Pledgor is subject to civil and commercial law with respect to its obligations hereunder, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Pledgor of its obligations under this Agreement constitute private and commercial acts rather than public or governmental acts. Neither the Pledgor or any of its properties has any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from set-off or any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of Bermuda.
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(j) | (A) This Agreement is in proper legal form under all applicable laws of Bermuda for the enforcement thereof against the Pledgor in accordance with its terms. To ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence of this Agreement it is not necessary that this Agreement or any other document be filed or recorded with any governmental authority of Bermuda or that any stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of this Agreement or any other document delivered pursuant hereto. |
(B) It is not necessary (X) in order for the Pledgee to enforce any rights or remedies under this Agreement or (Y) solely by reason of the execution delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Pledgee, that the Pledgee be licensed or qualified with a Bermudian governmental authority or be entitled to carry on business in Bermuda.
(k)The Pledgor shall cause Securities of the type specified in Schedule 1 attached hereto (collectively, “Qualifying Collateral”) to be pledged as Collateral so that at all times the Letter of Credit Value of such Securities shall equal or exceed the aggregate amount of the then outstanding Credits (“Required Account Value”) and, without limiting the foregoing, if at any time the Pledgor is not in compliance with the requirements of this sub-section (k), the Pledgor shall forthwith cause additional Qualifying Collateral to be held as Collateral pursuant to Section 2 to the extent required to cause the Pledgor to be in compliance with this sub-section (k). Final determination as to whether a security shall be treated as Qualifying Collateral for the purposes of this section 6(k) shall be at the sole discretion of the Pledgee.
Section 7. Further Assurances.
(a)The Pledgor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of the Pledgor, the Pledgor will promptly execute and deliver all further Instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Pledgee may reasonably request, in order to continue, perfect and protect any pledge, assignment or security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Pledgee to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Pledgor will execute and file such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such other Instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Pledgee may request, in order to perfect and preserve the pledge, assignment and security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby.
(b)The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Pledgee to file one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto, relating to all or any part of the Collateral without the signature of the Pledgor where permitted by law. A photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by law.
Section 8. Distributions.
(a) Other than upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all distributions paid in respect of the Pledged Securities; provided however, that any and all
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(i) | distributions paid or payable other than cash in respect of, and Instruments, Financial Assets and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Collateral and |
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(ii) | cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in respect of principal of, or in redemption of, or in exchange for, any Collateral, |
shall be forthwith pledged to the Pledgee and deposited or credited to the Account to hold as Collateral and shall, if received by the Pledgor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Pledgee, be segregated from the other property or funds of the Pledgor and be forthwith pledged to the Pledgee and deposited or credited to the Account to hold as Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement). Upon the written consent of the Pledgee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld absent an Event of Default), such distributions may be retained by the Pledgor, as further described in the Control Agreement.
(b) For the purpose of this section 8 and sections 4, 9 and 14 hereof, the term "Events of Default" shall mean a failure of the Pledgor to perform in any material respect any of its obligations under the Master Agreement or this Agreement, which failure shall continue unremedied for five (5) business days after written notice thereof shall have been given by the Pledgee to the Pledgor.
(c) The Pledgee shall execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to the Pledgor all such proxies and other instruments as the Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling the Pledgor to receive the interest payments that it is authorized to receive and retain pursuant to paragraph (a) above.
Section 9. Transfer and Other Liens. The Pledgor shall not (i) sell, assign or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of the Collateral, or (ii) create or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Collateral, including any right to give any entitlement order with respect to the Collateral, except for the pledge, assignment and security interest created by this Agreement, provided that the Pledgor may give directions or entitlement orders, as applicable, to the Financial Institution to make Permitted Entitlement Orders (as defined in the Control Agreement) so long as no Event of Default exists and after giving effect to the proposed Permitted Entitlement Order, the Letter of Credit Value of the Collateral shall equal or exceed the Required Account Value.
Section 10. Pledgee Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. The Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints the Pledgee as the Pledgor's attorney-in-fact, with full authority upon failure of the Pledgor to perform any of the obligations under the Master Agreement or this Agreement in the place and stead of the Pledgor and in the name of the Pledgor or otherwise, from time to time to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Pledgee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 11. Pledgee May Perform. If the Pledgor fails to perform any agreement contained herein after receipt of a written request from the Pledgee to do so, the Pledgee may (but shall have no obligation to) itself perform, or cause performance of, such obligation, and the reasonable expenses of the Pledgee incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the Pledgor under Section 15(b) hereof.
Section 12. Pledgee's Duties. The powers conferred on the Pledgee hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Pledgee shall have no duty as to any Collateral, as to ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Collateral, whether or not the Pledgee has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Pledgee shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Pledgee accords its own property.
Section 13. Security Interest Absolute. The obligations of the Pledgor under this Agreement are independent of the Secured Obligations and any agreement with respect to the Secured Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Pledgor to enforce this Agreement, irrespective of whether any action is brought against the Pledgor or whether the Pledgor is joined in any such action or actions. All rights of the Pledgee and the pledge, assignment and security interest hereunder, and all obligations of the Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of:
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(a) | any lack of validity or enforceability of the Master Agreement or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto; |
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(b) | any change in time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of Secured Obligations or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from this Agreement or the Master Agreement, including, without limitation, any increase in the Secured Obligations; |
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(c) | any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any other collateral, or any taking, release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guaranty for all or any of the Secured Obligations; |
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(d) | any manner of application of the Collateral, or proceeds thereof, to all or any of the Secured Obligations, or any manner of sale or other disposition of any Collateral for all or any of the Secured Obligations or any other assets of the Pledgor or any of its subsidiaries; |
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(e) | any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of the Pledgor or any of its subsidiaries; or |
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(f) | any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Pledgor or a third party grantor of a security interest. |
Section 14. Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing:
(a)The Pledgee may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the NYUCC and also may without notice, except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at any public or private sale, at any of the Pledgee's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Pledgee may deem commercially reasonable. The
Pledgor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten (10) days' notice to the Pledgor of the time and place of any public sale shall constitute reasonable notification. The Pledgee shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Pledgee may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.
(b)All cash proceeds received by the Pledgee in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral may, in the discretion of the Pledgee, be held by the Pledgee as collateral for, and/or then or at any time thereafter applied (after payment of any amounts payable to the Pledgee pursuant to Section 15) in whole or in part by the Pledgee against, all or any part of the Secured Obligations in such order as the Pledgee shall elect. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by the Pledgee and remaining after payment in full of all the Secured Obligations shall be paid to the Pledgor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.
(c)The Pledgee may, without notice to the Pledgor except as required by law and at any time or from time to time, charge, set-off and otherwise apply all or any part of the Secured Obligations against the Collateral or any part thereof.
Section 15. Indemnity and Expenses.
(a) The Pledgor agrees to indemnify the Pledgee and their affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys and advisors from and against any and all claims, damages, losses and liabilities growing out of or resulting from this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement of this Agreement), except claims, damages, losses or liabilities resulting from the Pledgee's fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Pledgor will upon demand pay to the Pledgee the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of any experts and agents, that the Pledgee may incur in connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection from or other realization upon, any of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any of the rights of the Pledgee hereunder or (iv) the failure by the Pledgor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.
Section 16. Amendments; Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by the Pledgor herefor, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Pledgee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No failure on the part of the Pledgee to exercise, and no delay in exercising any right hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.
Section 17. Addresses for Notices. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier, telegraphic, telex or cable communication) and, mailed telegraphed, telecopied, telexed, cabled or delivered if to the Pledgor at Aspen Bermuda Limited, 141 Front Street, Hamilton HM 19 Bermuda, as to either party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party complying as to delivery with the terms of this section 17. All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, telegraphed or telexed, be effective five (5) business days after deposit in the mail, or when telecopied, delivered to the telegraph company or confirmed by telex answerback, respectively, except that notices and communications to the Pledgee shall not be effective until received by the Pledgee. Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or of any exhibit hereto to be executed and delivered hereunder shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.
Section 18. Continuing Security Interest; Assignments. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the payment in full in cash of the Secured Obligations, (b) be binding upon the Pledgor and the Pledgee and their respective successors and assigns and (c) inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Pledgee and its respective successors, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), the Pledgee may assign or otherwise transfer to any other Person all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to the Pledgee herein or otherwise. The Pledgor will, at its own expense, make,
execute, endorse, acknowledge, fileand/or deliver to the Pledgee such confirmatory assignments, conveyances, financing statements, transfer endorsements, powers of attorney, certificates, reports and other assurances or instruments and take such further steps related to the Collateral and other property or rights covered by the security interest hereby granted, which the Pledgee deems reasonably advisable to perfect, preserve or protect its security interest in the Collateral, including any actions which may be required or advisable as a result of any amendment or supplement to applicable laws, including the NYUCC.
Section 19. Release and Termination. Upon the later of the payment in full in cash of the Secured Obligations or any termination as provided in Master Agreement, the pledge, assignment and security interest granted hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Pledgor with immediate effect. Upon any such termination, the Pledgee will, at the Pledgor's expense, execute and deliver to the Pledgor such documents as the Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination.
SECTION 20. GOVERNING LAW; TERMS. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VALIDITY OR PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR COLLATERAL IS MANDATORILY GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN WHICH CASE THE LAWS OF SUCH OTHER JURISDICTION SHALL GOVERN SUCH MATTERS.
Section 21. Jurisdiction, Venue.
(a)The Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court (to the extent such court has subject matter jurisdiction) sitting in New York City and any appellate court from any thereof in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment, and the Pledgor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or in such Federal court. The Pledgor hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. The Pledgor hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any New York State or federal court. The Pledgor hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. The Pledgor irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies of such process to such Pledgor at its address specified in Section 17. The Pledgor agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable law.
(b)Nothing in this Section 21 shall affect the right of the Pledgee to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable law or affect any right which the Pledge would otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding against the Pledgor or its property in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
(c)To the extent that the Pledgor has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the Pledgor to the extent permitted by law hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, agrees that the waivers set forth in this subsection (c) shall have the fullest scope permitted under the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended, and are intended to be irrevocable for purposes of such act.
SECTION 22. WAIVER OF JURY TRAIL. EACH OF THE PLEDGOR AND THE PLEDGEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PLEDGEE IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.
Section 23. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 24. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is or shall become illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain legal, valid and enforceable in such jurisdiction and such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision shall be legal, valid and enforceable in any other jurisdiction.
Section 25. Termination of Prior Agreement. The parties agree that any prior pledge agreement with respect to the Collateral is terminated as of the effective date of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
[signature page follows]
Citibank Europe Plc
By:_/s/ Akos Nemeth__________
Name:__Akos Nemeth_________
Title: Vice President
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Aspen Bermuda Limited |
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By:/s/ Fred Lemoine | By:/s/ Bryan Astwood |
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Name: Fred Lemoine | Name: Bryan Astwood |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer | Title: Group Chief Investment Officer |
SCHEDULE 1
Letter of Credit Value and Pledgee's Requirements
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Qualifying Collateral | Pledgee's Requirements | Letter of Credit Value |
Issuer | Rating | Tenor |
(Ai) | Cash | Cash Deposits held at Citibank, N.A. London Branch. | N/A | N/A | 100% |
(Aii) | Cash | Cash Deposits held in the Account solely to the extent that such account is proceeds of investment property held in the Account | N/A | N/A | 100% |
(Aiii) | Money Market Funds | (i) BNY Mellon US Dollar Liquidity Fund, ISIN 0004514828. (ii) Any other money market fund that is acceptable to the Pledgee in its sole discretion. | AAA or equivalent | N/A | 0% |
(B i) | Government & Agency Securities | Securities issued by the US or another OECD (the "Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development") Government rated AA or AA equivalent, or issued by agencies whose debt obligations are fully and explicitly guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by the full faith and credit of the US government, and including securities issued by the FHLMC or FNMA to the extent the same shall be under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Securities issued by GNMA whose debt obligations are fully and explicitly guaranteed as to the timely payment of principal and interest by the full faith and credit of the US Government.
| AA or AA equivalent
AA or AA equivalent | 20 years
30 years | 89% of the fair market value of such Government & Agency Securities
89% of the fair market value of such Government & Agency Securities
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(B ii) | US Agency MBS Securities: FHLMC & FNMA | Securities issued by the FHLMC or FNMA to the extent the same shall be under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. | AA or AA equivalent | 30 years | 86.5% of the fair market value of such US Agency MBS Securities |
(C) | Multilateral Lending Institution Securities | Securities issued by multilateral lending institutions or regional development banks in which the US government is a shareholder or contributing member, including International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Nordic Investment Bank. | AA or AA equivalent or better | 20 years | 88.5% of the fair market value of such Multilateral Lending Institution Securities. |
(D) | US or OECD Government Agency Securities | Securities issued by US or other OECD government agencies whose debt is implicitly guaranteed by the US government or an OECD government. | AA or AA equivalent or better | 20 years | 88.5% of the fair market value of such US or OECD Government Agency Securities |
(E) | Corporate Bonds | Non-convertible publicly traded securities, excluding warrants and perpetual instruments, issued by corporate entities domiciled in the US or other OECD countries.
The Pledgor shall not deliver Corporate Bonds such that 10% or more of the Pledged Securities is constituted by Corporate Bonds of a single issuer. Corporate Bonds shall not exceed 35% of the aggregate Letter of Credit outstandings at any time. | A or A equivalent or better | 10 years | 85% of the fair market value of such Corporate Bonds |
15 years | 80% of the fair market value of such Corporate Bonds |
No Citigroup Inc., Convertibles, Perpetuals or Warrants shall constitute Qualifying Collateral.
Should an eligible pledged asset be assigned a rating by an agency which is divergent from the rating assigned by any other agency, the Pledgee shall utilise the lowest rating in determining collateral eligibility.
Any Securities that do not comply with the requirements set out above shall not be considered part of the Qualifying Collateral solely for the purposes of calculating the Required Account Value.
Pledged assets constituting “Qualifying Collateral” shall exclude any Financial Assets issued by Pledgor, its corporate parent, its affiliates and its subsidiaries or any other financial instrument as determined by Pledgee.
SCHEDULE 2
Currency Margins
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1. | Where the Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in the same currency as a Credit (the "Credit Currency"), the Qualifying Collateral or such portion thereof shall have a value of 100% of its value in the relative Credit Currency; and for this purpose the Pledgee shall notionally match each Credit with the Collateral or a portion thereof denominated in the relative Credit Currency. |
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2. | Where the Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in a currency other than the Credit Currency, both the Letter of Credit Value (or, where only a portion of the Qualifying Collateral is in the Credit Currency, the balance of the Letter of Credit Value remaining unmatched) and the Qualifying Collateral or such portion thereof shall be notionally converted into a common base currency (as the Pledgee may in its discretion determine); and following such notional conversion the Qualifying Collateral or such portion thereof shall suffer a deduction of the Relevant Percentage (as defined below), to cover exchange movements that may from time to time affect the value of the underlying unmatched Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof and the contingent obligations to which it relates. |
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3. | The "Relevant Percentage" means: |
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(a) | where the Qualifying Collateral or a portion is denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro, Canadian dollars, or English Pounds Sterling, 5%; |
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(b) | where the Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in New Zealand dollars or Australian dollars, 7.5%; and |
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(c) | where the Qualifying Collateral or a portion thereof is denominated in any other currency, 25%. |
ANNEX A
CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them below:
"Collateral' has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2 hereof.
"Entitlement Holder" means a Person that (i) is an "entitlement holder" as defined in Section 8-102(a)(7) of the NYUCC (except in respect of a Book-entry Security); and (ii) in respect of any book-entry Security, is an "entitlement holder" as defined in 31 C.F.R. ❑357.2 (or, as applicable to such book-entry Security, the corresponding Federal Book-Entry Regulations governing such book-entry Security) which, to the extent required or permitted by the Federal Book-Entry Regulations, is also an "entitlement holder" as defined in Section 8-102(a)(7) of the NYUCC.
"Entitlement Order" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8-102(a)(8) of the NYUCC and shall include, without limitation, any notice or related instructions from the Pledgee directing the transfer or redemption of the Collateral or any part thereof.
"Federal Book-Entry Regulations" means the federal regulations contained in Subpart B ("Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt Entry System (TRADES)" governing book-entry securities consisting of United States Treasury securities, U.S. Treasury bonds, notes and bills) and Subpart D ("Additional Provisions") of 31 C.F.R. Part 357, 31 C.F.R. ❑ 357.10 through ❑357.14 and ❑357.41 through ❑357.44 (including related defined terms in 31 C.F.R. 357.2), as amended by regulations published at 61 Fed. Reg. 43626 (August 23, 1996) and as amended by an subsequent regulations.
"Insurance Letter of Credit Master Agreement" means the Insurance Letter of Credit Master Agreement delivered by the Pledgor to the Pledgee.
“Letter of Credit Value” means, in respect of each component of the Qualifying Collateral, (x) the market value of the Security or (y) the cash value, in each case: (i) subject to the provisions of Schedules 1 and 2; (ii) multiplied by the percentage specified in the table set out in Schedule 1 under the column headed “Letter of Credit Value” for that type of Security or for cash; and if at any time there is more than one component part to the Qualifying Collateral, the Letter of Credit Value for the Qualifying Collateral shall be the sum of the Letter of Credit Values for each component part of the Qualifying Collateral; and (iii) such other amount calculated in such other manner as mutually agreed upon from time to time by the Pledgee and Pledgor.
"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, attachment, lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, lease or security interest, easement, right of first or last refusal, right of first offer or other option or contingent purchase right.
"NYUCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code from time to time in effect in the State of New York.
NYUCC Terms. Terms defined or referenced in the NYUCC and not otherwise defined or referenced herein are used herein as therein defined or referenced. In particular, the following terms are used herein as defined or referenced in the respective NYUCC sections indicated below: "Account": Section 9-106; "Entitlement Order: Section 8-102(a)(8); "Financial Asset": Section 8-102(a)(9); "Instrument': Section 9-105(I)(i); "Investment Property": Section 9-115(1)(f); "Person": Section 1-201(30); "Securities Account': Section 8-501(a); "Security": Section 8-102(a)(15).
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, foundation, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any political subdivision thereof or any agency or instrumentality of any thereof.
"Secured Obligations" has the meaning specified therefor in Section 3 hereof.
"Secured Intermediary' means a Person that (i) is a "securities intermediary' as defined in Section 8-102(a)(14) of the NYUCC and (ii) in respect of any U.S. Government Obligations, is also a "securities intermediary' as defined in 31 C.F.R. ❑357.2.
"Security Control" means "control" as defined in Section 9-115(1)(e) of the NYUCC.
"Security Entitlement" means (i) “security entitlement" as defined in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the NYUCC (except in respect of a U.S. Government Obligation); and (ii) in respect of any U.S. Government Obligation, a "security entitlement" as defined in 31 C.F.R. ❑357.2 which, to the extent required or permitted by the Federal Book-Entry Regulations, is also a "security entitlement" as defined in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the NYUCC.
"STRIPS" shall have the meaning thereof set forth in Section 357.2 of the Federal Book-Entry Regulations.
"U.S. Government Obligations" means all of the United States Treasury securities (including STRIPS) maintained in the commercial book-entry system entitled Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt Entry System ("TRADES") pursuant to the Federal Book-Entry Regulations or pursuant to a successor system.
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