HULL NO. S-676 CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 15, 2009, BETWEEN CELEBRITY EQUINOX INC. as the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party hereto and

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

_________________________________________

HULL NO. S-676 CREDIT AGREEMENT

_________________________________________

 

dated as of April 15, 2009,

BETWEEN

CELEBRITY EQUINOX INC.

as the Borrower,

the Lenders from time to time party hereto

and

KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH

as Hermes Agent and Administrative Agent

 

 

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

HULL NO. S-676 CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of April 15, 2009, is among CELEBRITY EQUINOX INC., a Liberian corporation (the “Borrower”), KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH in its capacity as agent for the Lenders referred to below in respect of Hermes-related matters (in such capacity, the “Hermes Agent”), in its capacity as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and in its capacity as lender (in such capacity, together with each of the other Persons that shall become a “Lender” in accordance with Section 11.11.1 hereof, each of them individually a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS,

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms. The following terms (whether or not underscored) when used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals, shall, when capitalized, except where the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms thereof):

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

“Administrative Agent” is defined in the preamble and includes each other Person as shall have subsequently been appointed as the successor Administrative Agent, and as shall have accepted such appointment, pursuant to Section 10.5.

“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

“Agreement” means, on any date, this credit agreement as originally in effect on the Effective Date and as thereafter from time to time amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified and in effect on such date.

“Agreement to Provide Financing” means that certain Agreement to Provide Financing dated as of September 9, 2005 between KfW and the Guarantor, as from time to time amended, supplemented, amended and restated, or otherwise modified.

“Applicable Jurisdiction” means the jurisdiction or jurisdictions under which the Borrower is organized, domiciled or resident or from which any of its business activities are conducted or in which any of its properties are located and which has jurisdiction over the subject matter being addressed.

“Applicable Margin” means, for each Interest Period, 0.50% per annum.

“Assignee Lender” is defined in Section 11.11.1.

“Authorized Officer” means those officers of the Borrower authorized to act with respect to the Loan Documents and whose signatures and incumbency shall have been certified to the Administrative Agent by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower.

“Borrower” is defined in the preamble.

“Business Day” means any day which is neither a Saturday or Sunday nor a legal holiday on which banks are authorized or required to be closed in New York City, London or Frankfurt, and if the applicable Business Day relates to an advance of the Loan, an Interest Period, prepayment or conversion, in each case with respect to the Loan bearing interest by reference to the LIBO Rate, a day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank market.

“Capital Lease Obligations” means obligations of any Person under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as capitalized leases.

“Citibank Credit Agreement” means the U.S. $1,225,000,000 credit agreement dated as of March 27, 2003, as amended and restated as of June 29, 2007 among Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., as the borrower, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and DnB Nor Bank ASA, as co-lead arrangers, and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

“Closing Date” means the date on which the Loan is advanced.

“Commitment” means, relative to any Lender, such Lender’s obligation to make the Loan pursuant to Section 2.1.

“Commitment Fees” is defined in Section 3.4.

“Commitment Termination Date” means 240 days beyond July 16, 2009.

“Construction Contract” is defined in the preamble.

“Contract Price” is as defined in the Construction Contract.

“Covered Taxes” is defined in Section 4.6.

“Default” means any Event of Default or any condition, occurrence or event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Dollar” and the sign “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

“Effective Date” means the date this Agreement becomes effective pursuant to Section 11.8.

“Environmental Laws” means all applicable federal, state, local or foreign statutes, laws, ordinances, codes, rules and regulations (including consent decrees and administrative orders) relating to the protection of the environment.

“EUR” and the sign “€” mean the currency of participating member states of the European Monetary Union pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) 974/98 of 3 May 1998, as amended from time to time.

“Event of Default” is defined in Section 8.1.

“Fiscal Year” means any annual fiscal reporting period of the Borrower.

“Fixed Rate Direction Notice” is defined in Section 3.3.2.

“Fixed Rate Notice” is defined in Section 3.3.2.

“Fixed Rate Period” is defined in Section 3.3.2.

“F.R.S. Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor thereto.

“GAAP” is defined in Section 1.4.

“Government-related Obligations” means obligations of the Borrower under, or Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower to satisfy obligations under, any governmental requirement imposed by any Applicable Jurisdiction that must be complied with to enable the

 

Borrower to continue their business in such Applicable Jurisdiction, excluding, in any event, any taxes imposed on the Borrower.

“Guarantee” means the Guarantee of the Guarantor in the form set out in Exhibit C.

“Guarantor” is defined in the preamble.

“Hedging Instruments” means options, caps, floors, collars, swaps, forwards, futures and any other agreements, options or instruments substantially similar thereto or any series or combination thereof used to hedge interest, foreign currency and commodity exposures.

“herein”, “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereunder” and similar terms contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the case may be, as a whole and not to any particular Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement or such other Loan Document.

“Hermes” means Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ acting in its capacity as representative of the Federal Republic of Germany in connection with the issuance of export credit guarantees.

“Hermes Agent” is defined in the preamble.

“Hermes Fee” means the fee payable to Hermes under and in respect of the Hermes Insurance Policy.

“Hermes Insurance Policy” means the guarantee (Deckungsdokument) issued by the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by Hermes, in favour of the Lenders.

“Indebtedness” means, for any Person: (a) obligations created, issued or incurred by such Person for borrowed money (whether by loan, the issuance and sale of debt securities or the sale of property to another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property from such Person); (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price of property or services, other than trade accounts payable (other than for borrowed money) arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of business so long as such trade accounts payable are payable within 180 days of the date the respective goods are delivered or the respective services are rendered; (c) Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on the property of such Person, whether or not the respective indebtedness so secured has been assumed by such Person; (d) obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and other financial institutions for the account of such Person; (e) Capital Lease Obligations of such Person; (f) Indebtedness of others guaranteed by such Person; (g) obligations of such Person in respect of surety bonds and similar obligations; and (h) liabilities arising under Hedging Instruments.

“Indemnified Liabilities” is defined in Section 11.4.

“Indemnified Parties” is defined in Section 11.4.

 

“Interest Period” means the period between the Closing Date and the first Repayment Date, and subsequently each succeeding period between two consecutive Repayment Dates, except that:

“Investment” means, relative to any Person,

“KfW IPEX” means KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.

“Lender Assignment Agreement” means a Lender Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

“Lender and Lenders” are defined in the preamble.

“Lending Office” means, relative to any Lender, the office of such Lender designated as such below its signature hereto or designated in a Lender Assignment Agreement or such other office of a Lender as designated from time to time by notice from such Lender to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, whether or not outside the United States, which shall be making or maintaining the Loan of such Lender hereunder.

“LIBO Rate” means the rate per annum of the offered quotation for deposits in Dollars for six months which appears on Telerate Successor Page 3750 at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days before the commencement of the relevant Interest Period; provided that:

 

in the London interbank market in an amount approximately equal to the amount of the Loan and for a period of six months; and

“Lien” means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge against or interest in property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation or other priority or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.

“Loan” means the principal sum of the US Dollar Equivalent of up to eighty per cent (80%) of the Contract Price of the Vessel (as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the Construction Contract), but in any event in an amount not to exceed the US Dollar Equivalent corresponding to EUR 412,000,000, available to be advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the amount thereof for the time being advanced and outstanding under this Agreement (as the context may require).

“Loan Document” means this Agreement and the Guarantee.

“Loan Request” means the loan request and certificate duly executed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations or financial condition of the Borrower, (b) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents or (c) the ability of the Borrower to perform its payment Obligations under the Loan Documents.

“Material Litigation” is defined in Section 6.7.

“Obligations” means all obligations (payment or otherwise) of the Borrower arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

“Organic Document” means, relative to each of the Borrower and Guarantor, its articles of incorporation (inclusive of any articles of amendment to its articles of incorporation) and its by-laws.

“Participant” is defined in Section 11.11.2.

“Percentage” means, relative to any Lender, the percentage set forth opposite its signature hereto or as in the applicable Lender Assignment Agreement, as such percentage may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 4.9 or pursuant to Lender Assignment Agreement(s) executed by such Lender and its Assignee Lender(s) and delivered pursuant to Section 11.11.1.

 

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, government, governmental agency or any other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

“Prepayment Event” is defined in Section 9.1.

“Quarterly Payment Date” means, the last day of each of March, June, September and December or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.

“Reference Banks” means KfW IPEX and each additional Reference Bank and/or each replacement Reference Bank appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.3.5.

“Repayment Date” means each of the dates for payment of the repayment installments of the Loan specified in Exhibit A.

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders that in the aggregate, hold more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loan or, if no such principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders that in the aggregate have more than 50% of the Commitments.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person, by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person.

“Swap Bank” is defined in the definition of Swap Transaction.

“Swap Break Amount” means, as of any date, the cost to (expressed as a positive number) or gain for (expressed as a negative number) a Lender in connection with the full or partial unwinding, liquidation or termination of such Lender’s Swap Transaction (whether or not the relevant Fixed Rate Period has commenced) calculated in accordance with market practice and, if requested by the Borrower, as evidenced by the Swap Bank termination confirmation; provided that if any Lender enters into a Swap Transaction with such Lender’s internal trading desk, such amount shall not exceed the cost or gain that would have resulted had such Lender entered into such Swap Transaction with a third party counterparty, as evidenced by quotes provided to the Borrower by such Lender from at least two independent third party brokers.

“Swap Breakage Gain” means, as to any Lender, the present value of the Swap Break Amount for such Swap Bank if the Swap Break Amount is a negative number.

“Swap Breakage Loss” means, as to any Lender, the present value of the Swap Break Amount for such Swap Bank if the Swap Break Amount is a positive number.

“Swap Transaction” means, in respect of any Fixed Rate Period, for any Lender, the interest rate swap or hedging transaction entered into by such Lender with any bank, financial institution or with such Lender’s internal trading desk (a “Swap Bank”) in order to hedge such Fixed Rate Period exposures under the Loan.

 

“Taxes” is defined in Section 4.6.

“Telerate Successor Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in Dollars).

“US Dollar Equivalent” means any EUR amount converted to a corresponding US dollar amount as determined four (4) Business Days prior to delivery of the Vessel using the weighted average rate of exchange that the Guarantor has agreed, either in the spot or forward currency markets, to pay its counterparties for the purchase of the relevant amount of EUR with USD for the payment of the final installment of the Contract Price. Such rate of exchange to be evidenced by counterparty confirmations.

“United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America, its fifty States and the District of Columbia.

“Vessel” is defined in the preamble.

SECTION 1.2. Use of Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined or the context otherwise requires, terms for which meanings are provided in this Agreement shall, when capitalized, have such meanings when used in the Loan Request and each notice and other communication delivered from time to time in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 1.3. Cross-References. Unless otherwise specified, references in this Agreement and in each other Loan Document to any Article or Section are references to such Article or Section of this Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the case may be, and, unless otherwise specified, references in any Article, Section or definition to any clause are references to such clause of such Article, Section or definition.

SECTION 1.4. Accounting and Financial Determinations. Unless otherwise specified, all accounting terms used herein or in any other Loan Document shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations and computations hereunder or thereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder or thereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied (or, if not consistently applied, accompanied by details of the inconsistencies); provided that if, as a result of any change in GAAP or in the interpretation thereof after the Effective Date there is a change in the manner of determining any of the items referred to herein or thereunder that are to be determined by reference to GAAP, and the effect of such change would (in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) be such as to affect the basis or efficacy of the financial covenants contained in the Guarantee in ascertaining the financial condition of the Guarantor or the consolidated financial condition of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries and the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate such change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative

 

Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), then such item shall for the purposes of the Guarantee continue to be determined in accordance with GAAP relating thereto as GAAP were applied immediately prior to such change in GAAP or in the interpretation thereof until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

ARTICLE II

 

COMMITMENTS, BORROWING PROCEDURES

SECTION 2.1. Commitment. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement (including Article V), each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of the Loan pursuant to its Commitment described in Section 2.2. No Lender’s obligation to make the Loan shall be affected by any other Lender’s failure to make the Loan.

SECTION 2.2. Commitment of the Lenders; Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

SECTION 2.3. Borrowing Procedure. The Borrower shall deliver a Loan Request and the documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1.1(a) to the Administrative Agent on or before 11:00 a.m., London time, not less than two (2) Business Days in advance of the date that is two (2) Business Days prior to the delivery of the Vessel. The Administrative

 

Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of any Loan Request by forwarding a copy thereof to each Lender, together with its attachments. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Loan shall be made on the Business Day specified in such Loan Request. On or before 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the Business Day specified in such Loan Request, the Lenders shall, without any setoff or counterclaim, deposit with the Administrative Agent same day funds in an amount equal to such Lender’s Percentage of the requested Loan. Such deposit will be made to an account which the Administrative Agent shall specify from time to time by notice to the Lenders. To the extent funds are so received from the Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, without any set-off or counterclaim, make such funds available to the Borrower on the Business Day specified in the Loan Request by wire transfer of same day funds to the account or accounts the Borrower shall have specified in its Loan Request.

SECTION 2.4. Funding. Each Lender may, if it so elects, fulfill its obligation to make or continue its Loan hereunder by causing one of its foreign branches or Affiliates (or an international banking facility created by such Lender) to make or maintain such Loan; provided that such Loan shall nonetheless be deemed to have been made and to be held by such Lender, and the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan shall nevertheless be to such Lender for the account of such foreign branch, Affiliate or international banking facility.

ARTICLE III

REPAYMENTS, PREPAYMENTS, INTEREST AND FEES

SECTION 3.1. Repayments. a) Subject to Section 3.1 b), the Borrower shall repay the Loan in the installments and on the dates set out in Exhibit A.  

SECTION 3.2. Prepayment. The Borrower

 

Each prepayment of the Loan made pursuant to this Section shall be without premium or penalty, except as may be required by Section 4.4. No amounts prepaid by the Borrower may be reborrowed under the terms of this Agreement except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 9.1 (which follows Section 9.1.11).

SECTION 3.3. Interest Provisions. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Loan shall accrue and be payable in accordance with this Section 3.3.  

SECTION 3.3.1. Rates. The Loan shall accrue interest from the Closing Date to the date of repayment or prepayment of the Loan in full to the Lenders at (i) a rate per annum equal to the sum of the LIBO Rate plus the Applicable Margin and/or (ii) a fixed market rate per annum (inclusive of the Applicable Margin) pursuant to Section 3.3.2, in either event payable semi-annually in arrears on the Repayment Dates set out in Exhibit A. The Loan shall bear interest from and including the first day of the applicable Interest Period to (but not including) the last day of such Interest Period at the interest rate determined as applicable to the Loan. All interest shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year comprised of 360 days.

SECTION 3.3.2. Fixed Rate Periods. In consultation with the Administrative Agent at any time after the Effective Date of this Agreement the Borrower may by not less than five Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which notice may be given before or after the date of drawdown of the Loan) (the “Fixed Rate Notice”) request the Lenders to provide an indication, which will be non-binding, of a fixed rate of interest to be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3.1 for such amount (which amount shall be no less than 20% of the outstanding principal amount of the Loan) and part of the repayment period as shall be specified in such notice (a “Fixed Rate Period”) subject always to such funds being available to all the Lenders; provided that no more than one Fixed Rate Period shall be outstanding hereunder at any time. Such Fixed Rate Period shall:

Upon receipt by the Borrower of an indicative fixed rate for a Fixed Rate Period from the Administrative Agent (the “Indication Notice”), the Borrower may by telephonic notice (such

 

notice, the “Fixed Rate Direction Notice”) to the Administrative Agent request the Lenders to arrange for a conference call to be held on the same day and, if practicable, within two (2) hours of receipt of the Fixed Rate Direction Notice, for the purpose of arranging fixed rate funding for that Fixed Rate Period. The Fixed Rate Direction Notice shall be provided by the Borrower prior to the later of (A) 3:30 p.m. Frankfurt time on the same day of the conference call and (B) two (2) hours following receipt of the Indication Notice and confirmed in writing following telephonic notice. The conference call will be attended by representatives of the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (each of whom shall be authorized to arrange such fixed rate funding for that Fixed Rate Period without reference to another person). It is hereby accepted by the Borrower that any acceptance given by the Borrower during the conference call of a rate provided by the Administrative Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) shall, by virtue of the Borrower’s signature to this Agreement, constitute express authority from the Borrower to the Lenders to arrange such funding at the rate so provided by the Administrative Agent and agreed to by the Borrower. If the Lenders and the Borrower agree upon a fixed rate of interest on such conference call, the Administrative Agent shall confirm such agreed fixed rate of interest to the Borrower by electronic mail immediately after such conference call. In the absence of manifest error, the fixed rate of interest so confirmed by the Administrative Agent for the relevant Fixed Rate Period shall be final and binding on the Borrower and shall apply to the applicable portion of the Loan during the applicable Fixed Rate Period.

SECTION 3.3.3. Post-Maturity Rates. After the date any principal amount of the Loan is due and payable (whether on any Repayment Date, upon acceleration or otherwise), or after any other monetary Obligation of the Borrower shall have become due and payable, the Borrower shall pay, but only to the extent permitted by law, interest (after as well as before judgment) on such amounts for each day during the period of such default at a rate per annum certified by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which certification shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error) to be equal to the sum of (a) the Applicable Margin plus (b) the LIBO Rate plus (c) 2% per annum.

SECTION 3.3.4. Payment Dates. Interest accrued on the Loan shall be payable, without duplication, on the earliest of:

SECTION 3.3.5. Interest Rate Determination; Replacement Reference Banks. The Administrative Agent shall obtain from each Reference Bank timely information for the purpose of determining the LIBO Rate in the event that no offered quotation appears on Telerate Successor Page 3750 and the LIBO Rate is to be determined by reference to quotations supplied by the Reference Banks. If any one or more of the Reference Banks shall fail to furnish in a timely manner such information to the Administrative Agent for any such interest rate, the Administrative Agent shall determine such interest rate on the basis of the information furnished

 

by the remaining Reference Banks. If the Borrower elects to add an additional Reference Bank hereunder or a Reference Bank ceases for any reason to be able and willing to act as such, the Administrative Agent shall, at the direction of the Required Lenders and after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, appoint an additional Reference Bank or a replacement for such Reference Bank (as the case may be) reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, and any such replaced Reference Bank shall cease to be a Reference Bank hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall furnish to the Borrower and to the Lenders each determination of the LIBO Rate made by reference to quotations of interest rates furnished by Reference Banks.

Interest accrued on the Loan or other monetary Obligations arising under this Agreement or any other Loan Document after the date such amount is due and payable (whether upon acceleration or otherwise) shall be payable upon demand.

SECTION 3.4. Commitment Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) on its daily unused portion of the Loan, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing through the earliest of (i) the Closing Date, (ii) the date upon which the Administrative Agent has provided the Borrower written notice that the Lenders will not advance the Loan because the Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3, (iii) the Commitment Termination Date and (iv) the date the Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.2(b). Should the Administrative Agent provide the Borrower notice that the Lenders will not advance the Loan because Hermes has cancelled the Hermes Insurance Policy, the Commitment Fees paid by the Borrower for the account of each Lender shall be promptly refunded to the Borrower by such Lender.

SECTION 3.4.1. Payment. The Commitment Fee shall be payable by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date, commencing with the first such date following the Effective Date and ending on the earliest to occur of (i) the Closing Date, (ii) the date the Lenders are no longer obligated to advance the Loan, (iii) the Commitment Termination Date and (iv) the date the Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.2(b). The Commitment Fee shall be the US dollar equivalent (determined pursuant to the immediately following sentence) of an amount equal to the product of 0.25% per annum, multiplied by EUR 412,000,000 for each day elapsed since the previous Quarterly Payment Date, divided by 360 days. The exchange rate used to convert the fee to US dollars shall be the 10 A.M. midpoint market fixing for the conversion of EUR to US dollars set by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York two (2) Business Days prior to the relevant Quarterly Payment Date.

SECTION 3.5. Other Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the fees set forth in the Agreement to Provide Financing on the dates and in the amounts set forth therein.

ARTICLE IV

CERTAIN LIBO RATE AND OTHER PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 4.1. LIBO Rate Lending Unlawful. If the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority having jurisdiction over such Lender asserts that it is unlawful, for such Lender to make, continue or maintain the Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the LIBO Rate, the obligation of such Lender to make, continue or maintain its Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the LIBO Rate shall, upon notice thereof to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each other Lender, forthwith be suspended until the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, provided that such Lender’s obligation to make, continue and maintain its Loan hereunder shall be automatically converted into an obligation to make, continue and maintain the Loan bearing interest at a rate to be negotiated between such Lender and the Borrower that is the equivalent of the sum of the LIBO Rate for the relevant Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin.

SECTION 4.2. Deposits Unavailable. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined that:

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice of such determination (hereinafter called a “Determination Notice”) to the Borrower and each of the Lenders. The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall then negotiate in good faith in order to agree upon a mutually satisfactory interest rate and interest period (or interest periods) to be substituted for those which would otherwise have applied under this Agreement. If the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are unable to agree upon an interest rate (or rates) and interest period (or interest periods) prior to the date occurring fifteen Business Days after the giving of such Determination Notice, the Administrative Agent shall (after consultation with the Lenders) set an interest rate and an interest period (or interest periods), in each case to take effect at the end of the Interest Period current at the date of the Determination Notice, which rate (or rates) shall be equal to the sum of the Applicable Margin and the lesser of (x) the cost to each of the Lenders of funding their respective portions of the Loan (the “Funding Costs”) and (y) the weighted average of the corresponding interest rates at or about 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days before the commencement of the relevant Interest Period on Reuters’ pages KLIEMMM, GARBIC01 and FINA01 (or such other pages as may replace Reuters’ pages KLIEMMM, GARBIC01 or FINA01 on Reuters’ service). The Administrative Agent shall furnish a certificate to the Borrower as soon as reasonably practicable after the Administrative Agent has given such Determination Notice setting forth such rate and certifying that the rate set forth therein accurately reflects the Funding Costs. In the event that the circumstances described in

 

this Section 4.2 shall extend beyond the end of an interest period agreed or set pursuant hereto, the foregoing procedure shall be repeated as often as may be necessary.

SECTION 4.3. Increased LIBO Rate Loan Costs, etc. If a change in any applicable treaty, law, regulation or regulatory requirement or in the interpretation thereof or in its application to the Borrower, or if compliance by any Lender with any applicable direction, request, requirement or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental or other authority including, without limitation, any agency of the European Union or similar monetary or multinational authority insofar as it may be changed or imposed after the date hereof, shall:

and the result of any of the foregoing is either (i) to increase the cost to such Lender of making the Loan or maintaining the Loan or any part thereof, (ii) to reduce the amount of any payment received by such Lender or its effective return hereunder or on its capital or (iii) to cause such Lender to make any payment or to forego any return based on any amount received or receivable by such Lender hereunder, then and in any such case if such increase or reduction in the opinion of such Lender materially affects the interests of such Lender, (A) such Lender shall (through the Administrative Agent) notify the Borrower of the occurrence of such event and use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Lending Office if the making of such a designation would avoid the effects of such law, regulation or regulatory requirement or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender and (B) the Borrower shall forthwith upon such demand pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender such amount as is necessary to compensate such Lender for such

 

additional cost or such reduction and ancillary expenses, including taxes, incurred as a result of such adjustment. Such notice shall (i) describe in reasonable detail the event leading to such additional cost, together with the approximate date of the effectiveness thereof, (ii) set forth the amount of such additional cost, (iii) describe the manner in which such amount has been calculated, (iv) certify that the method used to calculate such amount is such Lender’s standard method of calculating such amount, (v) certify that such request is consistent with its treatment of other borrowers that are subject to similar provisions, and (vi) certify that, to the best of its knowledge, such change in circumstance is of general application to the commercial banking industry in such Lender’s jurisdiction of organization or in the relevant jurisdiction in which such Lender does business. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than three months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the circumstance giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the circumstance giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the three-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof, but not more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the circumstance giving rise to such cost or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor.

SECTION 4.4. Funding Losses. (a) In the event any Lender shall incur any loss or expense (for the avoidance of doubt excluding loss of profit) by reason of the liquidation or reemployment (at not less than the market rate) of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to make, continue or maintain any portion of the principal amount of the Loan as a LIBO Rate Loan as a result of:

then, upon the written notice of such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of its receipt thereof, pay directly to such Lender such amount as will reimburse such Lender for such loss or expense. Such written notice shall include calculations in reasonable detail setting forth the loss or expense to such Lender.

(b) In the event any Lender shall incur or obtain a Swap Break Amount by reason of the unwinding, liquidation or termination of a Swap Transaction as a result of:

 

otherwise scheduled date for repayment or payment, whether pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2 or otherwise; or

then, such Lender shall provide written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any Swap Breakage Gain or Swap Breakage Loss resulting therefrom. Such written notice shall include the Swap Bank termination confirmation setting forth the gain or loss to such Lender. Within five Business Days of receipt of such Notice, the Borrower will pay directly to such Lender any such Swap Breakage Loss, or such Lender will pay directly to the Borrower any such Swap Breakage Gain, as the case may be.

SECTION 4.5. Increased Capital Costs. If any change in, or the introduction, adoption, effectiveness, interpretation, reinterpretation or phase-in of, any law or regulation, directive, guideline, decision or request (whether or not having the force of law) of any court, central bank, regulator or other governmental authority increases the amount of capital required to be maintained by any Lender or any Person controlling such Lender, and the rate of return on its or such controlling Person’s capital as a consequence of its Commitment or the Loan made by such Lender is reduced to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling Person would have achieved but for the occurrence of any such change in circumstance, then, in any such case upon notice from time to time by such Lender to the Borrower, the Borrower shall immediately pay directly to such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such controlling Person for such reduction in rate of return. Any such notice shall (i) describe in reasonable detail the capital adequacy requirements which have been imposed, together with the approximate date of the effectiveness thereof, (ii) set forth the amount of such lowered return, (iii) describe the manner in which such amount has been calculated, (iv) certify that the method used to calculate such amount is such Lender’s standard method of calculating such amount, (v) certify that such request for such additional amounts is consistent with its treatment of other borrowers that are subject to similar provisions and (vi) certify that, to the best of its knowledge, such change in circumstances is of general application to the commercial banking industry in the jurisdictions in which such Lender does business. In determining such amount, such Lender may use any method of averaging and attribution that it shall, subject to the foregoing sentence, deem applicable. Each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Lending Office if the making of such a designation would avoid such reduction in such rate of return and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than three months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the circumstance giving rise to such reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the circumstance giving rise to such reductions is retroactive, then the three-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof, but not more than six months prior to the date that such Lender

 

notifies the Borrower of the circumstance giving rise to such reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor.

SECTION 4.6. Taxes. All payments by the Borrower of principal of, and interest on, the Loan and all other amounts payable hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any present or future income, excise, stamp or franchise taxes and other taxes, fees, duties, withholdings or other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority, but excluding franchise taxes and taxes imposed on or measured by any Lender’s net income or receipts of such Lender and franchise taxes imposed in lieu of net income taxes or receipts, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender is organized or any political subdivision thereof or the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof or any other jurisdiction unless such net income taxes are imposed solely as a result of the Borrower’s activities in such other jurisdiction (such non-excluded items being called “Covered Taxes”). In the event that any withholding or deduction from any payment to be made by the Borrower hereunder is required in respect of any Covered Taxes pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation, then the Borrower will:

Moreover, if any Covered Taxes are directly asserted against the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any payment received or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may pay such Covered Taxes and the Borrower will promptly pay such additional amounts (including any penalties, interest or expenses) as is necessary in order that the net amount received by such person after the payment of such Covered Taxes (including any Covered Taxes on such additional amount) shall equal the amount such person would have received had no such Covered Taxes been asserted.

Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office if the making of such a change would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

If the Borrower fails to pay any Covered Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent for the account of the respective Lenders the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the

 

Lenders for any incremental withholding Covered Taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by any Lender as a result of any such failure (so long as such amount did not become payable as a result of the failure of such Lender to provide timely notice to the Borrower of the assertion of a liability related to the payment of Covered Taxes). For purposes of this Section 4.6, a distribution hereunder by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to or for the account of any Lender shall be deemed a payment by the Borrower.

If any Lender is entitled to any refund, credit, deduction or other reduction in tax by reason of any payment made by the Borrower in respect of any Covered Tax under this Section 4.6 or by reason of any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.3, such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to obtain such refund, credit, deduction or other reduction and, promptly after receipt thereof, will pay to the Borrower such amount (plus any interest received by such Lender in connection with such refund, credit, deduction or reduction) as is equal to the net after-tax value to such Lender of such part of such refund, credit, deduction or reduction as such Lender reasonably determines is allocable to such Covered Tax or such payment (less out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Lender), provided that no Lender shall be obligated to disclose to the Borrower any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations.

Each Lender (and each Participant) that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States agrees with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it will (a) provide to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower an appropriately executed copy of (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI certifying that any payments made to or for the benefit of such Lender or such Participant are effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States, or (ii) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming the benefits of a tax treaty, but only if the applicable treaty described in such form provides for a complete exemption from U.S. federal income tax withholding), or any successor form, on or prior to the date hereof (or, in the case of any assignee Lender or Participant, on or prior to the date of the relevant assignment or participation), in each case attached to an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, if appropriate, and (b) notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower if the certifications made on any form provided pursuant to this paragraph are no longer accurate and true in all material respects. For any period with respect to which a Lender (or assignee Lender or Participant) has failed to provide the Borrower with the foregoing forms (other than if such failure is due to a change in law occurring after the date on which a form originally was required to be provided or if such form otherwise is not required hereunder) such Lender (or assignee Lender or Participant) shall not be entitled to the benefits of this Section 4.6 with respect to Covered Taxes imposed by reason of such failure.

SECTION 4.7. Reserve Costs. Without in any way limiting the Borrower’s obligations under Section 4.3, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender on the last day of each Interest Period, so long as the relevant Lending Office of such Lender is required to maintain reserves against “Eurocurrency liabilities” under Regulation D of the F.R.S. Board, upon notice from such Lender, an additional amount equal to the product of the following for the Loan for each day during such Interest Period:

 

(ii)       the remainder of (x) a fraction the numerator of which is the rate (expressed as a decimal) at which interest accrues on the Loan for such Interest Period as provided in this Agreement (less the Applicable Margin) and the denominator of which is one minus any increase after the Effective Date in the effective rate (expressed as a decimal) at which such reserve requirements are imposed on such Lender minus (y) such numerator; and

Such notice shall (i) describe in reasonable detail the reserve requirement that has been imposed, together with the approximate date of the effectiveness thereof, (ii) set forth the applicable reserve percentage, (iii) certify that such request is consistent with such Lender’s treatment of other borrowers that are subject to similar provisions and (iv) certify that, to the best of its knowledge, such requirements are of general application in the commercial banking industry in the United States.

Each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to avoid the requirement of maintaining such reserves (including by designating a different Lending Office) if such efforts would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

SECTION 4.8. Payments, Computations, etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all payments by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the pro rata account of the Lenders entitled to receive such payment. All such payments required to be made to the Administrative Agent shall be made, without setoff, deduction or counterclaim, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York time, on the date due, in same day or immediately available funds through the New York Clearing House Interbank Payments System (or such other funds as may be customary for the settlement of international banking transactions in Dollars), to such account as the Administrative Agent shall specify from time to time by notice to the Borrower. Funds received after that time shall be deemed to have been received by the Administrative Agent on the next succeeding Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall promptly (but in any event on the same Business Day that the same are received or, as contemplated in the immediately preceding sentence, deemed received) remit in same day funds to each Lender its share, if any, of such payments received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender without any setoff, deduction or counterclaim. All interest and fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring during the period for which such interest or fee is payable over a year comprised of 360 days. Whenever any payment to be made shall otherwise be due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment shall (except as otherwise required by clause (a) of the definition of the term “Interest Period”) be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in computing interest and fees, if any, in connection with such payment.

SECTION 4.9. Replacement Lenders, etc. If the Borrower shall be required to make any payment to any Lender pursuant to Section 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 or 4.7, the Borrower shall be entitled at any time (so long as no Default and no Prepayment Event shall have occurred and be continuing) within 180 days after receipt of notice from such Lender of such required

 

payment to (a) prepay the affected portion of such Lender’s Loans in full, together with accrued interest thereon through the date of such prepayment (provided that the Borrower shall not prepay any such Lender pursuant to this clause (a) without replacing such Lender pursuant to the following clause (b) until a 30-day period shall have elapsed during which the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have attempted in good faith to replace such Lender), and/or (b) replace such Lender with another financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, provided that (i) each such assignment shall be either an assignment of all of the rights and obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement or an assignment of a portion of such rights and obligations made concurrently with another such assignment or other such assignments that together cover all of the rights and obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement and (ii) no Lender shall be obligated to make any such assignment as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to this Section unless and until such Lender shall have received one or more payments from either the Borrower or one or more Assignee Lenders in an aggregate amount at least equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans owing to such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of payment of such principal amount and all other amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement. Each Lender represents and warrants to the Borrower that, as of the date of this Agreement (or, with respect to any Lender not a party hereto on the date hereof, on the date that such Lender becomes a party hereto), there is no existing treaty, law, regulation, regulatory requirement, interpretation, directive, guideline, decision or request pursuant to which such Lender would be entitled to request any payments under any of Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 to or for account of such Lender Party.

SECTION 4.10. Sharing of Payments. If any Lender shall obtain any payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of setoff or otherwise) on account of the Loan (other than pursuant to the terms of Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7) in excess of its pro rata share of payments then or therewith obtained by all Lenders, such Lender shall purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loan made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and each Lender which has sold a participation to the purchasing Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the ratable extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such selling Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (a) the amount of such selling Lender’s required repayment to the purchasing Lender to (b) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including pursuant to Section 4.11) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this Section applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this Section to share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

 

SECTION 4.11. Setoff. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or a Prepayment Event, each Lender shall have, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the right to appropriate and apply to the payment of the Obligations then due and owing to it any and all balances, credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of the Borrower then or thereafter maintained with such Lender; provided that any such appropriation and application shall be subject to the provisions of Section 4.10. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff under applicable law or otherwise) which such Lender may have.

SECTION 4.12. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall apply the proceeds of the Loan in accordance with Recital (D); without limiting the foregoing, no proceeds of the Loan will be used to acquire any equity security of a class which is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any “margin stock”, as defined in F.R.S. Board Regulation U.

ARTICLE V

 

CONDITIONS TO BORROWING

SECTION 5.1. Advance of the Loan. The obligation of the Lenders to fund the Loan shall be subject to the prior or concurrent satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 5.1. The Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 5.1 prior to funding on the Closing Date.

SECTION 5.1.1. Resolutions, etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and the Guarantor:

(a) a certificate of its Secretary or Assistant Secretary as to the incumbency and signatures of those of its officers authorized to act with respect to this Agreement and each other Loan Document and as to the truth and completeness of the attached:

(x) resolutions of its Board of Directors then in full force and effect authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each other Loan Document, and

(y) Organic Documents of the Borrower and the Guarantor,

and upon which certificate the Lenders may conclusively rely until it shall have received a further certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower or the Guarantor canceling or amending such prior certificate; and

(b) a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the relevant Liberian authorities in respect of the Borrower and the Guarantor.

 

SECTION 5.1.2. Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received opinions, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender from:

SECTION 5.1.3. Guarantee. The Administrative Agent shall have received the Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor.

SECTION 5.1.4. Closing Fees, Expenses, etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received for its own account, or for the account of each Lender, as the case may be, all fees that the Borrower or the Guarantor shall have agreed in writing to pay to the Administrative Agent (whether for its own account or for the account of any of the Lenders) and all invoiced expenses of the Administrative Agent (including the agreed fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Hermes Fees) required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 11.3 or that the Borrower (or the Guarantor) has otherwise agreed in writing to pay to the Administrative Agent, in each case on or prior to the Closing Date.

SECTION 5.1.5. Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc. Both before and after giving effect to the Loan the following statements shall be true and correct:

SECTION 5.1.6. Loan Request. The Administrative Agent shall have received the Loan Request duly executed by the Borrower.

SECTION 5.1.7. Hermes Insurance Policy. (a) The Administrative Agent or the Hermes Agent shall have received the Hermes Insurance Policy duly issued; and

(b) Hermes shall not have, on or prior to funding the Loan, delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Hermes Agent any notice that the Federal Republic of Germany has determined that the Loan is excluded from cover under the Hermes Insurance Policy.

 

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loan hereunder, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as set forth in this Article VI as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except as otherwise stated).

SECTION 6.1. Organization, etc. The Borrower is a corporation validly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; the Borrower is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Borrower has full power and authority, has taken all corporate action and holds all governmental and creditors’ licenses, permits, consents and other approvals necessary to enter into each Loan Document and to perform the Obligations.

SECTION 6.2. Due Authorization, Non-Contravention, etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and each other Loan Document, are within the Borrower’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not:

SECTION 6.3. Government Approval, Regulation, etc. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or other Person is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except for authorizations or approvals not required to be obtained on or prior to the Closing Date that have been obtained or actions not required to be taken on or prior to the Closing Date that have been taken). The Borrower holds all governmental licenses, permits and other approvals required to conduct its business as

 

conducted by it on the Closing Date, except to the extent the failure to hold any such licenses, permits or other approvals would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.4. Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Borrower is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, except to the extent that the failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 6.5. Validity, etc. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles.

SECTION 6.6. No Default, Event of Default or Prepayment Event. No Default, Event of Default or Prepayment Event has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 6.7. Litigation. There is no action, suit, litigation, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower, that (i) except as set forth in filings made by the Guarantor with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in the Borrower’s reasonable opinion might reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the business, operations or financial condition of the Borrower (collectively, “Material Litigation”) or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 6.8. The Vessel. Immediately following the delivery of the Vessel to the Borrower under the Construction Contract the Vessel will be:

SECTION 6.9. Obligations rank pari passu. The Obligations rank at least pari passu in right of payment and in all other respects with all other unsecured unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower.

SECTION 6.10. No Filing, etc. Required. No filing, recording or registration and no payment of any stamp, registration or similar tax is necessary under the laws of any Applicable Jurisdiction to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (except for filings, recordings,

 

registrations or payments not required to be made on or prior to the Closing Date that have been made).

SECTION 6.11. No Immunity. The Borrower is subject to civil and commercial law with respect to the Obligations. Neither the Borrower nor any of its properties or revenues is entitled to any right of immunity in any Applicable Jurisdiction from suit, court jurisdiction, judgment, attachment (whether before or after judgment), set-off or execution of a judgment or from any other legal process or remedy relating to the Obligations (to the extent such suit, court jurisdiction, judgment, attachment, set-off, execution, legal process or remedy would otherwise be permitted or exist).

SECTION 6.12. Investment Company Act. The Borrower is not an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SECTION 6.13. Regulation U. The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of the Loan will be used for a purpose which violates, or would be inconsistent with, F.R.S. Board Regulation U. Terms for which meanings are provided in F.R.S. Board Regulation U or any regulations substituted therefor, as from time to time in effect, are used in this Section with such meanings.

ARTICLE VII

 

COVENANTS

SECTION 7.1. Affirmative Covenants. The Borrower agrees with the Administrative Agent and each Lender that, until all Obligations have been paid in full, the Borrower will perform the obligations set forth in this Section 7.1.

SECTION 7.1.1. Financial Information, Reports, Notices, etc. The Borrower will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to the Administrative Agent the following financial statements, reports, notices and information:

 

filings with the SEC; provided that the Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent notice of the posting of any such filing;

SECTION 7.1.2. Approvals and Other Consents. The Borrower will obtain (or cause to be obtained) all such governmental licenses, authorizations, consents, permits and approvals as may be required for (a) the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (b) the operation of the Vessel in compliance with all applicable laws, except, in each case, to the extent that failure to obtain (or cause to be obtained) such governmental licenses, authorizations, consents, permits and approvals would not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.1.3. Compliance with Laws, etc. The Borrower will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, except (other than as described in clause (a) below) to the extent that the failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect, which compliance shall in any case include (but not be limited to):

SECTION 7.1.4. The Vessel. The Borrower will:

 

SECTION 7.1.5. Insurance. The Borrower will maintain or cause to be maintained with responsible insurance companies insurance with respect to the Vessel against such casualties, third-party liabilities and contingencies and in such amounts, in each case, as is customary for other businesses of similar size in the passenger cruise line industry (provided that in no event will the Borrower be required to obtain any business interruption, loss of hire or delay in delivery insurance) and will, upon request of the Administrative Agent, furnish to the Administrative Agent at reasonable intervals a certificate of a senior officer of the Borrower setting forth the nature and extent of all such insurance maintained or caused to be maintained by the Borrower and certifying as to compliance with this Section.

SECTION 7.1.6. Books and Records. The Borrower will keep books and records that accurately reflect all of its business affairs and transactions and permit the Administrative Agent and each Lender or any of their respective representatives, at reasonable times and intervals, to visit each of its offices, to discuss its financial matters with its officers and to examine any of its books or other corporate records.

SECTION 7.1.7. Hermes Insurance Policy. The Borrower shall, on the reasonable request of the Hermes Agent, provide such other information as required under the Hermes Insurance Policy as necessary to enable the Hermes Agent to obtain the full support of Hermes pursuant to the Hermes Insurance Policy. The Borrower must pay to the Hermes Agent the amount of all reasonable costs and expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with complying with a request by Hermes for any additional information necessary or desirable in connection with the Hermes Insurance Policy, provided that the Borrower is consulted before the Hermes Agent incurs any such cost or expense.

SECTION 7.2. Negative Covenants. The Borrower agrees with the Administrative Agent and each Lender that, until all Obligations have been paid and performed in full, the Borrower will perform the obligations set forth in this Section 7.2.

SECTION 7.2.1. Business Activities. The Borrower will not engage in any business activity other than the ownership, operation and chartering of the Vessel and other business activities reasonably related thereto.

 

SECTION 7.2.2. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist or otherwise become or be liable in respect of any Indebtedness, other than, without duplication, the following:

SECTION 7.2.3. Liens. The Borrower will not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, revenues or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

(i)     secure obligations covered (or reasonably expected to be covered) by insurance;

(ii)    were incurred in the course of or incidental to trading the Vessel in connection with repairs or other work to the Vessel; or

(iii)   were incurred in connection with work to the Vessel that is required to be performed pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation or order;

 

provided that, in each case described in this clause (g), such Liens are either (x) discharged in the ordinary course of business or (y) being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and

SECTION 7.2.4. Investments. The Borrower will not make, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Investment in any other Person other than (a) Investments in the Guarantor or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Guarantor and (b) Investments in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time, determined net of any cash returns on or repayments or sales of such Investments.

SECTION 7.2.5. Consolidation, Merger, etc. The Borrower will not liquidate or dissolve, consolidate with, or merge into or with, any other corporation, or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any Person except the Borrower may liquidate or dissolve voluntarily into, and may merge with and into, the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor, and the assets or stock of the Borrower may be purchased or otherwise acquired by the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor.

ARTICLE VIII

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 8.1. Listing of Events of Default. Each of the following events or occurrences described in this Section 8.1 shall constitute an “Event of Default”.

SECTION 8.1.1. Non-Payment of Obligations. The Borrower shall default in the payment when due of any principal of or interest on the Loan or any Commitment Fee, or the Guarantor and the Borrower shall default in the payment of any fee due and payable under the Agreement to Provide Financing, provided that, in the case of any default in the payment of any interest on the Loan or of any Commitment Fee, such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least two Business Days after notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent; and provided further that, in the case of any default in the payment of any fee due and payable under the Agreement to Provide Financing, such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least ten days after notice thereof shall have been given to the Guarantor by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 8.1.2. Breach of Warranty. Any representation or warranty of the Borrower or the Guarantor made or deemed to be made hereunder or in the Guarantee (including any certificates delivered pursuant to Article V) is or shall be incorrect in any material respect when made.

SECTION 8.1.3. Non-Performance of Certain Covenants and Obligations. The Borrower or the Guarantor shall default in the due performance and observance of any other agreement contained herein or in any other Loan Document (other than Sections 8.1.1 and 8.1.2 hereof and the financial covenants set forth in the Guarantee) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of ten days after notice thereof shall have been

 

given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent (or, if (a) such default is capable of being remedied within 30 days (commencing on the first day following such ten-day period) and (b) the Borrower or the Guarantor is actively seeking to remedy the same during such period, such default shall continue unremedied for at least 35 days after such notice to the Borrower).

SECTION 8.1.4. Default on Other Indebtedness. The Borrower or the Guarantor shall fail to pay any Indebtedness that is outstanding in a principal amount of at least $50,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) in the aggregate (but excluding Indebtedness hereunder) when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument evidencing, securing or relating to any such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to cause or permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness to cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable prior to its scheduled maturity; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption or by voluntary agreement), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness is required to be made, in each case prior to the scheduled maturity thereof. For purposes of determining Indebtedness for any Hedging Instrument, the principal amount of the obligations under any such instrument at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or the Guarantor would be required to pay if such instrument were terminated at such time.

SECTION 8.1.5. Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc. The Borrower or the Guarantor shall:

 

and, if any such case or proceeding is not commenced by the Borrower, such case or proceeding shall be consented to or acquiesced in by the Borrower or shall result in the entry of an order for relief or shall remain for 30 days undismissed, provided that in the case of such an event in respect of the Borrower or the Guarantor, the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent and each Lender to appear in any court conducting any such case or proceeding during such 30-day period to preserve, protect and defend their respective rights under the Loan Documents; or

SECTION 8.2. Action if Bankruptcy. If any Event of Default described in clauses (b) through (d) of Section 8.1.5 shall occur with respect to the Borrower, the Commitment (if not theretofore terminated) shall automatically terminate and the outstanding principal amount of the Loan and all other Obligations shall automatically be and become immediately due and payable, without notice or demand.

SECTION 8.3. Action if Other Event of Default. If any Event of Default (other than any Event of Default described in clauses (b) through (d) of Section 8.1.5 with respect to the Borrower) shall occur for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, upon the direction of the Required Lenders, shall by notice to the Borrower declare the outstanding principal amount of the Loan and other Obligations to be immediately due and payable and/or the Commitment (if not theretofore terminated) to be terminated, whereupon the full unpaid amount of the Loan and other Obligations shall be and become immediately due and payable, without further notice, demand or presentment.

ARTICLE IX

 

PREPAYMENT EVENTS

SECTION 9.1. Listing of Prepayment Events. Each of the following events or occurrences described in this Section 9.1 shall constitute a “Prepayment Event”.

SECTION 9.1.1. Change in Ownership. The Guarantor ceases to own beneficially directly or indirectly at least 51% of the issued stock carrying voting rights of the Borrower.

SECTION 9.1.2. Total Loss. The Vessel is or becomes a Total Loss and the period of one hundred eighty days from such Total Loss has elapsed. “Total Loss” for these purposes shall mean an actual, constructive, agreed, compromised or arranged total loss of the Vessel or a requisition for title or other compulsory acquisition of the Vessel otherwise than by requisition for hire.

SECTION 9.1.3. Unenforceability. Any Loan Document shall cease to be the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Borrower (in each case, other than with respect to provisions of any Loan Document (i) identified as unenforceable in the form of the opinion of the Borrower’s counsel set forth as Exhibit D-1 or (ii) that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined are not material) and such event shall continue unremedied for 15 days after notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 9.1.4. Approvals. Any material license, consent, authorization, registration or approval at any time necessary to enable the Borrower or (as the case may be) the Guarantor to conduct its business shall be revoked, withdrawn or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, unless the same would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 9.1.5. Non-Performance of Certain Covenants and Obligations. The Guarantor shall default in the due performance and observance of any of the financial covenants set forth in the Guarantee.

SECTION 9.1.6. Judgments. Any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000 in the case of the Borrower and $50,000,000 in the case of the Guarantor shall be rendered against the Borrower or Guarantor by a court of competent jurisdiction and the Borrower or Guarantor shall have failed to satisfy such judgment and either:

SECTION 9.1.7. Condemnation, etc. The Vessel shall be condemned or otherwise taken under color of law and the same shall continue unremedied for at least 20 days, unless such condemnation or other taking would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 9.1.8. Arrest. The Vessel shall be arrested and the same shall continue unremedied for at least 20 days, unless such arrest would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 9.1.9. Consolidation or Merger of Guarantor. The Guarantor consolidates with or merges with or into, or conveys, transfers or leases its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person and (other than in the case of a merger or consolidation where the Guarantor is the surviving entity) the surviving or successor Person or transferee Person does not by way of operation of law or otherwise assume all the obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee.

SECTION 9.1.10. Sale/Disposal of Vessel. The Vessel is sold to a company which is not the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor (other than for the purpose of a lease back to the Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of the Guarantor).

SECTION 9.1.11. Delayed Delivery of the Vessel. If within 15 days after the Closing Date the Loan has not been utilized to pay for the delivery of the Vessel.

Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement, if, prior to delivery of the Vessel, the Borrower makes a Mandatory Prepayment pursuant to Section 9.2 or a voluntary prepayment pursuant to Section 3.2(a) and the Vessel is delivered prior to the Commitment

 

Termination Date, the Borrower shall be entitled to make an additional Loan Request prior to the Commitment Termination Date as if the funds had not been previously advanced. Payment of the Loan made pursuant to this Section shall be without premium or penalty, except as may be required by Section 4.4.

SECTION 9.2. Mandatory Prepayment. If any Prepayment Event shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, upon the direction of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, require the Borrower to prepay in full on the date of such notice all principal of and interest on the Loan and all other Obligations (and, in such event, the Borrower agrees to so pay the full unpaid amount of the Loan and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all other Obligations).

ARTICLE X

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

SECTION 10.1. Actions. Each Lender hereby appoints KfW IPEX, as its agent under and for purposes of this Agreement and each other Loan Document. Each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent to act on behalf of such Lender under this Agreement and each other Loan Document and, in the absence of other written instructions from the Required Lenders received from time to time by the Administrative Agent (with respect to which the Administrative Agent agrees that it will comply, except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.1 or as otherwise advised by counsel), to exercise such powers hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as may be reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent shall not be obliged to act on the instructions of any Lender or the Required Lenders if to do so would, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, be contrary to any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or to any law, or would expose the Administrative Agent to any actual or potential liability to any third party.

SECTION 10.2. Indemnity. Each Lender hereby indemnifies (which indemnity shall survive any termination of this Agreement) the Administrative Agent, pro rata according to such Lender’s Percentage, from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that be incurred by or asserted or awarded against, the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement and any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses which have resulted from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any such indemnified costs, this Section applies whether any such

 

investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or a third party. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or to prosecute or defend any suit in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, unless it is expressly required to do so under this Agreement or is indemnified hereunder to its satisfaction. If any indemnity in favor of the Administrative Agent shall be or become, in the Administrative Agent’s determination, inadequate, the Administrative Agent may call for additional indemnification from the Lenders and cease to do the acts indemnified against hereunder until such additional indemnity is given.

SECTION 10.3. Funding Reliance, etc. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent by 4:00 p.m., Frankfurt time, one day prior to the advance of the Loan if it is not able to fund the following day. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by telephone, confirmed in writing, by any Lender by 4:00 p.m., Frankfurt time, on the day prior to the advance of the Loan that such Lender will not make available the amount which would constitute its Percentage of the Loan on the date specified therefor, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent and, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such amount available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date the Administrative Agent made such amount available to the Borrower to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loan.

SECTION 10.4. Exculpation. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or in connection herewith or therewith, except for its own willful misconduct or gross negligence. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (ii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance, observance or satisfaction of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower or the existence at any time of any Default or Prepayment Event or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower, (iv) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, (v) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by action upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties, and (vi) shall have no responsibility to the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Lender on account of (A) the failure of a Lender, the Borrower or the Guarantor to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document; (B) the financial condition of the Borrower or the Guarantor; (C) the completeness or accuracy of any statements, representations or warranties made in or pursuant to

 

this Agreement or any Loan Document, or in or pursuant to any document delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document; or (D) the negotiation, execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, admissibility in evidence or sufficiency of this Agreement or any Loan Document or of any document executed or delivered pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document.

SECTION 10.5. Successor. The Administrative Agent may resign as such at any time upon at least 30 days’ prior notice to the Borrower and all Lenders, provided that any such resignation shall not become effective until a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed as provided in this Section 10.5 and such successor Administrative Agent has accepted such appointment. If the Administrative Agent at any time shall resign, the Required Lenders shall, subject to the immediately preceding proviso and subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), appoint another Lender as a successor to the Administrative Agent which shall thereupon become such Administrative Agent’s successor hereunder (provided that the Required Lenders shall, subject to the consent of the Borrower unless an Event or Default or a Prepayment Event shall have occurred and be continuing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) offer to each of the other Lenders in turn, in the order of their respective Percentages of the Loan, the right to become successor Administrative Agent). If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the Administrative Agent’s giving notice of resignation, then the Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be one of the Lenders or a commercial banking institution having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies), subject, in each case, to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive from the resigning Administrative Agent such documents of transfer and assignment as such successor Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning Administrative Agent, and the resigning Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any resigning Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of:

(a) this Article X shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent under this Agreement; and

If a Lender acting as the Administrative Agent assigns its Loan to one of its Affiliates, such Administrative Agent may, subject to the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) assign its rights and obligations as Administrative Agent to such Affiliate.

SECTION 10.6. Loans by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers with respect to the Loan made by it or any of its Affiliates. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and

 

generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower as if the Administrative Agent were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall have no duty to disclose information obtained or received by it or any of its Affiliates relating to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to the extent such information was obtained or received in any capacity other than as the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 10.7. Credit Decisions. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently of the Administrative Agent and each other Lender, and based on such Lender’s review of the financial information of the Borrower, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents (the terms and provisions of which being satisfactory to such Lender) and such other documents, information and investigations as such Lender has deemed appropriate, made its own credit decision to extend its Commitment. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently of the Administrative Agent and each other Lender, and based on such other documents, information and investigations as it shall deem appropriate at any time, continue to make its own credit decisions as to exercising or not exercising from time to time any rights and privileges available to it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 10.8. Copies, etc. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to each Lender of each notice or request required or permitted to be given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (unless concurrently delivered to the Lenders by the Borrower). The Administrative Agent will distribute to each Lender each document or instrument received for its account and copies of all other communications received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower for distribution to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 10.9. The Administrative Agent’s Rights. The Administrative Agent may (i) assume that all representations or warranties made or deemed repeated by the Borrower or the Guarantor in or pursuant to this Agreement or any Loan Document are true and complete, unless, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, it has acquired actual knowledge to the contrary, (ii) assume that no Default has occurred unless, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, it has acquired actual knowledge to the contrary,(iii) rely on any document or notice believed by it to be genuine, (iv) rely as to legal or other professional matters on opinions and statements of any legal or other professional advisers selected or approved by it, (v) rely as to any factual matters which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of the Borrower or the Guarantor on a certificate signed by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Guarantor and (vi) refrain from exercising any right, power, discretion or remedy unless and until instructed to exercise that right, power, discretion or remedy and as to the manner of its exercise by the Lenders (or, where applicable, by the Required Lenders) and unless and until the Administrative Agent has received from the Lenders any payment which the Administrative Agent may require on account of, or any security which the Administrative Agent may require for, any costs, claims, expenses (including legal and other professional fees) and liabilities which it considers it may incur or sustain in complying with those instructions.

SECTION 10.10. The Administrative Agent’s Duties. The Administrative Agent shall (i) if requested in writing to do so by a Lender, make enquiry and advise the Lenders as to the performance or observance of any of the provisions of this Agreement or any Loan

 

Document by the Borrower or the Guarantor or as to the existence of an Event of Default and (ii) inform the Lenders promptly of any Event of Default of which the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge.

The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have actual knowledge of the falsehood or incompleteness of any representation or warranty made or deemed repeated by the Borrower or the Guarantor or actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Default unless a Lender, the Borrower or the Guarantor shall have given written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as the Administrative Agent. Any information acquired by the Administrative Agent other than specifically in its capacity as the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to be information acquired by the Administrative Agent in its capacity as the Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent may, without any liability to account to the Lenders, generally engage in any kind of banking or trust business with the Borrower or the Guarantor or with the Borrower’s or the Guarantor’s subsidiaries or associated companies or with a Lender as if it were not the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 10.11. Employment of Agents. In performing its duties and exercising its rights, powers, discretions and remedies under or pursuant to this Agreement or the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to employ and pay agents to do anything which the Administrative Agent is empowered to do under or pursuant to this Agreement or the Loan Documents (including the receipt of money and documents and the payment of money) and to act or refrain from taking action in reliance on the opinion of, or advice or information obtained from, any lawyer, banker, broker, accountant, valuer or any other person believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be competent to give such opinion, advice or information.

SECTION 10.12. Distribution of Payments. The Administrative Agent shall pay promptly to the order of each Lender that Lender’s Percentage Share of every sum of money received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement or the Loan Documents (with the exception of any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3 of the Guarantee and/or the Agreement to Provide Financing and any amounts which, by the terms of this Agreement or the Loan Documents, are paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Administrative Agent alone or specifically for the account of one or more Lenders) and until so paid such amount shall be held by the Administrative Agent on trust absolutely for that Lender.

SECTION 10.13. Reimbursement. The Administrative Agent shall have no liability to pay any sum to a Lender until it has itself received payment of that sum. If, however, the Administrative Agent does pay any sum to a Lender on account of any amount prospectively due to that Lender pursuant to Section 10.12 before it has itself received payment of that amount, and the Administrative Agent does not in fact receive payment within five (5) Business Days after the date on which that payment was required to be made by the terms of this Agreement or the Loan Documents, that Lender will, on demand by the Administrative Agent, refund to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the amount received by it, together with an amount sufficient to reimburse the Administrative Agent for any amount which the Administrative Agent may certify that it has been required to pay by way of interest on money borrowed to fund the amount in question during the period beginning on the date on which that amount was required

 

to be paid by the terms of this Agreement or the Loan Documents and ending on the date on which the Administrative Agent receives reimbursement.

SECTION 10.14. Instructions. Where the Administrative Agent is authorized or directed to act or refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Lenders or of the Required Lenders each of the Lenders shall provide the Administrative Agent with instructions within three (3) Business Days of the Administrative Agent’s request (which request may be made orally or in writing). If a Lender does not provide the Administrative Agent with instructions within that period, that Lender shall be bound by the decision of the Administrative Agent. Nothing in this Section 10.14 shall limit the right of the Administrative Agent to take, or refrain from taking, any action without obtaining the instructions of the Lenders or the Required Lenders if the Administrative Agent in its discretion considers it necessary or appropriate to take, or refrain from taking, such action in order to preserve the rights of the Lenders under or in connection with this Agreement or the Loan Documents. In that event, the Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of the action taken by it as soon as reasonably practicable, and the Lenders agree to ratify any action taken by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 10.14.

SECTION 10.15. Payments. All amounts payable to a Lender under this Section 10.15 shall be paid to such account at such bank as that Lender may from time to time direct in writing to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 10.16. “Know your customer” Checks. Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (for itself) in order for the Administrative Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Loan Documents.

SECTION 10.17. No Fiduciary Relationship. Except as provided in Section 10.12, the Administrative Agent shall not have any fiduciary relationship with or be deemed to be a trustee of or for any other person and nothing contained in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall constitute a partnership between any two or more Lenders or between the Administrative Agent and any other person.

ARTICLE XI

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 11.1. Waivers, Amendments, etc. The provisions of this Agreement and of each other Loan Document may from time to time be amended, modified or waived, if such amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and consented to by the Borrower and the Required Lenders; provided that no such amendment, modification or waiver which would:

 

No failure or delay on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any power or right under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power or right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle it to any notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. No waiver or approval by the Administrative Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall, except as may be otherwise stated in such waiver or approval, be applicable to subsequent transactions. No waiver or approval hereunder shall require any similar or dissimilar waiver or approval thereafter to be granted hereunder. The Lenders hereby agree, at any time and from time to time that the Citibank Credit Agreement is amended prior to the Closing Date, to negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement to conform any representations, warranties, covenants or events of default in this Agreement to the amendments made to any substantively comparable provisions in the Citibank Credit Agreement.

SECTION 11.2. Notices. All notices and other communications provided to any party hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in writing or by facsimile and addressed, delivered or transmitted to such party at its address, or facsimile number set forth below its signature hereto or set forth in the Lender Assignment Agreement or at such other address, or facsimile number as may be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties. Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid or if properly addressed and sent by pre-paid courier service, shall be deemed given when received; any notice, if transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given when transmitted provided it is received in legible form.

SECTION 11.3. Payment of Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable expenses of the Administrative Agent (including the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent and of local counsel, if any, who may be retained by counsel to the Administrative Agent) in connection with any amendments,

 

waivers, consents, supplements or other modifications to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document as may from time to time hereafter be required, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay reasonable fees and out of pocket expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent in connection with the funding under this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from all liability for, any stamp, recording, documentary or other similar taxes arising from the execution, delivery or enforcement of this Agreement or the borrowing hereunder or any other Loan Documents. The Borrower also agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in connection with (x) the negotiation of any restructuring or “work-out”, whether or not consummated, of any Obligations and (y) the enforcement of any Obligations.

SECTION 11.4. Indemnification. In consideration of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Lender and the extension of the Commitments, the Borrower hereby indemnifies and holds harmless the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, advisors, directors and employees (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), joint or several, that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or the preparation of a defense in connection therewith), in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans (collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this paragraph applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, any of its directors, security holders or creditors, an Indemnified Party or any other person or an Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto. Each Indemnified Party shall (a) furnish the Borrower with prompt notice of any action, suit or other claim covered by this Section 11.4, (b) not agree to any settlement or compromise of any such action, suit or claim without the Borrower’s prior consent, (c) shall cooperate fully in the Borrower’s defense of any such action, suit or other claim (provided, that the Borrower shall reimburse such indemnified party for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred pursuant hereto) and (d) at the Borrower’s request, permit the Borrower to assume control of the defense of any such claim, other than regulatory, supervisory or similar investigations, provided that (i) the Borrower acknowledges in writing its obligations to indemnify the Indemnified Party in accordance with the terms herein in connection with such claims, (ii) the Borrower shall keep the Indemnified Party fully informed with respect to the conduct of the defense of such claim, (iii) the Borrower shall consult in good faith with the Indemnified Party (from time to time and before taking any material decision) about the conduct of the defense of such claim, (iv) the Borrower shall conduct the defense of such claim properly and diligently taking into account its own interests and those of the Indemnified Party, (v) the Borrower shall employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party and at the

 

Borrower’s expense, and (vi) the Borrower shall not enter into a settlement with respect to such claim unless either (A) such settlement involves only the payment of a monetary sum, does not include any performance by or an admission of liability or responsibility on the part of the Indemnified Party, and contains a provision unconditionally releasing the Indemnified Party and each other indemnified party from, and holding all such persons harmless, against, all liability in respect of claims by any releasing party or (B) the Indemnified Party provides written consent to such settlement (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Notwithstanding the Borrower’s election to assume the defense of such action, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such action and the Borrower shall bear the fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Borrower to represent the Indemnified Party would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Borrower and the Indemnified Party and the Indemnified Party shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Borrower and determined that it is necessary to employ separate counsel in order to pursue such defenses (in which case the Borrower shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on the Indemnified Party’s behalf), (iii) the Borrower shall not have employed counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action, or (iv) the Borrower authorizes the Indemnified Party to employ separate counsel at the Borrower’s expense. The Borrower acknowledges that none of the Indemnified Parties shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to the Borrower or any of its security holders or creditors for or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent such liability is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. In no event, however, shall any Indemnified Party be liable on any theory of liability for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (including, without limitation, any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings). If and to the extent that the foregoing undertaking may be unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.

SECTION 11.5. Survival. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 11.3 and 11.4 and the obligations of the Lenders under Section 10.1, shall in each case survive any termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of all Obligations. The representations and warranties made by the Borrower in this Agreement and in each other Loan Document shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each such other Loan Document.

SECTION 11.6. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such provision and such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or such Loan Document or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 11.7. Headings. The various headings of this Agreement and of each other Loan Document are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or

 

interpretation of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or any provisions hereof or thereof.

SECTION 11.8. Execution in Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when counterparts hereof executed on behalf of the Borrower and each Lender (or notice thereof satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) shall have been received by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or, in the case of any Lender, receipt of signature pages transmitted by facsimile) and notice thereof shall have been given by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and each Lender.

SECTION 11.9. Third Party Rights. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, no term of this Agreement is enforceable by a person who is not a party to it other than a Lender.

SECTION 11.10. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that:

SECTION 11.11. Sale and Transfer of the Loan; Participations in the Loan. Each Lender may assign, or sell participations in, its Loan to one or more other Persons in accordance with this Section 11.11.

SECTION 11.11.1. Assignments i) KfW IPEX, as Lender, (A) with the written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld but which consent shall be deemed to have been given in the absence of a written notice delivered by the Borrower to KfW IPEX, on or before the fifth Business Day after receipt by the Borrower of KfW IPEX’s request for consent, stating, in reasonable detail, the reasons why the Borrower proposes to withhold such consent) may at any time (and from time to time) assign and delegate to one or more commercial banks or other financial institutions, when taken together with participations sold by KfW IPEX pursuant to Section 11.11.2, up to 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Loan or the total aggregate Commitments and (B) after having assigned or delegated, when taken together with participations sold by KfW IPEX pursuant to Section 11.11.2, 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Loan or total aggregate Commitments (pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) and/or Section 11.11.2), with the written consent of the Borrower (which consent may be withheld at the discretion of the Borrower) may at any time assign and delegate to one or more commercial banks or other financial institutions all or any fraction of KfW IPEX’s remaining Loan or Commitment.

 

(ii) Any Lender (other than KfW IPEX) with the written consents of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (which consents shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld and which consent, in the case of the Borrower, shall be deemed to have been given in the absence of a written notice delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, on or before the fifth Business Day after receipt by the Borrower of such Lender’s request for consent, stating, in reasonable detail, the reasons why the Borrower proposes to withhold such consent) may at any time (and from time to time) assign and delegate to one or more commercial banks or other financial institutions all or any fraction of such Lender’s Loan; provided that any Affiliate of KfW IPEX shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.11.1(i) and 11.11.2(f) as if such Affiliate were KfW IPEX.

(iii) Any Lender, with notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and, notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, may assign and delegate (A) to any of its Affiliates or (B) following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or a Prepayment Event, to any other Person, in either case, all or any fraction of such Lender’s Loan.

(iv) Any Lender may (notwithstanding the foregoing clauses, and without notice to, or consent from, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) assign and pledge all or any portion of its Loan to any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the F.R.S. Board and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank all or any fraction of such Lender’s Loan;

(v) No Lender may (notwithstanding the foregoing clauses) assign or transfer any of its rights under this Agreement unless it has given prior written notification of the transfer to Hermes and has obtained a prior written consent from Hermes.

(vi) Nothing in this Section 11.11.1 shall prejudice the right of the Lender to assign its rights under this Agreement to Hermes, if such assignment is required to be made by that Lender to Hermes in accordance with the Hermes Insurance Policy.

Each Person described in the foregoing clauses as being the Person to whom such assignment and delegation is to be made, is hereinafter referred to as an “Assignee Lender”. Assignments in a minimum aggregate amount of $25,000,000 (or, if less, all of such Lender’s Loan and Commitment) (which assignment and delegation shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of such Lender’s Loan) are permitted; provided that the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with the interests so assigned and delegated to an Assignee Lender until:

 

From and after the date that the Administrative Agent accepts such Lender Assignment Agreement, (x) the Assignee Lender thereunder shall be deemed automatically to have become a party hereto and to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned and delegated to such Assignee Lender in connection with such Lender Assignment Agreement, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (y) the assignor Lender, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned and delegated by it, shall be released from its obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, other than any obligations arising prior to the effective date of such assignment. In no event shall the Borrower be required to pay to any Assignee Lender at the time of the relevant assignment any amount under Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 that is greater than the amount which it would have been required to pay had no such assignment been made. Such assignor Lender or such Assignee Lender must also pay a processing fee to the Administrative Agent upon delivery of any Lender Assignment Agreement in the amount of $2,000 (and shall also reimburse the Administrative Agent for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred in connection with the assignment).

SECTION 11.11.2. Participations. Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more commercial banks or other financial institutions (each of such commercial banks and other financial institutions being herein called a “Participant”) participating interests in its Loan; provided that:

 

 

shall not be required following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or a Prepayment Event).

The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that each Participant, for purposes of Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and clause (e) of 7.1.1, shall be considered a Lender.

SECTION 11.12. Other Transactions. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the Administrative Agent or any Lender from engaging in any transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, with the Borrower or any of its Affiliates in which the Borrower or such Affiliate is not restricted hereby from engaging with any other Person.

SECTION 11.13. Hermes Insurance Policy.

SECTION 11.13.1. Terms of Hermes Insurance Policy

 

SECTION 11.13.2. Obligations of the Borrower.

SECTION 11.13.3. Obligations of the Hermes Agent and the Lenders.

 

SECTION 11.14. Law and Jurisdiction

SECTION 11.14.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English Law.

SECTION 11.14.2. Jurisdiction. For the exclusive benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agree that the courts of England are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and that any proceedings may be brought in those courts. The Borrower irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or in the future have to the laying of the venue of any proceedings in any court referred to in this Clause, and any claim that those proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient or inappropriate forum.

SECTION 11.14.3. Alternative Jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this Clause shall limit the right of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to commence any proceedings against the Borrower in any other court of competent jurisdiction nor shall the commencement of any proceedings against the Borrower in one or more jurisdictions preclude the commencement of any proceedings in any other jurisdiction, whether concurrently or not.

SECTION 11.14.4. Service of Process. Without prejudice to the right of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to use any other method of service permitted by law, the Borrower irrevocably agrees that any writ, notice, judgment or other legal process shall be sufficiently served on it if addressed to it and left at or sent by post to Celebrity Cruises, presently at Building 2, Aviator Park, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, Attention: EMEA Legal Director, with a copy to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., presently at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: General Counsel, and in that event shall be conclusively deemed to have been served at the time of leaving or, if posted, at 9:00 am on the third Business Day after posting by prepaid first class registered post.

SECTION 11.15. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain and to cause its Affiliates to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information provided to it by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, or by the Administrative Agent on the Borrower’s, the Guarantor’s or such Subsidiary’s behalf, under this Agreement, and neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall use any such information other than in connection with or in enforcement of this Agreement or in connection with other business now or hereafter existing or contemplated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except to the extent such information (i) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by it or its Affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, or (ii) was or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from

 

a source other than the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries so long as such source is not, to its knowledge, prohibited from disclosing such information by a legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates; provided, however, that it may disclose such information (A) at the request or pursuant to any requirement of any self-regulatory body, governmental body, agency or official to which the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates is subject or in connection with an examination of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates by any such authority or body, including without limitation the Federal Republic of Germany; (B) pursuant to subpoena or other court process; (C) when required to do so in accordance with the provisions of any applicable requirement of law; (D) to the extent reasonably required in connection with any litigation or proceeding to which the Administrative Agent, any Lender or their respective Affiliates may be party; (E) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder; (F) to the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s independent auditors, counsel, and any other professional advisors of the Administrative Agent or such Lender who are advised of the confidentiality of such information; (G) to any participant or assignee, provided that such Person agrees to keep such information confidential to the same extent required of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder; (H) as to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or their respective Affiliates, as expressly permitted under the terms of any other document or agreement regarding confidentiality to which the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary is party with the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Affiliate; (I) to its Affiliates and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, professional advisors and agents, provided that each such Affiliate, director, officer, employee, professional advisor or agent shall keep such information confidential to the same extent required of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder; and (J) to any other party to this Agreement. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 11.15 by any of its Affiliates or any of its or its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, professional advisors and agents.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Hull No. S-676 Credit Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.

CELEBRITY EQUINOX INC.,

as Borrower

By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:

 

Address: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: Vice President of Treasury

With a copy to: General Counsel

 

KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH,

as Hermes Agent, Administrative Agent and Lender

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO HULL NO. S-676 CREDIT AGREEMENT]

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

EXHIBIT A

 

 

A-1

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF LOAN REQUEST

 

KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH,

as Administrative Agent

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇

▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Germany

 

 

HULL NO. S-676 – NOTICE OF DRAWDOWN

 

Gentlemen and Ladies:

 

This Loan Request is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Hull No. S-676 Credit Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2009 (together with all amendments, if any, from time to time made thereto, the “Agreement”), among Celebrity Equinox Inc. (the “Borrower”), KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and as Hermes agent, and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH and the various other financial institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders. Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used herein have the meanings provided in the Agreement.

 

The Borrower hereby requests that the Loan be made in the aggregate principal amount of [US$ ] on ___________, 200__, which amount does not exceed the US Dollar Equivalent of 80% of the Contract Price of the Vessel (as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the Construction Contract). The US dollar amount is based on the weighted average rate of exchange that the Guarantor has agreed, either in the spot or forward currency markets, to pay its counterparties for the purchase of the relevant amount of EUR with Dollars for the payment of the final installment of the Contract Price. True and complete copies of the counterparty confirmations evidencing the rates of exchange that the Guarantor has agreed to pay its counterparties for the purchase of the relevant amount of EUR with Dollars are attached.

 

 

[details to be provided]

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that, pursuant to Section 5.1.5 of the Agreement, each of the delivery of this Loan Request and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of the Loan requested hereby constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that, on the date of such Loan (before and after giving effect

 

B-1

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

thereto and to the application of the proceeds therefrom), all statements set forth in Article VI of the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects.

 

The Borrower agrees that if prior to the time of the borrowing requested hereby any matter certified to herein by it will not be true and correct at such time as if then made, it will immediately so notify the Administrative Agent. Except to the extent, if any, that prior to the time of the borrowing requested hereby the Administrative Agent shall receive written notice to the contrary from the Borrower, each matter certified to herein shall be deemed once again to be certified as true and correct at the date of such borrowing as if then made.

 

The Borrower has caused this Loan Request to be executed and delivered, and the certification and warranties contained herein to be made, by its duly Authorized Officer this ___ day of ___________, 200__.

 

Celebrity Equinox Inc.

 

By: _________________________

Name:

 

 

B-2

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

EXHIBIT C

 

 

 

 

[Insert date of execution]

 

Dear Sirs

 

We refer to the Hull No. S-676 Credit Agreement dated April 15, 2009 (the “Agreement”) made among Celebrity Equinox Inc. (the “Borrower”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ourselves, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (the “Guarantor”), KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, as Hermes agent (in such capacity, the “Hermes Agent”) and as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH and the various other financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders (the “Lenders”, and together with the Hermes Agent and the Administrative Agent, the “Lender Parties”), pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed to make available to the Borrower a loan facility of up to the US Dollar Equivalent corresponding to EUR 412,000,000 upon the terms and conditions therein contained. It is a condition of the availability of the said loan facility that we issue this Letter of Guarantee in favour of the Lender Parties.

 

In consideration of the Lenders making the said loan facility available to the Borrower on the terms and conditions of the Agreement we hereby unconditionally and irrevocably: (1) guarantee the due payment of all amounts payable by the Borrower to each Lender Party under or in connection with the Agreement and (2) undertake to pay to each Lender Party forthwith upon such Lender Party’s demand from time to time any and all amounts which the Borrower shall now or in the future be or become liable to pay to such Lender Party under the Agreement whether by acceleration or otherwise and which the Borrower shall have failed to pay within seven (7) days following receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, with a copy to ourselves, that the relevant amount(s) has become due and payable under the Agreement.

 

In the event that any Lender Party does not receive on the due date any sum due under this Letter of Guarantee we shall pay to such Lender Party on demand interest on such sum from and including the due date therefore to the date of actual payment (as well after as before judgment) at the rate described in (but without duplication to the Borrower’s obligation to pay default interest under) Section 3.3.3. of the Agreement.

 

We unconditionally and irrevocably agree that, if any sums hereby guaranteed are not recoverable on the basis of a guarantee or by reason of any purported obligation of the Borrower, which would have been the subject of this Letter of Guarantee had it been valid and enforceable, is not or ceases to be valid or enforceable against the Borrower on any ground whatsoever (whether or not known to any Lender Party), then we will, as a separate and independent stipulation and as a primary obligor, pay to such Lender Party on demand an amount or amounts equal to the amount or amounts which we would have been liable to pay but for such irrecoverability or lack of validity or enforceability and will on demand indemnify each Lender Party against any loss or liability suffered or incurred by it as a result of such irrecoverability or lack of validity or enforceability.

 

This Letter of Guarantee shall be held by each Lender Party as a continuing obligation and shall not be satisfied by any intermediate payment or satisfaction of any part of the moneys hereby guaranteed and shall be in addition to any other security, right or remedy held by or available to it.

 

Our liability to each Lender Party under this Letter of Guarantee shall not be discharged, impaired or otherwise affected by reason of any of the following events or circumstances (regardless of whether any such events or circumstances occur with or without our knowledge or consent):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until the moneys hereby guaranteed have been unconditionally and irrevocably paid and discharged in full to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, we shall not by virtue of any payment made hereunder on account of such moneys:

 

 

 

 

 

Other than serving a notice on the Borrower (with a copy to ourselves) that an amount has become due and payable under the Agreement (and seven (7) days elapsing from the date of such notice) no Lender Party shall be obliged to take any other action or proceedings against the Borrower before becoming entitled to enforce this Letter of Guarantee.

 

We hereby undertake with each Lender Party that, if following a demand for payment under this Letter of Guarantee we fail to make such payment within the seven (7) day notice period referred to above, we will not, and we will procure that none of our Subsidiaries will, thereafter without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders:

 

 

 

and for these purposes:

 

“Subordinated Liabilities” means any obligation for the payment or repayment of money of the Borrower to ourselves or to any of our Subsidiaries.

 

All payments to be made by us or on our behalf to any Lender Party pursuant to this Letter of Guarantee shall be made (a) without any set-off, counterclaim or condition whatsoever and (b) free and clear of, and without deduction for or on account of, any present or future Covered Taxes (as defined in the Agreement) unless we are required by law or regulation to make such payment subject to any Covered Taxes. In the event that any withholding or deduction from any payment to be made by us hereunder is required in respect of any Covered Taxes pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation, then we will:

 

 

 

 

If, under any applicable law or regulation, and whether pursuant to a judgment being made or registered against ourselves or for any other reason, any payment under or in connection with this Letter of Guarantee is made or fails to be satisfied in a currency (the “payment currency”) other than the currency in which such payment is due under or in connection with this Letter of Guarantee (the “contractual currency”), then to the extent that the amount of such payment actually received by such Lender Party, when converted into the contractual currency at the rate of exchange, falls short of the amount due under or in connection with this Letter of Guarantee, we, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify and hold harmless such Lender Party against the amount of such shortfall. For these purposes, “rate of exchange” means the rate at which such Lender Party is able on or about the date of such payment to purchase the contractual currency with the payment currency and shall take into account the costs of exchange with respect thereto.

 

 

“Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)” means at any date the Guarantor’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Approved Appraiser” means any of the following: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, H ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Ltd., London, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Shipbrokers, Norway, or Fearnley AS, Norway.

 

“Capitalization” means, as at any date, the sum of (a) Net Debt on such date, plus (b) Stockholders’ Equity on such date.

“Capitalized Lease Liabilities” means the principal portion of all monetary obligations of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as capitalized leases, and, for purposes of this Letter of Guarantee, the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Equivalents” means all amounts other than cash that are included in the “cash and cash equivalents” shown on the Guarantor’s balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate evidencing the Guarantor’s compliance with the financial covenants contained in this Letter of Guarantee, such certificate to show reasonable detail and with appropriate calculations and computations in all respects reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Existing Debt” means the obligations of the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Bareboat Charterparty with respect to the vessel BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS dated July 5, 2002 between Halifax Leasing (September) Limited and RCL (UK) LTD, and the replacement, extension, renewal or amendment of the foregoing without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor of such obligations.

“Existing Principal Subsidiaries” means each Subsidiary of the Guarantor that is a Principal Subsidiary on the date hereof.

 

“Fiscal Quarter” means any quarter of a Fiscal Year.

 

“Fiscal Year” means any annual fiscal reporting period of the Guarantor.

 

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, the ratio computed for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on the close of such Fiscal Quarter of:

 

“Government-related Obligations” means obligations of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor under, or Indebtedness incurred by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor to satisfy obligations under, any governmental requirement imposed by any Applicable Jurisdiction that must be complied with to enable the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to continue their business in such Applicable Jurisdiction, excluding, in any event, any taxes imposed on the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor.

“Guarantor Vessel” means a passenger cruise vessel owned by the Guarantor or one of its Subsidiaries.

“Net Debt” means, at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all debt (including, without limitation, the principal portion of all capitalized leases) of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) less the sum of (without duplication):

“Net Debt to Capitalization Ratio” means, as at any date, the ratio of (a) Net Debt on such date to (b) Capitalization on such date.

“New Financings” means proceeds received after the date of the Agreement from:

“Principal Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Guarantor that owns a Guarantor Vessel.

 

“Stockholders’ Equity” means, as at any date, the Guarantor’s stockholders’ equity on such date, excluding Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that any non-cash charge to Stockholders’ Equity resulting (directly or indirectly) from a change after the Effective Date in GAAP or in

 

the interpretation thereof shall be disregarded in the computation of Stockholders’ Equity such that the amount of any reduction thereof resulting from such change shall be added back to Stockholders’ Equity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

hereunder (to the extent such suit, court jurisdiction, judgment, attachment, set-off, execution, legal process or remedy would otherwise be permitted to exist);

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Exchange Commission for such Fiscal Quarter, containing our unaudited consolidated financial statements for such Fiscal Quarter (including a balance sheet and profit and loss statement) prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments;

 

 

 

Any information required to be furnished pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section 2(b)(i) shall be deemed to have been furnished on the date on which such information is posted on the Guarantor’s website on the Internet at ▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ or shall be available on the SEC’s website on the Internet at ▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇; provided that the Guarantor shall have given the Administrative Agent notice of such posting.

 

Each Lender shall be entitled to disclose to any “Assignee Lender” and/or “Participant” (as each such expression is defined in the Agreement) such information in respect of ourselves and our Subsidiaries as such Lender shall consider appropriate provided that where such information has been given to such Lender on the basis that it is to be treated by such Lender as confidential such Lender shall only disclose such information to such Assignee Lender and/or Participant if such Assignee Lender and/or Participant has first given its assurance that it will also treat such information as confidential.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)	were incurred in connection with work to such Guarantor Vessel that is required to be performed pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation or order;

provided that, in each case described in this clause (12), such Liens are either (x) discharged in the ordinary course of business or (y) being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

 

 

In the case of ourselves to:

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

 

 

In the case of the Lender Parties to:

KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH,

as Administrative Agent

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇

▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

 

 

With a copy to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

for and on behalf of

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.

 

 

EXHIBIT D-1

 

Opinion of Liberian Counsel to the Borrower

 

 

 

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Celebrity Equinox Inc.

 

Dear Sirs:

 

We have acted as legal counsel on matters of Liberian law to Celebrity Equinox Inc., a Liberian corporation (the “Borrower”), in connection with (a) a Hull No S-676 Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2009 (the “Credit Agreement”) and made between (1) the Borrower, (2) the Lenders (as defined therein) as several lenders, (3) KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH as Hermes Agent, and (4) KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH as Administrative Agent in respect of a loan facility in an amount not to exceed the US Dollar Equivalent of €412,000,000, and (b) the Guarantee dated ________, 2009 made by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., a Liberian corporation (the “Guarantor”) in favor of the Lenders, the Hermes Agent and the Administrative Agent respecting the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Agreement (collectively, together with the Credit Agreement, the “Documents”). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning when used herein.

 

With reference to the Documents you have asked for our opinion on the matters set forth below. In rendering this opinion we have examined executed copies of the Documents. We have also examined originals or photostatic copies or certified copies of all such agreements and other instruments, certificates by public officials and certificates of officers of the Borrower and the Guarantor as are relevant and necessary and relevant corporate authorities of the Borrower and the Guarantor. We have assumed with your approval, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the power, authority and legal right of the parties to the Documents other than the Borrower and the Guarantor to enter into and perform their respective obligations under each of the Documents, and the due authorization of the execution of the Documents by all parties thereto other than the Borrower and the Guarantor. We have further assumed the validity and enforceability of the Documents under all applicable laws other than the law of the Republic of Liberia.

 

As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon certificates of public officials and of officers or representatives of the Borrower and the Guarantor.

 

 

To the Lenders party to the Credit Agreement                                                                                              Page 2

and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH as Administrative Agent

________, 2009

 

We are attorneys admitted to practice in the State of New York and do not purport to be experts in the laws of any other jurisdiction. Insofar as our opinion relates to the law of the Republic of Liberia, we have relied on opinions of counsel in Liberia rendered in transactions which we consider to afford a satisfactory basis for such opinion, and upon our independent examinations of the Liberian Corporation Act of 1948 (Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the Liberian Code of Laws of 1956, effective March 1, 1958 as amended to July, 1973), the Liberian Business Corporation Act of 1976 (Title 5 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised of 1976, effective January 3, 1977 as amended) (the “Business Corporation Act”), the Liberian Maritime Law (Title 21 of the Liberian Code of Laws of 1956 as amended), and the Revenue Code of Liberia (2000), the regulations thereunder and an opinion dated December 23, 2004 addressed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia to the LISCR Trust Company, made available to us by Liberian Corporation Services, Inc. and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, LLC, and our knowledge and interpretation of analogous laws in the United States. In rendering our opinion as to the valid existence in good standing of the Borrower and the Guarantor, we have relied on Certificates of Goodstanding issued by order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia on ________, 2009.

 

This opinion is limited to the law of the Republic of Liberia. We express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and having regard to the legal considerations which we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19100420 v2

 

To the Lenders party to the Credit Agreement                                                                                              Page 3

and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH as Administrative Agent

________, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

We qualify our opinion to the extent that (i) the enforceability of the rights and remedies provided for in the Documents (a) may be limited by bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including application by a court of competent jurisdiction of principles of good faith, fair dealing, commercial reasonableness, materiality, unconscionability and conflict with public policy or similar principles, and (ii) while there is nothing in the law of the Republic of Liberia that prohibits a Liberian corporation from submitting to the jurisdiction of a forum other than the Republic of Liberia, the enforceability of such submission to jurisdiction provisions is not dependent upon Liberian law and such provisions may not be enforceable under the law of a particular jurisdiction.

 

A copy of this opinion letter may be delivered by any of you to any Person that becomes a Lender in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement. Any such Lender may rely on the opinion expressed above as if this opinion letter were addressed and delivered to such Lender on the date hereof.

This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you or any other Lender who is permitted to rely on the opinion expressed herein as specified in the next preceding paragraph of any development or circumstance of any kind including any

 

19100420 v2

 

To the Lenders party to the Credit Agreement                                                                                              Page 4

and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH as Administrative Agent

________, 2009

 

change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter even though such development, circumstance or change may affect the legal analysis, a legal conclusion or any other matter set forth in or relating to this opinion letter. Accordingly, any Lender relying on this opinion letter at any time should seek advice of its counsel as to the proper application of this opinion letter at such time.

 

Very truly yours,

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (New York) LLP

 

 

 

 

19100420 v2

 

EXHIBIT D-2

 

Opinion of Counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

 

D-2-1

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

 

 

 

Dear Sirs

 

Celebrity Equinox Inc. (the "Borrower")

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (the "Guarantor")

 

We have acted as English legal advisers to KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH in connection with a credit agreement dated April 15, 2009 in respect of the vessel with Hull No. S-676 at ▇▇▇▇▇ Werft GmbH (the "Credit Agreement") made by and between the Borrower as borrower, KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH as Hermes agent and administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH and the other persons from time to time party thereto as lenders (the "Lenders"). We have been asked to give this opinion pursuant to article V, section 5.1.2 b. of the Credit Agreement. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement have the same meaning in this opinion.

 

 

\LONLIVE\8225263.2

 

Page no   2

Subject to the assumptions and qualifications set out below, we are of the opinion that:

 

\LONLIVE\8225263.2

 

Page no   3

Our opinion is subject to the following qualifications:

\LONLIVE\8225263.2

 

Page no   4

 

\LONLIVE\8225263.2

 

Page no   5

 

\LONLIVE\8225263.2

 

Page no   6

Yours faithfully

 

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

 

 

\LONLIVE\8225263.2

 

EXHIBIT D-3

 

Opinion of US Tax Counsel to the Lenders as at the Effective Date

 

D-3-1

(NY) 18002/039/SOLSTICE2/solstice.2.loan.agt.doc

 

________, 2009

 

KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of Germany (“KfW”)

 

 

This opinion is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by any person, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and was written to support the promotion or marketing (as defined in IRS Circular 230) of the transactions contemplated in the Documents. Each person considering such transactions should seek advice based on such person’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

 

Dear Sirs:

You have asked whether U.S. withholding tax will be imposed on payments made by [the U.S. branch of] Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (“RCCL”), a corporation organized under the laws of Liberia, to KfW, a financial institution organized under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany (the “Lenders”), under the Hull No. S-676 Credit Agreement dated April 15, 2009 (the “Credit Agreement”) between Celebrity Equinox Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Liberia (the “Borrower”) and KfW as the Lender, Hermes agent and administrative agent and the Deed of Guarantee dated ________, 2009 between RCCL, and KfW as the Lender, Hermes agent and administrative agent (the “Guarantee” and together with the Credit Agreement the “Documents”).

Under the Credit Agreement, the Lenders would lend money to the Borrower to help fund the purchase of Hull No. S-676 at ▇▇▇▇▇ Werft GmbH.

The loan advanced under the Credit Agreement will accrue interest at either a fixed rate or a floating rate in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Credit Agreement. RCCL will guarantee the Borrower’s obligations under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the Guarantee.

In connection with rendering this opinion we have reviewed the Documents, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of rendering this opinion. We have assumed, with your consent, that: (i) all documents reviewed by us are original documents, or true and accurate copies of original documents, and have not been subsequently amended; (ii) the signatures on each original document are genuine; (iii) all representations and statements as to matters of fact set forth in such documents are true and correct; (iv) all obligations imposed by any such documents on the parties thereto have been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms; and (v) there are no documents relevant to this opinion to which we have not been given access. We have also assumed, with your consent, that:

(i) each Lender (which term as used in this option does not include any successor or assign) is and will continue to be eligible to claim benefits as a resident of the jurisdiction in which it was formed under the income tax treaty between the United States and such jurisdiction currently in force (each a “Treaty”);

 

(ii) no Lender will receive payments under the Documents that are attributable, for purposes of the Treaty under which it is eligible to claim benefits, to a permanent establishment of such Lender in the United States;

(iii) no Lender has made or will make an election, or otherwise taken steps, to be treated as other than a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes;

(iv) each of the Lenders will provide the Borrower or its agent with a properly completed Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8BEN accurately representing that such Lender is eligible to claim benefits under a Treaty for all payments under the credit agreement;

[(v) if a Lender is receiving payments for a participant, it will provide the Borrower with a properly completed IRS Form W-8IMY to which it will attach its own IRS Form W-8BEN and a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN from each participant accurately representing that the participant is entitled to receive all payments under the Credit Agreement free and clear of U.S. withholding; and]

(vi) all of the foregoing will continue to be accurate and correct.

Conclusion

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York. This opinion is limited to the U.S. federal withholding tax treatment of payments by RCCL under the Documents and does not address any other tax or legal consequences of the transactions contemplated in the Documents. This opinion is rendered solely to you and may not be relied upon by any other person, other than your legal advisors. Our opinion is based on existing authorities as of the date hereof and may change as a result of subsequent legislation, regulations, administrative pronouncements, court opinions or other legal developments, possibly with retroactive effect. We do not undertake to update this opinion based on any such developments unless specifically engaged by you to do so. Our opinion is not binding on the IRS, and no assurance can be given that the conclusions expressed herein will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court.

Based on the assumptions and limitations set forth above, we are of the view that there will be no U.S. federal withholding tax imposed on payments by the Borrower or RCCL under the Documents to each Lender. Payments to non-U.S. persons that are not considered to be U.S. source income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. Payments by the Borrower or RCCL under the Documents to each Lender, to the extent they are U.S. source income, will be exempt from U.S. withholding tax either under the Interest or Other Income Articles of a relevant Treaty.

Our conclusions are expressions of our professional judgment with respect to U.S. federal income tax law and do not provide any guarantee as to the actual outcome of any U.S. federal income tax controversy.

Sincerely,