RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT among ACCO BRANDS RECEIVABLES FUNDING LLC, as Seller, ACCO BRANDS USA LLC, as Servicer,. GOTHAM FUNDING CORPORATION, as the Purchaser, and THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH, as the Agent, Dated as...
EXHIBIT
10.2
============================================================
among
ACCO
BRANDS RECEIVABLES FUNDING LLC,
as
Seller,
ACCO
BRANDS USA LLC,
as
Servicer,.
GOTHAM
FUNDING CORPORATION,
as
the Purchaser,
and
THE
BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH,
as
the Agent,
Dated
as of January 9, 2008
============================================================
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
|
|
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
Section
1.01. Definitions and Rules of Construction
|
1
|
ARTICLE
II AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE PURCHASES
|
1
|
Section
2.01. The Purchase Facility
|
1
|
Section
2.02. Making the Purchases; Capital Reductions
|
2
|
Section
2.03. Yield and Fees; Tranche Periods
|
3
|
Section
2.04. Settlement Procedures
|
4
|
Section
2.05. Payments and Computations, Etc.
|
5
|
Section
2.06. Yield Protection
|
5
|
Section
2.07. Increased Capital
|
6
|
Section
2.08. Taxes
|
6
|
Section
2.09. Rights Under Sale Agreement
|
8
|
ARTICLE
III CONDITIONS OF PURCHASES
|
9
|
Section
3.01. Conditions Precedent to Initial Purchase
|
9
|
Section
3.02. Conditions Precedent to All Purchases
|
9
|
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
9
|
Section
4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Seller
|
10
|
Section
4.02. Representations and Warranties of the Servicer
|
15
|
ARTICLE
V GENERAL COVENANTS
|
17
|
Section
5.01. Affirmative Covenants of the Seller and the Servicer
|
17
|
Section
5.02. Reporting Requirements of the Seller and the
Servicer
|
20
|
Section
5.03. Negative Covenants of the Seller
|
22
|
Section
5.04. Negative Covenants of the Servicer
|
24
|
ARTICLE
VI ADMINISTRATION OF RECEIVABLES
|
25
|
Section
6.01. Designation of Servicer
|
25
|
Section
6.02. Duties of the Servicer
|
26
|
Section
6.03. Rights of the Agent
|
27
|
Section
6.04. Responsibilities of the Seller
|
28
|
Section
6.05. Further Action Evidencing Agent’s Interest
|
28
|
ARTICLE
VII EVENTS OF TERMINATION
|
29
|
Section
7.01. Events of Termination
|
29
|
i
ARTICLE
VIII INDEMNIFICATION
|
32
|
Section
8.01. Indemnities by the Seller
|
32
|
Section
8.02. Indemnities by the Servicer
|
33
|
ARTICLE
IX MISCELLANEOUS
|
34
|
Section
9.01. Amendments, Etc.
|
34
|
Section
9.02. Notices, Etc.
|
34
|
Section
9.03. No Waiver; Remedies
|
34
|
Section
9.04. Binding Effect; Assignability
|
34
|
Section
9.05. GOVERNING LAW
|
35
|
Section
9.06. Costs and Expenses
|
35
|
Section
9.07. No Proceedings
|
35
|
Section
9.08. Execution in Counterparts; Severability
|
36
|
Section
9.09. Confidentiality
|
36
|
Section
9.10. Intended Tax Treatment
|
36
|
ii
LIST
OF
ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
ANNEX
I
– Definitions and
Rules of Construction
EXHIBIT A
– Description
of Credit and Collection Policy
EXHIBIT B
– Form
of Capital Purchase Request
EXHIBIT C
– Form of
Investor Report
EXHIBIT D –
Form of Investment Certificate
EXHIBIT E –
Form of Lock-Box Agreement
EXHIBIT F –
[Reserved]
EXHIBIT G
–
Special Limits
EXHIBIT H –
List of Closing Documents
EXHIBIT I –
Form of Annual Audit/Agreed Upon Procedures
SCHEDULE 4.01(b) Locations
of Chief Executive Offices of Seller; Records
SCHEDULE 4.01(f) Litigation
SCHEDULE 4.01(h) Lock
Boxes & Lock Box Accounts
SCHEDULE 4.02(b) Locations
of Chief Executive Offices of Servicer; Records
This
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Purchase Agreement”)
dated as of January 9, 2008, among ACCO BRANDS RECEIVABLES FUNDING LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, (the “Seller”), ACCO BRANDS
USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ACCO”), as Servicer
(in such capacity, the “Servicer”) GOTHAM
FUNDING CORPORATION, (the “Purchaser”), and THE
BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH (“BTMU”), as Agent
for
the Purchaser (in such capacity, the “Agent”).
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01. Definitions and
Rules of Construction. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Annex
I. For purposes of this Purchase Agreement, the rules of
construction set forth in Annex I shall
govern.
ARTICLE
II
AMOUNTS
AND TERMS OF THE PURCHASES
Section
2.01. The Purchase
Facility. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Purchase Agreement, from the Effective Date through the Business
Day immediately preceding the Termination Date, the Seller agrees to sell,
and
the Purchaser agrees to buy, undivided percentage ownership interests (as
further defined in Annex I, “Purchaser Interests”)
in the Receivables Assets.
(b)
The Seller may, upon at least five Business Days’ prior written notice to the
Agent, reduce the unused portion of the Purchase Limit; provided that each
partial reduction of the Purchase Limit shall be in an amount equal to
$2,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Seller must give not
less than 60 days notice to the Agent prior to reduction of the Purchase Limit
to zero and termination of this Purchase Agreement in full.
(c)
The Purchase Limit may be increased at the request of the Seller, with the
written consent of the Agent, the Purchaser and the Liquidity Provider, each
in
its sole discretion; provided that no
Event of Termination or Incipient Termination Event shall have occurred and
be
continuing. Upon delivery of the written consent described below,
this Purchase Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to reflect the new
Purchase Limit consented to therein. The increased portion of
the Purchase Limit will be on the same terms as are contained herein at the
time
of such increase.
(d)
The Agent shall deliver to the Seller promptly after the receipt of such notice
from the Seller written (which may be delivered by facsimile or e-mail, with
telephone confirmation of receipt) confirmation of the amount of such increase
or reduction of the Purchase Limit and the date such increase or reduction
is
effective.
Section
2.02. Making the
Purchases; Capital Reductions. (a) Each purchase of undivided
percentage ownership interests in the Receivables Assets by the Purchaser
hereunder shall consist of either (i) a purchase made with new funds
provided by the Purchaser (each, a “Capital Purchase”) or
(ii) a purchase made by the Purchaser with funds consisting of Collections
allocated to the Purchaser Interests pursuant to the terms of this Purchase
Agreement (each, a “Reinvestment
Purchase”).
(b)
Capital
Purchases. The Seller shall provide the Agent with a purchase
notice, in the form of Exhibit B (each a
“Capital Purchase
Request”), no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business
Day that is one Business Day prior to each Capital Purchase. The
Agent shall promptly notify the Purchaser of the contents of any such Capital
Purchase Request. Each Capital Purchase Request shall, except as set
forth below, be irrevocable and shall specify the requested Purchase Price
(for
which the initial amount shall not be less than $1,000,000 and thereafter in
$100,000 increments) and date of purchase (which shall be a Business
Day). On the date of each Capital Purchase, upon satisfaction
of the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Article III, the
Purchaser shall make available to the Agent in accordance with the provisions
of
Section 2.05,
not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time), in immediately available funds,
an amount equal to the requested amount of such Capital Purchase, and the Agent
will, upon receipt thereof, make such funds available to the Seller by 3:00
p.m.
(New York City time) by wire transfer to the Seller’s Account; provided, that in
no
event shall the Purchaser make any Capital Purchase if, after giving effect
thereto, either (i) the Purchaser Interest would exceed 100% or (ii) the
aggregate outstanding Capital would exceed the Purchase Limit. The
Agent shall deliver to the Seller promptly after the occurrence of each Capital
Purchase written confirmation of the amount of such Capital Purchase and the
date such Capital Purchase is effective.
(c)
Reinvestment
Purchases. On each Business Day following the Effective Date
until the Termination Date, but subject to Section 3.02 hereof,
the Purchaser shall be automatically deemed to have made a Reinvestment Purchase
with a Purchase Price equal to the aggregate amount of Collections, if any,
which are allocated to the Purchaser Interests on such Business Day and are
available to be released to the Seller in accordance with the terms of Section
2.04.
(d)
Purchase
Price. The purchase price (the “Purchase
Price”) (i)
with respect to a Capital Purchase shall be equal to the amount requested by
the
Seller to be paid by the Purchaser pursuant to Section 2.02(a), and
(ii) with respect to a Reinvestment Purchase shall be equal to the amount of
Collections allocated to the Purchaser Interests and available to be released
to
the Seller in accordance with the terms of Section
2.04. The Purchase Price for a Capital Purchase may in no
event be greater than the excess, if any, of (1) the lesser of (x) the Purchase
Limit and (y) the Net Receivables Balance minus the Aggregate Reserves over (2) the
aggregate amount of outstanding Capital (before giving effect to such
Purchase).
(e)
Effect of
Purchases. Upon each Purchase, the Seller sells, assigns and
conveys an undivided percentage ownership interest in the Receivables Assets
to
the Agent for the benefit of the Purchaser, and the Purchaser hereby purchases
and acquires such undivided percentage ownership interest. The
parties hereto have structured this Purchase Agreement with the intention that
each purchase of an undivided interest in Receivables Assets hereunder be
treated
2
as
a sale
of such Receivables Assets by the Seller to the Purchaser, for all purposes,
other than federal and state income tax purposes, and the Seller shall not
take
any action inconsistent with such ownership and shall not claim any ownership
interest in the Purchaser Interest. Section 1-201 of the UCC provides
that a “security interest” under the UCC .” . . also includes any interest of a
buyer of accounts or chattel paper which is subject to Article 9 . . .” of the
UCC. Whether the transactions contemplated hereby are characterized
as a loan or as a sale, the Seller also hereby pledges and grants a “security
interest” in and assigns to the Agent, for the benefit of the Purchaser, and to
secure all amounts owing by the Seller to the Agent, the Purchaser and the
Liquidity Providers hereunder, all of the Seller’s right and title to and
interest in the Receivables Assets, including the Receivables, the Related
Security and Collections, as security for any such loans which may be deemed
to
be made hereunder and for the payment and performance of all obligations and
amounts payable to the Purchaser hereunder.
(f)
Prepayments. The
Seller may, upon at least two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice to the
Agent, prepay Capital in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 and increments of
$100,000 in excess thereof by remitting cash to the Agent for application
against Capital in the amount of such prepayment. The Seller agrees,
upon not less than two (2) Business Days' prior written notice of any Breakage
Amounts resulting from such prepayment, to indemnify the Purchaser and, if
applicable, any Liquidity Provider, for any such Breakage
Amounts. The Purchaser and the Liquidity Providers agree that they
will use commercially reasonable efforts, under the then applicable conditions
and circumstances, to invest the proceeds of any such prepayments in such manner
as is reasonably expected to minimize any resulting Breakage Amounts, but
subject in all events to such Person’s normal investment policies.
Section
2.03. Yield and Fees;
Tranche Periods. (a) All Capital shall, for purposes of
calculating Yield, be allocated to one or more “Tranche Periods” as set forth in
the definition of such term, and each such portion allocated to a particular
Tranche Period is referred to herein as a
“Tranche.” Yield shall accrue on the outstanding Capital on
each day during a Tranche Period at the applicable Purchaser Rate. On
each Settlement Date, the Seller shall pay to the Agent for the benefit of
the
Purchaser an amount equal to accrued and unpaid Yield with respect to all
Capital outstanding during the immediately preceding Settlement Period from
Collections in accordance with Section 2.04.
(b)
Each Tranche shall reflect the funding sources for the Capital associated
therewith so that (i) there may be one or more Tranches, selected by the Agent,
reflecting the portion of Capital funded by outstanding Liquidity Advances
or by
funding under the related agreement and (ii) there may be one or more Tranches
allocated to the portion of the Capital funded by Commercial Paper Notes. All
Capital shall be allocated to Tranches which bear interest at the CP Rate,
unless the Agent determines that the Purchaser is unable, whether as a result
of
contractual restrictions, rating agency limitations or any other event or
circumstance, to issue Commercial Paper Notes, or the Agent otherwise determines
that funding in the commercial paper market for the size and maturity of such
Tranche is unavailable.
(c)
On the Closing Date, the Seller shall pay to the Agent the fees set forth in
the
Fee Letter that are due and payable on such date, including the Arrangement
Fee
and reimbursement for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including
any legal fees and disbursements, relating to the negotiation, preparation
and
closing of this Purchase Agreement. On each
3
Settlement
Date, the Seller shall pay to the Agent an amount equal to the sum of the
Program Fees, Commitment Fees and Additional Amounts with respect to the
immediately preceding Settlement Period from Collections in accordance with
Section
2.04.
Section
2.04. Settlement
Procedures.
(a)
Deemed
Collections. If on any day the Outstanding Balance of a
Receivable is reduced or cancelled as a result of a Dilution Factor, the Seller
shall be deemed to have received on such day a Collection of such Receivable
in
an amount equal to the Outstanding Balance of such Diluted
Receivable. If the Seller is on any day deemed to have received
Collections pursuant to this Section 2.04(a), the
Seller shall deposit an amount of funds equal to such deemed Collections into
the Collection Account as and when required in accordance with Section 2.04(c) or
(d)
below.
(b)
Daily Allocation
of
Collections. Before the Termination Date, on each Business Day
during a Settlement Period, the Servicer shall determine the Collections of
Receivables received on such day and shall:
(i)
first, allocate to the making of a Reinvestment Purchase the amount required
pursuant to Section
2.02(c) hereof;
(ii)
second, set aside on its books and records and hold in trust (but, prior to
the
occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Servicer shall not be required to
segregate) for the Purchaser an amount equal to the product of (1) the aggregate
of the Purchaser Interests, and (2) the amount of such Collections, for further
application on the succeeding Settlement Date in accordance with Section 2.04(c) or
(d)
below;
and
(iii)
third, pay the balance of such Collections, if any, to the Seller for its share
of ownership therein.
(c)
Allocation of
Collections on Settlement Dates Pre-Termination Date. On each
Settlement Date before the Termination Date, the Servicer shall deposit into
the
Collection Account all Collections set aside and held in trust pursuant to
Section 2.04(b)(ii)
above during the immediately preceding Settlement Period, and the Agent shall
apply all such Collections as follows:
(i)
first, in payment of the following amounts in the following order, for
allocation to the relevant Affected Parties (or in the case of clause (5), the
Servicer): (1) Yield for such Settlement Period, (2) Commitment Fees for such
Settlement Period, (3) Program Fees for such Settlement Period, (4) Additional
Amounts for such Settlement Period, and (5) Servicer Fees for such Settlement
Period;
(ii)
second, if a Purchase Excess then exists, an amount equal to any Purchase
Excess, to be applied in reduction of outstanding Capital; and
(iii)
third, to the Seller in payment of the Purchase Price for a Reinvestment
Purchase.
4
(d)
Allocation of
Collections on Settlement Dates Post-Termination Date. On each
Settlement Date on and after the Termination Date, the Servicer shall deposit
into the Collection Account all Collections during the immediately preceding
Settlement Period (other than amounts allocated to a Reinvestment Purchase
occurring prior to the Termination Date), and the Agent shall apply all such
Collections as follows:
(i)
first, in payment of accrued and unpaid Yield with respect to such Settlement
Period;
(ii)
second, in payment of outstanding Capital;
(iii)
third, in payment of the following amounts in the following order, for
allocation to the relevant Affected Parties, or in the case of clause (4), the
Servicer (to the extent then accrued and unpaid): (1) Commitment Fees, (2)
Program Fees, (3) Additional Amounts, and (4) Servicer Fees;
(iv)
fourth, in payment of any other amounts due and payable to the Affected Parties;
and
(v)
fifth, following the Final Collection Date, the balance to the
Seller.
Section
2.05. Payments and
Computations, Etc. All amounts to be paid or deposited by the
Seller or the Servicer hereunder shall be paid or deposited in accordance with
the terms hereof without setoff or counterclaim no later than 1:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on the day when due in lawful money of the United States of
America in immediately available funds to such account as the Agent may
designate from time to time in writing. The Seller and the Servicer
shall, to the extent permitted by law, pay to the Agent interest on all amounts
not paid or deposited by such Person when due hereunder at 2% per annum above
the Base Rate, payable on demand. Such interest shall be retained by
the Agent except to the extent that such failure to make a timely payment or
deposit has continued beyond the date for distribution by the Agent of such
overdue amount to the Purchaser or the applicable Liquidity Provider, in which
case such interest accruing after such date shall be for the account of, and
distributed by the Agent to, the Purchaser or such Liquidity
Provider. All computations of interest and all computations of Yield
(other than Yield calculated with reference to the Base Rate, which shall be
made on the basis of a year of 365/366 days, as applicable), Commitment Fees,
Program Fees, Servicer Fees and Additional Amounts hereunder shall be made
on
the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the
first but excluding the last day) elapsed. In no event shall any
provision of this Purchase Agreement require the payment or permit the
collection of Yield or interest in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable
law. In the event that any payment hereunder (whether constituting a
payment of Capital, Yield or any other amount) is rescinded or must otherwise
be
returned for any reason, the amount of such payment shall be restored and such
payment shall be considered not to have been made.
Section
2.06. Yield
Protection. If due to either: (i) the introduction
of or any
change (including, without limitation, any change by way of imposition or
increase of reserve requirements) in or in the interpretation by any
Governmental Authority of any law or regulation after the date hereof or (ii)
the compliance by any Affected Party with any guideline or request
5
from
any
central bank or other Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force
of
law) after the date hereof (in both cases other than with respect to taxes
which
shall be governed exclusively by Section 2.08), there shall be an increase
in
the cost to such Affected Party of accepting, funding or maintaining any
Purchase hereunder, then the Seller shall, from time to time, within five (5)
Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of such
Affected Party (as a third party beneficiary, in the case of any Affected Party
other than the Purchaser), that portion of such increased costs incurred or
amounts not received, which the Agent reasonably determines is attributable
to
accepting, funding and maintaining any Purchase hereunder. In
determining such amount, the Agent may use any reasonable averaging and
attribution methods. The applicable Affected Party (i) shall submit
to the Seller a certificate describing in reasonable detail the basis for and
the calculation of such increased costs incurred or amounts not received, which
certificate shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding
for all purposes and (ii) shall use reasonable commercial efforts to take such
steps as may be readily taken on its part to minimize such increased costs
or
amounts not received, and which would not entail any material expenditures
on
such Affected Party’s part or otherwise be materially disadvantageous to it, in
each case in the sole discretion of such Affected Party.
Section
2.07. Increased
Capital. (a) If any Regulatory Change occurring after the date
hereof affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to
be
maintained by such Affected Party or reduces the rate of return on such capital,
or such Affected Party reasonably determines that as a result of such Regulatory
Change the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence
of
the Purchaser’s agreement to make or maintain Purchases hereunder and other
similar agreements or facilities or the agreement of any Liquidity Provider
to
make funds available to the Purchaser based on its agreements hereunder, then,
within five (5) Business Days of demand by such Affected Party or the Agent,
the
Seller shall pay to such Affected Party (as a third party beneficiary, in the
case of any Affected Party other than the Purchaser) or the Agent for the
account of such Affected Party from time to time, as specified by such Affected
Party or the Agent, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Affected
Party in light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Affected Party
or
the Agent on behalf of such Affected Party reasonably determines such increase
in capital to be allocable to the existence of the Purchaser’s agreements
hereunder. A certificate describing in reasonable detail the basis
for and calculation of such amounts submitted to the Seller by such Affected
Party or the Agent, shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive
and
binding for all purposes.
(b)
If any Affected Party shall incur any loss, cost or expense as a result of
any
reduction in Capital on any date other than a Settlement Date or as a result
of
the failure of any Capital Purchase to be made on the date specified in the
applicable Capital Purchase Request for any reason, the Seller shall, upon
demand by the Agent, pay the Agent for the account of such Affected Party the
amount of such losses, costs and expenses. Such Affected Party shall submit
to
the Seller and the Agent a certificate as to such amounts, which certificate
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all
purposes.
Section
2.08. Taxes. (a)
Any and all payments and deposits required to be made hereunder or under any
instrument delivered hereunder by the Seller hereunder shall be made, in
accordance with Section 2.05, free
and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with
respect
6
thereto
(except for net income taxes and franchise taxes that are imposed by the United
States and franchise taxes and net income taxes that are imposed on such
Affected Party by the State or States under the laws of which such Affected
Party is organized or doing business (other than doing business solely by reason
of having executed, delivered or performed its obligations, received payment
or
enforced its rights under this Purchase Agreement or any other Facility
Document), or any political subdivision thereof (such non-excluded taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges and withholdings being “Indemnified
Taxes”)). If the Seller or the Servicer shall be required by
law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable
hereunder, (i) the Seller shall make an additional payment to such Affected
Party in an amount sufficient so that, after making all required deductions
(including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.08), such
Affected Party receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had
no
such deductions been made, (ii) the Seller or the Servicer, as the case may
be,
shall make such deductions and (iii) the Seller or the Servicer, as the case
may
be, shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or
other authority in accordance with applicable law and shall, within 30 days
after the date of any payment of Indemnified Taxes, furnish to the Agent the
original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment
thereof. The Seller shall, within ten days of demand from the Agent
demonstrating the payment of Indemnified Taxes by an Affected Party, indemnify
such Affected Party from and against, and pay to such Affected Party, the full
amount of any such Indemnified Taxes so paid.
(b)
In addition, the Seller agrees to pay any present or future stamp or other
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes or similar levies which
arise from any payment made hereunder or under any instrument delivered
hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise
with
respect to, this Purchase Agreement or any instrument delivered
hereunder.
(c)
Each Affected Party which is not organized under the laws of the United States
or any State thereof shall, within thirty (30) days after such Affected Party
becomes a party to or obtains rights under this Purchase Agreement or changes
its funding office to a location outside of the United States, and prior to
any
payment being made by the Seller to such Affected Party (or to such office),
deliver to the Seller (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, (or any successor form),
as applicable; and (ii) such other forms or certificates as may be required
under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction (on or before the date that any
such form expires or becomes obsolete), in each case that permit the Seller
to
make payments to, and deposit funds to or for the account of, such Affected
Party hereunder and under the other Facility Documents without any deduction
or
withholding for or on account of any tax. To the extent permitted by law, each
such Affected Party shall submit to the Seller (copied to the Agent) two
updated, completed, and duly executed versions of: (i) all forms referred to
in
the previous sentence upon the expiry of, or the occurrence of any event
requiring a change in, the most recent form previously delivered by it to the
Seller or the substitution of such form; and (ii) such extensions or renewals
thereof as may reasonably be requested by the Seller. If an Affected Party
fails
to comply with this Section 2.08(c), it
shall not be entitled to any additional payment pursuant to Section 2.08(a) to
the extent that such additional payments under Section 2.08(a) result from
the
failure to comply with this Section 2.08(c).
7
(d)
If an Affected Party determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received
a
refund or credit of any amounts as to which it has been indemnified by the
Seller pursuant to this Section 2.08, it
shall pay over such refund or credit to the Seller net of all out-of-pocket
expenses of such Affected Party and without interest (other than any interest
paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such refund net of any
applicable taxes payable in respect of such interest); provided, that the
Seller, upon the request of such Affected Party, agrees to repay the amount
paid
over to the Seller (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by
the
relevant taxing authority) to such Affected Party in the event such Affected
Party is required to repay such refund to such taxing authority. This
Section 2.08
shall not be construed to require any Affected Party to make available its
tax
returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems
confidential) to the Seller or any other Person.
(e)
If an Affected Party requests indemnification or repayment under this Section
2.08, a certificate describing in reasonable detail such amounts and the basis
for such Affected Party’s demand for such amounts submitted to the Seller and
the Servicer by such Affected Party shall be conclusive and binding for all
purposes, absent manifest error.
Section
2.09. Rights Under
Sale Agreement. The Seller acknowledges that all of the
Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Sale Agreement are part
of the Receivables Assets. Accordingly, the Seller agrees that, after
an Event of Termination, the Agent shall have the sole right to enforce the
Seller’s rights and remedies under the Sale Agreement, to receive all amounts
payable to Seller thereunder or in connection therewith, to consent to
amendments, modifications or waivers thereof, and to direct, instruct or request
any action thereunder, but in each case without any obligation on the part
of
the Agent or the Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates to perform
any
of the obligations of the Seller under the Sale Agreement. To the
extent that the Seller enforces the Seller’s rights and remedies under the Sale
Agreement, the Agent shall have the exclusive right to direct such enforcement
by the Seller. The assignment to the Agent pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall
terminate upon the Final Collection Date; provided, however,
that the
rights of the Agent pursuant to such assignment with respect to rights and
remedies in connection with any indemnification or any breach of any
representation, warranty or covenant made by any Originator in the Sale
Agreement shall be continuing and shall survive any termination of such
assignment.
Section
2.10. Seller
Call.
(a)
So long as no Event of Termination or Incipient Termination Event has occurred
and is continuing, and upon the satisfaction of the additional conditions set
forth in clause
(b) below, Seller may, at its option, on any Settlement Date, repurchase
all, but not less than all, of the Transferred Receivables and Related Security
at a call price (the “Call Price”) equal to
the sum of (i) the Purchaser’s Capital at such time, (ii) any and all accrued
and unpaid Yield and any Yield to accrue on the Purchaser’s Capital to and
including the next Settlement Date, and (iii) any and all other fees,
indemnities, breakage costs, and any and all other costs or expenses then owing
to the Agent, the Purchaser, any Affected Party or any Indemnified Party
hereunder or under any other Facility Document. Seller shall give
Agent written notice ten (10) Business Days prior to the Settlement Date that
it
will be making such repurchase. Seller shall remit the Call Price to
or at the direction of Agent and such payment shall not be effective until
indefeasibly received by the Agent in full in cash.
8
(b)
The right of the Seller to make the repurchase set forth in clause (a) above
is
subject to the following conditions precedent:
(i)
both immediately before and after giving effect to the payment of the Call
Price, the Seller is and will be Solvent; and
(ii)
the exercise of such repurchase would not be reasonably expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Agent, any Purchaser, any Affected Party or
any
Indemnified Party.
Payment
of the Call Price constitutes a representation and warranty by the Seller and
Servicer that the conditions specified above are then satisfied and will be
satisfied after giving effect thereto.
ARTICLE
III
CONDITIONS
OF PURCHASES
Section
3.01. Conditions
Precedent to Initial Purchase. The Agent shall have received
each of the documents, instruments, opinions and other agreements listed on
Exhibit H as a
condition precedent to the initial Purchase.
Section
3.02. Conditions
Precedent to All Purchases. Each Purchase (including the
initial Purchase) by the Purchaser from the Seller shall be subject to the
further conditions precedent that on the date of each Purchase, each of the
following shall be true and correct on the date of each such Purchase both
before and after giving effect to such Purchase:
(a)
The representations and warranties contained in Article IV are
correct in all material respects on and as of such day as though made on and
as
of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties are
expressly limited to an earlier date,
(b)
No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Purchase
which constitutes an Event of Termination or in the case of Capital Purchases
only would constitute an Event of Termination but for the requirement that
notice be given or time elapse or both, and
(c)
In the case of a Capital Purchase, after giving effect to such Purchase, the
aggregate outstanding Capital shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the Net
Receivables Balance minus the Aggregate Reserves and (ii) the Purchase
Limit.
Each
delivery of a Capital Purchase Request to the Agent, and the acceptance by
the
Seller of the Purchase Price with respect to any Purchase, shall constitute
a
representation and warranty by the Seller that, as of the date of such Purchase,
both before and after giving effect thereto and the application of the proceeds
thereof, each of the foregoing statements are true and correct.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
9
Section
4.01. Representations
and Warranties of the Seller. The Seller represents and
warrants, on and as of the date of each Purchase (including each Reinvestment
Purchase), as follows, each and all of which shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Purchase Agreement:
(a)
Due Formation and
Good
Standing. The Seller is a limited liability company duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, the state of Delaware (which is Seller’s only
state of organization). The Seller (i) is duly qualified to conduct
business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business requires it to be so qualified; (ii) has the requisite power
(corporate or otherwise) and authority and the legal right to own, pledge,
mortgage or otherwise encumber and operate its properties, to lease the property
it operates under lease, and to conduct its business, in each case, as now,
heretofore and proposed to be conducted; (iii) has all licenses, permits,
consents or approvals from or by, and has made all filings with, and has given
all notices to, all Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction, to the extent
required for such ownership, operation and conduct; (iv) is in compliance with
its organizational documents; (v) is in compliance with the applicable
provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act as amended by Title III of the Patriot Act
and the economic sanctions laws administered by OFAC; and (vi) is in compliance
in all material respects with all other applicable provisions of law, subject
to
specific representations set forth herein regarding ERISA, tax and other
laws.
(b)
Location of Chief
Executive Office and Records. As of the Closing Date, the
current location of the Seller’s chief executive office, principal place of
business, other offices, and the locations of all Records (including originals
of all Contracts and other agreements or instruments evidencing or otherwise
giving rise to the Receivables) are set forth in Schedule 4.01(b).
During the prior five years (or such shorter time as the Seller has been in
existence), except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(b), the
Seller has not been known as or used any other name (fictitious, trade or
otherwise). In addition, Schedule 4.01(b)
lists the organizational identification number issued by Seller’s state of
organization or states that no such number has been issued and lists the federal
employer identification number of the Seller.
(c)
Due Authorization
and
No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by it of
this Purchase Agreement, the Sale Agreement and all other Facility Documents
to
which it is a party (i) are within its organizational powers; (ii) have been
duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company or corporate action
on its part; (iii) do not contravene any provision of such Person’s Charter
Documents; (iv) do not violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it;
(v)
do not conflict with (A) any material contractual restriction binding on it
or
its property or (B) any provision of the Credit Agreement binding on the Parent
and its Subsidiaries; (vi) do not contravene any order, writ, judgment, award,
injunction or decree binding on it or its property, and (vii) do not result
in
or require the creation of any Adverse Claim upon or with respect to any of
its
properties.
(d)
Governmental
Consent. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice
to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required for the due
10
execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Purchase Agreement, the Sale Agreement
or
any other agreement, document or instrument to be delivered by it hereunder,
except for filings under the UCC necessary to perfect the interests granted
hereunder and under the Sale Agreement and except as have been made or obtained
on or before the Effective Date and thereafter will be in full force and
effect.
(e)
Enforceability of
Facility Documents. This Purchase Agreement, the Sale
Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party have been
duly
executed and delivered on its behalf and constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligation of it enforceable against it in accordance with their respective
terms, subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar law now or hereafter in effect relating to or
affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and general
equitable principles, whether applied in a proceeding at law or in
equity.
(f)
Litigation. Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.01(f),
there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to its knowledge
threatened in writing, against it, or its property, in any court, or before
any
arbitrator of any kind, or before or by any Governmental Authority, which (i)
assert the invalidity of any Facility Document or any action to be taken by
it
in connection therewith, (ii) seek to prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Purchase Agreement and the other Facility
Documents or (iii) if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to
have
a Material Adverse Effect. It is not in default with respect to any
order of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority.
(g)
Accuracy of
Information. No Investor Report, Investment Certificate,
Capital Purchase Request, certificate, report or other information (including
any schedule hereto) furnished by it to the Agent, the Purchaser or any
Liquidity Provider in connection with this Purchase Agreement is or shall be
inaccurate in any material respect as of the date it is dated (except as
otherwise disclosed to the Agent, Purchaser or Liquidity Provider at such
time).
(h)
Account
Information. The names and addresses of all the Lock-Box
Banks, together with the account numbers of the Lock-Box Accounts, are specified
in Schedule
4.01(h) (or at such other Lock-Box Banks and/or with such other Lock-Box
Accounts as have been notified to the Agent in accordance with Section 5.03(e)) and
with respect to which all action required by Section 5.03(e) has
been taken and completed. The Seller has directed or caused each
Obligor to be directed to make payment to a Lock-Box Account listed in Schedule 4.01(h) for
which there is an effective and binding Lock-Box Agreement. The
Collection Account and the Lock-Box Accounts are the only accounts to which
the
Seller has directed Obligors to remit Collections of Receivables.
(i)
Perfection of Interest
in Receivables and Receivables Assets; Eligibility. The Sale
Agreement constitutes the only agreement under which the Seller acquires any
Receivables. As of the time of each Purchase, each Receivable was
acquired by the Seller free and clear of any Adverse Claim, and the Agent on
behalf of the Purchaser has acquired a valid and perfected first priority
ownership interest or security interest in each
11
Transferred
Receivable and in the Related Security, Collections and other Receivables Assets
with respect thereto, in each case free and clear of any Adverse Claim; and
no
effective financing statement or other instrument similar in effect, is filed
in
any recording office listing the Seller, or any Originator as debtor, covering
any Transferred Receivable, Related Security, Collections or other Receivables
Assets except such as may be filed in favor of the Agent (or in favor of the
Originator and assigned to the Seller and then the Agent or in favor of the
Seller and assigned to the Agent).
(j)
Solvency. Both
before and after giving effect to (i) the transactions contemplated by this
Purchase Agreement and the other Facility Documents and (ii) the payment and
accrual of all transaction costs in connection with the foregoing, the Seller
is
and will be Solvent. No event of the type described in Section 7.01(g) has
been commenced or to its knowledge threatened in writing against
it.
(k)
Limited
Business. Since its formation, the Seller has conducted no
business other than (i) the purchase and receipt of Receivables and related
assets from the Originators under the Sale Agreement, (ii) the assignment of
Receivables Assets under this Purchase Agreement to finance any such purchases,
and (iii) such other activities as are incidental to the
foregoing. The Facility Documents are the only agreements to which
the Seller is a party. The Seller does not own or hold, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock or equity security of, or any equity interest
in,
any Person.
(l)
Taxes. The
Seller has filed or caused to be filed all Federal, state and local tax returns
which are required to be filed by it, and has paid or caused to be paid all
taxes prior to such taxes becoming delinquent, other than any taxes or
assessments the validity of which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings.
(m)
ERISA. The
Seller is in compliance with ERISA and Section 401 of the IRC and has not
incurred and does not expect to incur any liabilities (except for premium
payments arising in the ordinary course of business) payable to the PBGC under
ERISA that would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(n)
Margin
Regulations. The Seller is not engaged in the business of
extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin
security,” as such terms are defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve
Board as now and from time to time hereafter in effect (such securities being
referred to herein as “Margin Stock”). The
Seller owns no Margin Stock, and no portion of the proceeds of the purchase
price for the Purchaser Interests sold hereunder will be used, directly or
indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock, for
the
purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness that was originally incurred
to
purchase or carry any Margin Stock or for any other purpose that might cause
any
portion of such proceeds to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning
of Regulations T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board. The Seller will not
take
or authorize to be taken any action that might cause any Facility Document
to
violate any regulation of the Federal Reserve Board.
12
(o)
Nonapplicability
of
Bulk Sales Laws. No transaction contemplated by this Purchase
Agreement or any of the Facility Documents requires compliance with any bulk
sales act or similar law.
(p)
Investment Company
Act. The Seller is not required to be registered as an
“investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
(q)
Nonconsolidation.
(i)
The Seller is a limited purpose entity whose activities are restricted in its
Charter Documents to those activities expressly permitted hereunder and under
the other Facility Documents and the Seller has not engaged, nor does it
presently engage, in any activity other than those activities expressly
permitted hereunder and under the other Facility Documents, nor has the Seller
entered into any agreement other than this Purchase Agreement, the other
Facility Documents and, with the prior written consent of the Purchaser and
the
Agent, any other material agreement necessary to carry out more effectively
the
provisions and purposes hereof or thereof.
(ii)
The Seller maintains records and books of account separate from that of Parent,
ACCO and each Originator, holds annual meetings and otherwise observes
organizational formalities, has a business office separate from that of Parent,
ACCO and each Originator and to the extent that the Parent, ACCO or the
Originators share office space or services, the associated costs will be fairly
and reasonably allocated among them.
(iii)
The financial statements and books and records of the Seller, Parent, ACCO
and
the Originators reflect the separate corporate existence of the
Seller.
(iv)
(A) The Seller maintains its assets separately from the assets of Parent, ACCO
and each Originator (including through the maintenance of separate bank accounts
and except for any Records to the extent necessary to assist the Servicer in
connection with the servicing of the Transferred Receivables), (B) the Seller’s
funds (including all money, checks and other cash proceeds) and assets, and
records relating thereto, have not been and are not commingled with those of
Parent, ACCO or any Originator, except for such commingling as is permitted
under this Purchase Agreement and the other Facility Documents and (C) the
separate creditors of the Seller will be entitled to be satisfied out of the
Seller’s assets, prior to any value in the Seller becoming available to the
Seller’s owners and the Seller shall not hold itself out as being liable for the
debt of any other entity including Parent, ACCO and the
Originators.
(v)
Except as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder, under the other Facility
Documents and under the Seller’s Charter Documents, neither Parent,
13
ACCO
nor any Originator (A) pays the Seller’s
expenses, (B) guarantees the Seller’s obligations, or (C) advances funds to the
Seller for the payment of expenses or otherwise.
(vi)
All business correspondence and other communications of the Seller are conducted
in such Person’s own name, on its own stationery.
(vii)
The Seller does not act as agent for Parent, ACCO or any Originator, but instead
each presents itself to the public as a limited liability company or a
corporation, as the case may be, separate from each such member and
independently engaged in the business permitted under such Person’s Charter
Documents.
(viii)
The Seller maintains at least one independent manager, who (A) is not a
Stockholder, director, officer, employee or associate, or any relative of the
foregoing, of Parent, ACCO or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (other
than
his or her service as independent director, special member or other similar
capacity); (B) is not a beneficial owner at the time of the individual’s
appointment, or at any time thereafter while serving in such capacity, of any
voting securities of Parent, ACCO or any of their respective Subsidiaries or
Affiliates; (C) is not affiliated with a significant customer, supplier or
creditor of Parent, ACCO or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates;
(D) is not affiliated with a company of which Parent, ACCO or any of their
respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is a significant customer or supplier;
(E)
does not have any significant personal services contract(s) with Parent, ACCO
or
any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates (other than his or her
service as independent director, special member or other similar capacity);
and
(F) is not a spouse, parent, sibling or child of any person describes in (A)
through (E) above.
(ix)
The Charter Documents of the Seller require (A) the affirmative vote of the
independent manager of the Seller before a voluntary petition under Section
301
of the Bankruptcy Code may be filed by the Seller, and (B) the Seller to
maintain (1) correct and complete books and records of account separate from
those of Parent, ACCO or any Originator and (2) minutes of the meetings and
other proceedings of its Stockholders and board of directors or managers, as
applicable.
(r)
Servicing
Software. The Seller has all necessary licenses and rights to
use the Servicing Software.
(s)
No Material Adverse
Change. Except as otherwise disclosed to the Agent in writing
prior to the Closing Date, since September 30, 2007, there has been no material
adverse change in the Seller’s business, properties or financial condition, in
the ability of the Seller to perform its obligations hereunder or under any
other Facility Document or in the collectibility of the
Receivables.
14
(t)
Reasonably Equivalent
Value; Protected Purchaser. The Seller has given reasonably
equivalent value to the Originator in consideration for the transfer to the
Seller by the Originator of the Receivables and the Related Security, and such
transfer was not made for or on account of an antecedent debt owed by the
Originator to the Seller. The Seller had no notice of any Adverse
Claim with respect to the Receivables and the Related Security at the time
of
such transfer.
(u)
Sale of
Goods. Each Receivable represents part or all of the sales
price of merchandise, insurance or services within the meaning of Section
3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section
4.02. Representations
and Warranties of the Servicer. ACCO, as Servicer, represents
and warrants as to itself, on and as of the date of each Purchase (including
each Reinvestment Purchase), as follows, each and all of which shall survive
the
execution and delivery of this Purchase Agreement:
(a)
Due Incorporation
and
Good Standing. The Servicer is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation, the State of Delaware (which is the Servicer’s only state of
incorporation). The Servicer (i) is duly qualified to conduct
business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business requires it to be so qualified except where the failure to
so
qualify or be in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not
have
or result in a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) has the requisite power (corporate
or otherwise) and authority and the legal right to own, pledge, mortgage or
otherwise encumber and operate its properties, to lease the property it operates
under lease, and to conduct its business, in each case, as now, heretofore
and
proposed to be conducted; (iii) has all licenses, permits, consents or approvals
from or by, and has made all filings with, and has given all notices to, all
Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction, to the extent required for such
ownership, operation and conduct except where the failure to have such licenses,
permits, consents or approvals individually or in the aggregate, would not
have
or result in a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) is in compliance with its
organizational documents; (v) is in compliance with the applicable provisions
of
the Bank Secrecy Act as amended by Title III of the Patriot Act and the economic
sanctions laws administered by OFAC; and (vi) is in compliance with all other
applicable provisions of law, including subject to specific representations
set
forth herein regarding ERISA, tax and other laws, except where the failure
to
comply, individually or in the aggregate, would not have or result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(b)
Location of Chief
Executive Office and Records. As of the Closing Date, the
current location of the Servicer’s chief executive office, principal place of
business and the locations of all Records (including originals of all Contracts
or other agreements or instruments evidencing or otherwise giving rise to the
Receivables) are set forth in Schedule
4.02(b).
(c)
Due Authorization
and
No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by it of
this Purchase Agreement, the Sale Agreement and all other Facility Documents
to
which it is a party (i) are within its corporate powers; (ii) have been
duly
15
authorized
by all necessary corporate action on its part; (iii) do not contravene any
provision of its Charter Documents; (iv) do not violate any law, rule or
regulation applicable to it; (v) do not conflict with any material contractual
restriction binding on it or its property; (vi) do not contravene any order,
writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on it or its property,
and
(vii) do not result in or require the creation of any Adverse
Claim.
(d)
Governmental
Consent. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice
to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required for the due execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Purchase Agreement, the Sale Agreement
or
any other agreement, document or instrument to be delivered by it hereunder,
except for filings under the UCC hereto and except as have been made or obtained
on or before the Effective Date and thereafter will be in full force and
effect.
(e)
Enforceability of
Facility Documents. This Purchase Agreement, the Sale
Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party have been
duly
executed and delivered on its behalf and constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligation of it enforceable against it in accordance with their respective
terms, subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar law now or hereafter in effect relating to or
affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and general
equitable principles, whether applied in a proceeding at law or in
equity.
(f)
Litigation. Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.01(f),
there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to its knowledge
threatened in writing, against it or its property, in any court, or before
any
arbitrator of any kind, or before or by any Governmental Authority, which (i)
assert the invalidity of any Facility Document or any action to be taken by
it
in connection therewith, (ii) seek to prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Purchase Agreement and the other Facility
Documents or (iii) if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to
have
a Material Adverse Effect. It is not in default with respect to any
order of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority.
(g)
Accuracy of
Information. No Investor Report, Investment Certificate,
Capital Purchase Request, certificate, report or other information (including
any schedule hereto) furnished by it to the Agent, the Purchaser or any
Liquidity Provider in connection with this Purchase Agreement is or shall be
inaccurate in any material respect as of the date it is dated (except as
otherwise disclosed to the Agent, Purchaser or Liquidity Provider at such
time).
(h)
Account
Information. The names and addresses of all the Lock-Box
Banks, together with the account numbers of the Lock-Box Accounts, are specified
in Schedule
4.01(h) (or at such other Lock-Box Banks and/or with such other Lock-Box
Accounts as have been notified to the Agent in accordance with Section 5.03(e)) and
with respect to which all action required by Section 5.03(e) has
been taken and completed. The Servicer has directed or caused each
Obligor to be directed to make payment to a Lock-Box Account listed in Schedule 4.01(h) for
which there is an effective and binding
16
Lock-Box
Agreement. The Collection Account and the Lock-Box Accounts are the
only accounts to which Collections of Receivables are remitted by
Obligors.
(i)
Eligibility. Each
Receivable included by the Servicer in the calculation of the Net
Receivables Balance as notified by the Servicer to the Agent from time to time,
including by any Investor Report or Investment Certificate, satisfies the
requirements of eligibility contained in the definition of “Eligible
Receivable.”
(j)
Servicing
Software. The Servicer has all necessary licenses and rights
to use the Servicing Software.
(k)
No Material Adverse
Change. Except as otherwise disclosed to the Agent in writing
prior to the Closing Date, since September 30, 2007, there has been no material
adverse change in the Servicer’s business, properties or financial condition, in
the ability of the Servicer to perform its obligations hereunder or under any
other Facility Document or in the collectibility of the
Receivables.
ARTICLE
V
GENERAL
COVENANTS
Section
5.01. Affirmative
Covenants of the Seller and the Servicer. From the Initial
Purchase Date until the later of the Termination Date or the Final Collection
Date, each of the Seller and the Servicer covenants and agrees, as to itself,
unless the Agent shall otherwise consent in writing:
(a)
Compliance with
Laws,
Etc. Comply in all material respects with all applicable laws,
rules, regulations and orders with respect to all Transferred Receivables and
the agreements and documents related thereto.
(b)
Preservation of
Corporate Existence. (i) Observe all procedures required by
its Charter Documents, (ii) preserve and maintain its corporate existence,
rights, franchises and privileges in the jurisdiction of its organization and
(iii) with respect to the Servicer, maintain, preserve and protect all of its
assets and properties necessary to the conduct of its business, including all
licenses, permits, charters and registrations, except, in each case with respect
to the Servicer, to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably
be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and qualify and remain
qualified in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where
the failure to preserve and maintain such rights, franchises, privileges and
qualifications would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c)
Offices; Books and
Records; Audits. Each of the Seller and the Servicer shall (i) maintain
and implement administrative and operating procedures (including an ability
to
recreate records evidencing the Transferred Receivables in the event of the
destruction of originals) and keep and maintain all documents, books, records
and other information necessary or advisable for the collection of all
Transferred Receivables; (ii) from time to time upon five Business Days’ prior
notice to it and during regular business hours, permit the Agent, or the Agent’s
agents or representatives, (A) to have
17
access
to
all records, files, books of account, data bases and information pertaining
to
all Transferred Receivables and Related Security, including the Records, (B)
to
discuss matters relating to the Transferred Receivables or the Seller’s
performance hereunder with any of its officers or employees having knowledge
of
such matters, and (C) to inspect, audit and to make extracts therefrom at the
Seller’s expense, provided, however, that prior to an Event of Termination not
more than one such audit or inspection per year shall be at the expense of
the
Seller, and provided further that no such prior notice shall be required if
an
Event of Termination has occurred and is continuing, and (iii) on an annual
basis, cause to be delivered to the Agent, a report, substantially in the form
of Exhibit I,
prepared and delivered by the Servicer’s outside accountants with respect to
agreed-upon procedures in accordance with Statement on Standards for Attestation
Engagements No. 4, Agreed-Upon Procedures
Engagements, comparing amounts set forth in the Investor Reports to
supporting underlying documentation with the specific procedures and the
adequacy thereof being agreed to by the Servicer and the Agent.
(d)
Performance and
Compliance with Receivables and Credit and Collection
Policy. At its expense timely and fully perform and comply, in
all material respects, with (i) all provisions, covenants and other promises
required to be observed by it under the Transferred Receivables and the related
Contracts giving rise thereto and (ii) the Credit and Collection Policy in
regard to each Transferred Receivable.
(e)
Collections. (i) Instruct
all Obligors of Transferred Receivables to cause all Collections to be deposited
directly to the Collection Account or one of the Lock-Box Accounts and, if
it
shall receive any Collections (including any Collections deemed received
pursuant to Section
2.04(a)), remit such Collections to the Collection Account or a Lock-Box
Account in accordance with Section 6.02, (ii)
cause each Lock-Box Account to be subject to a Lock-Box Agreement in
substantially the form of Exhibit E and (iii)
prevent the deposit of any funds other than Collections in respect of
Transferred Receivables into any of the Collection Account and Lock-Box Accounts
and, to the extent that any such funds are nevertheless deposited into any
of
such Collection Account and Lock-Box Accounts, promptly identify any such funds
and remit such funds to the owner thereof.
(f)
Offices; Location
of
Records; Change in Name or Jurisdiction of Organization. The
Seller shall (i) keep its principal place of business and chief executive office
(as such terms are used in the UCC) and the office where it keeps its Records
concerning the Transferred Receivables at the address of the Seller set forth
in
Schedule
4.01(b) and not change its state of organization unless, upon at least 30
days’ prior written notice of a proposed change to the Agent, the Seller has
taken all actions reasonably requested by the Agent to protect and perfect
the
interest of the Agent and the Purchaser in the Transferred Receivables, the
Related Security, all Collections and any other Receivables Assets have been
taken and completed and (ii) provide the Agent with at least 30 days’ written
notice prior to making any change in the Seller’s name or making any other
change in the Seller’s identity or legal entity structure (including a merger)
which could render any UCC financing statement filed in connection with this
Purchase Agreement ineffective to perfect the Purchaser’s interest in the
Receivables or
18
“seriously
misleading” as such term is used in the UCC; each notice pursuant to this
sentence shall set forth the applicable change and the effective date
thereof.
(g)
Purchasers’
Reliance/Separate
Conduct of Business. The Seller and the
Servicer each acknowledges that the Agent and the Purchaser are entering into
the transactions contemplated hereby in reliance upon the Seller’s identity as a
separate legal entity from Parent, ACCO and the
Originators. Therefore, from and after the date of execution and
delivery of this Purchase Agreement, the Seller shall take all reasonable steps
including, without limitation, all steps that the Agent may from time to time
reasonably request in connection with any change or development (or knowledge
thereof) in the law or circumstances related to substantive consolidation,
to
maintain the Seller’s identity as a separate legal entity and to make it
manifest to third parties that the Seller is an entity with assets and
liabilities distinct from those of Parent, ACCO and the Originators and not
just
a division of Parent, ACCO or an Originator, including, without limitation,
(a)
maintain separate records and books of account from those of Parent, ACCO and
the Originators; (b) conduct its business from an office separate from those
of
Parent, ACCO and the Originators and to the extent that the Parent, ACCO or
the
Originators share office space or services, the associated costs will be fairly
and reasonably allocated among them; (c) ensure that all oral and written
communications, including without limitation, letters, invoices, purchase
orders, contracts, statements and applications, not be made in the name of
Parent, ACCO or any Originator; (d) have stationery and other business forms
separate from those of Parent, ACCO or any Originator; (e) not hold itself
out
as having agreed to pay, or as being liable for, the obligations of Parent,
ACCO
or any Originator; (f) not engage in any transaction with Parent, ACCO or an
Originator except as permitted or contemplated by this Purchase Agreement or
as
permitted or contemplated by the Sale Agreement; (g) continuously maintain
as
official records its resolutions, agreements and other instruments underlying
the transactions contemplated by this Purchase Agreement; (h) disclose on its
annual financial statements the effects of the transactions contemplated by
this
Purchase Agreement in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and (i) otherwise operate its business and perform its obligations under the
Facility Documents in a manner consistent with the factual assumptions described
in the legal opinion of Skadden, Arps, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, LLP pertaining to
nonconsolidation as delivered on the Closing Date unless Skadden, Arps, Xxxxxxx
& Xxxx, LLP shall have delivered to the Agent an opinion acknowledging such
inconsistencies but reaffirming the conclusions set forth in its legal opinion
delivered on the Closing Date. The Servicer shall take such actions
as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the foregoing and that the
Seller’s covenants in this Section 5.01(g) are
not violated by any actions on the part of the Servicer.
(h)
License for Use
of
Software and Other Intellectual Property. (i) Unless
prohibited by the licensor thereof or any provision of applicable law, if any,
the Seller hereby grants to the Agent, solely for the purposes of collection
of
the Receivables and enforcement of their rights under the Facility Documents,
at
such time as the Agent shall be entitled to do so, a non-exclusive license
to
use, without charge to the Seller (but subject to the payment of royalties
to
any third party licensor under the terms of such license agreement based on
use
by the Agent of any licensed items):
19
(A)
the Seller’s computer programs, software, printouts and other computer
materials, technical knowledge or processes, data bases, materials, and licenses
thereto, and
(B)
the Seller’s owned or licensed trademarks, registered trademarks, trademark
applications, service marks, registered service marks, service xxxx
applications, trade names, rights of use of any name, fictitious names
(including the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by any such
trademarks, service marks and trade names), patents, patent applications,
inventions, designs, trade secrets, copyrights, copyright applications,
including customer lists, credit files, correspondence, and advertising
materials or any property of a similar nature; in each case, to the extent
that
the items in subsections (A) and (B) (the “Intellectual
Property”) pertain to the use of such items in connection with the
advertising for sale, selling any of the Transferred Receivables and solely
after an Event of Termination collection of the Receivables and enforcement
of
the Agent’s rights under the Facility Documents,
(ii)
The Seller agrees that the Seller’s rights under such licenses and franchise
agreements as are granted under this Section 5.01(h)(ii)
shall inure to the Agent’s benefit. To the extent the grant of the aforesaid
license described is expressly prohibited by the licensor thereof, the Seller
shall exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of
such
licensor to the Seller’s grant to the Agent of such license. Even
where use is permitted, the Agent agrees not to use any such license without
giving the Seller prior notice and unless an Event of Termination has occurred
and is continuing.
(iii)
The foregoing license is subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(A) the Agent agrees that any Intellectual Property which is a trade secret
of
Seller or otherwise maintained in confidence by the Seller, shall be maintained
in confidence by Agent and shall not be disclosed to any person or entity other
than employees and contractors of Agent who have a “need to know” such
information and who have been apprised on this restriction, and Agent shall
be
liable for any breach of this undertaking by its employees or
contractors, (B) with respect to Intellectual Property which is licensed to
Seller, Agent agrees to abide by any applicable restrictions on use in the
applicable license agreement which would be binding upon the Seller, were it
using the licensed Intellectual Property in a similar manner and (C) with
respect to any trademarks, service marks or trade names subject to the license
granted hereunder, Agent agrees that the license shall be subject to sufficient
rights of quality control and inspection in favor of Seller to avoid the risk
of
invalidation of such trademarks. The license shall run for as long as
this Purchase Agreement is in effect.
Section
5.02. Reporting
Requirements of the Seller and the Servicer. From the Initial
Purchase Date until the later of the Termination Date or the Final Collection
Date, the Seller and the Servicer will or will cause Parent to, as applicable,
unless the Agent shall otherwise consent in writing, furnish to the
Agent:
(a)
Financial
Statements. Unless otherwise available in filings made with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and available to the public through
XXXXX:
20
(i)
Annual Financial
Statements. Within 90 days after each fiscal year of Parent, a
copy of the annual audited financial statements of Parent for the fiscal year
then ended, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures of
the
previous annual audit, all in reasonable detail, certified by (a) any of
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young LLP or KPMG
LLP or (b) such other independent certified public accountant or firm of
independent certified public accountants as shall be selected by ACCO with
the
written approval of the Agent, and prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
(ii)
Quarterly Financial
Statements. Within 60 days after each quarter (except the last
quarter) of each fiscal year of Parent, a copy of the unaudited financial
statements of Parent for the fiscal quarter then ended, setting forth in
comparative form the figures for the corresponding period of the preceding
fiscal year and prepared in the same manner as the report referred to in the
preceding clause (a)(i), signed by a Responsible Officer of ACCO.
(b)
Event of
Termination. Provide to the Agent, as soon as reasonably
practicable and in any event within two (2) Business Days after the Seller
or
the Servicer obtains knowledge of the occurrence of each Event of Termination
or
each event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute an Event of Termination, the statement of a Responsible Officer
of
such Person setting forth details of such Event of Termination or event and
the
action which such Person has taken and proposes to take with respect
thereto.
(c)
Investor Reports;
Investment Certificates. Provide to the Agent (a) an Investor
Report (i) on or prior to the second Business Day prior to each Settlement
Date
with respect to the most recently ended Monthly Period and (ii) following an
Event of Termination, at such other times as the Agent may from time to time
reasonably request with respect to such periods of time as the Agent may specify
and (b) at the time of each Capital Purchase, prior to or concurrently with
the
delivery of the Capital Purchase Request, an Investment Certificate which
updates the most recent Investor Report to set forth revised calculations of
the
Net Receivables Balance, the Aggregate Reserves and the Purchaser Interest
after
giving effect to such Capital Purchase.
(d)
Reporting on
Litigation and Adverse Effects. As soon as practicable, and in
any event within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer of the Seller
or
the Servicer becomes aware thereof, give the Agent written notice of (x) the
commencement of all actions, suits and proceedings before any Governmental
Authority or arbitrator affecting the Seller or the Servicer that (i) seeks
injunctive or similar relief which would be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect or (ii) in the reasonable judgment of the Seller or the Servicer,
expose the Seller or the Servicer to liability in an amount which would be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (y) the settlement of
any
litigation which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
21
(e)
ERISA. Provide
to the Agent, promptly and in no event more than three (3) Business Days after
the Seller or the Servicer obtains knowledge of the occurrence thereof, notice
of any ERISA Event.
(f)
New Financial
Covenants. Provide to the Agent, as soon as reasonably
practicable, and in any event within three (3) Business Days after the
effectiveness thereof, a copy of any amendments to the Credit Agreement, or
any
successor revolving credit facilities, together with a written description
of
any changes in financial covenants or New Financial Covenants.
(g)
Other
Information. As soon as reasonably practicable, from time to
time, such other information, documents, records or reports respecting the
Receivables or the conditions or operations, financial or otherwise, of such
Person as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request in order to protect
the interests of the Agent, the Purchaser or any Liquidity Provider under or
as
contemplated by this Purchase Agreement.
Section
5.03. Negative
Covenants of the Seller. From the Initial Purchase Date until
the later of the Termination Date or the Final Collection Date, the Seller
covenants and agrees with respect to itself that it shall not, without the
written consent of the Agent:
(a)
Sales, Liens, Etc.
Against Receivables and Related Assets. Except as otherwise
provided herein, sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise
dispose of, or create or suffer to exist, any Adverse Claim upon or with respect
to, any Transferred Receivable, Related Security or Collections, or any Lock-Box
Account, or assign any right to receive income in respect thereof, other than
liens for taxes not yet due and payable and other than as contemplated by this
Purchase Agreement or the other Facility Documents. The Seller will
not cause or permit the Originator to grant, create, incur or suffer to exist
any Adverse Claims upon or with respect to any inventory the sale of which
may
give rise to a Transferred Receivable unless it obtains or causes the relevant
Person to obtain express agreements from the holders of such Adverse Claims
that
no such Adverse Claims extend to any of the Transferred Receivables, the other
Related Security or the Lock-Box Accounts.
(b)
Change in Business
or
Credit and Collection Policy. (i) Engage in any business other
than the purchase of Receivables Assets from the Originators under the Sale
Agreement and activities incidental thereto; (ii) make any change in
the character of its business, (iii) make any change in the Credit and
Collection Policy that would result in a material adverse effect on the
collectibility of the Receivables Assets or the Purchaser’s and the Agent’s
interests in the Receivables Assets, and (iv) without prior written notice
to
the Agent, make any material change in, or allow the Servicer or any Originator
to make any material change in, the Credit and Collection Policy.
(c)
Extension or Amendment
of Receivables. Except as otherwise permitted in Section 6.02 and
the
Credit and Collection Policy, extend, amend, or otherwise modify the terms
of
any Transferred Receivable, or amend, modify or waive any term or condition
related to the payment or collection of any Contract related
thereto.
22
(d)
Merger, Consolidation,
Etc. Sell any equity interest to any Person (other than one of
its Affiliates) or consolidate with or merge into or with any Person, or
purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets or capital
stock, or other ownership interest of, any Person or sell, transfer, lease
or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person,
except as expressly permitted or contemplated under the terms of this Purchase
Agreement.
(e)
Change in Payment
Instructions to Obligors; Lock-Box Agreements. Add or
terminate any bank as a Lock-Box Bank from those listed in Schedule 4.01(h) or
make any change in its instructions to Obligors with respect to the Transferred
Receivables regarding payments to be made to any Lock-Box Account at a Lock-Box
Bank, unless the Agent shall have received (i) 30 days’ prior notice of such
addition, termination or change; (ii) written confirmation from the Seller
that
after the effectiveness of any such termination, there shall be at least one
(1)
Lock-Box Account in existence; and (iii) prior to the effective date of such
addition, termination or change, (x) executed copies of Lock-Box Agreements
executed by each new Lock-Box Bank, the Seller, the Servicer and the Agent
and
(y) copies of all agreements and documents signed by the Seller, the Servicer
or
an Originator, as applicable, or otherwise provided by the respective Lock-Box
Bank with respect to any new Lock-Box Account.
(f)
Change in Name or
Jurisdiction of Organization. Make any change to its name or
use any trade names, fictitious names, assumed names or “doing business as”
names or change its jurisdiction of organization unless the Seller shall have
(i) given at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the Agent and (ii) taken and
completed all action required by Section
5.01(f).
(g)
Indebtedness;
Guarantees. (i) Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
indebtedness or other obligations except for (w) indebtedness to the Agent,
the
Purchaser, any Originator, the Servicer or any Affected Party expressly
contemplated hereunder, (x) indebtedness to the Originator pursuant to the
Sale
Agreement or any other Facility Document (y) deferred taxes or (z) indebtedness
for ordinary course expenses not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate at any
time
or (ii) guarantee, endorse or otherwise be or become contingently liable
(including by agreement to maintain balance sheet tests) in connection with
the
obligations of any other Person, except endorsements of negotiable instruments
for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.
(h)
Limitation on
Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into, or be a party to any
transaction with any Affiliate of the Seller, except for:
(i)
the transactions contemplated by the Sale Agreement and the other Facility
Documents;
(ii)
to the extent not otherwise prohibited under this Purchase Agreement, other
transactions in the nature of employment contracts and directors’ fees, upon
fair and reasonable terms materially no less favorable to the Seller than would
be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an
Affiliate; and
23
(iii)
transactions between the Seller and the Originator, which transactions consist
of ordinary course of business transactions between a parent corporation and
its
subsidiary.
(i)
Facility
Documents. Terminate, amend or otherwise modify any Facility
Document or grant any waiver or consent thereunder.
(j)
Organizational
Documents. Change, amend, alter or otherwise modify its Charter Documents
without the prior written consent of the Agent.
(k)
Investments. Except
as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder or under the other Facility
Documents, make any investment in, or make or accrue loans or advances of money
to, any Person, including any Stockholder, director, officer or employee of
the
Seller, Parent, ACCO, the Originators or any of Parent’s, ACCO’s or the
Originators’ other Subsidiaries, through the direct or indirect lending of
money, holding of securities or otherwise, except with respect to the
Transferred Receivables, investments of Collections or other funds in Permitted
Investments.
(l)
ERISA. The
Seller shall not and shall not cause or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates
to
cause or permit to occur an ERISA Event or any other event that could result
in
the imposition of a Lien on the Transferred Receivables under Section 412 of
the
IRC or Section 302 or 4068 of ERISA.
(m)
Actions Affecting
Rights. The Seller shall not (i) take any action, or fail to
take any action, if such action or failure to take action may interfere with
the
enforcement of any rights hereunder or under the other Facility Documents,
including rights with respect to the Receivables Assets; (ii) except as
permitted under this Purchase Agreement and the other Facility Documents, waive
or alter any rights with respect to the Receivables Assets (or any agreement
or
instrument relating thereto); or (iii) fail to pay any tax, assessment, charge,
fee or other obligation with respect to the Receivables Assets, or fail to
defend any action, if such failure to pay or defend may adversely affect the
priority or enforceability of the perfected title of the Agent to or security
interest in, and the beneficial ownership or security interest of the Agent
in,
the Receivables Assets or, prior to a Purchase hereunder, the Seller’s right,
title or interest therein.
Section
5.04. Negative
Covenants of the Servicer. From the Initial Purchase Date
until the later of the Termination Date or the Final Collection Date, the
Servicer will not, without the written consent of the Agent:
(a)
Sales, Liens, Etc.
Against Receivables and Related Assets. Assert any ownership
interest in any of the Receivables Assets.
(b)
Change in Business
or
Credit and Collection Policy. Make any change in the Credit
and Collection Policy that would result in a material adverse effect on the
collectibility of the Receivables Assets or the Purchaser’s and the Agent’s
interests in the Receivables Assets, and without prior notice to the Agent,
make
any material change in, or allow the Servicer or any Originator to make any
material change in, the Credit and Collection Policy.
24
(c)
Extension or Amendment
of Receivables. Except as otherwise permitted in Section 6.02 and
the
Credit and Collection Policy, extend, amend, or otherwise modify the terms
of
any purchased Receivable, or amend, modify or waive any term or condition
related to the payment or collection of any Contract related
thereto.
(d)
Change in Payment
Instructions to Obligors; Lock-Box Agreements. Add or
terminate any bank as a Lock-Box Bank from those listed in Schedule 4.01(h) or
make any change in its instructions to Obligors regarding payments to be made
to
any Lock-Box Account at a Lock-Box Bank, unless the Agent shall have received
(i) 30 days’ prior notice of such addition, termination or change; (ii) written
confirmation from the Seller that after the effectiveness of any such
termination, there shall be at least one (1) Lock-Box Account in existence;
and
(iii) prior to the effective date of such addition, termination or change,
(x)
executed copies of Lock Box Agreements executed by each new Lock-Box Bank,
the
Seller, the Servicer and the Agent and (y) copies of all agreements and
documents signed by the Seller, the Servicer or an Originator, as applicable,
or
otherwise provided by the respective Lock Box Bank with respect to any new
Lock
Box Account.
ARTICLE
VI
ADMINISTRATION
OF RECEIVABLES
Section
6.01. Designation of
Servicer. (a) The servicing, administering and collection of
the Receivables shall be conducted by the Servicer so designated from time
to
time in accordance with this Section
6.01. Until the Agent gives notice to the Seller and the
Servicer of the designation of a new Servicer following a Servicer Default,
ACCO
is hereby designated as, and hereby agrees to perform the duties and obligations
of, the Servicer pursuant to the terms hereof. The Agent may at any
time following a Servicer Default designate as Servicer any Person (including
itself) to succeed ACCO or any successor Servicer, on the condition in each
case
that any such Person so designated shall agree to perform the duties and
obligations of the Servicer pursuant to the terms hereof. ACCO agrees that,
upon
its replacement as Servicer by the Agent, it will take such actions as the
Agent
may reasonably require and otherwise cooperate with the Agent and the successor
Servicer in effecting the termination of its responsibilities and rights as
Servicer hereunder, including, without limitation, (i) assisting the successor
Servicer in enforcing all rights under the Receivables and Related Security,
(ii) transferring, promptly upon receipt, to the successor Servicer any
Collections or other amounts related to the Receivables received by ACCO, (iii)
transferring to the successor Servicer all Records held by or under the control
of ACCO to the extent permitted by applicable agreement and by law and (iv)
following the replacement of ACCO as Servicer, permit the successor Servicer
to
have access to all tapes, discs, diskettes and related property containing
information concerning the Receivables and the Records and permit the successor
Servicer to use all computer software that may facilitate the Servicer’s access
to and use of such information to the extent permitted by applicable agreements
or by law, provided, however,
that the
Seller will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain consents from
licensors if necessary to permit the successor Servicer’s use of computer
software. Upon the replacement of ACCO as Servicer, ACCO shall no
longer be entitled to the Servicer Fee accruing from and after the effective
date of such replacement.
25
(b)
ACCO shall be permitted to delegate any of its duties or responsibilities as
Servicer to any Affiliate, and may delegate such duties to other parties as
are
customarily outsourced to third parties, provided that no such delegation shall
relieve ACCO from any obligations hereunder and ACCO shall remain primarily
liable for the full and prompt performance of its duties and responsibilities
hereunder. If at any time the Agent shall designate as Servicer any Person
other
than ACCO, all duties and responsibilities theretofore delegated by ACCO may,
at
the discretion of the Agent, be terminated forthwith on notice given by the
Agent to ACCO and the Seller.
(c)
Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (b), (i) ACCO shall be and remain
primarily liable to the Agent and the Purchaser for the full and prompt
performance of all duties and responsibilities as the Servicer hereunder until
a
new Servicer is designated pursuant to Section 6.01 and (ii) the Agent and
the
Purchaser shall be entitled to deal exclusively with ACCO in matters relating
to
the discharge by the Servicer of its duties and responsibilities hereunder
until
a new Servicer is designated pursuant to Section 6.01. The Agent and the
Purchaser shall not be required to give notice, demand or other communication
to
any Person other than the Person acting as Servicer in order for communication
to the Servicer and its sub-servicer or other delegate with respect thereto
to
be accomplished. At all times that ACCO is the Servicer, it shall be responsible
for providing any sub-servicer or other delegate of the Servicer with any notice
given to the Servicer under this Purchase Agreement.
Section
6.02. Duties of the
Servicer. (a) The Servicer shall take or cause to be taken all
such actions as it deems necessary or advisable to collect each Receivable
from
time to time and to enforce collection of the Receivables Assets, all in
accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, with reasonable care
and
diligence, and in accordance with the Credit and Collection
Policy. Each of the Seller, the Purchaser, each Liquidity Provider
and the Agent hereby appoints as its nominee the Servicer, from time to time
designated pursuant to Section 6.01, to
enforce its respective rights and interests in and under the Receivables and
the
Related Security. The Servicer is authorized to (i) in accordance
with the Credit and Collection Policy, alter, amend or modify the terms of
any
Transferred Receivable, provided that no such modification shall have the effect
of any Transferred Receivable becoming an Eligible Receivable if such
Transferred Receivable was not an Eligible Receivable prior to such modification
or would have ceased to be an Eligible Receivable but for such modification,
and
(ii) after any Transferred Receivable becomes a Defaulted Receivable and to
the
extent permitted under and in compliance with applicable law, commence
proceedings with respect to the enforcement of payment of any such Receivable
and the Contract therefor and adjust, settle or compromise any payments due
thereunder, in each case to the same extent as the applicable Originator could
have done if it had continued to own such Transferred Receivable. In
no event shall the Servicer be entitled to make the Agent, the Purchaser or
any
Liquidity Provider a party to any litigation without the Agent’s express prior
written consent. Each of the Seller, each Originator, the Agent and
the Purchaser shall furnish the Servicer with any powers of attorney and other
documents reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry
out its servicing and administrative duties hereunder.
(b)
The Servicer shall collect or cause to be collected, at its sole cost and
expense in consideration of the Servicer Fee, all amounts due or to become
due
under the Receivables Assets, and shall set aside for the account of the
Purchaser and the Liquidity Providers the
26
Collections
of Receivables in accordance with Section 2.04, provided,
that, until
the Agent notifies the Servicer to the contrary following an Event of
Termination, neither the Servicer nor the Seller shall be required to segregate
the funds constituting Collections prior to the remittance or deposit thereof
into the Collection Account in accordance with Section
2.04. At any time following an Event of Termination, the Agent
may require the Servicer and the Seller to segregate and deposit the Collections
of Receivables into the Collection Account or such other account as shall have
been designated by the Agent, or set aside for the Purchaser and the Liquidity
Providers, within two Business Days following receipt by the Servicer of such
Collections. The Seller shall deliver to the Servicer, and the
Servicer shall hold in trust for the Seller, the Purchaser and the Liquidity
Providers in accordance with their respective interests, all
Records. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
at any time after an occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Agent shall
have
the absolute and unlimited right to direct the Servicer to commence or settle
any legal action to enforce collection of any Transferred Receivable or to
foreclose upon or repossess any Related Security; provided that the
Agent has given the Servicer five (5) Business Days’ prior notice and during
such notice period the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable has not been
reduced to zero. The Servicer’s authorization under this Purchase
Agreement shall terminate on the Final Collection Date. The Servicer
shall perform and observe all the terms and provisions of the Contracts to
be
performed or observed by it, and maintain the Contracts in full force and
effect.
(c)
Upon discovery by the Servicer or the Buyer that the Servicer has breached
Section 6.02(a) and such breach materially impairs the value of the applicable
Transferred Receivable, the party discovering the same shall give prompt written
notice thereof to the other parties hereto. The Servicer shall, if requested
by
notice from the Buyer, on the first Business Day following receipt of such
notice, repurchase such Transferred Receivable from the Buyer for cash in an
amount equal to the Outstanding Balance of such Transferred
Receivable.
Section
6.03. Rights of the
Agent. (a) The Seller hereby transfers to the Agent control
and ownership of each Lock-Box Account, and the Seller hereby agrees to take
any
further action necessary that the Agent may reasonably request to effect such
transfer. The Agent is hereby authorized, at any time after an
occurrence of an Event of Termination, to notify any or all of the Lock-Box
Banks to remit all amounts deposited in the applicable Lock-Box Accounts
directly to the Agent or its designee. At any time following an Event
of Termination (provided that the Agent has given the Seller five (5) Business
Days’ notice, and during such notice period the event or condition giving rise
to the Event of Termination has not been cured), or a Servicer Default, or
the
designation of a Servicer other than ACCO pursuant to Section 6.01, (i) the
Agent may notify (or may direct the Servicer to notify) at any time the Obligors
of Transferred Receivables, or any of them, of the Purchaser’s and the Liquidity
Providers’ interest in Receivables Assets and direct such Obligors, or any of
them, that payment of all amounts payable under any Transferred Receivable
be
made directly to the Agent or its designee; (ii) the Seller shall, at the
Agent’s request and at the Seller’s expense, give notice of the Purchaser’s and
the Liquidity Providers’ interest in Transferred Receivables to each Obligor and
direct that payments be made directly to the Agent or its designee; and (iii)
each of the Seller, the Purchaser and the Liquidity Providers hereby authorizes
the Agent to take any and all steps in the Seller’s name and on behalf of the
Seller, the Purchaser and the Liquidity Providers necessary or desirable, in
the
determination of the Agent, to collect all amounts due under any and
all
27
Transferred
Receivables, including, without limitation, endorsing the Seller’s name on
checks and other instruments representing Collections and enforcing such
Transferred Receivables.
(b)
The Agent shall not terminate any bank as a Lock-Box Bank from those listed
in
Schedule 4.01(h) or make any change in its instructions to Obligors with respect
to the Transferred Receivables regarding payments to be made to any Lock-Box
Account at a Lock-Box Bank, unless an Event of Termination has
occurred.
Section
6.04. Responsibilities
of the Seller. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Seller shall (i) perform all of its obligations under
the
Receivables to the same extent as if Receivables Assets had not been assigned
hereunder and the exercise by Agent of its rights hereunder shall not relieve
Seller from such obligations and (ii) pay when due any taxes, including without
limitation, sales, excise and personal property taxes payable in connection
with
the Receivables. None of the Agent, the Purchaser or the Liquidity
Providers shall have any obligation or liability with respect to any Receivables
or Receivables Assets, nor shall any of them be obligated to perform any of
the
obligations of the Seller thereunder.
Section
6.05. Further Action
Evidencing Agent’s Interest. Each of the Seller and the
Servicer agrees that from time to time, at its expense, it will promptly execute
and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further actions
that the Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect, protect or more
fully
evidence the interest of the Agent granted hereunder or enable the Agent to
exercise or enforce any of its rights hereunder. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date,
each of the Seller and the Servicer will (i) xxxx its master data processing
records evidencing such Receivables with a legend, reasonably acceptable to
the
Agent, evidencing that an interest therein has been assigned to the Agent under
this Purchase Agreement, (ii) direct all inquires regarding the Receivables
to a
Responsible Officer for further details, and (iii) upon the request of the
Agent, prepare and file such financing statements, continuation statements
or
amendments thereto or assignments thereof, and execute and file such other
instruments or notices, as may be necessary or appropriate or as the Agent
may
reasonably request in order to maintain perfection of the security interest
of
the Purchaser in the Receivables Assets. The Seller hereby authorizes
the Agent, prior to the Final Collection Date, to file one or more financing
statements, continuation statements and amendments thereto and assignments
thereof, relative to all or any of the Receivables and the Related Security
now
existing or hereafter arising without the signature of the Seller where
permitted by law. If the Seller or Servicer fails to perform
any of its agreements or obligations under this Purchase Agreement and if such
failure is continuing, the Agent may (but shall not be required to) itself
perform, or cause performance of, such agreement or obligation, and the expenses
of the Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the Seller
or
the Servicer, as applicable, upon the Agent’s demand therefor.
28
ARTICLE
VII
EVENTS
OF
TERMINATION
Section
7.01. Events of
Termination. If any of the following events (“Events of
Termination”) shall occur:
(a)
The Seller or the Servicer shall fail to make any payment or deposit to be
made
by it hereunder when due and payable and any such failure shall remain
unremedied for one (1) Business Day after the earlier of (i) knowledge by a
responsible officer of the Seller or (ii) written notice thereof has been given
by the Agent to the Seller; or
(b)
The Seller shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement
contained in this Purchase Agreement or any other Facility Document on its
part
to be performed or observed and any such failure shall remain unremedied for
ten
(10) Business Days after the earlier of (i) knowledge by a responsible officer
of the Seller or (ii) written notice thereof has been given by the Agent to
the
Seller; or
(c)
The Parent, Servicer or any Originator shall fail to perform or observe any
term, covenant or agreement contained in this Purchase Agreement, the Sale
Agreement, the Performance Guaranty or any other Facility Document on its part
to be performed or observed and any such failure shall remain unremedied for
ten
(10) Business Days after the earlier of (i) knowledge by a Responsible Officer
of the Parent, Servicer or applicable Originator or (ii) written notice thereof
has been given by the Agent to the Parent, Servicer or applicable Originator;
or
(d)
The Seller or the Servicer shall fail to deliver an Investor Report or
Investment Certificate as required by Section 5.02(c) hereof and such failure
shall remain unremedied for two (2) Business Days after the earlier of (i)
knowledge by a responsible officer of the Seller or (ii) written notice thereof
has been given by the Agent to the Seller; or
(e)
Any representation or warranty made or deemed to be made by the Parent (or
any
of its officers) under or in connection with the Performance Guaranty or the
Seller or the Servicer (or any of its officers) under or in connection with
this
Purchase Agreement, any Investor Report, any Investment Certificate, any Capital
Purchase Request or other information or report delivered pursuant hereto shall
prove to have been false or incorrect in any material respect when made;
or
(f)
Except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof, the Purchaser shall cease
to
have a valid and perfected first priority security interest in each Receivable
and the Related Security and Collections with respect thereto; or
(g)
(i) The Seller, Parent, ACCO, any Originator or the Servicer shall admit in
writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted
by or against the Seller, Parent, ACCO, any Originator or the Servicer seeking
to adjudicate it a bankrupt or
29
insolvent,
or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating
to
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the
entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a custodian, receiver,
liquidator, assignee, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) for any
such
Person or for any substantial part of such Person’s assets, and, in the case of
any such involuntary proceeding instituted against Parent, ACCO, any Originator
or the Servicer (but not instituted by Parent, ACCO, any Originator or the
Servicer), such proceeding shall remain either undismissed or unstayed for
a
period of 60 days; or (ii) the Seller’s, Parent’s, ACCO’s, any
Originator’s, or the Servicer’s Board of Directors shall vote affirmatively to
authorize any of the actions set forth in clause (i) above in
this subsection
(g); or
(h)
As of the last day of any Monthly Period, (1) the average of the respective
Delinquency Ratios determined as of each of the three then most recently ended
Monthly Periods shall exceed 5.00%, (2) the average of the respective Default
Ratios determined as of each of the three then most recently ended Monthly
Periods shall exceed 9.50%, (3) the average of the respective Dilution Ratios
determined as of each of the three then most recently ended Monthly Periods
shall exceed 18.00%, or (4) the average of the respective Loss-to-Liquidation
Ratios determined as of each of the three then most recently ended Monthly
Periods shall exceed 1.00%; or
(i)
As of the close of business on any date, the sum of (i) the aggregate Capital
plus (ii) the
Aggregate Reserves would exceed the Net Receivables Balance (after giving effect
to any increases or reductions to Capital on such date) and such excess shall
remain outstanding for two (2) Business Days; or
(j)
There shall have occurred any event which materially adversely affects the
collectibility of the Transferred Receivables, taken as a whole, or there shall
have occurred any other event which materially adversely affects the ability
of
the Servicer to collect Receivables or the ability of the Servicer, any
Originator or the Seller to perform its obligations under this Purchase
Agreement or the other Facility Documents to which it is a party;
or
(k)
At any time, a Change of Control shall occur; or
(l)
(x) The Seller shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on
any
indebtedness for borrowed money when the same becomes due and payable (whether
by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise)
or (y) Parent, ACCO or any Originator shall fail to pay any principal of or
premium or interest on any indebtedness for borrowed money having a principal
amount of $20,000,000 or greater when the same becomes due and payable after
the
applicable grace period (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
acceleration, demand or otherwise) and, with respect to clause (y), the maturity
of such indebtedness for borrowed money has been accelerated, and such
acceleration has not been rescinded; or
30
(m)
The occurrence of a Financial Covenant Default and the maturity of the
indebtedness for borrowed money outstanding under the Credit Agreement has
been
accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded; or
(n)
A final judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess of $20,000,000
in the aggregate at any time outstanding shall be rendered against the Servicer,
Parent, ACCO, any Originator or any Affiliate thereof and the same shall not,
within 30 days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution
thereof stayed or bonded pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged
prior
to the expiration of any such stay; or
(o)
Any judgment or order for the payment of money shall be rendered against the
Seller; or
(p)
Any Governmental Authority (including the IRS or the PBGC) shall file notice
of
a Lien with regard to any assets of any Originator, Parent or ACCO (other than
a
Lien (i) limited by its terms to assets other than Transferred Receivables,
(ii)
not materially adversely affecting the financial condition of such Originator,
the ability of Parent to perform under the Performance Guaranty or the ability
of ACCO to perform as Servicer hereunder or (iii) the validity of which is
being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings); or
(q)
Any Governmental Authority (including the IRS or the PBGC) shall file notice
of
a Lien with regard to any of the assets of the Seller, other than a lien the
validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
or
(r)
The Seller shall have received an Election Notice pursuant to Section 2.01(a) of
the Sale Agreement;
then,
and
in any such event, the Agent, on behalf of the Purchaser may, by notice to
the
Seller declare the Termination Date to have occurred, except that, in
the
case of any event described in clause (i) of subsection
(g) above,
the Termination Date shall be deemed to have occurred automatically upon the
occurrence of such event. Upon any such declaration or automatic
occurrence, the Agent and the Purchaser shall have, in addition to all other
rights and remedies under this Purchase Agreement or otherwise, all other rights
and remedies provided under the UCC of the applicable jurisdiction and other
applicable laws, which rights shall be cumulative. Upon the
occurrence of the Termination Date, all indebtedness and other liabilities
and
obligations of the Seller to the Purchaser and/or the Agent, arising under
or in
connection with this Purchase Agreement and the other Facility Documents
(including, without limitation, (x) all Capital and (y) Yield, fees, expense
reimbursements, indemnifications, and other amounts due or to become due under
this Purchase Agreement) shall be immediately due and payable; it being
understood that Capital shall be payable only out of amounts received in respect
of the Receivables Assets and amounts otherwise payable pursuant to the terms
of
this Purchase Agreement, including, without limitation, the amounts payable
pursuant to Article VIII.
31
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
8.01. Indemnities by
the Seller. Without limiting any other rights which any
Affected Party may have hereunder or under applicable law, the Seller hereby
agrees to indemnify the Purchaser, BTMU, individually and in its capacity as
Agent, and any Liquidity Provider (the “Indemnified
Parties”), from and against any and all damages, losses, claims,
liabilities and related costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees
and disbursements (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to as “Indemnified Amounts”)
awarded against or incurred by such Indemnified Party to the extent relating
to
or arising from any of the following:
(a)
reliance on any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Seller
or
the Servicer on its behalf (or any of its officers) under or in connection
with
this Purchase Agreement or any other Facility Document to which it is a party
or
on any other information delivered by the Seller (or the Servicer on its behalf)
pursuant hereto or thereto that shall have been incorrect in any material
respect when made or deemed made or delivered;
(b)
the failure by the Seller to comply with any term, provision or covenant
contained in this Purchase Agreement, the Sale Agreement or any other Facility
Document to which it is party or with any applicable law, rule or regulation
with respect to any Transferred Receivable or the Related Security, or the
nonconformity of any Transferred Receivable or the Related Security with any
such applicable law, rule or regulation;
(c)
any products liability claim or personal injury or property damage suit or
other
similar or related claim or action of whatever sort arising out of or in
connection with goods, merchandise and/or services the sale, lease or provision
of which gave rise to any Transferred Receivable;
(d)
the failure to pay when due any taxes, including, without limitation, sales,
excise or personal property taxes payable by the Seller, ACCO or any Originator
in connection with the Receivables Assets and taxes and other charges to be
paid
under Section
2.08;
(e)
the failure of the Seller and the Agent to have a perfected Lien on any Related
Security which secures the payment of a Receivable;
(f)
the failure to vest and maintain vested in the Agent or to transfer to the
Agent, on behalf of the Purchaser and the Liquidity Providers, a first priority
perfected ownership or security interest in the Transferred Receivables
(including as a result of any failure to file, or any delay in filing, financing
statements or other similar instruments or documents under the UCC or other
applicable laws against the Seller with respect to any Receivables Assets),
together with all Collections and Related Security, free and clear
of
32
any
Adverse Claim, whether existing at the time such Receivable arose or at any
time
thereafter;
(g)
any dispute, claim, offset or defense (other than discharge in bankruptcy of
the
Obligor) of the Obligor to the payment of any Transferred Receivable (including,
without limitation, a defense based on such Transferred Receivable not being
a
legal, valid and binding obligation of such Obligor enforceable against it
in
accordance with its terms), or any other dispute or claim resulting from the
sale or lease of the goods, merchandise and/or services related to such
Transferred Receivable or the furnishing or failure to furnish such goods,
merchandise and/or services;
(h)
the commingling of Collections at any time with other funds, whether by the
Servicer, the Seller or any of their respective Affiliates;
(i)
the failure of any Lock-Box Bank to remit any amounts held in a Lock-Box Account
pursuant to the instructions of the Servicer, the Seller or the Agent, whether
by reason of the exercise of setoff rights or otherwise; and
(j)
the failure of any Transferred Receivable included in the Net Receivables
Balance to satisfy, as of the date of such calculation, the requirements of
eligibility contained in the definition of “Eligible Receivable”;
provided,
that the
Seller shall have no obligation to indemnify any Indemnified Party for (i)
any
Indemnified Amounts to the extent resulting from gross negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of such Indemnified Party, (ii) recourse for
uncollectible or uncollected Receivables or (iii) any income tax or franchise
tax which is excluded from the definition of “Indemnified Taxes”, except to the
extent that the incurrence of any such tax results from a breach or default
by
such Seller under this Purchase Agreement or any other Facility
Document. Any amounts subject to the indemnification provisions of
this Section
8.01 shall be paid by the Seller to the Agent within five (5) Business
Days following Agent’s demand therefor, which demand shall include a statement
by the Agent calculating the amount to be paid by the Seller.
Section
8.02. Indemnities by
the Servicer. Without limiting any other rights which any
Affected Party may have hereunder or under applicable law, the Servicer hereby
agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Party for Indemnified Amounts arising
out
of or resulting from:
(a)
reliance on any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Servicer
(or any of its officers) under or in connection with this Purchase Agreement
or
any other Facility Document to which it is a party or on any other information
delivered by the Servicer pursuant hereto or thereto that shall have been
incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or
delivered;
(b)
the failure by the Servicer to comply with any term, provision or covenant
contained in this Purchase Agreement or any other Facility Document, any
applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to any Transferred Receivable
or
the Contract therefor, or the nonconformity of any Transferred Receivable or
the
Contract therefor with any such applicable law, rule or regulation;
33
(c)
the imposition of any Adverse Claim with respect to any Transferred Receivable
as a result of any action taken by the Servicer; or
(d)
the commingling of Collections with respect to Transferred Receivables by the
Servicer at any time with its other funds or the funds of any other
Person;
provided,
that the
Servicer shall have no obligation to indemnify any Indemnified Party for (i)
any
Indemnified Amounts to the extent resulting from gross negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of such Indemnified Party, (ii) recourse for
uncollectible or uncollected Receivables or (iii) any income tax or franchise
tax which is excluded from the definition of “Indemnified Taxes”, except to the
extent that the incurrence of any such tax results from a breach or default
by
such Servicer under this Purchase Agreement or any other Facility
Document.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
9.01. Amendments,
Etc. No amendment to or waiver of any provision of this
Purchase Agreement nor consent to any departure by the Seller, shall in any
event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by (i) the
Seller, the Agent and the Purchaser (with respect to an amendment) or (ii)
the
Agent and the Purchaser (with respect to a waiver or consent by them) or the
Seller (with respect to a waiver or consent by it), as the case may be, and
then
such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and
for
the specific purpose for which given; provided, however,
that no such
amendment, modification or waiver shall affect the rights or duties of the
Servicer hereunder without the prior written consent of the
Servicer. This Purchase Agreement contains a final and complete
integration of all prior expressions by the parties hereto with respect to
the
subject matter hereof and shall constitute the entire agreement (together with
the exhibits hereto) among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof, superseding all prior oral or written understandings.
Section
9.02. Notices,
Etc. All notices and other communications provided for
hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing and shall be
personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
or by courier, to each party hereto, at its address set forth under its name
on
the signature pages hereof or at such other address as shall be designated
by
such party in a written notice to the other parties hereto. All such
notices and communications shall be effective upon receipt.
Section
9.03. No Waiver;
Remedies. No failure on the part of the Agent, the Purchaser
or any Liquidity Provider to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Section
9.04. Binding Effect;
Assignability. (a) This Purchase Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Seller, the Servicer, the Agent, the
Purchaser and their respective successors and permitted assigns (which
successors of the Seller shall include a trustee in bankruptcy). This
Purchase Agreement shall create and constitute the continuing
34
obligations
of the parties hereto in accordance with its terms, and shall remain in full
force and effect until the Final Collection Date; provided, however,
that the
rights and remedies with respect to any breach of any representation and
warranty made by the Seller pursuant to Article IV and the
indemnification and payment provisions of Sections 2.06, 2.07,
2.08,
Article
VIII and this
Section 9.04
shall be continuing and shall survive any termination of this Purchase
Agreement.
(b)
The Seller may not assign any of its rights and obligations hereunder or any
interest herein without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the
Agent. The Purchaser may, (i) without the consent of the Seller, assign at
any
time all or any portion of its rights and obligations hereunder and interests
herein to (a) BTMU, any Affiliate of BTMU or any special purpose receivables
investment vehicle managed by BTMU or any Affiliate of BTMU, or (b) any
Liquidity Provider and (ii) with the consent of the Seller (such consent not
to
be unreasonably withheld) and the Agent, assign at any time all or any portion
of its rights and obligations hereunder and interests herein to any Person
not
described in the preceding clause
(i). Upon any such assignment, the assignee shall succeed to
and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
Purchaser, and the resigning Purchaser shall be discharged from its duties
and
obligations as Purchaser hereunder.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser
may at any time create a security interest in all or a portion of its rights
under this Purchase Agreement or any other Facility Document in favor of the
Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System.
(d)
Each Liquidity Provider and each other Affected Party are express third party
beneficiaries hereof. The Originators are express third party beneficiaries
of
Section 9.09.
Section
9.05. GOVERNING
LAW. THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING
SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAWS BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD
TO
CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES), EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE VALIDITY OR
PERFECTION OF THE INTERESTS OF THE SELLER IN THE RECEIVABLES ASSETS OR REMEDIES
HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER, IN RESPECT THEREOF, ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A
JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section
9.06. Costs and
Expenses. The Seller agrees to pay on demand (i) all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the periodic auditing
of
the Seller or the Servicer pursuant to Section 5.01(c), (ii)
all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Purchaser, any Liquidity
Provider and the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, amendment,
waiver and enforcement of this Purchase Agreement and the other agreements
and
documents to be delivered hereunder and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs
and expenses of the Agent, the Purchaser and any Liquidity Provider in
connection with obtaining advice regarding their rights and remedies under
this
Purchase Agreement and the other documents to be delivered
hereunder.
Section
9.07. No
Proceedings. The Seller, the Servicer, each Liquidity Provider
and the Agent each hereby agrees that it will not institute against the
Purchaser any proceeding of the
35
type
referred to in clause
(i) of Section
7.01(g) so long as any Commercial Paper Notes shall be outstanding or
there shall not have elapsed one year plus one day
since
the last day on which any such Commercial Paper Notes shall have been
outstanding. The
Seller, the Servicer, each Liquidity Provider and the Agent each hereby further
agrees that, anything contained in this Agreement or any other Facility Document
to the contrary notwithstanding, all payments to be made by the Purchaser to
the
Agent or any Liquidity Provider under this Agreement shall be made by the
Purchaser solely from available cash, which shall be limited to the (a) proceeds
of collections and other amounts payable by or on behalf of the Seller to the
Purchaser in connection with any of the Facility Documents and (b) proceeds
of
the issuance of Commercial Paper Notes (collectively “Available
Funds”). No
recourse shall be had against the Purchaser for any payments to the Agent or
any
Liquidity Provider, either as compensation for services rendered, reimbursement
for out of pocket expenses, indemnification, or otherwise, except to the extent
the Purchaser has Available Funds to make such payment.
Section
9.08. Execution in
Counterparts; Severability. This Purchase Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an
original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the
same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to
this Purchase Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a
manually executed counterpart of this Purchase Agreement. In case any
provision in or obligation under this Purchase Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision
or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.
Section
9.09. Confidentiality. Unless
otherwise required by applicable law or regulation to be filed publicly with
the
Securities and Exchange Commission or other Governmental Authority or in
connection with any litigation or any other enforcement action, the parties
hereto each agree to maintain the confidentiality of this Purchase Agreement
(and all drafts thereof) in communications with third parties and otherwise;
provided that
this Purchase Agreement may be disclosed (i) to such parties’ legal counsel,
accountants and auditors, (ii) to the Seller’s and the Servicer’s other
professional advisors and other appropriate persons if they agree to hold it
confidential, (iii) to governmental or regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction over such parties or their direct or indirect parent companies
or
subsidiaries or other Affiliates, (iv) to any Person providing general liquidity
or credit enhancement to the Purchaser, (v) to any Affiliate of any party
hereto, (vi) to any independent financial rating agencies and (vii) to any
Person to whom the Seller approaches for a replacement facility or similar
facility or to whom the Purchaser proposes (with the consent of the Seller)
to
assign all or any portion or grant a participation in its interests and
obligations hereunder if they agree to hold it confidential.
Section
9.10. Intended Tax
Treatment. The parties to this Purchase Agreement are entering
into this Purchase Agreement with the intent that for Federal, state and local
income and franchise tax purposes, a purchase of Receivables Assets under this
Purchase Agreement is intended to be a loan from the Purchaser to the Seller
secured by the Receivables Assets. Each such party agrees to file all
tax returns according to this characterization.
36
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Purchase Agreement to be executed
by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first
above written.
SELLER:
|
ACCO
BRANDS RECEIVABLES FUNDING LLC
By: /s/
Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
Title: Manager
and
Vice President
|
ACCO
Brands Receivables Funding LLC
c/o
ACCO Brands Corporation
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Senior Vice President, Secretary
and
General Counsel
|
|
SERVICER:
|
ACCO
BRANDS USA LLC
By: /s/
Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice
President
|
c/o
ACCO Brands Corporation
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
Counsel
|
AGENT:
|
BANK
OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD. NEW YORK BRANCH., as Agent
By: /s/
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Title: VP
and
Manager
|
1251
Avenue of the Americas, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Securitization
Group
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
PURCHASER:
|
GOTHAM
FUNDING CORPORATION
By: /s/
Xxxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
|
1251
Avenue of the Americas, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Securitization
Group
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
ANNEX
I
DEFINITIONS
AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Section
1. Certain Defined
Terms. The following terms shall have the following meanings
(equally applicable to both singular and plural forms):
“ACCO”
has
the meaning
given to such term in the preamble of the Purchase Agreement.
“Additional
Amounts”
means amounts owed by the Seller hereunder pursuant to Sections
2.06, 2.07,
2.08,
8.01
and 9.06 of the Purchase
Agreement.
“Adjusted
DSO” means,
for any Monthly Period, the product of (i) DSO multiplied by (ii)
1.20.
“Adjusted
LIBO Rate”
for any Tranche Period means an interest rate per annum obtained by
dividing (i)
the LIBO Rate for such Tranche Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus
the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage for such Tranche Period.
“Adverse
Claim” means
any claim of ownership or any Lien, other than any ownership interest or Lien
created under the Sale Agreement or the Purchase Agreement or any other Facility
Document.
“Affected
Party” means
the Purchaser, the Agent, any Liquidity Provider and any parent company
controlling any of the foregoing.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall be presumed
to include (a) any Person which beneficially owns or holds 20% or more of any
class of voting securities of such specified Person or 20% or more of the equity
interest in such specified Person and (b) any Person of which such specified
Person beneficially owns or holds 20% or more of any class of voting securities
or in which such specified Person beneficially owns or holds 20% or more of
the
equity interest. For the purposes of this definition, (i) “voting
securities” of a Person means any securities which confer upon the holder
thereof a right to vote with respect to the election of members of the board
of
directors or any analogous governing body of such Person (excluding voting
power
arising only upon the occurrence of a contingency), (ii) “control” when used
with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management
and policies of such specified Person, directly or indirectly, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and (iii) the
terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing
clause
(ii).
“Affiliated
Obligor”
means, with respect to any Obligor, any Obligor directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
such
Obligor and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall be presumed
to include (a) any Obligor which beneficially owns or holds 50% or more of
any
class of voting securities of such specified Obligor or 50% or more of the
equity interest in such specified Obligor and
(b)
any
Obligor of which such specified Obligor beneficially owns or holds 50% or more
of any class of voting securities or in which such specified Obligor
beneficially owns or holds 50% or more of the equity interest. For
the purposes of this definition, (i) “voting securities” of an Obligor means any
securities which confer upon the holder thereof a right to vote with respect
to
the election of members of the board of directors or any analogous governing
body of such Obligor (excluding voting power arising only upon the occurrence
of
a contingency), (ii) “control” when used with respect to any specified Obligor
means the power to direct the management and policies of such specified Obligor,
directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by
contract or otherwise, and (iii) the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have
meanings correlative to the foregoing clause
(ii).
“Agent”
means
BTMU, in
its capacity as agent for the Purchaser together with its successors and
permitted assigns.
“Aggregate
Reserves”
means, at the time of calculation, the sum of the Loss Reserve, the
Dilution
Reserve, the Yield Reserve and the Servicer Fee Reserve in effect at such time
based on then outstanding Capital.
“Arrangement
Fee” has
the meaning given to such term in the Fee Letter.
“Assignee
Rate” for
any Tranche Period means a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Adjusted
LIBO Rate plus
(ii) 1.50%; provided, however,
that the
“Assignee Rate”
shall be
equal to the Base Rate in effect from time to time (x) for any Tranche
Period not equal to a month, (y) at any time when it is unlawful for the
Purchaser or any Liquidity Provider to obtain funds in, or BTMU is not offering
deposits in dollars in, the London interbank market and (z) for any Tranche
Period as to which the Agent has not received notice, by no later than 12:00
noon (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day
of
such Tranche Period, that the related Tranche shall not be funded by Commercial
Paper Notes.
“Available
Funds”
shall mean monies then held by or on behalf of Buyer, solely to the
extent that
such monies do not constitute Collections of Transferred Receivables that are
required to be identified or are deemed to be held by the Servicer pursuant
to
the Purchase Agreement for the benefit of, or required to be distributed to,
the
Agent or the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or required to be
paid
to the Servicer as the Servicer Fee, or otherwise necessary to pay current
expenses of Buyer (in its reasonable discretion).
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means the provisions of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C.
§ § 101
et
seq.
“Base
Rate” means a
fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the higher of (i) the rate of
interest most recently announced by BTMU or its affiliate, BTM Trust Company,
in
New York, New York, as its “Prime Rate” and (ii) the Federal Funds Rate most
recently determined by the Agent plus
0.50%.
“Billed
Amount” means,
with respect to any Receivable, the amount billed on the Billing Date to the
Obligor thereunder, or if the Billing Date therefor has not yet occurred, the
amount estimated to be billed (based on services performed or merchandise sold)
on the Billing Date to the Obligor thereunder.
2
“Billing
Date” means,
with respect to any Receivable, the date on which the invoice with respect
thereto was generated.
“Breakage
Amount”
means, for any Tranche Period during which Capital is prepaid pursuant
to Section 2.02(f), the
amount, if any, by which (i) the additional Yield (calculated without taking
into account any Breakage Amount) which would have accrued on the amount of
the
Capital so prepaid during such Tranche Period had such prepayment not occurred,
exceeds (ii) the amount identified by written notice from the Agent to the
Seller and Servicer as the income which the Purchaser or applicable Liquidity
Providers will receive from the investment by such Person of the proceeds of
such prepayment of Capital through the end of the relevant Tranche
Period.
“BTMU”
has
the meaning
given to such term in the preamble of the Purchase Agreement.
“Business
Day” means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday or the equivalent for
banks in New York City, New York or Chicago, Illinois and, if the term “Business
Day” is used in connection with the LIBO Rate, which day is a day on which
dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.
“Buyer”
means
ACCO
Brands Receivables Funding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its
capacity as purchaser under the Sale Agreement.
“Buyer
Indemnified
Party” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.01 of
the
Sale Agreement.
“Call
Price” has the
meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.10(a) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Capital”
means,
at
any time, the sum of amounts paid to the Seller pursuant to Section 2.02(b),
reduced from time to time by Collections received and distributed on account
of
such Capital pursuant to Section 2.04 of the
Purchase Agreement.
“Capital
Purchase” has
the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.02(a) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Capital
Purchase
Request” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.02(b) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Cash
Management Services
Agreement” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.01(v) of
the Sale Agreement.
“Change
of Control”
means (i) the acquisition by any Person, or two or more Persons acting
in
concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
of
35% or more of the outstanding shares of capital Stock of ACCO or Parent having
the right to vote for the election of directors under ordinary circumstances;
(ii) ACCO or Parent has sold, transferred, conveyed, assigned or otherwise
disposed of all or substantially all of its assets; or (iii) ACCO shall cease
to
3
own,
free
and clear of any Lien, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding shares
of
voting stock of the Seller.
“Charter
Documents”
means, with respect to any corporation or limited liability company,
such
Person’s articles or certificate of incorporation or formation, as such may be
amended or restated from time to time, and such Person’s bylaws or operating
agreement, as such may be amended or restated from time to time.
“Closing
Date” means
January 9, 2008.
“Collection
Account”
means the account maintained in the name of the Agent on behalf of the
Purchaser
as designated by the Agent from time to time.
“Collections”
means,
with respect to any Transferred Receivable, any and all related cash collections
and proceeds, all amounts due as fees or charges for late payments, and any
Collections deemed to have been received pursuant to Section 2.04(a) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Commercial
Paper
Note” means any commercial paper note issued by the
Purchaser.
“Commitment
Fees” has
the meaning given to such term in the Fee Letter.
“Commitment
Termination
Date” means January 9, 2011, unless,
prior to such
date (or the date so extended pursuant to this clause), upon the Seller’s
request, made not more than 90 nor less than 45 days prior to the then
Commitment Termination Date, the Purchaser shall in its sole discretion consent,
which consent shall be given not more than 30 days prior to the then Commitment
Termination Date, to the extension of the Commitment Termination Date to the
date occurring 364 calendar days after the then Commitment Termination Date;
provided, however,
that any
failure of the Purchaser to respond to the Seller’s request for such extension
shall be deemed a denial of such request by the Purchaser.
“Concentration
Limit”
means, at any time, for (a) Obligors (other than those described in
clause (b),
(c), (d) or (e) below) which either do not have corporate debt ratings by
S&P or Xxxxx’x, or have ratings below BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Xxxxx’x, 4%
of the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Receivables at such time; (b) Obligors
(other than those described in clause (c), (d) or (e) below) with corporate
debt
ratings of at least BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Xxxxx’x, 6% of the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of Receivables at such time; (c) Obligors (other than those
described in clause (d) or (e) below) with corporate debt ratings of at least
BBB+ or higher by S&P or Baa1 or higher by Xxxxx’x, 8% of the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of Receivables at such time; (d) Obligors (other than those
described in clause (e) below) with corporate debt ratings of at least A or
higher by S&P or A2 or higher by Xxxxx’x, 10% of the aggregate Outstanding
Balance of Receivables at such time or (e) such greater percentage (“Special Limit”) for
any Obligor designated by the Agent in a writing from time to time multiplied
by
Capital at such time; provided, however,
that in the
case of an Obligor with any Affiliated Obligors, the Concentration Limit and
the
Receivables related thereto shall be calculated as if such Obligor and such
one
or more Affiliated Obligors were one Obligor. The Special Limits in
effect on the Closing Date are set forth on Exhibit
G. The Agent will have the
4
right,
in
its reasonable credit judgment, at any time upon five (5) Business Days’ written
notice to reduce or cancel a Special Concentration Limit established for any
Obligor.
“Contract”
means
any
agreement (including any invoice) pursuant to, or under which, an Obligor shall
be obligated to make payments with respect to any Receivable.
“Contributed
Receivables” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.01(b) of
the Sale Agreement.
“CP
Rate” means, for
any Tranche Period for any Tranche, (i) unless the Agent has determined that
the
Pooled CP Rate shall be applicable, the rate per annum calculated by the Agent
to reflect the Purchaser’s cost of funding Capital during such Tranche Period,
taking into account the weighted daily average interest rate payable in respect
to such Commercial Paper Notes during such period (determined in the case of
discount Commercial Paper Notes by converting the discount to an interest
bearing equivalent per annum), and applicable placement fees and commissions;
and (ii) to the extent the Agent has determined that the Pooled CP Rate shall
be
applicable, the Pooled CP Rate.
“Credit
Agreement”
means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 17, 2005 (as
amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and among,
inter alia, ACCO Brands
Corporation, the other Borrowers, Lenders and Issuers from time to time party
thereto and Citicorp North America, Inc., as Administrative Agent.
“Credit
and Collection
Policy” means those credit and collection policies and practices relating
to the Receivables and Obligors described in Exhibit A to the
Purchase Agreement.
“Default
Ratio” means,
for any Monthly Period, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Defaulted Receivables as of the last day of such
Monthly Period divided by the aggregate Receivables as of the last day of such
Monthly Period.
“Defaulted
Receivable”
means a Receivable at any time (i) as to which payment, or part thereof,
remains
unpaid for more than 60 days from the original due date for such payment, (ii)
as to which the Obligor thereof has taken any action, or suffered any event
to
occur, of the type described in Section 7.01(g), or
(iii) which, consistent with the Credit and Collection Policy, has
been or should be written off as uncollectible.
“Delinquency
Ratio”
means, for any Monthly Period, the ratio (expressed as a percentage)
of the
aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Delinquent Receivables as of the last
day
of such Monthly Period divided by the aggregate Receivables as of the last
day
of such Monthly Period.
“Delinquent
Receivable” means a Receivable that is not a Defaulted Receivable and (i)
as to which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for more than 30 days
but less than 61 days from the original due date for such payment or (ii) which,
consistent with the Credit and Collection Policy, has been or should be
classified as delinquent.
“Diluted
Receivable”
means a Receivable which is either (a) reduced or canceled as a result
of a
Dilution Factor or (b) subject to any dispute, offset, counterclaim or
defense
5
whatsoever,
(except the discharge in bankruptcy, insolvency or inability to pay of the
Obligor thereof).
“Dilution
Factor”
means any of the following factors giving rise to dilution: (i) any
defective,
rejected or returned merchandise or services, any cash discount, or any failure
by the applicable Originator to deliver any merchandise or services or otherwise
perform under the underlying contract or invoice, (ii) any change or
cancellation of any terms of such contract or invoice or any other adjustment
by
the Servicer or the applicable Originator which reduces the amount payable
by
the Obligor on the related Receivable, (iii) any setoff in respect of any claim
by the Obligor thereof (whether such claim arises out of the same or a related
transaction or an unrelated transaction) (iv) any chargeback, inventory
transfer, early payment allowance, warranty allowance or similar allowance,
in
each case, made for any reason other than discharge in bankruptcy of the Obligor
thereof or such Obligor’s insolvency or inability to pay or (v) any Regulatory
Change which has the effect of reducing the amount receivable with respect
to
any Receivable.
“Dilution
Horizon
Factor” means, for any Monthly Period, the ratio determined as of the
last day of such Monthly Period by dividing (i) the aggregate Outstanding
Balance of all Receivables generated during such Monthly Period and the
immediately preceding Monthly Period by (ii) the Net Receivable Balance as
of
such day.
“Dilution
Ratio”
means, for any Monthly Period, the ratio (expressed as a percentage)
determined
as of the last day of such Monthly Period by dividing (i) the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Receivables that became Diluted Receivables during
such Monthly Period by (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables
generated during the immediately preceding Monthly Period.
“Dilution
Reserve”
means, at any time of calculation hereunder, an amount equal to the
Dilution
Reserve Percentage multiplied by Capital.
“Dilution
Reserve
Percentage” means, for any Monthly Period, the greater of (i) 5.0% and
(ii) an amount calculated in accordance with the following formula:
DRP
=
[(1.50 x ADR) + [(HDR-ADR) x (HDR/ADR)]] x DHF
where:
DRP
|
=
|
the
Dilution Reserve Percentage;
|
ADR
|
=
|
the
average of the Dilution Ratios for the past twelve Monthly
Periods;
|
HDR
|
=
|
the
highest average of the Dilution Ratios for any two consecutive Monthly
Periods during the past twelve months; and
|
DHF
|
=
|
the
Dilution Horizon Factor.
|
6
“DSO”
means
an amount,
expressed in days, calculated for each Monthly Period, equal to the product
of
(a) average for such Monthly Period and the two preceding Monthly Periods of
the
ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the aggregate Outstanding Balance
of
all Receivables as of the last day of such Monthly Period divided by (ii) the
aggregate Outstanding Balance of all receivables generated during such Monthly
Period multiplied by (b) 30.
“Dynamic
Loss Reserve
Percentage” means, at any time of calculation hereunder, the product of
(i) 1.50, (ii) the highest Loss Ratio to have been determined during the
immediately preceding twelve (12) Monthly Periods, and (iii) the Loss Horizon
Factor calculated as of the most recently ended Monthly Period.
“Effective
Date” means
the first Business Day on which all of the conditions precedent to the initial
Purchase, as described in Section 3.01 of the
Purchase Agreement, have been satisfied.
“Election
Notice” has
the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.01(a) of
the Sale Agreement.
“Eligible
Receivable”
means a Receivable:
(a)
the Obligor of which (x) maintains its principal place of business inside the
United States of America or a Permitted Foreign Jurisdiction, (y) is not an
Inter-Company Receivable and (z) is not a Governmental Receivable;
(b)
Foreign Receivables the Outstanding Balance of which, when added to the
aggregate Outstanding Balance of all other Foreign Receivables at such time,
does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Outstanding Balance of all Eligible
Receivables at such time;
(c)
which is not a Defaulted Receivable or a Diluted Receivable;
(d)
the Obligor of which is not the Obligor of any Defaulted Receivables, the
aggregate Outstanding Balance of which equals 25% or more of the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Receivables of such Obligor;
(e)
which is denominated and payable only in United States dollars within the United
States;
(f)
which does not contravene in any material respect any laws, rules or regulations
applicable thereto and with respect to which neither the Originator nor the
Seller is in violation of any such law, rule or regulation applicable to such
Receivable the effect of which would have a material adverse effect on the
Seller’s or the Purchaser’s interests therein or the collectibility
thereof;
(g)
which is freely assignable and does not require the consent, authorization,
approval or notice to the Obligor thereof or any Governmental Authority (except
for such consents, authorizations, approvals or notices which have already
been
obtained or are not required under applicable law) in
connection with the conveyance of such
7
Receivable,
the Related Security and the Collections from the Originator to the Seller
and
from the Seller to the Purchaser;
(h)
which was originated (i) in the ordinary course of the applicable Originator’s
business and (ii) in accordance with and satisfies all applicable requirements
of the Credit and Collection Policy;
(i)
which is required to be paid in full within 90 days after the original billing
date thereof;
(j)
which (1) is an “account” within the meaning of the UCC of the jurisdiction in
which the Originators and the Seller are organized, (2) is in full force and
effect, (3) constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Obligor
thereof enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms, (4)
has
not been released, canceled, subordinated or rescinded, nor has any instrument
been executed by the Originator or the Seller which would effect any such
release, cancellation, subordination or rescission, and (5) is not subject
to
any existing dispute, right of rescission, setoff, recoupment, counterclaim
or
defense, whether arising out of transactions concerning such Receivable or
otherwise;
(k)
that has not been satisfied, compromised, adjusted or modified (including by
extension of time for payment or the granting of any discounts, allowances
or
credits) other than a satisfaction, compromise, adjustment or modification
which
is (a) made after the Transfer Date thereof in accordance with the Credit and
Collection Policy and (b) concurrently reflected on the books and records of
the
Seller.
(l)
good and marketable title to which (including a 100% first priority ownership
interest in all Related Security and Collections with respect thereto) has
been
conveyed by the applicable Originator to the Seller free of any Lien (other
than
Liens created under the Facility Documents);
(m)
which has been invoiced by the applicable Originator or the Servicer and is
not
a “xxxx and hold” or “billed but not yet shipped” or progress billing
Receivable, and with respect to which all obligations on the part of the
Originator or the Seller with respect thereto have been performed in
full;
(n)
as to which the representations and warranties of Section 4.01(i) of
the Sale Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the
Transfer Date therefor and has been transferred to the Seller pursuant to the
Sale Agreement in a transaction constituting a true sale or other outright
conveyance and contribution;
(o)
no portion of which is payable on account of sales taxes;
(p)
the Obligor of which has been directed to make payment into a Lockbox
Account;
8
(q)
was documented with the applicable Originator pursuant to a Contract (including
a purchase order or invoice) which is in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent;
(r)
which represents all or part of the sales price of merchandise, insurance and
services within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, Section
3(c)(5), as amended;
(s)
the purchase of which is a “current transaction” within the meaning of Section
3(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and
(t)
which has not, pursuant to the Agent’s reasonable credit judgment, been
designated as an excluded receivable in a written notice delivered by the
Agent.
“ERISA”
means
the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended
from
time to time and any final regulations promulgated and the rulings issued
thereunder.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together
with
the Seller or any Originator, is treated as a single employer within the meaning
of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the IRC.
“ERISA
Event” means,
with respect any Originator or any ERISA Affiliate, (a) any event described
in
Section 4043(c) of ERISA with respect to a Title IV Plan; (b) the withdrawal
of
any Originator or ERISA Affiliate from a Title IV Plan subject to Section 4063
of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer,” as defined
in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (c) the complete or partial withdrawal of any
Originator or any ERISA Affiliate from any Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing
of
a notice of intent to terminate a Title IV Plan or the treatment of a plan
amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; (e) the institution
of
proceedings to terminate a Title IV Plan or Multiemployer Plan by the PBGC;
(f)
the failure by any Originator or ERISA Affiliate to make when due required
contributions to a Multiemployer Plan or Title IV Plan unless such failure
is
cured within 30 days; (g) any other event or condition that might reasonably
be
expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination
of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Title IV Plan or
Multiemployer Plan or for the imposition of liability under Section 4069 or
4212(c) of ERISA; (h) the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section
4041A of ERISA or the reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan
under
Section 4241 of ERISA; (i) the loss of a Qualified Plan’s qualification or tax
exempt status; or (j) the termination of a Plan described in Section 4064 of
ERISA; provided, however, that each such event shall be an ERISA Event only
if
it can reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or to result
in
creation of a Lien under Section 412 of the IRC or Section 4068 of
ERISA.
“Eurocurrency
Liabilities” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to
time.
“Eurodollar
Reserve
Percentage” means, for any Settlement Period in respect of which Interest
is computed by reference to the LIBO Rate, the reserve percentage applicable
two
Business Days before the first day of such Settlement Period under regulations
issued from time
9
to
time
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor)
(or
if more than one such percentage shall be applicable, the daily average of
such
percentages for those days in such Settlement Period during which any such
percentage shall be so applicable) for determining the maximum reserve
requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or
other
marginal reserve requirement) with respect to liabilities or assets consisting
of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any other category
of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate
on
Eurocurrency Liabilities is determined) having a term equal to such Settlement
Period.
“Event
of Termination”
has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 7.01 of
the
Purchase Agreement.
“Facility
Documents”
means collectively, the Purchase Agreement, the Sale Agreement, the
Performance
Guaranty, the Lock-Box Agreements, the Fee Letter, the Subordinated Notes and
all other agreements, documents and instruments delivered pursuant thereto
or in
connection therewith.
“Federal
Funds Rate”
means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal (for
each day
during such period) to:
(a)
the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as
published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next
preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; or
(b)
if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the
average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the
Agent in good faith from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by it.
“Fee
Letter” means
that certain Fee Letter dated as of the date of this Purchase Agreement, among
the Agent, the Seller and the Originators.
“Final
Collection
Date” means the date following the Termination Date on which the
aggregate outstanding Capital has been reduced to zero and the Affected Parties
have received all amounts due and payable to the Affected Parties (including
Yield) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or any other agreement executed
pursuant thereto.
“Financial
Covenant
Default” means:
(a)
a default by any Originator, Parent or ACCO in the observance or performance
of
Sections 5.1 or
5.2
of the
Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof; or
(b)
a default in the due observance or performance by any Originator, Parent or
ACCO
of any New Financial Covenant;
provided,
however
that, in the case of clause (a) above, at any time the Agent is a party to
the
Credit Agreement, if any of the aforementioned financial covenants contained
in
the Credit
10
Agreement
is amended or modified on a prospective basis, then such financial covenant
shall, for all purposes of the Purchase Agreement, automatically and without
further action on the part of any Person, be deemed to be so amended or modified
for purposes of determining whether a Financial Covenant Default has occurred
subsequent to the date of such amendment or modification.
“Foreign
Receivable”
means a Receivable, the Obligor of which is located in a country outside
of the
United States.
“GAAP”
shall
mean
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as
in
effect on the Closing Date, consistently applied as such term is further defined
in Section 2(a) of this Annex I.
“Governmental
Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government, any
political subdivision of any of the foregoing and any agency or instrumentality
of any of the foregoing.
“Governmental
Receivable” means a Receivable, the Obligor of which is a Governmental
Authority.
“Incipient
Termination
Event” means any event that, with the passage of time or notice or both,
would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Termination.
“Indemnified
Amounts”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01 of
the
Purchase Agreement.
“Indemnified
Party”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01 of
the
Purchase Agreement.
“Indemnified
Taxes”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Initial
Purchase
Date” means the date the first Purchase is made pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
“Intellectual
Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(h)(i)(B)
of the Purchase Agreement.
“Inter-Company
Receivable” means a Receivable the Obligor of which is a Receivables
Affiliate of Parent, ACCO, any Originator or the Seller.
“Investment
Certificate” means a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit D,
furnished by the Servicer to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.02(c) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“IRC”
means
the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be amended from time to time
and
any final regulations promulgated and the rulings issued
thereunder.
11
“Investor
Report”
means a report, in substantially the form of Exhibit C,
furnished
by the Servicer to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.02(c) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“LIBO
Rate” for any
Settlement Period or Tranche Period, as applicable, means a rate of interest
determined by the Agent equal to the offered rate for deposits in United States
Dollars for such Settlement Period or Tranche Period, as applicable, which
appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the
second full Business Day next preceding the first day of such Settlement Period
(unless such date is not a Business Day, in which event the next succeeding
Business Day will be used). If such interest rates shall cease to be
available from Reuters, the LIBO Rate shall be determined from such financial
reporting service or other information as shall be mutually acceptable to the
Agent and the Seller.
“Lien”
means
any
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance,
lien (statutory or otherwise), or preference, priority, or other security
agreement or of any kind or nature whatsoever.
“Liquidity
Fee” has
the meaning given such term in the Fee Letter.
“Liquidity
Advance”
means a loan, advance, purchase or other similar action made by a Liquidity
Provider.
“Liquidity
Agent”
means BTMU in its capacity as liquidity agent.
“Liquidity
Provider”
means BTMU or any other commercial lending institution that agrees to
make loans
or advances to, or purchases from the Purchaser in order to provide liquidity
for the Commercial Paper Notes.
“Lock-Box
Account”
means an account maintained at a Lock-Box Bank for the purpose of receiving
Collections from Transferred Receivables.
“Lock-Box
Agreement”
means an agreement with respect to a Lock-Box Account at a Lock-Box
Bank, in
substantially the form of Exhibit E to the
Purchase Agreement, among the Seller, the Servicer, any applicable Originator,
the Agent and such Lock-Box Bank to transfer control of such Lock-Box Account
to
the Agent.
“Lock-Box
Bank” means
any of the banks holding one or more lock-box accounts for receiving Collections
from Transferred Receivables.
“Loss
Horizon Factor”
means, for any Monthly Period, the ratio (expressed as a percentage)
determined
as of the last day of such Monthly Period by dividing (i) the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Receivables originated during the four most recently
ended Monthly Periods (including such Monthly Period) divided by (ii) the Net
Receivables Balance as of such day.
“Loss
Ratio” means,
for any Monthly Period, the ratio equal to the average of the ratios (each
expressed as a percentage) for each of the three (3) immediately preceding
Monthly Periods determined as of the last day of each such Monthly Period by
dividing (i) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables which became
Defaulted Receivables during the
12
applicable
Monthly Period, by (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Receivables that
were generated during the Monthly Period which ended three (3) Monthly Periods
prior to such last day (not including the most recent Monthly
Period).
“Loss
Reserve” means,
at any time of calculation hereunder, an amount equal to the product of Capital
times the Loss Reserve Percentage.
“Loss
Reserve
Percentage” means, at any time of calculation hereunder, the greater of
(i) the Minimum Loss Reserve Percentage and (ii) the Dynamic Loss Reserve
Percentage, in each case, at such time.
“Loss-to-Liquidation
Ratio” means, for any Monthly Period, the ratio (expressed as a
percentage) determined as of the last day of such Monthly Period by dividing
(i)
the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables written off as
uncollectible, or which should have been written off as uncollectible in
accordance with the Credit and Collection Policy during such Monthly Period,
by
(ii) the aggregate amount of Collections received by the Servicer during such
Monthly Period described in clause (i) above.
“Margin
Stock” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.01(o) of
the Sale Agreement.
“Material
Adverse
Effect” means any event or condition which would have a material adverse
effect on (i) the collectibility of the Transferred Receivables, (ii) the
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Seller, the Servicer, the Originator
or the Performance Guarantor, (iii) the ability of the Seller, the Servicer,
the
Originator or the Performance Guarantor to perform their respective obligations
under the Facility Documents to which it is a party or (iv) the legality,
validity or enforceability of any Facility Document or of the Purchaser
Interests.
“Minimum
Loss Reserve
Percentage” means, at any time of calculation hereunder, the product of
(i) 4.0 multiplied by (ii) the Concentration Limit applicable to an unrated
Obligor at such time (without giving effect to any Special Limits in place
at
such time).
“Monthly
Period” means
each calendar month.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA with
respect to which any Originator or any ERISA Affiliate is making, is obligated
to make, or has made or been obligated to make, contributions on behalf of
participants who are or were employed by any of them.
“New
Financial
Covenant” means any financial covenant (a) added to Article V of the
Credit Agreement after the date of this Purchase Agreement or (b) contained
in
any successor or replacement revolving credit facility that replaces the Credit
Agreement to which Parent, ACCO or any Originator becomes a party after the
date
of this Purchase Agreement.
“Net
Receivables
Balance” means at any time of calculation hereunder, the sum of the
Outstanding Balances of all Eligible Receivables minus the aggregate
Overconcentration Amounts for each Obligor.
13
“Obligor”
means
a
Person obligated to make payments on a Receivable.
“OFAC”
means
the
United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
Control.
“OFAC
SDN List” means
the List of Specially Designated Nationals administered by the United States
Office of Foreign Asset Control.
“Originator”
means
(i)
ACCO Brands USA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in its capacity
as,
and so long as it is, a seller of Receivables under the Sale Agreement, and
(ii)
each Affiliate of ACCO who from time to time becomes party to the Sale Agreement
as a seller of Receivables thereunder, each in such capacity and for so long
as
such Affiliate shall be a seller of Receivables under the Sale
Agreement.
“Originator
Collateral” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.02 of
the
Sale Agreement.
“Outstanding
Balance”
means, with respect to a Receivable as of any date of determination,
the amount
(which amount shall not be less than zero) equal to (a) the Billed Amount
thereof, minus (b) all Collections received from the Obligor thereunder, minus
(c) all discounts to or any other modifications that reduce such Billed Amount
(including any such reductions due to Dilution Factors and any amounts
written-off as uncollectible by the Servicer in accordance with the Credit
and
Collection Policy).
“Overconcentration
Amount” means, at any time, for each Obligor, the amount by which the
Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables of such Obligor exceeds the
applicable Concentration Limit for such Obligor.
“Parent”
means
ACCO
Brands Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
“Patriot
Act” means
the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-56).
“PBGC”
means
the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in
ERISA.
“Pension
Plan” means a
Plan described in Section 3(2) of ERISA.
“Performance
Guaranty”
means that certain Performance Guaranty dated as of January 9, 2008
made by the
Parent, as the Performance Guarantor in favor of the Agent, as agent for the
Purchaser and other Indemnified Parties.
“Permitted
Investments” means any of the following:
(a)
obligations of, or guaranteed as to the full and timely payment of principal
and
interest by, the federal government of the United States or obligations of
any
agency or instrumentality thereof if such obligations are backed by the full
faith and credit of the
14
federal
government of the United States, in each case with maturities of not more than
90 days from the date acquired;
(b)
repurchase agreements on obligations of the type specified in clause (a) of this
definition; provided, that the
short-term debt obligations of the party agreeing to repurchase are rated at
least A-1+ or the equivalent by S&P and P-1 or the equivalent by
Moody’s;
(c)
federal funds, certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances
of any depository institution or trust company incorporated under the federal
laws of the United States or any state, in each case with original maturities
of
not more than 90 days or, in the case of bankers’ acceptances, original
maturities of not more than 365 days; provided, that the
short-term obligations of such depository institution or trust company are
rated
at least A-1+ or the equivalent by S&P and P-1 or the equivalent by
Moody’s;
(d)
commercial paper of any corporation incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America or any state thereof with original maturities of not more
than
30 days that on the date of acquisition are rated at least A-1+ or the
equivalent by S&P and P-1 or the equivalent by Moody’s; and
(e)
securities of money market funds rated at least Aam or the equivalent by S&P
and P-1 or the equivalent by Moody’s.
“Permitted
Foreign
Jurisdiction” means a jurisdiction other than the United States of
America designated by the Agent in a writing from time to time.
“Permitted
Originator
Encumbrances” shall mean the following encumbrances: (a) Liens for taxes
or assessments or other governmental charges not yet due and payable (other
than
with respect to environmental matters); (b) pledges or deposits securing
obligations under workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social
security or public liability laws or similar legislation (excluding Liens under
ERISA); (c) pledges or deposits securing bids, tenders, contracts (other than
contracts for the payment of money) or leases to which any Originator, the
Seller or the Servicer is a party as lessee made in the ordinary course of
business; (d) deposits securing statutory obligations of any Originator, the
Seller or the Servicer; (e) inchoate and unperfected workers’, mechanics’,
suppliers’ or similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business; (f)
carriers’, warehousemen’s or other similar possessory Liens arising in the
ordinary course of business and securing liabilities in an outstanding aggregate
amount not in excess of $1,000,000 at any one time; (g) deposits securing,
or in
lieu of, surety, appeal or customs bonds in proceedings to which any Originator,
the Seller or the Servicer is a party; (h) any attachment or judgment Lien
not
constituting an Event of Termination under Section 7.01(n) of
the Purchase Agreement; (i) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on
Schedule
4.03(b) of the Sale Agreement; (j) Liens expressly permitted under Section 4.03(b) of
the Sale Agreement, and (k) presently existing or hereinafter created Liens
in
favor of the Buyer, the Seller, the Purchasers, or the Agent.
15
“Person”
means
an
individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock
company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, joint
venture, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan”
means,
at any
time, an “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, that
Parent, ACCO, any Originator or any ERISA Affiliate maintains, contributes
to or
has an obligation to contribute to on behalf of participants who are or were
employed by Parent, ACCO, any Originator or ERISA Affiliate.
“Pooled
Commercial
Paper” means Commercial Paper Notes of the Purchaser which are subject to
any particular pooling arrangement, as determined by the Agent (it being
recognized that there may be more than one distinct group of Pooled Commercial
Paper at any time).
“Pooled
CP Rate”
means, for each day with respect to the Capital as to which the Pooled
CP Rate
is applicable, the sum of (i) discount or yield accrued (including, without
limitation, any associated with financing the discount or interest component
on
the roll over of any Pooled Commercial Paper) on the Purchaser’s Pooled
Commercial Paper on such day, plus (ii) any
and all
accrued commissions in respect of its placement agents and commercial paper
dealers, and issuing and paying agent fees incurred, in respect of such Pooled
Commercial Paper for such day, plus (iii) other
costs (including without limitation those associated with funding small or
odd
lot amounts) with respect to all receivable purchase, credit and other
investment facilities which are funded by the applicable Pooled Commercial
Paper
for such day. The Pooled CP Rate shall be determined for the
Purchaser by the Agent, whose determination shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.
“Program
Fee” has the
meaning given such term in the Fee Letter.
“Purchase”
means
a
purchase by the Purchaser of an undivided percentage ownership interest in
the
Receivables Assets from the Seller pursuant to Section 2.01 and
Section
2.02 of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Purchase
Agreement”
means the Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of January 9, 2008
among the
Seller, the Servicer, the Purchaser and the Agent, as the same may be amended
from time to time.
“Purchase
Excess”
means the excess, if any, of (i) outstanding Capital over (ii) the Net
Receivables Balance minus the Aggregate Reserves.
“Purchase
Limit” means
at any time $75,000,000, as such amount may be increased or reduced pursuant
to
Section
2.01(b); provided,
however,
that at all
times on and after the Termination Date, the “Purchase Limit” shall
mean the aggregate outstanding Capital.
“Purchase
Price” has
the meaning given such term in Section 2.02(d) of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Purchaser”
means
Gotham Funding Corporation, together with its successors and permitted
assigns.
16
“Purchaser
Interest”
means, at any time of calculation hereunder, the undivided percentage
ownership
interest of the Purchaser in the Receivables Assets, including the Receivables
and the Related Security and Collections related thereto. The
Purchaser Interest is expressed as a fraction of the total Receivables Assets,
and shall at any time be equal to the Purchaser’s ratable share (in accordance
with the Purchaser’s Capital) of an amount computed as follows:
C + AR
NRB
where:
|
C
|
=
|
The
outstanding amount of Capital at such time
|
|
AR
|
=
|
The
Aggregate Reserves at such time
|
|
NRB
|
=
|
The
Net Receivables Balance at such time
|
provided,
that from
and after the Termination Date, the Purchaser Interest shall equal 100% until
the Final Collection Date.
“Purchaser
Rate” means
(a) in the case of a Tranche funded by Commercial Paper Notes, the applicable
CP
Rate; and (b) in the case of a Tranche funded by a Liquidity Advance or by
a
funding by the Liquidity Provider, the applicable Assignee Rate; provided, however,
that on any day when any Event of Termination shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Purchaser Rate for each Tranche means a rate per annum equal
to
the sum of (2.0%) plus the higher
of
(A) the Base Rate and (B) the rate otherwise applicable to such Tranche during
the current Tranche Period or Settlement Period.
“Qualified
Plan” means
a Pension Plan that is intended to be tax-qualified under Section 401(a) of
the
IRC.
“Receivable”
means
all
indebtedness of an Obligor arising from the sale of merchandise or services
by
an Originator, including interest, fees and finance charges, if
any.
“Receivables
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person and, without limiting the generality of
the
foregoing, shall be presumed to include (a) any Person which beneficially owns
or holds 40% or more of any class of voting securities of such specified Person
or 40% or more of the equity interest in such specified Person and (b) any
Person of which such specified Person beneficially owns or holds 40% or more
of
any class of voting securities or in which such specified Person beneficially
owns or holds 40% or more of the equity interest. For the purposes of
this definition, (i) “voting securities” of a Person means any securities which
confer upon the holder thereof a right to vote with respect to the election
of
members of the board of directors or any analogous governing body of such Person
(excluding voting power arising only upon the occurrence of a contingency),
(ii)
“control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such specified Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the
17
ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and (iii) the terms
“controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing clause
(ii).
“Receivables
Assets”
means, at any time, all then outstanding Transferred Receivables, Related
Security with respect to such Transferred Receivables, the Lock-Box Accounts,
all right, title and interest of the Seller in, to and under the Sale Agreement
and all other proceeds of the foregoing, including, without limitation, all
Collections of Transferred Receivables.
“Receivables
Assignment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a) of
the Sale Agreement.
“Records”
means
all
(i) Contracts or other documents or instruments evidencing the Receivables
and
(ii) all other agreements, documents, instruments, books, records and other
information maintained by or on behalf of the Seller with respect to the
Receivables, the related Obligors and the Related Security necessary to
identify, service and collect the Receivables.
“Regulatory
Change”
means, with respect to any Affected Party: (i) the introduction of or
any change
in or in the interpretation by any Governmental Authority of any law or
regulation after the Closing Date; (ii) compliance by such Affected
Party with any guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental
Authority (whether or not having the force of law) after the date hereof; (iii)
the introduction of or change in or change in implementation of any fiscal,
monetary or other accounting board or authority (whether or not part of
government) which is responsible for the establishment or interpretation of
national or international account principles or having jurisdiction over such
Affected Party, in each case, whether foreign or domestic after the Closing
Date; or (iv) the introduction of or change in GAAP or regulatory accounting
principles applicable to such Affected Party and affecting the application
to
such Affected Party after the Closing Date of any law, regulation,
interpretation, directive, requirement or request referred to in clause (a)(i),
(ii) or (iii) above.
“Reinvestment
Purchase” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.02(a)
of
the Purchase Agreement.
“Rejected
Amount” has
the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.04 of the
Sale Agreement.
“Related
Security”
means, with respect to any Transferred Receivable, (i) all rights (but
not any
obligations) under the Contracts relating to such Receivable, (ii) all security
interests or liens in the merchandise or goods the sale of which gave rise
to
such Receivable, whether such security interest or lien purports to secure
payment of such Receivable, (iii) the assignment to the Agent, for the benefit
of the Purchaser, of all UCC financing statements or other filings covering
any
collateral securing payment of such Receivable, (iv) all guarantees, prepayment
penalties, indemnities, warranties, letters of credit, insurance policies and
proceeds and premium refunds thereof and other agreements or arrangements of
whatever character from time to time supporting or securing payment of such
Receivable, (v) all Records related to such Receivable, and (vi) all proceeds
of
the foregoing.
“Responsible
Officer”
means “Responsible Officer” means, with respect to any Person, any of the
principal executive officers, managing members or general partners of such
Person
18
but,
in
any event, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer,
vice
president (finance and accounting), treasurer or controller of such
Person.
“Revolving
Loan” has
the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.01(c) of
the Sale Agreement.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Sale”
means
a sale of
Receivables by an Originator to the Buyer in accordance with the terms of the
Sale Agreement.
“Sale
Agreement” means
that certain Receivables Sale and Contribution Agreement dated as of January
9,
2008 between the Originators and the Seller, as such agreement may be amended,
supplemented or modified from time to time.
“Sale
Legend” means
the following legend, mutatis
mutandis: “All receivables owned by ACCO Brands USA LLC and each other
Originator from time to time party to the Sale Agreement have been sold and
assigned to ACCO Brands Receivables Funding LLC.”
“Sale
Price” means,
with respect to any Sale of Sold Receivables, the price calculated by the Seller
and approved from time to time by the Agent equal to:
(a)
the Outstanding Balance of such Sold Receivables, minus
(b)
an amount reflecting a reasonable profit for the Seller, minus
(c)
an amount reflecting the reasonable value of receiving current payment in
respect of future collections, minus
(d)
the portion of such Sold Receivables that are reasonably expected by such
Originator to be written off as uncollectible;
provided,
that the
calculations required in each of clause (d) above shall be determined on or
prior to the Transfer Date based on the historical experience of such Originator
and the Sale Price in effect for any Receivable as of any such Transfer Date
shall not be retroactively adjusted.
“Schedule
of
Documents” shall mean the schedule, including all appendices, exhibits or
schedules thereto, listing certain documents and information to be delivered
in
connection with the Sale Agreement, the Purchase Agreement and the other
Facility Documents and the transactions contemplated thereunder, substantially
in the form attached as Annex Y to the Sale
Agreement.
“Seller”
has
the
meaning given to such term in the preamble to the Purchase
Agreement.
“Seller
Interest”
means, at any time of calculation hereunder, (i) 100%, minus (ii) the
aggregate
of the outstanding Purchaser Interests at such time.
19
“Seller’s
Account”
means account number 0000000 at Northern Trust Company, Chicago, IL,
ABA No.
000-000-000.
“Servicer”
initially
has the meaning given to such term in the preamble to the Purchase Agreement
and, at any time following the Closing Date, shall mean the Person(s) then
authorized pursuant to Section 6.01 of the
Purchase Agreement to service, administer, xxxx and collect
Receivables.
“Servicer
Default”
means any of the following events:
(a)
there shall have occurred any event which materially adversely affects the
ability of the Servicer to collect the Receivables or the ability of the
Servicer to perform under the Purchase Agreement; or
(b)
the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Termination (other than an Event
of Termination set forth in Section
7.01(r)).
“Servicer
Fee” means a
fee with respect to each Settlement Period, payable in arrears for the account
of the Servicer, in an amount equal to the product of (i) the average daily
Outstanding Balance of Receivables during such Settlement Period and (ii) the
per annum rate of (x) one-half percent (0.50%) if ACCO or an Affiliate thereof
is the Servicer and (y) a rate mutually agreed on by the Servicer and the Agent
if a Person other than ACCO or an Affiliate of ACCO is the
Servicer.
“Servicing
Fee
Reserve” means, for any Monthly Period, the product of (i) the Servicer
Fee for such period multiplied by (ii) the Adjusted DSO, multiplied by (iii)
the
Variance Factor, multiplied by (iv) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of
Receivables multiplied by (v) 1/360.
“Servicing
Software”
shall mean the data processing software used by the Originators, the
Servicer
and/or Seller for the purpose of servicing, monitoring, and retaining data
regarding the Transferred Receivables and the Obligors thereunder.
“Settlement
Date”
means, with respect to any Settlement Period in which the Purchaser
Rate is the
CP Rate, the date which is the twelfth Business Day following the end of such
Settlement Period and with respect to any Settlement Period in which the
Purchaser Rate is the Assignee Rate, the next succeeding Business Day after
the
end of such Settlement Period; provided, that the
Agent may, in its discretion following the occurrence of an Event of
Termination, by notice to the Seller, require that Settlement Dates occur more
frequently than monthly.
“Settlement
Period”
means, initially, the period commencing on the Initial Purchase Date
and ending
on the last day of the then current calendar month, and thereafter, each
calendar month, unless a shorter period is designated by the Agent following
the
occurrence of an Event of Termination.
“Sold
Receivable” has
the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.01(b) of
the Sale Agreement.
20
“Solvent”
means,
with
respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair
value
of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities,
including contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair salable
value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be
required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its Indebtedness as
they become absolute and matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does
not believe that it will, incur Indebtedness or liabilities beyond such Person’s
ability to pay as such Indebtedness and liabilities mature; (d) such Person
is
not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a
business or transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an
unreasonably small capital; and (e) such Person generally is paying its
Indebtedness or liabilities as such Indebtedness or liabilities become due.
The
amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension
plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light
of
all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount
that
can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured
liability.
“Special
Limit” means
as shall be agreed to in writing by the Agent (with the consent of the
Purchaser) for certain Obligors from time to time.
“Stock”
means
all
shares, options, warrants, membership interests, general or limited partnership
interests or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a
corporation, limited liability company, partnership or equivalent entity whether
voting or nonvoting, including common stock, preferred stock or any other
“equity security” (as such term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
“Stockholder”
means,
with respect to any Person, each holder of Stock of such Person.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity (a) of which
securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect
a
majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions
are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or (b) that is
directly or indirectly controlled by such Person within the meaning of control
under Section 15 of the Securities Act.
“Termination
Date”
means the earliest to occur of (i) the Commitment Termination Date,
(ii) the
declaration or automatic occurrence of the Termination Date pursuant to Section 7.01, and
(iii) that Business Day which the Seller designates as the Termination Date
by
notice to the Agent at least 60 calendar days prior to such Business
Day.
“Tranche”
means
at any
time a portion of the Capital selected by the Agent and allocated to a
particular Tranche Period pursuant to Section 2.03 of the
Purchase Agreement.
“Tranche
Period”
means:
(a)
with respect to any Tranche funded through Commercial Paper Notes, initially
the
period commencing on the date of funding of such Commercial Paper Notes or
the
creation of such Tranche (whichever is later) and ending on the last day of
the
current Settlement Period or such other number of days thereafter as the Agent
shall select in consultation with the Seller;
21
(b)
with respect to any Tranche funded through Liquidity Advances or otherwise
by
the Liquidity Provider, initially the period commencing on the date of the
making of such Liquidity Advance or funding under the related agreement or
the
creation of such Tranche (whichever is latest) and ending on the last day of
the
current Settlement Period or such other number of days thereafter as the Agent
shall select in consultation with the Seller; and
(c)
thereafter, the period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding
Tranche Period for the related Tranche and ending on the last day of the current
Settlement Period or such other number of days thereafter as the Agent shall
select in consultation with the Seller; provided, however, that:
(i)
any such Tranche Period (other than a Tranche Period consisting of one day)
which would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended
to the next succeeding Business Day provided that if
such
Tranche accrues Yield based on the LIBO Rate and the next succeeding Business
Day is in a subsequent calendar month, such Tranche Period shall instead end
on
the immediately preceding Business Day;
(ii)
any Tranche Periods of one day shall, if the immediately preceding Tranche
Period is more than one day, be the last day of such immediately preceding
Tranche Period, and if the immediately preceding Tranche Period is one day,
shall be the next day following such immediately preceding Tranche Period;
and
(iii)
any Tranche Period which commences before the Termination Date and would
otherwise end on a date occurring after such Termination Date, shall end on
such
Termination Date and the duration of each such Tranche Period which commences
on
or after the Termination Date for such Tranche shall be of such duration as
shall be selected by the Agent.
“Transfer”
has
the
meaning assigned to it in Section 2.01(a) of
the Sale Agreement.
“Transfer
Date” has
the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.01(a) of
the Sale Agreement.
“Transferred
Receivable” means any Sold Receivable or Contributed Receivable; provided,
that any
Receivable repurchased by the Originator thereof pursuant to Section 4.04 of the
Sale Agreement or by the Servicer pursuant to Section 6.02(c) of
the Purchase Agreement shall not be deemed to be a Transferred Receivable from
and after the date of such repurchase unless such Receivable has subsequently
been repurchased by or contributed to the Seller.
“UCC”
means
the
Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the specified
jurisdiction.
“Variance
Factor”
means 1.5.
“Yield”
means,
for any
Settlement Period, the product of:
22
PR
x C x
ED
360
where:
|
C
|
=
|
the
average daily outstanding Capital during such Settlement Period
|
|
PR
|
=
|
the
weighted average daily (calculated as a function of not only the
interest
rate but also the amount of Capital allocated to such interest rate)
Purchaser Rate for such Settlement Period
|
|
ED
|
=
|
the
actual number of days elapsed during such Settlement Period
|
“Yield
Reserve” means,
at any time of calculation hereunder, an amount equal to the sum of (A) the
Yield which is accrued and unpaid as of such date, plus (B) the
product
of (i) the sum of the Adjusted LIBO Rate plus 2.0%, multiplied
by (ii) the outstanding Capital at such time, multiplied by (iii) the Adjusted
DSO, multiplied by (iv) the Variance Factor, multiplied by (v)
1/360.
Section
2.
Other Terms and
Rules
of Construction.
(a)
Accounting
Terms. Rules of construction with respect to accounting terms
used in any Facility Document shall be as set forth in this Annex
I. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms
used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determination hereunder shall
be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall
be prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(b)
Rules of
Construction. Unless otherwise specified, references in any
Facility Document or any of the Appendices thereto to a Section, subsection
or
clause refer to such Section, subsection or clause as contained in such Facility
Document. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of
similar import used in any Facility Document refer to such Facility Document
as
a whole, including all annexes, exhibits and schedules, as the same may from
time to time be amended, restated, modified or supplemented, and not to any
particular section, subsection or clause contained in such Facility Document
or
any such annex, exhibit or schedule. Any reference to or definition
of any document, instrument or agreement shall, unless expressly noted
otherwise, include the same as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time. Wherever from the context it appears
appropriate, each term stated in either the singular or plural shall include
the
singular and the plural, and pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or
neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter
genders. The words “including,” “includes” and “include” shall be
deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; the word “or” is not
exclusive; references to Persons include their respective successors and assigns
(to the extent and only to the extent permitted by the Facility Documents)
or,
in the case of Governmental Authorities, Persons succeeding to the relevant
functions of such Persons; and all references to statutes and related
regulations shall include any amendments of the same and any successor statutes
and regulations.
(c)
Rules of Construction
for Determination of Ratios. The reserve ratios and other
rolling calculations requiring some period of historical data (the “Ratios”) which are
to
be made
23
as
of the
last day of the Settlement Period immediately preceding the initial Purchase
or
for the three Settlement Periods following the Closing Date shall be established
by the Agent on or prior to the initial Purchase and the underlying calculations
for periods immediately preceding the initial Purchase to be used in future
calculations of the Ratios shall be established by the Agent on or prior to
the
initial Purchase. For purposes of calculating the Ratios, (i)
averages shall be computed by rounding to the second decimal place and (ii)
the
Settlement Period in which the date of determination thereof occurs shall not
be
included in the computation thereof and the first Settlement Period immediately
preceding such date of determination shall be deemed to be the Settlement Period
immediately preceding the Settlement Period in which such date of determination
occurs.
(d)
Other
Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein
shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. All terms used in Article 9 of the UCC in the State of
New York, and not specifically defined herein, are used herein as defined in
such Article 9.
24