SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
FERRELLGAS RECEIVABLES, LLC,
as
Seller,
FERRELLGAS, L.P., as Servicer,
JUPITER SECURITIZATION
CORPORATION,
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FROM
TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
As Financial
Institutions,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
Agent
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ARTICLE I. PURCHASE
ARRANGEMENTS
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2
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Section 1.1
Purchase Facility
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2
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2
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3
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Section 1.4
Payment Requirements
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3
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ARTICLE II. PAYMENTS AND ASSET INTEREST
COLLECTIONS
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3
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3
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Section 2.2
Asset Interest Collections Prior to
Amortization
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4
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Section 2.3
Asset Interest Collections Following
Amortization
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5
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Section 2.4
Application of Asset Interest
Collections
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5
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Section 2.5
Payment Rescission
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6
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Section 2.6
Maximum Purchaser
Interests
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6
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Section 2.7
Clean-up Call
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6
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6
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6
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Section 3.2
CP Costs Payments
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7
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Section 3.3
Calculation of CP
Costs
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7
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ARTICLE IV. LIQUIDITY FUNDING
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7
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Section 4.1
Liquidity Funding
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7
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Section 4.2
Yield Payments
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7
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Section 4.3
Selection and Continuation of Tranche
Periods
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8
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Section 4.4
Liquidity Interest Discount
Rates
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8
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Section 4.5
Suspension of the LIBO
Rate
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8
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ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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9
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Section 5.1
Representations and Warranties of the
Seller
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9
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9
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(b) Power and Authority; Due
Authorization, Execution and Delivery
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9
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9
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(d) Governmental
Authorization
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10
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10
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10
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(g) Accuracy of Information
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10
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10
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10
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11
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(k) Places of Business and Locations of
Records
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11
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(l) Asset Interest
Collections
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11
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(m) Material Adverse Effect
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11
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11
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11
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(p) Not a Regulated Entity
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12
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12
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(r) Compliance with Credit and Collection
Policy
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12
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(s) Payments to Originator
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12
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(t) Enforceability of
Contracts
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12
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12
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(v) Net Asset Interest
Balance
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12
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Page
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13
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Section 5.2
Financial Institution Representations
and Warranties
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13
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13
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13
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(c) Governmental
Authorization
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13
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13
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ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS OF
PURCHASES
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13
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Section 6.1
Conditions Precedent to Initial
Incremental Purchase
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13
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Section 6.2
Conditions Precedent to All Purchases
and Reinvestments
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13
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14
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Section 7.1
Financial Reporting
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14
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(a) Annual Financial
Statements
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14
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(b) Quarterly Financial
Statements
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15
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(c) Receivable Interest Sale Agreement
Financial Statements
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15
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Section 7.2
Certificates; Other
Information
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15
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(a) Receivable Interest Sale Agreement
Certificates
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15
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(b) Compliance Certificate
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15
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15
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Section 7.4
Compliance with Laws
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16
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Section 7.5
Preservation of Existence,
Etc.
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16
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Section 7.6
Payment of Obligations
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16
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17
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Section 7.8
Keeping of Records and
Books
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17
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Section 7.9
Compliance with Contracts and Credit and
Collection Policy
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17
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Section 7.10
Purchasers’
Reliance
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17
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Section 7.11
Performance and Enforcement of
Receivable Interest Sale Agreement
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20
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20
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20
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Section 7.15
Negative Covenants of the Seller
Parties
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21
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(a) Name Change, Offices and
Records
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21
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(b) Change in Payment Instructions to
Obligors
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21
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(c) Modifications to Contracts and Credit
and Collection Policy
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21
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(d) Sales, Adverse Claims
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(e) Net Asset Interest
Balance
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(f) Termination Date
Determination
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(g) Restricted Junior
Payments
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ARTICLE VIII. ADMINISTRATION AND
COLLECTION
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22
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Section 8.1
Designation of
Servicer
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22
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Section 8.2
Certain Duties of
Servicer
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22
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Section 8.3
Collection Notices
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23
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Section 8.4
Responsibilities of
Seller
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23
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23
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ARTICLE IX. AMORTIZATION
EVENTS
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24
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Section 9.1
Amortization Events
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24
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26
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ARTICLE X. INDEMNIFICATION
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26
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ii
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Section 10.1
Indemnities by the Seller
Parties
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26
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Section 10.2
Increased Cost and Reduced
Return
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28
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Section 10.3
Other Costs and
Expenses
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29
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29
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30
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Section 11.1
Authorization and
Action
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30
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Section 11.2
Delegation of Duties
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30
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Section 11.3
Exculpatory Provisions
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30
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Section 11.4
Reliance by Agent
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31
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Section 11.5
Non-Reliance on Agent and Other
Purchasers
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31
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Section 11.6
Reimbursement and
Indemnification
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31
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Section 11.7
Agent in its Individual
Capacity
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32
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Section 11.8
Successor Agent
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32
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ARTICLE XII. ASSIGNMENTS;
PARTICIPATIONS
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32
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32
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Section 12.2
Participations
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33
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ARTICLE XIII. FUNDING
AGREEMENT
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34
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Section 13.1
Funding Agreement
Fundings
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34
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Section 13.2
Terminating Financial
Institutions
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34
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ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS
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35
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Section 14.1
Waivers and Amendments
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35
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36
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Section 14.3
Ratable Payments
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36
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Section 14.4
Protection of Ownership Interests of the
Purchasers
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37
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Section 14.5
Confidentiality
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37
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Section 14.6
Bankruptcy Petition
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38
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Section 14.7
Limitation of
Liability
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38
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Section 14.8
CHOICE OF LAW
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38
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Section 14.9
CONSENT TO
JURISDICTION
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38
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Section 14.10
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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39
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Section 14.11
Integration; Binding Effect; Survival of
Terms
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39
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Section 14.12
Counterparts; Severability;
Section References
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39
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Section 14.13
JPMorgan Chase Roles
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40
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Section 14.14
Characterization
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40
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Section 14.15
Amendment and
Restatement
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40
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Definitions
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Form of
Purchase Notice
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Principal
Places of Business and Chief Executive Offices of the Seller
Parties; Locations of Records; Federal Employer Identification
Number(s)
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Form of
Compliance Certificate
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Form of
Assignment Agreement
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Form of Monthly
Report
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Commitments
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Closing
Documents
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iii
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SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED RECEIVABLES PURCHASE
AGREEMENT, dated as of June 6, 2006 (
“Receivables Purchase Agreement” ) , is
among Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company ( “Seller” ), Ferrellgas, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (
“Ferrellgas” ), as initial Servicer (the
initial Servicer together with Seller, the “Seller
Parties” and each a “Seller
Party” ), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (
“JPMorgan Chase” and, together with its
successors and assigns hereunder that become Committed Purchasers,
the “Financial Institutions” ), Jupiter
Securitization Corporation ( “Jupiter” ),
Fifth Third Bank ( “Fifth Third” ), and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent for the Purchasers hereunder or
any successor agent hereunder (together with its successors and
assigns hereunder, the “Agent” ). Unless
defined elsewhere herein, capitalized terms used in this Agreement
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Exhibit I
and, if not defined therein, the meanings assigned to such terms in
the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement referenced
therein.
A. The Seller,
Ferrellgas, JPMorgan Chase, Jupiter and the Agent have previously
executed and delivered that certain Amended and Restated
Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of June 7, 2005 (the
“Original Purchase Agreement” )
.
B. The parties
hereto desire to amend and restate (but not extinguish) the
Original Purchase Agreement in its entirety as hereinafter set
forth through the execution of this Second Amended and Restated
Receivables Purchase Agreement.
C. Seller desires
to continue transferring and assigning Purchaser Interests to the
Purchasers from time to time. Jupiter may, in its absolute and sole
discretion, continue purchasing Purchaser Interests from Seller
from time to time, and Fifth Third shall purchase Purchaser
Interests from Seller from time to time hereafter. In the event
that Jupiter declines to make any purchase, the Financial
Institutions shall, at the request of Seller, purchase
Jupiter’s Purchaser Interests from time to time. In addition,
each Financial Institution has agreed to continue providing a
liquidity facility to Jupiter.
D. JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A. has been requested and is willing to act as Agent on
behalf of the Purchasers in accordance with the terms
hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and
the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the
parties hereto, (i) do hereby agree that the Original Purchase
Agreement is amended and restated (but not substituted or
extinguished) in its entirety as set forth herein, and (ii) do
hereby further agree as follows:
1
ARTICLE I.
PURCHASE ARRANGEMENTS
Section 1.1
Purchase Facility .
(a) Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, Seller may, at its
option, from time to time during the period from the date hereof to
but not including the Facility Termination Date, sell and assign
Purchaser Interests to the Agent, for the benefit of Fifth Third,
and simultaneously to the Agent for the benefit of one or more of
the Purchasers in Jupiter’s Purchaser Group, whereupon from
time to time (i) Fifth Third shall instruct the Agent to
purchase on Fifth Third’s behalf, and (ii) Jupiter may,
at its option, instruct the Agent to purchase on Jupiter’s
behalf, or if Jupiter shall decline to purchase, the Agent shall
purchase, on behalf of the Financial Institutions, Purchaser
Interests; provided, however, that (A) the
Purchase Prices for the Purchaser Interests sold on any given
Business Day shall be ratable in accordance with each Purchaser
Group’s respective Percentage, and (B) in no event shall
the aggregate Capital outstanding hereunder from either Purchaser
Group exceed the lesser of (1) such Group’s Group
Purchase Limit and (2) the Commitment Availability for such
Purchaser Group. Seller hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to
the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Purchaser Groups in
accordance with their respective Percentages, and the Agent hereby
acquires, all of Seller’s now owned and existing and
hereafter arising or acquired right, title and interest in and to
the Purchaser Interests.
(b) Seller
may, upon at least 5 Business Days’ notice to the Agent (who
will promptly forward a copy of each such notice to the Purchasers)
terminate in whole or reduce in part, ratably between the Purchaser
Groups (and, within the Jupiter Group, ratably among the Financial
Institutions), the unused portion of the Purchase Limit and the
Group Purchase Limits; provided that each partial
reduction of the Purchase Limit shall be in an amount equal to
$5,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof.
Section 1.2
Increases . Seller shall provide the Agent with at least one
(1) Business Day’s prior notice in a form set forth as
Exhibit II hereto of each Incremental Purchase (a
“Purchase Notice” ), and the Agent will
promptly forward a copy of each such Purchase Notice to the
Purchasers. 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) and date of purchase and, in the
case of an Incremental Purchase to be funded by a through the
purchase of a Liquidity Interest, the requested Discount Rate and
Tranche Period. Following receipt of a Purchase Notice, Fifth Third
shall advise the Agent and Seller if its CP Availability Period has
ended, and the Agent shall determine whether Jupiter agrees to make
the Jupiter Group’s Percentage of the purchase. If Jupiter
declines to make the Jupiter Group’s Percentage of a proposed
purchase or if Fifth Third’s CP Availability Period has
ended, Seller may cancel the Purchase Notice as to both Purchaser
Groups. In the absence of such a cancellation, (a) in the case of
Jupiter’s decision not to participate in such purchase, the
Agent shall notify the Financial Institutions of its receipt of
such Purchase Notice and of Jupiter’s declining to make the
Jupiter Group’s Percentage of such purchase, and the
Incremental Purchase of the Jupiter Group’s Purchaser
Interest shall be made by such Financial Institutions, and
(b) in the case of the end of Fifth Third’s CP
Availability Period, Fifth Third’s Percentage of such
purchase will be funded as a Fifth Third Liquidity Interest. On the
date of
2
each
Incremental Purchase, upon satisfaction of the applicable
conditions precedent set forth in Article VI, the applicable
Purchasers shall initiate a wire transfer to the Facility Account,
of immediately available funds, no later than 12:00 noon (Chicago
time), in an amount equal to (i) in the case of Jupiter or
Fifth Third, its Purchaser Group’s Percentage of the
aggregate Purchase Price, or (ii) in the case of a Financial
Institution, such Financial Institution’s Pro Rata Share of
the Jupiter Group’s Percentage of the Purchase
Price.
Section 1.3
Decreases . Seller shall provide the Agent (who will
promptly forward a copy of each such notice to the Purchasers)
prior written notice (a “Reduction
Notice” ) in conformity with the Required Notice
Period of any proposed reduction of Aggregate Capital from Asset
Interest Collections. Such Reduction Notice shall designate
(i) the date (the “Proposed Reduction
Date” ) upon which any such reduction of Aggregate
Capital shall occur (which date shall give effect to the applicable
Required Notice Period), (ii) the amount of Aggregate Capital
to be reduced (the “Aggregate Reduction”
) which shall be applied ratably to the Purchaser Interests of each
Purchaser in accordance with the amount of Capital (if any) owing
to such Purchaser in each case divided by the Aggregate Capital at
such time, and (iii) each Purchaser’s portion of such
Aggregate Reduction. Only one (1) Reduction Notice shall be
outstanding at any time.
Section 1.4
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 12:00 noon (Chicago time) on the day when due in
immediately available funds, and if not received before 12:00 noon
(Chicago time) shall be deemed to be received on the next
succeeding Business Day. All amounts payable to the Agent or any
Purchaser shall be paid to the Agent, for its own account or for
the account of such Purchaser, as applicable, at the Agent’s
principal office in Chicago, Illinois until otherwise notified by
the Agent, and the Agent shall promptly remit Fifth Third’s
portion thereof in immediately available funds to such account as
Fifth Third may from time to time specify in writing. All
computations of Yield at the LIBO Rate, per annum fees calculated
as part of any CP Costs, per annum fees hereunder and per annum
fees under the Fee Letters shall be made on the basis of a year of
360 days for the actual number of days elapsed. All
computations of Yield at the Base Rate shall be made on the basis
of a year of 365 (or, when appropriate, 366) 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 ASSET INTEREST COLLECTIONS
Section 2.1
Payments . Notwithstanding any limitation on recourse
contained in this Agreement, Seller shall immediately pay to each
Purchaser Group when due on a full recourse basis: (i) such
fees as are set forth in the Fee Letters (which fees, in the case
of the Jupiter Group, shall be sufficient to pay all fees owing to
the Financial Institutions), (ii) all CP Costs, (iii) all
amounts payable as Yield, (iv) all amounts payable as Deemed
Collections (which shall be immediately due and payable by Seller
and applied to reduce outstanding Aggregate Capital hereunder in
accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.3 hereof), (v) all
amounts required
3
pursuant to
Section 2.6, (vi) all amounts payable pursuant to
Article X, if any, (vii) all Servicer costs and expenses,
including the Servicing Fee, in connection with servicing,
administering and collecting the Pool Receivables, (viii) all
Broken Funding Costs, and (ix) all Default Fees (collectively,
the “Recourse Obligations” ). If Seller
fails to pay any of the Recourse Obligations when due, Seller
agrees to pay, on demand, the Default Fee in respect thereof until
paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Agreement
or any Fee Letter shall require the payment or permit the
collection of any amounts hereunder in excess of the maximum
permitted by applicable law. If at any time Seller receives any
Asset Interest Collections or is deemed to receive any Asset
Interest Collections, Seller shall immediately pay such Asset
Interest Collections or Deemed Collections to the Servicer for
application in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof and,
at all times prior to such payment, such Asset Interest Collections
or Deemed Collections shall be held in trust by Seller for the
exclusive benefit of the Purchasers and the Agent.
Section 2.2
Asset Interest Collections Prior to Amortization . Prior to
the Amortization Date, any Asset Interest Collections and Deemed
Collections received by the Servicer and all Asset Interest
Collections received by the Servicer shall be set aside and held in
trust by the Servicer for the payment of any accrued and unpaid
Aggregate Unpaids or for a Reinvestment as provided in this
Section 2.2. If at any time any Asset Interest Collections are
received by the Servicer prior to the Amortization Date,
(a) the Servicer shall set aside the Termination Percentage
(hereinafter defined) of Asset Interest Collections evidenced by
the Purchaser Interests of each Terminating Financial Institution
and (b) Seller hereby requests and the applicable Purchasers
(other than any Terminating Financial Institutions) hereby agree to
make, simultaneously with such receipt, a reinvestment (each, a
“Reinvestment” ) with that portion of the
balance of each and every Asset Interest Collection received by the
Servicer that is part of any Purchaser Interest (other than any
Purchaser Interests of Terminating Financial Institutions), such
that after giving effect to such Reinvestment, the amount of
Capital of such Purchaser Interest immediately after such receipt
and corresponding Reinvestment shall be equal to the amount of
Capital immediately prior to such receipt. On each Settlement Date
prior to the occurrence of the Amortization Date, the Servicer
shall remit to the Agent’s account for the ratable benefit of
the Purchaser Groups in accordance with their respective
Percentages, the amounts set aside during the preceding Settlement
Period that have not been subject to a Reinvestment and apply such
amounts (if not previously paid in accordance with
Section 2.1) first, to reduce unpaid CP Costs,
Yield and other Recourse Obligations, ratably between the Purchaser
Groups in accordance with their respective amounts of such Recourse
Obligations, and second, to reduce the Capital of all
Purchaser Interests of Terminating Financial Institutions, applied
ratably to each Terminating Financial Institution according to its
respective Termination Percentage. If such Capital, CP Costs, Yield
and other Recourse Obligations shall be reduced to zero, any
additional Asset Interest Collections received by the Servicer
(i) if applicable, shall be remitted to Agent’s account
for the ratable benefit of the Purchaser Groups in accordance with
their respective Percentages, no later than 12:00 noon (Chicago
time) to the extent required to fund any Aggregate Reduction on
such Settlement Date and (ii) any balance remaining thereafter
shall be remitted from the Servicer to Seller on such Settlement
Date. Each Terminating Financial Institution shall be allocated a
ratable portion of the Jupiter Group’s Percentage of
Collections from the date of any assignment by Jupiter to the
Financial Institutions pursuant to a Funding Agreement (the
“Termination Date” ) until such
Terminating Financing Institution’s
4
Capital shall
be paid in full. This ratable portion shall be calculated on the
Termination Date of each Terminating Financial Institution as a
percentage equal to (i) Capital of such Terminating Financial
Institution outstanding on its Termination Date, divided by
(ii) the aggregate Capital outstanding from the Jupiter Group
on such Termination Date (the “Termination
Percentage” ). Each Terminating Financial
Institution’s Termination Percentage shall remain constant
prior to the Amortization Date. On and after the Amortization Date,
each Termination Percentage shall be disregarded, and all
Purchasers’ Capital shall be reduced ratably in accordance
with Section 2.4.
Section 2.3
Asset Interest Collections Following Amortization . On the
Amortization Date and on each day thereafter, Seller shall remain
liable on a full-recourse basis to pay the Recourse Obligations
pursuant to Section 2.1, and the Servicer shall set aside and
hold in trust, for the holder of each Purchaser Interest, all Asset
Interest Collections received on such day. On and after the
Amortization Date, the Servicer shall, at any time upon the request
from time to time by (or pursuant to standing instructions from)
the Agent or Fifth Third (i) remit to the Agent, for the
ratable account of the Purchasers, the amounts set aside pursuant
to the preceding sentence, and (ii) apply such amounts to
reduce the Capital associated with each such Purchaser Interest and
any other Aggregate Unpaids in accordance with
Section 2.4.
Section 2.4
Application of Asset Interest Collections . If there shall
be insufficient funds on deposit for the Servicer to distribute
funds in payment in full of the aforementioned amounts pursuant to
Section 2.2 or 2.3 (as applicable), the Servicer shall
distribute funds:
first, to the payment of the Servicer’s
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection with
servicing, administering and collecting the Pool Receivables,
including the Servicing Fee, if Seller or one of its Affiliates is
not then acting as the Servicer,
second, to the reimbursement of the Agent’s and
Purchasers’ costs of collection and enforcement of this
Agreement,
third, ratably to the payment of all accrued and
unpaid fees under the Fee Letters, CP Costs and Yield,
fourth, (to the extent applicable) to the ratable
reduction of the Aggregate Capital (without regard to any
Termination Percentage),
fifth, for the ratable payment of all other unpaid
Recourse Obligations, provided that to the extent such Recourse
Obligations relate to the payment of Servicer costs and expenses,
including the Servicing Fee, when Seller or one of its Affiliates
is acting as the Servicer, such costs and expenses will not be paid
until after the payment in full of all other Recourse Obligations,
and
sixth, after the Aggregate Unpaids have been
indefeasibly reduced to zero, to Seller.
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Asset Interest
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 2.4, shall be shared ratably (within each priority)
among the Agent and the Purchasers in accordance with the amount of
such Aggregate Unpaids owing to each of them in respect of each
such priority.
Section 2.5
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 must otherwise be 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 Agent (for the account of the applicable 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 2.6
Maximum Purchaser Interests . Seller shall ensure that the
Purchaser Interests of the Purchasers shall at no time exceed in
the aggregate 100%. If the aggregate of the Purchaser Interests of
the Purchasers exceeds 100%, Seller shall pay to the Agent’s
account for the ratable benefit of the Purchasers in accordance
with their Percentages within one (1) Business Day an amount
to be applied to reduce the aggregate Capital, such that after
giving effect to such payments, the aggregate of the Purchaser
Interests equals or is less than l00%.
Section 2.7
Clean-up Call . In addition to Sellers rights pursuant to
Section 1.3, the Servicer shall have the right (after
providing written notice to the Agent in accordance with the
Required Notice Period), to direct the Seller at any time following
the reduction of the Aggregate Capital to a level that is less than
10.0% of the original Purchase Limit, repurchase from the
Purchasers all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding
Purchaser Interests (a “Clean-up Call” ).
The Agent will promptly forward a copy of each such notice to the
Purchasers. The aggregate purchase price in respect thereof shall
be an amount equal to the Aggregate Unpaids through the date of
such repurchase, payable in immediately available funds. Such
repurchase shall be without representation, warranty or recourse of
any kind by, on the part of, or against any Purchaser or the Agent,
except that the Agent and the Purchasers shall represent and
warrant that the Purchasers Interests are free and clear of any
Adverse Claim created by any of them. Upon such payment in full of
the Aggregate Unpaids following a Clean-up Call, the Commitments
and this Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect, except for provisions which expressly survive
termination.
Section 3.1
CP Costs . Seller shall pay CP Costs with respect to the
Capital associated with each Purchaser Interest (a) of Jupiter
for each day that any Capital in respect of such Purchaser Interest
is outstanding and (b) of Fifth Third for each day that any
Capital in respect of such Purchaser Interest is outstanding during
a CP Availability Period. Each such Purchaser Interest funded
substantially with Pooled Commercial Paper shall accrue CP Costs
each day on a pro rata basis, based upon the percentage share the
Capital in respect of such
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Purchaser
Interest represents in relation to all assets held by Jupiter or
Fountain Square, as applicable, and funded substantially with
Pooled Commercial Paper.
Section 3.2
CP Costs Payments . On each applicable Settlement Date,
Seller shall pay to the Agent’s account (for the benefit of
Jupiter and Fifth Third) an aggregate amount equal to all accrued
and unpaid CP Costs in respect of the Capital associated with all
Purchaser Interests of Jupiter or Fifth Third, as the case may be,
for the immediately preceding Accrual Period in accordance with
Article II.
Section 3.3
Calculation of CP Costs . On or before the 5th Business Day
of each calendar month hereafter while Jupiter has any Purchaser
Interest outstanding and Fifth Third has funding available from
Fountain Square, (a) the Agent shall calculate the aggregate
amount of CP Costs owing to Jupiter for the applicable Accrual
Period, and (b) Fifth Third shall calculate the aggregate
amount of CP Costs owing to Fifth Third for the applicable Accrual
Period, and Fifth Third shall notify the Agent of Fifth
Third’s CP Costs for such Accrual Period. Within two (2)
Business Days thereafter, the Agent shall notify Seller of the CP
Costs for each of Jupiter and Fifth Third for such Accrual
Period.
ARTICLE IV.
LIQUIDITY FUNDING
Section 4.1
Liquidity Funding . Each Liquidity Interest shall accrue
Yield for each day during its Tranche Period at either the LIBO
Rate or the Base Rate in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof. Until Seller gives notice to the Agent (who will promptly
forward a copy of each such notice to the Committed Purchasers) of
another Discount Rate in accordance with Section 4.4 hereof, the
initial Discount Rate for any Purchaser Interest transferred by
Jupiter to the Financial Institutions pursuant to a Funding
Agreement and for any Fifth Third Liquidity Interest shall be the
Base Rate. If the Financial Institutions acquire by assignment from
Jupiter any Purchaser Interest pursuant to a Funding Agreement,
each Purchaser Interest so assigned shall each be deemed to have a
new Tranche Period commencing on the date of any such assignment.
If the CP Availability Period ends, Fifth Third shall promptly
notify the Agent and the Seller Parties of such termination, and
each Purchaser Interest of Fifth Third shall be deemed to have a
new Tranche Period commencing on the date the CP Availability
Period ended.
Section 4.2
Yield Payments . On the Settlement Date for each Liquidity
Interest, Seller shall pay to the Agent (for the benefit of the
Financial Institutions or Fifth Third, as applicable) an aggregate
amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Yield for the entire Tranche
Period of each such Liquidity Interest in accordance with
Article II.
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Section 4.3
Selection and Continuation of Tranche Periods .
(a) With
consultation from (and approval by) the Agent, Seller shall from
time to time request Tranche Periods for the Liquidity Interests,
provided that, at any time any Liquidity Interest is outstanding,
Seller shall always request Tranche Periods from such Purchaser
such that at least one Tranche Period shall end on the date
specified in clause (A) of the definition of Settlement
Date.
(b) Seller,
on the one hand, and as applicable, the Agent or Fifth Third, on
the other hand, upon notice to and consent by the other received at
least three (3) Business Days prior to the end of a Tranche
Period (the “Terminating Tranche” ) for
any Purchaser Interest, may, effective on the last day of the
Terminating Tranche: (i) divide any such Purchaser Interest
into multiple Purchaser Interests of the same Purchaser Group,
(ii) combine any such Purchaser Interest with one or more
other Purchaser Interests of the same Purchaser Group that have a
Terminating Tranche ending on the same day as such Terminating
Tranche or (iii) combine any such Purchaser Interest with a
new Purchaser Interests of the same Purchaser Group to be purchased
on the day such Terminating Tranche ends, provided, that in no
event may a Purchaser Interest of Jupiter be combined with a
Purchaser Interest of the Financial Institutions or of Fifth Third,
and in no event may a Purchaser Interest of Fifth Third be combined
with a Purchaser Interest of anyone in the Jupiter
Group.
Section 4.4
Liquidity Interest Discount Rates . Seller may select the
LIBO Rate or the Base Rate for each Liquidity Interest. Seller
shall by 12:00 noon (Chicago time): (i) at least three
(3) Business Days prior to the expiration of any Terminating
Tranche with respect to which the LIBO Rate is being requested as a
new Discount Rate and (ii) at least one (1) Business Day
prior to the expiration of any Terminating Tranche with respect to
which the Base Rate is being requested as a new Discount Rate, give
the Agent (who will promptly forward a copy of each such notice to
the applicable Committed Purchasers) irrevocable notice of the new
Discount Rate for the Purchaser Interest associated with such
Terminating Tranche. Until Seller gives notice in accordance with
the preceding sentence of another Discount Rate, the initial
Discount Rate for any Purchaser Interest transferred to the
Financial Institutions pursuant to a Funding Agreement, and of any
Purchaser Interest of Fifth Third outstanding when the CP
Availability Period ends, shall be the Base Rate.
Section 4.5
Suspension of the LIBO Rate .
(a) If
any Committed Purchaser notifies Seller that it has determined that
funding its Liquidity Interest at a LIBO Rate would violate any
applicable law, rule, regulation, or directive of any governmental
or regulatory authority, whether or not having the force of law, or
that (i) deposits of a type and maturity appropriate to match fund
its Liquidity Interests at such LIBO Rate are not available or
(ii) such LIBO Rate does not accurately reflect the cost of
acquiring or maintaining a Liquidity Interest at such LIBO Rate,
then the Committed Purchaser(s) in the applicable Purchaser Group
shall suspend the availability of such LIBO Rate and require Seller
to select the Base Rate for any Liquidity Interest accruing Yield
at such LIBO Rate.
8
(b) If
less than all of the Financial Institutions give a notice to the
Agent pursuant to Section 4.5(a), each Financial Institution
which gave such a notice shall be obliged, at the request of
Seller, Jupiter or the Agent, to assign all of its rights and
obligations hereunder to (i) another Financial Institution or
(ii) another funding entity nominated by Seller or the Agent
that is acceptable to Jupiter and willing to participate in this
Agreement through the Liquidity Termination Date in the place of
such notifying Financial Institution; provided that
(i) the notifying Financial Institution receives payment in
full, pursuant to an Assignment Agreement, of an amount equal to
such notifying Financial Institution’s Pro Rata Share of the
Capital and Yield owing to all of the Financial Institutions and
all accrued but unpaid fees and other costs and expenses payable in
respect of its Pro Rata Share of the Purchaser Interests of the
Financial Institutions, and (ii) the replacement Financial
Institution otherwise satisfies the requirements of
Section 12.1(b).
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 5.1
Representations and Warranties of the Seller . Each Seller
Party hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and the
Purchasers, 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 duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware,
and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a
foreign entity, and has and holds all organizational 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 and each other Transaction Document to which it is a
party, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder and, Seller’s use of the proceeds of the purchases
made hereunder, are within its organizational 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 and each other Transaction Document to
which it is a party, and the performance of its obligations
hereunder and thereunder do not contravene or violate (i) its
Organization Documents, (ii) any law, rule or regulation
applicable to it, (iii) 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 (iv) any order, writ, judgment,
award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its
property, and do not result in the creation or imposition of any
Adverse Claim on assets of such Seller Party (except as created
under the Transaction Documents) except, in each 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.
9
(d)
Governmental Authorization . Other than the filing of the
financing statements required hereunder and under the Receivable
Interest Sale Agreement, no authorization or approval or other
action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental
authority or regulatory body 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.
(e)
Actions, Suits . There are no actions, suits or proceedings
pending, or to the best of such Seller Party’s knowledge,
threatened, against or affecting such Seller Party, or any of its
properties, in or before any Governmental Authority, which
(a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any
other Transaction Document or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby; or (b) if determined adversely to
Originator, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. No injunction, writ, temporary restraining order or any
order of any nature has been issued by any court or other
Governmental Authority purporting to enjoin or restrain the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other
Transaction Document, or directing that the transactions provided
for herein or therein not be consummated as herein or therein
provided.
(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 information heretofore
furnished by such Seller Party or any of its Affiliates to the
Agent or any Purchaser for purposes of or in connection with this
Agreement, any of the other Transaction Documents or any
transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is, and all such
information hereafter furnished by such Seller Party or any of its
Affiliates to the Agent or any Purchaser will be, true and accurate
in every material respect on the date such information is stated or
certified and does not and will not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading as
of the time when made or delivered.
(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 . Immediately prior to each purchase hereunder,
Seller shall be the legal and beneficial owner of the Asset
Interest, free and clear of any Adverse Claim, except as created by
the Transaction Documents. There have been duly filed all financing
statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary
under the UCC (or any
10
comparable law)
of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect Seller’s
ownership interest in the Asset Interest.
(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 Agent for the
benefit of the relevant Purchaser or Purchasers (and the Agent for
the benefit of such Purchaser or Purchasers shall acquire from
Seller) a valid and perfected first priority undivided percentage
ownership or security interest in the Asset Interest, free and
clear of any Adverse Claim, except as created by the Transactions
Documents. There have been duly filed all financing statements or
other similar instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or
any comparable law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the
Agent’s (on behalf of the Purchasers) ownership or security
interest in the Asset Interest.
(k)
Places of Business and Locations of Records . The offices
where the Seller Parties keep all of their respective records
regarding the Purchaser Interests are located at the address(es)
listed on Exhibit III or such other locations of which the
Agent has been notified in accordance with Section 7.2(a) in
jurisdictions where all action required by Section 14.4(a) has
been taken and completed. Seller’s Federal Employer
Identification Number is correctly set forth on
Exhibit III.
(l)
Asset Interest Collections . The conditions and requirements
set forth in Section 7.12 and in Section 5.12(a) of the
Receivable Interest Sale Agreement have at all times been satisfied
and duly performed. Seller has not granted any Person, other than
the Servicer, dominion and control of any Lock-Box or Collection
Account, or the right to take dominion and control of any such
Lock-Box or Collection Account at a future time or upon the
occurrence of a future event. Servicer has not granted any Person,
other than the Agent, dominion and control of the Servicer’s
Concentration Account, or the right to take dominion and control of
the Servicer’s Concentration Account at a future time or upon
the occurrence of a future event. Seller has not granted any
Person, other than the Agent, dominion and control of the Facility
Account, or the right to take dominion and control of the Facility
Account at a future time or upon the occurrence of a future
event.
(m)
Material Adverse Effect . (i) The initial Servicer
represents and warrants that since January 31, 2005, no event
has occurred that would have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition or operations of the initial Servicer and its
Subsidiaries or the ability of the initial Servicer to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) Seller represents
and warrants that since the date of this Agreement, no event has
occurred that would have a material adverse effect on (A) the
financial condition or operations of Seller, (B) the ability
of Seller to perform its obligations under the Transaction
Documents, or (C) the collectibility of the Pool Receivables
generally or any material portion of the Pool
Receivables.
(n)
Names . In the past five (5) years, Seller has not used
any legal names, trade names or assumed names other than the name
in which it has executed this Agreement.
(o)
Ownership of Seller . Originator owns, directly or
indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of
Seller, free and clear of any Adverse Claim.
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Such Equity
Interests are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
there are no options, warrants or other rights to acquire
securities of Seller.
(p)
Not a Regulated Entity . Such Seller Party is not an
“ investment company ”
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, or any successor statute. Such Seller Party is not subject
to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935,
the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any state
public utilities code, or any other Federal or state statute or
regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness or to sell
interests in the Pool Receivables or the Asset Interest.
(q)
Compliance with Law . Such Seller Party has complied with
all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments,
injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, except
where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Pool Receivable, together with
the Contract related thereto, does not contravene any laws, rules
or regulations applicable thereto ( including , without
limitation , 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, except where such contravention or violation could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(r)
Compliance with Credit and Collection Policy . Such Seller
Party has complied in all material respects with the Credit and
Collection Policy with regard to each Pool Receivable and the
related Contract, and has not made any change to such Credit and
Collection Policy, except such material change as to which the
Agent has been notified in accordance with Section 7.2(c) and
has consented.
(s)
Payments to Originator . Seller has given reasonably
equivalent value to Originator in consideration for the Asset
Interest and such transfer was not made for or on account of an
antecedent debt. The transfer by Originator of the Asset Interest
under the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement is not voidable under
any section of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C.
§§ 101 et seq .), as amended.
(t)
Enforceability of Contracts . Each Contract with respect to
each Pool Receivable is effective to create, and has created, a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the related Obligor to pay
the Outstanding Balance of the Pool 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).
(u)
Eligible Receivables . Each Receivable included in the Asset
Interest is an Eligible Receivable.
(v)
Net Asset Interest Balance . Seller has determined that,
immediately after giving effect to each purchase hereunder, the Net
Asset Interest Balance will at least equal 1.2 times the Aggregate
Capital then outstanding.
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(w)
Accounting . The manner in which such Seller Party accounts
for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Receivable Interest Sale Agreement does not jeopardize the true
sale analysis.
Section 5.2
Financial Institution Representations and Warranties . Each
Financial Institution hereby represents and warrants to the Agent
and Jupiter that:
(a)
Existence and Power . Such Financial Institution is a
corporation or a banking association duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization, and has all power to perform its
obligations hereunder.
(b)
No Conflict . The execution and delivery by such Financial
Institution of this Agreement and the performance of its
obligations hereunder are within its powers, have been duly
authorized by all necessary action, do not contravene or violate
(i) its certificate or articles of incorporation or
association or by-laws, (ii) any law, rule or regulation
applicable to it, (iii) any restrictions under any agreement,
contract or instrument to which it is a party or any of its
property is bound, or (iv) any order, writ, judgment, award,
injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its property,
and do not result in the creation or imposition of any Adverse
Claim on its assets. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by such Financial Institution.
(c)
Governmental Authorization . No authorization or approval or
other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental
authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution and
delivery by such Financial Institution of this Agreement and the
performance of its obligations hereunder.
(d)
Binding Effect . This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding obligation of such Financial Institution enforceable
against such Financial Institution 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 such enforcement is
sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).
ARTICLE VI.
CONDITIONS OF PURCHASES
Section 6.1
Conditions Precedent to Initial Incremental Purchase . The
Original Purchase Agreement shall be amended and restated in its
entirety as set forth herein subject to the conditions precedent
that (a) the Agent shall have received on or before the date
hereof those documents listed on Schedule B and (b) the
Agent and Fifth Third shall have received all fees and expenses
required to be paid on such date pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement and the Fee Letters.
Section 6.2
Conditions Precedent to All Purchases and Reinvestments .
Each purchase of a Purchaser Interest (other than pursuant to a
Funding Agreement) and each Reinvestment shall be subject to the
further conditions precedent that (a) the Servicer shall have
delivered to the Agent on or prior to the date of such purchase or
Reinvestment, in form and
13
substance
satisfactory to the Agent, all Monthly Reports and interim reports
as and when due under Section 8.5; (b) the Facility
Termination Date shall not have occurred; (c) the Agent and
Fifth Third shall have received such other approvals, opinions or
documents as it may reasonably request and (d) on the date of
each such Incremental Purchase or Reinvestment, the following
statements shall be true (and acceptance of the proceeds of such
Incremental Purchase or Reinvestment 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 on and as of the date of such Incremental
Purchase or Reinvestment as though made on and as of such
date;
(ii)
no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such
Incremental Purchase or Reinvestment, that will constitute an
Amortization Event, and no event has occurred and is continuing, or
would result from such Incremental Purchase or Reinvestment, that
would constitute a Potential Amortization Event; and
(iii)
the Aggregate Capital does not exceed the Purchase Limit and the
aggregate Purchaser Interests do not exceed 100%.
It is expressly
understood that each Reinvestment shall, unless otherwise directed
by the Agent or any Purchaser, occur automatically on each day that
the Servicer shall receive any Asset Interest 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 in respect of such Reinvestment.
The failure of Seller to satisfy any of the foregoing conditions
precedent in respect of any Reinvestment shall give rise to a right
of the Agent and Fifth Third, which right may be exercised at any
time on demand of the Agent or Fifth Third, as applicable, to
rescind the related purchase and direct Seller to pay to the
Purchaser Groups, ratably in accordance with their respective
Percentages, an aggregate amount equal to the Asset Interest
Collections prior to the Amortization Date that shall have been
applied to the affected Reinvestment.
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:
Section 7.1
Financial Reporting . Seller shall deliver to the Agent, in
form and detail satisfactory to the Agent:
(a)
Annual Financial Statements . As soon as available, but not
later than 100 days after the end of each fiscal year of
Seller, an unaudited balance sheet of Seller as at the end of such
year and the related statements of income or operations,
members’ equity and cash flows for such year, setting forth
in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous
fiscal year, and certified by a Responsible Officer as fairly
presenting, in accordance
14
with GAAP,
applied, if applicable, on a basis consistent with prior years, the
financial position and the results of operations of
Seller;
(b)
Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available, but
not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first
three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Seller, a copy of the
unaudited balance sheet of Seller as of the end of such quarter and
the related statements of income, members’ equity and cash
flows for the period commencing on the first day and ending on the
last day of such quarter, and certified by a Responsible Officer as
fairly presenting, in accordance with GAAP (subject to ordinary,
good faith year-end audit adjustments), the financial position and
the results of operations of Seller; and
(c)
Receivable Interest Sale Agreement Financial Statements .
When and as required under the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement,
each of the financial statements required to be delivered under
Section 5.1 thereof.
Section 7.2
Certificates; Other Information . Such Seller Party shall
furnish to the Agent:
(a)
Receivable Interest Sale Agreement Certificates . When and
as required under the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement, each of
the certificates and other reports and information required to be
delivered under Section 5.2 thereof; and
(b)
Compliance Certificate . Concurrently with the delivery of
the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.1(a)
and (b) , a Compliance Certificate executed by a Responsible
Officer of Seller with respect to the periods covered by such
financial statements together with supporting calculations and such
other supporting detail as the Agent shall require.
Section 7.3
Notices . Such Seller Party shall promptly notify the
Agent:
(a) of
the occurrence of any Amortization Event or Potential Amortization
Event;
(b) of
any matter described in Section 5.3(a)-(d), (f) or
(g) of the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement;
(c) 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 adversely affect the collectibility of the
Pool Receivables or decrease the credit quality of any newly
created Pool Receivables, requesting the Agent’s and Fifth
Third’s consent thereto;
(d) of
any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting
practices by Originator or any of its consolidated
Subsidiaries;
(e) if
any of the representations and warranties in Article V ceases
to be true and correct;
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(f) of
the occurrence of any event or condition that has had, or could
reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;
and
(g) of
the occurrence of the “Termination Date”
under and as defined in the Receivable Interest Sale
Agreement.
Each notice
under this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement by a
Responsible Officer of such Seller Party setting forth details of
the occurrence referred to therein, and stating what action such
Seller Party or any affected Affiliate proposes to take with
respect thereto and at what time. Each notice under
Section 7.3(a) shall describe with particularity any
and all clauses or provisions of this Agreement or other
Transaction Document that have been breached or
violated.
Section 7.4
Compliance with Laws . Such Seller Party shall comply with
all Requirements of Law of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over it or its business (including the Federal Fair
Labor Standards Act), except such as may be contested in good faith
or as to which a bona fide dispute may exist or the failure of
which to comply with could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.5
Preservation of Existence, Etc . Such Seller Party
shall:
(a) preserve
and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good
standing under the laws of its state or jurisdiction of
organization except in connection with transactions permitted by
the Credit Agreement;
(b) preserve
and maintain in full force and effect all governmental rights,
privileges, qualifications, permits, licenses and franchises
necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business except
in connection with transactions permitted by the Credit Agreement,
except where the failure to so preserve or maintain such
governmental rights, privileges, qualifications, permits, licenses
and franchises could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(c) preserve
its business organization and goodwill, except where the failure to
so preserve its business organization or goodwill could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
and
(d) preserve
or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and
service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.6
Payment of Obligations . Such Seller Party shall pay and
discharge as the same shall become due and payable (except to the
extent the failure to so pay and discharge could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), all of its obligations
and liabilities, including:
(a) all
tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies
upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being
contested in good faith by
16
appropriate
proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being
maintained by such Seller Party; and
(b) all
lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Adverse Claim
upon its property, unless such claims are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in
accordance with GAAP are being maintained by such Seller
Party.
Section 7.7
Audits . Such Seller Party will furnish to the Agent, for
delivery to the Purchasers, from time to time such information with
respect to it and the Pool Receivables as the Agent may reasonably
request. Such Seller Party will, from time to time during regular
business hours as requested by Buyer (or its assigns), upon
reasonable notice and at the sole cost of such Seller Party, permit
the Agent and the Purchasers or their respective agents or
representatives (i) to examine and make copies of and abstracts
from all Records in the possession or under the control of such
Seller Party relating to the Pool Receivables and the Related
Security, including, without limitation, the related Contracts, and
(ii) to visit the offices and properties of such Seller Party
for the purpose of examining such materials described in clause
(i) above, and to discuss matters relating to such Seller
Party’s financial condition or the Pool Receivables and the
Related Security or such Seller Party’s performance under any
of the Transaction Documents or Originator’s performance
under the Contracts and, in each case, with any of the officers or
employees of such Seller Party having knowledge of such
matters.
Section 7.8
Keeping of Records and Books . The Servicer will maintain
and implement administrative and operating procedures (including,
without limitation, 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, without limitation,
records adequate to permit the immediate identification of each new
Receivable and all Asset Interest Collections of and adjustments to
each existing Receivable). The Servicer will give the Agent notice
of any material change in the administrative and operating
procedures referred to in the previous sentence. Such Seller Party
will on or prior to the date hereof, mark its master data
processing records and other books and records relating to the
Purchaser Interests with a legend, acceptable to the Agent,
describing the Purchaser Interests.
Section 7.9
Compliance with Contracts and Credit and Collection Policy .
Such Seller Party will timely and fully (i) perform and comply
with all provisions, covenants and other promises required to be
observed by it under the Contracts related to the Pool Receivables,
except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse impact on the overall
collectibility of the Pool Receivables, and (ii) comply in all
respects with the Credit and Collection Policy in regard to each
Pool Receivable and the related Contract, except where the failure
to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse impact on the overall collectibility of the Pool
Receivables.
Section 7.10
Purchasers’ Reliance . Seller acknowledges that the
Purchasers are entering into the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement in reliance upon Seller’s identity as a legal
entity that is separate from Originator. Therefore, from and after
the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement, Seller shall
take all reasonable steps, including, without
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limitation, all
steps that the Agent or any Purchaser 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 Originator and any Affiliates thereof and not just a division of
Originator or any such Affiliate. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing and in addition to the other covenants set forth
herein, Seller will:
(A) conduct
its own business in its own name and require that all full-time
employees of Seller, if any, identify themselves as such and not as
employees of Originator (including, without limitation, by means of
providing appropriate employees with business or identification
cards identifying such employees as Seller’s
employees);
(B) compensate
all employees, consultants and agents directly, from Seller’s
own funds, for services provided to Seller by such employees,
consultants and agents and, to the extent any employee, consultant
or agent of Seller is also an employee, consultant or agent of
Originator or any Affiliate thereof, allocate the compensation of
such employee, consultant or agent between Seller and Originator or
such Affiliate, as applicable, on a basis that reflects the
services rendered to Seller and Originator or such Affiliate, as
applicable;
(C) clearly
identify its offices (by signage or otherwise) as its offices and
allocate to Seller on a reasonable basis the costs of any space
shared with the Originator;
(D) have
a separate telephone number, which will be answered only in its
name and separate stationery, invoices and checks in its own
name;
(E) conduct
all transactions with Originator and the Servicer (including,
without limitation, any delegation of its obligations hereunder as
Servicer) strictly on an arm’s-length basis, allocate all
overhead expenses (including, without limitation, telephone and
other utility charges) for items shared between Seller and
Originator on the basis of actual use to the extent practicable
and, to the extent such allocation is not practicable, on a basis
reasonably related to actual use;
(F) at
all times have a Board of Directors consisting of at least three
members, at least one member of which is an Independent
Director;
(G) observe
all formalities as a distinct entity, and ensure that all actions
relating to (A) the dissolution or liquidation of Seller or
(B) the initiation of, participation in, acquiescence in or
consent to any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar
proceeding involving Seller, are duly authorized by unanimous vote
of its Board of Directors (including the Independent
Director);
(H) maintain
Seller’s books and records separate from those of Originator
and any Affiliate thereof and otherwise readily identifiable as its
own assets rather than assets of Originator and any Affiliate
thereof;
(I) prepare
its financial statements separately from those of Originator and
insure that any consolidated financial statements of Originator or
any Affiliate thereof that include Seller and that are filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
18
governmental
agency have notes clearly stating that Seller is a separate entity
and that its assets will be available first and foremost to satisfy
the claims of the creditors of Seller;
(J) except
as herein specifically otherwise provided, maintain the funds or
other assets of Seller separate from, and not commingled with,
those of Originator or any Affiliate thereof and only maintain bank
accounts or other depository accounts to which Seller alone is the
account party, into which Seller alone makes deposits and from
which Seller alone (or the Agent on behalf of the Purchasers
hereunder) has the power to make withdrawals;
(K) pay
all of Seller’s operating expenses from Seller’s own
assets (except for certain payments by Originator or other Persons
pursuant to allocation arrangements that comply with the
requirements of this Section 7.10);
(L) operate
its business and activities such that: it does not engage in any
business or activity of any kind, or enter into any transaction or
indenture, mortgage, instrument, agreement, contract, lease or
other undertaking, other than the transactions contemplated and
authorized by this Agreement and the Receivable Interest Sale
Agreement; and does not create, incur, guarantee, assume or suffer
to exist any indebtedness or other liabilities, whether direct or
contingent, other than (1) as a result of the endorsement of
negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar
transactions in the ordinary course of business, (2) the
incurrence of obligations under this Agreement, (3) the
incurrence of obligations, as expressly contemplated in the
Receivable Interest Sale Agreement, to make payment to Originator
thereunder for the purchase of Receivables from Originator under
the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement, and (4) the incurrence
of operating expenses in the ordinary course of business of the
type otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(M) maintain
its charter in conformity with this Agreement, such that it does
not amend, restate, supplement or otherwise modify its Organization
Documents in any respect that would impair its ability to comply
with the terms or provisions of any of the Transaction Documents,
including, without limitation, this Section 7.10;
(N) maintain
the effectiveness of, and continue to perform under the Receivable
Interest Sale Agreement, such that it does not amend, restate,
supplement, cancel, terminate or otherwise modify the Receivable
Interest Sale Agreement, or give any consent, waiver, directive or
approval thereunder or waive any default, action, omission or
breach under the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement or otherwise
grant any indulgence thereunder, without (in each case) the prior
written consent of the Agent and Fifth Third;
(O) maintain
its legal separateness such that it does not merge or consolidate
with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of
(whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions, and
except as otherwise contemplated herein) all or substantially all
of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, or
acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, any Person, nor
at any time create, have, acquire, maintain or hold any interest in
any Subsidiary;
(P) maintain
at all times adequate capital with which to conduct its business
and to meet its obligations as they come due; and
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(Q) take
such other actions as are necessary on its part to ensure that the
facts and assumptions set forth in the opinion issued by Bracewell
& Giuliani LLP as counsel for the Seller Parties, in connection
with the closing or initial Incremental Purchase under this
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.
Section 7.11
Performance and Enforcement of Receivable Interest Sale
Agreement . Seller will, and will require the Originator to,
perform each of their respective obligations and undertakings under
and pursuant to the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement, will
purchase Receivables thereunder in strict compliance with the terms
thereof and will vigorously enforce the rights and remedies
accorded to Seller under the Receivable Interest Sale Agreement.
Seller will take all actions to perfect and enforce its rights and
interests (and the rights and interests of the Agent and the
Purchasers as assignees of Seller) under the Receivable Interest
Sale Agreement as the Agent or Fifth Third may from time to time
reasonably request, including, without limitation, making claims to
which it may be entitled under any indemnity, reimbursement or
similar provision contained in the Receivable Interest Sale
Agreement.
Section 7.12
Collections . Each Seller Party will cause all Collections
on the Pool Receivables to be concentrated no less often than
weekly into the Servicer’s Concentration Account. The
Servicer will sweep the Buyer’s Percentage of all such
Collections from the Servicer’s Concentration Account no less
than daily into the Facility Account and immediately thereafter
transferred to the Originator’s Account; provided,
however, that upon written request of the Agent or Fifth
Third, each of the Seller Parties will cause all such Collections
to be concentrated each Business Day into the Servicer’s
Concentration Account. Servicer will cause the Servicer’s
Concentration Account to be subject at all times to a Blocked
Account Agreement that is in full force and effect. Seller will
cause the Facility Account to be subject at all times to a Blocked
Account Agreement that is in full force and effect.
Section 7.13
Ownership . Seller will take all necessary action to
(i) vest legal and equitable title to the Asset Interest
irrevocably in Seller, free and clear of any Adverse Claims other
than Adverse Claims in favor of the Agent and the Purchasers
(including, without limitation, the filing of all financing
statements or other similar instruments or documents necessary
under the UCC (or any comparable law) of all appropriate
jurisdictions to perfect Seller’s interest in the Asset
Interest and such other action to perfect, protect or more fully
evidence the interest of Seller therein as the Agent or Fifth Third
may reasonably request), and (ii) establish and maintain, in
favor of the Agent, for the benefit of the Purchasers, a valid and
perfected first priority undivided percentage ownership interest
(and/or a valid and perfected first priority security interest) in
the Asset Interest to the full extent contemplated herein, free and
clear of any Adverse Claims other than Adverse Claims in favor of
the Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers (including, without
limitation, the filing of all financing statements or other similar
instruments or documents necessary under the UCC (or any comparable
law) of all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect the Agent’s
(for the benefit of the Purchasers) interest in the Asset Interest
and such other action to perfect, protect or more fully evidence
the interest of the Agent for the benefit of the Purchasers as the
Agent or Fifth Third may reasonably request).
Section 7.14
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
20
time owing,
except any such taxes which are not yet delinquent or are being
diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP will have been
set aside on its books. Seller will pay when due any taxes payable
in connection with the Pool Receivables, exclusive of taxes on or
measured by income or gross receipts of the Agent or any
Purchaser.
Section 7.15
Negative 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, that:
(a)
Name Change, Offices and Records . Such Seller Party will
not change its name, identity or legal structure (within the
meaning of Article 9 of any applicable enactment of the UCC)
or relocate its chief executive office or any office where Records
are kept unless it will have: (i) given the Agent at least
15 days’ prior written notice thereof and
(ii) delivered to the Agent all financing statements,
instruments and other documents requested by the Agent or Fifth
Third in connection with such change or relocation.
(b)
Change in Payment Instructions to Obligors . Such Seller
Party will not authorize any Obligor to make payment to any
Lock-Box or Collection Account other than one which is swept into
the Servicer’s Concentration Account in accordance with
Section 7.12.
(c)
Modifications to Contracts and Credit and Collection Policy
. Such Seller Party will not make any change to the Credit and
Collection Policy that could adversely affect the collectibility of
the Pool Receivables or decrease the credit quality of any newly
created Pool Receivables. Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to
Article VIII hereof, such Seller Party will not extend,
amend or otherwise modify the terms of any Pool Receivable or any
Contract related thereto other than in accordance with the Credit
and Collection Policy.
(d)
Sales, Adverse Claims . Such Seller Party 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, without limitation, the filing
of any financing statement) or with respect to, the Asset Interest,
the Facility Account or the Servicer’s Concentration Account,
or assign any right to receive income with respect thereto (other
than, in each case, the creation of the interests therein in favor
of the Agent, for the benefit of the Purchasers, provided for
herein), and such Seller Party will defend the right, title and
interest of the Agent, for the benefit of the Purchasers, in, to
and under any of the foregoing property, against all claims of
third parties claiming through or under such Seller
Party.
(e)
Net Asset Interest Balance . At no time prior to the
Amortization Date will Seller permit the Net Asset Interest Balance
to be less than 1.2 times the Aggregate Capital
outstanding.
(f)
Termination Date Determination . Seller will not designate
the Termination Date (as defined in the Receivable Interest Sale
Agreement), or send any written notice to Originator in respect
thereof, without the prior written consent of the Agent and
Fifth
21
Third, except
with respect to the automatic occurrence of such Termination Date
arising in accordance with the proviso set forth in
Section 7.2(i) of the Receivable Interest Sale
Agreement.
(g)
Restricted Junior Payments . From and after the occurrence
of any Amortization Event, Seller will not make any Restricted
Junior Payment if, after giving effect thereto, Seller would fail
to meet its obligations set forth in
Section 7.10(P).
ARTICLE VIII.
ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION
Section 8.1
Designation of Servicer . The servicing, administration and
collection of the Pool Receivables shall be conducted by such
Person (the “Servicer" ) so designated from
time to time in accordance with Article VI of the Receivable
Interest Sale Agreement and this Article VIII. Ferrellgas is
hereby designated as, and hereby agrees to perform the duties and
obligations of, the Servicer pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement. The Agent and Fifth Third, acting jointly, may designate
as Servicer any Person to succeed Ferrellgas or any successor
Servicer; provided, however, that unless an
Amortization Event (or another event of the type described in the
definition of “Amortization Date” has
occurred), replacement of the Servicer shall not result in the
occurrence of the Amortization Date.
Section 8.2
Certain Duties of Servicer .
(a) The
Servicer shall administer the Asset Interest Collections in
accordance with the procedures described herein and in
Article II. The Servicer shall set aside and hold in trust for
the account of Seller and the Purchasers their respective shares of
the Asset Interest Collections in accordance with Article II.
The Servicer shall, upon the request of the and Agent and Fifth
Third, acting jointly, segregate, in a manner acceptable to the
Agent and Fifth Third all cash, checks and other instruments
received by it from time to time constituting Asset Interest
Collections from the general funds of the Servicer or Seller prior
to the remittance thereof in accordance with Article II. If
the Servicer shall be required to segregate Asset Interest
Collections pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Servicer shall
segregate and deposit with a bank designated by the Agent and Fifth
Third such allocable share of Asset Interest Collections of
Receivables set aside for the Purchasers on the first Business Day
following receipt by the Servicer of such Asset Interest
Collections, duly endorsed or with duly executed instruments of
transfer.
(b) The
Servicer may, in accordance with the Credit and Collection Policy,
extend the maturity of any Receivable or adjust the Outstanding
Balance of any Receivable as the Servicer determines to be
appropriate to maximize Asset Interest Collections thereof;
provided, however, that such extension or adjustment shall not
alter the status of such Receivable as a Delinquent Receivable,
Defaulted Receivable or Charged-Off Receivable or limit the rights
of the Agent or the Purchasers under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, from and
after the occurrence of an Amortization Event, the Agent (acting in
consultation with Fifth Third) shall have the absolute and
unlimited right to direct the Servicer to commence or settle any
legal action with respect to any Pool Receivable or to foreclose
upon or repossess any Related Security.
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(c) The
Servicer shall hold in trust for Seller and the Purchasers all
Records that (i) evidence or relate to the Asset Interest or
(ii) are otherwise necessary or desirable to collect the Asset
Interest and shall, as soon as practicable upon demand of the Agent
following the occurrence of an Amortization Event, deliver or make
available to the Agent, for the benefit of the Purchasers, all such
Records, at a place selected by the Agent. The Servicer shall, from
time to time at the request of any Purchaser, furnish to the
Purchasers (promptly after any such request) a calculation of the
amounts set aside for the Purchasers pursuant to
Article II.
(d) Any
payment by an Obligor in respect of any indebtedness owed by it to
Originator or Seller shall, except as otherwise specified by such
Obligor or otherwise required by contract or law and unless
otherwise instructed by the Agent, be applied as a Collection of
any Pool Receivable of such Obligor (starting with the oldest such
Pool 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 Agent is authorized at any time to
date and to deliver to Wells Fargo Bank the Collection Notices;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be
deemed to give the Agent or any Purchaser any claim to, Adverse
Claim on or right to retain any amounts deposited into the
Servicer’s Concentration Account or the Facility Account
which do not constitute Asset Interest Collections and
provided, further, that unless an Amortization Event
(or another event of the type described in the definition of
“Amortization Date” has occurred),
delivery of the Collection Notices shall not result in the
occurrence of the Amortization Date. Effective when the Agent
delivers such notices, Servicer hereby transfers to the Agent, for
the benefit of the Purchasers, the exclusive control of the
Servicer’s Concentration Account, and Seller hereby transfers
to the Agent, for the benefit of the Purchasers, the exclusive
ownership and control of the Facility Account. Each of the Seller
Parties hereby authorizes the Agent, and agrees that the Agent
shall be entitled: (i) at any time after delivery of the
Collections Notices, to endorse such Seller Party’s name on
checks and other instruments representing Asset Interest
Collections, (ii) at any time after the earlier to occur of an
Amortization Event or replacement of the Servicer, to enforce the
Pool Receivables and t
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