Document:

Exhibit 4.4

 

CNH EQUIPMENT TRUST 2013-A

 

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

 

among

 

CNH EQUIPMENT TRUST 2013-A,

 

as Issuing Entity,

 

and

 

NEW HOLLAND CREDIT COMPANY, LLC,

 

as Administrator,

 

and

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

 

as Indenture Trustee,

 

and

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

 

as Trustee

 

Dated as of February 1, 2013

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
1.
    	
Duties of the Administrator
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
(a) 
    	
Duties with Respect to the Indenture and the Depository   Agreement
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
(b)
    	
Duties with Respect to the Trust
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
(c)
    	
Non-Ministerial Matters
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.
    	
Records
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.
    	
Compensation
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.
    	
Additional Information to be Furnished to the Issuing   Entity
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.
    	
Independence of the Administrator
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.
    	
No Joint Venture
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.
    	
Other Activities of the Administrator
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.
    	
Term of Agreement; Resignation and Removal of the   Administrator
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.
    	
Action upon Termination, Resignation or Removal
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.
    	
Notices
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
(a)
    	
if to the Issuing Entity or the Trustee
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
(b)
    	
if to the Administrator
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
(c)
    	
if to the Indenture Trustee
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.
    	
Amendments
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.
    	
Successors and Assigns
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
13.
    	
Governing Law
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
14.
    	
Headings
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
15.
    	
Counterparts
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
16.
    	
Severability
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
17.
    	
Not Applicable to New Holland Credit Company, LLC in Other   Capacities
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
18.
    	
Limitation of Liability of the Trustee and the Indenture   Trustee
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
19.
    	
Indemnification
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
20.
    	
Information Requests
    	
12
    

 

i

 

	
21.
    	
Communications with Rating Agencies
    	
12
    

 

ii

 

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT dated as of February 1, 2013, among CNH EQUIPMENT TRUST 2013-A, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuing Entity”), NEW HOLLAND CREDIT COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as administrator (the “Administrator”), DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a New York banking corporation, not in its individual capacity but solely as Indenture Trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee under the Trust Agreement (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Issuing Entity is issuing the Notes pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, the “Indenture”), between the Issuing Entity and the Indenture Trustee (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are defined in Appendix A to the Indenture, and the provisions of Section 1.3 of the Indenture shall be incorporated herein).

 

WHEREAS, the Issuing Entity has entered into certain agreements in connection with the issuance of the Notes and of certain beneficial ownership interests of the Issuing Entity, including: (i) a Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Sale and Servicing Agreement”), among the Issuing Entity, New Holland Credit Company, LLC, as servicer (the “Servicer”), and CNH Capital Receivables LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as seller (the “Seller”), (ii) a Depository Agreement, dated on or about February 21, 2013 (the “Depository Agreement”), among the Issuing Entity and The Depository Trust Company, (iii) the Indenture, and (iv) a Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Trust Agreement”), between the Seller and the Trustee (the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Depository Agreement, the Indenture and the Trust Agreement being hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Related Agreements”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Related Agreements, the Issuing Entity and the Trustee are required to perform certain duties in connection with: (a) the Notes and the collateral therefor pledged pursuant to the Indenture (the “Collateral”) and (b) the beneficial ownership interests in the Issuing Entity (the registered holders of such interests being referred to herein as the “Owners”);

 

WHEREAS, the Issuing Entity and the Trustee desire to have the Administrator perform certain of the duties of the Issuing Entity and the Trustee referred to in the preceding clause, and to provide such additional services consistent with this Agreement and the Related Agreements as the Issuing Entity and the Trustee may from time to time request;

 

WHEREAS, the Administrator has the capacity to provide the services required hereby and is willing to perform such services for the Issuing Entity and the Trustee on the terms set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms and covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

 

1.                                      Duties of the Administrator.

 

(a)                                 Duties with Respect to the Indenture and the Depository Agreement.  The Administrator shall perform all of its duties as Administrator and the duties of the Issuing Entity and the Trustee under the Indenture and the Depository Agreement. In addition, the Administrator shall consult with the Trustee regarding the duties of the Issuing Entity and the Trustee under such documents. The Administrator shall monitor the performance of the Issuing Entity and shall advise the Trustee when action is necessary to comply with the Issuing Entity’s or the Trustee’s duties under such documents. The Administrator shall prepare for execution by the Issuing Entity or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate persons of all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates and opinions as it shall be the duty of the Issuing Entity or the Trustee to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to such documents. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Administrator shall take all appropriate action that is the duty of the Issuing Entity or the Trustee to take pursuant to such documents, including, without limitation, such of the foregoing as are required with respect to the following matters (references in this Section are to sections of the Indenture):

 

(i)                                     the duty to cause the Note Register to be kept and to give the Indenture Trustee notice of any appointment of a new Note Registrar and the location, or change in location, of the Note Register (Section 2.4);

 

(ii)                                  the fixing or causing to be fixed of any specified record date and the notification of the Indenture Trustee and Noteholders with respect to special payment dates, if any (Section 2.7(c));

 

(iii)                               the preparation of or obtaining of the documents and instruments required for authentication of the Notes and delivery of the same to the Indenture Trustee (Section 2.2);

 

(iv)                              the preparation, obtaining or filing of the instruments, opinions, certificates and other documents required for the release of the Collateral (Section 2.9);

 

(v)                                 [reserved];

 

(vi)                              the duty to cause newly appointed Paying Agents, if any, to deliver to the Indenture Trustee the instrument specified in the Indenture regarding funds held in trust (Section 3.3);

 

(vii)                           the direction to the Paying Agents to deposit monies with the Indenture Trustee (Section 3.3);

 

(viii)                        the obtaining and preservation of the Issuing Entity’s qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of the Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral and each other instrument and agreement included in the Trust Estate (Section 3.4);

 

2

 

(ix)                              the preparation of all supplements, amendments, financing statements, continuation statements, instruments of further assurance and other instruments, in accordance with Section 3.5 of the Indenture, necessary to protect the Trust Estate (Section 3.5);

 

(x)                                 the delivery of the Opinion of Counsel on the Closing Date and the annual delivery of Opinions of Counsel, in accordance with Section 3.6 of the Indenture, as to the Trust Estate, and the annual delivery of the Officer’s Certificate and certain other statements, in accordance with Section 3.9 of the Indenture, as to compliance with the Indenture (Sections 3.6 and 3.9);

 

(xi)                              the identification to the Indenture Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate of a Person with whom the Issuing Entity has contracted to perform its duties under the Indenture (Section 3.7(b));

 

(xii)                           the notification of the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies of a Servicer Default pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement and, if such Servicer Default arises from the failure of the Servicer to perform any of its duties under the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the taking of all reasonable steps available to remedy such failure (Section 3.7(d));

 

(xiii)                        the preparation and obtaining of documents and instruments required for the release of the Issuing Entity from its obligations under the Indenture (Section 3.10(b));

 

(xiv)                       the delivery of notice to the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies of (a) each Event of Default under the Indenture, (b) each default by the Servicer or Seller under the Sale and Servicing Agreement and (c) each default by CNHCA under the Purchase Agreement (Section 3.19);

 

(xv)                          the monitoring of the Issuing Entity’s obligations as to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture and the preparation of an Officer’s Certificate and the obtaining of the Opinion of Counsel and the Independent Certificate relating thereto (Section 4.1);

 

(xvi)                       the compliance with any written directive of the Indenture Trustee with respect to the sale of the Trust Estate in a commercially reasonable manner if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (Section 5.4);

 

(xvii)                    the furnishing to the Indenture Trustee of the names and addresses of Noteholders during any period when the Indenture Trustee is not the Note Registrar (Section 7.1);

 

(xviii)                 the preparation, execution and filing with the Commission and the Indenture Trustee of documents required to be filed on a periodic basis with, and summaries thereof as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed by, the Commission and the transmission of such summaries, as necessary, to the Noteholders (Section 7.3);

 

3

 

(xix)                       the opening of one or more accounts in the Trust’s name, the preparation of Issuing Entity Orders, Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel and all other actions necessary with respect to investment and reinvestment of funds in the Trust Accounts (Sections 8.2 and 8.3);

 

(xx)                          the preparation of an Issuing Entity Request and Officer’s Certificate and the obtaining of an Opinion of Counsel and Independent Certificates, if necessary, for the release of the Trust Estate as defined in the Indenture (Sections 8.4 and 8.5);

 

(xxi)                       the preparation of Issuing Entity Orders and the obtaining of Opinions of Counsel with respect to the execution of supplemental indentures and the mailing to the Noteholders of notices with respect to such supplemental indentures (Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3);

 

(xxii)                    the execution and delivery of new Notes conforming to any supplemental indenture (Section 9.6);

 

(xxiii)                 the notification of Noteholders of redemption of the Notes or the duty to cause the Indenture Trustee to provide such notification (Section 10.2);

 

(xxiv)                the preparation of all Officer’s Certificates, Opinions of Counsel and Independent Certificates with respect to any requests by the Issuing Entity to the Indenture Trustee to take any action under the Indenture (Section 11.1(a));

 

(xxv)                   the preparation and delivery of Officer’s Certificates and the obtaining of Independent Certificates, if necessary, for the release of property from the Lien of the Indenture (Section 11.1(b));

 

(xxvi)                the preparation and delivery to Noteholders and the Indenture Trustee of any agreements with respect to alternate payment and notice provisions (Section 11.6); and

 

(xxvii)             the recording of the Indenture, if applicable (Section 11.15).

 

(b)                                 Duties with Respect to the Trust.

 

(i)                                     In addition to the duties of the Administrator set forth above, the Administrator shall perform such calculations, and shall prepare for execution by the Issuing Entity or the Trustee or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate persons of all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates and opinions, as it shall be the duty of the Issuing Entity or the Trustee to perform, prepare, file or deliver pursuant to the Related Agreements, and at the request of the Trustee shall take all appropriate action that it is the duty of the Issuing Entity or the Trustee to take pursuant to the Related Agreements (other than with respect to Sections 11.14, 11.15 and 11.16 of the Trust Agreement).  Subject to Section 5 of this Agreement, the Administrator shall administer, perform or supervise the performance of such other activities in connection with

 

4

 

the Collateral (including the Related Agreements) as are not covered by any of the foregoing and as are expressly requested by the Trustee and are reasonably within the capability of the Administrator.

 

(ii)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Related Agreements to the contrary, if any Certificates are held by any Person other than the Depositor, the Administrator shall be responsible for promptly notifying the Trustee in the event that any withholding tax is imposed on the Trust’s payments (or allocations of income) to an Owner as contemplated in Section 5.2(c) of the Trust Agreement. Any such notice shall specify the amount of any withholding tax required to be withheld by the Trustee pursuant to such provision.

 

(iii)                               Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Related Agreements to the contrary, the Administrator shall be responsible for performance of the duties of the Trustee (if any) set forth in Sections 5.2(a), (b) and (c), the first sentence of Section 5.5 and Section 5.6(a) of the Trust Agreement with respect to, among other things, accounting and reports to Owners; provided, however, that the Trustee shall retain responsibility for the distribution of the Schedule K-1s necessary to enable each Owner to prepare its federal and state income tax returns.

 

(iv)                              If any Certificates are held by any Person other than the Depositor, the Administrator shall satisfy its obligations with respect to  clauses (ii)  and  (iii)  by retaining, at the expense of the Trust payable by the Servicer, a firm of Independent certified public accountants (the “Accountants”) reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, which Accountants shall perform the obligations of the Administrator thereunder. In connection with clause (ii), the Accountants will provide, on or prior to the date on which the Trustee receives its notice from the Administrator under such clause, a letter in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee as to whether any tax withholding is then required and, if required, the procedures to be followed with respect thereto to comply with the requirements of the Code. The Accountants shall be required to update the letter in each instance that any additional tax withholding is subsequently required or any previously required tax withholding shall no longer be required.

 

(v)                                 The Administrator shall perform the duties of the Administrator specified in Section 10.2 of the Trust Agreement required to be performed in connection with the resignation or removal of the Trustee, and any other duties expressly required to be performed by the Administrator under the Trust Agreement.

 

(vi)                              In carrying out the foregoing duties or any of its other obligations under this Agreement, the Administrator may enter into transactions with or otherwise deal with any of its affiliates;  provided, however, that the terms of any such transactions or dealings shall be in accordance with any directions received from the Issuing Entity and shall be, in the Administrator’s opinion, no less favorable to the Issuing Entity than would be available from unaffiliated parties.

 

5

 

(vii)                       The Administrator hereby agrees to execute on behalf of the Issuing Entity all such documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates and opinions as it shall be the duty of the Issuing Entity to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to the Basic Documents or otherwise by law.

 

(c)                                  Non-Ministerial Matters.

 

(i)                                     With respect to matters that in the reasonable judgment of the Administrator are non-ministerial, the Administrator shall not take any action unless within a reasonable time before the taking of such action the Administrator shall have notified the Trustee of the proposed action and the Trustee shall not have withheld consent or provided an alternative direction. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, “non-ministerial matters” shall include, without limitation:

 

(A)                               the initiation of any claim or lawsuit by the Issuing Entity and the compromise of any action, claim or lawsuit brought by or against the Issuing Entity (other than in connection with the collection of the Receivables);

 

(B)                               the appointment of successor Note Registrars, successor Paying Agents and successor Trustees pursuant to the Indenture or the appointment of successor Administrators or successor Servicers, or the consent to the assignment by the Note Registrar, Paying Agent or Indenture Trustee of its obligations under the Indenture; and

 

(C)                               the removal of the Indenture Trustee.

 

(ii)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Administrator shall not be obligated to, and shall not: (x) make any payments to the Noteholders under the Related Agreements, (y) sell the Trust Estate pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Indenture or (z) take any other action that the Issuing Entity directs the Administrator not to take on its behalf.

 

2.                                      Records.  The Administrator shall maintain appropriate books of account and records relating to services performed hereunder, which books of account and records shall be accessible for inspection upon reasonable written request by the Issuing Entity, the Indenture Trustee and the Depositor at any time during normal business hours.

 

3.                                      Compensation.   As compensation for the performance of the Administrator’s obligations under this Agreement and as reimbursement for its expenses related thereto, the Administrator shall be entitled to $500 per quarter payable in arrears on each Payment Date, which payment shall be solely an obligation of the Issuing Entity (the “Administration Fee”).

 

4.                                      Additional Information to be Furnished to the Issuing Entity.   The Administrator shall furnish to the Issuing Entity from time to time such additional information regarding the Collateral as the Issuing Entity shall reasonably request.

 

5.                                      Independence of the Administrator.  For all purposes of this Agreement, the Administrator shall be an independent contractor and shall not be subject to the supervision of

 

6

 

the Issuing Entity or the Trustee with respect to the manner in which it accomplishes the performance of its obligations hereunder. Unless expressly authorized by the Issuing Entity, the Administrator shall have no authority to act for or represent the Issuing Entity or the Trustee in any way (other than as permitted hereunder) and shall not otherwise be deemed an agent of the Issuing Entity or the Trustee.

 

6.                                      No Joint Venture.  Nothing contained in this Agreement:  (i) shall constitute the Administrator and either of the Issuing Entity or the Trustee as members of any partnership, joint venture, association, syndicate, unincorporated business or other separate entity, (ii) shall be construed to impose any liability as such on any of them or (iii) shall be deemed to confer on any of them any express, implied or apparent authority to incur any obligation or liability on behalf of the others.

 

7.                                      Other Activities of the Administrator.  Nothing herein shall prevent the Administrator or its Affiliates from engaging in other businesses or, in their sole discretion, from acting in a similar capacity as an administrator for any other Person even though such Person may engage in business activities similar to those of the Issuing Entity, the Trustee or the Indenture Trustee.

 

8.                                      Term of Agreement; Resignation and Removal of the Administrator.

 

(a)                                 This Agreement shall continue in force until the dissolution of the Issuing Entity, upon which event this Agreement shall automatically terminate.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 8(e), the Administrator may resign its duties hereunder by providing the Issuing Entity, the Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer with at least 60 days’ prior written notice.

 

(c)                                  Subject to Section 8(e), the Issuing Entity may remove the Administrator without cause by providing the Administrator, the Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer with at least 60 days’ prior written notice.

 

(d)                                 Subject to Section 8(e), at the sole option of the Issuing Entity, the Administrator may be removed immediately upon written notice of termination from the Issuing Entity to the Administrator, the Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer if any of the following events shall occur:

 

(i)                                     the Administrator shall default in the performance of any of its duties under this Agreement and, after notice of such default, shall not cure such default within ten days (or, if such default cannot be cured in such time, shall not give within ten days such assurance of cure as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Entity);

 

(ii)                                  a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief, and such decree or order shall not have been vacated within 60 days, in respect of the Administrator in any involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for

 

7

 

the Administrator or any substantial part of its property or order the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs; or

 

(iii)                               the Administrator shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Administrator or any substantial part of its property, shall consent to the taking of possession by any such official of any substantial part of its property, shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due.

 

The Administrator agrees that if any of the events specified in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this subsection shall occur, it shall give written notice thereof to the Issuing Entity, the Servicer, the Trustee and the Indenture Trustee within seven days after the happening of such event.

 

(e)                                  Upon the Administrator’s receipt of notice of termination, pursuant to Sections 8(c) or (d), or the Administrator’s resignation in accordance with this Agreement, the predecessor Administrator shall continue to perform its functions as Administrator under this Agreement, in the case of termination, only until the date specified in such termination notice or, if no such date is specified in a notice of termination, until receipt of such notice and, in the case of resignation, until the later of: (x) the date 45 days from the delivery to the Issuing Entity, the Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer of written notice of such resignation (or written confirmation of such notice) in accordance with this Agreement and (y) the date upon which the predecessor Administrator shall become unable to act as Administrator, as specified in the notice of resignation and accompanying Opinion of Counsel. In the event of the Administrator’s termination hereunder, the Issuing Entity shall appoint a successor Administrator acceptable to the Indenture Trustee, and the successor Administrator shall accept its appointment by a written assumption in form acceptable to the Indenture Trustee. In the event that a successor Administrator has not been appointed at the time when the predecessor Administrator has ceased to act as Administrator in accordance with this Section, and if the predecessor Administrator is currently serving as the Servicer under the Transaction Documents, the Indenture Trustee without further action shall automatically be appointed the successor Administrator and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to the compensation specified in  Section 3.  Notwithstanding the above, the Indenture Trustee shall, if it shall be unable so to act, appoint or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint any established institution having a net worth of not less than $50,000,000 and whose regular business shall include the performance of functions similar to those of the Administrator, as the successor to the Administrator under this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   Upon appointment, the successor Administrator (including the Indenture Trustee acting as successor Administrator) shall be the successor in all respects to the predecessor Administrator and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities arising thereafter relating thereto placed on the predecessor Administrator and shall be entitled to the compensation specified in Section 3 and all the rights granted to the predecessor Administrator by the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

8

 

(g)                                  Except when and if the Indenture Trustee is appointed successor Administrator, the Administrator may not resign unless it is prohibited from serving as such by law as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect delivered to the Indenture Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Administrator pursuant to this Section shall be effective until: (i) a successor Administrator shall have been appointed by the Issuing Entity and (ii) such successor Administrator shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement in the same manner as the Administrator is bound hereunder.

 

(h)                                 The appointment of any successor Administrator shall be effective only after satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition with respect to the proposed appointment.

 

9.                                      Action upon Termination, Resignation or Removal.  Promptly upon the effective date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(a), or the resignation or removal of the Administrator pursuant to Section 8(b), or (c), or (d) respectively, the Administrator shall be entitled to be paid all fees and reimbursable expenses accruing to it to the date of such termination, resignation or removal. The Administrator shall forthwith upon such termination pursuant to Section 8(a) deliver to the Issuing Entity all property and documents of or relating to the Collateral then in the custody of the Administrator. In the event of the resignation or removal of the Administrator pursuant to Section 8(b), or (c), or (d) respectively, the Administrator shall cooperate with the Issuing Entity and the Indenture Trustee and take all reasonable steps requested to assist the Issuing Entity and the Indenture Trustee in making an orderly transfer of the duties of the Administrator.

 

10.                               Notices.  Any notice, report or other communication given hereunder shall be in writing and addressed and personally delivered, mailed or sent by facsimile transmission as follows:

 

(a)                                 if to the Issuing Entity or the Trustee, to:

 

CNH Equipment Trust 2013-A

c/o Wilmington Trust Company

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware  19890-0001

Attention: Corporate Trust Administrator

Facsimile: (302) 636-4140

 

(b)                                 if to the Administrator, to:

 

New Holland Credit Company, LLC

100 Brubaker Avenue

New Holland, Pennsylvania  17557

Attention: Finance Manager

Facsimile: (630) 887-5448

 

with a copy to:

 

New Holland Credit Company, LLC

 

9

 

6900 Veterans Boulevard

Burr Ridge, Illinois  60527

Attention: Assistant Treasurer

Facsimile: (630) 887-5448

 

(c)                                  if to the Indenture Trustee, to:

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

60 Wall Street

MS NYC 60-2720

New York, New York  10005

Attention: TSS-SFS

Facsimile: (212) 553-2458

Telephone:  (212) 250-4855

 

or to such other address or facsimile number as any party shall have provided to the other parties in writing. Any notice required to be in writing hereunder shall be deemed given if such notice is mailed by certified mail, postage prepaid, or hand-delivered to the address of such party as provided above.

 

11.                               Amendments.  Any term or provision of this Agreement may be amended by the Issuing Entity, Administrator, Indenture Trustee and the Trustee without the consent of any Noteholder, any Certificateholder or any other Person subject to the satisfaction of one of the following conditions:

 

(i)                                     the Administrator delivers an Opinion of Counsel to the Indenture Trustee to the effect that such amendment will not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Noteholders or the Certificateholders; or

 

(ii)                                  the Administrator delivers an Officer’s Certificate of the Administrator to the Indenture Trustee to the effect that such amendment will not materially or adversely affect the interests of the Noteholders or the Certificateholders.

 

An amendment shall be deemed not to adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Noteholders of a Class of Notes if the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied with respect to such amendment for such Class of Notes.

 

This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by the Issuing Entity, the Administrator and the Indenture Trustee with the written consent of (w) the Trustee, (x) Noteholders holding Notes evidencing not less than a majority of the Note Balance and (y) the Certificateholders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the beneficial interest in the Issuing Entity at the time of such amendment, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders or the Certificateholders; provided, however, that no such amendment shall: (i) reduce the interest rate or principal of any Note, or delay the Class Final Maturity Date of any Note or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Holders of Notes

 

10

 

and Certificates that are required to consent to any such amendment, without the consent of the Holders of all the outstanding Notes and Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not amend this Agreement without the permission of the Depositor, which permission shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent (or, in the case of the Rating Agencies, prior thereto), the Administrator shall furnish written notification of the substance of such amendment or consent to each Certificateholder, the Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and each of the Rating Agencies.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Certificateholders or the Noteholders pursuant to this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (other than as provided in the following paragraph), any term or provision of this Agreement may be amended by the Administrator without the consent of the Certificateholders, the Noteholders or any other Person to add, modify or eliminate any provisions as may be necessary or advisable in order to comply with or obtain more favorable treatment under or with respect to any law or regulation or any accounting rule or principle (whether now or in the future in effect); it being a condition to any such amendment that the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied.

 

12.                               Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement may not be assigned by the Administrator unless such assignment is previously consented to in writing by the Issuing Entity, the Indenture Trustee and the Trustee and subject to the satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition in respect thereof. An assignment with such consent and satisfaction, if accepted by the assignee, shall bind the assignee hereunder in the same manner as the Administrator is bound hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be assigned by the Administrator without the consent of the Issuing Entity, the Indenture Trustee or the Trustee to a corporation or other organization that is a successor (by merger, consolidation or purchase of assets) to, or Affiliate of, the Administrator, provided that such successor organization executes and delivers to the Issuing Entity, the Trustee and the Indenture Trustee an agreement in which such corporation or other organization agrees to be bound hereunder by the terms of said assignment in the same manner as the Administrator is bound hereunder.  Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall bind any successors or assigns of the parties hereto.

 

13.                               Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, and the obligations, rights and remedies of the parties hereunder shall be determined in accordance with such laws.

 

14.                               Headings.  The section headings hereof have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement.

 

15.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which when so executed shall together constitute but one and the same agreement.

 

11

 

16.                               Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

17.                               Not Applicable to New Holland Credit Company, LLC in Other Capacities.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any obligation New Holland Credit Company, LLC or any successor administrator may have in any other capacity.

 

18.                               Limitation of Liability of the Trustee and the Indenture Trustee.

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this instrument has been countersigned by Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as Trustee of the Issuing Entity, and in no event shall Wilmington Trust Company, in its individual capacity, or any beneficial owner of the Issuing Entity have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of the Issuing Entity hereunder, as to all of which recourse shall be had solely to the assets of the Issuing Entity. For all purposes of this Agreement, in the performance of any duties or obligations of the Issuing Entity thereunder, the Trustee shall be subject to, and entitled to the benefits of, the terms and provisions of Articles VI, VII and VIII of the Trust Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement has been countersigned by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, not in its individual capacity but solely as Indenture Trustee, and in no event shall Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of the Issuing Entity hereunder or in any of the certificates, notices or agreements delivered pursuant hereto, as to all of which recourse shall be had solely to the assets of the Issuing Entity.

 

19.                               Indemnification.  The Administrator shall indemnify the Trustee and the Indenture Trustee (and their officers, directors, employees and agents) for, and hold them harmless against, any losses, liability or expense, including attorneys’ fees reasonably incurred by them, incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part, arising out of or in connection with: (i) actions taken by either of them pursuant to instructions given by the Administrator pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) the failure of the Administrator to perform its obligations hereunder. The indemnities contained in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Administrator, the Trustee or the Indenture Trustee.

 

20.                               Information Requests.  The parties hereto shall provide any information reasonably requested by the Administrator or any of its Affiliates, at the expense of the Administrator or any of its Affiliates, as applicable, in order to comply with or obtain more favorable treatment under any current or future law, rule, regulation, accounting rule or principle.

 

21.                               Communications with Rating Agencies.  The parties hereto (other than the Seller and its Affiliates but excluding the Issuing Entity) agree that any notices or requests to, or any other written communications with, any of the Rating Agencies, or any of their respective

 

12

 

officers, directors or employees, to be given or provided to such Rating Agencies pursuant to, in connection with or related, directly or indirectly, to the Basic Documents, the Collateral or the Notes, shall be in each case either (i) furnished to the Seller who shall forward such communication to the Rating Agencies pursuant to Section 10.18 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement; or (ii) furnished directly to the Rating Agencies with a prior copy to the Seller.  In either case, the parties hereto (other than the Seller and its Affiliates but excluding the Issuing Entity) further agree to provide such notices, requests and communications or copies thereof, as applicable, to the Seller at least one Business Day prior to the date when such notices, requests and communications are required to be delivered (or are in fact delivered, whichever is earlier) to the Rating Agencies pursuant to the Basic Documents.  So long as any Notes are Outstanding, each party hereto (other than the Seller and its Affiliates but excluding the Issuing Entity) agrees that neither it nor any party on its behalf shall engage in any oral communications with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, under the Basic Documents or in any way relating to the Notes with any Rating Agency or any of their respective officers, directors or employees, without the participation of the Seller.

 

*   *   *   *   *

 

13

 

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

 

	
 
    	
CNH   EQUIPMENT TRUST 2013-A
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
Wilmington   Trust Company,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
not   in its individual capacity but solely as 

Trustee   on behalf of the Issuing Entity
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Dorri Costello
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Dorri   Costello
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DEUTSCHE   BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
not   in its individual capacity but solely as
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Indenture   Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Mark Esposito
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Mark   Esposito
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
AVP
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Louis Bodi
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Louis   Bodi
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
NEW   HOLLAND CREDIT COMPANY, LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
as   Administrator
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Thomas N. Beckmann
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Thomas   N. Beckmann
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Assistant   Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
WILMINGTON   TRUST COMPANY
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
not   in its individual capacity but solely as
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Trustee   under the Trust Agreement
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Dorri Costello
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Dorri   Costello
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant   Vice President
    

 

Administration AgreementExhibit 10.1 - Form 8-K (021913)

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO 
2013 RESTRICTED STOCK RIGHTS 
GRANTED UNDER THE 2011 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to certain “Restricted Stock Rights” (“RSRs”) granted by Northrop Grumman Corporation (the “Company”) in 2013 under its 2011 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan.  If you were granted an RSR award by the Company in 2013, the date of grant of your RSR award (the “Grant Date”) and the number of RSRs applicable to your award are set forth in the letter from the Company announcing your RSR award (your “Grant Letter”) and are also reflected in the electronic stock plan award recordkeeping system (“Stock Plan System”) maintained by the Company or its designee.  These Terms apply only with respect to the 2013 RSR award, except as provided in Section 7.5.  If you were granted an RSR award, you are referred to as the “Grantee” with respect to your award.  Capitalized terms are generally defined in Section 12 below if not otherwise defined herein.
Each RSR represents a right to receive one share of the Company’s Common Stock, or cash of equivalent value as provided herein, subject to vesting as provided herein.  The number of RSRs subject to your award is subject to adjustment as provided herein.  The RSR award is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in these Terms, and is further subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, and any rules adopted by the Committee, as such rules are in effect from time to time.

1

		
	1.
	Vesting; Issuance of Shares.

Subject to Sections 2 and 6 below, one hundred percent (100%) of the number of RSRs (and any Dividend Equivalents (as defined below)) subject to your award (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6.1) shall vest upon the third anniversary of the Grant Date.
1.1   Payment of RSRs.  Except as otherwise provided below, the Company shall pay an RSR subject to the award that vests (“Vested RSR”) (and related Dividend Equivalents) within 90 days following the vesting of the RSR on the third anniversary of the Grant Date.  The Company shall pay such Vested RSRs in either an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock, or, in the discretion of the Committee, in cash or in a combination of shares of Common Stock and cash.  In the event of a cash payment, the amount of the payment for each Vested RSR to be paid in cash will equal the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a share of Common Stock as of the date that such RSR became vested.  No fractional shares will be issued. 
1.2   Dividend Equivalents.  The Grantee shall be entitled to payment for Dividend Equivalents (if any) with respect to any Vested RSRs.  For purposes of these Terms, “Dividend Equivalents” means the aggregate amount of dividends paid by the Company on a number of shares of Common Stock equivalent to the number of Vested RSRs during the period from the Grant date until the date the Vested RSRs are paid (without interest or other adjustments to reflect the time value of money).  Dividend Equivalents (if any) will be paid at the same time as the Vested RSRs to which they relate are paid.  Dividend Equivalents will be paid in cash.
		
	2.
	Early Termination of Award; Termination of Employment.

2.1    General.  The RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award, to the extent not previously vested, shall terminate and become null and void if and when (a) the award terminates in connection with a Change in Control pursuant to Section 6 below, or (b) except as provided in Sections 2.6 and 2.7, and in Section 6, the Grantee ceases for any reason to be an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries.
2.2    Leave of Absence.  Unless the Committee otherwise provides (at the time of the leave or otherwise), if the Grantee is granted a leave of absence by the Company, the Grantee (a) shall not be deemed to have incurred a termination of employment at the time such leave commences for purposes of the award, and (b) shall be deemed to be employed by the Company for the duration of such approved leave of absence for purposes of the award.  A termination of employment shall be deemed to have occurred if the Grantee does not timely return to active employment upon the expiration of such approved leave or 

 
if the Grantee commences a leave that is not approved by the Company.
2.3    Salary Continuation.  Subject to Section 2.2 above, the term “employment” as used herein means active employment by the Company and salary continuation without active employment (other than a leave of absence approved by the Company that is covered by Section 2.2) will not, in and of itself, constitute “employment” for purposes hereof (in the case of salary continuation without active employment, the Grantee’s cessation of active employee status shall, subject to Section 2.2, be deemed to be a termination of “employment” for purposes hereof).  Furthermore, salary continuation will not, in and of itself, constitute a leave of absence approved by the Company for purposes of the award.
2.4    Sale or Spinoff of Subsidiary or Business Unit.  For purposes of the RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award, a termination of employment of the Grantee shall be deemed to have occurred if the Grantee is employed by a subsidiary or business unit and that subsidiary or business unit is sold, spun off, or otherwise divested, the Grantee does not otherwise continue to be employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries after such event, and the divested entity or business (or its successor or a parent company) does not assume the award in connection with such transaction.  In the event of such a termination of employment, the termination shall be deemed to be an Early Retirement unless the Grantee was otherwise eligible at the time of termination for Normal Retirement (in which case, the termination shall be considered a Normal Retirement) treated as provided for in Section 2.7 (subject to Section 6).
2.5    Continuance of Employment Required.  Except as expressly provided in Section 2.6, Section 2.7 and in Section 6, the vesting of the RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award requires continued employment through the third anniversary of the Grant Date as a condition to the vesting of any portion of the award.  Employment for only a portion of the vesting period, even if a substantial portion, will not entitle the Grantee to any proportionate vesting or avoid or mitigate a termination of rights and benefits upon or following a termination of employment.  Nothing contained in these Terms, the Stock Plan System, or the Plan constitutes an employment commitment by the Company or any subsidiary, affects the Grantee’s status (if the Grantee is otherwise an at-will employee) as an employee at will who is subject to termination without cause, confers upon the Grantee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary, or interferes in any way with the right of the Company or of any subsidiary to terminate such employment at any time.
2.6    Death or Disability.  If the Grantee dies or incurs a Disability while employed by the Company or a subsidiary and such death or Disability occurs more than six months after the Grant Date, the outstanding and previously 

2

unvested RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award shall vest as of the date of the Grantee’s death or Disability, as applicable.  RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) vesting under this Section shall be paid in the calendar year containing the 75th day (and generally will be paid on or about such 75th day) following the earlier of (a) Grantee’s death or (b) Grantee’s Disability.  In the event of the Grantee’s death prior to the delivery of shares or other payment with respect to any vested RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents), the Grantee’s Successor shall be entitled to any payments to which the Grantee would have been entitled under these Terms with respect to such vested and unpaid RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents).  
2.7  Termination of Employment Due to Retirement.  If the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries due to the Grantee’s Early Retirement and such Early Retirement occurs more than six months after the Grant Date, the RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award shall vest on a prorated basis.  Such prorating of RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) shall be determined based on the number of days the Grantee was employed by the Company or a subsidiary in the period commencing with the Grant Date through and including the date on which the Grantee is last employed by the Company or a subsidiary, over the number of calendar days in the period commencing with the Grant Date through and including the third anniversary of the Grant Date.  Any remaining unvested RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents), after giving effect to the foregoing acceleration of vesting, shall terminate immediately upon the Grantee’s Early Retirement.  If the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries due to the Grantee’s Normal Retirement and such Normal Retirement occurs more than six months after the Grant Date, the RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award shall vest in full.
Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) vesting under this Section shall be paid in the calendar year containing the 75th day (and generally will be paid on or about such 75th day) following the Grantee’s Separation from Service.  However, in the case of a Governmental Service Retirement by the Grantee, payment of the vested RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) will be made within 10 days after the Grantee’s Early or Normal Retirement.  If the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of the Grantee’s Separation from Service, the Grantee shall not be entitled to payment of his or her vested RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) pursuant to this Section until the earlier of (and payment shall be made upon or promptly after, and in all events within thirty (30) days after, the first to occur of) (a) the date which is six (6) months and one day after the Grantee’s Separation from Service, or (b) the date of the Grantee’s death.  The provisions of the preceding sentence shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to 

 
avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.  
In determining the Grantee’s eligibility for Early or Normal Retirement, service is measured by dividing (a) the number of days the Grantee was employed by the Company or a subsidiary in the period commencing with his or her last date of hire by the Company or a subsidiary through and including the date on which the Grantee is last employed by the Company or a subsidiary, by (b) 365.  If the Grantee ceased to be employed by the Company or a subsidiary and was later rehired by the Company or a subsidiary, the Grantee’s service prior to the break in service shall be disregarded in determining service for such purposes; provided that, if the Grantee’s employment with the Company or a subsidiary had terminated due to the Grantee’s Early Retirement, Normal Retirement, or by the Company or a subsidiary as part of a reduction in force (in each case, other than a termination by the Company or a subsidiary for cause) and, within the two-year period following such termination of employment (the “break in service”) the Grantee was subsequently rehired by the Company or a subsidiary, then the Grantee’s period of service with the Company or a subsidiary prior to and ending with the break in service will be included in determining service for such purposes.  In the event the Grantee is employed by a business that is acquired by the Company or a subsidiary, the Company shall have discretion to determine whether the Grantee’s service prior to the acquisition will be included in determining service for such purposes.  
		
	3.
	Non-Transferability and Other Restrictions.

3.1    Non-Transferability.  The award, as well as the RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award, are non-transferable and shall not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge.  The foregoing transfer restrictions shall not apply to transfers to the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may honor any transfer required pursuant to the terms of a court order in a divorce or similar domestic relations matter to the extent that such transfer does not adversely affect the Company’s ability to register the offer and sale of the underlying shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement and such transfer is otherwise in compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory and listing requirements.
3.2    Recoupment of Awards.  Any payments or issuances of shares with respect to the award are subject to recoupment pursuant to the Company’s Policy Regarding the Recoupment of Certain Performance-Based Compensation Payments as in effect from time to time, as well as any recoupment or similar provisions of applicable law, and the Grantee shall promptly make any reimbursement requested by the Board or Committee pursuant to such policy or applicable law with respect to the award.  Further, the Grantee agrees, by accepting the award, that the Company and its affiliates may deduct from any 

3

amounts it may owe the Grantee from time to time (such as wages or other compensation) to the extent of any amounts the Grantee is required to reimburse the Company pursuant to such policy or applicable law with respect to the award.
4.Post-Employment Conduct.
4.1Corporate Policy Council Contribution.   You acknowledge and agree that as a member of the Corporate Policy Council (“CPC”), you are involved in managing the global operations of the Company, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Virginia.  You are involved in the most sensitive and proprietary matters affecting the Company, its subsidiaries, predecessors, and/or affiliates (collectively, “Northrop Grumman”), including from a  technical, strategic and financial perspective, and are widely exposed to confidential, sensitive and proprietary information concerning Northrop Grumman’s global operations, at the headquarters and each of the operating sectors, including in the areas of manned and unmanned aircraft, space, C4ISR, cyber, sensors, electronics, through-life support and technical services.  Your job responsibilities require that you have a primary office location in Virginia and/or you spend substantial time at the corporate headquarters in Virginia, among other things, attending CPC and other leadership meetings, and managing operations and employees in Virginia.  You occupy one of the most senior executive positions in the Company and have far-reaching access to highly confidential, valuable and sensitive information, customer, vendor and employee relationships, intellectual property, strategic and tactical plans, and financial information and plans.   The Company has a legitimate business interest in restricting your ability to compete in the specific manner set forth below.  The Company has provided you this grant, subject to these Terms and as consideration for the restrictive covenants set forth in this section 4.

4.2Non-Competition.   For a period of six (6) months from the date of the termination of Grantee’s employment for any reason other than a Reduction-in-Force as determined at the Company’s sole discretion (“Termination”), you will not, directly or indirectly, oversee, control, or participate in the design, operation, research, manufacture, marketing, sale, or distribution of “Competitive Products and Services”.  For the purpose of this section, “Competitive Products and Services” shall mean products or services that compete with, or are an alternative or potential alternative to, the products sold or services provided by Northrop Grumman, including without limitation products and services in the areas of manned and unmanned aircraft, space, C4ISR, cyber, sensors, electronics, through-life support and technical services.
4.3Non-Solicitation of Customers.  For a period of eighteen (18) months from your Termination, you shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit any customer, supplier, or teammate of Northrop Grumman with whom you came into contact, or about whom you received confidential 

 
information, while employed by Northrop Grumman, for purposes of providing products or services in competition with Northrop Grumman.  In the case of a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, department or other governmental authority, the customer is determined by reference to the specific program offices or activities for which Northrop Grumman provides goods or services.
4.4Non-Solicitation of Employees.   For a period of eighteen (18) months from your Termination, you shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or offer to hire, any person who was, within a period of six months prior to your Termination, employed by Northrop Grumman, with whom you worked or about whom you received confidential information while employed by Northrop Grumman.
4.5Exceptions.  You may request an exception to the covenants in this section by making a written request to the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer, with such exceptions being considered at the sole discretion of the Company and communicated in writing to you.
4.6Reasonableness.  You agree that the restrictions set forth in this section are (i) reasonable and necessary in all respects, including duration, territory and scope of activity, in order to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, (ii) that the parties have attempted to limit your right to compete only to the extent necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, and (iii) that you will be able to earn a livelihood without violating the restrictions in this section.  It is the intent of the parties that the provisions of this section shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law.  However, if any portion of this covenant is deemed unenforceable, the parties agree that a court or arbitrator may revise the portion deemed unenforceable to the maximum extent possible to achieve the objective of the parties, and the remainder of the covenant shall remain in full force and affect.
4.7Remedies.   If you violate any provision in Section 4.2, 4.3, and/or 4.4 of this section, the Company shall have the right to terminate without payment to you any unvested and/or unpaid RSRs (and associated Dividend Equivalents) and require that you immediately deliver to the Company an amount in cash equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the vesting and/or payment date of all RSRs already received, including any Dividend Equivalents, within one year prior to the breach.  Further, you acknowledge and agree that a breach of any of the provisions of this section will result in immediate, irreparable, and continuing damage to the Company for which there is no adequate remedy at law, and the Company will be entitled to injunctive relief, a decree of specific performance, and other relief as may be proper, including monetary damages, to the maximum extent available.

4

		
	5.
	Compliance with Laws; No Stockholder Rights Prior to Issuance.

The Company’s obligation to make any payments or issue any shares with respect to the award is subject to full compliance with all then applicable requirements of law, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the Company and its shares, and of any exchange upon which stock of the Company may be listed.  The Grantee shall not have the rights and privileges of a stockholder, including without limitation the right to vote or receive dividends (except as expressly provided in these Terms with respect to Dividend Equivalents), with respect to any shares which may be issued in respect of the RSRs until the date appearing on the certificate(s) for such shares (or, in the case of shares entered in book entry form, the date that the shares are actually recorded in such form for the benefit of the Grantee), if such shares become deliverable.
		
	6.
	Adjustments; Change in Control.

6.1.    Adjustments.  The RSRs, Dividend Equivalents, and the shares subject to the award are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of events such as stock splits, stock dividends and other changes in capitalization in accordance with Section 6(a) of the Plan.
6.2.    Possible Acceleration on Change in Control.  Notwithstanding the the provisions of Section 2 hereof, and further subject to the Company’s ability to terminate the award as provided in Section 6.3 below, the outstanding and previously unvested RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award shall become fully vested as of the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment if the termination occurs either within the Protected Period corresponding to a Change in Control of the Company or within twenty-four (24) calendar months following the date of a Change in Control of the Company, the Grantee’s employment by the Company and its subsidiaries is involuntarily terminated by the Company and its subsidiaries for reasons other than Cause or by the Grantee for Good Reason.
Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, the termination of the Grantee’s employment (or other events giving rise to Good Reason) shall not entitle the Grantee to any accelerated vesting pursuant to this Section 6.2 if there is objective evidence that, as of the commencement of the Protected Period, the Grantee had specifically been identified by the Company as an employee whose employment would be terminated as part of a corporate restructuring or downsizing program that commenced prior to the Protected Period and such termination of employment was expected at that time to occur within six (6) months.  
Payment of any RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) that vest under this Section will be made at the time provided for in Section 2.7 as though the termination 

 
of the Grantee’s employment was due to a Normal Retirement.
6.3.    Automatic Acceleration; Early Termination.  If the Company undergoes a Change in Control triggered by clause (iii) or (iv) of the definition thereof and the Company is not the surviving entity and the successor to the Company (if any) (or a Parent thereof) does not agree in writing prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control to continue and assume the award following the Change in Control, or if for any other reason the award would not continue after the Change in Control, then upon the Change in Control the outstanding and previously unvested RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award shall vest fully and completely.  Unless the Committee expressly provides otherwise in the circumstances, no acceleration of vesting of the award shall occur pursuant to this Section 6.3 in connection with a Change in Control if either (a) the Company is the surviving entity, or (b) the successor to the Company (if any) (or a Parent thereof) agrees in writing prior to the Change in Control to assume the award.  The Committee may make adjustments pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Plan and/or deem an acceleration of vesting of the award pursuant to this Section 6.3 to occur sufficiently prior to an event if necessary or deemed appropriate to permit the Grantee to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the shares underlying the RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents); provided, however, that, the Committee may reinstate the original terms of the award if the related event does not actually occur.
Payment of any RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) that vest under this Section 6.3 will be made within 90 days of the third anniversary of the Grant Date unless, prior to such date: (i) the Grantee dies or has a Disability, in which case such payment will be made in the calendar year containing the 75th day following the date of the Grantee’s death or Disability, as the case may be (and generally will be paid on or about such 75th day), or (ii) the Grantee has a Separation from Service, in which case such payment will be made at the time provided for in Section 2.7 as though the termination of the Grantee’s employment was due to a Normal Retirement.
		
	7.
	Tax Matters.

7.1.    Tax Withholding.  The Company or the subsidiary which employs the Grantee shall be entitled to require, as a condition of making any payments or issuing any shares upon vesting of the RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents), that the Grantee or other person entitled to such shares or other payment pay the minimum sums required to be withheld by federal, state, local or other applicable tax law with respect to such vesting or payment.  Alternatively, the Company or such subsidiary, in its discretion, may make such provisions for the withholding of taxes as it deems appropriate (including, without limitation, withholding the taxes due from compensation otherwise payable to the Grantee or reducing the number of shares otherwise deliverable with respect to the award (valued at 

5

their then Fair Market Value) by the amount necessary to satisfy such statutory minimum withholding obligations).
7.2.    Transfer Taxes.  The Company will pay all federal and state transfer taxes, if any, and other fees and expenses in connection with the issuance of shares in connection with the vesting of the RSRs.
7.3.    Compliance with Code.  The Committee shall administer and construe the award, and may amend the Terms of the award, in a manner designed to comply with the Code and to avoid adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A.
7.4.    Unfunded Arrangement. The right of the Grantee to receive payment under the award shall be an unsecured contractual claim against the Company. As such, neither the Grantee nor any Successor shall have any rights in or against any specific assets of the Company based on the award. Awards shall at all times be considered entirely unfunded for tax purposes.
7.5    Code Section 280G.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any amounts payable to you as a result of Section 6.2 or 6.3 hereof, either alone or together with amounts payable pursuant to any other plan, program or arrangement (a) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this Section 7.5 would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any comparable successor provisions (the “Excise Tax”), then the vesting acceleration provided in Section 6.2 or 6.3, as applicable, shall be either (a) provided to you in full, or (b) provided to you to such lesser extent that would result in no portion of the payments so accelerated being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, when taking into account applicable federal, state, local and foreign income and employment taxes, the Excise Tax, and any other applicable taxes, results in the receipt by you, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be subject to the Excise Tax.  All determinations required to be made under this Section 7.5 shall be made by a registered public accounting firm selected by the Company, which shall provide supporting calculations both to the Company and you no later than the date of the applicable Change in Control. In the event that the Payments are to be reduced pursuant to this Section 7.5, such Payments shall be reduced such that the reduction of compensation to be provided to the Executive as a result of this Section 7.5 is minimized.  In applying this principle, the reduction shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A and where two economically equivalent amounts are subject to reduction but payable at different times, such amounts shall be reduced on a pro rata basis but not below zero.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the terms and conditions of all prior grants are hereby modified to add this Section 7.5.  

 
8.Choice of Law; Venue; Arbitration.  
This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.  Any cause of action or claim arising out of or related to the terms and conditions applicable to this grant will be determined through final and binding arbitration, in accordance with Northrop Grumman Corporate Procedure H103A, provided that the prevailing party in the arbitration shall be entitled to receive from the losing party reasonably incurred attorneys’ fees and costs.  You and the Company agree that any arbitration hearing and related proceedings shall be convened and conducted in Falls Church, VA.  If you or the Company believes they require immediate relief to enforce or challenge these terms, before arbitration is commenced or concluded, either party may seek injunctive or other provisional equitable relief from a state or federal court in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  All court actions or proceedings arising under these terms shall be heard in a state or federal court in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Company and you hereby agree to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia and waive any right to object to such actions on grounds of venue, jurisdiction or convenience.
		
	9.
	Committee Authority.

The Committee has the discretionary authority to determine any questions as to the date when the Grantee’s employment terminated and the cause of such termination and to interpret any provision of these Terms, the Grant Letter, the Stock Plan System, the Plan, and any other applicable rules.  Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Committee relating to or pursuant to these Terms, the Grant Letter, the Stock Plan System, the Plan, or any other applicable rules shall be within the absolute discretion of the Committee and shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
		
	10.
	Plan; Amendment.

The RSRs (and related Dividend Equivalents) subject to the award are governed by, and the Grantee’s rights are subject to, all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and any other rules adopted by the Committee, as the foregoing may be amended from time to time.  The Grantee shall have no rights with respect to any amendment of these Terms or the Plan unless such amendment is in writing and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.  In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the Grant Letter and/or the Stock Plan System and the provisions of these Terms and/or the Plan, the provisions of these Terms and/or the Plan, as applicable, shall control.

6

		
	11.
	Required Holding Period.

         The holding requirements of this Section 11 shall apply to any Grantee who is an elected or appointed officer of the Company on the date Vested RSRs are paid (or, if earlier, on the date the Grantee’s employment by the Company and its subsidiaries terminates for any reason).  Any Grantee subject to this Section 11 shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, anticipate, alienate, assign, pledge, encumber or charge 50% of the total number (if any) of shares of Common Stock the Grantee receives as payment for Vested RSRs until the earlier of (A) the third anniversary of the date such shares of Common Stock are paid to the Grantee, (B) the date the Grantee’s employment by the Company and its subsidiaries terminates due to the Grantee’s death or Disability, or (C) the occurrence of a Change in Control that results in termination and payment under Section 6.2 or 6.3 above.  For purposes of this Section 11, the total number of shares of Common Stock the Grantee receives as payment for Vested RSRs shall be determined on a net basis after taking into account any shares otherwise deliverable with respect to the award that the Company withholds to satisfy tax obligations pursuant to Section 7.1.   Any shares of Common Stock received in respect of shares that are covered by the holding period requirements of this Section 11 (such as shares received in respect of a stock split or stock dividend) shall be subject to the same holding period requirements as the shares to which they relate.
		
	12.
	Definitions.

Whenever used in these Terms, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is capitalized:
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” means the occurrence of either or both of the following:
		
	(i)
	The Grantee’s conviction for committing an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or other act constituting a felony (other than traffic related offenses, as a result of vicarious liability, or as a result of good faith actions as an officer of the Company); or

		
	(ii)
	The willful engaging by the Grantee in misconduct that is significantly injurious to the Company.  However, no act, or failure to act, on the Grantee’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Grantee not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

“Change in Control” is used as defined in the Plan.

 
 “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Committee” means the Company’s Compensation Committee or any successor committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.
“Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock.
“Disability” means, with respect to a Grantee, that the Grantee:  (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months; or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Grantee’s employer; all construed and interpreted consistent with the definition of “Disability” set forth in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(C).
“Early Retirement” means that the Grantee’s employment terminates in any of the following circumstances, and other than a termination of employment that constitutes a Normal Retirement or occurs in connection with a termination by the Company or a subsidiary for cause:
(i)   a termination of employment after the Grantee has attained age 55 with at least 10 years of service.
		
	(ii)
	a termination of employment by the Company or a subsidiary as part of a reduction in force and, at the time of such termination, the Grantee has attained age 53 with at least 10 years of service.

		
	(iii)
	a termination of employment by the Company or a subsidiary as part of a reduction in force and, at the time of such termination, the sum of the Grantee’s age and years of service is at least 75.

“Fair Market Value” is used as defined in the Plan; provided, however, the Committee in determining such Fair Market Value for purposes of the award may utilize such other exchange, market, or listing as it deems appropriate.
“Good Reason” means, without the Grantee’s express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
		
	(i)
	A material and substantial reduction in the nature or status of the Grantee’s authorities or responsibilities (when such authorities and/or responsibilities are viewed in the aggregate) from their level in effect on the day immediately prior to the start of the Protected Period, other than (A) an inadvertent act 

7

that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Grantee, and/or (B) changes in the nature or status of the Grantee’s authorities or responsibilities that, in the aggregate, would generally be viewed by a nationally-recognized executive placement firm as resulting in the Grantee having not materially and substantially fewer authorities and responsibilities (taking into consideration the Company’s industry) when compared to the authorities and responsibilities applicable to the position held by the Grantee immediately prior to the start of the Protected Period.  The Company may retain a nationally-recognized executive placement firm for purposes of making the determination required by the preceding sentence and the written opinion of the firm thus selected shall be conclusive as to this issue. 
In addition, if the Grantee is a vice president, the Grantee’s loss of vice-president status will constitute “Good Reason”; provided that the loss of the title of “vice president” will not, in and of itself, constitute Good Reason if the Grantee’s lack of a vice president title is generally consistent with the manner in which the title of vice president is used within the Grantee’s business unit or if the loss of the title is the result of a promotion to a higher level office.  For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the Grantee’s lack of a vice-president title will only be considered generally consistent with the manner in which such title is used if most persons in the business unit with authorities, duties, and responsibilities comparable to those of the Grantee immediately prior to the commencement of the Protected Period do not have the title of vice-president. 
		
	(ii)
	A material reduction by the Company in the Grantee’s annualized rate of base salary as in effect at the start of the Protected Period, or as the same shall be increased from time to time. 

		
	(iii)
	A material reduction in the aggregate value of the Grantee’s level of participation in any of the Company’s short and/or long-term incentive compensation plans (excluding stock-based incentive compensation plans), employee benefit or retirement plans, or policies, practices, or arrangements in which the Grantee participates immediately prior to the start of the Protected Period; provided, however, that a reduction in the aggregate value shall not be deemed to be “Good Reason” if the reduced value remains substantially consistent with the average level of other employees who have positions commensurate with the position held by the Grantee immediately prior to the start of the Protected Period. 

 
		
	(iv)
	A material reduction in the Grantee’s aggregate level of participation in the Company’s stock-based incentive compensation plans from the level in effect immediately prior to the start of the Protected Period; provided, however, that a reduction in the aggregate level of participation shall not be deemed to be “Good Reason” if the reduced level of participation remains substantially consistent with the average level of participation of other employees who have positions commensurate with the position held by the Grantee immediately prior to the start of the Protected Period. 

		
	(v)
	The Grantee is informed by the Company that his or her principal place of employment for the Company will be relocated to a location that is greater than fifty (50) miles away from the Grantee’s principal place of employment for the Company at the start of the corresponding Protected Period; provided that, if the Company communicates an intended effective date for such relocation, in no event shall Good Reason exist pursuant to this clause (v) more than ninety (90) days before such intended effective date. 

The Grantee’s right to terminate employment for Good Reason shall not be affected by the Grantee’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Grantee’s continued employment shall not constitute a consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstances constituting Good Reason herein.
“Governmental Service Retirement” means an Early or Normal Retirement by the Grantee where the Grantee accepts a position in the federal government or a state or local government and an accelerated distribution under the award is permitted under Code Section 409A based on such government employment and related ethics rules.

 
“Normal Retirement” means that the Grantee terminates employment after attaining age 65 with at least 10 years of service (other than in connection with a termination by the Company or a subsidiary for cause).  In the case of a Grantee who is an officer of the Company subject to the Company’s mandatory retirement at age 65 policy and who, at the applicable time, is not otherwise eligible for Normal Retirement as defined in the preceding sentence, “Normal Retirement” as to that Grantee means that the Grantee’s employment is terminated pursuant to such mandatory retirement policy (regardless of the Grantee’s years of service and other than in connection with a termination by the Company or a subsidiary for cause).
“Parent” is used as defined in the Plan.
“Plan” means the Northrop Grumman 2011 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan, as it may be amended form time to time.

8

The “Protected Period” corresponding to a Change in Control of the Company shall be a period of time determined in accordance with the following:
		
	(i)
	If the Change in Control is triggered by a tender offer for shares of the Company’s stock or by the offeror’s acquisition of shares pursuant to such a tender offer, the Protected Period shall commence on the date of the initial tender offer and shall continue through and including the date of the Change in Control; provided that in no case will the Protected Period commence earlier than the date that is six (6) months prior to the Change in Control.

		
	(ii)
	If the Change in Control is triggered by a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with or involving any other corporation, the Protected Period shall commence on the date that serious and substantial discussions first take place to effect the merger, consolidation, or reorganization and shall continue through and including the date of the Change in Control; provided that in no case will the Protected Period commence earlier than the date that is six (6) months prior to the Change in Control.

		
	(iii)
	In the case of any Change in Control not described in clause (i) or (ii) above, the Protected Period shall commence on the date that is six (6) months prior to the Change in Control and shall continue through and including the date of the Change in Control.

“Separation from Service” means when the Grantee dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company and its subsidiaries that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder.
“Successor” means the person acquiring a Grantee’s rights to a grant under the Plan by will or by the laws of descent or distribution.

9

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00212-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00212-of-00352.parquet"}]]