UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 10, 2017

 

FS Investment Corporation IV  

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland 814-01151 47-3258730

(State or other jurisdiction 

of incorporation)

(Commission

 File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer 

Identification No.)

 

201 Rouse Boulevard 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

19112  

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 495-1150

 

None

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On February 10, 2017, Broomall Funding LLC (“Broomall Funding”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of FS Investment Corporation IV (the “Company”), entered into a committed facility arrangement, effective as of March 1, 2017, (the “Financing Arrangement”) with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. (“BNPP”) pursuant to which Broomall Funding may borrow, from time to time, up to $50 million from BNPP. The Financing Arrangement was effected through a Committed Facility Agreement by and between Broomall Funding and BNPP (the “Committed Facility Agreement”), a U.S. PB Agreement by and between Broomall Funding and BNPP, on behalf of itself and as agent for BNP Paribas and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. (collectively, the “BNPP Entities”) and a Special Custody and Pledge Agreement by and among Broomall Funding, BNPP and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as custodian (the “Custodian”), each dated and effective as of March 1, 2017 (collectively, the “Financing Agreements”) .

 

The Company may contribute securities to Broomall Funding from time to time, subject to certain restrictions set forth in the Financing Agreements, and will retain a residual interest in any securities contributed through its ownership of Broomall Funding or will receive fair market value for any securities sold to Broomall Funding. Broomall Funding may purchase additional securities from various sources. Broomall Funding has appointed the Company to manage its portfolio of securities pursuant to the terms of an investment management agreement. Broomall Funding’s obligations to BNPP under the Financing Arrangement are secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Broomall Funding, including its portfolio of securities. Such pledged portfolio of securities will be held in a segregated custody account with the Custodian. The value of securities required to be pledged by Broomall Funding is determined in accordance with the margin requirements described in the Financing Agreements. The obligations of Broomall Funding under the Financing Arrangement are non-recourse to the Company.

 

Borrowings under the Financing Arrangement accrue interest at a rate equal to the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate plus 1.25% per annum. Interest is payable monthly in arrears. Broomall Funding will be required to pay a non-usage fee to the extent the aggregate principal amount available under the Financing Arrangement has not been utilized. Broomall Funding may terminate the Committed Facility Agreement upon 270 days’ notice. Absent a default or facility termination event or the ratings decline described in the following sentence, BNPP is required to provide Broomall Funding with 270 days’ notice prior to terminating or materially amending the Committed Facility Agreement. BNPP has a cancellation right if BNP Paribas’ long-term credit rating declines three or more notches below its highest rating by any of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch Ratings, Inc., during the period commencing on the closing date of the Committed Facility Agreement (March 1, 2017) and ending on the date of such long-term credit rating decline. Upon any such termination, BNPP shall pay Broomall Funding a fee equal to 0.50% of the maximum amount of financing available on the termination date. Broomall Funding will pay an arrangement fee and incur certain other customary costs and expenses in connection with obtaining the Financing Arrangement.

 

In connection with the Financing Arrangement, Broomall Funding has made certain representations and warranties and is required to comply with various covenants, reporting requirements and other customary requirements for similar facilities. The Financing Agreements contain the following customary events of default and termination events, among others: (a) the occurrence of a default or similar condition under certain third-party contracts of the Company and Broomall Funding; (b) any change in BNPP’s interpretation of applicable law that, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to BNPP, has the effect of impeding or prohibiting the Financing Arrangement; (c) certain events of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or Broomall Funding; (d) specified material reductions in the Company’s or Broomall Funding’s net asset value; (e) any change in the Company’s fundamental or material investment policies; and (f) the termination of the investment advisory and administrative services agreement between the Company and FSIC IV Advisor, LLC or if FSIC IV Advisor, LLC otherwise ceases to act as investment adviser to the Company and is not immediately replaced by an affiliate or other investment adviser acceptable to BNPP.

 

 

 

Under the terms of the Financing Agreements, BNPP has the ability to borrow a portion of the pledged collateral (collectively, the “Rehypothecated Securities”), subject to certain limits. Broomall Funding receives a fee from BNPP in connection with any Rehypothecated Securities. Broomall Funding may designate any security within the pledged collateral as ineligible to be a Rehypothecated Security, provided there are eligible securities within the segregated custody account in an amount at least equal to the outstanding borrowings owed by Broomall Funding to BNPP. Broomall Funding may recall any Rehypothecated Security at any time and BNPP must return such security or equivalent security within a commercially reasonable period. In the event BNPP does not return the security, Broomall Funding will have the right to, among other things, apply and set off an amount equal to 100% of the then-current fair market value of such Rehypothecated Securities against any outstanding borrowings owed to BNPP under the Financing Agreements. Rehypothecated Securities are marked-to-market daily and if the value of all Rehypothecated Securities exceeds 100% of the outstanding borrowings owed by Broomall Funding under the Financing Agreements, BNPP may either reduce the amount of Rehypothecated Securities to eliminate such excess or deposit into the segregated custody account an amount of cash equal to such excess. Broomall Funding will continue to receive interest and the scheduled repayment of principal balances on Rehypothecated Securities.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Financing Arrangement and related agreements as set forth in this Item 1.01 are summaries only and are each qualified in all respects by the provisions of such agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 through 10.4 and are incorporated by reference herein .

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT

NUMBER

    DESCRIPTION
         
  10.1     Committed Facility Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and between Broomall Funding LLC and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd.
         
  10.2     U.S. PB Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and between Broomall Funding LLC and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd., on behalf of itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities.
         
  10.3     Special Custody and Pledge Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and among Broomall Funding LLC, BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd., and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as custodian.
         
  10.4     Investment Management Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and between Broomall Funding LLC and FS Investment Corporation IV.

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements with regard to the future performance and operation of the Company. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “projects” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions.  Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements, and some of these factors are enumerated in the filings the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

   
  FS Investment Corporation IV
   
Date: February 15, 2017   By: /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd
      Stephen S. Sypherd
      Vice President

 

 

 

EXHIBIT NUMBER     DESCRIPTION
         
  10.1     Committed Facility Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and between Broomall Funding LLC and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd.
         
  10.2     U.S. PB Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and between Broomall Funding LLC and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd., on behalf of itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities.
         
  10.3     Special Custody and Pledge Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and among Broomall Funding LLC, BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as custodian.
         
  10.4     Investment Management Agreement, dated and effective as of March 1, 2017, by and between Broomall Funding LLC and FS Investment Corporation IV.

 

 

 

FS Investment Corporation IV 8-K

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution copy

 

Committed Facility Agreement

 

BNP Paribas prime brokerage INTERNATIONAL, LTD. (“ BNPP PB ”) and the counterparty specified on the signature page hereto (“ Customer ”), hereby enter into this Committed Facility Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of the date specified on the signature page hereto.

 

Whereas Customer is a limited liability company duly formed and organized in Delaware, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FS Investment Corporation IV (“ FSIC IV ”);

 

Whereas BNPP PB and Customer have entered into the U.S. PB Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “ U.S. PB Agreement ”);

 

Whereas BNPP PB, Customer and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“ Custodian ”) have entered into the Special Custody and Pledge Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof (the “ Special Custody Agreement ” and, together with this Agreement and the U.S. PB Agreement, the “ 40 Act Financing Agreements ”); and

 

Whereas this Agreement supplements and forms part of the other 40 Act Financing Agreements and sets out the terms of the commitment of BNPP PB to provide financing to Customer under the 40 Act Financing Agreements.

 

Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions -

 

(a) Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement have the respective meanings assigned to them in the U.S. PB Agreement. The 40 Act Financing Agreements are included in the term “Contract,” as defined in the U.S. PB Agreement.

 

(b) Account Agreement ” means the Account Agreement attached as Exhibit A to the U.S. PB Agreement.

 

(c) Borrowing ” means a draw of cash financing by Customer from BNPP PB pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

(d) Closing Date ” means the date specified on the signature page hereto.

 

(e) Collateral Requirements ” means the collateral requirements set forth in Appendix A attached hereto.

 

(f) Funding Event ” means on any day, (the “ Rating Decline Date of Determination ”) BNP Paribas’ long-term credit rating has declined to a level three or more notches below its highest rating by any of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. or Fitch Ratings, Ltd. during the period beginning on and including the Closing Date and ending on and including the Rating Decline Date of Determination.

 

(g) Maximum Commitment Financing ” means USD $50,000,000.

 

(h) Net Asset Value ” with respect to any person or entity means such person’s net asset value calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

 

(i) Net Asset Value Floor ” means, with respect to FSIC IV, an amount equal to the greater of (i) USD $92,500,000 or (ii) 50% of the Net Asset Value of FSIC IV, calculated based on FSIC IV’s Net Asset Value as of its most recent fiscal year end subsequent to the date hereof.

 

 

 

 

(j) Notice Date ” means the day on which BNPP PB delivers the Facility Modification Notice.

 

(k) Outstanding Debit Financing ” means the aggregate cash borrowings under the 40 Act Financing Agreements. For the purposes of calculating such aggregate cash borrowings, if Customer holds debit cash balances in non-USD currencies, BNPP PB will convert each of these balances into USD at prevailing market rates, such rates to be disclosed to Customer upon request, to determine Customer’s aggregate cash borrowings.

 

(l) 1940 Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

2. Borrowings -

 

Subject to the terms hereof, BNPP PB shall make available cash financing under this Agreement in an amount up to the Maximum Commitment Financing. Such cash financing shall be made available in immediately available funds. Customer may borrow under this Section 2, prepay pursuant to Section 4 and reborrow under this Section 2 without penalty. For the avoidance of doubt, any cash financing in excess of the Maximum Commitment Financing shall not be subject to the commitment in Section 6.

 

On the Closing Date, subject to the terms hereof, BNPP PB shall make funds available to Customer in an amount up to the Maximum Commitment Financing. Each subsequent Borrowing (not to exceed, in the aggregate with each other outstanding Borrowing, the Maximum Commitment Financing) shall be made on written notice (the “ Borrow Request ”), given by Customer to BNPP PB not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of the proposed Borrowing (which must be a Business Day). Subject to Section 7, BNPP PB shall, before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing, make available to Customer the amount of such Borrowing ( provided that the Outstanding Debit Financing, taking into account the amount specified in the Borrow Request, does not exceed the Maximum Commitment Financing) payable to the account designated by Customer in such Borrow Request.

 

3. Repayment -

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Facility Termination Event, an event described in Section 15(a) hereof, or the date specified in the Facility Modification Notice as described in Section 6, all Borrowings (including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder) may be recalled by BNPP PB in accordance with Section 1 of the U.S. PB Agreement.

 

(b) Upon the occurrence of a Default, the BNPP Entities shall have the right to take any action described in Section 13(b) hereof.

 

4. Prepayments -

 

Customer may, upon at least one Business Day’s notice to BNPP PB, stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, prepay all or any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Outstanding Debit Financing, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided that Customer shall continue to be obligated to pay the Commitment Fee as set forth in Appendix B.

 

5. Interest -

 

Customer shall pay interest on the outstanding principal amount of each Borrowing from the date of such Borrowing until such principal amount has been paid in full, at the rates specified in Appendix B attached hereto. Such interest shall be payable monthly, and if not paid when due, any unpaid interest shall be capitalized on the principal balance as additional cash borrowing by Customer and, for the avoidance of doubt, failure to pay such capitalized interest shall not constitute a Facility Termination Event.

 

2  

 

 

6. Scope of Committed Facility -

 

Subject to Section 7, BNPP PB may not take any of the following actions except upon at least 270 calendar days’ prior written notice to Customer (the “ Facility Modification Notice ”):

 

(a) modify the method for calculating the Collateral Requirements;

 

(b) recall or cause repayment of any Borrowings under this Agreement;

 

(c) modify the interest rate spread on Borrowings under this Agreement, as set forth in Appendix B attached hereto;

 

(d) modify the fees, charges or expenses other than those described in clause (b) above, as set forth in Appendix B attached hereto (the “ Fees ”); or

 

(e) terminate this Agreement or any of the other 40 Act Financing Agreements.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, on or at any time after the occurrence of a Funding Event, BNPP PB shall have the option to terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice. Upon termination resulting from the exercise of such option, BNPP PB shall pay to Customer a fee equal to 50 bps on the amount of Maximum Commitment Financing. BNPP PB shall provide notice to Customer of any downgrade of BNP Paribas’ long-term credit rating by any of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. or Fitch Ratings, Ltd.

 

7. Conditions for Committed Facility -

 

The commitment as set forth in Sections 2 and 6 only applies so long as –

 

(a) Customer satisfies the Collateral Requirements (after giving effect to any applicable notice requirement or grace period);

 

(b) no Default or Facility Termination Event has occurred and is continuing;

 

(c) Customer is not bankrupt, insolvent, or subject to any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or similar proceeding; and

 

(d) there has not occurred any termination of this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 15).

 

8. Arrangement and Commitment Fees

 

(a) Customer shall pay when due an Arrangement Fee as set forth in Appendix B.

 

(b) Customer shall pay when due a Commitment Fee as set forth in Appendix B.

 

9. Substitution -

 

(a) After BNPP PB sends a Facility Modification Notice, Customer may not substitute any collateral, provided that Customer may, subject to the Special Custody Agreement, purchase and sell portfolio securities in the ordinary course of business consistent with its investment restrictions; provided further that BNPP PB may permit substitutions upon request, which permission shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided further that for substitutions of rehypothecated collateral, such collateral shall be returned for substitution within a commercially reasonable period (in any event no sooner than the standard settlement period applicable to such collateral).

 

3  

 

 

(b) Prior to BNPP PB sending a Facility Modification Notice, Customer may, subject to the Special Custody Agreement, substitute collateral, provided that for substitutions of rehypothecated collateral, such collateral shall be returned for substitution within a reasonable period (in any event no sooner than the standard settlement period applicable to such collateral).

 

10. Collateral Delivery -

 

If notice of a Collateral Requirement is sent to Customer: (i) on or before 11:00 a.m. on any Business Day, then Customer shall deliver all required Collateral no later than the close of business on such Business Day, and (ii) after 11:00 a.m. on any Business Day, then Customer shall deliver all required Collateral no later than the close of business on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

11. Representations and Warranties -

 

Customer hereby makes all the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 of the Account Agreement, which are deemed to refer to this Agreement, and such representations and warranties shall survive each transaction and the termination of the 40 Act Financing Agreements until such time as Customer has satisfied all Obligations and no assets remain in any Accounts.

 

12. Financial Information

 

Customer shall provide or cause to be provided to BNPP PB copies of –

 

(a) the most recent annual report on Form 10-K of FSIC IV, containing financial statements certified by independent certified public accountants and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as soon as available and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the end of each fiscal year of FSIC IV;

 

(b) the most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q of FSIC IV, containing financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as soon as available and in any event within sixty (60) calendar days after the end of each quarter;

 

(c) a monthly statement of the leverage and asset coverage ratios of FSIC IV and the Net Asset Value of Customer and FSIC IV, respectively, as of the last day of each calendar month as soon as available and in any event within fifteen (15) calendar days after the end of each calendar month delivered to rcm_regulated_funds@us.bnpparibas.com ; and

 

(d) the estimated Net Asset Value statement of Customer or FSIC IV within one (1) Business Day of written request therefor by BNPP PB.

 

4  

 

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that FSIC IV’s Net Asset Value, most recent annual report on Form 10-K or most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q (the “ Reports ”) is publicly available on either FSIC IV’s website or filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and publicly available at http://www.sec.gov , such Report shall be deemed to have been provided to BNPP PB in satisfaction of the requirements of this Section 12 without any further action by Customer.

 

13. Termination -

 

(a) Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Facility Termination Event, BNPP PB shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, accelerate the maturity of any and all Borrowings to be immediately due and payable, modify the method for calculating the Collateral Requirements, and modify any interest rate spread, fees, charges, or expenses, in each case, in accordance with the timeframes specified in the U.S. PB Agreement; provided that , if there occurs a Facility Termination Event under Section 13(c)(ii) and BNPP PB exercises its right to terminate this Agreement as a result thereof or if this Agreement is terminated by Customer or any BNPP Entity pursuant to Section 15, Customer shall not be obligated to pay the Commitment Fee as set forth in Appendix B following such termination.

 

(b) Upon the occurrence of a Default, if such Default is at that time continuing, the BNPP Entities may terminate any of the 40 Act Financing Agreements and/or take Default Action or any other action provided for under the 40 Act Financing Agreements.

 

(c) Each of the following events constitutes a “ Facility Termination Event ”:

 

i. the occurrence of a repudiation, misrepresentation, material breach or the occurrence of a default, termination event or similar condition (howsoever characterized, which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the occurrence of an Additional Termination Event under an ISDA Master Agreement) by Customer or FSIC IV under any contract or agreement with a third party, where the aggregate principal amount of any such contract or agreement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes any obligations with respect to borrowed money or other assets in connection with such contract or agreement) is not less than the lesser of (x) 3% of the Net Asset Value of FSIC IV and (y) USD $10,000,000;

 

ii. there occurs any change in BNPP PB’s interpretation of any Applicable Law or the adoption of or any change in the same (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any new or amended rules, requests, guidelines and directives promulgated in connection with current Applicable Law, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) that, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to BNPP PB, has the effect with regard to BNPP PB of impeding or prohibiting the arrangements under the 40 Act Financing Agreements (including, but not limited to, imposing or adversely modifying or affecting the amount of regulatory capital to be maintained by BNPP PB); provided , however, that it shall not be a Facility Termination Event if there occurs a change in, or change in BNPP PB’s interpretation of, any Applicable Law that results in a cost increase to BNPP PB (as determined in its sole discretion), rather than a prohibition (as determined in BNPP PB’s sole discretion), and such cost increase is accepted by Customer (for the avoidance of doubt, such cost increase may be implemented by adjusting the fees and rates in Appendix B or in any other manner, as determined by BNPP PB in its sole discretion);

 

5  

 

 

iii. (A) as of the final Business Day of each calendar month, the Net Asset Value of Customer or FSIC IV has declined by thirty percent (30%) or more from the Net Asset Value of Customer or FSIC IV (as applicable) as of the final Business Day of the preceding calendar month; (B) as of the final Business Day of each calendar quarter, the Net Asset Value of Customer or FSIC IV has declined by forty percent (40%) or more from the Net Asset Value of Customer or FSIC IV (as applicable) as of the final Business Day of the preceding calendar quarter; or (C) as of the final Business Day of each calendar year, the Net Asset Value of Customer or FSIC IV has declined by fifty percent (50%) or more from the Net Asset Value of Customer or FSIC IV (as applicable) as of the final Business Day of the preceding calendar year; provided, however , that for purposes of the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C) in respect of the Customer only, any prepayments of the Outstanding Debit Financing (whether voluntary or mandatory and including any prepayments in connection with a reduction of the Maximum Commitment Financing) will be disregarded and, in any such case, the Net Asset Value of the Customer as of the beginning of the relevant period will be adjusted to reflect such prepayment and any change in Net Asset Value during the relevant period will be calculated using such adjusted beginning Net Asset Value amount;

 

iv. the investment advisory and administrative services agreement between FSIC IV and its investment adviser (the “ Advisor ”) is terminated or the Advisor otherwise ceases to act as the investment adviser of FSIC IV; provided, however, such termination or cessation shall not constitute a Facility Termination Event if there is a replacement investment adviser appointed immediately who is either (A) an affiliate of the Advisor or (B) acceptable to BNPP PB in its good faith discretion;

 

v. FSIC IV violates Section 61 of the 1940 Act;

 

vi. FSIC IV is not classified as a “closed-end company” as defined in Section 5 of the 1940 Act;

 

vii. Customer enters into any additional indebtedness with a party other than a BNPP Entity or its affiliates beyond the financing provided hereunder through the 1940 Act Financing Agreements, including without limitation any further borrowings constituting ‘senior securities’ (as defined for purposes of Section 18 of the 1940 Act) or any promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness, whether with a bank or any other person;

 

viii. FSIC IV changes its fundamental or material investment policies; or

 

ix. Customer pledges to any other party, other than a BNPP Entity or its affiliates, any securities owned or held by Customer.

 

(d) Each of the following events constitutes a “ Default ” and shall be an “ Event of Default ” for purposes of the Account Agreement:

 

i. Customer fails to meet the Collateral Requirements within the time periods set forth in Section 10; provided that , it shall not be a Default if (A) such failure is caused by an error or omission of an administrative or operational nature, (B) funds were available for Customer to pay or post, as applicable, when due, (C) Customer has provided written proof reasonably satisfactory to BNPP PB of (A) and (B), and (D) such posting is made by within one (1) Business Day after such payment or posting was originally due;

 

ii. Customer fails to deliver, or cause the delivery of, financial information within the time periods set forth in Section 12 and such failure is not remedied within (A) five (5) Business Days for a failure under Sections 12(a), 12(b) and 12(c), and (B) one (1) Business Day for a failure under Section 12(d);

 

iii. the Net Asset Value of FSIC IV declines below the Net Asset Value Floor;

 

6  

 

 

iv. any representation or warranty made or deemed made by Customer to BNPP PB under any 40 Act Financing Agreement (including under Section 11 hereof) proves false or misleading when made or deemed made;

 

v. Customer fails to comply with or perform any other agreement or obligation under this Agreement or the other 40 Act Financing Agreements (other than those agreements and obligations already covered by this Section 13, in which case the relevant subsection shall govern);

 

vi. Customer or FSIC IV becomes bankrupt, insolvent, or subject to any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or similar proceeding or all or substantially all of its assets become subject to a suit, levy, enforcement, or other legal process where a secured party maintains possession of such assets, has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger), seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all of its assets, has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all of its assets, or takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts; or

 

vii. the occurrence of a repudiation, misrepresentation, material breach or the occurrence of a default, termination event or similar condition (howsoever characterized, which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the occurrence of an Additional Termination Event under an ISDA Master Agreement) by, or with respect to, Customer under any contract or agreement with a BNPP Entity or affiliate of a BNPP Entity.

 

(e) Upon 270 calendar days’ prior written notice to BNPP PB, Customer may terminate this Agreement.

 

14. Notices -

 

Notices under this Agreement shall be provided pursuant to Section 12(a) of the Account Agreement.

 

15. Compliance with Applicable Law -

 

(a) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, if required by Applicable Law (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any new or amended final and effective rules, guidelines (to the extent such guidelines are applied generally to customers of BNPP PB who (x) have received margin loans from BNPP PB and (y) are wholly owned subsidiaries of an investment company registered under the 1940 Act) and directives promulgated in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) –

 

i. the BNPP Entities may terminate any 40 Act Financing Agreement and any Contract;

 

ii. BNPP PB may recall any outstanding cash loan under the 40 Act Financing Agreements;

 

iii. BNPP PB may modify the method for calculating the Collateral Requirements; and

 

iv. the BNPP Entities may take Default Action;

 

each action shall be taken solely to the extent required to comply with Applicable Law.

 

7  

 

 

(b) This Agreement will not limit the ability of BNPP PB to change the product provided under this Agreement and the other 40 Act Financing Agreements as necessary to comply with Applicable Law (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any new or amended rules, requests, guidelines (to the extent such guidelines are applied generally to customers of BNPP PB who (x) have received margin loans from BNPP PB and (y) are wholly owned subsidiaries of an investment company registered under the 1940 Act) and directives promulgated in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act); provided that (i) Customer may terminate this Agreement within thirty days following any such change by the giving of written notice to BNPP PB, and (ii) if no such notice has been received by BNPP PB by the end of such thirty-day period, then Customer’s termination rights shall be as set forth in Section 13(e) hereof.

 

(c) The BNPP Entities may exercise any remedies permitted under the Contracts if Customer fails to comply with Applicable Law.

 

16. Miscellaneous -

 

(a) In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the other 40 Act Financing Agreements, this Agreement prevails.

 

(b) This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflict of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of New York General Obligations Law.

 

(c) Section 16(c) of the Account Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

 

(d) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original instrument and all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the 40 Act Financing Agreements, absent fraud and gross negligence, any amounts owed or liabilities incurred by Customer in respect of any Obligations owed by Customer under any Contract may be satisfied solely from the assets of Customer. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in no event shall BNPP PB or the BNPP Entities have recourse, whether by setoff or otherwise, with respect to any amounts owed or liabilities incurred, to or against (i) any assets of any persons or entity (including, without limitation, any person or entity whose account is under the management of the investment manager of Customer) other than Customer, (ii) any assets of any affiliate of Customer, or (iii) any assets of the adviser or manager of Customer or any affiliate of such manager or adviser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the BNPP Entities reserve all rights against any party liable for the liabilities of Customer as provided under Applicable Law.

 

(The remainder of this page is blank.)

 

8  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of March 1, 2017.

 

  BROOMALL FUNDING LLC
     
  By: /s/ Gerald F. Stahlecker
    Name:  Gerald F. Stahlecker
    Title:  Executive Vice President
     
  bnp paribas prime brokerage INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
     
  By: /s/ JP Muir
    Name: JP Muir
    Title:  Managing Director
     
  By: /s/ Jeffrey Lowe
    Name:  Jeffrey Lowe
    Title:  Managing Director

 

9  

 

 

Execution copy

 

Appendix A – Collateral Requirements

 

THIS AppendiX A forms a part of the Committed Facility Agreement entered into between BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. (“ BNPP PB ”) and Broomall Funding LLC (“ Customer ”) (the “ Committed Facility Agreement ”).

 

1. Collateral Requirements -

 

The Collateral Requirements in relation to all positions held in the accounts established pursuant to the 40 Act Financing Agreements (the “ Positions ”) consisting of Eligible Securities shall be the greatest of:

 

(a) the sum of the Position Charges of all Positions consisting of Eligible Securities;

 

(b) the sum of the collateral requirements of such Positions as per Regulation T or Regulation X, as applicable, of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended from time to time;

 

(c) the sum of the collateral requirements of such Positions as per Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Rule 4210, as amended from time to time, to the extent applicable;

 

(d) 35% of the Portfolio Gross Market Value; and

 

(e) the Issuer Concentration Floor.

 

2. Eligible Securities -

 

(a) Positions in the following eligible equity and fixed income security types (“ Eligible Securities ”, which term shall exclude any securities described in Section 2(b)) are covered under the Committed Facility Agreement:

 

i. USD common stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, NYSE Arca and NYSE Amex Equities;

 

ii. non-convertible corporate debt securities or preferred securities, provided that such securities are (A) issued by an issuer incorporated in one of the following countries: USA, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Japan, Australia or Portugal and (B) denominated in USD, CAD or EUR;

  

iii. Treasury Securities; or

 

iv. non-USD common stock, provided such stock is (A) listed in the FTSE World Index, (B) traded on a major exchange in one of the following countries: Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Japan, Australia, Sweden or Portugal and (C) denominated in one of the following currencies: CAD, GBP, EUR, JPY, CHF, AUD or SEK.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following will not be part of the collateral commitment and shall have no collateral value:

 

i. any security type not covered above, as determined by BNPP PB in its sole discretion;

 

ii. any short security position;

 

 

 

 

iii. any security offered through a private placement or any restricted securities; provided that a non-convertible corporate debt security that is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall not be deemed restricted for this purpose;

 

iv. any security that is not maintained as a book-entry security on a major depository, such as The Depository Trust Company, Euroclear or Clearstream;

 

v. any securities that are municipal securities, asset-backed securities, mortgage securities, Structured Securities or capital contingent convertible bonds (notwithstanding the fact that such securities would otherwise be covered);

 

vi. any security where Customer or Customer’s Advisor (i) is an Affiliate of the Issuer of the relevant equity securities or (ii) beneficially owns more than 9% of either (a) the voting interests of the Issuer or (b) any voting class of equity securities of the Issuer (in each case, whether such positions are held in accounts established pursuant to the 40 Act Financing Agreements or otherwise);

 

vii. to the extent that the Gross Market Value of non-USD-denominated Positions exceeds 50% of the Portfolio Gross Market Value, any such securities in excess of such 50% (and BNPP PB shall determine in its sole discretion which specific securities shall be considered to be in excess of 50%);

 

viii. to the extent that the Gross Market Value of the aggregate of non-convertible corporate debt securities and/or preferred securities denominated in CAD exceeds 20% or more of the Portfolio Gross Market Value, any non-convertible corporate debt securities and/or preferred securities denominated in CAD in excess of such 20% (and BNPP PB shall determine in its sole discretion which specific securities shall be considered to be in excess of 20%);

 

ix. any equity security of an Issuer with a market capitalization of less than USD $300,000,000;

 

x. any Debt Security which ( i) trades below 40% of its nominal value or (ii ) is greater than 10% of the Issue Size;

 

xi. any Debt Security whose outstanding issuance, calculated pursuant to its Face Value, is less than USD $75,000,000;

 

xii. to the extent that the Gross Market Value of any Debt Securities with an outstanding issuance, calculated pursuant to its Face Value, between USD $75,000,000 and USD $150,000,000 exceeds 10% of the Portfolio Gross Market Value, any Debt Securities in excess of such 10% (and BNPP PB shall determine in its sole discretion which specific securities shall be considered to be in excess of 10%);

 

xiii. any Positions with a long-term debt rating below CCC- by S&P or below Caa3 by Moody’s or that have defaulted (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, unrated securities);

 

xiv. any Positions with Days of Trading Volume equal to or greater than 4;

 

xv. any Positions with Equity Volatility equal to or greater than 100%; and

 

xvi. to the extent that the Gross Market Value of Positions in any industry sector (as defined by Bloomberg) exceeds 20% of the Portfolio Gross Market Value, any Positions in excess of such 20% (and BNPP PB shall determine in its sole discretion which specific securities shall be considered to be in excess of such 20%).

 

  2

 

 

3. Equity Securities Collateral Percentage -

 

The Collateral Percentage for a Position consisting of applicable equity securities that are Eligible Securities shall be:

 

i. subject to paragraph (ii) below, the sum of (A) the Equity Core Collateral Rate and (B) the product of (I) the Equity Core Collateral Rate and (II) the sum of the Equity Liquidity Factor and the Equity Volatility Factor, or

 

ii. 100% if the product determined under paragraph (i) above is greater than 100%.

 

(a) Equity Liquidity Factor.

 

The “ Equity Liquidity Factor ” shall be determined pursuant to the following table.

 

Days of Trading Volume Equity Liquidity Factor
Less than 2 0
2 to 4 1

 

(b) Equity Volatility Factor.

 

The “ Equity Volatility Factor ” shall be determined pursuant to the following table.

 

Equity Volatility Equity Volatility Factor
Less than 35% 0
Equal to or greater than 35% and less than 50% 0.5
Equal to or greater than 50% and less than 75% 1
Equal to or greater than 75% and less than 100% 2

 

4. Debt Securities Collateral Percentage -

 

The Collateral Percentage for a Position consisting of applicable Debt Securities that are Eligible Securities shall be Debt Core Rate; provided that (i) the Collateral Percentage for any Debt Security which trades below 40% of its nominal value shall be 100%, (ii) if a Debt Security’s remaining maturity is greater than 10 years, its Collateral Percentage shall be the Debt Core Rate plus 10%, and (iii) if a Debt Security is a Payment-in-Kind Bond, its Collateral Percentage shall be the Debt Core Rate plus 10%.

 

(a) Debt Core Rate.

 

(i) The “ Debt Core Rate ” with respect to an applicable Position in an Eligible Security shall be (A) for Treasury Securities, 6%, and (B) for all other Debt Securities, as determined pursuant to the following table using the lower of the S&P or Moody’s rating as shown below; provided that (I) if there is only one such rating, then the Debt Core Rate corresponding to such rating shall be used and (II) if there is no such rating, then the Debt Core Rate shall be 30%.

 

  3

 

 

S& P’s Rating Moody’s Rating Debt Core Rate
AAA to A- Aaa to A3 10%
BBB+ to BBB- Baa1 to Baa3 12%
BB+ to BB- Ba1 to Ba3 15%
B+ to B- / NR B1 to B3 20%
CCC+ to CCC- Caa1 to Caa3 / NR 30%

 

5. Positions Outside the Scope of this Appendix A -

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Requirements set forth herein are limited to the types and sizes of securities specified herein. The Collateral Requirement for any Position or part of a Position not covered by the terms of this Appendix A shall be determined by BNPP PB in its sole discretion.

 

6. One-off Collateral Requirements -

 

From time to time BNPP PB, in its sole discretion, may agree to a lower Collateral Requirement than the Collateral Requirement determined pursuant to this Appendix A for the portfolio or for one or more Positions or Eligible Securities in the portfolio; provided that , for the avoidance of doubt, the commitment in Section 6(a) of the Committed Facility Agreement shall apply only with respect to the Collateral Requirement determined in accordance with this Appendix A and BNPP PB shall have the right at any time to increase the Collateral Requirement up to the Collateral Requirement that would be required as determined in accordance with this Appendix A.

 

7. Certain Definitions -

 

(a) Affiliate ” means an affiliate as defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(b) Bloomberg ” means the Bloomberg Professional service.

 

(c) Collateral Percentage ” means the percentage as determined by BNPP PB according to this Appendix A.

 

(d) Current Market Value ” means, with respect to a Position, an amount equal to the product of (i) the number of units of the relevant security and (ii) the price per unit of the relevant security (determined by BNPP PB).

 

(e) Days of Trading Volume ” means, with respect to an equity security, an amount equal to the quotient of (i) the number of shares of such security constituting the Position, as numerator, and (ii) the 90-day average daily trading volume of such security as shown on Bloomberg (or, if the 90-day average daily trading volume of such security is unavailable, the 30-day average daily trading volume of such security, as determined by BNPP PB in its sole discretion), as denominator.

 

(f) Debt Security ” means non-convertible preferred securities and corporate debt securities.

 

(g) Equity Core Collateral Rate ” means 15%.

 

(h) Equity Volatility ” means, with respect to an equity security, the 90-day historical volatility of such security as determined by BNPP PB in its sole discretion or, if the 90-day historical price volatility of such security is unavailable, the 30-day historical price volatility of such security as determined by BNPP PB in its sole discretion.

 

  4

 

 

(i) Face Value ” means the value in USD representing the principal of a Debt Security.

 

(j) Gross Market Value ” of one or more Positions means an amount equal to the sum of all Current Market Values of all such Positions , where, for the avoidance of doubt, the Current Market Value of each Position is expressed as a positive number whether or not such Position is held long .

 

(k) Issuer ” means, with respect to a Debt Security or equity security, the ultimate parent company or similar term as used by Bloomberg; provided that , if the relevant security was issued by a company or a subsidiary of a company that has issued common stock, the Issuer shall be deemed to be the entity that has issued common stock; provided further that , with respect to any exchange-traded funds, the Issuer of such securities shall be the index to which the relevant securities relate, if any.

 

(l) Issuer Concentration Floor ” means, as of any date, the product of (i) the largest Issuer Loss and (ii) 2.4. Issuer Loss is the theoretical loss upon an Issuer default with zero recovery.

 

(m) Issue Size ” means, with respect to a Position in a Debt Security of an Issuer, the Current Market Value of all such Debt Securities issued by the Issuer and still outstanding.

 

(n) Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investor Service, Inc.

 

(o) “Payment-in-Kind Bond” means a Debt Security whose interest or principal payments may be paid with additional Debt Securities, as opposed to cash.

 

(p) Portfolio Gross Market Value means the Gross Market Value of all of the Positions that are Eligible Securities.

 

(q) Position Charge ” means, with respect to a Position consisting of Eligible Securities, the product of (x) the Collateral Percentage applicable to such Position and (y) the Current Market Value of such Position.

 

(r) Structured Securities ” means any security (i) the payment to a holder of which is linked to a different security, provided that such different security is issued by a different issuer or (ii) structured in such a manner that the credit risk of acquiring the security is primarily related to an entity other than the issuer of the security itself.

 

(s) S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 

(t) Treasury Security ” means any security that is a direct obligation of the United States Treasury. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities nor securities issued under the Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities program nor securities issued by any other United States government agency or government sponsored enterprise are herein considered Treasury Securities.

 

  5

 

FS Investment Corporation IV 8-K

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

(BNP PARIBAS LOGO)   Execution copy
   

 

U.S. PB Agreement

This U.S. PB Agreement (including all terms, schedules, supplements and exhibits attached hereto, this “ Agreement ”) is entered into between the customer specified below (“ Customer ”) and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. (“ BNPP PB ”) on behalf of itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities (as defined in the Account Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto). The Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions on which BNPP PB will transact business with Customer. Customer and BNPP PB, on behalf of itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities, have also entered into the Account Agreement.

All terms, provisions and agreements set forth in each agreement listed below are hereby incorporated herein by reference with the same force and effect as though fully set forth herein, all of which taken together shall constitute a single, integrated agreement. All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Account Agreement.

(a) Account Agreement , attached as Exhibit A hereto;
(b) Rehypothecation Exhibit , attached as Exhibit B hereto;

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this U.S. PB Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of March 1, 2017.

 

BNP PARIBAS PRIME BROKERAGE INTERNATIONAL, LTD. ,
for itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities
 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey Lowe
  Name: Jeffrey Lowe
  Title: Managing Director
   

By:

/s/ JP Muir
  Name: JP Muir
  Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

(BNP PARIBAS LOGO)

 

Broomall funding llc  
Name of Customer  
   

By:

/s/ Gerald F. Stahlecker   
  Name: Gerald F. Stahlecker  
  Title: Executive Vice President  
     
Delaware  
Jurisdiction of organization  
Limited Liability Company  
Type of organization  
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  
Place of business / chief executive office  
6134466  
Organizational identification number  

Addresses for Notices to Customer

Address: c/o FS Investment Corporation IV, 201 Rouse Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19112


Attention: Edward T. Gallivan, Jr., Chief Financial Officer

 

Telephone: (215) 495-1150 Fax: (215) 222-4649 Email: ted.gallivan@franklinsquare.com

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A to U.S. PB Agreement – Account Agreement

 

 

This account agreement (including all schedules attached hereto, this “ Account Agreement ”) is entered into between Customer and BNP PARIBAS PRIME BROKERAGE INTERNATIONAL, LTD. (“ BNPP PB ”), on behalf of itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities. This Account Agreement is incorporated as an exhibit to the U.S. PB Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) and sets forth the terms and conditions on which BNPP PB will open and maintain accounts (the “ Accounts ”) for cash loans and other products or services and otherwise transact business with Customer . Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 18.

 

1. Collateral Maintenance, Repayment of Financing - The provisions of this Subsection shall apply except to the extent any such provisions contravene the Committed Facility Agreement (as defined herein) and such Committed Facility Agreement has not been terminated or the commitment therein has not expired. Customer will at all times maintain in, and upon written (including, without limitation, via electronic mail) demand furnish to, the Accounts, or otherwise provide to the BNPP Entities in a manner satisfactory to the BNPP Entities, assets of the types and in the amounts required by the BNPP Entities in accordance with the terms of the outstanding Contracts (“ Deliverable Collateral ”) as follows: if the relevant demand is made on or before 11:00 a.m. New York time on any Business Day, Customer shall meet such demand by the close of business on that Business Day; if the relevant demand is made after 11:00 a.m. New York time on any Business Day, Customer shall meet such demand by the close of business on the following Business Day. Immediately upon written or oral demand by BNPP PB, Customer shall pay to BNPP PB in immediately available U.S. funds any principal balance of, accrued unpaid interest on, and any other Obligation owing in respect of, any Account.
     
2. Security Interest -
     
(a) Grant of Security Interest. Customer hereby assigns and pledges to the BNPP Entities all Collateral, and Customer hereby grants a continuing first-priority security interest therein, a lien thereon and a right of set off against any Collateral, and all such Collateral shall be subject to a general lien and a continuing first-security interest and fixed charge, in each case securing the discharge of all Obligations and the termination of all Contracts, whether now existing or hereafter arising and irrespective of whether or not any of the BNPP Entities have made advances in connection with such Collateral, and irrespective of the number of accounts Customer may have with any of the BNPP Entities, and of which BNPP Entity holds such Collateral.
     
(b) No other Liens. All Collateral delivered to a BNPP Entity shall be free and clear of all prior liens, claims and encumbrances (other than liens solely in favor of the BNPP Entities), and Customer will not cause or allow any of the Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be or become subject to any liens, security interests, mortgages or encumbrances of any nature other than security interests solely in the BNPP Entities’ favor. Furthermore, Collateral consisting of securities shall be delivered in good deliverable form (or the BNPP Entities shall have the power to place such securities in good deliverable form) in accordance with the requirements of the primary market or markets for such securities.
(c) Perfection. Customer shall execute such documents and take such other actions as the BNPP Entities shall reasonably request in order to perfect the BNPP Entities’ rights with respect to any such Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Customer agrees to record the security interests granted hereunder in any internal or external register of mortgages and charges maintained by or with respect to Customer under Applicable Law. Customer shall pay the fees for any filing, registration, recording or perfection of any security interest contemplated by this Agreement and pay, or cause to be paid, from the Accounts any and all Taxes imposed on the Collateral by any authority. In addition, Customer appoints the BNPP Entities as Customer’s attorney-in-fact to act on Customer’s behalf to sign, seal, execute and deliver all documents, and do all acts, solely as may be required, or as any BNPP Entity shall determine in good faith to be advisable, to perfect the security interests created hereunder in, provide for any BNPP Entity to have control of, or realize upon any rights of any BNPP Entity in, any or all of the Collateral. The BNPP Entities and Customer each acknowledge and agree that each account maintained by any of the BNPP Entities to which any Collateral is credited is a “securities account” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in the State of New York (the “ NYUCC ”), and all property and assets held in or credited from time to time to such an account shall be treated as a “financial asset” for purposes of Article 8 of the NYUCC, provided that any such account may also be a “deposit account” (within the meaning of Section 9-102(a)(29) of the NYUCC) or a “commodity account” (within the meaning of Section 9-102(a)(14) of the NYUCC). Each BNPP Entity represents and warrants that it is a “securities intermediary” within the meaning of Article 8 of the NYUCC and is acting in such capacity with respect to each such account maintained by it.
     
(d) Effect of Security Interest. The BNPP Entities’ security interest in the Collateral shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the payment and performance in full of Customer’s Obligations, (ii) be binding upon Customer, its successors and permitted assigns, and (iii) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the BNPP Entities and their respective successors, transferees and assigns.
     
(e) Contract Status. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement and each Contract entered into pursuant to this Agreement are each a “securities contract”, “swap agreement,” “forward contract,” or “commodity contract” within the meaning of the United States Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”) and that each delivery, transfer, payment and grant of a security interest made or required to be made hereunder or thereunder or contemplated hereby or thereby or made, required to be made or contemplated in connection herewith or therewith is a “transfer” and a “margin payment” or a “settlement payment” within the meaning of Sections 362(b)(6),(7),(17) and/or (27) and Sections 546(e), (f), (g) and/or (j) of the Bankruptcy Code. The parties further acknowledge that this Agreement is a “master netting agreement” within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code and a “netting contract” within the meaning of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991.


 

 

 

 

3. Maintenance of Collateral -
     
(a) General. Each BNPP Entity that holds Collateral holds such Collateral for itself and also as agent and bailee for all other BNPP Entities that are secured parties under any Contract or as to which Customer has any Obligation. Except where otherwise required by Applicable Law or where adverse regulatory capital, reserve or other similar costs (“ Adverse Costs ”) would thereby arise, the security interests of the BNPP Entities in any Collateral shall rank in such order of priority as the BNPP Entities may agree from time to time; provided, however, that BNPP PB shall have first-priority interest in the assets that it holds other than assets held in a cash account. In the event that any BNPP Entity is obliged by Applicable Law to maintain a first-priority lien, or where such BNPP Entity would suffer Adverse Costs if it did not maintain a first-priority lien, such BNPP Entity’s interest in the applicable Collateral shall have priority over that of the other BNPP Entities to the extent required to satisfy the requirements of Applicable Law or avoid such Adverse Costs. In the event that two or more BNPP Entities are so obliged to maintain a first-priority lien, or would suffer Adverse Costs if they did not maintain a first-priority lien, such BNPP Entities shall determine among themselves the priority of their respective interests in the relevant Collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except as otherwise agreed among the BNPP Entities, the security interest of the BNPP Entities in any Collateral consisting of the Customer’s right, title or interest in, to or under any Contract shall be subject to any enforceable right of setoff or netting (including, without limitation, any such right granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof) that any BNPP Entity that is party to such Contract may have with respect to the obligations of the Customer to such BNPP Entity (whether arising under such Contract or any other Contract).
     
(b) Transfers of Collateral between Accounts. Customer agrees that the BNPP Entities, at any time, at any BNPP Entity’s discretion and subject to using good faith efforts to provide prior notice to Customer, may use, apply, or transfer any and all Collateral interchangeably between the BNPP Entities in any accounts in which Customer has an interest. With respect to Collateral pledged principally to secure Obligations under any Contract, the BNPP Entities shall have the right, but in no event the obligation, to apply all or any portion of such Collateral to Customer’s Obligations to any of the BNPP Entities under any other Contract, to transfer all or any portion of such Collateral to secure Customer’s Obligations to any of the BNPP Entities under any other Contract or to release any such Collateral. Under no circumstances shall any Collateral pledged
    principally to secure Obligations to any of the BNPP Entities under any Contract be required to be applied or transferred to secure Obligations to any of the other BNPP Entities or to be released if (i) any BNPP Entity determines that such transfer would render it undersecured with respect to any Obligations, (ii) an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to Customer under any Contract or Obligation or (iii) any such application, transfer or release would be contrary to Applicable Law.
     
(c) Control by BNPP Entities. Each BNPP Entity that (i) is the securities intermediary in respect of any securities account constituting Collateral, or to which any Collateral is credited or in which any Collateral is held or carried, agrees that it will comply with entitlement orders originated by any other BNPP Entity with respect to any such securities account or Collateral without any further consent by Customer, (ii) is the bank in respect of any deposit account constituting Collateral, or to which any Collateral is credited or in which any Collateral is held or carried, agrees with Customer and each other BNPP Entity (each of whom so agrees with it) that it will comply with instructions originated by any other BNPP Entity directing disposition of the funds in such deposit account without further consent by Customer and (iii) is the commodity intermediary in respect of any commodity contract or commodity account constituting Collateral, or any commodity account to which any Collateral is credited or in which any Collateral is held or carried, agrees with Customer and each other BNPP Entity (each of whom so agrees with it) that it will apply any value on account of any such Collateral as directed by any other BNPP Entity without further consent by Customer. Customer hereby consents to the foregoing agreements of the BNPP Entities. Each of the BNPP Entities that is the securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or bank with respect to any such securities, commodity or deposit account or any such commodity contract represents and warrants that it has not, and agrees that it will not, agree to comply with entitlement orders, directions or instructions concerning any such account or any security entitlements, financial assets, commodity contracts or funds credited thereto or held or carried thereon that are originated by any person other than (i) a BNPP Entity or (ii) (until a BNPP Entity shall have given a “notice of sole control”) Customer. Each BNPP Entity hereby notifies each other BNPP Entity of its security interest in, and the assignment by way of security to it of, the Collateral. Each BNPP Entity acknowledges such notice from each other BNPP Entity and each BNPP Entity and Customer consent to the security interest granted by this Section. For the avoidance of doubt, each BNPP Entity when not acting in its capacity as a securities intermediary agrees that it shall not issue an entitlement order unless and until an amount is owing by Customer pursuant to the terms of the Agreement or an Event of Default with respect to Customer has occurred and is continuing.
     
4. Rehypothecation - See Exhibit B.
   
5. Representations and Warranties - Customer (and, if a person or entity is signing this Agreement on behalf of Customer, such person or entity, on behalf of Customer and not in any individual capacity) hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof, which representations and warranties will be deemed repeated on each date on which this Agreement is in effect, that:


 

2  

 

 

(a) Due Organization; Organizational Information. Customer is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; Customer’s jurisdiction of organization, type of organization, place of business (if it has only one place of business) or chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business) and organizational identification number are, in each case as set forth on the cover page hereof or as shall have been notified to BNPP PB not less than 30 days prior to any change of such information; and unless Customer otherwise informs BNPP PB in writing, Customer does not have any place of business in the United Kingdom.
     
(b) Non-Contravention; Compliance with Applicable Laws . Customer is and will at all times be, in compliance with (i) Applicable Law that relates to (a) felonies, (b) fraud, (c) activities related to the conduct of Customer’s business or (d) activities related to the securities industry (except in the case of (c) or (d), where the failure to do so would not have a material adverse effect on Customer or its ability to perform under the Contracts, as determined by the BNPP Entities), (ii) all orders and awards binding on Customer or its property, (iii) Customer’s internal documents and policies (including organizational documents) (except where such failure would not have a material adverse effect on Customer or its ability to perform under the Contracts, as determined by the BNPP Entities), and (iv) all material contracts (including this Agreement) or other instruments binding on or affecting Customer or any of its property. Further, Customer maintains adequate controls to be reasonably assured of such compliance. To the best of the Customer’s knowledge, there are and have been no legal or governmental proceedings or investigations pending or threatened to which Customer or any Related Person is a party or to which any of the properties of Customer or any Related Person is subject. Further, to Customer’s knowledge, the education, employment and other qualifications for the officers for the Customer in the prospectus provided to any investors or otherwise made available by the Customer are correct in all material respects.
     
(c) Full Power. Customer has full power and is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. Customer has full power to enter into and engage in any and all transactions (i) in any Account with any BNPP Entity or (ii) that is subject to this Agreement. Further, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Customer, and constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable agreement of Customer, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.
     
(d) No Consent. No consent of any person and no authorization or other action by, and no notice to, or filing with, any governmental authority or any other person is required that has not already been obtained (i) for the due execution, delivery and performance by Customer of this Agreement; or (ii) for the exercise by any of the BNPP Entities of
    the rights or remedies provided for in this Agreement, including rights and remedies in respect of the Collateral.
     
(e) No Prior Lien. Customer is the lawful owner of all Collateral, free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances and transfer restrictions, except such as are created under this Agreement, other liens in favor of one or more BNPP Entities, and Customer will not cause or allow any of the Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be or become subject to any liens, security interests, mortgages or encumbrances of any nature other than those in favor of the BNPP Entities. No person (other than any BNPP Entity) has an interest in any Account or any other accounts of Customer with any of the BNPP Entities, any Collateral or other assets or property held therein or credited thereto or any other Collateral. Unless Customer has notified BNPP PB to the contrary, none of the Collateral are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
     
(f) ERISA. (i) The assets used to consummate the transactions provided hereunder shall not constitute the assets of (A) an “employee benefit plan” that is subject to Part 4, Subtitle B, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), (B) a “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ) , that is subject to Section 4975 of the Code, or (C) a person or entity the underlying assets of which are deemed to include plan assets as determined under Section 3(42) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, and (ii) either (A) the assets used to consummate the transactions provided hereunder shall not constitute the assets of a governmental plan that is subject to any federal, state or local law that is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (a “ Similar Law ”) or (B) the transactions hereunder do not violate any applicable Similar Law. Customer will notify BNPP PB (1) if Customer is aware in advance that it will breach the foregoing representation and warranty (the “ Representation ”), reasonably in advance of it breaching the Representation, or (2) promptly upon becoming aware that it is in breach of the Representation. If Customer provides such notice or if BNPP PB is aware that Customer is in breach or will be in breach of the Representation, upon a BNPP Entity’s written request, Customer will terminate any or all transactions under this Agreement (x) if Customer gave advance notice that it would breach the Representation, prior to breaching the Representation, (y) if Customer gave no notice but BNPP PB is aware that Customer will be in breach of the Representation, prior to breaching the Representation (unless Customer avoids the occurrence of such breach) or, (z) if Customer is in breach of the Representation, immediately.


 

3  

 

 

(g) Market Timing. Customer does not presently engage in and will not engage in any Market-Timing Trading Activity, and Customer will not use the proceeds of any financing in furtherance of any Market-Timing Trading Activity. Customer does not presently engage in and will not engage in any transactions and does not and will not cause any person to engage in any transactions, that would constitute, for any party to such transactions, a violation of (i) Rule 22c-1 of the Investment Company Act or (ii) analogous Applicable Law relating to the timing of purchases, sales and exchanges of non-U.S. mutual funds, non-U.S. unit trusts or analogous non-U.S. investment vehicles. Customer will not use the proceeds of any financing to invest, whether directly or indirectly, in Market-Timing Investment Entities and Customer is, and at all times will be, in compliance with (i) Investment Company Act Rule 22c-1 in connection with the purchase, sale and exchange of all U.S. mutual funds and (ii) all analogous Applicable Law relating to the timing of purchases, sales and exchanges of non-U.S. mutual funds, non-U.S. unit trusts or analogous non-U.S. investment vehicles. To the extent that Customer learns that Customer has invested in a Market-Timing Investment Entity, Customer shall promptly notify BNPP PB of such investment, including the name of each such Market-Timing Investment Entity and the amount of the investment, as well as Customer’s plan to divest Customer’s investment in such entity in a timely manner, and Customer shall promptly commence such divestment and complete the same in a timely manner.
     
(h) Information Provided by Customer; Financial Statements. Any information provided by Customer to any BNPP Entity in connection with this Agreement is correct in all material respects and Customer agrees promptly to notify the relevant BNPP Entity if there is any material change with respect to any such information. Customer’s financial statements or similar documents previously or hereafter provided to the BNPP Entities (i) do or will fairly present the financial condition of Customer as of the date of such financial statements and the results of its operations for the period for which such financial statements are applicable, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States consistently applied and, (iii) if audited, have been certified without reservation by a firm of independent public accountants. Customer will promptly furnish to the relevant BNPP Entity any information (including financial information) about Customer upon such BNPP Entity’s reasonable request.
     
(i) Anti-Money Laundering. To the best of Customer’s knowledge, none of Customer, any person controlling or controlled by Customer, any person having a beneficial interest in Customer, or any person for whom Customer acts as agent or nominee in connection herewith is: (i) an individual or entity, country or territory, that is named on a list issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), or an individual or entity that resides, is organized or chartered, or has a place of business, in a country or territory subject to OFAC’s various sanctions/embargo programs; (ii) a resident in, or organized or chartered under the laws of (A) a jurisdiction that has been designated by the Secretary of the Treasury under the USA PATRIOT Act as warranting special measures and/or as being of primary money laundering concern, or (B) a jurisdiction that has been designated as non-cooperative with international anti-money laundering principles by a multinational or inter-governmental group such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (“ FATF ”) of which the United States is
    a member; (iii) a financial institution that has been designated by the Secretary of the Treasury as warranting special measures and/or as being of primary money laundering concern; (iv) a “senior foreign political figure,” or any “immediate family” member or “close associate” of a senior foreign political figure, in each case within the meaning of Section 5318(i) of Title 31 of the United States Code or regulations issued thereunder; or (v) a prohibited “foreign shell bank” as defined in Section 5318(j) of Title 31 of the United States Code or regulations issued thereunder, or a U.S. financial institution that has established, maintains, administers or manages an account in the U.S. for, or on behalf of, a prohibited “foreign shell bank”.
     

BNPP PB hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof, which representations and warranties will be deemed repeated on each date on which this Agreement is in effect, that:

     
(x) BNPP PB is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization;
     
(y) BNPP PB has full power and is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. BNPP PB has full power to enter into and engage in any and all transactions (i) in any Account or (ii) that is subject to this Agreement. Further, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by BNPP PB, and constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable agreement of BNPP PB, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity; and
     
(z) To the best of its knowledge, no consent of any person and no authorization or other action by, and no notice to, or filing with, any governmental authority or any other person is required that has not already been obtained for the due execution, delivery and performance by BNPP PB of this Agreement.
     
6. Short Sales - Customer agrees to comply with Applicable Law relating to short sales, including, but not limited to, any requirement that Customer designate a sale as “long” or “short”.
     
7. No Obligation - Customer agrees that BNPP PB shall be under no obligation to effect or settle any trade on behalf of Customer and that BNPP PB reserves the right at any time to place a limit on the type or size of transactions which are to be settled and cleared by BNPP PB For the avoidance of doubt, no BNPP Entity is required to extend, renew or “roll-over” any Contract or transaction including, but not limited to, any Contract executed on an “open” basis or demand basis with Customer, notwithstanding past practice or market custom.


 

4  

 

 

8. Events of Default; Setoff -
     
(a) Events of Default. The following Events of Default shall apply only to the extent the Committed Facility Agreement has been terminated or the commitment therein has expired. (i) In the event of default by Customer on any Obligation under any transaction or contract or a default, event of default, declaration of default, termination event, exercise of default remedies, or other similar condition or event under any transaction or contract (howsoever characterized, which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the occurrence of an Additional Termination Event or Specified Condition under an ISDA Master Agreement between Customer and any BNPP Entity, affiliate of a BNPP Entity or a third party entity, if applicable) in respect of Customer, (ii) if Customer shall become bankrupt, insolvent, or subject to any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or similar proceeding or all or substantially all its assets become subject to a suit, levy, enforcement, or other legal process where a secured party maintains possession of such assets, has a resolution passed for its winding-up, official management or liquidation (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger), seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets, has a secured party take possession of all or substantially all its assets, or takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts, or (iii) if any representation or warranty made or deemed made by Customer under the Agreement proves false or misleading when made or deemed made (each of the foregoing, an “ Event of Default ”), BNPP PB and any and all the BNPP Entities are hereby authorized, in their discretion, upon the occurrence of such Event of Default, if such Event of Default is then continuing, to take Default Action upon prior written notice to Customer. If BNPP PB or any other BNPP Entity elects to sell any Collateral, buy in any property, or cancel any orders upon an Event of Default, such sale, purchase or cancellation may be made on the exchange or other market where such business is then usually transacted, or at public auction or at private sale, without advertising the same and without any notice of the time or place of sale to Customer or to the personal representatives of Customer, and without prior tender, demand or call of any kind upon Customer or upon the personal representatives of Customer, all of which are expressly waived. The BNPP Entities will comply with NYUCC Section 9-610(b), to the extent applicable, when exercising any such sale, purchase or cancellation. The BNPP Entities may purchase or sell the property to or from any BNPP Entity or third parties in whole or in any part thereof free from any right of redemption, and Customer shall remain liable for any deficiency. A prior tender, demand or call of any kind from the BNPP Entities, or prior notice from the BNPP Entities, of the time and place of such sale or purchase shall not be considered a waiver of the BNPP Entities’ right to sell or buy any Collateral at any time as provided herein.
     
(b) Close-out. Upon the Close-out of any Contract, the Close-out Amount for such Contract shall be due. If, however, Applicable Law would stay or otherwise impair the enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement or any Contract upon the occurrence of an insolvency related Close-out or Event of Default, then Close-out shall automatically occur immediately prior to the occurrence of such insolvency related Close-out or Event of Default.
     
(c) Setoff. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, BNPP PB and any and all BNPP Entities are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to set off
    and otherwise apply any and all of the obligations of any and all BNPP Entities then due to Customer against any and all Obligations of Customer then due to such BNPP Entities (whether at maturity, upon acceleration or termination or otherwise). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the occurrence of the Close-out of any Contract, each BNPP Entity shall have the right to net the Close-out Amounts due from it to Customer and from Customer to it, so that a single settlement payment (the “ Net Payment ”) shall be payable by one party to the other, which Net Payment shall be immediately due and payable (subject to the other provisions hereof and of any Contract); provided that if any Close-out Amounts may not be netted against all other Close-out Amounts, such excluded Close-out Amounts shall be netted among themselves to the fullest extent permitted under Applicable Law. Upon the occurrence of a Close-out, each BNPP Entity may also (i) liquidate, apply and set off any or all Collateral against any Net Payment, payment, or Obligation owed to it or any other BNPP Entity under any Contract and (ii) set off and net any Net Payment, payment or obligation owed by it or any other BNPP Entity under any Contract against (x) any or all collateral or margin (or the Cash value thereof) posted by it or any other BNPP Entity to Customer under any Contract and (y) any Net Payment, payment or Obligation owed by Customer to any BNPP Entity (whether mature or unmatured, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated).
     
(d) Reinstatement of Obligations. If the exercise of any right to reduce and set-off pursuant to this Agreement shall be avoided or set aside by a court or shall be restrained, stayed or enjoined under Applicable Law, the obligations in respect thereof shall be reinstated or, in the event of restraint, stay or injunction, preserved in at least the amounts as of the date of restraint, stay or injunction between the applicable BNPP Entities, on the one hand, and Customer on the other, until such time as such restraint, stay or injunction shall no longer prohibit exercise of such right.
     
(e) BNPP Entity Consent . No BNPP Entity shall make any payment to Customer in respect of a Close-Out Amount without the consent of each other BNPP Entity that has a security interest in such Close-Out Amount.
     
(f) BNPP Insolvency . If the Securities Investor Protection Corporation files an application for a protective decree against BNPP PB, Customer shall, subject to Applicable Law and any general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law, have the contractual right to set-off or net any Obligations owed by Customer to BNPP PB against any obligations owed by BNPP PB to Customer under this Agreement.
     
9. Indemnity -
     
(a) General. Customer agrees to indemnify and hold the BNPP Entities harmless from and fully reimburse the BNPP Entities for any Indemnified Losses. The indemnities under this Section 9 shall be separate from and in addition to any other indemnity under any Contract.
     
(b) Delivery Failures. In case of the sale of any security, commodity, or other property by the BNPP Entities at the direction of Customer and the BNPP Entities’ inability to deliver the same to the purchaser by reason of failure of Customer to supply the BNPP Entities therewith, Customer authorizes the BNPP Entities to borrow or purchase any such security, commodity, or other property reasonably necessary to make delivery thereof. Customer hereby agrees to be responsible for any cost, expense or loss which the BNPP Entities may sustain thereby, except any such loss caused by a BNPP Entity’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud.


 

5  

 

 

10. Limitation of Liability -
     
(a) General. None of the BNPP Entities, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or counsel, shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them hereunder or in connection herewith except for the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of the applicable BNPP Entity as specified in Section 10(b).
     
(b) Third Parties. The BNPP Entities may execute any of their duties and exercise their rights hereunder by or through agents (which may include affiliates) or employees. None of the BNPP Entities shall be liable for the acts or omissions of any subcustodian or other agent selected by it with reasonable care, unless such subcustodian is an affiliate of any BNPP Entity, except to the extent caused by the relevant BNPP Entity’s failure to monitor or reasonably appoint such sub-custodian or agent, as set forth below. Upon Customer’s request, BNPP PB will provide Customer with a list of sub-custodians or other third parties employed by it to custody Customer’s Collateral and will use best efforts to give prior notice to Customer of any changes in the identity of sub-custodians or third parties employed by BNPP PB to custody Customer’s Collateral, but only to the extent that such change affects the custody of Customer’s Collateral. BNPP PB will be responsible to Customer for satisfying itself as to the ongoing suitability of such sub-custodians to provide custodial services to customers of BNPP PB as a general matter. BNPP PB will maintain what it considers to be an appropriate level of supervision over such sub-custodians and will make appropriate inquiries, as determined by BNPP PB, periodically to confirm that the obligations of such sub-custodians continue to be competently discharged. All transactions effected with a third party for Customer shall be for the account of Customer and the BNPP Entities shall have no responsibility to Customer or such third party with respect thereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall create, or be deemed to create, any third party beneficiary rights in any person or entity (including any investor or adviser of Customer), other than the BNPP Entities.
     
(c) No Liability for Indirect, Consequential, Exemplary or Punitive Damages; Force Majeure. In no event shall the BNPP Entities or Customer be held liable for indirect, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages. In no event shall the BNPP Entities be held liable for any loss of any kind caused, directly or indirectly, by any Force Majeure Event.
     
11. Taxes -
   
(a) Withholding Tax. Except as required by Applicable Law, each payment by Customer and
    all deliveries of Deliverable Collateral or Collateral under this Agreement shall be made, and the value of any Deliverable Collateral or Collateral shall be calculated, without withholding or deducting any Taxes. If any Taxes are required to be withheld or deducted, Customer shall pay such additional amounts as necessary to ensure that the actual net amount received by the BNPP Entities is equal to the amount that the BNPP Entities would have received had no such withholding or deduction been required. Customer will provide the BNPP Entities with any forms or documentation reasonably requested by the BNPP Entities in order to reduce or eliminate withholding tax on payments made to Customer with respect to this Agreement. The BNPP Entities are hereby authorized to withhold Taxes from any payment in delivery made hereunder and remit such Taxes to the relevant taxing authorities to the extent required by Applicable Law.
     
(b) Qualified Dividends. Customer acknowledges that, with respect to the reduced U.S. federal income tax rate that applies to dividends received from U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations by individuals who are citizens or residents of the United States, (i) the individual must satisfy applicable holding period requirements in order to be eligible for the reduced tax rate; (ii) the reduced tax rate does not apply to substitute or “in lieu” dividend payments paid to shareholders by broker-dealers under cash lending or securities lending arrangements which permit the broker-dealers to borrow securities from investors; and (iii) the reduced tax rate may not apply to dividends received from certain corporations, including money market funds, bond mutual funds, and Real Estate Investment Trusts. Customer further acknowledges that although Customer may receive from BNPP PB a Form 1099-DIV indicating which dividends may qualify for the reduced tax rate, as required by applicable rules, Customer is responsible for determining which dividends qualify for the reduced tax rate based on Customer’s own tax situation.
     
(c) Income and Other Taxes. Except as otherwise expressly stated herein: (i) the BNPP Entities have no obligation or responsibility to Customer with respect to the accounting or reporting of income or other taxes with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, each related agreement and each transaction hereunder or thereunder (for the sake of clarity, including, without limitation, with respect to any related margin lending agreement and each related transaction) (each a “ Transaction ”), including, without limitation, unrelated business taxable income under section 514 of the Code; and (ii) Customer shall alone be responsible for the payment of any and all taxes and related penalties, interests and costs arising from or relating to the Transactions. Customer represents and warrants, on and as of the date hereof and each date any Transaction remains outstanding, that Customer has in place policies and procedures necessary to ensure proper accounting and reporting of any and all taxation of the Customer and/or Accounts in connection with the Transactions.


 

6  

 

 

12. Notices; Instructions -
     
 (a) Notices. All notices and other communications provided hereunder shall be (i) in writing (including, for avoidance of doubt, electronic mail) and delivered to the address of the intended recipient specified on the cover page hereof or to such other address as such intended recipient may provide or (ii) posted onto the website maintained by BNPP PB for Customer (except for default and margin notices) or (iii) in such other form agreed to by the parties. All communications sent to Customer or a BNPP Entity shall be deemed delivered to Customer or such BNPP Entity, as applicable, as of (x) the date sent, if sent via facsimile, email or posted onto the Internet, (y) the date the messenger arrives at Customer’s address as set forth on the signature page hereof or such BNPP Entity’s address, if sent via messenger; or (z) the next Business Day if sent via mail, in each case, whether actually received or not. Failure by Customer to object in writing to any communication within ten (10) Business Days of delivery shall be deemed evidence, in the absence of manifest error, that such communication is complete and correct.
     
 (b) Instructions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Customer agrees that the BNPP Entities may rely upon any authorized instructions or any notice, request, waiver, consent, receipt or other document which the BNPP Entities reasonably believe to be genuine and transmitted by an authorized person listed on Appendix I attached hereto.
     
13. BNPP Entities Are Not Advisors or Fiduciaries - Customer represents that it is capable of assessing the merits (on its own behalf or through independent professional advice), and understands and accepts, the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and any transaction it may undertake with the BNPP Entities. Customer acknowledges that (a) none of the BNPP Entities is (i) acting as a fiduciary for or an advisor to Customer in respect of this Agreement or any transaction it may undertake with the BNPP Entities; (ii) advising it, performing any analysis, or making any judgment on any matters pertaining to the suitability of any transaction, or (iii) offering any opinion, judgment or other type of information pertaining to the nature, value, potential or suitability of any particular investment or transaction, (b) the BNPP Entities do not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information that the BNPP Entities may from time to time provide or make available to Customer and (c) the BNPP Entities may take positions in financial instruments discussed in the information provided Customer (which positions may be inconsistent with the information provided) and may execute transactions for themselves or others in those instruments and may provide investment banking and other services to the issuers of those instruments or with respect to those instruments. Customer agrees that (x) it is solely responsible for monitoring compliance with its own internal restrictions and procedures governing investments, trading limits and manner of authorizing investments, and with the Applicable Law affecting its authority and ability to trade and invest and (y) in no event shall a BNPP Entity undertake to assess whether a Contract or transaction is appropriate or legal for Customer.
     
14. Litigation in Court, Sovereign Immunity, Service -
     
 (a) ANY LITIGATION BETWEEN CUSTOMER AND THE BNPP ENTITIES OR INVOLVING THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPERTY MUST BE INSTITUTED IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN

 

    DISTRICT OF NEW YORK OR THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS , WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH COURTS. EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES THAT A JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.
     
(b) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM, ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER LEGAL ACTION IS HEREBY WAIVED BY ALL PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT.
     
(c) EACH PARTY HERETO, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF AND ITS REVENUES AND ASSETS (IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR USE OR INTENDED USE) ALL IMMUNITY ON THE GROUNDS OF SOVEREIGNTY OR SIMILAR GROUNDS FROM (I) SUIT, (II) JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. COURT, (III) RELIEF BY WAY OF INJUNCTION, ORDER FOR SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE, OR RECOVERY OF PROPERTY, (IV) ATTACHMENT OF ITS ASSETS (WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER JUDGMENT) AND (V) EXECUTION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT TO WHICH IT OR ITS REVENUES OR ASSETS MIGHT OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED IN ANY ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS IN SUCH COURTS, AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT CLAIM SUCH IMMUNITY IN ANY SUCH ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS.
     
(d) CUSTOMER HEREBY CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED BY ANY BNPP ENTITY ON CUSTOMER IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF THE NATURE SPECIFIED IN CLAUSE (a) ABOVE BY THE MAILING OF A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED AIRMAIL, POSTAGE PRE-PAID, TO CUSTOMER AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH AFTER CUSTOMER’S SIGNATURE ABOVE; SUCH SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED COMPLETED AND EFFECTIVE AS FROM 30 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.


 

7  

 

 

15. Applicable Law, Enforceability - THIS AGREEMENT, ITS ENFORCEMENT, ANY CONTRACT (UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY THEREIN), AND ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THE BNPP ENTITIES AND CUSTOMER, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO CUSTOMER’S ACCOUNTS OR OTHERWISE INCIDENTAL TO SUCH ACCOUNTS OR THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The parties hereto further agree that (i) the securities intermediary’s jurisdiction, within the meaning of Section 8-110(e) of the NYUCC, in respect of any securities account constituting Collateral or to which any Collateral is credited or in which any Collateral is held or carried and in respect of any Collateral consisting of security entitlements; (ii) the bank’s jurisdiction, within the meaning of Section 9-304(b) of the NYUCC, in respect of any deposit account constituting Collateral, or to which any Collateral is credited or in which any Collateral is held or carried; and (iii) the commodity intermediary’s jurisdiction, within the meaning of Section 9-305(b) of the NYUCC, in respect of any commodity account constituting Collateral, or to which any Collateral is credited or in which any Collateral is held or carried and in respect of any Collateral consisting of commodity contracts, is the State of New York and agree that none of them has or will enter into any agreement to the contrary. Customer and BNPP PB agree that, in respect of any Account maintained by BNPP PB, the law applicable to all the issues specified in Article 2(1) of the “Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Certain Rights in Respect of Securities Held with an Intermediary (Hague Securities Convention)” is the law in force in the State of New York and agree that none of them has or will enter into any agreement to the contrary.
     
16. Modification; Termination; Assignment -
     
 (a) Modification. Any modification of the terms of this Agreement must be made in writing and executed by the parties to this Agreement.
     
 (b) Termination. If the Committed Facility Agreement has been terminated, either BNPP PB or Customer may terminate this Agreement upon delivery of written notice to the other party, provided that Customer’s termination notice is only effective if it is accompanied by instructions as to the transfer of all property held in the Accounts. Sections 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 14 and 15 and each representation made hereunder shall survive any termination.
     
 (c) Assignment. BNPP PB may assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein or under any other Contract: (A) to BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. or to any entity guaranteed by BNP Paribas, provided that such assignment shall not have any effect on the then current requirements imposed on Customer or the BNPP Entities in relation to the withholding or deduction of Taxes and Customer shall have received evidence thereto in the form of any relevant Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, W-8ECI or W-8BEN or otherwise, or (B) to an unaffiliated entity (i) solely in connection with a sale of the prime brokerage business, upon thirty calendar days’ prior written notice, (ii) other than in connection with a sale of the prime brokerage business, upon Customer’s consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Customer may not assign its rights under or any interest in (i) any Contract without the prior written consent of BNPP PB and each BNPP Entity that is a party thereto or (ii) this Agreement, including, without limitation, its right to any Close-Out Amount, without the prior written consent of each BNPP Entity. Any attempted assignment by Customer in violation of this Agreement shall be null, void and without effect.
     
17. Miscellaneous -
     
 (a) Fees. The provisions of this Subsection shall apply except to the extent any such provisions contravene the Committed Facility Agreement and

 

    such Committed Facility Agreement has not been terminated or the commitment therein has not expired. Customer agrees to pay all brokerage commissions, markups or markdowns in connection with the execution of transactions and other fees for custody and other services rendered to Customer as determined by BNPP PB. Customer authorizes the BNPP Entities to pay themselves or others for fees, commissions, markups and other charges, expenses and Obligations from any Account.
     
(b) Contingency. The fulfillment of the obligations of any BNPP Entity to Customer under any Contract is contingent upon there being no breach, repudiation, misrepresentation or default (however characterized) by Customer which has occurred and is continuing under any Contract.
     
(c) Conversion of Currencies. The BNPP Entities shall have the right to convert currencies in connection with the effecting of transactions and the exercise of any of their rights hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner.
     
(d) Truth-in-Lending Statement. Customer hereby acknowledges receipt of a Truth-in-Lending disclosure statement. Subject to the Committed Facility Agreement (unless such agreement has been terminated or the commitment therein has expired), interest will be charged on any debit balances in the Accounts in accordance with the methods described in such statement or in any amendment or revision thereto which may be provided to Customer. Any debit balance which is not paid at the close of an interest period will be added to the opening balance for the next interest period.
     
(e) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, transactions hereunder and funds held in the Accounts (i) are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency, (ii) are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by, BNP Paribas or any other bank; and (iii) involve market and investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.
     
(f) USA Patriot Act Disclosure. BNPP PB, like all financial institutions, is required by Federal law to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each customer who opens an account with BNPP PB. When Customer opens an account with BNPP PB, BNPP PB will ask for Customer’s name, address, date of birth, government-issued identification number and/or other information reasonably required by BNPP PB to form a reasonable belief as to Customer’s identity, such as documents that establish legal status.
     
(g) Anti-Money Laundering. Customer understands and acknowledges that the BNPP Entities are, or may in the future become, subject to money laundering statutes, regulations and conventions of the United States or other international jurisdictions, and Customer agrees to execute instruments, provide information, or perform any other acts as may reasonably be requested by any BNPP Entity for the purpose of carrying out due diligence as may be required by Applicable Law. Customer agrees that it will provide the BNPP Entities with such information as any BNPP Entity may reasonably require to comply with applicable anti-money laundering laws or regulations. Customer understands, acknowledges and agrees that to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any BNPP Entity may provide information, including confidential information, to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, or any other agency or instrumentality of the U.S. Government, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, in connection with a request for information on behalf of a U.S. federal law enforcement agency investigating terrorist activity or money laundering.


 

8  

 

 

 (h) Money Market Funds. Customer agrees that with respect to transactions effected in shares of any money market fund and any other transactions listed in Rule 10b-10(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, BNPP PB may provide Customer with a monthly or quarterly written statement pursuant to Rule 10b-10(b) of the Exchange Act in lieu of an immediate confirmation.
     
 (i) No Waivers. No failure or delay in exercising any right, or any partial exercise of a right will operate as a waiver of the full exercise of that right. The rights provided in the Contracts are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights provided by law.
     
 (j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered will be an original, but all of which counterparts will together constitute one and the same instrument.
     
 (k) Integration; Severability. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements as to matters within its scope. To the extent this Agreement contains any provision which is inconsistent with provisions in any other Contract or agreement between Customer and any of the BNPP Entities, or of which Customer is a beneficiary, the provisions of this Agreement shall control except if such other Contract explicitly states that it is intended to supersede this Agreement by name, in which case such other Contract shall prevail. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes inconsistent with Applicable Law, that provision will be deemed modified or, if necessary, rescinded in order to comply. All other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. To the extent that this Agreement is not enforceable as to any Contract, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and be enforceable in accordance with its terms as to all other Contracts.
     
 (l) Master Agreement . This Agreement, together with each Contract and any supplements, modifications or amendments hereto or thereto, shall constitute a single business and contractual relationship among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
     
 (m) Captions. Section designations and captions are provided for convenience of reference, do not constitute a part of this Agreement, and are not to be considered in its interpretation.
     
 (n) Recording of Conversations. Each of the BNPP Entities and Customer is aware that each party may record conversations between any of the parties or parties’ representatives relating to the matters referred to in this Agreement and no party

 

    has any objection and hereby agrees to such recording.
     
(o) Proxy Disclosures. Any attempt to vote securities will be void to the extent that such securities are not in the possession or control of either BNPP PB or a BNPP Entity, including (i) securities not yet delivered to BNPP PB or a BNPP Entity, (ii) securities purchased and not paid for by settlement date, and (iii) securities that either BNPP PB or a BNPP Entity has hypothecated, re-hypothecated, pledged, re-pledged, sold, lent or otherwise transferred. Please be advised that for the purposes of proxy voting, Customer will not be notified that the securities are not in either BNPP PB or a BNPP Entity’s possession or control. Furthermore, neither BNPP PB nor any other BNPP Entity will notify Customer that a vote was void.
     
18. Certain Definitions -
     
(a) Applicable Law ” means all applicable laws, rules and regulations by which a party hereto is bound, including, without limitation, those of all U.S. and non-U.S., federal, state and local governmental authorities, self-regulatory organizations, markets, exchanges and clearing facilities, in all cases where applicable.
     
(b) BNPP Entities ” means BNP Paribas, BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc.
     
(c) Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
     
(d) Close-out ” means the termination, cancellation, liquidation, acceleration, or other similar action with respect to all transactions under one or more Contracts.
     
(e) Close-out Amount ” means with respect to each Contract, the amount (expressed in U.S. Dollars or the U.S. Dollar Equivalent) calculated as payable by one party to the other upon Close-out of such Contract determined in accordance with the provisions of such Contract, or if no such provisions are specified, by following such procedures as the BNPP Entities determine in good faith are commercially reasonable and in accordance with industry practice.
     
(f) Collateral ” means all right, title and interest of Customer in and to (i) each deposit, custody, securities, commodity or other account maintained by Customer with any of the BNPP Entities (including, but not limited to, any or all Accounts); (ii) any cash, securities, commodity contracts, general intangibles and other property which may from time to time be deposited, credited, held or carried in any such account, that is due to Customer from any of the BNPP Entities, or that is delivered to or in the possession or control of any of the BNPP Entities or any of the BNPP Entities’ agents and all security entitlements with respect to any of the foregoing; (iii) all of Customer’s right, title or interest in, to or under any Contract, including obligations owed by any of the BNPP Entities (after any netting or set off, in each case to the extent enforceable, of amounts owed under such Contract); (iv) all of Customer’s security interests (or similar interests) in any property of any BNPP Entity securing any BNPP Entity’s obligations to Customer under any Contract; (v) any property of Customer in which any of the BNPP Entities is granted a security interest under any Contract or otherwise (howsoever held); (vi) all income and profits on any of the foregoing, all dividends, interest and other payments and distributions with respect to any of the foregoing, all other rights and privileges appurtenant to any of the foregoing, including any voting rights and any redemption rights, and any substitutions for any of the foregoing; and (vii) all proceeds of any of the foregoing, in each case whether now existing or owned by Customer or hereafter arising or acquired.


 

9  

 

 

(g) Contract ” means this Agreement, the Committed Facility Agreement between the Customer and BNPP PB (as amended from time to time, the “ Committed Facility Agreement ”) dated as of the date hereof, and the Special Custody and Pledge Agreement between Customer, BNPP PB and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “ Custodian ”) (as amended from time to time, the “ Special Custody and Pledge Agreement ”) dated on or about the date hereof, including in each case, the schedules, exhibits, and appendices thereto.
     
(h) Default Action ” means (i) to terminate, liquidate and accelerate any and all Contracts, (ii) to exercise any right under any security relating to any Contract, (iii) to net or set off payments which may arise under any Contract or other agreement or under Applicable Law, (iv) to cancel any outstanding orders for the purchase or sale or borrowing or lending of any securities or other property, (v) to sell, apply or collect on any or all of the Collateral (either individually or jointly with others), (vi) to buy in any securities, commodities or other property of which any Account of Customer may be short, and (vii) to exercise any rights and remedies available to a secured creditor under any Applicable Law or under the NYUCC (whether or not the NYUCC is otherwise applicable in the relevant jurisdiction).
     
(i) Force Majeure Event ” means government restrictions, exchange or market actions or rulings, suspension of trading, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorist acts, insurrection, riots, fires, floods, strikes, failure of utility or similar services, accidents, adverse weather or other events of nature (including but not limited to earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes) and any other conditions beyond the BNPP Entities’ control and any event where any communications network, data processing system or computer system used by any of the BNPP Entities or Customer or by market participants is rendered wholly or partially inoperable.
     
(j) Indemnified Losses ” means any actual loss, claim, damage, liability, penalty, fine or excise tax (including any reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses relating to any action, proceeding, investigation and preparation therefor) when and as incurred by the BNPP Entities (i) pursuant to authorized instructions received by the BNPP Entities’ from Customer or its agents, (ii) as a consequence of a breach by Customer of any covenant, representation or warranty hereunder, (iii) in settlement of any claim or litigation relating to BNPP Entities’ acting as agent for Customer or (iv) in connection with or related to any Account, this Agreement, any Contract, any transactions hereunder or thereunder, any activities or services of the BNPP Entities in connection with this Agreement or otherwise

 

    (including, without limitation, (A) any technology services, reporting, trading, research or capital introduction services or (B) any DK or disaffirmance of any transaction hereunder). “Indemnified Losses” shall (x) include without limitation any damage, actual loss, actual cost and expense that is incurred to put the BNPP Entities in the same economic position as they would have been in had a default (howsoever defined) under any Contract not occurred, or that arises out of any other commitment any BNPP Entity has entered into in connection with or as a hedge in connection with any transaction or in an effort to mitigate any resulting loss to which any BNPP Entity is exposed because of a default (howsoever defined) under any Contract and (y) not include any losses of a BNPP Entity resulting directly from such BNPP Entity’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud, breach of this Agreement or violation of Applicable Law.
     
(k) Market-Timing Investment Entities ” means hedge funds, private investment funds or other companies or partnerships that engage in Market Timing Trading Activity.
     
(l) Market-Timing Trading Activity ” means (i) purchasing and selling, or exchanging, mutual fund or similar investment units to exploit short-term differentials in the prices of such funds or similar units and their underlying assets, and similar trading strategies or (ii) purchasing and selling, or exchanging mutual fund or similar investment units more than twice within a thirty-day period. Notwithstanding the above, the following shall not constitute “Market-Timing Trading Activity”: (x) trading of money market funds, short-term bond funds or exchange-traded funds or (y) trading of mutual funds in the manner consistent with such fund’s prospectus or other offering documents.
     
(m) Obligations ” means any and all obligations of Customer to any BNPP Entity arising at any time and from time to time under or in connection with any and all Contracts (including but not limited to obligations to deliver or return Deliverable Collateral or other assets or property (howsoever described) under or in connection with any such Contract), in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether or not mature or contingent.
     
(n) Related Person ” means principals, directors and senior employees (in such official capacity as principal, director or senior employee, as the case may be) of (i) Customer, (ii) Customer’s affiliates, (iii) Customer’s investment manager or (iv) any person or entity for which Customer’s investment manager acts as investment manager.
     
(o) Taxes ” means any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, assessments or fees of any nature, including interest, penalties and additions thereto that are imposed by any taxing authority.
     
(p) U.S. Dollar Equivalent ” of an amount, as of any date, means: in respect of any amount denominated in a currency, including a composite currency, other than U.S. Dollars (an “ Other Currency ”), the amount expressed in U.S. Dollars, as determined by the BNPP Entities, that would be required to purchase such amount (where the BNPP Entities would require Customer to deliver such Other Currency in connection with a Contract) or would be received for the sale of such amount of such Other Currency (where the BNPP Entities would deliver such Other Currency to Customer in connection with a Contract), as of such date at the rate equal to the spot exchange rate of a foreign exchange agent (selected in good faith by the BNPP Entities) at or about 11:00 a.m. (in the city in which such foreign exchange agent is located) or such later time as the BNPP Entities in their reasonable discretion shall determine.


 

10  

 

 

19. Software -
     
(a) License; Use. Upon any BNPP Entity’s delivering to Customer, or making available for use by Customer, any computer software or application, as such may be delivered, made available, and modified by any BNPP Entity from time to time in its sole discretion (the “ Software ”), the BNPP Entities grant to Customer a personal, non-transferable and non-exclusive license to use the Software solely for Customer’s own internal and proper business purposes and not in the operation of a service bureau or other business outside of or in addition to Customer’s ordinary course of business. The Software includes all associated “Information” as that term is used in this Section. The Software may include trade blotter functions, capital accounting functions, interfaces with other systems and accounting functions, a Customer website, and other software or communication or encryption systems that may be developed from time to time. Except as set forth herein, no license or right of any kind is granted to Customer with respect to the Software.
     
(b) Ownership. Customer acknowledges that the BNPP Entities and their suppliers retain and have title and exclusive proprietary rights to the Software, including any trade secrets or other ideas, concepts, know-how, methodologies, or information incorporated therein and the exclusive rights to any copyrights, trademarks and patents (including registrations and applications for registration of either), or other statutory or legal protections available in respect thereof. Customer further acknowledges that all or a part of the Software may be copyrighted or trademarked (or a registration or claim made therefore) by a BNPP Entity or its suppliers. Customer may not remove any statutory copyright notice or other notice included in the Software or on any media containing the Software. Customer shall not take any action with respect to the Software inconsistent with the foregoing acknowledgments.
     
(c) Limitation on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation and Disassembly. Customer shall not, nor shall it attempt to decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, modify, or create derivative works from the Software.
     
(d) Transfer. Customer may not, directly or indirectly, sell, rent, lease or lend the Software or provide any of the Software or any portion thereof to any other person or entity without the BNPP Entities’ prior written consent. Customer may not copy or reproduce except to create a backup copy or to move the Software to a different computer.
     

 

(e) Upgrades. The Software includes all updates or supplements to the Software and this Section 19 applies to all such updates or supplements, unless the BNPP Entities provide other terms along with the update or supplement.
     
(f) Equipment. Customer shall obtain and shall maintain all equipment, software and services, including but not limited to computer equipment and telecommunications services, necessary for it to use the Software, and the BNPP Entities shall not be responsible for the reliability or availability of any such equipment, software or services.
     
(g) Proprietary Information. The Software, any database and any proprietary data, processes, information and documentation made available to Customer (other than those that are or become part of the public domain or are legally required to be made available to the public) (collectively, the “ Information ”), are the exclusive and confidential property of the BNPP Entities or their suppliers. Customer shall keep the Information confidential by using the same care and discretion that Customer uses with respect to its own confidential property and trade secrets, but not less than reasonable care. Upon termination of the Account Agreement, the PB Terms or the Software license granted herein for any reason, Customer shall return to the BNPP Entities or destroy any and all copies of the Information that are in its possession or under its control.
     
(h) Support Services. Other than the assistance provided in the Information, the BNPP Entities do not offer any support services in connection with the Software.
     
(i) DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE BNPP ENTITIES AND THEIR SUPPLIERS PROVIDE THE SOFTWARE TO CUSTOMER, AND ANY (IF ANY) SUPPORT SERVICES RELATED TO THE SOFTWARE AS IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS; AND THE BNPP ENTITIES AND THEIR SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY (IF ANY) WARRANTIES, DUTIES OR CONDITIONS OF OR RELATED TO: MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, LACK OF VIRUSES, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF RESPONSES, RESULTS, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT AND LACK OF NEGLIGENCE. ALSO THERE IS NO WARRANTY, DUTY OR CONDITION OF TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, QUIET POSSESSION, CORRESPONDENCE TO DESCRIPTION OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE AND ANY SUPPORT SERVICES REMAINS WITH CUSTOMER.


 

11  

 

 

(j) EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL AND CERTAIN OTHER DAMAGES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE BNPP ENTITIES OR THEIR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS OR CONFIDENTIAL OR OTHER INFORMATION, FOR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, FOR PERSONAL INJURY, FOR LOSS OF PRIVACY, FOR FAILURE TO MEET ANY DUTY INCLUDING OF GOOD FAITH OR OF REASONABLE CARE, FOR NEGLIGENCE, AND FOR ANY OTHER PECUNIARY OR OTHER LOSS WHATSOEVER) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, THE PROVISION OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES, OR OTHERWISE UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS SECTION 19, EVEN IN THE EVENT OF THE FAULT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR BREACH OF WARRANTY OF THE BNPP ENTITIES OR ANY SUPPLIER, AND EVEN IF THE BNPP ENTITIES OR ANY SUPPLIER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY BNPP ENTITY OR ANY SUPPLIER BE LIABLE FOR ACTS OF GOD, ACTS OF WAR OR TERRORISM, MACHINE OR COMPUTER BREAKDOWN OR MALFUNCTION, INTERRUPTION OR MALFUNCTION OF COMMUNICATION FACILITIES, LABOR DIFFICULTIES OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR OR DISSIMILAR CAUSE BEYOND THEIR REASONABLE CONTROL.
     
(k) Security; Reliance; Unauthorized Use. Customer will cause all persons using the Software to treat all applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and authentication keys with extreme care, and Customer will establish internal control and safekeeping procedures to restrict the availability of the same to duly authorized persons

 

    only. No BNPP Entity shall be liable or responsible to Customer or any third party for any unauthorized use of the Software or of the user and authorization codes, passwords and authentications keys that may be used in connection with the Software.
     
(l) Encryption. Customer acknowledges and agrees that encryption may not be available for any or all data or communications between Customer and a BNPP Entity. Customer agrees that a BNPP Entity may, at any time, deactivate any encryption features such BNPP Entity may in its sole discretion provide, without notice or liability to Customer.
     
(m) Termination. Customer acknowledges and agrees that any BNPP Entity may, in its sole discretion, at any time, and without any notice or liability to Customer, suspend or terminate this license of the Software to Customer and deny Customer’s access to and use of the Software; provided that in the event the Software is terminated, BNPP PB will deliver the information to Customer through a format agreed to by the parties.
     
(n) Other Terms and Conditions. Customer shall comply with all other terms and conditions that may be posted by a BNPP Entity on any website or web page through which Customer accesses or uses the Software or that may otherwise be delivered in any form to Customer in connection with its use of the Software. The use by Customer of the Software constitutes Customer’s acceptance of and agreement to be bound by all such other terms and conditions.
     
(o) Compliance with Law. Customer shall comply with all Applicable Law applicable to Customer’s use of the Software.


 

12  

 

 

Exhibit B to U.S. PB Agreement – Rehypothecation Exhibit

 

 

This Exhibit B (the “ Rehypothecation Agreement ”) is entered into between Customer and BNP PARIBAS PRIME BROKERAGE INTERNATIONAL, LTD. (“ BNPP PB ”), on behalf of itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities. This Rehypothecation Agreement is incorporated as an exhibit to the U.S. PB Agreement (the “ Agreement ”). Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 18 of the Agreement.

 

1. Rehypothecation -

 

(a) Customer expressly grants BNPP PB the right, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under Applicable Law and subject to the terms and conditions of this Rehypothecation Agreement, to re-register the Collateral in its own name or in another name other than Customer’s, to use or invest the proceeds of any securities lending transaction at its own risk, and to pledge, repledge, hypothecate, rehypothecate, sell, lend, or otherwise transfer or use the Collateral (the “ Hypothecated Securities ”), with all attendant rights of ownership except as provided below. For the purposes of the return of any Hypothecated Securities to Customer, BNPP PB’s return obligations shall be satisfied by delivering the Hypothecated Securities or securities identical to such Hypothecated Securities (such securities having the same cusip number as the subject Hypothecated Securities, or in the case of a reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer, the equivalent of the subject Hypothecated Securities) (“ Equivalent Securities ”). For the avoidance of doubt, Customer hereby grants BNPP PB its consent to hypothecate its securities for the purposes of Rule 15c2-1(a)(1) of the Exchange Act, subject to the limits of this Agreement.
     
(b) Collateral held by Custodian (including any successor thereto) pursuant to the Special Custody and Pledge Agreement (the “ Margin Collateral ”) shall be transferred to BNPP PB for purposes of rehypothecation only against a request to Custodian for release of Margin Collateral (“ Hypothecation Request ”) that meets the following requirements: (i) the Hypothecation Request is issued by a duly authorized representative of BNPP PB in accordance with the requirements for instructions set forth for in the Special Custody and Pledge Agreement, (ii) subject to Section 2(c)(B), the fair market value of the securities which are subject to the Hypothecation Request, together with the value of any outstanding Hypothecated Securities, shall not exceed the value of the loan against which the Margin Collateral was pledged (“ Hypothecation Limit ”), provided that if the Maximum Commitment Financing (as defined in the Committed Facility Agreement) is increased pursuant to the mutual agreement of the parties, then the fair market value of the securities which are subject to the Hypothecation Request, together with the value of any outstanding Hypothecated Securities, shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Hypothecation Limit or (B) thirty-three and one-third percent (33⅓%) of the total assets of the Customer based on the most recent financial information provided by the Customer, (iii) the securities which are subject to the Hypothecation Request shall not represent the

 

    entire position of such security held by Customer, and (iv) the securities which are subject to the Hypothecation Request are not Ineligible Securities (as defined below) and have not been recalled by the Customer or if the securities which are subject to the Hypothecation Request were recalled by the Customer other than for the purpose of selling the securities, the record date that was the reason for the recall or event has passed.
     
2. Eligibility; Recall Rights -
   
(a) Customer shall have the right, in its sole discretion and without condition, to designate any Margin Collateral as ineligible for rehypothecation for any valid business reason, in the sole discretion of Customer, including, without limitation, an imminent sale, dividend declaration or other corporate action (“ Ineligible Securities ”), provided that the market value of the Margin Collateral that has not been designated as Ineligible Securities would, following such designation, be at least equal to the Outstanding Debit Financing (as defined in the Committed Facility Agreement). Except as limited herein, Customer shall have the right, upon demand and without condition, to recall any Hypothecated Securities and BNPP PB shall, to the extent commercially reasonable under the circumstances, return such security or an Equivalent Security to the Special Custody Account (as defined in the Special Custody and Pledge Agreement, the “ Special Custody Account ”) within a commercially reasonable period (in any event, no sooner than the standard settlement cycle for such securities).
     
(b) Customer shall provide, or cause the Custodian to provide, a daily report to BNPP PB of portfolio transactions relating to securities in the Special Custody Account. With respect to any Hypothecated Security that is the subject of a sell order, on the date such report is delivered to BNPP PB, BNPP PB shall, without any further action by Customer and to the extent commercially reasonable under the circumstances, return such security or an Equivalent Security to the Special Custody Account within a commercially reasonable period (in any event, no sooner than the standard settlement cycle for such securities).
     
(c) If as of the close of business on any Business Day the value of all outstanding Hypothecated Securities exceeds the Hypothecation Limit (such excess amount, the “ Rehypothecation Excess ”), BNPP PB shall, at its option, either (A) reduce the amount of outstanding Hypothecated Securities so that the total value of such securities does not exceed the Hypothecation Limit or (B) deliver to, and maintain within, the Special Custody Account an amount of cash at least equal to any Rehypothecation Excess (for the avoidance of doubt, if there is no Rehypothecation Excess, BNPP PB can recall any cash delivered hereunder).


 

 

 

 

3. Corporate Actions -
     
(a) Income Payments. Customer shall be entitled to receive with respect to any Hypothecated Security, an amount equal to any principal thereof and all interest, dividends or other distributions paid or distributed on or in respect of the Hypothecated Securities (“ Income ”) that is not otherwise received by Customer. BNPP PB shall, on the date such Income is paid or distributed either transfer to or credit to the Special Custody Account such Income with respect to any Hypothecated Securities, provided that BNPP PB shall make commercially reasonable efforts to return Hypothecated Securities receiving Income prior to the record date for a distribution.
     
(b) Income in the Form of Securities. Where Income, in the form of securities, is paid in relation to any Hypothecated Securities, such securities shall be delivered to the Special Custody Account.
     
(c) Other Corporate Actions. Where, in respect of any Hypothecated Securities, any rights relating to conversion, sub-division, consolidation, pre-emption, rights arising under a takeover offer, rights to receive securities or a certificate which may at a future date be exchanged for securities or other rights, including those requiring election by the record holder of such securities at the time of the relevant election, become exercisable prior to the redelivery of Equivalent Securities, then Customer may, within a reasonable time before the latest time for the exercise of the right or option give written notice to BNPP PB that on redelivery of Equivalent Securities, it wishes to receive Equivalent Securities in such form as will arise if the right is exercised or, in the case of a right which may be exercised in more than one manner, is exercised as is specified in such written notice, and BNPP PB shall, to the extent commercially reasonable under the circumstances, return such Hypothecated Security or an Equivalent Security to the Special Custody Account within a commercially reasonable period (in any event, no sooner than the standard settlement cycle for such securities).
     
4. Segregation of Hypothecated Securities - Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, any transfer of Hypothecated Securities to the Customer or any transfer of cash pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 shall be effected by delivery or other transfer to or for credit to the Special Custody Account. BNPP PB expressly acknowledges that all securities that it is obligated to transfer hereunder shall be transferred to the Special Custody Account and shall not be held by BNPP PB
     
5. Re-hypothecation Failure - Hypothecated Securities shall be marked-to-market daily and valued in

 

    accordance with the Special Custody and Pledge Agreement and this Agreement (together such agreements, the “ Account Documents ”). Upon the failure of BNPP PB to return Hypothecated Securities or the equivalent thereof (e.g., securities of the quantity, class or tranche, and issuer that are identical in every respect to such Hypothecated Securities) (such Hypothecated Securities, “ Failed Securities ”) pursuant to this Agreement or Applicable Law, Customer shall be entitled to reduce the value of the loan against which the Margin Collateral was pledged by an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then-current fair market value of such Failed Securities as reasonably agreed to between the parties without any fee or penalty; provided, however that the terms of the Committed Facility Agreement shall not be altered or amended by such reduction.
     
6. Failure to Process Instructions - If (i) Customer provides BNPP PB with instructions in respect of corporate actions on the Hypothecated Securities (excluding any exercise of voting rights) which do not require Customer to be a record holder at the time of exercise, (ii) Customer provides at least five Business Days notice prior to the relevant exercise deadline, and (iii) BNPP PB fails to process Customer’s instructions in a commercially reasonable manner, BNPP PB shall provide Customer the cash equivalent of payments or distributions actually made but which Customer did not receive due to BNPP PB’s failure.
     
7. Fees - BNPP PB agrees to pay Customer a rehypothecation fee (the “ Rehypothecation Fee ”), computed daily at a rate as set forth herein, as modified from time to time by mutual agreement of the parties. Except as BNPP PB and Customer may otherwise agree, the Rehypothecation Fee shall accrue from and including the date on which BNPP PB rehypothecates Margin Collateral to, but excluding, the date on which securities or other financial assets of the same issuer and class as the Margin Collateral initially rehypothecated are returned to Customer’s Special Custody Account. Unless otherwise agreed, any Rehypothecation Fee payable hereunder shall be payable upon the earlier of (i) the day that is two (2) Business Days prior to the calendar month end in the month in which such fee was incurred (the “ Scheduled Payment Date ”) or (ii) the termination of the U.S. PB Agreement (the “ Termination Payment Date ”) (or, if such Scheduled Payment Date or Termination Payment Date, as the case may be, is not a Business Day, the next Business Day.
     
    For the avoidance of doubt, each payment of the Rehypothecation Fee on a Scheduled Payment Date shall be payment for the monthly period from three (3) Business Days prior to a calendar month end to three (3) Business Days prior to the next succeeding calendar month end.
     
  8. Fee Amount – 70% of the difference between the fair market rate (as determined by BNPP PB) and Fed Funds Open (or any successor benchmark rate).


 

 

 

 

FS Investment Corporation IV 8-K

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

SPECIAL CUSTODY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT

  

AGREEMENT (hereinafter “Agreement”), dated as of March 1, 2017, among State Street Bank and Trust Company , a Massachusetts trust company, in its capacity as custodian hereunder (“Custodian”), Broomall Funding LLC (the “Fund”), and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. (the “Counterparty”).

 

WHEREAS, the Fund provides Collateral (as defined herein) to Counterparty to secure obligations owing by the Fund to the Counterparty under the Committed Facility Agreement, dated as of date hereof (the “Committed Facility Agreement”), and the account agreement included in the U.S. PB Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with the Counterparty (the “Account Agreement” and, together with the Committed Facility Agreement, the “40 Act Financing Agreements”); and

 

WHEREAS, Counterparty is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to extensions of credit and borrowing of securities, including the margin regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of any relevant securities exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations (collectively, the “Margin Rules”) and Counterparty’s internal policies; and

 

WHEREAS, to facilitate extensions of credit and the borrowing of securities from the Counterparty, the Fund and Counterparty desire to establish and evidence procedures for compliance with the Margin Rules; and

 

WHEREAS , Custodian acts as custodian of certain assets of the Fund pursuant to a custodian agreement by and among the Custodian, the Fund and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries of FS Investment Corporation IV (the “Custody Agreement”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, it is agreed as follows:

 

(1)          As used herein, capitalized terms have the following meanings unless otherwise defined herein:

 

“Adequate Performance Assurance” shall mean such Collateral placed in the Special Custody Account (as such term is hereinafter defined) as is adequate under the terms of the Committed Facility Agreement and, to the extent such Committed Facility Agreement (i) has been terminated or the commitment therein has expired or (ii) is otherwise inapplicable to any portion of the Collateral, the Account Agreement.

 

“Advice from Counterparty” means a notice or entitlement order (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC (as defined herein)) delivered by an Authorized Representative of Counterparty to the Fund or Custodian, as applicable, hereunder, communicated: (i) in writing; (ii) by a facsimile-sending device; or (iii) in cases of calls for additional Collateral (as such term is hereinafter defined) or notices referred to in paragraph 8 hereof, by telephone to a person designated by the Fund or Custodian in writing as authorized to receive such advice or, in the event that no such person is available, to any officer of the Fund or Custodian and confirmed in writing promptly thereafter. A duly-authorized officer of Counterparty will certify to Custodian, on Appendix A attached, the names and signatures of those employees of Counterparty who are authorized to sign Advices from Counterparty (each, an “Authorized Representative of Counterparty”), which certification may be amended from time to time.

 

 

 

“Business Day” means a day on which Custodian, the Fund and the Counterparty are open for business.

 

“Collateral” means U.S. cash, U.S. Government securities, or other U.S. margin-eligible securities acceptable to the Counterparty and Custodian which are pledged to the Counterparty as provided herein.

 

“Foreign Securities” means any investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States, and any cash and cash equivalents that are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund’s transactions in those investments.

 

“Insolvency” means that: (i) an order, judgment or decree has been entered under the bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law (herein called the “Bankruptcy Law”) of any jurisdiction adjudicating the Fund insolvent; (ii) the Fund has petitioned or applied to any tribunal for, or consented to the appointment of, or taking possession by, a trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official, of the Fund, or commenced a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings relating to the Fund under the Bankruptcy Law of any other jurisdiction, whether now or hereinafter in effect; or (iii) any such petition or application has been filed, or any such proceedings commenced, against the Fund and the Fund by any act has indicated its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order for relief has been entered in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any other jurisdiction, as now or hereinafter constituted, or an order, judgment or decree has been entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, liquidator or similar official, or approving the petition in any such proceedings.

 

“Instructions from Fund” means a request, direction or certification in writing signed in the name of the Fund by a person authorized by the Fund, on Appendix B attached (as may be amended from time to time), and delivered to Custodian or transmitted to it by a facsimile-sending device, except that instructions to pledge initial or additional Collateral may be given by telephone and thereafter confirmed in writing signed in the name of the Fund by a person authorized in writing by the Fund.

 

(2)           (a)          Upon Instructions from Fund, Custodian, in its capacity as a Securities Intermediary as defined in Revised Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York (the “UCC”), to the extent the same may be applicable, or in applicable federal law or regulations, shall segregate Collateral on its books and records as an account for Counterparty entitled “BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd., Pledgee of Broomall Funding LLC” (the “Special Custody Account”) and shall hold therein for the Counterparty as pledgee upon the terms of this Agreement all Collateral. The Custodian hereby agrees that any Collateral except U.S. cash held in the Special Custody Account shall be treated as a financial asset for purposes of the UCC to the extent the same may be applicable, and Custodian shall elect to hold such Collateral that is U.S. cash as a deposit in its capacity as a “bank” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(8) of the UCC, which deposit account shall constitute part of, and be maintained in the same manner as, the Special Custody Account. The Fund agrees to instruct Custodian through Instructions from Fund as to the cash and specific securities which Custodian is to identify on its books and records as pledged to the Counterparty as Collateral in the Special Custody Account. The Custodian may in its discretion decline to follow such Instructions if following the Instructions would in Custodian’s sole judgment result in any remaining assets in the custody account being inadequate to cover any obligations of the Fund to the Custodian. Fund agrees that, if as a result of Custodian’s declining to follow such Instructions, the Collateral in the Special Custody Account is not equal to or greater than Adequate Performance Assurance and as a result a Fund Default has occurred, Counterparty may exercise its right and remedies provided hereunder (including, without limitation, the rights and remedies specified in Section 8 hereof).

 

 

 

(b)         Provided that the Letter Agreement regarding Lending Operational Procedures has been agreed to by the Custodian, the Fund and Counterparty, upon receipt of an Advice from Counterparty, Custodian shall release Collateral identified by Counterparty from the Special Custody Account to the Fund’s custody account established pursuant to the terms of the Custody Agreement (the “Released Collateral”) for purposes of delivering such Released Collateral to Counterparty pursuant to the Letter Agreement regarding Lending Operational Procedures by and among the Custodian, the Fund and Counterparty. The Fund hereby directs and authorizes Custodian to make such release, and any such Advice from Counterparty shall be “Proper Instructions” in accordance with the Custody Agreement. In the event that there is inadequate Collateral in the Special Custody Account to satisfy such Advice from Counterparty, Custodian shall notify Counterparty and Fund of the shortfall amount, and other than issuing such notice, Custodian shall have no responsibility hereunder with respect to such Advice from Counterparty.

 

(c)         The Fund agrees to provide and at all times maintain Adequate Performance Assurance in the Special Custody Account pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Such Collateral (i) may be released only in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) except as required to be released hereunder to the Counterparty, shall not be made available to the Counterparty or to any other person claiming through the Counterparty, including creditors of the Counterparty. Custodian will maintain accounts and records for the Collateral in the Special Custody Account separate from the accounts and records of any other property of the Fund which may be held by Custodian, subject to the interest therein of the Counterparty as the pledgee thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Such security interest in any item of Collateral will terminate at such time as such item of Collateral is released to the Fund as provided in paragraph 4 hereof.

 

Unless otherwise instructed in writing by the Fund, all distributions on Collateral received by the Custodian and any proceeds of transfer or other payments with respect to Collateral in the Special Custody Account, including, but not limited to, interest and dividends, shall not constitute Collateral and shall be delivered to the Fund’s custody account. As between the Fund and the Counterparty, the Fund agrees to instruct the Custodian to credit any distribution on Collateral from a corporate action, redemption or issuer call received by the Custodian to the Special Custody Account as additional Collateral and shall be held in the Special Custody Account as Collateral until released therefrom or withdrawn in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(d)         The Fund, the Counterparty and Custodian agree that Collateral will be held for the Counterparty in the Special Custody Account by Custodian under the terms and conditions of this Agreement and that the Custodian will take such actions with respect to any Collateral in the Special Custody Account (including, without limitation, the delivery thereof in accordance with paragraph 8) as the Counterparty shall direct in an Advice from Counterparty, without further consent of the Fund.

 

 

 

(e)         The Fund hereby grants a continuing security interest to the Counterparty in the Special Custody Account and all Collateral and other financial assets credited thereto, from time to time to secure the Fund’s obligations to the Counterparty under the Account Agreement. Custodian shall have no responsibility for the validity or enforceability of such security interest. For the avoidance of doubt, assets of the Fund held by Custodian that are not Collateral or are not credited to the Special Custody Account shall not be subject to the foregoing security interest.

 

(f)          The Fund hereby represents and warrants that it will not instruct Custodian to sell or deliver out a Foreign Security which has been segregated as Collateral under this Agreement unless it has first done the following: (i) obtained written consent for the security’s release from the Counterparty, (ii) forwarded such consent to Custodian, (iii) instructed Custodian in writing to desegregate (or unpledge) such security, and (iv) instructed Custodian in writing to segregate substitute Collateral. As between the Fund and Custodian, the Fund agrees that any buy-ins, fees, or penalties assessed in a non-U.S. market in connection with the sale, segregation, or substitution of Foreign Securities covered by this Agreement shall be solely the responsibility of the Fund, which agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Custodian from liability or responsibility for such buy-ins, fees, or penalties. The Fund hereby acknowledges that its instruction to Custodian to segregate any Foreign Security as Collateral signifies the Fund’s acceptance of Country Risk (as defined in the Custody Agreement) with regard to holding or transacting in such Foreign Security or in segregating such Foreign Security.

 

The Counterparty hereby acknowledges that with respect to any Foreign Securities that may be held by (i) Custodian (or its nominee), (ii) a sub-custodian (or its nominee) within Custodian’s network of sub-custodians (each a “Sub-Custodian”), or (iii) a depository or book-entry system for the central handling of securities in which Custodian or the Sub-Custodian are participants, there is a risk that local law, rule, regulation or market practice or the rules of any such Sub-Custodian or depository/book-entry system may be inconsistent with the application of New York law and the performance of Custodian’s obligations under the UCC. To the extent any such inconsistency inhibits Custodian’s performance of such obligations, the Counterparty hereby waives such performance. The parties hereby further acknowledge that Custodian gives no assurance that a security entitlement is created under the UCC at the Euroclear or Cedelbank level with respect to the Fund’s assets held in Euroclear or Clearstream or their successors.

 

(3)          Custodian will confirm in writing to the Counterparty and the Fund, within one Business Day, all pledges, releases or substitutions of Collateral and will supply the Counterparty and the Fund with a monthly statement of Collateral in the Special Custody Account and transactions in the Special Custody Account during the preceding month. Custodian will also advise the Counterparty and the Fund upon reasonable request, of the kind and amount of Collateral pledged to each of the Counterparty and the Fund.

 

(4)          Custodian agrees to release Collateral from the Special Custody Account only upon receipt of an Advice from Counterparty (including for whatever uses are permissible under the Committed Facility Agreement and Account Agreement, though Custodian shall at no time have responsibility for determining whether Counterparty is in compliance with those permissible uses). Counterparty agrees, upon request of the Fund, to provide such an Advice from Counterparty to Custodian with respect to Collateral selected by the Fund directing the release of such Collateral to the Fund: (i) if said Collateral represents an excess in value of the Collateral necessary to constitute Adequate Performance Assurance at that time; (ii) against receipt in the Special Custody Account of substitute Collateral having a value at least equal (with any remaining Collateral) to Adequate Performance Assurance; or (iii) upon termination of the Fund’s accounts with Counterparty and settlement in full of all transactions therein and any amounts owed to the Counterparty with respect thereto. It is understood that the Counterparty will be responsible for valuing Collateral; Custodian at no time has any responsibility for determining whether the value of Collateral is equal in value to Adequate Performance Assurance.

 

 

 

(5)          The Fund represents and warrants to the Counterparty that securities pledged to the Counterparty shall be in good deliverable form (or Custodian shall have the unrestricted power to put such securities into good deliverable form), and that Collateral in the Special Custody Account will not be subject to any liens or encumbrances (including, to the best of its knowledge, those permitted by Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) other than the lien in favor of the Counterparty contemplated hereby. The Fund shall promptly notify the Counterparty in the event that Collateral in the Special Custody Account is subject to any levy, lien, charge, claim, court order or other process purporting to affect the Collateral other than in favor of the Counterparty as contemplated hereby.

 

(6)          Collateral in the Special Custody Account shall at all times remain the property of the Fund subject only to the extent of the interest and rights therein of the Counterparty as the pledgee and secured party thereof. Other than liens for safe custody or administration of Foreign Securities granted to (x) any entity that is incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the United States, (y) a majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of a regulated and permitted U.S. bank or bank-holding company (other than Custodian or its affiliates) or (z) any creditors of any entity referenced in (x) or (y) above (other than Custodian or its affiliates), (a) Custodian represents that Collateral in the Special Custody Account is not subject to any other lien, charge, security interest or other right or claim of the Custodian or any person claiming through Custodian, and (b) Custodian hereby waives any right, charge, security interest, lien or right of set off of any kind which it may have or acquire with respect to the Collateral in the Special Custody Account. Except for the claims and interests of the Counterparty and the Fund, the Custodian has not, to the best of its knowledge, received written notice of any claim to, or interest in, the Special Custody Account, any financial asset credited thereto or any security entitlement in respect thereof. Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to notify the Counterparty and the Fund as soon as practicable under the circumstances if the office of the general counsel of Custodian, or any senior vice president or more senior management member of the U.S. Investor Services division of Custodian receives any written notice of levy, lien, court order or other legal process purporting to affect the Collateral; provided, however, that the Custodian’s failure to do so shall not give rise to any liability hereunder.

 

(7)          The Counterparty shall, on each Business Day, compute the aggregate net credit or debit balance under the Account Agreement, and advise the Fund by 11:00 A.M. New York time of the amount of the net debit or credit, as the case may be. If a net debit balance exists on such day, the Fund will cause, by the close of business on such day, an amount of Collateral to be deposited in the Special Custody Account to provide Adequate Performance Assurance related to such net debit balance; provided that, in the event that Counterparty advises the Fund of such net debit balance after 11:00 A.M., then such amount of Collateral shall be deposited in the Special Custody Account by the close of business on the following Business Day. Counterparty will charge interest on debit balances in accordance with Counterparty’s policies as set forth in the Committed Facility Agreement (and to the extent such Committed Facility Agreement has been terminated or the commitment therein has expired, the Account Agreement) and Counterparty will not pay interest on credit balances. Balances will be appropriately adjusted when extensions of credit are closed out.

 

 

 

(8)          The occurrence of any of the following constitutes a default by the Fund hereunder (a “Fund Default”): (a) a Default (as defined in the Committed Facility Agreement), (b) an Event of Default (as defined in the Account Agreement), or (c) Fund’s Insolvency. Upon Counterparty’s determination that a Fund Default has occurred, if Counterparty wishes to declare such default, Counterparty shall notify the Fund in an Advice from Counterparty of such Fund Default. After transmittal by Counterparty of such Advice from Counterparty, if such Fund Default is then continuing, Counterparty may thereupon take Default Action or any other action permitted pursuant to the 40 Act Financing Agreements, including without limitation, the conversion of any convertible securities or exercise of Fund’s rights in warrants (if any) held in the Account and the Special Custody Account, the buy-in of any securities of which the Account may be short, and the sale of any or all property or securities in the Account and the Special Custody Account to the extent necessary to satisfy Fund’s obligations to Counterparty (in which event such Collateral shall be delivered to Counterparty as directed in an Advice from Counterparty). Any sale of Collateral made hereunder shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (including, without limitation section 9-610(b) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code). Fund shall be liable to Counterparty for any deficiency which may exist after the exercise by Counterparty of its rights and remedies as aforesaid. Any surplus resulting from the sale of Collateral shall be transmitted to Custodian. Counterparty shall notify Fund of any deficiency remaining thereafter in an Advice from Counterparty. Any such sale of Collateral held in the Special Custody Account shall be made only after such Collateral has been withdrawn from the Special Custody Account by Counterparty.

 

(9)          The Counterparty hereby covenants, for the benefit of the Fund, that the Counterparty will not instruct Custodian pursuant to an Advice from Counterparty to deliver Collateral free of payment with respect to any sale of Collateral pursuant to paragraph 8 until after the occurrence of the events set forth in paragraph 8. The foregoing covenant is for the benefit of the Fund only and shall in no way be deemed to constitute a limitation on Custodian’s obligation to act upon instructions pursuant to an Advice from Counterparty and Custodian’s obligation to act upon such instructions, which instructions, for the avoidance of doubt, may include directions to deliver Collateral to Counterparty other than pursuant to paragraph 8 (including for other permissible uses under the Committed Facility Agreement and Account Agreement). Custodian shall not be required to make any determination as to whether such delivery is made in accordance with any provisions of this Agreement or any other agreement between the Counterparty and the Fund.

  

(10)        Reserved.

 

 

 

(11)        Custodian’s duties and responsibilities are set forth in this Agreement. Custodian shall act only upon receipt of an Advice from Counterparty regarding release of Collateral, except as required by applicable law. Custodian shall not be liable or responsible for anything done, or omitted to be done by it in good faith and in the absence of negligence and may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any Advice from Counterparty which it reasonably believes to be genuine and authorized. As between the Fund and Custodian, the terms of the Custody Agreement shall apply with respect to any losses or liabilities of such parties arising out of matters covered by this Agreement; for the avoidance of doubt, each Advice from Counterparty shall be considered a “Proper Instruction” under the Custody Agreement and as such is subject to the terms of the Custody Agreement and, in particular, the Fund’s indemnity of the Custodian thereunder. As between Custodian and Counterparty, Counterparty shall indemnify and hold Custodian harmless from and against any losses or liabilities (including reasonable legal fees) imposed on or incurred by Custodian subsequent to the taking of any action, or arising out of any omission, of Custodian in compliance with any Advice from Counterparty, except to the extent that any such loss or liability (i) results from Custodian’s negligence, fraud, recklessness, willful misconduct or bad faith; or (ii) represents special, consequential, punitive, exemplary or incidental damages. In matters concerning or relating to this Agreement, Custodian shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any of the other parties to this Agreement. In matters concerning or relating to this Agreement, Custodian shall not be responsible for compliance with any statute or regulation regarding the establishment or maintenance of margin credit, including but not limited to Regulations T or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Custodian shall have no duty to require any cash or securities to be delivered to it or to determine that the amount and form of assets deposited in the Special Custody Account comply with any applicable requirements. Custodian may hold the securities in the Special Custody Account in bearer, nominee, book-entry, or other form and in any depository or clearing corporation (including omnibus accounts), with or without indicating that the securities are held hereunder; provided, however, that all securities held in the Special Custody Account shall be identified on Custodian’s records as subject to this Agreement and shall be in a form that permits transfer at the direction of Counterparty without additional authorization or consent of the Fund.

 

Neither Counterparty nor Custodian shall be responsible or liable for any losses resulting from nationalization, expropriation, devaluation, seizure, or similar action by any governmental authority, de facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation, imposition or enforcement by any such governmental authority of currency restrictions, exchange controls, levies or other charges affecting the property in the Special Custody Account; acts of war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or acts of God; or any other similar event beyond the control of such party or its agents (any such event, a “Force Majeure Event”); provided, that, as between the Fund and Counterparty, should any Force Majeure Event occur with respect to Custodian and such event (a) prevents or would prevent Custodian from releasing the Collateral to Counterparty upon an Advice from Counterparty directing such release or (b) would inhibit Counterparty’s ability to monitor the amount of Collateral in the Special Custody Account (each of (a) and (b), a “Custodian Failure Event”), then during the period from the day on which the Force Majeure Event begins (the “Force Majeure Event Day”) up to the day on which the relevant Custodian Failure Event is no longer occurring, for purposes of determining whether Fund has met its obligation to provide and maintain Adequate Performance Assurance under this Agreement or to meet the Collateral Requirements (as defined in the Committed Facility Agreement), Counterparty shall take account only of the Collateral that was in the Special Custody Account on the Business Day immediately prior to the Force Majeure Event Day. In no event shall any party to this Agreement be liable for indirect, special, or consequential damages even if advised of the possibility or likelihood thereof. This paragraph shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

(12)        The Fund hereby agrees to pay and reimburse Custodian for any advances, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs) and disbursements that may be paid or incurred by Custodian in connection with performing its duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or arrangements contemplated hereby, but only to the extent that the Fund has not paid and will not pay the Custodian for such advances, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs) and disbursements pursuant to the Custody Agreement.

 

 

 

(13)         The Counterparty shall not be liable for any losses, costs, damages, liabilities or expenses suffered or incurred by the Fund as a result of any transaction executed hereunder, or any other action taken or not taken by the Counterparty hereunder for the Fund’s account at Fund’s direction or otherwise, except to the extent that such loss, cost, damage, liability or expense is the result of the Counterparty’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud.

 

(14)         No amendment of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by an authorized officer of each of the Counterparty, the Fund and Custodian.

 

(15)         Written communications hereunder, other than an Advice from Counterparty,

 

shall be sent by facsimile-sending device or telegraphed when required herein, hand delivered or mailed first class postage prepaid, except that written notice of termination shall be sent by certified mail, in any such case addressed:

 

  (a) if to Custodian, to: State Street Bank and Trust Company
100 Summer Street, Floor 5
Boston, MA 02206
Attention: James Meagher, Managing Director
Facsimile No.: 212-651-2393
Telephone No.: 617-662-7310
       
  (b) if to the Fund, to: Broomall Funding LLC
c/o FS Investment Corporation IV
201 Rouse Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19112
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile No.: (215) 222-4649
Telephone No.: (215) 495-1150
       
  (c) if to the Counterparty, to: BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd.
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attention:       Alex Bergelson
Fax No.:           201-850-4601 
Phone No.:      212-471-6533
       
      BNP Paribas
525 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ  07310
Attn: David Koppel
Tel:  201-850-5391
Fax: 201-850-4618
       
    Copies of Custodian’s confirmations, statements and advices issued pursuant to paragraph 3 should be sent to:
       
      State Street Bank and Trust Company
801 Pennsylvania Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64105
Attn: Vice President, Mutual Funds
Facsimile No.: 816-871-9451
Telephone No.: 816-871-4000

  

 

 

(16)        Any of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement by thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the other parties hereto; provided, however, that the status of any Collateral pledged to the Counterparty at the time of such notice shall not be affected by such termination until the release of such pledge pursuant to the terms of the Account Agreement and any applicable Margin Rules. Upon termination of this Agreement or the Custody Agreement, (a) all assets of the Fund held in the Special Custody Account shall be transferred to a successor custodian specified by the Fund and reasonably acceptable to Counterparty in its good faith discretion.

 

(17)        Nothing in this Agreement prohibits the Counterparty, the Fund or Custodian from entering into similar agreements with others in order to facilitate options or other derivatives transactions and as contemplated by the Committed Facility Agreement and Account Agreement.

 

(18)        Custodian has not entered into, and until the termination of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement with any person (other than the Counterparty) relating to the Special Custody Account and/or any financial asset credited thereto pursuant to which it has agreed, or will agree, to comply with entitlement orders of such person.

 

(19)        If any provision or condition of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court, or regulatory or self-regulatory agency or body, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision or condition. The validity of the remaining provisions and conditions shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall be carried out as if any such invalid or unenforceable provision or condition were not contained herein.

 

(20)        All references herein to times of day shall mean the time in New York, New York, U.S.A.

 

(21)          This Agreement and its enforcement (including, without limitation, the establishment and maintenance of the Special Custody Account and all interests, duties and obligations related thereto) shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflicts of law rules other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law. This Agreement shall be binding on the parties and any successor organizations thereof irrespective of any change or changes in personnel thereof. Any litigation between any of the parties to this Agreement or involving their respective property must be instituted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection, including any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens, which it may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in such courts. Each party hereby agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any claim, action, proceeding or counterclaim or other legal action is hereby waived by all parties to this agreement.

 

 

 

(22)        This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

(23)        For the avoidance of doubt, the Fund and Custodian agree that, except for the rights of control in favor of Counterparty agreed to herein, nothing herein shall amend the terms of the Custody Agreement.

 

(24)        Counterparty may, upon notice to the Fund and Custodian, assign its rights or any interest under this agreement to any affiliate of Counterparty (including, without limitation, BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc.).

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the duly authorized representatives of the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first written above.

 

Broomall funding llc

 

By:  /s/ Gerald F. Stahlecker  
Name:  Gerald F. Stahlecker  
Title:    Executive Vice President  

  

BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

 

By:  /s/ JP Muir  
Name:  JP Muir  
Title:    Managing Director  

 

By:  /s/ Jeffrey Lowe  
Name:  Jeffery Lowe  
Title:    Managing Director  

   

State Street Bank and Trust Company

 

By:  /s/ James F. Smith  
Name:  James F. Smith  
Title:    Managing Director  

 

 

 

FS Investment Corporation IV 8-K

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

 

 

 

BROOMALL funding LLC,
as Company

 

and

 

FS INVESTMENT CORPORATION IV,
as Investment Manager

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of March 1, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 1, 2017 (this “ Agreement ”), between BROOMALL FUNDING LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and FS INVESTMENT CORPORATION IV, a Maryland corporation, as investment manager (in such capacity, the “ Investment Manager ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage the Investment Manager to provide the services described herein, and the Investment Manager desires to provide such services; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Committed Facility Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “ Committed Facility Agreement ”), between the Company and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. (“ BNPP ”) on behalf of itself and as agent for the BNPP Entities (as defined in Exhibit A of the U.S. PB Agreement).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.        Management Services .

 

The Investment Manager will provide the Company with the following services (in accordance with and subject to the applicable requirements of, and the restrictions and limitations set forth in the 40 Act Financing Agreements and the Company’s limited liability company agreement):

 

(a)   determining the specific investments or other assets to be purchased (or otherwise acquired) or sold by the Company;

 

(b)   effecting the purchase (or other acquisition) and sale of investments and all other assets of the Company;

 

(c)   subject to the limitations set forth in the 40 Act Financing Agreements, negotiating with underlying obligors of the Company’s investments (the “ Underlying Obligors ”) as to proposed amendments and modifications (including, but not limited to, extensions or releases of collateral) of the documentation evidencing and governing the Company’s investments;

 

(d)   making determinations with respect to the Company’s exercise (including but not limited to any waiver) of any rights (including but not limited to voting rights and rights arising in connection with the bankruptcy or insolvency of an Underlying Obligor or the consensual or non-judicial restructuring of the debt or equity of an Underlying Obligor) or remedies in connection with the Company’s investments and participating in the committees (official or otherwise) or other groups formed by creditors of an Underlying Obligor;

 

(e)   monitoring the ratings of the Company’s investments;

 

(f)   determining whether each of the Company’s investment is an Eligible Security;

 

 

 

 

(g)   monitoring the Company’s investments on an ongoing basis and providing to BNPP and the Company or to any other person designated by the Company all information and data which is generated by, or reasonably accessible to, the Investment Manager and which is required under the 40 Act Financing Agreements or requested by the Company in connection with the preparation of all reports, certificates, schedules and other data which the Company is required to prepare and deliver under the 40 Act Financing Agreements, in the form and containing all information required by the 40 Act Financing Agreements, in sufficient time for the Company, or the person designated by the Company, to review such data and prepare and deliver to the parties entitled thereto all such reports, certificates, schedules and other data required by the 40 Act Financing Agreements;

 

(h)   managing the Company’s investments within the parameters set forth in the 40 Act Financing Agreements;

 

(i)   complying with such other duties and responsibilities as may be expressly required of the Investment Manager by the 40 Act Financing Agreements; and

 

(j)   delivering Borrowing Requests and payment instructions to BNPP and making prepayment specifications referred to in Section 4 of the Committed Facility Agreement.

 

The Company agrees for the benefit of the Investment Manager and BNPP to follow the lawful instructions and directions of the Investment Manager in connection with the Investment Manager’s services hereunder.

 

The Investment Manager shall use reasonable care in rendering its services hereunder, using a degree of skill and attention no less than that which the Investment Manager exercises with respect to comparable assets that it manages for itself and for others in accordance with its existing practices and procedures which the Investment Manager reasonably believes to be consistent with those followed by institutional managers of national standing relating to assets of the nature and character of the Company’s investments, except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement or the 40 Act Financing Agreements. The Investment Manager shall comply with and perform all the duties and functions that have been specifically delegated to it under this Agreement and the 40 Act Financing Agreements. The Investment Manager shall not be bound to follow any amendment to the 40 Act Financing Agreements, however, until it has received a copy of the amendment from the Company or BNPP and, in addition, the Investment Manager shall not be bound by any amendment to the 40 Act Financing Agreements which adversely affects in any material respects the obligations of the Investment Manager unless the Investment Manager shall have consented thereto in writing. The Company agrees that it will not permit any amendment to the 40 Act Financing Agreements that adversely affects in any material respects the duties or liabilities of the Investment Manager to become effective unless the Investment Manager has been given prior written notice of such amendment and consented thereto in writing. The Investment Manager shall cause any purchase or sale of any investments or other asset of the Company to be conducted on an arm’s length basis or on terms that would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction in compliance with Section 2 and Section 8 hereof.

 

To the extent necessary or appropriate to perform all of the duties to be performed by it hereunder, the Investment Manager shall have the power to negotiate, execute and deliver all necessary documents and instruments on behalf of the Company with respect to any investment or other asset of the Company.

 

2  

 

 

The Investment Manager shall have no obligation to perform any duties other than those specified herein or in the 40 Act Financing Agreements.

 

2.         Brokerage .

 

The Investment Manager shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the best prices and execution for all orders placed with respect to the investments, and other assets of the Company, considering all reasonable circumstances. Subject to the objective of obtaining best prices and execution, the Investment Manager may take into consideration research and other brokerage services furnished to the Investment Manager or its Affiliates by brokers and dealers which are not Affiliates of the Investment Manager. Such services may be used by the Investment Manager or its Affiliates in connection with its other advisory activities or investment operations. The Investment Manager may aggregate sales and purchase orders placed with respect to the investments, and other assets of the Company with similar orders being made simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Investment Manager or with accounts of the Affiliates of the Investment Manager, if in the Investment Manager’s sole judgment such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit to the Company taking into consideration the selling or purchase price, brokerage commission and other expenses. In accounting for such aggregated order price, commission and other expenses shall be averaged on a per position basis.

 

The Company acknowledges that the determination of any such economic benefit by the Investment Manager is subjective and represents the Investment Manager’s evaluation at the time that the Company will be benefited by better purchase or sales prices, lower commission expenses and beneficial timing of transactions or a combination of these and other factors. When any aggregate sales or purchase orders occur, the objective of the Investment Manager (and any of its Affiliates involved in such transactions) shall be to allocate the executions among the accounts in an equitable manner.

 

Subject to the Investment Manager’s execution obligations described herein, the Investment Manager is hereby authorized to effect client cross-transactions where the Investment Manager causes a transaction to be effected between the Company and another account advised by it or any of its Affiliates; provided   that , if and to the extent required by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Advisers Act ”), such authorization is terminable at the Company’s option without penalty, effective upon receipt by the Investment Manager of written notice from the Company. In addition, the Company hereby consents to, and authorizes the Investment Manager to enter into agency cross-transactions where it or any of its Affiliates acts as broker for the Company and for the other party to the transaction, to the extent permitted under applicable law, in which case the Investment Manager or any such Affiliate will receive commissions from, and have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities regarding, both parties to the transaction; provided   that the Company shall the right to revoke such consent at any time by written notice to the Investment Manager. With the prior authorization of the Company and in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder (or any similar rule that may be adopted in the future), the Investment Manager is authorized to effect transactions for the Company on a national securities exchange of which any of its Affiliates is a member and retain commissions in connection therewith, and the Investment Manager will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Company with information annually disclosing commissions, if any, retained by the Investment Manager’s Affiliates in connection with such transactions for the Company’s account.

 

3  

 

 

All purchases and sales of investments, and other assets of the Company by the Investment Manager on behalf of the Company shall be in accordance with reasonable and customary business practices and in compliance with applicable laws.

 

3.         The Representations and Warranties of the Company .

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Investment Manager that:

 

(a)   the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the full power and authority to own its assets and the assets proposed to be owned by it and to transact the business in which it is presently engaged and is duly qualified under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires, or the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the 40 Act Financing Agreements would require, such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that would not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Company;

 

(b)   the Company has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, the 40 Act Financing Agreements and all obligations required hereunder and under the 40 Act Financing Agreements, and the performance of all obligations imposed upon it hereunder and thereunder;

 

(c)   this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms except that the enforceability thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership, conservatorship or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

 

(d)   no consent, approval, authorization or order of or declaration or filing with any government, governmental instrumentality or court or other person is required for the performance by the Company of its duties hereunder, except such as have been duly made or obtained;

 

(e)   neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof conflicts with or results in a material breach or violation of any of the material terms or provisions of or constitutes a material default under (i) the Company’s certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other constituent documents, (ii) the terms of any material indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note, agreement or other evidence of indebtedness or other material agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is a party or is bound, (iii) any statute applicable to the Company or (iv) any law, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any court or regulatory, administrative or governmental agency, body or authority or arbitrator having proper jurisdiction over the Company or its properties, and which would have a material adverse effect upon the performance by the Company of its duties under this Agreement;

 

4  

 

 

(f)   neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates are in violation of any U.S. federal or state securities law or regulation promulgated thereunder;

 

(g)   the Company has not engaged in any transaction that would result in the violation of, or require registration as an “investment company” under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”);

 

(h)   the Company is not required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act; and

 

(i)   there is no charge, investigation, action, suit or proceeding before or by any court pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, that, if determined adversely to the Company, would have a material adverse effect upon the performance by the Company of its duties under, or on the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement or the provisions of the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to the Company thereunder.

 

4.         Representations and Warranties of the Investment Manager .

 

The Investment Manager represents and warrants to the Company that:

 

(a)   the Investment Manager is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the full power and authority to transact the business in which it is presently engaged and is duly qualified under the laws of each jurisdiction where the conduct of its business requires, or the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the provisions of the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to the Investment Manager would require, such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed which would not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Investment Manager, or on the ability of the Investment Manager to perform its obligations under, or on the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the 40 Act Financing Agreements;

 

(b)   the Investment Manager has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all of its obligations hereunder and under the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to the Investment Manager;

 

(c)   this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investment Manager and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Investment Manager, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except that the enforceability thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

 

(d)   neither the Investment Manager nor any of its Affiliates are in violation of any federal or state securities law or regulation promulgated thereunder or any material listing requirements of any exchange on which it is listed and there is no charge, investigation, action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, exchange or regulatory agency pending or, to the best knowledge of the Investment Manager, threatened, that in either case would have a material adverse effect upon the performance by the Investment Manager of its duties under this Agreement;

 

5  

 

 

(e)   neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the performance of the terms hereof or the provisions of the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to the Investment Manager, conflicts with or results in a material breach or violation of any of the material terms or provisions of, or constitutes a material default under, (i) its articles of incorporation, bylaws or other constituent document, (ii) the terms of any material indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement or other evidence of indebtedness or other material agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Investment Manager is a party or is bound, (iii) any statute applicable to the Investment Manager or (iv) any law, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Investment Manager of any court or regulatory, administrative or governmental agency, body or authority or arbitrator having proper jurisdiction over the Investment Manager or its properties, and which would have, in the case of any of clauses (ii) through (iv) of this paragraph (e), a material adverse effect upon the performance by the Investment Manager of its duties under this Agreement or the provisions of the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to the Investment Manager; and

 

(f)   no consent, approval, authorization or order of or declaration or filing with any government, governmental instrumentality or court or other person is required for the performance by it of its duties hereunder, except such as have been duly made or obtained.

 

5.         Expenses .

 

The Investment Manager shall pay all expenses and costs (including salaries, rent and other overhead) incurred by it in connection with its services under this Agreement; provided that the Investment Manager shall not be liable for and the Company shall be responsible for the payment of (i) actual and reasonable expenses and costs of legal advisers (including actual and reasonable expenses and costs associated with the use of internal legal counsel of the Investment Manager), consultants and other professionals retained by the Company or by the Investment Manager, on behalf of the Company, in connection with the services provided by the Investment Manager pursuant to this Agreement and the 40 Act Financing Agreements and (ii) the reasonable cost of asset pricing and asset rating services, and accounting, programming and data entry services that are retained in connection with services of the Investment Manager under this Agreement. To the extent that such expenses are incurred in connection with obligations that are also held by the Investment Manager, the Investment Manager shall allocate the expenses among the accounts in a fair and equitable manner. Any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 5 shall be reimbursed by the Company to the extent funds are available therefor in accordance with and subject to the limitations contained in the 40 Act Financing Agreements.

 

6.         Fees .

 

(a)   The Company shall pay to the Investment Manager, for services rendered and performance of its obligations under this Agreement fees which are payable monthly in arrears (each, a “ Payment Date ”) in an amount equal to 0.35% per annum of the aggregate market value of all of the Company’s investments, measured as of the determination date immediately preceding such Payment Date (the “ Management Fees ”). The Management Fees will be calculated on the basis of a calendar year consisting of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed.

 

6  

 

 

(b)   The Investment Manager may, in its sole discretion, defer all or any portion of the Management Fees. Such deferred amounts will become payable on the next Payment Date in the same manner and priority as their original characterization would have required unless deferred again.

 

(c)   If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof or otherwise, the Management Fees calculated as provided in Section 6(a) hereof shall be prorated for any partial periods between Payment Dates during which this Agreement was in effect and shall be due and payable, along with any deferred Management Fees, on the first Payment Date following the effective date of such termination.

 

(d)   The Investment Manager hereby agrees not to cause the filing of a petition in bankruptcy against the Company for any reason whatsoever.

 

7.         Non-Exclusivity .

 

The services of the Investment Manager to the Company are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Investment Manager shall be free to render asset management or management services to other persons (including Affiliates, investment companies and clients having objectives similar to those of the Company). It is understood and agreed that the officers and directors of the Investment Manager may engage in any other business activity or render services to any other person or serve as partners, officers or directors of any other firm or corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that the Investment Manager will at no time render any services to, or in any way participate in the organization or operation of, any investment company or other entity if such actions would require the Company to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act. Subject to Sections 2 and 9 hereof, it is understood and agreed that information or advice received by the Investment Manager and officers or directors of the Investment Manager hereunder shall be used by such organization or such persons to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

8.         Conflicts of Interest .

 

The Investment Manager may, subject to applicable legal requirements and any restrictions or limitations contained in the 40 Act Financing Agreements, direct the Company (i) to acquire any investments for the Company from the Investment Manager or any of its Affiliates as principal or (ii) to sell any investments for the Company to the Investment Manager or any of its Affiliates as principal; provided   that each such acquisition or sale is conducted on terms no less favorable to the Company than would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with a non-affiliate.

 

7  

 

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, various potential and actual conflicts of interest may arise from the overall investment activity of the Investment Manager and its Affiliates. The Investment Manager, its Affiliates and their respective clients may invest in obligations that would be appropriate for inclusion in the Company’s assets. Such investments may be different from those made on behalf of the Company. The Investment Manager, its Affiliates and the clients of the Investment Manager or its Affiliates may invest in obligations that are senior to, or have interests different from or adverse to, the assets of the Company. The Investment Manager may serve as investment manager for, invest in, or be affiliated with, other entities organized to issue collateralized debt obligations secured by loans, high-yield debt securities or other debt obligations. The Investment Manager may at certain times be simultaneously seeking to purchase or sell investments for the Company and any similar entity for which it serves as investment manager in the future, or for its clients and Affiliates. Furthermore, the Investment Manager and/or its Affiliates may make an investment on their behalf or on behalf of any account that they manage or advise without offering the investment opportunity or making an investment on behalf of the Company.

 

The Company hereby acknowledges the various potential and actual conflicts of interest that may exist with respect to the Investment Manager; provided   that nothing in this Section 8 shall be construed as altering the duties of the Investment Manager as set forth in this Agreement, the 40 Act Financing Agreements or the requirements of any law, rule, or regulation applicable to the Investment Manager.

 

9.         Records; Confidentiality .

 

The Investment Manager shall maintain appropriate books of account and records relating to services performed hereunder, and such books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection by a representative of the Company and independent accountants appointed by the Company at a mutually agreed time during normal business hours and upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior notice.

 

The Investment Manager shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, keep confidential any and all information obtained in connection with the services rendered hereunder and shall not disclose any such information to non affiliated third parties except (i) with the prior written consent of the Company, (ii) as required by law, regulation, court order or the rules or regulations of any self regulating organization, body or official having jurisdiction over the Investment Manager, (iii) to its professional advisors, (iv) such information as shall have been publicly disclosed other than in violation of this Agreement, (v) the identification of the Company as a client of the Investment Manager, (vi) information related to the performance of the Investment Manager, (vii) information furnished in connection with any successor investment manager or assignee, or any agent that has been assigned duties in accordance with this Agreement or (viii) such information that was or is obtained by the Investment Manager on a non-confidential basis; provided   that the Investment Manager does not know or have reason to know, after due inquiry, of any breach by such source of any confidentiality obligations with respect thereto. For purposes of this Section 9, BNPP shall in no event be considered a “non affiliated third party,” and the Investment Manager may disclose any of the aforementioned information to BNPP insofar as such information relates to the Company’s investments under the 40 Act Financing Agreements.

 

10.        Term .

 

This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and shall continue unless terminated as hereinafter provided.

 

8  

 

 

11.        Termination .

 

(a) This Agreement may be terminated, and the Investment Manager may be removed, without payment to the Investment Manager of any penalty, for cause upon prior written notice by the Company; provided   that such notice may be waived by the Investment Manager. For this purpose, “cause” will mean the occurrence of any of the following events or circumstances:

 

(i)       the Investment Manager’s breach, in any respect, of any provision of this Agreement or the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to it (except for any breach that has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the Company) and the Investment Manager’s failure to cure such breach within 30 days of its becoming aware of, or receiving notice of, the occurrence of such breach;

 

(ii)       the Investment Manager’s intentional breach of (a) any provision of this Agreement or the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to it relating to the Investment Manager’s or the Company’s obligation to cause the Company’s investments to comply with the conditions for sale of an investment by the Company or (b) any other material provision of this Agreement or the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to it, and the Investment Manager’s failure to cure such breach within 15 days of the occurrence of such breach;

 

(iii)       the failure of any representation, warranty, certification or statement made or delivered by the Investment Manager in or pursuant to this Agreement or the 40 Act Financing Agreements to be correct in any material respect when made which failure (a) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on BNPP and (b) is not corrected by the Investment Manager within 15 days of its receipt of notice from the Company or BNPP of such failure;

 

(iv)       the Investment Manager (a) is dissolved (other than pursuant to a consolidation, amalgamation or merger), (b) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (c) becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due, (d) makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors, (e) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property or (f) is adjudicated as insolvent or bankrupt, or a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Investment Manager, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, or sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Investment Manager or of any substantial part of its property, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 15 consecutive days;

 

9  

 

 

(v)       the occurrence of an Event of Default under the 40 Act Financing Agreements that results from any breach by the Investment Manager of its duties under the 40 Act Financing Agreements or this Agreement; or

 

(vi)       the occurrence of an act by the Investment Manager that constitutes fraud or criminal activity in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, or the Investment Manager being indicted for a criminal offense materially related to its business of providing asset management services.

 

(b) The Investment Manager shall have the right to terminate this Agreement only upon 90 days prior written notice to the Company and this Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment by the Investment Manager.

 

(c) This Agreement shall be automatically terminated in the event that the Company determines in good faith that the Company or the Company’s asset portfolio has become required to be registered under the provisions of the Investment Company Act.

 

(d) Within 30 days of the resignation or removal of the Investment Manager, the Company may appoint a successor investment manager that is (i) an Affiliate of Investment Manager or (ii) reasonably acceptable to BNPP. No such resignation or removal will be effective until the date as of which a successor investment manager has assumed in writing the Investment Manager’s duties and obligations as specified herein.

 

12.        Action Upon Termination .

 

(a)   Upon the effective termination of this Agreement, the Investment Manager shall as soon as practicable:

 

(i)       deliver to the Company all property and documents of the Company or otherwise relating to the Company’s assets then in the custody of the Investment Manager; and

 

(ii)       deliver an account with respect to the books and records to the successor investment manager appointed pursuant to Section 11(d).

 

Notwithstanding such termination, the Investment Manager shall remain liable to the extent set forth herein (but subject to Section 13 hereof) for its acts or omissions hereunder arising prior to termination and for any expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims (including reasonable attorney’s fees) in respect of or arising out of a breach of the representations and warranties made by the Investment Manager in Section 4 hereof or from any failure of the Investment Manager to comply with the provisions of this Section 12.

 

(b)   The Investment Manager agrees that, notwithstanding any termination, it shall reasonably cooperate in any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement (each, a “ Proceeding ”) arising in connection with this Agreement, the 40 Act Financing Agreements or any of the Company’s assets (excluding any such Proceeding in which claims are asserted against the Investment Manager or any Affiliate of the Investment Manager) so long as the Investment Manager shall have been offered reasonable security, indemnity or other provisions against the cost, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred in connection therewith and a reasonable per diem fee.

 

10  

 

 

13.        Liability of Investment Manager; Delegation .

 

(a) The Investment Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder and under the terms of the 40 Act Financing Agreements made applicable to it pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Investment Manager shall not be responsible for any action of the Company in declining to follow any advice, recommendation or direction of the Investment Manager. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Investment Manager shall have no liability to BNPP or other Company’s creditors for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss arising out of any investment, or for any other act or omission in the performance of its obligations to the Company except for liability to which it would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in performance, or reckless disregard, of its obligations hereunder. The Investment Manager may delegate to an agent selected with reasonable care, which shall include any person that is party to a sub-advisory agreement with the Investment Manager as of the date hereof, any or all duties (other than its asset selection or trade execution duties) assigned to the Investment Manager hereunder; provided   that no such delegation by the Investment Manager of any of its duties hereunder shall relieve the Investment Manager of any of its duties hereunder nor relieve the Investment Manager of any liability with respect to the performance of such duties. For the avoidance of doubt, asset selection and trade execution duties shall include the services described in Section 1(a) hereof.

 

Notwithstanding the above and Section 17, the Investment Manager shall be permitted to assign any or all of its rights and delegate any or all of its obligations to (i) an Affiliate or (ii) any other entity reasonably acceptable to BNPP that (x) will professionally and competently perform duties similar to those imposed upon the Investment Manager under this Agreement and (y) is legally qualified and has the capacity to act as the Investment Manager under this Agreement. The Investment Manager shall not be liable for any consequential damages hereunder.

 

(b)   The Company shall reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the directors, trustees, officers and employees of the Investment Manager and any of its Affiliates from any and all actual and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), as are incurred in investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim, action, proceeding or investigation with respect to any pending or threatened litigation caused by, or arising out of or in connection with, any acts or omissions of the Investment Manager, its directors, trustees, officers, stockholders, agents and employees made in good faith and in the performance of the Investment Manager’s duties under this Agreement or the 40 Act Financing Agreements except to the extent resulting from such person’s bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or thereunder. The Investment Manager, its directors, trustees, officers, stockholders, agents and employees may consult with counsel and accountants with respect to the affairs of the Company and shall be fully protected and justified, to the extent allowed by law, in acting, or failing to act, if such action or failure to act is taken or made in good faith and is in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel or accountants. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the obligations of the Company under this Section 13(b) shall be payable from the Company’s assets as part of the Management Fees and are subject to the availability of funds and to any conditions set forth in the 40 Act Financing Agreements.

 

11  

 

 

(c)   The Investment Manager shall reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its members, manager, officers, agents and employees from any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), as are incurred in investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any claim, action, proceeding or investigation with respect o any pending or threatened litigation caused by, or arising out of or in connection with, (i) any acts or omissions of the Investment Manager constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement or under the 40 Act Financing Agreements and (ii) any breach of the representations and warranties made by the Investment Manger in Section 4 hereof.

 

14.        Obligations of Investment Manager .

 

Unless otherwise required by any provision of the 40 Act Financing Agreements, this Agreement or by applicable law, the Investment Manager shall not intentionally take any action, which it knows or should know would (a) materially adversely affect the Company for purposes of United States federal or state law or any other law known to the Investment Manager to be applicable to the Company, (b) require registration of the Company or the Company’s assets as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act, (c) not be permitted under the Company’s operating agreement or certificate of formation, (d) cause the Company to violate the terms of the 40 Act Financing Agreements, (e) subject the Company to federal, state or other income taxation or (f) adversely affect the interests of BNPP in any material respect (other than as permitted or required hereunder or under the 40 Act Financing Agreements, including, without limitation, as may result from the performance of any investment), it being understood that in connection with the foregoing, the Investment Manager will not be required to make any independent investigation of any facts or laws not otherwise known to it in connection with its obligations under this Agreement and the 40 Act Financing Agreements or the conduct of its business generally. The Investment Manager covenants that it shall comply in all material respects with all laws and regulations applicable to it in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement and the 40 Act Financing Agreements. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement, the Investment Manager shall not take any discretionary action that would reasonably be expected to cause an Event of Default under the 40 Act Financing Agreements. The Investment Manager covenants that it shall (i) not hold out the investments as its assets, (ii) take all action to ensure that the investments are held in the name of the Company or, if held by an agent of the Company, clearly designate such agent as being the Company’s agent, and (iii) not fail to correct any known misunderstandings regarding the separate identity of the Company and shall not identify itself as a division or department of the Company.

 

15.        No Partnership or Joint Venture .

 

The Company and the Investment Manager are not partners or joint venturers with each other and nothing herein shall be construed to make them such partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on either of them. The Investment Manager’s relation to the Company shall be deemed to be that of an independent contractor.

 

12  

 

 

16.        Notices .

 

Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by facsimile or e-mail (in either case, confirmed by telephonic communication), or addressed and delivered or mailed postage paid to the other party at such address as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notice. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the address of the Company for this purpose shall be:

 

Broomall Funding LLC 

c/o FS Investment Corporation IV 

201 Rouse Boulevard 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112 

Attention: Chief Financial Officer 

Telephone: (215) 495-1150 

Facsimile: (215) 222-4649 

Electronic Mail: ted.gallivan@fsinvestments.com

 

The address of the Investment Manager for this purpose shall be:

 

FS Investment Corporation IV

201 Rouse Boulevard

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: (215) 495-1150

Facsimile: (215) 222-4649

Electronic Mail: ted.gallivan@fsinvestments.com

 

All notices are to be effective in accordance with Section 12 of Exhibit A of the U.S. PB Agreement.

 

17.        Succession/Assignment .

 

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors to the parties hereto. No assignment of this Agreement by the Investment Manager (including, without limitation, a change in control or management of the Investment Manager which would be deemed an “assignment” under the Advisers Act) shall be made without the consent of the Company and BNPP.

 

18.        Conflicts with the 40 Act Financing Agreements

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 1 hereof pertaining to the binding effect of certain amendments to the 40 Act Financing Agreements on the Investment Manager, in the event that this Agreement requires any action to be taken with respect to any matter and the 40 Act Financing Agreements require that a different action be taken with respect of such matter, and such actions are mutually exclusive, the provisions of the 40 Act Financing Agreements in respect thereof shall control.

 

13  

 

 

19.        Miscellaneous .

 

(a)   This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws principles. With respect to any Proceeding, each party irrevocably (i) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City and (ii) waives any objection which it may have at any time to the laying of venue of any Proceedings brought in any such court, waives any claim that such Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and further waives the right to object, with respect to such Proceedings, that such court does not have any jurisdiction over such party. Nothing in this Agreement precludes either party from bringing Proceedings in any other jurisdiction, nor will the bringing of Proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions preclude the bringing of Proceedings in any other jurisdiction.

 

(b)   THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OR DELIVERY OF COPIES OF SUCH PROCESS TO EACH SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 16 HEREOF. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

 

(c)   EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(d)   No failure on the part of either party hereto to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

 

(e)   The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

(f)   In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other provisions hereof.

 

(g)   This Agreement may not be amended or modified or any provision thereof waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

(h)   This Agreement and the 40 Act Financing Agreements contain the entire understanding and agreement between the parties and supersede all other prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties concerning this subject matter. The express terms of this Agreement control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

 

14  

 

 

(i)    The Investment Manager consents to, and agrees to perform, the provisions of the 40 Act Financing Agreements applicable to the Investment Manager.

 

(j)    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.

 

(k)   Each representation and warranty made or deemed to be made herein or pursuant hereto, and each indemnity provided for hereby, shall survive the execution and delivery and any termination or assignment of this Agreement or resignation or removal of the Investment Manager.

 

(l)    The Company hereby acknowledges and accepts all actions that were taken by the Investment Manager and/or recommended to the Company by the Investment Manager prior to the effective date of this Agreement, including all actions and recommendations that were related to the anticipated purchase of assets by the Company or that were otherwise consistent with the services to be provided by the Investment Manager to the Company pursuant to Section 1 of this Agreement prior to the effective date of this Agreement, in each case, as if this Agreement had been in effect at the time that such actions were taken or such recommendations were made.

 

20.        No Recourse .

 

The Investment Manager hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s obligations hereunder will be solely the corporate obligations of the Company, and the Investment Manager will not have any recourse to any of the directors, trustees, officers, employees, holders of the membership interest of Company with respect to any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, indemnities or other obligations in connection with any transactions contemplated hereby. Recourse in respect of any obligations of the Company hereunder will be limited to the Company’s assets and on the exhaustion thereof all claims against the Company arising from this Agreement or any transactions contemplated hereby shall be extinguished. The provisions of this Section 20 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

15  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT to be executed by their respective authorized representatives on the date first above written.

       
  BROOMALL FUNDING LLC  
       
  By: /s/ Gerald F. Stahlecker  
 

Name: Gerald F. Stahlecker 

Title: Executive Vice President

 
       
  FS INVESTMENT CORPORATION IV  
       
  By: /s/ Gerald F. Stahlecker  
 

Name: Gerald F. Stahlecker

Title: Executive Vice President

 

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Agreement]