EXHIBIT 10.5

 

FIRST AMENDED AGREEMENT

 

This FIRST AMENDED AGREEMENT is dated and effective as of November 1, 2003, and
amends the Agreement between Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation (“Deere”)
and John Deere Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“JDCC”) dated
October 15, 1996.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Deere owns all of the outstanding common stock of JDCC; and

 

WHEREAS, Deere and JDCC believe that it is their respective best interest to
demonstrate Deere’s support for JDCC to debt holders and derivative
counterparties.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual advantage and
benefit of the parties hereto and other good and valuable consideration, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Fixed Charges Ratio. Deere shall make income maintenance payments to JDCC,
constituting additions to the pre-tax income of JDCC, to the extent that such
payments are necessary to cause the ratio of Net Earnings Available for Fixed
Charges to Fixed Charges of JDCC and consolidated affiliates (determined on a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP) to be not less than 1.05 for
each JDCC fiscal quarter.

 

2. Ownership. Deere or one or more of its direct or indirect wholly-owned
subsidiaries or a combination thereof will continue to own at least fifty-one
percent (51%) of the shares of capital stock of JDCC having voting power for the
election of directors, provided, however, that JDCC may merge or consolidate
with, or sell or convey substantially all of its assets, to Deere, if in
connection therewith, Deere shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment
of all of JDCC’s rated debt.

 

3. Minimum Net Worth. Deere shall cause JDCC to have as at the end of any fiscal
quarter a Consolidated Tangible Net Worth of at least $50,000,000.

 

4. No Guaranty. This Agreement is not, and nothing herein contained and nothing
done pursuant hereto by Deere shall be deemed to constitute, a guaranty by Deere
of the payment of any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any kind or
character whatsoever of JDCC, any of JDCC’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or
any other entity the indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of which have been
guaranteed by JDCC (any such other entity a “Guaranteed Entity”).

 

5. Term. This Agreement may be modified, amended or terminated, at Deere’s
election, upon thirty days prior written notice to JDCC and to Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poors Ratings Services (“S&P”) and
Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited (“DBRS”) if (a) such modification,
amendment or termination would not result in a downgrade of JDCC’s rated public
debt or of the rated public debt of any Guaranteed Entity (any such rated public
debt “Debt”) by Moody’s, S&P or DBRS; or (b) the modification, amendment or
notice of termination provides that this Agreement will continue in effect with
respect to Debt outstanding on the effective date of the modification, amendment
or termination; or (c) there is no outstanding long-term Debt. For purposes
hereof, no portion of any Debt shall be considered “outstanding” if such Debt
shall be defeased or discharged in accordance with the indenture or other
governing instrument defining the rights of the holders of such Debt. Upon
termination of this Agreement, no further obligation on the part of Deere shall
thereafter arise hereunder.

 

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6. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein, but not defined herein, shall
be as defined in the $1,350,000,000 Credit Agreement dated as of February 18,
2003 among Deere and JDCC and JPMorgan Chase Bank as Administrative Agent,
Citibank N.A. and Credit Suissse First Boston, as documentation agents, Bank of
America, N.A. and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch as Syndication Agents, and
various institutions as Managing Agents and Co-Agents, as such credit agreement
or any successor or replacement agreement may be amended from time to time.

 

7. Waiver. Deere hereby waives any failure or delay on the part of JDCC in
asserting or enforcing any of its rights or in making any claims or demands
hereunder.

 

8. Rights of Lenders. The obligations of Deere to JDCC pursuant to this
Agreement are to JDCC only and do not run to, and are not enforceable directly
by, any creditor of JDCC or any creditor of any Guaranteed Entity; nor shall
this Agreement cause Deere to be responsible for the payment of any obligations
of JDCC or of any Guaranteed Entity to any creditor thereof; provided, however,
that any Lender shall have the right to demand that JDCC enforce JDCC’s rights
under this Agreement and if JDCC fails or refuses to take timely action to
enforce such rights such Lender may proceed against JDCC to enforce JDCC’s
rights under this Agreement. The term Lender in this paragraph 8 shall mean any
person, firm or corporation to which JDCC or any Guaranteed Entity is indebted
for borrowed money or that is a derivative counterparty to JDCC or to any other
entity the derivative obligations of which are guaranteed by JDCC.

 

9. Successors. The Agreements herein set forth shall be mutually binding upon,
and shall inure to the benefit of, Deere and JDCC and their respective
successors and assigns.

 

10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed the day and year first above written.

 

DEERE & COMPANY

By:

 

/s/ Nathan J. Jones

JOHN DEERE CAPITAL CORPORATION

By

 

/s/ Jon Volkert

 

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