COMMERCIAL TERMS FOR THE RECEIVABLES FINANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC (1) and CIMCOOL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS B.V. (2)
Exhibit
10.4
Execution
copy
COMMERCIAL
TERMS
FOR
THE
BETWEEN
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC (1)
and
CIMCOOL
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS B.V. (2)
This
Receivables Finance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into on
12 March 2008
BETWEEN
(1)
|
WE, LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC,
an English public limited company whose registered office is at 00 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx; acting through our branch in the
Netherlands with offices at Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx 0, 0000 XX Xxxxxxx, the
Netherlands, and
|
(2)
|
YOU, CLIENT, CIMCOOL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
B.V., a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met
beperkte aansprakelijkheid), and whose registered seat (statutaire zetel) is at
Vlaardingen, the Netherlands, registered with the Chamber of Commerce of
Rotterdam under number 24174756 and having your office address at
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 00, 0000 XX, Xxxxxxxxxxx, xxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
|
IT IS AGREED
that:
1.
|
INTRODUCTION
|
1.1.
|
In
this Agreement, in our Operating Conditions (attached to this Commercial
Terms as Annex I), in the Asset Based Finance Agreement and in any
document pursuant to which a Security Interest is created in favour of us,
we set out the terms on which we will make the Facility set out below
available to you. These are the only terms binding both of
us. They supersede all previous discussions, quotations, offer
letters, proposals and representations. By signing this Agreement, you
nonetheless confirm that all relevant individuals have either read,
understood and accepted or have otherwise consented to statements about
Data Protection which appear on either the offer letter, quotation,
proposal or instruction letter sent to you and as contained in this
Agreement and/or that the processing in accordance with such statements of
Personal Data supplied by you is otherwise
permitted.
|
1.2.
|
We
may, by way of a separate agreement, make stock, plant and machinery,
property or cashflow facilities, hire purchase and/or leasing facilities
available to you.
|
1.3.
|
You
confirm that you have read and understood this Agreement and the Operating
Conditions and had the opportunity to take independent legal advice on
your and our respective rights and
obligations.
|
1.4.
|
To
provide the Facility we need to have access to and to use and/or disclose
Personal Data relating to individuals associated with your business and/or
with your Customers’ businesses. The terms upon which we will
use such Personal Data are set out in the Operating
Conditions. You agree that you have read and understood such
terms and that you have obtained any necessary consents from relevant
individuals.
|
1.5.
|
The
Operating Conditions are incorporated into and form part of this
Agreement. If there is any conflict between these Commercial Terms and the
Operating Conditions, then these Commercial Terms will
prevail.
|
1.6.
|
The
meanings of defined terms used in this Agreement are given below and in
Part I of the Operating Conditions.
|
2.
|
THE
FACILITY
|
2.1
|
Terms
|
|
2.1.1
|
Type
of Facility:
|
Receivables
Facility.
Part I, II and VI of the Operating
Conditions will apply to you.
|
|
2.1.2
|
Review
Limit:
|
equal
at all times to the Aggregate Debt Financing Limit (as defined in the
Asset Based Finance Agreement). The Aggregate Debt Financing
Limit is an aggregate limit which is applicable to facilities made
available to you and your Associated
Businesses.
|
|
2.1.3
|
Advance
Rate:
|
90%.
|
|
2.1.4
|
Funding
Period:
|
Each
period of 90 days beginning on the last Working Day of the month in which
an Invoice is raised.
|
|
2.1.5
|
Minimum
Term:
|
36
months from the Start Date.
|
|
2.1.6
|
Final
Repayment Date
|
the
date falling five years after the date of the
Agreement
|
|
2.1.7
|
Notice
Period:
|
3
months.
|
|
2.1.8
|
Additional
Non-Notifiable Invoices:
|
none
|
|
2.1.9
|
Approval
Limit:
|
This
will be notified to you separately.
|
|
2.1.10
|
Approved
Countries:
|
all
EU, G7 and OECD countries.
|
|
2.1.11
|
Approved
Currencies:
|
None.
|
2.2
|
Fees
and Charges Receivables Facility
|
|
2.2.1
|
Margin:
|
1.75%
per annum.
|
|
2.2.2
|
Arrangement
Fee:
|
has
the meaning as set forth in the Asset Based Finance
Agreement
|
|
2.2.3
|
Service
Charge:
|
has
the meaning as set forth in the Asset Based Finance
Agreement
|
|
2.2.4
|
Unused
Line Fee:
|
has
the meaning as set forth in the Asset Based Finance
Agreement
|
|
2.2.5
|
Guarantee
Fee:
|
1.75%
per annum
|
|
2.2.6
|
Interest
Payment Date:
|
the
first Working Day of each month
|
|
2.2.7
|
Default
Interest:
|
2%
per annum
|
|
2.2.8
|
Transmission
Charges:
|
EUR
40
|
|
2.2.9
|
Urgent
Payment Charges:
|
EUR
10
|
|
2.2.10
|
Account
Opening Fee:
|
EUR
1,000
|
|
2.2.11
|
Annual
Account Maintenance Fee:
|
EUR
1,000
|
3.
|
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
|
3.1
|
You
irrevocably provide us a power of attorney (volmacht), with the
right of substitution, to act on your behalf and to perform all acts on
your behalf that are necessary or desirable, which power of attorney will
be used in the event of the assignment of Invoices to perform all acts as
listed in 3.2 and in case of a pledge of Invoices to perform all acts as
listed in 3.3.
|
3.2
|
The
power of attorney in case of assignment of Invoices under a Factoring
Facility will give authority to the holder of it
to:
|
|
·
|
perfect
our title to an Invoice or its Related Rights;
and/or
|
|
·
|
secure
the performance of any of your obligations to us or a
Customer.
|
In
accordance with this power, we may without notice to you either in our name or
in your name:
|
3.2.1
|
complete,
negotiate or endorse all instruments representing payment of or security
for Invoices as well as any other amount, however
affected;
|
|
3.2.2
|
bring,
conduct, compromise or defend any legal or other
proceedings;
|
|
3.2.3
|
execute
or sign any contracts or documents;
|
|
3.2.4
|
complete
or perform any other acts as we consider reasonably necessary to complete
a Contract of Sale;
|
|
3.2.5
|
dispose
of or deal with any Related Rights;
and
|
|
3.2.6
|
obtain
payment of Invoices and, if necessary, give notice of the assignment of
Invoices to us.
|
3.3
|
The
power of attorney in case of pledge of Invoices will give authority to the
holder of it to:
|
|
·
|
perfect
our Security Interest to an Invoice or its Related Rights;
and/or
|
|
·
|
secure
the performance of any of your obligations to us or a
Customer.
|
In
accordance with this power, we may without notice to you either in our name or
in your name:
|
3.3.1
|
complete,
negotiate or endorse instruments representing payment of or security for
Invoices as well as any other amount, however
affected;
|
|
3.3.2
|
bring,
conduct, compromise or defend any legal or other
proceedings;
|
|
3.3.3
|
execute
or sign any contracts or documents;
|
|
3.3.4
|
complete
or perform any other acts as we consider reasonably necessary to complete
a Contract of Sale;
|
|
3.3.5
|
dispose
of or deal with any Related Rights;
and
|
|
3.3.6
|
obtain,
in so far as permitted pursuant to Article 3:246 Dutch Civil Code, payment
of Invoices and, if necessary, give notice of the pledge of Invoices to
us.
|
You will
ratify anything lawfully done by any attorney, substitute attorney or mandate
under the powers set out above. You cannot cancel our powers under
this clause and this power will last until all monies, obligations and
liabilities owing by you to us have been performed or satisfied in
full.
4.
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
4.1
|
We
will provide you with the Facility when we have received in a form and
substance satisfactory to us:
|
|
4.1.1
|
a
copy of your constitutional documents, consisting of: (i) your deed of
incorporation, (ii) if applicable your current articles of association and
(iii) an original copy of the extract pertaining to you from the trade
register of the chamber of
commerce;
|
|
4.1.2
|
a
certified copy of a resolution of your board of directors approving the
terms of, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and
resolving that it execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and any
other security we require from you;
|
|
4.1.3
|
if
applicable, a copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued
shares in the Client, approving the terms of, and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
|
|
4.1.4
|
if
applicable, a copy of the advice cast by the relevant works council (ondernemingsraad) in
respect of transactions contemplated by this Agreement or a confirmation
from the works council that it refrains from exercising its rights to
advise on the subject matter of this
Agreement;
|
|
4.1.5
|
a
corporate guarantee on first demand from Milacron Nederland B.V. and
Milacron B.V. and a certified copy of the resolution of its governing body
approving the granting of the
guarantee;
|
|
4.1.6
|
any
additional information or evidence we require to comply with our “know
your customer” procedures, including satisfactory conclusion of any
insolvency searches on you with the Central Insolvency Register (Centraal
Insolventieregister), and any other searches deemed appropriate in
this respect;
|
|
4.1.7
|
the
implementation of a web-based application in which reports can be
submitted;
|
|
4.1.8
|
copy
of your latest audited accounts;
|
|
4.1.9
|
a
right of pledge in favour of us on any Invoices duly completed and signed,
corresponding to the first Notification of
Invoices;
|
4.1.10
|
if
applicable, originals of all the necessary consents as required by the
Data Protection Act for the collection, processing and transfer of any
Personal Data in relation to the Invoices assigned and pledged;
and
|
4.1.11
|
other
conditions precedent are:
|
|
·
|
a
right of pledge in favour of us on any Collection Account held by you and
on all of your stock and inventory;
|
|
·
|
a
right of pledge in favour of us on all shares in your share
capital.
|
5.
|
GUARANTEE
|
5.1 You
irrevocably and unconditionally:
|
5.1.1
|
guarantee
to us punctual performance by each Guaranteed Company of its Secured
Obligations up to a maximum amount of EUR 7,000,000 (seven million euro)
(for the purpose of this clause: the "Maximum
Amount");
|
|
5.1.2
|
undertake,
by way of its own and independent obligation, with us that whenever a
Guaranteed Company does not pay any amount when due under or in connection
with its Secured Obligations, that you shall immediately on demand pay
that amount or, if less, the Maximum Amount, as if you were the principal
obligor;
|
5.2
|
This
guarantee is an independent guarantee and not a suretyship (borgtocht). You agree
to and hereby waive any rights you may have under title 7.14 Dutch Civil
Code, if any, which waiver is hereby accepted by
us.
|
5.3
|
This
guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate
balance of sums payable by any Guaranteed Company under its Secured
Obligations (but never exceeding the Maximum Amount), regardless of any
intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in
part.
|
5.4
|
Until
all amounts which may be or become payable by a Guaranteed Company under
or in connection with its Secured Obligations have been irrevocably paid
in full, you will not exercise any rights which you may have by reason of
performance by you of a Guaranteed Company's obligations to be indemnified
by that Guaranteed Company and you subordinate in favour of us any rights
which you may acquire by way of recourse or subrogation in connection with
any right against any Guaranteed Company until all amounts which may be or
become payable any Guaranteed Company under or in connection with the
Secured Obligations have been irrevocably paid in
full.
|
6.
|
GOVERNING
LAW AND JURISDICTION
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the
Netherlands. You accept the jurisdiction of the competent court of the
Netherlands to hear and determine any proceedings arising out of this
Agreement. However, you agree that we may bring proceedings in the
courts of any other jurisdiction.
To
confirm agreement to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement
together with all its Schedules, Annexes and other documents forming part of the
documentation of the subject matter of agreement the parties have executed two
originals of this Agreement on the date set out above.
LLOYDS TSB BANK PLC,
represented by:
|
|
1.
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Proxyholder A
Name
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Signature
|
2.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx van der Meer
Proxyholder A
Name
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx van der Meer
Signature
|
CIMCOOL
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS B.V.
duly
represented by:
|
|
Xxxx
van Geemen
Managing
Director
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Managing
Director
Name
|
/s/
Xxxx van Geemen
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxx
Signature
|
ANNEXURE
I
Operating
Conditions
Guidance
Note:
The
Agreement is in relation to various products offered by Lloyds TSB Bank PLC in
the Netherlands, and comprises two parts (a) the Commercial Terms and (b) the
Operating Conditions.
The
Commercial Terms and the Operating Conditions jointly set out the terms on which
the Facility has been made available to you.
In so far
as you have applied for a Euro Invoice Discounting Facility, then Parts I, II
and III of the Operating Conditions will apply to you.
In so far
as you have applied for an Export and/or Currency Invoice Discounting Facility,
then Parts I, II and V of the Operating Conditions will apply to
you.
In so far
as you have applied for a Factoring Facility, then Parts I, II and IV of the
Operating Conditions will apply to you.
In so far
as you have applied for a Receivables Facility, then Parts I, II and VI of the
Operating Conditions will apply to you.
OPERATING
CONDITIONS
FOR
BETWEEN
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC(1)
AND
CIMCOOL
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS B.V. (2)
We
acknowledge receipt of these Operating Conditions (Part I, Part II, and Part VI)
which form part of our agreement with you.
/s/ Xxxx van Geemen
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxx
For and
on behalf of Cimcool Industrial Products B.V.
12 March
2008
Date
OPERATING
CONDITIONS – PART I
|
15
|
|
DEFINITIONS
|
15
|
|
Section
1 General Definitions
|
15
|
|
Section
2 Definitions related to Dutch law
|
21
|
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART II
|
25
|
|
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO ALL CLIENTS
|
25
|
|
1
|
LENGTH
OF THE AGREEMENT
|
25
|
2
|
NOTIFICATION,
INVOICE CLASSIFICATION AND APPROVAL LIMITS
|
25
|
3
|
USE
OF FACILITY
|
26
|
4
|
CURRENT
AND OTHER ACCOUNTS
|
26
|
5
|
COLLECTION
OF INVOICES
|
27
|
6
|
OUR
FEES AND CHARGES
|
28
|
7
|
EXPENSES,
SET OFF AND INDEMNITY
|
29
|
8
|
WARRANTIES
|
30
|
9
|
UNDERTAKINGS
|
32
|
10
|
TERMINATION
EVENTS
|
34
|
11
|
ASSIGNMENT
OR PLEDGE OF INVOICES
|
36
|
12
|
REPURCHASE
|
37
|
13
|
COMMUNICATIONS
BETWEEN US
|
38
|
14
|
VARIATIONS
|
39
|
15
|
COMMUNICATIONS
WITH PROFESSIONALS AND OTHERS
|
39
|
16
|
DATA
PROTECTION
|
39
|
17
|
PARTNERSHIPS
AND SOLE TRADERS
|
41
|
18
|
NOTICES
|
42
|
19
|
GENERAL
|
42
|
20
|
INTERPRETATION
|
42
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART III
|
44
|
|
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO INVOICE DISCOUNTING CLIENTS ONLY
|
44
|
|
1
|
AGENCY
APPOINTMENT
|
44
|
2.
|
PLEDGE
OF INVOICES - DISCLOSED
|
45
|
3.
|
PLEDGE
OF INVOICES - UNDISCLOSED
|
46
|
4.
|
INFORMATION
AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
|
48
|
5.
|
NON-NOTIFIABLE
INVOICES
|
49
|
6.
|
OUR
SERVICES
|
50
|
7.
|
DISCOUNTING
CLIENTS WHICH BECOME FACTORING CLIENTS
|
51
|
8.
|
FEES
|
51
|
9.
|
EXPORT/CURRENCY
INVOICES
|
52
|
ANNEXURE
I
|
53
|
|
List
of Customers
|
53
|
|
ANNEXURE
II
|
54
|
|
Form
of Disclosed Pledge Agreement
|
54
|
|
Schedule
I
|
56
|
|
Detail
of Invoices
|
56
|
|
ANNEXURE
III
|
57
|
|
Form
of Notification to Customers
|
57
|
|
ANNEXURE
IV
|
59
|
|
Form
of Undisclosed Pledge Agreement
|
59
|
|
Schedule
I
|
61
|
|
Detail
of Invoices
|
61
|
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART IV
|
62
|
|
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO FACTORING CLIENTS ONLY
|
62
|
|
1
|
OUR
SERVICES
|
62
|
2
|
ASSIGNMENT
OF INVOICES
|
62
|
3
|
YOUR
RESPONSIBILITIES
|
64
|
4
|
OUR
FEES AND CHARGES FOR FACTORING CLIENTS
|
64
|
5
|
CURRENCY
INVOICES
|
65
|
ANNEXURE
I
|
66
|
|
List
of Customers
|
66
|
|
ANNEXURE
II
|
67
|
|
Assignment
Agreement
|
67
|
Schedule
I
|
69
|
|
Detail
of Invoices
|
69
|
|
ANNEXURE
III
|
70
|
|
Form
of Notification to Customers
|
70
|
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART V
|
72
|
|
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO EXPORT AND CURRENCY FACILITIES
|
72
|
|
1
|
EXPORT
AND CURRENCY FACILITIES
|
|
2
|
OUR
FEES AND CHARGES
|
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART VI
|
73
|
|
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO RECEIVABLES FACILITIES
|
73
|
|
1.
|
PURPOSE
OF THE FACILITY
|
|
2.
|
INTEREST
|
|
2.1.1
|
EURIBOR.
|
|
We
shall notify you promptly upon the determination of the rate of interest
under the Agreement.
|
73
|
|
2.2
|
You
shall pay accrued interest on the Facility in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date, on which date we shall charge your Current Account with the
amount due.
|
|
2.3
|
If
you fail to pay any amount payable under the Agreement on its due date,
interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the
date of actual payment (both before and after judgement) at the rate
determined as the Default Interest.
|
|
3.
|
REPAYMENT
|
|
4.
|
PREPAYMENT
|
|
5.
|
SECURITY
|
|
As
security for your Secured Obligations you shall grant in our favour,
whether or not in advance, an undisclosed first priority right of pledge
(stil pandrecht eerste in rang) on all your Invoices in the manner set
forth in Article 3:239 paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code, and in
accordance with the form requested by us.
|
73
|
|
6
|
INFORMATION
AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
|
74
|
7
|
NON-NOTIFIABLE
INVOICES
|
75
|
8
|
OUR
SERVICES
|
76
|
ANNEXURE
I
|
78
|
|
List
of Customers
|
78
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS – PART I
DEFINITIONS
In the
Agreement the following words have the meaning set out opposite
them:
Section
1 General Definitions
“Account
Opening Fee”
|
any
fee referred to in the Commercial Terms calculated in the manner set out
in Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions relating to all
clients;
|
|
“Annual
Account Maintenance Fee”
|
any
fee referred to in the Commercial Terms calculated in the manner set out
in Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions relating to all
clients;
|
|
“Additional
Service Fee”
|
the
fee charged to Factoring Clients in respect of Invoices still unpaid at
the ending of the Funding Period;
|
|
“Advance
Rate”
|
any
percentage to be paid by us on account of the Nominal Amount of each
Approved Invoice specified in the Commercial Terms as varied in accordance
with the Agreement from time to time;
|
|
“Advance”
|
the
amount paid by us on account of the Nominal Amount of each Approved
Invoice, in the case of Invoice Discounting, Factoring Clients and
Receivables Clients, calculated by applying the Advance Rate to such
Invoice;
|
|
“Approved
Currency”
|
any
currency referred to in the Commercial Terms or any other currency which
we may approve from time to time but excluding any currency which we
notify you is not or no longer an Approved Currency;
|
|
“Approval
Limit”
|
any
limit established by us in discussion with you and notified to you from
time to time in relation to the maximum value of Invoices owing by some or
all of your Customers expressed either as a fixed monetary amount or a
percentage of all your Invoices outstanding from time to
time;
|
|
“Approved
Invoice”
|
all
or part of any Notified Invoice not classified by us as Disapproved and
“Approved” shall be construed accordingly;
|
“Approved
Country”
|
any
country referred to in the Commercial Terms or agreed by us from time to
time but excluding any country which we notify you is not or no longer an
Approved Currency;
|
|
"Asset
Based Finance Agreement"
|
The
asset based finance agreement of even date herewith between you, us and
some of your Associated Businesses.
|
|
“Associated
Business”
|
-
|
Cimcool
Europe B.V.;
|
-
|
Cimcool
Industrial Products B.V.;
|
|
-
|
D-M-E
Europe CVBA;
|
|
-
|
Ferromatik
Milacron Machinenbau GmbH; and
|
|
any
other person or business which is owned or controlled by
|
||
(i)
|
you
or your spouse; or
|
|
(ii)
|
any
director or partner of yours; or
|
|
(iii)
|
anyone
who directly or indirectly controls (or who can take control of) you;
or
|
|
(iv)
|
anyone
you control (or you can take control of);or
|
|
(v)
|
any
holding company;
|
|
“Availability”
|
the
amount of any Invoice Discounting, Factoring Facility or Receivables
Facility available to you calculated as set out in condition 4.4 of the
Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions relating to all
Clients;
|
|
“Bank”
|
Lloyds
TSB Bank plc and its successors or assigns;
|
|
“Base
Rate”
|
the
published base rate of the Bank from time to time;
|
|
“Collection
Account”
|
any
bank account into which payments from Customers in respect of Invoices are
required to be paid;
|
|
“Collection
Date”
|
in
the case of any Invoice which is: (a) paid in cash: the date of receipt of
the cash by you; (b) paid by cheque or other instrument: the date on which
funds representing the same are cleared by your bankers for interest; (c)
paid by TARGET or CSS: the date on which funds are credited to a
Collection Account;
|
|
“Commercial
Terms”
|
the
terms set out in the main body of the Agreement (other than the Operating
Conditions) as varied, amended, supplemented or replaced from time to
time;
|
“Contingent
Instrument”
|
a
guarantee, bond or letter of credit issued by us or an Issuer pursuant to
any Contingent Liability Facility;
|
|
“Contingent
Liability Facility”
|
any
Facility provided by us to you offering you the option to request the
issue of Contingent Instruments;
|
|
“Contract
of Sale”
|
a
contract in any form (including a purchase order) for the sale or hire of
goods and/or provision of services to a Customer under which an Invoice
arises;
|
|
“Counter
Indemnity”
|
an
indemnity provided by us to an Issuer in their preferred form for all
monies, obligations and liabilities incurred under a Contingent
Instrument;
|
|
“Credit
Balance(s)”
|
any
credit balance on the Current Account;
|
|
“Currency
Invoice”
|
any
Invoice payable in an Approved Currency (other than Euro);
|
|
“Current
Account”
|
an
account administered by us with account number 267600011 designated LTSB
re Cimcool Industrial Products BV;
|
|
“Customer”
|
a
party under a Contract of Sale obliged to pay you the Invoice and, where
the context so permits, a prospective Customer;
|
|
“Debit
Balance(s)”
|
any
debit balance on the Current Account;
|
|
“Delivered”
|
in
relation to Goods:
|
|
(i)
|
physical
delivery to (or to the order of) a Customer;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Customer taking the risk in the Goods;
|
|
(iii)
|
performance
of the Contract of Sale;
|
|
in
relation to services: completed and “Deliver” and “Delivery” are to be
construed accordingly;
|
||
“Disapproved
Invoice”
|
all
or part of any Invoice classified by us as disapproved in accordance with
condition 2 and ‘Disapproved’ is to be construed accordingly;
|
|
“Drawdown
Date”
|
means
the date on which the relevant Advance as requested in the Drawdown
Request must be available to you;
|
|
“Drawdown
Request”
|
means
a notice sent by you to us requesting an Advance substantially in the
relevant form set out in Annexure V of Operating Conditions Part
VI;
|
“EEA”
|
European
Economic Area;
|
|
“EURIBOR”
|
has
the meaning as set forth in the Asset Based Finance
Agreement;
|
|
“Euro”
or “€”
|
the
single currency of the member states of the European Union which have
adopted the Euro as their lawful currency in accordance with the
legislation of the European Union relating to European Economic and
Monetary Union, or if different, the lawful currency of Belgium or the
Netherlands (as applicable);
|
|
“Export
Facility”
|
a
Facility where we have agreed to pay for your Export
Invoices;
|
|
“Export
Invoice”
|
an
Invoice which is:
|
|
(i)
|
addressed
to a Customer in one of the countries referred to in the Commercial Terms;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
expressed
either in an Approved Currency or Euro;
|
|
“Facility”
|
means
each or all (as the context requires) of any Invoice Discounting Facility,
Factoring Facility, Receivables Facility or Export and/or Currency
Facility, made available by us to you from time to time under the terms of
the Agreement;
|
|
“Factoring
Client”
|
a
client to whom a Factoring Facility is made available;
|
|
“Factoring
Facility”
|
a
debt purchase facility provided on the terms of the
Agreement;
|
|
“Fees
and Charges”
|
all
those fees and charges to which we are entitled for providing any Facility
(and any VAT thereon);
|
|
"Guaranteed
Company"
|
Cimcool
Europe B.V., D-M-E Europe CVBA and Ferromatik Milacron Machinenbau
GmbH;
|
|
“Goods”
|
any
goods the subject of a Contract of Sale;
|
|
“Invoice”
|
any
present, future or contingent obligation (including any tax or duty) of a
Customer to make payment under a Contract of Sale (whether invoiced or
not) and, where the context permits, includes part of an
Invoice;
|
|
“Invoice
Discounting
Client”
|
a
client to whom an Invoice Discounting Facility is made
available;
|
|
“Invoice
Discounting
Facility”
|
a
debt purchase facility provided on the terms of the
Agreement;
|
|
“Issuer”
|
a
bank or other financial institution approved by us which issues a
Contingent Instrument on your behalf;
|
“Margin”
|
the
Margin specified in the Commercial Terms;
|
|
“Minimum
Fee”
|
any
minimum fee specified in the Commercial Terms;
|
|
“Minimum
Term”
|
the
shortest period for which the Agreement must operate specified in the
Commercial Terms;
|
|
“Net
Value”
|
in
relation to any Invoice, the amount actually received by us in settlement
or discharge after taking into account all deductions, discounts and
off-sets;
|
|
“Nominal
Amount”
|
the
amount received by us in or towards each Invoice together with its Related
Rights;
|
|
“Non-Notifiable
Invoices”
|
those
Invoices described as non-notifiable in the Operating Conditions for
Invoice Discounting Clients and Receivable Clients and specified as
Additional Non-Notifiable Invoices in the Commercial Terms;
|
|
“Notice
Period”
|
the
period of notice to be served to terminate the Agreement specified in the
Commercial Terms;
|
|
“Notification”
|
your
notification to us in the format we specify of the existence and amount of
Invoices and other matters referred to in conditions 9.1.7 and 9.1.8 of
the Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions relating to all Clients
and “Notified” and “Notify” are to be construed accordingly;
|
|
“Notified
Value”
|
the
full amount of each Invoice given in a Notification (including any
applicable tax or duty) and before any discount for prompt payment or
otherwise;
|
|
“Operating
Conditions”
|
the
terms and conditions on which we will provide a Facility to you
incorporated in the Agreement, signed by you for identification as
amended, varied, supplemented or replaced from time to time;
|
|
“Receivables
Client”
|
a
client to whom a Receivables Facility is made available;
|
|
“Receivables
Facility”
|
a
loan facility provided on the terms of the Agreement;
|
|
“Reserve”
|
any
reserve applied by us to your Availability in such amount as we may
determine from time to time;
|
|
“Review
Limit”
|
the
amount equal at all times to the Aggregate Debt Financing Limit (as
defined in the Asset Based Finance Agreement);
|
|
"Secured
Obligations"
|
all
obligations representing indebtedness for borrowed money, present or
future, absolute or contingent, matured or not, at any time owing by you
or any Guaranteed Company to us under or in connection with the Asset
Based Finance Agreement or the Financing Documents (as defined in the
Asset Based Finance Agreement), provided, however, that any such
obligation arises out of a loan arrangement providing for revolving
working capital loans;
|
“Service
Fee”
|
the
fee charged for the provision of our services to you calculated, unless
otherwise agreed, as provided in Operating Conditions – Part II –
Provisions relating to all clients;
|
|
“Start
Date”
|
the
later of:
|
|
(a)
|
the
date of the Agreement; and
|
|
(b)
|
the
date on which we confirm that you have satisfied any conditions precedent
specified by us;
|
|
“TARGET”
|
same
day transmission of cleared funds through the Trans-European Automated
Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System;
|
|
“Termination
Event”
|
any
of the events set out in Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions
relating to all clients;
|
|
“Urgent
Payment Charge”
|
any
fee referred to in the Commercial Terms calculated in the manner set out
in Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions relating to all clients;
and
|
|
“Website”
|
in
the case of Invoice Discounting Clients or Receivables Facility Clients
xxx.xxxxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx referred to as N-able, in the case of
Factoring Clients, xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx referred to as Cash Connect and,
in any case, includes any additional or alternative domain name by which
we may communicate with you over the internet from time to
time.
|
Section
2 Definitions related to Dutch law
“Currency
Facility”
|
a
Facility where we have agreed to pay for your Currency Invoices owing by a
Customer in the Netherlands;
|
|
“CSS”
|
clearing
and settlement system (Equens) in the
Netherlands for domestic giro payments;
|
|
“Data
Protection Act”
|
the
Dutch Data Protection Act (Wet Bescherming
Persoonsgegevens) as amended, and any related
regulations;
|
|
“Domestic
Invoice”
|
an
Invoice payable in Euro arising from a Contract of Sale performed in the
Netherlands, the invoice for which is addressed to a location in the
Netherlands;
|
|
“Dutch
Civil Code”
|
the
Dutch civil code, as amended from time to time (Burgerlijk
Wetboek);
|
|
“Insolvency/Insolvent”
|
in
relation to any company or firm constituting a distinct legal entity
(rechtspersoon)
means:
|
|
i.
|
the
appointment of a voluntary liquidator (vereffenaar) in view of
the dissolution of the company or firm (article 19 et seq. of the Dutch
Civil Code) or the passing of a resolution to wind up or dissolve the
company or firm; or
|
|
ii.
|
the
opening with respect to the entity or any material subsidiary of the
entity of a moratorium (surséance van betaling)
within the meaning of Title II Insolvency Act (Faillissementswet);
or
|
|
iii.
|
the
opening with respect to the entity or any material subsidiary of the
entity of a bankruptcy proceeding (faillissement) within
the meaning of Title I Insolvency Act (Faillissementswet);
or
|
|
iv.
|
only
insofar as applicable, the opening of an emergency proceeding (noodregeling), winding
up order (liquidatieprocedure) or
asset liquidation proceeding (saneringsmaatregel)
within the meaning of Article 3:160 et seq. Act on
Financial Supervision (Wet op het financieel
toezicht),
|
in
relation to an individual (sole trader (eenmanszaak),
independent professional (beroepsbeoefenaar),
etc.), means:
|
||
i.
|
the
opening with respect to the individual of a moratorium (surséance van betaling)
within the meaning of Title II Insolvency Act (Faillissementswet);
or
|
|
ii.
|
the
opening with respect to the individual of a bankruptcy proceeding (faillissement) within
the meaning of Title I Insolvency Act (Faillissementswet);
or
|
|
iii.
|
the
opening with respect to the individual of the liabiliies winding up scheme
(schuldsaneringsregeling)
within the meaning of Title III Insolvency Act (Faillissiementswet),
|
|
in
relation to any company, firm, individual or group, means:
|
||
i.
|
any
creditor seizing (conservatoir of executoriaal
beslag leggen) or taking possession of any of its assets whether
through the implementation of any Security Interest or pursuant to an
approval from the competent court (verlof) or through
measures of forced execution (xxxxxx executie);
or
|
|
ii.
|
the
transfer to its creditors as payment, or the grant to its creditors, a
Security Interest covering a substantial portion of its fixed assets;
or
|
|
iii.
|
receiving
an injunction to pay or a notification instituting a suit demanding the
conviction of the individual or entity; or
|
|
iv.
|
commencing
negotiations with one or more creditors for the general readjustment or
rescheduling of, or a moratorium in regard to, all or part of its
indebtedness (onderhands
akkoord); or
|
|
v.
|
suspending
or ceasing or threatening to suspend or cease its business or making a
resolution or decision to this effect; or
|
|
vi.
|
allowing
any judgment, order or award of any court or tribunal for payment of money
to remain unsatisfied for 7 days or more; or
|
|
vii.
|
being
subject to an injunction (voorlopige
voorziening), order or other action that prohibits, prevents or
restricts it from dealing with its assets or business; or
|
|
viii.
|
being
incapable of paying the principal or interest on its debts generally as
they fall due, or failure to honour a guarantee granted by it for any debt
when called, after any grace periods have expired; or
|
ix.
|
taking
any steps toward or being subject to a judicial, administrative or
arbitral proceeding that results in a decision placing the individual or
entity in one of the situations described in the preceding two
sub-paragraphs, or likely to cause the opening of a conciliation,
safeguard, judicial work-out or judicial liquidation proceeding in regard
to it; or
|
|
x.
|
occurrence
of an event after the signature of the Agreement or the discovery of a
fact that was not disclosed to us at or before signature, that is of a
nature to affect in a material adverse way the business activities,
financial or economic situation, the profitability or the assets or
liabilities or the capacity of the individual or entity to fulfil its
obligations;
|
|
“Personal
Data”
|
personal
data relating to a living individual as defined under the Data Protection
Act;
|
|
“Related
Rights”
|
(i)
|
all
your rights under a Contract of Sale (including your right to
damages);
|
(ii)
|
all
(negotiable and non negotiable) instruments, security, bonds, guarantees,
and indemnities relating to an Invoice;
|
|
(iii)
|
all
documents, ledgers, databases and computer files (including operating
systems) recording or evidencing Invoices;
|
|
(iv)
|
all
Goods returned to or repossessed by you or rejected by a Customer and all
documents of title to such Goods;
|
|
(v)
|
any
credit insurance in respect of an Invoice;
|
|
(vii)
|
any
time sheets or proofs of delivery; and any and all dependent rights
(afhankelijke rechten) and ancillary rights (nevenrechten), privileges and
other rights inherent, attached and/or associated with the Invoices,
including without limitation title retention rights which you undertake to
provide in the case of a sale of goods;
|
|
“Security
Interest”
|
any
mortgage, pledge, lien, or any other arrangement for the purpose of or
having a similar effect to creating security or any title retention
rights;
|
“Sensitive
Personal Data”
|
sensitive
personal data relating to a living individual as defined under the Data
Protection Act;
|
|
“We”
or “us”
|
Lloyds
TSB Bank plc acting through its Netherlands branch and our transferees and
assignees; and
|
|
“Working
Day”
|
a
day when the Bank is open for all normal business in Amsterdam and in
England and Wales.
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART II
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO ALL CLIENTS
1
|
LENGTH
OF THE AGREEMENT
|
1.1
|
The
Agreement will begin on the Start Date and, subject to condition 1.3, will
continue for the Minimum Term and thereafter until terminated by either of
us.
|
1.2
|
We
may each terminate the Agreement by serving written notice to terminate on
the other, but, subject to condition 1.3, we must give each other notice
of at least the Notice Period and each of us may only terminate the
Agreement at the end of a calendar month coinciding with or ending after
the end of the Minimum Term.
|
1.3
|
We
may also terminate the Agreement:
|
|
1.3.1
|
if
it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for us to perform any
of our obligations contemplated by the Agreement or to fund or maintain
the Facility,
|
|
1.3.2
|
if
a material adverse change in the tax regime applicable to us occurs and
such change is not due to wilful misconduct or gross negligence on our
side (unless you at your discretion pay us an amount required to put us in
the same position we would have been had the tax regime change not
occurred, in which case we do not have the right to terminate the
Agreement); and
|
|
1.3.3
|
at
any time after the occurrence of a Termination
Event.
|
2
|
NOTIFICATION,
INVOICE CLASSIFICATION AND APPROVAL
LIMITS
|
2.1
|
You
will Notify us on a weekly basis through the Website of all your Invoices
existing on or arising after the Start
Date.
|
2.2
|
We
will classify all Notified Invoices as either Approved or
Disapproved. Any Invoice which is not Disapproved will be
Approved.
|
2.3
|
We
may Disapprove any Notified
Invoice:
|
|
2.3.1
|
which,
when added to all other unpaid Invoices owing by a particular Customer,
exceeds any Approval Limit; or
|
|
2.3.2
|
which
is not paid by the end of the Funding Period (or which on the Start Date
has not been paid within that time period);
or
|
|
2.3.3
|
which
is disputed by a Customer; or
|
|
2.3.4
|
in
relation to which you breach any warranty or undertaking given to
us.
|
We may
Disapprove an Invoice at any time, even if it was previously Approved and vice
versa.
2.4
|
We
will tell you of any Approval Limits set by
us.
|
3
|
USE
OF FACILITY
|
3.1
|
We
will allow you to make withdrawals from the Current Account up to the
amount of your Availability as calculated in condition 4 or, if less, the
Review Limit.
|
3.2
|
We
will allow you to request Contingent Instruments to be issued up to the
amount of your Availability as calculated in condition 4 or, if less, the
Review Limit. If an Issuer agrees to issue the Contingent Instrument
requested, we will, upon the issuance of the relevant Contingent
Instrument, reserve a portion of your Availability equal to the amount of
the Contingent Instrument.
|
3.3
|
Unless
we agree otherwise all transactions between us will be accounted for in
Euro.
|
4
|
CURRENT
AND OTHER ACCOUNTS
|
4.1
|
We
will operate an account in your name called the Current Account to record
transactions relating to the
Facility.
|
4.2
|
You
will credit to the Current Account on each Collection Date amounts
received by you on any Collection Account in or towards payment for
Invoices.
|
4.3
|
We
will debit to the Current Account:
|
|
4.3.1
|
withdrawals
and any other payments made to you or to your
order;
|
|
4.3.2
|
all
Fees and Charges (including any value added tax);
and
|
|
4.3.3
|
any
other sums actually, contingently or prospectively payable by you to us
whether under the Agreement or any other facility made available by us to
you.
|
4.4
|
In
order to calculate Availability, we will apply the Advance Rate to the
Notified Value of all Approved Invoices and add any Credit Balance and
then deduct:
|
|
4.4.1
|
any
Debit Balance;
|
|
4.4.2
|
any
amounts outstanding under Contingent
Instruments;
|
|
4.4.3
|
any
Reserves; and
|
|
4.4.4
|
any
accrued Fees and Charges.
|
4.5
|
The
Debit Balance must not exceed the Review Limit. If we are providing a
Facility (or any loan, hire purchase or lease facility) to you and
Associated Businesses, the global aggregate Debit Balances of all you and
all Current Accounts of the Associated Businesses and debit balances on
such loan, hire purchase or lease accounts shall not exceed any aggregate
Review Limit specified in the Commercial
Terms.
|
4.6
|
If
your Availability is a negative figure or if you exceed any Approval Limit
or any Review Limit whether as a result of us Disapproving an Approved
Invoice, exercising our rights under conditions 4.7, 4.8 or 10.2 or for
any other reason, then, in the first instance, you must immediately pay us
the excess on our demand.
|
4.7
|
We
may at any time, by written notice to you, with immediate effect
vary:
|
|
4.7.1
|
the
Advance Rate in respect of all outstanding Approved Invoices and/or
Invoices Notified to us after the date of such notice;
and/or
|
|
4.7.2
|
any
Approval Limits; and/or
|
|
4.7.3
|
the
proportion of your Export Invoices in respect of which we will make
Advances.
|
4.8
|
We
may also from time to time apply a Reserve. We will determine
the amount of any Reserve after consultation with you and will notify it
to you from time to time.
|
4.9
|
In
addition to the Current Account, we may maintain such other accounts as we
consider necessary for the operation of the
Agreement.
|
5
|
COLLECTION
OF INVOICES
|
5.1
|
If
you are a client whose Facility is disclosed or whose agency to collect
Invoices has been terminated, subject to the rights of any credit insurer,
these conditions will apply to you.
|
5.2
|
We
may take whatever action we think is suitable to obtain payment of
Invoices from your Customers. We may demand, exercise, obtain
or otherwise deal with the Related Rights in whatever way we think is
suitable (or refrain from so doing). We may settle, compromise or adjust
any claim brought by or against us, upon such terms as we see
fit. We may bring, carry on, defend or compromise any legal
proceedings or form of alternative dispute resolution in any part of the
world and in your or our name. We may engage collection agents,
bailiffs or lawyers or such other professionals as we feel necessary for
this purpose.
|
5.3
|
We
do not have to bring or defend any proceedings, by or against us, even if
you ask us to do so.
|
5.4
|
We
may allow a Customer a longer period to pay or agree to accept less than
the Notified Value of an Invoice and this will not affect your obligations
to us.
|
5.5
|
You
will:
|
|
5.5.1
|
at
your expense, help us to collect Invoices, by, for example, assisting us
to review your records and other evidence, providing witness statements
and procuring witnesses’ attendance at court or during investigative or
expertise proceedings; and
|
|
5.5.2
|
be
bound by any act, decision or omission of ours in the exercise of our
rights including any reduction in, or extinction of, the Purchase
Price.
|
5.6
|
We
may sell any returned Goods on such terms as we consider appropriate and
we will treat the proceeds of sale as if they were payment of or towards
the relevant Invoice.
|
5.7
|
We
will not pay you compensation or damages and we will not have broken the
Agreement if your Customer does not pay an
Invoice.
|
5.8
|
This
Condition 5 is not applicable to Receivables
Clients.
|
6
|
OUR
FEES AND CHARGES
|
6.1
|
We
will on the Start Date charge you the Account Opening Fee for opening the
Current Account.
|
6.2
|
We
will annually charge you the Annual Account Maintenance Fee, unless in any
year the payment charges in the year reach EUR 1,000 in which case we will
waive the Annual Account Maintenance Fee for that
year.
|
6.3
|
For
the purposes of calculating the Unused Line Fee, any payment of or towards
an Invoice shall be credited to the Current Account on its Collection
Date. We will debit any Unused Line Fee specified in the Commercial Terms
to your Current Account at the intervals agreed with
you.
|
6.4
|
We
will charge one twelfth of the Unused Line Fee monthly in arrears on the
amount by which during the preceding calendar
month:
|
|
6.4.1
|
your
average Debit Balance; or
|
|
6.4.2
|
where
we have agreed to make Facilities available to you and Associated
Businesses, your and their combined average Debit
Balances;
|
falls
short of the Review Limit (or any aggregate Review Limit where one has been
agreed), it being understood that the Unused Line Fee is an aggregate payable by
you or any Associated Business.
6.5
|
If
we provide services to a level of intensity which were not envisaged by us
at the time of entry into the Agreement (which includes you communicating
with us other than via the Website) then, in addition to the Service
Charge, we may make a reasonable charge for all costs and expenses
(including the cost of our administrative time and resulting loss of
profit) for providing such
services.
|
6.6
|
If
at any time you exceed your Availability, then, in addition to demanding
immediate repayment of the excess, we may by notice to you increase our
Fees and Charges to reflect our increased
risk.
|
6.7
|
Value
Added Tax, where applicable, shall be added to all our Fees and Charges.
To the extent that VAT would become chargeable, we shall promptly provide
an appropriate VAT invoice.
|
6.8
|
We
will make all payments to you or to your order through CSS. For every
urgent outward payment (spoedbetaling) we will
charge the Urgent Payment Charge indicated in the Commercial Terms. If we
agree to make a payment to you other than by CSS we will charge you the
Transmission Charges indicated in the Commercial
Terms.
|
7
|
EXPENSES,
SET OFF AND INDEMNITY
|
7.1
|
You
will indemnify us (and in the case of condition 7.1.6 any bank operating
the Collection Account or other account nominated by us) for all losses,
costs, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by us (or
such bank) (and any additional administrative time incurred by us charged
at such rate as we shall reasonably determine) directly or indirectly as a
result of:
|
|
7.1.1
|
preserving
or enforcing our rights under the Agreement and any security given for
it;
|
|
7.1.2
|
exercising
any of our rights under condition 5 or dealing with disputes relating to
an Invoice;
|
|
7.1.3
|
obtaining
or enforcing a release of Invoices and Related Rights or waiver of rights,
from any person with a Security
Interest;
|
|
7.1.4
|
the
occurrence of a Termination Event;
|
|
7.1.5
|
accepting
and/or acting upon information or instructions purporting to come from you
even if that information or those instructions subsequently prove to have
been incorrect or unauthorised by you (except to the extent that our
officers have been negligent or
fraudulent);
|
|
7.1.6
|
collecting
and/or crediting to any Collection Account (or any other account nominated
by us) any cheque or other negotiable instrument payable to you or
endorsed in your favour;
|
|
7.1.7
|
any
claim by a Customer against us; or
|
|
7.1.8
|
you
breaching the Data Protection Act.
|
7.2
|
We
may charge you a reasonable fee
for:
|
|
7.2.1
|
providing
any consent, waiver or variation of the Agreement;
or
|
|
7.2.2
|
making
an Advance which exceeds your
Availability.
|
7.3
|
We
may (but are not obliged) at any time without notice to you
to:
|
|
7.3.1
|
set
off against our liability to you any liability you owe to us;
and/or
|
|
7.3.2
|
combine
or consolidate all or any of your accounts with
us;
|
|
in
either case whether arising under the Agreement or any other facility
provided by us. All your accounts with us, which may be opened
for legal, technical or administrative reasons (and which may have
separate names), will be deemed and will be treated contractually as
sub-accounts of a single current account recording debits and credits that
are connected and indivisible, giving rise to a right of set-off even if
the legal conditions for set-off are not fulfilled. In order to
effect such set off or combination of accounts, we may convert currencies
at the Bank’s spot rate of exchange prevailing at the time of set off or
combination. Your liability to us includes any amounts owing by
you for goods, work or services provided to you by another of our
clients. We may make a reasonable estimate of any amounts
contingently or prospectively due from you to us which cannot be
calculated on the date we exercise set off. We may make debit
entries on your account to effect the intent of the set-off provisions of
the Agreement. You may not exercise any right of set off or
counterclaim against monies due from you to
us.
|
7.4
|
You
will be responsible for any stamp duty or other tax payable on any
document transferring title by assignment or pledge (whether to you or us)
to Invoices, Related Rights or
Goods.
|
7.5
|
We
may at any time, at your request or at our discretion, convert any payment
received by us in or towards settlement of Invoices and/or any of our
obligations to you or your obligations to us which are owed in a currency
other than Euro into Euro at the Bank’s prevailing spot rate of
exchange. Where the currency of the Current Account is
different to that in which a Customer pays an Invoice and/or that in which
the Nominal Amount is paid and as a result there is an exchange rate loss
or gain when the Invoice is paid, we shall debit any loss and credit any
gain to the Current Account.
|
8
|
WARRANTIES
|
8.1
|
On
the date of the Agreement and each time you Notify Invoices to us, you
warrant that:
|
|
8.1.1
|
except
as disclosed to us in writing before the Start Date, there are no Security
Interests affecting your Invoices and you have not sold your Invoices to
any other person;
|
|
8.1.2
|
you
have told us about every material fact or matter which you know, or ought
to have known, might influence us in deciding whether to enter into the
Agreement or to classify an Invoice as Approved or Disapproved or to
accept person as a guarantor or in determining any Review Limit or
Approval Limit; and
|
|
8.1.3
|
all
reports, accounts, and other information supplied to us are accurate and
complete.
|
8.2
|
The
warranty in clause 8.1.2 includes any past Insolvency of your directors or
shareholders or of any company in which they have been interested or any
disqualification at any time of any of your directors or any holder of a
corporate mandate acting as a director or corporate mandate
holder.
|
8.3
|
In
relation to each Invoice Notified to us, you warrant, both on the date of
Notification and on each Working Day until that Invoice is paid,
that:
|
|
8.3.1
|
the
Contract of Sale giving rise to the
Invoice:
|
|
8.3.1.1
|
is
valid and enforceable against the
Customer;
|
|
8.3.1.2
|
is
governed by Dutch law or another law approved by us in
writing;
|
|
8.3.1.3
|
provides
for the Customer to submit to the jurisdiction of the Dutch Courts or the
courts of an Approved Country;
|
|
8.3.1.4
|
does
not include any prohibition against assignment, pledge or assignation of
the Invoice or the Contract of
Sale;
|
|
8.3.1.5
|
provides
for payment in Euro or an Approved
Currency;
|
|
8.3.1.6
|
provides
for payment on or before the end of the Funding
Period;
|
|
8.3.1.7
|
does
not provide for cash on delivery, sale or return or for payment in advance
or by stage payments; and
|
|
8.3.1.8
|
arises
from your normal trading activities disclosed to us before the Start
Date;
|
|
8.3.2
|
the
Invoice relates to an actual sale and you have delivered the Goods or
carried out the works or services to which the Invoice relates according
to the Contract of Sale;
|
|
8.3.3
|
you
have sent to your Customers all Invoices Notified to us and, in the case
of Invoice Discounting Clients whose Agreement is disclosed or Factoring
Clients, those invoices and all reminders and statements include notices
of assignment, pledge or assignation in our preferred
form;
|
|
8.3.4
|
the
details of the Invoice Notified to us are correct and complete and the
Invoice has not been Notified to us
before;
|
|
8.3.5
|
the
Notified Value of each Invoice is the amount due in respect of it and any
prompt payment or bulk order discount does not exceed that agreed by
us;
|
|
8.3.6
|
no
right of set-off, compensation or counterclaim exists which will reduce or
extinguish the Notified Value of an Invoice or affect our ability to
collect the Invoice in full;
|
|
8.3.7
|
so
far as you are aware, the Customer is creditworthy and is not
Insolvent;
|
|
8.3.8
|
the
Customer is not an Associated
Business;
|
|
8.3.9
|
to
the extent referred to in the Invoice, the Contract of Sale has been
performed and the Invoice has become
due;
|
|
8.3.10
|
there
is no Security Interest, tracing or other third party right or claim which
may adversely affect our title to an Invoice or our Security Interest
relating to that Invoice, its Related Rights or
Goods;
|
|
8.3.11
|
the
Customer has an established place of business in the Netherlands or an
Approved Country;
|
|
8.3.12
|
in
relation to Invoice Discounting Clients and Receivables Clients, the
Invoice is not a Non-Notifiable
Invoice;
|
|
8.3.13
|
if
the Invoice is an Export Invoice, you additionally warrant
that:
|
|
8.3.13.1
|
the
Customer has all licences and permits necessary to import and pay for the
Goods and/or services in the Approved Country;
and
|
|
8.3.13.2
|
the
export of the Goods or services and payment by the Customer is not
unlawful under any applicable law.
|
9
|
UNDERTAKINGS
|
9.1
|
You
agree with us that you will:
|
|
9.1.1
|
tell
us immediately:
|
|
9.1.1.1
|
about
any material dispute (whether justifiable or not) between you and a
Customer and any claim or attempt by a Customer to pay less than the
Notified Value of an Invoice and give us copies of any
correspondence;
|
|
9.1.1.2
|
anything
which may materially affect a Customer’s
creditworthiness;
|
|
9.1.1.3
|
if
any person claims or tries to claim title to your
Goods;
|
|
9.1.1.4
|
if
whomever controls or manages your company or business
changes;
|
|
9.1.1.5
|
if
you breach any of your warranties to
us;
|
|
9.1.1.5.1
|
about
any Associated Business and if they start or cease
trading;
|
|
9.1.1.5.2
|
about
any returned Goods; or
|
|
9.1.1.5.3
|
if
you purchase Goods or services from or owe any money to any Customer or
there are any contracts or other arrangements between you and your
Customer, which could reduce the Notified Value of an
Invoice;
|
|
9.1.2
|
if
we ask:
|
|
9.1.2.1
|
give
us any information about your Customers that we
require;
|
|
9.1.2.2
|
send
us proofs of delivery or other evidence that you have delivered Goods or
performed your services according to the Contract of
Sale;
|
|
9.1.2.3
|
tell
us about your bank accounts and if you open any bank account and, if we
request, send us copies of any bank statements; for the avoidance of
doubt, we are aware that you have opened bank accounts for outgoing
payments;
|
|
9.1.2.4
|
at
your own expense, formally pledge (as instructed) to us in the way we
require specific Invoices and their Related Rights including any credit
insurance; or
|
|
9.1.2.5
|
keep
any returned Goods separate from other Goods and deliver them to us or
deal with them as we direct;
|
|
9.1.3
|
try
to promptly resolve any Customer’s disputes and
claims;
|
|
9.1.4
|
ensure
that all Invoices are paid at any time into a Collection
Account;
|
|
9.1.5
|
not
vary any payment terms or settlement discount in respect of any Invoice
nor waive, vary, rescind or terminate any Contract of
Sale;
|
|
9.1.6
|
promptly
perform any continuing obligations under any Contract of Sale, such as
repairing or maintaining Goods, providing drawings, documents or
information, or performing any other services or
obligations;
|
|
9.1.7
|
promptly
raise and send to a Customer any credit note that is validly due and then
Notify it to us. However, we may at any time require you
either:
|
|
9.1.6.1
|
to
send credit notes to us for approval and we may send or refuse to send
them to your Customers; or
|
|
9.1.6.2
|
to
cease issuing credit notes without our specific
agreement;
|
|
9.1.8
|
promptly
Notify us of any other matters (such as early payment or bulk purchase
discounts) which may cause the Notified Value of Invoices to be
reduced or extinguished and not, without our specific agreement, grant any
prompt payment or bulk purchase
discount;
|
|
9.1.9
|
comply
with any procedure we set in relation to the day to day administration of
the Agreement and send us any documents we ask
for;
|
|
9.1.10
|
allow
our employees or agents to enter your premises (or any location where
Goods or records are stored) at any reasonable time in order
to:
|
|
9.1.9.1
|
audit
and verify your sales ledger and to ensure that you are adhering to the
procedures we require;
|
|
9.1.9.2
|
remove
(or at your expense) copy or check the terms of Contracts of Sale, your
purchase ledgers, your accounting records (including the status of your
preferential creditors), correspondence, orders and any other documents or
computer files we require; or
|
|
9.1.9.3
|
review
those Related Rights capable of review, inspect Goods, or complete a
Contract of Sale or collateral
contract;
|
|
9.1.11
|
maintain
accurate accounting books and records and have them audited at least once
every year and as soon as the accounts have been signed off or at the
latest within eight months of the end of your financial year send us a
copy of your audited accounts, together with any statement or report from
your auditors and the annual management
report;
|
|
9.1.12
|
each
month provide us with a profit and loss account and balance sheet of each
trading entity and from Milacron B.V. (referred to as Europe) and a
reconciliation between the month end open item sales ledger and the
statement from LloydsTSB and promptly send us any other financial or other
information we may request relating to your business or
affairs;
|
|
9.1.13
|
give
our bankers such instructions or indemnities as they may require to
collect non-transferable instruments made payable to you;
and
|
|
9.1.14
|
provide
us with such security as we may from time to time reasonably require to
secure the Secured Obligations.
|
9.2
|
You
will not:
|
|
9.2.1
|
except
where we have agreed in writing, create any Security
Interest over your Invoices or rights under the Agreement nor
factor nor discount your Invoices other than to us;
and/or
|
|
9.2.2
|
enter
into any hire purchase or equipment leasing facilities without first
obtaining an offer from us.
|
|
9.2.3
|
open
any bank account (which is not a Collection Account) without our prior
consent.
|
10
|
TERMINATION
EVENTS
|
10.1
|
Each
of the following is a Termination
Event:
|
|
10.1.1
|
you
breach or threaten to breach any warranty, undertaking or other obligation
given or undertaken by you in the
Agreement;
|
|
10.1.2
|
you
fail to pay any sum due from you to us under the
Agreement;
|
|
10.1.3
|
you
become Insolvent, or any step is taken which could result in you becoming
Insolvent;
|
|
10.1.4
|
you
fail to pay any sum due under any other financing facility made available
by us or any other person to you or otherwise breach the terms of any such
facility;
|
|
10.1.5
|
any
person who has given us a guarantee or indemnity or granted a Security
Interest as security for your obligations to us dies or becomes Insolvent
or gives or attempts to give notice terminating, amending or withdrawing
such guarantee, indemnity or
security;
|
|
10.1.6
|
you
sell or dispose of the whole or a substantial part of your undertaking,
property or assets or cease to carry on the business conducted by you on
the date of the Agreement;
|
|
10.1.7
|
without
our prior written consent, there is a material change in composition of
your board of directors or partners or senior management or any change in
the ownership of 10 per cent or more of your shares (unless such change is
a result of a transfer of shares to an Associated Business) or in your
constitution or composition;
|
|
10.1.8
|
we
reasonably consider there is a deterioration in your overall financial
condition or in your operating performance or your overall management and
control or in your general day to day administration and organisation or
in your sales ledger administration or credit control
procedures;
|
|
10.1.9
|
any
person, who has waived or released its rights to your Invoices or their
Related Rights, withdraws or attempts to withdraw, such waiver or release
or otherwise asserts any interest in your Invoices or Related
Rights;
|
|
10.1.10
|
you
attempt to reject any variation to the Operating Conditions made by
us;
|
|
10.1.11
|
any
of the Secured Obligations owing by a Guaranteed Company become due and
payable; and
|
|
10.1.12
|
the
Agreement or any guarantee, indemnity or Security Interest granted as
security for your obligations to us ceases to be legally valid, binding or
enforceable or it is or becomes unlawful for you or any other person to
perform your or their obligations under the Agreement or such guarantee,
indemnity or security and any such defect is not remedied within 10
Working Days after determination of such
defect.
|
10.2
|
Upon
or at any time after a Termination Event has occurred (whether or not we
actually terminate the Agreement) or following the expiry of any notice to
terminate the Agreement, we may by written notice to you (and as well as
exercising any of our other rights under the Agreement or any other
facility we have made available to you) do all or any of the following
(either at the same time or at separate
times):
|
|
10.2.1
|
if
the Facility is confidential, disclose this Facility to your Customers and
simultaneously or at a later date cancel your agency to collect
Invoices;
|
|
10.2.2
|
reduce
the Advance Rate to zero or such other percentage as we may
decide;
|
|
10.2.3
|
classify
all or any Invoices as Disapproved;
|
|
10.2.4
|
apply
a Reserve in such amount as we may
decide;
|
|
10.2.5
|
combine
your Current Accounts (if you have more than one) and any loan or other
accounts maintained by us;
|
|
10.2.6
|
refuse
requests for withdrawals from the Current
Account;
|
|
10.2.7
|
demand
immediate payment of:
|
|
10.2.7.1
|
any
Debit Balance on your Current Account (or combined Current
Accounts);
|
|
10.2.7.2
|
any
Fees and Charges or other monies or liabilities which you owe us actually,
contingently or prospectively. If we cannot calculate the
precise amount owing to us on the date of demand we may include a
reasonable estimate in our demand;
|
|
10.2.8
|
debit
to your Current Account, in addition to any ot her fees to which we may be
entitled, a fee equal to 10% of the Notified Value of all Invoices
(including VAT) which are unpaid on the date we serve notice under this
clause and which come into existence thereafter. You agree that
this fee represents a reasonable estimate by us of the costs of the
additional services and administration which will be provided by us
following a Termination Event;
|
|
10.2.9
|
terminate
the Agreement and charge you the fees for early termination (if
applicable) referred to in the Asset Based Finance
Agreement;
|
10.2.10
|
at
your cost appoint accountants or any other professional to investigate
your business, assets or affairs, to ascertain your financial position or,
in the case of Invoice Discounting Clients, review your sales ledger
administration and/or credit control
procedures;
|
|
10.2.11
|
if
you are an Invoice Discounting Client, request you to start Notifying
Non-Notifiable Invoices to us and/or convert you to a Factoring
Client.
|
10.3
|
Termination
of the Agreement will not affect any of your or our respective rights and
obligations which arose under it prior to such termination and, in
particular, our rights in respect of Invoices assigned or pledged to us
and our power of attorney will survive such termination. You
will continue, subject to applicable Insolvency laws, to Notify Invoices
to us after termination of the Agreement and after the occurrence of a
Termination Event until, in either case, repayment of all Debit Balances.
Such rights and obligations shall only cease when all monies due from you
to us and from us to you have been paid in
full.
|
11
|
ASSIGNMENT
OR PLEDGE OF INVOICES
|
11.1
|
In
the event the Facility relates to Factoring, you will undertake to assign
on a disclosed basis to us all your Invoices which are outstanding on the
Start Date and you undertake to assign on a disclosed basis in advance all
your Invoices, which arise after the Start Date until the Agreement
terminates. The relevant provisions on assignment in the Operating
Conditions Part II and Part IV for Factoring Clients apply
accordingly.
|
11.2
|
In
the event the Facility relates to Invoice Discounting, Invoice Discounting
or Receivables Financing, with export and currency facilities, you will
undertake to pledge either on a disclosed basis (openbaar pandrecht) or
on an undisclosed basis (stil pandrecht) to us
all your Invoices which are outstanding on the Start Date and you
undertake to pledge either on a disclosed basis (openbaar pandrecht) or
on an undisclosed basis (stil pandrecht) in
advance all your Invoices, which arise after the Start Date until the
Agreement terminates. The relevant provisions to pledge either on a
disclosed basis (openbaar pandrecht) or
on an undisclosed basis (stil pandrecht) in the
Operating Conditions Part II, Part III or Part V for Invoice Discounting
Clients apply accordingly.
|
11.3
|
We
grant you the authority as provided in Art. 3:246 paragraph 4 of the Dutch
Civil Code, to have and accept the right to, until the occurrence of a
default (verzuim), to collect
any Invoices from any relevant debtor without restriction and to make if
possible the Invoices due and payable. Following default, we shall
henceforth exclusively be entitled to collect the pledged or assigned
Invoices, to receive payments and to make – if possible – the pledged or
assigned Invoices due and payable.
|
11.4
|
Notwithstanding
the provisions of condition 5 above, upon the occurrence of a Termination
Event which constitutes a default (verzuim) within the
meaning of Article 6:81 and Article 3:248 of the Dutch Civil
Code:
|
|
(i)
|
we
can take, and are hereby authorised to take, all necessary judicial and
extra-judicial measures. If we do take measures as mentioned in
the previous sentence, you will offer any and all required support,
including but not limited to all necessary documents and information with
regard to the relevant Invoice;
|
|
(ii)
|
in
the case of an undisclosed pledge or assignment, you will promptly notify
(mededeling) in
writing, at your own costs, the existence of the pledge or assignment
to:
|
|
(a)
|
a
third party or the court process server (deurwaarder) acting on
behalf of such third party making an attachment (beslag) on its
Invoices; or
|
|
(b)
|
its
bankruptcy trustee (curator), administrator
(bewindvoerder)
or similar officer in any jurisdiction;
or
|
|
(c)
|
any
other relevant person, as the case may
be.
|
you may
serve notice to instruct any relevant debtor owing pledged or assigned Invoices
to make any and all payments in or towards satisfaction of such pledged or
assigned Invoices to us in accordance with Article 3:246 of the Dutch Civil
Code.
11.5
|
You
are not entitled to request the President of the competent court (rechtbank) to order
that the Invoices shall be sold in a manner deviating from the provisions
of Article 3:250 of the Dutch Civil
Code.
|
12
|
REPURCHASE
|
12.1
|
We
may at any time (i) reassign all or any Invoices and their Related Rights,
(ii) or release the pledge of all or any Invoices and their Related
Rights, to you.
|
12.2
|
The
repurchase price payable by you to us for any Invoice repurchased by you
will be its Notified Value plus all relative Fees and Charges less all
sums received in or towards discharge of the Invoice. If we
require you to repurchase all of your Invoices, then, for administrative
convenience, their repurchase price will be the Debit Balance after we
have debited all Fees and Charges and any other monies and liabilities
actually, contingently or prospectively owing by you to
us.
|
12.3
|
Upon
payment of the repurchase price for an Invoice, our rights in that Invoice
and its Related Rights will transfer to you. We will, if
requested by you, at your expense, execute a formal re-assignment or
release letter to you of any Invoices repurchased and give notice of such
repurchase to your Customers.
|
12.4
|
This
Condition 12 is not applicable to Receivable
Clients.
|
13
|
COMMUNICATIONS
BETWEEN US
|
13.1
|
Unless
we agree otherwise, you will Notify us of all Invoices, credit and debit
notes, daily cash collections (if you are an Invoice Discounting Client)
and all other sale and purchase ledger information electronically through
the Website and in such format as we may
require.
|
13.2
|
We
will provide regular statements to you relating to your accounts with us
electronically through the Website, unless we agree otherwise. It is your
responsibility to access this information and other communications from us
by accessing the Website on a regular basis. Unless you notify
us within 30 days of us posting your statement to the Website that any
item is incorrect, then, that statement will be binding upon you, unless
we have made an obvious error.
|
13.3
|
All
information we provide to each other through the Website (unless corrupted
as a result of technical failure) has the same status as if it had been in
writing or other printed form and signed by the provider and neither of us
will challenge the validity of such information solely because it was
prepared, sent or received only in electronic form. Where the
Agreement requires a consent, waiver or notice given by us to be in
writing such condition shall (unless it is notice to terminate or a
variation of the Commercial Terms) be satisfied if it is transmitted
through the Website. We may require you to provide hard copies
of any information provided by you
electronically.
|
13.4
|
In
any proceedings or claim, you will accept and be bound by a certificate
signed by us as to the balance on any accounts and the amounts due and
owing by either of us to the other, unless we have made an obvious
error.
|
13.5
|
We
may accept and rely upon any signature, communication or information
ostensibly sent by you even though you may not actually have given or sent
it or the sender or provider had no authority to send or provide
it. This applies whether the communication is written, oral or
through the Website.
|
13.6
|
In
regard to the form of pledge and/or assignment that you must provide us on
each Notification Date, you will provide us with an original form manually
signed by a duly authorised representative or, or in any other form as
agreed with you, from time to time.
|
14
|
VARIATIONS
|
14.1
|
The
Agreement incorporates the Operating Conditions in force from time to
time. Variations to these Operating Conditions can be made by
us after consultation with you. Any variation shall take effect
immediately after we have reached an agreement on the variations to be
made.
|
14.2
|
If
we are unable to reach an agreement (acting upon good faith) on the
variation of the Operating Conditions, we shall agree upon a date which is
not later than two months after cessation of our negotiations to reach an
agreement, after which date you shall cease to use the Facility and repay
all amounts outstanding.
|
14.3
|
The
Agreement incorporates the Commercial Terms in force from time to
time. We may mutually agree to change the Commercial Terms. In
these circumstances, we shall both agree revised Commercial Terms which
are to apply and they will be provided to you in hard copy
form. Any such revised Commercial Terms which are then signed
on behalf of each of us shall be deemed to be the new Commercial Terms and
shall vary the previous Commercial Terms from the date of the last
signature on such revised Commercial
Terms.
|
15
|
COMMUNICATIONS
WITH PROFESSIONALS AND OTHERS
|
15.1
|
We
may:
|
|
15.1.1
|
provide
your bank, the Bank or any company in the Bank’s group or your auditors,
accountants and other professional advisers with such information as they
may require in relation to your business and affairs and the terms,
operation and account balances under the
Agreement;
|
|
15.1.2
|
obtain
from your bank, auditors, accountants and other professional advisers such
information as we may require;
and/or
|
|
15.1.3
|
subject
to us consulting with you prior thereto, obtain from your Customers their
consent to taking of references from their
bankers.
|
15.2
|
You
have (or will) authorise the persons referred to above to give us such
information.
|
15.3
|
We
may disclose such information about you and any other person as we see fit
to any potential assignee, transferee, sub-participant or delegate of our
rights or obligations under the
Agreement.
|
16
|
DATA
PROTECTION
|
16.1
|
You
agree that any and all information you supply to us or that we may
otherwise acquire relating to any individual associated with or engaged by
your business and/or a Customer’s business (including but not limited to a
sole trader, director, shareholder, partner, member, employee, guarantor
and/or indemnifier) may be used by us for the purposes
of:
|
|
16.1.1
|
deciding
whether to enter into the Agreement with
you;
|
|
16.1.2
|
performance
of the Agreement and/or any other ancillary or related
agreement;
|
|
16.1.3
|
exercising
our right and/or obligations under the Agreement and/or any other
ancillary or related agreements;
and/or
|
|
16.1.4
|
preventing
fraud and/or money laundering;
|
any may
be disclosed to and/or used by the Bank and any company in the Bank’s group
and/or any credit reference agencies and fraud prevention and/or prosecution
agencies.
16.2
|
Where
you provide Personal Data to us about any individual who is not a party to
the Agreement, you warrant and undertake that the Personal Data have been
collected, processed and transferred in accordance with applicable data
protection laws (including the Data Protection Act) and that the
individuals concerned have explicitly agreed to the use and disclosure of
such Personal Data (which may include Sensitive Personal Data) in
accordance with the terms of this condition
16.
|
16.3
|
You
warrant that you are registered under the Data Protection Act as a data
controller, that you have duly completed any and all filings, declarations
or other formalities required by law in this regard, and that your
registration, declarations and filings cover the processing of Personal
Data in accordance with the
Agreement.
|
16.4
|
You
warrant that you shall process any Personal Data of which we are a data
controller (as defined under the Data Protection Act) in accordance with
any and all data protection legislation in force from time to
time. In processing such Personal Data, you shall act only upon
instructions given to you by us, unless otherwise required by law and/or
by the data subject where
appropriate.
|
16.5
|
You
warrant to take appropriate technical and organisational security measures
in order to safeguard the Personal Data being processed in accordance with
the Agreement, from accidental loss or destruction, from alteration or
unauthorised disclosure or access, and from any unlawful forms of
processing. You shall notify us immediately of any breaches of
security in relation to such Personal Data immediately upon becoming aware
of such breaches. We shall be entitled to carry out and/or
engage a third party to carry out on our behalf, an audit of your premises
to check your compliance with this condition 16. You warrant
that any third party you authorise to have access to the Personal Data
will respect and maintain the security and confidentiality of the Personal
Data and will only act under your
instructions.
|
16.6
|
We
shall be entitled to transfer any Personal Data processed in accordance
with the Agreement outside the EEA. You warrant and undertake
that you have obtained any necessary consents from relevant individuals
and/or agencies for such transfer.
|
16.7
|
Each
party shall appoint and identify to the other party a named individual
within its organisation to act as a point of contact for the other party
or any regulator relating to Personal
Data.
|
17
|
PARTNERSHIPS
AND SOLE TRADERS
|
17.1
|
Where
you are a partnership, the provisions of this condition 17
apply.
|
17.2
|
The
undertakings and warranties contained in the Agreement are given by each
member or partner and your obligations to us are joint and
several.
|
17.3
|
We
may:
|
|
17.3.1
|
release
or reach a compromise with any member or partner without affecting our
rights against the other members or partners or the
partnership;
|
|
17.3.2
|
treat
a notice or demand by us to any member or partner as a notice or demand
given to the other members or partners or to the partnership (but we need
not treat a notice or demand in such
manner);
|
|
17.3.3
|
treat
a notice or demand by any member or partner to us, as a notice or demand
given by the firm or all the members or partners (but we need not treat a
notice or demand in such manner);
|
|
17.3.4
|
treat
the Agreement as binding upon any successors, heirs, assigns or personal
representative of any of you and upon any agent, administrator, liquidator
or other persons acting on behalf of any of you, whether court-appointed
or voluntary; and
|
|
17.3.5
|
require
you to include wording on each Notification so that it takes effect as an
offer by you to sell us the Invoices referred to in
it.
|
17.4
|
You
will notify us in writing as soon as any member or partner leaves the
partnership.
|
17.5
|
A
retiring member or partner will have no obligations to us in respect of
Invoices assigned or pledged to us after you have notified us of his
retirement. However, he will remain liable to us for all
matters occurring prior to such
notification.
|
17.6
|
You
warrant that the individuals or entities signing the Agreement comprise
all your members or partners. You will notify us of the
admission of a new member or partner to your partnership. You
will procure that any new member or partner executes such documents we may
require to ensure that he is bound by the terms of the Agreement and is
placed under the same obligations as you. If you change your
trading style, or adopt another style, or incorporate your business, you
will notify us of such fact, and if required by us, enter into such
further agreement with us as may be
necessary.
|
17.7
|
Notwithstanding
any change in your partnership, we may account to you or exercise all our
rights against you, including our right of set off as if there had been no
such change.
|
17.8
|
If
required by us, you will take all steps necessary to enable us to proceed
to any legal formalities we deem necessary for the recognition of the
Agreement.
|
17.9
|
If
you are a sole trader, you will seek our consent before entering into a
partnership with another person or incorporating your
business.
|
18
|
NOTICES
|
18.1
|
Any
notice given by us to you to terminate the Agreement or vary the
Commercial Terms shall be in writing and sent by post or by
courier. Any other notice from us to you may be given by post,
courier, telephone, facsimile or e-mail. Any notice served by
post shall be addressed to you at either your address stated in the
Commercial Terms, your registered office or the address last known to us
at which you carried on business.
|
18.2
|
Notices
and other communications sent or given by us shall be treated as
served:
|
|
18.2.1
|
if
delivered by courier: at the time of
delivery;
|
|
18.2.2
|
if
posted: 48 hours after posting or upon receipt (whichever is earlier);
and
|
|
18.2.3
|
if
sent or given by telephone, facsimile or e-mail at the time of the
conversation or transmission (unless the sender knows or ought reasonably
to have been aware of a transmission
failure).
|
18.3
|
Any
notice given by you to us, including notice to terminate the Agreement,
must be in writing and sent by registered post, return receipt requested,
to us at our registered office or such other address as we advise to you
in writing for this purpose and will take effect when it is received by
us.
|
19
|
GENERAL
|
19.1
|
We
may novate or assign any of our obligations, rights and remedies under the
Agreement or sub-contract or delegate our obligations or
duties. You will not assign any of your rights nor delegate any
of your duties under the Agreement.
|
19.2
|
No
delay or omission by us in exercising any of our rights or remedies shall
impair or operate as a waiver of them. No waiver by us of any
breach of your obligations to us shall constitute a waiver of any other
breach. No single, partial or defective exercise by us of any
right shall preclude our further exercise of our rights. Our
rights are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights provided at law or
in equity.
|
19.3
|
The
terms of the Agreement are agreed by us and by you to be reasonable.
However, if any provision is valid only if some other provision or a part
of it is deleted then such other part or provision shall be treated as
deleted.
|
19.4
|
Except
where specifically provided, the Agreement may only be enforced by the
parties to it and the parties may rescind or vary it without the consent
of any other person.
|
20
|
INTERPRETATION
|
20.1
|
In
the Agreement:
|
20.2
|
unless
the context otherwise provides, the singular includes the plural and vice
versa;
|
20.3
|
a
reference to any gender includes any other
gender;
|
20.4
|
the
headings are for convenience only and shall be ignored in its
interpretation;
|
20.5
|
references
to a “clause” or “condition” are to a clause of the Commercial Terms or a
condition of the Operating Conditions and, unless otherwise specified, any
reference to a condition, is to a condition in the Operating Conditions –
Part II – Provisions relating to all
Clients;
|
20.6
|
references
to the “Agreement” are to the receivables finance agreement entered into
by both of us and the Operating Conditions incorporated therein as varied,
replaced or supplemented from time to
time;
|
20.7
|
any
reference to a “person” is to any individual, firm, company, corporation
or partnership;
|
20.8
|
the
meaning of general words introduced by the word “other” is not to be
limited by reference to any preceding word indicating a particular class
of acts, matters or things;
|
20.9
|
unless
the context otherwise requires, where in or in relation to any place
outside the Netherlands, the meaning of a word or expression used in the
Agreement is to be considered and such word or expression has no
counterpart in that place, it is to have the meaning of its closest
equivalent in that place;
|
20.10
|
any
reference to a law, decree or any subordinate or other legislation or
regulation shall be construed as a reference to that legislation or
regulation as subsequently amended or re-enacted and shall include all
subordinate text deriving authority from any
law;
|
20.11
|
any
term or phrase defined in the Dutch Civil Code (whether capitalised or
not) bears the same meaning in the
Agreement;
|
20.12
|
any
reference to “we” or “us” includes our transferees and assignees;
and
|
20.13
|
any
reference to “you” means you in whatever name or style you carry on
business.
|
Execution
copy
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART III
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO INVOICE DISCOUNTING CLIENTS ONLY
1
|
AGENCY
APPOINTMENT
|
1.1.
|
We
appoint you as our agent, at your expense, to administer Customers’
accounts and to collect and enforce payment of Invoices for our
benefit. You accept such appointment and agree to act promptly
and efficiently in carrying out your duties and to follow any instructions
which we may give you. You will ensure that all Invoices are
promptly and accurately entered in your sales ledger. You will
instruct your bankers to transfer to the Collection Account all credit
transfers received by you. You will not instruct a lawyer or
other agent to collect any Invoice without our prior written approval and,
then, only on terms approved by us.
|
1.2.
|
You
will open a Collection Account in respect of each Invoice Discounting,
Currency and/or Export Facility made available by us to
you. All balances in the Collection Account are held solely for
our account and benefit in escrow and you will notify the bank holding the
Collection Account of such exclusivity and take all steps necessary,
including the conclusion of an escrow agreement, to implement the
exclusivity. Until notice from us to the contrary, you will
direct your Customers to settle their Invoices by making payment directly
into that account. If you receive payment (even if it is made
payable to us) you will immediately upon receipt pay it into the
Collection Account. Alternatively, if we require, you will
deliver to us or pay into such bank account as we may nominate all cash or
other remittances endorsing the same where necessary. You will keep any
payment received by you as our agent, pending payment into the Collection
Account or to any other account nominated by us, separate from your own
money.
|
1.3.
|
[You
shall grant, whether or not in advance, for our benefit, a disclosed first
priority right of pledge (openbaar pandrecht eerste in
rang) over the balances in the Collection Account in our favour, in
the manner set forth in Article 3:236 paragraph 1 jo. Article 3:98 jo 3:94
paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code, and in accordance with the form
advised by us.]
|
1.4.
|
Where
we have agreed that the Agreement is disclosed, then you will include the
wording which we will provide to you on each
Invoice.
|
1.5.
|
Where
we have agreed that the Agreement is confidential, then, for the moment,
neither you nor we will notify your Customers that you have pledged your
Invoices to us. However, we may at any time vary or terminate
your agency to collect either some or all of your Invoices. We
may:
|
|
1.5.1.
|
give
(or require you to give) notice to some or all of your Customers of the
pledge of their Invoices and the Related Rights to
us;
|
|
1.5.2.
|
either
simultaneously with giving such notice or at a later date, instruct your
Customers to pay us directly;
|
|
1.5.3.
|
require
you to send us a copy of your sales and purchase ledger and such other
records as we may require;
|
|
1.5.4.
|
require
you to forward all Invoices to us for issuing by us and we will, at your
expense, administer Customers’
accounts.
|
1.6.
|
You
will confirm to your Customers the effect of any notice served on them and
if your agency to collect Invoices has been terminated you will cease to
hold yourself out as our agent to collect Invoices. The
provisions of condition 5 of the Operating Conditions – Part II –
Provisions relating to all Clients shall then
apply.
|
1.7.
|
You
will pay those costs specified in the Commercial Terms for maintaining the
Collection Account.
|
1.8.
|
You
hereby authorise us or any person nominated by us to contact your
Customers to verify the amount of each Invoice due from them, the due date
for payment and in the case of overdue Invoices, the date when payment can
be expected. You will assist us or our nominee in any way we
require and you authorise us and them to disclose their identity if
required to do so by law or if requested by a
Customer.
|
2.
|
PLEDGE
OF INVOICES - DISCLOSED
|
2.1.
|
You
hereby pledge to us on the terms of the
Agreement:
|
|
2.1.1.
|
all
your Invoices which are outstanding on the Start Date;
and
|
|
2.1.2.
|
all
your Invoices, which arise after the Start Date until the Agreement
terminates, from the list of Customers set out in Annex I to these
Operating Conditions, as agreed and amended by the parties from time to
time.
|
In order
to perfect the pledge of the Invoices as referred to in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 you will
execute a deed of pledge substantially in accordance with the form of agreement
as set out in Annex II to these Operating Conditions, and Notify in writing all
Customers set out in Annex I to these Operating Conditions of the pledge of
their Invoices to us in the form set in Annex III and, insofar as necessary, you
hereby provide us the authority to effect such Notification ourselves, in the
event you fail to deliver such Notifications.
Other
than as set our above, neither of us needs to take any further action to pledge
your current and future Invoices pledged by this clause.
At the
same time as you pledge your Invoices to us, you also pledge (and will offer to
pledge) to us Related Rights in relation to those Invoices. We will
credit to your Current Account the Notified Value of any invoices and their
Related Rights so pledged by you to us. Neither of us needs to take any other
further action to pledge to us such Related Rights, but you agree to deliver
such further documents and take such further action as we may reasonably require
in furtherance of the Agreement in regard to the pledge of such Related Rights.
It is specified that in the case of Related Rights which are constituted by
negotiable instruments such as bills of exchange, drafts and notes, such
instruments will be endorsed to our favour upon the pledge of the corresponding
Invoices, in view of collection of such instruments on their maturity
dates.
2.2
|
If
an Invoice or its Related Rights is for any reason not formally pledged to
us, you will hold such Invoice and its Related Rights for us as our agent
and for our account and benefit. If you receive any cash or
other forms of payment for any Invoices,
then:
|
|
2.2.1.
|
you
will hold them for us as our agent and for our account and
benefit;
|
|
2.2.2.
|
you
will immediately deliver such payments to us (endorsed to us, if
necessary) or pay them into the Collection Account, the Current Account or
any such bank account as we tell you, but you must not pay them into any
other bank account; and
|
|
2.2.3.
|
For
the avoidance of doubt, we hereby remind you that this Facility is with
recourse, being expressly agreed that we shall have recourse against you
in relation to any pledge of Invoices and Related Rights, as expressly
agreed between us.
|
2.3.
|
As
security of your payment obligations under the Agreement, you hereby
pledge in our favour whether or not in advance, in accordance with Article
3:236 Dutch Civil Code, any credit rights arising from the Invoices, as
well as the Invoices themselves and their Related Rights, for the amount
resulting from the difference between the aggregate Nominal Amount of the
Notified Invoices and the application of the Advance Rate to such
aggregate Purchase Price. Upon payment by the Customers of any Invoice,
the pledge shall be deemed to be automatically extended to any amounts
collected. Enforcement of this pledge shall be effected by means of
set-off, compensation or
counterclaim.
|
2.4.
|
Article
3:236 paragraph 2 jo. article 3:98 jo. 3:97 and 3:94 paragraph 1 of the
Dutch Civil Code apply, mutatis mutandis, to all Invoices and Related
Rights that come into existence after the date of execution of the
Agreement.
|
2.5.
|
Notwithstanding
(but without prejudice to) the foregoing, in order to render the pledge
enforceable against third parties, you will deliver to us on or prior to
each date of Notification a valid and duly completed and signed pledge
form covering the Notified Invoices and their Related Rights, and you will
deliver such further documents and take such further actions as we may
reasonably require in furtherance of the Agreement. A sample
pledge form for this purpose is attached as Annex
II.
|
3.
|
PLEDGE
OF INVOICES - UNDISCLOSED
|
3.1
|
You
hereby pledge to us on the terms of the
Agreement:
|
|
3.1.1
|
all
your Invoices which are outstanding on the Start Date;
and
|
|
3.1.2
|
all
your Invoices, which arise after the Start Date until the Agreement
terminates, from the list of Customers set out in Annex I to these
Operating Conditions, as agreed and amended by the parties from time to
time.
|
In order
to perfect the pledge of the Invoices as referred to in 3.1.1 you undertake to
submit a signed form of pledge agreement (and any ancillary or supporting
document) as set out in Annex IV to these Operating Conditions together with
Annex I to these Operating Conditions disclosing the transaction details
relating to all Customers, no later than two Business Days after the execution
of the Agreement, for registration purposes with the competent Dutch tax
authorities (Inspectie der
Registratie en Successie) and, insofar as necessary, you hereby provide
us the authority to effect such registration ourselves, in the event you fail to
deliver such registrations.
In order
to perfect the pledge of the Invoices as referred to in 3.1.2 you undertake to,
on a [monthly1] basis, submit a
signed pledge agreement as set out in Annex IV to these Operating Conditions, no
later than two Business Days after the preceding [month2], for registration
purposes and any ancillary or supporting document with the competent Dutch tax
authorities (Inspectie der
Registratie en Successie) and, insofar as necessary, you hereby provide
us the authority to effect such registration ourselves, in the event you fail to
deliver such registrations.
Neither
of us needs to take any further action to pledge of your current and future
Invoices pledged by this clause.
At the
same time as you pledge your Invoices to us, you also pledge (and will offer to
pledge) to us Related Rights in relation to those Invoices. We will
credit to your Current Account the Notified Value of any Invoices and their
Related Rights so pledged by you to us. Neither of us needs to take any other
further action to pledge to us such Related Rights, but you agree to deliver
such further documents and take such further actions as we may reasonably
require in furtherance of the Agreement in regard to the pledge of such Related
Rights. It is specified that in the case of Related Rights which are constituted
by negotiable instruments such as bills of exchange, drafts and notes, such
instruments will be endorsed to our favour upon the pledge of the corresponding
Invoices, in view of collection of such instruments on their maturity
dates.
________________________
1Monthly/quarterly/semi-annual/annual.
2Month/quarter/half
year/year.
3.2
|
If
an Invoice or its Related Rights is for any reason not formally pledged to
us, you will hold such Invoice and its Related Rights for us as our agent
and for our account and benefit. If you receive any cash or
other forms of payment for any Invoices,
then:
|
|
3.2.1
|
you
will hold them for us as our agent and for our account and benefit;
and
|
|
3.2.2
|
you
will immediately deliver such payments to us (endorsed to us, if
necessary) or pay them into the Collection Account or any such bank
account as we tell you, but you must not pay them into any other bank
account.
|
3.3
|
For
the avoidance of doubt, we shall have recourse against you in relation to
any pledge of Invoices and Related Rights, in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.
|
3.4
|
As
security of your payment obligations under the Agreement, you hereby
pledge in our favour whether or not in advance, in accordance with Article
3:239 Dutch Civil Code, any credit rights arising from the Invoices, as
well as the Invoices themselves and their Related Rights, for the amount
resulting from the difference between the aggregate Nominal Amount of the
Notified Invoices and the application of the Advance Rate to such
aggregate Purchase Price. Upon payment by the Customers of any Invoice,
the pledge shall be deemed to be automatically extended to any amounts
collected. Enforcement of this pledge shall be effected by means of
set-off, compensation or
counterclaim.
|
3.5
|
Article
3:239 paragraph 1 jo. article 3:98 jo. 3:97 and 3:94 paragraph 1 of the
Dutch Civil Code apply, mutatis mutandis, to all Invoices and Related
Rights that come into existence after the date of execution of the
Agreement.
|
4.
|
INFORMATION
AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
|
4.1
|
You
will maintain a monthly open item ageing analysis, in such form as we may
require, showing the position of each Customer’s account on the last day
of each month, including details of any outstanding credit
balances.
|
4.2
|
You
will supply to us wherever possible via the Website (or at our option make
available for inspection by us) the following documents and/or information
forthwith upon our request:
|
|
4.2.1
|
copies
of Invoices and all debit and credit notes or other documents evidencing
how an Invoice is reduced, paid or otherwise
satisfied;
|
|
4.2.2
|
the
full terms of any Contract of Sale;
|
|
4.2.3
|
proof
of the complete performance of each Contract of
Sale;
|
|
4.2.4
|
such
other information and evidence as we may require relating to Invoices
Related Rights or Contracts of
Sale;
|
|
4.2.5
|
daily
a report detailing monies collected by you as our agent;
and
|
|
4.2.6
|
within
15 days of the end of the month to which they relate or promptly upon our
request copies of:
|
|
4.2.6.1
|
your
open item ageing analysis;
|
|
4.2.6.2
|
your
sales ledger control account with a reconciliation of it to our month end
statement;
|
|
4.2.6.3
|
your
reconciliation of cash receipts into the Collection
Account;
|
|
4.2.6.4
|
your
purchase ledger; and
|
|
4.2.6.5
|
within
one month (or other such period as we may reasonably specify) of the end
of the month to which they relate your monthly management
accounts.
|
5.
|
NON-NOTIFIABLE
INVOICES
|
5.1
|
Until
we give you notice to the contrary, you must not Notify us of the
following Invoices:
|
|
5.1.1
|
Invoices
due from a director, officer, shareholder or employee of
yours;
|
|
5.1.2
|
Invoices
due from any other person with which you maintain, other than your
habitual commercial or professional dealings, de facto or de jure economic or
financial links whether direct or indirect, or with which you have
shareholders, partners, directors, officers or managers in
common;
|
|
5.1.3
|
Invoices
due from the sale of any of your capital
assets;
|
|
5.1.4
|
Invoices
which are not due in respect of your trade, occupation or
profession;
|
|
5.1.5
|
Invoices
where the Customer does not have an established place of
business;
|
|
5.1.6
|
Invoices
arising under a hire purchase, leasing or consumer credit sale
agreement;
|
|
5.1.7
|
Invoices
due in respect of Goods delivered on sale or return or on
approval;
|
|
5.1.8
|
Invoices
arising under any Contract of Sale involving advance payments, conditional
sales, consignment sales, sales for which a provisional or pro forma
invoice has been issued, and Invoices for costs, interest for late payment
or other penalties to be paid by the
Customer;
|
|
5.1.9
|
Invoices
arising under any Contract of Sale with the State or any local government
body or any entity subject to public law and benefiting from sovereign or
other immunity;
|
|
5.1.10
|
Invoices
arising under any Contract of Sale with a Customer who supplies goods or
services to you and which may therefore be subject to rights of set-off,
contra accounting, compensation, defence or
cross-claim;
|
|
5.1.11
|
those
additional Invoices referred to in the Agreement as Additional
Non-Notifiable Invoices; and/or
|
|
5.1.12
|
Export
Invoices representing more than 10% of all your Invoices outstanding from
time to time. We may at any time require you to Notify us of
Non-Notifiable Invoices.
|
5.2
|
We
will Disapprove Non-Notifiable
Invoices.
|
5.3
|
We
shall only make a Service Fee in respect of Non-Notifiable Invoices after
we have given you notice under condition 5.2
above.
|
6.
|
OUR
SERVICES
|
6.1
|
In
return for the Service Fee we will at your request or at any other time
should we so decide provide the following services relative to Notified
Invoices:
|
|
6.1.1
|
advice
on improvements to your collection procedures and assessing your need for
credit insurance;
|
|
6.1.2
|
general
advice on standard sales contracts, terms of payment, the use of
settlement discounts, evaluating the effect of changing invoicing methods
and terms;
|
|
6.1.3
|
provision
of statistical information based upon Invoices Notified to
us;
|
|
6.1.4
|
advice
on export debtor procedures and the specific requirements of major trading
countries where we have arrangements with
correspondents;
|
|
6.1.5
|
assistance
in reviewing general terms and conditions of suppliers in relation to
their reservations of title;
|
|
6.1.6
|
advice
on your relationship with your
bankers;
|
|
6.1.7
|
checking
and advising you on the accuracy of the monthly reconciliation of your
sales ledger to our month end
statement;
|
|
6.1.8
|
advice
on your need for foreign exchange facilities or contingent liability
cover;
|
|
6.1.9
|
daily
information as to the status of your accounts with
us;
|
|
6.1.10
|
reviewing
your reconciliation and monitoring the operation of the Collection
Account, including detailing dishonoured cheques or other defects in
payment;
|
|
6.1.11
|
liaising
with lawyers or other agents instructed to collect Invoices;
or
|
|
6.1.12
|
inspecting
your books and records relating to Invoices,
including:
|
|
6.1.13
|
general
systems;
|
|
6.1.13.1
|
maintenance
of sales ledger;
|
|
6.1.13.2
|
xxxxxxx
cycles;
|
|
6.1.13.3
|
overdue
Invoices;
|
|
6.1.13.4
|
control
systems.
|
6.2
|
The
provision of any of the services in this condition 6 shall be without
responsibility on our part to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
|
7.
|
DISCOUNTING
CLIENTS WHICH BECOME FACTORING
CLIENTS
|
7.1
|
If
following a Termination Event we exercise our rights to cancel your agency
to collect Invoices and disclose this Facility to your Customers, we may
also convert you to a Factoring Client in which
case:
|
|
7.1.1
|
we
will send you (at the same time as we serve notice on you) details of the
revised Commercial Terms which will include an increased Service Fee to
reflect the additional services provided by us to Factoring Clients and an
Additional Service Fee which we will charge in respect of Invoices which
remain outstanding more than [3 months] after the end of the month in
which the Invoice is raised;
|
|
7.1.2
|
we
will provide you with access rights to Cash Connect which is the Website
interface for Factoring Clients;
|
|
7.1.3
|
Operating
Conditions – Part III – Provisions relating to Invoice Discounting only,
will cease to apply to you and Operating Conditions – Part IV – Provisions
relating to Factoring Clients only will become applicable;
and
|
|
7.1.4
|
all
Invoices subsequently issued by you will be endorsed as assigned to
us.
|
7.2
|
You
will automatically become a Factoring Client on service of the notice at
condition 7.1.1 and will then be bound by the those Operating Conditions
which apply to Factoring Clients in place of those which apply to Invoice
Discounting Clients.
|
8.
|
FEES
|
8.1
|
If
we have agreed a Minimum Fee:
|
|
8.1.1
|
we
will debit to your Current Account on the last Working Day of each month
any shortfall between the actual Service Fee paid by you in that month and
the monthly amount of any Minimum Fee;
and
|
|
8.1.2
|
that
calculation will commence in the calendar month after the month in which
the Start Date occurs.
|
8.2
|
We
will debit any Monitoring Fee, Audit Fee, Arrangement Fee, Facility Fee,
Documentation Fee or Unused Line Fee specified in the Commercial Terms to
your Current Account at the intervals agreed with
you.
|
8.3
|
We
will charge one twelfth of the Unused Line Fee monthly in arrears on the
amount by which during the preceding calendar
month:
|
|
8.3.1
|
your
average Debit Balance; or
|
|
8.3.2
|
where
we have agreed to make Facilities available to you and any other members
of your group, your and their combined average Debit Balances;
or
|
|
8.3.3
|
where
we have agreed to make a stock finance facility available to you and/or
any other member(s) of your group (and agreed to take it into account for
these purposes) the combined average Debit Balance on any such stock
finance loan account(s) and your and their combined Debit
Balances;
|
falls
short by more than the Agreed Percentage of the Review Limit (or any aggregate
Review Limit of the Facility/facility as indicated in condition 8.3, where one
has been agreed).
8.4
|
If
we provide services to a level of intensity which were not envisaged by us
at the time of entry into the Agreement (which includes you communicating
with us other than via the Website) then, in addition to the Service
Charge, we may make a reasonable charge for all costs and expenses
(including the cost of our administrative time and resulting loss of
profit) for providing such
services.
|
8.5
|
If
at any time you exceed your Availability, then, in addition to demanding
immediate repayment of the excess, we may by notice to you increase our
Fees and Charges to reflect our increased
risk.
|
9.
|
EXPORT/CURRENCY
INVOICES
|
9.1
|
We
may Approve, make Advances and pay the Nominal Amount in Euro for Export
Invoices Notified to us representing up to 10% of all your Invoices
outstanding from time to time. If we do this we may adjust the
Service Charge to compensate for the additional work involved and a
reasonable profit margin thereon.
|
9.2
|
Unless
we have agreed to make Currency Facility available all Currency Invoices
will be converted into Euro at the Bank’s spot rate of exchange on the day
on which the Invoice is Notified to
us.
|
ANNEXURE
I
List
of Customers
ANNEXURE
II
Form
of Disclosed Pledge Agreement
Confidential
To: LLOYDS TSB BANK
PLC
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx 0, 0000 XX Xxxxxxx, the Netherlands
Date:
2008
Dear
Sirs,
DEED
OF PLEDGE
1.
|
We
refer to the receivables finance agreement dated on or about the date
hereof (the “Agreement”) as the same
may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, under which we
have undertaken to perform certain obligations pursuant to borrowings
made, which obligations shall, as a condition of the commitments being
made available under the Agreement, be secured, inter alia, by means of a
first priority right of pledge that shall be vested over the Invoices for
your benefit.
|
2.
|
Terms
defined in the Agreement shall have the same meaning in this letter,
unless a contrary indication
appears.
|
3.
|
In
furtherance of our obligations as set forth above, we are providing for
your benefit, a disclosed first ranking right of pledge (openbaar pandrecht eerste in
rang) over the Invoices listed in Schedule I, in your favour, in
the manner set forth in Article 3:236 paragraph 1 jo. Article 3:98 and
3:94 paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code, for such period as determined in
accordance with the Agreement, and as security for the full and proper
fulfilment of our obligations.
|
4.
|
We
acknowledge and agree, that if and to the extent that the Invoices are
subject to any right of pledge or other encumbrance, which take priority
over this deed of pledge, this right of pledge will have been created with
the highest possible priority (rangorde) available at
such time of creation.
|
5.
|
This
letter shall form an integral and inherent part of the
Agreement.
|
6.
|
This
letter may be signed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery
of an executed signature page by facsimile shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually executed
document.
|
7.
|
This
letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of
the Netherlands. The parties hereto submit to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of the Netherlands. The parties
hereto waive any defence of inconvenient forum, which may be
available.
|
Please
acknowledge your agreement to the terms of this letter by countersigning the
attached copy of this letter.
Yours
faithfully
…………………………………….
for and
on behalf of
[u]
We agree
to the terms set out above.
…………………………………….
for and
on behalf of
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC
Schedule
I
Detail
of Invoices
Invoice
No.
|
Amount
(including interest)
|
Currency
|
Invoice
Date
|
Maturity
Date
|
Approved
Debtor
|
|
ANNEXURE
III
Form
of Notification to Customers
To:
|
BY REGISTERED
MAIL
|
|
[Customer]
|
|
Attn:
[u]
|
|
[address]
|
From:
|
[Client]
|
|
[address]
|
Cc:
|
[u]
|
[city], [date]
|
Dear
Sir/Madam,
|
RE:
|
[Company name] -
NOTIFICATION OF PLEDGE OF
RECEIVABLES
|
We refer
to a disclosed deed of pledge of receivables, dated [u], by and between [Client] and Lloyds TSB Bank PLC (the “Deed of Pledge”). Capitalised
terms used in this Notification to Customers shall have the same meaning given
thereto in the Deed of Pledge.
On behalf
of Lloyds TSB Bank PLC we hereby notify you that pursuant to the Deed of Pledge,
we have created a first priority right of pledge over any and all Invoices
payable by you to the Client, by way of security in favour of the Bank for its
obligations under the Receivables Finance Agreement.
We
instruct you to pay all accounts receivable due to [u] to the Bank to the
following account: [u].
|
Please
acknowledge receipt of this notice by signing and returning this letter
us.
|
Yours
sincerely,
|
[u]
|
By:
|
[authorised
signatory]
|
For
acknowledgement of receipt:
|
[Customer]
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
Date:
ANNEXURE
IV
Form
of Undisclosed Pledge Agreement
Confidential
To: LLOYDS TSB BANK
PLC
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx 0, 0000 XX Xxxxxxx, the Netherlands
Date:
2008
Dear
Sirs,
DEED
OF PLEDGE
1.
|
We
refer to the receivables finance agreement dated on or about the date
hereof (the “Agreement”) as the same may be amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time, under which we have undertaken to perform
certain obligations pursuant to borrowings made, which obligations shall,
as a condition of the commitments being made available under the
Agreement, be secured, inter alia, by means of a first priority right of
pledge that shall be vested over the Invoices for your
benefit.
|
2.
|
Terms
defined in the Agreement shall have the same meaning in this letter,
unless a contrary indication
appears.
|
3.
|
In
furtherance of our obligations as set forth above, we are providing for
your benefit, an undisclosed first ranking right of pledge (stil pandrecht eerste in
rang) over the Invoices listed in Schedule I, in your favour, in
the manner set forth in Article 3:239 paragraph 1 jo. Article 3:98 and
3:94 paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code, for such period as determined in
accordance with the Agreement, and as security for the full and proper
fulfilment of our obligations.
|
4.
|
We
acknowledge and agree, that if and to the extent that the Invoices are
subject to any right of pledge or other encumbrance, which take priority
over this deed of pledge, this right of pledge will have been created with
the highest possible priority (rangorde) available at
such time of creation.
|
5.
|
As
of the date hereof, we, or our representative, shall submit this letter
for registration with the competent Dutch tax authorities (Inspectie Registratie en
Successie) with a copy to
you.
|
6.
|
This
letter shall form an integral and inherent part of the
Agreement.
|
7.
|
This
letter may be signed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery
of an executed signature page by facsimile shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually executed
document.
|
8.
|
This
letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of
the Netherlands. The parties hereto submit to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of the Netherlands. The parties
hereto waive any defence of inconvenient forum, which may be
available.
|
Please
acknowledge your agreement to the terms of this letter by countersigning the
attached copy of this letter.
Yours
faithfully
…………………………………….
for and
on behalf of
[u]
We agree
to the terms set out above.
…………………………………….
for and
on behalf of
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC
Schedule
I
Detail
of Invoices
Invoice
No.
|
Amount
(including interest)
|
Currency
|
Invoice
Date
|
Maturity
Date
|
Approved
Debtor
|
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART IV
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO FACTORING CLIENTS ONLY
1
|
OUR
SERVICES
|
1.1
|
We
will:
|
|
1.1.1
|
run
your sales ledger; and
|
|
1.1.2
|
collect
payment of your invoices from your Customers by sending them monthly
statements and reminder letters where necessary in a format agreed with
them.
|
1.2
|
We
may:
|
|
1.2.1
|
give
you information about Customers’ and possible new Customers’ credit status
within a reasonable period of you asking us. We will not be
liable to pay any compensation or damages if the information we give is
not accurate;
|
|
1.2.2
|
approve,
make Advances and pay the Nominal Amount in Euro in respect of Export
and/or Currency Invoices; or
|
|
1.2.3
|
provide
certain additional services.
|
2
|
ASSIGNMENT
OF INVOICES
|
2.1
|
You
hereby assign (or if such assignment is ineffective for any reason you
will undertake to pledge) to us on the terms of the
Agreement:
|
|
2.1.1
|
all
your Invoices which are outstanding on the Start Date;
and
|
|
2.1.2
|
all
your Invoices, which arise after the Start Date until the Agreement
terminates,
|
from the
list of Customers set out in Annex I to these Operating Conditions, as agreed
and amended by the parties from time to time.
In order
to perfect the assignment of the Invoices as referred to in 2.1.1 you will
notify in writing, in accordance with the notification form set out in Annex III
to these Operating Conditions, all Customers set out in Annex I to these
Operating Conditions of the assignment of their Invoices to us and, insofar as
necessary, you hereby provide us the authority to effect such notification
ourselves, in the event you fail to deliver such notifications.
In order
to perfect the assignment of the Invoices as referred to in 2.1.2 you will
execute a deed of assignment substantially in accordance with the form of
agreement as set out in Annex II to these Operating Conditions, and notify in
writing all Customers as set out in Annex I to these Operating Conditions of the
assignment of their Invoices to us in the form set in Annex III and, insofar as
necessary, you hereby provide us the authority to effect such notification
ourselves, in the event you fail to deliver such notifications.
Neither
of us needs to take any further action to transfer to us ownership of your
current and future Invoices assigned by this clause.
At the
same time as you assign your Invoices to us, you also assign (and will offer to
assign) to us Related Rights in relation to those Invoices. We will
credit to your Current Account the Notified Value of any Invoices and their
Related Rights so assigned by you to us. Neither of us needs to take any other
further action to transfer to us such Related Rights, but you agree to deliver
such further documents and take such further actions as we may reasonably
require in furtherance of the Agreement in regard to the transfer of such
Related Rights. It is specified that in the case of Related Rights which are
constituted by negotiable instruments such as bills of exchange, drafts and
notes, such instruments will be endorsed to our favour upon the assignment of
the corresponding Invoices, in view of collection of such instruments on their
maturity dates.
2.2
|
If
an Invoice or its Related Rights is for any reason not formally assigned
to us, you will hold such Invoice and its Related Rights for us as our
agent and for our account and benefit. If you receive any cash
or other forms of payment for any Invoices,
then:
|
|
2.2.1
|
you
will hold them for us as our agent and for our account and benefit;
and
|
|
2.2.2
|
you
will immediately deliver such payments to us (endorsed to us, if
necessary) or pay them into the Collection Account or any such bank
account as we tell you, but you must not pay them into any other bank
account.
|
2.3
|
For
the avoidance of doubt, we shall have recourse against you in relation to
any assignment of Invoices and Related Rights in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement.
|
2.4
|
As
security of your payment obligations under the Agreement, you hereby
pledge in our favour, in accordance with Article 3:236 Dutch Civil Code,
any credit rights arising from the Invoices, as well as the Invoices
themselves and their Related Rights, for the amount resulting from the
difference between the aggregate Nominal Amount of the Notified Invoices
and the application of the Advance Rate to such aggregate Purchase Price.
Upon payment by the Customers of any Invoice, the pledge shall be deemed
to be automatically extended to any amounts collected. Enforcement of this
pledge shall be effected by means of set-off, compensation or
counterclaim. Article 3:236 paragraph 1 jo. Article 3:98 jo. 3:97 and 3:94
paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code apply, mutatis mutandis, to all
Invoices and related Rights that come into existence after the date of
execution of the Agreement.
|
2.5
|
Notwithstanding
(but without prejudice to) the foregoing, in order to render the
assignment and pledge enforceable against third parties, you will deliver
to us on or prior to each date of Notification a valid and duly completed
and signed transfer and pledge form covering the Notified Invoices and
their Related Rights, and you will deliver such further documents and take
such further actions as we may reasonably require in furtherance of the
Agreement. A sample transfer and pledge form for this purpose
is attached as Annex II. You undertake to on a [monthly3] basis submit the signed transfer and
pledge form, no later than two Business Days after the preceding
[month4], for registration purposes and any
ancillary or supporting document with the competent Dutch tax authorities
(Inspectie
der Registratie en
Successie).
|
2.6
|
In
relation to a Factoring Facility provided on a recourse basis, if and as
soon as the Customer fails to pay any amount when due (as shown on the
relevant Invoice) under the Contract of Sale in respect of a Invoice
accepted by the Bank, the Bank shall have the sole right to reassign all
or any Invoices and their Related Rights to you in accordance with
condition 12 of the Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions relating
to all Clients.
|
3
|
YOUR
RESPONSIBILITIES
|
3.1
|
You
must:
|
|
3.1.1
|
raise
Invoices in the normal course but including wording which we will provide
to you indicating that each one has been assigned to us and ensure that
all Invoices are promptly and accurately entered in your sales
ledger;
|
|
3.1.2
|
send
notices of assignment in a form satisfactory to us of your Invoices to you
Customers;
|
|
3.1.3
|
not
attempt to collect payment for any Invoices for your own
account;
|
|
3.1.4
|
not
agree to settle any Invoices;
|
|
3.1.5
|
only
issue credit notes in accordance with the Operating Conditions;
and
|
|
3.1.6
|
within
one month (or other such period as we may reasonably specify) of the end
of the quarter to which they relate send your quarterly management
accounts to us.
|
4
|
OUR
FEES AND CHARGES FOR FACTORING
CLIENTS
|
4.1
|
For
the purpose of calculating any Minimum Fee expressed as an annual
fee:
|
_____________________________________
|
4.1.1
|
“annual”
means the period from 1 July in any year to 30 June in the next
year. The first annual charge will reflect the period from the
Start Date to the next 30th
June; and
|
|
4.1.2
|
we
will divide the fee by 365 and multiply that figure by the number of
relevant days elapsed to the date of calculation of the
fee.
|
4.2
|
We
will apply any Additional Service Fee percentage specified in the
Commercial Terms to the Notified Value of all Invoices which remain
outstanding at the end of the Funding Period. We will charge
this fee in arrears on the last Working Day of each month in respect of
that month.
|
4.3
|
We
may vary the Service Fee or any Minimum Fee on giving you [2] months
written notice which expires on or after the end of any Minimum
Term.
|
4.4
|
We
may vary the Discount Charge on giving you [3] months written notice which
expires at any time after the end of the Minimum
Term.
|
5
|
CURRENCY
INVOICES
|
5.1
|
If
an Invoice is a Currency Invoice, we will calculate the Nominal Amount in
Euro at the exchange rate agreed between us. If we do not agree
on an exchange rate, we will use the exchange rate on the date we make the
Advance.
|
5.2
|
We
may at your request set up separate Current Accounts for each currency in
which we agree to make Advances.
|
5.3
|
If
we make Advances in a currency other than Euro we may calculate the
Discount Charge on the Debit Balance by adding the margin to the Bank’s
short term offer rate for the currency in question as determined by us
either daily or weekly.
|
ANNEXURE
I
List
of Customers
ANNEXURE
II
Assignment
Agreement
Confidential
To: LLOYDS TSB BANK
PLC
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx 0, 0000 XX Xxxxxxx, the Netherlands
Date:
2008
Dear
Sirs,
DEED
OF ASSIGNMENT
1.
|
We
refer to the receivables finance agreement dated on or about the date
hereof (the “Agreement”) as the same may be amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time, under which we have undertaken to assume
responsibility for the collection of the Invoices which results into an
assignment of the Invoices as listed herein in Schedule
I.
|
2.
|
Terms
defined in the Agreement shall have the same meaning in this letter,
unless a contrary indication
appears.
|
3.
|
In
furtherance of our obligations as set forth above, title to the Invoices
is transferred to you by (i) execution and delivery of this deed of
assignment and (ii) giving notice to the Customers, in accordance with
Article 3:94(1) of the Dutch Civil
Code.
|
4.
|
We
acknowledge and agree, that if and to the extent that the Invoices are
subject to any assignment or other encumbrance, which take priority over
this deed of assignment, this assignment will have been created with the
highest possible priority (rangorde) available at
such time of creation.
|
5.
|
This
letter shall form an integral and inherent part of the
Agreement.
|
6.
|
This
letter may be signed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery
of an executed signature page by facsimile shall be as effective as
delivery of a manually executed
document.
|
7.
|
This
letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of
the Netherlands. The parties hereto submit to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of the Netherlands. The parties
hereto waive any defence of inconvenient forum, which may be
available.
|
Please
acknowledge your agreement to the terms of this letter by countersigning the
attached copy of this letter.
Yours
faithfully
…………………………………….
for and
on behalf of
[u]
We agree
to the terms set out above.
…………………………………….
for and
on behalf of
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC
Schedule
I
Detail
of Invoices
Invoice
No.
|
Amount
(including interest)
|
Currency
|
Invoice
Date
|
Maturity
Date
|
Approved
Debtor
|
|
ANNEXURE
III
Form
of Notification to Customers
To:
|
BY REGISTERED
MAIL
[Customer]
Attn:
[u]
[address]
|
From:
|
[Client]
[address]
|
Cc:
|
[u]
|
[city], [date]
|
Dear
Sir/Madam,
|
RE:
|
[Company name] -
NOTIFICATION OF ASSIGNMENT
|
We refer
to the assignment of receivables, dated [u], by and between [Company] and Lloyds TSB Bank PLC (the “Assignment Agreement”).
Capitalised terms used in this Notification shall have the same meaning given
thereto in the Assignment Agreement.
On behalf
of the Company we hereby notify you that pursuant to the Assignment Agreement,
payments in respect of this claim must be made, from the date of this notice, to
the Bank at [fill in details
Collection Account and specifics of payment].
Please
acknowledge receipt of this notice by signing and returning this letter
us.
|
Yours
sincerely,
|
[u]
|
By:
|
[authorised
signatory]
|
For
acknowledgement of receipt:
|
[Customer]
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
Date:
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART V
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO EXPORT AND CURRENCY FACILITIES
1
|
EXPORT
AND CURRENCY FACILITIES
|
1.1
|
Export
Facilities will only be made available in respect of Invoices owing by
Customers from Approved Countries and denominated in Approved
Currencies.
|
1.2
|
We
may maintain separate Current Accounts for each currency and each Approved
Country in which we agree to make
Advances.
|
1.3
|
Currency
Facilities will only be provided in an Approved Currency other than
Euro.
|
1.4
|
Unless
we agree otherwise, you will arrange for Currency Invoices in respect of
which we agree to provide an Export Facility to be credit insured and for
our interest to be noted on the insurance
policy.
|
2
|
OUR
FEES AND CHARGES
|
2.1
|
We
will calculate and charge the Service Fee payable on Currency Invoices in
the Approved Currency in which such Invoices are
denominated. On each anniversary of the Start Date we will
convert those Service Fees paid by you on such Currency Invoices into Euro
at the Bank’s spot rate of exchange on the date of such conversion and add
them to the other service fees paid by you during that year to determine
if you have paid any Minimum Fee we have
agreed.
|
OPERATING
CONDITIONS - PART VI
PROVISIONS
RELATING TO RECEIVABLES FACILITIES
1.
|
PURPOSE
OF THE FACILITY
|
1.1
|
You
shall apply all amounts borrowed in accordance with the Asset Based
Finance Agreement.
|
2.
|
INTEREST
|
2.1
|
The
rate of interest on the Facility is the percentage rate per annum which is
the aggregate of the applicable:
|
|
3.6.1
|
Margin;
and
|
|
2.1.1
|
EURIBOR.
|
We shall
notify you promptly upon the determination of the rate of interest under the
Agreement.
2.2
|
You
shall pay accrued interest on the Facility in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date, on which date we shall charge your Current Account with the
amount due.
|
2.3
|
If
you fail to pay any amount payable under the Agreement on its due date,
interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the
date of actual payment (both before and after judgement) at the rate
determined as the Default Interest.
|
Any
interest, commission or fee accruing under the Agreement will accrue from day to
day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a
year of 360 days.
3.
|
REPAYMENT
|
3.1
|
You
shall repay all amounts outstanding under the Facility on the Final
Repayment Date.
|
4.
|
PREPAYMENT
|
4.1
|
Any
prepayment shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement and you may reborrow amounts subject to the provisions of this
Agreement.
|
5.
|
SECURITY
|
As
security for your Secured Obligations you shall grant in our favour, whether or
not in advance, an undisclosed first priority right of pledge (stil pandrecht eerste in
rang) on all your Invoices in the manner set forth in Article 3:239
paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code, and in accordance with the form requested
by us.
5.1
|
Until
notice from us to the contrary, you will direct your Customers to settle
their Invoices by making payment directly into a Collection Account. If
you receive payment you will immediately upon receipt pay it into the
Current Account
|
5.2
|
As
security for your Secured Obligations you shall grant in our favour,
whether or not in advance, a disclosed first priority right of pledge
(openbaar pandrecht
eerste in rang) over the balances in the Collection Accounts, in
the manner set forth in Article 3:236 paragraph 2 jo. Article 3:98 jo 3:94
paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code, and in accordance with the form
requested by us.
|
5.3
|
As
security for your Secured Obligations you shall grant in our favour,
whether or not in advance, a non-possessory first priority right of pledge
(vuistloos pandrecht
eerste in rang) over all of your stock and inventory, in the manner
set forth in Article 3:237 of the Dutch Civil Code, and in accordance with
the form requested by us.
|
5.4
|
Where
we have agreed that the Agreement is confidential, then, for the moment,
neither you nor we will notify your Customers that you have pledged your
Invoices to us. However, we may at any time vary or terminate
your agency to collect either some or all of your Invoices. We
may:
|
|
5.4.1
|
give
(or require you to give) notice to some or all of your Customers of the
pledge of their Invoices and the Related Rights to
us;
|
|
5.4.2
|
either
simultaneously with giving such notice or at a later date, instruct your
Customers to pay us directly;
|
5.4.3 require
you to send us a copy of your sales and purchase ledger and such other records
as we may require;
|
5.4.4
|
require
you to forward all Invoices to us for issuing by us and we will, at your
expense, administer Customers’
accounts.
|
5.5
|
You
will confirm to your Customers the effect of any notice served on them and
you will cease collect Invoices. The provisions of condition 5
of the Operating Conditions – Part II – Provisions relating to all Clients
shall then apply.
|
5.6
|
You
will pay those costs specified in the Commercial Terms for maintaining the
Collection Account.
|
5.7
|
You
hereby authorise us or any person nominated by us to contact your
Customers to verify the amount of each Invoice due from them, the due date
for payment and in the case of overdue Invoices, the date when payment can
be expected. You will assist us or our nominee in any way we
require and you authorise us and them to disclose their identity if
required to do so by law or if requested by a
Customer.
|
6
|
INFORMATION
AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
|
6.1
|
You
will maintain a monthly open item ageing analysis, in such form as we may
require, showing the position of each Customer’s account on the last day
of each month, including details of any outstanding credit
balances.
|
6.2
|
You
will supply to us wherever possible via the Website (or at our option make
available for inspection by us) the following documents and/or information
forthwith upon our request:
|
|
6.2.1
|
copies
of Invoices and all debit and credit notes or other documents evidencing
how an Invoice is reduced, paid or otherwise
satisfied;
|
|
6.2.2
|
the
full terms of any Contract of Sale;
|
|
6.2.3
|
proof
of the complete performance of each Contract of
Sale;
|
|
6.2.4
|
such
other information and evidence as we may require relating to Invoices
Related Rights or Contracts of
Sale;
|
|
6.2.5
|
daily
a report detailing monies collected by you as our agent;
and
|
|
6.2.6
|
within
15 days of the end of the month to which they relate or promptly upon our
request copies of:
|
|
6.2.7
|
your
open item ageing analysis;
|
|
6.2.8
|
your
sales ledger control account with a reconciliation of it to our month end
statement;
|
|
6.2.9
|
your
reconciliation of cash receipts into the Collection
Account;
|
|
6.2.10
|
your
purchase ledger; and
|
|
6.2.11
|
within
one month (or other such period as we may reasonably specify) of the end
of the month to which they relate your monthly management
accounts.
|
7 NON-NOTIFIABLE
INVOICES
7.1
|
Until
we give you notice to the contrary, you must not Notify us of the
following Invoices:
|
|
7.1.1
|
Invoices
due from a director, officer, shareholder or employee of
yours;
|
|
7.1.2
|
Invoices
due from any other person with which you maintain, other than your
habitual commercial or professional dealings, de facto or de jure economic or
financial links whether direct or indirect, or with which you have
shareholders, partners, directors, officers or managers in
common;
|
|
7.1.3
|
Invoices
due from the sale of any of your capital
assets;
|
|
7.1.4
|
Invoices
which are not due in respect of your trade, occupation or
profession;
|
|
7.1.5
|
Invoices
where the Customer does not have an established place of
business;
|
|
7.1.6
|
Invoices
arising under a hire purchase, leasing or consumer credit sale
agreement;
|
|
7.1.7
|
Invoices
due in respect of Goods delivered on sale or return or on
approval;
|
|
7.1.8
|
Invoices
arising under any Contract of Sale involving advance payments, conditional
sales, consignment sales, sales for which a provisional or pro forma
invoice has been issued, and Invoices for costs, interest for late payment
or other penalties to be paid by the
Customer;
|
|
7.1.9
|
Invoices
arising under any Contract of Sale with the State or any local government
body or any entity subject to public law and benefiting from sovereign or
other immunity;
|
|
7.1.10
|
Invoices
arising under any Contract of Sale with a Customer who supplies goods or
services to you and which may therefore be subject to rights of set-off,
contra accounting, compensation, defence or
cross-claim;
|
|
7.1.11
|
those
additional Invoices referred to in the Agreement as Additional
Non-Notifiable Invoices;
and/or
|
|
7.1.12
|
Export
Invoices representing more than 10% of all your Invoices outstanding from
time to time. We may at any time require you to Notify us of
Non-Notifiable
Invoices.
|
|
7.1.13
|
We
will Disapprove Non-Notifiable
Invoices.
|
|
7.1.14
|
We
shall only make a Service Fee in respect of Non-Notifiable Invoices after
we have given you notice under condition 5.2
above.
|
8 OUR
SERVICES
8.1
|
In
return for the Service Charge we will at your request or at any other time
should we so decide provide the following services relative to Notified
Invoices:
|
|
8.1.1
|
advice
on improvements to your collection procedures and assessing your need for
credit insurance;
|
|
8.1.2
|
general
advice on standard sales contracts, terms of payment, the use of
settlement discounts, evaluating the effect of changing invoicing methods
and terms;
|
|
8.1.3
|
provision
of statistical information based upon Invoices Notified to
us;
|
|
8.1.4
|
advice
on export debtor procedures and the specific requirements of major trading
countries where we have arrangements with
correspondents;
|
|
8.1.5
|
assistance
in reviewing general terms and conditions of suppliers in relation to
their reservations of title;
|
|
8.1.6
|
advice
on your relationship with your
bankers;
|
|
8.1.7
|
checking
and advising you on the accuracy of the monthly reconciliation of your
sales ledger to our month end
statement;
|
|
8.1.8
|
advice
on your need for foreign exchange facilities or contingent liability
cover;
|
|
8.1.9
|
daily
information as to the status of your accounts with
us;
|
|
8.1.10
|
reviewing
your reconciliation and monitoring the operation of the Collection
Account, including detailing dishonoured cheques or other defects in
payment;
|
|
8.1.11
|
liaising
with lawyers or other agents instructed to collect Invoices;
or
|
|
8.1.12
|
inspecting
your books and records relating to Invoices,
including:
|
|
8.1.13
|
general
systems;
|
|
8.1.14
|
maintenance
of sales ledger;
|
|
8.1.15
|
xxxxxxx
cycles;
|
|
8.1.16
|
overdue
Invoices;
|
|
8.1.17
|
control
systems.
|
8.2
|
The
provision of any of the services in this condition 9 shall be without
responsibility on our part to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
|
ANNEXURE
I
List
of Customers