ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS
ASSET
PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of June 19,
2007, by and among LEAF FUNDING, INC., a Delaware corporation,
LEAF FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, and
LEAF COMMERCIAL FINANCE CO., LLC, a Delaware limited
liability
company (collectively, the “Buyer,” and whose obligations hereunder shall
be joint and several); and PACIFIC CAPITAL BANK, N.A., a
national banking association (“Seller”). Capitalized terms
used, but not defined, in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
in Appendix A attached hereto.
WHEREAS,
Seller, among other business activities, is engaged in the
Business;
WHEREAS,
Seller desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Seller,
certain of the assets of Seller relating to the Business, on the terms set
forth
herein; and
WHEREAS,
Buyer has agreed to assume certain specific liabilities related to such
assets.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby,
the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Purchase
and Sale. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, on the Closing Date, Seller shall irrevocably sell, assign,
transfer and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase, all of Seller’s right,
title and interest in and to all of the following (collectively, the
“Assets”):
(a) all
lease agreements or other contracts for use, conditional sale, loan or financing
entered into or acquired by Seller as part of the Business, as a lessor, lender
or financier, that, are set forth on Schedule 1(a) (which schedule shall
be provided in the form of a read-only computer disc containing a file
identifying all such leases, and a separate file identifying the Performing
Leases) (each a “Lease” and collectively, the
“Leases”);
(b) all
right, title and interest that Seller has in the Subject Equipment, collateral,
Related Property or Residual Value with respect to each Lease (subject, however,
to the possessory rights of lessee therein) and any other collateral that
secures the obligation of a lessee under each Lease;
(c) all
Contract Files pertaining to each Lease;
(d) the
rights of Seller with respect to all lease transactions that have been approved,
but for which no lease has been finally executed as of the Record Date, as
set
forth on Schedule 1(d) (which shall be in the form of a read-only
computer disc, and need not be updated as of the Closing Date) (the
“Backlog”);
(e) all
of Seller’s rights under any existing Customer agreement relating to any Leases
or the Backlog;
(f) all
of Seller’s intangible rights and property associated exclusively with the
Business (but excluding anything that is also used in any part of the Seller’s
business, other than the Business), including but not limited to, all
trademarks, patents, copyrights, other intellectual property used exclusively
in
the Business, going concern value, goodwill, telephone numbers, facsimile
numbers, processes, business and product names (if any), trade secrets (if
any),
industrial models, designs, methodologies, technical information, and know-how
relating to the origination and servicing of the Leases, but excluding (i)
trade
names, logos, slogans, (ii) licenses to software that are not by their terms
transferable and (iii) telephone numbers, facsimile numbers and post office
boxes other than those listed on Schedule 1(f);
(g) all
rights of Seller in guaranties, collateral accounts, security deposits and
other
collateral posted by any person in connection with the Leases;
(h) those
items of equipment, furniture, computer hardware and software, leasehold
improvements, fixtures and other tangible personal property listed on
Schedule 1(h);
(i) all
books, records and other documents and information related to the Business
or
the Assets, including all Customer, prospect, third party originator and
distributor lists, sales literature, price lists, quotes and bids, promotional
programs, product catalogs and brochures, inventory records, product data,
purchase orders and invoices, sales orders and sales order log books, commission
records, Customer information, correspondence (but excluding any such items
that
relate to the business of Seller other than the Business, and excluding any
internal analyses by Seller with respect to its decision to sell the Business)
and all personnel records and other records of Seller related to its employees
set forth on Schedule 1(i) to the extent their transfer is permitted by
law;
(j) all
insurance benefits related to the Leases and the Subject Equipment, including
rights and proceeds, arising from or relating to the Assets or Assumed
Liabilities prior to the Closing Date, unless expended in accordance with this
Agreement; and
(k) all
claims of Seller against third parties relating to the Business or the Assets,
whether xxxxxx or inchoate, known or unknown, contingent or noncontingent,
including equipment warranties and those claims set forth on Schedule
1(k), but excluding any claims for reimbursement of taxes advanced or tax
refunds that relate to periods before the Closing and claims relating to
Excluded Assets and Retained Liabilities.
Any
other
assets not set forth in this Section 1 shall remain the property of Seller
(the
“Excluded Assets”).
2. Assumed
Liabilities. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein, Buyer hereby assumes and agrees to pay, perform, discharge or
otherwise satisfy in accordance with their respective terms, all of the Assumed
Liabilities. Buyer shall not assume the Retained
Liabilities.
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3. Purchase
Price. The purchase price of the Assets shall be an amount equal
to the sum of (i) 104.7643% of the Net Investment in the Performing Leases,
as
of the Record Date, which will be reflected on the Closing Date Report, (ii)
104.7643% of the Net Investment in any Leases that are originated between the
Record Date and the Closing Date and (iii) accrued interest on the amounts
in
(i) and (ii), calculated at the weighted average effective yield of the
Performing Leases from the Record Date to the date of payment, and (iv)
$2,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”).
4. Closing. The
Closing will take place at the offices of Seller’s counsel at 00000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, commencing at 10:00 a.m. (local time) on
the
later of (a) June 22, 2007 or (b) the date that is five (5) Business Days
following the termination of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act,
unless Buyer and Seller otherwise agree (the “Closing
Date”).
5. Closing
Obligations.
(a) Deliveries
by Seller. In addition to any other documents to be delivered
under other provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing (unless otherwise
specified below, and except to the extent waived by Buyer), Seller shall deliver
to Buyer:
(i) the
Closing Date Report, to be delivered at least three business days prior to
the
Closing Date;
(ii) a
Xxxx of Sale executed by a duly authorized officer of Seller;
(iii) an
Interim Servicing Agreement executed by a duly authorized officer of
Seller;
(iv) a
bailment agreement (the “Bailment Agreement”) with respect to the Contract
Files, in form acceptable to both parties, executed by a duly authorized officer
of Seller;
(v) a
legal opinion of Seller’s counsel in form and substance reasonably acceptable to
Buyer, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;
(vi) a
good standing certificate for Seller, issued by the United States Office of
the
Comptroller of the Currency, dated not more than thirty (30) days prior to
the
Closing Date;
(vii) a
certificate of the Secretary of Seller certifying, as complete and accurate
as
of the Closing Date, attached copies of its Governing Documents and certifying
and attaching all requisite resolutions or actions of Seller approving the
execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of
the
Contemplated Transactions and certifying to the incumbency and signatures of
the
officers of Seller executing each of the Transaction Documents;
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(viii) a
certificate executed by Seller as to the accuracy of its representations and
warranties as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date in
accordance with Section 6 and as to its compliance with and performance of
its
covenants and obligations to be performed or complied with on or before the
Closing Date in accordance with Section 8; and
(ix) such
other deeds, bills of sale, assignments, certificates of title, other
instruments of transfer and conveyance and other documents or certificates
as
may reasonably be requested by Buyer, each in form and substance satisfactory
to
Buyer and its legal counsel and executed by a duly authorized officer of
Seller.
(b) Deliveries
by Buyer. At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to Seller (except
to the extent waived by Seller):
(i) an
amount in cash equal to (A) the portion of the Purchase Price described in
clauses (i) and (iv) of Section 3(a) and the interest thereon pursuant to clause
(iii) of Section 3(a), plus (B) all property taxes on the Leases or Subject
Equipment that have been advanced by Seller and not yet collected from the
lessees as of the Record Date, less (C) security deposits, and less (D) any
booked but undisbursed lease fundings, and less (E) property taxes on the Leases
or Subject Equipment that have been received from lessees (or former lessees)
as
of the Record Date, and not yet remitted, as reflected in a closing schedule,
in
the form of Schedule 5(b), and less (F) $62,500, in payment of Seller’s
share of the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act filing fee, as agreed by the parties, which
amount shall be payable by wire transfer to the account that is identified
by
Seller to Buyer at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing
Date;
(ii) a
certificate of the Secretary of each Buyer certifying, as complete and accurate
as of the date hereof, attached copies of the Certificate of Incorporation
and
Bylaws of such Buyer and certifying and attaching all requisite resolutions
or
actions of such Buyer’s boards of directors approving the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereunder and certifying to the incumbency and signatures of the officers of
such Buyer executing this Agreement and any other document required to be
delivered by such Buyer hereunder;
(iii) a
duly executed copy of the Interim Servicing Agreement;
(iv) the
Bailment Agreement, executed by a duly authorized officer of Buyer;
(v) a
good standing certificate for each Buyer, issued by the state in which each
Buyer is incorporated, dated not more than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing
Date; and
(vi) such
other documents and instruments as may reasonably be requested by Seller, each
in form and substance satisfactory to Seller and its legal counsel and executed
by a duly authorized officer of Buyer.
(c) Post-Closing
Payments. In addition, if and to the extent that any Leases are
originated between the Record Date and the Closing Date, then no later than
fifteen (15) days after
the
Closing Date, Buyer shall pay to Seller an amount in cash equal to the portion
of the Purchase Price described in clause (ii) of Section 3(a) and the interest
thereon pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 3(a).
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6. Representations
and Warranties of Seller. Seller makes the representations and
warranties to Buyer set forth in this Section 6. Except as set forth in
the next sentence, these representations and warranties are true and correct
as
of the date hereof and shall be true and correct as of the Closing
Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, representations and warranties
with respect to the Leases are true and correct as of the date hereof and shall
be true and correct as of (i) the Record Date and (ii) except for such changes
as shall be set forth in amended Schedules to this Agreement (which will be
delivered to the Buyer not later than three (3) Business Days following the
Closing Date) and which will not in the aggregate materially adversely affect
the Assets as a whole or the financial condition, results of operation or
business of the Business, as of the Closing Date.
(a) Organization. Seller
is a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the United States, with full corporate power and
authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, to own or use
the properties and assets that it purports to own or use, and to perform all
its
obligations under the Leases. Seller is not required to be qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation under the laws of any state or other
jurisdiction in order to conduct its business.
(b) Authority. Seller
has taken all action necessary to approve the Transaction Documents and the
transactions contemplated thereby. Seller has all requisite corporate
power and authority and has taken all action necessary in order to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under the Transaction
Documents. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered and, prior to the Closing, the other Transaction Documents will have
been, duly authorized and at Closing will be duly executed and delivered by
Seller and, assuming due execution and delivery by Buyer, constitute or (with
respect to the Transaction Documents other than this Agreement) will at Closing
constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of Seller, enforceable
in
accordance their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally.
(c) No
Conflict. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement nor the consummation or performance of any of the transactions
contemplated in the Transaction Documents will, directly or indirectly (with
or
without notice or lapse of time):
(i) breach
(A) any provision of any of the Governing Documents of Seller or (B) any
resolution adopted by the board of directors or the shareholders of
Seller;
(ii) give
any Governmental Authority or other Person the right to prevent any of the
Contemplated Transactions or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under
any Legal Requirement or any order of any Governmental Authority to which
Seller, or any of the Assets, may be subject;
(iii) contravene,
conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any of the terms or
requirements of, or give any Governmental Authority the right to revoke,
withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate or modify, any Governmental Authorization
that is held by Seller or that
otherwise relates to the Assets or to the Business, it being understood that
no
representation is being made as to the licensing requirements that may apply
to
Buyer as owner and operator of the Business after the
Closing;
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(iv) breach
any provision of, or give any Person the right to declare a default or exercise
any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of, or payment
under, or to cancel, terminate or modify, any Lease or any of the Backlog;
or
(v) result
in the imposition or creation of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the
Assets, other than such equitable Lien as may run in favor of Buyer as a result
of this Agreement.
(d) Title. Seller
owns good and transferable title to all of the Assets free and clear of any
Liens other than those described on Schedule 6(d). Seller
warrants to Buyer that, at the time of Closing, all Assets shall be free and
clear of all Liens, other than, in the case of Subject Equipment, the Lien
of
the Leases themselves, and also subject to those other Liens described on
Schedule 6(d).
(e) Financial
Information. The Closing Date Report will be in accordance with
Seller’s records and will accurately present the net book value of the Leases as
of the Record Date. In preparing the Closing Date Report, Seller will
not change its accounting practices or methodologies from those used in the
preparation of any previous reports provided to Buyer. Since May 1,
2007, there has been no material adverse change to the Assets or the Business
as
a whole, or the financial conditions or operations of the Business, except
(a)
as of the date hereof, as set forth on Schedule 6(e), and (b) as of the
Closing Date, as set forth on an updated Schedule 6(e) delivered at the
Closing.
(f) Taxes. Other
than as set forth on Schedule 6(f), Seller has filed all United States
federal income tax returns and all other tax returns (including, but not limited
to, profits, premium, estimated, excise, sales, use, occupancy, gross receipts,
franchise, ad valorem, severance, capital levy, production, transfer,
withholding, employment, and property taxes) which are required as of the date
hereof to be filed by them, or otherwise obtained appropriate extensions to
file, and has paid all Taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any
assessment received by Seller, except such Taxes that are (i) being contested
in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and (ii) are set forth on
Schedule 6(f) attached hereto. Seller will file all such
tax returns when due, and pay all Taxes due pursuant to such returns, for all
periods that include the date hereof. No Tax lien has been filed and,
to the knowledge of Seller, no claim is being asserted with respect to any
such
Tax, fee or other charge.
(g) Approvals. Other
than as set forth on Schedule 6(g), no authorizations, approvals or
consents of, and no filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority
or
any other Person are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by
Seller of the Transaction Documents or for the validity or enforceability hereof
or thereof.
(h) Leases.
(i) No
Performing Lease as of the date hereof is, nor as of the Record Date will be
a
Past Due Lease, a Suspended Lease, or a Lease that is subject to any pending
repossession
action or as to which Seller has received a notice of an event that is, or
with
notice and/or lapse of time is likely to constitute, a material default or
of
any claim by a lessee or guarantor of a right of offset or counterclaim (as
referenced in Section 6(h)(x) and identified on Schedule
6(h)(x)).
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(ii) Each
Lease (other than a Charged-Off Lease) is evidenced by a written agreement,
and
there are no material understandings, agreements, undertakings or arrangements
between any of Seller and the lessees or transferees under any Lease which
are
not set forth therein or in a written agreement included in the Contract File
relating to such Lease. The entries made on Seller’s system and on
the Closing Date Report with respect to each Lease (other than a Charged-Off
Lease) are consistent with the Contract Files relating thereto. Each
such Lease and any Contract Files pertaining thereto shall be supplied by Seller
to Buyer as promptly as possible but in any event at the Closing
Date.
(iii) No
payments required to be made under any Lease have been paid in advance of the
due dates thereof except for payments reflected in the amount of the related
Lease receivable as shown in the Records.
(iv) Seller
has not acted, or failed to act, in a manner which would materially alter or
reduce any of its rights or benefits under any manufacturers’ or vendors’
warranties or guarantees relating to property covered by any Performing
Lease.
(v) Seller
has properly prepared and filed Financing Statements for each Lease (other
than
a Charged-Off Lease) that was over $25,000 at the time of origination, and
each
such Financing Statement is current.
(vi) Each
Lease (and any related guarantees) is and will continue to be after the date
hereof a valid, binding and enforceable, non-cancelable obligation of the lessee
thereunder (and guarantors thereof, if any) in accordance with its terms, except
as the same may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors
generally. Each of such lessees and any guarantor is a bona fide
party thereto and, to the knowledge of Seller, had the requisite legal capacity
to enter into the respective agreements to which it is a party as of the time
it
entered into those agreements.
(vii) The
property that is the subject of each Performing Lease has been delivered to
the
lessee thereunder, and accepted by such lessee.
(viii) Seller
has absolute, complete and indefeasible title to the property subject to each
Performing Lease (or a duly perfected first-lien security interest in the
property subject to such Performing Lease) and all sums due thereunder, free
and
clear of any and all Liens or claims of any Person (other than the lessee under
the Performing Lease itself). The supplier or vendor of said property
has received payment in full for said property.
(ix) Seller
is not in material breach of any obligation under any of the Performing
Leases.
(x) Other
than as set forth on Schedule 6(h)(x), Seller has received no notice of
any event which is, or with notice and/or lapse of time is likely to constitute,
a material default
under any Performing Lease or of any claim by a lessee or guarantor of a right
of offset or counterclaim.
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(xi) None
of the Performing Leases is a Past Due Lease or has a lessee who is or has
been
subject to an Insolvency Event. No Performing Lease that would
otherwise be a Past Due Lease has been restructured, and no agreements to defer,
or change the schedule of, any payments due under any Performing Lease have
been
made within such time period.
(xii) Each
Performing Lease has a corresponding Contract File, and each Contract File
includes proof of payment (either by copies of canceled checks or confirmations
of wire transfers or by such other evidence, all as shall be satisfactory to
Buyer in its sole discretion) for the Subject Equipment underlying each
Performing Lease.
(xiii) The
descriptions of each Performing Lease set forth on Schedule 1(a) are, and
on the Closing Date Report will be, properly coded with respect to each of
the
following items of data: (a) the number of payments remaining, (b) the
periodic payment amount, (c) the security deposit amount, (d) the end of lease
disposition, (e) the Residual Value or the Final Contractual
Payment.
(xiv) Except
as set forth on Schedule 6(h)(xiv), the final payment on each Performing
Lease is a contractual obligation and not an optional payment.
(xv) All
payment obligations by any lessee pursuant to each Performing Lease are due
to
the Seller, and no payments are due to any third party originator. No
Performing Lease requires any current or future payment to a third party
originator.
It
is
understood that Buyer’s acquisition of the Charged-Off Leases is on an as-is,
where-is basis. It is further understood that the sole remedy for any
breach of the representations and warranties with respect to any Lease other
than a Performing Lease shall be monetary damages, and that the aggregate amount
of all such damages shall be limited to a maximum of $200,000 for all such
breaches.
(i) Compliance. Seller
operates the Business in compliance with all applicable federal and state
statutes and all governmental regulations. There are no existing
violations, orders, claims, citations, penalty assessments, orders,
investigations or proceedings affecting the Assets or the Business.
(j) Litigation. Except
as set forth on Schedule 6(j), there is no action, suit or proceeding
pending or, to the knowledge of any Seller, threatened against or affecting
the
Business or all or any portion of the Assets, in any court or before or by
any
Governmental Authority. To the knowledge of Seller, no event has
occurred or circumstance exists that is reasonably likely to give rise to or
serve as a basis for the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding
affecting the Business. Seller is not in default with respect to any
order of any court, Governmental Authority or agency or arbitration board or
tribunal pertaining to the Business.
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(k) Assignability
of Relationships. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(k),
all of Seller’s written Customer relationships with respect to the Performing
Leases are assignable to Buyer without notice to or consent of any
Person. Seller shall use its Best Efforts to, as promptly as
practicable but in no event later than the Closing Date, obtain consents
and
give notices, to the extent that any are required, in order to assign all
such
Customer relationships to Buyer at the Closing.
(l) Brokers. Except
for The Alta Group, LLC, whose fee will be paid by Seller out of the proceeds
of
the Contemplated Transactions, no Person is entitled to any finder’s fee,
brokerage commission or similar payment by Seller in connection with or arising
out of the Contemplated Transactions.
(m) No
Misstatements or Omissions. These representations and warranties,
the information disclosed in the schedules and exhibits hereto and the
certificates and other documents delivered by Seller pursuant to this Agreement,
when considered together and in light of one another, do not contain any untrue
statement of material fact with respect to the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities
or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained
herein not misleading. There is no fact of which Seller is aware with
respect to the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities or the Business that Seller
has
not disclosed in writing to Buyer, the existence of which would have a material
adverse effect on the Assets, considered as a whole.
(n) Bulk
Sales Compliance. The sale of the Assets by Seller to Buyer
pursuant to this Agreement will not violate any bulk transfer or any similar
statutory provisions in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.
7. Representations and Warranties
of Buyer. Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as
follows:
(a) Organization. Each
Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each Buyer has full
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents
and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(b) Authority. Buyer
has taken all action necessary to approve the Transaction Documents and the
transactions contemplated thereby. Buyer has all requisite corporate
power and authority and has taken all action necessary in order to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under the Transaction
Documents. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered and, prior to the Closing, the other Transaction Documents will have
been, duly authorized and at Closing will be duly executed and delivered by
Buyer and, assuming due execution and delivery by Seller, constitute or (with
respect to the Transaction Documents other than this Agreement) will at Closing
constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligations of Buyer, enforceable
in
accordance their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally.
(c) No
Breach. Except as set forth on Schedule 7(c), neither the
execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor compliance with the
terms and provisions thereof, will conflict with or result in a breach of,
or
require any consent which has not been obtained as of the date hereof under
the
charter or by-laws of either Buyer, or any governmental requirement,
or any agreement or instrument to which either Buyer is a party or by which
it
is bound, or constitute a default under any such agreement or
instrument.
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(d) Approvals. Other
than as set forth on Schedule 7(d), no authorizations, approvals or
consents of, and no filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority
or
any other Person are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by
either Buyer of the Transaction Documents or for the validity or enforceability
thereof.
(e) Previously
Approved Agreements. Buyer shall enter into agreements with
lessees of the Backlog provided such lessees continue to meet all requirements
set forth in the applicable approval letter and such agreement or lease was
approved by Seller in accordance with the Policies and Procedures.
(f) Payment
of Purchase Price. Buyer has access to sufficient funds with
which to pay the Purchase Price on the Closing Date.
8. Covenants
of Seller Prior to Closing.
(a) Access
and Information. Between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing Date, and upon reasonable advance notice received from Buyer, Seller
shall (a) afford Buyer reasonable access, during regular business hours, to
Seller’s personnel, properties, and Records for the purpose of preparing for the
transfer, and understanding the Business, and (b) afford Buyer access
to the InfoLease and Xxxx System Data Disks for the purpose of confirming data
ascertained by Buyer during its due diligence; such rights of access to be
exercised in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the operations
of Seller and does not violate applicable labor and employment laws; and
(c) otherwise cooperate and assist, to the extent reasonably requested by
Buyer, with Buyer’s understanding of the Business and the Assets.
(b) Operation
of the Business of Seller. Between the date of this Agreement and
the Closing, Seller shall, except as otherwise directed by Buyer in
writing:
(i) conduct
the Business only in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with the
Policies and Procedures;
(ii) use
its Best Efforts to preserve intact the current business organization of the
Business, keep available the services of the officers, employees and agents
of
the Business and maintain the relations and good will of the Business with
suppliers, Customers, landlords, creditors, employees, agents and others having
business relationships with it (it being understood, however, that the Seller
has heretofore informed some employees of the availability of positions in
other
parts of Seller’s business, and to the extent that such opportunities were
communicated prior to May 24, 2007);
(iii) confer
with Buyer prior to implementing operational changes of a material nature with
respect to the Business;
(iv) otherwise
report periodically to Buyer concerning the status of the business, operations
and finances of the Business;
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(v) keep
in full force and effect, without amendment, all material rights relating to
the
Business;
(vi) comply
in all material respects with all Legal Requirements and contractual obligations
applicable to the operations of the Business;
(vii) continue
in full force and effect all material insurance coverage pertaining to the
Business under its existing policies or substantially equivalent
policies;
(viii) upon
request from time to time, execute and deliver all documents, make all truthful
oaths, testify in any Proceedings and do all other acts that may be reasonably
necessary or desirable in the opinion of Buyer to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions, all without further consideration;
(ix) maintain
all books and Records of Seller relating to the Business in the Ordinary Course
of Business; and
(x) notify
Buyer prior to initiating any new Lease pertaining to equipment having a
purchase price in excess of $500,000.
(c) Negative
Covenant. Except as otherwise expressly permitted herein, between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Seller shall not without the
prior written consent of Buyer, (a) take any affirmative action, or fail to
take
any reasonable action within its control, as a result of which any material
adverse change, or any event or development which, individually or together
with
other such events, could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse
change in the Assets or the Business; (b) make any modification to any Lease
except in the ordinary course of business, or in any Governmental Authorization;
(c) initiate any new Lease that (i) does not have a credit-risk rating
of five or better pursuant to the Policies and Procedures, or (ii) does not
have
an interest yield of seven percent or higher, calculated based on the cost
to
originate such Lease and acquire the Subject Equipment; or (d) enter into any
compromise or settlement of any litigation, proceeding or governmental
investigation relating to the Assets, the Business or the Assumed
Liabilities.
(d) Required
Approvals. Seller has made, or as promptly as practicable after
the date of this Agreement, Seller shall make all filings required by Legal
Requirements to be made by it in order to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions (including all filings under the HSR Act). Seller and
Buyer shall cooperate with respect to all filings that Buyer elects to make
or,
pursuant to Legal Requirements, shall be required to make in connection with
the
Contemplated Transactions, provided, however, that Seller shall not be required
to dispose of or make any change to its business, expend any material funds
or
incur any other unreasonable burden in order to comply with this Section
8(d). Seller also shall cooperate with Buyer in obtaining all
necessary consents (including taking all actions requested by Buyer to cause
early termination of any applicable waiting period under the HSR
Act).
(e) Notification. Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing, Seller shall promptly notify Buyer
in writing if it becomes aware of (a) any fact or condition that causes or
constitutes a breach of any of Seller’s representations and warranties made as
of the date of this Agreement or (b) the occurrence after the date of this
Agreement of any fact or condition that
would or be reasonably likely to (except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement) cause or constitute a breach of any such representation or warranty
had that representation or warranty been made as of the time of the occurrence
of, or Seller’s discovery of, such fact or condition. During the same
period, Seller also shall promptly notify Buyer of the occurrence of any breach
of any covenant of Seller in this Section 8 or of the occurrence of any event
that may make the satisfaction of the conditions in Section 10 impossible or
unlikely.
11
(f) No
Negotiation. Until such time as this Agreement shall be
terminated pursuant to Section 12, the Seller shall not directly or indirectly
solicit, initiate, encourage or entertain any inquiries or proposals from,
discuss or negotiate with, provide any nonpublic information to or consider
the
merits of any inquiries or proposals from any Person (other than Buyer) relating
to any sale, disposition, merger, business combination or other similar
transaction with respect to the Business or the Assets. Seller shall
notify Buyer of any such inquiry or proposal within twenty-four (24) hours
of
receipt or awareness. It is understood, however, that this Section
8(f) shall not prohibit Seller or The Alta Group, LLC from communicating with
entities that have executed confidentiality agreements with Seller prior to
May
23, 2007 that the Contemplated Transactions are in process and that they
preclude negotiation with any other potential purchaser.
(g) Best
Efforts. Seller shall use its Best Efforts to cause the
conditions in Sections 10 and 11(c) to be satisfied.
9. Covenants
of Buyer Prior to Closing.
(a) Required
Approvals. Buyer has made or, as promptly as practicable after
the date of this Agreement, shall make, or cause to be made, all filings
required by Legal Requirements (including all filings under the HSR Act) to
be
made by it to consummate the Contemplated Transactions. Buyer also
shall cooperate with Seller with respect to all filings Seller shall be required
by Legal Requirements to make, provided, however, that Buyer shall not be
required to dispose of or make any change to its business, expend any material
funds or incur any other unreasonable burden in order to comply with this
Section 9(a).
(b) Best
Efforts. Buyer shall use its Best Efforts to cause the conditions
in Sections 11 and 10(c) to be satisfied.
10. Conditions
Precedent of Buyer’s Obligation to Close Transaction. Buyer’s
obligation to purchase the Assets and to take the other actions required to
be
taken by Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to
the
Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by
Buyer, in whole or in part):
(a) Accuracy
of Representations
(i) Each
of Seller’s representations and warranties in this Agreement that does not
contain an express materiality qualification shall have been accurate in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement, and shall be accurate in
all
material respects as of the time of the Closing as if then made (subject,
however, to updates in the case of scheduled items).
12
(ii) Each
of Seller’s representations and warranties in this Agreement that contains an
express materiality qualification, shall have been accurate in all respects
as
of the date of this Agreement, and shall be accurate in all respects as of
the
time of the Closing as if then made (subject, however, to updates in the case
of
scheduled items).
(b) Seller’s
Performance. All of the covenants and obligations that Seller is
required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement at or prior
to
the Closing (considered collectively), and each of these covenants and
obligations (considered individually), shall have been duly performed and
complied with in all material respects.
(c) Consents. Each
of the consents identified on Schedule 10(c) attached hereto shall have
been obtained and shall be in full force and effect.
(d) Additional
Documents. Seller shall have caused the documents and instruments
required by Section 5(a) and the following documents to be delivered (or
tendered subject only to Closing) to Buyer:
(i) The
articles of association and all amendments thereto of Seller, duly certified
as
of a recent date by the United States Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency;
(ii) A
Contract File for each Lease (which may be held by Seller for Buyer pursuant
to
the Bailment Agreement);
(iii) Releases
of all Liens on the Assets in favor of any Person other than Seller, and
assignments of all Liens in favor of Seller to Buyer, including without
limitation, all necessary amendments to Financing Statements and transfer of
title in motor vehicles;
(iv) Certificates
dated as of a date not earlier than the 30th business
day prior
to the Closing as to the good standing of Seller; and
(v) Such
other documents as Buyer may reasonably request for the purpose of: (w)
evidencing the accuracy of any of Seller’s representations and warranties;
(x) evidencing the performance by Seller of, or the compliance by Seller
with, any covenant or obligation required to be performed or complied with
by
Seller; (y) evidencing the satisfaction of any condition referred to in
this Section 10; or (z) otherwise facilitating the consummation or performance
of any of the Contemplated Transactions.
(e) No
Proceedings. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not
have been commenced or threatened against Seller or Buyer any Proceeding (a)
involving any challenge to, or seeking damages or other relief in connection
with, any of the Contemplated Transactions or (b) that may have the effect
of preventing, delaying, making illegal, imposing limitations or conditions
on
or otherwise interfering with any of the Contemplated Transactions.
11. Conditions
Precedent of Seller’s Obligation to Close Transaction. Seller’s
obligation to sell the Assets and to take the other actions required to be
taken
by Seller at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the
Closing, of each of the following conditions (any of which may be waived by
Seller in whole or in part):
13
(a) Accuracy
of Representations. All of Buyer’s representations and warranties
in this Agreement (considered collectively), and each of these representations
and warranties (considered individually), shall have been accurate in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be accurate in
all
material respects as of the time of the Closing as if then made.
(b) Buyer’s
Performance. All of the covenants and obligations that
Buyer is required to perform or to comply with pursuant to this Agreement at
or
prior to the Closing (considered collectively), and each of these covenants
and
obligations (considered individually), shall have been performed and complied
with in all material respects.
(c) Consents. Each
of the consents identified in Schedule 11(c) shall have been obtained and
shall be in full force and effect.
(d) Additional
Documents. Buyer shall have caused to be delivered (or tendered
subject only to Closing) to Seller such documents as Seller may reasonably
request for the purpose of: (w) evidencing the accuracy of any of Buyer’s
representations and warranties; (x) evidencing the performance by Buyer of,
or the compliance by Buyer with, any covenant or obligation required to be
performed or complied with by Buyer; (y) evidencing the satisfaction of any
condition referred to in this Section 11; or (z) otherwise facilitating the
consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated
Transactions.
(e) No
Proceedings. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not
have been commenced or threatened against Seller or Buyer any Proceeding (i)
involving any challenge to, or seeking damages or other relief in connection
with, any of the Contemplated Transactions or (ii) that may have the effect
of
preventing, delaying, making illegal, imposing limitations or conditions on
or
otherwise interfering with any of the Contemplated Transactions.
12. Termination.
(a) Termination
Events. By notice given prior to or at the Closing, subject to
Section 12(b), this Agreement may be terminated as follows:
(i) by
Buyer if a material breach of any provision of this Agreement has been committed
by Seller and such breach has not been waived by Buyer or, prior to notice
of
termination from Buyer, been cured by Seller;
(ii) by
Seller if a material breach of any provision of this Agreement has been
committed by Buyer and such breach has not been waived by Seller or, prior
to
notice of termination from Seller, been cured by Buyer;
(iii) by
Buyer if any condition in Section 10 has not been satisfied as of the date
specified for Closing in the first sentence of Section 4 or if satisfaction
of
such a condition by such date is or becomes impossible (other than through
the
failure of Buyer to comply with its obligations under this Agreement), and
Buyer
has not waived such condition on or before such date;
(iv) by
Seller if any condition in Section 11 has not been satisfied as of the date
specified for Closing in the first sentence of Section 4 or if satisfaction
of
such a condition
by such date is or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of Seller
to comply with its obligations under this Agreement), and Seller has not waived
such condition on or before such date;
14
(v) by
mutual consent of Buyer and Seller;
(vi) by
Buyer if the Closing has not occurred on or before July 31, 2007 (or August
31,
2007 in the event the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act has not
expired or been terminated by July 24, 2007), or such later date as the parties
may agree upon, unless the Buyer is in material breach of this Agreement;
or
(vii) by
Seller if the Closing has not occurred on or before July 31, 2007 (or August
31,
2007 in the event the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act has not
expired or been terminated by July 24, 2007), or such later date as the parties
may agree upon, unless the Seller is in material breach of this
Agreement.
(b) Effect
of Termination. Each party’s right of termination under Section
12(a) is in addition to any other rights it may have under this Agreement or
otherwise, and the exercise of such right of termination will not be an election
of remedies. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
12(a), all obligations of the parties under this Agreement will terminate,
except that the obligations of the parties in this Section 12(b) and Section
18
(except for those in Section 18(k)) will survive; provided, however, that,
if
this Agreement is terminated because of a breach of this Agreement by the
nonterminating party or because one or more of the conditions to the terminating
party’s obligations under this Agreement is not satisfied as a result of the
party’s failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement, the
terminating party’s right to pursue all legal remedies will survive such
termination unimpaired.
13. Additional
Covenants.
(a) Payment
of All Taxes Resulting From Sale of Assets by Parties. Each party
hereto shall pay in a timely manner all Taxes resulting from or payable in
connection with the sale of the Assets pursuant to this Agreement, to the extent
that such Taxes are imposed on such party by Legal Requirements.
(b) Payment
of Other Retained Liabilities. If the failure to make any
payments with respect to the Retained Liabilities will impair Buyer’s use or
enjoyment of or title to the Assets or conduct of the Business, Buyer may,
at
any time after the Closing Date, elect to make all such payments directly (but
shall have no obligation to do so) and Seller shall reimburse Buyer for such
amounts.
(c) Reports
and Returns. Each party hereto shall timely prepare and file such
reports and returns required by Legal Requirements relating to the Business,
with respect to the period of time during which that party owned the
Business.
(d) Assistance
in Proceedings. The parties will cooperate with each other and
their respective counsel in the contest or defense of, and make available its
personnel and provide any testimony and access to its books and Records in
connection with, any Proceeding involving or relating to (a) any Contemplated
Transaction or (b) any action, activity, circumstance,
condition, conduct, event, fact, failure to act, incident, occurrence, plan,
practice, situation, status or transaction involving the
Business.
15
(e) Noncompetition,
Non-solicitation and Non-disparagement.
(i) Noncompetition. For
a period of five (5) years after the Closing Date, Seller shall not, other
than
through an entity with which Seller engages in a merger or acquisition
transaction and that already includes such a business at the time of the merger
or acquisition, anywhere in the United States, directly or indirectly invest
in,
own, manage, operate, finance, control, advise, render services to or guarantee
the obligations of any Person engaged in or planning to become engaged in the
third party origination business of equipment leases or financings of the size
and for the equipment of the types for which Seller, as part of the Business,
currently extends leases or financings (“Competing
Business”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall
prevent Seller from acquiring, being acquired by or merging with another
business that includes equipment leasing as part of its larger
business.
(ii) Nonsolicitation. For
a period of five (5) years after the Closing Date, Seller shall
not:
a. solicit
the
equipment leasing or equipment financing business of any Person who is a
third-party vendor or broker of such business;
b. cause,
induce
or attempt to cause or induce a third-party vendor or broker of equipment
leasing business to cease doing business with Buyer, or in any way interfere
with its relationship with Buyer;
c. cause,
induce
or attempt to cause or induce a third-party vendor or broker of equipment
leasing business who has referred to Seller such business that is on the books
of the Business on the Closing Date, or was on the books of the Business within
the year preceding the Closing Date, to cease doing business with Buyer, or
in
any way interfere with its relationship with Buyer; or
d. solicit
for
employment any employee of Buyer, or any Person set forth on Schedule
1(i), or in any way interfere with the relationship between Buyer and any of
its employees, or any Person set forth on Schedule 1(i).
(iii) Nondisparagement. After
the Closing Date, Seller will not disparage the Business, Buyer, Buyer’s
business or any of Buyer’s shareholders, directors, officers, employees or
agents. After the Closing Date, Buyer will not disparage Seller,
Seller’s business or any of Seller’s shareholders, directors, officers,
employees or agents.
(iv) Modification
of Covenant. If a final judgment of a court or tribunal of
competent jurisdiction determines that any term or provision contained in
Section 13(e) is invalid or unenforceable, then the parties agree that the
court
or tribunal will have the power to reduce the scope, duration or geographic
area
of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace
any
invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is
valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of
the
invalid or unenforceable term or provision. This Section 13(e)(iv)
will be enforceable as so modified
after the expiration of the time within which the judgment may be
appealed. This Section 13(e)(iv) is reasonable and necessary to
protect and preserve Buyer’s legitimate business interests and the value of the
Assets and to prevent any unfair advantage conferred on Seller. The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any remedy at law for any breach
of
the provisions of this Section 13(e)(iv) would be inadequate, and Seller hereby
consents to the granting by any court of an injunction or other equitable
relief, without the necessity of actual monetary loss being proved, in order
that the breach or threatened breach of such provisions may be effectively
restrained.
16
(f) Customer
and Other Business Relationships. After the Closing, Seller will
cooperate with Buyer in its efforts to continue and maintain for the benefit
of
Buyer those business relationships of Seller existing prior to the Closing
and
relating to the Business, including relationships with Customers, employees,
licensors, suppliers and others, and Seller will satisfy the Retained
Liabilities in a manner that is not detrimental to any of such
relationships. Seller will refer to Buyer all inquiries relating to
the Leases. Neither Seller nor any of its officers, employees, agents
or shareholders shall take any action that would tend to diminish the value
of
the Assets after the Closing or that would interfere with the business of Buyer
to be engaged in after the Closing. Except for any third party
equipment leasing or equipment financing origination business in the nature
of
the Business, nothing in this section shall require Seller to refer business
to
Buyer or preclude Seller from doing business with, or referring business to,
other leasing companies.
(g) Retention
and Access to Records. After the Closing Date, Buyer shall retain
for a period of not less than five (5) years, or such longer period as is
consistent with Buyer’s record-retention policies and practices those Records of
Seller delivered to Buyer. Buyer also shall provide Seller reasonable
access thereto, during normal business hours and on at least five days’ prior
written notice, to enable them to prepare financial statements or tax returns
or
deal with tax audits. After the Closing Date, Seller shall provide
Buyer reasonable access to Records that are Excluded Assets and pertain to
the
Business, if any, during normal business hours and on at least five days’ prior
written notice, for any reasonable business purpose specified by Buyer in such
notice.
(h) Access
to Premises. Until the termination of the Interim Servicing
Agreement, Seller shall permit Buyer to access the premises of Seller to the
extent necessary for Buyer to exercise its rights and discharge its obligations
under the Interim Servicing Agreement, subject to the limitations and
restrictions stated in the Interim Servicing Agreement.
(i) Amendments
of Financing Statements; Transfer of Motor Vehicle Title. Seller
shall cooperate reasonably and provide assistance to Buyer to amend any
Financing Statements and transfer title in any motor vehicles that are the
subject of a Lease.
(j) Transfer
of Electronic Files. Seller shall cooperate with Buyer in the
export of any electronic records and data files pertaining to any Leases from
the Seller’s systems to the Buyer’s systems.
17
(k) Further
Assurances. Subject to the proviso in Sections 8(d) and 9(a), the
parties shall cooperate reasonably with each other in connection with any
steps
required to be taken as part of their respective obligations under this
Agreement, and shall (a) furnish upon request to each other such further
information; (b) execute and deliver to each other such other documents;
and (c)
do such other acts and things, all as the other party may reasonably request
for
the purpose of carrying out the intent of this Agreement and the Contemplated
Transactions. If Seller receives any payments on, with respect to or
arising out of the Leases, Seller shall forward such payments to Buyer promptly
and no less frequently than weekly, either by endorsing and delivering the
check
or by depositing the check and delivering a bank check or wire transfer in
an
equivalent amount. If Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer determines
that it is required to prepare audited financial statements with respect
to the
Business pursuant to Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
then Seller shall cooperate with Buyer and provide Buyer with such information
as Buyer shall reasonably request to enable Buyer to prepare such financial
statements. The cost of preparing such financial statements shall be
borne entirely by Buyer, and Buyer shall reimburse to Seller all out-of-pocket
expenses and such internal costs as Seller reasonably allocates for its
employees’ time and overhead incurred by Seller in providing such cooperation
and information, but as to such internal costs only to the extent that they
exceed $5,000 in the aggregate.
(l) Taxes
with Respect to Leases. Following the Closing, if Buyer receives
any notice of unpaid property, sales or use taxes that were due prior to the
Closing, but are alleged to be unpaid, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller,
and
Seller shall have the right and obligation of dealing with the taxing authority
with respect to such allegations, and the obligation to pay such taxes
(including any interest or penalties) if and to the extent that funds were
collected from the lessee to cover such taxes. If and to the extent
such taxes are owing, but Seller did not collect funds from the lessee to cover
such taxes, Buyer shall cooperate with Seller in collecting such taxes
(including any interest or penalties) from the lessee or causing the lessee
to
pay such amounts directly to the taxing authority. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, in the event the lessee does not pay such amounts to
the
taxing authority, Seller shall be liable for the payment of all such amounts
owed to such taxing authority, and Seller shall thereupon be subrogated to
the
rights of Buyer to collect such amounts from the lessee.
(m) Notice
to Third Parties. As soon as practicable following the Closing,
Buyer shall file notices in all applicable governmental jurisdictions in which
financing statements or titles are of record with respect to the Leases or
Subject Equipment, as to the change in ownership of such Assets. It
is understood however, that in some instances this is the date on which the
next
tax filings are required to be filed in such jurisdictions.
(n) Assignment
of Additional Leases. If any leases or loans are funded by Seller
in the time period from the day after the Record Date until the Closing Date,
and such leases or loans otherwise meet all of the requirements set forth in
this Agreement for a Lease, then Buyer shall pay Seller 104.7643% of the Net
Investment in such Lease, and immediately upon receipt of such payment, Seller
shall assign such lease or loan to Buyer and such lease or loan shall become
a
“Lease” for purposes of this Agreement as if it had been listed on Schedule
1(a).
(o) Allocation
of Purchase Price. Within thirty (30) days from the Closing Date,
Seller and Buyer shall agree in writing on the allocation of the Assets and
Assumed Liabilities (the “Allocation”). Buyer and Seller agree
to file Internal Revenue Service Form 8594 in accordance with the agreed upon
Allocation and that no position inconsistent with the Allocation shall be taken
by any party hereto before any Governmental Authority.
18
14. Survival
of Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements. The
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Seller and Buyer
contained in this Agreement will survive (a) until the fifth anniversary of
the
Closing Date with respect to the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 6 and 7, except for any representations and warranties related to
Taxes, which shall survive until the expiration of the relevant statute of
limitations; (b) until the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date with
respect to Section 13(e); and (c) in the case of all other representations
and
warranties and any covenant or agreement to be performed in whole or in part
after the date hereof until the fourth anniversary hereof, except that any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement that would otherwise terminate
in accordance with clause (c) will continue to survive if a Claim Notice shall
have been timely given on or prior to such termination date, until the related
claim for indemnification has been satisfied or otherwise resolved.
15. Indemnification. Seller
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its officers, directors,
employees, agents and Affiliates, and Buyer shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless Seller and its officers, directors, employees, agents and Affiliates,
from any Loss or Losses arising out of or by reason of any breach of any of
Seller’s, on the one hand, and Buyer’s, on the other hand, covenants,
representations and warranties set forth herein. In addition, Seller
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its officers, directors,
employees, agents and Affiliates from any Losses arising out of the Retained
Liabilities or the Excluded Assets. Buyer shall indemnify, defend and
hold harmless Seller and its officers, directors, employees, agents and
Affiliates from any Losses arising out of the Assumed Liabilities or Assets,
arising out of events occurring after the date hereof.
16. Method
of Asserting Claims. All claims for indemnification by any
indemnified party hereunder will be asserted and resolved as
follows:
(a) In
the event of any Third Party Claim, the indemnified party shall deliver written
notification thereof to the indemnifying party with reasonable promptness,
enclosing a copy of all papers served, if any, and specifying the nature of
the
Third Party Claim, together with the amount or, if not then reasonably
ascertainable, the estimated amount, determined in good faith, of the Third
Party Claim (a “Claim Notice”). The indemnifying party will
notify the indemnified party as soon as practicable, but in any case within
30
days of receipt of a Claim Notice (the “Dispute Period”), whether the
indemnifying party disputes its liability to the indemnified party and whether
the indemnifying party desires, at its sole cost and expense, to defend the
indemnified party against such Third Party Claim.
(b) If
the indemnifying party notifies the indemnified party within the Dispute Period
that the indemnifying party desires to defend the indemnified party with respect
to the Third Party Claim, then the indemnifying party will have the right to
defend, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, at the
sole cost and expense of the indemnifying party, such Third Party Claim by
all
appropriate proceedings, which proceedings will be vigorously and diligently
prosecuted by the indemnifying party to a final conclusion or will be settled
at
the discretion of the indemnifying party (but only with the consent of the
indemnified party in the case of any settlement that provides for any relief
other than the payment of monetary damages).
19
(c) If
the indemnifying party fails to notify the indemnified party within the Dispute
Period that the indemnifying party desires to defend the Third Party Claim,
or
if the indemnifying party gives such notice but fails to prosecute vigorously
and diligently or settle the Third Party Claim, or if the indemnifying party
fails to give any notice whatsoever within the Dispute Period, then the
indemnified party will have the right to defend, at the sole cost and expense
of
the indemnifying party, the Third Party Claim by all appropriate proceedings,
which proceedings will be prosecuted by the indemnified party in a reasonable
manner and in good faith or will be settled at the discretion of the indemnified
party.
(d) If
the indemnifying party notifies the indemnified party that it does not dispute
its liability to the indemnified party with respect to the Third Party Claim,
the Loss in the amount specified in the Claim Notice will be conclusively deemed
a liability of the indemnifying party and the indemnifying party shall pay
the
amount of such Loss to the indemnified party on demand. If the
indemnifying party has timely disputed its liability with respect to such claim,
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party will proceed in good faith
to
negotiate a resolution of such dispute, and if not resolved through negotiations
within a reasonable period of time, such dispute shall be resolved by litigation
in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) In
the event any indemnified party has a claim against any indemnifying party
that
does not involve a Third Party Claim, the indemnified party shall deliver a
Claim Notice with reasonable promptness to the indemnifying party. If
the indemnifying party notifies the indemnified party that it does not dispute
the claim described in such Claim Notice or fails to notify the indemnified
party within the Dispute Period whether the indemnifying party disputes the
claim, the Loss in the amount specified in the Claim Notice will be conclusively
deemed a liability of the indemnifying party and the indemnifying party shall
pay the amount of such Loss to the indemnified party on demand. If
the indemnifying party has timely disputed its liability with respect to such
claim, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party will proceed in good
faith to negotiate a resolution of such dispute, and if not resolved through
negotiations within a reasonable period of time, such dispute shall be resolved
by litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction.
17. Notices. All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, hand delivered
or sent by express mail service or via facsimile, to the addresses or facsimile
numbers set forth below (or at such other address as a party may hereafter
designate for itself by notice to the other party as required
hereby):
If
to
Buyer:
LEAF
Financial Corporation
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Crit
XxXxxx
Fax
No.:
(000) 000-0000
and Attn: Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Fax
No.:
(000) 000-0000
20
with
a
copy to:
Ledgewood
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: X.
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Esquire
Fax
No.:
(000) 000-0000
If
to
Seller:
Pacific
Capital Bank, N.A.
0
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, General Counsel
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
with
a
copy to:
Manatt,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, LLP
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Esquire
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the law of the State of
California, and shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and
personal representatives.
(b) Entire
Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, and the Transaction
Agreements set forth all of the promises, covenants, agreements, conditions
and
undertakings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and
understandings, inducements or conditions, express or implied, oral or written,
except as contained herein. This Agreement may not be changed orally
but only by an agreement in writing, duly executed by or on behalf of the party
or parties against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification, consent
or discharge is sought.
(c) Binding
Effect. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the parties
and
their legal representatives, heirs, successors and permitted assigns, whether
so
expressed or not.
(d) Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement entered into pursuant
hereto is contrary to, prohibited by or deemed invalid under applicable law
or
regulation, such provision shall be inapplicable and deemed omitted to the
extent so contrary, prohibited or invalid, but the remainder hereof shall not
be
invalidated thereby and shall be given full force and effect so far as
possible. If any provision of this Agreement may be construed in
two
or more ways, one of which would render the provision invalid or otherwise
voidable or unenforceable another of which would render the provision valid
and
enforceable, such provision shall have the meaning which renders it valid and
enforceable.
21
(e) Captions. The
captions used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not be considered in the interpretation of the provisions hereof.
(f) No
Construction Against Draftsmen. The parties acknowledge that this
is a negotiated agreement, and that in no event shall the terms hereof be
construed against either party on the basis that such party, or its counsel,
drafted this Agreement.
(g) Expenses. Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each party hereto shall pay the
expenses incurred by or on behalf of such party in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including but not limited to,
expenses in connection with the preparation, authorization, execution and
performance of this Agreement and all fees and expenses of such party’s brokers,
finders, agents, representatives, counsel and
accountants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer and Seller will
each pay one-half of the HSR Act filing fee.
(h) Knowledge. Certain
of the representations and warranties in this Agreement are made “to the
knowledge” of Seller. Such phrase shall mean either (i) the actual
knowledge of any individual set forth on Schedule 18(h); or (ii) any
knowledge which such persons should have known had they acted in the ordinary
course of business.
(i) Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder
may be assigned by any party without the consent of the other parties; provided,
however, that Buyer may (a) assign any or all of its rights and interests
hereunder to one or more of its Affiliates and (b) designate one or more of
its
Affiliates to perform its obligations hereunder (in any or all of which cases
Buyer nonetheless will remain responsible for the performance of all of its
obligations hereunder), and (c) make a collateral assignment of its rights
hereunder to its lender(s). In the event of an assignment or
designation pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of the prior sentence prior to the
Closing Date, any documents to be delivered by Seller or Buyer pursuant hereto
shall be appropriately modified to give effect to such assignment or
designation.
(j) Waiver
of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE
RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY FOR ANY CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER OR RELATED
TO
THIS AGREEMENT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH A WAIVER IS PERMITTED BY
LAW.
(k) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each
of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument. Confirmation of execution by electronic
transmission of a facsimile signature page shall be binding upon any party
so
confirming.
22
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties have executed and delivered this Asset
Purchase Agreement as of the date first above written.
SELLER:
PACIFIC
CAPITAL BANK, N.A.
By:
Its:
|
|
BUYER:
LEAF
FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:
Its:
|
|
LEAF
FUNDING, INC.
By:
Its:
|
|
LEAF
COMMERCIAL FINANCE CO., LLC
By:
Its:
|
23
Appendix
A
DEFINITIONS
AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
I. General.
These
definitional provisions are intended for use in connection with the Transaction
Documents (as defined herein) and are attached to and made a part of the
Agreement (as defined herein).
II. Defined
Terms.
Unless
the context requires a different meaning, capitalized terms are used in this
Appendix A and in each of the other Transaction Documents (as defined herein)
as
follows:
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any specified Person, another Person that directly,
or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled
by or
is under common control with the Person specified. For purposes of
this definition, “control” means the power to direct the management and policies
of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; and “controlled” and “controlling” have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Agreement”
means the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2007, between Buyer
and
Seller, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Assets”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 of the Agreement.
“Assumed
Liabilities” means the obligations of lessor (or lender, as applicable)
pertaining to the Performing Leases, including without limitation all security
deposits and lessee deposits associated with the Leases appearing on the
Closing
Date Report, the obligation to pay property taxes (except as set forth in
Section 13(l) of the Agreement) and to refund any overpayments of taxes,
the
obligation to fund the Backlog and the obligation to fund unfunded disbursements
on Leases.
“Backlog”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(d) of the Agreement.
“Bailment
Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a)(iv) of the
Agreement.
“Bankruptcy
Code” means The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended from time to time,
and as codified as 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq.
“Best
Efforts” means the efforts that a prudent Person desirous of achieving a
result would use in similar circumstances to achieve that result as
expeditiously as possible, provided, however, that a Person required to use
Best
Efforts under the Agreement will not be thereby
required to take actions that would result in a material adverse change in
the
benefits to such Person of the Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions
or to
dispose of or make any change to its business, expend any material funds
or
incur any other material burden.
“Xxxx
of Sale” means a xxxx of sale for all of the Assets in the form of
Exhibit B hereto.
“Business”
means Seller’s program of equipment leasing and financing in which transactions
are originated through brokers and other third-parties that is conducted
under
the trade name “Pacific Capital Bank” or the predecessor trade name “Santa
Xxxxxxx Bank & Trust.”
“Business
Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks in the State of California are authorized or required to
close.
“Charged-Off
Leases” means those Leases that have been charged-off on Seller’s Records
prior to the Record Date in accordance with the Policies and
Procedures.
“Claim
Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16(a) of the
Agreement.
“Closing”
means the purchase and sale provided for in the Agreement.
“Closing
Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 of the
Agreement.
“Closing
Date Report” means the net investment trial balance report (which schedule
shall be provided in the form of a read-only computer disc) prepared in
accordance with Seller’s reporting systems (or other financial report mutually
agreed upon by Seller and Buyer) containing information as of the Record
Date. The information on the Closing Date Report shall include
information regarding each Lease for each category that is provided on Schedule
1(a) of the Agreement.
“Consent”
means any approval, consent, ratification, waiver or other
authorization.
“Contemplated
Transactions” means all of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement
and the other Transaction Documents.
“Contract
File” means a file containing each of the following:
I.
(a) the
sole original signed Lease (which may be in the form of an equipment finance
agreement) and, if applicable, Lease schedule;
(b) an
original or copy of a delivery and acceptance for leases (which may be part
of
the Contract) for Leases with an original cost greater than
$50,000;
(c) original
or copy of an invoice relating to the Subject Equipment;
(d) evidence
of insurance for those Leases that are secured by (i) vehicles,
(ii) Subject Equipment with an original cost greater than $100,000 or (iii)
logging equipment;
(e) copies
of all UCC financing statements, as filed (together with evidence of filing
with
the appropriate Governmental Authority) for the Subject Equipment with an
original cost greater than $25,000 for finance leases and loans and in excess
of
$50,000 on all fair market value leases, as determined by the information
found
in the Contract File, or if the equipment is titled, an original title is
present that has the lessee as registered owner and Seller listed as lienholder;
and
(f) in
the case of a third party origination Lease, proof of issuance of payment
by the
third party originator for the Subject Equipment.
II. In
addition, with respect to any Lease, each of the following may be present
in the
Contract File, provided, however, that the absence of any item
listed in (a) through (e) below shall not be reported as an exception on
any
Contract File schedule:
(a) an
original or copy of a personal, corporate or other guaranty (which may be
part
of the Lease) as required in the original credit approval;
(b) an
original or copy of a corporate resolution and secretary’s certificate, as
appropriate for the transaction;
(c) an
original or copy of a xxxx of sale, in the case of a sale lease back
transaction;
(d) copies
of photo identification; and
(e) an
original or copy of a landlord or mortgagee waiver.
III. Provided,
with respect to any Lease identified as a loan transaction, the term “Contract
File”, unless the document quality checklist otherwise indicates (by an asterisk
or other xxxx) that additional items shall be required, means the
following:
(a) an
original or certified copy of a loan contract or master loan
contract;
(b) an
original (if not part of the loan contract) of a term note;
(c) an
original or certified copy of a security agreement;
(d) an
original or copy of a sale agreement between seller and buyer, if there is
such
an agreement with respect to the Lease;
(e) original
or copy of an invoice relating to the Subject Equipment;
(f) evidence
of insurance for contracts with an original cost of greater than
$100,000;
(g) copies
of UCC filings for loans with an original principal balance greater than
$25,000;
(h) original
or copies of titles for all titled equipment with the user of the titled
equipment listed as owner and Seller listed as the secured party;
and
(i) in
the case of a third party origination contract, proof of issuance of payment
by
the third party originator for the Subject Equipment.
IV. In
addition, with respect to any loan, the file may contain each of the following,
which may be noted on the document quality checklist, provided,
however, that the absence of any item listed in (a) through (m)
below
shall not be reported as an exception on any Contract File
schedule:
(a) an
original or faxed copy of a personal, corporate or other guaranty (which
may be
part of the Lease) as required in the original credit approval;
(b) an
original or faxed copy of a corporate resolution and secretary certificate
as
appropriate for the transaction;
(c) an
original or faxed copy of a xxxx of sale;
(d) an
original or faxed copy of an escrow agreement;
(e) copies
of photo identification;
(f) copies
of lien searches and applicable releases;
(g) an
original or copy of a landlord or mortgagee waiver;
(h) a
copy of an office lease or sublease;
(i) evidence
of insurance coverage with respect to (a) liability insurance and
(b) malpractice insurance;
(j) copies
of licenses;
(k) a
copy of wire instructions for funding proceeds of the loan;
(l) an
original or certified copy of the assignment of office lease; and
(m) a
copy of the site inspection report.
“Customer”
means any lessee, obligor, third party originator, client, customer, vendor
or
supplier, as applicable, in connection with the Assets.
“Dispute
Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16(a) of the
Agreement.
“Dollar”
and the symbol “$” each means lawful money of the United
States.
“Equipment”
means “equipment” as such term is defined in the UCC.
“Excluded
Assets” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 of the
Agreement.
“Final
Contractual Payment” means a final payment which is a firm, mandatory
payment made by the obligor under such Lease, and such payment is not the
Residual Value.
“Financing
Statements” means the financing statements covering all property subject to
the Leases necessary to duly perfect a first lien security interest
therein.
“Governing
Documents” means the certificate of incorporation or articles of association
and bylaws.
“Governmental
Authority” means any nation or government, any state, city, town,
municipality, county, local or other political subdivision thereof and any
department, commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, agency or other entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or
administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Governmental
Authorization” means any permit, license, authorization, plan, directive,
consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental
Authority.
“HSR
Act” means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976.
“Insolvency
Event” means, as to any Person:
(a) (i) a
court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for
relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy
Code or any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed, or any other similar
relief shall be granted under any applicable federal or state law, (ii) an
involuntary case is commenced against such Person under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect which
remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of forty-five
(45) days or (iii) such Person shall have a decree or an order for
relief entered with respect to it or commence a voluntary case under the
Bankruptcy Code or any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law
now or hereafter in effect; or
(b) such
Person shall consent to the appointment of a conservator or receiver or
liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets
and
liabilities or similar proceedings of or relating to all or substantially
all of
its property, or a decree or order of a court or agency or supervisory authority
having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a conservator
or
receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling
of
assets and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding-up or
liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against such Person;
or such
Person shall
admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become
due,
file a petition to take advantage of any applicable insolvency or reorganization
statute, make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or
voluntarily suspend payment of its obligations.
“Interim
Servicing Agreement” means a servicing agreement in the form annexed to the
Agreement as Exhibit C, pursuant to which, for a period not in excess of
90 days, Seller will service the Leases.
“Lease”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(a) of the Agreement.
“Lease
Receivable” means, with respect to any Lease, (i) all “accounts” (as such
term is defined in the UCC, together with all proceeds thereon) created by
or
that otherwise arise under such Lease and (ii) all Related Property with
respect
to accounts.
“Legal
Requirements” means, with respect to any Person the certificate of
incorporation or articles of association and by-laws or other organizational
or
governing documents of such Person and any law, treaty, rule or regulation,
or
determination of any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, in each case
applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which
such Person or any of its property is subject, whether federal, state, local,
municipal, foreign, international, multinational or other constitution, law,
ordinance, principle of common law, code, regulation, statute or
treaty.
“Lien”
means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise),
security interest, lease, easement, title defect, restriction, levy, execution,
seizure, attachment, charge or other encumbrance or security or preferential
arrangement of any nature, including, without limitation, any conditional
sale
or title retention arrangement, any capitalized lease and any assignment,
deposit arrangement or financing lease intended as, or having the effect
of,
security.
“Loss”
or “Losses” shall mean a claim, action, cause of action, liability,
obligation or expense, including reasonable attorney fees and
expenses.
“Net
Investment” with respect to a Lease as of any date shall mean the
Unamortized Cost of such Lease as recorded in the accounting records of Seller
and listed on Seller’s report entitled “ls-net-invest” for that
date.
“Ordinary
Course of Business” means action that (i) is generally consistent in nature,
scope and magnitude with the past practices of such Person and is taken in
the
ordinary course of the normal, day-to-day operations of such Person;
(ii) does not require authorization by the board of directors or
shareholders of such Person (or by any Person or group of Persons exercising
similar authority), other than the standing authority that has been delegated
to
the officers or employees for the conduct of the business, and does not require
any other separate or special authorization of any nature; and (iii) is
similar in nature, scope and magnitude to actions customarily taken, without
any
separate or special authorization, in the ordinary course of the normal,
day-to-day operations.
“Past
Due Lease” means any lease as to which any required payment thereunder is
more than sixty (60) days past due, as of the Record Date.
“Performing
Lease” means a Lease that is not (i) a Past Due Lease, (ii) a Suspended
Lease, or (iii) a Lease that is subject to any pending repossession action
or
that is subject to any pending repossession action or as to which Seller
has
received a notice of an event that is, or with notice and/or lapse of time
is
likely to constitute, a material default or of any claim by a lessee or
guarantor of a right of offset or counterclaim (as referenced in Section
6(h)(x)
and identified on Schedule 6(h)(x)).
“Person”
means any natural person, corporation, division, business trust, joint venture,
association, limited liability company, partnership, joint stock company,
association, estate, trust, unincorporated organization or Governmental
Authority.
“Policies
and Procedures” means those policies and procedures of Seller with respect
to the origination, collection and administration of Leases and as set forth
in
Seller’s Policies and Procedures Manual on May 4, 2007.
“Proceeding”
means any suit in equity, action or law or other judicial or administrative
proceeding.
“Purchase
Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of the
Agreement.
“Record
Date” means the close of business on the date, four Business Days prior to
the Closing Date, unless such other date is mutually agreed upon by Buyer
and
Seller.
“Records”
means the Leases and all other documents, books, records and other writings
and
information (including, without limitation, computer programs, tapes, disks,
punch cards, data processing software and related property and rights, but
excluding any credit profiles and rights in any personally identifiable data
of
any lessee) maintained with respect to Leases and the related
lessees.
“Related
Property” means, with respect to any Lease:
(a) all
“instruments”, “chattel paper”, “accounts”, “general intangibles”, “commercial
tort claims”, “investment property” and “letter of credit rights” (as each such
term is defined in the UCC) evidencing or arising under such Lease;
(b) all
security interests or liens and property subject thereto from time to time,
if
any, purporting to secure payment of such Lease;
(c) all
guarantees, indemnities, warranties, insurance (and proceeds thereof) or
other
agreements or arrangements of any kind from time to time supporting or securing
payment of such Lease;
(d) all
Records related to such Lease;
(e) all
service contracts and other contracts and agreements associated with such
Lease;
and
(f) all
proceeds of any of the foregoing.
“Residual
Value” means, with respect to any Lease, the value of the Subject Equipment
to the lessor thereunder at the end of such Lease, as estimated by Seller
at the
origination of such Lease in accordance with the Policies and
Procedures.
“Retained
Liabilities” means any other liabilities of Seller whatsoever not included
in the Assumed Liabilities.
“Subject
Equipment” means, with respect to any Lease, the Equipment subject to such
Lease.
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person (herein referred to as the “parent”), any
corporation, partnership, association or other business entity (a) of which
securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the
equity
or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general
partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned,
controlled or held by the parent or (b) that is, at the time any
determination is being made, otherwise controlled, by the parent or one or
more
subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries
of the
parent.
“Suspended
Lease” means a Lease which is classified as “income non-accrual” on the
records of Seller as of the Record Date, applying the Seller’s Policies and
Procedures.
“Tax”
means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, assessment, charge,
fee,
deduction or withholding of any nature and whatever called, by whomsoever,
on
whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed;
provided, “Tax on the overall net income” of a Person shall be construed
as a reference to a tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that Person
is
organized or in which that Person’s applicable principal office (and/or, in the
case of a Lender, its lending office) is located or in which that Person
(and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is deemed to be doing
business on all or part of the net income, profits or gains (whether worldwide,
or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered to arise
in or
to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise) of that Person (and/or,
in
the case of a Lender, its applicable lending office).
“Third
Party Claim” means any claim or demand in respect of which an indemnifying
party might seek indemnity is asserted against or sought to be collected
from
such indemnified party by a third party.
“Transaction
Documents” means, collectively, the Agreement, including this Appendix A,
the Xxxx of Sale and the Interim Servicing Agreement.
“UCC”
means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the relevant
jurisdiction.
“Unamortized
Cost” means an amount equal to the contract balance remaining on a Lease
less the unearned income on such Lease.
“United
States” means the United States of America, its fifty States and the
District of Columbia.
“written”
or “in writing” means any form of written communication, including,
without limitation, by means of telex, telecopier device, telegraph, electronic
mail or messaging systems, the Internet or cable.
III. Rules
of Construction.
Except
as
otherwise expressly provided herein or in any of the Transaction Documents
or
unless the context otherwise clearly requires:
(a) defined
terms include, as appropriate, all genders and the plural as well as the
singular;
(b) references
to designated articles, Sections and other subdivisions of a Transaction
Document refer to the designated article, Section, or other subdivision of
such
Transaction Document as a whole and to all subdivisions of the designated
article, Section or other subdivision;
(c) references
to schedules in a particular Transaction Document refer to the schedules
attached to or delivered together with such Transaction Document;
(d) the
words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto,” “hereunder” and other words of similar
import refer to the Transaction Document in which such reference is made
as a
whole and not to any particular article, Section or other subdivision of
such
Transaction Document;
(e) any
term that relates to a document, statute, rule or regulation includes any
amendments, modifications, supplements or any other changes that may have
occurred since the document, statute, rule or regulation came into being,
including changes that occur after the date of the Transaction Document in
which
such reference is made;
(f) the
term “including” and all its variations mean “including but not limited to.”
Except when used in conjunction with the word “either,” the word “or” is always
used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both,” not
“either A or B but not both”); and
(g) in
the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified
date or an open-ended period, the word “from” means “from and including” and the
words “to” or “until” mean “to but excluding, and in setting deadlines or other
periods, “by” means “on or before,” and “after” means “from and
after”.