Page
EXHIBIT
10.C
[EXECUTION
COPY]
dated
as of
November 3, 2006
among
CIG
FUNDING
COMPANY, L.L.C.,
as
Seller,
as
Servicer,
XXXXXXXX
FUNDING
CORPORATION
as
the initial
Conduit Investor and Committed Investor,
THE
OTHER INVESTORS
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,
BNP
PARIBAS, NEW
YORK BRANCH,
as
the initial
Managing Agent,
THE
OTHER MANAGING
AGENTS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,
and
BNP
PARIBAS, NEW
YORK BRANCH,
as
Program
Agent
Table
of
Contents
Page
|
||
ARTICLE
I PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS
|
1
|
|
Section
1.1.
|
Purchase
Facility
|
1
|
Section
1.2.
|
Increases
|
2
|
Section
1.3.
|
Payment
Requirements
|
2
|
|
||
ARTICLE
II PAYMENTS AND COLLECTIONS
|
3
|
|
Section
2.1.
|
Payments
|
3
|
Section
2.2.
|
Reinvestments
and Purchase Price Adjustments.
|
3
|
Section
2.3.
|
Collections
|
4
|
Section
2.4.
|
Withdrawals
from Collection Account prior to Amortization Date
|
5
|
Section
2.5.
|
Application
of Collections Following Amortization
|
6
|
Section
2.6.
|
Collection
Account
|
7
|
Section
2.7.
|
Payment
Rescission
|
7
|
Section
2.8.
|
Deemed
Collections and other Adjustment Payments.
|
7
|
|
||
ARTICLE
III CONDUIT FUNDING
|
8
|
|
Section
3.1.
|
Yield
|
8
|
Section
3.2.
|
Payments
|
8
|
Section
3.3.
|
Calculation
of Yield
|
8
|
|
||
ARTICLE
IV COMMITTED INVESTOR FUNDING
|
8
|
|
Section
4.1.
|
Committed
Investor Funding Provisions
|
8
|
Section
4.2.
|
Yield
Payments
|
8
|
Section
4.3.
|
Suspension
of
the LIBO Rate
|
9
|
|
||
ARTICLE
V REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
|
9
|
|
Section
5.1.
|
Representations
and Warranties of the Seller Parties
|
9
|
|
||
ARTICLE
VI CONDITIONS OF PURCHASES
|
13
|
|
Section
6.1.
|
Conditions
Precedent to Initial Incremental Purchase and Restatement
|
13
|
Section
6.2.
|
Conditions
Precedent to All Purchases
|
14
|
|
||
ARTICLE
VII COVENANTS
|
14
|
|
Section
7.1.
|
Affirmative
Covenants of the Seller Parties
|
14
|
Section
7.2.
|
Negative
Covenants of Seller Parties
|
22
|
|
||
ARTICLE
VIII ADMINISTRATION AND
COLLECTION
|
23
|
|
Section
8.1.
|
Designation
of Servicer
|
23
|
Section
8.2.
|
Duties
of
Servicer
|
24
|
Section
8.3.
|
Collection
Notices
|
25
|
Section
8.4.
|
Responsibilities
of Seller
|
26
|
Section
8.5.
|
Reports
|
26
|
Section
8.6.
|
Computation
Agent
|
26
|
Section
8.7.
|
Servicer
Fees
|
27
|
|
||
ARTICLE
IX AMORTIZATION EVENTS
|
27
|
|
Section
9.1.
|
Amortization
Events
|
27
|
Section
9.2.
|
Remedies
|
29
|
Section
9.3.
|
Default
Yield
|
30
|
|
||
ARTICLE
X
I NDEMNIFICATION
|
30
|
|
Section
10.1.
|
Indemnities
by the Seller Parties
|
30
|
Section
10.2.
|
Increased
Cost and Reduced Return
|
32
|
Section
10.3.
|
Mitigation
of
Costs
|
33
|
Section
10.4.
|
Other
Costs
and Expenses
|
33
|
|
||
ARTICLE
XI THE AGENTS
|
34
|
|
Section
11.1.
|
Authorization
and Action
|
34
|
Section
11.2.
|
Delegation
of
Duties
|
35
|
Section
11.3.
|
Exculpatory
Provisions
|
35
|
Section
11.4.
|
Reliance
by
Agents
|
35
|
Section
11.5.
|
Non-Reliance
on Agents and Other Investors
|
36
|
Section
11.6.
|
Reimbursement
and Indemnification
|
36
|
Section
11.7.
|
Agents
in
their Individual Capacities
|
36
|
Section
11.8.
|
Successor
Agent
|
37
|
|
||
ARTICLE
XII ASSIGNMENTS;
PARTICIPATIONS
|
37
|
|
Section
12.1.
|
Assignments
|
37
|
Section
12.2.
|
Participations
|
38
|
Section
12.3.
|
Joinder
by
Conduit Investor
|
38
|
Section
12.4.
|
Extension
of
Commitment Termination Date
|
38
|
|
||
ARTICLE
XIII MISCELLANEOUS
|
39
|
|
Section
13.1.
|
Waivers
and
Amendments
|
39
|
Section
13.2.
|
Notices
|
40
|
Section
13.3.
|
Ratable
Payments
|
41
|
Section
13.4.
|
Protection
of
Ownership Interests of the Investors.
|
41
|
Section
13.5.
|
Confidentiality
|
41
|
Section
13.6.
|
Bankruptcy
Petition
|
42
|
Section
13.7.
|
Limitation
of
Liability; Limitation of Payment; No Recourse
|
43
|
Section
13.8.
|
Seller’s
Payment Obligations
|
43
|
Section
13.9.
|
CHOICE
OF
LAW
|
44
|
Section
13.10.
|
CONSENT
TO
JURISDICTION
|
44
|
Section
13.11.
|
WAIVER
OF
JURY TRIAL
|
44
|
Section
13.12.
|
Integration;
Binding Effect; Survival of Terms
|
45
|
Section
13.13.
|
Counterparts;
Severability; Section References
|
45
|
Section
13.14.
|
Agent
Roles
|
45
|
Section
13.15.
|
Characterization
|
46
|
CIG
FUNDING
COMPANY, L.L.C.
This
Receivables
Purchase Agreement dated as of November 3, 2006 is
among CIG
FUNDING COMPANY, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”),
COLORADO
INTERSTATE GAS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as initial Servicer (the initial
Servicer together with Seller, the “Seller
Parties”
and
each a
“Seller
Party”),
XXXXXXXX
FUNDING CORPORATION (“Xxxxxxxx”)
and the other
funding entities from time to time party hereto as Investors, BNP PARIBAS,
NEW
YORK BRANCH (“Paribas”),
and the other
financial institutions from time to time party hereto as Managing Agents, and
BNP PARIBAS, NEW YORK BRANCH, as program agent for the Investors hereunder
(together with its successors and assigns hereunder, the “Program
Agent”).
Unless defined
elsewhere herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in Exhibit I.
PRELIMINARY
STATEMENTS
Seller
desires to
transfer and assign Investor Interests to the Investors from time to
time.
Upon
and subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (i) Conduit Investors may, in their
absolute and sole discretion, purchase Investor Interests from Seller from
time
to time, and (ii) in the event that a Conduit Investor declines to make any
purchase, the Committed Investors which are part of its Investor Group shall
purchase Investor Interests from Seller from time to time.
Paribas
has been
requested and is willing to act as Program Agent on behalf of the Investors
in
accordance with the terms hereof.
ARTICLE
I
PURCHASE
ARRANGEMENTS
Section
1.1. Purchase
Facility.
Upon the terms
and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Seller hereby sells and assigns
Investor Interests to the Program Agent, for the benefit of the Investors.
In
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, Investors may or
shall, as provided herein, instruct the related Managing Agent to purchase
on
its behalf through the Program Agent, Investor Interests from Seller from time
to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Program Limit, and for each
Investor Group in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Group Purchase Limit
for
such Investor Group, during the period from the date hereof to but not including
the Amortization Date.
Section
1.2. Increases.
(a) Servicer
shall
provide the Program Agent and each Managing Agent with at least one Business
Day’s prior notice in the form set forth as Exhibit II
hereto of each
Incremental Purchase (collectively, a “Purchase
Notice”).
Each Purchase
Notice shall be subject to Section 6.2
hereof and, except
as set forth below, shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested
Purchase Price (which shall not be less than $1,000,000 for each Investor Group)
and date of purchase, which shall be a Monthly Settlement Date (or, in the
case
of the initial Incremental Purchase, the date of this Agreement). Following
receipt of a Purchase Notice, each Managing Agent shall notify each Investor
in
its Investor Group of its receipt of same.
(b) Each
Incremental
Purchase to be made hereunder shall be made ratably among the Investor Groups
in
accordance with their Group Purchase Limits. For each Investor Group, the
applicable Managing Agent shall determine whether its Conduit Investor agrees
to
purchase its Pro Rata Share of the Incremental Purchase, and if the applicable
Conduit Investor declines to make such purchase, the Managing Agent shall notify
the Committed Investors in such Investor Group of the Conduit Investor declining
to make such purchase and the Committed Investors in such Investor Group each
shall purchase its Pro Rata Share of the Incremental Purchase.
(c) On
the date of each
Incremental Purchase, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent
set forth in Article VI,
the applicable
Investors shall make available to the related Managing Agent at its address
listed beneath its signature on its signature page to this Agreement (or on
the
signature page to the Joinder Agreement pursuant to which it became a party
hereto), for deposit to such account of Seller designated in the Purchase
Notice, in immediately available funds, no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York time),
an amount equal to such Investor’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate Purchase
Price of the Investor Interests then being purchased.
Section
1.3. Payment
Requirements.
All amounts to be
paid or deposited by any Seller Party pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement shall be paid or deposited in accordance with the terms hereof no
later than noon (New York time) on the day when due in immediately available
funds, and if not received before noon (New York time) may, in each Managing
Agent’s discretion, be deemed to be received on the next succeeding Business
Day. If such amounts are payable to an Investor they shall be paid to the
related Managing Agent, for the account of such Investor, at its address listed
beneath its signature page to this Agreement (or on the signature page to the
Joinder Agreement pursuant to which it became a party hereto) until otherwise
notified by such Managing Agent. Yield shall be computed as provided in the
definition thereof, and all computations of per annum fees and other per annum
amounts hereunder or under the Fee Letters shall be made on the basis of a
year
of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed. If any amount hereunder
shall
be payable on a day which is not a Business Day, such amount shall be payable
on
the next succeeding Business Day.
ARTICLE
II
PAYMENTS
AND
COLLECTIONS
Section
2.1. Payments.
Seller
shall
promptly pay on each Monthly Settlement Date and, from and after the
Amortization Date, on each other Business Day when due as otherwise provided
in
this Agreement (a) to each Managing Agent, for the account of the related
Investor or Investors in its Investor Group, (i) such fees as set forth
in the
Fee Letters,
(ii) all
amounts payable
as Yield, (iii) all amounts payable pursuant to Sections 2.2,
2.7
or 2.8,
(iv) all amounts
payable pursuant to Article X,
if any, (v) all
Breakage Costs and (vi) all Default Fees, and (b) to Servicer, all Servicer
Expenses (the obligations described in clause (a) and (b) of this sentence,
collectively, the “Obligations”).
In addition,
Seller shall pay on the date of this Agreement the amounts specified to be
due
and payable on such date in the Fee Letters. If Seller fails to pay any of
the
Obligations when due, or if Servicer fails to make any deposit required to
be
made by it under this Agreement when due, such Person agrees to pay, on demand,
the Default Fee in respect thereof until paid. In no event shall any provision
of this Agreement or the Fee Letters require the payment or permit the
collection of any amounts hereunder in excess of the maximum permitted by
applicable law. If at any xxxx Xxxxxx receives any Collections,
Seller shall
immediately pay such Collections
to
Servicer for application in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof
and,
at all times prior to such payment, such Collections
shall
be
held in trust by Seller for the exclusive benefit of the Investors, the Managing
Agents and the Program Agent.
Section
2.2. Reinvestments
and Purchase Price Adjustments.
(a) Seller
hereby
requests, and the Investors hereby agree to make, on each Business Day prior
to
the Amortization Date, subject to (i) the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 6.2
and (ii) the
condition that, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate of the Investor
Interests shall not exceed 100%, a reinvestment (each a “Reinvestment”)
with that
portion of the balance of each and every Collection received that is part of
any
Investor Interest, such that after giving effect to such Reinvestment, the
amount of Aggregate Capital immediately after such receipt and corresponding
Reinvestment shall be equal to the amount of Aggregate Capital immediately
prior
to such receipt. Payments to Seller in respect of Reinvestments during any
Monthly Period shall be made as provided in clause (i)
or
(ii)(B)
of Section 2.3,
Section 2.4(a),
Section 2.4(b)
or Section
2.4(c)(iii),
subject to the
following provisions of this Section 2.2.
(b) In
the event that
notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.3
or 2.4
hereof to the
contrary, Collections or other amounts are remitted to Seller in respect of
Reinvestments on a day and, as a result thereof, the aggregate of the Investor
Interests on such day shall exceed 100%, computed based on the Current Month
Net
Receivables Pool Balance for such day as reflected in a Daily Report or as
otherwise determined by Servicer or the Program Agent, then within one Business
Day following the date on which such Daily Report was delivered or the date
of
such determination, as applicable, Seller shall remit to Servicer immediately
available funds in an amount equal to such excess payment for deposit into
the
Collection Account as a Special Adjustment Amount and to be treated as
Collections under this Agreement.
(c) In
addition, the
amounts remitted to Seller in respect of Reinvestments for a Monthly Period
as
described in Section 2.2(a)
shall be subject
to reconciliation on the Monthly Settlement Date for such Monthly Period (or,
if
earlier, on the Amortization Date) as provided in this Section 2.2(c).
If at the end of
any Monthly Period (the “Subject
Monthly
Period”)
prior to the
Monthly Period in which the Amortization Date occurs,
(i) the
sum of the
Capital of the Investor Interests at such time plus the Aggregate Reserves
computed for the Subject Monthly Period exceeded
(ii) the
sum of (A) the
Net Receivable Pool Balance at the end of the Subject Monthly Period, plus
(B)
the Collection Account Amount on the last Daily Settlement Date for the Subject
Monthly Period (after giving effect to any changes therein on such Daily
Settlement Date), plus (C), if determined in a report from the Servicer
delivered to the Program Agent prior to the Monthly Settlement Date for the
Subject Monthly Period, the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Eligible
Receivables which were first included in the Current Month Net Receivables
Pool
Balance for the Monthly Period immediately following the Subject Monthly Period
(calculated as though there were no Carryback Receivables) on any day prior
to
the Monthly Report Date for the Subject Monthly Period (or, if earlier, the
Amortization Date),
Seller
shall remit
to Servicer on the Monthly Settlement Date for the Subject Monthly Period
immediately available funds in an amount equal to the lesser of (x) the excess
of the amount described in clause (i)
above over the
amount described in clause (ii)
above or (y) the
aggregate amounts remitted to Seller in respect of Reinvestments for the Subject
Monthly Period as described in Section 2.2(a),
for deposit into
the Collection Account as a Special Adjustment Amount and to be treated as
Collections under this Agreement. If the Amortization Date occurs and at the
close of business on the immediately preceding day the sum of the Capital of
the
Investor Interests plus the then applicable Aggregate Reserves exceeded the
sum
of the Net Receivable Pool Balance plus the Collection Account Amount, Seller
shall remit to Servicer on the Amortization Date immediately available funds
in
an amount equal to the lesser of such excess or the aggregate amounts remitted
to Seller in respect of Reinvestments for the Monthly Period in which the
Amortization Date occurred as described in Section 2.2(a),
for deposit into
the Collection Account as a Special Adjustment Amount and to be treated as
Collections under this Agreement.
Section
2.3. Collections.
On each day
Servicer shall set aside and hold in trust for the holder of each Investor
Interest, all Collections received on such day, any other amounts received
by or
on behalf of Seller from the Originator or Finance LLC pursuant to a Sale
Agreement and an additional amount of funds available to Seller for the payment
of any accrued and unpaid Obligations owed by Seller and not previously paid
by
Seller in accordance with Section 2.1,
and shall pay and
remit apply such funds as follows:
(i) on
each Business
Day during a Monthly Period that is prior to both the Cash Receipt Date and
the
Amortization Date, remit such funds to Seller in respect of Reinvestments for
such Monthly Period pursuant to Section 2.2
(and subject to
the provisions of Section 2.2(c)),
so long as, on
such Business Day, after giving effect to such remittance of funds, the
aggregate of the Investor Interests shall not exceed 100%, and otherwise deposit
such amounts into the Collection Account, and otherwise deposit the remainder
of
such amounts into the Collection Account;
(ii) on
each Cash
Receipt Date prior to the Amortization Date and on each Business Day thereafter
during a Monthly Period prior to the Amortization Date, (A) deposit such amounts
into the Collection Account until the amount on deposit therein equals the
Required Collection Account Amount for such Business Day, and (B) (x) at
Servicer’s election, remit the balance (if any) of such funds to Seller in
respect of Reinvestments for such Monthly Period pursuant to Section 2.2
(and subject to
the provisions of Section 2.2(c)),
so long as,
after giving effect to such remittance of funds, the aggregate of the Investor
Interests shall not exceed 100%, and otherwise (y) deposit such balance of
such
funds, or the remainder thereof, as applicable, into the Collection Account;
and
(iii) on
each Business
Day from and after the Amortization Date, deposit such amounts into the
Collection Account for the sole benefit of the Program Agent, the Managing
Agent
and the Investors.
If
at any time
Servicer determines that an amount deposited into the Collection Account does
not constitute an amount to be deposited therein pursuant to this Section 2.3
or otherwise
pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document, Servicer shall withdraw
such amounts from the Collection Account and pay such amounts to the Person
that
Servicer determines is entitled thereto.
Section
2.4. Withdrawals
from
Collection Account prior to Amortization Date.
Prior to the
occurrence of the Amortization Date, Servicer shall withdraw from the Collection
Account and pay to the persons entitled thereto the following amounts on the
following dates:
(a) at
Servicer’s
election, on each Daily Settlement Date other than the last Daily Settlement
Date with respect to a Monthly Period, to Seller in respect of Reinvestments
for
such Monthly Period pursuant to Section 2.2
(and subject to
the provisions of Section 2.2(c)),
an amount equal
to the excess (if any) of (x) the amount on deposit in the Collection Account
on
such date over (y) the Required Collection Account Amount on such date (computed
based on the Estimated Current Month Net Receivables Pool Balance for such
Daily
Settlement Date);
(b) at
Servicer’s
election, on the last Daily Settlement Date with respect to a Monthly Period,
to
Seller, an amount equal to the excess (if any) of (x) the amount on deposit
in
the Collection Account on such date over (y) the Required Collection Account
Amount on such date (computed based on the Current Month Net Receivables Pool
Balance for the last Business Day of such Monthly Period);
(c) on
each Monthly
Settlement Date:
(i) first,
in the following
order or priority: (A) to Servicer the Servicer Expenses and the Servicer Fee,
if Seller or one of its Affiliates is not then acting as Servicer, (B) to the
Program Agent and each Managing Agent, such Person’s costs of collection and
enforcement of this Agreement, (C) ratably to the Persons entitled thereto
all
accrued and unpaid fees under the Fee Letters and all Yield due and payable,
and
(D) ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, all other unpaid Obligations,
except for the Servicer Fee and the Servicer Expenses if Seller or one of its
Affiliates is acting as Servicer, and (E) the Servicer Fee and the Servicer
Expenses, if Seller or one of its Affiliates is acting as Servicer;
(ii) second,
to the reduction
of the Aggregate Capital in an amount, if any, necessary so that on such Monthly
Settlement Date (A) the Aggregate Capital does not exceed the Program Limit
in
effect for such date and (B) the aggregate of the Investor Interests does not
exceed 100%, applied ratably in accordance with the Capital Pro Rata Share
of
the Investors of each such Managing Agent’s Investor Group; and
(iii) third,
any balance
remaining thereafter shall be remitted from Servicer to Seller on such Monthly
Settlement Date in respect of Reinvestments for the preceding Monthly Period
pursuant to Section 2.2.
Section
2.5. Application
of
Collections Following Amortization.
On each Business
Day (or, in the case of clauses (i) and (vi) below, on each Monthly Settlement
Date) from and after the occurrence of the Amortization Date, Servicer shall
withdraw from the Collection Account and pay to the persons entitled thereto
the
following amounts on the following dates:
(i) first,
to Servicer and
amount equal to the Servicer Expenses and the Servicer Fee, if Seller or one
of
its Affiliates is not then acting as Servicer,
(ii) second,
to the Program
Agent and each Managing Agent, an amount equal to such Person’s costs of
collection and enforcement of this Agreement,
(iii) third,
ratably to the
Persons entitled thereto, all accrued and unpaid fees under the Fee Letters
and
all Yield due and payable hereunder,
(iv) fourth,
to the Managing
Agents, ratably in accordance with the Capital Pro Rata Share of the Investors
of each such Managing Agent’s Investor Group, the amount required to reduce the
Aggregate Capital to zero,
(v) fifth,
ratably to the
Persons entitled thereto, an amount equal to all other unpaid Obligations,
except for the Servicer Fee and the Servicer Expenses if Seller or one of its
Affiliates is acting as Servicer,
(vi) sixth,
to Servicer, an
amount equal to the Servicer Expenses and the Servicer Fee , if Seller or one
of
its Affiliates is acting as Servicer, and
(vii) seventh,
after the
Aggregate Unpaids have been reduced to zero, to Seller.
Collections
applied
to the payment of Aggregate Unpaids shall be distributed in accordance with
the
aforementioned provisions, and, giving effect to each of the priorities set
forth above in this Section 2.5
and unless
otherwise provided therein, shall be shared ratably (within each priority)
among
the Program Agent, the Managing Agents and the Investors in accordance with
the
amount of such Aggregate Unpaids owing to each of them in respect of each such
priority.
Section
2.6. Collection
Account.
In connection
with this Agreement, Servicer shall establish prior to date of the initial
Incremental Purchase and thereafter maintain, in the name of Seller for the
benefit of the
Investors, the
Managing Agents and the Program Agent,
a segregated
deposit account (the “Collection
Account”)
bearing a
designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held for
the
ratable benefit of the Investors. The Collection Account shall at all times
be
maintained at a depository bank approved by the Program Agent and shall be
subject at all times to a Blocked Account Agreement that is in full force and
effect. Servicer shall make deposits into, and make withdrawals from, the
Collection Account as provided in this Agreement. Any interest earnings on
amounts on deposit from time to time in the Collection Account shall be applied
pursuant to this Agreement as Collections. The Program Agent for the benefit
of
itself, the
Investors and
the Managing Agents shall
possess all
right, title and interest in all funds on deposit from time to time in the
Collection and in all proceeds thereof (including all income
thereon).
Section
2.7. Payment
Rescission.
No payment of any
of the Aggregate Unpaids shall be considered paid or applied hereunder to the
extent that, at any time, all or any portion of such payment or application
is
rescinded by application of law or judicial authority, or is otherwise returned
or refunded for any reason. Seller shall remain obligated for the amount of
any
payment or application so rescinded, returned or refunded, and shall promptly
pay to the Program Agent (for application to the Person or Persons who suffered
such rescission, return or refund) the full amount thereof, plus the Default
Fee
from the date of any such rescission, return or refunding.
Section
2.8. Deemed
Collections and other Adjustment Payments.
(a) For
purpose of this
Agreement, Seller shall be deemed to have received a Collection of a Receivable,
allocated as a reduction of Junior Interest, to the extent that (i) the Net
Outstanding Balance of any such Receivable is either (x) reduced as a result
of
any defective or rejected goods or services, any discount or any adjustment
or
otherwise by Seller (other than cash Collections on account of such Receivable)
or (y) reduced or canceled as a result of a setoff in respect of any claim
by
any Person (whether such claim arises out of the same or a related transaction
or an unrelated transaction), or (ii) any of the representations or warranties
in Article V
are no longer true
with respect to such Receivable (unless such untrue representation or warranty
affects only any portion thereof constituting an Additional
Amount).
(b) In
the event Seller
at any time receives any amounts representing Adjustment Payments, Seller
shall
immediately pay such amounts to Servicer for application as a Collection in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof and, at all times prior to
such
payment, such amounts shall
be
held in trust by
Seller for the exclusive benefit of the Investors, the Managing Agents and
the
Program Agent.
ARTICLE
III
CONDUIT
FUNDING
Section
3.1. Yield.
Seller shall pay
Yield with respect to the Capital of each Investor Interest of each Conduit
Investor for each day that any Capital in respect of such Investor Interest
is
outstanding at the applicable CP Rate; provided
that any Investor
Interest of a Conduit Investor, or portion thereof, which such Conduit Investor
is not then funding the proceeds of Commercial Paper shall accrue Yield pursuant
to Article IV.
Section
3.2. Payments.
On each Monthly
Settlement Date, Seller shall pay to the Managing Agent (for the benefit of
the
Conduit Investor in its Investor Group) an aggregate amount equal to all accrued
and unpaid Yield in respect of the Capital of the Investor Interest of such
Conduit Investor for the immediately preceding Accrual Period in accordance
with
Article II.
Section
3.3. Calculation
of
Yield.
Not later than
the Business Day immediately preceding each Monthly Report Date, each Conduit
Investor shall calculate the aggregate amount of Yield in respect of the Capital
of the Investor Interest of such Conduit Investor for the Accrual Period ending
on the next following Monthly Settlement Date and shall notify Seller and
Servicer of such aggregate amount.
ARTICLE
IV
COMMITTED
INVESTOR
FUNDING
Section
4.1. Committed
Investor Funding Provisions.
Each Investor
Interest of Investors which are not Conduit Investors and each Investor Interest
of Conduit Investors as to which Yield is to be determined pursuant to this
Article IV,
shall accrue
Yield for each day during an Accrual Period at the applicable Bank Rate in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The initial Bank Rate for
any
Investor Interest funded by such Investors pursuant to the terms and conditions
hereof shall be the LIBO Rate, unless (i) the availability of the LIBO Rate
has
been suspended pursuant to Section 4.3
below, or (ii) the
applicable Managing Agent shall designate the Alternate Rate as the applicable
rate of funding for such Investor Interest. If Yield on all or any portion
of
the Investor Interest of a Conduit Investor is first to be determined pursuant
to this Article IV
on a date other
than the first day of an Accrual Period or if an Investor (other than a Conduit
Investor) acquires all or any portion of the Investor Interest of the Conduit
Investor in its Investor Group by assignment from such Conduit Investor, the
initial Bank Rate for such Investor Interest (or such portion thereof) shall
be
determined in accordance with the preceding sentence.
Section
4.2. Yield
Payments.
On each Monthly
Settlement Date, Seller shall pay to the Managing Agent (for the benefit of
each
Investor in its Investor Group which is not Conduit Investors and the Conduit
Investor in its Investor Group, if the Yield on its Investor Interest is to
be
determined pursuant to this Article IV)
an aggregate
amount equal to all accrued and unpaid Yield in respect of the Capital of the
Investor Interest of such Investors for the immediately preceding Accrual Period
in accordance with Article II.
Section
4.3. Suspension
of
the LIBO Rate.
If any Investor
notifies its related Managing Agent that it has determined in good faith that
(i) the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation or application
of any law or regulation by any Governmental Authority (in each case after
the
date of this Agreement) makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other
Governmental Authority asserts after the date of this Agreement that it is
unlawful, for such Investor or its Funding Source to fund or maintain Investor
Interests at the LIBO Rate, (ii) by reasons of circumstances affecting the
interbank Eurodollar market either adequate and reasonable means do not exist
for ascertaining the LIBO Rate for an Accrual Period, (iii) the applicable
LIBO
Rate will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Investor or, if
applicable, its Funding Source, of funding or maintaining Investor Interests,
or
(iv) such Investor or, if applicable, its Funding Source, is subject to
restrictions on the amount of a category of Eurodollar liabilities or assets
that it may hold corresponding to the Investor Interests, then (A) such Managing
Agent shall notify the Program Agent and Seller and shall suspend the
availability of the LIBO Rate with respect to each affected Investor until
such
later date on which each affected Investor shall have notified its related
Managing Agent that the applicable circumstances described above in this
Section 4.3
no longer exist,
and (B) any affected Investor Interest then accruing Yield at such LIBO Rate
shall thereupon and thereafter, until the first day of an Accrual Period on
which such suspension has terminated, accrue Yield based upon the Alternate
Rate.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND
WARRANTIES
Section
5.1. Representations
and Warranties of the Seller Parties.
Each Seller Party
hereby represents and warrants to the Program Agent, the Managing Agents and
the
Investors, as to itself, as of the date hereof and as of the date of each
Incremental Purchase and the date of each Reinvestment that:
(a) Existence
and
Power.
Such Seller Party
is (in the case of Servicer) a corporation duly organized or (in the case of
Seller) a limited liability company duly formed, and in either case validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization and
is
duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign entity,
and
has and holds all power and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents
and approvals required to carry on its business in each jurisdiction in which
its business is conducted except where the failure to so qualify or so hold
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Power
and
Authority; Due Authorization, Execution and Delivery.
The execution and
delivery by such Seller Party of this Agreement, each other Transaction Document
to which it is a party, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder and, in the case of Seller, Seller’s purchase of Receivables under
the Second Tier Sale Agreement, its sale of Investor Interests hereunder and
its
use of the proceeds of such sales, are within its powers and authority and
have
been duly authorized by all necessary action on its part. This Agreement and
each other Transaction Document to which such Seller Party is a party has been
duly executed and delivered by such Seller Party.
(c) No
Conflict.
The execution and
delivery by such Seller Party of this Agreement, each other Transaction Document
to which it is a party, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder and, in the case of Seller, its purchase of Receivables pursuant
to
the Second Tier Sale Agreement and its sale of Investor Interests hereunder,
(i)
do not contravene or violate (A) its certificate of incorporation or bylaws
or
its limited liability company agreement or certificate of formation, as
applicable, (B) any law, rule or regulation applicable to it, including the
Natural Gas Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations of FERC thereunder,
(C) any restrictions under any agreement, contract or instrument to which it
is
a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, or (D) any order, writ,
judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its
property, and (ii) do not result in the creation or imposition of any Adverse
Claim on assets of such Seller Party or its Subsidiaries (except as created
hereunder), except, in any case, where such contravention or violation could
not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no transaction
contemplated hereby requires compliance with any bulk sales act or similar
law.
(d) Governmental
Authorization.
No authorization
or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with (except as
have
been given, made or obtained), any governmental authority or regulatory body
(including FERC) is required for the due execution and delivery by such Seller
Party of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is
a
party and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and,
in
the case of Seller, its purchase of Receivables pursuant to the Second Tier
Sale
Agreement and its issuance of the Junior Interest and the sale of Investor
Interests hereunder, except for the filing of the financing statements required
hereunder, which filings have been duly made. Seller does not, and will not
during the term of this Agreement, engage in the transportation of natural
gas
in interstate commerce, or the sale in interstate commerce of such gas for
resale. Each Seller Party jointly and severally represents and warrants that
no
authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with
FERC is required for the due execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement
and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party and the performance
of its obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(e) Actions,
Suits.
(i) With respect
to Seller, there is no litigation, action, suit or other legal or governmental
proceeding pending or, to the best knowledge of either Seller Party, threatened,
at law or in equity, or before or by any arbitrator or governmental authority
or
regulatory body relating to the transactions under this Agreement; and (ii)
with
respect to Servicer, there is no litigation, action, suit or other legal or
governmental proceeding pending, or to the best knowledge of either Seller
Party, threatened, against or affecting it, or any of its properties, in equity,
or before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental authority relating to
the
transactions under this Agreement which, in any such case, could reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except for the proceedings described
in Servicer’s annual report on Form 10 K for the year ended December 31,
2005 or its quarterly report on Form 10 Q for the fiscal quarter ended
June 30, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(f) Binding
Effect.
This Agreement
and each other Transaction Document to which such Seller Party is a party
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Seller Party
enforceable against such Seller Party in accordance with their respective terms,
except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights
generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement
is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(g) Accuracy
of
Information.
All written
information heretofore furnished by such Seller Party or any of its Affiliates
to the Program Agent, the Managing Agents or the Investors (i) pursuant to
any
requirement of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Document, (ii)
in
any Daily Report, Mid-Month Report or Monthly Report, or (iii) listed or
described on Schedule C hereto is, and all such information hereafter
furnished by such Seller Party or any of its Affiliates to the Program Agent,
the Managing Agents or the Investors will be, true and accurate in all material
respects on the date such information is stated or certified and does not and
will not, when furnished, contain any material misstatement of fact or omit
to
state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained
therein, when taken as a whole, not misleading (it being recognized that any
estimated amounts, projections or forecasts provided to the Program Agent,
the
Managing Agents or the Investors are based on estimates and assumptions believed
in good faith by such Seller Party on the date hereof or (if later) the date
of
delivery to be reasonable as of their date, and that actual results during
the
periods covered by such projections or forecasts may differ from projected
or
forecasted results).
(h) Use
of
Proceeds.
No proceeds of
any purchase hereunder will be used (i) for a purpose that violates, or would
be
inconsistent with, Regulation T, U or X promulgated by the Board of Governors
of
the Federal Reserve System from time to time or (ii) to acquire any security
in
any transaction which is subject to Section 12, 13 or 14 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(i) Good
Title.
Each purchase of
Receivables by Seller or Finance LLC from Finance LLC or the Originator, as
the
case may be, pursuant to a Sale Agreement was made in good faith and without
knowledge of any Adverse Claim against the Receivables purchased, except as
contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Immediately prior to each purchase
hereunder, Seller shall be the legal and beneficial owner of the Receivables
and
Related Security with respect thereto, free and clear of any Adverse Claim,
except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents. There have been duly filed
all financing statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary
under the UCC of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect Seller’s ownership
interest in each Receivable, its Collections and the Related Security with
respect thereto.
(j) Perfection.
This Agreement,
together with the filing of the financing statements contemplated hereby, is
effective to, and shall, upon each purchase hereunder, transfer to the Program
Agent for the benefit of the relevant Investor or Investors (and the Program
Agent for the benefit of such Investor or Investors shall acquire from Seller)
a
valid and perfected first priority undivided percentage ownership or security
interest in each Receivable existing or hereafter arising and in the Related
Security and Collections with respect thereto, free and clear of any Adverse
Claim, except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(k) Places
of
Business etc.
The principal
places of business and chief executive office of such Seller Party and the
principal offices where it keeps its Records are located at the address(es)
listed on Exhibit III
or such other
locations of which the Program Agent has been notified in accordance with
Section 7.2(a)
and where all
action required by Section 13.4(a)
has been taken and
completed. Seller is organized as a limited liability company under the laws
of
the state of Delaware. Seller’s Federal Employer Identification Number and the
organizational identification number from its jurisdiction of organization
are
correctly set forth on Exhibit III.
In the past five
years. Seller has not used any names, trade names or assumed names other than
the name in which it has executed this Agreement.
(l) Collections.
The names and
addresses of all Collection Banks, together with the account numbers of the
Blocked Accounts of Seller at each Collection Bank, the post office box number
of each Lock-Box are listed on Exhibit IV,
as such exhibit
may be amended from time to time in accordance with Section 7.2(b).
(m) Material
Adverse
Effect.
Seller represents
and warrants that since the date of this Agreement, no event has occurred that
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Ownership
of
Seller.
Finance LLC
directly owns 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Seller,
free and clear of any Adverse Claim. There are no options, warrants or similar
rights to acquire membership interests or other securities of Seller. Seller
has
no Subsidiaries.
(o) Not
an
Investment Company.
Such Seller Party
is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute.
(p) Compliance
with
Law.
Such Seller Party
and its Subsidiaries have complied in all respects with all applicable laws,
rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards
to
which it or they may be subject, except where the failure to so comply could
not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Receivable,
together with the Contract related thereto, does not contravene any laws, rules
or regulations applicable thereto (including the Natural Gas Act, the rules
and
regulations of FERC thereunder and laws, rules and regulations relating to
truth
in lending, fair credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit
opportunity, fair debt collection practices and privacy), and no part of such
Contract is in violation of any such law, rule or regulation, in each case
except where such contravention or violation could not reasonably be expected
to
have a material adverse effect on the collectibility of such Receivable (other
than Additional Amounts) or a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Taxes.
Such Seller Party
and its Subsidiaries have duly filed all tax returns required to be filed by
it,
and has duly paid and discharged all taxes, assessments and governmental charges
upon it or against its properties now due and payable, the failure to file
or
pay which, as applicable, would have a Material Adverse Effect, unless and
to
the extent only that the same are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings by it or such Subsidiary.
(r) Payments
to
Finance LLC, etc.
With respect to
each Receivable transferred to Seller under the Second Tier Sale Agreement,
Seller has given reasonably equivalent value to Finance LLC in consideration
therefor and such transfer was not made for or on account of an antecedent
debt.
No transfer by Finance LLC of any Receivable under the Second Tier Sale
Agreement is or may be voidable under any section of the Federal Bankruptcy
Code
or other statutory provisions or common law or equitable action by any
Person.
(s) Enforceability
of Contracts.
Each Contract
with respect to each Receivable included in the Net Receivable Pool Balance
is
effective to create, and has created, a legal, valid and binding obligation
of
the related Obligor to pay the Outstanding Balance of the Receivable created
thereunder and any accrued interest thereon, enforceable against the Obligor
in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws relating
to or limiting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at
law); provided
that no
representation is made in this paragraph regarding Additional
Amounts.
(t) Eligible
Receivables.
Each Receivable
included in the Net Receivable Pool Balance as at any date of determination
was
or will be an Eligible Receivable on such date.
(u) Net
Receivable
Pool Balance.
Immediately after
giving effect to each purchase hereunder, the aggregate of the Investor
Interests does not exceed 100%.
(v) Purpose.
Seller has
determined that, from a business viewpoint, the purchases of the Receivables
and
related interests thereto from Finance LLC under the Second-Tier Sale Agreement,
and the sales of Investor Interests to the Investors and the other transactions
contemplated herein, are in the best interests of Seller. No Incremental
Purchase or Reinvestment hereunder is or may be voidable under any section
of
the Federal Bankruptcy Code or other statutory provisions or common law or
equitable action by any Person.
(w) Collection
of
Third Party Amounts.
No portion of the
Collections in respect of any Receivable represents amounts such Seller Party
is
collecting on behalf of third parties.
(x) Servicer
Fee.
The amount of the
Servicer Fee represents a fair market Servicer Fee for the servicing obligations
performed by Servicer hereunder.
ARTICLE
VI
CONDITIONS
OF
PURCHASES
Section
6.1. Conditions
Precedent to Initial Incremental Purchase and Restatement.
The initial
Incremental
Purchase hereunder
is
subject to the conditions precedent that (a) the Program Agent shall have
received on or before the date of such purchase those
documents
listed on Schedule B (in sufficient
copies
for each Managing Agent), each (unless otherwise indicated) dated the date
of
the initial Incremental Purchase, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Managing Agents
and (b) all fees
and expenses required to be paid on such date pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement and the Fee Letters have been paid.
Section
6.2. Conditions
Precedent to All Purchases.
Each Incremental
Purchase of an Investor Interest shall be subject to the further conditions
precedent that in the case of each such purchase: (a) Servicer or Computation
Agent shall have delivered to the Managing Agents on or prior to the date of
such purchase, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managing Agents, all
Periodic Reports as and when due under Section 8.5
or Section 8.6(b);
(b) the
Amortization Date shall not have occurred; and (c) on the date of each such
Incremental Purchase, the following statements shall be true (and acceptance
of
the proceeds of such Incremental Purchase shall be deemed a representation
and
warranty by Seller that such statements are then true):
(i) the
representations
and warranties set forth in Section 5.1
are true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Incremental
Purchase as though made on and as of such date;
(ii) no
event has
occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Incremental Purchase,
that
will constitute an Amortization Event, and no event has occurred and is
continuing, or would result from such Incremental Purchase, that would
constitute a Potential Amortization Event; and
(iii) the
Aggregate
Capital does not exceed the Program Limit and the aggregate of the Investor
Interests does not exceed 100%.
It
is expressly
understood that, unless otherwise directed by any Managing Agent or any Investor
or unless an
Amortization
Event shall have occurred and be continuing,
each Reinvestment
shall, occur automatically on each day that Servicer shall receive any
Collections without the requirement that any further action be taken on the
part
of any Person and notwithstanding the failure of Seller to satisfy any of the
foregoing conditions precedent.
ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
Section
7.1. Affirmative
Covenants of the Seller Parties.
Until the date on
which the Aggregate Unpaids have been indefeasibly paid in full and this
Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms, each Seller Party hereby
covenants, as to itself, as set forth below:
(a) Reporting.
Such Seller Party
will maintain, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, a system of accounting
established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and furnish or cause
to be
furnished to the Program Agent and the Managing Agents:
(i) Annual
Reporting.
Within 120 days
after the close of each of Seller’s fiscal years, unaudited financial statements
(which shall include balance sheets, statements of income and changes in
stockholders’ equity and a statement of cash flows) for such fiscal year, all
certified by a Responsible Officer of Seller as fairly presenting in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
of Seller in accordance with GAAP, subject to the omission of footnote
disclosure
(ii) Quarterly
Reporting.
Within 60 days
after the close of the first three (3) quarterly periods of each of Seller’s
fiscal years, unaudited balance sheets of Seller as at the close of each such
period and statements of income and changes in stockholders’ equity and an
unaudited statement of cash flows for Seller for the period from the beginning
of such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all certified by a Responsible
Officer of Seller as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows of Seller in accordance with
GAAP, subject to normal year-end adjustments and omission of footnote
disclosure.
(iii) Compliance
Certificate.
Together with the
financial statements required hereunder, a compliance certificate in
substantially the form of Exhibit V
signed by Seller’s
Responsible Officer and dated the date of such annual financial statement or
such quarterly financial statement, as the case may be.
(b) Notices.
Such Seller Party
will notify the Program Agent and the Managing Agents in writing of or, if
applicable, provide the Program Agent and the Managing Agents copies of the
following:
(i) Change
in Credit
and Collection Policy.
At least thirty
(30) days prior to the effectiveness of any material change in or material
amendment to the Credit and Collection Policy, a copy of the Credit and
Collection Policy then in effect and a notice (A) indicating such change or
amendment, and (B) if such proposed change or amendment would be reasonably
likely to materially adversely affect the collectibility of the Receivables
(other than any portion thereof constituting an Additional Amount) or materially
decrease the credit quality of any newly created Receivables (other than
Additional Amounts), requesting each Managing Agent’s consent
thereto.
(ii) Copies
of
Notices.
Promptly upon its
receipt of any notice, request for consent, financial statements, certification,
report or other communication under or in connection with any Transaction
Document from any Person other than the Program Agent, any Managing Agent or
any
Investor, copies of the same.
(iii) Other
Information.
Promptly, from
time to time, such other information, documents, records or reports relating
to
the Receivables or the condition, financial or otherwise, of such Seller Party
as the Program Agent or any Managing Agent may from time to time reasonably
request in order to protect the interests of the Program Agent, the Managing
Agents, and the Investors under or as contemplated by this
Agreement.
(c) Notices.
Such Seller Party
will notify the Program Agent and each Managing Agent in writing of any of
the
following promptly (and in any case within two Business Days) upon a Responsible
Officer’s actual knowledge thereof, describing the same and, if applicable, the
steps being taken with respect thereto:
(i) Amortization
Events or Potential Amortization Events.
The occurrence of
each Amortization Event and each Potential Amortization Event, by a statement
of
a Responsible Officer of such Seller Party.
(ii) Judgment
and
Proceedings.
(A) All
litigation and of all proceedings before any governmental authority against
or
involving Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries, except any litigation or
proceeding that in the reasonable judgment of Servicer (taking into account
the
availability of appeals) is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(B) the entry of any judgment or decree or the institution of any litigation,
arbitration proceeding or governmental proceeding against Seller.
(iii) Material
Adverse
Effect.
The occurrence of
any event or condition that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have,
a
Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) Defaults
Under
Other Agreements.
If any
Indebtedness of Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $25,000,000
shall have been become due prior to its stated maturity, or any such
Indebtedness of Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries shall be declared to be
due
and payable or required to be prepaid, repurchased, redeemed or defeased (other
than by a regularly scheduled payment or a prepayment upon the sale of assets
otherwise permitted thereunder), prior to the date of maturity thereof, by
reason of a payment default by Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries or a default
by Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance of any term, provision
or condition contained in any agreement under which any such Indebtedness was
created or is governed.
(v) Termination
Date.
The occurrence of
the “Termination Date” under and as defined in either Sale
Agreement.
(d) Compliance
with
Laws and Preservation of Corporate Existence.
Such Seller Party
will comply in all respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations,
orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be
subject, and will obtain and maintain all applicable authorizations or approvals
from governmental authorities or regulatory bodies (including FERC), except
where the failure to so comply or to obtain or maintain such authorization
or
approval could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
It
will preserve and maintain its corporate or limited liability company (as
applicable) existence, rights, franchises and privileges in the jurisdiction
of
its organization, and qualify and remain qualified in good standing as a foreign
entity in each jurisdiction where its business is conducted, except where the
failure to so preserve and maintain or qualify could not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Audits.
Such Seller Party
will furnish to the Program Agent and its representatives at all times, upon
reasonable prior notice, reasonable full access during regular business hours
to
all of its offices and Records (wheresoever located, including any repository
used to store any such Records), as appropriate to verify its compliance with
this Agreement, and permit the Program Agent and its representatives to examine
and audit the same, and make photocopies and/or computer tape or other digital
media replicas thereof, and it agrees to render to the Program Agent and its
representatives, at its sole cost and expense, such clerical and other
assistance as may be reasonably requested with regard thereto. The Program
Agent
and its representatives shall also have the right to discuss its affairs with
such Seller Party’s officers and to verify under appropriate procedures the
validity, amount, quality, quantity, value and condition of, or any other matter
relating to, the Receivables and the Related Security. Prior to the occurrence
of a Termination Event, the number and frequency of any such audits by the
Program Agent shall be limited to such number and frequency as shall be
reasonable in the exercise of the Program Agent’s reasonable commercial
judgment, but shall in no event exceed one such audit per year. Each such audit
shall be at the sole expense of Servicer.
(f) Keeping
and
Marking of Records and Books.
(i) Servicer
will (and
will cause the Originator to) maintain and implement administrative and
operating procedures (including an ability to recreate records evidencing
Receivables in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof), and
keep
and maintain all documents, books, records and other information reasonably
necessary or advisable for the collection of all Receivables (including records
adequate to permit the immediate identification of each new Receivable and
all
Collections of and adjustments to each existing Receivable). Servicer will
(and
will cause the Originator to) give the Program Agent and each Managing Agent
notice of any material change in the administrative and operating procedures
referred to in the previous sentence if such proposed change or amendment could
be reasonably expected to adversely affect the collectibility of the Receivables
or decrease the credit quality of any newly created Receivables.
(ii) Such
Seller Party
will (and will exercise its rights under the Transaction Documents to cause
the
Originator to) at all times maintain an account in its master records indicating
the aggregate amount of Receivables sold by the Originator to Finance LLC
pursuant to the First Tier Sale Agreement and in turn sold by Finance LLC to
Seller pursuant to the Second Tier Sale and in which Seller has issued the
Senior Interest and/or a security interest to the Program Agent pursuant to
this
Agreement.
(g) Compliance
with
Contracts and Credit and Collection Policy.
Such Seller Party
will (and will cause the Originator to) timely and fully (i) perform and comply
in all material respects with all provisions, covenants and other promises
required to be observed by it under the Contracts related to the Receivables
to
the extent a failure to comply would adversely affect the collectibility of
such
Receivables (including by giving rise to a present right of offset by the
applicable Obligor) and (ii) comply in all material respects with the Credit
and
Collection Policy and its collection procedures in regard to each Eligible
Receivable and the related Contract.
(h) Performance
and
Enforcement of Sale Agreement.
Seller will
perform its obligations and undertakings under and pursuant to the Second Tier
Sale Agreement, will purchase Receivables thereunder in compliance with the
terms thereof and will, to the extent necessary in its reasonable business
judgment, enforce the rights and remedies accorded to Seller, directly or as
assignee, under the Sale Agreements, provided
that after the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Amortization Event, Seller shall
enforce its rights and remedies under the Sale Agreements at the direction
of
the Program Agent. Seller will take all actions to perfect and enforce its
rights and interests (and the rights and interests of the Program Agent and
the
Investors as assignees of Seller) under the Sale Agreements as the Program
Agent
or any Managing Agent may from time to time reasonably request, including making
claims to which it may be entitled under any indemnity, reimbursement or similar
provision contained in either Sale Agreement.
(i) Ownership.
Seller will (or
will cause the Originator to) take all necessary action to (i) vest legal and
equitable title to the Receivables, the Related Security and the Collections
purchased under the Second Tier Sale Agreement irrevocably in Seller, free
and
clear of any Adverse Claims other than Adverse Claims contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, and (ii) establish and maintain, in favor of the Program
Agent, for the benefit of the Investors, a valid and perfected first priority
undivided percentage ownership interest (and/or a valid and perfected first
priority security interest) in all Receivables, Related Security and Collections
to the full extent contemplated herein, free and clear of any Adverse Claims
other than Adverse Claims contemplated by the Transaction Documents; including
in each case the filing of all financing statements or other similar instruments
or documents necessary under the UCC of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect
the Program Agent’s (for the benefit of the Investors) interest in such
Receivables, Related Security and Collections and such other action to perfect
the interest of the Program Agent for the benefit of the Investors as the
Program Agent or any Managing Agent may reasonably request.
(j) Investors’
Reliance.
Seller
acknowledges that the Investors are entering into the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement in reliance upon Seller’s identity as a legal entity that is
separate from the Originator or any Affiliate thereof (each, an “El
Paso
Entity”).
Therefore, from
and after the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement, Seller shall
take all reasonable steps, including all steps that the Program Agent, any
Managing Agent or any Investor may from time to time reasonably request, to
maintain Seller’s identity as a separate legal entity and to make it manifest to
third parties that Seller is an entity with assets and liabilities distinct
from
those of any El Paso Entity thereof and not just a division of a El Paso Entity.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and in addition to the other
covenants set forth herein,
(i) Seller
shall:
(A) maintain
books and
records and bank accounts separate from those of any other Person;
(B) maintain
its assets
in such a manner that it is not costly or difficult to segregate, identify
or
ascertain such assets;
(C) comply
with all
organizational formalities necessary to maintain its separate
existence;
(D) hold
itself out to
creditors and the public as a legal entity separate and distinct from any other
entity;
(E) maintain
separate
financial statements, showing its assets and liabilities separate and apart
from
those of any other Person and not have its assets listed on any financial
statement of any other Person; except that Seller’s assets may be included in a
consolidated financial statement of its Affiliate so long as appropriate
notation is made on such consolidated financial statements to indicate the
separateness of Seller from such Affiliate and to indicate that Seller’s assets
and credit are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of
such
Affiliate or any other Person;
(F) prepare
and file
its own tax returns separate from those of any Person to the extent required
by
applicable law, and pay any taxes required to be paid by applicable
law;
(G) allocate
and charge
fairly and reasonably any common employee or overhead shared with
Affiliates;
(H) not
enter into any
transaction with Affiliates except on an arm’s-length basis and pursuant to
written, enforceable agreements;
(I) conduct
business in
its own name, and use separate stationery, invoices and checks;
(J) not
commingle its
assets or funds with those of any other Person;
(K) not
assume,
guarantee or pay the debts or obligations of any other Person;
(L) correct
any known
misunderstanding as to its separate identity;
(M) not
permit any
Affiliate to guarantee or pay its obligations;
(N) not
make loans or
advances to any other person;
(O) pay
its liabilities
and expenses out of its own funds;
(P) maintain
a
sufficient number of employees in light of its contemplated business purpose
and
pay the salaries of its own employees, if any, only from its own
funds;
(Q) maintain
adequate
capital in light of its contemplated business purpose, transactions and
liabilities; provided
that the foregoing
shall not require the member of Seller to make additional capital contributions
to Seller; and
(R) cause
the managers,
agents and other representatives of Seller to act at all times with respect
to
Seller consistently and in furtherance of the foregoing and in the best
interests of Seller;
(S) at
all times have
an Independent Manager and ensure that all limited liability company actions
relating to (x) the selection, maintenance or replacement of the Independent
Manager, (y) the dissolution or liquidation of Seller or (z) the initiation
of,
participation in, acquiescence in or consent to any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar proceeding involving Seller, are duly authorized
by
unanimous consent of Seller’s members and managers, including the Independent
Manager; and
(T) take
such other
actions as are reasonably necessary on its part to ensure that the facts and
assumptions set forth in the opinion issued by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP, as counsel
for
Seller, in connection with the closing of the Original Agreement and relating
to
substantive consolidation issues, and in the certificates accompanying such
opinion, remain true and correct in all material respects at all times,
and
(ii) Seller
shall
not:
(A) guarantee
any
obligation of any Person, including any Affiliate or become obligated for the
debts of any other Person or hold out its credit as being available to pay
the
obligations of any other Person;
(B) engage,
directly or
indirectly, in any business other than as required or permitted to be performed
under this Agreement and the Second Tier Sale Agreement;
(C) incur,
create or
assume any indebtedness or liabilities other than as expressly permitted under
this Agreement and the Second Tier Sale Agreement;
(D) make
or permit to
remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or own or acquire any stock or
securities of, any Person other than as permitted under this Agreement and
the
Second Tier Sale Agreement;
(E) to
the fullest
extent permitted by law, engage in any dissolution, liquidation, consolidation,
merger, sale or other transfer of any of its assets outside the ordinary course
of Seller’s business;
(F) buy
or hold
evidence of indebtedness issued by any other Person (other than cash or
investment-grade securities);
(G) form,
acquire or
hold any subsidiary (whether corporate, partnership, limited liability company
or other) or own any equity interest in any other entity, except, in each case,
for the Buyer; or
(H) own
any asset or
property other than the Receivables and proceeds thereof, and such other
property as is contemplated by this Agreement and the Second Tier Sale
Agreement.
(k) Collections.
Such Seller Party
will cause (i) all Obligors to be directed to remit all Collections to a
Lock-Box, a Blocked Account, (ii) all proceeds from all Lock-Boxes to be
deposited into a Blocked Account, (iii) each Blocked Account to be subject
at
all times to a Blocked Account Agreement that is in full force and effect and
(iv) each Lock-Box to be subject at all times to a Blocked Account Agreement
that is in full force and effect. In the event any payments relating to
Receivables are remitted directly to Seller or any Affiliate of Seller, Seller
will remit (or will cause all such payments to be remitted) directly to a
Collection Bank and deposited into a Blocked Account within two (2) Business
Days, and, at all times prior to such remittance, Seller will itself hold or,
if
applicable, will cause such payments to be held in trust for the exclusive
benefit of the Program Agent, the Managing Agents and the Investors. Seller
will
maintain exclusive ownership, dominion and control of each Blocked Account
and
Lock-Box and shall not grant the right to take dominion and control of any
Blocked Account or Lock-Box at a future time or upon the occurrence of a future
event to any Person, in each case except that such action may be taken (i)
with
respect to Lock-Boxes subject to a Blocked Account Agreement signed by the
Collection Bank with the right to take dominion and control of such Lock-Box
and
(ii) to the extent otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, a Blocked Account
Agreement. Seller will not maintain any accounts or lockboxes, other than
Lock-Boxes, Blocked Accounts and the Collection Account maintained in accordance
with this Agreement.
(l) Taxes.
Such Seller Party
will file all tax returns and reports required by law to be filed by it and
will
promptly pay all taxes and governmental charges at any time owing, except any
such taxes which are not yet delinquent or are being diligently contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings, for which adequate reserves in accordance
with GAAP (if any) shall have been set aside on its books and where the failure
to so file or pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Seller will pay when due any taxes payable in connection with the
Receivables, exclusive of taxes on or measured by income or gross receipts
of
any Conduit Investor, the Program Agent, any Managing Agent or any Committed
Investor.
(m) Insurance.
Seller will
maintain in effect, or cause to be maintained in effect, at Seller’s own
expense, such casualty and liability insurance as Seller shall deem appropriate
in its good faith business judgment. Seller will pay, or cause to be paid,
the
premiums therefor. The foregoing requirements shall not be construed to negate,
reduce or modify, and are in addition to, Seller’s obligations
hereunder.
(n) Payment
to
Originator.
With respect to
any Receivable purchased by Seller from Finance LLC, such sale shall be effected
under, and in strict compliance with the terms of, the Second Tier Sale
Agreement, including the terms relating to the method of payment and amount
and
timing of payments to be made to Finance LLC in respect of the purchase price
for such Receivable.
(o) Operation
of
Pipelines.
In the case of
Servicer, it will (i) remain an open access transporter, to retain its blanket
certificate under Part 284 of Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
and
(ii) operate its currently constituted transmission pipelines, as they may
be
expanded from time to time, in an efficient and business-like manner or to
maintain all necessary FERC and other governmental authorizations and approvals
necessary to operate its currently constituted transmission pipeline business,
as it may be expanded from time to time.
Section
7.2. Negative
Covenants of Seller Parties.
Until the date on
which the Aggregate Unpaids have been indefeasibly paid in full and this
Agreement terminates in accordance with its terms, each Seller Party hereby
covenants, as to itself, that:
(a) Name
Change,
Offices and Records.
Seller will not
(and will not permit the Originator to) (i) make any change to its name,
identity or corporate structure (within the meaning of the applicable enactment
of the UCC) or relocate its chief executive office or any office where Records
are kept unless, at least forty-five (45) days prior to the effective date
of
any such change or relocation Seller notifies the Program Agent thereof and
delivers to the Program Agent all financing statements, instruments, legal
opinions and other documents reasonably requested by the Program Agent or any
Managing Agent may reasonably request in connection with such change or
relocation and has taken all other steps to ensure that the Program Agent,
for
the benefit of itself and the Investors, continues to have a first priority,
perfected ownership or security interest in the Receivables, the Related
Security related thereto and any Collections thereon, or (ii) change its
jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (within the meaning of the applicable
enactment of the UCC) unless the Program Agent shall have received from Seller,
prior to such change, (A) those items described in clause (i) hereof, and (B)
if
the Program Agent, any Managing Agent or any Investor shall so request, an
opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such
Person, as to such organization and Seller’s or the Originator’s, as applicable,
valid existence and good standing and the perfection and priority of the Program
Agent’s ownership or security interest in the Receivables, the Related Security
and Collections. In accordance with Section 13.12(b),
the provisions of
this Agreement shall apply to any successors or assigns.
(b) Change
in
Payment Instructions to Obligors; Accounts.
Such Seller Party
will not add or terminate any bank as a Collection Bank, or make any change
in
the instructions to Obligors regarding payments to be made to any Blocked
Account or Lock-Box, unless the Program Agent shall have received, at least
ten
(10) days before the proposed effective date therefor, (i) written notice of
such addition, termination or change, and (ii) with respect to the addition
of a
Collection Bank, a Blocked Account or Lock-Box, an executed Blocked Account
Agreement with respect to the new Blocked Account or Lock-Box; provided
that Servicer may
make changes in instructions to Obligors regarding payments otherwise restricted
above if such new instructions require such Obligor to make payments to another
existing Blocked Account or Lock-Box. A revised Exhibit IV
shall be delivered
by Seller to the Program Agent in connection with any addition or termination
of
any Blocked Account or Lock-Box in accordance with the provisions of this
section and Exhibit IV
shall be deemed to
be amended hereby upon such delivery.
(c) Modifications
to
Credit and Collection Policy.
Subject to
Section 7.1(b)(i),
such Seller
Party will not, and will not permit the Originator to, make any change to the
Credit and Collection Policy that could materially adversely affect the
collectibility of the Receivables (other than any portion thereof constituting
an Additional Amount) or the credit quality of any newly created Receivables
(other than Additional Amounts).
(d) Sales,
Liens.
Seller will not
sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or
grant any option with respect to, or create or suffer to exist any Adverse
Claim
upon (including the filing of any financing statement) or with respect to,
any
Receivable, Related Security or Collections, or upon or with respect to any
Contract under which any Receivable arises, or any Blocked Account or Lock-Box,
or assign any right to receive income with respect thereto (other than, in
each
case, as contemplated by the Transaction Documents), and Seller will defend
the
right, title and interest of the Program Agent and the Investors in, to and
under any of the foregoing property, against all claims of third parties
claiming through or under Seller or the Originator.
(e) Termination
Date
Determination; Modification of Sale Agreements.
Seller will not
(i) designate the Termination Date (as defined in the Second Tier Sale
Agreement), (ii) send any written notice to Finance LLC in respect thereof,
or
(iii) consent to Finance LLC designating the Termination Date (as defined in
the
First Tier Sale Agreement) or sending any written notice to the Originator
in
respect thereof, in each case without the prior written consent of the Program
Agent and each Managing Agent, except with respect to the occurrence of such
Termination Date arising pursuant to Section 5.1(d)
of either Sale
Agreement. No Seller Party will amend or otherwise modify or terminate any
Sale
Agreement without the written consent of the Program Agent and each Managing
Agent, except with respect to a termination upon the occurrence of a Termination
Date arising pursuant to Section 5.1(d)
of either Sale
Agreement.
(f) Mergers,
Acquisitions etc.
Seller will not
merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person
to
merge with or into or consolidate with it, or purchase, lease or otherwise
acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially
all of the assets of any other Person (whether directly by purchase, lease
or
other acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Person
or
indirectly by purchase or other acquisition of all or substantially all of
the
capital stock of such other Person) other than acquisitions of Receivables
pursuant to the Second Tier Sale Agreement.
(g) Modification
of
Reporting Procedures.
Seller shall not,
without the prior consent of the Program Agent (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), permit any amendment which would materially
change the calculation methods used to generate the reports delivered in
accordance with Section 8.5
hereof.
ARTICLE
VIII
ADMINISTRATION
AND
COLLECTION
Section
8.1. Designation
of
Servicer.
(a) The
servicing,
administration and collection of the Receivables shall be conducted by such
Person or Persons (the “Servicer”
and,
if multiple
Persons, collectively, the “Servicer”)
so designated
from time to time in accordance with this Section 8.1.
Colorado
Interstate Gas Company is hereby designated as, and hereby agrees to perform
the
duties and obligations of, Servicer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
The
Program Agent (with the consent or direction of the Required Committed
Investors) may designate as Servicer any Person to succeed Colorado Interstate
Gas Company or any successor Servicer at any time after the occurrence of an
Amortization Event. Without the prior written consent of the Program Agent,
Colorado Interstate Gas Company (nor any of its delagatees) shall not be
permitted to delegate any of its duties or responsibilities as Servicer to
any
Person other than El Paso Corporation pursuant to Section 8.6
hereof.
(b) Notwithstanding
any
permitted delegation by Colorado Interstate Gas Company pursuant to Section 8.1(a),
(a) Colorado
Interstate Gas Company shall be and remain primarily liable to the Program
Agent, the Managing Agents and the Investors for the full and prompt performance
of all duties and responsibilities of Servicer hereunder and (b) the Program
Agent, the Managing Agents and the Investors shall be entitled to deal
exclusively with Colorado Interstate Gas Company in matters relating to the
discharge by Servicer of its duties and responsibilities hereunder. The Program
Agent, the Managing Agents and the Investors shall not be required to give
notice, demand or other communication to any Person other than Colorado
Interstate Gas Company in order for communication to Servicer and any
sub-servicers or other delegate with respect thereto to be accomplished.
Colorado Interstate Gas Company at all times that it is Servicer, shall be
responsible for providing any sub-servicer or other delegate of Servicer with
any notice given to Servicer under this Agreement.
Section
8.2. Duties
of
Servicer.
(a) Servicer
shall take
or cause to be taken all such actions as may be necessary or advisable to
collect each Receivable from time to time, all in accordance with applicable
laws, rules and regulations, with reasonable care and diligence, and in
accordance with its collection practices.
(b) Servicer
will
instruct all Obligors to pay all Collections directly to a Lock-Box or a Blocked
Account. Servicer shall effect a Blocked Account Agreement substantially in
the
form of Exhibit VI
with each bank at
which a Blocked Account or Lock-Box is held at any time and with the bank at
which the Collection Account is held. In the case of any remittances received
in
any Lock-Box or Blocked Account that shall have been identified, to the
satisfaction of Servicer, as not constituting Collections or other proceeds
of
the Receivables or the Related Security, Servicer shall promptly remit such
items to the Person identified to it as being the owner of such remittances.
From and after the date the Program Agent delivers to any Collection Bank a
Collection Notice pursuant to Section 8.3,
the Program Agent
may request that Servicer, and Servicer thereupon promptly shall instruct all
Obligors with respect to the Receivables, to remit all payments thereon to
a
depositary account specified by the Program Agent and, at all times thereafter,
Seller and Servicer shall not deposit or otherwise credit, and shall not permit
any other Person to deposit or otherwise credit to such new depositary account
any cash or payment item other than Collections.
(c) Servicer
shall
administer the Collections in accordance with the procedures described herein
and in Article II.
Servicer shall
set aside and hold in trust for the account of Seller and the Investors their
respective shares of the Collections in accordance with Article II.
Servicer shall,
upon the request of the Program Agent (with the consent or at the direction
of
the Required Committed Investors), segregate, in a manner acceptable to the
Program Agent and the Required Committed Investors, all cash, checks and other
instruments received by it from time to time constituting Collections from
the
general funds of Servicer or Seller prior to the remittance thereof in
accordance with Article II.
(d) Servicer
may, in
accordance with its collection practices, extend the maturity of any Receivable
or adjust the Net Outstanding Balance of any Receivable as Servicer determines
to be appropriate to maximize Collections thereof; provided
that such
extension or adjustment shall not alter the status of such Receivable as a
Delinquent Receivable, Defaulted Receivable or limit the rights of the Program
Agent, the Managing Agents or the Investors under this Agreement.
(e) Servicer
shall hold
in trust for Seller and the Investors all Records that (i) evidence or relate
to
the Receivables, the related Contracts and Related Security or (ii) are
otherwise necessary or desirable to collect the Receivables and shall, if an
Amortization Event exists, as soon as reasonably practicable upon demand of
the
Program Agent (with the consent or at the direction of the Required Committed
Investors), deliver or make available to the Program Agent all such Records,
at
a place selected by the Program Agent. Servicer shall, as soon as practicable
following receipt thereof turn over to Seller any cash collections or other
cash
proceeds received with respect to Indebtedness not constituting
Receivables.
(f) Any
payment by an
Obligor in respect of any indebtedness owed by it to the Originator or Seller
shall, except as otherwise specified by such Obligor or otherwise required
by
contract or law and unless otherwise instructed by the Program Agent, be applied
as a Collection of any Receivable of such Obligor (starting with the oldest
such
Receivable) to the extent of any amounts then due and payable thereunder before
being applied to any other receivable or other obligation of such
Obligor.
Section
8.3. Collection
Notices.
The Program Agent
(acting with the consent or at the direction of the Required Committed
Investors) is authorized at any time when an Amortization Event exists or a
Collection Notice Event has occurred and is continuing, to
date and to
deliver to the Collection Banks the Collection Notices and thereafter to make
transfers and payments from Blocked Accounts and the Collection Account in
lieu
of Servicer in accordance with Article II of this Agreement. In making any
such transfers and payments, the Program Agent shall be entitled to rely on
the
periodic reports provided by Servicer hereunder and upon notices from any
Managing Agent and any Investor with respect to amounts payable to such Managing
Agent (or members of its Investor Group) or to such Investor and upon the
Program Agent’s records with respect to payments to be made to the Program
Agent, any Managing Agent and any Investor and shall be fully protected in
acting thereon; provided
that if the
Program Agent determines in good faith that it does not have sufficient
information to determine amounts transferable or payable from Blocked Accounts
and the Collection Account hereunder or has conflicting information with respect
thereto, the Program Agent shall be entitled, but shall not be required, to
transfer such amounts to, or to retain such amounts in, the Collection Account
pending its receipt of further information satisfactory to it. Seller hereby
transfers to the Program Agent for the benefit of the Investors, effective
when
the Program Agent delivers any such notice, the exclusive ownership and control
of the applicable Blocked Account and control of the applicable Lock-Box. In
case any authorized signatory of Seller whose signature appears on a Blocked
Account Agreement shall cease to have such authority before the delivery of
such
notice, such Collection Notice shall nevertheless be valid as if such authority
had remained in force. Seller hereby authorizes the Program Agent, and agrees
that the Program Agent shall be entitled, when an Amortization Event exists
or a
Collection Notice Event has occurred and is continuing, to (A) endorse Seller’s
name on checks and other instruments representing Collections, (B) enforce
the
Receivables, the related Contracts and the Related Security and (C) take such
action as shall be necessary or desirable to cause all cash, checks and other
instruments constituting Collections of Receivables to come into the possession
of the Program Agent rather than Seller.
Section
8.4. Responsibilities
of Seller.
Anything herein
to the contrary notwithstanding, the exercise by the Program Agent, the Managing
Agents and the Investors of their rights hereunder shall not release Servicer,
the Originator or Seller from any of their duties or obligations with respect
to
any Receivables or under the related Contracts. None of the Program Agent,
the
Managing Agents or the Investors shall have any obligation or liability with
respect to any Receivables or related Contracts, nor shall any of them be
obligated to perform the obligations of Seller.
Section
8.5. Reports.
Servicer shall
prepare and deliver to each Managing Agent and the Program Agent (a) a Monthly
Report with respect to each Monthly Period not later than 3:00 p.m. (New York
time) on the related Monthly Report Date, (b) a Mid-Month Report with respect
to
each Monthly Period not later than 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the related
Mid-Month Report Date, (c) a Daily Report with respect to (i) the first Daily
Settlement Date for each Monthly Period, and (ii) each Daily Settlement Date
on
which funds were remitted to Seller pursuant to clause (ii)(B)
of Section 2.3,
Section 2.4(a)
or Section 2.4(b)
and the
immediately following Daily Settlement Date, in each case not later than 1:00
p.m. (New York time) on the Business Day immediately following such Daily
Settlement Date and (d) at such times as any Managing Agent shall reasonably
request, an aging of Receivables. Each Monthly Report, Mid-Month Report and
Daily Report shall be certified as being true and correct in all material
respects by a Responsible Officer of Servicer (or, with respect to amounts
identified therein as estimates, as being estimated reasonably and based on
Servicer’s records and assumptions believed in good faith by such Responsible
Officer).
Section
8.6. Computation
Agent.
(a) El
Paso Corporation
is hereby designated as, and, by its acceptance of this Agreement set forth
below, hereby agrees to perform the duties and obligations of, the Computation
Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Program Agent (with the
consent or direction of the Required Committed Investors) may designate as
Computation Agent any Person to succeed El Paso Corporation or any successor
at
any time after the occurrence of an Amortization Event.
(b) The
Computation
Agent shall aggregate and prepare certain portions of the reports to be provided
by the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.5
(as more fully
specified in the applicable form of report) and shall deliver such portions
to
each Managing Agent and the Program Agent not later than the time at which
such
report is due as provided in such Section.
Section
8.7. Servicer
Fees.
Servicer shall be
entitled to receive a fee (the “Servicer
Fee”)
equal to 1.00%
per annum multiplied by the average daily aggregate Outstanding Balance of
all
Eligible Receivables, payable in arrears on each Monthly Settlement Date for
the
immediately preceding Monthly Period out of Collections available for such
purpose pursuant to Article II
on such Monthly
Settlement Date. The Investors’ share of the Servicer Fee shall be equal to the
Servicer Fee Rate multiplied by the average daily Aggregate Capital of the
Investor Interests payable as provided above. Upon the appointment of a
successor servicer under this Agreement which is not an Affiliate of Servicer,
the Servicer Fee shall be such amount as the Managing Agents, with the consent
of the Required Committed Investors, shall reasonably determine. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Servicer Fee shall be payable only from
Collections pursuant to, and subject to the priority of payments set forth
in,
Article II.
To the extent
such Collections are not sufficient to pay the Servicer Fee in full, none of
Seller, the Program Agent or any Managing Agent or Investor shall have any
liability for the deficiency. The Computation Agent shall be entitled to receive
a fee and reimbursement of expenses from Servicer in such amounts and payable
at
such times as the Computation Agent and Servicer may agree upon from time to
time. In no event shall Seller, the Program Agent or any Managing Agent or
Investor shall have any liability for payment of any fees or expenses of the
Computation Agent.
ARTICLE
IX
AMORTIZATION
EVENTS
Section
9.1. Amortization
Events.
The occurrence of
any one or more of the following events shall constitute an Amortization
Event:
(a) Any
Seller Party
shall fail (i) to make any payment or deposit required hereunder when due and
such failure continues for two Business Days, (ii) in the case of Servicer,
to
deliver any report required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.5 when
due and such failure, if it is caused by a Force Majeure Event, continues for
two Business Days, (iii) to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement
contained in Section 7.1(b),
7.1(c),
7.1(h)-(k)
and (n),
Section 7.2,
Section 9.1
(other than as
referred to in clause (i)
or (ii)
of this
subsection (a)
or Section 9.1(d))
and with respect
to Servicer only, Section 8.2(b),
and such failure
shall continue for five consecutive Business Days after the earlier of receipt
of written notice thereof from the Program Agent or any Managing Agent, or a
Seller Party’s Responsible Officer’s actual knowledge thereof or (iii) to
perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement hereunder (other than as
referred to in clause (i)
or (ii)
of this
subsection (a)
or Section 9.1(d))
and such failure
shall continue for twenty consecutive days after the earlier of receipt of
written notice thereof from the Program Agent or any Managing Agent, or a Seller
Party’s Responsible Officer’s actual knowledge thereof.
(b) Any
representation,
warranty, certification or statement made by any Seller Party in this Agreement,
any other Transaction Document or in any other document delivered pursuant
hereto or thereto shall prove to have been (i) with respect to any
representations, warranties, certifications or statements which contain a
materiality qualifier, incorrect in any respect when made or deemed made and
(ii) with respect to any representations, warranties, certifications or
statements which do not contain a materiality qualifier, incorrect in any
material respect when made or deemed made; provided
that an
Amortization Event shall not occur in connection with a breach (including with
respect to delivery of reports or other information) of any of the
representations in paragraphs (g), (i), (j), (r), (s), (t), (u) or (w) of
Section 5.1
with respect to
any Receivable or Related Security if either (i) the aggregate of the Investor
Interests does not exceed 100% after a recalculation of the Investor Interests
excluding such Receivable and all Receivables, if any, related to such Related
Security from the Net Receivable Pool Balance or (ii) the aggregate of the
Investor Interests does not exceed 100% after a recalculation of the Investor
Interests excluding such Receivable and all Receivables, if any, related to
such
Related Security from the Net Receivable Pool Balance and Seller has made the
payment required by, and in accordance with, Section 2.8.
(c) Failure
of Seller
to pay any Indebtedness when due, giving effect to any applicable grace
periods.
(d) Any
Seller Party or
the Originator (i) shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due
or
shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally or shall make
a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (ii) any proceeding shall
be
instituted by or against any such Person seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt
or
insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any
law
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors,
or
seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver,
trustee or other similar official for it or any substantial part of its property
or (iii) any such Person shall take any corporate or limited liability company
action to authorize any of the actions set forth in clause (ii) above in this
subsection (d).
(e) As
at the end of
any Monthly Period, (i) the average of the Dilution Ratios for such Monthly
Period and the two preceding Monthly Periods shall exceed 1.0% (ii) the average
of the Delinquency Ratios for such Monthly Period and the two preceding Monthly
Periods shall exceed 3.0%, or (iii) the average of the Loss Ratios for such
Monthly Period and the two preceding Monthly Periods shall exceed
5.0%.
(f) A
Change of Control
shall occur.
(g) A
Material Adverse
Effect shall occur.
(h) One
or more
judgments, decrees, arbitration or binding mediation award(s) and/or
settlement(s) for the payment of money in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate
shall be entered against Seller, and either (i) within thirty (30) days
from the later of (A) the entry of any such judgment or decree or the date
of
any such award or settlement (as applicable) and (B) the date any payment
is required to be made on or with respect to any such judgment, decree, award
or
settlement pursuant to the terms thereof, the same shall not have been paid,
discharged or vacated, or in the case of a judgment, decree or award, stayed
pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged or vacated within thirty
(30)
days from the entry of a final order of affirmance on appeal or
(ii) enforcement proceedings shall be commenced by any creditor on any such
judgment, decree, award or settlement.
(i) (i)
The
“Termination Date” under and as defined in either Sale Agreement shall occur
under such Sale Agreement, (ii) the Originator shall for any reason cease to
transfer, or cease to have the legal capacity to transfer, or otherwise be
incapable of transferring Receivables to Finance LLC under the First Tier Sale
Agreement, or (iii) Finance LLC shall for any reason cease to transfer, or
cease
to have the legal capacity to transfer, or otherwise be incapable of
transferring Receivables to Seller under the Second Tier Sale
Agreement.
(j) This
Agreement
shall terminate in whole or in part (except in accordance with its terms),
or
shall cease to be effective or to be the legally valid, binding and enforceable
obligation of Seller, or the Program Agent for the benefit of the Investors
shall cease to have a valid and perfected first priority security interest
in
the Receivables, the Related Security and the Collections with respect thereto
and the Lock-Boxes, Blocked Accounts and all agreements related
thereto.
(k) With
respect to any
day, the aggregate of the Investor Interests exceeds 100%; provided
that such event
shall not constitute an Amortization Event if such excess shall have been cured
by a Special Adjustment Payment made in accordance with Section 2.2,
if applicable, or
otherwise by an increase in the Net Receivable Pool Balance or the Collection
Account Amount or a reduction in the Aggregate Capital not later than the next
following Business Day (or, if such day is not Business Day, by not later than
the second following Business Day).
Section
9.2. Remedies.
Upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Amortization Event, the Program
Agent may, or upon the direction of the Required Committed Investors shall,
with
written notice to Seller and Servicer, take any of the following actions: (i)
replace the Person then acting as Servicer, (ii) declare the Amortization Date
to have occurred, whereupon the Amortization Date shall forthwith occur, without
demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by each Seller Party; provided
that upon the
occurrence of an Amortization Event described in Section 9.1(d),
or of an actual
or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Originator or any
Seller Party under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Amortization Date shall
automatically occur, without demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all
of
which are hereby expressly waived by each Seller Party, (iii) to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, declare that the Default Fee shall accrue
with respect to any of the Aggregate Unpaids (other than amounts on which Yield
is accruing at the default rate pursuant to Section 9.3)
outstanding at
such time, and (iv) deliver the Collection Notices to the Collection Banks.
In
addition, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Amortization Event, the Program Agent may, (or, at the direction of the Required
Committed Investors, shall) or the Program Agent may (or, at the direction
of
the Required Committed Investors, shall) direct Seller or Servicer to, notify
the Obligors of Receivables, at Seller’s expense, of the ownership or security
interests of the Investors under this Agreement and may (or, at the direction
of
the Required Committed Investors, shall) also direct that payments of all
amounts due or that become due under any or all Receivables be made directly
to
the Program Agent or its designee. Seller or Servicer (as applicable) shall,
at
any Investor’s request, withhold the identity of such Investor in any such
notification. The
aforementioned
rights and remedies shall be without limitation, and shall be in addition to
all
other rights and remedies of the Program Agent, the Managing Agents and the
Investors otherwise available under any other provision of this Agreement,
by
operation of law, at equity or otherwise, all of which are hereby expressly
preserved, including all rights and remedies provided under the UCC, all of
which rights shall be cumulative.
Section
9.3. Default
Yield.
In addition to
the rights set forth above, at any time upon or after the occurrence of an
Amortization Event, any Managing Agent may, in its sole discretion with notice
to the Seller, declare that all Yield with respect to each Investor Interest
of
the Investors in its Investor Group shall accrue at a rate per annum equal
to
2.0% plus the Prime Rate.
ARTICLE
X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
10.1. Indemnities
by
the Seller Parties.
Without limiting
any other rights that the Program Agent, any Managing Agent or any Investor
may
have hereunder or under applicable law, (A) Seller hereby agrees to indemnify
(and pay upon demand to) the Program Agent, each Managing Agent and each
Investor and their respective assigns and the officers, directors, agents and
employees of the Program Agent, each Managing Agent and each Investor and their
respective assigns (each an “Indemnified
Party”)
from and against
any and all damages, losses, claims, taxes, liabilities, costs, expenses and
for
all other amounts payable, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
disbursements (all of the foregoing being collectively referred to as
“Indemnified
Amounts”)
awarded against
or incurred by any of them arising out of or as a result of this Agreement
or
the acquisition, either directly or indirectly, by an Investor of an interest
in
the Receivables, and (B) Servicer hereby agrees to indemnify (and pay upon
demand to) each Indemnified Party for Indemnified Amounts awarded against or
incurred by any of them arising out of Servicer’s activities as Servicer
hereunder or under any other Transaction Documents excluding, however, in all
of
the foregoing instances under the preceding clauses (A) and (B):
(i) Indemnified
Amounts
to the extent that such Indemnified Amounts resulted from gross negligence
or
willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Party seeking indemnification,
it being the intention of Seller and servicer to indemnify such indemnified
party against the consequences of their own negligence;
(ii) Indemnified
Amounts
to the extent the same includes losses in respect of Receivables that are solely
due to the credit risk of the Obligor and for which reimbursement would
constitute recourse to Seller for uncollectible Receivables;
(iii) taxes
imposed by
the jurisdiction in which such Indemnified Party’s principal executive office is
located, on or measured by the overall net income of such Indemnified Party
to
the extent that the computation of such taxes is consistent with the
characterization for income tax purposes of the acquisition by the Investors
of
Investor Interests as a loan or loans by the Investors to Seller secured by
the
Receivables, the Related Security, the Blocked Accounts and the Collections;
or
(iv) Indemnified
Amounts
relating to and affecting only Additional Amounts.
provided
that nothing
contained in this sentence shall limit the liability of any Seller Party or
limit the recourse of the Investors to any Seller Party for amounts otherwise
specifically provided to be paid by such Seller Party under the terms of this
Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing indemnification
(and, in the case of the following clauses (D) through (N), in each case without
limiting Seller’s obligations under the following clauses (A), (B) or (C)),
Seller shall indemnify the Indemnified Parties for Indemnified Amounts relating
to or resulting from:
(A) any
representation
or warranty made by or on behalf of any Seller Party, the Originator (or any
officers of any such Person) under or in connection with this Agreement, any
other Transaction Document or any other information or report delivered by
such
Person pursuant hereto or thereto, which shall have been false or incorrect
when
made or deemed made;
(B) the
failure by
Seller or Servicer to comply with any applicable law, rule or regulation with
respect to any Receivable or Contract related thereto, or the nonconformity
of
any Receivable or Contract included therein with any such applicable law, rule
or regulation or any failure of the Originator to keep or perform any of its
obligations, express or implied, with respect to any Contract;
(C) any
failure of
Seller or Servicer to perform its duties, covenants or other obligations in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or any other Transaction
Document;
(D) any
products
liability, environmental, personal injury or damage suit, or other similar
claim
arising out of or in connection with merchandise, insurance or services that
are
the subject of any Contract or any Receivable;
(E) any
dispute, claim,
offset or defense (other than discharge in bankruptcy of the Obligor) of the
Obligor to the payment of any Receivable other than any portion thereof
constituting an Additional Amount (including a defense based on such Receivable
or the related Contract not being a legal, valid and binding obligation of
such
Obligor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms or based on such
Obligor being immune from claims on the grounds on sovereign immunity or
otherwise immune or not subject to legal action, suit or proceeding), or any
other claim resulting from the sale of the merchandise or service related to
such Receivable or the furnishing or failure to furnish such merchandise or
services;
(F) the
commingling by
or on behalf of any Seller Party or any of its Affiliates of Collections of
Receivables at any time with other funds;
(G) any
investigation,
litigation or proceeding related to or arising from this Agreement or any other
Transaction Document, the transactions contemplated hereby, the use of the
proceeds of an Incremental Purchase or a Reinvestment, the ownership of the
Investor Interests or any other investigation, litigation or proceeding relating
to Seller, Servicer or the Originator in which any Indemnified Party becomes
involved as a result of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby;
(H) any
failure of
Seller to acquire and maintain legal and equitable title to, and ownership
of
any Receivable and the Related Security and Collections with respect thereto
from Finance LLC, free and clear of any Adverse Claim (other than as created
hereunder); or any failure of Seller to give reasonably equivalent value to
Finance LLC under the Second Tier Sale Agreement in consideration of the
transfer by Finance LLC of any Receivable, or any attempt by the Originator,
Finance LLC or Seller to void such transfer under statutory provisions or common
law or equitable action;
(I) any
failure of
Finance LLC to acquire and maintain legal and equitable title to, and ownership
of any Receivable and the Related Security and Collections with respect thereto
from the Originator, free and clear of any Adverse Claim (other than as created
hereunder); or any failure of Finance LLC to give reasonably equivalent value
to
the Originator under the First Tier Sale Agreement in consideration of the
transfer by the Originator of any Receivable, or any attempt by the Originator,
Finance LLC or Seller to void such transfer under statutory provisions or common
law or equitable action;
(J) any
failure to vest
in the Program Agent for the benefit of the Investors, or to transfer to the
Program Agent for the benefit of the Investors, legal and equitable title to,
and ownership of, a first priority perfected undivided percentage ownership
interest (to the extent of the Investor Interests contemplated hereunder) or
security interest in the Receivables, the Related Security and the Collections,
free and clear of any Adverse Claim (except as created by the Transaction
Documents);
(K) the
failure to have
filed, or any delay in filing, financing statements or other similar instruments
or documents under the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction or other applicable
laws with respect to any Receivable, the Related Security and Collections with
respect thereto, and the proceeds of any thereof, whether at the time of any
Incremental Purchase or Reinvestment or at any subsequent time;
(L) any
avoidance or
attempt by the Originator, Finance LLC or Seller to void any Incremental
Purchase or Reinvestment hereunder under statutory provisions or common law
or
equitable action;
(M) the
failure by such
Seller Party to pay when due any taxes, including sales, excise or personal
property taxes; and
(N) the
failure of any
Receivable included in the calculation of the Net Receivable Pool Balance as
an
Eligible Receivable to be an Eligible Receivable at the time so
included.
Section
10.2. Increased
Cost
and Reduced Return.
If any Affected
Person shall be charged any fee, expense or increased cost on account of the
adoption after the date hereof of any applicable law, rule or regulation
(including any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy)
or
any change therein after the date hereof, or any change after the date hereof
in
the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority,
central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance with any request or directive (whether
or
not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency (a “Regulatory
Change”):
(i) that
subjects any Affected Person to any charge or withholding on or with respect
to
any Support Facility or an Affected Person’s obligations under a Support
Facility, or on or with respect to the Receivables, or changes the basis of
taxation of payments to any Affected Person of any amounts payable under any
Support Facility (except for changes in the rate of tax on the overall net
income of an Affected Person or taxes excluded by Section 10.1)
or (ii) that
imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, capital maintenance
requirement, assessment, insurance charge, special deposit or similar
requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of an Affected
Person, or credit extended by an Affected Person pursuant to a Support Facility,
including any reserve requirement which is imposed in respect of Eurocurrency
liabilities as defined in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System or (iii) that imposes any other condition the result of which
is
to increase the cost to an Affected Person of performing its obligations under
a
Support Facility, or to reduce the rate of return on an Affected Person’s
capital as a consequence of its obligations under a Support Facility, or to
reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by an Affected Person under
a Support Facility or to require any payment calculated by reference to the
amount of interests or loans held or interest received by it, and the result
of
any of the foregoing is to increase the actual cost to such Affected Person,
of
making, continuing or maintaining Investor Interests or to reduce any amount
receivable hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, Seller shall
promptly pay upon demand by the applicable Managing Agent, for the benefit
of
the relevant Affected Person, such amounts charged to such Affected Person
or
such amounts to otherwise compensate such Affected Person for such increased
cost or such reduction.
Section
10.3. Mitigation
of
Costs.
(a) Any
Affected Person
claiming reimbursement from Seller under Section 10.2
hereof shall use
reasonable efforts (including, if requested by Seller, reasonable efforts to
designate a different applicable office of such Affected Person) to mitigate
the
amount of such losses, costs, expenses and liabilities, if such efforts can
be
made and such mitigation can be accomplished without such Affected Person
suffering (i) any economic disadvantage for which such Affected Person does
not
receive full indemnity from Seller under this Agreement or (ii) any legal or
regulatory disadvantage.
(b) The
agreements
contained in this Section 10.3
shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Aggregate Unpaids;
provided
that in no event
shall Seller be obligated to reimburse or compensate any Investor for amounts
contemplated by this Section 10.3
for any period
before the date that is 180 days before the date upon which such Investor
requests in writing such reimbursement or compensation from Seller.
Section
10.4. Other
Costs and
Expenses.
Seller shall pay
to the Program Agent and each Managing Agent on the Monthly Settlement Date
following written demand or, if an Amortization Event shall have occurred and
is
continuing, within five Business Days after written demand therefor, all
reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the preparation,
negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the transactions
contemplated hereby and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including
the reasonable costs of auditing the books, records and procedures of Seller
and
reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of one principal legal counsel for
the Program Agent and the Managing Agents with respect thereto. Seller shall
pay
to the Program Agent five Business Days after written demand all reasonable
costs and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the administration of this
Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby and the other documents to
be
delivered hereunder including the reasonable costs of auditing the books,
records and procedures of Seller at the times and in the manner permitted under
this Agreement and reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of legal counsel
for the Program Agent with respect thereto. Seller shall pay to each Conduit
Investor, each Managing Agent and the Program Agent on demand any and all costs
and expenses of such Person, if any, including reasonable counsel fees and
expenses in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement and the other
documents delivered hereunder and in connection with any restructuring or
workout of this Agreement or such documents (including any amendments hereto
or
thereto), or the administration of this Agreement following an Amortization
Event.
ARTICLE
XI
THE
AGENTS
Section
11.1. Authorization
and Action.
Each Investor
hereby designates and appoints Paribas to act as Program Agent hereunder and
under each other Transaction Document, and authorizes the Program Agent and
such
Investor’s related Managing Agent to take such actions as Program Agent or
Managing Agent, as the case may be, on its behalf and to exercise such powers
as
are delegated to the Program Agent or such Managing Agent by the terms of this
Agreement and the other Transaction Documents together with such powers as
are
reasonably incidental thereto. Neither the Program Agent nor any Managing Agent
shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth
herein or in any other Transaction Document, or any fiduciary relationship
with
any Investor, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties,
obligations or liabilities on the part of the Program Agent or the Managing
Agents shall be read into this Agreement or any other Transaction Document
or
otherwise exist for the Program Agent or the Managing Agents. In performing
their respective functions and duties hereunder and under the other Transaction
Documents, (i) the Program Agent shall act solely as agent for the Investors,
(ii) each Managing Agent shall act solely as agent for the Conduit Investors
(if
any) and Committed Investors in the related Investor Group and (iii) neither
the
Program Agent nor any Managing Agent shall be deemed to have assumed any
obligation or relationship of trust or agency with or for any Seller Party
or
any of such Seller Party’s successors or assigns. Neither the Program Agent nor
any Managing Agent shall be required to take any action that exposes the Program
Agent or the Managing Agents to personal liability or that is contrary to this
Agreement, any other Transaction Document or applicable law. The appointment
and
authority of the Program Agent and the Managing Agents hereunder shall terminate
upon the indefeasible payment in full of all Aggregate Unpaids. Each Investor
hereby authorizes the Program Agent and the Managing Agent for its Investor
Group, as applicable, to execute each of the Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements, this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents as may require
the Program Agent’s or such Managing Agent’s signature on behalf of such
Investor (the terms of which shall be binding on such Investor). The Program
Agent agrees to provide promptly to each Managing Agent a copy of any report,
certificate, notice or other writing provided by any Seller Party or the
Originator only to the Program Agent.
Section
11.2. Delegation
of
Duties.
The Program Agent
and the Managing Agents may execute any of their respective duties under this
Agreement and each other Transaction Document by or through agents or
attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all
matters pertaining to such duties. Neither the Program Agent nor any Managing
Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or
attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.
Section
11.3. Exculpatory
Provisions.
None of the
Program Agent, the Managing Agents or any of their respective directors,
officers, agents or employees shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken
or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement
or any other Transaction Document (except for its, their or such Person’s own
gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) responsible in any manner
to
any of the Investors for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties
made by any Seller Party contained in this Agreement, any other Transaction
Document or any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to
or
provided for in, or received under or in connection with, this Agreement, or
any
other Transaction Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement, or any other
Transaction Document or any other document furnished in connection herewith
or
therewith, or for any failure of any Seller Party to perform its obligations
hereunder or thereunder, or for the satisfaction of any condition specified
in
Article VI,
or for the
perfection, priority, condition, value or sufficiency of any collateral pledged
in connection herewith. Neither the Program Agent nor any Managing Agent shall
be under any obligation to any Investor to ascertain or to inquire as to the
observance or performance of any of the agreements or covenants contained in,
or
conditions of, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or to inspect
the properties, books or records of the Seller Parties. Neither the Program
Agent nor any Managing Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any
Amortization Event or Potential Amortization Event unless the Program Agent
or
such Managing Agent, as applicable, has received notice from Seller or an
Investor. No Managing Agent shall have any responsibility hereunder to any
Investor other than the Investors in its Investor Group.
Section
11.4. Reliance
by
Agents.
The Program Agent
and the Managing Agents shall in all cases be entitled to rely, and shall be
fully protected in relying, upon any document or conversation believed by it
to
be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper
Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including
counsel to Seller), independent accountants and other experts selected by the
Program Agent or any Managing Agent. The Program Agent and the Managing Agents
shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action
under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document unless it shall first
receive such advice or concurrence of the Conduit Investors or the Required
Committed Investors or all of the Investors, as applicable, as they deem
appropriate and they shall first be indemnified to their satisfaction by the
Investors, provided
that unless and
until the Program Agent or any Managing Agent shall have received such advice,
or unless the Required Committed Investors or each Managing Agent, as
applicable, shall have directed the Program Agent to take or refrain from taking
any action, the Program Agent or such Managing Agent may take or refrain from
taking any action, as the Program Agent or such Managing Agent shall deem
advisable and in the best interests of the Investors. The Program Agent and
the
Managing Agents shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, in accordance with a request of the related Conduit
Investors (if any) or the Required Committed Investors or all of the Investors,
as applicable, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant
thereto shall be binding upon all the Investors.
Section
11.5. Non-Reliance
on
Agents and Other Investors.
Each Investor
expressly acknowledges that none of the Program Agent, the Managing Agents
or
any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents,
attorneys-in-fact or affiliates has made any representations or warranties
to it
and that no act by the Program Agent or any Managing Agent hereafter taken,
including any review of the affairs of any Seller Party, shall be deemed to
constitute any representation or warranty by the Program Agent or such Managing
Agent. Each Investor represents and warrants to the Program Agent and the
Managing Agents that it has and will, independently and without reliance upon
the Program Agent, any Managing Agent or any other Investor and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal
of and investigation into the business, operations, property, prospects,
financial and other conditions and creditworthiness of Seller and made its
own
decision to enter into this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and
all
other documents related hereto or thereto.
Section
11.6. Reimbursement
and Indemnification.
The Committed
Investors agree to reimburse and indemnify the Program Agent, and the Committed
Investors in each Investor Group agree to reimburse the Managing Agent for
such
Investor Group, and their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents ratably according to their Pro Rata Shares or
Adjusted Pro Rata Shares, as applicable, to the extent not paid or reimbursed
by
the Seller Parties (i) for any amounts for which the Program Agent, acting
in
its capacity as Program Agent, or any Managing Agent, acting in its capacity
as
a Managing Agent, is entitled to reimbursement by the Seller Parties hereunder
and (ii) for any other expenses incurred by the Program Agent, in its capacity
as Program Agent, or any Managing Agent, acting in its capacity as a Managing
Agent, and acting on behalf of the related Investors, in connection with the
administration and enforcement of this Agreement and the other Transaction
Documents.
Section
11.7. Agents
in their
Individual Capacities.
The Program
Agent, each Managing Agent and each of its respective Affiliates may make loans
to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with
any
Seller Party or any Affiliate of any Seller Party as though it were not the
Program Agent or a Managing Agent hereunder. With respect to the acquisition
of
Investor Interests pursuant to this Agreement, the Program Agent and each
Managing Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement in
its
individual capacity as any Investor and may exercise the same as though it
were
not the Program Agent or a Managing Agent, and the terms “Committed Investor”
and “Investor” shall include the Program Agent and each Managing Agent in its
individual capacity.
Section
11.8. Successor
Agent.
The Program Agent
may, upon five (5) days’ notice to Seller and the Investors, and the Program
Agent will, upon the direction of all of the Investors (other than such Program
Agent, in its individual capacity) resign as Program Agent. Each Managing Agent
may, upon five (5) days’ notice to Seller and the Investors in its Investor
Group, and a Managing Agent will, upon the direction of all the Investors in
its
Investor Group (other than such Managing Agent in its individual capacity),
resign as Managing Agent. If the Program Agent shall resign, then the Required
Committed Investors during such five-day period shall appoint from among the
Investors a successor agent. If a Managing Agent shall resign, then the
Investors in the related Investor Group shall appoint a successor agent during
such five-day period. If for any reason no successor agent is appointed by
the
Required Committed Investors or the applicable Investor Group, as applicable,
during such five-day period, then effective upon the termination of such
five-day period, the Investors shall perform all of the duties of the Program
Agent, or the Investors in the related Investor Group shall perform all of
the
duties of the applicable Managing Agent, as applicable, hereunder and under
the
other Transaction Documents and Seller and Servicer (as applicable) shall make
all payments in respect of the Aggregate Unpaids directly to the applicable
Investors and for all purposes shall deal directly with the Investors. After
the
effectiveness of any retiring Program Agent’s or Managing Agent’s resignation
hereunder as Program Agent or Managing Agent, as applicable, the retiring
Program Agent or Managing Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents and the
provisions of this Article XI
and Article X
shall continue in
effect for its benefit with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken
by it while it was Program Agent or Managing Agent under this Agreement and
under the other Transaction Documents.
ARTICLE
XII
ASSIGNMENTS;
PARTICIPATIONS
Section
12.1. Assignments.
(a) Neither
Seller nor
Servicer shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations under this
Agreement.
(b) Any
Committed
Investor may, at any time, assign to one or more Persons (“Purchasing
Committed Investors”)
all or any part
of its rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to an assignment
agreement, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit VII
hereto (the
“Assignment
Agreement”)
executed by such
Purchasing Committed Investor and such selling Committed Investor. The consent
of the Conduit Investor in such Committed Investor’s Investor Group, if any,
shall be required prior to the effectiveness of any such assignment. In
addition, so long as no Amortization Event or Potential Amortization Event
has
occurred and is continuing at such time, the consent of Seller (such consent
not
to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required prior to the
effectiveness of any such assignment; provided
that any Committed
Investor may assign its rights and obligations hereunder without the consent
of
any party to (i) any other then Committed Investor or (ii) any Affiliate of
the
selling Committed Investor. Upon delivery of the executed Assignment Agreement
to the Program Agent, such selling Committed Investor shall be released from
its
obligations hereunder to the extent of such assignment. Thereafter the
Purchasing Committed Investor shall for all purposes be a Committed Investor
party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a
Committed Investor under this Agreement to the same extent as if it were an
original party hereto and no further consent or action by Seller, the Investors
or the Program Agent shall be required.
(c) The
parties hereby
agree and consent to the complete or partial assignment by each Conduit Investor
of all or any portion of its rights under, interest in, title to and obligations
under this Agreement to one or more of its Support Parties or any other Person,
pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, and upon such assignment, such Conduit
Investor shall be released from its obligations so assigned. Further, the
parties hereby agree that any assignee of any Conduit Investor of this Agreement
or all or any of the Investor Interests of such Conduit Investor shall have
all
of the rights and benefits under this Agreement as if the term “Conduit
Investor” explicitly referred to such party, and no such assignment shall in any
way impair the rights and benefits of such Conduit Investor
hereunder.
Section
12.2. Participations.
Any Investor may,
in the ordinary course of its business at any time sell to one or more Persons
(each a “Participant”)
participating
interests in its Pro Rata Share of the Investor Interests or any other interest
of such Investor hereunder. Notwithstanding any such sale by a Investor of
a
participating interest to a Participant, such Investor’s rights and obligations
under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Investor shall remain solely
responsible for the performance of its obligations hereunder, and other parties
hereto shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Investor in
connection with such Investor’s rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
Section
12.3. Joinder
by
Conduit Investor.
Any Investor
Group may add a Conduit Investor member at any time by the execution and
delivery of a Joinder Agreement by such proposed Conduit Investor, the other
members of such Investor Group, Seller, Servicer and the Program Agent, which
execution and delivery shall not be unreasonably refused by such parties. Upon
the effective date of such Joinder Agreement, each Person specified therein
as a
“New Conduit Investor” shall become a party hereto as a Conduit Investor,
entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Conduit Investor
hereunder.
Section
12.4. Extension
of
Commitment Termination Date.
Seller may advise
the Program Agent and each Managing Agent in writing of its desire to extend
the
Commitment Termination Date for an additional period not exceeding 364 days,
provided
such request is
made not more than 90 days prior to, and not less than 60 days prior to, the
then current Commitment Termination Date. Each Managing Agent shall promptly
notify each Investor in its related Investor Group of any such request and
each
such Investor shall notify its related Managing Agent, the Program Agent and
Seller of its decision to accept or decline the request for such extension
no
later than 30 days prior to the then current Commitment Termination Date (it
being understood that each Investor may accept or decline such request in its
sole discretion and on such terms as it may elect, and the failure to so notify
its Managing Agent, the Program Agent and Seller shall be deemed an election
not
to extend by such Investor). In the event that all Committed Investors (each
with the consent of the related Conduit Investor) agree to extend the Commitment
Termination Date, the Seller Parties, the Program Agent, the Investors and
the
applicable Managing Agent or Managing Agents shall enter into such documents
as
such Investors may deem necessary or appropriate to reflect such extension,
and
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by such Investors, the Managing
Agents and the Program Agent (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) shall be
paid by Seller.
ARTICLE
XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
13.1. Waivers
and
Amendments.
(a) No failure or
delay on the part of the Program Agent, any Managing Agent or any Investor
in
exercising any power, right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as
a
waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power,
right or remedy preclude any other further exercise thereof or the exercise
of
any other power, right or remedy. The rights and remedies herein provided shall
be cumulative and nonexclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. Any
waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and
for the specific purpose for which given.
(b) No
provision of
this Agreement may be amended, supplemented, modified or waived except in
writing in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.1(b);
it being
understood that notwithstanding anything in this Section 13.1(b)
to the contrary,
no material amendment to this Agreement shall become effective with respect
to
any Conduit Investor unless, if required by the documents governing such Conduit
Investor’s commercial paper program, such Conduit Investor (or the applicable
Managing Agent on its behalf) shall have received written confirmation from
each
of the Rating Agencies that such amendment shall not result in the reduction
or
withdrawal of the rating of such Conduit Investor’s Commercial Paper. The
Conduit Investors, Seller, Servicer, the Managing Agents and the Program Agent,
at the direction of the Required Committed Investors, may enter into written
modifications or waivers of any provisions of this Agreement, provided
that no such
modification or waiver shall:
(i) without
the consent
of each affected Investor, (A) extend the Commitment Termination Date or the
date of any payment or deposit of Collections by Seller or Servicer, (B) reduce
the rate or extend the time of payment of Yield (or any component thereof),
(C)
reduce any fee payable to the Program Agent or any Managing Agent for the
benefit of the Investors, (D) except pursuant to Article XII
hereof, change the
amount of the Capital of any Investor, any Committed Investor’s Pro Rata Share
(except as may be required pursuant to a Conduit Investor’s Support Facilities)
or any Committed Investor’s Commitment, (E) amend, modify or waive any provision
of the definition of Required Committed Investors, Section 9.1(e)
or this
Section 13.1(b),
(F) consent to or
permit the assignment or transfer by Seller of any of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement, (G) change the definition of “Aggregate Reserves”, “Cash
Receipt Date”, “Charged-Off Receivable”, “Concentration Limit”, “Default Ratio”,
“Defaulted Receivable”, “Delinquency Ratio”, “Delinquent Receivable”, “Dilution
Horizon Ratio”, “Dilution Ratio”, “Dilution Reserve,” “Dilution Reserve
Percentage”, “Eligible Receivable,” “Investor Interest”, “Loss Horizon Ratio”,
“Loss Ratio”, “Loss Reserve”, “Loss Reserve Percentage”, “Net Receivable Pool
Balance”, “Receivable”, “Stress Factor”, “Turnover Rate”, “Yield and Servicer
Fee Reserve”, or “Yield and Servicer Fee Reserve Percentage” or (H) amend or
modify any defined term (or any defined term used directly or indirectly in
such
defined term) used in, clauses (A) through (G) above in a manner that would
circumvent the intention of the restrictions set forth in such clauses;
or
(ii) without
the written
consent of the Program Agent or any Managing Agent, amend, modify or waive
any
provision of this Agreement if the effect thereof is to affect the rights or
duties of the Program Agent or such Managing Agent in its capacity as such,
as
applicable.
Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, the Program Agent, the Required Committed Investors (or the Managing
Agents, as applicable) and the Conduit Investors may enter into amendments
to
modify any of the terms or provisions of Article XI,
Article XII
and Section 13.14
or any other
provision of this Agreement without the consent of Seller, provided
that such
amendment has no negative impact upon Seller. Any modification or waiver made
in
accordance with this Section 13.1
shall apply to
each of the Investors equally and shall be binding upon Seller, the Investors,
the Managing Agents and the Program Agent.
Section
13.2. Notices.
Except as
provided below, all communications and notices provided for hereunder shall
be
in writing (including bank wire, telecopy or electronic facsimile transmission
or similar writing) and shall be given to the other parties hereto at their
respective addresses, telecopy numbers and e-mail addresses set forth on the
signature pages hereof, or at such other address, telecopy number or e-mail
address as such Person may hereafter specify for the purpose of notice to each
of the other parties hereto. Each such notice or other communication shall
be
effective if given by telecopy, upon the receipt thereof, if given by mail,
three (3) Business Days after the time such communication is deposited in the
mail with first class postage prepaid or if given by any other means, when
received at the address specified in this Section 13.2.
Notices and other
communications hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic
communication (including e-mail), provided
that the subject
line or title of such notices or other communications includes the following
language: EL PASO - Transaction Notice - [subject] in addition to any other
language which is required hereunder. Notices and other communications sent
to
an e-mail address deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an
acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt
requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written
acknowledgement); provided
that if such
notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours
of
the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent
at
the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient. Seller
and
Servicer hereby authorize the Program Agent to effect purchases based on
telephonic notices made by any Person whom the Program Agent or such Managing
Agent, as applicable, in good faith believes to be acting on behalf of Seller
or
Servicer. Seller or Servicer, as the case may be, agrees to deliver promptly
to
the Program Agent or the applicable Managing Agent a written confirmation of
each telephonic notice signed by an authorized officer of Seller or Servicer;
provided
the absence of
such confirmation shall not affect the validity of such notice. If the written
confirmation differs from the action taken by the Program Agent or such Managing
Agent, the records of the Program Agent or such Managing Agent shall govern
absent manifest error.
Section
13.3. Ratable
Payments.
If any Investor,
whether by setoff or otherwise, has payment made to it with respect to any
portion of the Aggregate Unpaids owing to such Investor (other than payments
received pursuant to Section 10.2
or 10.4)
in a greater
proportion than that received by any other Investor entitled to receive a
ratable share of such Aggregate Unpaids, such Investor agrees, promptly upon
demand, to purchase for cash without recourse or warranty a portion of such
Aggregate Unpaids held by the other Investors so that after such purchase each
Investor will hold its ratable proportion of such Aggregate Unpaids;
provided
that if all or any
portion of such excess amount is thereafter recovered from such Investor, such
purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of
such recovery, but without interest.
Section
13.4. Protection
of
Ownership Interests of the Investors.
(a) Seller
agrees that
from time to time, at its expense, it will promptly execute and deliver all
instruments and documents, and take all actions, that may be necessary, or
that
the Program Agent or any Managing Agent may reasonably request, to perfect,
protect or more fully evidence the Investor Interests, or to enable the Program
Agent or the Investors to exercise and enforce their rights and remedies
hereunder.
(b) If
any Seller Party
fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, the Program Agent or any
Investor may (but shall not be required to) perform, or cause performance of,
such obligations, and the Program Agent’s or such Investor’s costs and expenses
incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by Seller as provided in
Section 10.4.
Each Seller Party
irrevocably authorizes the Program Agent at any time and from time to time
in
the sole discretion of the Program Agent, and appoints the Program Agent as
its
attorney-in-fact, to act on behalf of such Seller Party (i) to execute on behalf
of Seller as debtor and to file financing statements necessary or desirable
in
the Program Agent’s sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection
and priority of the interest of the Investors in the Receivables and (ii) to
file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any
financing statement with respect to the Receivables as a financing statement
in
such offices as the Program Agent in its sole discretion deems necessary or
desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the
interests of the Investors in the Receivables. This appointment is coupled
with
an interest and is irrevocable.
Section
13.5. Confidentiality.
(a) Each
Seller Party
agrees to exercise its best efforts to keep, and to cause any third party
recipient of the information described in this Section 13.5(a)
to keep, any
information delivered or made available by the Program Agent, any Managing
Agent
or any Investor to it, confidential from anyone other than Persons employed
or
retained by such party who are or are expected to become engaged in evaluating,
approving, structuring or administering the transactions contemplated hereunder,
the terms, conditions and structure of this Agreement and the other Transaction
Documents and any other confidential proprietary information with respect to
the
Program Agent, the Managing Agents, the Investors and their respective
businesses obtained by or on behalf of such Seller Party in connection with
the
structuring, negotiating and execution of the transactions contemplated herein;
provided
that nothing shall
prevent such Seller Party from disclosing such information (i) to any other
party to any Transaction Document for the purpose of administering or enforcing
this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (ii) pursuant to subpoena
or upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (iii) upon the
request or demand of any governmental authority having jurisdiction over such
Person, (iv) if such information has been publicly disclosed without the
recipient’s violation of its confidentiality obligations, (v) to the extent
reasonably required in connection with any litigation to which such Person
or
such Person’s Affiliates may be a party, (vi) to the extent reasonably
required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, or
(vii) to such Person’s legal counsel, independent auditors and other
professional advisors and to such Person’s rating agencies. Unless prohibited
from doing so by applicable law, in the event that a Seller Party is legally
requested or required to disclose any confidential information pursuant to
paragraph (ii), (iii), or (v) of this Section 13.5(a),
such Person shall
notify the Program Agent and each Managing Agent and Investor affected thereby
of such request or requirement and will use reasonable efforts to minimize
the
disclosure of such information.
(b) The
Program Agent
and each Investor and Managing Agent agrees to exercise its best efforts to
keep, and to cause any third party recipient of the information described in
this Section 13.5(b)
to keep, any
information delivered or made available by any Seller Party to it, confidential
from anyone other than Persons employed or retained by such party who are or
are
expected to become engaged in evaluating, approving, structuring or
administering the transactions contemplated hereunder; provided
that nothing shall
prevent the Program Agent or any Investor or Managing Agent from disclosing
such
information (i) to any other party to any Transaction Document for the
purpose of administering or enforcing this Agreement or any other Transaction
Document, (ii) pursuant to subpoena or upon the order of any court or
administrative agency, (iii) upon the request or demand of any governmental
authority having jurisdiction over such Person, (iv) if such information
has been publicly disclosed without the recipient’s violation of its
confidentiality obligations, (v) to the extent reasonably required in
connection with any litigation to which such Person or such Person’s Affiliates
may be a party, (vi) to the extent reasonably required in connection with
the exercise of any remedy hereunder, (vii) to such Person’s legal counsel,
independent auditors and other professional advisors and to such Person’s rating
agencies, or (viii) to any actual or proposed participant or assignee of
such Person (each, a “Transferee”)
that has agreed
in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Section 13.5(b).
Unless prohibited
from doing so by applicable law, in the event that the Program Agent or any
Investor or Managing Agent is legally requested or required to disclose any
confidential information pursuant to paragraph (ii), (iii), or (v) of this
Section 13.5(b),
such Person shall
notify each affected Seller Party of such request or requirement and will use
reasonable efforts to minimize the disclosure of such information.
(c) Notwithstanding
the
foregoing, each party hereto may disclose to any and all other Persons, without
limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and all materials
of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to
them
relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.
Section
13.6. Bankruptcy
Petition.
Seller, Servicer,
the Program Agent, each Managing Agent and each Committed Investor hereby
covenants and agrees that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after
the payment in full of all outstanding senior indebtedness of a Conduit
Investor, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting
against, such Conduit Investor any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
insolvency or liquidation proceedings or other similar proceeding under the
laws
of the United States or any state of the United States.
Section
13.7. Limitation
of
Liability; Limitation of Payment; No Recourse.
(a) No
claim may be
made by any Seller Party or any other Person against any Conduit Investor,
any
Managing Agent, the Program Agent or any Committed Investor or their respective
Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, attorneys or agents for any special,
indirect, consequential or punitive damages in respect of any claim for breach
of contract or any other theory of liability arising out of or related to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any act, omission or event
occurring in connection therewith; and each Seller Party hereby waives,
releases, and agrees not to xxx upon any claim for any such damages, whether
or
not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its
favor.
(b) Notwithstanding
any
provisions contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to
the
contrary, no Conduit Investor shall be obligated to pay any amount pursuant
to
this Agreement or any other Transaction Document unless such Conduit Investor
has excess cash flow from operations or has received funds which may be used
to
make such payment and which funds or excess cash flow are not required to repay
any of such Conduit Investor’s Commercial Paper when due. Any amount which any
Conduit Investor does not pay pursuant to the operation of the preceding
sentence shall not constitute a claim against such Conduit Investor for any
such
insufficiency. The agreements in this section shall survive the termination
of
this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to the contrary,
the obligations of each Conduit Investor under the Transaction Documents are
solely the corporate obligations of such Conduit Investor. No recourse shall
be
had for any obligation or claim arising out of or based upon any Transaction
Document against any stockholder, employee, officer, director or incorporator
of
such Conduit Investor.
(d) The
agreements in
this Section 13.7
shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
Section
13.8. Seller’s
Payment
Obligations.
Seller’s payment
obligations under this Agreement are limited to funds available therefor
pursuant to Section 2.4
and 2.5,
Seller’s funds
required to be deposited into the Collection Account or other available funds
of
Seller, and such payment obligations shall be non-recourse other than with
respect to such funds; provided
that nothing
contained in this Section shall limit the recourse or rights of the Program
Agent, any Managing Agent or any Investor with respect to the Receivables
(whether now existing or hereafter arising), the Collections, each Lock-Box
and
Blocked Account and all agreements related thereto, all Related Security
(including all of Seller’s rights, including rights of indemnification and
rights to receive Adjustment Payments, under each Sale Agreement), all other
rights and payments relating to such Receivables and all proceeds of any thereof
and all other assets in which the Program Agent on behalf of the Investors
has
acquired, may hereafter acquire and/or purports to have acquired an interest
under this Agreement, provided
further
that that nothing
contained in this Section shall limit the rights of the Program Agent, any
Managing Agent or any Investor to require Seller’s performance of its
obligations under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (other than
its payment obligations to the extent limited by this Section).
Section
13.9. CHOICE
OF
LAW.
THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF
NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW
PRINCIPLES).
Section
13.10. CONSENT
TO
JURISDICTION.
EACH PARTY TO
THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS (A) FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY IN
ANY
LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION
DOCUMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY, OR FOR RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
JUDGMENT IN RESPECT THEREOF, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE GENERAL JURISDICTION OF THE
COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOR
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND APPELLATE COURTS FROM ANY THEREOF; (B)
CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE BROUGHT IN SUCH COURTS AND
WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY
SUCH
ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING WAS
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT COURT AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM THE SAME;
(C)
AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE EFFECTED
BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL), POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH PERSON AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED
PURSUANT TO SECTION
13.2
OR AT SUCH OTHER
ADDRESS OF WHICH THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED PURSUANT THERETO;
(D) AGREES THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO EFFECT SERVICE OF
PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT TO XXX
IN
ANY OTHER JURISDICTION; AND (E) WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY LEGAL ACTION
OR
PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS ANY
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
Section
13.11. WAIVER
OF JURY
TRIAL.
EACH PARTY HERETO
HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY
OR
INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN
ANY
WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ANY DOCUMENT
EXECUTED BY ANY SELLER PARTY PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP
ESTABLISHED HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER.
Section
13.12. Integration;
Binding Effect; Survival of Terms.
(a) This
Agreement and
each other Transaction Document contain the final and complete integration
of
all prior expressions by the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof superseding all prior oral or written
understandings.
(b) This
Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns (including any trustee in
bankruptcy). This Agreement shall create and constitute the continuing
obligations of the parties hereto in accordance with its terms and shall remain
in full force and effect until terminated in accordance with its terms;
provided
that the rights
and remedies with respect to (i) any breach of any representation and warranty
made by any Seller Party pursuant to Article V,
(ii) the
indemnification and payment provisions of Article X,
and Sections
13.5,
13.6
and 13.7
shall be
continuing and shall survive any termination of this Agreement. References
in
this Agreement to any party or any other Person shall include such party’s or
Person’s successors and assigns unless otherwise indicated.
Section
13.13. Counterparts;
Severability; Section References.
This Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto
in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an
original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the
same
Agreement. Any provisions of this Agreement which are prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating
the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in
any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in
any
other jurisdiction. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, all references herein
to “Article,” “Section,” “Schedule” or “Exhibit” shall mean articles and
sections of, and schedules and exhibits to, this Agreement.
Section
13.14. Agent
Roles.
Each of the
parties hereto acknowledges that Paribas, one or more Managing Agents and
Committed Investors acts, or may in the future act, (i) as administrator or
managing agent for one or more Conduit Investors or their Funding Sources,
(ii)
as issuing and paying agent for Commercial Paper of one or more Conduit
Investors or their Funding Sources, (iii) as a Support Party for one or more
Conduit Investors or their Funding Sources and (iv) to provide other services
from time to time for some or all of the Conduit Investors. Without limiting
the
generality of this Section 13.14,
each party hereby
acknowledges and consents to any and all such soles of Paribas and any Managing
Agent and Committed Investor and agrees that in connection with any such role,
Paribas or such Managing Agent or Committed Investor may take, or refrain from
taking, any action that it, in its discretion, deems appropriate, including
in
any such role or in any role under this Agreement.
Section
13.15. Characterization.
(a) It
is the intention
of the parties hereto that each purchase hereunder shall constitute and be
treated as an absolute and irrevocable sale, which purchase shall provide the
applicable Investor with the full benefits of ownership of the applicable
Investor Interest. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, each
sale
of an Investor Interest hereunder is made without recourse to Seller;
provided
that (i) Seller
shall be liable to each Investor and the Program Agent for all representations,
warranties, covenants and indemnities made by Seller pursuant to the terms
of
this Agreement, and (ii) such sale does not constitute and is not intended
to
result in an assumption by any Investor or the Program Agent or any assignee
thereof of any obligation of Seller, the Originator or any other Person arising
in connection with the Receivables, the Related Security, or the related
Contracts, or any other obligations of Seller or the Originator.
(b) In
addition to any
ownership interest which the Program Agent may from time to time acquire
pursuant hereto, Seller hereby grants to the Program Agent for the ratable
benefit of the Investors a valid and perfected security interest in all of
Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under all Receivables now existing
or hereafter arising, the Collections, each Lock-Box and Blocked Account and
all
agreements related thereto, all Related Security (including all of Seller’s
rights, including rights of indemnification and rights to receive Adjustment
Payments, under each Sale Agreement and all UCC financing statements filed
pursuant either Sale Agreement), all other rights and payments relating to
such
Receivables and all proceeds of any thereof and all other assets in which the
Program Agent on behalf of the Investors has acquired, may hereafter acquire
and/or purports to have acquired an interest under this Agreement prior to
all
other liens on and security interests therein to secure the prompt and complete
payment of the Aggregate Unpaids. The Program Agent and the Investors shall
have, in addition to the rights and remedies that they may have under this
Agreement, all other rights and remedies provided to a secured creditor under
the UCC and other applicable law, which rights and remedies shall be cumulative.
Seller hereby authorizes the Program Agent, within the meaning of 9-509 of
any
applicable enactment of the UCC, as secured party for the benefit of itself
and
of the Investors, to file, without the signature of Seller or the Originator,
as
debtors, the UCC financing statements contemplated herein and under each Sale
Agreement.
(c) In
connection with
Seller’s assignment of its right, title and interest in, to and under the Sale
Agreements to the Program Agent hereunder, Seller agrees that the Program Agent
shall have the right to enforce Seller’s rights and remedies under each Sale
Agreement, to receive all amounts payable thereunder or in connection therewith,
to consent to amendments, modifications or waivers thereof, and to direct,
instruct or request any action thereunder, but in each case without any
obligation on the part of the Program Agent or any Investor or any of its or
their respective Affiliates to perform any of the obligations of Seller under
either Sale Agreement. To the extent that Seller enforces Seller’s rights and
remedies under a Sale Agreement, from and after the occurrence of an
Amortization Event, and during the continuance thereof, the Program Agent shall
have the exclusive right to direct such enforcement by Seller. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, Seller shall not consent to the eligibility
of
Excluded Receivables as Receivables under the Sale Agreements without the prior
consent of the Program Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Committed
Investors).
(d) This
Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby have been structured with the intention
that they be treated as a financing transaction for purposes of federal, state
and local income and franchise taxes and any other tax imposed on or measured
by
income.
[SIGNATURE
PAGES FOLLOW]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered
by
their duly authorized officers as of the date hereof.
CIG
FUNDING
COMPANY, L.L.C.
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Vice President
|
||
Address:
CIG
Funding Company, L.L.C.
|
||
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
||
Attention:
Treasurer
|
||
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
COLORADO
INTERSTATE GAS
COMPANY
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Vice President
|
||
Address:
Colorado Interstate Gas Company
|
||
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
||
Attention:
Treasurer
|
||
Fax: 000-000-0000 |
[Signature
Pages to Receivables Purchase Agreement]
XXXXXXXX
FUNDING
CORPORATION,
as Conduit Investor
|
||
By:
|
/s/Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
||
Title: Secretary
|
||
Address: Xxxxxxxx
Funding Corporation
|
||
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxx,
XX
00000
|
||
Attention:
R.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
||
Telephone: (000) 000-0000 | ||
Fax: 000-000-0000 | ||
E-mail Address: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
|
BNP
PARIBAS,
New York Branch,
as
the
Managing Agent for the Xxxxxxxx Investor Group
and as Program Agent
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
|
|
|
Title:
Managing Director
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
|
|
Title:
Director
|
|
|
Address: BNP
Paribas
|
|
|
New
York
Branch
|
|
|
000
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
|
Xxx
Xxxx, XX
00000
|
|
|
Fax: 000-000-0000
|
|
|
E-mail
Address:
xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
|
[Signature
Pages to Receivables Purchase Agreement]
ACCEPTED
AND AGREED
TO,
solely
for purposes
of Section 8.6 above.
EL
PASO
CORPORATION
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Vice President
|
||
Address:
|
El
Paso
Corporation
|
|
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxxx,
XX
00000
|
||
Attention:
Treasurer
|
||
Fax:
|
000-000-0000
|
[Signature
Pages to
Receivables Purchase Agreement]
EXHIBIT
I
TO
DEFINITIONS
As
used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Accrual
Period”
means
(i) the
period commencing on and including the date of the initial Incremental Purchase
and ending on but excluding the next following Monthly Settlement Date, and
(ii)
each successive period commencing on and including a Monthly Settlement Date
and
ending on but excluding the next following Monthly Settlement Date.
“Additional
Amounts”
means
all
indebtedness and other obligations owed to the Originator or Financing LLC
(prior to giving effect to any transfer or conveyance under the applicable
Sale
Agreement) or to Seller (after giving effect to such transfers and conveyances)
arising from commodity, volumetric or usage or from transportation services
(other than transportation reservation) or storage services (other than storage
reservation), but excluding any such indebtedness or obligations owed to the
Originator, Financing LLC or Seller by any of the Affiliates of the Originator
from time to time.
“Adjusted
Pro
Rata Share”
means,
for each
Committed Investor, the Commitment of such Committed Investor within a given
Investor Group divided
by
the sum of the
Commitments of all of the Committed Investors in such Investor Group, adjusted
as necessary to give effect to any assignments pursuant to Section 12.1(b).
“Adjustment
Payment”
means
any
Purchase Price Credit, Repurchase Price or Special Adjustment Amount (as defined
in the applicable Sale Agreement) payable to Seller (including as assignee
of
Finance LLC) or its assigns pursuant to a Sale Agreement.
“Adverse
Claim”
means
a lien,
security interest, charge or encumbrance, or other right or claim in, of or
on
any Person’s assets or properties in favor of any other Person.
“Affected
Person”
means,
each
Investor, each Managing Agent, the Program Agent, each Funding Source with
respect to a Conduit Investor, and any insurance company, bank or other funding
entity providing liquidity, credit enhancement or back-up purchase support
or
facilities to a Conduit Investor or its Funding Source.
“Affiliate”
means,
with
respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person
or
any Subsidiary of such Person.
“Aggregate
Capital”
means,
at any
time, the aggregate amount of Capital of all Investor Interests outstanding
on
such date.
“Aggregate
Reserves”
means,
at any
time, the sum of the Loss Reserve, the Yield and Servicer Fee Reserve and the
Dilution Reserve for the most recently completed Monthly Period.
“Aggregate
Unpaids”
means,
at any
time, an amount equal to the sum of all Aggregate Capital and all unpaid
Obligations (whether due or accrued) at such time.
“Agreement”
means
this
Receivables Purchase Agreement, as it may be amended or modified and in effect
from time to time.
“Alternate
Rate”
means,
for any
day, the sum of the Prime Rate for such day plus the Applicable
Xxxxxx.
“Amortization
Date”
means
the
earliest to occur of (i) the Commitment Termination Date, (ii) the Business
Day
immediately prior to the occurrence of an Amortization Event set forth in
Section 9.1(d),
(iii) the
Business Day specified in a written notice from the Program Agent following
the
occurrence of any other Amortization Event, (iv) the date on which the Program
Limit shall have been reduced to zero in accordance with the definition of
such
term; provided
that any
prepayment resulting from such declaration of the Amortization Date shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 2.1.
“Amortization
Event”
has
the meaning
specified in Article IX.
“Applicable
Margin”
has
the meaning
set forth in the Fee Letters or as otherwise provided in Section 9.3.
“Assignment
Agreement”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 12.1(b).
“Bank
Rate”
means
the LIBO
Rate or the Alternate Rate, as applicable, with respect to each Investor
Interest of the Committed Investors and any Investor Interest of a Conduit
Investor which is being determined pursuant to Article IV
“Blocked
Account”
means
each
depositary account in which any Collections are deposited and which is listed
on
Exhibit IV.
“Blocked
Account
Agreement”
means
an
agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit VI,
or such other
agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Program Agent,
among Seller, the Program Agent and a Collection Bank or, in the case of the
Blocked Account Agreement relating to the Collection Account, among Seller,
the
Program Agent and the depositary holding the Collection Account.
“Breakage
Costs”
means
for any
Accrual Period or any tranche period for Commercial Paper for any Investor
Interest which: (i) has its Capital reduced by reason of a reduction of the
Program Limit without compliance with Servicer’s notice requirements hereunder,
(ii) does not have its Capital reduced on the applicable Monthly Settlement
Date
to the full extent of its share of any excess of Aggregate Capital over the
Program Limit as scheduled to be reduced on such date pursuant to notice from
the Servicer, or (iii) is assigned pursuant to a Support Facility or terminated
prior to the date on which it was originally scheduled to end, including by
the
written notice of Seller that it wishes to terminate the facility evidenced
by
this Agreement; an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Yield that
would have accrued during the remainder of the Accrual Period or the tranche
period for Commercial Paper determined by the applicable Managing Agent to
relate to such Investor Interest (as applicable) subsequent to the date of
such
reduction, assignment or termination (or in respect of clause (ii) above, the
Monthly Settlement Date on which such reduction of the Program Limit was
scheduled to occur) of the Capital of such Investor Interest if such reduction,
assignment or termination had not occurred or such notice of reduction of the
Program Limit had not been delivered, over (B) the sum of (x) to the extent
all
or a portion of such Capital is allocated to another Investor Interest, the
amount of Yield actually accrued during the remainder of such period on such
Capital for the new Investor Interest, and (y) to the extent such Capital is
not
allocated to another Investor Interest, the income, if any, actually received
during the remainder of such period by the holder of such Investor Interest
from
investing the portion of such Capital not so allocated. Prior to the
Amortization Date, all Breakage Costs shall be due and payable hereunder on
the
Monthly Settlement Date which follows written demand therefor, and from and
after the Amortization Date, all Breakage Costs shall be due and payable
hereunder within five Business Days after written demand.
“Business
Day”
means
any day on
which banks are not authorized or required to close in New York, New York,
and,
if the applicable Business Day relates to any computation or payment to be
made
with respect to the LIBO Rate, on which dealings in dollar deposits are carried
on in the London interbank market.
“Capital”
of
any Investor
Interest means, at any time, (A) the Purchase Price of such Investor Interest,
minus (B) the sum of the aggregate amount of Collections and other payments
received by the Program Agent or the applicable Managing Agent which in each
case are applied to reduce such Capital in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement; provided that such Capital shall be restored
(in
accordance with Section 2.5)
in the amount of
any Collections or other payments so received and applied if at any time the
distribution of such Collections or payments are rescinded, returned or refunded
for any reason.
“Capital
Pro
Rata Share”
means,
for any
Investor at any time, the amount of Capital allocated to the Investor Interests
of such Investor at such time divided
by
the Aggregate
Capital at such time.
“Carryback
Receivables”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, Eligible Receivables (or the applicable portion thereof) having
an aggregate Outstanding Balance equal to the lesser of (a) the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of Eligible Receivables which were first included in the
Current Month Net Receivables Pool Balance for such Monthly Period (calculated
as though there were no Carryback Receivables) on any day prior to the Monthly
Report Date for the immediately preceding Monthly Period or (b) the excess,
if
any, of (i) the sum of (A) the Capital of the Investor Interests at the end
of
such immediately preceding Monthly Period plus (B) the Aggregate Reserves
computed for such immediately preceding Monthly Period, over (ii) the sum of
(A)
the Net Receivable Pool Balance at the end of such immediately preceding Monthly
Period, plus (B) the Collection Account Amount on the last Daily Settlement
Date
for such immediately preceding Monthly Period (after giving effect to any
changes therein on such Daily Settlement Date).
“Cash
Receipt
Date”
means
the stated
due date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately
following the stated due date) for invoices of Receivables which were created
during the prior Monthly Period (or, in the case of the initial Monthly Period,
during the period commencing October 1, 2006 and ending on October 31,
2006).
“Change
of
Control”
means the
Originator’s
failure to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding
member interests of Seller.
“Charged-Off
Receivable”
means
a
Receivable which, consistent with Servicer’s collection procedures, would be
written off Seller’s books as uncollectible. For the avoidance of doubt, a
Charged-Off Receivable shall be deemed to have an Outstanding Balance of
$0.
“Collection
Account”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 2.5.
“Collection
Account Amount”
shall
mean, at
any time, the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Collection
Account.
“Collection
Bank”
means,
at any
time, any of the banks holding one or more Blocked Accounts.
“Collection
Notice”
means
a notice,
in substantially the form of Annex
A
to Exhibit VI,
from the Program
Agent to a Collection Bank.
“Collection
Notice Event”
means
(a) (i) the
rating of Servicer’s long-term senior unsecured debt rating, as in effect on the
date of this Agreement shall have been reduced by one notch by either Rating
Agency and (ii) such Rating Agency shall have announced a negative outlook
with
respect to such reduced rating, and the event described in this clause (i)
shall
have continued for a period of ten days, or (ii) such rating shall have been
reduced by two or more notches by either Rating Agency or shall have been
withdrawn. (It is intended by the parties that a “notch” refers to a rating
subcategory within a main rating category by a Rating Agency, e.g., a change
from B1 to B2 by Xxxxx’x or from B+ to B by S&P each shall constitute a
reduction of one notch.)
“Collections”
means,
with
respect to any Receivable, all cash collections in respect of such Receivable,
including all yield, Finance Charges or other related amounts accruing in
respect thereof and all cash proceeds of Related Security (including any
Adjustment Payment) with respect to such Receivable.
“Commercial
Paper”
means
promissory
notes of any Conduit Investor issued by such Conduit Investor or its Funding
Source in the commercial paper market.
“Commitment”
means,
for each
Committed Investor, the commitment of such Committed Investor to purchase
Investor Interests from Seller in an amount not to exceed (i) in the aggregate,
the amount set forth opposite such Committed Investor’s name on Schedule A
to this Agreement,
as such amount may be modified in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii)
with
respect to any individual purchase hereunder, its Pro Rata Share of the Purchase
Price therefor.
“Commitment
Termination Date”
means
November 2,
2007, unless such date is extended with the consent of the parties
hereto.
“Committed
Investors”
means
Paribas and
any other Investor designated as a Committed Investor in the applicable
Assignment Agreement.
“Computation
Agent”
means
El Paso
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
“Concentration
Limit”
means,
at any
time, for any Obligor of a Receivable, (i) the Allowable Percentage (determined
in accordance with the table set forth below) of the Net Outstanding Balance
of
all Eligible Receivables, or (ii) such higher percentage of the Net Outstanding
Balance of all Eligible Receivables or higher amount (a “Special
Concentration Limit”)
for any Obligor
designated in writing by the Program Agent (at the direction or with the consent
of the Required Committed Investors); provided,
that in the case
of an Obligor and any Affiliate of such Obligor, the Concentration Limit shall
be calculated as if such Obligor and such Affiliate are one Obligor; and
provided,
further,
the Program Agent
(at the direction or with the consent of the Required Committed Investors)
may,
upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to Seller, cancel or modify any
Special Concentration Limit (such right not to be unreasonably
exercised).
Allowable
Percentage
|
Fitch
Rating
|
S&P
Rating
|
Xxxxx’x
Rating
|
4.0%
|
Lower
than
BBB- or unrated
|
Lower
than
BBB- or unrated
|
Lower
than
Baa3 or unrated
|
8.0%
|
BBB-
or
higher and lower than A-
|
BBB-
or
higher and lower than A-
|
Baa3
or
higher and lower than A3
|
12.0%
|
A-
or
higher
|
A-
or
higher
|
A3
or
higher
|
The
Allowable
Percentage for an Obligor shall correspond to the rating of its long-term senior
unsecured debt by Fitch, S&P and Xxxxx’x as set forth above. If the
Obligor’s rating falls within different levels by S&P, Xxxxx’x and Fitch,
the Allowable Percentage corresponding to the lower of the two highest ratings
shall apply. If the long-term senior unsecured debt rating of an Obligor is
not
rated by at least two of S&P, Xxxxx’x and Fitch, then the Allowable
Percentage for such Obligor shall be 4.0%.
“Conduit
Investor”
means
Xxxxxxxx
Funding Corporation and any party added as a Conduit Investor pursuant to
Section 12.3
or designated as a
Conduit Investor in the applicable Assignment Agreement.
“Contract”
means,
with
respect to any Receivable, the invoices, transportation, storage or other
service agreements, or other writings pursuant to which such Receivable arises
or which evidences such Receivable.
“CP
Rate”
means,
with
respect to each Accrual Period, the sum of (a):
(i)
with
respect to any
Investor Interest funded by Xxxxxxxx, if and to the extent such Conduit Investor
funds the Purchase or maintenance of its Investor Interest by the issuance
of
Commercial Paper during such Accrual Period, a per annum rate equal to the
rate
or, if more than one rate, the weighted average of the rates, determined by
converting to an interest-bearing equivalent rate per annum the discount rate
(or rates) at which Commercial Paper of such Conduit Investor or its Funding
Source on each day during such period have been sold by any placement agent
or
commercial paper dealer selected by such Conduit Investor or Funding Source,
plus
(iii) to the
extent not reflected in the rate described in clause (ii) above, applicable
commissions and charges charged by such placement agent or commercial paper
dealer with respect to such Commercial Paper, expressed as a percentage of
such
face amount and converted to an interest-bearing equivalent rate per annum
(but
not in excess of 0.05% per annum),
plus
(iv) certain
documentation and transaction costs directly associated with the issuance of
such Commercial Paper, as are customarily charged by such Conduit Investor
or
Funding Source to its customers in similar transactions, plus
(v) costs of other
related borrowings by such Conduit Investor or Funding Source, including
borrowings to fund small or odd dollar amounts that are not easily accommodated
in the commercial paper market, expressed as a percentage of the face amount
of
such Commercial Paper and converted to an interest-bearing equivalent rate
per
annum;
provided,
that
if any
component of such rate is a discount rate, in calculating the CP Rate, such
Conduit Investor shall for such component use the rate resulting from converting
such discount rate to an interest bearing equivalent rate per annum;
or
(ii) for
any Investor
Interest owned by a Conduit Investor party to this Agreement pursuant to a
Joinder Agreement, the “CP Rate” set forth in such Joinder
Agreement;
plus
(b) the Applicable
Margin.
“Credit
and
Collection Policy”
means
Servicer’s
Credit and Collection Policy applicable to the Receivables existing on the
date
hereof and summarized in Exhibit IX
hereto, as
modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Current
Month
Net Receivables Pool Balance”
means,
for any
day during a Monthly Period, (i) the Net Receivables Pool Balance computed
at
the end of the prior Monthly Period, plus (ii) the aggregate Original Balances
of all Eligible Receivables which were created during such Monthly Period,
but
excluding any Carryback Receivables for such Monthly Period, minus (iii) the
aggregate amount of Collections received during such Monthly Period in respect
of Receivables described in clause (i)
or (ii);
provided
that for the
November, 2006 Monthly Period, the Original Balances of Eligible Receivables
which were first created in October, 2006 after the Initial Cutoff Date shall
also be included in the amount determined pursuant to clause (ii).
“Daily
Report”
means,
with
respect to a Daily Settlement Date, a report, in substantially the form of
Exhibit XII
hereto
(appropriately completed), furnished by Servicer to the Program Agent and the
Managing Agents on the next Business Day pursuant to Section 8.5,
which shall,
among other things, provide a computation of (i) the Current Month Net
Receivables Pool Balance for the Business Day immediately preceding such Daily
Settlement Date, (ii) except in the Daily Report for the last Daily Settlement
Date in respect of a Monthly Period, the Estimated Current Month Net Receivables
Pool Balance for such Daily Settlement Date and (iii) the cumulative Collections
for the related Monthly Period.
“Daily
Settlement Date”
means,
with
respect to a Monthly Period, each Business Day commencing with the Business
Day
immediately following the Cash Receipt Date in such Monthly Period to and
including the first Business Day of the next following Monthly
Period.
“Default
Fee”
means
with
respect to any amount due and payable by Seller (or required to be deposited
by
Servicer) in respect of any Aggregate Unpaids, an amount equal to interest
on
any such unpaid Aggregate Unpaids at a rate per annum equal to 2.0% plus the
Prime Rate.
“Default
Ratio”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, the average of the ratios (each expressed as a percentage)
for
such Monthly Period and the two immediately preceding Monthly Periods of (a)
the
sum of (i) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables as to which,
at
as of the last day of the applicable Monthly Period, any payment, or part
thereof remained unpaid for thirty-one (31) or more days from the original
due
date for such payment and sixty (60) days or less from such original due date,
and (ii) without duplication, the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all
Receivables which became Charged-Off Receivables during such Monthly Period,
determined immediately prior to the time such Receivable became a Charged-Off
Receivable (provided in either such case that any portion of the Outstanding
Balance of such Receivables representing a net credit balance shall be deemed
to
be $0), divided by
(b) the aggregate
Original Balance of all Receivables originated and billed during the Monthly
Period which ended two Monthly Periods prior to such Monthly
Period.
“Defaulted
Receivable”
means
a
Receivable (a) as to which any payment, or part thereof, remains unpaid for
thirty-one (31) or more days from the original due date for such payment or
(b)
is a Charged-Off Receivable; provided
that any portion
of the Outstanding Balance of any such Receivable representing a net credit
balance shall be deemed to be $0.
“Delinquency
Ratio”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, a ratio (expressed as a percentage) equal to (i) the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Delinquent Receivables divided by
(ii) the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Receivables, each as of the last day of such Monthly
Period.
“Delinquent
Receivable”
means
a
Receivable, other than a Defaulted Receivable, as to which any payment, or
part
thereof, remains unpaid for one (1) Business Day or more from the original
due
date for such payment; provided
that any portion
of the Outstanding Balance of any such Receivable representing a net credit
balance shall be deemed to be $0.
“Dilution
Horizon Ratio”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, a fraction, the numerator of which equals the aggregate Original
Balance of all Receivables originated during such Monthly Period, and the
denominator of which equals the sum of the aggregate Outstanding Balance of
Receivables as of the end of such Monthly Period.
“Dilution
Ratio”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, a ratio (expressed as a percentage), calculated as of the last
day of such Monthly Period, equal to (i) the aggregate amount of Dilutions
which
occurred during such Monthly Period divided by
(ii) the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of Receivables at the end of the immediately preceding
Monthly Period.
“Dilution
Reserve”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, an amount equal to the product of (a) the Net Receivable Pool
Balance as of end of such Monthly Period, times (b) the Dilution Reserve
Percentage for such Monthly Period.
“Dilution
Reserve Percentage”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, either (i) a percentage calculated in accordance with the
following formula or (ii) 5.0%, whichever is greater:
DRP
= [(SF x ED) +
[(DS - ED) x (DS/ED)]] x DHR
where:
DHR
|
=
|
the
Dilution
Horizon Ratio for such Monthly
Period;
|
DRP
|
=
|
the
Dilution
Reserve Percentage for such Monthly
Period
|
DS
|
=
|
a
dilution
spike equal to the highest Dilution Ratio occurring during the 12
most
recent Monthly Periods ending with (and including) such Monthly
Period;
|
ED
|
=
|
the
average
of the Dilution Ratios for the 12 most recent Monthly Periods ending
with
(and including) such Monthly Period;
and
|
SF
|
=
|
the
Stress
Factor.
|
If,
for any Monthly
Period, the percentage calculated in accordance the above formula is less than
5.0%, the Dilution Reserve Percentage shall be 5.0%.
“Dilutions”
means,
at any
time, the aggregate amount of reductions or cancellations of Receivables
described in clause (i)
of Section 2.8(a).
“El
Paso
Entity”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 7.1(i).
“Eligible
Receivable”
means,
at any
time, a Receivable that (a) satisfies all of the following criteria, or (b)
has
been approved in writing by the Program Agent for inclusion as an Eligible
Receivable:
(i) which
was
originated in the ordinary course of the Originator’s business,
(ii) which
is
denominated and payable only in United States dollars in the United States
and,
if applicable, for which payment is guaranteed in United States
dollars,
(iii) the
Obligor of
which maintains a place of business in the United States,
(iv) which
is an
“account” or a “payment intangible” within the meaning of Section 9-102 of
the UCC of all applicable jurisdictions,
(v) which
is not a
Defaulted Receivable,
(vi) the
Obligor of
which is not the Obligor of any Receivable which, in the preceding 12 months
(A)
became a Defaulted Receivable, unless such Obligor becomes current and is deemed
an acceptable customer in accordance with the applicable Credit and Collection
Policy, or (B) was referred to a third-party collection agency or other entity
for collection,
(vii) the
Obligor of
which is not in bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or similar
proceedings,
(viii) which
by its terms
is due and payable within 15 days of the original invoice date therefor and
has
not had its payment terms extended or rewritten or otherwise altered in a manner
that would adversely affect the collectibility of such Receivable,
(ix) the
Obligor of
which is not (A) an Affiliate of the Originator, or (B) the United States
federal government, a department or agency thereof or other United States
federal governmental authority,
(x) which
arises under
a Contract which, together with such Receivable, is in full force and effect
and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the related Obligor
enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms, except as limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws,
(xi) which
arises under
a Contract which does not contain (i) a default which is triggered solely by
a
credit downgrade of the Originator or any other El Paso Entity or (ii) a
confidentiality provision that purports to restrict the ability of any Investor
to exercise its rights under this Agreement, including its right to review
the
Contract,
(xii) which
(whether or
not invoiced to the applicable Obligor at the time) arises under a Contract
that
contains an obligation to pay a specified sum of money, contingent only upon
the
sale or delivery of goods or services by the Originator,
(xiii) the
Originator has
not failed to sell or deliver or cause to be sold and delivered goods or
services which failure would give rise to a claim by such Obligor against the
Originator for a payment pursuant to the applicable Contract,
(xiv) to
the extent it
arises solely from the sale of goods or the provision of services to the related
Obligor by the Originator and not by any other Person (in whole or in
part),
(xv) which
arises solely
from (i) transportation reservation or storage reservation charges as a part
of
firm contact obligations or (ii) Additional Amounts,
(xvi) which
has been
fully earned by the Originator and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, as to which the Originator has satisfied and fully performed all
obligations on its part with respect to such Receivable required to be fulfilled
by it, and no further action is required to be performed by any Person with
respect thereto other than payment thereon by the applicable
Obligor,
(xvii) which,
together
with the Contract related thereto, does not contravene any law, rule or
regulation applicable thereto (including any law, rule and regulation relating
to truth in lending, fair credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit
opportunity, fair debt collection practices and privacy) and with respect to
which no part of the Contract related thereto is in violation of any such law,
rule or regulation,
(xviii) which
Receivable,
the origination thereof and the related Contract, satisfy in all material
respects all applicable requirements of the applicable Credit and Collection
Policy,
(xix) as
to which the
related Obligor has been directed to remit Collections to a Blocked Account
or a
Lock-Box,
(xx) which
is not
subject to any present right of rescission, set-off (including rights of set-off
by a governmental entity of a tax liability), counterclaim, any other defense
(including defenses arising out of violations of usury laws) of the applicable
Obligor against the Originator, including the right to set-off any amounts
owed
to any Affiliate of the applicable Obligor (it being understood that only a
portion of a Receivable equal to the amount of such partial rescission, set-off,
counterclaim or defense, if the amount of such partial rescission, set-off,
counterclaim or defense can be quantified, shall be deemed not to be an Eligible
Receivable) or any other Adverse Claim not contemplated by the Transaction
Documents,
(xxi) the
Originator of
which owes no amounts to any Affiliate of the Obligor (it being understood
that
only a portion of a Receivable equal to such amount owed to any such Affiliate
shall be deemed not to be an Eligible Receivable),
(xxii) all
right, title
and interest to and in which has been validly transferred (A) by the Originator
directly to Finance LLC under and in accordance with the First Tier Sale
Agreement, and (B) and by Finance LLC directly to Seller under and in accordance
with the Second Tier Sale Agreement, and Seller has good and marketable title
thereto free and clear of any Adverse Claim not contemplated by the Transaction
Documents,
(xxiii) as
to which, no El
Paso Entity that is a party to the Contract under which such Receivable arose
has knowledge or has received notice that an event which, with the giving of
notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute an event of default
(as
defined in the related Contract under which such Receivable arose) or other
mature default under such Contract has occurred and is continuing,
(xxiv) with
respect to
which, and with respect to the Contract under which such Receivable arose,
the
Originator and each applicable Seller Party has complied in all material
respects with the Credit and Collection Policy,
(xxv) which,
if unbilled,
remains unbilled on the 10th
Business Day of
the calendar month following the calendar month in which such Receivable was
created (or such later date to which the Program Agent, acting with the consent
or at the direction of the Required Committed Investors, shall have consented
with respect to any particular Receivable or group of Receivables),
and
(xxvi) as
to which the
Program Agent has not notified Seller that the Program Agent or the Required
Committed Investors have determined, in their reasonable judgment based on
publicly available information relating to the creditworthiness of the Obligor,
that such Receivable or class of Receivables is not acceptable as an Eligible
Receivable.
“Estimated Current
Month
Net Receivables Pool Balance”
means,
for any
day during a Monthly Period, an estimate of the Current Month Net Receivables
Pool Balance computed for such day, prepared by Servicer on a reasonable basis
based on Contracts in effect at the time such estimate was
prepared.
“Federal
Bankruptcy Code”
means
Title 11 of
the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as amended and any successor
statute thereto.
“Federal
Funds
Effective Rate”
means,
for any
day, the interest rate per annum equal to (a) the weighted average of the rates
on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve
System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if
such
day is not a Business Day, for the preceding Business Day) by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York in the Composite Closing Quotations for U.S. Government
Securities; or (b) if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately 10:30 a.m. (New
York time) for such day on such transactions received by the Reference Bank
from
three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“Fee
Letter”
means
each letter
agreement among Seller, one or more Investors and one or more Managing Agents,
as each such letter agreement may be amended or modified and in effect from
time
to time.
“FERC”
means
the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, or any agency or authority of the United States
from time to time succeeding to its function.
“Finance
Charges”
means,
with
respect to a Contract, any finance, interest, late payment charges or similar
charges owing by an Obligor pursuant to such Contract.
“First
Tier Sale
Agreement”
means
that
certain First Tier Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of the date hereof,
between the Originator and Finance LLC.
“Finance
LLC”
means
CIG Finance
Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.
“Fitch”
means
Fitch, Inc.
or any successor to such rating agency.
“Force
Majeure
Event”
means,
on any
date with respect to a Person, that such Person, by reason of force majeure,
including action
or inaction
of governmental, civil or military authority, war, riot, act of terrorism,
fire,
strike, lockout or other labor dispute, flood, earthquake or other natural
disaster, breakdown of public or private or common carrier communications or
transmission facilities and equipment failure,
is unable to
perform an obligation, but only to the extent that (i) such event or
circumstance is beyond the control of such Person and (ii) such Person has
taken
commercially reasonable precautions to anticipate, and cannot with reasonable
diligence overcome, such event or circumstance.
“Funding
Source”
means,
with
respect to a Conduit Investor, any financing conduit from which (either directly
or through intermediate special purpose entities) such Conduit Investor receives
funding for the making and maintenance of its Capital in the Investor
Interest.
“GAAP”
means
generally
accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States
of America.
“Group
Purchase
Limit”
means,
for each
Investor Group, the sum of the Commitments of the Committed Investors in such
Investor Group.
“Incremental
Purchase”
means
a purchase
of one or more Investor Interests, including the initial purchase of Investor
Interest, which increases the total outstanding Aggregate Capital
hereunder.
“Indebtedness”
of
a Person means
such Person’s (i) obligations for borrowed money, (ii) obligations representing
the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (iii) obligations of
another Person of the types described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii),
whether or not assumed, secured by liens or payable out of the proceeds or
production from property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person,
and
(iv) capitalized lease obligations.
“Independent
Manager”
means
a manager
of Seller who satisfies the requirements for an “Independent Manager” as set
forth in Seller’s limited liability company agreement as in effect on the date
of this Agreement.
“Initial
Cutoff
Date”
has
the meaning
set forth in the First Tier Sale Agreement.
“Investor”
means
any Conduit
Investor or Committed Investor, as applicable.
“Investor
Interest”
means,
at any
time, an undivided percentage ownership interest (computed as set forth below
and based on the amount of Capital allocated thereto pursuant to the terms
and
conditions hereof), which is intended to constitute a beneficial interest,
in
(i) each Receivable arising prior to the time of the most recent computation
or
recomputation of such undivided interest, (ii) all Related Security with respect
to each such Receivable, and (iii) all Collections with respect to, and other
proceeds of, each such Receivable. Each such undivided percentage interest
shall
equal:
C
|
NRPB
- AR +
CAA
|
where:
C = the
Capital of such
Investor Interest
NRPB = the
Net Receivable
Pool Balance
AR = the
Aggregate
Reserves
CAA = the
Collection
Account Amount
Such
undivided
percentage ownership interest shall be initially computed on its date of
purchase. Thereafter, until the Amortization Date, each Investor Interest shall
be automatically recomputed (or deemed to be recomputed) on each day prior
to
the Amortization Date. The variable percentage represented by any Investor
Interest as computed (or deemed recomputed) as of the close of the Business
Day
immediately preceding the Amortization Date shall remain constant at all times
thereafter. The Investor Interest shall be senior to the Junior Interest, in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“Investor
Group”
means
(i) a
Conduit Investor, one or more Committed Investors and their related Managing
Agent or (ii) one or more Committed Investors and the related Managing
Agent.
“Joinder
Agreement”
means
a joinder
agreement substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit VIII
hereto pursuant to
which a new Conduit Investor become a party to this Agreement.
“Junior
Interest”
means,
at any
time, an undivided percentage ownership interest, which is intended to
constitute a beneficial interest, issued by Seller to Finance LLC pursuant
to
the Second Tier Sale Agreement, in (i) each Receivable arising prior to the
time
of the most recent computation or recomputation of the Investor Interest, (ii)
all Related Security with respect to each such Receivable, and (iii) all
Collections with respect to, and other proceeds of, each such Receivable,
representing the interest therein not constituting the Investor Interest. The
Junior Interest shall be junior and subordinate to the Investor Interest, in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
“LIBO
Rate”
means,
with
respect to each Accrual Period, the sum of (a) (i) the interest rate per annum
shown on the BBAM page of the Bloomberg Financial Markets Services Display
Screen or any successor page as the average British Bankers’ Association
Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in United States dollars with a period
comparable to such Accrual Period and for delivery on the first day of such
Accrual Period, as of the close of business (London time) two Business Days
prior to the first day of such Accrual Period, or (ii) if the screen described
in clause (i) above shall cease to be publicly available, the interest rate
per
annum shown on page 3750 of the Telerate screen or any successor page as the
composite offered rate for London interbank deposits in United States dollars
with a period comparable to such Accrual Period at 11:00 a.m. (London time)
two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Accrual Period, or (iii) if the
rates in clauses (i) and (ii) shall cease to be publicly available, the average
interest rate per annum offered to the Program Agent in the interbank market
for
dollar deposits of amounts in funds comparable to the principal amount of the
Investor Interest to which such LIBO Rate is to be applicable with maturities
comparable to the Accrual Period for which such LIBO Rate will apply as of
approximately 1:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) two Business Days prior to
the
commencement of such Accrual Period plus (b) the Applicable Margin.
“Lock-Box”
means
each United
States Post Office box to which Obligors remit Collections.
“Loss
Horizon
Ratio”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, a fraction, the numerator of which equals the aggregate Original
Balance of Receivables originated during such Monthly Period and the Monthly
Period immediately preceding such Monthly Period, and the denominator of which
equals the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Receivables as of the end of such
Monthly Period.
“Loss
Ratio”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, the average of the ratios (each expressed as a percentage)
for
such Monthly Period and the two immediately preceding Monthly Periods of (a)
aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables which became Defaulted
Receivables at any time during such Monthly Period, determined in the case
of
Charged-Off Receivable immediately prior to the time such Receivable became
a
Charged-Off Receivable, divided by
(b) the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of Receivables at the end of such Monthly
Period.
“Loss
Reserve”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, an amount equal to the Loss Reserve Percentage for such Monthly
Period multiplied by the Net Receivable Pool Balance as of the end of such
Monthly Period.
“Loss
Reserve
Percentage”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, the greater of (i) 12.0% or (ii) a percentage calculated in
accordance with the following formula:
LRP
= SF x DS x
LHR
where:
LHR
|
=
|
the
Loss
Horizon Ratio for such Monthly
Period;
|
LRP
|
=
|
the
Loss
Reserve Percentage for such Monthly
Period;
|
DS
|
=
|
a
default
spike equal to the highest Default Ratio occurring during the 12
most
recent Monthly Periods ending with (and including) such Monthly Period;
and
|
SF
|
=
|
the
Stress
Factor.
|
“Managing
Agent”
means,
as to any
Investor Group, the agent named on the signature pages hereto as such Investor
Group’s Managing Agent.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a material
adverse effect on (i) the financial condition of any Seller Party, (ii) the
ability of any Seller Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement
or
any other Transaction Document, (iii) the legality, validity or enforceability
of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (iv) any Investor’s
interest in the Receivables generally or in any significant portion of the
Receivables, the Related Security or the Collections with respect thereto,
or
(v) the collectibility (provided that, for purposes of the use of the term
Material Adverse Effect in Section 9.1(h),
collectibility
shall be deemed not to encompass the credit risk of Obligors) shall not of
the
Receivables generally or of any material portion of the
Receivables.
“Mid-Month
Determination Date”
means,
with
respect to a Monthly Period, the 12th
Business Day of
such Monthly Period.
“Mid-Month
Report”
means
a report,
in substantially the form of Exhibit XI
hereto
(appropriately completed), furnished by Servicer to the Managing Agents pursuant
to Section 8.5,
which shall,
among other things, provide a computation of the Current Month Net Receivables
Pool Balance for the Mid-Month Determination Date and the Estimated Current
Month Net Receivables Pool Balance for each day in such Monthly Period which
occurs after the Mid-Month Determination Date and prior to the Cash Receipt
Date.
“Mid-Month
Report Date”
means,
with
respect to a Monthly Period, the 14th
Business Day of
such Monthly Period.
“Monthly
Period”
means
each
calendar month commencing October, 2006; provided
that, for purposes
of the computation of the Delinquency Ratio, the Dilution Horizon Ratio, the
Dilution Ratio, the Dilution Reserve Percentage, the Loss Horizon Ratio, the
Loss Ratio, the Loss Reserve Percentage and the Turnover Rate, each calendar
month prior to November, 2006 shall be deemed to be a Monthly Period and such
ratios, percentages and rates shall be computed pro forma as though the
Transaction Documents had then been in effect and the Initial Cutoff Date had
occurred prior thereto.
“Monthly
Report”
means
a report,
in substantially the form of Exhibit X
hereto
(appropriately completed), furnished by Servicer to the Managing Agents pursuant
to Section 8.5.
“Monthly
Report
Date”
means,
with
respect to a Monthly Period, the third Business Day of the following Monthly
Period.
“Monthly
Settlement Date”
means,
with
respect to a Monthly Period, the fifth Business Day of the immediately following
Monthly Period.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x
Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to such rating agency.
“Net
Outstanding
Balance”
of
any Receivable
at any time means the Outstanding Balance, excluding any portion thereof
representing an Additional Amount.
“Net
Receivable
Pool Balance” means,
at any time,
(a) the aggregate Net Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables at
such time, minus
(b) the sum
of (i) the aggregate amount by which the Net Outstanding Balance of all
Eligible Receivables of each Obligor and its Affiliates exceeds the
Concentration Limit for such Obligor at such time, (ii)
the aggregate
amount by which the Net Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables of
Specified Governmental Obligors exceeds 5.0% (or such other percentage which
the
Program Agent, at the direction or with the consent of the Required Committed
Investors, may, upon not less than three Business Days' notice to Seller and
Servicer, specify) of the Net Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables
at
such time, and
(iii) the
aggregate outstanding balance of Unapplied Cash and Credits as of the close
of
business on the immediately preceding Business Day.
“Obligations”
shall
have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Obligor”
means
a Person
obligated to make payments pursuant to a Contract.
“Original
Balance”
means,
with
respect to any Receivable, the Outstanding Balance of such Receivable on the
date it was originated.
“Originator”
means
Colorado
Interstate Gas Company, individually, in its capacity as seller under the First
Tier Sale Agreement.
“Outstanding
Balance”
of
any Receivable
at any time means the then outstanding principal balance thereof as of the
close
of business on the immediately preceding Business Day.
“Paribas”
has
the meaning
set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Participant”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 12.2.
“Periodic
Reports”
means,
at any
time, the reports required to be delivered by Servicer under Section 8.5.
“Person”
means
an
individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association,
joint
venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency
thereof.
“Potential
Amortization Event”
means
an event
which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would
constitute an Amortization Event.
“Prime
Rate”
means,
for any
day, for any Managing Agent, a per annum rate equal to the higher of (i) the
rate of interest per annum determined by such Managing Agent from time to time
in its sole discretion as its prime commercial lending rate for such day for
United States Dollar loans made in the United States and (ii) the Federal Funds
Effective Rate for such day plus
.50%. The prime
commercial lending rate is not necessarily the lowest rate that a Managing
Agent
is charging any corporate customer.
“Pro
Rata
Share”
means,
(a) for
each Committed Investor, the Commitment of such Committed Investor, divided
by
the Program Limit,
adjusted as necessary to give effect to any assignments pursuant to Article XII
and (b) for each
Conduit Investor, an amount equal to the aggregate Commitments of each Committed
Investor which is a member of such Conduit Investor’s Investor Group,
divided
by
the Program Limit,
adjusted as necessary to give effect to any assignments pursuant to Article XII.
“Program
Limit”
means
$25,000,000, or such lesser amount as may from time be specified by not less
than ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice by Servicer to the Program
Agent and Seller from time to time. Any reduction of the Program Limit shall
be
irrevocable upon such notice being given and shall not be subject to
reinstatement and each partial reduction of the Program Limit shall be in an
amount equal to $1,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof.
“Purchase
Notice”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 1.2.
“Purchase
Price”
means,
with
respect to any Incremental Purchase of an Investor Interest, the amount paid
to
Seller for such Investor Interest which shall not exceed the least of the amount
requested by Seller in the applicable Purchase Notice, the unused portion of
the
Program Limit on the applicable purchase date and the excess, if any, of the
Net
Receivable Pool Balance (less the Aggregate Reserves) on the applicable purchase
date over the aggregate outstanding amount of Aggregate Capital determined
as of
the date of the most recent Monthly Report, taking into account such proposed
Incremental Purchase.
“Purchasing
Committed Investor”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 12.1(b).
“Rating
Agencies”
means
S&P and
Moody’s.
“Receivable”
means
(i) all
indebtedness and other obligations owed to Seller or the Originator (at the
time
it arises, and prior to giving effect to the transfers and conveyances thereof
under the applicable Receivables Sale Agreements or hereunder), including any
indebtedness, obligation or interest constituting an account or payment
intangible, to the extent such indebtedness and other obligations arise in
connection with reservation changes for the daily transportation or storage
of
natural gas by the Originator and without regard to whether the applicable
Obligor shall have been invoiced therefor and (ii) the Additional Amounts,
and
includes the obligation to pay any Finance Charges with respect thereto,
provided
that
the term
“Receivable” shall not include any such indebtedness or obligations that, (A)
prior to such indebtedness or obligations being transferred and conveyed to
Finance LLC under the First Tier Sale Agreement, were owed to the Originator
by
any of its Affiliates from time to time, (B) prior to such indebtedness or
obligations being transferred and conveyed to Buyer under the Second Tier Sale
Agreement, the Originator shall have notified the Program Agent in writing
are
not Eligible Receivables, or (C) is an Excluded Receivable (as defined in the
First Tier Sale Agreement). Indebtedness and other rights and obligations
arising from any one transaction, including indebtedness and other rights and
obligations represented by an individual invoice, shall constitute a Receivable
separate from a Receivable consisting of the indebtedness and other rights
and
obligations arising from any other transaction; provided that any indebtedness,
rights or obligations referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall
be
a Receivable regardless of whether the account debtor, Seller or the Originator
treats such indebtedness, rights or obligations as a separate payment
obligation.
“Records”
means,
with
respect to any Receivable,
(i) all
Contracts; and
(ii) (in
each case
solely to the extent of the rights therein (if any) of the Originator, Finance
LLC or Seller, as applicable) all other documents, books, records and other
information (including computer programs, tapes, disks, punch cards, data
processing software and related property and rights) relating to such
Receivable, any Related Security therefor and the related Obligor.
“Reference
Bank”
means
Paribas or
such other bank as the Program Agent shall designate.
“Regulatory
Change”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 10.2.
“Reinvestment”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 2.2(c).
“Related
Security”
means,
with
respect to any Receivable:
(B) all
other security
interests or liens and property subject thereto from time to time, if any,
purporting to secure payment of such Receivable, whether pursuant to the
Contract related to such Receivable or otherwise, together with all financing
statements and security agreements describing any collateral securing such
Receivable,
(C) all
guaranties,
letters of credit, insurance and other agreements or arrangements of whatever
character from time to time supporting or securing payment of such Receivable
whether pursuant to the Contract related to such Receivable or
otherwise,
(D) all
Records related
to such Receivable,
(E) all
of Seller’s
right, title and interest in, to and under each Sale Agreement, and
(F) all
proceeds of any
of the foregoing.
“Required
Collection Account Amount”
shall
mean, for
each Daily Settlement Date, an amount (which shall not be less than zero) equal
to (i) the aggregate amount which will be payable on the next following Monthly
Settlement Date pursuant to clause
(i)
of Section 2.4(c)
(determined
without regard to any occurrence of the Amortization Date) plus (ii) the
excess, if any, on such Daily Settlement Date of (A) the sum of (x) the
Aggregate Capital plus
(y) the Aggregate
Reserves over (B) the Net Receivable Pool Balance (calculated, with respect
to
Receivables acquired by Seller during the related Monthly Period, based on
the
Estimated Current Month Net Receivables Pool Balance for such Daily Settlement
Date).
“Required
Committed Investors”
means,
at any
time, Committed Investors whose Pro Rata Shares are equal to or greater than
66
2/3%.
“Responsible
Officer”
means,
with
respect to any Person, its chief financial officer, the chief accounting
officer, the senior vice president-finance, the treasurer, the controller or
any
other officer whose primary duties are similar to the duties of any of the
previously listed officers.
“Sale
Agreement”
means
each of the
First Tier Sale Agreement and the Second Tier Sale Agreement.
“S&P”
means
Standard
& Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to such rating agency.
“Second
Tier Sale
Agreement”
means
that
certain Second Tier Receivables Sale Agreement, dated as of the date hereof,
between Finance LLC and Seller.
“Seller”
has
the meaning
set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Seller
Parties”
has
the meaning
set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Servicer”
means
at any time
the Person or Persons (which may be the Program Agent) then authorized pursuant
to Article VIII
to service,
administer and collect Receivables.
“Servicer
Expenses”
means
the
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Servicer in connection
with servicing, administering and collecting the Receivables.
“Servicer
Fee”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 8.7.
“Special
Adjustment Amount”
means,
with
respect to a Business Day, the amount required to be deposited by Seller for
such Business Day into the Collection Account pursuant to Section 2.2(b)
or Section 2.2(c).
“Specified
Governmental Obligor”
means
any state
or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, department or agency
of
a state or municipal or other local government or any state or municipal or
other local governmental authority.
“Xxxxxxxx”
has
the meaning
set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Stress
Factor”
means,
at any
time, 2.0.
“Subsidiary”
means,
as to any
Person, a corporation, partnership or other entity of which more than 50% of
the
outstanding shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power
only
by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect directors or other
managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned,
directly or indirectly, through one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, by
such
Person.
“Support
Facility”
means
this
Agreement and any agreement or instrument executed by any Funding Source with
or
for the benefit of a Conduit Investor.
“Termination
Date”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 2.3.
“Termination
Percentage”
has
the meaning
set forth in Section 2.3.
“Transaction
Documents”
means,
collectively, this Agreement, each Purchase Notice, each Sale Agreement, each
Blocked Account Agreement, the Fee Letters, and all other instruments, documents
and agreements executed and delivered in connection herewith.
“Turnover
Rate”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, (i)
the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Receivables as of the last day of the Monthly
Period
ending one Monthly
Period
prior to such Monthly
Period,
divided by
(ii) the aggregate
amount of Collections received during such Monthly
Period.
“UCC”
means
the Uniform
Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the specified
jurisdiction.
“Unapplied
Cash
and Credits”
means,
at any
time, the aggregate amount of Collections or other cash or credits then held
by
or for the account of Servicer, the Originator or Seller in respect of the
payment of Receivables, including prepaid amounts, amounts on deposit in an
unapplied cash account or uncleared payment accounts and unbooked deposits
at
such time, but not yet applied to the payment of such Receivables.
“Yield”
means
(a) for
each respective Accrual Period relating to an Investor Interest of a Conduit
Investor, other than an Investor Interest as to which Yield is being computed
pursuant to Article IV,
an amount equal
to the product of the applicable CP Rate multiplied
by
the Capital of
such Investor Interest for each day elapsed during such Accrual Period,
annualized on a 360 day basis, and (b) for each respective Accrual Period
relating to any other Investor Interest, an amount equal to the product of
the
applicable Bank Rate for such Investor Interest multiplied
by
the Capital of
such Investor Interest for each day elapsed during such Accrual Period,
annualized on a 360 day basis (or a 365 or 366 day basis, as applicable, in
the
case of the Prime Rate).
“Yield
and
Servicer Fee Reserve”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, an amount equal to the product of (a) the Yield and Servicer
Fee
Reserve Percentage for such Monthly Period, multiplied by
(b) the Net
Receivable Pool Balance as of the end of such Monthly Period.
“Yield
and
Servicer Fee Reserve Percentage”
means,
for any
Monthly Period, a percentage calculated in accordance with the following
formula:
YRP
= SF x
(BR+SFR)/12 x TR
where:
BR
|
=
|
the
Bank Rate
(measured as of the end of immediately preceding Monthly Period,
or, in
the case of the Yield and Servicer Fee Reserve Percentage for the
initial
Monthly Period, on the date of the initial Incremental
Purchase);
|
SFR
|
=
|
the
Servicer
Fee Rate;
|
SF
|
=
|
the
Stress
Factor;
|
TR
|
=
|
the
Turnover
Rate for such Monthly Period; and
|
YRP
|
=
|
the
Yield and
Servicer Fee Reserve Percentage for such Monthly
Period.
|
Additionally,
unless otherwise specified herein or in any other Transaction
Document:
(a) All
accounting
terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with
GAAP. All terms used in Article 9 of the UCC in the State of Texas, and not
specifically defined herein, are used herein as defined in such
Article 9.
(b) The
definitions of
terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms
defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,”
“includes”
and
“including”
shall
be deemed
to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will”
shall
be
construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”
Unless
the
context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document shall be construed as referring to such agreement,
instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified or replaced (subject to any restrictions
on
such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other
Transaction Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be
construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words
“herein,”
“hereof”
and
“hereunder,”
and
words of
similar import when used in any Transaction Document, shall be construed to
refer to such Transaction Document in its entirety and not to any particular
provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Transaction Document to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and
Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Transaction Document in which
such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory
and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting
such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise
specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented
from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset”
and
“property”
shall
be
construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all
tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities,
accounts and contract rights.