Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
dated as of
October 20, 2006
among
NAVISTAR FINANCIAL RETAIL
RECEIVABLES CORPORATION,
as Seller
THUNDER BAY FUNDING, LLC,
as the Conduit Investor
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
as Agent for the
Investors
and
NAVISTAR FINANCIAL
CORPORATION,
Individually and as
Servicer
NAVISTAR FINANCIAL 2006-RBC OWNER
TRUST,
Series 2006-RBC Floating Rate Asset Backed
Notes
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I Definitions
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1
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SECTION 1.01.
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Defined Terms
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1
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SECTION 1.02.
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Terms Generally
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9
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SECTION 1.03.
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Computation of Time Periods
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9
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ARTICLE II Purchase of the Purchased
Note
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9
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SECTION 2.01.
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Purchase of the Purchased Note
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9
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SECTION 2.02.
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The Note; Etc.
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10
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SECTION 2.03.
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Calculation of Interest; Etc.
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10
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SECTION 2.04.
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Sharing of Payments, Etc.
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11
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ARTICLE III Representations and
Warranties
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11
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SECTION 3.01.
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Representation and Warranties
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11
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ARTICLE IV Conditions
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16
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SECTION 4.01.
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Conditions Precedent
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16
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ARTICLE V Covenants of the Seller and
Servicer
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17
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SECTION 5.01.
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Access
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17
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SECTION 5.02.
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Information from NFC
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17
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SECTION 5.03.
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Security Interests; Further
Assurances
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18
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SECTION 5.04.
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Conduct of Business
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18
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SECTION 5.05.
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Compliance with Laws
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18
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SECTION 5.06.
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Replacement of Trustee
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18
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SECTION 5.07.
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Compliance with Opinion Assumptions
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18
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SECTION 5.08.
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Further Covenants
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18
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SECTION 5.09.
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Amendments
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18
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ARTICLE VI Indemnification
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19
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SECTION 6.01.
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Indemnities by the Seller and the
Servicer
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19
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SECTION 6.02.
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Increased Cost and Reduced Return
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19
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SECTION 6.03.
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Other Costs and Expenses
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20
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ARTICLE VII The Agent
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20
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SECTION 7.01.
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Authorization and Action
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20
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SECTION 7.02.
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Delegation of Duties
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21
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-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
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Page
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SECTION 7.03.
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Liability of Agent
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21
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SECTION 7.04.
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Reliance by Agent
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21
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SECTION 7.05.
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Notice of Event of Default
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22
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SECTION 7.06.
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Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by
the Agent
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22
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SECTION 7.07.
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Indemnification of the Agent
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23
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SECTION 7.08.
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Agent in Individual Capacity
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23
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SECTION 7.09.
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Resignation of Agent
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23
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SECTION 7.10.
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Payments by the Agent
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24
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ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous
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24
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SECTION 8.01.
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Assignment
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24
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SECTION 8.02.
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Notices
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25
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SECTION 8.03.
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Waivers; Amendments
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26
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SECTION 8.04.
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Survival
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27
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SECTION 8.05.
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Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness
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27
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SECTION 8.06.
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Severability
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27
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SECTION 8.07.
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Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service
of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial Right
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27
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SECTION 8.08.
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No Bankruptcy Petition Against the Conduit
Investor
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28
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SECTION 8.09.
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Benefits of Indenture
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28
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SECTION 8.10.
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Headings
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28
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SECTION 8.11.
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No Recourse Against Conduit Investor, Members,
Officers or Directors
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28
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SECTION 8.12.
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Waiver of Confidentiality
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29
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SECTION 8.13.
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Confidentiality Agreement
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29
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SECTION 8.14.
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Excess Funds
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29
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Exhibits
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Exhibit
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A - Documents
to be Delivered to the Agent on or before the Closing
Date
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-ii-
NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of
October 20, 2006 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the “ Agreement ”),
among:
NAVISTAR FINANCIAL RETAIL
RECEIVABLES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, as Seller (the
“ Seller ”);
THUNDER BAY FUNDING, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, as the Conduit Investor;
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, a Canadian
chartered bank acting through a New York Branch (“ Royal
Bank ”), as Agent for the Investors; and
NAVISTAR FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation, individually (“ NFC ”) and
as Servicer (together with its successors and assigns, the “
Servicer ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Indenture
Trustee are party to an Indenture dated as of October 20, 2006
(as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time, the “ Indenture ”), pursuant to which
the Seller has authorized the issuance of the Series 2006-RBC
Floating Rate Asset Backed Note (the “ Note ”);
and
WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, the
Seller intends to sell the Purchased Note to the Agent for the
benefit of the Conduit Investor and the other Investors and the
Conduit Investor and the other Investors desire to acquire the
Purchased Note.
Accordingly, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms .
Terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein have the
respective meanings given to such terms in Part I of Appendix A to
the Pooling Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings specified below:
“ Agent ” means
Royal Bank in its capacity as agent for the Investors, and its
successors and assigns appointed pursuant to
Section 7.09.
“ Agent-Related Person
” means the Agent, together with its Affiliates, and the
officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of
such Persons and their respective Affiliates.
“ Agreement ” is
defined in the preamble .
“ Alternate Rate
” for any Fixed Period for any Funding Tranche means an
interest rate per annum equal to the sum of (x) Applicable
Margin per annum and (y) the Eurodollar Rate for such Fixed
Period; provided , however , that in the case
of
(i) any Fixed Period existing on or
after the first day of which the Agent shall have been notified by
the Conduit Investor or any Program Support Provider
that:
(w) the introduction of or any
change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes
it unlawful, or any central bank or other Governmental Authority
asserts that it is unlawful, for the Conduit Investor or such
Program Support Provider to fund any Funding Tranche (based on the
Eurodollar Rate) set forth above (and the Conduit Investor or such
Program Support Provider shall not have subsequently notified the
Agent that such circumstances no longer exist),
(x) U.S. dollar deposits in the
London interbank market in the relevant amounts and for the
relevant portion of such Fixed Period are not available,
(y) adequate and reasonable means do
not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Fixed Period,
or
(z) LIBOR does not accurately
reflect the cost to the Conduit Investor or such Program Support
Provider (as conclusively determined by the Conduit Investor or
such Program Support Provider (or by the Agent on its behalf)) of
maintaining the applicable Funding Tranche during such Fixed
Period;
(ii) any Fixed Period of one to (and
including) 13 days,
(iii) any Fixed Period relating to a
Funding Tranche which is less than $1,000,000, and
(iv) any Fixed Period with respect
to which the Alternate Rate, for any reason, becomes applicable on
notice to the Agent of less than three (3) Business
Days,
the “ Alternate Rate
” for each such Fixed Period shall be an interest rate per
annum equal to the Corporate Base Rate in effect on each day of
such Fixed Period. The “ Alternate Rate ” for
any day on or after the occurrence of an Event of Default shall be
an interest rate equal to 2.0% per annum above
the Corporate Base Rate in effect on such day.
“ Applicable Margin
” has the meaning specified in the Fee Letter.
“ Assignee Rating
Criteria ” means a short term debt rating of
“A-1” or higher from Standard & Poor’s,
“P-1” from Moody’s and, if applicable,
“F-1” or higher from Fitch.
“ Bankruptcy Code
” means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, 11 U.S.C.
§§ 101 et seq.
“ Breakage Payment
” is defined in Section 2.03(b) .
“ Commercial Paper
” means short-term promissory notes issued or to be issued by
the Conduit Investor to fund its investments in accounts receivable
or other financial assets.
“ Commission ” is
defined in Section 3.01(c) .
2
“ Conduit Assignee
” means any commercial paper conduit administered by Royal
Bank or any of its Affiliates and designated by Royal Bank from
time to time to accept an assignment from the Conduit Investor of
all or a portion of its rights and obligations
hereunder.
“ Conduit Investor
” means Thunder Bay Funding, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and any successor thereto and any assignee
thereof, including any Conduit Assignee.
“ Corporate Base Rate
” means, for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to
the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate for such day,
plus 0.50% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for
such day as publicly announced from time to time by the Agent as
its “prime rate”. The “prime rate” is a
rate set by the Agent based upon various factors including the
Agent’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions
and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing
some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in the prime rate announced by the Agent shall
take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the
public announcement of such change.
“ Corporate Services
Provider ” is defined in Section 8.11
.
“ CP Rate ” for
any Fixed Period for any Funding Tranche means, to the extent a
Conduit Investor funds such Funding Tranche for such Fixed Period
by issuing Commercial Paper, the per annum rate equivalent to the
“weighted average cost” (as defined below) related to
the issuance of Commercial Paper that are allocated, in whole or in
part, by the Conduit Investor or the Agent to fund or maintain such
Funding Tranche (and which may also be allocated in part to the
funding of other Funding Tranches hereunder or of other assets of
the Conduit Investor); provided , however , that if
any component of such rate is a discount rate, in calculating the
“ CP Rate ” for such Funding Tranche for such
Fixed Period, the Conduit Investor shall for such component use the
rate resulting from converting such discount rate to an interest
bearing equivalent rate per annum. As used in this definition, a
Conduit Investor’s “ weighted average cost
” shall consist of (w) the actual interest rate (or
discount) paid to purchasers of the Conduit Investor’s
Commercial Paper, together with the commissions of placement agents
and dealers in respect of such Commercial Paper, to the extent such
commissions are allocated, in whole or in part, to such Commercial
Paper by a Conduit Investor or the Agent, (x) certain
documentation and transaction costs associated with the issuance of
such Commercial Paper, (y) any incremental carrying costs
incurred with respect to Commercial Paper maturing on dates other
than those on which corresponding funds are received by the Conduit
Investor, and (z) other borrowings by the Conduit Investor
(other than under any Program Support Agreement), including
borrowings to fund small or odd dollar amounts that are not easily
accommodated in the commercial paper market.
“ Day Count Fraction
” means, as to any Funding Tranche for any Fixed Period, a
fraction (a) the numerator of which is the number of days in
such Fixed Period and (b) the denominator of which is 360 (or,
with respect to any Funding Tranche which accrues interest by
reference to the Corporate Base Rate, the actual number of days in
the related calendar year).
“ Distribution Period
” means, initially, the period from, and including, the
Closing Date to, but excluding, the first Distribution Date and
thereafter the period from, and including, each Distribution Date
to, but excluding, the next Distribution Date.
3
“ Distribution Date
” is defined in the Indenture.
“ Eurodollar Rate
” means, for any Fixed Period, an interest rate per annum
(rounded upward to the nearest 1/1000th of 1%) determined pursuant
to the following formula:
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Eurodollar Rate =
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LIBOR
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1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage
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Where,
“ Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage ” means, for any Fixed Period, the maximum
reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the
nearest 1/1000th of 1%) in effect on the date LIBOR for such Fixed
Period is determined under regulations issued from time to time by
the Federal Reserve Board for determining the maximum reserve
requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other
marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding
(currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”)
having a term comparable to such Fixed Period; and
“ LIBOR ” means
the rate per annum equal to the applicable British Bankers’
Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars
appearing on Reuters Screen FRBD as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on
the second Business Day prior to the commencement of such Fixed
Period in the approximate amount of the portion of the Funded
Amount associated with such Fixed Period, provided that,
(i) if Reuters Screen FRBD is not available to the Agent for
any reason, LIBOR for such Fixed Period shall instead be the
applicable British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement
Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars as reported by any other
generally recognized financial information service as of 11:00 a.m.
(London time) on the second Business Day prior to the commencement
of such Fixed Period in the approximate amount of the portion of
the Funded Amount associated with such Fixed Period, and
(ii) if no such British Bankers’ Association Interest
Settlement Rate is available to the Agent, LIBOR for such Fixed
period shall instead be the rate determined by the Agent to be the
rate at which Royal Bank offers to place deposits in U.S. dollars
with first-class banks in the London interbank market at
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the second Business Day
prior to the commencement of such Fixed Period in the approximate
amount of the portion of the Funded Amount associated with such
Fixed period.
“ Event of Bankruptcy
” means, with respect to any Person, (a) that such
Person (i) shall generally not pay its debts as such debts
become due or (ii) shall admit in writing its inability to pay
its debts generally or (iii) shall make a general assignment
for the benefit of creditors; (b) any proceeding shall be
instituted by or against such Person seeking to adjudicate it as
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
4
part of its property; or (c) such Person
shall take any corporate, partnership or other similar appropriate
action to authorize any of the actions set forth in the preceding
clauses (a) or (b) .
“ Federal Funds Rate
” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds
brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day;
provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day,
the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on
the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is
so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal
Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to the
Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by
it.
“ Fee Letter ”
means the agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the
Seller, the Servicer and the Agent.
“ Fitch ” means
Fitch, Inc. and its successors in interest.
“ Fixed Period ”
means, unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Agent and the
Conduit Investor, (a) with respect to any Funding Tranche
funded by the issuance of Commercial Paper, (i) initially the
period commencing on (and including) the date of the initial
purchase or funding of such Funding Tranche and ending on (and
including) the last day of the current calendar month, and
(ii) thereafter, each period commencing on (and including) the
first day after the last day of the immediately preceding Fixed
Period for such Funding Tranche and ending on (and including) the
last day of the current calendar month and (b) with respect to
any Funding Tranche not funded by the issuance of Commercial Paper,
(i) initially the period commencing on (and including) the
date of the initial purchase or funding of such Funding Tranche and
ending on (but excluding) the next following Distribution Date and
(ii) thereafter, each period commencing on (and including) the
first day after the last day of the immediately preceding Fixed
Period for such Funding Tranche and ending on (and excluding) the
next following Distribution Date; provided , that
(i) any Fixed Period with respect to
any Funding Tranche not funded by the issuance of Commercial Paper
which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day;
provided , however , if interest in respect of such
Fixed Period is computed by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, and
such Fixed Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a
Business Day, and there is no subsequent Business Day in the same
calendar month as such day, such Fixed Period shall end on the next
preceding Business Day;
(ii) in the case of any Fixed Period
for any Funding Tranche which commences before the Final Scheduled
Termination Date and would otherwise end on a date occurring after
the Final Scheduled Termination Date, such Fixed Period shall end
on such Final Scheduled Termination Date and the duration of each
Fixed Period which commences on or after the Final Scheduled
Termination Date shall be of such duration as shall be selected by
the Agent;
5
(iii) any Fixed Period in respect of
which interest is computed by reference to the CP Rate may be
terminated at the election of, and upon notice thereof to the
Seller by, the Agent any time, in which case the Funding Tranche
allocated to such terminated Fixed Period shall be allocated to a
new Fixed Period commencing on (and including) the date of such
termination and ending on (but excluding) the next following
Distribution Date, and shall accrue interest at the Corporate Base
Rate.
“ Funded Amount ”
means on any Business Day, an amount equal to the result of
(a) the Initial Invested Amount minus (b) the
aggregate principal amount of principal payments made to the
Noteholder prior to such day; provided , that the Funded
Amount shall be restored or reinstated to the extent any such
principal payment so received and applied is at any time rescinded,
returned or refunded for any reason.
“ Funding Rate ”
means, with respect to any Fixed Period and any Funding Tranche,
(a) to the extent the Conduit Investor is funding such Funding
Tranche during such Fixed Period through the issuance of Commercial
Paper, the CP Rate, and (b) to the extent any Investor is not
funding such Funding Tranche through the issuance of Commercial
Paper, a rate per annum (expressed as a percentage and an interest
yield equivalent and calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and
the actual days elapsed) equal to the Alternate Rate.
“ Funding Tranche
” means, any time, each portion of the Funded Amount
allocated to the same Fixed Period and accruing interest by
reference to the same Funding Rate at such time.
“ Governmental Actions
” means any and all consents, approvals, permits, orders,
authorizations, waivers, exceptions, variances, exemptions or
licenses of, or registrations, declarations or filings with, any
Governmental Authority required under any Governmental
Rules.
“ Governmental
Authority ” means the United States of America, any state
or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government and having jurisdiction
over the applicable Person.
“ Governmental Rules
” means any and all laws, statutes, codes, rules,
regulations, ordinances, orders, writs, decrees and injunctions, of
any Governmental Authority and any and all legally binding
conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements and judgments of
any Governmental Authority.
“ Indemnified Amounts
” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01
.
“ Indemnified Parties
” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01
.
“ Indenture ” is
defined in the first paragraph of the recitals .
“ Indenture Trustee
” is defined in the Indenture.
“ Initial Invested
Amount ” means $374,921,626.15.
6
“ Investors ”
means the Conduit Investor and/or the Program Support Providers, as
the context may require.
“ Issuer ” or
“ Trust ” means Navistar Financial 2006-RBC
Owner Trust, a Delaware statutory trust.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (i) the
business, results of operations or financial condition or the
material properties or assets of NFC or NFRRC, (ii) the
ability of NFC or NFRRC to perform its obligations hereunder or
under any other Transaction Document or (iii) the interests of
the Agent or any Investor hereunder.
“ Moody’s ”
means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor that
is a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization.
“ NFC ” is
defined in the preamble .
“ NFRRC ” means
Navistar Financial Retail Receivables Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, and its successors and permitted assigns.
“ Note ” is
defined in the first paragraph of the recitals .
“ Noteholders’
Interest Distributable Amount ” means, with respect to
any Distribution Date, the sum of:
(A) the sum of (i) the
summation of the amount of interest accrued during the related
Monthly Period on each Funding Tranche funded at the CP Rate,
determined by multiplying (a) the applicable Funding Rate
times (b) the Weighted Average Funded Amount for such
Funding Tranche times (c) the applicable Day Count
Fraction for which interest accrued at such rate and (ii) any
Noteholders’ Interest Distributable Amount calculated in
accordance with clause (A)(i) above due but not paid with respect
to the prior Monthly Period, plus interest on such unpaid amount
calculated as the product of (x) the weighted average Funding
Rate for all Funding Tranches funded at the CP Rate during the most
recent Monthly Period, times (y) the amount of such
unpaid Noteholders’ Interest Distributable Amount, times
(z) the quotient of the number of days in the related Monthly
Period divided by 360,
plus
(B) the sum of (i) the
summation of the amount of interest accrued during the related
Distribution Period on each Funding Tranche not funded at the CP
Rate, determined by multiplying (a) the applicable Funding
Rate times (b) the Weighted Average Funded Amount for
such Funding Tranche times (c) the applicable Day Count
Fraction for which interest accrued at such rate and (ii) any
Noteholders’ Interest Distributable Amount calculated in
accordance with clause (B)(i) above due but not paid with respect
to the prior Distribution Period, plus interest on such unpaid
amount calculated as the product of (x) the weighted average
Funding Rate for all Funding Tranches not funded at the CP Rate
during the most recent Distribution Period, times
(y) the amount of such unpaid Noteholders’ Interest
Distributable Amount, times (z) for Funding Tranches that do
not accrue interest by reference to the Corporate Base Rate, the
quotient of the number of days in the related Distribution Period
divided by 360.
7
plus
(C) on any Distribution Date on
which the Funded Amount is reduced to zero and on the Final
Scheduled Termination Date, any amounts which accrue in clause
(A) above (together with all fees which accrue pursuant to
paragraph 1 of the Fee Letter) from (and excluding) the last day of
the related Monthly Period through (and including) such
Distribution Date.
“ Note Interest ”
means, with respect to any Investor at any time, the undivided
interest in the Note owned by such Investor at such
time.
“ Other Obligations
” means the fees under the Fee Letter and any other amounts
payable to the Agent or any Investor under or in connection with
this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (other than
principal or interest in respect of the Notes), including, without
limitation, all Breakage Payments and all amounts payable from time
to time pursuant to Article VI .
“ Program Support
Agreement ” means and includes any agreement entered into
by any Program Support Provider providing for the issuance of one
or more letters of credit for the account of the Conduit Investor,
the issuance of one or more surety bonds for which the Conduit
Investor is obligated to reimburse the applicable Program Support
Provider for any drawings thereunder, the sale by the Conduit
Investor to any Program Support Provider of the Purchased Notes (or
portions thereof or participations therein) and/or the making of
loans and/or other extensions of credit to the Conduit Investor in
connection with the Conduit Investor’s commercial paper
program, together with any letter of credit, surety bond or other
instrument issued thereunder, whether any of the foregoing is for
the purpose of providing credit support or liquidity to the Conduit
Investor.
“ Program Support
Provider ” means and includes any Person now or hereafter
extending credit or having a commitment to extend credit to or for
the account of, or to make purchases from, the Conduit Investor or
issuing a letter of credit, surety bond or other instrument to
support any obligations arising under or in connection with the
Conduit Investor’s commercial paper program.
“ Purchased Note
” means the Note, in the maximum aggregate principal amount
of $374,921,626.15 to be issued to the Agent on behalf of the
Investors pursuant to the Indenture and Section 2.01
hereof.
“ Recipient ” has
the meaning specified in Section 2.04 .
“ Royal Bank ” is
defined in the preamble .
“ Seller ” is
defined in the preamble .
“ Servicer ” is
defined in the preamble .
“ Standard &
Poor’s ” or “ S&P ” means
Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc., or any successor that is a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization.
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“ Transaction Documents
” means the “Basic Documents” as defined in Part
I of Appendix A to the Pooling Agreement.
“ Weighted Average Funded
Amount ” means, with respect to any Funding Tranche for
any Fixed Period, the quotient of (i) the summation of the
portion of the Funded Amount allocated to such Funding Tranche
determined as of each day in such Fixed Period, divided by
(ii) the number of days in such Fixed Period.
SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally
. All terms defined directly or by incorporation herein shall have
the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document
delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. For
purposes of this Agreement and all such certificates and other
documents, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) accounting terms not otherwise defined herein, and
accounting terms partly defined herein to the extent not defined,
shall have the respective meanings given to them under, and shall
be construed in accordance with, generally accepted accounting
principles in effect in the United States from time to time;
(b) terms used in Article 9 of the applicable UCC as in effect
from time to time, and not specifically defined herein, are used
herein as defined in such Article 9; (c) references to any
amount as on deposit or outstanding on any particular date means
such amount at the close of business on such day; (d) the
words “hereof,” “herein” and
“hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this
Agreement (or the certificate or other document in which they are
used) as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement (or such certificate or document); (e) references to
any Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit are references to
Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits in or to this Agreement
(or the certificate or other document in which the reference is
made) and references to any paragraph, subsection, clause or other
subdivision within any Section or definition refer to such
paragraph, subsection, clause or other subdivision of such Section
or definition; (f) the term “including” means
“including without limitation”; (g) references to
any law refer to that law as amended from time to time and include
any successor law; (h) references to any agreement refer to
that agreement as from time to time amended or supplemented or as
the terms of such agreement are waived or modified in accordance
with its terms; (i) references to any Person include that
Person’s successors and permitted assigns; and
(j) headings are for purposes of reference only and shall not
otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision
hereof.
SECTION 1.03. Computation of Time
Periods . Unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, in the
computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later
specified date, the word “from” means “from and
including”, the words “to” and
“until” each means “to but excluding”, and
the word “within” means “from and excluding a
specified date and to and including a later specified
date”.
ARTICLE II
Purchase of the Purchased
Note
SECTION 2.01. Purchase of the
Purchased Note . On the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, and in reliance on the covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements herein and therein set
forth, the Seller shall cause to be issued, and shall cause the
Indenture Trustee to authenticate and deliver to the Agent and the
Agent shall
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purchase the Purchased Note, issued on the
Closing Date, on behalf of the Investors. The purchase price
payable for the Purchased Note shall be equal to the Initial
Invested Amount. The Agent shall hold the Purchased Note on behalf
of the Investors pro rata in accordance with their respective
outstanding portions (if any) of the Funded Amount funded by them
from time to time. The Purchased Note so issued shall be dated the
Closing Date, registered in the name of the Agent and duly
authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
Without limiting any other provision of this Agreement, the
issuance of the Purchased Note and the funding of the Funded Amount
thereunder on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction of
the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV . Upon such
issuance, (i) the Agent shall thereby acquire the Purchased
Note, and (ii) the Agent and the Investors shall become
subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the
Indenture.
SECTION 2.02. The Note; Etc .
The funding of the Initial Invested Amount shall be evidenced by
the Purchased Note and shall be governed by and subject to the
Indenture. All payments to be made on the Note shall be made in
accordance with the Indenture and the terms of this Agreement. The
sole Holder of the Purchased Note shall be the Agent, which shall
hold such Note for the benefit of the Investors. Except as
otherwise required in the Indenture, all payments to be made on the
Note shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to the account set forth below the Agent’s signature to this
Agreement (or to such other account as the Agent may specify from
time to time in writing to the Seller and the Indenture
Trustee).
SECTION 2.03. Calculation of
Interest; Etc .
(a) On or before the second Business
Day after the end of each Monthly Period, the Agent shall calculate
for the related Distribution Date, the Noteholders’ Interest
Distributable Amount payable on such Distribution Date and provide
such calculation to the Servicer in writing. If any Funding Tranche
begins to accrue interest at a Funding Rate other than the CP Rate
after the date the Agent provides the Noteholders’ Interest
Distributable Amount calculation for any Distribution Date, the
Agent shall promptly provide the Servicer a calculation of the
interest that will accrue on such Funding Tranche and be included
in the definition of “Noteholders’ Interest
Distributable Amount” for such Distribution Date. The parties
acknowledge that the interest calculation set forth in clause
(C) of the definition of “Noteholders’
Interest Distributable Amount” shall be an estimate. If the
estimated accruals exceed the actual accruals, the Agent shall
reimburse such excess. If the actual accruals exceed the estimated
accruals, the Seller shall reimburse the Agent.
(b) If (i) any distribution of
principal is made with respect to any Funding Tranche with a Fixed
Period and a fixed interest rate other than on a Distribution Date
and (ii) as a consequence of such distribution the interest
paid by an Investor to providers of funds to it to fund that
Funding Tranche exceeds returns earned by such Investor with
respect to such Funding Tranceh, factoring in actual returns earned
during the Fixed Period and assuming redeployment of such funds in
highly rated short-term money market instruments from the date of
principal distribution through the end of the Fixed Period, then,
upon written notice (including a detailed calculation of such
Breakage Payment) from the Agent to the Servicer, such Investor
shall be entitled to receive additional amounts in the amount of
such excess (each, a “ Breakage Payment ”) on
the date of such distribution, so long as such written notice is
received not later than noon, New York City time, on the first
Business Day immediately preceding such distribution.
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(c) On each date the principal
amount of the Purchased Note is reduced, a duly authorized officer,
employee or agent of the Agent shall make appropriate notations in
its books and records of the applicable rates of interest and the
amount of each such reduction, as applicable. Each of the Servicer,
the Seller and each Investor authorizes each duly authorized
officer, employee and agent of the Agent to make such notations on
the books and records as aforesaid and such notation made in
accordance with the foregoing authority shall be binding on the
Servicer, the Seller and each Investor absent manifest
error.
(d) Whenever any amount is paid
pursuant to the Indenture to the Agent in connection with the
Purchased Note, the Agent shall promptly allocate such amounts
among the applicable Investors and pay, or cause to be paid, out of
such funds received by it, to each applicable Investor, its
applicable share of such amount; provided , that if any such
amount paid to the Agent is insufficient to pay the amount due to
each Investor in respect of such amounts, the Agent shall
distribute the amount it has received to each Investor pro rata
based on the amounts owed to each Investor and forthwith report the
amount of such deficiency to the Seller, the Indenture Trustee and
the Servicer.
SECTION 2.04. Sharing of
Payments, Etc . If any Investor (for purposes of this Section
only, being a “ Recipient ”) shall obtain any
payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of
any right of setoff, or otherwise) on account of any Note Interest
owned by it in excess of its ratable share of payments on account
of the applicable Funded Amount obtained by the Investors entitled
thereto, such Recipient shall forthwith purchase from the Investors
entitled to a share of such amount participations in the applicable
Note Interests owned by such Persons as shall be necessary to cause
such Recipient to share the excess payment ratably with each such
other Person entitled thereto; provided , that if all or any
portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such
Recipient, such purchase from each such other Person shall be
rescinded and each such other Person shall repay to the Recipient
the purchase price paid by such Recipient for such participation to
the extent of such recovery, together with an amount equal to such
other Person’s ratable share (according to the proportion of
(a) the amount of such other Person’s required payment
to (b) the total amount so recovered from the Recipient) of
any interest or other amount paid or payable by the Recipient in
respect of the total amount so recovered.
ARTICLE III
Representations and
Warranties
SECTION 3.01. Representation and
Warranties .
(a) The Seller hereby makes the
following representations and warranties to the Agent and the
Investors as of the Closing Date and the Investors and the Agent
shall be deemed to have relied on such representations and
warranties in purchasing the Purchased Note on the Closing
Date:
(i) the Seller repeats and reaffirms
that the representations and warranties of the Seller set forth in
Section 3.01 of the Pooling Agreement and represents and
warrants that such representations and warranties are true and
correct;
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(ii) each of the Transaction
Documents executed by the Seller has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Seller, and is the valid and legally binding
obligation of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in
accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may
be subject to (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors’ rights generally and (y) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which
any proceeding therefor may be brought;
(iii) the Purchased Note has been
duly and validly authorized, and, when executed and authenticated
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and delivered to and
paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly and
validly issued and outstanding and will be entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture, except that the enforcement thereof may be
subject to (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors’ rights generally and (y) general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which
any proceeding therefor may be brought;
(iv) there is no pending or, to the
Seller’s knowledge, threatened action, suit or proceeding by
or against the Seller before any Governmental Authority or any
arbitrator (w) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement, any
other Transaction Document or the Purchased Note, (x) seeking
to prevent the issuance of the Purchased Note or the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
other Transaction Document, (y) that might materially and
adversely affect the performance by the Seller or the Trust of its
obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this
Agreement, any other Transaction Document or the Purchased Note or
(z) that if determined adversely as to the Seller or the Trust
would have a Material Adverse Effect;
(v) except for those caused by the
failure of NFC and its affiliates to deliver its financial
statements and related financial information for the for the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2006, or for
the fiscal quarters ended January 31, April 30 and
July 31 of 2006, or for the fiscal quarters ended
January 31 and April 30 of 2007, in each case, prior to
the earliest of (1) July 31, 2007, (2) five
(5) Business Days after the filing thereof with the Commission
and (3) the date on which such financial statements are (or
any of them is) required to be delivered pursuant to the Credit
Agreement, the Seller (x) is not in violation of its
Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws and (y) is not in
breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or with
the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would be in default
under, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement, note, lease, partnership agreement, or other agreement
or instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which it may be
bound or to which any of its properties or assets may be subject,
except for such violations or defaults that would not have a
Material Adverse Effect;
(vi) any taxes, fees and other
charges of Governmental Authorities applicable to the Seller in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the
Seller of the Transaction Documents or otherwise applicable to the
Seller in connection with the Trust have
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been paid or will be paid by the Seller at or
prior to the Closing Date to the extent then due, except for any
such failures to pay which, individually and in the aggregate,
would not have a Material