EXHIBIT 10.31
Confidential Treatment Requested.
Certain material (indicated by asterisks) has
been omitted from this document and filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for
confidential treatment.
SERVICING AGREEMENT
between
THE NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP, INC.
and
HSBC BANK NEVADA, N.A.
Dated as of July 7, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
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Section 1.01.
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Defined Terms
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1
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Section 1.02.
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Certain Interpretive Matters
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3
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ARTICLE II
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SERVICING
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Section 2.01.
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Appointment
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3
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Section 2.02.
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Servicer Compensation
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3
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Section 2.03.
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Services
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4
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Section 2.04.
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Service Level Standards
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5
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Section 2.05.
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Use of Subservicers
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5
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Section 2.06.
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Disaster Recovery
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5
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Section 2.07.
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Inventory
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6
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Section 2.08.
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Securitization
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6
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ARTICLE III
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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Section 3.01.
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Representations and Warranties of
Servicer
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6
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Section 3.02.
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Representations and Warranties of
Bank
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8
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ARTICLE IV
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ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
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Section 4.01.
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Further Assurances
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9
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Section 4.02.
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Modifications
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9
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Section 4.03.
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Correction of Errors
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9
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Section 4.04.
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Changes in Law
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9
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Section 4.05.
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Cooperation
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9
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Section 4.06.
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Facilities and Equipment
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9
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Section 4.07.
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Insurance
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10
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Section 4.08.
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Customer Information
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10
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ARTICLE V
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DEFAULT; REMEDIES
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Section 5.01.
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Servicer Default
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10
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Section 5.02.
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Remedies
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11
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i
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Section 5.03.
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Non-Starred SLAs
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12
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ARTICLE VI
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TERM
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Section 6.01.
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Term of Agreement
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12
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Section 6.02.
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Servicer Termination Events
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12
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Section 6.03.
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Termination by Bank
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13
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Section 6.04.
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Effect of Termination
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13
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ARTICLE VII
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INDEMNIFICATION
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Section 7.01.
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Indemnification
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13
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Section 7.02.
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Procedure for Indemnification
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14
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Section 7.03.
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Notice and Additional Rights and
Limitations.
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15
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Section 7.04.
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Limits on Indemnification
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15
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ARTICLE VIII
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MISCELLANEOUS
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Section 8.01.
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Confidentiality
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15
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Section 8.02.
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Access Rights
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18
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Section 8.03.
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No Waiver; Remedies; Amendment
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18
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Section 8.04.
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Independent Contractor
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18
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Section 8.05.
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No Joint Venture
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18
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Section 8.06.
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Payment Terms
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18
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Section 8.07.
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Entire Agreement
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19
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Section 8.08.
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No Set-Off
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19
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Section 8.09.
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Notices
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19
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Section 8.10.
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Severability
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20
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Section 8.11.
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Headings
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20
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Section 8.12.
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Survival
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20
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Section 8.13.
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Costs and Expenses
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20
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Section 8.14.
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Drafting
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20
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Section 8.15.
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Counterparts
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20
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Section 8.16.
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Assignment; Successors
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20
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Section 8.17.
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Governing Law
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21
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Section 8.18.
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Waiver of Jury Trial and Venue
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21
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SCHEDULES
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Schedule 1.01(a)
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Services
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Schedule 2.03(e)
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Monthly Reports
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Schedule 2.04(a)
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Service Level Standards
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Schedule 5.02
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Remedies
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Schedule 7.04
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Indemnity Matters
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ii
SERVICING AGREEMENT
This Servicing Agreement (as amended
from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as
of July 7, 2005, is between The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“ Servicer ”), and HSBC
Bank Nevada, N.A., a national credit card bank (“ Bank
”).
WHEREAS, Servicer and certain of its
subsidiaries (together, “ Sellers ”) have
entered into a Purchase, Sale and Servicing Transfer Agreement with
Bank and HSBC Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“
Bank Parent ”), dated as of July 7, 2005 (as amended
from time to time, the “ Purchase Agreement ”),
pursuant to which Sellers will sell, and Bank will purchase,
specified assets related to Sellers’ consumer private label
credit card business;
WHEREAS, Servicer and certain of its
subsidiaries (together, the “ NMG Companies ”)
are entering into a Program Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2005 (as
amended from time to time, the “ Program Agreement
”), with Bank and Household Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (“ Primary Servicer ”, and together
with Bank, the “ Household Companies ”) which
shall govern the operation of such credit card business and the
rendering of marketing and other services by the parties thereto;
and
WHEREAS, Bank wishes to retain
Servicer to provide, and Servicer wishes to provide, certain
servicing and administration activities relating to the Accounts
and the Program, all pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual agreements set forth herein and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.01. Defined
Terms . Wherever used in this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this
Agreement shall have the meanings given them in the Program
Agreement.
“ Agreement ”: As
defined in the preamble hereof.
“ Bank ”: As
defined in the preamble hereof.
“ Bank Parent ”:
As defined in the recitals hereof.
“ Credit Card Production
Services ”: The Services set forth in paragraph 2 of
Section I of Schedule 1.01(a).
“ Confidential
Information ”: As defined in
Section 8.01(a)(i) hereof.
“ Damages ”: As
defined in Section 7.01(a) hereof.
“ Data Processing
Services ”: The Services set forth in paragraph 4 of
Section I of Schedule 1.01(a).
“ Deductible Amount
”: As defined in Schedule 7.04.
“ Disclosing Party
”: As defined in
Section 8.01(a)(iv) hereof.
“ Documentation
Services ”: The Services set forth in paragraph 1 of
Section I of Schedule 1.01(a).
“ Household Companies
”: As defined in the recitals hereof.
“ Initial Penalty
Amount ”: As defined in Schedule 5.02.
“ Late Stage Collection
Services ”: The Services set forth in paragraph 3 of
Section I of Schedule 1.01(a).
“ NMG Companies
”: As defined in the recitals hereof.
“ Non-Starred SLAs
”: Any SLA on Schedule 2.04(a) that is not a Starred
SLA.
“ Other Services
”: The Services set forth in Section II of Schedule
1.01(a).
“ Party ”: When
used in the singular, either Servicer or Bank or, when used in the
plural, both Servicer and Bank.
“ Primary Servicer
”: As defined in the recitals hereof.
“ Program Agreement
”: As defined in the recitals hereof.
“ Purchase Agreement
”: As defined in the recitals hereof.
“ Receiving Party
”: As defined in
Section 8.01(a)(iv) hereof.
“ Regulatory Failure
”: As defined in Section 5.01(b) hereof.
“ Regulatory SLA
”: As defined in Section 5.01(b) hereof.
“ Securitization
Documents ”: As defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
“ Sellers ”: As
defined in the recitals hereof.
“ Servicer ”: As
defined in the preamble hereof.
“ Servicer Default
”: As defined in Section 5.01 hereof.
“ Servicer Event of
Default ”: The occurrence of any one of the events listed
in Section 6.02.
2
“ Services ”: As
defined in Section 2.02(a) hereof.
“ Significant Failure
”: As defined in Section 5.01(a) hereof.
“ SLA ”: Each
individual performance standard set forth on Schedule
2.04(a).
“ Solvent ”: When
used with respect to any Person, that (a) the present fair
salable value of such Person’s assets exceed the total amount
of its liabilities, (b) such Person is able to pay its debts
as they become due and (c) such Person does not have
unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as theretofore
operated and all business in which such Person is about to
engage.
“ Starred SLA ”:
On Schedule 2.04(a), SLA number 1 of Section A, SLA number 1
of Section B, SLA number 6 of Section C and SLA numbers 2
and 6 of Section D.
“ Subsequent Failure
”: As defined in Section 5.02(b) hereof.
“ Subsequent Penalty
Amount ”: As defined in Schedule 5.02.
“ Term ”: As
defined in Section 6.01 hereof.
“ Transaction Document
”: The Purchase Agreement, the Program Agreement and this
Agreement and the agreements, instruments, schedules and other
documents to be delivered pursuant thereto and hereto.
Section 1.02. Certain
Interpretive Matters . As used herein: (a) all references
to the plural number shall include the singular number (and vice
versa); (b) all references to “herein,”
“hereunder,” “hereof” or like words shall
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
section, subsection or clause contained in this Agreement;
(c) all references to “include,”
“includes” or “including” shall be deemed
to be followed by the words “without limitation”;
(d) all references to “$” or “dollars”
shall be deemed references to United States dollars; and
(e) all references to a particular agreement, instrument or
document shall include all renewals, extensions, modifications,
amendments and restatements of such agreement, instrument, or
document.
ARTICLE II
SERVICING
Section 2.01.
Appointment . Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Bank hereby appoints Servicer as of the Effective Date
as the servicer of the Accounts (excluding Non-Store Accounts
associated with Dual-Line Credit Cards) and Cardholder Indebtedness
and Servicer hereby accepts such appointment.
Section 2.02. Servicer
Compensation . As compensation for provision of the Services
hereunder, Servicer shall receive payment of the payment calculated
by reference to the Servicing Fee Percentage as set forth in
Schedule 9.1(a)(i) of the Program Agreement. Upon transfer of
any of the Services to Primary Servicer in accordance with
Section 2.03(b), the
3
amount payable to Servicer set forth in Schedule
9.1(a)(i) shall be adjusted as set forth in Schedule
9.1(a)(i) in order to reflect the reduction of Services being
performed by Servicer and the assumption of the performance of such
Services by Primary Servicer.
Section 2.03. Services
.
(a) Commencing on the Effective
Date and continuing until the date, if any, upon which any listed
type of Service enumerated below is transferred to Primary Servicer
as provided in this Agreement, Servicer shall perform the following
services (collectively, the “ Services ”):
(i) the Documentation Services; (ii) the Late Stage
Collection Services; (iii) the Credit Card Production
Services; (iv) the Data Processing Services; and (v) the
Other Services, in each case in accordance with this Agreement and
the Risk Management Policies and Operating Procedures. Servicer
shall service the Accounts in compliance with Applicable Law, in
such a way as to not disparage or embarrass the Household Companies
or either of their names, with a level of service to Cardholders
and with no less care and diligence than the degree of service,
care and diligence employed by Servicer prior to the Effective
Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
Bank shall be solely responsible for monitoring legal developments
applicable to the operation of the Credit Card Business, although
Servicer shall promptly apprise Bank of any such legal developments
of which it becomes aware.
(b) Servicer may elect upon not
less than thirty (30) days’ written notice to Bank to
transfer (i) any one or more type of Services referenced in
clauses (i) through (iv) of Section 2.03(a) or
(ii) following conversion to the Bank Systems, all of the
Services being performed hereunder, to Primary Servicer, in which
event Primary Servicer shall accept appointment as servicer with
respect to such Services and shall be required to comply with the
provisions of the Program Agreement in connection with the
performance of such Services, including the requirement to meet the
SLAs applicable to Primary Servicer for such Service set forth in
Schedule 7.3(a) of the Program Agreement. Upon the date of the
foregoing transfer, Servicer shall be released from any further
obligation with respect to the performance of such
Services.
(c) Notwithstanding
Section 2.03(b), Bank and Servicer agree that the
Documentation Services shall be transferred to Primary Servicer as
soon as practicable after the date hereof and, upon such transfer,
Primary Servicer shall be required to comply with the provisions of
the Program Agreement in connection with the performance of such
Services, including the requirement to meet the SLAs applicable to
the Documentation Services set forth in Schedule 7.3(a) of the
Program Agreement.
(d) Servicer shall maintain
records relating to its performance of the Services in accordance
with the record retention policies set forth on Schedule
4.4(f) of the Program Agreement. Records may be kept in either
paper or electronic form. Servicer shall retrieve, reproduce and
deliver to Bank any records reasonably requested from time to time
by Bank for the purpose of providing customer assistance or
resolving customer disputes, and Bank shall compensate Servicer on
demand for the reasonable costs and expenses associated with such
retrieval, reproduction and delivery.
4
(e) Within fifteen (15) days
after the end of each Fiscal Month, Servicer shall provide to Bank
the reports specified in Schedule 2.03(e) and such other
reports as are mutually agreed to by the Parties from time to
time.
(f) Bank shall train personnel
of Servicer on Bank’s systems and processes that are related
to or that interface with, but that are not components of, the
Services to the extent necessary for Servicer to perform the
Services. Servicer shall train personnel of Bank on
Servicer’s systems and processes that are related to the
Services being provided under this Agreement.
(g) Bank shall cooperate, and
shall ensure that each of its Affiliates shall cooperate, with
Servicer in all matters relating to Servicer’s performance of
the Services at Servicer’s reasonable request. Such
cooperation shall be provided at the expense of Bank and shall
include providing Servicer with reasonable access to the personnel,
records, systems, technology and information of the Household
Companies and their Affiliates relating to the Accounts. Servicer
shall obtain all licenses and authorizations necessary to perform
the Services that it provides hereunder.
Section 2.04. Service Level
Standards .
(a) Servicer shall perform the
applicable Services in accordance with the SLAs set forth on
Schedule 2.04(a).
(b) Servicer shall report to
Bank monthly, in a mutually agreed upon format, Servicer’s
performance under each of the SLAs set forth on Schedule 2.04(a).
If Servicer fails to meet any SLA, Servicer shall
(i) immediately report to the Management Committee the reasons
for the SLA failure(s); and (ii) promptly take commercially
reasonable action to correct and prevent recurrence of such
failure(s).
Section 2.05. Use of
Subservicers . Servicer shall have the right to perform any
portion of the Services through one or more subservicers;
provided that (i) any subservicer that is not an
Affiliate of Servicer shall be subject to approval pursuant to
Article III of the Program Agreement and (ii) Servicer
shall remain fully responsible to Bank for the portion of the
Services performed by any such subservicer(s) (including its
Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent Servicer
subcontracts or outsources to any third party any Services as of
the date hereof, Servicer may continue to subcontract or outsource
such Services to such third party.
Section 2.06. Disaster
Recovery . For as long as Servicer is providing services
hereunder, Servicer shall continue to maintain the disaster
recovery plan in effect on the Effective Date. Servicer shall be
prepared to and have the ability to implement such plan if
necessary. Servicer shall provide Bank with access to review such
plan upon request. Servicer shall test the plan annually and shall
promptly implement such plan upon the occurrence of a disaster or
business interruption. Servicer shall be excused from its failure
to meet any applicable SLAs that result directly from the failure
of any of the Bank Systems. If in the event of a disaster or severe
business interruption Servicer fails to take reasonable steps to
respond to such disaster or severe business interruption, Bank
shall have reasonable access to Servicer’s systems, technical
personnel and disaster recovery resources, so as to ensure
continuity of business and systems required to service the
Accounts.
5
Section 2.07. Inventory
. The Parties hereby agree that all paper, envelopes and plastic
reasonably required for production and mailing of Cardholder
Documentation and Loyalty Cards will be either (i) purchased
by Servicer in consultation with Bank, in which case Servicer shall
invoice Bank directly for such purchases and Bank shall pay
Servicer for such invoices (including shipping and taxes), or
(ii) purchased by Bank in consultation with Servicer at
Bank’s sole cost and expense, provided that material
qualities and quantities must be reasonably satisfactory to
Servicer.
Section 2.08.
Securitization .
(a) As part of the Services
hereunder, Servicer hereby agrees to continue and to have its
Subsidiaries continue to perform for the benefit of Bank and Bank
Parent on a subservicing basis, the servicing functions set forth
under the Securitization Documents with respect to the Accounts and
receivables generated thereunder that are subject to such
Securitization Documents, from and after the Closing Date,
including the execution and delivery of all certificates and
reports as required by such Securitization Documents, which
certificates and reports shall be addressed to HSBC Finance
Corporation, a Delaware corporation as the Servicer.
(b) Servicer hereby
acknowledges and agrees that HSBC Finance Corporation shall be
entitled to rely on such reports and certificates as a basis for
issuing any of its own reports and certificates under the
Securitization Documents. In addition, Servicer hereby agrees to
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Servicer’s
independent public accountants to issue the reports required by the
Securitization Documents and deliver such reports to HSBC Finance
Corporation for the period starting October 31, 2004 and
ending on the Closing Date, such reports to be delivered by such
independent public accounting firm on or before October 31,
2005.
(c) Servicer shall cooperate
with Bank and Bank Parent to correct any errors or deficiencies
discovered in any of the reports referred to in this
Section 2.08.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 3.01.
Representations and Warranties of Servicer . Servicer
represents and warrants to Bank as follows:
(a) Organization .
Servicer (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, (ii) is duly licensed or qualified to do
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in all
jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business or the
activities in which it is engaged makes such licensing or
qualification necessary, except to the extent that its
non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its
ability to
6
perform its obligations hereunder, and
(iii) has all necessary licenses, permits, consents or
approvals from or by, and has made all necessary filings and
registrations with, all governmental authorities having
jurisdiction, to the extent required for the ownership, lease or
conduct and operation of its business, except to the extent that
the failure to obtain such licenses, permits, consents or approvals
or to make such filings or registrations would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material
adverse effect on its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
(b) Capacity;
Authorization; Validity . Servicer has all necessary corporate
power and authority to (i) execute and enter into this
Agreement, and (ii) perform its obligations hereunder and the
other documents, instruments and agreements relating to this
Agreement executed by it pursuant hereto. The execution and
delivery by Servicer of this Agreement and all documents,
instruments and agreements executed and delivered by Servicer
pursuant hereto, and the consummation by Servicer of the
transactions specified herein, have been duly and validly
authorized and approved by all necessary corporate actions of
Servicer. This Agreement (i) has been duly executed and
delivered by Servicer, (ii) constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of Servicer, and (iii) is enforceable in
accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, receivership or other laws affecting
the rights of creditors generally and by general equity principles
including those respecting the availability of specific
performance).
(c) Conflicts; Defaults;
Etc . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by Servicer, its compliance with the terms hereof, and consummation
of the transactions specified herein will not (i) conflict
with, violate, result in the breach of, constitute an event which
would, or with the lapse of time or action by a third party or both
would, result in a default under, or accelerate the performance
required by, the terms of any contract, instrument or agreement to
which Servicer is a party or by which it is bound, or to which any
of the assets of Servicer is subject; (ii) conflict with or
violate the articles of incorporation or by-laws of Servicer;
(iii) breach or violate any Applicable Law or Applicable
Order, in each case, applicable to Servicer; (iv) require the
consent or approval of any other party to any contract, instrument
or commitment to which Servicer is a party or by which it is bound;
or (v) require any filing with, notice to, consent or approval
of, or any other action to be taken with respect to, any
Governmental Authority, except, in the cases of clauses
(i) and (iii)-(v), for such conflicts, breaches, defaults,
violations or failures to obtain such consents or approvals or make
or obtain such filings, notices, consents and approvals as would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a material adverse effect upon Servicer’s ability
to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(d) Litigation . No
action, claim, litigation, proceeding, arbitration or investigation
is pending or, to the Knowledge of Servicer, threatened against
Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries, at law, in equity or
otherwise, by or before any Governmental Authority, to which
Servicer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, which would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
material adverse effect on the ability of Servicer to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
7
(e) Facilities and
Equipment . Servicer has all necessary facilities, equipment,
supplies and such other resources as are reasonably necessary to
provide the Services under this Agreement.
(f) Solvency . Servicer
is Solvent.
Section 3.02.
Representations and Warranties of Bank . Bank represents and
warrants to Servicer as follows:
(a) Organization . Bank
(i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, (ii) is duly licensed or qualified to do
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in all
jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business or the
activities in which it is engaged makes such licensing or
qualification necessary, except to the extent that its
non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its
ability to perform its obligations hereunder, and (iii) has
all necessary licenses, permits, consents or approvals from or by,
and has made all necessary filings and registrations with, all
governmental authorities having jurisdiction, to the extent
required for the ownership, lease or conduct and operation of its
business, except to the extent that the failure to obtain such
licenses, permits, consents or approvals or to make such filings or
registrations would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Capacity;
Authorization; Validity . Bank has all necessary corporate
power and authority to (i) execute and enter into this
Agreement, and (ii) perform its obligations hereunder and the
other documents, instruments and agreements relating to this
Agreement executed by it pursuant hereto. The execution and
delivery by Bank of this Agreement and all documents, instruments
and agreements executed and delivered by Bank pursuant hereto, and
the consummation by Bank of the transactions specified herein, have
been duly and validly authorized and approved by all necessary
corporate actions of Bank. This Agreement (i) has been duly
executed and delivered by Bank, (ii) constitutes the valid and
legally binding obligation of Bank, and (iii) is enforceable
in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, receivership or other laws affecting
the rights of creditors generally and by general equity principles
including those respecting the availability of specific
performance).
(c) Conflicts; Defaults;
Etc . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by Bank, its compliance with the terms hereof, and consummation of
the transactions specified herein will not (i) conflict with,
violate, result in the breach of, constitute an event which would,
or with the lapse of time or action by a third party or both would,
result in a default under, or accelerate the performance required
by, the terms of any contract, instrument or agreement to which
Bank is a party or by which it is bound, or to which any of the
assets of Bank is subject; (ii) conflict with or violate the
articles of incorporation or by-laws of Bank; (iii) breach or
violate any Applicable Law or Applicable Order, in each case,
applicable to Bank; (iv) require the consent or approval of
any other party to any contract, instrument or commitment to which
Bank is a party or by which it is bound; or (v) require any
filing with, notice to, consent or approval of, or any other action
to be taken with respect to, any Governmental Authority,
except,
8
in the cases of clauses (i) and (iii)-(v),
for such conflicts, breaches, defaults, violations or failures to
obtain such consents or approvals or make or obtain such filings,
notices, consents and approvals as would not reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse
effect upon Bank’s ability to perform its obligations under
this Agreement.
(d) Litigation . No
action, claim, litigation, proceeding, arbitration or investigation
is pending or, to the Knowledge of Bank, threatened against Bank or
any of its Affiliates, at law, in equity or otherwise, by or before
any Governmental Authority, to which Bank or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, which would reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect
on the ability of Bank to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
(e) Solvency . Bank is
Solvent.
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Further
Assurances . From time to time after the execution of this
Agreement, as and when requested by either Party, the other Party
shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered,
all such documents and instruments as may be reasonably necessary
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 4.02.
Modifications . Except as permitted by this Agreement, the
Program Agreement, the Risk Management Policies or the Operating
Procedures, Servicer shall not enter into any agreement or
arrangement reducing amounts payable by Cardholders.
Section 4.03. Correction of
Errors . Each of the Parties shall correct or cause to be
corrected as promptly as practicable any data processing or billing
errors of which it receives knowledge that occur in the performance
of the Services.
Section 4.04. Changes in
Law . Bank shall notify Servicer from time to time, in a timely
manner, of the expiration, revocation or amendment of, or other
material developments relating to, any requirements of Applicable
Law affecting the provision by Servicer of the Services. If such
changes in law materially increase Servicer’s cost of
providing the Services, the Management Committee shall meet to
discuss the increased cost and shall determine the allocation of
such increased cost between the Parties.
Section 4.05.
Cooperation . Each Party covenants that it shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other Party
in the servicing of the accounts.
Section 4.06. Facilities and
Equipment .
(a) For as long as Servicer is
providing Services hereunder, Servicer shall maintain in good
working order all necessary facilities, equipment, supplies and
such other resources as are reasonably necessary to provide any
Services in accordance with the SLAs under this
Agreement.
9
(b) Servicer shall provide Bank
with written notice prior to opening a new servicing facility for
the purpose of providing the Services.
Section 4.07. Insurance
. Servicer shall maintain insurance policies (in any event
including error and omissions liability insurance and fiduciary
liability insurance) with respect to its employees and properties
under such terms and conditions as are (i) commercially
reasonable and available from time to time and (ii) customary
for similarly situated Persons engaged in similar business, except
in each case for insurance which a failure to maintain would not
reasonable be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
ability of Servicer to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
Section 4.08. Customer
Information . Servicer shall maintain an information security
program that is designed to meet all requirements of Applicable
Law, including, at a minimum, maintenance of an information
security program that is designed to: (i) ensure the security
and confidentiality of customer information; (ii) protect
against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or
integrity of such information; (iii) protect against
unauthorized access to or use of such information; and
(iv) ensure the proper disposal of such information.
Additionally, such security measures shall meet current industry
standards and shall be at least as protective as those used by
Servicer to protect its other confidential customer information.
Servicer shall use the same degree of care in protecting the
customer information against unauthorized disclosure as it accords
to its own confidential customer information, but in no event less
than a reasonable standard of care. In the event Servicer becomes
aware of any unauthorized use of or access to customer information,
Servicer shall immediately notify Bank and shall cooperate with
Bank, as it deems necessary or as required by Applicable Law,
(x) to assess the nature and scope of such incident,
(y) to contain and control such incident to prevent further
unauthorized access to or use of such information, and (z) to
provide prompt notice to affected customers to the extent required
by Applicable Law or otherwise with the approval of the Management
Committee.
ARTICLE V
DEFAULT; REMEDIES
Section 5.01. Servicer
Default . It shall be a “Servicer Default” if
either of the events set forth below shall occur and be continuing
and remain unremedied prior to the expiration of the specified
period:
(a) Significant Failure
. If Servicer (i) is more than 20% below the target for any
Starred SLA in any Fiscal Month, (ii) fails to meet any
individual Starred SLA in two (2) consecutive Fiscal Months or
(iii) fails to meet any Starred SLA four (4) times in any
twelve (12) Fiscal Month period (including multiple breaches of the
same and individual breaches of different Starred SLAs) (each, a
“ Significant Failure ”).
(b) Regulatory Failure
. If Servicer fails to meet an SLA desig