COVENANTS PRIOR TO CLOSING 37 7.1 Access and Cooperation; Due Diligence...........................37 7.2 Conduct of Business Pending Closing.............................38 7.3
Covenants of the Companies Each of the Companies covenants with the Underwriters as follows:
A. Subject to Section 5.B, it will comply with the requirements of Rules 424(b) and 430D and will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of any supplement or amendment to the Prospectus, (ii) the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement, any Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or for additional information, (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Free Writing Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, and (v) the happening of any event at any time when a Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus relating to the Notes is required to be delivered under the Act, which, in the judgment of GMF, makes the Registration Statement or the Prospectus contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Companies will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof.
B. Prior to the termination of the offering of the Offered Notes, neither GMF nor the Seller will file any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment, supplement or revision to the Preliminary Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or to the Prospectus, unless GMF has furnished the Underwriters with a copy for their review prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
C. It has furnished or will deliver to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, a signed copy of the Original Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof) and a signed copy of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, a conformed copy of the Original Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for the Underwriters. The copies of the Original Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
D. GMF will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, electronic copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, each Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus, and hereby consents to the use of such electronic copies for purposes permitted by the Act. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
E. It will comply with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Offered Notes as contemplated in this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, the Registration Statement, any Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Offered Notes, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel to the Companies, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the Act or the Rules and Regulations, GMF will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the review and approval provisions afforded to the Underwriters described in Section 5.B, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, GMF will use its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable and the Seller will furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. Any such filing shall not operate as a waiver or limitation of any right of the Underwriters hereunder.
F. The Seller will use its best efforts, in cooperating with GMF and the Underwriters, to qualify the Offered Notes for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Underwriters may designate, and maintain or cause to be maintained such qualifications in effect for as long as may be required for the distribution of the Offered Notes. The Seller will cause the filing of such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Offered Notes have been so qualified.
G. [Reserved].
H. [Reserved].
I. The Seller, as registrant, shall file with the Commission a certification executed by the chief executive officer of the Seller in accordance with Item 601(b)(36) of Regulation S-K (the “CEO Certification”).
J. So long as the Offered Notes remain outstanding, the Companies will, upon the request of any Underwriter, deliver to such Underwriter as soon as such statements are furnished to the Trustee: (i) any annual statements as to compliance of the Servicer (and any subservicer), any annual assessments of compliance and any annual accountants attestations, each as delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement and (ii) the monthly reports furnished to the Noteholders pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
K. So long as any of the Offered Notes are outstanding, the Companies, upon the request of any Underwriter, will furnish to such Underwriter (i) as soon as practicable after the end of the fiscal year of the Trust, all documents required to be distributed to Noteholders and other filings with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, or any order of the Commission thereunder with respect to the Notes and (ii) from time to time, any other information concerning the Companies filed with any government or regulatory authority which is otherwise publicly available, as such Underwriter may reasonably request in writing.
L. It will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Notes in the manner set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
M. If, between the date hereof or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Preliminary Prospectus, and the Closing Date, to the knowledge of the Seller or GMF, there has been any material change, or any development involving a prospective material change in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of GMF or the Seller, GMF will give prompt written notice thereof to the Underwriters.
N. To the extent, if any, that the ratings provided with respect to the Offered Notes by the rating agency or agencies that initially rate the Offered Notes are conditional upon the furnishing of documents or the taking of any other actions by the Companies, the Companies will use their best efforts to furnish or cause to be furnished such documents and take any such other actions.
O. From the date hereof until the Closing Date, none of the Seller, GMF or any of their respective Affiliates will, without the prior written consent of the Representative, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or contract to sell or announce the offering of, in a public or private transaction which utilizes an offering document similar to the Prospectus, any other securities collateralized by retail automobile loan contracts of similar aggregate credit quality as the Receivables.
P. None of GMF, the Seller, or any Affiliate thereof, or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Underwriters or their respective Affiliates (as defined under Rule 405 of the Act)) has entered into or will enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Offered Notes except for this Agreement.
Q. The Seller will cooperate with the Representative and use its best efforts to permit the Offered Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.
R. Each of the Companies will comply with the 17g-5 Representations made by GMF to the Engaged NRSROs with respect to the Offered Notes. The Companies and the Trust will timely comply with all requirements of Rules 15Ga-2 and 17g-10 under the Exchange Act to the satisfaction of the Representative.
S. GMF will comply, and will cause each of its affiliates, including any Majority-Owned Affiliate, to comply, with all applicable requirements under the Credit Risk Retention Rules imposed on the “sponsor of a securitization transaction” for so long as those requirements are applicable, including retaining the Residual Interest and any required amount of the Notes in an amount not less than required by the Credit Risk Retention Rules and for the period of time required by the Credit Risk Retention Rules, without any impermissible hedging, transfer or financing of the Residual Interest or any such Notes. GMF is and will be solely responsible for compliance with the disclosure requirements of the Credit Risk Retention Rules, including the contents of all such disclosures and ensuring that any required post-closing disclosures are timely provided to investors by an appropriate method that does not require any involvement of the Underwriters.
Termination Prior to Closing Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties will be relieved of the obligation to consummate the Closing and purchase or sell the Assets:
(a) By the mutual written consent of the Buyer and the Seller;
(b) By the Seller in writing, without liability, if the Buyer (i) fails to perform in any material respect its agreements contained herein required to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) materially breaches any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained herein, which in either case is not cured within ten (10) days after the Seller has notified the Buyer of its intent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph;
(c) By the Buyer in writing, without liability, if the Seller (i) fails to perform in any material respect its agreements contained herein required to be performed by them on or prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) materially breaches any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained herein, which in either case is not cured within ten (10) days after the Buyer has notified the Seller of its intent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph;
(d) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, by either the Seller or the Buyer in writing, without liability, if there is issued any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory agency binding on the Buyer or the Seller which prohibits or materially restrains the Buyer or the Seller from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that the Buyer and the Seller have used their reasonable, good faith efforts to have any such order, writ, injunction or decree lifted and the same has not been lifted within sixty (60) days after entry, by any such court or governmental or regulatory agency;
(e) By the Buyer in writing, without liability, if Buyer elects to terminate pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 hereof;
(f) By either the Seller or the Buyer in writing, without liability, if for any reason the Closing has not occurred by March 31, 1999 other than as a result of the breach of this Agreement by the party attempting to terminate this Agreement;
(g) By Seller in writing, without liability, upon a "Change of Control" of Buyer (for purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" means (i) the acquisition by any individual, corporation, company, association, joint venture or other entity, of beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the voting securities of the Buyer; or (ii) individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board of Directors of the Buyer cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Buyer; or (iii) the consummation by the Buyer of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or exchange of shares or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Buyer, if immediately after giving effect to such transaction the individuals or entities who beneficially own voting securities immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own
Operations Prior to the Closing Date (a) From the date of this Agreement until the Closing, Sellers shall, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as consented to in writing by Buyer, operate the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Sellers shall: (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep and maintain the Purchased Assets in good operating condition and repair; (ii) maintain the business organization of the Business intact; (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the goodwill of the regulators, customers, suppliers, contractors, licensors, employees and others having business relations with the Business; (iv) not take or fail to take any action that could result in the occurrence of an “Additional Default Event” (as defined in that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2023, by and between Seller 1 and Vertical Investors, LLC (the “Letter Agreement”)); and (v) use best efforts to comply with the terms and conditions of the Letter Agreement.
(b) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or with the express written approval of Buyer, no Seller shall, directly or indirectly:
(i) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, license, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, (A) any assets that are material to the Business (other than the Excluded Assets) or (B) any assets to an equity holder of a Seller or any of their respective Affiliates;
(ii) declare or make any dividend or payment of cash to, or pay, loan or advance any amount to, any equity holder of a Seller or any of their respective Affiliates;
(iii) make any material change in the Business or its operations, acquire (including by merger or consolidation) any business or entity, or otherwise acquire any material asset;
(iv) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger or consolidation;
(v) amend any of its Organizational Documents;
(vi) increase or decrease the level of inventory of the Business or make any change in the inventory purchasing patterns, stocking levels or production practices of the Business;
(vii) take actions that may result, or would result, in payments to, or accounts receivable being created for the benefit of, a Seller sooner than is usual in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(viii) grant to any Employee of a Seller any increase in compensation (other than increases in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice to employees that are not in senior management or executive positions) or pay or agree to pay to any Employee of a Seller any bonus, severance or termination payment not previously agreed upon and provided in any Benefit Plan or other written agreements made available to Buyer (or otherwise required by applicable law);
(ix) make any material change in the manner in which a Seller extends discounts, credits or warranties;
(x) make any capital expenditures or payment in excess of $10,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or enter into any Contract therefor;
(xi) enter into, modify, amend, terminate or grant any consent or waiver under any Transferred Contract, or any other Contract involving more than $15,000, except for the renewal of any such Contract upon its expiration in accordance with its terms;
(a) make any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice or policy;
(xii) fail to preserve intact the Business’s and Sellers’ relationships with their employees, agents, customers, suppliers and other Persons having contacts with a Seller or the Business;
(xiii) terminate or fail to renew any Permit or have any Permit revoked or suspended;
(xiv) abandon, sell, assign, transfer, covenant not to sue, enter into a coexistence Contract, or grant any exclusive license or with respect to, or otherwise create an Encumbrance with respect to any Company IP; or
(xv) enter into any Contract to do any of the things described in subsections (i) through (xv) above or authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, such actions.
Covenants of the Company The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
Covenants Pending Closing (a) From the date hereof until the Closing, the Contributor shall not:
(i) Sell, transfer (or agree to sell or transfer) or otherwise dispose of, or cause the sale, transfer or disposition of (or agree to do any of the foregoing) all or any portion of his Company Interests; or
(ii) Mortgage, pledge or encumber (or permit to become encumbered) all or any portion of his Company Interests.
(b) From the date hereof through the Closing, the Contributor shall, to the extent within his control, cause each of the Company and the Entity to conduct its business in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and shall, to the extent within his control, not permit the Company or the Entity, without the prior written consent of Acquirer, to:
(i) Enter into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business of such entity:
(ii) Except for any transfers contemplated in the Term Sheet, sell, transfer or dispose of, or cause the sale, transfer or disposition of (or agree to do any of the foregoing) any assets of such entity, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(iii) Mortgage, pledge or encumber (or permit to become encumbered) any assets of such entity, except (A) liens for taxes not due, (B) purchase money security interests in the ordinary course of such entity's business, and (C) mechanics' liens being disputed by such entity in good faith and by appropriate proceeding in the ordinary course of such entity's business (provided such mechanics liens are released prior to or on the Closing Date at no cost to the Acquirer);
(iv) Amend, modify or terminate any Lease, contract or other instruments relating to the Property to which such entity is a party, except in the ordinary course of the entity's business consistent with past practice;
(v) Cause or permit the Entity to change the existing use of the Property;
(vi) Cause or permit any entity to enter into any new Lease or terminate any existing Lease except in the ordinary course of such entity's business consistent with past practice;
(vii) Cause or take any action that would render any of the representations or warranties contained herein to be untrue in any material respect;
(viii) Terminate or amend any existing insurance policies affecting the Property that results in a material reduction in insurance coverage for the Property;
(ix) Knowingly cause or permit such entity to violate or fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to cure any violation of any applicable laws;
(x) Materially alter the manner of keeping such entity's books, accounts or records or the accounting methods therein reflected; or
(xi) Except for any distributions contemplated in the Term Sheet, make any distribution to its members other than consistent with the prior practices of the entity.
(c) From the date hereof until the Closing Date, the Contributor will afford to the officers and authorized representatives of the Acquirer access to all of the Contributor's, the Company's and the Entity's books and records and will furnish the Acquirer with such additional financial and operating data and other information as to the business and properties of the Company, the Contributor and the Entity as the Acquirer may from time to time reasonably request.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any failure by the Contributor to comply with or fulfill the covenants contained in this Section 3.1 shall not constitute an indemnifiable claim under Section 3.4 of this Agreement, but shall constitute an unfulfilled condition precedent pursuant to Section 5.1, provided such failure is identified to or otherwise becomes known to the Acquirer prior to Closing.
Affirmative Covenants of the Seller Parties Until the date on which the Aggregate Unpaids have been indefeasibly paid in full and this Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms, each Seller Party hereby covenants, as to itself, as set forth below:
Covenants of the Buyer The Buyer covenants and agrees with the Seller as follows:
Covenants of Parent Parent agrees that:
Negative Covenants of the Company The Company covenants and agrees that, from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date (and, in any event, during such time as any portion of the Loan or any Interest thereon is outstanding), without the consent of the Lenders, the Company will not:
(a) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any indebtedness that is in any way senior or superior to this Agreement or the indebtedness represented hereby except as set forth in Section 3.1(b);
(b) merge or consolidate with or into any other corporation or sell or otherwise convey 25% or more of its assets; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Note to the contrary, the Company shall not be prohibited from consummating that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, ITec Acquisitions, Inc. and Rose Waste Systems, Inc. (the “Merger”);
(c) in a single transaction or series of related transactions, effect a significant acquisition of any business or entity (for purposes hereof, a “significant” acquisition shall be determined in accordance with Instructions 2, 3 and 4 or Item 2 of Form 8-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Note to the contrary, the Company shall not be prohibited from consummating the Merger;
(d) engage in any business other than the business conducted by the Company on the Closing Date;
(e) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution on any of its capital stock;
(f) engage in any transaction with any Affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) on terms less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from an unrelated party; or
(g) amend its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws in any manner that adversely affects the rights associated with this Agreement, the Warrant issued to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof or the Registrable Securities. The Company will give notice to the Lenders of any default under any provisions of this Agreement within three business days after the discovery by the Company of such default.
