ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP - S-1 - 20031024 - STOCK_PLANS
2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors and
stockholders will adopt our 2003 stock incentive plan. The plan will become
effective upon consummation of this offering. The aggregate number of shares of
common stock reserved for issuance under the 2003 stock incentive plan is
[ ] shares.
60
Options granted under the 2003 stock incentive plan may be either options
intended to qualify as incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue Code,
or non-qualified stock options. The 2003 stock incentive plan also permits the
granting of stock appreciation rights in connection with the grant of stock
options, and the grant of restricted stock awards, performance shares and annual
incentive awards. Stock options and stock awards may be granted under the 2003
stock incentive plan to all employees and non-employee directors of and
consultants to us and any present or future subsidiary or parent.
The 2003 stock incentive plan will be administered by our compensation
committee. The compensation committee will have the authority to determine
exercise prices applicable to the option, the eligible employees, directors and
consultants to whom options may be granted, the number of shares of common stock
subject to each option and the extent to which options may be exercisable. The
compensation committee also will have the authority to determine the recipients
and the terms of grants of stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards,
performance share awards and annual incentive awards under the 2003 stock
incentive plan.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC adopted the Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC
Year 2002 Share Appreciation Rights Plan effective as of September 30, 2002.
Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC has, or prior
to the consummation of this offering will have, granted to approximately 60
employees share appreciation rights which entitle the holder to receive
compensation under certain circumstances based on an appreciation of the value
of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC.
Under the current terms of the Plan and related award agreements, the share
appreciation rights are subject to certain vesting and payment restrictions and
the rights may be forfeited or reduced in value upon the termination of the
rights holder's employment with Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. In particular,
the Plan and the related award agreements include the following terms:
- We will have the right, but not the obligation, to vest 100% of the
rights simultaneously with the completion of this offering.
- If we elect to vest the rights, then, on the effective date of the
completion of this offering, we would pay to the holders of the value of
their vested rights as follows:
- Payment on behalf of the rights holders of their applicable withholding
taxes to taxing authorities (as calculated pursuant to the Plan); and
- Delivery to the rights holders of unregistered shares of our common
stock valued at the price of this offering in an amount equal to the
value of the rights awards as of the effective date of the completion of
this offering less the amount of withholding taxes we pay on the
holders' behalf.
- As a condition precedent to the receipt of any shares of our common
stock, the rights holders have agreed to enter into a shareholder
agreement, effective as of the date of delivery of such shares, which
sets forth certain transfer restrictions, call rights and other
provisions relative to such shares, including the following:
- 20% of the shares issued to a holder will be released from the transfer
restriction on each anniversary of this consummation of this offering,
beginning with the first anniversary hereof; and
- Upon the effective date of a termination of a holder's employment for
any reason (except death), we would have the right, but not the
obligation, for a period of five years to purchase all, or less than
all, of those share not released from the transfer restriction at a per
share purchase price equal to the public price per share in this
offering.
In connection with the consummation of this offering, we intend to exercise
our right to vest 100% of the share appreciation rights held by the holders
which, based on an initial public offering price of $[ ] per share,
will result in our payment of $[ ] million dollars for the applicable
61
withholding taxes due by the holders and the issuance of [ ]
unregistered shares of our common stock to the holders. The compensation charge
related to the vesting of the share appreciation rights will be $[ ]
($[ ] on an after-tax basis).
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Our certificate of incorporation provide that our directors will not be
personally liable for monetary damages to us or any of our stockholders for
breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors. However they remain liable for
any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acts or
omissions in bad faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, payments of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions in
violation of Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, and any
transaction from which the directors derived an improper personal benefit. This
provision would have no effect on the availability of equitable remedies or
non-monetary relief, such an injunction or rescission for breach of the duty of
care. In addition, the provision applies only to claims against a director
arising out of his or her role as a director and not in any other capacity (such
as an officer or employee). Further, liability of a director for violations of
the federal or state securities laws will not be limited by this provision.
In addition, we are obligated in some situations, under our certificate of
incorporation and bylaws to indemnify each of our directors and officers to the
fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We must indemnify our directors and
officers with respect to all expenses, liabilities and losses reasonably
incurred or suffered in any action, suit or proceeding in which the person was
or is made or threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved by reason
of the fact that the person is or was our director or officer. We are obligated
to pay the reasonable expenses of the directors or officers incurred in
defending the proceedings if the indemnified party agrees to repay all amounts
advanced by us if it is ultimately determined that the indemnified party is not
entitled to indemnification. We also maintain customary insurance covering
directors and officers.
62
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In September 2002, we formed Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, for the purpose of consummating an equity
recapitalization, with AAC Investors, Inc., Consumer Credit Corp. and AAC
Holding Corp. as the initial sole equity members of Asset Acceptance Holdings
LLC. Through this recapitalization, which was effected on September 30, 2002,
the businesses of Asset Acceptance Corp., Financial Credit Corp., CFC Financial
Corp. and Consumer Credit Corp. and the portfolio assets of Lee Acceptance Corp.
were contributed to the subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. After
that date, the business of purchasing and collecting charged-off debt previously
effected by AAC Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries and the business of financing
sales of consumer product retailers previously effected by Consumer Credit Corp.
were effected through this newly formed company and its subsidiaries. AAC
Holding Corp. was renamed RBR Holding Corp. after the recapitalization and
Consumer Credit Corp. was merged into RBR Holding Corp. in January 2003. In
connection with this recapitalization, RBR Holding Corp. and Consumer Credit
Corp. received 39% and 1%, respectively, of the equity membership interests of
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and $45,550,000 and $250,000, respectively, in
cash. The majority of the cash proceeds was subsequently distributed to the
owners of RBR Holding Corp. and Consumer Credit Corp. At the time of this
recapitalization, Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., our Chairman, Nathaniel F. Bradley IV,
our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mark A. Redman, our Vice
President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer, beneficially owned 57%, 38%, and
5%, respectively of RBR Holding Corp. and 60%, 40%, and 0%, respectively, of
Consumer Credit Corp.
On September 30, 2002, we entered into an employment agreement with Heather
K. Reitzel, our Executive Vice President and the wife of Rufus H. Reitzel Jr.,
that will expire on September 30, 2005. The agreement provides for an annual
salary of $60,000, which may be increased by the board of directors, and such
bonuses as may be awarded at the end of each fiscal year. If Ms. Reitzel is
terminated by us without cause or resigns following a substantial breach, as
defined in the agreement, Ms. Reitzel is entitled to receive her salary for a
period of two years and a pro rata portion of the bonus, if any, due in
accordance with the agreement as if her employment had continued until the
second anniversary date of such termination date. The agreement also contains
provisions which restrict Ms. Reitzel from competing with us through the later
of (i) one year after the termination of Ms. Reitzel's employment and (ii) the
date we cease to make severance payments, if any, required to be made if Ms.
Reitzel's employment is terminated without cause or Ms. Reitzel resigns
following a substantial breach. This agreement will be amended upon the
effectiveness of this offering to provide Ms. Reitzel with life-time health care
coverage.
On September 30, 2002, we entered into a consulting services agreement with
Quad-C Management, Inc., an affiliate of AAC Quad-C Investors LLC, the sole
stockholder of AAC Investors, Inc. (which beneficially owns more than 5% of our
common stock), that expires on December 31, 2003. The agreement will
automatically renew for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either
party. Under the agreement, Quad-C Management, Inc. receives a consulting
services fee of $300,000 per year for consulting with and advising us on matters
relating to financing, taxation and operations and development of the business,
among other matters. Upon consummation of this offering, this agreement will be
terminated. While Quad-C Management, Inc. does not have a contractual right to
appoint any members of the board of directors, two of our board members will be
affiliates of Quad-C Management, Inc. In 2002, we paid Quad-C Management, Inc.,
$1.0 million in investment banking fees in connection with our equity
recapitalization in September 2002, and $75,000 for consulting services
rendered. In 2003, we paid Quad-C Management, Inc. $225,000 for consulting
services rendered and will pay an additional $75,000 per quarter through the
Reorganization. Terrence D. Daniels and Anthony R. Ignaczak both serve on our
board of directors and are Partners of Quad-C Management, Inc.
We anticipate using a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to pay
in full our note payable owed to AAC Quad-C Investors LLC which matures on
September 30, 2007 and bears interest at 10%. As of September 30, 2003, the
principal and accrued interest under this indebtedness totaled $37.7 million and
$0.9 million, respectively.
63
On September 30, 2002, we entered into a registration rights agreement
among AAC Investors, Inc., AAC Holding Corp., Consumer Credit Corp., Rufus H.
Reitzel, Jr., our Chairman, Heather K. Reitzel, Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, our
President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mark A. Redman, our Vice
President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Upon the effectiveness of the
offering, this agreement will be amended to, among other things, include Asset
Acceptance Capital Corp. and AAC Quad-C Investors LLC as parties. As amended,
this agreement will terminate either (i) three years after the closing of an
initial public offering, or (ii) for those shareholders that own in excess of 1%
of the then outstanding shares of common stock, either when the shareholder owns
less than 1% or seven years after the closing of an initial public offering. The
agreement provides that AAC Quad-C Investors LLC can request that Asset
Acceptance Capital Corp. effect the registration of a specified number of shares
of common stock issued to AAC Quad-C Investors LLC in connection with the
recapitalization described above. For a period of twenty days after AAC Quad-C
Investors LLC gives notice of its request for registration, the agreement
provides that each of Mr. Reitzel, Ms. Reitzel, Mr. Bradley or Mr. Redman may
also request that Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. effect the registration of a
specified number of shares of common stock held by them or their affiliates.
On September 30, 2002, we entered into an option agreement with our
Chairman, Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., related to our subsidiary, Consumer Credit,
LLC. The agreement will terminate upon a foreclosure on the business or assets
of Consumer Credit, LLC by the banks under our line of credit. The agreement
provides that, following the effective date of the termination of Mr. Reitzel's
employment or if Mr. Reitzel's resigns following a substantial breach, as
defined in his employment agreement, Mr. Reitzel has the option to purchase the
assets and liabilities of Consumer Credit, LLC relating to the business of
making and servicing consumer loans and mortgages, issuing credit cards and
financing sales of consumer products. The purchase price will be equal to the
greater of (i) the gross collections of Consumer Credit, LLC during the twelve
months prior to Mr. Reitzel's termination, or (ii) two times the tangible book
value (as defined in the agreement) of Consumer Credit, LLC.
In October 2003, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC will modify its grant
agreement with each of Mark A. Redman, our Vice President-Finance and Chief
Financial Officer, Phillip L. Allen, our Vice President-Operations, and Donald
O'Neill, our Vice President-Collections, to allow Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC
to vest 100% of the share appreciation rights held by each of Messrs. Redman,
Allen and O'Neill under the Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Year 2002 Share
Appreciation Rights Plan. For more detailed information about this Plan and the
vesting of these share appreciation rights, see "Management -- Executive
Compensation" and "-- Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Share Appreciation Rights
Plan".
Immediately prior to the Reorganization being effected in connection with
this offering:
- all of the shares of AAC Investors, Inc. were held by AAC Quad-C
Investors LLC and Messrs. Daniels and Ignaczak each beneficially owned
substantially all, of the equity membership interests of AAC Quad-C
Investors LLC; and
- Messrs. Reitzel, Bradley and Redman beneficially owned 57%, 38%, and 5%,
respectively, of the shares of RBR Holding Corp.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC
made tax distributions to RBR Holding Corp. totaling $738,500, as required by
the terms of its operating agreement. Prior to the consummation of the
Reorganization, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC will make a tax distribution of
$[ ] million to RBR Holding Corp.
From January 1, 2000 through August 31, 2002, Asset Acceptance Corp. (now
known as Asset Acceptance, LLC) and Financial Credit Corp. (now known as
Financial Credit, LLC), both of which were wholly-owned subsidiaries of AAC
Holding Corp. (now known as RBR Holding Corp.), were indebted to Messrs. Reitzel
(including, in certain instances, his spouse), Bradley (including, in certain
instances, his spouse) and Redman for borrowed money, with principal due on
demand and with the significant majority of this indebtedness bearing interest
at a variable rate of prime plus 3/8%. These notes
64
were paid in full on or before August 31, 2002. The principal outstanding on
this indebtedness (including the indebtedness held by the spouses of Messrs.
Reitzel and Bradley) as of December 31, 2000 and 2001, as well as the principal
and interest payments related to this indebtedness for the years ended December
31, 2000 and 2001 and for the eight months ended August 31, 2002, were as
follows:
In 1997, Messrs. Reitzel and Bradley borrowed the initial principal amount
of $420,000 and $280,000, respectively, from a bank, with interest at a variable
rate of prime plus 3/8% and with the repayment of these loans guaranteed by our
predecessors. Both of these loans were paid in full in 2002 without recourse to
the guarantee.
On January 1, 2001, Mr. Redman acquired shares of capital stock of RBR
Holding Corp., representing 5% of the then outstanding shares of RBR Holding
Corp., financed through a promissory note issued by RBR Holding Corp. Prior to
our equity recapitalization consummated on September 30, 2002, RBR Holding Corp.
received principal and interest payments on this promissory note of $104,153 and
$48,936, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2001 and $75,268 and
$25,732, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.
Asset Acceptance Corp. was a party to a five-year lease with Goldeneye
Holding Company, LLC that expired on September 30, 2002. Payments made under
this lease and the related rent expenses for the years ended December 31, 2000
and 2001 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 were $48,000, $48,000
and $36,000, respectively. Messrs. Reitzel and Bradley owned 60% and 40%,
respectively, of Goldeneye Holding Company, LLC during these periods.
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV is the son-in-law of Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and
James Reitzel, our Vice President-Corporate Relations, is the son of Mr.
Reitzel. Heather K. Reitzel is the wife of Mr. Reitzel.
65
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of our common stock as of [ ], 2003 by:
- each person, entity or group known to us to be the beneficial owner of
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock;
- each of our named executive officers;
- each of our directors; and
- all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Prior to the Reorganization being effected upon the effective date of the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, Asset Acceptance
Capital Corp. did not have any stockholders. Pursuant to the Reorganization, our
initial stockholders will be the former stockholders of AAC Investors, Inc. and
of RBR Holding Corp. The total number of shares issuable to these former
stockholders is dependent upon the per share initial public offering price.
Except as otherwise indicated below, the percentage of beneficial ownership of
common stock before the offering is based on an initial public offering price of
$[ ] per share, as a result of which a total of [ ] shares of
common stock will be issued in the Reorganization and, therefore, outstanding.
The percentage of beneficial ownership after the offering is based on
[ ] shares of common stock outstanding, including the approximately
[ ] shares issuable in connection with the payment of the share
appreciation rights granted by Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. The following
table does not reflect the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These rules generally attribute beneficial
ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or
investment power with respect to those securities and include shares of common
stock issued upon the exercise to options or warrants that are presently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. As of the date of this prospectus, we
have not issued any options. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities
identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to
all shares beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property
laws.
Unless otherwise indicated below, each person or entity named below has an
address in care of our principal executive offices at Asset Acceptance Capital
Corp., P.O. Box 2036, Warren, Michigan 48090.
SHARES BENEFICIALLY SHARES BENEFICIALLY
OWNED PRIOR TO THE OWNED AFTER THE
OFFERING OFFERING
-------------------- --------------------
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER NUMBER PCTG. NUMBER PCTG.
------------------------ --------- -------- --------- --------
AAC Quad-C Investors LLC(1)..........................
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.(2).............................
Heather Reitzel(2)...................................
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV(3)...........................
Mark A. Redman....................................... (4)
Phillip L. Allen..................................... * (4)
Donald O'Neill....................................... * (4)
Terrence D. Daniels(1)(5)............................
Anthony R. Ignaczak(1)(5)............................
All directors and executive officers as a group (10
persons)...........................................
66
* Less than 1%
(1) Address is 230 East High Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.
(2) Includes [ ] shares held by trusts of which Mr. Reitzel and Ms.
Reitzel serve as co-trustees with shared power to vote and dispose of the
underlying shares (as to which Mr. Reitzel and Ms. Reitzel disclaim
beneficial ownership).
(3) Includes [ ] shares held by trusts of which Mr. Bradley is
co-trustee with his spouse, and [ ] shares held by a trust of which
Mr. Bradley's spouse is sole trustee (as to which Mr. Bradley disclaims
beneficial ownership).
(4) Includes [ ] shares, [ ] shares and [ ] shares
issuable to Messrs. Redman, Allen and O'Neill, respectively, as payment for
the share appreciation rights granted pursuant to the Asset Acceptance
Holdings LLC Share Appreciation Rights Plan.
(5) The shares of common stock beneficially owned by Messrs. Daniels and
Ignaczak consist of [ ] shares held by AAC Quad-C Investors LLC.
Messrs. Daniels and Ignaczak serve as managers of AAC Quad-C Investors LLC
and each of them has shared power to vote and dispose of the shares held by
AAC Quad-C Investors LLC.
67
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Upon the completion of this offering, we will be authorized to issue
[ ] shares of common stock and [ ] shares of preferred stock,
each with $0.01 par values. Upon completion of this offering, we will have
[ ] shares of common stock outstanding and [ ] shares of
preferred stock outstanding. As of [ ], 2003 there were [ ]
record holders of common stock.
The following description of our capital stock does not purport to be
complete and is subject to, and is qualified by, our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which will be
filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part.
COMMON STOCK
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share for the
election of directors as well as on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to
vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for
election. Subject to any preference rights of holders of preferred stock,
holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, declared
by our board of directors from time to time out of legally available funds. In
the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common
stock are entitled to share in our assets remaining after the payment of
liabilities pro rata in accordance with such stockholder's holdings, subject to
any prior rights of holders of preferred stock prior to distribution. The common
stock has no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights. There are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.
All of the outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares offered
by us in this offering will be, fully paid and non-assessable.
PREFERRED STOCK
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board
of directors at any time, and from time to time, to issue shares of preferred
stock in one or more series, with such designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations
or restrictions, as the board of directors may determine, subject to the
limitations prescribed by law and our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation.
It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares
of preferred stock on the rights of holders of our common stock until our board
of directors determine the specific rights attached to that preferred stock. The
issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of one or more of the
following:
- restricting dividends on our common stock;
- diluting the voting power of our common stock;
- impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; or
- delaying or preventing a change of control of us.
We currently have no plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
OPTIONS
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not issued any stock options.
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OUR AMENDED AND
RESTATED CERTIFICATE AND BYLAWS
Some provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
and amended and restated bylaws, each of which will become effective upon
closing of this offering, may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may
delay or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might
68
consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a
premium over the market price for the shares held by stockholders.
Classified Board of Directors
Our board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors
serving staggered, three-year terms. As a result, approximately one-third of the
board of directors will be elected each year. These provisions, when coupled
with provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation
authorizing the board of directors to fill vacant directorships or increase the
size of the board of directors, may deter a stockholder from removing incumbent
directors and simultaneously gaining control of the board of directors by
filling the vacancies created by such removal with its own nominees.
Cumulative Voting
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will expressly deny
stockholders the right to cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will eliminate the
ability of stockholders to act by written consent. It will further provide that
special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of our
board of directors, our president or a majority of our directors.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS
Our amended and restated bylaws will provide that stockholders seeking to
bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate
candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, must
provide timely notice in writing. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be
delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less
than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual
meeting of stockholders. However, in the event that the annual meeting is called
for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date,
notice by the stockholder, in order to be timely, must be received not later
than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which notice of
the date of the annual meeting was mailed to stockholders or made public,
whichever first occurs. Our amended and restated bylaws will also specify
requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder's notice. These
provisions may preclude stockholders from bringing matters before an annual
meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at an annual
meeting of stockholders.
AUTHORIZED BUT UNISSUED SHARES
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock will
be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional
shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future
public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and
employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of
common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an
attempt to obtain control of by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger
or otherwise.
AMENDMENTS; SUPERMAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENTS
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides generally that the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is
required to amend a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless
either a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws require a greater
percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will impose
supermajority vote requirements in connection with business combination
transactions and the amendment of provisions of our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, including those
provisions relating to
69
the classified board of directors, actions by written consent and the ability of
stockholders to call special meetings.
TRANSFER AGENT
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is LaSalle Bank
National Association.
LISTING
We have applied to have our common stock approved for quotation on The
Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "AACC".
70
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common
stock, and we cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of shares or
availability of any shares for sale will have on the market price of the common
stock prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock
(including shares issued on the exercise of options), or the perception that
such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common
stock and our ability to raise additional capital through a future sale of
securities.
Upon completion of this offering, we will have [ ] shares of
common stock outstanding (or [ ] shares if the underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised in full). The [ ] shares (or
[ ] shares if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in
full) of common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable without
restriction or further registration under the Securities Act unless such shares
are purchased by "affiliates" as that term is defined in Rule 144 of the
Securities Act. Subject to certain contractual restrictions, holders of
restricted shares will be entitled to sell those shares in the public securities
markets if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or any
other applicable exemption under the Securities Act. Subject to the lock-up
agreements described below and the provisions of Rule 144, 144(k) and 701,
additional shares will be available for sale as set forth below.
Shares eligible for future sale in the public market based on shares
outstanding at the time we close this offering is as follows:
NUMBER OF SHARES DATE
---------------- ----
[ ] (or up to [ ] if the
underwriters' over-allotment option is
exercised in full)...................... After the date of this prospectus. Freely tradable
shares sold in this offering.
[ ]................................ After the date of this prospectus or 90 days after the
date of this prospectus. Shares not locked up and
eligible for resale under Rule 144 or 701.
[ ]................................ 180 days after the date of this prospectus when the
lock-up expires. Shares eligible for resale under Rule
144, Rule 144(k) or Rule 701.
[ ]................................ Various dates as these shares qualify for an exemption
from registration under Rule 144 of 701.
LOCK UP AGREEMENTS
We, each of our officers and directors and the holders of substantially all
of our common stock, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for our common stock, have agreed not to sell or transfer any
shares of our common stock for a period of 180 days after the date of the final
prospectus without first obtaining the written consent of Bear, Stearns & Co.,
Inc. Specifically, we and these other individuals have agreed not to directly or
indirectly:
- offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any common stock;
- sell any option or contract to purchase common stock;
- purchase any option or contract to sell common stock;
- sell any option, right or warrant for the sale of any common stock;
- request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the
common stock; or
71
- enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in
part, the economic consequences of ownership of any common stock, whether
any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or
other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. may waive this lock-up without public notice.
STOCK OPTIONS
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not issued any stock options.
However, we have reserved [ ] shares of common stock for issuance under
our 2003 stock incentive plan pursuant to which we can grant stock options,
stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, performance shares and
annual incentive awards.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
On September 30, 2002, we entered into a registration rights agreement
among AAC Investors, Inc., AAC Holding Corp., Consumer Credit Corp., Rufus H.
Reitzel, Jr., our Chairman, Heather K. Reitzel, Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, our
President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mark A. Redman, our Vice
President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Upon the effectiveness of the
offering, this agreement will be amended to, among other things, include Asset
Acceptance Capital Corp. and AAC Quad-C Investors LLC as parties. As amended,
this agreement will terminate either (i) three years after the closing of an
initial public offering, or (ii) for those shareholders that own in excess of 1%
of the then outstanding shares of common stock, either when the shareholder owns
less than 1% or seven years after the closing of an initial public offering. The
agreement provides that AAC Quad-C Investors LLC can request that Asset
Acceptance Capital Corp. effect the registration of a specified number of shares
of common stock issued to AAC Quad-C Investors LLC in connection with the
recapitalization described above. For a period of twenty days after AAC Quad-C
Investors LLC gives notice of its request for registration, the agreement
provides that each of Mr. Reitzel, Ms. Reitzel, Mr. Bradley or Mr. Redman may
also request that Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. effect the registration of a
specified number of shares of common stock held by them or their affiliates.
RULE 144
In general, under Rule 144 of the Securities Act as currently in effect,
beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person (or persons whose
shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned restricted securities within
the meaning of Rule 144 for at least one year (including the holding period of
any prior owner other than an affiliate), would be entitled to sell, within any
three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:
- one percent of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding,
which will equal approximately [ ] shares immediately after this
offering; or
- the average weekly trading volume of the common stock on The Nasdaq
National Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the sale.
Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to other requirements regarding the
manner of sale, notice filing and the availability of current public information
about us. An "affiliate" is a person that directly, or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control
with an issuer.
RULE 144(k)
Under Rule 144(k), a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is
not deemed to have been our affiliate at any time during the three months
preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold
for at least two years (including the holding period of any prior owner other
than an affiliate), is entitled to sell these shares under Rule 144(k) without
complying with the manner of
72
sale, public information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144.
Therefore, unless otherwise restricted, "144(k)" shares may be sold immediately
upon completion of this offering.
RULE 701
In general, Rule 701 permits any of our employees, directors, officers,
consultants or advisors who purchased shares from us in connection with a
written compensatory stock or option plan or contract before the effective date
of this offering to resell such shares in reliance on Rule 144 but without
compliance with specific restrictions. Rule 701 provides that affiliates may
sell their Rule 701 shares under Rule 144 without complying with the holding
period requirement and that non-affiliates may sell shares in reliance on Rule
144 without complying with the holding period, public information, volume
limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares are
required to wait until 90 days after the completion of this offering before
selling those shares. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not issued any
stock options. However, Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. will be issuing
[ ] shares of common stock pursuant to Rule 701 in payment for a
portion of the purchase price payable to the holders of share appreciation
rights previously granted by Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC which will vest upon
the consummation of this offering. As a condition precedent to the receipt of
any shares of our common stock, the rights holders have agreed to enter into a
shareholder agreement, effective as of the date of delivery of such shares,
which sets forth certain transfer restrictions, including a prohibition on any
transfers until after the first anniversary of this offering.
73
U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The following is a general discussion of certain material U.S. federal
income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our
common stock by a beneficial owner thereof that is a "Non-U.S. Holder" who
acquires and owns such common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of
Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). A
"Non-U.S. Holder" is a holder of common stock other than (i) a citizen or
resident of the U.S., (ii) a corporation, or an entity treated as a corporation
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that is created or organized in or under
the laws of the U.S. or of any state, (iii) an estate, the income of which is
subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a
trust if (a) a court within the U.S. is able to exercise primary supervision
over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (b) it has a
valid election in effect under applicable treasury regulations to be treated as
a U.S. person. The test for whether an individual is a resident of the U.S. for
federal estate tax purposes differs from the test used for federal income tax
purposes. Some individuals, therefore, may be "Non-U.S. Holders" for purposes of
the federal income tax discussion below, but not for purposes of the federal
estate tax discussion, and vice versa.
This discussion is based on the Code, judicial decisions and administrative
regulations and interpretations in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all
of which are subject to change, including changes with retroactive effect. This
discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income and estate
taxation that may be relevant to Non-U.S. Holders in light of their particular
circumstances (including, without limitation, Non-U.S. Holders who are
pass-through entities or who hold their common stock through pass-through
entities) and does not address any tax consequences arising under the laws of
any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction. Further, the discussion does not
consider Non-U.S. Holders to whom special tax rules may apply (including banks
or other financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities or
foreign currencies, common trust funds, holders who hold common stock as part of
a "straddle", "hedge", or conversion transaction, tax-exempt organizations, and
U.S. expatriates. Prospective holders should consult their tax advisors with
respect to the federal income and estate tax consequences of holding and
disposing of our common stock in light of their particular situations and any
consequences to them arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S.
jurisdiction.
DIVIDENDS
As discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, we do not anticipate making any
distributions on our common stock in the future. Subject to the discussion
below, dividends, if any, paid to a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock out of
our current or accumulated earnings and profits generally will be subject to
withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an
applicable income tax treaty. To obtain a reduced rate of withholding under a
treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be required to provide us with a
properly-executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) certifying the Non-U.S.
Holder's entitlement to benefits under that treaty. Treasury Regulations provide
special rules to determine whether, for purposes of determining the
applicability of a tax treaty, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder that is an
entity should be treated as paid to the entity or to those holding an interest
in that entity.
There will be no withholding tax on dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder
that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder's conduct of a trade or
business within the United States if a properly-executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or
successor form), stating that the dividends are so connected, is filed with us.
Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S.
income tax, generally in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S.
citizen or resident alien or a domestic corporation, as the case may be, unless
a specific treaty exemption applies. A corporate Non-U.S. Holder receiving
effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional "branch
profits tax", which is imposed, under certain circumstances, at a rate of 30%
(or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty) of the
corporate Non-U.S. Holder's effectively connected earnings and profits, subject
to certain adjustments.
GAIN ON DISPOSITION OF COMMON STOCK
A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax
with respect to gain realized on a sale or other disposition of our common stock
unless (i) the gain is effectively connected
74
with a trade or business of such holder in the United States and a specific
treaty exemption does not apply to eliminate the tax, (ii) if a tax treaty would
otherwise apply to eliminate the tax, the gain is attributable to a permanent
establishment of the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S., (iii) in the case of Non-U.S.
Holders who are nonresident alien individuals and hold our common stock as a
capital asset, such individuals are present in the United States for 183 or more
days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are
met, (iv) the Non-U.S. Holder is subject to tax pursuant to the provisions of
the Code regarding the taxation of U.S. expatriates, or (v) we are or have been
a "United States real property holding corporation" within the meaning of Code
Section 897(c)(2) at any time within the shorter of the five-year period
preceding such disposition or such holder's holding period. We believe that we
are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a United States real property holding
corporation. Even if we are treated as a United States real property holding
corporation, gain realized by a Non-U.S. Holder on a disposition of our common
stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax so long as (i) the Non-U.S.
Holder is considered to have beneficially owned no more than five percent of our
common stock at all times within the shorter of (a) the five year period
preceding the disposition or (b) the holder's holding period and (ii) our common
stock is regularly traded on an established securities market. There can be no
assurance that our common stock will continue to qualify as regularly traded on
an established securities market.
INFORMATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Generally, we must report to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service the amount
of dividends paid, the name and address of the recipient, and the amount, if
any, of tax withheld. A similar report is sent to the holder. Pursuant to tax
treaties or certain other agreements, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service may make
its reports available to tax authorities in the recipient's country of
residence.
Backup withholding will generally not apply to payments of dividends made
by us or our paying agents to a Non-U.S. Holder if the holder has provided its
federal taxpayer identification number, if any, or the required certification
that it is not a U.S. person (which is generally provided by furnishing a
properly-executed IRS Form W-8BEN), unless the payer otherwise has knowledge
that the payee is a U.S. person.
Under current U.S. federal income tax law, information reporting and backup
withholding imposed at a rate of 28% will apply to the proceeds of a disposition
of our common stock effected by or through a U.S. office of a broker unless the
disposing holder certifies as to its non-U.S. status or otherwise establishes an
exemption. Generally, U.S. information reporting and backup withholding will not
apply to a payment of disposition proceeds where the transaction is effected
outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker.
However, U.S. information reporting requirements (but not backup withholding)
will apply to a payment of disposition proceeds where the transaction is
effected outside the United States by or through an office outside the United
States of a broker that fails to maintain documentary evidence that the holder
is a Non-U.S. Holder and that certain conditions are met, or that the holder
otherwise is entitled to an exemption, and the broker is (i) a U.S. person, (ii)
a foreign person which derived 50% or more of its gross income for certain
periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, (iii) a
"controlled foreign corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or (iv) a
foreign partnership (a) at least 50% of the capital or profits interest in which
is owned by U.S. persons, or (b) that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business.
Backup withholding will apply to a payment of disposition proceeds if the broker
has actual knowledge that the holder is a U.S. person.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of
persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax
withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be
obtained, provided that the required information is furnished to the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service.
FEDERAL ESTATE TAX
An individual Non-U.S. Holder who is treated as the owner of, or has made
certain lifetime transfers of, an interest in our common stock will be required
to include the value thereof in his gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax
purposes, and may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax unless an applicable
estate tax treaty provides otherwise.
75
UNDERWRITING
We intend to offer the shares through the underwriters. Subject to the
terms and conditions described in an underwriting agreement among us, Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc., William Blair & Company, L.L.C., CIBC World Markets Corp.,
and SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., we have agreed to sell to the underwriters,
and the underwriters severally have agreed to purchase from us the number of
shares of common stock listed opposite their names below.
NUMBER
UNDERWRITER OF SHARES
----------- ---------
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ...................................
William Blair & Company, L.L.C. ............................
CIBC World Markets Corp. ...................................
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. .............................
--------
Total
========
The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the shares sold under the
underwriting agreement if any of these shares are purchased. If an underwriter
defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of
the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement
may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the
underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as
and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by
their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions
contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters
of officer's certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right
to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject others in whole
or in part.
COMMISSIONS AND DISCOUNTS
The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the
shares to the public at the public offering price on the cover page of this
prospectus and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of
$ per share. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a
discount not in excess of $ per share to other dealers. After the
public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may be
changed.
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount
and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise
or full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.
PER WITHOUT WITH
SHARE OPTION OPTION
------- ------- -------
Public offering price................................... $ $ $
Underwriting discount................................... $ $ $
Proceeds, before expenses, to Asset Acceptance Capital
Corp. ................................................ $ $ $
The expenses of the offering, excluding the underwriting discount and
commissions and related fees, are estimated at $[ ] million, with
$[ ] million remaining to be paid by us.
OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION
We have granted the underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days from the
date of the underwriting agreement to purchase a total of up to [ ]
additional shares at the public offering price less that
76
underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely to cover
any over-allotments, if any, made in connection with this offering. To the
extent the underwriters exercise this option in whole or in part, each will be
obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to
purchase a number of additional shares approximately proportionate to that
underwriters' initial commitment amount reflected in the above table.
NO SALES OF SIMILAR SECURITIES
We, each of our officers and directors and holders of substantially all of
our common stock, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for or repayable with common stock, and preferred stock have agreed,
with certain limited exceptions described therein, not to sell or transfer any
common stock for 180 days after the date of the final prospectus without first
obtaining the written consent of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. Specifically, we and
these other individuals have agreed not to directly or indirectly:
- offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any common stock;
- sell any option or contract to purchase any common stock;
- purchase any option or contract to sell any common stock;
- grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of any common stock;
- lend or otherwise dispose of or transfer any common stock;
- request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the
common stock; or
- enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in
part, the economic consequences of ownership of any common stock, whether
any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or
other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. may waive this lockup without public notice. This
lockup provision does not limit our ability to grant options to purchase common
stock under our stock options plans.
QUOTATION ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET
We have applied to have our shares of common stock approved for quotation
on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "AACC."
PRICE STABILIZATION, SHORT POSITIONS
Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit the
underwriters from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the
underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise
affect the price of our common stock during and after this offering.
If the underwriters over-allot or otherwise create a short position in our
common stock in connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more shares
than are listed on the cover of this prospectus, the underwriters may reduce
that short position by purchasing shares in the open market. The underwriters
may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the
over-allotment option described above. In addition, the underwriters may impose
penalty bids, under which selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or
other broker-dealers participating in this offering are reclaimed if shares of
our common stock previously distributed in this offering are repurchased in
connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. These transactions to
stabilize or maintain the market price may cause the price of our common stock
to be higher than it might be in the absence of such transactions. The
imposition of a penalty bid may also affect the price of our common stock to the
extent that it discourages resales.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions
described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither
we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation that they will engage in
these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be
discontinued without notice.
77
PASSIVE MARKET MAKING
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in passive
market-making transactions in our common stock on The Nasdaq National Market in
accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act during a period
before the commencement of offers or sales of common stock and extending through
the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a
price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if
all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker's bid, that bid
must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.
OTHER RELATIONSHIPS
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in
the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the
ordinary course of business with us. They have received customary fees and
commissions for these transactions.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of our common stock offered in this offering will be passed
upon for us by Dykema Gossett PLLC, Detroit, Michigan. Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, will act as counsel for the
underwriters.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited our consolidated
financial statements at December 31, 2000 and 2001, September 30, 2002, December
31, 2002 and June 30, 2003 and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001,
the nine months ended September 30, 2002, the three months ended December 31,
2002 and the six months ended June 30, 2003 as set forth in their report. We
have included our financial statements in the prospectus and elsewhere in the
registration statement in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1, including
exhibits, schedules and amendments filed with this registration statement, under
the Securities Act with respect to the common stock offered by this prospectus.
This prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
registration statement. For further information about our company and the shares
of common stock to be sold in the offering, please refer to the registration
statement. Statements made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any
contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration
statement are summaries of the terms of contract, agreements or documents.
Complete exhibits have been filed with the registration statement.
The registration statement and exhibits may be inspected, without charge,
and copies may be obtained at prescribed rates, at the SEC's Public Reference
facility maintained by the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549
or at the SEC's regional offices at 175 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900,
Chicago, Illinois 60604. The public may obtain information on the operation of
the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. The registration
statement and other information that we file with the SEC is available at the
web site maintained by the SEC on the worldwide web at www.sec.gov.
As a result of the effectiveness of this registration statement, we will
become subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act. We will file
reports, proxy statements, and other information under the Exchange Act with the
SEC. You can inspect and copy these reports and other information at the
locations set forth above or download these reports from the SEC website.
Our web address is www.assetacceptance.com. Information on our website
should not be considered to be part of this prospectus.
We have applied to have our common stock quoted on The Nasdaq National
Market.
78
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Twelve months ended December 31, 2000 and 2001,
Nine months ended September 30, 2002,
Three Months ended December 31, 2002, and
Six Months ended June 30, 2003
Report of Independent Auditors.............................. F-2
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position............... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income........................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Equity........................... F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows....................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................. F-7
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Board of Directors
AAC Investors, Inc. and subsidiary
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial
position of AAC Investors, Inc. and subsidiary (the Successor Company) as of
December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003 and the related consolidated statements of
income, equity, and cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2002 and
the six months ended June 30, 2003 and the consolidated statements of financial
position of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC (the Predecessor Company) as of
December 31, 2001 and September 30, 2002 and the related consolidated statements
of income, equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001
and the nine months ended September 30, 2002. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Successor
Company at December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003, and the consolidated results of
its operations and its cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2002
and the six months ended June 30, 2003 and the consolidated financial position
of the Predecessor Company at December 31, 2001 and September 30, 2002 and the
consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended
December 31, 2000 and 2001 and the nine months ended September 30, 2002 in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Detroit, Michigan
September 19, 2003
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR
----------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- -----------
NINE MONTHS THREE MONTHS SIX MONTHS SIX MONTHS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
------------------------- SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, JUNE 30,
2000 2001 2002 2002 2002 2003
----------- ----------- ------------- ------------ ----------- -----------
(UNAUDITED)
REVENUES
Purchased receivable
revenues............... $36,667,424 $61,412,232 $71,236,866 $28,767,392 $45,901,395 $72,430,910
Gain on sale of purchased
receivables............ 130,194 249,709 293,361 32,615 226,834 --
Finance contract
revenues............... 213,490 353,914 277,850 132,587 194,823 315,526
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total revenues........... 37,011,108 62,015,855 71,808,077 28,932,594 46,323,052 72,746,436
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
EXPENSES
Salaries and benefits.... 11,768,725 20,484,655 24,371,973 9,065,782 16,088,659 24,382,344
Collections expense...... 10,951,662 16,372,281 18,542,325 7,509,065 11,591,234 19,266,213
Occupancy................ 1,134,842 1,589,841 2,172,893 890,870 1,286,812 1,967,138
Administrative........... 979,895 1,510,442 1,790,847 891,583 1,145,018 1,736,844
Depreciation............. 555,511 923,076 1,268,826 640,852 798,657 1,237,531
Loss on disposal of
equipment.............. 48,845 12,256 122,568 75,513 83,316 2,714
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating
expense................ 25,439,480 40,892,551 48,269,432 19,073,665 30,993,696 48,592,784
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from operations... 11,571,628 21,123,304 23,538,645 9,858,929 15,329,356 24,153,652
Net interest expense..... 2,046,510 2,229,412 1,646,482 1,780,344 1,065,618 3,589,395
Other expenses
(income)............... -- (10,745) 397,742 25,382 195,178 (180,898)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before income
taxes and minority
interest............... 9,525,118 18,904,637 21,494,421 8,053,203 14,068,560 20,745,155
Income taxes............. -- -- -- 1,623,318 -- 4,217,137
Minority interest........ -- -- -- 3,590,615 -- 9,042,761
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income............... $ 9,525,118 $18,904,637 $21,494,421 $ 2,839,270 $14,068,560 $ 7,485,257
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
See accompanying notes.
F-4
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
PREDECESSOR
---------------------------------------------------
STOCK
COMMON SUBSCRIPTION RETAINED TOTAL
STOCK RECEIVABLE EARNINGS EQUITY
------ ------------ -------- ------
Balance at January 1, 2000................. $ 41,000 $ -- $18,931,992 $18,972,992
Net income............................... -- -- 9,525,118 9,525,118
Distributions paid....................... -- -- (16,000) (16,000)
-------- --------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 2000............... 41,000 -- 28,441,110 28,482,110
New stock issued......................... 940,000 -- -- 940,000
Stock subscription....................... -- (791,846) -- (791,846)
Net income............................... -- -- 18,904,637 18,904,637
Distributions paid....................... -- -- (82,000) (82,000)
-------- --------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 2001............... 981,000 (791,846) 47,263,747 47,452,901
Contributions received................... -- 75,268 -- 75,268
Net income............................... -- -- 21,494,421 21,494,421
Distributions due........................ -- -- (2,348,881) (2,348,881)
-------- --------- ----------- -----------
Balance at September 30, 2002.............. $981,000 $(716,578) $66,409,287 $66,673,709
======== ========= =========== ===========
SUCCESSOR
------------------------------------------------------
STOCK
COMMON SUBSCRIPTION RETAINED TOTAL
STOCK RECEIVABLE EARNINGS EQUITY
------ ------------ -------- ------
Balance at October 1, 2002................ $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Contributions received.................. 10,000,000 -- -- 10,000,000
Net income.............................. -- -- 2,839,270 2,839,270
----------- --------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 2002.............. 10,000,000 -- 2,839,270 12,839,270
Net income.............................. -- -- 7,485,257 7,485,257
----------- --------- ----------- -----------
Balance at June 30, 2003.................. $10,000,000 $ -- $10,324,527 $20,324,527
=========== ========= =========== ===========
See accompanying notes.
F-5
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR
------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
NINE MONTHS THREE MONTHS SIX MONTHS SIX MONTHS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
------------------------ SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30, JUNE 30,
2000 2001 2002 2002 2002 2003
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------ ---------- ----------
(UNAUDITED)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income............................ $ 9,525,118 $ 18,904,637 $ 21,494,421 $ 2,839,270 $ 14,068,560 $ 7,485,257
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating
activities:
Depreciation........................ 555,511 923,076 1,268,826 640,852 798,657 1,237,531
Deferred income taxes............... -- -- -- 1,623,318 -- 4,217,137
Minority interest................... -- -- -- 3,590,615 -- 9,042,761
Loss on disposal of equipment....... 48,845 12,256 122,568 75,513 83,316 2,714
Charge-offs of finance contracts.... 340,312 300,226 235,000 45,000 165,000 71,971
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in other
assets.......................... (122,218) (20,452) (374,324) (864,607) (360,171) 135,144
Increase (decrease) in accounts
payable and other liabilities... 451,731 1,064,011 3,396,732 (631,215) 3,350,378 3,223,016
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash provided by operating
activities.......................... 10,799,299 21,183,754 26,143,223 7,318,746 18,105,740 25,415,531
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in purchased receivables,
net of buy backs.................... (21,621,665) (47,076,310) (39,111,869) (33,639,066) (31,563,983) (36,905,668)
Principal collected on purchased
receivables......................... 8,350,326 13,313,863 16,426,078 4,714,103 12,358,407 22,777,352
Investment in finance contracts....... (1,075,087) (574,264) (546,738) (209,885) (331,107) (509,838)
Principal collected on finance
contracts........................... 710,849 502,020 406,248 120,355 290,993 268,389
Investment in subsidiary (note 1)..... -- -- -- (47,183,800) -- --
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets.... 2,020 15,607 41,867 2,389 -- 1,956
Purchase of fixed assets.............. (1,000,329) (2,958,387) (3,248,008) (896,010) (2,539,676) (1,084,923)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash used in investing
activities.......................... (14,633,886) (36,777,471) (26,032,422) (77,091,914) (21,785,366) (15,452,732)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under line of credit....... 16,305,300 33,700,000 27,810,400 25,989,600 19,450,000 22,900,000
Repayment of line of credit........... (11,728,994) (17,848,993) (23,190,293) (1,139,600) (14,829,894) (29,200,000)
Borrowings -- related party........... 44,000 190,400 -- 35,882,192 -- 1,779,363
Repayments -- related party........... (64,000) (183,000) (1,196,293) -- (891,400) --
Repayment of capital lease
obligations......................... (215,116) (221,554) (74,667) (17,799) (52,251) (37,575)
Dividends and distributions paid...... (16,000) (82,000) -- -- -- --
Distributions paid to minority
shareholder......................... -- -- -- (3,755,866) -- (182,600)
Net cash retained by related party.... -- -- -- (16,039) -- --
Contributions to equity............... -- 148,154 75,268 10,000,000 53,271 --
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities................ 4,325,190 15,703,007 3,424,415 66,942,488 3,729,726 (4,740,812)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash....... 490,603 109,290 3,535,216 (2,830,680) 50,100 5,221,987
Cash at beginning of period........... 976,432 1,467,035 1,576,325 5,111,541 1,576,325 2,280,861
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Cash at end of period................. $ 1,467,035 $ 1,576,325 $ 5,111,541 $ 2,280,861 $ 1,626,425 $ 7,502,848
============ ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW
INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest................ $ 2,059,780 $ 2,274,298 $ 1,669,840 $ 926,042 $ 1,047,542 $ 1,666,456
Cash paid for income taxes............ -- -- -- -- 12,784 --
Non-cash investing and financing
activities:
Capital lease obligations
incurred.......................... 73,717 31,312 101,178 12,722 44,282 73,652
Long-term debt refinanced........... -- -- -- 42,350,000 -- --
Net assets retained by related party
(note 3).......................... -- -- -- 48,881 -- --
See accompanying notes.
F-6
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Reporting Entity
AAC Investors, Inc. ("Successor" or "Successor Company"), was formed in
September 2002 for the purpose of acquiring an interest in Asset Acceptance
Holdings LLC. Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC was established through a
recapitalization transaction including the formation of a limited liability
structure and the combination of several entities under common control. These
entities included AAC Holding Corp. and subsidiaries, Lee Acceptance Corp., and
Consumer Credit Corp. ("Predecessor" or "Predecessor Company"). Effective at the
close of business on September 30, 2002, AAC Investors, Inc. completed the
acquisition of 60% of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. The Predecessor and the
Successor are referred together as the "Company."
AAC Investors, Inc. has a majority ownership and a controlling interest in
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and therefore the accounts of Asset Acceptance
Holdings LLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Asset Acceptance, LLC, Financial
Credit, LLC, CFC Financial, LLC, Med-Fi Acceptance, LLC, and Consumer Credit,
LLC are included in its consolidated financial statements. The results of the
Predecessor Company are included for the period January 1, 2000 through
September 30, 2002 for comparative purposes. All significant intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Minority
interest is recorded for the 40% outside interest in Asset Acceptance Holdings
LLC. Minority interest is also reflected on the consolidated statement of
financial position and is adjusted each period for the minority shareholder's
proportionate share of net income.
Nature of Operations
The Company is engaged in collection activities for receivables that have
been charged-off by the original creditor. These receivables are acquired from
dealers, original creditors, resellers and other parties with debtors located
throughout the United States. As part of the collection process, the Company
occasionally sells receivables from these portfolios to other unaffiliated
companies.
The Company also finances the sales of consumer product retailers located
primarily in Michigan.
Purchased Receivable Portfolios and Revenue Recognition
Purchased receivables are receivables which have been charged-off as
uncollectible by the originating organization and typically have been subject to
previous collection efforts. The Company acquires the rights to the unrecovered
balances owed by individual debtors through such purchases. The receivables
portfolios are purchased at a substantial discount from their face amounts and
are initially recorded at the Company's cost to acquire the portfolio. Financing
for the purchases is primarily provided by the Company's lines of credit and
cash from operations.
The Company accounts for its investment in purchased receivables using the
guidance provided by the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Practice
Bulletin 6, "Amortization of Discounts on Certain Acquired Loans." The Company
purchases pools of homogenous accounts receivable (static pool) and records each
pool at its acquisition cost. Each static pool retains its own identity and does
not change. Each pool is accounted for as a single unit for recognition of
income, principal payments and impairment. Income on the purchased receivables
is accrued monthly based on each static pool's effective yield. The effective
yield is estimated based on the timing and amount of anticipated cash flows.
Monthly cash flows greater than the interest accrued will reduce the carrying
value of the static pool and monthly cash flows lower than the interest accrued
will increase the carrying value of the static pool. Each pool is reviewed
monthly and compared to historical cash flows, by paper type, to determine
whether each pool is performing as expected. If a pool is not performing as
expected, the effective yield is adjusted either up or
F-7
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
down so that the carrying value of the pool amortizes over its expected life.
The economic life of a static pool is typically 60 months.
In the event that cash collected would be inadequate to amortize the
carrying value, an impairment charge would be taken with a corresponding
write-off of the receivable balance. Accordingly, a reserve for impairment is
not maintained for purchased receivables.
The agreements to purchase receivables typically include general
representations and warranties from the sellers covering account holder death,
bankruptcy, age of account and settled or disputed accounts prior to sale. The
representation and warranty period permits the return of certain accounts from
the Company back to the seller. The general time frame to return accounts is
within 60 to 365 days. Returns are applied against the carrying value of the
static pool.
Periodically the Company will sell, on a non-recourse basis, all or a
portion of a pool to third parties. The Company does not have any significant
continuing involvement with the sold pools subsequent to sale. Proceeds of these
sales are generally compared to the carrying value of the accounts; a gain or
loss is recognized on the difference between proceeds received and carrying
value.
Changes in purchased receivable portfolios for the year ended December 31,
2001, the nine months ended September 30, 2002, the three months ended December
31, 2002 and the six months ended June 30, 2003 were as follows:
PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR
---------------------------- ---------------------------
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
2001 2002 2002 2003
------------ ------------- ------------ ------------
Balance at beginning of
period...................... $47,963,380 $ 81,725,827 $104,411,618 $133,336,581
Investment in purchased
receivables, net of buy
backs....................... 47,076,310 39,111,869 33,639,066 36,905,668
Cost of sale of purchased
receivables, net of
returns..................... (3,658,398) (552,281) (52,073) --
Cash collections.............. (71,067,697) (87,110,663) (33,429,422) (95,208,262)
Purchased receivable
revenues.................... 61,412,232 71,236,866 28,767,392 72,430,910
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at end of period...... $81,725,827 $104,411,618 $133,336,581 $147,464,897
=========== ============ ============ ============
Finance Contract Receivables
Finance contract revenues are recognized based on the accretion of the
discount at which these contracts are financed over their respective terms.
Unearned discounts on finance contract receivables were approximately $239,000,
$284,000, $326,000 and $428,000 at December 31, 2001, September 30, 2002,
December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003, respectively. The fair value of finance
contract receivables does not materially differ from their book value. Interest
is recognized over the life of the contract. Provision for impairment represents
the adjustments during the period to reflect accounts for which collection has
been delayed or is in doubt. The allowance for doubtful accounts was
approximately $41,000, $114,700, $108,000 and $70,000 at December 31, 2001,
September 30, 2002, December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003, respectively.
Collections from Third Parties
The Company regularly utilizes unaffiliated third parties, primarily
attorneys and other contingent collection agencies, to collect certain account
balances on behalf of the Company in exchange for a percentage of balances
collected by the third party. The Company records the gross proceeds received by
F-8
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
the unaffiliated third parties as cash collections. The Company includes as cash
collections the reimbursement of certain legal and other costs. The Company
records as a component of collection expense the percentage of the gross
collections paid to the third parties. The percent of gross collections from
such third party relationships were 19% and 17% for the years ended December 31,
2000 and 2001 respectively, 15% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002,
15% for the three months ended December 31, 2002 and 16% for the six months
ended June 30, 2003.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Expenditures for repairs and
maintenance are charged to operations as incurred. The Company records
depreciation expense on a straight-line basis with lives ranging from three to
ten years. Depreciation includes amortization of certain intangible assets which
are being amortized over a period of five to seven years.
Taxes on Income
The Predecessor Company had elected to be taxed as an S corporation under
the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, the Predecessor's shareholders included
their respective shares of taxable income or loss in their individual tax
returns and therefore no income tax expense is recognized.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
2. ACQUISITIONS
At the close of business on September 30, 2002, AAC Investors, Inc.
purchased a 60% ownership in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC for $47.2 million
including acquisition costs. Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC is engaged in
collection activities for receivables that have been charged off by the original
creditor. The acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase and accordingly,
the results of operations of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC are included in the
financial statements of AAC Investors, Inc. as of October 1, 2002. The cost of
the acquisition was allocated on the basis of the estimated fair value of the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon third party valuations. In
connection with the acquisition, adjustments were recorded to recognize acquired
intangible assets of $1,300,000 and $100,000 relating to proprietary collections
data and non-compete agreements for certain executives, respectively. The fair
value of the remaining assets acquired and liabilities assumed approximated
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC's carrying value. The excess of purchase price
over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired of $6.3 million was
recorded as goodwill.
3. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Predecessor
The Company owed related parties $1,196,293 as of December 31, 2001. This
indebtedness was evidenced by promissory notes due on demand, the significant
majority of which bore interest at a variable rate of prime plus 3/8%. These
notes were paid prior to the recapitalization transaction in 2002. Interest
expense related to these notes approximated $108,000, $87,000 and $33,500 for
the years ended 2000 and 2001, and during the nine months ended September 30,
2002, respectively.
F-9
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The Company paid rent to a related company under the terms of a five-year
lease that expired on September 30, 2002. Payments made under this lease and the
related rent expense were $48,000 for the years ended 2000 and 2001, and $36,000
for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.
Prior to the recapitalization transaction, the Company received interest
from a related party for a promissory note held by AAC Holding Corp. for the
purchase of stock. The note was not part of the recapitalization transaction.
The Company received approximately $49,000 and $26,000 of interest on this note
for the year ended 2001 and during the nine months ended September 30, 2002,
respectively.
Successor
As part of the recapitalization structure, Lee Acceptance Corp. retained
net assets of $48,881 which was comprised of cash of $16,039, real property with
a net book value of $32,592, other assets of $285 and accounts payable and other
liabilities of $35. This amount has been reflected as a distribution to minority
shareholders.
The Company was reimbursed by a related party for $1,695,136 and $168,711
in the three months ended December 31, 2002 and the six months ended June 30,
2003, respectively, for bonuses and resulting payroll taxes. The Company had
facilitated the payment of such bonuses for the related party.
Beginning in December 2002, the Company paid a quarterly management fee in
arrears to a related company. The management fee paid and expensed for the three
months ended December 31, 2002 and the six months ended June 30, 2003 were
$75,000 and $150,000, respectively, and is included in administrative expenses
in the consolidated statements of income. In addition, as part of the
recapitalization transaction, the company paid a fee of $1,000,000 to a related
company during three months ended December 31, 2002. The fee was included as
part of acquisitions costs.
On October 1, 2002, the Company borrowed $35.0 million from its
shareholders. The notes bear interest at 10% per annum, compounded on June 30
and December 31 of each year, and mature September 30, 2007 or upon the sale of
substantially all assets of the Company or the sale of additional equity of the
Company. The Company owed the related parties $35,882,192 as of December 31,
2002 and $37,661,555 as of June 30, 2003 including interest. The Company
recognized approximately $882,192 and $1,779,363 of interest expense on these
notes for the three months ended December 31, 2002 and the six months ended June
30, 2003, respectively.
F-10
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
4. LINE OF CREDIT
PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR
---------------------------- --------------------------
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
2001 2002 2002 2003
------------ ------------- ------------ -----------
Line of credit, with syndication
of commercial lenders,
originated September 30, 2002;
collateralized by all assets of
the Company; expiring September
30, 2005; interest is at prime
or at the Company's option 275
points over 30, 60 or 90 day
LIBOR; total committed credit
available $80 million (see note
12)............................ -- -- $67,200,000 $60,900,000
Line of credit, with syndication
of commercial lenders,
originated June 26, 2000 and
amended most recently July 1,
2002; collateralized by
substantially all assets of the
Predecessor Company; to expire,
June 2003; interest is at prime
or at the Company's option at
275 points over 30, 60 or 90
day LIBOR; total committed
credit $60 million; paid and
terminated upon
recapitalization............... $37,500,000 $42,350,000 -- --
Line of credit, with commercial
lender, collateralized by all
assets of Predecessor Consumer
Credit Corp.; expired May 2003;
interest was at 3/8% over
prime; total credit $1 million;
paid and terminated upon
recapitalization............... 229,893 -- -- --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total line of credit............. $37,729,893 $42,350,000 $67,200,000 $60,900,000
=========== =========== =========== ===========
In 2002, coincident to the recapitalization transaction the Company entered
into a new credit agreement with a group of commercial lenders to provide
financing under a $80.0 million revolving line of credit. The new agreement
replaced a facility totaling $60.0 million of which $42.4 million was
outstanding at the date of recapitalization and a one year facility of $1.0
million which had no balance outstanding at the date of recapitalization. The
line of credit facility has certain covenants and restrictions with which the
Company must comply, including:
F-11
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
- Funds borrowed can be used to purchase portfolios of charged-off
receivables and for general corporate purposes.
- Debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio (as defined in the line of credit
agreement) cannot exceed 2.0 to 1.0.
- Debt to total capitalization ratio (as defined in the line of credit
agreement) cannot exceed 3.0 to 1.0.
- Maintain certain levels of capitalization (as defined in the line of
credit agreement).
The Company's management believes it is in compliance with all terms of its
line of credit agreement as of June 30, 2003.
The Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements during 2002 for
the notional amounts of $10.0 million expiring in January 2004 and $20.0 million
expiring in November 2003. The Company also entered into an interest rate swap
agreement in 2001 which has a notional amount of $10.0 million and expires in
October 2003. These interest rate swaps were intended to reduce the economic
impact of volatility of variable interest rates pertaining to a portion of the
Company's bank line of credit. The swaps were not designated as hedges for
accounting purposes. Under the terms of the swaps, the Company receives a
variable rate of interest and pays a fixed rate to the counter party on the
notional amounts. The net interest payments are a component of interest expense
on the consolidated statements of income. Changes in the interest rate
environment from period to period will directly impact the fair value of the
swaps and such changes in the fair value of the swaps will be recognized through
earnings in the period of the change. The Company recognized $10,047 of other
income for the year ended December 31, 2001, $411,467 of other expense for the
nine months ended September 30, 2002, $29,676 of other expense for the three
months ended December 31, 2002 and $175,217 of other income for the six months
ended June 30, 2003. At December 31, 2001 swaps had a fair value of $10,047. At
September 30, 2002, December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003 the swaps represented a
liability of $401,420, $431,096 and $255,879, respectively, which is included
with other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position.
5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment, having estimated useful lives ranging from three to
ten years consisted of the following:
PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR
---------------------------- --------------------------
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
2001 2002 2002 2003
------------ ------------- ------------ -----------
Computers and software........... $ 2,929,036 $ 4,348,385 $ 4,841,336 $ 5,192,621
Building, furniture and
fixtures....................... 2,331,019 3,759,460 3,851,443 4,274,569
Leasehold improvements........... 294,603 384,055 502,230 645,020
Equipment under capital lease.... 312,002 206,027 206,027 279,679
Automobiles...................... 170,434 133,325 133,325 133,325
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total property and equipment,
cost........................... 6,037,094 8,831,252 9,534,361 10,525,214
Less accumulated depreciation.... (1,779,462) (2,644,972) (3,011,373) (3,957,192)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net property and equipment....... $ 4,257,632 $ 6,186,280 $ 6,522,988 $ 6,568,022
=========== =========== =========== ===========
F-12
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
6. EQUITY
The Successor Company had the following common stock as of December 31,
2002 and June 30, 2003:
SHARES AMOUNT OF
SHARES ISSUED AND COMMON
COMMON STOCK CLASSES PAR AUTHORIZED OUTSTANDING STOCK
------------ ------- ------ ---------- ----------- -----------
AAC Investors, Inc. ........ Common No par 20,000,000 10,000,000 $10,000,000
The Predecessor Company had the following common stock and subscription
receivable as of December 31, 2001 and September 30, 2002:
SHARES AMOUNT OF
SHARES ISSUED AND COMMON
COMMON STOCK CLASSES PAR AUTHORIZED OUTSTANDING STOCK
------------ ------------------ ------ ---------- ----------- ---------
Lee Acceptance Common
Corp. ............... No par 50,000 1,000 $ 1,000
AAC Holding Corp. ..... Class A, voting No par 10,000 1,000 3,000
AAC Holding Corp. ..... Class B, nonvoting No par 90,000 9,526 967,000
Consumer Credit Class A, voting
Corp. ............... No par 10,000 1,000 1,000
Consumer Credit Class B, nonvoting
Corp. ............... No par 90,000 9,000 9,000
---------
$ 981,000
=========
Subscription Receivable at December 31, 2001.......... $(791,846)
=========
Subscription Receivable at September 30, 2002......... $(716,578)
=========
The subscription receivable represents a promissory note held by the
Predecessor Company from an officer of the Predecessor Company for the purchase
of class B shares of stock.
7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Company maintains a defined contribution profit sharing plan with
401(k) features for substantially all employees. The employees may contribute up
to 15% of their compensation to the plan. The Company has elected to contribute
3% of each eligible participant's compensation to the plan for 2000, 2001, 2002
and 2003. The Company's related expense was $130,101 and $188,528 for the years
ended December 2000 and 2001, respectively, $272,900 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2002, $99,432 for the three months ended December 31, 2002 and
$245,747 for the six months ended June 30, 2003. The unpaid contribution was
$187,160, $272,900, $372,332 and $267,415 as of December 31, 2001, September 30,
2002, December 31, 2002 and the six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively.
The unpaid contribution was included in accounts payable and other liabilities
in the consolidated statements of financial position.
The Company is self-insured for health and prescription drug benefits
beginning in 2001. Amounts charged to expense for health and prescription drug
benefits, related administration and stop-loss insurance premiums were
$1,355,076 for the year ended December 31, 2001, $1,695,034 for the nine months
ended September 30, 2002, $827,786 for the three months ended December 31, 2002
and $2,008,333 for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and was based on actual
and estimated claims incurred. Accounts payable and other liabilities of the
consolidated statements of financial position includes $258,184, $399,209,
$525,990 and $659,132 for estimated health and drug benefits incurred but not
paid for as of December 31, 2001, September 30, 2002, December 31, 2002 and June
30, 2003, respectively.
F-13
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The Company adopted a share appreciation rights plan for certain key
employees at the time of the recapitalization. The purpose of the plan is to
further the long-term stability and financial success of the Company, as
participants in the plan have the potential to share in the appreciation of the
value of the Company. A benefit may be earned by participants if certain
financial objectives are met upon partial or complete liquidation events, as
defined in the plan. No expense has been recognized in the consolidated
statements of income as a result of this plan as the benefits are contingent
upon achieving certain returns upon a liquidity event such as a sale of the
Company or an initial public offering of common stock.
8. LITIGATION CONTINGENCIES
The Company is involved in certain legal matters that management considers
incidental to its business. Management has evaluated pending and threatened
litigation against the Company as of June 30, 2003 and does not believe exposure
to be material.
9. LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS
The Company has several operating leases outstanding which are primarily
for office space, and several capital leases outstanding which are primarily for
office equipment. Total rent expense related to operating leases totaled
$790,331 and $1,197,003 for the 12 months ended December 2000 and 2001
respectively, $1,593,488 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, $661,828
for the three months ended December 31, 2002, and $1,521,801 for the six months
ended June 30, 2003.
The following is an analysis of the leased property under capital leases by
major classes:
PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR
---------------------------- ------------------------
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
2001 2002 2002 2003
------------ ------------- ------------ ---------
Office equipment..................... $ 105,028 $206,027 $206,027 $ 279,679
Computers and software............... 206,974 -- -- --
Less accumulated depreciation........ (163,260) (82,940) (95,611) (132,955)
--------- -------- -------- ---------
Net leased property under capital
leases............................. $ 148,742 $123,087 $110,416 $ 146,724
========= ======== ======== =========
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under
operating and capital leases, together with the present value of the net minimum
lease payments related to capital leases, as of June 30, 2003:
CAPITAL
OPERATING LEASES LEASES
---------------- --------
Years ending December 31:
2003..................................................... $ 1,423,139 $ 34,757
2004..................................................... 2,676,405 69,104
2005..................................................... 2,261,421 42,297
2006..................................................... 2,131,752 8,029
2007..................................................... 1,533,436 --
2008 and thereafter...................................... 556,349 --
----------- --------
Total minimum lease payments............................... $10,582,502 154,187
===========
Less amount representing interest.......................... (8,225)
--------
Present value of net minimum lease payments................ $145,962
========
F-14
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The Company has four employment agreements with certain members of
management, the terms of which expire on September 30, 2005. Such agreements
call for the payment of base compensation and certain benefits. Estimated
remaining compensation under these agreements is approximately $2,553,750. The
agreements also include confidentiality and non-compete provisions.
10. ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The accompanying financial statements include various estimated fair value
information as of December 31, 2001, September 30, 2002, December 31, 2002 and
June 30, 2003, as required by SFAS No. 107, Disclosures About Fair Value of
Financial Instruments. Disclosure of the estimated fair values of financial
instruments often requires the use of estimates. The Company uses the following
methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of financial instruments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The carrying amount approximates fair value.
Purchased Receivables
The Company records purchased receivables at cost, which is discounted from
the contractual receivable balance. The carrying value of receivables, which is
based upon estimated future cash flows, approximated fair value at December 31,
2001, September 30, 2002, December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
The estimated fair value of interest rate swap agreements represents the
amount the Company would receive or pay to terminate or otherwise settle the
contracts at the balance sheet date, taking into consideration current unearned
gains and losses on open contracts.
Line of Credit
The Company's line of credit is at a floating rate of interest and, as
such, at December 31, 2001, September 30, 2002, December 31, 2002 and June 30,
2003, the carrying amount of the line of credit approximated fair value.
Notes Payable -- Related Party
The Company's note payable to a related party approximates fair value at
December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003.
11. INCOME TAXES
Prior to October 1, 2002, the Predecessor Company was taxed as an S
corporation and, as such, was not subject to federal income taxes. The Successor
Company is a C corporation subject to federal income taxes on its share of
income from its subsidiary. Components of income tax expense are set forth
below:
THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2002 JUNE 30, 2003
------------------ ----------------
Effective income tax rate........................... 36.4% 36.2%
Income taxes consist of:
Federal deferred -- net............................. $1,517,954 $3,980,854
State deferred -- net............................... 105,364 236,283
---------- ----------
Total............................................. $1,623,318 $4,217,137
========== ==========
F-15
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The reconciliation of income taxes calculated at the U.S. federal tax
statutory rate to our effective tax rate is set forth below:
THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2002 JUNE 30, 2003
------------------ ----------------
Federal statutory rate.............................. 34.0% 34.0%
State income tax rate, net of federal tax benefit... 2.4 2.2
---- ----
Effective income tax rate........................... 36.4% 36.2%
==== ====
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future
tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets or
liabilities and the reported amounts in the financial statements. Net operating
losses may be carried forward for 20 years.
The tax effect of temporary differences that gave rise to the Company's
deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following.
In July 2003, the Company entered into a new lease agreement for a larger
facility in Arizona. The lease, which will be classified as an operating lease,
has future minimum lease payments of $5,203,631 for a 78 month term commencing
October 1, 2003.
In August 2003, the Company entered into a new lease agreement for a larger
facility in Florida. The lease, which will be classified as an operating lease,
has future minimum lease payments of $2,662,820 for a 64 month term anticipated
to begin February 1, 2004.
The Company entered into an agreement in September 2003 to purchase
substantially all of the assets and employees of a collection center located in
Chicago, Illinois. The agreement provides for a purchase price of $50,000 and
certain other consideration estimated to be $60,000 based upon employee
retention. The purchase price and other consideration are expected to be funded
through continuing operations and the line of credit facility. The Company has
also agreed to the assumption of obligations under lease for real property. The
future minimum lease payments under the assigned lease are approximately
$91,096. The lease expires June 30, 2004.
F-16
AAC INVESTORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
On August 11, 2003, the Company amended its previous agreement with a
syndication of commercial lenders to increase the current line of credit
available from $80 million to $100 million. The interest rate will remain at
prime or, at the Company's option, 275 points over 30, 60 or 90 day LIBOR rates.
The expiration date of the agreement was extended to September 28, 2006.
The Company expects to participate, with Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC's
minority shareholder RBR Holding Corp., in the formation of Asset Acceptance
Capital Corp. for the purposes of offering common stock for sale in an initial
public offering (IPO). In connection with the IPO, all of the capital stock of
AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp., which hold 60% and 40%, respectively,
of the equity membership of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, will be contributed
to Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in exchange for shares of common stock of
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Prior to this exchange transaction, Asset
Acceptance Capital Corp. will not have conducted any business and will not have
any assets or liabilities, except as related to the IPO.
The following table sets forth a summary of the Company's consolidated
results of operations for each of its ten most recent quarters ended June 30,
2003. The information for each of these quarters is unaudited and, in the
Company's opinion, has been prepared on a basis consistent with its audited
consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. This
information includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments, that the Company considered necessary for a fair presentation of
this information when read in conjunction with its consolidated financial
statements and related notes. Results of operations for any quarter are not
necessarily indicative of the results for a full year or any future periods.
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(IN THOUSANDS)
SUCCESSOR
-----------------
QUARTER
SIX MONTHS ENDED -----------------
JUNE 30, 2003 FIRST SECOND
---------------- ------- -------
Total revenues................................. $34,755 $37,991
Total operating expenses....................... 22,993 25,600
Income from operations......................... 11,762 12,391
Net income..................................... 3,603 3,882
PREDECESSOR SUCCESSOR
--------------------------- ---------
QUARTER
---------------------------------------
2002 FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
---- ------- ------- ------- ---------
Total revenues................................. $22,438 $23,885 $25,485 $28,933
Total operating expenses....................... 13,877 17,159 17,233 19,074
Income from operations......................... 8,561 6,726 8,252 9,859
Net income..................................... 8,200 5,827 7,468 2,839
PREDECESSOR
---------------------------------------
QUARTER
---------------------------------------
2001 FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
---- ------- ------- ------- ---------
Total revenues................................. $12,378 $14,243 $16,805 $18,590
Total operating expenses....................... 8,481 10,675 10,408 11,329
Income from operations......................... 3,897 3,568 6,397 7,261
Net income..................................... 3,353 2,979 5,837 6,736
F-17
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any
information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must
not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is
an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances
and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in
this prospectus is current only as of its date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Prospectus Summary..................... 1
Our Business......................... 1
The Offering......................... 4
Summary Consolidated Financial
Data.............................. 5
Risk Factors........................... 8
Forward Looking Statements............. 16
History and Reorganization............. 17
Use of Proceeds........................ 19
Dividends Policy....................... 19
Capitalization......................... 20
Dilution............................... 21
Selected Consolidated Financial Data... 22
Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations................ 25
Business............................... 40
Management............................. 54
Certain Relationships and Related Party
Transactions......................... 63
Principal Stockholders................. 66
Description of Capital Stock........... 68
Shares Eligible for Future Sale........ 71
U.S. Federal Tax Considerations for
Non-U.S. Holders..................... 74
Underwriting........................... 76
Legal Matters.......................... 78
Experts................................ 78
Where You Can Find Additional
Information.......................... 78
Index To Financial Statements.......... F-1
[ ] SHARES
[AACC LOGO]
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
COMMON STOCK
PROSPECTUS
, 2003
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY
CIBC WORLD MARKETS
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the Registrant in connection
with the sale of common stock being registered.
SEC Registration Fee........................................ $ 9,303.50
NASD Fee.................................................... 15,500.00
Nasdaq National Market Listing Fee*.........................
Printing and Engraving Expenses*............................
Legal Fees and Expenses*....................................
Accounting Fees and Expenses*...............................
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses*.................................
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees and Expenses*.............
Miscellaneous*..............................................
----------
Total..................................................... $
==========
* To be filed by amendment
The registrant will bear all of the expenses shown above.
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Registrant's certificate of incorporation provides that its directors
will not be personally liable for monetary damages to the Registrant or any of
its stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors. However they
remain liable for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant
or its stockholders, acts or omissions in bad faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, payments of dividends or stock
purchases or redemptions in violation of Section 174 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, and any transaction from which the directors derived an
improper personal benefit. This provision would have no effect on the
availability of equitable remedies or non-monetary relief, such an injunction or
rescission for breach of the duty of care. In addition, the provision applies
only to claims against a director arising out of his or her role as a director
and not in any other capacity (such as an officer or employee). Further,
liability of a director for violations of the federal or state securities laws
will not be limited by this provision.
In addition, the Registrant is obligated in some situations, under its
certificate of incorporation and bylaws to indemnify each of its directors and
officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Registrant must
indemnify its directors and officers with respect to all expenses, liabilities
and losses reasonably incurred or suffered in any action, suit or proceeding in
which the person was or is made or threatened to be made a party or is otherwise
involved by reason of the fact that the person is or was the Registrant's
director or officer. The Registrant is obligated to pay the reasonable expenses
of the directors or officers incurred in defending the proceedings if the
indemnified party agrees to repay all amounts advanced by it if it is ultimately
determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification. The
Registrant also maintains customary insurance covering directors and officers.
Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), a
corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he
or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
II-1
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding (i)
if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and
(ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no
reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. In actions brought by or
in the right of the corporation, a corporation may indemnify such person against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner that person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
that person shall have been adjudicated to be liable to the corporation unless
and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or
the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon
application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnification for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or other such
court shall deem proper. To the extent that such person has been successful on
the merits or otherwise in defending any such action, suit or proceeding
referred to above or any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she is entitled
to indemnification for expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. The indemnification
and advancement of expenses provided for or granted pursuant to Section 145 is
not exclusive of any other rights of indemnification or advancement of expenses
to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled, and a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance against
liabilities asserted against any former or current, director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation, or a person who is or was serving at the request of
the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether or
not the power to indemnify is provided by the statute.
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
In the three years preceding the filing of this Registration Statement, the
Registrant has issued the following securities that were not registered under
the Securities Act:
- On September 30, 2002, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC was formed for the
purpose of consummating an equity recapitalization with AAC Investors,
Inc., a Virginia corporation. In connection with the consummation of the
recapitalization transaction, AAC Investors, Inc. received 60% of the
equity membership interests in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. Consumer
Credit Corp., and RBR Holding Corp., received $250,000 and 1% of the
equity membership interests of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, and
$45,550,000 and 39% of the equity membership interests of Asset
Acceptance Holdings, respectively. In January 2003, Consumer Credit Corp.
was merged with and into RBR Credit Corp. This issuance was effected
pursuant to the registration exemption afforded by Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act.
- On September 30, 2002, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC adopted the Year
2002 Share Appreciation Rights Plan pursuant to which approximately 60
employees have been granted share appreciation rights entitling the
holder to receive compensation under certain circumstances for an
appreciation in the value of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. The share
appreciation rights are subject to vesting and payment restrictions based
upon term of the holder's employment with Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC
and the rights may be forfeited or reduced in value upon the termination
of rights holder's employment. In connection with the consummation of
this offering, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC intends to exercise its
right to vest 100% of the share appreciation rights held by the holders
which, based on an initial public offering price of $[ ] per
share, will result in the issuance, promptly after the consummation of
this offering, of [ ] unregistered shares of the common stock of
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. to the holders as payment for a portion of
the purchase price for these rights. This issuance will be effected
pursuant to the registration exemption afforded by Rule 701 and/or
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
II-2
- Effective as of the effective date of this Registration Statement, and
pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement entered into on October , 2003,
prior to the filing of this Registration Statement, all of the shares of
capital stock of AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp., which hold
60% and 40%, respectively, of the equity membership interests in Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC, will be contributed to Asset Acceptance Capital
Corp., a newly formed Delaware corporation, in exchange for shares of
common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., which is the class of
common stock being offered hereby. The total number of shares issuable to
the stockholders of AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp. in such
exchange is dependent upon the per share initial public offering price.
Based on an initial public offering price of $[ ] per share, a
total of [ ] shares will be issued in this reorganization, with
[ ] shares and [ ] shares issued to the stockholders of
AAC Investors, Inc. and the stockholders of RBR Holding Corp.,
respectively. This issuance will be effected pursuant to the registration
exemption afforded by Regulation D and/or Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act.
No underwriters were involved in the foregoing sales of securities. All of
the foregoing securities are deemed restricted securities for the purposes of
the Securities Act.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
1.1* Underwriting Agreement
2.1 Asset Contribution and Securities Purchase Agreement among
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, AAC Holding Corp., Consumer
Credit Corp., their respective shareholders and AAC
Investors, Inc. dated September 30, 2002
2.2* Share Exchange Agreement among Asset Acceptance Capital
Corp., AAC Investors, Inc., RBR Holding Corp. and the other
parties thereto
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Asset Acceptance Capital
Corp.
3.2 Bylaws of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
4.1* Form of Common Stock Certificate
5.1* Opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC
10.1 Credit Agreement dated September 30, 2002, between Asset
Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC, CFC Financial, LLC,
Consumer Credit, LLC, Bank One, N.A., Standard Federal Bank,
N.A., National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois, Fifth Third
Bank, Eastern Michigan, Comerica Bank and Bank One, N.A., as
Agent, as amended
10.2 CC Option Agreement dated September 30, 2002 between Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC and Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
10.3* Registration Rights Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as
amended on , 2003, between Asset Acceptance Holdings
LLC, AAC Investors, Inc., AAC Holding Corp., Consumer Credit
Corp., Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., Heather K. Reitzel, Nathaniel
F. Bradley IV and Mark A. Redman
10.4 Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation
Rights Plan effective as of September 30, 2002
10.5 Form of Share Appreciation Rights Agreement used in
connection with grants under the Asset Acceptance Holdings
LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation Rights Plan
10.6* 2003 Stock Incentive Plan dated [ ], 2003
II-3
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
10.7 Net Lease dated June 21, 1999 between Penobscot Land Company
and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the property located at 6985
Miller Road, Warren, Michigan
10.8 Lease dated June 21, 1999 between Warren Troy Investments
and Asset Acceptance Corporation for the property located at
7027 Miller Road, Warren, Michigan
10.9 Industrial Lease Agreement dated September 14, 2000 between
Dukes-Weeks Realty Limited Partnership and Asset Acceptance
Corp. for the property located at 563 Lake Kathy Drive,
Brandon, Florida, as amended
10.10 Lease dated November 17, 2000 between Brooklyn Heights
Business Park Limited and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the
property located at 600 Safeguard Plaza, Brooklyn Heights,
Ohio, as amended
10.11 Lease dated January 16, 2002 between Technical Properties,
L.L.C. and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the property located
at 7177 Miller Road, Warren, Michigan
10.12 Industrial Gross Lease Agreement dated June 28, 2000 between
Nottingham Village, Inc. and Asset Acceptance Corp, as
successor to Alegis Group, L.P. and Sherman Financial Group,
LLC, for the property located at 9940 Franklin Square Drive,
Baltimore, Maryland, as amended
10.13 Lease dated February 15, 2002 between Alpha Drive
Development Associates, L.L.C. and Asset Acceptance Corp.
for the property located at 48325 Alpha Drive, Wixom,
Michigan
10.14 Lease Agreement dated April 25, 2003 between Northpoint
Atrium Limited Partnership and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the
property located at 10500 Heritage Street, San Antonio,
Texas
10.15 Lease Agreement dated July 25, 2003 between Orsett/Piedmont
Limited Liability Company and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the
property located at 9801 South 51st Street, Phoenix, Arizona
10.16 Business Lease dated August 25, 2003 between First
Industrial Development Services, Inc. and Asset Acceptance,
LLC for the property located in Hilsborough County, Florida
10.17* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.18* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Nathaniel F. Bradley IV and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.19* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Mark A. Redman and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.20* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Heather K. Reitzel and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.21* Agreement between Ontario Systems Corporation and Lee
Acceptance Corp. dated June 26, 1992, as amended
21.1 Subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2 Consent of Dykema Gossett PLLC (included as Exhibit 5.1)
24.1 Power of attorney (included on page II-6)
* To be filed by amendment
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
The financial statement schedules have been omitted because the information
required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the
consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
II-4
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions described above or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered hereunder, the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the
underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered
in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to
each purchaser.
(2) that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of Prospectus
filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
contained in a form of Prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule
424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be
part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared
effective; and
(3) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form
of Prospectus shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating
to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Warren, State of Michigan on October 24, 2003.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
By: /s/ NATHANIEL F. BRADLEY IV
------------------------------------
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV,
President and Chief Executive
Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned whose signature appears below hereby constitutes
and appoints Rufus H. Reitzel Jr. and Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, or each of them
acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statements (or any other Registration Statement
for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act), and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that
said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated
on October 24, 2003.
TITLE
-----
/s/ NATHANIEL F. BRADLEY IV President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
-------------------------------------- (principal executive officer)
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
/s/ MARK A. REDMAN Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer
-------------------------------------- (principal financial officer)
Mark A. Redman
/s/ TERRENCE D. DANIELS Director
--------------------------------------
Terrence D. Daniels
/s/ ANTHONY R. IGNACZAK Director
--------------------------------------
Anthony R. Ignaczak
/s/ RUFUS H. REITZEL, JR. Director
--------------------------------------
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
II-6
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
1.1* Underwriting Agreement
2.1 Asset Contribution and Securities Purchase Agreement among
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, AAC Holding Corp., Consumer
Credit Corp., their respective shareholders and AAC
Investors, Inc. dated September 30, 2002
2.2* Share Exchange Agreement among Asset Acceptance Capital
Corp., AAC Investors, Inc., RBR Holding Corp. and the other
parties thereto
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Asset Acceptance Capital
Corp.
3.2 Bylaws of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
4.1* Form of Common Stock Certificate
5.1* Opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC
10.1 Credit Agreement dated September 30, 2002, between Asset
Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC, CFC Financial, LLC,
Consumer Credit, LLC, Bank One, N.A., Standard Federal Bank,
N.A., National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois, Fifth Third
Bank, Eastern Michigan, Comerica Bank and Bank One, N.A., as
Agent, as amended
10.2 CC Option Agreement dated September 30, 2002 between Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC and Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
10.3* Registration Rights Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as
amended on , 2003, between Asset Acceptance Holdings
LLC, AAC Investors, Inc., AAC Holding Corp., Consumer Credit
Corp., Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., Heather K. Reitzel, Nathaniel
F. Bradley IV and Mark A. Redman
10.4 Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation
Rights Plan effective as of September 30, 2002
10.5 Form of Share Appreciation Rights Agreement used in
connection with grants under the Asset Acceptance Holdings
LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation Rights Plan
10.6* 2003 Stock Incentive Plan dated [ ], 2003
10.7 Net Lease dated June 21, 1999 between Penobscot Land Company
and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the property located at 6985
Miller Road, Warren, Michigan
10.8 Lease dated June 21, 1999 between Warren Troy Investments
and Asset Acceptance Corporation for the property located at
7027 Miller Road, Warren, Michigan
10.9 Industrial Lease Agreement dated September 14, 2000 between
Dukes-Weeks Realty Limited Partnership and Asset Acceptance
Corp. for the property located at 563 Lake Kathy Drive,
Brandon, Florida, as amended
10.10 Lease dated November 17, 2000 between Brooklyn Heights
Business Park Limited and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the
property located at 600 Safeguard Plaza, Brooklyn Heights,
Ohio, as amended
10.11 Lease dated January 16, 2002 between Technical Properties,
L.L.C. and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the property located
at 7177 Miller Road, Warren, Michigan
10.12 Industrial Gross Lease Agreement dated June 28, 2000 between
Nottingham Village, Inc. and Asset Acceptance Corp, as
successor to Alegis Group, L.P. and Sherman Financial Group,
LLC, for the property located at 9940 Franklin Square Drive,
Baltimore, Maryland, as amended
10.13 Lease dated February 15, 2002 between Alpha Drive
Development Associates, L.L.C. and Asset Acceptance Corp.
for the property located at 48325 Alpha Drive, Wixom,
Michigan
10.14 Lease Agreement dated April 25, 2003 between Northpoint
Atrium Limited Partnership and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the
property located at 10500 Heritage Street, San Antonio,
Texas
II-7
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
10.15 Lease Agreement dated July 25, 2003 between Orsett/Piedmont
Limited Liability Company and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the
property located at 9801 South 51st Street, Phoenix, Arizona
10.16 Business Lease dated August 25, 2003 between First
Industrial Development Services, Inc. and Asset Acceptance,
LLC for the property located in Hilsborough County, Florida
10.17* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.18* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Nathaniel F. Bradley IV and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.19* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Mark A. Redman and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.20* Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, as amended
[ ], 2003, between Heather K. Reitzel and Asset
Acceptance Holdings LLC
10.21* Agreement between Ontario Systems Corporation and Lee
Acceptance Corp. dated June 26, 1992, as amended
21.1 Subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2 Consent of Dykema Gossett PLLC (included as Exhibit 5.1)
24.1 Power of attorney (included on page II-6)
* To be filed by amendment
II-8
EXHIBIT 2.1
ASSET CONTRIBUTION AND SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
AMONG
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC,
AAC HOLDING CORP.,
CONSUMER CREDIT CORP.,
THEIR RESPECTIVE SHAREHOLDERS
AND
AAC INVESTORS, INC.
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions.................................................................................... 2
ARTICLE II
MERGERS AND CONTRIBUTION OF ASSETS
2.1 Mergers........................................................................................ 11
2.2 Contribution of Assets by CCC; Assumption of Liabilities....................................... 12
2.3 Formation of the Company; Contribution of Membership Interests................................. 14
2.4 Purchase of Shares............................................................................. 15
2.5 Payment of Consideration....................................................................... 15
2.6 Non-Assignable Assets.......................................................................... 15
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDING, CCC AND THE
SHAREHOLDERS
3.1 Organization; Qualification.................................................................... 17
3.2 Capitalization; Validity of Shares; Voting Trusts.............................................. 18
3.3 Authority; Binding Obligations................................................................. 18
3.4 Consents and Approvals......................................................................... 19
3.5 Non-Contravention.............................................................................. 19
3.6 Environmental Matters.......................................................................... 19
3.7 Licenses and Permits........................................................................... 20
3.8 Compliance with Laws........................................................................... 21
3.9 Financial Statements........................................................................... 21
3.10 Absence of Changes.......................................................................... 22
3.11 No Undisclosed Liabilities.................................................................. 25
3.12 Litigation.................................................................................. 26
3.13 Real Property............................................................................... 26
3.14 Personal Property........................................................................... 28
3.15 Charged Off Accounts; Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable................................. 29
3.16 Sufficiency of Assets; No Conflicting Operations............................................ 30
3.17 Books and Records........................................................................... 30
3.18 Intellectual Property; Computer Software.................................................... 30
3.19 Material Contracts.......................................................................... 31
3.20 Insurance................................................................................... 33
3.21 Labor Matters............................................................................... 33
3.22 Employee Plans.............................................................................. 35
3.23 Tax Matters................................................................................. 39
3.24 Transactions with Certain Persons........................................................... 41
3.25 Suppliers of Charged Off Accounts........................................................... 41
3.26 Banking Relationships....................................................................... 41
3.27 No Other Agreements to Sell the Assets or Equity Interests in Holding or the
AAC Companies............................................................................... 42
3.28 Prohibited Payments......................................................................... 42
3.29 Brokers..................................................................................... 42
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF INVESTORS
4.1 Organization; Qualification.................................................................... 42
4.2 Authority; Binding Obligations................................................................. 42
4.3 Consents and Approvals......................................................................... 43
4.4 Non-Contravention.............................................................................. 43
4.5 Litigation..................................................................................... 43
4.6 Brokers........................................................................................ 43
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
5.1 Conduct of Business............................................................................ 44
5.2 Forbearances................................................................................... 44
5.3 Negotiations with Others; Notification......................................................... 45
5.4 Investigation of Business and Properties....................................................... 45
5.5 Confidentiality................................................................................ 46
5.6 No Disclosure; Public Announcements............................................................ 46
5.7 Transfer Taxes; Expenses....................................................................... 46
5.8 Efforts to Consummate.......................................................................... 47
5.9 Environmental Investigation.................................................................... 47
5.10 Related Party Accounts...................................................................... 48
5.11 Allocation of Purchase Price................................................................ 48
5.12 Holding's and The AAC Companies' Insurance.................................................. 48
5.13 Disbursement Accounts....................................................................... 48
5.14 Names....................................................................................... 48
5.15 Further Assurances.......................................................................... 49
ARTICLE VI
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE MATTERS
6.1 Transferred Employees.......................................................................... 49
6.2 Employee Plans................................................................................. 49
6.3 Worker's Compensation.......................................................................... 50
6.4 Vacation and Holiday Pay....................................................................... 50
6.5 Non-Transferred Employees...................................................................... 50
ii
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF INVESTORS
7.1 Representations and Warranties................................................................. 50
7.2 Performance of this Agreement.................................................................. 50
7.3 Capital Expenditures........................................................................... 51
7.4 Distributions.................................................................................. 51
7.5 Consents and Approvals......................................................................... 51
7.6 Injunction, Litigation, etc.................................................................... 51
7.7 Legislation.................................................................................... 51
7.8 Proceedings.................................................................................... 51
7.9 LLC Agreement.................................................................................. 51
7.10 Opinion of Counsel.......................................................................... 51
7.11 Material Change............................................................................. 52
7.12 Financing................................................................................... 52
7.13 Payoff Letters.............................................................................. 52
7.14 Escrow Agreement............................................................................ 52
7.15 Lee Acceptance Acquisition.................................................................. 52
7.16 Noncompetition Agreements................................................................... 52
7.17 Consulting Services Agreement............................................................... 52
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDING, CCC
AND THE SHAREHOLDERS
8.1 Representations and Warranties................................................................. 53
8.2 Performance of this Agreement.................................................................. 53
8.3 Consents and Approvals......................................................................... 53
8.4 Injunction, Litigation, etc.................................................................... 53
8.5 Legislation.................................................................................... 53
8.6 Proceedings.................................................................................... 53
8.7 LLC Agreement.................................................................................. 53
8.8 Opinion of Counsel............................................................................. 53
8.9 Escrow Agreement............................................................................... 53
8.10 Employment Agreements....................................................................... 54
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING
9.1 Time and Place of Closing...................................................................... 54
9.2 Deliveries by Holding, CCC and the Shareholders................................................ 54
9.3 Deliveries by the Company...................................................................... 55
9.4 Deliveries by Holding.......................................................................... 56
9.5 Deliveries By Investors........................................................................ 56
9.6 Deliveries of Ancillary Agreements............................................................. 56
iii
ARTICLE X
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 Survival of Representations................................................................. 56
10.2 Indemnification by Holding, CCC and the Shareholders........................................ 57
10.3 Indemnification by the Company and Investors................................................ 58
10.4 Notice and Defense of Claims................................................................ 59
10.5 Limitations on Indemnification.............................................................. 60
10.6 Calculation of Covered Liabilities.......................................................... 61
10.7 No Circular Recovery........................................................................ 61
10.8 Right of Set Off............................................................................ 62
10.9 Disclaimer of Projections; Memorandum....................................................... 62
10.10 Exclusive Remedy............................................................................ 62
ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION
11.1 Termination................................................................................. 63
11.2 Procedure: Effect of Termination............................................................ 63
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.1 Notices..................................................................................... 63
12.2 Interpretation.............................................................................. 65
12.3 Entire Agreement............................................................................ 65
12.4 No Third Party Beneficiaries................................................................ 65
12.5 Successors and Assigns...................................................................... 65
12.6 Severability................................................................................ 65
12.7 Amendment................................................................................... 66
12.8 Extension; Waiver........................................................................... 66
12.9 Disclosure Schedules........................................................................ 66
12.10 Counterparts; Transmission of Facsimile Signatures.......................................... 66
12.11 Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue........................................................... 66
12.12 Waiver of Jury Trial........................................................................ 67
12.13 Governing Law............................................................................... 67
EXHIBITS
A Form of Escrow Agreement
B Asset Acceptance LLC Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement
C Form of Non-Interference, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition
Agreement (Shareholders)
D Form of Non-Interference, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition
iv
Agreement (Employees)
E Form of Opinion of Counsel for the AAC Companies and the
Shareholders
F Form of Opinion of Counsel for Investors
G Consulting Services Agreement
H-1 Form of Employment Agreement - Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
H-2 Form of Employment Agreement - Heather K. Reitzel.
H-3 Form of Employment Agreement - Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
H-4 Form of Employment Agreement - Mark A. Redman.
I Form of Bill of Sale
SCHEDULES
1.1 2002 Budgeted Collections and EBITDA
3.1 Organization and Qualification
3.1(e) Holding Business
3.2 Capitalization
3.4 Consents and Approvals
3.5 Non-Contravention
3.6 Environmental Matters
3.7 Licenses and Permits
3.10 Absence of Changes
3.12 Litigation
3.13(b) Leased Real Property
3.14(a) Owned Personal Property
3.14(b) Leased Personal Property
3.15(b) Bulk Purchases Report
3.15(c) Accounts Receivable
3.18 Intellectual Property
3.19 Material Contracts
3.20 Insurance
3.21(a) Employment Agreements
3.21(b) Grievances
3.21(c) Unfair Labor Practices
3.21(d) Affirmative Action Plans
3.21(e) Wages
3.21(f) Employment Practices
3.21(g) OSHA
3.21(i) Employees
3.22 Employee Plans
3.22(b)(iv) Employment Not at Will
3.22(b)(ix) Amendments
3.22(b)(xi) Acceleration of Rights
3.23 Tax Matters
v
3.24 Transactions with Certain Person
3.25 Suppliers
3.26 Banking Relationships
4.3 Consents and Approvals
5.2 Forbearances
5.10 Related Party Accounts
5.11 Allocation of Purchase Price
6.2 Non Transferred Employee Plans
7.16 Non-Competition Agreements
vi
ASSET CONTRIBUTION AND SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This ASSET CONTRIBUTION AND SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the
"Agreement") dated as of September 30, 2002, is made among ASSET ACCEPTANCE
HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Company"), AAC HOLDING
CORP., a Nevada corporation ("Holding"), CONSUMER CREDIT CORP., a Michigan
corporation ("CCC"), RUFUS H. REITZEL, JR., HEATHER K. REITZEL, NATHANIEL F.
BRADLEY IV, MARK A. REDMAN and the TRUSTS listed on the signature pages hereto
(collectively the "Shareholders") and AAC INVESTORS, INC., a Virginia
corporation ("Investors").
RECITALS
A. The Shareholders hold all of the outstanding capital stock of
Holding. Holding holds all of the outstanding capital stock of Asset Acceptance
Corp., a Nevada corporation ("Asset Acceptance"), Financial Credit Corp., a
Nevada corporation ("Financial Credit"), CFC Financial Corp., a Nevada
corporation ("CFC Financial"). Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., certain trusts established
for the benefit of the children of Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., Heather K. Reitzel and
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV hold all of the outstanding capital stock of CCC.
B. Prior to the Closing of the actions described below in
Recitals C and D, Asset Acceptance, Financial Credit, CFC Financial and CCC will
each form Delaware limited liability companies (respectively, "Asset Acceptance,
LLC," "Financial Credit, LLC," "CFC Financial, LLC" and "Consumer Credit, LLC,"
and collectively, the "AAC LLCs") and will hold all of the membership interests
in such AAC LLCs. Prior to the Closing of the actions described below in
Recitals C and D, Asset Acceptance will purchase substantially all of the Assets
of Lee Acceptance Corp., a Michigan corporation ("Lee Acceptance"), for a cash
payment of $200,000. Prior to the Closing of the actions described below in
Recitals C and D, and after the transaction described in the preceding sentence,
Asset Acceptance, Financial Credit and CFC Financial will merge into its
respective AAC LLC subsidiary, and as a result such AAC LLCs will succeed to all
of the assets and liabilities related to the business of purchasing and
collecting Charged Off Accounts (hereinafter defined) (the "AAC Business"), and
CCC will contribute to Consumer Credit LLC substantially all of the assets and
liabilities related to the business of making and servicing consumer loans and
mortgages, issuing credit cards and financing sales of consumer product
retailers (the "CCC Business," and together with the AAC Business, the
"Business") in exchange for all of the membership interests of Consumer Credit,
LLC.
C. The Shareholders desire to cause Holding to contribute to the
Company all of the membership interests in Asset Acceptance, LLC, Financial
Credit, LLC and CFC Financial, LLC in exchange for 39,000,000 Class A-1 Shares,
25,350,000 Class B-1 Shares, 6,000,000 Class A Shares and 3,900,000 Class B
Shares of the Company and $550,000 in cash. The shareholders of CCC desire to
cause CCC to contribute to the Company all of the membership interests in
Consumer Credit, LLC in exchange for 650,000 Class B-1 Shares and 100,000 Class
B Shares of the Company and $250,000 in cash.
D. Holding desires to sell to Investors and Investors desires to
purchase from Holding the 39,000,000 Class A-1 Shares and 6,000,000 Class A
Shares of the Company received by it as contemplated in Recital C.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
agree as follow:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 DEFINITIONS. The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:
"AAC Claims" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3(b).
"AAC Companies" means Asset Acceptance, Financial Credit, CFC
Financial, and CCC; provided that reference to the AAC Companies in Article III
shall be interpreted to mean the AAC Companies, the AAC LLCs, any predecessor of
the AAC Companies and any other Person the equity interests in which were
acquired, and the operations of any Person whose assets or liabilities were
acquired or assumed, by the AAC Companies pursuant to agreement or by operation
of law.
"AAC Debt" means the sum of (i) indebtedness of Holding and
the AAC Companies for borrowed money from third parties and (ii) the combined
capitalized liability of Holding and the AAC Companies under Capital Leases;
provided that AAC Debt does not include trade accounts payable incurred by
Holding and the AAC Companies in the ordinary course of business.
"AAC Indemnified Parties" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.3(a).
"Action" means any complaint, claim, prosecution, indictment,
action, suit, arbitration, investigation, governmental audit, inquiry or
proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority.
"Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling (including all directors and officers of such Person) or
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. For
the purposes of this definition, "control", when used with respect to any
Person, means (i) with respect to any Person having voting shares or their
equivalent and elected directors, managers or Persons performing similar
functions, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to vote ten
percent (10%) or more of the shares or other ownership interests having ordinary
voting power of such Person or (ii) the possession, directly or indirectly, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting shares or their equivalent,
by
2
contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Ancillary Agreements" means the LLC Agreement, Escrow
Agreement, the Employment Agreements, the Non-Interference, Non-Disclosure and
Non-Competition Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreement, the CC Option
Agreement and the Consulting Services Agreement.
"Assets" means all of a Person's right, title and interest in
and to all properties, assets and rights of any kind, whether tangible or
intangible, real or personal, owned by such Person or in which such Person has
any interest whatsoever.
"Assumed CCC Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.2.
"Audited Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.9.
"Benefit Arrangement" means any employment, consulting,
severance or other similar contract, arrangement or policy (written or oral) and
each plan, arrangement, program, agreement or commitment (written or oral)
providing for insurance coverage (including, without limitation, any
self-insured arrangements), workers' compensation, disability benefits,
supplemental unemployment benefits, vacation benefits, retirement benefits,
life, health or accident benefits (including, without limitation, any "voluntary
employees' beneficiary association" as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the
Internal Revenue Code providing for the same or other benefits) or for deferred
compensation, profit-sharing, bonuses, stock options, stock appreciation rights,
stock purchases or other forms of incentive compensation or post-retirement
insurance, compensation or benefits which (i) is not a Welfare Plan, Pension
Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (ii) is entered into, maintained, contributed to or
required to be contributed to, as the case may be, by Holding or the AAC
Companies or any ERISA Affiliate or under which Holding or the AAC Companies or
any ERISA Affiliate may incur any liability, and (iii) covers any employee or
former employee of Holding or the AAC Companies or any ERISA Affiliate (with
respect to their relationship with any such entity).
"Books and Records" means all books, records, lists, ledgers,
files, reports, plans, drawings and operating records of every kind (in any form
or medium) relating to the AAC Companies, the Assets of the AAC Companies,
business operations, customers, suppliers and personnel, including (i) all
company books and records of the AAC Companies, (ii) all disk or tape files,
printouts, runs or other computer-based information and the AAC Companies'
interest in all computer programs required to access, and the equipment
containing, all such computer-based information, (iii) all product, business and
marketing plans, (iv) all environmental control records, (v) all sales,
maintenance and production records, (vi) equipment warranty information, (vii)
litigation files, (viii) customer and supplier lists and information and (ix)
personnel records. Books and Records does not include any records of Holding or
the corporate or income tax records of the AAC Companies.
"Business" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
3
"Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in Detroit, Michigan, Richmond, Virginia, or
New York, New York are authorized by Law to close.
"Capital Lease" means any lease of which any of the AAC
Companies is the lessee which is required to be capitalized on the balance sheet
in accordance with GAAP.
"CCC Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.9.
"Charged Off Accounts" means consumer accounts receivable that
have been charged off by the original creditor.
"Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.
"Claim Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
"Company Claims" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2(b)
"Company Indemnified Parties" has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.2(a).
"Consumer Credit Account" means any retail or other
installment contract involving periodic payments to a creditor which are
purchased by or originate with CCC.
"Contract" means any agreement, contract, lease, note, loan,
evidence of indebtedness, purchase order, letter of credit, franchise agreement,
undertaking, covenant not to compete, employment agreement, license, instrument,
obligation or commitment to which any of the AAC Companies is a party or by
which any of their Assets is bound, whether oral or written, express or implied,
and which pursuant to its terms has not expired, terminated or been fully
performed by the parties thereto.
"Contributed Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"Controlled Group Liability" means any and all liabilities
under (i) Title IV of ERISA, (ii) Section 302 of ERISA, (iii) Sections 412 or
4971 of the Internal Revenue Code, (iv) the continuation coverage requirements
of Sections 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code
and (v) the disclosure and reporting requirements of Sections 101 et seq. of
ERISA, other than such liabilities that arise solely out of, or relate solely
to, employees or former employees of Holding and the AAC Companies.
"Covered Liabilities" means any and all debts, losses,
liabilities, claims, fines, royalties, deficiencies, damages, Actions,
obligations, payments (including those arising out of any demand, assessment,
settlement, judgment or compromise relating to any Action), costs (including
costs of mitigation) and expenses (including interest and penalties due and
payable
4
with respect thereto and reasonable attorneys' and accountants' fees and any
other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in investigating, preparing, defending,
avoiding or settling any Action or in investigating, preserving or enforcing
another party's obligations hereunder), matured or unmatured, absolute or
contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, known or unknown,
including any of the foregoing arising under, out of or in connection with any
Action, order or consent decree of any Governmental Authority or award of any
arbitrator of any kind, or any law, rule, regulation, contract, commitment or
undertaking; provided that diminution in the value of the Purchased Shares as a
result of incurrence by the Company of a Covered Liability shall not itself be a
Covered Liability.
"Decrees" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
"Delaware LLC Act" means the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act, Del. Code, title 6, Sections 18-101 et seq., as amended from time
to time.
"Employee Plans" means all Benefit Arrangements, Multiemployer
Plans, Pension Plans and Welfare Plans.
"Employment Agreements" means the Employment Agreements, dated
the date hereof, between the Company, on the one hand, and each of Rufus H.
Reitzel, Jr., Heather Reitzel, Nathaniel F. Bradley IV and Mark A. Redman, on
the other hand, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time, and
"Employment Agreement" means any one of the foregoing.
"Encumbrance" means any claim, lien, pledge, option, charge,
easement, security interest, deed of trust, mortgage, right-of-way,
encroachment, conditional sales agreement, encumbrance or other right of third
parties, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law, and any
contingent sale or other title retention agreement or financing lease.
"Environmental Laws" means all applicable federal, state,
district, local and foreign laws, all rules or regulations promulgated
thereunder, and all orders, judgments, notices, permits or demand letters
issued, promulgated or entered pursuant thereto, relating to pollution or
protection of the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground
water, land surface, or subsurface strata), including (i) laws relating to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants,
contaminants, chemicals, industrial materials, wastes or other substances into
the environment and (ii) laws relating to the identification, generation,
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
recovery, transport or other handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals,
industrial materials, wastes or other substances, in each case as applicable on
or before the Closing Date. By way of example only, Environmental Laws include
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, as amended ("RCRA"), the Clean Water Act, as amended, the Safe
Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Atomic Energy
Act of 1954, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended, and
all analogous laws promulgated or issued by any state or other governmental
authority.
5
"Environmental Permit" means all registrations, applications,
filings, certifications, notices, orders, licenses, permits, approvals,
consents, qualifications, authorizations and waivers of any Governmental
Authority issued under or with respect to an Environmental Law.
"Environmental Reports" means any and all written analyses,
summaries or explanations, in the possession or control of Holding or the AAC
Companies, of (i) Hazardous Emissions, Handling Hazardous Substances or any
environmental conditions in, on or about the properties of Holding or the AAC
Companies or (ii) Holding and the AAC Companies' compliance with Environmental
Laws.
"Equipment" means all machinery, equipment, computer
equipment, furniture, vehicles, tools, dies, molds and parts, office and other
supplies, spare parts, fuel and other tangible personal property wherever
located (including any of the foregoing purchased subject to any conditional
sales agreement or title retention agreement in favor of any other Person).
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any entity which is (or at any
relevant time was) a member of a "controlled group of corporations" with, under
"common control" with, or a member of an "affiliated service group" with, or
otherwise required to be aggregated with, any of Holding or the AAC Companies as
set forth in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code.
"Escrow Agent" means the Person appointed as the escrow agent
under the Escrow Agreement.
"Escrow Agreement" means the agreement entered into by or on
behalf of Holding, CCC and the Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Company
and Investors, on the other hand, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
"Escrow Fund" means, at any time, the amount held under the
Escrow Agreement at such time.
"Escrow Payment" means $3.75 million.
"Excluded Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"Facilities" means all plants, offices, administration
buildings and all other real property owned or leased by Holding or the AAC
Companies.
"Final Determination" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.4(h).
"Financial Statements" means the Audited Financial Statements,
the Interim Financial Statements and/or the CCC Financial Statements, as the
context requires.
6
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.
"Governmental Authority" means any federal, state, local,
foreign, supernational or supranational court or tribunal, governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency, department, bureau, authority or commission
or arbitral panel.
"Hazardous Substances" means all pollutants, contaminants,
chemicals, wastes, and any other carcinogenic, ignitable, corrosive, reactive,
toxic or otherwise hazardous substances or materials (whether solids, liquids or
gases) subject to regulation, control or remediation under Environmental Laws.
By way of example only, the term Hazardous Substances includes petroleum, urea
formaldehyde, flammable, explosive and radioactive materials, PCBs, pesticides,
herbicides, asbestos, sludge, slag, acids, metals, solvents and waste waters.
"indemnified party" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.
"indemnifying party" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.4.
"Intellectual Property" means all trade names, trademarks and
service marks, domain names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, whether
domestic or foreign, (as well as applications, registrations or certificates for
any of the foregoing), inventions, trade secrets, proprietary processes,
software and other industrial and intellectual property rights.
"Interim Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.9.
"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and any successor legislation.
"Investor's Auditors" means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
"Key Personnel" of a corporation or limited liability company
means all directors and officers, and all employees of such corporation or
limited liability company whose annual base compensation exceeds $65,000.
"Knowledge of the AAC Companies" means the actual knowledge of
any officer at the level of Assistant Vice President or above, including Rufus
H. Reitzel, Jr., Heather K. Reitzel, Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, Mark A. Redman,
Diane Kondrat, Deborah Everly, Phillip Allen, Elise Rausch, Don O'Neill, Jim
Reitzel, Richard Dawson, Pat Dangel and William Narro or as to which such person
has written notice, but without an obligation to make inquiry of any other
person.
"Knowledge of Investors" means the actual knowledge of Anthony
R. Ignaczak, Thad M. Jones and C. Scott VanHoy, or as to which such person has
written notice, but without an obligation to make inquiry of any other person.
"Laws" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
7
"Lease" means a Real Property Lease or a Personal Property
Lease.
"Leased Real Property" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.13(b).
"Licenses and Permits" means all registrations, applications,
filings, certifications, notices, orders, licenses, permits, approvals,
consents, qualifications, authorizations and waivers of any Governmental
Authority, but does not include Environmental Permits.
"LLC Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement of the Company substantially in the form of Exhibit
B.
"Material Adverse Effect" or "Material Adverse Change" means
as to any Person (i) any material adverse effect on or material adverse change
with respect to (A) the business, operations, assets, liabilities, financial
condition or results of operations of such Person and its Affiliates, taken as a
whole (except as expressly provided otherwise, the use of "Material Adverse
Effect" or "Material Adverse Change" with respect to Holding or any of the AAC
Companies shall mean Holding and all of the AAC Companies, taken as a whole), or
(B) the right or ability of such Person or any of its Affiliates to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) any event or condition which, with
the passage of time or the giving or receipt of notice would reasonably be
expected to constitute a "Material Adverse Effect" or "Material Adverse Change"
with respect to such Person. No effect or change described in clause (i)(A) will
be considered a Material Adverse Effect or Material Adverse Change unless it
(together with all effects or changes arising out the same or related facts or
circumstances) involves at least $50,000.
"Material Contracts" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.19.
"Mergers" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
"Multiemployer Plan" means any "multiemployer plan," as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) or 3(37) of ERISA, which (i) Holding, the AAC
Companies or any ERISA Affiliate maintains, administers, contributes to or is
required to contribute to, or, after September 25, 1980, maintained,
administered, contributed to or was required to contribute to, or under which
Holding, the AAC Companies or any ERISA Affiliate may incur any liability and
(ii) covers any employee or former employee of Holding, the AAC Companies or any
ERISA Affiliate (with respect to their relationship with any such entity).
"Non-Interference, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition
Agreements" means the Non-Interference, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition
Agreements entered into by (i) Holding, the AAC Companies and the Shareholders,
on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, substantially in the form
of Exhibit C hereto and (ii) the employees of the AAC Companies set forth in
Schedule 7.16, on the one hand, and the Company and/or the applicable AAC LLC,
on the other hand, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
8
"Pension Plans" means any "employee pension benefit plan" as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which (i) the
AAC Companies or any ERISA Affiliate maintains, administers, contributes to or
is required to contribute to, or, within the five years prior to the Closing
Date, maintained, administered, contributed to or was required to contribute to,
or under which the AAC Companies or any ERISA Affiliate may incur any liability
(including, without limitation, any contingent liability) and (ii) covers any
employee or former employee of the AAC Companies or any ERISA Affiliate (with
respect to their relationship with any such entity).
"Permitted Encumbrances" means (i) statutory liens for current
state and local property taxes or assessments not yet due or delinquent; (ii)
mechanics', carriers', workers', repairers' and other similar liens arising or
incurred in the ordinary course of business relating to obligations as to which
there is no default on the part of the AAC Companies; and (iii) such other
recorded liens, imperfections in title, charges, easements, restrictions and
encumbrances which do not materially affect the use, value, enjoyment, occupancy
or marketability of such property.
"Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a
limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or
organization, including a governmental or political subdivision or an agency of
instrumentality thereof.
"Personal Property Lease" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.14(b)(i).
"Purchased Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
"Q-Subs" means Asset Acceptance, Financial Credit and CFC
Financial.
"Real Property" means real estate together with the
structures, fixtures and other improvements thereon and the appurtenances,
rights and easements thereto belonging.
"Real Property Lease" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.13(b)(i).
"Retained Liabilities" means the Retained CCC Liabilities and
each of the following:
(i) any liability for federal, state or local
income or franchise Taxes, including the Michigan Single
Business Tax and income or franchise Taxes incurred by the AAC
Companies in the conduct of the Business prior to the Closing,
EXCEPT THOSE TAXES OWED BY THE AAC COMPANIES AND ACCRUED OR
RESERVED FOR ON THE BALANCE SHEETS FOR THE AAC COMPANIES IN
THE INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUCH TAXES OWED BY THE
AAC COMPANIES FOR PERIODS ENDING AFTER THE DATE OF THE INTERIM
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE THAT
ARE RECORDED AS A CURRENT LIABILITY IN BOOKS AND RECORDS OF
THE AAC COMPANIES AS OF THE CLOSING DATE CONSISTENT WITH PAST
PRACTICE;
9
(ii) any liability for federal, state or local
Taxes incurred by Holding or the AAC Companies with respect to
any of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iii) any liability or obligation of the AAC
Companies or any of their Affiliates or any ERISA Affiliate of
any of the foregoing whether currently existing or hereafter
arising that is not attributable to, or does not arise out of
the conduct of the Business;
(iv) subject to Section 2.6, any liability or
obligation arising under any Contract, including Material
Contracts and Leases, if the rights of the AAC Companies are,
for any reason, not transferred to, or the benefits thereunder
are not otherwise made available to, the AAC LLCs by the AAC
Companies;
(v) any liability or obligation of Holding or
the AAC Companies arising under this Agreement;
(vi) any liability or obligation, including
liabilities and obligations arising under Environmental Law,
with respect to an Excluded Asset;
(vii) any liability or obligation of any of the
AAC Companies to any of the Shareholders (other than salary,
but not bonuses, and benefits in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices); and
(viii) any liability or obligation (including under
ERISA) in respect of the Lee Acceptance Corp. Defined Benefit
Pension Plan.
"Retained CCC Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2(d).
"Subsidiary" with respect to any party to this Agreement,
means any corporation or other business entity, whether or not incorporated, of
which at least 50% of the securities or interests having, by their terms,
ordinary voting power to elect members of the Board of Directors, or other
persons performing similar functions with respect to such entity, is held
directly or indirectly by such party.
"Survival Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
"Tax Benefit" means the tax effect of any item of loss,
deduction or credit or any other item (including any increase in tax basis of
Assets of the Company) which decreases Taxes paid or payable.
"Tax Returns" means any and all returns, reports, declarations
and information statements with respect to Taxes required to be filed by or on
behalf of any of Holding or the
10
AAC Companies with any Governmental Authority, including consolidated, combined
or unitary returns and all amendments thereto.
"Tax Law" means the Internal Revenue Code, federal, state or
local laws relating to Taxes and any regulations or official administrative
pronouncements released thereunder.
"Tax Loss" means the tax effect of any item (including any
decrease in tax basis of Assets of the AAC Companies) which increases Taxes paid
or payable.
"Taxes" means (i) all federal, state and local, whether
domestic or foreign, taxes or assessments, including those relating to income,
gross receipts, gross income, capital stock, franchise, profits, employees and
payroll, withholding, foreign withholding, social security, unemployment,
disability, license, real property, personal property, intangibles, stamp,
excise, sales, use, transfer, occupation, value added, ad valorem, premium,
windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Section 59A of the
Internal Revenue Code), alternative minimum or estimated taxes or other similar
tax, duty or governmental charge, together with any interest, penalties or
additions to tax or additional amounts with respect to the foregoing, whether
disputed or not and (ii) any obligations under any agreements or arrangements
with respect to any Taxes described in clause (i) hereof.
"Taxing Authority" means any Governmental Authority, domestic
or foreign, having jurisdiction over the assessment, determination, collection,
or other imposition of Tax.
"Third Party Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.
"Transferred Employees" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.1.
"Welfare Plan" means any "employee welfare benefit plan" as
defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, which (i) any of the AAC Companies or any
ERISA Affiliate maintains, administers, contributes to or is required to
contribute to, or under which the AAC Companies or any ERISA Affiliate may incur
any liability and (ii) covers any employee or former employee of the AAC
Companies or any ERISA Affiliate (with respect to their relationship with any
such entity).
"2002 Budgeted Collections and EBITDA" means the budgeted
collections and EBITDA for the AAC Companies for the year ending December 31,
2002 as set forth in Schedule 1.1.
ARTICLE II
MERGERS AND CONTRIBUTION OF ASSETS
2.1 MERGERS.
Prior to the Closing, Holding agrees to cause Asset Acceptance, Financial Credit
and CFC Financial to merge into Asset Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC and
CFC Financial
11
Credit, LLC, respectively (the "Mergers"). Following the Mergers, the separate
corporate existence of Asset Acceptance, Financial Credit and CFC Financial
shall cease and the respective AAC LLC shall continue as the surviving entity
and shall be governed by the Delaware LLC Act. The Mergers shall have the
effects set forth in Section 18-209 of the Delaware LLC Act.
2.2 CONTRIBUTION OF ASSETS BY CCC; ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES.
(a) Prior to the Closing, CCC agrees to contribute to Consumer
Credit, LLC all of CCC's, as the case may be, right title and interest in and to
the assets, properties or rights of every kind and nature (whether real,
personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, fixed or contingent, known or
unknown, wherever located, and whether or not reflected in the Financial
Statements), and whether now existing or hereafter acquired through the Closing
Date used or held for use in connection with the Business (the "Contributed
Assets"), including the following:
(i) all Equipment and other tangible personal
property, wherever located (including any of the foregoing
purchased subject to any conditional sales agreement or title
retention agreement in favor of any other Person), which are
owned by the AAC Companies and are used or held for use in
connection with the Business;
(ii) all Consumer Credit Accounts and other notes
and accounts receivable, and all rights to collect the
unrecovered balances thereon;
(iii) all transferable Licenses and Permits held
by CCC which relate to the Contributed Assets or the CCC
Business;
(iv) all Intellectual Property owned or licensed
by CCC, or which CCC otherwise have the right to use, which is
assignable and which relates to the Contributed Assets or the
CCC Business, including rights to sue for past, present and
future infringement thereof;
(v) all right, title and interest of CCC in, to
and under all Contracts which any of them is a party, all
rights to receive goods or services pursuant to such
agreements or to assert claims or take other rightful action
in respect of breaches, defaults and other violations of such
agreements and all rights under express or implied warranties
or rights of indemnity;
(vi) all Books and Records (in any form or
medium), including computerized records and any associated
software and documentation, relating to the CCC Business;
(vii) all purchase orders, forms, labels,
stationery, shipping materials, catalogues, brochures, art
work, photographs and advertising materials held by CCC for
use in connection with the CCC Business;
12
(viii) all credits, prepaid expenses, deferred
charges, security deposits, claims for refund and rights of
offset;
(ix) all rights with respect to causes of action,
lawsuits, judgments, claims and demands of any nature
available or being pursued by or on behalf of the CCC with
respect to the CCC Business or the ownership, use, function or
value of any Contributed Assets;
(x) all other tangible and intangible properties
and Assets which are used or held for use in connection with
the CCC Business or which historically have been reflected as
Assets on the books of CCC;
(xi) all guarantees, warranties, indemnities and
similar rights with respect to any Contributed Assets;
(xii) all proceeds (including cash and cash
equivalents) received by CCC in respect of the loss, damage or
destruction of any of the foregoing on or after the date
hereof; and
(xiii) cash and cash equivalents, including all
banking and deposit accounts and petty cash funds located at
the offices of CCC.
(b) The Contributed Assets will not include any of the
following (the "Excluded Assets"):
(i) subject to Section 2.6, any Asset that is
not assignable; and
(ii) any rights of CCC under this Agreement or
the Ancillary Agreements.
(c) Except to the extent set forth in paragraph (d) of this
Section 2.2, Consumer Credit, LLC will assume all of liabilities and obligations
of CCC which relate to the CCC Business and are not paid or discharged at or
before the Closing (the "Assumed CCC Liabilities"); provided that the foregoing
shall not affect adversely the obligations of Holding, CCC and the Shareholders
to provide indemnification under Section 10.2 hereof if there is a breach of the
representations and warranties made by Holding, CCC or the Shareholders in this
Agreement or any document delivered pursuant hereto.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c) of this
Section 2.2 or any other provision hereof, and regardless of any disclosure to
Investors, the Company shall not succeed to, assume or become liable for, and
Consumer Credit, LLC shall not succeed to, assume or become liable for, any of
the following listed liabilities and obligations (the "Retained CCC
Liabilities"):
(i) any liability for federal, state or local
income or franchise Taxes, including the Michigan Single
Business Tax and income or
13
franchise Taxes incurred by the AAC Companies in the conduct
of the Business prior to the Closing, EXCEPT THOSE TAXES OWED
BY THE AAC COMPANIES AND ACCRUED OR RESERVED FOR ON THE
BALANCE SHEETS FOR THE AAC COMPANIES IN THE INTERIM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUCH TAXES OWED BY THE AAC COMPANIES FOR
PERIODS ENDING AFTER THE DATE OF THE INTERIM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE THAT ARE RECORDED
AS A CURRENT LIABILITY IN BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE AAC
COMPANIES AS OF THE CLOSING DATE CONSISTENT WITH PAST
PRACTICE;
(ii) any liability for federal, state or local
Taxes incurred by Holding or the AAC Companies with respect to
any of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iii) any liability or obligation of the AAC
Companies or any of their Affiliates or any ERISA Affiliate of
any of the foregoing whether currently existing or hereafter
arising that is not attributable to, or does not arise out of
the conduct of the Business;
(iv) subject to Section 2.6, any liability or
obligation arising under any Contract, including Material
Contracts and Leases, if the rights of the AAC Companies are,
for any reason, not transferred to, or the benefits thereunder
are not otherwise made available to, the AAC LLCs by the AAC
Companies;
(v) any liability or obligation of Holding or
the AAC Companies arising under this Agreement;
(vi) any liability or obligation, including
liabilities and obligations arising under Environmental Law,
with respect to an Excluded Asset;
(vii) any liability or obligation of any of the
AAC Companies to any of the Shareholders (other than salary,
but not bonuses, and benefits in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices); and
(viii) any liability or obligation (including under
ERISA) in respect of the Lee Acceptance Corp. Defined Benefit
Pension Plan.
2.3 FORMATION OF THE COMPANY; CONTRIBUTION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS.
(a) Prior to the Closing, Holding and CCC shall cause the
Company to be organized under the Delaware LLC Act.
(b) At the Closing, Holding shall contribute to the Company,
free and clear of any Encumbrances, all of the membership interests in Asset
Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC and CFC Financial, LLC in exchange for
39,000,000 Class A-1 Shares, 25,350,000 Class B-1
14
Shares, 6,000,000 Class A Shares and 3,900,000 Class B Shares of the Company and
$550,000 in cash.
(c) At the Closing, CCC shall contribute to the Company, free
and clear of any Encumbrances, all of the membership interests in Consumer
Credit, LLC in exchange for 650,000 Class B-1 Shares, 100,000 Class B Shares of
the Company and $250,000 in cash.
2.4 PURCHASE OF SHARES. At the Closing Holding agrees to sell to
Investors, and Investors agree to purchase from Holding, the 39,000,000 Class
A-1 Shares and the 6,000,000 Class A Shares of the Company (the "Purchased
Shares") received by it as a portion of the consideration for the contribution
by it to the Company of the membership interests in the AAC LLCs held by it.
2.5 PAYMENT OF CONSIDERATION.
(a) At the Closing the Company will:
(i) deliver to Holding certificates evidencing
the 39,000,000 Class A-1 Shares, 25,350,000 Class B-1 Shares,
6,000,000 Class A Shares and 3,900,000 Class B Shares of the
Company and $550,000 in cash or immediately available funds in
consideration for the membership interests in Asset Acceptance
LLC, Financial Credit LLC and CFC Financial LLC contributed by
Holding to the Company; and
(ii) deliver to CCC, certificates evidencing the
650,000 Class B-1 Shares and 100,000 Class B Shares of the
Company and $250,000 in cash or immediately available funds in
consideration for the membership interests in Consumer Credit
LLC contributed by CCC to the Company.
(b) As the purchase price for the Purchased Shares, Investors
will pay to Holding $45,000,000 in cash or immediately available funds, of which
$41,250,000 shall be delivered by wire transfer to Holding and $3,750,000 shall
be delivered by wire transfer to the Escrow Agent to be held pursuant to the
Escrow Agreement.
2.6 NON-ASSIGNABLE ASSETS.
(a) This Agreement will not constitute an assignment or
transfer, or an attempted assignment or transfer, of any License and Permit or
Contract which, but for this Section 2.6(a), would constitute a Contributed
Asset (a "Non-Assignable Asset"), if and to the extent that the assignment or
transfer of such Non-Assignable Asset:
(i) would require the consent or waiver of a
third party, including any Governmental Authority, and such
consent or waiver has not been obtained;
15
(ii) would constitute a breach of the terms of
such Non-Assignable Asset; or
(iii) would constitute a violation of any Law or
Decrees.
(b) The AAC LLCs and the AAC Companies will use their best
efforts to obtain the consents and waivers and to resolve the impracticalities
of assignment referred to in Section 2.6(a) and in the meantime the AAC LLCs and
the AAC Companies will use their best efforts to obtain for the AAC LLCs the
benefit of any Non-Assignable Asset, subject to the corresponding liabilities
and obligations.
(c) To the extent that any consent or waiver referred to in
Section 2.6(a) is not obtained by the AAC Companies until the impracticalities
of assignment referred to in Section 2.6(a) are resolved, the AAC Companies will
use their reasonable best efforts to (i) provide to the AAC LLCs the benefits of
any Non-Assignable Asset, (ii) cooperate in any reasonable and lawful
arrangement designed to provide such benefits to the AAC LLCs, and (iii) at the
request of the Company, enforce for the account of the AAC LLCs any right of the
AAC Companies arising from any Non-Assignable Asset against such issuer or the
other party or parties referred to in Section 2.6(a) (including the right to
elect to terminate in accordance with the terms of such Non-Assignable Asset on
the advice of the Company).
(d) To the extent that the AAC LLCs are provided the benefits
pursuant to this Section 2.6 of any Non-Assignable Asset, the AAC LLCs will
perform the obligations of the AAC Companies under or in connection with such
Non-Assignable Asset; provided that neither the Company nor any of the AAC LLCs
shall have any obligation or liability under any Licenses and Permits or
Contracts as to which the AAC LLCs are not provided any benefits.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDING, CCC AND THE
SHAREHOLDERS
As an inducement to Investors to enter into this Agreement, Holding,
CCC and the Shareholders hereby make, as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing Date, the following representations and warranties to the Company and
Investors, except as otherwise set forth in written disclosure schedules (the
"Schedules") delivered to Investors prior to the execution hereof, a copy of
which is attached hereto. The Schedules are numbered to correspond to the
various sections of this Article III setting forth certain exceptions to the
representations and warranties contained in this Article III and certain other
information called for by this Agreement. No disclosure made in any particular
Schedule shall be deemed made in any other Schedule unless expressly made
therein (by cross-reference or otherwise) unless, and to the extent that, it
would be fairly understood on its face to contain information which also is
applicable to the representation and warranty to which such other Schedule
relates.
Holding, CCC and the Shareholders, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company and Investors the following:
16
3.1 ORGANIZATION; QUALIFICATION.
(a) Each of Holding and the AAC Companies is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation as set forth in Schedule 3.1, and has all
necessary power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets
and to carry on its business as it is presently being conducted. Each of Holding
and the AAC Companies is duly qualified and in good standing to transact
business in each jurisdiction in which the property owned, leased or operated by
it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification
necessary, except where the failure to be in good standing or to be duly
qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Holding and the AAC Companies. Each jurisdiction in which any of
Holding or the AAC Companies, as the case may be, is qualified to do business is
set forth in Schedule 3.1. Holding has heretofore delivered to Investors
complete and correct copies of the articles or certificates of incorporation and
bylaws of each of Holding and the AAC Companies as currently in effect.
(b) Each of the Company and the AAC LLCs is a limited
liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all necessary power and authority to
own or lease all of the Contributed Assets that will be contributed to it and to
carry on the Business as it is presently being conducted by the Company and the
respective AAC Company which is its parent. Each of the AAC LLCs is duly
qualified and in good standing to transact business in each jurisdiction in
which the property owned, leased or operated by its respective AAC Company
parent or the nature of the business conducted by its respective AAC Company
parent makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be in
good standing or to be duly qualified would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the AAC LLCs taken as a whole. Each
jurisdiction in which each of the AAC LLCs is qualified to do business is set
forth in Schedule 3.1. Holding has heretofore delivered to Investors complete
and correct copies of the certificate of formation and limited liability company
agreements of the Company and each of the AAC LLCs as currently in effect.
(c) A complete list of the directors and officers of each of
Holding, the AAC Companies and the AAC LLCs is set forth in Schedule 3.1.
(d) Except for the Q-Subs and the AAC LLCs, none of Holding,
the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs has, or has ever had, any Subsidiary. All of
the outstanding capital stock of each Q-Sub is owned by Holding, in each case
free and clear of any Encumbrances. Immediately prior to the Mergers, all of the
membership interests of the AAC LLCs were held by the respective AAC Company, in
each case free and clear of any Encumbrances.
(e) Holding was formed and organized for the sole and
exclusive purpose of holding the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Q-Subs. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(e), Holding has never conducted any
business, been a party to any Contract, incurred any liability or obligation or
owned any Assets other than the outstanding capital stock of the Q-Subs.
17
(f) The Company was formed and organized for the sole and
exclusive purpose of holding the outstanding membership interests of the AAC
LLCs. The Company has never conducted any business, been a party to any Contract
(with the exception of the Original LLC Agreement), incurred any liability or
obligation or owned any Assets. There are no outstanding membership interests in
the Company, except as contemplated in Article II hereof. Immediately following
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the only outstanding
membership interests in the Company will be the membership interests issued
pursuant to Section 2.3 (including the Purchased Shares to be sold to Investors
pursuant to Section 2.4).
3.2 CAPITALIZATION; VALIDITY OF SHARES; VOTING TRUSTS.
(a) The authorized capitalization of each of Holding and the
AAC Companies and the shares of capital stock thereof which are outstanding are
set forth in Schedule 3.2. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock (i)
have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and (ii), except as set
forth in Schedule 3.2, are owned beneficially and of record as set forth in
Schedule 3.2, free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other than
restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and state securities laws) and Encumbrances.
(b) Immediately prior to the Mergers, all of the membership
interests of the AAC LLCs were held by the respective AAC Company free of any
Encumbrances, and upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby all
of the membership interests in the AAC LLCs will be held by the Company.
(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.2, (i) none of Holding,
the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs has any commitment to issue or sell any shares
of capital stock or membership interests, or any securities or obligations
convertible into or exchangeable therefor, or giving any Person any right to
acquire from Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs any shares of capital
stock or membership interests, and no such securities or obligations are
outstanding and (ii) there are no obligations or commitments of any kind for the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of any shares of capital stock of
Holding or the AAC Companies or membership interests in the AAC LLCs.
(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1 or 3.2, none of
Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs, directly or indirectly, owns any
capital stock of or other equity interest in any corporation, partnership or
other entity or other Person.
(e) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.2, there are no
shareholders agreements, voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or
understandings with respect to or concerning the purchase, sale or voting of the
ownership interests of Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs.
3.3 AUTHORITY; BINDING OBLIGATIONS. EACH OF HOLDING AND CCC HAS ALL
NECESSARY CORPORATE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THIS AGREEMENT
AND THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY AND TO CONSUMMATE THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY AND TO PERFORM ITS OBLIGATIONS
HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER. THE EXECUTION AND
18
DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY
AND THE CONSUMMATION THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY HAVE BEEN
VALIDLY AUTHORIZED BY ALL NECESSARY CORPORATE ACTION OF EACH OF HOLDING AND CCC
AND NO OTHER CORPORATE PROCEEDINGS ON THE PART OF ANY OF THEM ARE NECESSARY.
THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN, AND WHEN EXECUTED THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS WILL BE,
DULY EXECUTED AND DELIVERED BY HOLDING, CCC AND THE SHAREHOLDERS, AND, ASSUMING
THAT THE COMPANY AND INVESTORS HAVE DULY AUTHORIZED, EXECUTED AND DELIVERED THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS, THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES, AND THE
ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS, WHEN EXECUTED AND DELIVERED WILL CONSTITUTE, VALID AND
BINDING OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDING, CCC AND THE SHAREHOLDERS, ENFORCEABLE AGAINST
EACH OF THEM AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, PERMITTED ASSIGNS, HEIRS AND PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR TERMS.
3.4 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. No consent, waiver, agreement, approval or
authorization of, or declaration, filing, notice or registration to or with, any
Governmental Authority is required to be made or obtained by any of Holding or
the AAC Companies in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby other than those set forth in
Schedule 3.4, except where the failure to receive any of the foregoing would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
set forth in Schedule 3.4, there is no requirement that any party to any
Material Contract to which any Shareholder or any of Holding or the AAC
Companies is a party or by which any of them is bound, consent to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements by Holding, the AAC
Companies or any Shareholder or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.
3.5 NON-CONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and performance by
Holding, CCC and the Shareholders of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
to which they are parties do not, and the consummation by Holding, the AAC
Companies and the Shareholders of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby will not (i) violate or result in a breach of any provision of the
articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws or similar organizational
documents of Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs, (ii) except as
described in Schedule 3.5, conflict with, result in a breach of or result in a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under the terms, conditions or provisions of any Material Contract to which the
Shareholders or any of Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs is a party or
by which the Shareholders or any of Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs
is bound, or (iii) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to the Shareholders or any of Holding, the AAC Companies
or the AAC LLCs or any of their Assets.
3.6 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) To the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, none of Holding,
the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs is required to obtain any Environmental
Permits to conduct the Business as it is presently being conducted, including
those relating to (i) emissions, discharges or threatened discharges of
pollutants, contaminants, hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum into the
air, surface water, ground water or the ocean, or on or into the land and (ii)
the
19
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous or toxic
substances, or petroleum.
(b) To the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, no underground
storage tanks or underground storage receptacles for Hazardous Substances are
located on the Facilities, there have been no releases of Hazardous Substances
and no owners or operators of real property adjacent to the Facilities spilled,
released or discharged any Hazardous Substances onto such adjacent properties.
Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, no
facts, conditions or events exist which (i) interfere with, prevent, or, with
the passage of time, could interfere with or prevent continued compliance in all
material respects with any of the Environmental Permits or any Environmental
Law, (ii) may give rise to any liability (whether based in contract, tort,
implied or express warranty, criminal or civil statute or otherwise) under any
Environmental Law or (iii) obligate Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs
or, with the passage of time, could cause Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC
LLCs to be obligated to clean up, remedy, abate or otherwise restore to a former
condition, by themselves or jointly with others, any contaminated surface water,
ground water, soil or any natural resources associated therewith either on the
Facilities or at any property owned by a third party, or in any building,
structural or insulation materials located on or in the Facilities that contain
greater than 1% asbestos, and neither Holding or the AAC Companies have received
any notice of, or are otherwise aware of any facts, events or conditions which
interfere with or prevent continued compliance or give rise to any such
liability or obligation.
(c) None of Holding or the AAC Companies has released any
other Person from any claim under any Environmental Law or waived any rights
concerning any violation of Environmental Law. To the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies, none of Holding or the AAC Companies has contractually indemnified
any other person for any violation of Environmental Law related to the
Facilities or any real property formerly owned by Holding or the AAC Companies.
(d) There are no consent decrees, consent orders, judgments,
judicial or administrative orders or agreements (other than Licenses and
Permits) with or liens by, any Governmental Authority or quasi-governmental
entity relating to any Environmental Law which regulate, obligate or bind
Holding, the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs.
(e) True and correct copies of any Environmental Reports
prepared by or on behalf of Holding or the AAC Companies since January 1, 1994,
have been delivered to Investors and a list of all such Environmental Reports is
set forth in Schedule 3.6.
3.7 LICENSES AND PERMITS. Schedule 3.7 contains a complete and correct
list of all Licenses and Permits necessary for the operation by the Company and
AAC LLCs of the Contributed Assets and the Business in the same manner as
currently operated by the AAC Companies, except where the failure to hold any
such Licenses and Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. All transfers to the AAC LLCs of Licenses and Permits
which are transferable will be effective as of the Closing, and all filings and
applications for the obtaining by the AAC LLCs of such other Licenses and
Permits necessary for the operation of the Business by AAC LLCs have been made.
The Business has
20
been conducted in compliance in all material respects with all required Licenses
and Permits. Since January 1, 1999, no written notice of a violation of any such
License or Permit has been received by any of Holding or the AAC Companies or,
to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, recorded or published, and no proceeding
is pending or, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies threatened, to revoke or
limit any of them. To the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, Holding and the AAC
Companies are currently in compliance with all Licenses and Permits in all
material respects. Neither Holding nor the AAC Companies have received any
written notice to the effect that the AAC Companies are not currently in
compliance with, or are in violation of, any such Licenses and Permits in any
material respect.
3.8 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The AAC Companies have at all times been in
compliance with, (i) all applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations,
rules, policies, guidelines and orders of every federal, state, local or foreign
government and every federal, state, local or foreign court or other
Governmental Authority (collectively, "Laws") and (ii) every judgment, decision,
decree, writ, injunction or order of any court or Governmental Authority
(collectively, "Decrees"), relating to the Assets, Business or operations of the
AAC Companies, except where any such noncompliance under clauses (i) or (ii)
above would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
3.9 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(a) Investors have previously been delivered true and complete
copies of (i) the combined audited financial statements, including the notes
thereto, of Holding and its Subsidiaries and Lee Acceptance for the three years
ended December 31, 2001 (the "Audited Financial Statements"), (ii) reviewed
financial statements for CCC for the two years ended December 31, 2001 (the "CCC
Financial Statements"), and (iv) management's unaudited combined financial
statements for Holding and its Subsidiaries and Lee Acceptance and management's
unaudited financial statements for CCC for the seven month period ended July 31,
2002 (the "Interim Financial Statements"). The Audited Financial Statements and
the CCC Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of Holding and its Subsidiaries, Lee Acceptance and CCC as of
such dates and the results of operations and cash flows for such periods and
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Interim Financial Statements
present fairly the financial position of Holding and its Subsidiaries, Lee
Acceptance and CCC as of such date and the results of operations and cash flows
for the periods set forth therein and have been prepared in accordance with
GAAP, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments and
the absence of footnotes required by GAAP.
(b) Since January 1, 1999, the accounting and financial
records of Holding and the AAC Companies have been prepared and maintained in
accordance with GAAP and sound bookkeeping practices. The AAC Companies maintain
systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance that (i) material transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorizations, (ii) material transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to
assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
21
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any differences.
3.10 ABSENCE OF CHANGES. Except for the transactions contemplated by
Article II hereof or as set forth in Schedule 3.10, since December 31, 2001 (i)
the Business has been operated in the ordinary course consistent with past
practices, (ii) there has not been any Material Adverse Change with respect to
the Business and (iii) there has not been any deterioration of relations between
the AAC Companies and their vendors, suppliers or Key Personnel. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for the transactions
contemplated by Article II hereof or as set forth in Schedule 3.10, since
December 31, 2001, none of Holding or the AAC Companies has:
(i) made any distributions to its shareholders
other than distributions in the amount necessary to pay its
shareholders income taxes with respect to the profits of
Holding and the AAC Companies allocated to such shareholders
for the period between January 1, 2002 and the Closing Date,
but not in excess of $1,500,000;
(ii) sold, assigned, leased or transferred any of
the Assets that exceed $50,000 individually or $250,000 in the
aggregate in fair market value;
(iii) canceled or terminated, or amended, modified
or waived any material term of, any Material Contract;
(iv) (A) increased the compensation payable or to
become payable to any of its directors or officers, (B)
increased the base compensation payable or to become payable
to any of its Key Personnel, except for normal periodic
increases in such base compensation (not exceeding, in each
case, 5%) in the ordinary course of business, consistent with
past practice, (C) increased the sales commission rate payable
or to become payable to any of its Key Personnel who are not
directors or officers, (D) granted, made or accrued any loan,
bonus, severance, termination or continuation fee, incentive
compensation (excluding sales commissions), service award or
other like benefit, contingently or otherwise, to or for the
benefit of any of its Key Personnel, except pursuant to the
Employee Plans set forth in Schedule 3.22, (E) adopted,
amended or caused or suffered any addition to or modification
of any Employee Plan, other than (1) contributions made in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice or
(2) the extension of coverage to any of its Key Personnel who
became eligible after the date of this Agreement, (F) granted
any additional stock options or performance unit grants or
other interest under any Employee Plan, (G) entered into any
new employment or consulting agreement or caused or suffered
any written or oral termination, cancellation or amendment of
any such employment or consulting agreement to which it is a
party (except with
22
respect to any employee at will without a written agreement),
(H) entered into any collective bargaining agreement or caused
or suffered any termination or amendment of any collective
bargaining agreement to which it is a party or (I) with
respect to any Shareholder, or any Affiliate of any
Shareholder, granted, made or accrued any payment or
distribution or other like benefit, contingently or otherwise,
or otherwise transferred Assets, including any payment of
principal of or interest on any debt owed to any such
Shareholder or Affiliate, other than (1) any payments to such
person in the ordinary course of business in his capacity as
an employee of the AAC Companies, (2) any transactions between
Holding and the AAC Companies, in the ordinary course of
business and on an arms' length basis, (3) since May 31, 2002
the compensation bonuses in the amount of $500,000 paid July
3, 2002 or (4) except as described in Section 5.2;
(v) failed to make capital expenditures and debt
purchases at a pace reasonably consistent with achieving the
2002 Budgeted Collections and EBITDA through the Closing;
(vi) executed (A) any Lease for real property or
(B) any Lease for personal property which requires an annual
payments in excess of $50,000, or, with respect to clauses (A)
and (B) of this clause (vi), engaged in negotiations with any
Person which, if consummated would require disclosure pursuant
to this clause (vi);
(vii) made any payments or given any other
consideration to vendors or suppliers, other than payments
under, and in accordance with the terms of, Contracts in
effect at the time of such payment;
(viii) changed its accounting methods, principles
or practices, including any change in the application or
interpretation of GAAP;
(ix) suffered any damage, destruction or casualty
loss (whether or not covered by insurance) affecting its
physical properties that exceeded $10,000 in any one instance
or $50,000 in the aggregate;
(x) except for the distributions described in
clause (i), (A) issued or sold, or entered into any agreement
obligating it to issue or sell, (B) declared, set aside for
payment or paid any dividends or distributions or (C) directly
or indirectly redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired, or
split, combined, reclassified or otherwise adjusted, any class
or series of capital stock, or any securities convertible into
or exchangeable for capital stock;
(xi) incurred any obligations for any performance
bonds, payment bonds, bid bonds, surety bonds, letters of
credit, guarantees or
23
similar instruments (other than sheriff's bonds and similar
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice);
(xii) taken any action in anticipation of the
execution of this Agreement or for any other reason to delay
or defer expenses (including delay or postponement of capital
expenditures or the payment of accounts payable), liabilities
or obligations of any kind whatsoever or to accelerate any
income, revenue, payment or similar item, other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xiii) except for the payment of AAC Debt as
contemplated hereby, paid, discharged or satisfied any
liability other than any such payment, discharge or
satisfaction in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practice, of (A) liabilities reflected or reserved
against on the balance sheets in the Audited Financial
Statements, the Lee Acceptance Financial Statements and the
CCC Financial Statements or in the Interim Financial
Statements or incurred subsequent thereto in the ordinary
course of business, consistent with past practice, or (B)
liabilities under, and in accordance with the terms of, any
Contracts, Licenses and Permits and other commitments set
forth in the Schedules or under Contracts, Licenses and
Permits and other commitments which are not required to be
disclosed in the Schedules;
(xiv) changed or amended its certificate or
articles of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of formation or
limited liability company agreement;
(xv) (A) acquired (by merger, consolidation,
acquisition of stock, other securities or assets or
otherwise), (B) made a capital investment (whether through the
acquisition of an equity interest, the making of a loan or
advance or otherwise) in or (C) guaranteed indebtedness for
borrowed money of, (1) any Person or (2) any portion of the
assets of any Person that constitutes a division or operating
unit of such Person;
(xvi) mortgaged or pledged, or otherwise made or
suffered any Encumbrance (other than any Permitted
Encumbrance) on, any of their material Asset or group of their
Assets that are material in the aggregate;
(xvii) except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, revalued any of their Assets,
including any write-off of notes or accounts receivable
(including Charged Off Accounts) or any increase in any
reserve, involving in excess of $10,000 individually or
$50,000 in the aggregate (such amounts to be calculated
without netting any decrease);
24
(xviii) granted any license or sublicense of any
material rights to any Intellectual Property;
(xix) amended, cancelled or suffered termination
of any License or Permit that is material to any of Holding,
the AAC Companies or the AAC LLCs;
(xx) except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, canceled, waived or released
any right or claim (or series of related rights or claims)
involving in excess of $10,000 individually or $50,000 in the
aggregate;
(xxi) except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, written off as uncollectible,
or established any extraordinary reserve with respect to, any
account receivable or indebtedness involving in excess of
$10,000 individually or $50,000 in the aggregate;
(xxii) (A) commenced any Action other than with
respect to the collection of Charged Off Accounts or Consumer
Credit Accounts or (B) settled any Action resulting in
payments, or an obligation to make payments, by the AAC
Companies in excess of $10,000 individually or $100,000 in the
aggregate;
(xxiii) made any material change in the policies or
practices relating to the acquisition or collection of Charged
Off Accounts and Consumer Credit Accounts; or
(xxiv) entered into any Contract or commitment to
do any of the forgoing.
3.11 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. The AAC Companies do not have any
material liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature, whether known or
unknown, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become
due, except (i) as and to the extent set forth in the balance sheet included in
the Audited Financial Statements or the Interim Financial Statements or
specifically disclosed as such in the notes thereto, (ii) contractual or other
obligations of performance (other than obligations arising by reason of a
default in performance) not required to be recorded or disclosed in the balance
sheet in the Audited Financial Statements or in the notes thereto under GAAP
consistently applied, (iii) liabilities and obligations (other than liabilities
and obligations arising by reason of any breach of contract, breach of warranty,
tort, infringement or violation of Law) incurred in the usual and ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2001, (iv)
liabilities and obligations disclosed in the Schedules hereto, (v) liabilities
and obligations which would have been disclosed in the Schedule with respect to
the representation or warranty in another Section of this Article III, but which
were not disclosed because the specific dollar thresholds set forth in such
representation and warranty did not require disclosure and (vi) liabilities and
obligations which are not a breach of the representations and warranties in the
other Sections of this Article
25
III because of "knowledge" or "materiality" qualifications set forth therein,
but would have constituted a breach of such representations and warranties if
the "knowledge" or "materiality" qualifications were not contained therein.
3.12 LITIGATION. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, there is no
outstanding Decree by any court or Governmental Authority or any Action (other
than Actions brought by an AAC Company against a debtor to collect a Charged Off
Account or Consumer Credit Account in which the debtor has not made a
counterclaim individually in an amount not exceeding $10,000) against Holding or
an AAC Company) pending or, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, (i)
threatened against or affecting (A) Holding, the AAC Companies, the AAC LLCs,
the Business, their operations or their Assets involving amounts not covered by
insurance in excess of $50,000 or seeking non-monetary relief, (B) any director,
officer or shareholder of the AAC Companies in their capacity as such or (C) any
Employee Plan of the AAC Companies, (ii) relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby, (iii) that involve allegations of criminal liability or
(iv) in which any of the AAC Companies is a plaintiff (including any derivative
suits brought by or on behalf of the AAC Companies). The AAC Companies are not
in default with respect to any Action required to be listed in Schedule 3.12 and
there are no unsatisfied judgments or awards against the AAC Companies or the
Business or their Assets. To the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, none of the
Actions listed in Schedule 3.12, if adversely determined, would have a Material
Adverse Effect on the AAC Companies, individually or in the aggregate. There is
no Action by any of Holding or the AAC Companies currently pending or which any
of Holding or the AAC Companies intends to initiate.
3.13 REAL PROPERTY.
(a) Owned Real Property. None of Holding or any of the AAC
Companies has ever owned any Real Property.
(b) Leased Real Property.
(i) Holding does not lease any real property.
Schedule 3.13(b) sets forth all leases ("Real Property
Leases") pursuant to which Facilities are leased by the AAC
Companies (as lessee), true and correct copies of which have
been delivered to Investors. Such Real Property Leases
constitute all leases, subleases or other occupancy agreements
pursuant to which the AAC Companies occupy or use such
Facilities. The AAC Companies have a good and valid leasehold
interest in all leased property described in such Real
Property Leases (the "Leased Real Property"), free and clear
of any and all Encumbrances other than any Permitted
Encumbrances which would not permit the termination of the
lease therefor by the lessor. With respect to each such parcel
of Leased Real Property (A) to the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies, there are no pending or threatened condemnation
proceedings or Actions relating to such Leased Real Property,
(B) neither the AAC Companies nor, to the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies, any third party has entered into any sublease,
license, option, right, concession or other agreement or
26
arrangement, written or oral, granting to any Person (other
than the AAC Companies) the right to use or occupy such Leased
Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein (C)
none of Holding or the AAC Companies has received written
notice of any pending or, to the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies, threatened special assessment relating to such
Leased Real Property and (D) the AAC Companies enjoy peaceful
and undisturbed possession of the Leased Real Property.
(ii) With respect to each such Real Property
Lease listed in Schedule 3.13(b), (A) there is no material
default under any such Real Property Lease by the AAC
Companies or, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, by any
other party thereto, (B), except as set forth in Schedule 3.4,
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
not cause a material default under any such Real Property
Lease, (C) each such Real Property Lease is a valid and
binding obligation of the AAC Companies, is in full force and
effect with respect to the AAC Companies and is enforceable
against the AAC Companies in accordance with its terms, except
as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (1) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent
conveyance or similar laws in effect which affect the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally or (2) general
principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity, (D) no action has been taken by Holding or
the AAC Companies and, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies
no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or
both, would permit termination, modification or acceleration
by a party thereto other than the AAC Companies, without the
consent of the AAC Companies, under any such Real Property
Lease that is material to the AAC Companies, (E) to the
Knowledge of the AAC Companies, no party has repudiated in
writing any material term thereof or threatened in writing to
terminate, cancel or not renew any such Real Property Lease
that is material to the AAC Companies and (F), except as set
forth in Schedule 3.13(b), the AAC Companies have not
assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged or encumbered any
interest therein or in any leased property subject thereto (or
any portion thereof).
(c) Compliance, Utilities and Other Matters. With respect to
the Leased Real Property, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies,:
(i) no Facility thereon is in violation of
applicable zoning Laws;
(ii) all Facilities thereon have received all
approvals of Governmental Authorities (including Licenses and
Permits) required in connection with the AAC Companies'
current use thereof and have been
27
operated and maintained in compliance in all material respects
with applicable laws, rules and regulations; and
(iii) all Facilities thereon are supplied with
utilities and other services necessary for the present
operation of such Facilities, including gas, electricity,
water, telephone, sanitary sewer and storm sewer.
3.14 PERSONAL PROPERTY.
(a) Owned Personal Property. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.14(a), the AAC Companies own all such personal property owned by them, free
and clear of any and all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. With
respect to each such item of personal property (i) there are no leases,
subleases, licenses, options, rights, concessions or other agreements, written
or oral, granting to any party or parties the right of use of any portion of
such item of personal property, (ii) there are no outstanding options or rights
of first refusal in favor of any other party to purchase any such item of
personal property or any portion thereof or interest therein and (iii) there are
no parties (other than the AAC Companies) who are in possession of or who are
using any such item of personal property;
(b) Leased Personal Property.
(i) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.14(b), the
AAC Companies have a good and valid leasehold interest in all
of such Equipment and other tangible personal property leased
by them from third parties, free and clear of any and all
Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances which would not
permit the termination of the lease therefor by the lessor.
Schedule 3.14(b) sets forth all Leases for personal property
("Personal Property Leases") involving annual payments in
excess of $10,000, true and correct copies of which have been
delivered to Investors.
(ii) With respect to each such Personal Property
Lease listed in Schedule 3.14(b), (A) there is no material
default under any such Personal Property Lease by the AAC
Companies or, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, by any
other party thereto, (B), except as set forth in Schedule 3.4,
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
not cause a material default under any such Personal Property
Lease, (C) such Personal Property Lease is a valid and binding
obligation of the AAC Companies, is in full force and effect
with respect to the AAC Companies and is enforceable against
the AAC Companies in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by (1) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent
conveyance or similar laws in effect which affect the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally or (2) general
principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity, (D) no action has been
28
taken by the AAC Companies and, to the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of
time or both, would permit termination, modification or
acceleration by a party thereto other than the AAC Companies,
without the consent of the AAC Companies, under any such
Personal Property Lease that is material to the AAC Companies,
(E) to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, no party has
repudiated in writing any term thereof or threatened in
writing to terminate, cancel or not renew any such Personal
Property Lease that is material to the AAC Companies and (F)
except as set forth in Schedule 3.14(b), the AAC Companies
have not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged or
encumbered any interest therein or in any leased property
subject thereto (or any portion thereof).
(c) Maintenance. The Equipment has been maintained in good
repair in accordance with the usual practices in the United States of businesses
similar to the Business, are in good operating condition and repair, ordinary
wear and tear excepted, and are useable in the ordinary course of the Business
as it is presently being conducted.
3.15 CHARGED OFF ACCOUNTS; ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE; ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.
(a) The AAC Companies have good and marketable title free of
any Encumbrances (other than claims of the obligor thereunder) to all of the
Charged Off Accounts and Consumer Credit Accounts reflected in the Financial
Statements and those acquired by the AAC Companies subsequent to December 31,
2001 (and not collected prior to Closing). Such Charged Off Accounts and
Consumer Credit Accounts were acquired by the AAC Companies from third parties
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. To the
Knowledge of the AAC Companies none the representations and warranties, if any,
in the agreements pursuant to which the AAC Companies acquired such Charged Off
Accounts or Consumer Credit Accounts has been breached in any material respect.
(b) The information set forth in the Bulk Purchases Report as
of August 31, 2002, set forth in Schedule 3.15(b) is true and correct in all
material respects.
(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15(c), the accounts
receivable (other than Charged Off Accounts or Consumer Credit Accounts)
reflected in the Financial Statements and those acquired by the AAC Companies
subsequent to December 31, 2001 (and not collected prior to Closing), have or
will have arisen in the ordinary course of business and will, except as set
forth in Schedule 3.15(c) have been collected or are collectible in amounts not
less than the aggregate amount thereof (net of reserves for uncollectible
accounts) carried on the books of the Company. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.15(c), to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, there are no accounts receivable
related to any of the AAC Companies with a value in excess of $25,000 that is
being contested or disputed by the obligor thereon. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.15(c), the accounts receivable are not subject to any Encumbrance.
(d) The accounts payable reflected in the Financial Statements
and those arising after December 31, 2001, (i) have or will have arisen in the
ordinary course of business, (ii) are
29
the only accounts payable of the AAC Company, (iii) are not being disputed and
(iv) will have been paid or will be paid in accordance with their terms, except
for any accounts payable in dispute. There are no disputes with respect to the
accounts payable reflected in the Financial Statements and those arising after
December 31, 2001, involving in excess of $10,000 individually or $50,000 in the
aggregate.
3.16 SUFFICIENCY OF ASSETS; NO CONFLICTING OPERATIONS. Except for the
rights of Holding set forth in items 2-4 on Schedule 3.1(e), the sole Assets of
Holding are the shares of capital stock held by it in the Q-Subs and the
subscription receivable from Mark A. Redman. The Contributed Assets constitute
all of the properties and assets used or held for use in connection with,
necessary for, or material or otherwise relating to the Business. The Assets
used in the Business that are owned by any Person other than the AAC Companies
are leased or licensed to the AAC Companies under valid, current leases or
license arrangements that will, subject to obtaining the consents required to be
obtained as set forth in Schedule 3.4, remain in full force and effect following
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Contributed Assets and
the leased Assets are in all material respects suitable and adequate for the
purposes for which such Assets are currently used. There are no facts or
conditions affecting the Contributed Assets or the leased Assets that,
individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to interfere in any
material respect with the use, occupancy or operation thereof as currently used,
occupied or operated, or their adequacy for such use, occupancy or operation.
Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16, no Shareholder or any Affiliate of any of
them, holds any interest in any Person (other than Holding, the AAC Companies
and Lee Acceptance) that is engaged, or proposes to engage, in a business
activity that is of the nature of the activities that comprise all or part of
the Business, whether or not directly competing with the Business.
3.17 BOOKS AND RECORDS. Holding and the AAC Companies have made and
kept Books and Records and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly reflect the activities of Holding and the AAC Companies in all material
respects.
3.18 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; COMPUTER SOFTWARE.
(a) Schedule 3.18 sets forth a complete and correct list of
all trade names, trademarks, service marks, domain names, patents, patent rights
and registered copyrights used, necessary or held by the AAC Companies in
connection with the Business. The AAC Companies have delivered to Investors
true, correct and complete copies of each registration, application or other
material document relating to the Intellectual Property set forth in Schedule
3.18. The AAC Companies own, or possess adequate and enforceable licenses or
other rights to use, all Intellectual Property used in the Business as it is
currently conducted, and such ownership and licenses will not cease to be valid
and in full force and effect in any material respect by reason of the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. There is no Action pending or, to the
Knowledge of the AAC Companies, threatened, against the AAC Companies asserting
that the AAC Companies' use of any Intellectual Property infringes the rights of
any third party or otherwise contesting their rights with respect to any
Intellectual Property and no third party has given written notice to the AAC
Companies that such third party is claiming ownership of or right to use any
Intellectual Property, and, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies no third
30
party is infringing upon the rights of the AAC Companies in the Intellectual
Property in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the AAC
Companies.
(b) The AAC Companies own, or possess adequate and enforceable
licenses or other rights to use, the computer software for their systems and
such ownership and licenses will not cease to be valid and in full force and
effect in any material respect by reason of the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
3.19 MATERIAL CONTRACTS.
(a) Schedule 3.19 sets forth a complete and accurate list of
all Contracts in the following categories (each, a "Material Contract") as of
the date hereof (except to the extent that any such category specifies a
different date, in which case such corresponding list is made as of such
specified date):
(i) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts) concerning a partnership or joint venture with, or
any other investment in (whether through the acquisition of an
equity interest, the making of a loan or advance or
otherwise), any other Person;
(ii) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts) (A) under which the AAC Companies have created,
incurred, assumed or guaranteed (or agreed to create, incur,
assume or guarantee) indebtedness for borrowed money, (B)
constituting a Capital Lease, (C) under which the AAC
Companies have granted (or agreed to grant) a security
interest or lien on any of their Assets or (D) under which the
AAC Companies have incurred any obligations for any
performance bonds, payment bonds, bid bonds, surety bonds,
letters of credit, guarantees or similar instruments, other
than sheriff's bonds and similar obligations entered into in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(iii) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts) concerning confidentiality;
(iv) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts) with any Key Personnel, any Affiliate of the AAC
Companies or, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, any
member of any such person's immediate family, including (A)
Contracts to employ or terminate such officers or sales
representatives and other Contracts with present or former
shareholders, directors or officers or other Key Personnel of
the AAC Companies or (B) Contracts that will result in the
payment by, or the creation of any commitment or obligation
(absolute or contingent) of the AAC Companies to pay, any
severance, termination, "golden parachute" or other similar
payments to any present or former Key Personnel following
termination of
31
employment or otherwise as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby;
(v) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts), including open purchase orders or groups of
related open purchase orders, for the purchase of Charged Off
Accounts;
(vi) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts) providing for payments in excess of $25,000
annually, except for such Contracts that are cancelable on not
more than 30 days' notice by the AAC Companies without
substantial penalty or substantial increased cost;
(vii) each distribution, franchise, license,
commission, consulting, agency or advertising Contract related
to the Assets of the AAC Companies or the Business which
requires annual payments in excess of $25,000, except for such
Contracts that are cancelable on not more than 30 days' notice
by the AAC Companies without substantial penalty or
substantial increased cost;
(viii) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts) containing covenants restraining or limiting the
freedom of Holding or the AAC Companies or any officer,
director, shareholder or Affiliate thereof to engage in any
line of business or compete with any Person including by
restraining or limiting the right to solicit customers;
(ix) each option with respect to any real
property or any personal property, whether the AAC Companies
are the grantor or grantee thereunder;
(x) each Contract (or group of related
Contracts) with the United States, state or local government
or any agency or department thereof; and
(xi) each other Contract (or group of related
Contracts) not entered into in the ordinary course of
business, consistent with past practice.
The AAC Companies have delivered to Investors a true and correct copy of each
written Contract listed in Schedule 3.19 (other than those contemplated by
clause (v) above which, except as set forth in Schedule 3.19, have been made
available to Investors) and have included as part of Schedule 3.19 a brief
summary of the material terms of each material oral Contract.
(b) With respect to each Material Contract set forth or
described in Schedule 3.19, (i) there is no material default under any such
Material Contract by the AAC Companies or, to the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies, by any other party to any such Contract, (ii) such Contract is a
valid and binding obligation of the AAC Companies, is in full force and effect
with
32
respect to the AAC Companies and is enforceable against the AAC Companies in
accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited
by (A) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent
conveyance or similar laws in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally or (B) general principles of equity, whether considered in a
proceeding at law or in equity; (iii) no action has been taken by the AAC
Companies and, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, no event has occurred
which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would permit termination,
modification or acceleration by a party thereto other than the AAC Companies
under any such Contract; and (iv) to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, no
party has repudiated any term thereof or threatened to terminate, cancel or not
renew any such Contract.
3.20 INSURANCE. Schedule 3.20 contains a complete and accurate list of
all policies or binders for business interruption, fire, liability, title,
worker's compensation, product liability, errors and omissions and other forms
of insurance (showing as to each policy or binder the carrier, policy number,
coverage limits, expiration date, annual premium and a general description of
the coverage provided) maintained by the AAC Companies. Such insurance provides,
and during its term has provided, coverage (i) reasonably adequate for the
Assets, Business and operations of the AAC Companies, and the risks insured
against in connection therewith consistent with similarly situated businesses
and (ii) as may be or may have been required by law and by any and all Material
Contracts to which the AAC Companies are or have been a party. None of the AAC
Companies are in material default under any of such policies or binders, and
they have not failed to give any notice or to present any material claim under
any such policy or binder in a due and timely fashion. Since January 1, 1999, no
insurer has refused, denied or disputed coverage of any material claim made
thereunder. No insurer has advised the AAC Companies that it intends to reduce
coverage or increase any premium in any material respect or fail to renew any
existing policy or binder. All such policies and binders are in full force and
effect on the date hereof. Schedule 3.20 describes any self-insurance
arrangements affecting the AAC Companies.
3.21 LABOR MATTERS.
(a) Schedule 3.21(a) includes a complete list and description
of all employment contracts and all material written personnel policies,
employment practices, supervisors' manuals, commission, and any other
arrangements applicable to any employee or former employee or any beneficiary or
dependent thereof, whether or not written, whether or not deemed terminable at
will or legally enforceable, and whether covering one or more Persons, entered
into, issued, adopted, or followed by the AAC Companies, other than an
arrangement listed in Schedule 3.22 as an Employee Plan. For purposes of this
Section 3.21, the terms "employee" or "employees" shall be considered to include
individuals rendering personal services to the AAC Companies as independent
contractors.
(b) Schedule 3.21(b) identifies and describes all material
grievances or complaints, written or oral, filed or submitted since January 1,
1999, by any employee or applicant for employment against the AAC Companies or
their employees whether pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement, a formal
or informal grievance procedure afforded employees, or otherwise, including
without limitation, any claims of sexual, racial or other harassment,
33
discriminatory treatment, breach of collective bargaining agreement, breach of
contract, or violation of policy.
(c) Schedule 3.21(c) identifies and describes all unfair labor
practice charges, union organizing efforts, union certifications, bargaining
unit definitions, demands for recognition or collective bargaining, strikes or
work stoppages, union election results, National Labor Relations Board
proceedings or related court cases relating to or affecting any employees of the
AAC Companies since January 1, 1999.
(d) Schedule 3.21(d) identifies and describes all affirmative
action plans, audits, results, conciliation agreements, Office of Federal
Contract Compliance charges or proceedings, Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission employment charges or proceedings, state or local unfair employment
practice charges or proceedings, or any written or unwritten claims or suspected
claims of discrimination, unequal pay, or retaliation relating to any current or
former employee or applicant for employment of the AAC Companies since January
1, 1999.
(e) Schedule 3.21(e) identifies and describes all state or
federal wage and hour, wage payment, or other wage related investigations,
claims, or proceedings, any other local, state or federal investigations,
claims, or proceedings related to any current or former practice, current or
former employee, or applicant for employment of the AAC Companies since January
1, 1999.
(f) Schedule 3.21(f) identifies and describes all Actions not
otherwise expressly identified and described in other schedules under this
Section 3.21 which relate to current or former employment practices, current or
former employees, or applicants for employment of the AAC Companies, including
claims relating to the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), immigration law
compliance, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ("WARN"),
wrongful discharge, tortious interference, intentional infliction of emotional
distress, or any other claim raised by or on behalf of a current or former
employee or applicant for employment since January 1, 1999.
(g) Schedule 3.21(g) identifies and describes all Occupational
Safety and Health Act ("OSHA") or state occupational safety and health
citations, charges, lawsuits, inspections, investigations, claims, and
proceedings, all current, former, or suspected claims for unsafe or unhealthy
working conditions, including claims for exposure to asbestos, carcinogenic
substances, or other workplace risks since January 1, 1999.
(h) All policies and practices of the AAC Companies are in all
material respects in compliance with, and have been administered in compliance
with, all applicable requirements of Law, including but not limited to federal,
state, or local Laws relating to employment, including Laws relating to wrongful
discharge, breach of express or implied contract, fraud, misrepresentation,
defamation, or liability in tort, duties to prevent, disclose, warn or remedy
unhealthy or unsafe workplace conditions, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities
Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, WARN or OSHA, workers
compensation statutes, and other federal, state or local regulations, rules,
statutes, or ordinances relating to employees or employment.
34
(i) Schedule 3.21(i) sets forth a true and complete list of
all employees to whom the AAC Companies are paying compensation, disability,
workman's compensation and/or pension benefits, and sets forth the current
annual rate of compensation for each such employee together with bonuses and
incentives.
3.22 EMPLOYEE PLANS.
(a) Schedule 3.22 contains a complete list of Employee Plans.
True and complete copies of each of the following documents have been delivered
to Investors: (i) each Employee Plan (and, if applicable, related trust
agreements) and all amendments thereto, all summary plan descriptions, summaries
of material modifications (as defined in ERISA), annuity contracts or other
funding instruments, the number of and a general description of the level of
employees covered by each Benefit Arrangement and a complete description of any
Employee Plan which is not in writing, (ii) the most recent determination letter
issued by the Internal Revenue Service and any opinion letter issued by the
Department of Labor with respect to each Pension Plan and each voluntary
employees' beneficiary association as defined under Section 501(c)(9) of the
Internal Revenue Code which covers or has covered employees of Holding or the
AAC Companies, (iii) for the three most recent plan years, Annual Reports on
Form 5500 Series required to be filed with any governmental agency for each
Pension Plan or Welfare Plan which covers or has covered employees of Holding or
the AAC Companies and (iv) a description setting forth the amount of any
liability of Holding or the AAC Companies as of the Closing Date for payments
more than thirty (30) calendar days past due with respect to each Welfare Plan
which covers or has covered employees or former employees of Holding or the AAC
Companies.
(b)
(i) Pension Plans.
(A) No Employee Plan is a Pension Plan
subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or
Section 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(B) Each Pension Plan and each related trust
agreement, annuity contract or other funding
instrument which covers or has covered employees or
former employees of Holding or the AAC Companies
which has been operated as a plan qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (1) has
received a favorable determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service relating to such Pension
Plan stating that such Pension Plan and each related
trust is qualified and tax-exempt under the
provisions of Internal Revenue Code Sections 401(a)
and 501(a) and (2) has been so qualified during the
period from its adoption to the date of such
determination letter. To the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies, no event or condition exists or has
occurred that could adversely affect such qualified
and tax-exempt status.
35
(C) Each Pension Plan and each related trust
agreement, annuity contract or other funding
instrument which covers or has covered employees or
former employees of Holding or the AAC Companies
currently complies in all material respects and has
been maintained in compliance in all material
respects with its terms and, both as to form and in
operation, with the requirements prescribed by any
and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations which
are applicable to such plans, including ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code.
(ii) Multiemployer Plans. None of the Employee
Plans is a Multiemployer Plan, none of Holding or the AAC
Companies or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability with
respect to a Multiemployer Plan, and no liability will arise
or be imposed on Holding or the AAC Companies or any ERISA
Affiliate under, or with respect to, any Multiemployer Plan.
(iii) Welfare Plans.
(A) Each Welfare Plan which covers or has
covered, employees or former employees of Holding or
the AAC Companies currently complies in all material
respects and has been maintained in compliance in all
material respects with its terms and, both as to form
and operation, with the requirements prescribed by
any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations
which are applicable to such Welfare Plan, including
ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.
(B) Except as required by Section 4980B of
the Internal Revenue Code or Part 6 of Title 1,
Subtitle B of ERISA, or as set forth in Schedule
3.22, none of Holding or the AAC Companies, any ERISA
Affiliate or any Welfare Plan has any present or
future obligation to make any payment to, or with
respect to any present or former employee of Holding
or the AAC Companies or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant
to, any retiree medical benefit plan, or other
retiree Welfare Plan, and, to the Knowledge of the
AAC Companies, no condition exists which would
prevent the AAC Companies or an ERISA Affiliate from
amending or terminating any such benefit plan or such
Welfare Plan.
(C) Each Welfare Plan which covers or has
covered employees or former employees of Holding or
the AAC Companies and which is a "group health plan,"
as defined in Section 607(1) of ERISA, presently
complies in all material respects with and has been
operated in compliance in all material respects with
provisions of Part 6 of Title I, Subtitle B of ERISA
36
and Sections 162(k) and 4980B of the Internal Revenue
Code at all times.
(D) None of Holding or the AAC Companies or
any ERISA Affiliate has maintained, contributed to or
had any obligation to maintain or contribute to any
Welfare Plan that is a Multiemployer Plan.
(E) Each Welfare Plan presently complies in
all material respects with and has been operated in
compliance in all material respects with the group
health plan requirements of Section 701 et seq. of
ERISA, Section 4980D of the Internal Revenue Code,
and Section 9801 et seq. of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(iv) Benefit Arrangements. Each Benefit
Arrangement presently complies and has been maintained in
compliance in all material respects with its terms and with
the requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, orders,
rules and regulations which are applicable to such Benefit
Arrangement, including the Internal Revenue Code. Except as
provided by Law, or in any employment agreement set forth in
Schedule 3.22(b)(iv), the employment of all persons presently
employed or retained by Holding or the AAC Companies is
terminable at will.
(v) Unrelated Business Taxable Income. No
Employee Plan (or trust or other funding vehicle pursuant
thereto) has incurred any liability under Section 511 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
(vi) Deductibility of Payments. There is no
contract, agreement, plan or arrangement covering any employee
or former employee of Holding or the AAC Companies that,
individually or collectively, requires the payment by Holding
or the AAC Companies of any amount (i) that is not deductible
under Section 162(a)(1) or 404 of the Internal Revenue Code or
(ii) that is, or which as a result of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby could be, an "excess
parachute payment" pursuant to Section 280G of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(vii) Fiduciary Duties and Prohibited
Transactions. None of Holding or the AAC Companies or any plan
fiduciary of any Welfare Plan or Pension Plan which covers has
covered, employees or former employees of Holding or the AAC
Companies has engaged in, or has any liability in respect of,
any transaction in violation of Sections 404 or 406 of ERISA
or any "prohibited transaction," as defined in Section
4975(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, for which no
exemption exists under Section 408 of ERISA or Section
4975(c)(2) or (d) of the Internal Revenue Code, or has
otherwise violated the provisions of Part 4 of Title I,
37
Subtitle B of ERISA so as to create any liability of Holding
or the AAC Companies or any Employee Plan. None of Holding or
the AAC Companies has participated in a violation of Part 4 of
Title I, Subtitle B of ERISA by any plan fiduciary of any
Welfare Plan or Pension Plan, and none of them has been
assessed any civil penalty under Section 502(l) of ERISA.
(viii) Litigation. There is no Action or Decree
outstanding or, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, any
governmental audit or investigation, relating to or seeking
benefits under any Employee Plan (including any Action, order,
writ, injunction, judgment or decree relating to any fiduciary
of such plans with respect to their duties to the plans) that
is pending or, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies,
threatened against Holding or the AAC Companies, any fiduciary
of any Employee Plan, any ERISA Affiliate or any Employee
Plan.
(ix) No Amendments. Except as described in
Schedule 3.22(b)(ix), none of Holding or the AAC Companies or
any ERISA Affiliate has announced to employees, former
employees or directors an intention to create, or otherwise
created, a legally binding commitment to adopt any additional
Employee Plan which is intended to cover employees or former
employees of Holding or the AAC Companies or to amend or
modify any existing Employee Plan which covers or has covered
employees or former employees of Holding or the AAC Companies.
(x) Insurance Contracts. None of Holding or the
AAC Companies or any Employee Plan holds as an asset of any
Employee Plan any interest in any annuity contract, guaranteed
investment contract or any other investment or insurance
contract issued by an insurance company that is the subject of
bankruptcy, conservatorship or rehabilitation proceedings.
(xi) No Acceleration or Creation of Rights.
Except as set forth in Schedule 3.22(b)(xi), neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Holding and the
AAC Companies nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will result in the acceleration or
creation of any rights of any person to benefits under any
Employee Plan (including the acceleration of the vesting or
exercisability of any stock options, the acceleration of the
vesting of any restricted stock, the acceleration of the
accrual or vesting of any benefits under any Pension Plan or
the acceleration or creation of any rights under any
severance, parachute or change in control agreement).
(xii) Severance Agreements. No Shareholder is a
party to any severance or similar arrangement in respect of
any of the Key Personnel that will result in any obligation
(absolute or contingent) of Holding or the
38
AAC Companies or the Company after the Closing to make any
payment to any of such Personnel following the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or termination
of employment, whether before or after the Closing.
(c) There does not now exist, nor, to the Knowledge of the AAC
Companies, do any circumstances exist that could result in, any Controlled Group
Liability that would be a liability of the Company following the Closing Date.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, none of Holding or the AAC
Companies, nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has engaged in any transaction
described in Section 4069 or Section 4204 of ERISA.
3.23 TAX MATTERS.
(a) Filing of Tax Returns. Holding and the AAC Companies have
timely filed with the appropriate taxing authorities all Tax Returns (including
information returns and other material information) in respect of Taxes required
to be filed through the date hereof and will timely file any such Tax Return
required to be filed on or prior to the Closing Date. All such Tax Returns are
complete and accurate in all material respects. None of Holding or the AAC
Companies currently has outstanding any request for any extension of time within
which to file Tax Returns in respect of any Taxes. The AAC Companies have
delivered to Investors complete and accurate copies of the federal, state and
local income Tax Returns (and examination reports and statements of deficiency)
for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001. No claim has ever been made by a Taxing
Authority in a jurisdiction where Holding or an AAC Company does not file Tax
Returns that the nonfiling entity is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(b) S-Corporation. Each of Holding and CCC is and has at all
times been an "S corporation" (within the meaning of Section 1361(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code) for each taxable year (or portion thereof) since the date
of its incorporation, and no action has been or will be taken to terminate and
no condition exists which could result in the termination of such election prior
to the Closing. Each of the Q-Subs is and at all times has been a "qualified
subchapter S subsidiary" (within the meaning of Section 1361(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code) of Holding for each taxable year (or portion thereof) since the
date it became a subsidiary of Holding, and no action has been or will be taken
to terminate, and no condition exists which could result in termination of, such
status prior to the Closing.
(c) Payment of Taxes. All Taxes for which Holding or the AAC
Companies are or may be liable in respect of periods (or portions thereof)
ending on or before the Closing Date, have been either (i) timely paid, (ii)
reserved adequately in accordance with GAAP in the Interim Financial Statements,
or (iii), with respect to Taxes accruing after the date of the Interim Financial
Statements, adequately provided for in the books and records of Holding and the
AAC Companies.
(d) Audits, Investigations or Claims. No substantial
deficiencies for Taxes have been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing by any
Taxing Authority against any of Holding or the AAC Companies which have not been
paid or reserved in the Financial Statements. There are no pending or, to the
Knowledge of the AAC Companies, threatened audits, investigations or
39
claims for or relating to any liability in respect of Taxes that in the
reasonable judgment of the AAC Companies are likely to result in an additional
amount of Taxes, and there are no matters under discussion with any Taxing
Authority with respect to Taxes that in the reasonable judgment of the AAC
Companies is likely to result in an additional liability for Taxes to Holding or
the AAC Companies. Audits of federal, state, and local returns for income Taxes
by the relevant taxing or other governmental authorities have been completed for
the periods set forth in Schedule 3.23. No income Tax Return is currently the
subject of audit and none of Holding or the AAC Companies has been notified in
writing that any Taxing Authority intends to audit a Return for Taxes for any
other period. No extension of a statute of limitations relating to Taxes is in
effect with respect to Holding or the AAC Companies. No power of attorney has
been executed by Holding or the AAC Companies with respect to any matters
relating to Taxes which is currently in force.
(e) Encumbrances. There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other
than current taxes not yet due and payable) on the Assets of Holding or the AAC
Companies.
(f) Safe Harbor Lease Property. None of the Assets of Holding
or the AAC Companies is property that (i) is required to be treated as being
owned by any other person pursuant to the so-called safe harbor lease provisions
of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) directly or
indirectly secures any debt the interest on which is tax-exempt under Section
103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or (iii) is "tax-exempt use property" within
the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(g) Tax Election. All material elections with respect to Taxes
affecting Holding or the AAC Companies as of the date hereof are set forth in
Schedule 3.23. None of Holding or the AAC Companies has consented at any time to
have the provisions of Section 341(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or
similar provisions under state or local law) apply to any disposition of the
Assets. None of Holding or the AAC Companies has agreed to make, or is required
to make, any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (or
similar provisions under state or local law) by reason of a change in accounting
method or otherwise.
(h) Withholding. Holding and the AAC Companies have paid over
all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid to any Governmental Authority
in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent
contractor, creditor, shareholder or other third party.
(i) Combined Returns. Except for Holding, CCC, Lee Acceptance
and the AAC Companies, none of Holding or the AAC Companies has been included in
any consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return provided for under the laws of
the United States, any state or locality with respect to Taxes for any taxable
period for which the statute of limitations has not expired. None of Holding or
the AAC Companies has any liability for the Taxes of any Person under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign
law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(j) Tax Sharing Agreements. There are no tax sharing
agreements or similar arrangements (whether written or unwritten) with respect
to or involving any of Holding or the
40
AAC Companies pursuant to which any of Holding or the AAC Companies may be
liable for Taxes of another Person.
(k) Section 280G. None of Holding or the AAC Companies has
made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or is a party to any
agreement that could obligate it to make any payments that will not be
deductible under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.
(l) Section 6662. Each of Holding and the AAC Companies has
disclosed on its federal income Tax Return all positions taken therein that
could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax within the
meaning of Section 6662 of the Internal Revenue Code.
3.24 TRANSACTIONS WITH CERTAIN PERSONS. Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.24, (i) no officer, director or shareholder of Holding or the AAC Companies,
or any member of any such Person's immediate family is currently, or since
January 1, 1999 has been, a party to any transaction or arrangement with Holding
or the AAC Companies and (ii) no employee or any member of any such Person's
immediate family, is currently, or since January 1, 1999 has been, a party to
any material transaction or arrangement with Holding or the AAC Companies,
including any Contract or Lease (A) providing for the furnishing of services by,
(B) providing for the rental of real or personal property from, or (C) otherwise
requiring payments to (other than (1) dividends or distributions to any
shareholder of Holding in his or her capacity as such or (2) compensation for
services as officers, directors or employees of Holding or the AAC Companies),
any such Person or any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which
any such Person has an interest as an officer, director, trustee or partner, or
as the holder of more than 10% of such entity's equity securities. The only
Contracts, Leases, transactions, arrangements or other items listed in Schedule
3.24 with respect to which the Company will have any ongoing obligations or
duties are those items which are explicitly identified in Schedule 3.24 as
having such ongoing obligations or duties.
3.25 SUPPLIERS OF CHARGED OFF ACCOUNTS. Schedule 3.25 sets forth for
each of the fiscal years 1999, 2000 and 2001, and the current fiscal year the
name and address of each of the ten largest suppliers of Charged Off Accounts to
the AAC Companies based on the aggregate value of receivables purchased by the
AAC Companies during each such period, and the amount the AAC Companies paid
such suppliers during each such period.
3.26 BANKING RELATIONSHIPS. Schedule 3.26 sets forth a complete and
accurate list of all accounts, including checking accounts, cash contribution
accounts, safe deposit boxes, borrowing arrangements and certificates of deposit
that Holding or the AAC Companies have with any banks, savings and loan
associations or other financial institutions, indicating in each case account
numbers, if applicable, and the person or persons authorized to act or sign on
behalf of Holding or the AAC Companies in respect of any of the foregoing. No
other Person holds any power of attorney or similar authority from the AAC
Companies with respect to any such accounts.
41
3.27 NO OTHER AGREEMENTS TO SELL THE ASSETS OR EQUITY INTERESTS IN
HOLDING OR THE AAC COMPANIES. Other than this Agreement, none of the
Shareholders, Holding or the AAC Companies has any legal obligation, absolute or
contingent, to any other Person to (i) sell or effect a sale of all or
substantially all of the Assets of the AAC Companies, (ii) sell or effect a sale
of all or substantially all of the capital stock of Holding or the AAC
Companies, (iii) effect any merger, consolidation or other reorganization of
Holding or the AAC Companies or (iv) enter into any Contract or cause the
entering into a Contract with respect to any of the foregoing.
3.28 PROHIBITED PAYMENTS. None of Holding or the AAC Companies has,
directly or indirectly, (i) made or agreed to make any contribution, payment or
gift to any government official, employee or agent where either the
contribution, payment or gift or the purpose thereof was illegal under the Laws
of any federal, state, local or foreign jurisdiction, (ii) knowingly established
or maintained any unrecorded fund or asset for any purpose or made any false
entries on the Books and Records for any reason, (iii) made or agreed to make
any contribution, or reimbursed any political gift or contribution made by any
other Person, to any candidate for federal, state, local or foreign public
office which was illegal under the Laws of any federal, state, local or foreign
jurisdiction, or (iv) paid or delivered any fee, commission or any other sum of
money or item of property, however characterized, to any finder, agent,
government official or other party, in the United States or any other country,
which in any manner relates to the Assets of Holding or the AAC Companies,
Business or operations of Holding and the AAC Companies, which the AAC Companies
know or have reason to believe to have been illegal under any federal, state or
local Laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of the United States or any
other country having jurisdiction.
3.29 BROKERS. Other than The Geneva Companies, no broker, finder or
investment banker is entitled to any fee or commission for services rendered on
behalf of Holding or the AAC Companies or the Shareholders in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this agreement. The AAC Companies have
delivered to Investors a true and complete copy of the agreement with The Geneva
Companies.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF INVESTORS
As an inducement to Holding, CCC and the Shareholders to enter into
this Agreement, Investors hereby makes, as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing Date, the following representations and warranties to Holding, CCC and
the Shareholders:
4.1 ORGANIZATION; QUALIFICATION. Investors is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia and has all power and authority to own all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is presently being
conducted.
4.2 AUTHORITY; BINDING OBLIGATIONS. Investors has all necessary
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements to which it is a
42
party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to
perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by
Investors of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party
and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly authorized by the board of directors of Investors and no other proceedings
on the part of Investors are necessary with respect thereto. This Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party have been duly executed and
delivered by Investors and, assuming that Holding, the AAC Companies and the
Shareholders have duly authorized, executed and delivered this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements, this Agreement constitutes, and the Ancillary Agreements
will constitute, valid and binding obligations of Investors, enforceable against
Investors in accordance with its terms.
4.3 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. No consent, waiver, agreement, approval or
authorization of, or declaration, filing, notice or registration to or with, any
Governmental Authority is required to be made or obtained by Investors in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. There is no requirement that any party to any material
Contract to which Investors is a party or by which it is bound, consent to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements by
Investors or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, except for such consents the failure of which to obtain, individually
or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Investors.
4.4 NON-CONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and performance by
Investors of this Agreement does not, and the consummation by Investors of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) violate or result in a breach of
any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws of Investors, (ii)
result in a breach of or result in a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration) under the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, agreement, lease or
other instrument or obligation to which Investors is a party or by which
Investors is bound, or (iii) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to Investors excluding from the foregoing
clauses (ii) and (iii) such requirements, defaults, breaches, rights or
violations that become applicable as a result of (1) the business or activities
in which Holding and the AAC Companies or any of their Affiliates is engaged, or
(2) any acts or omissions by, or facts pertaining to, Holding and the AAC
Companies or any of their Affiliates.
4.5 LITIGATION. There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of
Investors, threatened (i) against Investors or any of its Affiliates with
respect to which there is a reasonable likelihood of a determination which would
have a material adverse effect on the ability of Investors to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) which seeks to enjoin or prevent, or
questions the validity or legality of, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
4.6 BROKERS. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any
fee or commission from Investors for services rendered on behalf of Investors in
connection with transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
43
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
5.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. From the date hereof and until the Closing,
the Shareholders will cause the AAC Companies (i) to conduct the Business only
in the ordinary and usual course and in a manner consistent with past practices,
(ii) maintain in good repair, at their expense, all of its material structures
and Equipment consistent with past practices, (iii) make capital expenditures
and Charged Off Accounts purchases at a pace reasonably consistent with
achieving the 2002 Budgeted Collections and EBITDA through the Closing Date,
(iv) pay accounts payable and other obligations in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (v) use commercially reasonable efforts
to preserve intact the present business organization and operations of the
Business, keep available the services of its officers, employees,
representatives, agents and consultants, and (vi) keep in full force and effect
its insurance policies. The Shareholders shall cause Holding's and the AAC
Companies' management to meet with Investors and its representatives on a
regular and reasonably frequent basis to discuss the general status of the
ongoing operations of the Business and any issues relating to the conduct
thereof. The AAC Companies shall give prompt notice to Investors of (i) any
emergency or material change in the normal conduct of its business or
operations, (ii) the threat or initiation of any material Action against the AAC
Companies, (iii) the initiation of any material investigation of Holding or the
AAC Companies' business by any Person, whether private or governmental, (iv) the
failure of Holding, the AAC Company or the Shareholders to comply with or
satisfy any covenant, agreement or condition to be complied with or satisfied by
them hereunder, and (v) any budget revisions approved by the management of
Holding and the AAC Companies, and will keep Investors fully informed of
developments with respect to such events and afford Investors' representatives
reasonable access to all materials in their possession reasonably relating
thereto, as more fully described in Section 5.4.
5.2 FORBEARANCES. Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as set
forth in Schedule 5.2, the Shareholders shall cause Holding and the AAC
Companies not, from the date hereof until the earlier of (i) the Closing or (ii)
termination under Article XI, without the written consent of Investors, (A) to
take or fail to take any action or enter into any transaction of the kind which
if taken or failed to be taken after December 31, 2001, would have required
disclosure in Schedule 3.10, (B) to make distributions to its respective
shareholders after May 31, 2002, except (1) bonuses paid July 3, 2002 in the
aggregate amount of $500,000 and (2) distributions in the amount necessary for
such shareholders to pay the income Taxes on the profits of Holding and the AAC
Companies allocated to them for the period from January 1, 2002 through the
Closing Date; including, solely for purposes of this clause (2) amounts
necessary for Holding and the AAC Companies to pay the Michigan Single Business
Tax (net of tax benefits arising from the deduction of such amounts on federal,
state and local income tax returns) arising from the acquisition of the
Purchased Shares from Holding; provided that the distributions made pursuant to
this clause (2) shall not exceed $1,500,000 in the aggregate, or (C) to engage
in any practice, or take, or fail or omit to take, any action or enter into any
transaction, other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practices, that would reasonably be expected to (1) impair or prevent
Holding, the AAC Companies or the Shareholders from consummating the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (2) cause or result in any of the
44
representations and warranties set forth in Article III to be untrue in any
material respect at any time after the date hereof through the Closing Date.
5.3 NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHERS; NOTIFICATION.
(a) No Solicitation. From the date hereof until the earlier of
(i) the Closing or (ii) termination of this Agreement under Article XI, the
Shareholders shall not, and shall cause Holding and the AAC Companies, and shall
instruct each of their respective representatives (including investment bankers,
attorneys and accountants), not to, directly or indirectly, enter into, solicit,
initiate, conduct or continue any discussions or negotiations with, or encourage
or respond favorably to any inquiries or proposals by, or provide any
information to, or otherwise cooperate in any other way with, any Person or
group, other than Investors and its representatives, concerning any sale of all
or any substantial portion of the Assets or the Business of, or of any shares of
capital stock or other securities of, Holding or the AAC Companies, or any
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar
transaction involving Holding or the AAC Companies (each such transaction being
referred to herein as a "Proposed Acquisition Transaction"). The Shareholders
hereby represent that neither they nor Holding or the AAC Companies is presently
engaged in discussions or negotiations with any party other than Investors with
respect to any Proposed Acquisition Transaction. Holding, the AAC Companies and
the Shareholders agree not to release any third party from, or waive any
provision of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which any of them
is a party.
(b) Notification. Holding, the AAC Companies and the
Shareholders shall (i) within 24 hours notify Investors (orally and in writing)
if any offer is made, any discussions or negotiations are sought to be
initiated, any inquiry, proposal or contact is made or any information is
requested with respect to any Proposed Acquisition Transaction, (ii) promptly
notify Investors of the terms of any proposal which they may receive in respect
of any such Proposed Acquisition Transaction, including the identity of the
prospective purchaser or soliciting party, (iii) promptly provide Investors with
a copy of any such offer, if written, or a written summary (in reasonable
detail) of such offer, if not in writing, and (iv) keep Investors informed of
the status of such offer and the offeror's efforts and activities with respect
thereto.
5.4 INVESTIGATION OF BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES. From the date hereof
until the earlier of (i) the Closing and (ii) termination under Article XI, the
Shareholders shall cause Holding and the AAC Companies to afford Investors, any
financial institution providing financing to the Company, and their respective
attorneys, accountants, financial advisors and other representatives, reasonable
access during regular business hours upon reasonable notice, to make such
reasonable inspection of the Assets, business and operations of Holding and the
AAC Companies and to inspect and make copies of Contracts, Books and Records and
all other documents and information reasonably requested by Investors and
related to the operations and business of Holding and the AAC Companies,
including historical financial information concerning the business of Holding
and the AAC Companies to meet with designated Key Personnel of Holding and the
AAC Companies and/or their representatives; provided that any such access shall
be conducted in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the
operation of the Business; provided further, that no disclosure to Investors,
its counsel, accountants or other representatives after the date hereof shall be
deemed to be a reduction of, or
45
otherwise affect, the representations and warranties of Holding, the AAC
Companies and the Shareholders set forth in this Agreement. Holding, the AAC
Companies and the Shareholders shall furnish to Investors promptly upon request
(i) all additional documents and information with respect to the affairs of
Holding and the AAC Companies and (ii) access during regular business hours to
Holding's and the AAC Companies' Key Personnel and to Holding's and the AAC
Companies' accountants and counsel as Investors, or its counsel or accountants,
may from time to time reasonably request and the Shareholders shall instruct
Holding's and the AAC Companies' Key Personnel, accountants and counsel to
cooperate with Investors, and to provide such documents and information as
Investors and its representatives may reasonably request.
5.5 CONFIDENTIALITY. The provisions of the letter agreement dated April
23, 2002, between Quad-C Management, Inc. and The Geneva Companies (the
"Investors Confidentiality Letter") are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Unless and until the Closing has been consummated, Investors shall hold, and
shall cause its counsel, accountants and other representatives to hold, in
confidence all confidential data and information relating to Holding and the AAC
Companies made available to Investors, together with all analyses, compilations,
studies and other documents and records prepared by Investors or any of its
representatives which contain or otherwise reflect or are generated from such
information, as set forth in the Investors Confidentiality Letter. If the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated, Investors
agrees to keep confidential all data and information relating to Holding and the
AAC Companies or the Business, and upon written request of the Holding, to
return or cause to be returned to holding all written materials and all copies
that contain any such confidential data or to certify to Holding that such
materials have been destroyed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Investors may
disclose this Agreement and the information and data in Investors' possession in
connection therewith (i) to its lenders (and their counsel) and (ii) subject to
the provisions of the Investors Confidentiality Letter, to the extent such
disclosure is required by law.
5.6 NO DISCLOSURE; PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Prior to Closing, without the
prior written consent of the other parties, (i) except to the extent required by
applicable Law, neither party will, and each party will direct its directors,
officers, employees, representatives and advisors not to, disclose to any other
Person (except the Company's prospective lenders (and their counsel)) and except
Holding's, the AAC Companies' and the Shareholders' financial advisors
(including, The Geneva Companies), accountants, counsel and Persons from whom a
consent is needed in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby) the fact that discussions or negotiations are taking place
concerning the transactions contemplated hereby or the existence of this
Agreement or any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect thereto
and (ii) except for filings required by law, neither party will issue any press
release or otherwise make any public statements with respect to this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.7 TRANSFER TAXES; EXPENSES.
(a) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, registration and
other such Taxes and the related fees (including any penalties, interests and
additions to Tax) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement shall be paid by the Company. The parties
46
shall cooperate in timely preparing and filing all Tax Returns as may be
required to comply with the provisions of such Tax Laws. Holding, the AAC
Companies and the Shareholders will cooperate with the Company to minimize, to
the extent permitted by law, the amount of any sales taxes, transfer taxes or
similar taxes and fees imposed with respect to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including by utilizing any applicable sales tax exemptions for
occasional sales.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all costs
and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses;
provided that in the event the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated,
the fees and expenses of The Geneva Companies, Quad-C Management, Inc.,
accountants, tax advisors and counsel to the Company and Investors, accountants,
tax advisors and counsel to Holding, the AAC Companies and the Shareholders and
Investors' Auditors with respect to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Company.
5.8 EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE. Subject to the terms and conditions herein
provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate, as promptly as practicable,
the transactions contemplated hereby, including the obtaining of all necessary
consents, waivers, authorizations, orders and approvals of third parties,
whether private or governmental, required of it to enable it to comply with the
conditions precedent to consummating the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Each party agrees to cooperate fully with the other party in
assisting it to comply with this Section 5.8. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, (i) the Shareholders agree to provide, and to cause Holding and
the AAC Companies and their Key Personnel to provide, at the expense of the
Company, all necessary cooperation with the arrangement of any financing to be
consummated in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including participation in meetings and due diligence sessions. No
consideration, whether such consideration shall consist of the payment of money
or shall take any other form, for any consent, waiver or agreement necessary to
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be given or
promised by Holding, the AAC Companies or the Shareholders without the prior
written approval of Investors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained
herein shall require (i) any party hereto or any of its respective Affiliates to
sell, transfer, divest or otherwise dispose of any of its respective business,
assets or properties in connection with this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the Company to enter into any agreement
or other arrangement for the financing of the transactions contemplated hereby
on terms that are not satisfactory to Investors, in its sole discretion or (iii)
any party hereto to initiate any litigation, make any substantial payment or
incur any material economic burden (including as a result of any divestiture),
except for payments a party presently is contractually obligated to make, to
obtain any consent, waiver, authorization, order or approval.
5.9 ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION. Investors shall have the right to (i)
conduct tests of the soil surface or subsurface waters and air quality at, in,
on, beneath or about the Facilities, and to conduct such other procedures as may
be recommended by an environmental consultant
47
engaged by Investors based on its professional judgment, in a manner consistent
with good engineering practice, (ii) inspect records, reports, permits,
applications, monitoring results, studies, correspondence data and any other
information or documents relevant to environmental conditions or environmental
noncompliance and (iii) inspect all buildings and equipment at the Facilities
including, without limitation, the visual inspection of the physical plants for
asbestos-containing construction materials; provided that in each case, such
tests and inspections shall be conducted only (A) during regular business hours
and upon reasonable notice, (B) in a manner that will not materially interfere
with the operation of the business of the AAC Companies and/or the use of,
access to or egress from the Facilities and (C) to the extent required, prior
consent of the owner of the Facilities.
5.10 RELATED PARTY ACCOUNTS. Except as and to the extent set forth in
Schedule 5.10, contemporaneously with the Closing, the Shareholders and their
Affiliates (other than Holding and the AAC Companies), on the one hand, and
Holding and the AAC Companies, on the other hand, shall satisfy and/or terminate
(without recourse), as between a Shareholder and any of its Affiliates (other
than Holding and the AAC Companies), on the one hand, and Holding and the AAC
Companies, on the other hand, all amounts (i) due by a Shareholder or any of its
Affiliates (other than Holding and the AAC Companies), on the one hand, to
Holding and the AAC Companies, on the other hand, or (ii) due by Holding or the
AAC Companies, on the one hand, to a Shareholder or any of its Affiliates (other
than Holding and the AAC Companies), on the other hand. Any liability for Taxes
arising from such satisfaction or termination of such amounts shall be the
responsibility, jointly and severally, of the Shareholders.
5.11 ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE. The Purchase Price has been agreed
upon by the parties and the values assigned to the various assets which
constitute the Contributed Assets are listed in Schedule 5.11. The AAC Companies
and the Company agree that the values reflected in Schedule 5.11 were separately
established as a result of good faith bargaining and that in reporting the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the Internal Revenue Service, as
is required by Section 1060 of the Internal Revenue Code, they will use such
prices and cooperate with each other in meeting the requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
5.12 HOLDING'S AND THE AAC COMPANIES' INSURANCE. Holding and the AAC
Companies shall, both before and after the Closing, take all reasonable action
required to assert, or following the Closing to enable the Company to assert,
and fully protect its rights under any insurance policy of Holding or the AAC
Companies existing on or before the Closing Date with respect to claims relating
to the operation of the Business prior to the Closing Date.
5.13 DISBURSEMENT ACCOUNTS. The Shareholders will deposit or cause to
remain on deposit, in the various accounts upon which checks issued by the AAC
Companies before Closing (the "Pre-Closing Checks") are drawn, funds sufficient
to pay the Pre-Closing Checks in full as and when they are presented for
payment.
5.14 NAMES. Promptly following the Closing, Holding and the AAC
Companies shall, and the Shareholders shall cause Holding and the AAC Companies,
to, change their respective corporate names to new names that do not use the
names "Asset Acceptance," "Financial Credit,"
48
"CFC Financial," "City Financial," "Consumer Credit,""Lee Acceptance," Merit
Acceptance or the initials "AAC."
5.15 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Holding, the AAC Companies and the
Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, will use
reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Agreement, and for such
purpose, at the request of the other party will, at or after the Closing,
without further consideration, promptly execute and deliver such additional
instruments, documents, conveyances or assurances, and take such other action,
as the AAC Companies or the Company may reasonably deem necessary or desirable
in order to consummate more effectively the transactions contemplated hereby, to
vest in the AAC LLCs title to the Contributed Assets free and clear of any
Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances), and otherwise to carry out the
intent and purposes of this Agreement unless such action would result in
liabilities or obligations not reasonably contemplated by the transactions
contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE VI
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEE MATTERS
6.1 TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES. Schedule 3.21(i) sets forth a list of all of
the employees of the AAC Companies and their current compensation as of the most
recent date for which such information is available. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.21(i), the Company will cause the AAC LLCs to offer employment with
the AAC LLCs, immediately after the Closing in a same position and at the same
rate of pay and with the same benefits as in effect on the date immediately
preceding the Closing, to all of such persons, whether such persons are salaried
or hourly employees; provided that, except as otherwise provided in the
Employment Agreements, any such offer of employment by the AAC LLCs shall not
constitute an offer of employment by the AAC LLCs over any minimum period of
time, or an obligation to continue any such employee's rate of pay or employee
benefits, and any such employment shall be at will. Such employees who elect to
become employees of the AAC LLCs are hereinafter referred to as "Transferred
Employees" and shall be deemed to have become employees of the AAC LLCs as of
the time the Closing becomes effective; provided that those employees of the AAC
Companies who are regarded by the AAC Companies as being on layoff, short-term
disability or leave of absence (whether paid or unpaid) as of the Closing shall
continue in such status with the AAC LLCs after the Closing and the AAC LLCs
shall not be obligated to offer employment to any employees of the AAC Companies
who are regarded by the AAC Companies as being on long-term disability. The
Company acknowledges that it has not informed the AAC Companies of any planned
or contemplated decisions or actions by the Company that would require the
service of notice under the WARN Act. The Company shall not take, either
directly or indirectly, any action which will cause the notice provisions of the
WARN Act to be applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.2 EMPLOYEE PLANS. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.2, the AAC LLCs
will assume the sponsorship of and be substituted for the AAC Companies as the
"employer" under the Employee Plans listed in Schedule 3.22(a) (and any related
trust agreements) which require such
49
assumption and substitution in order for such Employee Plans to be maintained by
the AAC LLCs. As soon as practicable after the Closing, the AAC LLCs shall,
where applicable, amend the Employee Plans to take into account the service of
Transferred Employees with the AAC Companies for all purposes under such
Employee Plans; provided that with respect to any Employee Plan, the Company
shall adopt any such amendments only to the extent that such adoption does not
adversely affect the qualified status of such Employee Plan under Section 401(a)
of the Code.
6.3 WORKER'S COMPENSATION. The AAC LLCs will assume the responsibility
for all worker's compensation claims made by Transferred Employees after the
Closing arising from events occurring before the Closing.
6.4 VACATION AND HOLIDAY PAY. The AAC LLCs will assume all liability
for unpaid vacation and holiday pay accrued by all Transferred Employees prior
to the Closing in the amounts accrued in the books and records of the AAC
Companies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.
6.5 NON-TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the Company shall not have any liability for any severance or
termination obligations or post-retirement benefits to employees of the AAC
Companies who do not become Transferred Employees.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF INVESTORS
The obligation of Investors to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall be subject, in the sole discretion of Investors, to the
satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions,
any of which may be waived by Investors in accordance with Section 12.9:
7.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and warranties
of Holding, CCC and the Shareholders contained in Article III hereof shall be
true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty
containing any materiality qualification) and in all material respects (in the
case of any representation or warranty without any materiality qualification) as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of Closing; provided that to
the extent that any such representations and warranties were made as of a
specified date, such representations and warranties shall continue on the date
of Closing to have been true as of such specified date.
7.2 PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. Holding, the AAC Companies and the
Shareholders shall have, in all material respects, performed all covenants and
agreements and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be
performed or complied with by them prior to or at the Closing.
50
7.3 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The AAC Companies shall have made capital
expenditures and Charged Off Account purchases after December 31, 2001, at a
pace consistent with achieving 2002 Budgeted Collections and EBITDA through the
Closing.
7.4 DISTRIBUTIONS. None of Holding, Lee Acceptance or CCC shall have
made distributions to its respective shareholders after May 31, 2002, except (i)
bonuses paid July 3, 2002 in the aggregate amount of $500,000 and (ii)
distributions in the amount necessary for such shareholders to pay the income
Taxes on the profits of such Companies allocated to them for the period from
January 1, 2002 through the Closing Date; including, solely for purposes of this
clause (ii) amounts necessary for Holding and the AAC Companies to pay the
Michigan Single Business Tax (net of tax benefits arising from the deduction of
such amounts on federal, state and local income tax returns) arising from the
acquisition of the Purchased Shares from Holding; provided that the
distributions made pursuant to this clause (ii) shall not exceed $1,500,000 in
the aggregate.
7.5 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. All registrations, filings, applications,
notices, consents, orders, approvals, qualifications, waivers and Licenses and
Permits required to be made or obtained by Holding, the AAC Companies or the
Shareholders shall have been made or obtained and all waiting periods specified
by law with respect thereto shall have expired or been terminated, except where
the failure to do any of the foregoing would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
7.6 INJUNCTION, LITIGATION, ETC. No Actions by any Governmental
Authority or any other Person shall have been instituted for the purpose of
enjoining or preventing, or which question the validity or legality of, the
transactions contemplated hereby and which could reasonably be expected to
damage the Company materially or impair the Company's ability to own and control
the Business and the Contributed Assets if the transactions contemplated hereby
are consummated.
7.7 LEGISLATION. No statute, rule or regulation shall have been
proposed (and reasonably believed will be enacted) or enacted which prohibits or
is reasonably likely to prohibit, restrict or materially delay the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.8 PROCEEDINGS. All corporate proceedings of Holding, the AAC
Companies and Lee Acceptance that are required in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including documentation of the
transactions contemplated by Recitals B, C and D) shall be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to Investors and its counsel.
7.9 LLC AGREEMENT. Holding, CCC and the Shareholders shall have
executed the LLC Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
7.10 OPINION OF COUNSEL. Holding shall have delivered to Investors an
opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC, counsel for Holding, the AAC Companies and the
Shareholders, dated as of the date of Closing, substantially with respect to the
matters set forth in Exhibit C hereto, and stating that such opinion is made for
the benefit of the Company and the Company's
51
institutional lenders and that the Company's institutional lenders shall be
entitled to rely thereon as if such opinion were addressed to them.
7.11 MATERIAL CHANGE. There shall not have been any Material Adverse
Change in the Assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations or
business of Holding or the AAC Companies since December 31, 2001, nor any
occurrence or circumstance that with the passage of time would reasonably be
expected to result in such change, and there shall not be any material liability
not shown in the Interim Financial Statements or otherwise disclosed herein.
7.12 FINANCING. The Company shall have obtained and consummated
long-term financing containing a three-year revolving line of credit in a
principal amount not less than $75,000,000 on such other terms reasonably
satisfactory to Investors.
7.13 PAYOFF LETTERS. The AAC Debt lenders shall have delivered "payoff"
letters to the Company stating that ,upon receipt of the payment in full with
respect to the AAC Debt, the lenders shall (i) cancel, terminate, extinguish and
deliver to the Company all instruments with respect to the AAC Debt
(collectively, "Debt Instruments") and shall release all Encumbrances in
connection therewith (and shall, if necessary or advisable, reconvey all Assets
or property that are the subject of such Encumbrances) and (ii) deliver to the
Company an acknowledgment of payment and release and other evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of such termination, cancellation and extinguishment
of all Debt Instruments and related Encumbrances.
7.14 ESCROW AGREEMENT. Holding, CCC and the Shareholders shall have
executed and delivered to the Company, Investors and the Escrow Agent the Escrow
Agreement in substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
7.15 LEE ACCEPTANCE ACQUISITION. Prior to its merger into Asset
Acceptance, LLC, Asset Acceptance shall have acquired substantially all of the
assets of Lee Acceptance (other than the condominium in Grosse Point, Michigan)
in exchange for a payment of $200,000.
7.16 NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS. The Non-Interference, Non-Disclosure
and Non-Competition Agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
shall have been executed by Holding, the AAC Companies, the Shareholders, and
the Company. The Non-Interference, Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreements
substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, shall have been executed by the
employees of the AAC Companies set forth in Schedule 7.16.
7.17 CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT. The Company and the AAC LLCs shall
have entered into the Consulting Services Agreement with Quad-C Management, Inc.
substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDING, CCC AND THE SHAREHOLDERS
The obligation of Holding, CCC and the Shareholders to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject, in the sole
discretion of Holding and CCC, to
52
the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following
conditions, any of which may be waived by Holding and CCC in accordance with
Section 12.9.
8.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and warranties
of Investors contained in Article IV hereof shall be true and correct in all
respects (in the case of any representation or warranty containing any
materiality qualification) and in all material respects (in the case of any
representation or warranty without any materiality qualification) as of the date
of this Agreement and as of the date of Closing; provided that to the extent
that any such representations and warranties were made as of a specified date,
such representations and warranties shall continue on the date of Closing to
have been true as of such specified date.
8.2 PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. Investors shall have, in all
material respects, performed all covenants and agreements and complied with all
conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
prior to or on the date of Closing.
8.3 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. All registrations, filings, applications,
notices, consents, orders, approvals, qualifications or waivers required to be
made or obtained by the Company or Investors shall have been made or obtained
and all waiting periods specified by law with respect thereto shall have expired
or been terminated, except where the failure to do any of the foregoing would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
8.4 INJUNCTION, LITIGATION, ETC. No Actions by any Governmental
Authority or any other Person shall have been instituted for the purpose of
enjoining or preventing, or which question the validity or legality of, the
transactions contemplated hereby and which could reasonably be expected to
damage Holding, the AAC Companies or the Shareholders materially if the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.
8.5 LEGISLATION. No statute, rule or regulation shall have been
proposed (and reasonably believed will be enacted) or enacted which prohibits or
reasonably likely to prohibit, restrict or materially delay the consummation of
the transactions contemplated this Agreement.
8.6 PROCEEDINGS. ALL PROCEEDINGS OF INVESTORS THAT ARE REQUIRED IN
CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE TO THE HOLDING AND ITS COUNSEL.
8.7 LLC AGREEMENT. INVESTORS SHALL HAVE EXECUTED THE LLC AGREEMENT
SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM OF EXHIBIT B HERETO.
8.8 OPINION OF COUNSEL. Investors shall have delivered to Holding and
CCC an opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, counsel for Investors, dated as of the
Closing Date, substantially with respect to the matters set forth in Exhibit F
attached hereto.
8.9 ESCROW AGREEMENT. The Company and Investors shall have executed and
delivered to Holding, CCC and the Shareholders and the Escrow Agent the Escrow
Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
53
8.10 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. The Company shall have executed and
delivered to each of Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., Heather K. Reitzel, Nathaniel F.
Bradley IV and Mark A. Redman their respective Employment Agreements
substantially in the form of Exhibits H-1, H-2, H-3 and H-4.
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING
9.1 TIME AND PLACE OF CLOSING. The closing (the "Closing") shall take
place at the offices of Dykema Gossett PLLC, 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit,
Michigan, at 10:00 a.m. local time on September 30, 2002, or such other date as
may be agreed upon by the parties (the "Closing Date"). If the Closing takes
place, the Closing and all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be deemed to have occurred simultaneously and become effective as of 11:59
p.m. on September 30, 2002.
9.2 DELIVERIES BY HOLDING, CCC AND THE SHAREHOLDERS. At the Closing
Holding, CCC and the Shareholders shall deliver to Company the following:
(i) certificates evidencing all the membership
interests in the AAC LLCs;
(ii) certificates of merger evidencing the
Mergers of the AAC Companies (other than CCC) into its
respective AAC LLC;
(iii) bills of sale and assignment in the form
attached as Exhibit I evidencing the transfer of the
Contributed Assets to Consumer Credit, LLC;
(iv) properly endorsed title certificates
transferring the motor vehicles which are a part of the
Contributed Assets to the AAC LLCs;
(v) such document or documents (in form
satisfactory to Investors and suitable for filing,
registration or recording, if applicable) as may be necessary
to transfer to the AAC LLCs the remainder of the Contributed
Assets;
(vi) a certificate executed by the Shareholders
certifying that, as of the date of Closing Date, the
conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 through 7.5 and 7.11 have
been satisfied;
(vii) evidence that the actions described in
Section 7.8 have been taken;
(viii) copies of the consents required by Section '
7.5;
54
(ix) certificate from the Secretary of State of
Delaware of the Company's and the AAC LLCs good standing in
the State of Delaware as of the most recent date obtainable;
(x) certificate from the Secretary of State of
Nevada or the State of Michigan, as the case may be, of
Holding and the AAC Companies good standing in the State of
Nevada or the State of Michigan, as the case may be, as of the
most recent date obtainable;
(xi) a certificate executed by the Secretary of
Holding certifying as of the date of Closing (A) a true and
correct copy of the certificate or certificate of
incorporation of Holding and the AAC Companies, (B) a true and
correct copy of the bylaws of Holding and the AAC Companies,
(C) a true and correct copy of the certificate of formation
and limited liability company agreement or comparable
organizational documents of the Company and each of the AAC
LLCs and (D) incumbency matters;
(xii) the opinion of counsel required by Section
7.10;
(xiii) physical possession of all Books and
Records, Licenses and Permits, policies, Contracts, plans or
other instruments of the AAC Companies that are in the
possession of Holding and the AAC Companies, all such
materials to be deemed delivered to the Company if they are
present at any of the Facilities;
(xiv) UCC-1 searches with respect to Holding, the
AAC Companies, the AAC LLCs, the Business and the Assets used
in the Business; and
(xv) such additional documents as Investors may
reasonably request.
9.3 DELIVERIES BY THE COMPANY. At the Closing the Company shall deliver
to Holding and CCC the following:
(i) to Holding, certificates evidencing the
39,000,000 Class A-1 Shares, 25,350,000 Class B-1 Shares,
6,000,000 Class A Shares and 3,900,000 Class B Shares of the
Company and $550,000 in cash or immediately available funds in
consideration for the contribution by Holding to the Company
of the membership interests in Asset Acceptance, LLC,
Financial Credit, LLC and CFC Financial, LLC;
(ii) to CCC, certificates evidencing the 650,000
Class B-1 Shares and 100,000 Class B Shares of the Company and
$250,000 in cash or immediately available funds in
consideration for the contribution by
55
CCC to the Company of the membership interests in Consumer
Credit, LLC; and
(iii) such additional documents as Holding may
reasonably request.
9.4 DELIVERIES BY HOLDING. At the Closing Holding shall deliver to
Investors certificates evidencing the Purchased Shares, duly endorsed and free
of Encumbrances, which certificates shall be cancelled by the Company in
exchange for certificates evidencing the Purchased Shares registered in the name
of Investors in such denominations as Investors shall direct.
9.5 DELIVERIES BY INVESTORS. At the Closing, Investors shall deliver to
Holding the following:
(i) $45,000,000, of which $41,250,000 shall be
delivered by wire transfer to Holding and $3,750,000 shall be
delivered by wire transfer to the Escrow Agent;
(ii) a certificate executed by Investors
certifying that, as of the Closing Date, the conditions set
forth in Sections 8.1 through 8.3 have been satisfied as to
Investors;
(iii) evidence that the corporate action described
in Section 8.6 has been taken;
(iv) a copy of the articles of incorporation of
Investors certified as of a recent date by the Clerk of the
State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia;
(v) the opinion of counsel required by Section
8.8; and
(vi) such additional documents as Holding may
reasonably request.
9.6 DELIVERIES OF ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS. At the Closing Holding, the AAC
Companies, the Shareholders, the Company and Investors shall each execute and
deliver to the appropriate parties copies of the Ancillary Agreements to which
they are parties.
ARTICLE X
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS.
(a) The representations and warranties of Holding, CCC and the
Shareholders contained in this Agreement will survive until the later of (i) the
60th day after receipt by the
56
Company of the audited financial statements for the Company and its Subsidiaries
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003 and (ii) the 18 month anniversary
of the Closing Date; provided that (i) the representations and warranties
contained in the first sentence of Section 3.1 and in Section 3.3 shall survive
the Closing indefinitely (ii) the representations and warranties contained in
Section 3.6 shall survive until the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, (iii)
the representations and warranties in Section 3.22 of this Agreement shall
survive until 90 days after the expiration of the last of the limitation periods
contained in ERISA during which a claim thereunder can be made, and (iv) the
representations and warranties in Section 3.23 of this Agreement shall survive
until 90 days after the expiration of the last of the limitation periods
contained in the Internal Revenue Code or other applicable Tax law during which
an assessment or reassessment can be made (the respective dates on which the
representations and warranties hereunder lapse are hereinafter referred to as
the "Survival Date").
(b) All representations and warranties of Investors contained
in this Agreement will survive until the first anniversary of the Closing Date;
provided that the representations and warranties contained in the first sentence
of Section 4.1 and in Section 4.3 shall survive the Closing indefinitely.
(c) If a specific claim in writing with respect to any
representation or warranty shall have been made, or an action at law or in
equity shall have been commenced or filed, before the relevant Survival Date
(whether or not liability has actually been incurred), then such representation
or warranty shall, with respect to such claim or action, survive until the claim
or action has been finally resolved.
10.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDING, CCC AND THE SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) Subject to the limitations contained in this Article X,
Holding, CCC and the Shareholders, jointly and severally, shall, without
duplication, indemnify and hold harmless, the Company, Investors, their
Affiliates, each of their respective members (other than Holding, CCC and the
Shareholders), shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each
of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing
(collectively, the "Company Indemnified Parties") from and against, and pay or
reimburse the Company Indemnified Parties for, any and all Covered Liabilities
actually incurred or paid by the Company Indemnified Parties as a result of:
(i) any inaccuracy contained in, omission from
or breach of, a representation and warranty made by Holding,
the AAC Companies or the Shareholders in this Agreement;
(ii) the nonfulfillment, nonperformance or other
breach of any covenant or agreement of Holding, the AAC
Companies or the Shareholders contained in this Agreement
other than pursuant to Sections referred to in clause (iii) of
this Section 10.2(a);
(iii) the nonfulfillment, nonperformance or other
breach of any covenant or agreement of Holding, the AAC
Companies or the
57
Shareholders contained in clause (ii)(B) of Section 5.2
(Forbearances), 5.11 (Allocation of Purchase Price),
5.14(Names), or 5.15 (Further Assurances);
(iv) any failure of CCC to satisfy in full the
Retained CCC Liabilities; and
(v) the failure of Holding or the Shareholders
to satisfy in full any of the Retained Liabilities.
(b) The claims for indemnity by Company Indemnified Parties
pursuant to this Section 10.2 are referred to as "Company Claims." The indemnity
provided for in this Section 10.2 is not limited to matters asserted by third
parties against any Company Indemnified Party, but includes Covered Liabilities
actually incurred or sustained by any Company Indemnified Party in the absence
of third party claims.
10.3 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY AND INVESTORS.
(a) Subject to the limitations contained in this Article X,
the Company shall, without duplication, indemnify and hold harmless Holding, CCC
and the Shareholders, their Affiliates, each of their respective shareholders,
directors, officers, employees and agents, and each of the heirs, executors,
successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the "AAC
Indemnified Parties") from and against, and pay or reimburse the AAC Indemnified
Parties for, any and all Covered Liabilities actually incurred or paid by the
AAC Indemnified Parties as a result of the nonfulfillment, nonperformance or
other breach by the Company of its covenants and agreements in Sections 5.11
(Allocation of Purchase Price), 5.15 ("Further Assurances") or Article VI
("Employees and Employee Matters").
(b) Subject to the limitations contained in this Article X,
Investors shall, without duplication, indemnify and hold harmless the AAC
Indemnified Parties from and against, and pay or reimburse the AAC Indemnified
Parties for, any and all Covered Liabilities actually incurred or paid by the
AAC Indemnified Parties as a result of:
(i) any inaccuracy contained in, omission from
or breach of, a representation and warranty made by Investors
in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant
hereto;
(ii) the nonfulfillment, nonperformance or other
breach of any covenant or agreement of Investors contained
this Agreement.
(c) The claims for indemnity by AAC Indemnified Parties
pursuant to this Section 10.3 are referred to as "AAC Claims." The indemnity
provided for in this Section 10.3 is not limited to matters asserted by third
parties against any AAC Indemnified Party, but includes Covered Liabilities
actually incurred or sustained by any AAC Indemnified Party in the absence of
third-party claims.
58
10.4 NOTICE AND DEFENSE OF CLAIMS.
(a) Whenever a claim shall arise for indemnification hereunder
(a "Claim"), the party seeking indemnification (an "indemnified party") shall
give reasonably prompt notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought
(an "indemnifying party") of the claim for indemnification and the facts, in
reasonable detail, constituting the basis for such claim (a "Claim Notice");
provided that failure of an indemnified party to give prompt written notice of
any Claim shall not release, waive or otherwise affect an indemnifying party's
obligations with respect thereto except to the extent that the indemnifying
party is adversely affected in its ability to defend against such Claim or is
otherwise prejudiced thereby.
(b) If any third party shall notify any indemnified party with
respect to any matter (a "Third Party Claim") which may give rise to a Claim
under this Article X, then the indemnified party shall promptly notify the
indemnifying party of such Third Party Claim in writing; provided that failure
of an indemnified party to give prompt written notice of any Claim shall not
release, waive or otherwise affect an indemnifying party's obligations with
respect thereto except to the extent that the indemnifying party is adversely
affected in its ability to defend against such Claim or is otherwise prejudiced
thereby.
(c) Any indemnifying party will have the right to assume the
defense of the Third Party Claim with counsel of its choice at any time within
fifteen days after the indemnified party has given notice of the Third Party
Claim; provided that the indemnifying party must conduct the defense of the
Third Party Claim actively and diligently to preserve its rights to assume the
defense of the Third Party Claim; and provided further that the indemnified
party may retain separate co-counsel at its sole cost and expense and
participate in the defense of the Third Party Claim. In the event the
indemnifying party assumes the defense of the Third Party Claim, the
indemnifying party shall keep the indemnified party reasonably informed of the
progress of any such defense, compromise or settlement, and in the event the
indemnified party assumes the defense of the Third Party Claim, the indemnified
party shall keep the indemnifying party reasonably informed of the progress of
any such defense, compromise or settlement. If the indemnifying party is held
liable for the Third-Party Claim, the indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any Third-Party Claim effected pursuant to and in accordance with
this Section 10.4(c) and for any final judgment (subject to any right of
appeal), and the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
indemnified party from and against any and all Covered Liabilities by reason of
such settlement or judgment.
(d) So long as the indemnifying party has assumed and is
conducting the defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section
10.4(c), the indemnifying party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim without the
prior written consent of the indemnified party (not to be withheld unreasonably)
unless the judgment or proposed settlement involves only the payment of money
damages by the indemnifying party and does not impose an injunction or other
equitable relief upon the indemnified party.
(e) If the indemnifying party does not assume or conduct the
defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 10.4(c), (i) the
indemnified party may defend against,
59
and consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with
respect to, the Third Party Claim in any manner it reasonably may deem
appropriate (and the indemnified party need not consult with, or obtain any
consent from, the indemnifying party in connection with any such defense,
consent or settlement), and (ii) the indemnifying party will remain responsible
for any Covered Losses the indemnified party may suffer resulting from, arising
out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim to the
fullest extent provided in this Article X.
(f) If the claim for indemnification involves a matter other
than a Third Party Claim, the indemnifying party shall have thirty (30) days to
object to such claim by delivery of a written notice of such objection to such
indemnified party specifying in reasonable detail the basis for such objection.
Failure to timely so object shall constitute a final and binding acceptance of
the claim for indemnification by the indemnifying party, and the claim shall be
paid in accordance with the further provisions hereof. If an objection is timely
interposed by the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party shall negotiate in good faith for a period of thirty (30)
business days from the date the indemnified party receives such objection prior
to commencing any arbitration, formal legal action, suit or proceeding with
respect to such claim for indemnification. Upon Final Determination (as defined
below) of the amount of a Claim, the indemnifying party shall pay the amount of
such Claim within thirty (30) days of the date of such Final Determination.
(g) Any Covered Liabilities for which an indemnifying party is
responsible shall, subject to the provisions of Section 10.5 hereof, be paid
directly by the indemnifying party. Upon Final Determination (as defined below)
of the amount of a claim for indemnification, the indemnifying party shall pay
the amount of such claim within 20 days after the date of such Final
Determination together with interest at the prime rate of JPMorgan Chase Bank in
New York City (or its successor or successors) from time to time, from (and
including) the later of (i) the date of delivery of the Claim Notice or (ii) the
date such Covered Liability was paid, to (and including) the date immediately
preceding the date of payment.
(h) A "Final Determination" of a Claim shall be (i) a judgment
of any court determining the validity of a disputed Claim, if no appeal is
pending from such judgment or if the time to appeal therefrom has elapsed (it
being understood that the indemnified party shall have no obligation to appeal);
or (ii) an award of any arbitrator or arbitration panel determining the validity
of such disputed Claim, if there is not pending any motion to set aside such
award or if the time within which to move to set such award aside has elapsed;
or (iii) a written termination of the dispute with respect to such Claim signed
by all of the parties thereto or their attorneys; or (iv) a written
acknowledgment of the indemnifying party that it no longer disputes the validity
of such Claim; or (v) such other evidence of final determination of a disputed
Claim as shall be reasonably acceptable to the parties.
10.5 LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article X, (i)
Holding, CCC and the Shareholders shall not be liable under Section 10.2(a)(i)
or Section 10.2(a)(ii) unless and until the aggregate amount of liability
thereunder exceeds $750,000, and thereafter the indemnified party shall be
entitled to indemnification thereunder only for the aggregate amount
60
of such liability in excess of $750,000 and (ii) the maximum amount for which
the Company Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification under
Section 10.2(a)(i) or Section 10.2(a)(ii) shall be $7,500,000 in the aggregate;
provided that the limitations set forth in this Section 10.5(a) shall not apply
to liability for a breach of the representations or warranties in Sections 3.1,
3.2, 3.3, 3.23, 3.24 and 3.29 or to clause (B) of Section 5.2.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article X, (i)
Investors shall not be liable under Section 10.3(b)(i) or Section 10.3(b)(ii)
unless and until the aggregate amount of liability thereunder exceeds $750,000,
and thereafter the indemnified party shall be entitled to indemnification
thereunder only for the aggregate amount of such liability in excess of $750,000
and (ii) the maximum amount for which the AAC Indemnified Parties shall be
entitled to indemnification under Section 10.3(b)(i) or Section 10.3(b)(ii)
shall be $7,500,000 in the aggregate; provided that the limitations set forth in
this Section 10.5(c) shall not apply to liability for a breach of the
representations or warranties in Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.6.
10.6 CALCULATION OF COVERED LIABILITIES.
(a) Insurance Proceeds. To the extent that any Company Claim
or AAC Claim is covered by insurance held by such Company Indemnified Party or
AAC Indemnified Party, such indemnified party shall be entitled to
indemnification pursuant to Section 10.2 or 10.3, as applicable, only with
respect to the amount of the Covered Liabilities that are in excess of the cash
proceeds received by such indemnified party pursuant to such insurance. If such
indemnified party receives such cash insurance proceeds prior to the time such
Claim is paid, then the amount payable by the indemnifying party pursuant to
such Claim shall be reduced by the amount of such proceeds. If such indemnified
party receives such cash insurance proceeds after such Claim has been paid, then
upon the receipt by the indemnified party of any cash proceeds pursuant to such
insurance up to the amount of Covered Liabilities incurred by such indemnified
party with respect to such Claim, such indemnified party shall promptly repay
any portion of such amount which was previously paid by the indemnifying party
to such indemnified party in satisfaction of such Claim.
(b) Effect of Taxes. The amount of any indemnity payments for
Covered Liabilities under Section 10.2 or 10.3 above shall be (i) decreased to
reflect the actual Tax Benefit, if any, reasonably expected to be realized
within two years by the indemnified party resulting from the Covered Liabilities
giving rise to such indemnity payments and (ii) increased to reflect the actual
Tax Loss reasonably expected to be realized within two years by such indemnified
party as a result of the receipt of such Covered Liabilities, in each case
subject to the limitations on indemnification contained in Section 10.5. Any
indemnity payment made pursuant to Section 10.2 or 10.3 shall be treated by the
Company, Holding and the AAC Companies as an adjustment to the Purchase Price.
10.7 NO CIRCULAR RECOVERY. No Shareholder shall be entitled to
make any claim for indemnification or contribution against the AAC Companies or
any of their Affiliates (including the Company or any AAC LLC) with respect to a
matter constituting a breach of the representations and warranties set forth in
Article III hereof or a Retained Liability by reason of the fact that it or he
is or was a controlling person, member, manager, director, officer, employee,
61
agent or other representative of the AAC Companies (whether such claim is
pursuant to any statute, charter, bylaw, limited liability company agreement,
contractual obligation or otherwise).
10.8 RIGHT OF SET OFF. Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Company may withhold and set off against any and
all amounts due Holding or its transferees as holder of the Series B-1 Shares,
any and all amounts as to such Person is obligated to indemnify the Company
Indemnified Parties pursuant to any provision of this Article X, subject to the
limitations on indemnification described in Section 10.5.
10.9 DISCLAIMER OF PROJECTIONS; MEMORANDUM. Holding, CCC and
the Shareholders make no representation or warranty to the Company or the
Investors except as specifically made in this Agreement. In particular, other
than the representation that, to the Knowledge of the AAC Companies, the
following were prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that were deemed
reasonable by Holding, CCC and the Shareholders at the time they were prepared,
Holding, CCC and the Shareholders make no representation or warranty to the
Company or Investors with respect to:
(i) the information set forth in the
Confidential Business Review distributed by The Geneva
Companies in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement;
(ii) any presentations made to the Company,
Investors, or their representatives by the management of
Holding and the AAC Companies; or
(iii) any financial or other projection or
forecast relating to Holding and the AAC Companies.
With respect to any financial or other projection or forecast delivered by or on
behalf of Holding, the AAC Companies, or the Shareholders to the Company,
Investors, or their representatives, the Company and Investors acknowledge that
(i) there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such projections and
forecasts, (ii) it is taking full responsibility for making its own evaluation
of the adequacy and accuracy of all such projections and forecasts so furnished
to it and (iii) it shall have no claim against Holding, the AAC Companies, or
the Shareholders with respect to such projection or forecast.
10.10 EXCLUSIVE REMEDY. The indemnification provided under Sections
10.2 and 10.3 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of any indemnified party
for any Covered Liabilities or other matter relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than claims (i) pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement, (ii) related to the Retained CCC Liabilities or the
Retained Liabilities, (iii) for fraud and (iv) for injunctive relief. With
respect to fraud, (i) the right of a party to be indemnified and held harmless
pursuant to this Article X shall be in addition to and cumulative of any other
remedy of such party at law or in equity with respect thereto and (ii) no party,
shall, by exercising any remedy available to it under this Article X, be deemed
to have exercised such remedy exclusively or to have waived any other remedy,
whether at law or in equity, available to it.
62
ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION
11.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to
the Closing:
(i) by the mutual written consent of all of the
parties to this Agreement;
(ii) by the Company or Investors, if any event
occurs which renders impossible compliance with one or more of
the conditions set forth in Article VII hereof, which
condition or conditions are not waived by the Company or
Investors;
(iii) by Holding and CCC, if any event occurs
which renders impossible compliance with one or more of the
conditions set forth in Article VIII hereof, which condition
or conditions are not waived by Holding and the AAC Companies;
or
(iv) by any party if the Closing has not occurred
by 11:59 p.m. October 31, 2002.
11.2 PROCEDURE: EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If this Agreement is terminated
as provided in Section 11.1, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given by
the terminating parties to the other party, and this Agreement shall thereupon
terminate and become void and of no further force and effect and there shall be
no further liability or obligation on the part of either party hereto except for
the obligations under Sections 5.5, 5.7 and 11.1; provided that termination of
this Agreement pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 11.1, respectively,
shall not relieve the defaulting or breaching party (the "Breaching Party"),
whether or not it is the terminating party, of liability for damages actually
incurred by the other party as a result of breach of this Agreement by the
Breaching Party.
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.1 NOTICES. All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (i) delivered personally or by
nationally recognized overnight delivery service, (ii) transmitted by facsimile
or (iii) mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested and
postage prepaid) to the following listed persons at the addresses and facsimile
numbers specified below, or to such other persons, addresses or facsimile
numbers as a party entitled to notice shall give, in the manner hereinabove
described, to the others entitled to notice:
(a) If to Holding, CCC or any Shareholder, to:
63
AAC Holding Corp.
83 Shadow Lane
Lakeland, Florida 33813
Attention: Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
Facsimile No.: 863-648-0166
and to:
AAC Holding Corp.
6985 Miller Road
Warren, Michigan 48902
Attention: Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Facsimile No.: 586-446-7832
with a copy to:
Dykema Gossett PLLC
400 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48243
Attention: J. Michael Bernard, Esq.
Facsimile No.: 313-568-6832
(b) If to the Company or Investors, to:
AAC Holdings LLC
c/o Quad-C Management, Inc.
230 East High Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Attention: Anthony R. Ignaczak
Facsimile No.: 434-979-1145
with a copy to:
McGuireWoods LLP
One James Center
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Attention: Leslie A. Grandis
Facsimile No.: 804-775-1061
Notice pursuant hereto shall be deemed given (i) if delivered personally, when
so delivered, (ii) if given by nationally recognized overnight delivery, one
business day after delivery to the delivery service for next business day
delivery, (iii) if given by facsimile, when transmitted to the facsimile number
set forth above, when so transmitted if transmitted during normal business hours
at the location to which it is transmitted or upon the opening of business on
the next Business Day if transmitted other than during normal business hours at
the location to which it is
64
transmitted and (iii) if given by mail, on the third business day following the
day on which it was posted.
12.2 INTERPRETATION. The table of contents and headings contained in
this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning
or interpretation of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the words
"includes" and "including" shall mean "including without limitation." All
accounting terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning determined
by GAAP. All capitalized terms defined herein are equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms. The language in all parts of this Agreement shall be
construed, in all cases, according to its fair meaning. The parties acknowledge
that each party and its counsel have reviewed and revised this Agreement and
that any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be
resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation
of this Agreement.
12.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with the Ancillary
Agreements, the Company Confidentiality Letter and the Schedules and Exhibits
hereto, contain the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and there are no agreements, understandings,
representations or warranties between the parties other than those set forth or
referred to herein.
12.4 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Except as set forth in Article X,
nothing in this Agreement (whether expressed or implied) is intended to confer
upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective permitted
successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this
Agreement nor is anything in this Agreement intended to relieve or discharge the
liability of any party hereto, nor shall any provision hereof give any person
any right of subrogation against, or action over against any party. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall confer
any third-party beneficiary right (actual or implied) upon any employee of
Holding or the AAC Companies or obligate the Company to continue any such
employee in its employ for any specified period of time or at any specified
salary, wages or benefits after the Closing Date.
12.5 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns; provided that no party hereto will assign its rights or delegate its
obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of
each other party hereto, except that the Company may assign its right, title and
interest under this Agreement (i) to one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries, (ii)
to a Person that acquires substantially all of the assets or business of the
Company and (iii) to any institutional lender to the Company as security for
obligations to such lender in respect of the financing arrangements entered into
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and any refinancings,
extensions, refundings or renewals thereof; provided, that in the event of such
assignment, the Company shall not be released from any obligations under this
Agreement.
12.6 SEVERABILITY. In the event that this Agreement or any other
instrument referred to herein, or any of their respective provisions, or the
performance of any such provision, is found to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable under applicable law now or hereafter in effect, the parties shall
be excused from performance of such portions of this Agreement as shall be found
to be
65
invalid, illegal or unenforceable under the applicable laws or regulations
without, to the maximum extent permitted by law, affecting the validity of the
remaining provisions of the Agreement. Should any method of termination of this
Agreement or a portion thereof be found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
such method shall be reformed to comply with the requirements of applicable law
so as, to the greatest extent possible, to allow termination by that method.
Nothing herein shall be construed as a waiver of any party's right to challenge
the validity of such law.
12.7 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented
at any time by the parties hereto. This Agreement may be amended only by an
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
12.8 EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the Closing either party
to this Agreement may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations of the other party hereto, (ii) waive a breach of a representation
or warranty of the other party hereto, or (iii) waive compliance by the other
party hereto with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any such
extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in a written instrument signed
by the party giving the extension or waiver. No waiver of any of the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provision hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.
12.9 DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES. Certain of the representations and
warranties set forth in this Agreement contemplate that there will be attached
schedules setting forth information that might be "material" or have a "Material
Adverse Effect on Holding and the AAC Companies." Holding, CCC and the
Shareholders may, at their option, include in such schedules items that are not
material or are not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Holding and the
AAC Companies in order to avoid any misunderstanding, and any such inclusion
shall not be deemed to be an acknowledgment or representation that such items
are material or would have a Material Adverse Effect on Holding and the AAC
Companies, to establish any standard of materiality or Material Adverse Effect
on Holding and the AAC Companies, or to define further the meaning of such terms
for purposes of this Agreement
12.10 COUNTERPARTS; TRANSMISSION OF FACSIMILE SIGNATURES. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, and delivered by means of facsimile
transmission or otherwise, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be
deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute
but one and the same agreement. If any party hereto elects to execute and
deliver a counterpart signature page by means of facsimile transmission, it
shall deliver an original of such counterpart to each of the other parties
hereto within ten days of the date hereof, but in no event will the failure to
do so affect in any way the validity of the facsimile signature or its delivery.
12.11 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; VENUE.
(a) Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this
Agreement or any transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in the courts
of the Commonwealth of
66
Virginia or the State of Michigan or in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Virginia sitting in Richmond, Virginia, or the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan sitting in Detroit,
Michigan, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party hereto
hereby accepts for himself, herself or itself and in respect of his, her or its
property generally and unconditionally, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
aforesaid courts. Each party irrevocably consents to the service of process out
of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by mailing
copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to such
Shareholder at his, her or its address as provided in Section 12.1 hereof.
Nothing in this paragraph (a) shall affect the right of any party to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings in
any other jurisdiction.
(b) Each party hereby irrevocably waives any objections which
he, she or it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the
aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement brought in the courts referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section
12.11 and hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in
any such court that any action or proceeding brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum.
(c) WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, EACH OF
THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT AGREES THAT, AT THE TIME OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY, EACH OF THE PARTIES WILL EXECUTE SUCH INSTRUMENTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS AS
MAY BE NECESSARY TO CONSENT TO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE AND JURISDICTION
IN THE COURTS IDENTIFIED IN SUBSECTIONS (a) AND (b) ABOVE.
12.12 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY
CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE
COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
12.13 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects
by the laws of the State of Michigan without regard to any laws or regulations
relating to choice of laws (whether of the State of Michigan or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the State of Michigan.
67
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC
By: ________________________________
Name: Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Title: President
AAC HOLDING CORP.
By:________________________________
Name: Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Title: President
CONSUMER CREDIT CORP.
By:________________________________
Name: Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Title: President
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
Heather K. Reitzel
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Mark A. Redman
68
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.,
Trustee of the Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
Revocable Living Trust, dated May 24, 1996,
as amended on March 3, 1999,
a shareholder of AAC Holding Corp.
Heather K. Reitzel,
Trustee of the Heather Reitzel
Revocable Living Trust, dated May 24, 1996,
as amended on March 3, 1999,
a shareholder of AAC Holding Corp.
Nathaniel F. Bradley,
Trustee of the Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Revocable Living Trust,
dated November 7, 1998,
a shareholder of AAC Holding Corp.
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.,
Trustee of the Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
Revocable Living Trust, dated May 24, 1996,
as amended on March 3, 1999,
a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp.
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and/or Heather Reitzel,
Trustees of the Lisa R. Bradley
Trust-1999,
dated December 29, 1999,
a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp.
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and/or Heather Reitzel,
Trustees of the Stacey Reitzel James
Trust Trust-1999,
dated December 29, 1999,
a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp.
69
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and/or Heather Reitzel,
Trustees of the Traecy Merle Reitzel
Trust-1999,
dated December 29, 1999,
a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp.
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and/or Heather Reitzel,
Trustees of the James H. Reitzel
Trust-1999,
dated December 29, 1999,
a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp.
Heather K. Reitzel,
Trustee of the Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
Revocable Living Trust, dated May 24, 1996,
as amended on March 3, 1999,
a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp.
Nathaniel F. Bradley,
Trustee of the Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Revocable Living Trust,
dated November 7, 1998,
a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp.
AAC INVESTORS, INC.
By:____________________________________________
Name: Anthony R. Ignaczak
Title: President
70
EXHIBIT 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
It is hereby certified as follows.
1. NAME. The name of the corporation is Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
(the "Corporation").
2. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the Corporation is to be
located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such
address is The Corporation Trust Company.
3. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful
act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
4. CAPITAL STOCK. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which
the Corporation shall have authority to issue is One Thousand (1,000), par value
$0.01 per share.
5. DIRECTORS' LIABILITY.
(a) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation
or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a fiduciary duty as a
director; provided, however, that to the extent required by the provisions of
Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any
successor statute, or any other laws of the State of Delaware, this provision
shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of
the director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.
(b) If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is
amended after the date of this Certificate to authorize the further elimination
or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of
the Corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided in
this Certificate, shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the
amended General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Any repeal or
modification of this Article 5 by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be
prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal
liability of a director of the Corporation existing as of the time of such
repeal or modification.
7. INCORPORATOR. The name and mailing address of the Incorporator are:
Brendan J. Cahill
c/o Dykema Gossett PLLC
39577 Woodward Avenue, Suite 300
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
I, the undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation under the
laws of the State of Delaware, do make, file, and record this Certificate, and I
have accordingly hereunto set my hand this 17th day of September 2003.
Brendan J. Cahill, Incorporator
EXHIBIT 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
OCTOBER 20, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I. OFFICES.......................................................................................1
Section 1.01. Registered Office...............................................................................1
Section 1.02. Other Offices...................................................................................1
ARTICLE II. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS......................................................................1
Section 2.01. Place of Meetings...............................................................................1
Section 2.02. Annual Meetings.................................................................................1
Section 2.03. Special Meetings................................................................................2
Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings..............................................................................2
Section 2.05. List of Stockholders............................................................................2
Section 2.06. Quorum..........................................................................................2
Section 2.07. Adjourned Meeting; Notice.......................................................................3
Section 2.08. Voting..........................................................................................3
Section 2.09. Record Date for Stockholder Notice..............................................................3
Section 2.10. Proxies.........................................................................................4
Section 2.11. Conduct of Meeting..............................................................................4
Section 2.12. Inspectors and Judges...........................................................................4
Section 2.13. Stockholder Proposals...........................................................................4
Section 2.14. Action Without a Meeting........................................................................5
ARTICLE III. DIRECTORS.....................................................................................6
Section 3.01. Powers and Duties...............................................................................6
Section 3.02. Number of Directors; Election...................................................................6
Section 3.03. Vacancies.......................................................................................6
Section 3.04. Removal.........................................................................................7
Section 3.05. Place of Meetings...............................................................................7
Section 3.06. Annual Meetings.................................................................................7
Section 3.07. Regular Meetings................................................................................7
Section 3.08. Special Meetings................................................................................7
Section 3.09. Notice of Meetings..............................................................................7
Section 3.10. Quorum and Voting...............................................................................7
Section 3.11. Compensation....................................................................................8
Section 3.12. Action Without a Meeting........................................................................8
Section 3.13. Telephone Participation.........................................................................8
Section 3.14. Committees of the Board.........................................................................8
ARTICLE IV. WAIVER OF NOTICES.............................................................................9
Section 4.01. Waiver..........................................................................................9
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS......................................................................................9
Section 5.01. Executive Officers..............................................................................9
Section 5.02. Other Officers..................................................................................9
i
Section 5.03. Authorities and Duties..........................................................................9
Section 5.04. Tenure and Removal..............................................................................9
Section 5.05. Vacancies.......................................................................................9
Section 5.06. Compensation....................................................................................9
ARTICLE VI. DUTIES OF OFFICERS............................................................................9
Section 6.01. Chairman of the Board...........................................................................9
Section 6.02. Chief Executive Officer........................................................................10
Section 6.03. President......................................................................................10
Section 6.04. Chief Financial Officer........................................................................10
Section 6.05. Vice President.................................................................................10
Section 6.06. Secretary......................................................................................10
Section 6.07. Treasurer......................................................................................11
Section 6.08. Other Officers.................................................................................11
ARTICLE VII. SHARES.......................................................................................11
Section 7.01. Stock Certificates; Form and Signature.........................................................11
Section 7.02. Registered Stockholders........................................................................11
Section 7.03. Transfer of Stock..............................................................................12
Section 7.04. Lost Certificates..............................................................................12
Section 7.05. Dividends and Distributions....................................................................12
Section 7.06. Record Date For Purposes Other than Notice and Voting..........................................12
ARTICLE VIII. RECORDS AND REPORTS..........................................................................13
Section 8.01. Maintenance of Books and Records...............................................................13
ARTICLE IX. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND
OTHER PERSONS................................................................................13
Section 9.01. Indemnification of Directors and Officers......................................................13
Section 9.02. Indemnification of Others......................................................................14
Section 9.03. Insurance......................................................................................14
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS................................................................................14
Section 10.01. Seal..........................................................................................14
Section 10.02. Fiscal Year...................................................................................15
Section 10.03. Checks........................................................................................15
Section 10.04. General and Special Bank Accounts.............................................................15
Section 10.05. Contracts and Conveyances.....................................................................15
ARTICLE XI. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS......................................................................15
Section 11.01. Power to Amend................................................................................15
ii
BYLAWS
OF
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
OCTOBER 20, 2003
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01. Registered Office. The registered office of the
Corporation shall be fixed in the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, as
the same may be amended from time to time.
Section 1.02. Other Offices. The Corporation may maintain offices or
places of business at such other locations within or without the State of
Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the
business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01. Place of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders shall be held
at any place, within or outside the State of Delaware, as designated by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion,
determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may
instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section
211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware
General Corporation Law"). If so authorized, and subject to such guidelines and
procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders
not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote
communication, participate in a meeting of stockholders and be deemed present in
person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held
at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that
(a) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each
person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote
communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (b) the Corporation shall
implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a
reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters
submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the
proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and
(c) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting
by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be
maintained by the Corporation.
Section 2.02. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders for
the election of directors shall be held at such time on such day, other than a
legal holiday, as the
1
Board of Directors in each such year determines. At the annual meeting, the
stockholders entitled to vote for the election of directors shall elect, by a
plurality vote, a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.
Section 2.03. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders,
for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the
Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the President and shall be called
by the President or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the
Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning a
majority in amount of the entire capital stock of the Corporation issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed meeting. At any special meeting of stockholders, only
such business may be transacted as is related to the purpose or purposes set
forth in the notice of such meeting.
Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of every meeting of
stockholders, stating the place, date and hour thereof, the means of remote
communication, if any, and, in the case of a special meeting of stockholders,
the purpose or purposes thereof and the person or persons by whom or at whose
direction such meeting has been called and such notice is being issued, shall be
given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of
the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary, or the persons calling the
meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If
mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United
States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his, her or its
address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. Nothing
contained in these Bylaws shall preclude the stockholders from waiving notice as
provided in Section 4.01.
Section 2.05. List of Stockholders. The Secretary or agent having
charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least
ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order,
and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered
in the name of each stockholder. Such list, for a period of ten (10) days prior
to such meeting, shall be kept at the principal place of business of the
Corporation or at the office of the transfer agent or registrar of the
Corporation and such other places as required by statute and shall be subject to
inspection by any stockholder at any time during usual business hours. Such list
shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and
shall be subject to the inspection of any stockholder at any time during the
meeting. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication,
then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during
the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and
the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice
of the meeting.
Section 2.06. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote,
present in person or represented by proxy, shall be necessary to and shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of
business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of
Incorporation. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders
of a majority of the shares having voting power present in person or represented
by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the
question is one upon which, by express
2
provision of the statute or of the Certificate of Incorporation, a different
vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control
the decision of such question.
Section 2.07. Adjourned Meeting; Notice.
(a) Any stockholders meeting, either annual or special, whether or not
a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the
majority of the voting power of the shares represented at the meeting, either in
person or by proxy. In the absence of a quorum, no other business may be
transacted at that meeting except as provided in Section 2.06.
(b) When any stockholders meeting, either annual or special, is
adjourned to another time or place or means of remote communication, notice need
not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof,
and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and
proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned
meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
However, if a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed or if the
adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days after the date set for the
original meeting, then notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting
the Corporation may transact business that might have been transacted at the
original meeting.
Section 2.08. Voting. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be
entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the capital stock
having voting power held by such stockholder.
Section 2.09. Record Date for Stockholder Notice.
(a) For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of
any meeting or to vote at any meeting, the Board of Directors may fix, in
advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which
shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the
date of any such meeting, and in such event only stockholders of record on the
date so fixed are entitled to notice and to vote, notwithstanding any transfer
of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date.
(b) If the Board of Directors does not so fix a record date, the record
date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a
stockholders meeting shall be at the close of business on the business day next
preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the
close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held.
(c) A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or
to vote at a stockholders meeting shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting
unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting,
but the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date if the meeting is
adjourned for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original
meeting.
3
(d) The record date for any other purpose shall be as provided in
Section 7.06.
Section 2.10. Proxies. Every stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting
or by consent without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act
for such stockholder by proxy. Each proxy shall be in writing executed by the
stockholder giving the proxy or by his duly authorized attorney. No proxy shall
be valid after the expiration of three (3) years from its date, unless a longer
period is provided for in the proxy. Unless and until voted, every proxy shall
be revocable at the pleasure of the person who executed it, or his legal
representatives or assigns except in those cases where an irrevocable proxy
permitted by statute has been given.
Section 2.11. Conduct of Meeting. The Chairman of the Board shall
preside at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence of the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all such meetings. In
the absence of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, the
President shall preside at all such meetings. If none of the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President is present, then any other
director chosen by the directors in attendance shall preside. The Secretary of
the Corporation, or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary, if any,
shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an
Assistant Secretary is present, the person presiding at the meeting shall
appoint a secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.12. Inspectors and Judges. The directors, in advance of any
meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors of election or judges
of the vote, as the case may be, to act at the meeting or any adjournment
thereof. If an inspector or inspectors or judge or judges are not appointed, the
person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more
inspectors or judges. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector or
judge fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by
the person presiding at the meeting. Each inspector or judge, if any, before
entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath to
faithfully execute the duties of inspector or judge at such meeting with strict
impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors or judges,
if any, shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting
power of each class and series, the shares of stock represented at the meeting,
the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive
votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions
arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes,
ballots or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to
conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of
the person presiding at the meeting, the inspector or inspectors or judge or
judges, if any, shall make a report in writing on any challenge, question or
matter determined by him or them and execute a certificate of any fact found by
him or them.
Section 2.13. Stockholder Proposals. (a) At any special meeting of the
stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought
before the meeting by or at the director of the Board of Directors. At any
annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as
shall have been brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors, or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a
stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this
Section 2.13, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies
with the procedures set forth below.
4
(b) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of
stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing
to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must
be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior
to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting; provided,
however, that in the event that the annual meeting with respect to which such
notice is to be tendered is not held within thirty (30) days before or after
such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received
no later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on
which notice of the date of the meeting or public disclosure thereof was given
or made. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth as to each matter the
stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (i) a brief description of the
business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting
such business at the meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the
Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class
and the number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially
owned by the stockholder, and (iv) a description of all arrangements or
understandings between such stockholder and any other person or persons
(including their names) in connection with such business and any material
interest of the stockholder in such business.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no
business shall be conducted at a stockholders meeting except in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 2.13. If the Board of Directors shall
determine that business was not properly brought before the meeting in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.13, the person
presiding at such meeting shall so declare to the meeting and any such business
not properly brought before such meeting shall not be transacted.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.13, a
stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder with
respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.13.
Section 2.14. Action Without a Meeting.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any
action required to be taken at any annual or special stockholders meeting, or
any action which may be taken at any annual or special stockholders meeting, may
be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a
consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the
holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which
all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be
delivered in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware,
its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having
custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are
recorded. The Corporation shall give prompt notice of the taking of the
corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent to
those stockholders who have not consented in writing. Stockholders may, unless
the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides, act by written consent to
elect directors.
5
(b) A telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting
to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or by
a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be
deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes herein, provided that
any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission sets forth or is
delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine (i) that the
telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was transmitted by the
stockholder or proxyholder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the
stockholder or proxyholder, and (ii) the date on which such stockholder or
proxyholder or authorized persons or persons transmitted such telegram,
cablegram or other electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram,
cablegram or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the
date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, cablegram
or electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such
consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be delivered
in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, to
the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal
place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of
the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Any
copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be
substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all such
purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy,
facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire
original writing.
ARTICLE III.
DIRECTORS
Section 3.01. Powers and Duties. The business of the Corporation shall
be managed by or under the direction of its Board of Directors which may
exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these
Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 3.02. Number of Directors; Election. The number of directors
which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be initially be fixed by the
incorporator and thereafter from time to time by a vote of a majority of the
entire Board of Directors and shall not be less than two (2) nor more than seven
(7). The number of directors shall initially be four (4). The directors shall be
elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section
3.02, and each director elected shall hold office until his or her successor is
elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3.03. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled
by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, though less than a
quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold
office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly
elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced. If there are no directors in
office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by
statute. If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created
directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a majority
of the Board of Directors (as constituted immediately prior to any such
increase), the
6
Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders
holding at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of the shares at the time
outstanding having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an
election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships,
or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office.
Section 3.04. Removal. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be
removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of shares entitled
to vote at an election of directors.
Section 3.05. Place of Meetings. All meetings of the Board of Directors
may be held either within or without the State of Delaware.
Section 3.06. Annual Meetings. The annual meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of
stockholders, and no notice of such meeting to the Board of Directors shall be
necessary in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be
present. The annual meetings shall be for the purposes of organization, election
of offices and the transaction of other business.
Section 3.07. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall
from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.08. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President on three
(3) days' notice to each director, either personally or by mail or by facsimile
or electronic communication; special meetings shall be called by the Chairman of
the Board, President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the
written request of two directors unless the Board of Director consists of only
one director; in which case special meetings shall be called by the Chairman of
the Board, President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the
written request of the sole director.
Section 3.09. Notice of Meetings. Notice of each special meeting of the
Board of Directors (and of each regular meeting for which notice shall be
required) shall be given by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and shall
state the place, date and time of the meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall
be given orally or shall be mailed or sent by courier to each director at his or
her residence or usual place of business. If notice of less than three (3) days
is given, it shall be oral, whether by telephone or in person, or sent by
special delivery mail, courier, or telegraph. If mailed, the notice shall be
given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. If sent by
courier, the notice shall be given when deposited with a nationally recognized
delivery service, next day delivery requested, delivery fee prepaid. Notice of
any adjourned meeting, including the place, date and time of the new meeting,
shall be given to all directors not present at the time of the adjournment, as
well as to the other directors unless the place, date and time of the new
meeting is announced at the adjourned meeting. Nothing herein contained shall
preclude the directors from waiving notice as provided in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.10. Quorum and Voting. At all meetings of the Board of
Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall be necessary to,
and shall constitute a quorum for,
7
the transaction of business, unless otherwise provided by any applicable
provision of law, by these Bylaws, or by the Certificate of Incorporation. The
act of a majority of the directors present at the time of the vote, if a quorum
is present at such time, shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless
otherwise provided by an applicable provision of law, by these Bylaws or by the
Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of
the Board of Directors, the directors present at such meeting may adjourn the
meeting from time to time, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 3.11. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have
the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid
their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors
and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of
Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any
director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed
like compensation for attending committee meetings.
Section 3.12. Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of
Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or
facsimile or electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or facsimile
or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in
paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in
electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 3.13. Telephone Participation. Unless otherwise restricted by
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of
Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may
participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means
of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation
in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 3.14. Committees of the Board. The Board of Directors may
designate one or more committees, including Executive, Audit, Nominating, and
Compensation Committees, with each committee to consist of one or more of the
directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or
disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Each committee (including
the members thereof) shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and
shall keep minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of
Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, each such committee, to the
extent provided in the resolution establishing it, shall have and may exercise
all the authority of the Board of Directors with respect to all matters.
8
ARTICLE IV
WAIVER OF NOTICES
Section 4.01. Waiver. Whenever any notice is required to be given under
the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of
these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to notice or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled
to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent to the required notice.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 5.01. Executive Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall
be a Chairman of the Board, a President, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief
Financial Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Any person may hold two or more
of such offices. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually (and
from time to time by the Board of Directors, as vacancies occur), at the annual
meeting of the Board of Directors following the meeting of stockholders at which
the Board of Directors was elected.
Section 5.02. Other Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint such
other officers and agents, including Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents,
Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, as it shall at any time or from
time to time deem necessary or advisable.
Section 5.03. Authorities and Duties. All officers, as between
themselves and the Corporation, shall have such authority and perform such
duties in the management of business and affairs of the Corporation as may be
provided in these Bylaws, or, to the extent not so provided, as may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.04. Tenure and Removal. The officers of the Corporation shall
be elected or appointed to hold office until their respective successors are
elected or appointed. All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the
Board of Directors, and any officer elected or appointed by the Board of
Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors for cause or
without cause at any regular or special meeting.
Section 5.05. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the
Corporation, whether because of death, resignation or removal, with or without
cause, or any other reason, shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 5.06. Compensation. The salaries and other compensation of all
officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner
prescribed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 6.01. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if such
office is filled, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders (in
accordance with Section 2.11) and of
9
the Board of Directors at which the Chairman is present and shall perform such
other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 6.02. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer
shall have general supervision of the business and affairs of the Corporation
and shall have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may from time to
time prescribe. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors.
Section 6.03. President. The President shall have general charge of the
business and affairs of the Corporation subject to the control of the Board of
Directors and the Chief Executive Officer and in the absence of the Chairman of
the Board and the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and directors. The President shall perform such other duties as are
properly required of him or her by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.04. Chief Financial Officer. The powers and duties of the
Chief Financial Officer are:
(a) To supervise the corporate-wide treasury functions and financial
reporting to external bodies;
(b) To have the custody of all funds, securities, evidence of
indebtedness and other valuable documents of the Corporation and, at the Chief
Financial Officer's discretion, to cause any or all thereof to be deposited for
account of the Corporation at such depositary as may be designated from time to
time by the Board of Directors or, if not designated by the Board of Directors,
at such depository as may be designated by the President or the Chief Financial
Officer;
(c) To receive or cause to be received, and to give or cause to be
given, receipts and acquittances for monies paid in for the account of the
Corporation;
(d) To disburse, or cause to be disbursed, all funds of the Corporation
as may be directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements;
(e) To render to the Chief Executive Officer and President, and to the
Board of Directors, whenever they may require, accounts of all transactions and
of the financial condition of the Corporation; and
(f) Generally to do and perform all such duties as pertain to the
office of Chief Financial Officer and as may be required by the Board of
Directors.
Section 6.05. Vice President. Each Vice President (including Executive,
Senior, and Assistant Vice Presidents), if any, shall perform such duties as may
from time to time be assigned to him or her by the President, the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
Section 6.06. Secretary. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of
Directors or the President, the Secretary shall attend all meetings of the
stockholders and all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall record all
proceedings taken at such meetings in a book to be kept
10
for that purpose. The Secretary shall see that all notices of meetings of
stockholders and meetings of the Board of Directors are duly given in accordance
with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law. The Secretary shall
be the custodian of the records and of any corporate seal or seals of the
Corporation. The Secretary shall have authority to affix any corporate seal or
seals to all documents, the execution of which, on behalf of the Corporation,
under its seal, is duly authorized, and when so affixed it may be attested by
the Secretary's signature. In general, the Secretary shall perform all duties
incident to the office of the Secretary of a corporation, and shall perform such
duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the President, the
Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
Section 6.07. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of and be
responsible for all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the
Corporation and shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, in the name and to the
credit of the Corporation, all moneys and valuable effects in such banks, trust
companies, or other depositories as shall from time to time be selected by the
Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation; the Treasurer
shall render to the President, the Chief Executive Officer and each member of
the Board of Directors, whenever requested, an account of all of his
transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation; and
in general, the Treasurer shall perform all of the duties incident to the office
of the Treasurer of a corporation, and shall perform such duties as may from
time to time be assigned to him or her by the President, the Chief Executive
Officer or the Board of Directors.
Section 6.08. Other Officers. The Board of Directors may also elect or
may delegate to the President or the Chief Executive Officer the power to
appoint such other officers as it may at any time or from time to time deem
advisable, and any officers so elected or appointed shall have such authority
and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her
by the President, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES
Section 7.01. Stock Certificates; Form and Signature. The shares of the
Corporation's capital stock shall be represented by a certificate unless the
Board of Directors directs that some classes or series of capital stock be
uncertificated. Certificates shall be signed by, or in the name of the
Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice-President,
and by the Secretary or Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer or Assistant
Secretary of the Corporation. Any of or all the signatures on a certificate may
be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or
whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased
to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is
issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were
such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 7.02. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be
entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as
the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold
liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner
of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable
11
or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other
person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise provided by applicable laws.
Section 7.03. Transfer of Stock. Upon surrender to the Corporation or
the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed
or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to
transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the
transaction upon its books. Upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from
the registered owner of uncertificated shares, such uncertificated shares shall
be cancelled and issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or
certificated shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto and the
transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Corporation.
Section 7.04. Lost Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new
certificate for shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it,
alleged to have been lost, mutilated, stolen or destroyed, and the Board of
Directors of the officers of the Corporation may require the owner of such lost,
mutilated, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal
representatives, to make an affidavit of the fact and/or to give the Corporation
a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be
made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, mutilation, theft
or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new
certificate.
Section 7.05. Dividends and Distributions. Dividends and other
distributions upon or with respect to outstanding shares of the capital stock of
the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or
special meeting, and may be paid in cash, bonds, property, or in shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation. The Board of Directors shall have full power
and discretion, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or
the terms of any other corporate document or instrument to determine what, if
any, dividends or distributions shall be declared and paid or made.
Section 7.06. Record Date For Purposes Other than Notice and Voting.
For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders
entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange
of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors
may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which shall not be more
than sixty (60) days before any such action. In that case, only stockholders of
record at the close of business on the date so fixed are entitled to receive the
dividend, distribution or allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, as
the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the
corporation after the record date so fixed, except as otherwise provided in
these Bylaws. If the Board of Directors does not so fix a record date, then the
record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the
close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the
applicable resolution.
12
ARTICLE VIII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
Section 8.01. Maintenance of Books and Records. The proper officers and
agents of the Corporation shall keep and maintain such books, records and
accounts of the Corporation's business and affairs, minutes of the proceedings
of its shareholders, Board of Directors and committees, if any, and such stock
ledgers and lists of shareholders, as the Board of Directors shall deem
advisable, and as shall be required by the laws of the State of Delaware and
other states or jurisdictions empowered to impose such requirements. Books,
records and minutes may be kept within or without the State of Delaware in a
place which the Board shall determine.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHER PERSONS
Section 9.01. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
(a) The Corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as the same now exists or may
hereafter be amended, indemnify any person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, or proceeding in which such person was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director or officer of the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 9.01, a
"director" or "officer" of the Corporation shall mean any person (i) who is or
was a director or officer of the Corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was a
director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the
Corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor
corporation.
(b) The Corporation shall be required to indemnify a director or
officer in connection with an action, suit, or proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such director or officer only if the initiation of such action,
suit, or proceeding (or part thereof) by the director or officer was authorized
by the Board of Directors.
(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the
Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit, or proceeding referred to this Section 9.01. or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, such officer or director shall be indemnified by
the Corporation against expenses (including attorney's fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by such officer or director.
(d) The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorney's fees)
incurred by a director or officer of the Corporation entitled to indemnification
under these Bylaws in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
this Section 9.01 in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that
payment of expenses incurred by a director or officer of the Corporation in
advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding shall be
made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay all
amounts
13
advanced if it should ultimately be determined that the director or officer is
not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 9.01 or otherwise.
(e) The rights conferred on any person by this Article shall not be
exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws,
agreement, vote of the stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
(f) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this
Article or any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of these Bylaws of any person in
respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or
modification.
Section 9.02. Indemnification of Others. The Corporation shall have the
power, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, to indemnify
any person (other than directors and officers) against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, or proceeding, in which such person was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was
an employee or agent of the Corporation. The Corporation's obligation, if any,
to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such
person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise. For purposes of this
Section 9.02, an "employee" or "agent" of the Corporation (other than a director
or officer) shall mean any person (i) who is or was an employee or agent of the
Corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an
employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, or (iii) who was an employee or agent of a Corporation which
was a predecessor Corporation of the Corporation or of another enterprise at the
request of such predecessor corporation.
Section 9.03. Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person
in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or
not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability under this Article.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01. Seal. If the Board of Directors elects to adopt a
corporate seal, the corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the
Corporation, the year of its organization and the words "Corporate Seal,
Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
14
Section 10.02. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 10.03. Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes of the
Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or
persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Section 10.04. General and Special Bank Accounts. The Board of
Directors may authorize from time to time the opening and keeping of general and
special bank accounts with such banks, trust companies or other depositories as
the Board of Directors may designate or as may be designated by any officer or
officers of the Corporation to whom such power of designation may be delegated
by the Board of Directors from time to time. The Board of Directors may make
such special rules and regulations with respect to such bank accounts, not
inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws, as it may deem expedient.
Section 10.05. Contracts and Conveyances. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation may in any instance designate the officer and/or agent who shall
have authority to execute any contract, conveyance, mortgage or other instrument
on behalf of the Corporation, or may ratify or confirm any execution. When the
execution of any instrument has been authorized without specification of the
executing officers or agents, the Chairman of the Board, the President or any
Vice President, and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or Treasurer or
Assistant Treasurer, may execute the same in the name and on behalf of this
Corporation and may affix the corporate seal thereto.
ARTICLE XI
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS
Section 11.01. Power to Amend. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or
repealed or new bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of
Directors, when such power is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation, at any regular meeting of the stockholders or of
the Board of Directors or at any special meeting of the stockholders or of the
Board of Directors if notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption
of new bylaws be contained in the notice of such special meeting. If the power
to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation, it shall not divest or limit the power of the
stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy
of the Bylaws of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation, as in
effect on the date hereof.
Dated: October 20, 2003 /s/ Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
----------- ------------------------------
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
President
15
EXHIBIT 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
$80,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
AMONG
ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LLC
FINANCIAL CREDIT, LLC
CFC FINANCIAL, LLC
CONSUMER CREDIT, LLC
AS THE BORROWERS,
BANK ONE, NA,
AS AGENT
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
AS LEAD ARRANGER AND SOLE BOOK RUNNER, AND
THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS........................................................... 1
1.1 Certain Definitions........................................... 1
1.2 Other Definitions; Rules of Construction...................... 14
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND THE LOANS....................................... 15
2.1 Commitment of the Banks....................................... 15
2.2 Termination and Reduction of Commitment....................... 15
2.3 Fees.......................................................... 16
2.4 Disbursement of Loans......................................... 16
2.5 Conditions for First Disbursement............................. 17
2.6 Further Conditions for Disbursement........................... 19
2.7 Security and Collateral....................................... 20
2.8 Borrowing Base Adjustments.................................... 20
2.9 Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Borrowings......... 21
2.10 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing.............................. 21
2.11 Lending Installations......................................... 21
ARTICLE III PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS OF LOANS................................... 26
3.1 Principal Payments and Prepayments............................ 26
3.2 Interest and Interest Payments................................ 26
3.3 Payment Method................................................ 27
3.4 No Setoff or Deduction........................................ 28
3.5 Payment on Non-Business Day; Payment Computations............. 28
3.6 Yield Protection.............................................. 28
3.7 Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations....................... 29
3.8 Availability of Types of Borrowings........................... 29
3.9 Funding Indemnification....................................... 29
3.10 Taxes......................................................... 30
3.11 Bank Statements; Survival of Indemnity........................ 31
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................... 32
4.1 Corporate Existence and Power................................. 32
4.2 Authority..................................................... 32
4.3 Binding Effect................................................ 33
4.4 Subsidiaries.................................................. 33
4.5 Litigation.................................................... 33
4.6 Financial Condition........................................... 33
4.7 Use of Loans.................................................. 34
4.8 Consents, Etc................................................. 34
4.9 Taxes......................................................... 34
4.10 Title to Properties........................................... 34
4.11 ERISA......................................................... 35
4.12 Disclosure.................................................... 35
-i-
4.13 Environmental Matters............................................. 35
4.14 Common Enterprise................................................. 35
ARTICLE V COVENANTS........ ........................................................ 36
5.1 Affirmative Covenants............................................. 36
5.2 Negative Covenants................................................ 40
ARTICLE VI DEFAULT.................................................................. 45
6.1 Events of Default................................................. 45
6.2 Remedies.......................................................... 48
ARTICLE VII. THE AGENT; TAXES; RATABLE PAYMENTS; BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS
AND PARTICIPATIONS; DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS........................... 49
7.1 Appointment; Nature of Relationship............................... 49
7.2 Powers............................................................ 50
7.3 General Immunity.................................................. 50
7.4 No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc........................ 50
7.5 Action on Instructions of Banks................................... 50
7.6 Employment of Agents and Counsel.................................. 50
7.7 Reliance on Documents; Counsel.................................... 51
7.8 Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification......................... 51
7.9 Notice of Default................................................. 51
7.10 Rights as a Bank.................................................. 51
7.11 Bank Credit Decision.............................................. 52
7.12 Successor Agent................................................... 52
7.13 Delegation to Affiliates.......................................... 52
7.14 Execution of Collateral Documents................................. 53
7.15 Collateral Releases............................................... 53
7.16 Ratable Payments.................................................. 53
7.17 Successors and Assigns............................................ 53
7.18 Participations.................................................... 54
7.19 Assignments....................................................... 54
7.20 Dissemination of Information...................................... 55
7.21 Tax Treatment..................................................... 55
7.22 Distribution of Proceeds of Collateral and Guaranties............. 55
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................... 56
8.1 Amendments, Etc................................................... 56
8.2 Notices........................................................... 57
8.3 No Waiver By Conduct; Remedies Cumulative......................... 58
8.4 Reliance on and Survival of Various Provisions.................... 58
8.5 Expenses; Indemnification......................................... 58
8.6 Counterparts...................................................... 59
8.7 Governing Law..................................................... 59
8.8 Table of Contents and Headings.................................... 59
-ii-
8.9 Construction of Certain Provisions................................ 59
8.10 Integration and Severability...................................... 59
8.11 Independence of Covenants......................................... 60
8.12 Interest Rate Limitation.......................................... 60
8.13 Nonliability of Banks............................................. 60
8.14 Consents to Renewals, Modifications and Other Actions and Events.. 60
8.15 Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement................... 61
8.16 Waivers, Etc...................................................... 61
8.17 Waiver Of Jury Trial.............................................. 64
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit B Guaranty Agreement
Exhibit C Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit D Security Agreement
Exhibit E Request for Loan
Exhibit F Request for Continuation/Conversion
Exhibit G Assignment
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 30, 2002 (this
"Agreement"), is by and among ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, FINANCIAL CREDIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
CFC FINANCIAL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and CONSUMER CREDIT,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the "Borrowers"), BANK
ONE, NA, a national banking association with its main office in Chicago,
Illinois ("Bank One"), STANDARD FEDERAL BANK, NA, a national banking
association, NATIONAL CITY BANK OF MICHIGAN/ILLINOIS, a national banking
association, FIFTH THIRD BANK, EASTERN MICHIGAN, a Michigan banking corporation,
and COMERICA BANK, a Michigan banking corporation (together with Bank One and
any other lenders party hereto from time to time by assignment pursuant to
Section 7.19, collectively, the "Banks" and, individually, a "Bank"), and BANK
ONE, NA, as LC Issuer and administrative agent on behalf of the Banks (the
"Agent").
INTRODUCTION
The Borrowers desire to obtain a revolving credit facility in the
aggregate principal amount of $80,000,000 in order to (i) finance the
recapitalization of Asset Acceptance Corp. and certain of its affiliates (the
"Recapitalization"), (ii) refinance the indebtedness outstanding under the
Credit Agreement dated as of June 26, 2000, as amended, among certain banks,
Bank One, as agent for such banks, and Asset Acceptance Corp., Lee Acceptance
Corp., Financial Credit Corp and CFC Financial Corp. (successor by merger to
City Financial Corp.), as borrowers (such borrowers being, collectively, the
"Existing Borrowers" and such agreement, as amended, being the "Existing Credit
Agreement"), (iii) pay certain fees and expenses related to the
Recapitalization, and (iv) finance the purchase of portfolios of charged-off
consumer receivables, and the Banks are willing to establish such a credit
facility in favor of the Borrowers on the terms and conditions herein set forth.
TERMS
In consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. As used herein and in the Schedules and
Exhibits attached hereto, the following terms shall have the following
respective meanings:
"Adjusted EBITDA" of any person shall mean, for any period,
the sum, without duplication, of (a) the EBITDA of such person for such period,
plus (b) the Amortized Collections of such person for such period.
"Adjusted Receivables Balances" of any person at any date
shall mean the sum of (a) 50% of the aggregate amount of all Receivables owned
by such person with respect to which
a payment has been received by such person within the 90-days immediately
preceding such date plus (b) 0.25% of the aggregate amount of all other
Receivables of such person.
"Affiliate", when used with respect to any person shall mean
any other person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or
is under common control with such person. For purposes of this definition
"control" (including the correlative meanings of the terms "controlled by" and
"under common control with"), with respect to any person, shall mean possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities or by contract or otherwise.
"Age Adjusted Percentage" shall mean, with respect to any
Receivables Portfolio of any Borrower, (a) for the period from and including the
date such Borrower or its predecessor acquires such Receivables Portfolio to and
including the end of the fourth full calendar month ending after such date,
eighty-five percent (85%), and (b) for any subsequent calendar month beginning
after such fourth full calendar month, the percent equal to eighty-five percent
(85%) less three percent (3%) for each successive calendar month that has begun
since the end of such fourth full calendar month.
"Aggregate Commitment" means the aggregate of the Commitments
of all of the Banks, not exceeding $80,000,000, as such amount may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
"Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure" means, at any time,
the aggregate of the Outstanding Credit Exposure of all the Banks.
"Amortized Collections" of any Borrower shall mean, for any
period, the aggregate Collections of such Borrower that are applied to amortize
the Receivables assets of such Borrower.
"Applicable Margin" shall mean, for purposes of determining
for any calendar quarter or portion thereof (the "Application Quarter") the
Floating Rate applicable to Floating Rate Loans then outstanding and for any
Interest Period or portion thereof the Eurodollar Rate applicable to Eurodollar
Loans then outstanding, as the case may be, the applicable margin (expressed as
a percentage per annum) in accordance with the following chart based upon the
ratio of the Consolidated Total Liabilities of the Borrowers to the Consolidated
EBITDA of the Borrowers as of the end of the latest fiscal quarter of the
Borrowers ended prior to the Application Quarter or Interest Period, as the case
may be, for which a compliance certificate has been furnished in accordance with
Section 5.1(d)(iv):
2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of the Borrowers' Consolidated Applicable Margin for Floating Applicable Margin for
Total Liabilities to the Borrowers' Rate Loans Eurodollar Loans
Consolidated EBITDA (%) (%)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.5 to 1.0 0.25 3.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.0 to 1.0 but equal to or 0.00 2.75
less than 1.5 to 1.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equal to or less than 1.0 to 1.0 0.00 2.50
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Such ratio shall be determined from the then most recent compliance certificate
delivered by the Borrowers from time to time pursuant to Section 5.1(d)(iv).
Each change in the Applicable Margin shall be effective on the first day of the
first calendar month beginning after delivery of any such compliance
certificate; provided that, in the event that the Borrowers shall at any time
fail to furnish to the Banks any compliance certificate when and as required to
be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(d)(iv), the maximum Applicable Margin shall
apply until such time as such compliance certificate is so delivered.
"Arranger" shall mean Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
"Asset Acceptance" shall mean Asset Acceptance, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company.
"Available Aggregate Commitment" means, at any time, the
Aggregate Commitment then in effect minus the Aggregate Outstanding Credit
Exposure at such time.
"Borrowing" shall mean the aggregation of Loans of the Banks
to be made to a Borrower or continuations and conversions of any Loans, made on
a single date and, in the case of any Eurodollar Loans, for a single Interest
Period, which Borrowings may be classified for purposes of this Agreement by
reference to the type of Loans comprising the related Borrowing, e.g., a
"Eurodollar Rate Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Loans and a
"Floating Rate Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of Floating Rate Loans.
"Borrowing Base" shall mean, as of any date, the amount equal
to the aggregate Borrowing Base Value of all Receivables Portfolios of the
Borrowers as of such date.
"Borrowing Base Certificate" for any date shall mean an
appropriately completed report as of such date in substantially the form of
Exhibit A hereto, certified as true and correct as of such date by the chief
financial officer of the Borrowers.
"Borrowing Base Value" shall mean, for any period, with
respect to any Receivables Portfolio of any Borrower, the product of (a) the
purchase price paid by such Borrower (or its Affiliate predecessor in interest)
for such Receivables Portfolio, multiplied by
3
(b) the Age Adjusted Percentage (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such
Receivables Portfolio for such period; provided that, if at any time after the
acquisition of any Receivables Portfolio by any Borrower such Borrower shall
sell or otherwise dispose of a portion of such Receivables Portfolio, whether in
one or a series of transactions, then the "Borrowing Base Value" for such
Receivables Portfolio shall be determined by the product of (a) a pro rata
portion of the purchase price paid by such Borrower for such Receivables
Portfolio (determined by the ratio that the aggregate face amount of the
remaining Receivables in such Receivables Portfolio bears to the aggregate face
amount of all the Receivables included in such Receivables Portfolio at the time
of its acquisition), multiplied by (b) the applicable Age Adjusted Percentage.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Borrowing Base Value with respect
to any Receivables Portfolio shall be determined exclusive of any Receivables in
such Receivables Portfolio that are not Eligible Receivables.
"Borrowing Date" means a date on which a Borrowing is made
hereunder.
"Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday)
on which banks generally are open in Detroit and Chicago for the conduct of
substantially all of their commercial lending activities and interbank wire
transfers can be made on the Fedwire system.
"Capital Lease" of any person shall mean any lease which, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, is or should be
capitalized on the books of such person.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time, and the regulations thereunder.
"Collections" shall mean amounts obtained by any Borrower on
Receivables of such Borrower in the ordinary course of business through such
Borrower's collection efforts and from sales of such Receivables, where the sold
Receivables do not represent more than twenty percent (20%) of the related
Receivables Portfolio.
"Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each Bank, the
commitment of each such Bank to make Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section
2.1 and participate in Facility LCs issued upon the application of Asset
Acceptance in an aggregate amount outstanding at any time not exceeding the
respective commitment amount for each such Bank set forth next to the name of
each such Bank on the signature pages hereof, as such amounts may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2.
"Companies" is defined in Section 4.6.
"Consolidated" or "consolidated" shall mean, when used with
reference to any financial term in this Agreement, the aggregate for two or more
persons of the amounts signified by such term for all such persons determined on
a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
or, for unconsolidated entities, determined on a combined basis after
elimination of inter-company items as if such entities were consolidated in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Unless expressly
stated otherwise,
4
"Consolidated" and "consolidated" shall be deemed to mean the relevant financial
term with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
"Contingent Liabilities" of any person shall mean, as of any
date, all obligations of such person or of others for which such person is
contingently liable, as obligor, guarantor or in any other capacity, or in
respect of which obligations such person assures a creditor against loss or
agrees to take any action to prevent any such loss (other than endorsements of
negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business),
including without limitation all reimbursement obligations of such person in
respect of any letters of credit, surety bonds or similar obligations and all
obligations of such person to advance funds to, or to purchase assets, property
or services from, any other person in order to maintain the financial condition
of such other person.
"Consulting Services Agreement" shall mean the consulting
services agreement or agreements dated the Effective Date between the Borrowers
and Quad-C, as amended or modified from time to time.
"Credit Extension" means the making of a Borrowing or the
issuance of a Facility LC hereunder.
"Credit Extension Date" means the Borrowing Date for a
Borrowing or the issuance date for a Facility LC.
"Cumulative Net Income" of any person shall mean, as of any
date, the net income (after deduction for income and other taxes of such person
determined by reference to income or profits of such person) for the period
commencing on the specified date through the end of the most recently completed
fiscal year of such person (but without reduction for any net loss incurred for
any fiscal year during such period), taken as one accounting period, all as
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
"Default" shall mean any of the events or conditions described
in Section 6.1 which might become an Event of Default with notice or lapse of
time or both.
"Dollars" and "$" shall mean the lawful money of the United
States of America.
"EBIT" of any person shall mean, for any period, the after-tax
net income (exclusive of any non-recurring gains or losses) of such person for
such period plus, to the extent deducted in determining such after-tax net
income for such period, (a) Interest Charges of such person for such period, and
(b) income and other taxes determined by reference to income or profits of such
person for such period.
"EBITDA" of any person shall mean, as of the last day of any
fiscal quarter of such person, the EBIT of such person for the period of four
fiscal quarters of such person then ended plus, to the extent deducted in
determining such EBIT for such period, depreciation and amortization charges
(excluding amortization of Receivables) of such person for such period.
5
"Effective Date" shall mean the effective date specified in
the final paragraph of this Agreement.
"Eligible Receivable" of any Borrower shall mean any
Receivable owned by such Borrower that is payable in Dollars and in which such
Borrower has granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Banks and the Agent a
first-priority perfected security interest pursuant to the Security Agreement,
other than any such Receivable:
(a) that is not a bona fide existing obligation for which
good and sufficient consideration has been given;
(b) with respect to which such Borrower does not have
good and marketable title pursuant to a legal, valid and binding assignment to
such Borrower;
(c) that has been repurchased by, or returned or put-back
to, the person from whom such Borrower acquired such Receivable;
(d) all or any portion of which is subject to any Lien
(except that in favor of the Agent under the Security Documents), or if the
consideration of which such Receivable constitutes proceeds is subject to any
Lien;
(e) that is due from or has been acquired from any
Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Borrower (other than from an Existing Borrower
in the Recapitalization);
(f) that is subordinate or junior in right or priority of
payment to any other obligation or claim;
(g) that was not created in compliance, in all material
respects, with all Requirements of Law, or with respect to which such Borrower,
any Affiliate of such Borrower or any officer, employee, agent or representative
of such Borrower or any such Affiliate has not complied with all Requirements of
Law;
(h) that is not an "account," a "general intangible" or
"chattel paper" under and as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code
as then in effect in the State of Michigan; or
(i) that is not, or with respect to which any of the
underlying agreements, promissory notes or other instruments and documents is
not, in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
"Employment Agreements" are defined in Section 2.5(o).
"Environmental Laws" at any date shall mean all provisions of
law, statute, ordinance, rules, regulations, judgments, writs, injunctions,
decrees, orders, awards and standards promulgated by the government of the
United States of America or any foreign government or by any state, province,
municipality or other political subdivision thereof or therein, or by any
6
court, agency, instrumentality, regulatory authority or commission of any of the
foregoing concerning the protection of, or regulating the discharge of
substances into, the environment.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any trade or business (whether or
not incorporated) which, together with any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any
Borrower, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
"Eurodollar Base Rate" means, with respect to a Eurodollar
Rate Borrowing for the relevant Interest Period, the applicable British Bankers'
Association LIBOR rate for deposits in U.S. dollars as reported by any generally
recognized financial information service as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, and having a
maturity equal to such Interest Period, provided that, if no such British
Bankers' Association LIBOR rate is available to the Agent, the applicable
Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall instead be the rate
determined by the Agent to be the rate at which Bank One or one of its Affiliate
banks offers to place deposits in U.S. dollars with first-class banks in the
London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business
Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, in the approximate amount
of Bank One's relevant Eurodollar Loan and having a maturity equal to such
Interest Period.
"Eurodollar Business Day" shall mean a day which is both a
Business Day and a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in
the London interbank market.
"Eurodollar Loan" means a Loan which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 3.2, bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.
"Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing for the relevant Interest Period, the sum of (i) the quotient of (a)
the Eurodollar Base Rate applicable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one
minus the Reserve Requirement (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such
Interest Period, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.
"Eurodollar Rate Borrowing" means a Borrowing which, except as
otherwise provided in Section 3.2, bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar
Rate.
"Event of Default" shall mean any of the events or conditions
described in Section 6.1.
"Excluded Taxes" shall mean, in the case of each Bank and the
Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on
it, by (a) the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Bank or the Agent is
incorporated or organized or (b) the jurisdiction in which such Bank's or the
Agent's principal executive office or any applicable Lending Installation is
located.
7
"Existing Borrowers" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in the Introduction to this Agreement.
"Existing Credit Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in the Introduction to this Agreement.
"Facility LC" is defined in Section 2.12.1.
"Facility LC Application" is defined in Section 2.12.3.
"Facility LC Collateral Account" is defined in Section
2.12.11.
"Federal Funds Rate" shall mean, for any day, an interest rate
per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal Funds
transaction with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds
brokers, as published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or
if such rate is not so published for such day, the average of the quotations for
such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
"Floating Rate" shall mean the per annum rate equal to the sum
of (a) the Applicable Margin plus (b) the greater of (i) the Prime Rate in
effect from time to time, and (ii) the sum of one-half of one (1/2 of 1%) per
annum plus the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time; which Floating
Rate shall change simultaneously with any change in such Applicable Margin or
Prime Rate or Federal Funds Rate, as the case may be.
"Floating Rate Borrowing" means a Borrowing which, except as
otherwise provided in Section 3.2, bears interest at the Floating Rate.
"Floating Rate Loan" means a Loan which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 3.2, bears interest at the Floating Rate.
"generally accepted accounting principles" shall mean
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with that
reflected in the financial statements referred to in Section 4.6 provided,
however, that if any change in generally accepted accounting principles from
those applied in preparing such financial statements affects the calculation of
any financial covenant contained in this Agreement, the Borrowers and the Agent
hereby agree to negotiate in good faith towards making appropriate amendments
acceptable to the Required Banks to the provisions of this Agreement to reflect
as nearly as possible the effect of the financial covenants as in effect on the
date hereof.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any
state and any political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government.
"Guaranties" shall mean the guaranty or guaranties entered
into by each of the Guarantors in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the
Banks and the Agent pursuant to this
8
Agreement in substantially the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B, as amended or
modified from time to time.
"Guarantors" shall mean Holdings and each of the domestic
Subsidiaries of the Borrowers, if any, from time to time.
"Holdings" shall mean Asset Acceptance Holdings, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company and the holder of all of the membership
interests of the Borrowers.
"Indebtedness" of any person shall mean, as of any date,
without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b)
all obligations of such person represented by any note, bond, debenture or
similar evidence of indebtedness, (c) all obligations of such person as lessee
under any Capital Lease, (d) all obligations which are secured by any Lien
existing on any asset or property of such person whether or not the obligation
secured thereby shall have been assumed by such person, (e) the unpaid purchase
price for goods, property or services acquired by such person (except for trade
accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business that are not past
due), to the extent that (i) such purchase price is not payable within six
months of the incurrence of such payable and (ii) such payable is not in dispute
and subject to a good faith contest by such person, (f) all obligations of such
person to purchase goods, property or services where payment therefor is
required regardless of whether delivery of such goods or property or the
performance of such services is ever made or tendered (generally referred to as
"take or pay contracts"), (g) all liabilities of such person in respect of
Unfunded Benefit Liabilities under any Plan or of any ERISA Affiliate, (h) Net
Mark-to-Market Exposure under all Rate Management Obligations of such person,
and (i) all obligations of others similar in character to those described in
clauses (a) through (h) of this definition for which such person is contingently
liable, as obligor, guarantor, surety or in any other capacity, or in respect of
which obligations such person assures a creditor against loss or agrees to take
any action to prevent any such loss (other than endorsements of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), including
without limitation all reimbursement obligations of such person in respect of
letters of credit, surety bonds or similar obligations and all obligations of
such person to advance funds to, or to purchase assets, property or services
from, any other person in order to maintain the financial condition of such
other person.
"Interest Charges" of any person shall mean, for any period,
without duplication, the aggregate amount of all interest paid or payable by
such person on Indebtedness of such person during such period.
"Interest Payment Date" shall mean (a) with respect to any
Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each Interest Period with respect to such
Eurodollar Loan and, in the case of any Interest Period exceeding three months,
those days that occur during such Interest Period at intervals of three months
after the first day of such Interest Period, and (b) in all other cases, the
last Business Day of each month, commencing with the first such Business Day
occurring after the date of this Agreement.
"Interest Period" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing, a period of one, two, three or six months commencing on a Business
Day selected by Asset Acceptance
9
pursuant to this Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end on the day which
corresponds numerically to such date one, two, three or six months thereafter,
provided, however, that if there is no such numerically corresponding day in
such next, second, third or sixth succeeding month, such Interest Period shall
end on the last Business Day of such next, second third or sixth succeeding
month. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a
Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business
Day, provided, however, that if said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new
calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding
Business Day.
"LC Fee" is defined in Section 2.12.4.
"LC Issuer" means Bank One (or any subsidiary or affiliate of
Bank One designated by Bank One) in its capacity as issuer of Facility LCs
hereunder.
"LC Obligations" means, at any time, the sum, without
duplication, of (i) the aggregate undrawn stated amount under all Facility LCs
outstanding at such time plus (ii) the aggregate unpaid amount at such time of
all Reimbursement Obligations.
"LC Payment Date" is defined in Section 2.12.5.
"Lending Installation" means, with respect to a Bank or the
Agent, the office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Bank or the Agent
listed on the signature pages hereof or on a Schedule or otherwise selected by
such Bank or the Agent pursuant to Section 2.11.
"Lien" shall mean any pledge, assignment, hypothecation,
mortgage, security interest, deposit arrangement, option, conditional sale or
title retaining contract, sale and leaseback transaction, financing statement
filing, lessor's or lessee's interest under any lease, subordination of any
claim or right, or any other type of lien, charge, encumbrance, preferential
arrangement or other claim or right.
"Loan" shall mean any Loan made hereunder.
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Facility
LC Applications and the Security Documents.
"Modified Debt Service" of any person shall mean, for any
period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Interest Charges of such person for
such period, plus (b) Taxes of such person for such period, plus (c) the amount
equal to the aggregate payments that would be required during three months in
order to amortize in monthly installments over 30 months the amount equal to the
average aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding during such period.
"Modify" and "Modification" are defined in Section 2.12.1.
"Multiemployer Plan" shall mean any "multiemployer plan" as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or Section 414(f) of the Code.
10
"Net Mark-to-Market Exposure" of any person shall mean, as of
any date of determination, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all
unrealized profits of such person arising from Rate Management Transactions.
"Unrealized losses" means the fair market value of the cost to such person of
replacing such Rate Management Transaction as of the date of determination
(assuming the Rate Management Transaction were to be terminated as of that
date), and "unrealized profits" means the fair market value of the gain to such
person of replacing such Rate Management Transaction as of the date of
determination (assuming such Rate Management Transaction were to be terminated
as of that date).
"Note" shall mean any Revolving Credit Note.
"Obligations" means all unpaid principal of and accrued and
unpaid interest on the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations, all accrued and
unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations
of the Borrowers to the Banks or to any Bank, the Agent, the LC Issuer or any
indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.
"Other Taxes" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
Section 3.10(ii).
"Outstanding Credit Exposure" means, as to any Bank at any
time, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of its Loans outstanding at
such time, plus (ii) an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the LC Obligations
at such time.
"Overdue Rate" shall mean (a) in respect of principal of
Floating Rate Loans, a rate per annum that is equal to the sum of three percent
(3%) per annum plus the Floating Rate, (b) in respect of principal of Eurodollar
Loans, a rate per annum that is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per annum
plus the per annum rate in effect thereon until the end of the then current
Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan and, thereafter, a rate per annum that
is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per annum plus the Floating Rate, and
(c) in respect other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder (other than
interest), a per annum rate that is equal to the sum of three percent (3%) per
annum plus the Floating Rate.
"PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and
any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
"Permitted Liens" shall mean Liens permitted by Section 5.2(f)
hereof.
"Person" or "person" shall include an individual, a
corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust
or estate, a joint stock company, an unincorporated organization, a joint
venture, a trade or business (whether or not incorporated), a government
(foreign or domestic) and any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any
other entity.
"Plan" shall mean any pension plan (other than a Multiemployer
Plan) subject to Title IV of ERISA or to the minimum funding standards of
Section 412 of the Code which has been established or maintained by any
Borrower, any Subsidiary of any Borrower or any ERISA
11
Affiliate, or by any other person if such Borrower, any Subsidiary of such
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability with respect to such
pension plan.
"Prime Rate" shall mean the per annum rate equal to the prime
rate of interest announced from time to time by Bank One or its parent (which is
not necessarily the lowest rate charged to any customer), changing when and as
said prime rate changes.
"Prohibited Transaction" shall mean any transaction involving
any Plan which is proscribed by Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code.
"Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to a Bank, a portion
equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Bank's Commitment and the
denominator of which is the Aggregate Commitment.
"Quad-C" shall mean Quad-C Management, Inc.
"Rate Management Obligations" shall mean any and all
obligations of the Borrowers, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and
whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals,
extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any
and all Rate Management Transactions, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy
backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Rate Management
Transactions.
"Rate Management Transaction" shall mean any transaction
(including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered
into among a Borrower and any of the Banks, Bank One Corporation, or any of the
Banks' respective subsidiaries or affiliates or their successors, which is a
rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity
option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option,
interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor
transaction, collar transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction,
cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar
transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or
any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign
currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.
"Recapitalization" has the meaning assigned to such term in
the Introduction to this Agreement.
"Receivable" of a Borrower shall mean any right of such
Borrower to the payment of money arising out of a consumer financing
transaction, and which right was acquired by such Borrower with a group of
similar rights.
"Receivables Portfolio" of a Borrower shall mean any group of
Receivables of such Borrower acquired by such Borrower as part of a single
transaction.
12
"Reimbursement Obligations" means, at any time, the aggregate
of all obligations of the Borrower then outstanding under Section 2.12 to
reimburse the LC Issuer for amounts paid by the LC Issuer in respect of any one
or more drawings under Facility LCs.
"Reportable Event" shall mean a reportable event as described
in Section 4043(b) of ERISA including those events as to which the thirty (30)
day notice period is waived under Part 2615 of the regulations promulgated by
the PBGC under ERISA.
"Required Banks" shall mean Banks holding not less than (i) 66
2/3% percent of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans then outstanding or
(ii) 66 2/3% percent of the aggregate Commitments if no Loans are then
outstanding.
"Requirements of Law" shall mean any requirement of law, rule
or regulation or Governmental Authority, whether federal, state or local
(including, without limitation, usury laws, the Federal Truth in Lending Act,
Regulation Z and Regulation B of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Uniform Consumer Credit
Code).
"Reserve Requirement" means, with respect to an Interest
Period, the maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic,
supplemental, marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D
on Eurocurrency liabilities.
"Revolving Credit Loan" shall mean any borrowing under Section
2.4 evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes and made pursuant to Section 2.1(a).
"Revolving Credit Note" shall mean any promissory note of the
Borrowers evidencing the Loans, in substantially the form annexed hereto as
Exhibit C, as amended or modified from time to time and together with any
promissory note or notes issued in exchange or replacement therefor.
"Security Agreement" shall mean any security agreement entered
into by any Borrower or any Guarantor in favor of the Agent for the benefit of
the Banks and the Agent pursuant to this Agreement in substantially the form
annexed hereto as Exhibit D, as amended or modified from time to time.
"Security Documents" shall mean, collectively, the Guaranties,
the Security Agreements, any and all subordination agreements with respect to
Subordinated Debt, and all other agreements and documents, including financing
statements and similar documents, delivered pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise entered into by any person to secure the Loans.
"Subordinated Debt" of any person shall mean, as of any date,
that Indebtedness of such person for borrowed money which is expressly
subordinate and junior in right and priority of payment to the Loans and other
Indebtedness of such person to the Banks in manner and by agreement satisfactory
in form and substance to the Required Banks.
13
"Subsidiary" of any person shall mean any other person
(whether now existing or hereafter organized or acquired) in which (other than
directors qualifying shares required by law) at least a majority of the
securities or other ownership interests of each class having ordinary voting
power or analogous right (other than securities or other ownership interests
which have such power or right only by reason of the happening of a
contingency), at the time as of which any determination is being made, are
owned, beneficially and of record, by such person or by one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of such person or by any combination thereof. Unless otherwise
expressly provided, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" shall mean a
Subsidiary of the Borrower.
"Tangible Capital Funds" of any person shall mean, as of any
date, the sum of Tangible Net Worth plus Subordinated Debt of such person.
"Tangible Net Worth" of any person shall mean, as of any date,
(a) the amount of any capital stock, paid in capital and similar equity accounts
plus (or minus in the case of a deficit) the capital surplus and retained
earnings of such person and the amount of any foreign currency translation
adjustment account shown as a capital account of such person, less (b) the net
book value of all items of the following character which are included in the
assets of such person: (i) goodwill, including, without limitation, the excess
of cost over book value of any asset, (ii) organization or experimental
expenses, (iii) unamortized debt discount and expense, (iv) patents, trademarks,
trade names and copyrights, (v) treasury stock, (vi) deferred taxes and deferred
charges, (vii) franchises, licenses and permits, and (viii) other assets which
are deemed intangible assets under generally accepted accounting principles.
"Taxes" shall mean any and all present or future taxes,
duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and any and all
liabilities with respect to the foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes and
Other Taxes.
"Termination Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of (a) the
second to last day immediately preceding the third anniversary of the date of
this Agreement, and (b) the date on which the Commitments shall be terminated
pursuant to Section 2.2 or 6.2.
"Total Liabilities" of any person shall mean, as of any date,
all liabilities of such person, determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, other than Subordinated Debt.
"Type" means, with respect to any Borrowing, its nature as a
Floating Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing and with respect to any
Loan, its nature as a Floating Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.
"Unfunded Benefit Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to any
Plan as of any date, the amount of the unfunded benefit liabilities determined
in accordance with Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.
1.2 Other Definitions; Rules of Construction. As used herein and
in the Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto, the terms "Agent," "Bank," "Bank
One," "Banks," "Borrower" and
14
"this Agreement" shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the
introductory paragraph of this Agreement. Such terms, together with the other
terms defined in Section 1.1, shall include both the singular and the plural
forms thereof and shall be construed accordingly. All computations required
hereunder and all financial terms used herein shall be made or construed in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles unless such principles
are inconsistent with the express requirements of this Agreement. Use of the
terms "herein", "hereof", and "hereunder" shall be deemed references to this
Agreement in its entirety and not to the Section or clause in which such term
appears. References to "Sections" and "subsections" shall be to Sections and
subsections, respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically
provided.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND THE LOANS
2.1 Commitment of the Banks. Each Bank agrees, for itself only,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (i) to make Revolving
Credit Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.4 from time to time from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date, and (ii) to
participate in Facility LCs issued upon the request of Asset Acceptance, not to
exceed in aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding the amount
determined pursuant to the next following sentence. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, (a) the Outstanding Credit Exposure of any Bank
at any time shall not exceed the amount of its respective Commitment at such
time, and (b) the aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure of all Banks at any time
outstanding shall not exceed the amount of the Borrowing Base as of the close of
business on the last day of the month next preceding the date any such Credit
Extension. The Loans may be made or continued as Floating Rate Borrowings or
Eurodollar Rate Borrowings, or a combination thereof, as selected by Asset
Acceptance in accordance with Sections 2.4 and 2.9. The LC Issuer will issue
Facility LCs hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.12.
2.2 Termination and Reduction of Commitment.
(a) The Borrowers shall have the right to terminate the
Commitments or reduce the amount of the Commitments at any time and from time to
time, provided that (i) each of the Borrowers shall give notice of such
termination or reduction to the Agent (with sufficient executed copies for each
Bank) specifying the amount and effective date thereof, (ii) each partial
reduction of the amount of the Commitments shall be in a minimum amount of
$1,000,000 and in an integral multiple of $500,000 and shall reduce the
Commitments of all of the Banks proportionately in accordance with the
respective commitment amounts for each such Bank set forth in the signature
pages hereof next to name of each such Bank, (iii) no such termination or
reduction shall be permitted with respect to any portion of the Commitments as
to which a request for a Loan pursuant to Section 2.4 is then pending, and (iv)
the Commitments may not be terminated if any Loans are then outstanding and the
amount of the Commitments may not be reduced below the aggregate principal
amount of Loans then outstanding.
15
(b) The Commitments or the amount of the Commitments, as
the case may be, or any portion thereof, terminated or reduced, as the case may
be, pursuant to this Section 2.2 may not be reinstated.
2.3 Fees.
(a) The Borrowers agree to pay to each Bank a commitment
fee on the daily average unused amount of its respective Commitment, for the
period from the Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date, at a rate
equal to the one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) per annum. Accrued commitment
fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each
March, June, September and December, commencing on the first such Business Day
occurring after the Effective Date, and on the Termination Date.
(b) The Borrowers further agree to pay to the Banks a
closing fee in the amount of $200,000 for this Agreement. Such closing fee shall
be payable on or prior to the Effective Date and shall be shared among the Banks
on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Commitments.
(c) The Borrowers further agree to pay to the Agent
agency fees for its services as Agent under this Agreement, the Notes and the
Security Documents and an arrangement fee for this Agreement in such amounts and
on such schedule as may from time to time be agreed upon by the Borrowers and
the Agent.
2.4 Disbursement of Loans.
(a) Asset Acceptance shall select the Type of Borrowing
and, in the case of each Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, the Interest Period
applicable thereto from time to time. Asset Acceptance shall give the Agent
irrevocable notice in the form of Exhibit E hereto (a "Borrowing Notice") not
later than 1:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the Borrowing Date of each Floating Rate
Borrowing and three Eurodollar Business Days before the Borrowing Date for each
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing, specifying:
(i) the Borrowing Date, which shall be a
Business Day or a Eurodollar Business Day, as the case may be, of such
Borrowing,
(ii) the identity of the Borrower and the
aggregate amount of such Borrowing,
(iii) the Type of Borrowing selected, and
(iv) in the case of each Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto.
(b) On the Borrowing Date, each Bank shall promptly make
available its Loan or Loans in funds immediately available in Detroit to the
Agent at its address specified pursuant to Article VIII. The Agent will make the
funds so received from the Banks available to the Borrower requesting the
Borrowing by depositing the proceeds thereof, in immediately available funds, in
an account maintained and designated by such Borrower at the principal office of
the
16
Agent. Unless the Agent shall have received notice from any Bank prior to the
date such Borrowing is requested to be made under this Section 2.4 that such
Bank will not make available to the Agent such Bank's pro rata portion of such
Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Bank has made such portion available
to the Agent on the date such Borrowing is requested to be made in accordance
with this Section 2.4. If and to the extent such Bank shall not have so made
such pro rata portion available to the Agent, the Agent may (but shall not be
obligated to) make such amount available to the relevant Borrower, and such Bank
and the relevant Borrower severally agree to pay to the Agent forthwith on
demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such amount is made available to the relevant Borrower by the Agent until the
date such amount is repaid to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate. If such Bank
shall pay such amount to the Agent together with interest, such amount so paid
shall constitute a Loan by such Bank as a part of such Borrowing for purposes of
this Agreement. The failure of any Bank to make its pro rata portion of any such
Borrowing available to the Agent shall not relieve any other Bank of its
obligation make available its pro rata portion of such Borrowing on the date
such Borrowing is requested to be made, but no Bank shall be responsible for
failure of any other Bank to make such pro rata portion available to the Agent
on the date of any such Borrowing.
(c) All Revolving Credit Loans made under this Section
2.4 shall be evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes, and all such Loans shall
be due and payable and bear interest as provided in Article III. Each Bank is
hereby authorized by the Borrowers to record on schedules attached to its Notes,
or in its books and records, the date and amount of each Loan, the amount of
each payment or prepayment of principal thereon, and the other information
provided for on such schedule, which schedule or books and records, as the case
may be, shall constitute prima facie evidence of the information so recorded,
provided, however, that failure of any Bank to record, or any error in
recording, any such information shall not relieve any Borrower of its obligation
to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans, all
accrued interest thereon and other amounts payable with respect thereto. Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrowers may borrow
Revolving Credit Loans under this Section 2.4, prepay Revolving Credit Loans
pursuant to Section 3.1 and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans under this Section
2.4.
(d) Each Borrower other than Asset Acceptance hereby
irrevocably appoints and authorizes Asset Acceptance to act as its agent in
requesting Loans on such Borrower's behalf.
2.5 Conditions for First Credit Extension. The obligation of the
Banks to make the first Credit Extension hereunder is subject to receipt by each
Bank and the Agent of the following documents with respect to each Borrower and
completion of the following matters, in form and substance satisfactory to each
Bank and the Agent:
(a) Charter Documents. Certificates of recent date of the
appropriate authority or official of each Borrower's state of formation listing
all charter documents of such Borrower on file in that office and certifying as
to the good standing and existence of such Borrower, together with copies of
such charter documents, certified as of a recent date by such authority or
official and certified as true and correct as of the Effective Date by a duly
authorized officer of such Borrower;
17
(b) Operating Agreement and Company Authorizations.
Copies of the operating agreement of each Borrower together with all authorizing
resolutions and evidence of other company action taken by such Borrower to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of this
Agreement, the Security Documents to which it is a party and the Notes and the
consummation by such Borrower of the transactions contemplated hereby, certified
as true and correct as of the Effective Date by a duly authorized member,
manager or officer of such Borrower;
(c) Incumbency Certificates. Certificates of incumbency
of each Borrower containing, and attesting to the genuineness of, the signatures
of those members, managers, or officers authorized to act on behalf of such
Borrower in connection with this Agreement, the Security Documents to which it
is a party and the Notes and the consummation by such Borrower of the
transactions contemplated hereby, certified as true and correct as of the
Effective Date by a duly authorized member, manager or officer of such Borrower;
(d) Note. The Revolving Credit Notes duly executed on
behalf of each of the Borrowers for each Bank;
(e) Consents, Approvals, Etc. Copies of all governmental
and nongovernmental consents, approvals, authorizations, declarations,
registrations or filings, if any, required on the part of any Borrower in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
Security Documents, the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby or as a
condition to the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the
Security Documents or the Notes, certified as true and correct and in full force
and effect as of the Effective Date by a duly authorized officer of such
Borrower, or, if none is required, a certificate of a duly authorized officer of
each Borrower to that effect;
(f) Payment of Fees. The Borrowers shall have paid to the
Banks the closing fee under Section 2.3(b) and all fees required to be paid to
the Agent under Section 2.3(c), in immediately available funds;
(g) Security Documents. The Security Documents duly
executed on behalf of the Borrowers and any Guarantors party thereto granting to
the Agent the collateral and security intended to be provided pursuant to
Section 2.7, together with:
(i) Recording, Filing, Etc. Evidence of the
recordation, filing and other action (including payment of any applicable taxes
or fees) in such jurisdictions as the Agent and the Banks may deem necessary or
appropriate with respect to the Security Documents, including the filing of
financing statements and similar documents which the Agent and the Banks may
deem necessary or appropriate to create, preserve or perfect the liens, security
interests and other rights intended to be granted to the Agent and the Banks
hereunder, together with Uniform Commercial Code and other record searches in
such offices as the Agent may reasonably request; and
(ii) Casualty and Other Insurance. Evidence that
the casualty and other insurance required pursuant to Section 5.1(c) and the
Security Documents is in full force and effect;
18
(h) Subordination Agreements. Subordination agreements,
or confirmations and extensions of existing subordination agreements, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Bank duly executed by or on behalf of each
holder of Subordinated Debt;
(i) Recapitalization Documents. The Asset Contribution
and Securities Purchase Agreement, and any asset purchase agreements, stock
purchase agreements, merger agreements, resolutions or other documents pursuant
to which the Recapitalization was or is to be effected, together with the
Consulting Services Agreement, each in form and substance acceptable to the
Agent;
(j) Opinion of Counsel. A written opinion of the
Borrower's counsel, addressed to the Banks in form and substance acceptable to
the Agent, and an opinion of counsel to the Existing Borrowers relating to the
Recapitalization addressed to the Banks in form and substance acceptable to the
Agent;
(k) Existing Credit Agreement. Evidence that the Existing
Credit Agreement has been terminated and all indebtedness, liabilities and
obligations outstanding thereunder shall have been paid in full, or will be paid
from the proceeds of the first disbursement of Loans hereunder;
(l) Business Plan. A five-year business plan of the
Borrowers, in form and detail reasonably acceptable to the Agent;
(m) Compliance Certificate. A statement certified to by
the chief financial officer or other authorized officer of the Borrowers showing
a computation of compliance by the Borrowers with Section 5.2(a), (b), (c), and
(d) hereof (which computation shall accompany such certificate and shall be in
reasonable detail) and stating that on the initial Borrowing Date no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(n) Solvency Certificate. A solvency certificate
certified to by the chief financial officer of each Borrower and each Guarantor;
(o) Employment Agreements. Evidence that Asset Acceptance
has entered into employment agreements (the "Employment Agreements") with R.
Reitzel, N. Bradley, and M. Redman for a term of not less than three years and
on other terms and conditions acceptable to the Agent;
(p) Facility LC Application. If the initial Credit
Extension will be the issuance of a Facility LC, a properly completed Facility
LC Application; and
(q) Miscellaneous. Such other documents and completion of
such other matters as the Agent or the Banks may reasonably request.
2.6 Further Conditions for Credit Extension. The obligation of the
Banks to make any Credit Extension (including the first Credit Extension), is
further subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
19
(a) The representations and warranties contained in
Article IV hereof and in the Security Documents (unless such representation or
warranty explicitly relates solely to an earlier date) shall be true and correct
in all material respects on and as of the date such Credit Extension is made
(both before and after such Credit Extension is made) as if such representations
and warranties were made on and as of such date;
(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall
have occurred and be continuing on the date such Credit Extension is made
(whether before or after such Credit Extension is made); and
(c) The Banks and the Agent shall have received the
Borrowing Base Certificate required pursuant to Section 5.1(d)(v) as of the
close of business on the last day of the month next preceding the date such
Credit Extension is made; provided that if, after giving effect to such Credit
Extension and any repayment of any Loans to be made on the date such Credit
Extension is made, the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure will be increased
above the amount of the Borrowing Base as shown on the Borrowing Base
Certificate as of such prior month-end, then the Banks and the Agent shall have
received an updated Borrowing Base Certificate as of a later date demonstrating
Borrowing Base availability to support such increased Aggregate Outstanding
Credit Exposure.
The Borrowers shall be deemed to have made a representation and warranty to the
Banks and the Agent at the time of the making of each Credit Extension to the
effects set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.6. For purposes of
this Section 2.6, the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.6
hereof shall be deemed made with respect to both the financial statements
referred to therein and the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant
to Section 5.1(d)(ii) and (iii).
2.7 Security and Collateral. To secure the payment when due of the
Notes and all other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement to the
Banks and the Agent, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver on the Effective
Date, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Banks and the Agent,
Security Documents granting the following:
(a) Security interests in all present and future
accounts, inventory, general intangibles, chattel paper, instruments, equipment,
fixtures, and all other personal property of the Borrowers, including, without
limitation, rights under each of the documents to which any Borrower is party
effecting or implementing the Recapitalization.
(b) Guarantees of all Guarantors.
(c) All other security and collateral described in the
Security Documents.
2.8 Borrowing Base Adjustments. The Borrowers agree that if at any
time any Receivable fails to constitute an Eligible Receivable for any reason,
the Agent may, at any time and notwithstanding any prior classification of
eligibility, classify such Receivable as ineligible and exclude the same from
the computation of the Borrowing Base without in any way impairing the rights of
the Banks and the Agent in and to the same under the Security Documents.
20
2.9 Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Borrowings.
Floating Rate Borrowings shall continue as Floating Rate Borrowings unless and
until such Floating Rate Borrowings are converted into Eurodollar Rate
Borrowings pursuant to this Section 2.9 or are repaid in accordance with Section
3.1. Each Eurodollar Rate Borrowing shall continue as a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing until the end of the then applicable Interest Period therefor, at
which time such Eurodollar Rate Borrowing shall be automatically converted into
a Floating Rate Borrowing unless (x) such Eurodollar Rate Borrowing is or was
repaid in accordance with Section 3.1 or (y) Asset Acceptance shall have given
the Agent a Conversion/Continuation Notice (as defined below) requesting that,
at the end of such Interest Period, such Eurodollar Rate Borrowing continue as a
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing for the same or another Interest Period. Subject to
the terms of Section 2.4, Asset Acceptance may elect from time to time to
convert all or any part of a Floating Rate Borrowing into a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing. Asset Acceptance shall give the Agent irrevocable notice in the form
of Exhibit F hereto (a "Conversion/Continuation Notice") of each conversion of a
Floating Rate Borrowing into a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing or continuation of a
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing not later than 1:00 p.m. (Detroit time) at least three
Eurodollar Business Days prior to the date of the requested conversion or
continuation, specifying:
(a) the requested date, which shall be a Eurodollar
Business Day, of such conversion or continuation,
(b) the identity of the Borrower and the aggregate amount
and Type of the Borrowing which is to be converted or continued, and
(c) the amount of such Borrowing which is to be converted
into or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing and the duration of the
Interest Period applicable thereto.
2.10 Minimum Amount of Each Borrowing. Each Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing shall be in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 (and in multiples of
$100,000 if in excess thereof), and each Floating Rate Borrowing shall be in the
minimum amount of $200,000 (and in multiples of $50,000 if in excess thereof),
provided, however, that any Floating Rate Borrowing may be in the amount of the
unused Aggregate Commitment. The aggregate number of Eurodollar Rate Borrowings
outstanding at any one time under this Agreement may not exceed five.
2.11 Lending Installations. Each Bank may book its Loans at any
Lending Installation selected by such Bank and may change its Lending
Installation from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any
such Lending Installation and the Loans and any Notes issued hereunder shall be
deemed held by each Bank for the benefit of any such Lending Installation. Each
Bank may, by written notice to the Agent and the Borrowers in accordance with
Article VIII, designate replacement or additional Lending Installations through
which Loans will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are to be
made.
2.12 Facility LCs.
2.12.1. Issuance. The LC Issuer hereby agrees, on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to issue standby letters of
credit (each, a "Facility LC") and to renew, extend, increase, decrease
or otherwise modify each Facility LC ("Modify," and
21
each such action a "Modification"), from time to time from and
including the date of this Agreement and prior to the Facility
Termination Date upon the request of Asset Acceptance; provided that
immediately after each such Facility LC is issued or Modified, (i) the
aggregate amount of the outstanding LC Obligations shall not exceed
$2,000,000, and (ii) the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure of all
Banks shall not exceed the lesser of the Aggregate Commitment or the
amount of the Borrowing Base as of the date of the most recent
Borrowing Base Certificate furnished to the Agent and the Banks. No
Facility LC shall have an expiry date later than the earlier of (x) the
fifth Business Day prior to the Termination Date and (y) one year after
its issuance.
2.12.2. Participations. Upon the issuance or Modification by
the LC Issuer of a Facility LC in accordance with this Section 2.12,
the LC Issuer shall be deemed, without further action by any party
hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably sold to each Bank, and
each Bank shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto,
to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the LC Issuer, a
participation in such Facility LC (and each Modification thereof) and
the related LC Obligations in proportion to its Pro Rata Share.
2.12.3. Notice. Subject to Section 2.12.1, Asset Acceptance
shall give the LC Issuer notice prior to 11:00 a.m. (Detroit time) at
least five Business Days prior to the proposed date of issuance or
Modification of each Facility LC, specifying the beneficiary, the
proposed date of issuance (or Modification) and the expiry date of such
Facility LC, and describing the proposed terms of such Facility LC and
the nature of the transactions proposed to be supported thereby. Upon
receipt of such notice, the LC Issuer shall promptly notify the Agent,
and the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank, of the contents thereof
and of the amount of such Bank's participation in such proposed
Facility LC. The issuance or Modification by the LC Issuer of any
Facility LC shall, in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in
Sections 2.5 and 2.6 (the satisfaction of which the LC Issuer shall
have no duty to ascertain), be subject to the conditions precedent that
such Facility LC shall be satisfactory to the LC Issuer and that Asset
Acceptance shall have executed and delivered such application agreement
and/or such other instruments and agreements relating to such Facility
LC as the LC Issuer shall have reasonably requested (each, a "Facility
LC Application"). In the event of any conflict between the terms of
this Agreement and the terms of any Facility LC Application, the terms
of this Agreement shall control.
2.12.4. LC Fees. Asset Acceptance shall pay to the Agent, for
the account of the Banks ratably in accordance with their respective
Pro Rata Shares, with respect to each Facility LC, a letter of credit
fee at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar
Loans in effect from time to time on the average daily undrawn stated
amount under such standby Facility LC, such fee to be payable in
arrears on the last day of each calendar quarter, (the "LC Fee"). Asset
Acceptance shall also pay to the LC Issuer for its own account (x) at
the time of issuance of each Facility LC, a fronting fee in an amount
to be agreed upon between the LC Issuer and Asset Acceptance, and (y)
documentary and processing charges in connection with the issuance or
Modification of and draws under
22
Facility LCs in accordance with the LC Issuer's standard schedule for
such charges as in effect from time to time.
2.12.5. Administration; Reimbursement by Banks. Upon receipt
from the beneficiary of any Facility LC of any demand for payment under
such Facility LC, the LC Issuer shall notify the Agent and the Agent
shall promptly notify Asset Acceptance and each other Bank as to the
amount to be paid by the LC Issuer as a result of such demand and the
proposed payment date (the "LC Payment Date"). The responsibility of
the LC Issuer to Asset Acceptance and each Bank shall be only to
determine that the documents (including each demand for payment)
delivered under each Facility LC in connection with such presentment
shall be in conformity in all material respects with such Facility LC.
The LC Issuer shall endeavor to exercise the same care in the issuance
and administration of the Facility LCs as it does with respect to
letters of credit in which no participations are granted, it being
understood that in the absence of any gross negligence or willful
misconduct by the LC Issuer, each Bank shall be unconditionally and
irrevocably liable without regard to the occurrence of any Default or
any condition precedent whatsoever, to reimburse the LC Issuer on
demand for (i) such Bank's Pro Rata Share of the amount of each payment
made by the LC Issuer under each Facility LC to the extent such amount
is not reimbursed by Asset Acceptance pursuant to Section 2.12.6 below,
plus (ii) interest on the foregoing amount to be reimbursed by such
Bank, for each day from the date of the LC Issuer's demand for such
reimbursement (or, if such demand is made after 11:00 a.m. (Detroit
time) on such date, from the next succeeding Business Day) to the date
on which such Bank pays the amount to be reimbursed by it, at a rate of
interest per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the
first three days and, thereafter, at a rate of interest equal to the
rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances.
2.12.6. Reimbursement by Asset Acceptance . Asset Acceptance
shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse the LC
Issuer on or before the applicable LC Payment Date for any amounts to
be paid by the LC Issuer upon any drawing under any Facility LC,
without presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind;
provided that neither Asset Acceptance nor any Bank shall hereby be
precluded from asserting any claim for direct (but not consequential)
damages suffered by Asset Acceptance or such Bank to the extent, but
only to the extent, caused by (i) the willful misconduct or gross
negligence of the LC Issuer in determining whether a request presented
under any Facility LC issued by it complied with the terms of such
Facility LC or (ii) the LC Issuer's failure to pay under any Facility
LC issued by it after the presentation to it of a request strictly
complying with the terms and conditions of such Facility LC. All such
amounts paid by the LC Issuer and remaining unpaid by Asset Acceptance
shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a
rate per annum equal to (x) the rate applicable to Floating Rate Loans
for such day if such day falls on or before the applicable LC Payment
Date and (y) the sum of 2% plus the rate applicable to Floating Rate
Loans for such day if such day falls after such LC Payment Date. The LC
Issuer will pay to each Bank ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata
Share all amounts received by it from Asset Acceptance for application
in payment, in whole or in part, of the Reimbursement Obligation in
respect of any Facility LC issued by the LC Issuer, but only to the
extent such Bank has made payment to the LC Issuer in respect of
23
such Facility LC pursuant to Section 2.12.5. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation the
submission of a Borrowing Notice in compliance with Section 2.4 and the
satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent set forth in
Sections 2.5 and 2.6), the Borrower may request an Advance hereunder
for the purpose of satisfying any Reimbursement Obligation.
2.12.7. Obligations Absolute. Asset Acceptance's obligations
under this Section 2.12 shall be absolute and unconditional under any
and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or
defense to payment which Asset Acceptance may have or have had against
the LC Issuer, any Bank or any beneficiary of a Facility LC. Asset
Acceptance further agrees with the LC Issuer and the Banks that the LC
Issuer and the Banks shall not be responsible for, and Asset Acceptance
's Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Facility LC shall not be
affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of
documents or of any endorsements thereon, even if such documents should
in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, fraudulent or
forged, or any dispute between or among any of the Borrowers, any of
their Affiliates, the beneficiary of any Facility LC or any financing
institution or other party to whom any Facility LC may be transferred
or any claims or defenses whatsoever of any Borrower or of any of its
Affiliates against the beneficiary of any Facility LC or any such
transferee. The LC Issuer shall not be liable for any error, omission,
interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any
message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Facility
LC. Asset Acceptance agrees that any action taken or omitted by the LC
Issuer or any Bank under or in connection with each Facility LC and the
related drafts and documents, if done without gross negligence or
willful misconduct, shall be binding upon Asset Acceptance and shall
not put the LC Issuer or any Bank under any liability to Asset
Acceptance. Nothing in this Section 2.12.7 is intended to limit the
right of Asset Acceptance to make a claim against the LC Issuer for
damages as contemplated by the proviso to the first sentence of Section
2.12.6.
2.12.8. Actions of LC Issuer. The LC Issuer shall be entitled
to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Facility LC,
draft, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit,
letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message,
statement, order or other document reasonably believed by it to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper
Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel,
independent accountants and other experts selected by the LC Issuer.
The LC Issuer shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take
any action under this Agreement unless it shall first have received
such advice or concurrence of the Required Banks as it reasonably deems
appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable
satisfaction by the Banks against any and all liability and expense
which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take
any such action. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section
2.12, the LC Issuer shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or
in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a
request of the Required Banks, and such request and any action taken or
failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Banks and any
future holders of a participation in any Facility LC.
24
2.12.9. Indemnification. Asset Acceptance hereby agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Bank, the LC Issuer and the Agent, and
their respective directors, officers, agents and employees from and
against any and all claims and damages, losses, liabilities, costs or
expenses which such Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent may incur (or
which may be claimed against such Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent by
any Person whatsoever) by reason of or in connection with the issuance,
execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or failure to pay
under any Facility LC or any actual or proposed use of any Facility LC,
including, without limitation, any claims, damages, losses,
liabilities, costs or expenses which the LC Issuer may incur by reason
of or in connection with (i) the failure of any other Bank to fulfill
or comply with its obligations to the LC Issuer hereunder (but nothing
herein contained shall affect any rights Asset Acceptance may have
against any defaulting Bank) or (ii) by reason of or on account of the
LC Issuer issuing any Facility LC which specifies that the term
"Beneficiary" included therein includes any successor by operation of
law of the named Beneficiary, but which Facility LC does not require
that any drawing by any such successor Beneficiary be accompanied by a
copy of a legal document, satisfactory to the LC Issuer, evidencing the
appointment of such successor Beneficiary; provided that Asset
Acceptance shall not be required to indemnify any Bank, the LC Issuer
or the Agent for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or
expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (x) the
willful misconduct or gross negligence of the LC Issuer in determining
whether a request presented under any Facility LC complied with the
terms of such Facility LC or (y) the LC Issuer's failure to pay under
any Facility LC after the presentation to it of a request strictly
complying with the terms and conditions of such Facility LC. Nothing in
this Section 2.12.9 is intended to limit the obligations of Asset
Acceptance under any other provision of this Agreement.
2.12.10. Banks' Indemnification. Each Bank shall, ratably in
accordance with its Pro Rata Share, indemnify the LC Issuer, its
affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and
employees (to the extent not reimbursed by Asset Acceptance) against
any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and
disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such
as result from such indemnitees' gross negligence or willful misconduct
or the LC Issuer's failure to pay under any Facility LC after the
presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and
conditions of the Facility LC) that such indemnitees may suffer or
incur in connection with this Section 2.12 or any action taken or
omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.
2.12.11. Facility LC Collateral Account. Asset Acceptance
agrees that it will, upon the request of the Agent or the Required
Banks and until the final expiration date of any Facility LC and
thereafter as long as any amount is payable to the LC Issuer or the
Banks in respect of any Facility LC, maintain a special collateral
account pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the Agent (the
"Facility LC Collateral Account") at the Agent's office at the address
specified pursuant to Section 8.2, in the name of Asset Acceptance but
under the sole dominion and control of the Agent, for the benefit of
the Banks and in which Asset Acceptance shall have no interest other
than as set forth in Section 6.2. Asset Acceptance hereby pledges,
assigns and grants to the Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable
benefit of the Banks and the LC Issuer, a security interest in all of
25
Asset Acceptance's right, title and interest in and to all funds which
may from time to time be on deposit in the Facility LC Collateral
Account to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of
the Obligations. The Agent will invest any funds on deposit from time
to time in the Facility LC Collateral Account in certificates of
deposit of Bank One having a maturity not exceeding 30 days. Nothing in
this Section 2.12.11 shall either obligate the Agent to require Asset
Acceptance to deposit any funds in the Facility LC Collateral Account
or limit the right of the Agent to release any funds held in the
Facility LC Collateral Account in each case other than as required by
Section 8.1.
2.12.12. Rights as a Bank. In its capacity as a Bank, the LC
Issuer shall have the same rights and obligations as any other Bank.
ARTICLE III.
PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS OF LOANS
3.1 Principal Payments and Prepayments.
(a) Unless earlier payment is required under this
Agreement, the Borrowers shall pay to the Banks on the Termination Date the
entire outstanding principal amount of the Loans.
(b) The Borrowers may from time to time pay, without
penalty or premium, all outstanding Floating Rate Borrowings, or, in a minimum
aggregate amount of $100,000 or any integral multiple of $100,000 in excess
thereof, any portion of the outstanding Floating Rate Borrowings upon two
Business Days' prior notice to the Agent. The Borrowers may from time to time
pay, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by
Section 3.7 but without penalty or premium, all outstanding Eurodollar Rate
Borrowings, or, in a minimum aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any integral
multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, any portion of the outstanding
Eurodollar Rate Borrowings upon three Business Days' prior notice to the Agent.
(c) If on any date the Aggregate Outstanding Credit
Exposure of all Banks shall exceed the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Commitment
(including, without limitation, as a result of a reduction under Section 2.2),
or (ii) the amount of the Borrowing Base as of the date of the most recent
Borrowing Base Certificate received by the Agent and the Banks, the Borrowers
shall forthwith pay to the Bank, subject to the payment of any funding
indemnification amounts required by Section 3.7, an amount for application to
the outstanding principal amount of the Loans, such that the aggregate amount of
such payments is not less than the amount of such excess.
3.2 Interest and Interest Payments. The relevant Borrower shall
pay interest to the Banks on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan, for the
period commencing on the date such Loan is made until such Loan is paid in full,
on each Interest Payment Date and at maturity (whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise), and thereafter on demand, at, with respect to each
Eurodollar Loan, the applicable Eurodollar Rate for the related Eurodollar
26
Interest Period, and, with respect to each Floating Rate Loan, the Floating
Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers shall pay interest on demand
by the Agent at the Overdue Rate on the outstanding principal amount of any Loan
and any other amount payable by the Borrowers hereunder (other than interest) at
any time on or after an Event of Default if required in writing by the Required
Banks. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion of any Borrowing
maintained as a Floating Rate Borrowing will take effect simultaneously with
each change in the Alternate Base Rate. No Interest Period may end after the
Termination Date. Interest accrued on each Floating Rate Borrowing shall be
payable on each Interest Payment Date, commencing with the first such date to
occur after the Effective Date and at maturity. Interest accrued on each
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing shall be payable on the last day of its applicable
Interest Period, on any date on which the Eurodollar Rate Borrowing is prepaid,
whether by acceleration or otherwise, and at maturity. Interest on Eurodollar
Loans and commitment fees shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on the
basis of a 360-day year. Interest shall be payable for the day an Borrowing is
made but not for the day of any payment on the amount paid if payment is
received prior to noon (local time) at the place of payment.
3.3 Payment Method.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrowers hereunder
will be made to the Agent for the account of the Banks in Dollars and in
immediately available funds not later than 1:00 p.m. Detroit time on the date on
which such payment shall become due at the principal office of the Agent
specified pursuant to Section 8.2. Payments received after 1:00 p.m. Detroit
time shall be deemed to be payments made prior to 1:00 p.m. Detroit time on the
next succeeding Business Day. Each Borrower hereby authorizes the Agent to
charge its accounts with the Agent in order to cause timely payment of amounts
due hereunder to be made (subject to sufficient funds being available in such
accounts for that purpose).
(b) At the time of making each such payment, each
Borrower shall, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement,
specify to the Agent that Borrowing or other obligation of such Borrower
hereunder to which such payment is to be applied. In the event that a Borrower
fails to so specify the relevant obligation or if an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Agent may apply such payments as it may
determine in its sole discretion.
(c) On the day such payments are deemed received, the
Agent shall remit to the Banks at their respective address specified for notices
pursuant to Section 8.2 (except in the case of Reimbursement Obligations for
which the LC Issuer has not been fully indemnified by the Banks, or as otherwise
specifically required hereunder) their pro rata shares of such payments in
immediately available funds. In the case of payments of principal and interest
on any Borrowing, such pro rata shares shall be determined with respect to each
such Bank by the ratio which the outstanding principal balance of its Loan
included in such Borrowing bears to the outstanding principal balance of the
Loans of all of the Banks included in such Borrowing, in the case of payments of
Reimbursement Obligations, such pro rata shares shall be determined with respect
to each such Bank by the ratio which the amount that such Bank has reimbursed
the LC Issuer bears to the outstanding Reimbursement Obligations, and in the
case of fees paid pursuant to Section 2.3 and other amounts payable hereunder
(other than the Agent's fees payable pursuant to Section 2.3(c) and amounts
payable to any Bank under Section 3.6), such pro rata
27
shares shall be determined with respect to each such Bank by the ratio which the
Commitment of such Bank bears to the Commitments of all the Banks.
3.4 No Setoff or Deduction. All payments of principal and interest
on the Loans and other amounts payable by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made
by the Borrowers without setoff or counterclaim, and free and clear of, and
without deduction or withholding for, or on account of, any present or future
taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments, or other charges of whatever
nature, imposed by any governmental authority, or by any department, agency or
other political subdivision or taxing authority.
3.5 Payment on Non-Business Day; Payment Computations. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement to the contrary, whenever any installment
of principal of, or interest on, any Loan or any other amount due hereunder
becomes due and payable on a day which is not a Business Day, the maturity
thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case
of any installment of principal, interest shall be payable thereon at the rate
per annum determined in accordance with this Agreement during such extension.
Computations of interest on Floating Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a
year of 365 or 366 days, for the actual number of days elapsed, including the
first day but excluding the last day of the relevant period.
3.6 Yield Protection. If, on or after the date of this Agreement,
the adoption of any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental rule,
regulation, policy, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of
law), or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental or quasi-governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency
charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any
Bank or applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer with any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
central bank or comparable agency:
(a) subjects any Bank or any applicable Lending
Installation or the LC Issuer to any Taxes, or changes the basis of taxation of
payments (other than with respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Bank or the LC
Issuer in respect of its Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participation
therein, or
(b) imposes or increases or deems applicable any reserve,
assessment, insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against
assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Bank
or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer (other than reserves and
assessments taken into account in determining the interest rate applicable to
Eurodollar Rate Borrowings), or
(c) imposes any other condition the result of which is to
increase the cost to any Bank or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC
Issuer of making, funding or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans, or of issuing or
participating in Facility LCs, or reduces any amount receivable by any Bank or
any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer in connection with its
Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein, or requires any Bank
or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer to make any payment
calculated by reference to the amount of Eurodollar Loans Facility LCs or
participations therein held or interest or LC Fees received by it, by an amount
deemed material by such Bank or the LC issuer as the case may be,
28
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank or
applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, of making
or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans or Commitment or of issuing or participating
in Facility LCs or to reduce the return received by such Bank or applicable
Lending Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, in connection with
such Eurodollar Loans, Commitment, Facility LCs or participations therein, then,
within 15 days of demand by such Bank or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, the
Borrowers shall pay such Bank or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank or the LC Issuer, as
the case may be, for such increased cost or reduction in amount received.
3.7 Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations. If a Bank or the LC
Issuer determines the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by
such Bank or the LC Issuer, any Lending Installation of such Bank or the LC
Issuer or any corporation controlling such Bank or the LC Issuer is increased as
a result of a Change, then, within 15 days of demand by such Bank or the LC
Issuer, the Borrowers shall pay such Bank or the LC Issuer the amount necessary
to compensate for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such
increased capital which such Bank or the LC Issuer reasonably determines is
attributable to this Agreement, its Outstanding Credit Exposure or its
Commitment to make Loans and issue or participate in Facility LCs, as the case
may be, hereunder (after taking into account such Bank's or the LC Issuer's
policies as to capital adequacy). "Change" means (i) any change after the date
of this Agreement in the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines or (ii) any adoption of
or change in any other law, governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation,
policy, guideline, interpretation, or directive (whether or not having the force
of law) after the date of this Agreement which affects the amount of capital
required or expected to be maintained by any Bank or the LC Issuer or any
Lending Installation or any corporation controlling any Bank or the LC Issuer.
"Risk-Based Capital Guidelines" means (i) the risk-based capital guidelines in
effect in the United States on the date of this Agreement, including transition
rules, and (ii) the corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory
authorities outside the United States implementing the July 1988 report of the
Basle Committee on Banking Regulation and Supervisory Practices Entitled
"International Convergence of Capital Measurements and Capital Standards,"
including transition rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior
to the date of this Agreement.
3.8 Availability of Types of Borrowings. If any Bank determines
that maintenance of its Eurodollar Loans at a suitable Lending Installation
would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, or directive, whether or not
having the force of law, or if the Required Banks determine that (i) deposits of
a type and maturity appropriate to match fund Eurodollar Rate Borrowings are not
available or (ii) the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Rate Borrowings
does not accurately reflect the cost of making or maintaining Eurodollar Rate
Borrowings, then the Agent shall suspend the availability of Eurodollar Rate
Borrowings and require any affected Eurodollar Rate Borrowings to be repaid or
converted to Floating Rate Borrowings, subject to the payment of any funding
indemnification amounts required by Section 3.9.
3.9 Funding Indemnification. If any payment of a Eurodollar Rate
Borrowing occurs on a date which is not the last day of the applicable Interest
Period, whether because of acceleration, prepayment or otherwise, or a
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing is not made on the date specified by a Borrower for
any reason other than default by the Banks, the Borrowers will
29
indemnify each Bank for any loss (but not loss of profit or margin) or cost
incurred by it resulting therefrom, including, without limitation, any loss or
cost in liquidating or employing deposits acquired to fund or maintain such
Eurodollar Rate Borrowing.
3.10 Taxes. (a) All payments by the Borrowers to or for the account
of any Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent hereunder or under any Note or Facility
LC Application shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and
all Taxes. If any Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or
in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent,
(i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all
required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 3.10) such Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent (as the case may
be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) such
Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant authority in
accordance with applicable law and (iv) such Borrower shall furnish to the Agent
the original copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof within 30 days after
such payment is made.
(b) In addition, the Borrowers hereby agree to pay any
present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property
taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or
under any Note or Facility LC Application or from the execution or delivery of,
or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any Note or Facility LC
Application ("Other Taxes").
(c) The Borrowers hereby agree to indemnify the Agent,
the LC Issuer and each Bank for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes
(including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on amounts
payable under this Section 3.10) paid by the Agent, the LC Issuer or such Bank
as a result of its Commitment, any Loans made by it hereunder, or otherwise in
connection with its participation in this Agreement and any liability (including
penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto.
Payments due under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days of the date
the Agent, the LC Issuer or such Bank makes demand therefor pursuant to Section
3.11.
(d) Each Bank that is not incorporated under the laws of
the United States of America or a state thereof (each a "Non-U.S. Bank") agrees
that it will, not later than the date it becomes a party to this Agreement, (i)
deliver to the Agent two duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, certifying in either case that such Bank is
entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes, and (ii) deliver to the
Agent a United States Internal Revenue Form W-8 or W-9, as the case may be, and
certify that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup
withholding tax. Each Non-U.S. Bank further undertakes to deliver to each of the
Borrowers and the Agent (x) renewals or additional copies of such form (or any
successor form) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes
obsolete, and (y) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the
most recent forms so delivered by it, such additional forms or amendments
thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Agent. All forms
or amendments described in the preceding sentence shall certify that such Bank
is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes, unless an event
(including without limitation any change
30
in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such
delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such forms inapplicable
or which would prevent such Bank from duly completing and delivering any such
form or amendment with respect to it and such Bank advises the Borrowers and the
Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without any deduction or
withholding of United States federal income tax.
(e) For any period during which a Non-U.S. Bank has
failed to provide the Borrowers with an appropriate form pursuant to clause (d),
above (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or
any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental
authority, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was
required to be provided), such Non-U.S. Bank shall not be entitled to
indemnification under this Section 3.10 with respect to Taxes imposed by the
United States; provided that, should a Non-U.S. Bank which is otherwise exempt
from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes
because of its failure to deliver a form required under clause (iv), above, the
Borrowers shall take such steps as such Non-U.S. Bank shall reasonably request
to assist such Non-U.S. Bank to recover such Taxes.
(f) Any Bank that is entitled to an exemption from or
reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement or
any Note pursuant to the law of any relevant jurisdiction or any treaty shall
deliver to the Borrowers (with a copy to the Agent), at the time or times
prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation
prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without
withholding or at a reduced rate.
(g) If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other
governmental authority of the United States or any other country or any
political subdivision thereof asserts a claim that the Agent did not properly
withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Bank (because the
appropriate form was not delivered or properly completed, because such Bank
failed to notify the Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered its
exemption from withholding ineffective, or for any other reason), such Bank
shall indemnify the Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by
the Agent as tax, withholding therefor, or otherwise, including penalties and
interest, and including taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to
the Agent under this subsection, together with all costs and expenses related
thereto (including attorneys fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent,
which attorneys may be employees of the Agent). The obligations of the Banks
under this Section 3.10(g) shall survive the payment of the Obligations and
termination of this Agreement.
3.11 Bank Statements; Survival of Indemnity. To the extent
reasonably possible, each Bank shall designate an alternate Lending Installation
with respect to its Eurodollar Loans to reduce any liability of the Borrower to
such Bank under Sections 3.6, 3.7 and 3.10 or to avoid the unavailability of
Eurodollar Rate Borrowings under Section 3.8, so long as such designation is
not, in the judgment of such Bank, disadvantageous to such Bank. Each Bank shall
deliver a written statement of such Bank to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Agent) as to the amount due, if any, under Section 3.6, 3.7, 3.9 or 3.10. Such
written statement shall set forth in reasonable detail the calculations upon
which such Bank determined such amount and shall be final, conclusive and
binding on the Borrowers in the absence of manifest error. Determination of
amounts payable under such Sections in connection with a Eurodollar Loan shall
be calculated as
31
though each Bank funded its Eurodollar Loan through the purchase of a deposit of
the type and maturity corresponding to the deposit used as a reference in
determining the Eurodollar Rate applicable to such Loan, whether in fact that is
the case or not. Unless otherwise provided herein, the amount specified in the
written statement of any Bank shall be payable on demand after receipt by the
Borrowers of such written statement. The obligations of the Borrowers under
Sections 3.6, 3.7, 3.9 and 3.10 shall survive payment of the Obligations and
termination of this Agreement.
3.12 Replacement of Bank. If any Borrower is required pursuant to
Section 3.6, 3.7 or 3.10 to make any additional payment to any Bank or if any
Bank's obligation to make or continue, or to convert Floating Rate Advances
into, Eurodollar Advances shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.8 (any Bank
so affected an "Affected Bank"), the Borrowers may elect, if such amounts
continue to be charged or such suspension is still effective, to replace such
Affected Bank as a Bank party to this Agreement, provided that no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such
replacement, and provided further that, concurrently with such replacement, (i)
another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers
and the Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and
other Obligations due to the Affected Bank pursuant to an assignment
substantially in the form of Exhibit G and to become a Bank for all purposes
under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Affected Bank to be
terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of Section 7.19
applicable to assignments, and (ii) the Borrowers shall pay to such Affected
Bank in same day funds on the day of such replacement (A) all interest, fees and
other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Affected Bank by the Borrowers
hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation
payments due to such Affected Bank under Sections 3.6, 3.7 and 3.10, and (B) an
amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Bank on
the day of such replacement under Section 3.9 had the Loans of such Affected
Bank been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Bank.
ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrowers represent and warrant to the Banks and the Agent that:
4.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Each Borrower is a limited
liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware, and is duly qualified to do business, and is
in good standing, in all additional jurisdictions where such qualification is
necessary under applicable law. Each Borrower has all requisite power to own or
lease the properties used in its business and to carry on its business as now
being conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and to execute and deliver the
Loan Documents to which it is a party and to engage in the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
4.2 Authority. The execution, delivery and performance by each
Borrower of this Agreement, the Security Documents and the Notes have been duly
authorized by all necessary company action and are not in contravention of any
law, rule or regulation, or any judgment,
32
decree, writ, injunction, order or award of any arbitrator, court or
governmental authority, or of the terms of such Borrower's charter or operating
agreement or of any contract or undertaking to which such Borrower is a party or
by which such Borrower or its property may be bound or affected and will not
result in the imposition of any Lien except for Permitted Liens.
4.3 Binding Effect. This Agreement is, and each Security Document
to which a Borrower is a party and the Notes when delivered hereunder will be,
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrowers enforceable against each
Borrower in accordance with their respective terms. The Guaranty to which each
Guarantor is a party when delivered hereunder will be a legal, valid and binding
obligation of such Guarantor enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms.
4.4 Subsidiaries. As of the Effective Date, Schedule 4.4 hereto
correctly sets forth the name, jurisdiction of formation and ownership of each
Subsidiary, direct or indirect, of any Borrower. Each such Subsidiary and each
person becoming a Subsidiary of any Borrower after the Effective Date is and
will be a limited liability company, partnership or corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
formation and is and will be duly qualified to do business in each additional
jurisdiction where such qualification is or may be necessary under applicable
law. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower has and will have all requisite power to
own or lease the properties used in its business and to carry on its business as
now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted. All outstanding shares of
capital stock of each class or other ownership interests of each Subsidiary of
any Borrower have been and will be validly issued and (to the extent such
concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) are and will be
fully paid and nonassessable and, except as otherwise indicated in Schedule 4.4
hereto or disclosed in writing to the Banks from time to time, are and will be
owned, beneficially and of record, by such Borrower or another Subsidiary of
such Borrower free and clear of any Liens.
4.5 Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending or,
to the best of any Borrower's knowledge, threatened against or affecting any
Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower before or by any court, governmental
authority or arbitrator, which if adversely decided might result, either
individually or collectively, in any material adverse change in the business,
properties, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of any Borrower or
any Subsidiary of any Borrower or in any material adverse effect on the
legality, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents and, to the best of
any Borrower's knowledge, there is no basis for any such action, suit or
proceeding.
4.6 Financial Condition. The consolidated balance sheet of the
Existing Borrowers under the Existing Credit Agreement and their Subsidiaries
(the "Companies") and the consolidated statements of income, retained earnings
and cash flows of the Companies for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 and
reported on by Arthur Andersen, independent certified public accountants, and
the interim consolidated balance sheet and interim consolidated statements of
income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Companies, as of or for the
six-month period ended on June 30, 2002, copies of which have been furnished to
the Bank, fairly present, and the consolidated financial statements of Holdings
and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(d) will fairly present,
the consolidated financial position of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as
at the respective dates thereof, and the consolidated results
33
of operations of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for the respective periods
indicated, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied (subject, in the case of said interim statements, to
year-end audit adjustments). Prior to the Recapitalization, there has been no
material adverse change in the business, properties, operations or condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Companies since December 31, 2001. As of the
Effective Date, there is no material Contingent Liability of any of the
Companies that is not reflected in such financial statements or in the notes
thereto.
4.7 Use of Loans. The Borrowers will use the proceeds of the Loans
to finance the Recapitalization, to retire the indebtedness under the Existing
Credit Agreement, and to finance the purchase of portfolios of charged-off
Receivables and for general corporate purposes. None of the Borrowers or any
Subsidiary of any Borrower extends or maintains, in the ordinary course of
business, credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental, or ultimate, of
buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no part of the proceeds of any
Loan will be used for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental, or ultimate,
of buying or carrying any such margin stock or maintaining or extending credit
to others for such purpose. After applying the proceeds of each Loan such margin
stock will not constitute more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of
any Borrower alone or of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis) that are subject to any provisions of this Agreement that may cause the
Loan to be deemed secured, directly or indirectly, by margin stock.
4.8 Consents, Etc. Except for such consents, approvals,
authorizations, declarations, registrations or filings delivered by the
Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.5(e), if any, each of which is in full force and
effect, no consent, approval or authorization of or declaration, registration or
filing with any governmental authority or any nongovernmental person or entity,
including without limitation any creditor, lessor or stockholder of any Borrower
or any Subsidiary of any Borrower, is required on the part of any Borrower or
any Guarantor in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the
Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or as a condition to the
legality, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents.
4.9 Taxes. As of the Effective Date, the Companies, the Borrowers
and each of their Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns (federal, state and
local) required to be filed and have paid all taxes shown thereon to be due,
including interest and penalties, or have established adequate financial
reserves on their respective books and records for payment thereof. None of the
Borrower, the Companies or any Subsidiary of the Companies knows of any actual
or proposed tax assessment or any basis therefor, and no extension of time for
the assessment of deficiencies in any federal or state tax has been granted by
any of the Companies or any such Subsidiary.
4.10 Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
latest balance sheet delivered pursuant to Section 4.6 or 5.1(d) of this
Agreement, the Borrowers have good and marketable fee simple title to all of the
real property, and a valid and indefeasible ownership interest in all of the
other properties and assets, reflected in said balance sheet or subsequently
acquired by the Borrowers. All of such properties and assets are free and clear
of any Lien except for Permitted Liens.
34
4.11 ERISA. As of the Effective Date, the Companies, the Borrowers,
their Subsidiaries, their ERISA Affiliates and their Plans will be in compliance
in all material respects with those provisions of ERISA and of the Code which
are applicable with respect to any Plan. No Prohibited Transaction and no
Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan. None of the Borrowers,
any of their Subsidiaries or any of the ERISA Affiliates is an employer with
respect to any Multiemployer Plan. The Borrowers, their Subsidiaries and the
ERISA Affiliates have met the minimum funding requirements under ERISA and the
Code with respect to each of their respective Plans, if any, and have not
incurred any liability to the PBGC or any Plan. The execution, delivery and
performance of the Loan Documents and the operative documents of the
Recapitalization do not constitute a Prohibited Transaction. There is no
material Unfunded Benefit Liability with respect to any Plan.
4.12 Disclosure. No report or other information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of the Companies or any Borrower to any Bank or the
Agent in connection with the negotiation or administration of this Agreement
contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact
or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances in which they were made. Neither this Agreement, the
Notes, the Security Documents nor any other document, certificate, or report or
statement or other information furnished to any Bank or the Agent by or on
behalf of the Borrowers in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made. There is no
fact known to such Borrower which materially and adversely affects, or which in
the future may (so far as such Borrower can now foresee) materially and
adversely affect, the business, properties, operations or condition, financial
or otherwise, of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which has not been
set forth in this Agreement or in the other documents, certificates, statements,
reports and other information furnished in writing to the Banks by or on behalf
of such Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby.
4.13 Environmental Matters. Each of the Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Environmental Laws in jurisdictions in
which any of them owns or operates, or has owned or operated, a facility or
site, or arranges or has arranged for disposal or treatment of hazardous
substances, solid wastes or other wastes or holds or has held any interest in
real property or otherwise. No demand, claim, notice, action, administrative
proceeding, investigation or inquiry, whether brought by any governmental
authority, private person or entity or otherwise, arising under, relating to or
in connection with any Environmental Laws is pending or threatened against any
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any real property in which any Borrower or
any such Subsidiary holds or has held an interest or any past or present
operation of the Companies, the Borrowers or any such Subsidiary.
4.14 Common Enterprise. The Borrowers are engaged in business as an
integrated group. The successful and economical operation of the integrated
group requires financing on such basis that credit supplied by the Banks is
available to the Borrowers and may be transferred among them after being
disbursed by the Banks. The Loans made by the Banks to the Borrowers on a joint
and several basis will benefit, directly or indirectly, all of the Borrowers and
their Subsidiaries by strengthening and providing significant economies to the
integrated group,
35
inasmuch as the successful operation and condition of each Borrower is dependent
upon the continued successful performance of the integrated group as a whole.
ARTICLE V.
COVENANTS
5.1 Affirmative Covenants. Each of the Borrowers covenants and
agrees that, until the Termination Date and thereafter until the payment in full
of the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes and the performance of all
other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement, unless the Required
Banks shall otherwise consent in writing, it shall, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries to:
(a) Preservation of Existence, Etc. Do or cause to be
done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect
its legal existence and its qualification as a foreign company in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary under applicable
law and the rights, licenses, permits (including those required under
Environmental Laws), franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names
material to the conduct of its businesses; and defend all of the foregoing
against all claims, actions, demands, suits or proceedings at law or in equity
or by or before any governmental instrumentality or other agency or regulatory
authority.
(b) Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply in all material
respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any
governmental authority whether federal, state, local or foreign (including
without limitation ERISA, the Code, Environmental Laws and all Requirements of
Law), in effect from time to time; and pay and discharge promptly when due all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon
its income, revenues or property, before the same shall become delinquent or in
default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or
otherwise, which, if unpaid, might give rise to Liens upon such properties or
any portion thereof, except to the extent that payment of any of the foregoing
is then being contested in good faith by appropriate legal proceedings and with
respect to which adequate financial reserves have been established on the books
and records of such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, as
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Maintain,
preserve and protect all property that is material to the conduct of its
business or any of its Subsidiaries and keep such property in good repair,
working order and condition and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all
needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements
thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith
may be properly conducted at all times in accordance with customary and prudent
business practices for similar businesses; and, in addition to that insurance
required under the Security Documents, maintain in full force and effect
insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations in
such amounts, on such terms and covering such risks, including fire and other
risks insured against by extended coverage, as is usually carried by companies
engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties similarly situated
and maintain in full force and effect
36
public liability insurance, insurance against claims for personal injury or
death or property damage occurring in connection with any of its activities or
any properties owned, occupied or controlled by it, in such amount as it shall
reasonably deem necessary, and maintain such other insurance as may be required
by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Agent for purposes of assuring
compliance with this Section 5.1(c).
(d) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Banks and the
Agent the following:
(i) Promptly and in any event within three
calendar days after becoming aware of the occurrence of (A) any Event of Default
or Default, (B) the commencement of any material litigation against, by or
affecting such Borrower or any Subsidiary of such Borrower, and any material
adverse developments therein, or (C) entering into any material contract or
undertaking that is not entered into in the ordinary course of business or (D)
any development in the business or affairs of such Borrower or any such
Subsidiary which has resulted in or which is likely, in the reasonable judgment
of such Borrower, to result in a material adverse change in the business,
properties, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of such Borrower or
any such Subsidiary, taken as a whole, a statement of the chief financial
officer of such Borrower setting forth details of each such Event of Default or
Default and such litigation, material contract or undertaking or development and
the action which such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has taken
and proposes to take with respect thereto, if any;
(ii) As soon as available and in any event within
45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal
year of the Borrowers, the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter, and the related
consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the
period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end
of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
corresponding figures for the corresponding date or period of the preceding
fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and duly certified (subject to year-end
audit adjustments) by the chief financial officer of Holdings as having been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(iii) As soon as available and in any event within
120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrowers, a copy of the
consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of
the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income,
retained earnings and cash flows of Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries
for such fiscal year, with a customary audit report of an independent certified
public accountants selected by Holdings and acceptable to the Required Banks,
without qualifications unacceptable to the Required Banks, together with a
certificate of such accountants stating (A) that they have reviewed this
Agreement and stating further whether, in the course of their review of such
financial statements, they have become aware of any Event of Default or Default,
and, if such an Event of Default or Default is continuing, a statement setting
forth the nature and status thereof, and (B) that a computation by such Borrower
(which computation shall accompany such certificate and shall be in reasonable
detail) showing compliance with Section 5.2(a), (b), (c), and (d) hereof is in
conformity with the terms of this Agreement;
37
(iv) Not later than the 45th day after the end of
each fiscal quarter of such Borrower, including, without limitation, the fourth
fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of such Borrower, a certificate of the chief
financial officer of such Borrower stating (a) that no Event of Default or
Default has occurred and is continuing or, if an Event of Default or Default has
occurred and is continuing, a statement setting forth the details thereof and
the action which such Borrower have taken and propose to take with respect
thereto, and (b) that a computation (which computation shall accompany such
certificate and shall be in reasonable detail) showing compliance with Section
5.2(a), (b), (c), (d) and (o) hereof in conformity with the terms of this
Agreement, and in addition, not later than the 45th day after the end of each
fiscal quarter of such Borrower, including, without limitation, the fourth
fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of such Borrower, a report, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Banks, with respect to the aggregate impairment
reserve of such Borrower and the changes therein since the last quarterly report
delivered pursuant to this Section;
(v) Not later that the 15th day after the end of
each month, the following, prepared as of the close of business on the last day
of each such month, in form and detail satisfactory to the Agent, and all
certified as true and correct by the chief financial officer of the Borrower:
(A) a Borrowing Base Certificate,
together with supporting schedules, setting forth such information as the Agent
may request with respect to the aging, value and other information relating to
the computation of the Borrowing Base and the eligibility of any property or
assets included in such computation;
(B) a bulk purchase report showing all
acquired Receivables Portfolios of the Borrowers and the collection performance
of each such Receivables Portfolio; and
(C) an active balance report of the
Borrowers setting forth a summary and aging of all Receivables, broken out by
Receivables Portfolios, and identifying all Receivables on which any Borrower
has collected any payment during the immediately preceding period of 90 days;
(vi) Promptly and in any event within 10 Business
Days after receiving or becoming aware thereof, (A) a copy of any notice of
intent to terminate any Plan filed with the PBGC, (B) a statement of the chief
financial officer of such Borrower setting forth the details of the occurrence
of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan, (C) a copy of any notice that
such Borrower, any Subsidiary of such Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate may
receive from the PBGC relating to the intention of the PBGC to terminate any
Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, or (D) a copy of any notice
of failure to make a required installment or other payment within the meaning of
Section 412(n) of the Code or Section 302(f) of ERISA with respect to a Plan;
(vii) Promptly upon request by the Agent, a copy
of any management letter or comparable analysis prepared by the auditors for
such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and
38
(viii) Promptly, such other information respecting
the business, properties, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of
such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as the Agent or any Bank may from time
to time reasonably request.
(e) Accounting, Access to Records, Books, Etc. Maintain a
system of accounting established and administered in accordance with sound
business practices to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles and to comply with the
requirements of this Agreement and, at any reasonable time and from time to
time, (i) permit any Bank or the Agent or any agents or representatives thereof
to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of
account of, and visit the properties of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and
to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Borrower and its
Subsidiaries with their respective directors, officers, employees and
independent auditors, and by this provision such Borrower does hereby authorize
such persons to discuss such affairs, finances and accounts with any Bank or the
Agent, and (ii) permit independent agents or representatives acceptable to the
Required Banks to conduct an annual comprehensive field audit of such Borrower's
books, records, properties and assets, including, without limitation, all
collateral subject to the Security Documents, at the expense of such Borrower.
(f) Further Assurances. Execute and deliver, within 30
days after request therefor by the Agent or the Required Banks, all further
instruments and documents and take all further action that may be necessary or
desirable, or that the Agent or the Required Banks may request, in order to give
effect to, and to aid in the exercise and enforcement of the rights and remedies
of the Agent and the Banks under. In addition, each Borrower agrees to deliver
to the Agent (with copies for each of the Banks) from time to time upon the
acquisition or creation of any Subsidiary not listed in Schedule 4.4 hereto
supplements to Schedule 4.4 such that such Schedule, together with such
supplements, shall at all times accurately reflect the information provided for
thereon. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the restrictions of Section
5.2(f).
(g) Additional Security and Collateral. Promptly, and in
any event within 30 days after request therefor by the Agent or the Required
Banks, (i) execute and deliver, and cause each Subsidiary of such Borrower to
execute and deliver, additional Security Documents sufficient to grant to the
Agent for the benefit of the Agent and the Banks liens and security interests in
any after-acquired property of the types described in Section 2.7, and (ii)
cause each Person becoming a domestic Subsidiary of such Borrower after the
Effective Date to execute and deliver to the Banks and the Agent a Guaranty and
other Security Documents, together with other related items described in Section
2.5, sufficient to grant to the Agent of the benefit of the Banks and the Agent
security interests in substantially all the personal property assets of such
Person described in Section 2.7. Such Borrower shall notify the Agent, within 10
days after the occurrence thereof, of the acquisition of any property by such
Borrower that is not subject to the existing Security Documents, any person's
becoming a Subsidiary of such Borrower, and any other event or condition that
may require additional action of any nature in order to preserve the
effectiveness and perfected status of the liens and security interests of the
Agent and the Banks with respect to such property pursuant to the Security
Documents. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the restrictions of Section
5.2(f).
39
5.2 Negative Covenants. Until the Termination Date and thereafter
until the payment in full of the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes
and the performance of all other obligations of the Borrowers under this
Agreement, each Borrower agrees that, unless the Required Banks shall otherwise
consent in writing, it shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to (it being understood that for any period ending on or prior to the
Recapitalization, the combined Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, Consolidated
Cumulative Net Income and Consolidated Modified Debt Service of Asset Acceptance
Corp. and Lee Acceptance Corp. shall be used for computing the following ratios
of Asset Acceptance, LLC, and the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, Consolidated
Cumulative Net Income and Consolidated Modified Debt Service of Financial Credit
Corp, Consumer Credit Corp. and CFC Financial Corp. shall be used for computing
the following ratios of Financial Credit, LLC, Consumer Credit, LLC and CFC
Financial, LLC, respectively):
(a) Ratio of Total Liabilities to Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA. Permit or suffer the ratio of (i) the Consolidated Total Liabilities of
the Borrowers and their consolidated Subsidiaries to (ii) the Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrowers and their consolidated Subsidiaries at any time
to exceed 2.0 to 1.0; such ratio to be determined as of the last day of each
fiscal quarter of the Borrowers for the period of four fiscal quarters of the
Borrowers then ending.
(b) Tangible Capital Funds. Permit or suffer the
Consolidated Tangible Capital Funds of the Borrowers and their consolidated
Subsidiaries at any time to be less than the sum of (i) $20,000,000, plus (ii)
50% of Consolidated Cumulative Net Income of the Borrowers and their
consolidated Subsidiaries for the period commencing January 1, 2002.
(c) Ratio of Total Liabilities to Tangible Capital Funds.
Permit or suffer the ratio of the Consolidated Total Liabilities of the
Borrowers and their consolidated Subsidiaries to the Tangible Capital Funds of
the Borrowers and their consolidated Subsidiaries to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0;
such ratio to be determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
Borrowers.
(d) Debt Service Coverage Ratio. Permit or suffer the
ratio of (i) the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrowers to (ii)
Consolidated Modified Debt Service of the Borrowers to be less than 1.5 to 1.0,
such ratio to be determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
Borrowers.
(e) Indebtedness; Contingent Liabilities. Create, incur,
assume or in any manner become liable in respect of, or suffer to exist, any
Indebtedness or other Contingent Liabilities other than:
(i) The Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations;
(ii) The Indebtedness described in Schedule
5.2(e) hereto, having the same terms as those existing on the date of this
Agreement, but no extension or renewal thereof shall be permitted;
40
(iii) Indebtedness in aggregate outstanding
principal amount not exceeding $2,000,000 which is secured by one or more liens
permitted by Section 5.2(f)(vi) hereof;
(iv) Subordinated Debt; and
(v) Rate Management Transactions.
(f) Liens. Create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien on
any of the assets, rights, revenues or property, real, personal or mixed,
tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, of any Borrower
or any Subsidiary of any Borrower, other than:
(i) Liens for taxes not delinquent or for taxes
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which
adequate financial reserves have been established on its books and records;
(ii) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA)
created and maintained in the ordinary course of business which are not material
in the aggregate, and which would not have a material adverse effect on the
business or operations of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and which
constitute (A) pledges or deposits under worker's compensation laws,
unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, (B) good faith deposits in
connection with bids, tenders, contracts or leases to which such Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party for a purpose other than borrowing money or
obtaining credit, including rent security deposits, (C) liens imposed by law,
such as those of carriers, warehousemen and mechanics, if payment of the
obligation secured thereby is not yet due, (D) Liens securing taxes, assessments
or other governmental charges or levies not yet subject to penalties for
nonpayment, and (E) pledges or deposits to secure public or statutory
obligations of such Borrower or any such Subsidiary, or surety, customs or
appeal bonds to which such Borrower or any such Subsidiary is a party;
(iii) Liens affecting real property which
constitute minor survey exceptions or defects or irregularities in title, minor
encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, rights of
way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar
purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of such real property,
provided that all of the foregoing, in the aggregate, do not at any time
materially detract from the value of said properties or materially impair their
use in the operation of the businesses of such Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(iv) Liens created pursuant to the Security
Documents and Liens expressly permitted by the Security Documents;
(v) Each Lien described in Schedule 5.2(f)
hereto may be suffered to exist upon the same terms as those existing on the
Effective Date;
(vi) Any Lien created to secure payment of a
portion of the purchase price of or existing at the time of acquisition of, any
tangible fixed asset acquired by the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries may
be created or suffered to exist upon such fixed asset if the outstanding
principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien does not at any time
exceed 100% of the purchase price paid by the Borrower or such Subsidiary for
such fixed asset,
41
and the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by such Liens
does not exceed $2,000,000, provided that such Lien does not encumber any other
asset at any time owned by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, and provided,
further, that not more than one such Lien shall encumber such fixed asset at any
one time;
(vii) licenses, leases or subleases granted to
third parties in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material
respect with the business of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(viii) Liens arising from precautionary UCC
financing statements regarding operating leases permitted by this Agreement; and
(ix) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or
attachment in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section
6.1(f), provided that cash or other property (other than proceeds of insurance
payable by reason of such judgments, decrees or attachments) may only be pledged
by a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as security therefor to the extent the
amount of such cash plus the fair market value of such other property does not
exceed $250,000 in the aggregate.
(g) Merger; Acquisitions; Etc. Purchase or otherwise
acquire, whether in one or a series of transactions, all or a substantial
portion of the business, assets, rights, revenues or property, real, personal or
mixed, tangible or intangible, of any person, or all or a substantial portion of
the capital stock of or other ownership interest in any other person; nor merge
or consolidate or amalgamate with any other person or take any other action
having a similar effect; nor enter into any joint venture or similar arrangement
with any other person; nor otherwise create or acquire any Subsidiary, provided,
however, that this Section 5.2(g) shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation
or amalgamation or acquisition by any Borrower or any Subsidiary if (i) such
Borrower or such Subsidiary shall be the surviving or continuing corporation
thereof, (ii) immediately before and after such merger, consolidation or
amalgamation or acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall
have occurred and be continuing and the representations and warranties contained
in Article IV shall be true and correct on and as of the date thereof (both
before and after such merger or acquisition is consummated) as if made on the
date such merger or acquisition is consummated, and (iii) prior to the
consummation of such merger or acquisition, such Borrower shall have provided to
the Banks and the Agent an opinion of counsel and a certificate of the chief
financial officer of such Borrower (attaching computations to demonstrate
compliance with all financial covenants hereunder), each stating that such
merger or acquisition complies with this Section 5.2(g) and that any other
conditions under this Agreement relating to such transaction have been
satisfied.
In addition, this Section 5.2(g) shall not prohibit the Borrowers or
any of their Subsidiaries from consummating any of the following transactions:
(v) the assets of any Subsidiary of any Borrower may be
transferred to such Borrower or any wholly-owned domestic Subsidiary of such
Borrower, and any Subsidiary of any Borrower may be merged with and into, or be
voluntarily dissolved or liquidated into, such Borrower or any wholly-owned
domestic Subsidiary of such Borrower, so long as such Borrower or such
wholly-owned Subsidiary, as the case may be, is the surviving company of any
such
42
merger, dissolution or liquidation, and if the surviving company is a
Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall have delivered to the Agent for the benefit of
the Banks a Guaranty and a Security Agreement;
(w) the Borrowers and their wholly-owned domestic Subsidiaries may
sell or otherwise transfer accounts receivable and/or inventory between or among
themselves in the ordinary course of business for resale by such Borrowers or
such wholly-owned domestic Subsidiaries as the case may be;
(x) the Borrowers and any of their Subsidiaries may lease, as
lessor, equipment, machinery or its real property, and license, in the ordinary
course of business, patents, trademarks, copyrights and know-how, to one or more
Borrowers or their wholly-owned Subsidiaries, so long as such lease or license
is for fair market value (determined in good faith by the managers, members or
senior management of such lessor);
(y) subject to compliance with Section 2.7, 5.1(f) and 5.1(g), the
Borrowers or any of their wholly-owned Subsidiaries may create wholly-owned
Subsidiaries; and
(z) the Recapitalization.
(h) Disposition of Assets; Etc. Sell, lease, license,
transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of all or a substantial portion of its
business, assets, rights, revenues or property, real, personal or mixed,
tangible or intangible, whether in one or a series of transactions, other than
inventory or Receivables sold in the ordinary course of business upon customary
credit terms and sales of scrap or obsolete material or equipment.
(i) Inconsistent Agreements. Enter into any agreement
containing any effective provision which would be violated or breached by this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or by performance by
such Borrower or its Subsidiaries of any of their obligations in connection
therewith in any material respect.
(j) Nature of Business. Make any substantial change in
the nature of its business from that engaged in on the date of this Agreement by
its predecessor Existing Borrower or engage in any other businesses other than
those in which its predecessor Existing Borrower is engaged on the date of this
Agreement.
(k) Payments and Modification of Subordinated Debt.
Except as expressly permitted under the terms of the related subordination
agreements in favor of the Banks and the Agent, make any optional payment,
prepayment or redemption of any Subordinated Debt, nor amend or modify, or
consent or agree to any amendment or modification, which would shorten any
maturity or increase the amount of any payment of principal or increase the rate
(or require earlier payment) of interest on any such Subordinated Debt, nor
amend any agreement under which any Subordinated Debt is issued or created or
otherwise related thereto, nor enter into any agreement or arrangement providing
for the defeasance of any Subordinated Debt.
(l) Dividends and Other Restricted Payments. Make, pay,
declare or authorize any dividend, payment or other distribution in respect of
any class of its membership
43
interests or any dividend, payment or distribution in connection with the
redemption, purchase, retirement or other acquisition, directly or indirectly,
of its membership interests, other than such dividends, payments or other
distributions to the extent payable solely in membership interests of such
Borrower, or amend or modify the Consulting Services Agreement to increase the
amount payable thereunder, provided, however, that (i) such Borrower may make,
pay, declare or authorize distributions to Holdings in any quarter ending after
the Effective Date in an aggregate amount not greater than the amount necessary
(when combined with amounts paid by each other Borrower and each other
Subsidiary of Holdings, if any) for Holdings to make the distributions to its
members required or permitted pursuant to Section 6.4 of the Amended and
Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated September 30, 2002 among
Holdings, AAC Holding Corp., Consumer Credit Corp. and AAC Investors, Inc., as
in effect on the date hereof, (ii) if no Default or Event of Default shall exist
or shall have occurred and be continuing and no Default or Event of Default
under any other provision of this Agreement would result therefrom, each
Borrower may make, pay, declare or authorize distributions to Holdings in any
quarter ending after the Effective Date in an aggregate amount not greater than
the amount to permit Holdings to make payments to employees or former employees
of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of share repurchases or
payments in respect of share appreciation rights following the termination of
their employment, provided that the aggregate amount distributed by all of the
Borrowers in any fiscal year for such payments does not exceed $500,000,
together with any unused amount from prior fiscal years and net cash proceeds
received by Holdings in such fiscal year from the sale or issuance of Holdings
membership interests to employees of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, and
(iii) if no Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall have occurred and
be continuing and no Default or Event of Default under any other provision of
this Agreement would result therefrom, other dividends, payments and other
distributions that in the aggregate do not exceed $500,000 for all of the
Borrowers during any fiscal year of the Borrowers, and provided, further, that
Asset Acceptance may distribute up to $800,000 to Holdings on the Effective Date
to fund the repayment of the Note Payable on Demand of $550,000 to AAC Holding
Corp. and the Note Payable on Demand of $250,000 to Consumer Credit Corp. For
purposes of this Section 5.2(l), "membership interests" shall include membership
interests and any securities exchangeable for or convertible into membership
interests and any warrants, rights or other options to purchase or otherwise
acquire membership interests or such securities, together with appreciation
rights or other contractual obligations linked to the value of such membership
interests.
(m) Investments, Loans and Advances. Purchase or
otherwise acquire any capital stock of or other ownership interest in, or debt
securities of or other evidences of Indebtedness of, any other person; nor make
any loan or advance of any of its funds or property or make any other extension
of credit to, or make any investment or acquire any interest whatsoever in, any
other person; nor incur any Contingent Liability; other than (i) commission,
travel and similar advances made to officers and employees in the ordinary
course of business, (ii) commercial paper of any United States issuer having the
highest rating then given by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or Standard &
Poor's Corporation, direct obligations of and obligations fully guaranteed by
the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or
certificates of deposit of any commercial bank which is a member of the Federal
Reserve System and which has capital, surplus and undivided profit (as shown on
its most recently published statement of condition) aggregating not less than
$100,000,000, provided, however, that each of the foregoing investments has a
maturity date not later than 180 days after
44
the acquisition thereof by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or shares in
mutual funds that invest solely in such securities, and (iii) those investments,
loans, advances and other transactions described in Schedule 5.2(m) hereto,
having the same terms as existing on the date of this Agreement, but no
extension or renewal thereof shall be permitted. Nothing in this Section 5.2(m)
shall prohibit (i) the purchase by any Borrower of Receivables Portfolios in the
ordinary course of business, (ii) any Indebtedness permitted under Section
5.2(e), (iii) any transaction permitted under Section 5.2(g), or (iv) the
Recapitalization.
(n) Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into, become a
party to, or become liable in respect of, any contract or undertaking with any
Affiliate except (i) in the ordinary course of business and on terms not less
favorable to such Borrower than those which could be obtained if such contract
or undertaking were an arm's length transaction with a person other than an
Affiliate, and (ii) the Consulting Services Agreement.
(o) Ratio of Adjusted Receivables Balances to Loans.
Permit or suffer the ratio of (i) the Consolidated Adjusted Receivables Balances
of the Borrowers to (ii) the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure to be less
than 1.00 to 1.00 at any time.
ARTICLE VI.
DEFAULT
6.1 Events of Default. The occurrence of any one of the following
events or conditions shall be deemed an "Event of Default" hereunder unless
waived pursuant to Section 8.1:
(a) Nonpayment. Any Borrower shall fail to pay when due
any principal of or interest on the Notes, any Reimbursement Obligation or any
fees or any other amount payable hereunder; or
(b) Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty
made by the Borrowers in Article IV hereof or by any Borrower or any Subsidiary
in any of the Loan Documents or in any other certificate, report, financial
statement or other document furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any of
their Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement, shall prove to have been
incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(c) Certain Covenants. Any Borrower shall fail to perform
or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Article V hereof; or
(d) Other Defaults. Any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall
fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in
this Agreement or in any Security Document, and any such failure shall remain
unremedied for 15 calendar days after notice thereof shall have been given to
the Borrowers by the Agent (or such longer or shorter period of time as may be
specified in such Security Document);
(e) Other Indebtedness. Any Borrower or any Subsidiary
shall fail to pay any part of the principal of, the premium, if any, or the
interest on, or any other payment of money
45
due under any of its Indebtedness at any time owing to any Bank (other than
Indebtedness hereunder), beyond any period of grace provided with respect
thereto, or any Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other
term, covenant or agreement contained in any agreement, document or instrument
evidencing or securing any such Indebtedness owing to any Bank, or under which
any such Indebtedness was issued or created, beyond a period of grace, if any,
provided with respect thereto, or the occurrence or existence of any default,
event of default or other similar condition or event (however described) with
respect to any Rate Management Transaction; or any Borrower or any Subsidiary
shall fail to pay any part of the principal of, the premium, if any, or the
interest on, or any other payment of money due under any of its Indebtedness at
any time owing to any other Person, beyond any period of grace provided with
respect thereto, which individually or together with other such Indebtedness as
to which any such failure exists has an aggregate outstanding principal amount
in excess of $2,000,000; or any Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to perform or
observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in any agreement,
document or instrument evidencing or securing any such Indebtedness owing to any
other Person having such aggregate outstanding principal amount, or under which
any such Indebtedness was issued or created, beyond any period of grace, if any,
provided with respect thereto; or
(f) Judgments. One or more judgments or orders for the
payment of money in an aggregate amount of $2,000,000 or more that are not
covered by insurance shall be rendered against the Borrowers or any of them or
any of their Subsidiaries, or any other judgment or order (whether or not for
the payment of money) shall be rendered against or shall affect the Borrowers or
any of them or any of their Subsidiaries which causes or could cause a material
adverse change in the business, properties, operations or condition, financial
or otherwise, of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or which does or
could have a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability
of any of the Loan Documents, and either (i) such judgment or order shall have
remained unsatisfied and the Borrowers or such Subsidiary shall not have taken
action necessary to stay enforcement thereof by reason of pending appeal or
otherwise, prior to the expiration of the applicable period of limitations for
taking such action or, if such action shall have been taken, a final order
denying such stay shall have been rendered, or (ii) enforcement proceedings
shall have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment or order; or
(g) ERISA. The occurrence of a Reportable Event that
results in or could result in liability of any Borrower, any Subsidiary, or any
ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC or to any Plan and such Reportable Event is not
corrected within thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof; or the
occurrence of any Reportable Event which could constitute grounds for
termination of any Plan by the PBGC or for the appointment by the appropriate
United States District Court of a trustee to administer any Plan and such
Reportable Event is not corrected within thirty (30) days after the occurrence
thereof; or the filing by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA
Affiliate of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the institution of other
proceedings to terminate a Plan, if such termination could have a material
adverse effect on the business, properties, operations or condition, financial
or otherwise, of any Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when due any liability to
the PBGC or to a Plan; or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings to
terminate, or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer, any Plan; or any
person engages in a Prohibited Transaction with respect to any Plan which
results in or could result in liability of
46
any Borrower or any Subsidiary, any ERISA Affiliate, any Plan of the Borrower,
its Subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates or any fiduciary of any such Plan; or
failure by such Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their ERISA Affiliates to
make a required installment or other payment to any Plan within the meaning of
Section 302(f) of ERISA or Section 412(n) of the Code that results in or could
result in liability of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to
the PBGC or any Plan; or the withdrawal of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any
ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a "substantial
employer" as defined in Section 4001(9a)(2) of ERISA; or the Borrower, any
Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate becomes an employer with respect to any
Multiemployer Plan without the prior written consent of the Required Banks; or
(h) Insolvency, Etc. Any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall
be dissolved or liquidated (or any judgment, order or decree therefor shall be
entered), or shall generally not pay its debts as they become due, or shall
admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall institute, or there
shall be instituted against the Borrowers or any Subsidiary any proceeding or
case seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent or seeking liquidation,
winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or
composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency
or reorganization or relief or protection of debtors or seeking the entry of an
order for relief, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other
similar official for it or for any substantial part of its assets, rights,
revenues or property, and, if such proceeding is instituted against such
Borrower or such Subsidiary and is being contested by such Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be, in good faith by appropriate proceedings, such
proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or any
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall take any action (corporate or other) to
authorize or further any of the actions described above in this subsection; or
(i) Security Documents. Any "event of default" defined in
any Security Document shall have occurred and be continuing, or any material
provision of any Security Document shall at any time for any reason cease to be
valid, binding and enforceable against any obligor thereunder, or the validity,
binding effect or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any person, or
any obligor shall deny that it has any or further liability or obligation
thereunder, or any Security Document shall be terminated, invalidated or set
aside, or be declared ineffective or inoperative or in any way cease to give or
provide to the Agent and the Banks the benefits purported to be created thereby;
or
(j) Subordinated Debt Defaults. Any default under any
subordination agreement in favor of the Agent or the Banks with respect to any
Subordinated Debt shall have occurred and be continuing beyond any applicable
grace period; or any material provision of any such subordination agreement or
any other subordination terms of any Subordinated Debt shall at any time for any
reason cease to be valid and binding and enforceable against any Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any holder of any Subordinated Debt, or the validity, binding
effect or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any holder of any Subordinated Debt; or any Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any such holder shall deny that it has any further obligation
under any such subordination terms or any such subordination agreement, or any
such subordination terms or subordination agreement shall be terminated,
invalidated or
47
set aside, or be declared ineffective or inoperative or in any way ceases to
give or provide to the Agent and the Banks the benefits purported to be created
thereby; or
(k) Control. Quad-C and/or its Affiliates shall cease to
own directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens, at least 51% of the
membership interests of each of the Borrowers;
(l) Employment Agreement Defaults. Asset Acceptance shall
default in any material respect under any of the Employment Agreements; or
(m) Environmental Liabilities. Any Borrower shall incur
liabilities in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate as a result of violation of
Environmental Laws, or otherwise for remediation or cleanup of discharge of
substances into the environment.
6.2 Remedies.
(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, the Agent, with the consent of the Required Banks may and,
upon being directed to do so by the Required Banks, shall, by notice to the
Borrowers (i) terminate the obligations of the Banks to make Loans hereunder and
the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue Facility LCs, (ii) declare
the outstanding principal of, and accrued interest on, the Loans, the
Reimbursement Obligations and all other amounts owing under the Loan Documents
to be immediately due and payable, or (iii) demand immediate delivery of cash
collateral, and the Borrowers agrees to deliver such cash collateral upon
demand, in an amount equal to the maximum amount that may be available to be
drawn at any time prior to the stated expiry of all outstanding Facility LCs,
which funds shall be held in the Facility LC Collateral Account, or any one or
more of the foregoing, whereupon the Commitments shall terminate forthwith and
all such amounts, including such cash collateral, shall become immediately due
and payable, as the case may be, provided that in the case of any Event of
Default described in Section 6.1(h) with respect to the Borrower, the
Commitments shall automatically terminate forthwith and all such amounts,
including such cash collateral, shall automatically become immediately due and
payable without notice; in all cases without demand, presentment, protest,
diligence, notice of dishonor or other formality, all of which are hereby
expressly waived.
(b) The Agent, with the consent of the Required Banks may
and, upon being directed to do so by the Required Banks shall, in addition to
the remedies provided in Section 6.2(a), exercise and enforce any and all other
rights and remedies available to it, whether arising under this Agreement, the
Facility LC Application, the Security Documents or the Notes or under applicable
law, in any manner deemed appropriate by the Agent, including suit in equity,
action at law, or other appropriate proceedings, whether for the specific
performance (to the extent permitted by law) of any covenant or agreement
contained in this Agreement, the Facility LC Application, any Security Document
or in the Notes or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this
Agreement, any Security Document or the Notes.
(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, each Bank may at any time and from time to time, without
notice to any Borrower (any requirement for such notice being expressly waived
by the Borrowers) set off and apply against
48
any and all of the obligations of the Borrowers now or hereafter existing under
this Agreement, whether owing to such Bank or any other Bank or the Agent, any
and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at
any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Bank to or for
the credit or the account of any Borrower and any property of any Borrower from
time to time in possession of the Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Bank
or the Agent or any other Bank shall have made any demand hereunder and although
such obligations may be contingent and unmatured. The Borrowers hereby grant to
the Banks and the Agent a lien on and security interest in all such deposits,
indebtedness and property as collateral security for the payment and performance
of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. The rights of the
Banks under this Section 6.2(c) are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including, without limitation, other rights of setoff) which the Banks may
have.
(d) The Agent may at any time or from time to time after
funds are deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account, apply such funds to
the payment of the Obligations and any other amounts as shall from time to time
have become due and payable by the Borrowers to the Banks or the LC Issuer under
the Loan Documents.
(e) At any time while any Default is continuing, none of
the Borrowers nor any Person claiming on behalf of or through any Borrower shall
have any right to withdraw any of the funds held in the Facility LC Collateral
Account. After all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and
the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, any funds remaining in the
Facility LC Collateral Account shall be returned by the Agent to the Borrowers
or paid to whomever may be legally entitled thereto at such time.
ARTICLE VII.
THE AGENT; TAXES; RATABLE PAYMENTS; BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT;
ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS; DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS
7.1 Appointment; Nature of Relationship. Bank One is hereby
appointed by each of the Banks as its contractual representative (herein
referred to as the "Agent") hereunder and under each Security Document, and each
of the Banks irrevocably authorizes the Agent to act as the contractual
representative of such Bank with the rights and duties expressly set forth
herein and in the Security Documents. The Agent agrees to act as such
contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article
VII. Notwithstanding the use of the defined term "Agent," it is expressly
understood and agreed that the Agent shall not have any fiduciary
responsibilities to any Bank by reason of this Agreement or any Security
Document and that the Agent is merely acting as the contractual representative
of the Banks with only those duties as are expressly set forth in this Agreement
and the Security Documents. In its capacity as the Banks' contractual
representative, the Agent (a) does not hereby assume any fiduciary duties to any
of the Banks, (b) is a "representative" of the Banks within the meaning of the
term "secured party" of the Michigan Uniform Commercial Code and (c) is acting
as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited to
those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Security Documents. Each of
the Banks hereby agrees to assert no claim against the Agent on any agency
theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of
which claims each Bank hereby waives.
49
7.2 Powers. The Agent shall have and may exercise such powers
under this Agreement and the Security Documents as are specifically delegated to
the Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto. The Agent shall have no implied duties to the Banks, or any
obligation to the Banks to take any action thereunder except any action
specifically provided by this Agreement and the Security Documents to be taken
by the Agent.
7.3 General Immunity. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors,
officers, agents or employees shall be liable to any Borrower, any Guarantor,
the Banks or any Bank for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them
hereunder or under any Security Document or in connection herewith or therewith
except to the extent such action or inaction is determined in a final
non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.
7.4 No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc. Neither the Agent
nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for
or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify (a) any statement,
warranty or representation made in connection with this Agreement, the Notes,
any Security Document or any borrowing hereunder; (b) the performance or
observance of any of the covenants or agreements of any obligor under the Loan
Documents, including, without limitation, any agreement by an obligor to furnish
information directly to each Bank; (c) the satisfaction of any condition
specified in Article II, except receipt of items required to be delivered solely
to the Agent; (d) the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of
Default; (e) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness, sufficiency or
genuineness of the Loan Documents or any other instrument or writing furnished
in connection therewith; (f) the value, sufficiency, creation, perfection or
priority of any Lien in any collateral security; or (g) the financial condition
of the Borrowers or any Guarantor or their Subsidiaries. The Agent shall have no
duty to disclose to the Banks information that is not required to be furnished
by the Borrowers to the Agent at such time, but is voluntarily furnished by a
Borrower to the Agent (either in its capacity as Agent or in its individual
capacity).
7.5 Action on Instructions of Banks. The Agent shall in all cases
be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under
any Security Document in accordance with written instructions signed by the
Required Banks, and such instructions and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Banks. The Banks hereby
acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no duty to take any discretionary
action permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement
or any Security Document unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by the
Required Banks. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to
take any action hereunder, under the Notes and under any Security Document
unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks pro rata
against any and all liability, cost and expense that it may incur by reason of
taking or continuing to take any such action.
7.6 Employment of Agents and Counsel. The Agent may execute any of
its duties as Agent hereunder and under the Notes and any Security Document by
or through employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable
to the Banks, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized
agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care. The Agent shall be entitled to advice of
50
counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Agent and the Banks
and all matters pertaining to the Agent's duties under the Loan Documents.
7.7 Reliance on Documents; Counsel. The Agent shall be entitled to
rely upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and, in respect to
legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Agent, which counsel
may be employees of the Agent.
7.8 Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification. The Banks agree to
reimburse and indemnify the Agent ratably in proportion to their respective
Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, in proportion to their
Commitments immediately prior to such termination) (a) for any amounts not
reimbursed by the Borrowers for which the Agent is entitled to reimbursement by
the Borrowers under this Agreement and the Security Documents, (b) for any other
expenses incurred by the Agent on behalf of the Banks, in connection with the
preparation, execution, delivery, administration and enforcement of this
Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents (including, without limitation,
for any expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with any dispute between
the Agent and any Bank or between two or more of the Banks) and (c) for any
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or
arising out of this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents or any other
document delivered in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated
thereby (including, without limitation, for any such amounts incurred by or
asserted against the Agent in connection with any dispute between the Agent and
any Bank or between two or more of the Banks), or the enforcement of any of the
terms of this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents or of any such
other documents, provided that (i) no Bank shall be liable for any of the
foregoing to the extent any of the foregoing is found in a final non-appealable
judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent and (ii) any indemnification
required pursuant to Section 3.10(vii) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of
this Section 7.8, be paid by the relevant Bank in accordance with the provisions
thereof. The obligations of the Banks under this Section 7.8 shall survive
payment of the Loans and termination of this Agreement.
7.9 Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default
hereunder unless the Agent has received written notice from a Bank or a Borrower
referring to this Agreement describing such Default or Event of Default and
stating that such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the Agent
receives such a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Banks.
7.10 Rights as a Bank. In the event the Agent is a Bank, the Agent
shall have the same rights and powers hereunder and under any Security Document
with respect to its Commitment and its Loans as any Bank and may exercise the
same as though it were not the Agent, and the term "Bank" or "Banks" shall, at
any time when the Agent is a Bank, unless the context otherwise indicates,
include the Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent and its Affiliates may
accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of trust,
debt, equity or other transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this
Agreement or any Security
51
Document, with the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries in which the Borrowers
or such Subsidiary is not restricted hereby from engaging with any other Person.
7.11 Bank Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Bank and based on
the financial statements prepared by the Companies or the Borrowers and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Bank also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or
any other Bank and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking action under the Loan Documents.
7.12 Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrowers, such resignation to be
effective upon the appointment of a successor Agent or, if no successor Agent
has been appointed, forty-five days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its
intention to resign. The Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause
by written notice received by the Agent from the Required Banks, such removal to
be effective on the date specified by the Required Banks. Upon any such
resignation or removal, the Required Banks shall have the right to appoint, on
behalf of the Borrower and the Banks, a successor Agent. If no successor Agent
shall have been so appointed by the Required Banks within thirty days after the
resigning Agent's giving notice of its intention to resign, then the resigning
Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Borrower and the Banks, a successor Agent.
Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Agent may at any time without the
consent of the Borrowers or any Bank, appoint any of its Affiliates which is a
commercial bank as a successor Agent hereunder. If the Agent has resigned or
been removed and no successor Agent has been appointed, the Banks may perform
all the duties of the Agent hereunder and the Borrowers shall make all payments
in respect of the Loans and other obligations of the Borrowers under this
Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents to the applicable Bank and for
all other purposes shall deal directly with the Banks. No successor Agent shall
be deemed to be appointed hereunder until such successor Agent has accepted the
appointment. Any such successor Agent shall be a commercial bank having capital
and retained earnings of at least $100,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges
and duties of the resigning or removed Agent. Upon the effectiveness of the
resignation or removal of the Agent, the resigning or removed Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder, under the Notes and under
the Security Documents. After the effectiveness of the resignation or removal of
an Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall continue in effect for the
benefit of such Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was acting as the Agent hereunder, under the Notes and under the
Security Documents. In the event that there is a successor to the Agent by
merger, or the Agent assigns its duties and obligations to an Affiliate pursuant
to this Section 7.12, then the term "Prime Rate" as used in this Agreement shall
mean the prime rate or other analogous rate of the new Agent.
7.13 Delegation to Affiliates. The Borrowers and the Banks agree
that the Agent may delegate any of its duties under this Agreement and the
Security Documents to any of its Affiliates. Any such Affiliate (and such
Affiliate's directors, officers, agents and employees) which performs duties in
connection with this Agreement and the Security Documents shall be
52
entitled to the same benefits of the indemnification, waiver and other
protective provisions to which the Agent is entitled under this Agreement and
the Security Documents.
7.14 Execution of Collateral Documents. The Banks hereby empower
and authorize the Agent to execute and deliver to the Borrower on behalf of the
Banks the Security Documents and all related financing statements and any
financing statements, agreements, documents or instruments as shall be necessary
or appropriate to effect the purposes of the Security Documents.
7.15 Collateral Releases. The Banks hereby empower and authorize
the Agent to execute and deliver to the appropriate Borrower on behalf of the
Banks any agreements, documents or instruments as shall be necessary or
appropriate to effect any releases of collateral which shall be permitted by the
terms hereof or of any Security Document or which shall otherwise have been
approved by the Required Banks (or, if required by the terms of this Agreement,
all of the Banks) in writing.
7.16 Ratable Payments. If any Bank, whether by setoff or otherwise,
has payment made to it upon its Outstanding Credit Exposure in a greater
proportion than that received by any other Bank, such Bank agrees, promptly upon
demand, to purchase a portion of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure held
by the other Banks so that after such purchase each Bank will hold its Pro Rata
Share of Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. If any Bank, whether in
connection with setoff or amounts which might be subject to setoff or otherwise,
receives collateral or other protection for its Loans or such amounts which may
be subject to setoff, such Bank agrees, promptly upon demand, to take such
action necessary such that all Banks share in the benefits of such collateral
ratably in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares of the Aggregate
Outstanding Credit Exposure. In case any such payment is disturbed by legal
process, or otherwise, appropriate further adjustments shall be made.
7.17 Successors and Assigns. The terms and provisions of the Loan
Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers and
the Banks and their respective successors and assigns, except that (a) the
Borrowers shall not have the right to assign their rights or obligations under
this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Notes or the Security
Documents without the prior written consent of all the Banks and (b) any
assignment by any Bank must be made in compliance with Section 7.19. The parties
to this Agreement acknowledge that clause (b) of this Section 7.17 relates only
to absolute assignments and does not prohibit assignments creating security
interests, including, without limitation, any pledge or assignment by any Bank
of all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and any Note to a
Federal Reserve Bank; provided, however, that no such pledge or assignment
creating a security interest shall release the transferor Bank from its
obligations hereunder unless and until the parties thereto have complied with
the provisions of Section 7.19. The Agent may treat the Person which made any
Loan or which holds any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless
and until such Person complies with Section 7.19; provided, however, that the
Agent may in its discretion (but shall not be required to) follow instructions
from the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note to direct payments
relating to such Loan or Note to another Person. Any assignee of the rights to
any Loan or any Note agrees by acceptance of such assignment to be bound by all
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the Notes and the Security
Documents. Any request, authority or consent of any Person, who at the time of
53
making such request or giving such authority or consent is the owner of the
rights to any Loan (whether or not a Note has been issued in evidence thereof),
shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder or assignee of the
rights to such Loan.
7.18 Participations.
(a) Any Bank may, in the ordinary course of its business
and in accordance with applicable law, at any time sell to one or more banks or
other entities ("Participants") participating interests in any Outstanding
Credit Exposure of such Bank, any Note held by such Bank, any Commitment of such
Bank or any other interest of such Bank under the Loan Documents. In the event
of any such sale by a Bank of participating interests to a Participant, such
Bank's obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Bank
shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance
of such obligations, such Bank shall remain the owner of its Outstanding Credit
Exposure and the holder of any Note issued to it in evidence thereof for all
purposes under this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents, all amounts
payable by the Borrowers under this Agreement shall be determined as if such
Bank had not sold such participating interests, and the Borrowers and the Agent
shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank in connection with
such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, the Notes and the
Security Documents.
(b) Each Bank shall retain the sole right to approve,
without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Documents other than
any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any Credit Extension or
Commitment in which such Participant has an interest which would require consent
of all of the Banks pursuant to the terms of Section 8.1 or of any Security
Document.
(c) The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be
deemed to have the right of setoff provided in Section 6.2(c) in respect of its
participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement, the Notes and the
Security Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its participating
interest were owing directly to it as a Bank thereunder, provided that each Bank
shall retain the right of setoff provided in Section 6.2(c) with respect to the
amount of participating interests sold to each Participant. The Banks agree to
share with each Participant, and each Participant, by exercising the right of
setoff provided in Section 6.2(c), agrees to share with each Bank, any amount
received pursuant to the exercise of its right of setoff, such amounts to be
shared in accordance with Section 7.16 as if each Participant were a Bank.
7.19 Assignments.
(a) Any Bank may, in the ordinary course of its business
and in accordance with applicable law, at any time assign to one or more banks
or other entities ("Purchasers") all or any part of its rights and obligations
under the Loan Documents. Such assignment shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit G hereto or in such other form as may be agreed to by the parties
thereto and approved by the Agent. The consent of the Borrowers, the LC Issuer
and the Agent shall be required prior to an assignment becoming effective with
respect to a Purchaser which is not a Bank or an Affiliate thereof; provided,
however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent
of the Borrower shall not be required. Such consent shall
54
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Each such assignment with respect to a
Purchaser which is not a Bank or an Affiliate thereof shall (unless each of the
Borrower and the Agent otherwise consents) be in an amount not less than the
lesser of (i) $5,000,000 or (ii) the remaining amount of the assigning Bank's
Commitment (calculated as at the date of such assignment) or outstanding Loans
(if the applicable Commitment has been terminated).
(b) Upon (i) delivery to the Agent of an assignment,
together with any consents required by Section 7.19(a), and (ii) payment by the
parties to such an assignment of a $4,000 fee to the Agent for processing such
assignment (unless such assignment is of a Bank's entire interest in the Loan
Documents to an Affiliate of such Lender, or such fee is waived by the Agent),
such assignment shall become effective on the effective date specified in such
assignment. The assignment shall contain a representation by the Purchaser to
the effect that none of the consideration used to make the purchase of the
Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure under the applicable assignment
agreement constitutes "plan assets" as defined under ERISA and that the rights
and interests of the Purchaser in and under the Loan Documents will not be "plan
assets" under ERISA. On and after the effective date of such assignment, such
Purchaser shall for all purposes be a Bank party to this Agreement and any other
related documents executed by or on behalf of the Banks and shall have all the
rights and obligations of a Bank under this Agreement, the Notes and the
Security Documents, to the same extent as if it were an original party hereto,
and no further consent or action by the Borrowers, the Banks or the Agent shall
be required to release the transferor Bank with respect to the of Commitment and
Outstanding Credit Exposure assigned to such Purchaser. Upon the consummation of
any assignment to a Purchaser pursuant to this Section 7.19(b), the transferor
Bank, the Agent and the Borrower shall, if the transferor Bank or the Purchaser
desires that its Loans be evidenced by a Note, make appropriate arrangements so
that a new Note or, as appropriate, replacement Note is issued to such
transferor Bank and a new Note or, as appropriate, replacement Note, is issued
to such Purchaser, in each case in principal amounts reflecting their respective
Commitments, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.
7.20 Dissemination of Information. Subject to the terms of Section
8.18, each of the Borrowers authorizes each Bank to disclose to any of its
subsidiaries or Affiliates or their successors, or to any of its subsidiaries or
Affiliates or their successors, or to any Participant or Purchaser or any other
Person acquiring an interest in this Agreement, the Notes and the Security
Documents by operation of law (each a "Transferee") and any prospective
Transferee any and all information in such Bank's possession concerning the
Borrowers, provided that any such Transferee or prospective Transferee agrees to
be bound by the provisions of Section 8.18 with respect to any such information.
7.21 Tax Treatment. If any interest in this Agreement, the Facility
LC Applications, the Notes or the Security Documents is transferred to any
Transferee which is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
United States or any State thereof, the transferor Bank shall cause such
Transferee, concurrently with the effectiveness of such transfer, to comply with
the provisions of Section 3.10(iv).
7.22 Distribution of Proceeds of Collateral and Guaranties. All
proceeds of any realization on the collateral pursuant to the Security Documents
and any payments received by
55
the Agent or any Bank pursuant to the Guaranties subsequent to and during the
continuance of any Event of Default shall be allocated and distributed by the
Agent as follows:
(a) First, to the payment of all reasonable costs and
expenses, including without limitation all reasonable attorneys' fees, of the
Agent and the Banks in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement, the
Notes and the Security Documents and otherwise administering this Agreement;
(b) Second, to the payment of all fees required to be
paid under Section 2.3 of this Agreement owing to the Banks, the LC Issuer and
the Agent, on a pro rata basis in accordance with the ratio that the amount of
such fees owing to each such Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent, as the case may
be, bears to the aggregate amount of such fees owing to all the Banks, the LC
Issuer and the Agent, for application to payment of such liabilities;
(c) Third, to the Banks (and/or their subsidiaries,
affiliates or successors in connection with any Rate Management Transactions)
for payment of all outstanding obligations consisting of principal, interest and
obligations under Rate Management Transactions, on a pro rata basis in
accordance with the ratio that the amount of such principal, interest and Rate
Management Transaction obligations owing to each such Bank bears to the
aggregate amount of such principal, interest and other obligations owing to all
the Banks, for application to payment of such principal, interest and other
obligations;
(d) Fourth, to the payment of any and all other
obligations under this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Notes and
the Security Documents owing to the Banks, the LC Issuer and the Agent, on a pro
rata basis in accordance with the ratio that the amount of such obligations
owing to each such Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent, as the case may be, bears
to the total amount of such obligations owing to all the Banks, the LC Issuer
and the Agent, for application to payment of such obligations; and
(e) Fifth, to the Borrower or such other Person as may be
legally entitled thereto.
ARTICLE VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Amendments, Etc.
(a) No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement nor any consent to any departure therefrom shall
be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower and
the Required Banks and, to the extent any rights or duties of the Agent or the
LC Issuer may be affected thereby, the Agent or the LC Issuer, respectively,
provided, however, that no such amendment, modification, termination, waiver or
consent shall, without the consent of the Agent and all of the Banks, (i)
authorize or permit the extension of time for, or any reduction of the amount
of, any payment of the principal of, or interest on, the Notes, the
Reimbursement Obligations, any fees or other amount payable hereunder, or extend
the expiry date of any Facility LC to a date after the Termination Date, (ii)
56
amend, extend or terminate the respective Commitments of any Bank set forth on
the signature pages hereof or modify the provisions of this Section regarding
the taking of any action under this Section or the definition of Required Banks
or any provision of this Agreement requiring the consent of all of the Banks,
(iii) provide for the discharge of any Guarantor or the release of any material
portion of the collateral subject to any Security Document, except as expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or the Security Documents, (iv) permit any
Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement, (iv) modify the percentages
set forth in the definition of Age Adjusted Percentage, or (v) modify any other
provision of this Agreement which by its terms requires the consent of all of
the Banks.
(b) Any such amendment, waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no
Bank that is in default of any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under
this Agreement shall be entitled to vote (whether to consent or to withhold its
consent) with respect to any amendment, modification, termination or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement or any departure therefrom or any direction from
the Banks to the Agent, and, for purposes of determining the Required Banks at
any time when any Bank is in default under this Agreement, the Commitments and
Loans of such defaulting Banks shall be disregarded.
8.2 Notices.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.2(c)
hereof, all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be delivered or sent to the Borrowers at 6985 Miller Road, Warren,
Michigan 48092, Attention: Mark A. Redman, Facsimile No. (810) 446-7839,
Facsimile Confirmation No. (810) 446-7803, with a copy to Holdings, c/o Quad-C
Management, Inc., 230 East High Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902, Phone: (434)
979-2070, Fax: (434) 979-1145, and to the Agent, the LC Issuer and the Banks at
their respective addresses for notices set forth on the signature pages hereof,
or to such other address as may be designated by the Borrowers, the Agent or any
Bank by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications
shall be deemed to have been given at the time of actual delivery thereof to
such address, or if sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to
such address, on the third day after the date of mailing, or if sent by
facsimile transmission, upon confirmation of receipt by telephone at the number
specified pursuant to this Section 8.2 for confirmation, provided, however, that
notices to the Bank shall not be effective until received.
(b) Notices by the Borrowers to the Agent with respect to
terminations or reductions of the Commitment pursuant to Section 2.2, requests
for Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 2.4, Conversion/Continuation Notices
pursuant to Section 2.9, and notices of prepayment pursuant to Section 3.1 shall
be irrevocable and binding on the Borrowers.
(c) Any notice to be given by the Borrowers to the Agent
pursuant to Sections 2.4 or 2.9 and any notice to be given by the Agent or any
Bank hereunder, may be given by telephone, and all such notices given by the
Borrowers must be promptly confirmed in writing
57
in the manner provided in Section 8.2(a). Any such notice given by telephone
shall be deemed effective upon receipt thereof by the party to whom such notice
is to be given.
8.3 No Waiver By Conduct; Remedies Cumulative. No course of
dealing on the part of the Agent, the LC Issuer or any Bank, nor any delay or
failure on the part of the Agent, the LC Issuer or any Bank in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver of such right,
power or privilege or otherwise prejudice the Agent's, the LC Issuer's or such
Bank's rights and remedies hereunder; nor shall any single or partial exercise
thereof preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. No right or remedy conferred upon or reserved to the
Agent, the LC Issuer or any Bank under the Loan Documents is intended to be
exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall be
cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy granted thereunder or
now or hereafter existing under any applicable law. Every right and remedy
granted by the Loan Documents or by applicable law to the Agent, the LC Issuer
or any Bank may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed
expedient by the Agent, the LC Issuer or any Bank and, unless contrary to the
express provisions of the Loan Documents, irrespective of the occurrence or
continuance of any Default or Event of Default.
8.4 Reliance on and Survival of Various Provisions. All terms,
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties of the Borrowers herein or
in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document furnished by
or on behalf of the Borrowers in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed
to be material and to have been relied upon by the Bank, notwithstanding any
investigation heretofore or hereafter made by the Banks or on the Banks' behalf,
and those covenants and agreements of the Borrowers set forth in Section 3.6 and
8.5 hereof shall survive the repayment in full of the Loans and the termination
of the Commitments.
8.5 Expenses; Indemnification.
(a) The Borrowers agree to pay, or reimburse the Agent
and the Banks and any of them, as applicable, for the payment of, on demand, (i)
the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent, including without
limitation the fees and expenses of Dickinson Wright PLLC, in connection with
the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement, the
Security Documents and the Notes and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, and in connection with advising the Agent as to its rights
and responsibilities with respect thereto, and in connection with any
amendments, waivers or consents in connection therewith, (ii) all stamp and
other taxes and fees payable or determined to be payable in connection with the
execution, delivery, filing or recording of this Agreement, any Security
Document and the Notes, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay
in paying or omitting to pay such taxes or fees, and (iii) all reasonable costs
and expenses of the Agent, the LC Issuer and the Banks (including reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel and whether incurred through negotiations, legal
proceedings or otherwise) in connection with any Default or Event of Default or
the enforcement of, or the exercise or preservation of any rights under, the
Loan Documents or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the
credit arrangements provided under this Agreement.
58
(b) The Borrowers hereby indemnify and agree to hold
harmless the Banks, the LC Issuer and the Agent, and their respective officers,
directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages,
losses, liabilities, costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements incurred in connection
with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding whether or not
such person shall be designated as a party thereto) which the Banks, the LC
Issuer or the Agent or any such person may incur or which may be claimed against
any of them by reason of or in connection with entering into this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation those arising
under Environmental Laws; provided, however, that the Borrowers shall not be
required to indemnify any such Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent, or such other
person, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such claim, damage, loss,
liability, cost or expense is attributable to the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Bank, the LC Issuer or the Agent, as the case may be.
8.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing
any such counterpart.
8.7 Governing Law. This Agreement is a contract made under, and
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of
Michigan applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such
State and without giving effect to choice of law principles of such State. Each
of the Borrowers and the Banks further agrees that any legal action or
proceeding with respect to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated
hereby may be brought in any court of the State of Michigan, or in any court of
the United States of America sitting in Michigan, and each of the Borrowers and
the Banks hereby submits to and accepts generally and unconditionally the
jurisdiction of those courts with respect to their persons and property. Nothing
in this paragraph shall affect the right of the Banks and the Agent to bring any
such action or proceeding against the Borrowers or their property in the courts
of any other jurisdiction. Each of the Borrowers and the Banks hereby
irrevocably waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit or
proceeding in the above described courts.
8.8 Table of Contents and Headings. The table of contents and the
headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for the convenience of reference
only and shall in no way modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.
8.9 Construction of Certain Provisions. If any provision of this
Agreement refers to any action to be taken by any person, or which such person
is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such
action is taken directly or indirectly by such person, whether or not expressly
specified in such provision.
8.10 Integration and Severability. This Agreement, the Facility LC
Applications, the Notes and the Security Documents embody the entire agreement
and understanding among the Borrowers and the Banks, and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, relating to the subject matter hereof. In case
any one or more of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement, the
Facility LC Applications, the Security Documents or the Notes shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the
59
remaining obligations of the Borrowers shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby, and such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability in one
jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the
obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications,
any Security Document or the Notes in any other jurisdiction.
8.11 Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be
given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not
permitted by any such covenant, the fact that it would be permitted by an
exception to, or would be otherwise within the limitations of, another covenant
shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default or any event
or condition which with notice or lapse of time, or both, could become such a
Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or such condition exists.
8.12 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding any provision of the
Loan Documents, in no event shall the amount of interest paid or agreed to be
paid by the Borrower exceed an amount computed at the highest rate of interest
permissible under applicable law. If, from any circumstances whatsoever,
fulfillment of any provision of the Loan Documents at the time performance of
such provision shall be due, shall involve exceeding the interest rate
limitation validly prescribed by law which a court of competent jurisdiction may
deem applicable hereto, then, ipso facto, the obligations to be fulfilled shall
be reduced to an amount computed at the highest rate of interest permissible
under applicable law, and if for any reason whatsoever any Bank shall ever
receive as interest an amount which would be deemed unlawful under such
applicable law such interest shall be automatically applied to the payment of
principal of the Borrowings outstanding hereunder (whether or not then due and
payable) and not to the payment of interest, or shall be refunded to the
Borrowers if such principal and all other obligations of the Borrowers to the
Bank have been paid in full.
8.13 Nonliability of Banks. The relationship between the Borrowers
on the one hand and the Banks, the LC Issuer and the Agent on the other hand
shall be solely that of borrower and lender. Neither the Agent, the LC Issuer,
the Arranger nor any Bank shall have any fiduciary responsibilities to the
Borrowers. Neither the Agent, the LC Issuer, the Arranger nor any Bank
undertakes any responsibility to the Borrowers to review or inform the Borrowers
of any matter in connection with any phase of the Borrowers' business or
operations. The Borrowers agree that neither the Agent, the LC Issuer, the
Arranger nor any Bank shall have liability to the Borrowers (whether sounding in
tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by any Borrower in connection
with, arising out of, or in any way related to, the transactions contemplated
and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act, omission or
event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in a final
non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such losses
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party from which
recovery is sought. Neither the Agent, the LC Issuer, the Arranger nor any Bank
shall have any liability with respect to, and the Borrowers hereby waive,
release and agree not to sue for, any special, indirect, consequential or
punitive damages suffered by any Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or
in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated
thereby.
8.14 Consents to Renewals, Modifications and Other Actions and
Events. This Agreement and all of the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder
shall remain in full force and effect without regard to and shall not be
released, affected or impaired by: (a) any amendment,
60
assignment, transfer, modification of or addition or supplement to the
Obligations, this Agreement, any Facility LC Application, any Security Document
or the Notes; (b) any extension, indulgence, increase in the Obligations or
other action or inaction in respect of this Agreement, the Facility LC
Applications, the Security Documents or the Notes or otherwise with respect to
the Obligations, or any acceptance of security for, or guaranties of, any of the
Obligations, or any surrender, release, exchange, impairment or alteration of
any such security of guaranties, including, without limitation, the failing to
perfect a security interest in any such security or abstaining from taking
advantage or of realizing upon any guaranties or upon any security interest in
any such security; (c) any default by the Borrowers under, or any lack of due
execution, invalidity or unenforceability of, or any irregularity or other
defect in, this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Security Documents
or the Notes; (d) any waiver by the Banks or any other person of any required
performance or otherwise of any condition precedent or waiver of any requirement
imposed by this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Security Documents
or the Notes, any guaranties or otherwise with respect to the Obligations; (e)
any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege in respect
of this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Security Documents or the
Notes; (f) any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of the assets of the
Borrowers or any consolidation or merger of any Borrower with or into any other
person, corporation, or entity, or any transfer or the disposition by any
Borrower or any other holder of membership interests in any of the Borrowers;
(g) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceedings involving
or affecting any Borrower; (h) the release or discharge of any Borrower from the
performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition under
any of the Obligations or contained in this Agreement, the Facility LC
Applications, the Security Documents or the Notes by operation of law, or (i)
any other cause whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing which, in the
absence of this provision, would release, affect or impair the obligations,
covenants, agreements and duties of any Borrower hereunder, including without
limitation any act or omission by the Agent or any Bank or any other person
which increases the scope of such Borrower's risk; and in each case described in
this paragraph whether or not such Borrower shall have notice or knowledge of
any of the foregoing, each of which is specifically waived by each of the
Borrowers.
8.15 Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement. The
respective obligations of the Banks hereunder are several and not joint and no
Bank shall be the partner or agent of any other (except to the extent to which
the Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any Bank to perform any
of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Bank from any of its
obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any
right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and
their respective successors and assigns, provided, however, that the parties
hereto expressly agree that the Arranger shall enjoy the benefits of the
provisions of Sections 8.5, 8.13 and 7.10 to the extent specifically set forth
therein and shall have the right to enforce such provisions on its own behalf
and in its own name to the same extent as if it were a party to this Agreement.
8.16 Waivers, Etc. Each Borrower unconditionally waives: (a) notice
of any of the matters referred to in Section 8.14 above; (b) all notices which
may be required by statute, rule or law or otherwise to preserve any rights of
the Agent and the Banks, including, without limitation, presentment to and
demand of payment or performance from the other Borrowers and protest for
non-payment or dishonor; (c) any right to the exercise by the Agent or any Bank
of
61
any right, remedy, power or privilege in connection with this Agreement, the
Facility LC Applications, the Security Documents or the Notes; (d) any
requirement that the Agent or any Bank, in the event of any default by the any
Borrower, first make demand upon or seek to enforce remedies against, such
Borrower or any other Borrower before demanding payment under or seeking to
enforce this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Security Documents or
the Notes against any other Borrower; (e) any right to notice of the disposition
of any security which the Agent and the Banks may hold from the Borrowers or
otherwise and any right to object to the commercial reasonableness of the
disposition of any such security; and (f) all errors and omissions in connection
with the administration of any of the Obligations or the Loan Documents, or any
other act or omission of the Agent or any Bank which changes the scope of the
Borrower's risk. The obligations of the Borrowers hereunder shall be complete
and binding forthwith upon the execution of this Agreement and subject to no
condition whatsoever, precedent or otherwise, and notice of acceptance hereof or
action in reliance hereon shall not be required.
8.17 Joint and Several Obligations; Contribution Rights; Savings
Clause.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein or in any Note, the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder and under the
Facility LC Applications, Security Documents and the Notes are joint and
several.
(b) If any Borrower makes a payment in respect of the
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the Borrowers to the Banks under
this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Security Documents and the
Notes (collectively, the "Bank Obligations"), it shall have the rights of
contribution set forth below against the other Borrowers; provided that such
Borrower shall not exercise its right of contribution until all the Bank
Obligations have been paid in full. If any Borrower makes a payment in respect
of the Bank Obligations that is smaller in proportion to its Payment Share (as
hereinafter defined) than such payments made by the other Borrowers are in
proportion to the amounts of their respective Payment Shares, the Borrower
making such proportionately smaller payment shall, when permitted by the
preceding sentence, pay to the other Borrowers an amount such that the net
payments made by the Borrowers in respect of the Bank Obligations shall be
shared among the Borrowers pro rata in proportion to their respective Payment
Shares. If any Borrower receives any payment that is greater in proportion to
the amount of its Payment Share than the payments received by the other
Borrowers are in proportion to the amounts of their respective Payment Shares,
the Borrower receiving such proportionately greater payment shall, when
permitted by the second preceding sentence, pay to the other Borrowers an amount
such that the payments received by the Borrowers shall be shared among the
Borrowers pro rata in proportion to their respective Payment Shares.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph or in this
Agreement, no liability or obligation of any Borrower that shall accrue pursuant
to this paragraph shall be paid nor shall it be deemed owed pursuant to this
paragraph until all of the Bank Obligations shall be paid in full.
For purposes hereof, the "Payment Share" of each Borrower
shall be the sum of (i) the aggregate proceeds of the Bank Obligations received
by such Borrower (and, if received subject to a repayment obligation, remaining
unpaid on the Determination Date (as hereinafter defined)), plus (ii) the
product of (A) the aggregate Bank Obligations remaining unpaid on the
62
date such Bank Obligations become due and payable in full, whether by stated
maturity, acceleration, or otherwise (the "Determination Date"), reduced by the
amount of such Bank Obligations attributed to Borrowers pursuant to clause (i)
above, times (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is such Borrower's net worth
on the effective date of this Agreement, and the denominator of which is the
aggregate net worth of all Borrowers on such date.
(c) It is the intent of each Borrower and the Banks that
each Borrower's maximum Bank Obligations shall be in, but not in excess of:
(i) in a case or proceeding commenced by or
against such Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code on or within one year from the
date on which any of the Bank Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount that
would not otherwise cause the Bank Obligations (or any other obligations of such
Borrower to the Banks) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Borrower
under (A) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or (B) any state fraudulent
transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in such case or
proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or
(ii) in a case or proceeding commenced by or
against such Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code subsequent to one year from the
date on which any of the Bank Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount that
would not otherwise cause the Bank Obligations (or any other obligations of such
Borrower to the Banks) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Borrower
under any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute
applied in any such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the
Bankruptcy Code; or
(iii) in a case or proceeding commenced by or
against such Borrower under any law, statute or regulation other than the
Bankruptcy Code (including, without limitation, any other bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, readjustment of debt, dissolution,
liquidation or similar debtor relief laws), the maximum amount that would not
otherwise cause the Bank Obligations (or any other obligations of such Borrower
to the Banks) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Borrower under such
law, statute or regulation including, without limitation, any state fraudulent
transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or
proceeding.
8.18 Confidentiality. Each of the Agent and each Bank agrees to
maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that
Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers,
employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors
(it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be
informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep
such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory
authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by
any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement,
(e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit,
action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights
hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the
same as those of this Section to (i) any Purchaser of or participant in, or any
prospective Purchaser of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement or (ii) any direct or indirect
63
contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty's professional advisor) to
any credit derivative transaction relating to obligations of any Borrower, (g)
with the consent of Asset Acceptance, (h) to the extent such Information (i)
becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or
(ii) becomes available to the Agent or any Bank on a nonconfidential basis from
a source other than any Borrower, or (i) to the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization. In addition, the
Agent and the Banks may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information
about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the
lending industry, and service providers to the Agent and the Banks in connection
with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this
Section, "Information" means all information received from any Borrower or
Affiliate relating to any such Person or its business, other than any such
information that is available to the Agent or any Bank on a nonconfidential
basis prior to disclosure by any Borrower or any such Affiliate. Any Person
required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this
Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if
such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the
confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own
confidential information.
8.19 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER, THE
BANKS AND THE BORROWERS, AFTER CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSULT WITH COUNSEL, KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
ANY OF THEM MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION BASED UPON OR ARISING
OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY RELATED INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, DEALING,
STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY OF THEM. NONE OF THE
AGENT, THE LC ISSUER, THE BANKS OR THE BORROWERS SHALL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE, BY
COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHERWISE, ANY SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED
WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED.
THESE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY RESPECT OR
RELINQUISHED BY THE AGENT, ANY BANK OR THE BORROWERS EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN
INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY EACH OF THEM.
[The rest of this page intentionally left blank.]
64
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LLC
By:____________________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
FINANCIAL CREDIT, LLC
By:____________________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
CFC FINANCIAL, LLC
By:____________________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
CONSUMER CREDIT, LLC
By:____________________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
65
Commitment Amount: $35,000,000 BANK ONE, NA, individually and
as Agent and LC Issuer
Address for Notices:
Bank One, NA By:_______________________________
10 South Main Street, Suite 104 Print Name:_______________________
Mt. Clemens, Michigan 48043 Its:________________________
Attention: Timothy E. Rettberg
Facsimile No.: (586) 468-8120
Facsimile Confirmation No. (586) 468-1166
Commitment Amount: $10,000,000 STANDARD FEDERAL BANK, NA
Address for Notices:
By:_______________________________
Standard Federal Bank, NA Print Name:_______________________
2600 West Big Beaver Road Its:________________________
Troy, Michigan 48084
Attention: Gloria Bertagnolli
Facsimile No.: (248) 637-5003
Facsimile Confirmation No.: (248) 822-5472
Commitment Amount: $10,000,000 NATIONAL CITY BANK OF MICHIGAN/
ILLINOIS
Address for notices:
National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois By:_______________________________
333 Fort Street, 16th Floor Print Name:_______________________
Locator R-J65-4P Its:________________________
Detroit, Michigan 48226-3154
Attention: Frederick P. Fordon
Facsimile No.: (313) 237-8022
Facsimile Confirmation No.: (313) 237-8071
66
Commitment Amount: $15,000,000 FIFTH THIRD BANK,
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Address for notices:
Fifth Third Bank, Eastern Michigan By:_______________________________
1000 Town Center, Suite 1500 Print Name:_______________________
MD JTWN5F Its:________________________
Southfield, Michigan 48075
Attention: Andre A. Nazareth
Facsimile No.: (248) 603-0548
Facsimile Confirmation No.: (248) 603-0524
Commitment Amount: $10,000,000 COMERICA BANK
Address for notices:
By:_______________________________
Comerica Bank Print Name:_______________________
500 Woodward Ave., 6th Floor Its:________________________
Detroit, Michigan
Attention: Richard S. Arceci
Facsimile No.: (313) 222-7475
Facsimile Confirmation No.: (313) 222-0167
67
EXECUTION COPY
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of June 25, 2003
(this "Amendment"), is by and among ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, FINANCIAL CREDIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
CFC FINANCIAL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and CONSUMER CREDIT,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the "Existing
Borrowers"), MED-FI ACCEPTANCE, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
"New Borrower" and, together with the Existing Borrowers, collectively, the
"Borrowers" and, individually, a "Borrower"), BANK ONE, NA, a national banking
association with its main office in Chicago, Illinois ("Bank One"), STANDARD
FEDERAL BANK, NA, a national banking association, NATIONAL CITY BANK OF
MICHIGAN/ILLINOIS, a national banking association, FIFTH THIRD BANK, EASTERN
MICHIGAN, a Michigan banking corporation, and COMERICA BANK, a Michigan banking
corporation (together with Bank One, collectively, the "Banks" and,
individually, a "Bank"), and BANK ONE, NA, as LC Issuer and administrative agent
on behalf of the Banks (in such capacity, the "Agent").
INTRODUCTION
A. The Existing Borrowers, the Banks and the Agent have
entered into the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2002 (the "Credit
Agreement").
B. The Existing Borrowers have requested that the New
Borrower be added to the Credit Agreement as a "Borrower", and the Banks and the
Agent are willing to so modify the Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions
herein set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual agreements herein and in the Credit Agreement contained, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
Effective upon the date the conditions precedent set forth in
Article 3 of this Amendment are satisfied, which date (the "Amendment Date")
shall be determined by the Agent in its sole discretion, the Credit Agreement
hereby is amended as follows:
1.1 As used in the Credit Agreement and all other Loan
Documents, the term "Borrower" and all pronouns understood in the context to
mean such a "Borrower" or any such "Borrower" shall mean and include the New
Borrower and the Existing Borrowers, as if the New Borrower originally were a
signatory to the Credit Agreement.
1.2 The Section in the Credit Agreement labeled "1.22"
properly is relabeled as "7.22."
1.3 Exhibits A, C, D, E and F attached to this Amendment
are substituted for Exhibits A, C, D, E and F, respectively, attached to the
Credit Agreement.
1.4 Schedule 4.4 attached to this Amendment is
substituted for Schedule 4.4 attached to the Credit Agreement.
ARTICLE 2. NEW BORROWER JOINDER
2.1 The New Borrower hereby acknowledges that it has
received and reviewed a copy of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and unconditionally agrees hereby to: (a) join the Credit Agreement
and the other Loan Documents as a "Borrower", and hereby does so join the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) be bound by, and hereby ratifies and
confirms, all covenants, agreements, consents, submissions, appointments,
acknowledgments and other terms and provisions attributable to each "Borrower"
under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and does hereby agree
that it is so bound, and (c) perform all obligations at all times, and from time
to time, required of it as a "Borrower" by the Credit Agreement and the other
Loan Documents.
ARTICLE 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
As conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Amendment, the
Banks and the Agent shall receive the following documents and the following
matters shall be completed, all in form and substance satisfactory to each Bank
and the Agent:
3.1 This Amendment duly executed on behalf of the
Borrowers, the Banks and the Agent, and the acknowledgment at the end of this
Amendment duly executed on behalf of the Guarantor.
3.2 The Borrowers shall execute and deliver to the Banks
replacement Revolving Credit Notes (the "Replacement Revolving Credit Notes")
substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached to this Amendment, properly
completed for each Bank.
3.3 The Borrowers shall execute and deliver to the Agent
a second amended and restated security agreement, substantially in the form of
Exhibit D attached to this Amendment (the "Replacement Security Agreement"), and
the New Borrower shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and
delivered, to the Agent all certificates, other Security Documents, opinions of
counsel and other items required under Section 2.5 of the Credit Agreement, with
respect to the New Borrower.
3.4 All other documents, payments and legal matters in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Amendment shall have been
executed, delivered and complete, as applicable, and shall be in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent and its counsel.
First Amendment to Credit Agreement
-2-
ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
In order to induce the Banks and the Agent to enter into this
Amendment, each Borrower represents and warrants that:
4.1 The execution, delivery and performance by each
Borrower of this Amendment, the Replacement Revolving Credit Notes and the
Replacement Security Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by
the New Borrower of the other Security Documents to which it is a party
delivered hereunder, are within its corporate powers, have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action and are not in contravention of any law, rule
or regulation, or any judgment, decree, writ, injunction, order or award of any
arbitrator, court or governmental authority, or of the terms of such Borrower's
charter or by-laws, or of any contract or undertaking to which such Borrower is
a party or by which such Borrower or its property is or may be bound or
affected.
4.2 This Amendment is and, when executed and delivered,
the Replacement Revolving Credit Notes and the Replacement Security Agreement
will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrowers, enforceable
against the Borrowers in accordance with their respective terms. The Security
Documents to which the New Borrower is a party delivered hereunder are legal,
valid and binding obligations of the New Borrower, enforceable against the New
Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.
4.3 No consent, approval or authorization of or
declaration, registration or filing with any governmental authority or any
nongovernmental person or entity, including without limitation any creditor or
stockholder of any Borrower, is required on the part of any Borrower in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment, the
Replacement Revolving Credit Notes, the Replacement Security Agreement, the
other Security Documents to which the New Borrower is a party delivered
hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby or as a condition to the
legality, validity or enforceability of this Amendment, the New Revolving Credit
Notes or such Security Documents.
4.4 After giving effect to the amendments contained in
Article 1 of this Amendment, the representations and warranties contained in
Article 4 of the Credit Agreement and the representations and warranties
contained in the Security Documents are true on and as of the date hereof with
the same force and effect as if made on and as of the date hereof.
ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 If any Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any
term, covenant or agreement in this Amendment, or any representation or warranty
made by the Borrowers in this Amendment shall prove to have been incorrect in
any material respect when made, such occurrence shall be deemed to constitute an
Event of Default.
5.2 All references to the Credit Agreement in any
Security Document or any other document, instrument or certificate referred to
in the Credit Agreement or delivered in
First Amendment to Credit Agreement
-3-
connection therewith or pursuant thereto, hereafter shall be deemed references
to the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby. All references to the Revolving
Credit Notes in the Credit Agreement, any Security Document or any other
document, instrument or certificate referred to in the Credit Agreement or
delivered in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, hereafter shall be deemed
references to the Replacement Revolving Credit Notes. All references to the
Security Agreement in the Credit Agreement, any other Security Document or any
other document, instrument or certificate referred to in the Credit Agreement or
delivered in connection therewith or pursuant thereto, hereafter shall be deemed
references to the Replacement Security Agreement.
5.3 The Security Documents, any and all certificates or
financing statements executed pursuant to the Credit Agreement or in connection
therewith and, subject to the amendments herein provided, the Credit Agreement
shall in all respects continue in full force and effect for the benefit of the
Agent and the Banks.
5.4 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.
5.5 This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan.
5.6 The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of Dickinson Wright PLLC, counsel for the Agent, in
connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Amendment and the
documents referred to herein and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, and in connection with advising the Agent as to its rights
and responsibilities with respect thereto.
5.7 This Amendment may be executed upon any number of
counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were
upon the same instrument.
[The rest of this page intentionally left blank.]
First Amendment to Credit Agreement
-4-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first-above written.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
FINANCIAL CREDIT, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
CFC FINANCIAL, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
CONSUMER CREDIT, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
MED-FI ACCEPTANCE, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
First Amendment to Credit Agreement
-5-
BANK ONE, NA, individually and
as Agent and LC Issuer
As of the date first set forth above, the undersigned hereby
acknowledges that it has reviewed and fully consents to the foregoing First
Amendment to Credit Agreement (the "First Amendment"), that each of the Security
Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement amended by the First Amendment;
hereinafter the "Credit Agreement"), including without limitation the
undersigned's Guaranty Agreement dated as of September 30, 2002 in favor of the
Agent for the benefit of the Banks, made by the undersigned in favor of the
Agent and the Banks continues in full force and effect to secure and guarantee,
as the case may be, among other things, all the indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities of the Borrowers, including without limitation the New Borrower, to
the Banks and the Agent under the Credit Agreement, as amended by the First
Amendment, and the Replacement Revolving Credit Notes, and acknowledges and
agrees that it has no defenses, counterclaims or offsets with respect thereto.
All references to the Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Notes in any
Security Document or any other document, instrument or certificate referred to
in the Credit Agreement or delivered in connection therewith or pursuant
thereto, hereafter shall be deemed references to the Credit Agreement, as
amended by the First Amendment, and the Replacement Revolving Credit Notes,
respectively. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement or the First
Amendment, as the case may be.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS, LLC
By:_______________________________
Its:___________________________
First Amendment to Credit Agreement
-7-
SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 11, 2003
(this "Amendment"), is by and among ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, FINANCIAL CREDIT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
CFC FINANCIAL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and CONSUMER CREDIT,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and MED-FI ACCEPTANCE, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the "Borrowers" and,
individually, a "Borrower"), BANK ONE, NA, a national banking association with
its main office in Chicago, Illinois ("Bank One"), STANDARD FEDERAL BANK, NA, a
national banking association, NATIONAL CITY BANK OF MICHIGAN/ILLINOIS, a
national banking association, FIFTH THIRD BANK, EASTERN MICHIGAN, a Michigan
banking corporation, and COMERICA BANK, a Michigan banking corporation (together
with Bank One, collectively, the "Banks" and, individually, a "Bank"), and BANK
ONE, NA, as LC Issuer and administrative agent on behalf of the Banks (in such
capacity, the "Agent").
INTRODUCTION
A. The Borrowers, the Banks and the Agent have entered
into the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2002, as amended by the
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2003 (the "Credit
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Banks provide to the Borrowers a revolving
credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of $80,000,000.
B. The Borrowers have requested that the amount of the
credit facility provided under the Credit Agreement be increased by $20,000,000,
and that the termination date of the credit facility be extended one year, and
the Banks and the Agent are willing to so modify the Credit Agreement on the
terms and conditions herein set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual agreements herein and in the Credit Agreement contained, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
Effective upon the date the conditions precedent set forth in
Article 3 of this Amendment are satisfied, which date (the "Amendment Date")
shall be determined by the Agent in its sole discretion, the Credit Agreement
hereby is amended as follows:
1.1 The definition of the term "Aggregate Commitment" in
Section 1.1 is amended and restated in full as follows:
"Aggregate Commitment" shall mean the aggregate of
the Commitments of all of the Banks, not exceeding $100,000,000, as
such amount may be increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to
the terms hereof.
1.2 The definition of the term "Commitment" in Section
1.1 is amended and restated in full as follows:
"Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each Bank,
the commitment of each such Bank to make Loans to the Borrowers
pursuant to Section 2.1 and participate in Facility LCs issued upon the
application of Asset Acceptance in an aggregate amount outstanding at
any time not exceeding the respective commitment amount for each such
Bank set forth next to the name of each such Bank on the signature
pages to the Second Amendment, as such amounts may be reduced from time
to time pursuant to Section 2.2.
1.3 The following definitions of the terms "Second
Amendment" and "Second Amendment Date", respectively, are added to Section 1.1
in alphabetical order:
"Second Amendment" shall mean the Second Amendment to
this Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2003.
"Second Amendment Date" shall mean the Amendment Date
(as defined in the Second Amendment).
1.4 The definition of the term "Subordinated Debt" in
Section 1.1 is amended and restated in full as follows:
"Subordinated Debt" of any person shall mean, as of
any date, that Indebtedness of such person for borrowed money which is
satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Banks, is on terms
and conditions satisfactory to the Required Banks, and is expressly
subordinate and junior in right and priority of payment to the Loans
and other Indebtedness of such person to the Banks in manner and by
agreement satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Banks.
1.5 The definition of the term "Termination Date" in
Section 1.1 is amended and restated in full as follows:
"Termination Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of
(a) September 28, 2006, and (b) the date on which the Commitments shall
be terminated pursuant to Section 2.2 or 6.2.
1.6 Section 4.15, "Reportable Transaction", is added to
the Credit Agreement immediately following Section 4.14, as follows:
4.15 Reportable Transaction. The Borrowers do not intend
to treat the Loans, Facility LCs and related transactions as being a
"reportable transaction" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.6011-4). In the event the
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-2-
Borrowers determine to take any action inconsistent with such
intention, they will promptly notify the Agent thereof.
1.7 The following sentence is added to the end of Section
8.18:
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, confidential
Information shall not include, and the Agent and each Bank (and each
employee, representative or other agent of the Agent or any Bank) may
disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the
"tax treatment" and "tax structure" (in each case, within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions
contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions
or other tax analyses) that are or have been provided to such Bank
relating to such tax treatment or tax structure; provided that with
respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains
information concerning such tax treatment or tax structure of the
transactions contemplated hereby as well as other information, this
sentence shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar
item that relate to such tax treatment or tax structure.
ARTICLE 2.
REALLOCATION OF LOANS AND FACILITY LCS ON AMENDMENT DATE
2.1 Effective on the Amendment Date, subject to Section
2.2 below, each Bank hereby sells, grants, assigns and conveys to each other
Bank, without recourse, warranty, or representation of any kind, except as
specifically provided herein, an undivided percentage in such Bank's right,
title and interest in and to its outstanding Loans and participation interests
in Facility LCs in the respective dollar amounts and percentages as necessary so
that, from and after such sale, each such Bank's outstanding Loans and
participation interests in Facility LCs shall equal such Bank's Pro Rata Share
(calculated based upon the amount of its Commitment after giving effect to this
Amendment) of the outstanding Loans and LC Obligations. Effective on the
Amendment Date, each Bank hereby purchases and accepts each such grant,
assignment and conveyance from each of such other Banks. Each Bank so purchasing
hereby agrees that its respective purchase price for the portion of the
outstanding Loans and participation interests in Facility LCs purchased hereby
shall equal the respective dollar amount necessary so that, from and after such
payments, each Bank's outstanding Loans and participation interests in Facility
LCs shall equal such Bank's Pro Rata Share (calculated based upon the amount of
its Commitment after giving effect to this Amendment) of the outstanding Loans
and LC Obligations. The amounts payable by each Bank that has a net greater
purchasing obligation shall be payable on the Amendment Date by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the Agent. The Agent, in turn, shall wire
transfer any such funds received to each Bank that has a net greater selling
obligation, in same day funds, for the sole account of each such Bank. Each Bank
hereby represents and warrants to each other Bank that it owns the Loans and
participation interests in Facility LCs being sold and assigned hereby for its
own account and has not sold, transferred or encumbered any or all of its
interest in such Loans and participation interests in Facility LCs. Each Bank
hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except for each other Bank's
representations and warranties contained in the foregoing sentence, it has
entered into this
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-3-
Amendment with respect to such increase on the basis of its own independent
investigation and has not relied upon, and will not rely upon, any explicit or
implicit written or oral representation, warranty or other statement of the
Banks or the Agent concerning the authorization, execution, legality, validity,
effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Amendment, the
Credit Agreement or any related agreements or other documents.
2.2 Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.1 above or in
the Credit Agreement to the contrary, in order to avoid the prepayment of
Eurodollar Loans that are outstanding as of the Amendment Date (the "Existing
Eurodollar Loans"), (a) the Banks shall continue to share in the Existing
Eurodollar Loans until the end of their current Interest Periods in accordance
with the Banks' respective Pro Rata Shares calculated based upon the amount of
their respective Commitments before giving effect to this Amendment, (b) the
outstanding Loans as of the Amendment Date that are acquired by any Bank
pursuant to the participations under Section 2.1 above shall be limited to
Floating Rate Loans, (c) on and after the Amendment Date, all new Eurodollar
Borrowings, including any continuations or conversions thereof, shall be shared
by the Banks in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares calculated
based upon the amount of their respective Commitments after giving effect to
this Amendment, and their respective shares of the then outstanding Floating
Rate Loans shall be deemed adjusted through the purchasing and selling of
participations therein (in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section
2.1 above) such that each Bank's overall share of all the Loans shall be in an
amount in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares calculated based upon
the amount of their respective Commitments after giving effect to this
Amendment, and (d) the Borrowers shall not at any time be allowed to request any
Borrowing or Facility LC that would cause any Bank's Outstanding Credit Exposure
to exceed any such Bank's Commitment after giving effect to this Amendment.
ARTICLE 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
As conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Amendment, the
Banks and the Agent shall receive the following documents and the following
matters shall be completed, all in form and substance satisfactory to each Bank
and the Agent:
3.1 This Amendment duly executed on behalf of the
Borrowers, the Banks and the Agent, and the acknowledgment at the end of this
Amendment duly executed on behalf of the Guarantor.
3.2 The Borrowers shall execute and deliver to the Banks
replacement Revolving Credit Notes (the "Replacement Revolving Credit Notes")
substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached to the Credit Agreement,
properly completed for each Bank in the amount, for each such Bank respectively,
of its Commitment set forth on the signature pages of this Amendment.
3.3 The Borrowers shall have paid to the Agent (a) for
the account of the Banks the following fees: (i) for each Bank, a fee in the
amount equal to one-tenth of one percent (1/10 of 1%) of the amount of such
Bank's Commitment before giving effect to this Amendment, and (ii) for each
Bank, an additional fee in the amount of one-fifth of one percent (1/5 of 1%) of
the
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-4-
difference between the amount of such Bank's Commitment before giving effect to
this Amendment and the amount of such Bank's Commitment after giving effect to
this Amendment, and (b) for the account of the Agent and Banc One Capital
Markets, Inc., such other fees, in such amounts and at such times, to which the
Borrowers and the Agent otherwise shall have agreed.
3.4 All other documents, payments and legal matters in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Amendment shall have been
executed, delivered and complete, as applicable, and shall be in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent and its counsel.
ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
In order to induce the Banks and the Agent to enter into this
Amendment, each Borrower represents and warrants that:
4.1 The execution, delivery and performance by each
Borrower of this Amendment and the Replacement Revolving Credit Notes are within
its corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action and are not in contravention of any law, rule or regulation, or any
judgment, decree, writ, injunction, order or award of any arbitrator, court or
governmental authority, or of the terms of such Borrower's charter or by-laws,
or of any contract or undertaking to which such Borrower is a party or by which
such Borrower or its property is or may be bound or affected.
4.2 This Amendment is and, when executed and delivered,
the Replacement Revolving Credit Notes will be, legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrowers, enforceable against the Borrowers in accordance
with their respective terms.
4.3 No consent, approval or authorization of or
declaration, registration or filing with any governmental authority or any
nongovernmental person or entity, including without limitation any creditor or
stockholder of any Borrower, is required on the part of any Borrower in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment, the
Replacement Revolving Credit Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby or as
a condition to the legality, validity or enforceability of this Amendment or the
Replacement Revolving Credit Notes.
4.4 After giving effect to the amendments contained in
Article 1 of this Amendment, the representations and warranties contained in
Article 4 of the Credit Agreement and the representations and warranties
contained in the Security Documents are true on and as of the date hereof with
the same force and effect as if made on and as of the date hereof.
ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 If any Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any
term, covenant or agreement in this Amendment, or any representation or warranty
made by the Borrowers in this
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-5-
Amendment shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made,
such occurrence shall be deemed to constitute an Event of Default.
5.2 All references to the Credit Agreement in any
Security Document or any other document, instrument or certificate referred to
in the Credit Agreement or delivered in connection therewith or pursuant
thereto, hereafter shall be deemed references to the Credit Agreement, as
amended hereby. All references to the Revolving Credit Notes in the Credit
Agreement, any Security Document or any other document, instrument or
certificate referred to in the Credit Agreement or delivered in connection
therewith or pursuant thereto, hereafter shall be deemed references to the
Replacement Revolving Credit Notes.
5.3 The Security Documents, any and all certificates or
financing statements executed pursuant to the Credit Agreement or in connection
therewith and, subject to the amendments herein provided, the Credit Agreement
shall in all respects continue in full force and effect for the benefit of the
Agent and the Banks.
5.4 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.
5.5 This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan.
5.6 The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of Dickinson Wright PLLC, counsel for the Agent, in
connection with the negotiation and preparation of this Amendment and the
documents referred to herein and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, and in connection with advising the Agent as to its rights
and responsibilities with respect thereto.
5.7 This Amendment may be executed upon any number of
counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were
upon the same instrument.
[The rest of this page intentionally left blank.]
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-6-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first-above written.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
FINANCIAL CREDIT, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
CFC FINANCIAL, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
CONSUMER CREDIT, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
MED-FI ACCEPTANCE, LLC
By:_______________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Its: President
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-7-
Commitment Amount: $40,000,000 BANK ONE, NA, individually and
as Agent and LC Issuer
By:_______________________________
Print Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
Commitment Amount: $15,000,000 COMERICA BANK
By:_______________________________
Print Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
Commitment Amount: $15,000,000 FIFTH THIRD BANK,
EASTERN MICHIGAN
By:_______________________________
Print Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
Commitment Amount: $15,000,000 NATIONAL CITY BANK OF MICHIGAN/
ILLINOIS
By:_______________________________
Print Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
Commitment Amount: $15,000,000 STANDARD FEDERAL BANK, NA
By:_______________________________
Print Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-8-
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GUARANTOR
As of the date first set forth above, the undersigned hereby
acknowledges that it has reviewed and fully consents to the foregoing Second
Amendment to Credit Agreement (the "Second Amendment"), that each of the
Security Documents (as defined in the Credit Agreement amended by the Second
Amendment; hereinafter the "Credit Agreement"), including without limitation the
undersigned's Guaranty Agreement dated as of September 30, 2002 in favor of the
Agent for the benefit of the Banks, made by the undersigned in favor of the
Agent and the Banks continues in full force and effect to secure and guarantee,
as the case may be, among other things, all the indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities of the Borrowers to the Banks and the Agent under the Credit
Agreement, as amended by the Second Amendment, and the Replacement Revolving
Credit Notes, and acknowledges and agrees that it has no defenses, counterclaims
or offsets with respect thereto. All references to the Credit Agreement and the
Revolving Credit Notes in any Security Document or any other document,
instrument or certificate referred to in the Credit Agreement or delivered in
connection therewith or pursuant thereto, hereafter shall be deemed references
to the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Second Amendment, and the Replacement
Revolving Credit Notes, respectively. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit
Agreement or the Second Amendment, as the case may be.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS, LLC
By:_______________________________
Its:___________________________
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement
-9-
EXHIBIT 10.2
CC OPTION AGREEMENT
This CC OPTION AGREEMENT is made as of the 30th day of September, 2002,
between ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
("Holdings"), and RUFUS H. REITZEL, JR. ("Reitzel").
RECITALS
Pursuant to that certain Asset Contribution and Securities Purchase
Agreement dated as of September 30, 2002 (the "Contribution Agreement"), at the
closing thereunder (the "Closing"), the membership interests in certain limited
liability companies, including Consumer Credit LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company ("CC LLC"), which holds the assets and liabilities relating to the
business of making and servicing consumer loans and mortgages, issuing credit
cards and financing sales of consumer products (the "CCC Business") were
contributed to Holdings. Reitzel is a shareholder of Consumer Credit Corp., a
Michigan corporation, which prior to the contribution to Holdings held all of
the membership interests in CC LLC. Following the Closing, Reitzel was employed
as the Chief Executive Officer of Holdings.
Holdings and Reitzel desire to set forth herein the terms and
conditions under which Reitzel or such entity that is controlled by him and in
which he owns more than a majority of the equity interests shall have a limited
option to purchase the CCC Business in the event of termination of his
employment with Holdings.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, for a
period of ninety (90) days following the effective date of termination (the
"Termination Date") of his employment with Holdings and its subsidiaries for any
reason or by Reitzel for Substantial Breach (as defined in the employment
agreement, if any, between Reitzel and Holdings, or in the absence of an
employment agreement, in Holdings' operating agreement), Reitzel shall have the
option on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement to purchase the
CCC Business (the "Option").
2. Exercise. Reitzel's entitlement to exercise the Option shall be
subject to obtaining the consent of the lenders under the Company's senior
credit facility. In order to exercise the Option, Reitzel must give written
notice to Holdings no later than 5:00 p.m. Detroit time on the 90th day
following the Termination Date (the "Exercise Period") of his exercise of the
option and setting the date for closing of the purchase which shall be no later
than the earlier of (i) 150 days after the date notice of exercise is given and
(ii) 90 days after the Termination Date (the "Expiration Date"). If Holdings
does not receive notice of exercise during the Exercise Period or the purchase
does not close, other than by reason of action or inaction on the part of
Holdings, on or before the Expiration Date, the Option shall expire and be of no
further force or effect; provided that if notice of exercise is timely given,
the period during which the purchase must close will be extended up to thirty
(30) days if the parties are proceeding in good faith toward closing.
3. Form. The purchase of the CCC Business shall be effected by either
sale of all the membership interests in CC LLC or assignment of the assets
comprising the CCC Business to Reitzel or such entity that is controlled by him
and in which he owns more than a majority of the equity interests. The documents
and instruments to effect the transaction shall contain such representations,
warranties, covenants and indemnities as shall be negotiated by the parties
giving effect to the relative relationships of Holdings and Reitzel with respect
to the operations of the CCC Business at such time.
4. Purchase Price. The purchase price shall be the greater of (i) the
Gross Collections of the CCC Business during the twelve months ended on the last
day of the calendar month concurring with or immediately preceding the
Termination Date and (ii) two times the Tangible Book Value of the CCC Business
as of the last day of the calendar month concurring with or immediately
preceding the Termination Date. Gross Collections means total net payments
received on Consumer Credit Accounts (as that term is defined in the
Contribution Agreement) collected by CCC. Tangible Book Value means all of the
assets (other than goodwill resulting from the transactions consumated at the
Closing under the Contribution Agreement) minus all liabilities of the CCC
Business.
5. Payment. At the closing of the purchase, Reitzel shall pay the
purchase price by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon foreclosure on the
business or assets of CCC by the banks under the Senior Credit Facility as that
term is defined in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement
of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC dated as of September 30, 2002.
7. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement among
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no
agreements, understandings, representations or warranties between the parties
other than those set forth or referred to herein.
8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns; provided that no party hereto will assign its rights or delegate its
obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of
each other party hereto.
9. Notice. All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given if (i) delivered personally or by
nationally recognized overnight delivery service, (ii) transmitted by facsimile
or (iii) mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested and
postage prepaid) to the following listed persons at the addresses and facsimile
numbers specified below, or to such other persons, addresses or facsimile
numbers as a party entitled to notice shall give, in the manner hereinabove
described, to the others entitled to notice:
(a) If to Holdings, to:
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC
c/o Quad-C Management, Inc.
230 East High Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Attention: Anthony R. Ignaczak
Facsimile No.: 434-979-1145
-2-
with a copy to:
McGuireWoods LLP
One James Center
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Attention: Leslie A. Grandis
Facsimile No.: 804-775-1061
(b) If to Reitzel, to:
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
83 Shadow Lane
Lakeland, Florida 33813
Attention: Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
Facsimile No.: 863-648-0166
with a copy to:
Dykema Gossett PLLC
400 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48243
Attention: J. Michael Bernard, Esq.
Facsimile No.: 313-568-6832
Notice pursuant hereto shall be deemed given (i) if delivered
personally, when so delivered, (ii) if given by nationally recognized overnight
delivery, one business day after delivery to the delivery service for next
business day delivery, (iii) if given by facsimile, when transmitted to the
facsimile number set forth above, when so transmitted if transmitted during
normal business hours at the location to which it is transmitted or upon the
opening of business on the next Business Day if transmitted other than during
normal business hours at the location to which it is transmitted and (iv) if
given by mail, on the third business day following the day on which it was
posted.
9. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented
at any time by the parties hereto. This Agreement may be amended only by an
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
10. Extension; Waiver. At any time either party to this Agreement may
extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other party
hereto or waive compliance by the other party hereto with any of the agreements
or conditions contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if
set forth in a written instrument signed by the party giving the extension or
waiver. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or
shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not
similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise
expressly provided.
-3-
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, and
delivered by means of facsimile transmission or otherwise, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when
taken together shall constitute but one and the same agreement.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by
the laws of the State of Michigan without regard to any laws or regulations
relating to choice of laws (whether of the State of Michigan or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the State of Michigan.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC
By: _______________________________
Name: Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
Title: President
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr.
-4-
EXHIBIT 10.4
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC
YEAR 2002 SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Year 2002
Share Appreciation Rights Plan (the "Plan") is to further the long-term
stability and financial success of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC (the "Company")
by attracting and retaining key Employees through the awarding of Share
Appreciation Rights (as those terms are defined herein). It is believed that
participation in the Plan will stimulate the efforts of those Employees upon
whose judgment and interest the Company and its Subsidiaries are and will be
largely dependent for the successful conduct of their businesses. It also is
believed that Share Appreciation Rights awards granted to such Employees under
the Plan will strengthen their desire to remain with the Company and its
Subsidiaries and will further the alignment of those Employees' interests with
those of the Company's Shareholders.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in the Plan, the following terms have the
meanings indicated:
(a) "Applicable Withholding Taxes" means the aggregate amount of
federal, state and local income and payroll taxes that the Company is required
to withhold in making payment with respect to any Share Appreciation Rights.
(b) "Award" means an award of Share Appreciation Rights under the
Plan.
(c) "Award Date" as to any Share Appreciation Right means the date
on which the Company awards such Share Appreciation Right to an Employee
pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof.
(d) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) "Class B Share" means a Class B Share of membership interests of
the Company and includes any securities into which Class B Shares are converted
in a merger, Corporate Reorganization (as defined in the Company LLC Agreement)
or similar transaction, or for which Class B Shares are exchanged in a share
exchange or similar transaction.
(f) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g) "Company" means Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, and includes the surviving entity after a Corporate
Reorganization.
(h) "Company LLC Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement among the Company and its members dated as of
September 30, 2002, as amended.
(i) "Control Transfer" means one or a series of related transactions
as a result of which (i) any Third Party or group of Third Parties, acting in
concert ("Acquiring Persons"), acquires, directly or indirectly, a majority of
the Company's voting securities, (ii) the Company consolidates with or merges
into or with, or effects any plan of share exchange with, any Person; and after
giving effect to such consolidation or merger or plan of share exchange, any
Acquiring Person owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting
securities of the Person surviving such consolidation or merger or share
exchange; or (iii) in one transaction or a series of related transactions, all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold, leased, exchanged or
otherwise transferred to any Acquiring Persons, and after giving effect to such
transaction, a majority of the voting securities of the Acquiring Persons are
owned directly or indirectly by one or more Third Parties.
(j) "Corporate Reorganization" means a change in the legal status of
the Company from a limited liability company into a business corporation
organized under the laws of one of the states or territories of the United
States, in such form and manner (including, without limitation, by merger,
reorganization, liquidation, transfer of shares or assets of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, or by any other means permissible under applicable
law) and with such classes of stock having such rights, preferences and other
terms as may be approved by the Board.
(k) "Disability" or "Disabled" means the inability of the Employee
to perform his essential duties without reasonable accommodation for a period of
six months as determined in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors.
(l) "Employee" means an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(m) "Fair Market Value" of a Class B Share means as of any specified
date (i) if the Class B Shares are not traded on any exchange, automated
quotation system or over-the-counter market, the value determined by the Board
using any reasonable method in good faith; (ii) if the Shares are traded on an
exchange or automated quotation system, the average of the highest and lowest
reported sales prices at which the Shares were traded on the ten (10) trading
days immediately preceding such specified date on the exchange on which they
generally have the greatest trading volume; or (iii) if the Class B Shares are
traded on the over-the-counter market, the average between the closing high bid
and low asked prices on the business day immediately preceding such specified
date.
(n) "Initial Public Offering" means the first Public Offering of
equity securities of the Company or its successor after a Corporate
Reorganization.
-2-
(o)"Investors" means AAC Investors, Inc., a Virginia corporation.
(p) "Liquidity Event" means a Control Transfer, Initial Public
Offering or Partial Sale.
(q) "Partial Sale" means a transaction which does not constitute a
Control Transfer and as a result of which (i) any Acquiring Persons acquires,
directly or indirectly, at least twenty percent but less than a majority of the
Company's voting securities, (ii) the Company consolidates with or merges into
or with, or effects any plan of share exchange with, any Person; and after
giving effect to such consolidation or merger or plan of share exchange, any
Acquiring Person owns, directly or indirectly, at least twenty percent but less
than a majority of the voting securities of the Person surviving such
consolidation or merger or share exchange, or (iii) at least twenty percent but
less than substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold, leased,
exchanged or otherwise transferred to any Acquiring Persons, and after giving
effect to such transaction, at least twenty percent but less than a majority of
the voting securities of the Acquiring Persons are owned directly or indirectly
by one or more Third Parties.
(r) "Participant" means any Employee who receives a Share
Appreciation Rights Award under the Plan.
(s) "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture,
association, corporation, trust, estate, limited liability company, limited
liability partnership, or any other business organization or legal entity.
(t) "Public Offering" means a public offering pursuant to an
effective registration statement (other than a registration statement on Form
S-4 or S-8 or any successor form) under the Securities Act of equity interests
of the Company or any Subsidiary, or its successor entity after a Corporate
Reorganization, that is effected through a firm commitment underwriting or an
offering pursuant to Rule 144 effected through a broker or dealer.
(u) "Share Appreciation Right" means a right to receive payment from
the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(v) "Shareholder" has the meaning given such term in the Company LLC
Agreement.
(w) "Subsidiary" means any entity, whether now existing or hereafter
created or acquired, of which more than 50% of the securities entitled to vote
generally in an election of directors or managers are owned directly or
indirectly by the Company.
(x) "Third Party" means at any time a Person who was not (i) a
Shareholder on September 30, 2002, (ii) a Permitted Transferee (as defined in
the Company LLC Agreement) of a Shareholder who was, or whose
predecessor-in-interest was, a Shareholder on September 30, 2002, (iii) an
Affiliate (as defined in the Company
-3-
LLC Agreement) of the Company or of any Person who was a Shareholder on
September 30, 2002, or (iv) an Employee on the date such Person became a
Shareholder.
3. SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to Section 9 of the Plan, there shall be reserved for
awarding under the Plan, 2,000,000 Share Appreciation Rights. Share Appreciation
Rights awarded under the Plan that expire or are forfeited or canceled or
otherwise terminate may again be awarded under the Plan. The Board is expressly
authorized to make an Award to a Participant conditioned upon the cancellation
of an existing Award.
(b) As of any specified date, each Share Appreciation Right shall
have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of one Class B Share as of such
specified date, reduced, but not below zero, by the Fair Market Value of one
Class B Share as of the Award Date ("SAR Value").
(c) The award of any Share Appreciation Rights under the Plan shall
not entitle a Participant to become a member of the Company or to any voting
right or other right of a member of the Company, to receive any security of or
equity interest in the Company, to have any interest in the capital or profits
of the Company, or to any dividend or other distribution or payment right,
except as provided in Section 6 hereof.
4. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) All present and future Employees whom the Board determines to be
key Employees shall be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan. The Board
shall have the power and complete discretion, as provided in Section 11, to
select eligible Employees to receive Awards and to determine for each Employee
the terms and conditions and the number of Share Appreciation Rights to be
allocated to each Employee as part of each Award.
(b) The grant of an Award shall not obligate the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company to pay an Employee any particular amount of
remuneration (except as provided in Section 6(a) hereof), to continue the
employment of the Employee after the grant or to make further grants to the
Employee at any time thereafter.
5. AWARDS.
(a) Whenever the Board deems it appropriate to grant an Award,
notice shall be given to the Participant stating the number of Share
Appreciation Rights for which an Award is granted and the conditions to which
the grant of the Award are subject. The notice, when duly accepted in writing by
the Participant, shall become a Share Appreciation Rights agreement between the
Company and the Participant.
-4-
(b) A Participant's Share Appreciation Rights may vest in whole or
in part at such times as may be specified by the Board in the Participant's
Share Appreciation Rights agreement.
(c) The Board may, in its discretion, grant Share Appreciation
Rights that by their terms become fully or partially vested upon a Liquidity
Event of the Company, notwithstanding other conditions for vesting in the Share
Appreciation Rights agreement.
6. PAYMENT. After the Share Appreciation Rights vest, the Company shall
pay to the Participant an amount equal to the SAR Value of his vested Share
Appreciation Rights at such time and in such manner as is set forth in the
Award, as reflected in the Share Appreciation Rights agreement with respect to
such Award.
7. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Share Appreciation
Rights by their terms shall not be transferable, except that upon the death of a
Participant, his heirs, devisees, personal representatives, or trustee or
beneficiaries of a revocable trust of which the Participant is the grantor shall
succeed to such Participant's rights subject to the terms of the Plan and the
Participant's Share Appreciation Rights agreement.
8. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN. The effective date of the Plan is
September 30, 2002.
9. TERMINATION AND MODIFICATION. If not sooner terminated by the Board,
this Plan shall terminate at the close of business on September 30, 2012. No
Awards shall be granted under the Plan after its termination. The Board may
terminate the Plan or may amend the Plan in such respects as it shall deem
advisable. A termination or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the
consent of the Participant, adversely affect a Participant's rights under an
Award previously granted to him.
10. CHANGE IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. In the event of a Corporate
Reorganization, share dividend, share split or combination of shares,
recapitalization or merger or other change in the Company's shares (including,
but not limited to, the creation or issuance to shareholders generally of
rights, options or warrants for the purchase of shares of the Company), the
number and kind of Share Appreciation Rights to be subject to the Plan and to
Awards then outstanding or to be granted thereunder and the maximum number of
Share Appreciation Rights which may be awarded under the Plan shall be
appropriately adjusted by the Board, whose good faith determination shall be
binding on all persons. If the adjustment would produce fractional Share
Appreciation Rights, the Board may adjust appropriately the number of Share
Appreciation Rights covered by the Award so as to eliminate the fractional
shares.
11. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be administered by the
Board:
-5-
(a) Subject to the provisions of a Participant's Share Appreciation
Rights agreement and the Plan, the Board shall have the power and complete
discretion to determine (i) which eligible Employees shall receive Awards, (ii)
the number of Share Appreciation Rights to be covered by each Award, (iii) the
Fair Market Value of Share Appreciation Rights, (iv) the time or times when an
Award shall be granted and how it will become payable, (v) the conditions under
which Share Appreciation Rights shall be forfeited or become no longer subject
to forfeiture, (vi) when payment shall be made with regard to vested Share
Appreciation Rights, (vii) whether a Disability exists, (viii) the form of
payment with respect to Share Appreciation Rights for which the Liquidity Event
arises from other than a Control Transfer of the Company in connection with
which the holders of Class B Shares receive only cash, (ix) the Company's right
to purchase vested Share Appreciation Rights from a Participant, (x) conditions
relating to the length of time before disposition of Class B Shares, if any,
received in exchange for Share Appreciation Rights is permitted, (xi) notice
provisions relating to the sale of Class B Shares, if any, acquired under the
Plan, and (xii) any additional requirements relating to Awards that the Board
deems appropriate. The Board shall have the power to amend the terms of any
previously granted Award so long as the terms as amended are consistent with the
terms of the Plan and provided that the consent of the Participant is obtained
with respect to any amendment that would adversely affect the Participant's
rights under an Award granted to him.
(b) The Board may adopt rules and regulations for carrying out the
Plan. The interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the
Board shall be final and conclusive. The Board may consult with counsel, who may
be counsel to the Company, and shall not incur any liability for any action
taken in good faith in reliance upon the advice of counsel.
12. NOTICE. All notices and other communications required or permitted
to be given under this Plan shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if delivered personally or mailed first class, postage prepaid,
as follows (i) if to the Company - at its principal business address to the
attention of the Chief Executive Officer; (ii) if to any participant - at the
last address of the Participant known to the sender at the time that the notice
or other communication is sent.
13. INTERPRETATION. The terms of this Plan shall be governed by the
laws of the State of Michigan without regard to choice of law provisions
thereunder. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given
those terms in the Company LLC Agreement.
-6-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be executed as
of the date stated on page one hereof.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC
a Delaware limited liability company,
By:________________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
President
Dated: September 30, 2002
-7-
EXHIBIT 10.5
[AS MODIFIED]
October __, 2003
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
RE: SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dear ___________:
Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC (the "Company") has chosen you to receive
an Award of Share Appreciation Rights pursuant to the Asset Acceptance Holdings
LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation Rights Plan dated as of September 30, 2002 (the
"Plan"). The Award is subject to the terms of this letter agreement and the
Plan. A copy of the Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein
by reference. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein are
defined in Exhibit B attached hereto or in the Plan. This Award is effective as
of the date set forth above (the "Award Date").
A. AWARD. Subject to the terms contained in the Plan and herein,
the Company hereby awards you __ share appreciation rights ("your Share
Appreciation Rights"). The purpose of this Award is to provide you, as a
valuable Employee, with a substantial incentive in the form of an indirect
equity participation in the Company. When vested, your Share Appreciation
Rights will entitle you to receive from the Company an amount equal to the
appreciation in the value of __Class B Shares in the Company realized as of the
date of payment of your Share Appreciation Rights. For purposes of calculating
such Share Appreciation Rights, the value of each Class B Share on the Award
Date is One Dollar ($1.00). Your Share Appreciation Rights will vest and
qualify for payment on the terms set forth in Section B.
B. TERMS OF AWARD.
(1) GENERAL. Your Share Appreciation Rights will vest when the
provisions described in paragraph (2) are met; provided, that except as provided
in subparagraph (2)(f) below, you must continue to be an Employee at all times
through the appropriate vesting date in order for the Share Appreciation Rights
to become vested; and provided further, you must continue to be an Employee at
all times through the date of payment for you to receive payment thereon.
[name]
[date]
Page 2
(2) VESTING. Your Share Appreciation Rights will become
vested, without duplication, as to the number of Share Appreciation Rights
indicated below if and when the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) Liquidity Event -- Control Transfer; Initial Public
Offering. In the event that on or before September 30, 2012, as a
result of (i) a sale of membership interests in the Company and/or
shares of capital stock in the shareholders (including AAC Investors,
Inc. ("Investors")) of the Company, or a sale of substantially all of
the assets of the Company, in a transaction constituting a Control
Transfer (valuing all of the shares of capital stock in Investors or
the Class A-1 Shares and Class A Shares held by Investors immediately
before the Control Transfer at the value established for each such
class of securities that are transferred in the Control Transfer or at
the value otherwise established as a result of the consummation of the
Control Transfer) or (ii) an Initial Public Offering (valuing the
shares of common stock into which the Class A-1 Shares and Class A
Shares are converted that are held by Investors immediately before the
Initial Public Offering at the per share price to public in the
Initial Public Offering) (each of clause (i) and (ii) shall also be
referred to as a "Liquidity Event"), the pretax internal rate of
return ("IRR") realized by Investors over the term of its investment
in the Company through the date of closing of the Liquidity Event, and
after giving effect to the liabilities that would be caused by the
payment of all Share Appreciation Rights vested under the Plan, is:
(i) at least 30%, but less than 40%, then _________ Share
Appreciation Rights plus such number of Share Appreciation
Rights determined by multiplying ___________ by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by which
the IRR exceeds 30% and the denominator of which is 10%
shall vest;
(ii) at least 40%, but less than 50%, then _________ Share
Appreciation Rights plus such number of Share Appreciation
Rights determined by multiplying ___________ by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by which
the IRR exceeds 40% and the denominator of which is 10%
shall vest;
(iii) 50% or more, then _________ Share Appreciation Rights
shall vest.
(b) Partial Sale. In the event that on or before September 30,
2012, as a result of a Partial Sale, the IRR realized by Investors
over the term of the investment through the closing date of the
Partial Sale (valuing all of the shares of capital stock in Investors
or the Class A-1 Shares and Class A Shares held by Investors
immediately before the Partial Sale at the value established for each
such class of securities that are transferred in the Partial Sale or
at the value otherwise established as a result of the consummation of
the Partial Sale) is at least 30%, then the Share Appreciation Rights,
to the extent not theretofore vested or expired, shall as of the
closing date of such Partial Sale, vest as to
[name]
[date]
Page 3
the number of Share Appreciation Rights calculated as set forth in
paragraph (a) of this Section B(2) multiplied by the percentage of the
shares of capital stock in Investors or of the Class A-1 Shares and
Class A Shares held by Investors transferred in such Partial Sale.
(c) Control Transfer after Partial Sale. In the event of a
vesting of less than all of the Share Appreciation Rights pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this Section B(2) followed by a subsequent Control
Transfer or IPO before September 30, 2012, the IRR realized by
Investors over the term of its investment in the Company through the
date of closing of such Control Transfer taking into account, for
purposes of this paragraph (c) only the cash, if any, received by
Investors in the Partial Sale and valuing all of the shares of capital
stock in Investors or the Class A-1 Shares and Class A Shares held by
Investors immediately before the Control Transfer at the value
established for each such class of securities that are transferred in
the Control Transfer or at the value otherwise established as a result
of the consummation of the Control Transfer would have resulted in a
greater number of Share Appreciation Rights vesting under clauses (i)
through (iii) of paragraph (a) of this Section B(2) than vested
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section B(2), then additional Share
Appreciation Rights shall vest in an amount equal to the difference
between (1) the number of Share Appreciation Rights that would have
vested as a result of the IRR realized by the combination of the
Partial Sale and the Control Transfer and (2) the number of Share
Appreciation Rights theretofore vested pursuant to paragraph (b) of
this Section B(2).
(d) Timing of Rights. In the event of a transaction or series of
transactions resulting in the sale, directly or indirectly, of all of
the equity interests in or assets of the Company that does not result
in the vesting of all of the Share Appreciation Rights covered hereby
pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section B(2), the
unvested portion of the Share Appreciation Rights, and the right to
receive payment thereon, shall expire as of the date of closing of
such sale.
(e) Interpretation. The Board shall have complete discretion to
determine in good faith whether the provisions of paragraph (a), (b)
or (c) of this Section B(2) have been satisfied.
(f) Termination of Employment
(i) Except as described below in paragraph (ii) of this
Section B(2)(f), if your employment is terminated with the
Company for any reason, your Share Appreciation Rights and
rights to any future payments shall terminate upon the effective
date of the termination of employment.
(ii) If your employment with the Company and its
Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of your death or Disability
or by the Company other than for
[name]
[date]
Page 4
Cause, on or prior to September 30, 2012, you will retain
the following percentage of your Share Appreciation Rights
(i.e., "conditionally vested"):
Date Percent
of Conditionally
Termination Vested
----------- -------------
Prior to October 1, 2004 0%
On or after October 1, 2004 and before October 1, 2005 25%
On or after October 1, 2005 and before October 1, 2006 50%
On or after October 1, 2006 and before October 1, 2007 75%
On or after October 1, 2007 and before October 1, 2012 100%
[TO COME - MODIFICATION OF DATES IF SAR GRANTED AFTER 9.30.02]
Final vesting of your "conditionally vested" Share Appreciation Rights
will be dependent upon satisfaction of the applicable provisions of
paragraphs (a), (b) and/or (c) of this Section B(2), so that your
"conditionally vested" Share Appreciation Rights will not be entitled
to payment unless the provisions of paragraph (a), (b) and/or (c) of
this Section B(2) are satisfied, and if such conditions are not
satisfied your "conditionally vested" Share Appreciation Rights, and
the right to receive payment thereon, will expire on September 30,
2012.
(g) Initial Public Offering of Parent or Company.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section B(2)(a),
in the event that on or before September 30, 2012 (i) an entity that
holds, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, 90% or
more of the membership interests of the Company having the right to
vote for members of the Board (the "Parent"), shall consummate a sale
of shares of common stock of the Parent pursuant to an underwritten
initial public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (a "Parent IPO"), or (ii) there shall be an Initial Public
Offering by the Company or its successor after a Corporate
Reorganization, then, in the case of (i) or (ii) above, at any time on
or after the closing of the Parent IPO or the Initial Public Offering
of the Company, the Company shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to vest 100% of the Share Appreciation Rights subject to
the Award and held by you pursuant to written notice given to you
stating the effective date of such vesting.
(3) PURCHASE BY THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. If
your employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason
whatsoever, including by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause, the Company
shall have the right, exercisable in its sole election, to purchase, and you
shall have the obligation, upon such exercise by the Company, to sell to the
Company all or any portion of your vested Share Appreciation Rights for an
amount equal to their SAR Value as of the date of the termination of your
employment. If the Company elects to exercise its right, the Company will notify
you in writing
[name]
[date]
Page 5
not later than ninety (90) days after the termination of your
employment of the number of your vested Share Appreciation Rights that
it has elected to purchase and the purchase price to be paid in
exchange for such Share Appreciation Rights. The Company shall make
payment to you by Company check for the Share Appreciation Rights that
it has elected to purchase not later than 120 days after the effective
date of the termination of your employment. Effective with such
payment, you shall irrevocably assign such rights to the Company free
of all liens and encumbrances of any kind and shall execute such
documents and take such other action as the Company reasonably requests
to evidence such transfer.
(4) PAYMENT AFTER VESTING.
(a) General. On the later of (i) contemporaneously with the
consummation of a Liquidity Event or (ii) at the earlier of (A) the
date after the Liquidity Event as you shall determine or (B) the date
after the Liquidity Event as the Company shall determine, the Company
shall pay you an amount equal to the SAR Value of your vested Share
Appreciation Rights as of such date of payment, calculated in
accordance with Section 6 of the Plan. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS
LETTER AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN
SECTION B(4)(b) BELOW, YOU SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT ON
ANY VESTED SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS EXCEPT ON THE SAME RELATIVE BASIS
UPON WHICH THE INVESTORS RECEIVE LIQUIDITY (I.E., CASH) IN THE
TRANSACTION OR TRANSACTIONS CONSTITUTING THE LIQUIDITY EVENT UNLESS
INVESTORS, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION AGREES THAT A GREATER PAYMENT MAY BE
MADE.
(b) Election by Company - Initial Public Offering of Parent
or Company. In the event the Company elects to vest your Share
Appreciation Rights pursuant to Section B(2)(g) above, then the Company
shall pay you an amount equal to the SAR Value of your vested Share
Appreciation Rights as of the effective date of such vesting,
calculated in accordance with Section 6 of the Plan, with such payment
to be as follows:
(i) The Company shall withhold an amount equal to your
Applicable Withholding Taxes and make payment thereof on your behalf
directly to the applicable federal, state and local tax authorities in
accordance with applicable tax laws; and
(ii) The Company shall deliver to you unregistered
shares of the common stock of the Parent or the Company, as the case
may be (the "Section B(2)(g) Shares"), valued at the Section B(2)(g)
Share Fair Market Value (as defined below) as of the effective date of
such vesting, in an amount equal to the SAR Value of your vested Share
Appreciation Rights minus the cash payment made pursuant to
subparagraph (i) above, provided that such delivery of the Section
B(2)(g) Shares shall not be made until after you have made your Section
83(b) Election Filing (as defined below).
[name]
[date]
Page 6
As used herein, "Section B(2)(g) Share Fair Market Value"
means the following as determined by the Board in good faith:
(w) if the effective date of such vesting is as of the
closing of the Parent IPO or the Initial Public Offering of the
Company, the initial per share price to public;
(x) if the Section B(2)(g) Shares are traded on an exchange,
the average of the highest and lowest registered sales prices of such
shares on the primary exchange on which the Section B(2)(g) Shares are
traded for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day of
or closest to the effective date of such vesting;
(y) if the Section B(2)(g) Shares are traded on the
over-the-counter market, the average between the closing high bid and
low asked prices as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market for the ten
(10) trading day period ending on the trading day of or closest to the
effective date of such vesting; or
(z) if the effective date of such vesting is other than as
of the closing of the Parent IPO or the Initial Public Offering of the
Company and if the Section B(2)(g) Shares are not traded on any
exchange or over-the-counter market, the fair market value shall be
determined by the Board using any reasonable method in good faith.
Upon the effective date of such vesting pursuant to Section
B(2)(g), your rights with respect to your Share Appreciation Rights
will be deemed after such effective date, for all purposes, to evidence
solely your right to receive the payment described in this subsection
(b) and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the SAR
Value of your Share Appreciation Rights shall be fixed as of the
effective date of such vesting and shall not change thereafter.
(5) NON-TRANSFERABILITY. This Award is not transferable or
assignable by you. In the event of your death, your devisees, personal
representatives, or trustee or beneficiaries of a revocable trust of which you
are the grantor (collectively, "Successors") will succeed to your Share
Appreciation Rights subject to the terms of the Plan and this letter agreement.
All agreements made by you in this letter agreement shall be binding on your
Successors.
C. OTHER CONDITIONS.
(1) CAPITAL STRUCTURE CHANGES. As provided in the Plan, appropriate
adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of Share Appreciation Rights
should there be a change in the capital structure of the Company, and the Board
may take appropriate actions in good faith with respect to the Award in the
event of a significant corporate transaction.
[name]
[date]
Page 7
(2) WITHHOLDING.
(a) General. By signing this letter agreement, you
agree to make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to comply with
any income and payroll tax withholding requirements that may apply.
(b) Section 83(b) Election - Election by Company -
Initial Public Offering of Parent or Company. In the event the Company
elects to vest your Share Appreciation Rights pursuant to Section
B(2)(g) above, then you agree to timely file, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company, an election under Section 83(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, relative to the value of and
the transfer restrictions and call rights set forth in the Shareholder
Agreement (as defined below) related to the Section B(2)(g) Shares
delivered to you pursuant to Section B(4)(b)(ii) above (the "Section
83(b) Election Filing"), provided that, if you do not make such Section
83(b) Election Filing within twenty-five (25) days after written notice
given to you by the Company under Section B(2)(g) of such vesting of
your Share Appreciation Rights, then all of your rights under and with
respect to your Share Appreciation Rights shall be terminated and
without further force or effect.
(3) NO RIGHT TO RECEIVE SHARES. Under no circumstances shall you
have the right to receive any Class B Shares as a result of the Award or this
letter agreement, except pursuant to Section B(4)(b)(ii).
(4) SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT - TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS; CALL RIGHTS;
ETC. As a condition precedent to the receipt of any Section B(2)(g) Shares, you
agree to promptly enter into a shareholder agreement, in substantially the form
of Exhibit C attached hereto, effective as of the date of delivery of the
Section B(2)(g) Shares relative to certain transfer restrictions, call rights
and other provisions relative to the Section B(2)(g) Shares delivered to you
pursuant to Section B(4)(b)(ii) above (the "Shareholder Agreement").
(5) NO RIGHTS PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF SHARES. You shall not have
any rights as a shareholder with respect to the Section B(2)(g) Shares until the
issuance of a stock certificate for such shares. No adjustment shall be made for
dividends or other rights with respect to such shares for which the record date
is prior to the date the certificate is issued.
(6) COMPLIANCE. Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding,
the Company's obligation to deliver the Section B(2)(g) Shares pursuant to
Section B(4)(b)(ii) above is subject to such compliance with federal and state
laws, rules and regulations applying to the authorization, issuance or sale of
securities as the Company deems necessary or advisable. The Company shall not be
required to deliver such shares unless and until it receives satisfactory
assurance that the issuance or transfer of such shares will not violate any of
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, or the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, the provisions of
[name]
[date]
Page 8
any state laws governing the sale of securities, or that there has been
compliance with the provisions of such acts, rules, regulations and laws.
D. NOTICE. Written notice is deemed to have been given to you or
to the Company and the Board if delivered personally or mailed first class,
postage prepaid, to you at your last address as shown in the records of the
Company, or to the Company at the principal business address of the Company,
6985 Miller Road, Warren, Michigan 48092, Attention: President, with a copy to
Quad-C Management, Inc., 230 East High Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902,
Attention: Anthony R. Ignaczak, or at such other address or to the attention of
such other person as the recipient shall have specified by prior written notice.
E. AGREEMENT. In consideration of the grant of the Award, you
hereby agree that you will comply with such other conditions as the Board may
impose on the Award and will perform such duties as may be assigned to you from
time to time by the Board or by the Executive Officers of the Company; provided
that the foregoing shall not be inconsistent with the Plan; and provided further
that the provisions of this sentence shall not be interpreted as affecting any
right that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may have to terminate your
employment, with or without Cause, at any time for any reason whatsoever.
This letter agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.
[name]
[date]
Page 9
If you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, please sign both
copies of this letter agreement and return one fully executed original to the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The remaining original letter is for
your records.
Sincerely,
ASSET ACCEPTANCE HOLDINGS LLC
By:_____________________________________
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
President
I hereby accept the Award on the terms set forth in this letter
agreement and in the Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation
Rights Plan, and this letter agreement shall be a binding agreement between the
Company and me.
[name]
EXHIBIT A
THE PLAN
EXHIBIT B
DEFINITIONS
"CAUSE" means with respect to the termination of an Employee
as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company:
(i) continual or deliberate neglect by such Employee in
the performance of his or her material duties;
(ii) failure by such Employee to devote substantially all
of his or her working time to the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries;
(iii) such Employee's willful failure to follow the
directives of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company in any material respect;
(iv) such Employee's engaging willfully in misconduct in
connection with the performance of any of his or her duties which
is reasonably likely, in the good faith judgment of the Board, to
result in material injury to the reputation of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the
misappropriation of funds;
(v) such Employee's breach of the provisions of any
noncompetition, noninterference, nondisclosure, confidentiality or
other similar agreement executed by such Employee with the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries; or
(vi) such Employee's engaging in conduct which is
reasonably likely, in the good faith judgment of the Board, to
result in material injury to the reputation of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, commission of a
felony, fraud, embezzlement or other crime involving moral
turpitude;
provided that with respect to the events set forth in clauses (i) through (iii),
the or Employee shall have been given written notice of the act, omission or
event constituting Cause and shall not have cured such act, omission or event
within 30 days after the giving of such notice.
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.7
NET LEASE
THIS NET LEASE (this "Lease") is made as of June 21, 1999, by and between
Penobscot Land Company, a Michigan co-partnership, whose address is c/o Chateau
Management and Realty, Inc., Suite 305, 2050 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield
Hills, Michigan 48304-2260 ("Landlord"), and Asset Acceptance Corp., a Michigan
corporation, Lee Acceptance Corp., a Michigan corporation, Financial Credit
Corp., a Michigan corporation, and City Financial Corp., a Michigan corporation,
jointly and severally, whose addresses for purposes of this Lease is 23550
Harper Avenue, St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48080 (collectively, "Tenant").
SECTION 1: THE PREMISES
1.01 Landlord hereby leases to Tenant the real property located at 6985
Miller Road, Warren, Michigan 48092, more particularly described in
Exhibit "A" attached to and made an integral part of this Lease (the
"Land"), together with an industrial building and other improvements
constructed on the Land which total approximately 22,724 square feet
(the "Improvements") (the Land and the Improvements collectively will
constitute and be referred to in this Lease as the "Premises").
SECTION 2: THE TERM
2.01 The Term will commence (the "Commencement Date") on September 1, 1999
and shall terminate on the last day of the sixtieth (60th) full
calendar month following the Commencement Date (the "Termination
Date"), unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Lease.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord shall deliver possession of the
Premises to Tenant upon execution of this Lease by both Landlord and
Tenant.
2.02 Tenant shall have the right and option to extend the Term from the date
upon which it would otherwise terminate for one (1) renewal period of
five (5) years ("Renewal Period") upon the same terms and conditions as
set forth herein, by notifying Landlord in writing not less than ninety
(90) days prior to the expiration of the original Term. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Tenant may not exercise or be entitled to extend the
Term if it is in default under the terms of this Lease as of the date
it exercises the renewal option or at the commencement of the Renewal
Period.
SECTION 3: BASE RENT
3.01 Subject to all of the terms of this Lease, Tenant agrees to pay to
Landlord, as minimum net rental for the original Term of this Lease, as
follows:
(a) from the first full calendar month through the thirty sixth
full calendar month, Tenant shall pay Landlord minimum net
rental of One Hundred Eighty One
Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety One and 96/100 Dollars
($181,791.96) per year in equal monthly installments of
Fifteen Thousand One Hundred Forty Nine and 33/100 Dollars
($15,149.33); and
(b) from the thirty seventh full calendar month through the
sixtieth full calendar month, Tenant shall pay Landlord
minimum net rent at the rate of Two Hundred Four Thousand Five
Hundred Sixteen and 00/100 Dollars ($204,516.00) per year in
equal monthly installments of Seventeen Thousand Forty Three
and 00/100 Dollars ($17,043.00).
(c) from the sixty first full calendar month through the
ninety-sixth full calendar month, Tenant shall pay Landlord
minimum net rent at a rate of Two Hundred Fifteen Thousand
Eight Hundred Seventy Seven and 96/100 Dollars ($215,877.96)
per year in equal monthly installments of Seventeen Thousand
Nine Hundred Eighty Nine and 83/100 Dollars ($17,989.83).
(d) from the ninety-seventh first full calendar month through the
one hundred and twentieth full calendar month, Tenant shall
pay Landlord minimum rent at a rate of Two Hundred Twenty
Seven Thousand Two Hundred Forty and 04/100 Dollars
($227,240.04) per year in equal monthly installments of
Eighteen Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty Six and 67/100 Dollars
($18,936.67).
3.02 Each monthly installment of minimum net rental will be paid in advance,
without any set-offs or deductions, on the first day of each and every
month (the "Rent Day") during the Term at the office of Landlord at the
address first shown above or at such other place as Landlord from time
to time may designate in writing.
3.03 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Lease,
Tenant shall make its first monthly payment of minimum net rent to
Landlord -upon execution of this Lease. No minimum net rent payment
shall be due from Tenant to Landlord on the Commencement Date. The next
payment of minimum net rent shall be due October 1, 1999.
SECTION 4: LATE CHARGES AND INTEREST
4.01 Any rent or other sums payable by Tenant to Landlord under this Lease
not paid within seven (7) days after the same is due shall incur a late
charge for reimbursement of Landlord's anticipated out-of-pocket
expenses due to such failure to pay of five percent (5%) of the amount
of such payment.
4.02 Any rent or other sums payable by Tenant to Landlord under this Lease,
not paid within seven (7) days after the same are due, will bear
interest at a per annum rate equal to the greater of twelve percent
(12%) or four (4) percentage points above the interest rate per annum
announced by Michigan National Bank, as its "prime rate" on the date
when the rent, late charges or other sums become due, but not in excess
of the maximum interest rate permitted by law. Such interest will be
due and payable as additional rent on or
2
before the next Rent Day or within ten (10) days of a written demand
therefor by Landlord, whichever occurs first, and will accrue from the
date that such rent, late charges or other sums first became due under
the provisions of this Lease until actually paid by Tenant.
4.03 Any default in the payment of rent or other sums will not be considered
cured unless and until the interest due hereunder is paid by Tenant to
Landlord. The obligation hereunder to pay interest will exist in
addition to and not in place of the other default provisions of this
Lease. Any money and other charges required to be paid by Tenant
pursuant to the terms of this Lease, whether or not the same may be
designated as rental shall be deemed rent and Tenant's failure to pay
such money or other charges required under this Lease shall carry with
it the same consequences (including the right to commence summary
proceedings), as a failure to pay rental.
4.04 In the event any charge imposed hereunder or under any of the Sections
of this Lease is either stated to be or is construed as interest, then
no such interest charge shall be calculated at a rate that is higher
than the maximum interest rate permitted by law, which maximum rate
shall be substituted for the rate in excess thereof.
SECTION 5: TAXES, ASSESSMENTS AND UTILITIES,
5.01 Tenant agrees to pay, as additional rent for the Premises, all taxes
and assessments, general and special, all water rates and all other
governmental impositions which may be levied on the Premises or any
part thereof, or on any building or improvements at any time situated
thereon during or pertaining to the Term and any extensions thereof
(collectively, "Impositions"). Impositions shall include, without
limitation:
(a) The amount of all taxes, assessments, fees, rates and charges,
excises, levies, license taxes and fees, permit fees,
inspection fees and other authorization fees and other
governmental charges, whether federal, state, county or
municipal, and whether they be by taxing districts or
authorities presently taxing the Premises or by others,
subsequently created or otherwise, which at any time during or
in respect of the term of this Lease may be levied or assessed
against, or before a lien upon or may be confirmed or imposed
on or in respect of, or payable with respect to (i) the
Premises or any portion thereof or the interest of Tenant or
Landlord therein or in respect thereof, (ii) the rentals and
other amounts payable by Tenant hereunder, (iii) this Lease or
the interests of Tenant or Landlord hereunder, (iv) the
possession, use, occupancy, maintenance or repair of the
Premises or any portion thereof, (v) gross receipts from the
Premises or any portion thereof, or (vi) the earnings arising
from the possession, use or occupancy of the Premises.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Impositions shall not include
(i) any franchise tax or income tax, (ii) any excess profit
tax of Landlord determined on the basis of Landlord's general
income or revenues, unless as provided below such tax is in
substitution of another tax or assessment upon or against the
Premises, or (iii) Landlord's Michigan Single Business Tax or
any tax in
3
substitution thereof. In the event the United States, the City
of Warren, the County of Macomb, the State of Michigan, or
other political subdivision of any such governmental authority
having jurisdiction over the Premises imposes a tax,
assessment or surcharge of any kind or nature upon, against,
measured by or with respect to the rents payable by Tenant
under this Lease or the income of Landlord derived from this
Lease, or with respect to Landlord's ownership of the
Premises, by way of substitution for all or any part of the
tax assessments levied or assessed against the Premises or in
addition thereto, such substituted or additional tax,
assessment or surcharge shall to the extent of such
substitution be deemed an Imposition. Impositions shall not
include fines or penalties imposed upon the Landlord or the
Premises as a result of acts or omissions of parties other
than Tenant, its agents or contractors.
The property taxes and assessments for the first and last years of the
Term or any extension thereof will be prorated between Landlord and
Tenant so that Tenant will be responsible for any such tax or
assessment attributable to the period during which Tenant has
possession of the Premises. The so-called "due-date" method of
proration will be used, it being presumed that taxes and assessments
are payable in advance. Tenant shall pay the amount of real property
taxes at least thirty (30) days before they become delinquent. Tenant
shall submit to Landlord at least ten (10) days prior to the date such
taxes become delinquent, paid receipts evidencing payment of such
taxes. In addition to any right or remedy provided Landlord under this
Lease, Tenant shall pay any late payment fees or interest charges of
any taxing authority incurred as a result of Tenant's failure to pay
Impositions in accordance with this Lease.
5.02 From and after the date hereof, Tenant agrees to pay all charges made
against the Premises for gas, heat, electricity and all other utilities
applicable to Tenant's occupancy of the Premises.
SECTION 6: USE OF PREMISES
6.01 The Premises during the continuance of this Lease will be used and
occupied for general office use only and for no other purpose without
the prior written consent of Landlord. Tenant agrees that it will not
use or permit any person to use the Premises or any part thereof for
any use or purposes in violation of the laws of the United States, the
laws, ordinances or other regulations of the State and municipality in
which the Premises are located, or of any other lawful authorities.
During the Term or any extended term Tenant will keep the Premises and
every part thereof and all buildings at any time situated thereon in a
clean and wholesome condition and generally will comply with all lawful
health and policy regulations. All signs and advertising displayed in
and about the Premises will be such only as to advertise the business
carried on upon the Premises, and will be in accordance with all
applicable laws, rules, regulations and ordinances. No awning will be
installed or used on the exterior of the building unless approved in
writing by Landlord, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
4
SECTION 7: INSURANCE
7.01 Tenant, at Tenant's expense, will obtain and maintain at all times
during the Term of this. Lease and any extensions thereof until
surrender of the Premises to Landlord, a primary policy of insurance
covering the Premises and providing the insurance protection described
in this Section 7. Tenant will retain in its possession the original
policy and all endorsements, renewal certificates and new policies, if
any, issued during the Term.
7.02 The liability coverage under the primary policy will name Landlord and
Landlord's mortgagee as additional insured parties, and will provide
comprehensive general public liability insurance, including blanket
contractual coverage, against claims for or arising out of bodily
injury, death or properly damage occurring in, on or about the Premises
or property in, on or about the streets, sidewalks or properties
adjacent to the Premises. The limits of coverage will be, initially, if
dual limits are provided, not less than Five Million and 00/100
($5,000,000.00) Dollars with respect to injury or death of a single
person, not less than Five Million and 00/100 ($5,000,000.00) Dollars
with respect to one occurrence, and not less than Two Million
($2,000,000.00) Dollars with respect to one occurrence of property
damage or, in the alternative, a single limit policy in the amount of
Five Million and 00/100 ($5,000,000.00) Dollars, and thereafter in such
reasonably appropriate increased amounts as may be determined by
Landlord or Landlord's mortgagee; provided, however, that the amount of
coverage will not be increased more frequently than at one (1) year
intervals. The policy will contain cross-liability endorsements.
7.03 The primary policy will insure the Improvements (as defined in Section
1.01 hereof) for full replacement cost against loss by fire with
standard extended risk coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief,
sprinkler leakage and all other risk perils. The named insureds will be
Landlord and Landlord's mortgagee, only.
7.04 The primary policy also will provide loss of rents coverage sufficient,
to cover the minimum net rental and all other charges which are the
obligation of Tenant under this Lease for a twelve (12) month period
from the date of any loss or casualty.
7.05 Tenant shall also obtain, at its own expense, a policy of "all risks"
insurance covering Tenant's personal property, trade fixtures and any
alterations or improvements made to the Premises by Tenant after the
Commencement Date. Such insurance shall be in an amount to cover one
hundred (100%) percent of such property.
7.06 The insurance policy or policies to be provided by Tenant hereunder
shall be issued by an insurance company or companies having an A.M.
Best Company rating of not less than "A". Each policy procured by
Tenant under this Section 7 must provide for at least thirty (30) days'
written notice to Landlord of any cancellation. Tenant will deliver to
Landlord certificates of insurance at least thirty (30) days prior to
the Commencement Date, together with receipts evidencing payment of the
premiums therefor, and Tenant will deliver to Landlord a copy of the
policy or policies promptly upon receipt. Tenant will deliver
certificates of renewal for such policies to Landlord at least thirty
(30),days prior to the expiration dates thereof, and Tenant will
deliver to Landlord a copy of the renewed
5
policy or policies promptly upon receipt. The insurance provided by
Tenant under this Section 7 may be in the form of a blanket insurance
policy covering other properties as well as the Premises; provided,
however, that any such policy or policies of blanket insurance (i) must
specify therein, or Tenant must furnish Landlord with a written
statement from the insurers under such policy or policies specifying,
the amount of the total insurance allocated to the Premises, which
amounts will not be less than the amounts required by subsection 7.02
hereof, and (ii) such amounts so specified must be sufficient to
prevent Landlord or Landlord's mortgagee from becoming a co-insurer
within the terms of the applicable policy or policies, and provided
further, however, that any such policy or policies of blanket insurance
must, as to the Premises, otherwise comply as to endorsements and
coverage with the other provisions of this Section 7.
7.07 Except with respect to the insurance required by subsection 7.02,
neither Landlord nor Tenant may take out separate insurance concurrent
in form or contributing in the event of loss with that required under
this Section 7 unless Landlord and Tenant are included therein as the
insured payable as provided in this Lease. Each party will notify the
other immediately of the placing of any such separate insurance.
7.08 If Tenant fails to provide all or any of the insurance required to be
obtained by Tenant under this Section 7, or subsequently fails to
maintain such insurance in accordance with the requirements of this
Section, Landlord may (but will not be required to) procure or renew
such insurance, and any amounts paid by Landlord for such insurance
will be additional rental due and payable on or before the next Rent
Day, together with late charges and interest as provided in Section 4.
7.09 In the event of loss under any policy or policies provided by Tenant to
Landlord under this Section 7, other than the liability policy required
by subsection 7.2 and the insurance covering the personal property
required by Subsection 7.05, the insurance proceeds will be payable to
Landlord or Landlord's mortgagee; thereafter, such proceeds, with the
exception of the loss of rents insurance proceeds, will be used for the
expense of repairing or rebuilding- the Improvements which have been
damaged or destroyed if Landlord in its sole discretion and its
mortgagee are satisfied that the amount of insurance proceeds are and
will be at all times sufficient to pay for the completion of the
repairs or rebuilding, and Landlord's mortgagee otherwise makes the
proceeds available for repairing and restoring. If Landlord or
Landlord's mortgagee elect not to repair or restore the Improvements,
then this Lease shall terminate effective as of the date of such
casualty.
7.10 If Landlord's mortgagee under any first mortgage on the Premises at any
time requires, pursuant to the terms of the mortgage, that payment of
insurance premiums be made from an escrowed fund, then Landlord will so
notify Tenant, in writing. In such event, Tenant will not directly pay
the insurance premiums, but instead will pay to Landlord, as additional
rent, the amounts which Landlord must pay into the escrowed fund on
account of such premiums. If the actual premiums, when due, exceed the
total payments from time to time made by Tenant under the previous
sentence, then Tenant upon demand will pay any deficiency to Landlord.
If the payments made by Tenant under this subsection over the Term
exceed the amount of premiums paid from such fund, Landlord will refund
6
the excess to Tenant at the expiration of the Term, or at the time such
excess is refunded by the mortgagee to Landlord, whichever occurs
first.
SECTION 8: DAMAGE BY FIRE OR OTHER CASUALTY
8.01 It is understood and agreed that if the Premises are damaged or
destroyed in whole or in part by fire or other casualty during the
Term, then, if (a) in Landlord's judgment there are sufficient
insurance proceeds available to Landlord to pay for completion of any
required repairs, (b) there are at least twenty four (24) months
remaining in the Term, and (c) the repairs can be completed within 150
days, Landlord, will repair and restore the same to good tenantable
condition with reasonable dispatch.
8.02 Tenant will have the option, exercisable by written notice to Landlord
upon restoration of the Premises, to extend the original Term of this
Lease for a period equal to the period, if any, during which Tenant was
deprived of the use of all or a significant portion of the Premises by
reason of such damage or destruction. Tenant's option must be exercised
within sixty (60) days following completion of the restoration and
repair work.
8.03 If the Premises become untenantable as a result of any damage or
destruction to the Premises caused by fire or other casualty, then
Tenant will be allowed an abatement of all minimum net rent required to
be paid hereunder; provided, however that Tenant's obligation to pay
minimum net rent shall recommence as soon as Landlord substantially
completes all required repairs to the Improvements. In an event of a
casualty rendering a portion of the Premises untenantable, Tenant shall
be entitled to an equitable abatement of minimum net rent until such
time as the Premises become tenantable.
SECTION 9: REPAIRS
9.01 Landlord shall keep and maintain the roof and exterior walls of the
buildings presently located on the Premises exclusive of doors, door
frames, door checks, windows, and exclusive of window frames located in
exterior building walls, in good condition and repair, reasonable wear
and tear and loss or damage due to the act or negligence of Tenant, its
agents, employees, invitees, licensees, or contractors excepted.
Landlord's repairs shall be made within a reasonable time (depending on
the nature of the repair) after receiving notice or having actual
knowledge of the need for such repair. Landlord shall not be obligated
to make any other improvements or repairs of any kind or nature upon
the Premises. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Landlord has made no promise to Tenant to alter, remodel, improve,
repair, decorate or clean the Premises or any part thereof and no
representations respecting the condition of the Premises have been made
to Tenant by or on behalf of Landlord except to the extent expressly
set forth in this Lease and Tenant hereby acknowledges that Tenant has
inspected the Premises and accepts the Premises "AS IS."
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Commencement Date, Landlord
shall repair the heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit so that
it is in good working order, at Landlord's sole cost and expense.
7
9.02 Except as expressly provided in Section 9.01, Tenant shall, from and
after the date hereof, maintain the Premises in good condition and
repair except for normal wear and tear and casualty damage (including
replacement of parts and equipment, if necessary) and any and all
appurtenances thereto where ever located, including, but without
limitation, the exterior and interior portion of all doors, door
checks, windows, plate glass, all plumbing and sewage facilities within
the Premises, including free flow to the main sewer line, grease traps,
hair traps, fixtures, heating and air conditioning and electrical
systems, sprinkler systems, walls, floors and ceilings. The plumbing
and sewage facilities serving the Premises shall not be used for any
purpose other than for which they are constructed, nor shall Tenant
introduce any matter therein which results in blocking such facilities.
Tenant shall also pay all other expenses in connection with the
maintenance of the Premises, including repair and upkeep of grounds,
sidewalks, driveways and parking areas in accordance with the standard
required under this Section 9.02.
9.03 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Lease, prior
to the Commencement Date, Tenant shall have the parking areas and
driveways repaired, seal coated and stripped by a contractor approved
by Landlord. Upon completion thereof, Tenant shall submit an itemized
bill from the contractor to Landlord and Landlord shall reimburse
Tenant for one-half (1 /2) of the cost for such work up to a maximum of
Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).
SECTION 10: PAYMENT FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY LANDLORD
10.01 If Landlord at any time (i) does any work or performs any service in
connection with the Premises, or (ii) supplies any materials to the
Premises and the cost of the services, work or materials is Tenant's
responsibility under the provisions of this Lease, Landlord will
invoice Tenant for the cost, payable within fifteen (15) days after
delivery of the invoice. This Section will apply to any such work,
services or materials whether furnished at Tenant's request or on its
behalf and whether furnished or caused to be furnished by Landlord or
its agents, employees or contractors. Landlord shall provide not less
than five (5) days prior written notice of any work which Landlord
intends to perform under this Section; provided, however that no prior
written notice shall be required if Landlord believes in good faith an
emergency situation exists or Tenant is in default hereunder beyond any
applicable grace period. All amounts payable under this Section will be
additional rental and failure by Tenant to pay them when due will be a
default under this Lease and further will result in the assessment of
late charges and interest under Section 4.
SECTION 11: ALTERATIONS
11.01 The parties agree that Tenant will not make any alterations, additions
or improvements to the Premises without the written consent of
Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned
or delayed with respect to non-structural alterations,
8
additions or improvements. Landlord may withhold its consent in its
sole discretion with respect to structural alterations, additions or
improvements. All alterations, additions or improvements made by either
of the parties hereto on the Premises will be the property of Landlord
and will remain on and be surrendered with the Premises at the
termination of this Lease. Alterations, additions or improvements made
by Tenant shall not be required to be removed and the Premises restored
by Tenant unless Landlord expressly conditions its approval of such
alterations, additions or improvements on the removal thereof by Tenant
at the termination of the Term. All such alterations, additions and
improvements shall be (a) subject to reasonable conditions specified by
Landlord, (b) in accordance with all applicable laws, rules,
regulations and ordinances, (c) performed by licensed trade people, and
(d) performed in a good workmanlike and diligent manner. Tenant shall
obtain building permits) for all alterations, additions and
improvements on the Premises. Any request by Tenant to make any
alteration, addition or improvement under this Section shall be
reasonably detailed.
SECTION 12: LIENS
12.01 Any construction liens filed against the Premises for work claimed to
have been done or materials claimed to have been furnished to Tenant
shall be discharged by Tenant within thirty (30) days thereafter. For
purposes hereof, the bonding of such lien by a reputable casualty
insurance company reasonable satisfactory to Landlord shall be deemed
the equivalent of a discharge of any such lien. Should any action,
suit, or proceeding be brought upon any such lien for the enforcement
or foreclosure of the same, Tenant shall indemnify, defend and hold
Landlord harmless from and with respect to any such claims, damages,
losses or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) which
Landlord may incur arising out of the existence or attempted
enforcement of any such liens.
SECTION 13: EMINENT DOMAIN
13.01 In the event that during the Term proceedings are instituted under the
power of eminent domain which result in the taking of any part of the
building on the Premises or the taking of a portion of the parking
area, and Tenant's business is significantly and adversely affected,
resulting in an eviction total or partial of Tenant therefrom, then at
the time of such eviction this Lease will be void and the Term will
cease and terminate; and, if Tenant thereafter continues in possession
of the Premises or any part thereof, it will be a lease from month to
month and for no longer term, anything in this instrument to the
contrary notwithstanding. If there is only a partial taking, not
including a portion of the building or reducing parking to the extent
described in the previous sentence, Landlord will restore the Premises
to the extent necessary to permit Tenant to continue its use of the
Premises; provided further that the whole of any award for any portion
of the Premises taken by reason of said condemnation proceedings will
be solely the property of and payable to Landlord, and provided further
that the whole of any award for loss of business and for removal and
relocation expenses in any such condemnation proceedings will be the
sole property of and be payable to Tenant. It is further agreed that in
any such
9
condemnation proceedings Landlord and Tenant will each seek its own
award and do so at its own expense.
SECTION 14: ASSIGNMENT OR SUBLETTING
14.01 Tenant agrees not to assign or in any manner transfer this Lease or any
interest in this Lease without the previous written consent of
Landlord, and not to sublet the entire Premises or allow anyone to use
or to come in with, through or under it without like consent, which
consent will not be withheld unreasonably if the proposed subtenant's
or assignee's proposed use of the Premises does not violate the use
clause of this Lease. In no event may Tenant assign or otherwise
transfer this Lease or any interest in this Lease at any time while in
default hereunder. One such consent will not be deemed a consent to any
subsequent assignment, subletting, occupation or use by any other
person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant may, however, assign this Lease
after ten (10) days written notice to Landlord (but without Landlord's
consent) to a corporation with which it may merge or consolidate, to
any parent or subsidiary of Tenant or subsidiary of Tenant's parent, or
to the purchaser of substantially all of Tenant's assets if the
assignee executes an agreement reasonably acceptable to Landlord
assuming Tenant's obligations hereunder and agrees to pay Landlord's
reasonable attorneys' fees in reviewing and/or approving any such
proposed assignment.
The acceptance of rent from an assignee, subtenant or occupant will not
release Tenant from or alter the primary liability of Tenant to perform
the obligations of Tenant contained in this Lease. In the event of any
assignment or sublease of all of the Premises where the rental or other
consideration reserved in the sublease or by the assignment exceeds the
rental or pro rata portion of the rental, as the case may be, for such
space reserved in this Lease, Tenant agrees to pay Landlord monthly, as
additional rent, on the Rent Day, the excess of the rental or other
consideration reserved in the sublease or assignment over the rental
reserved in this Lease applicable to the subleased/assigned space.
Tenant acknowledges that Landlord selected Tenant in part on the basis
of Tenant's proposed use and occupation of the Premises and agrees that
Landlord may withhold consent to any proposed sublease or assignment if
the subtenant's or assignee's proposed use of the Premises would
violate the use clause of this Lease.
SECTION 15: INSPECTION OF PREMISES
15.01 Tenant agrees to permit Landlord and the authorized representatives of
Landlord to enter the Premises at all reasonable times during business
hours for the purpose of inspecting the same.
10
SECTION 16: FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT
16.01 All fixtures and equipment paid for by Landlord and all fixtures and
equipment which may be paid for and placed on the Premises by Tenant
from time to time, but which are so incorporated and affixed to
Improvements that their removal would involve damage or structural
change to Improvements, will be and remain the property of Landlord.
16.02 All furnishings, equipment and fixtures, other than those specified in
Section 16.01, which are paid for and placed on the Premises by Tenant
from time to time (other than those which are replacements for fixtures
originally paid for by Landlord) will remain the property of Tenant.
SECTION 17: NOTICE OR DEMANDS
17.01 All bills, notices, statements, communications to or demands
(collectively, "Notices or Demands") upon Landlord or Tenant, desired
or required to be given under any of the provisions hereof, must be in
writing. Any such Notices or Demands will be deemed to have been duly
and sufficiently given if (a) a properly addressed copy thereof has
been mailed by United States mail in an envelope properly stamped arid
addressed, (b) by means of a reputable overnight delivery service
guaranteeing next day delivery ("Overnight Courier"), or (c) personally
delivered at:
If to Landlord: Penobscot Land Company
C/o Chateau Management and Realty, Inc.
Suite 305
2050 North Woodward Avenue
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48034-2260
Attn: Thomas T. Beeler
If to Tenant: Asset Acceptance Corp.
Lee Acceptance Corp.
Financial Credit Corp.
City Financial Corp.
23550 Harper Avenue
St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48080
Attn: Mark A. Redman, CPA/Vice President
of Finance
If to Tenant after Asset Acceptance Corp.
the Commencement Lee Acceptance Corp.
Date: Financial Credit Corp.
City Financial Corp.
6985 Miller Road
Warren, Michigan 48092
Attn: Mark A. Redman, CPA/Vice President
11
of Finance
or at such other address as either Landlord or Tenant may have last
furnished in writing to the other for such purpose. Except where
receipt of notice is expressly required in this Lease, the effective
date of such Notice or Demand will be deemed to be the time when
personally delivered or mailed (either by United States Mail or
Overnight Courier) as herein provided.
SECTION 18: BREACH; INSOLVENCY; REENTRY
18.01 (a) In the event Tenant shall fail to pay the rent reserved herein
when due, and Tenant shall fail to cure such default within
ten (10) days, Landlord shall, in addition to its other
remedies provided by law, have the remedies set forth in
Section 18.01(c) hereof.
(b) If Tenant shall be in default in performing any of the terms
of this Lease other than the payment of rent, Landlord shall
give Tenant written notice of such default, and if Tenant
shall fail to cure such default within thirty (30) days after
the receipt of such notice, or if the default is of such a
character as to require more than thirty (30) days to cure,
then if Tenant shall fail, within said thirty (30) day period,
to commence and thereafter proceed diligently to cure such
default within such additional reasonable period of time (not
exceeding 90 days in total), then and in either of such event,
Landlord may (at its option and in addition to its other legal
remedies) cure such default for the account of Tenant, and any
sum so expended by Landlord plus interest shall be additional
rent for all purposes hereunder, including Section 18.01 (a)
hereof, and shall be paid by Tenant with the next monthly
installment of rent or within ten (10) days of a written
demand therefor by Landlord.
(c) If any rent shall be due and unpaid or Tenant shall be in
default upon any of the other terms of this Lease, and such
default has not been cured within the time provided in Section
18.01 (a) and (b) hereof, then Landlord, in addition to its
other remedies, shall have the immediate right of re-entry.
Should Landlord re-enter or take possession pursuant to legal
proceedings or any notice provided for by law, Landlord may
either terminate this Lease, or, from time to time, without
terminating this Lease, relet the Premises or any part thereof
on such terms and conditions as Landlord shall in its
reasonable discretion deem advisable. The avails of such
reletting shall be applied: first, to the payment of any
indebtedness of Tenant to Landlord other than rent due
hereunder; second, to the payment of any costs of such
reletting, including the cost of any repairs to the Premises;
third, to the payment of rent due and unpaid hereunder; and
the residue, if any, shall be held by Landlord and applied in
payment of future rent as the same may become due and payable
hereunder. Should the avails of such reletting during any
month be less than the monthly rent reserved hereunder, then
Tenant shall during each such month pay such deficiency to
Landlord.
12
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in lieu of the foregoing
computation, Landlord may elect, at its sole option, to
receive liquidated damages in one payment equal to any
deficiency between (i) the total rent reserved hereunder
through the balance of the Lease term, and (ii) the fair and
reasonable rental value of the Premises during such period,
both discounted at the rate of interest then announced by
Michigan National Bank, as its "prime rate" plus two percent
(2%), to present value at the time of declaration of
forfeiture.
18.02 (a) Neither Tenant's interest in this Lease, nor any estate hereby
created in Tenant, nor any interest herein or therein, shall
pass to any trustee or receiver or assignee for the benefit of
creditors or otherwise by operation of law, except as may
specifically be provided pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code.
(b) In the event the interest or estate created in Tenant hereby
shall be taken in execution or by the process of law, or if
Tenant's assigns, if any, shall be adjudicated insolvent or
bankrupt pursuant to the provisions of any State Act or the
Bankruptcy Code, or if Tenant is adjudicated insolvent by a
court of competent jurisdiction, other than the United States
Bankruptcy Court, or if a receiver or trustee of the property
of Tenant be appointed by reason of the insolvency or
inability of Tenant to pay its debts, or if any assignment
shall be made of the property of Tenant for the benefit of
creditors, then and in any such event, this Lease and all
rights of Tenant hereunder shall automatically cease and
terminate with the same force and effect as though the date of
such event were the date originally set forth herein and fixed
for the expiration of the Term, and Tenant shall vacate and
surrender the Premises but shall remain liable as herein
provided.
(c) Tenant shall not cause or give cause for the appointment of a
trustee or receiver of the assets of Tenant and shall not make
any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or become or be
adjudicated insolvent. The allowance of any petition under any
insolvency law except under the Bankruptcy Code or the
appointment of a trustee or receiver of Tenant or of the
assets of Tenant, shall be conclusive evidence that Tenant
caused, or gave cause therefor, unless such allowance of the
petition, or the appointment of a trustee or receiver, is
vacated within ninety (90) days after such allowance or
appointment. Any act described in this Section 18.02(c) shall
be deemed a material breach of Tenant's obligations hereunder,
and this Lease shall thereupon automatically terminate.
Landlord does, in addition, reserve any and all other remedies
provided in this Lease or in law.
(d) Upon the filing of a petition by or against Tenant under the
Bankruptcy Code, Tenant, as debtor and as debtor in
possession, and any trustee who may be appointed agree as
follows: (i) to perform each and every obligation of Tenant
under this Lease, including, but not limited to, the use as
provided in Section 6 hereof, until such time as this Lease is
either rejected or assumed by order of the United States
Bankruptcy Court; and (ii) to pay monthly in advance on the
first day of each month as reasonable compensation for use and
occupancy of the Premises an amount equal to all Base Rent and
other charges otherwise due
13
pursuant to this Lease and (iii) to reject or assume this
Lease within sixty (60) days of the filing of such petition
under Chapter VII of the Bankruptcy Code or within sixty (60)
days of the filing of a petition under any other Chapter; and
(iv) to give Landlord at least forty-five (45) days' prior
written notice of any proceeding relating to any assumption of
this Lease; and (v) to give at least thirty (30) days' prior
written notice of any abandonment of the Premises; any such
abandonment to be deemed a rejection of this Lease.
(e) No default of this Lease by Tenant, either prior to or
subsequent to the filing of such a petition, shall be deemed
to have been waived unless expressly done so in writing by
Landlord.
SECTION 19: SURRENDER OF PREMISES ON TERMINATION
19.01 At the expiration (or earlier termination) of the Term, Tenant will
surrender the Premises broom-clean and in as good condition and repair
except for normal wear and tear and casualty damage, and promptly upon
surrender will deliver all keys and building security cards for the
Premises to Landlord at the place then fixed for payment of rent. All
costs and expenses incurred by Landlord in connection with repairing or
restoring the Premises to the condition called for herein, together
with the costs, if any, of removing from the Premises any property of
Tenant left therein, shall be invoiced to Tenant and shall be payable
as additional rental within ten (10) days after receipt of invoice.
SECTION 20: PERFORMANCE BY LANDLORD OF THE COVENANTS OF TENANT
20.01 Should Tenant at any time fail to do any of the things required to be
done by it under the provisions of this Lease within thirty (30) days
of a written demand therefor (except in emergency situations, in which
case Landlord shall endeavor to provide telephone notice), then
Landlord in such event may (but will not be required to) do the same or
cause the same to be done, and the amount of any money expended by
Landlord in connection therewith will be due from Tenant to Landlord as
additional rent on or before the next Rent Day, bearing interest at the
rate set forth in Section 4.02 from the date of payment until the
repayment thereof to Landlord by Tenant. On default in such payment,
Landlord will have the same remedies as on default in payment of rent.
SECTION 21: SUBORDINATION; ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATES
21.01 Tenant agrees that Landlord may choose to make this Lease subordinate
or paramount to any mortgages or trust deeds now or hereafter affecting
the Premises, and to any and all advances to be made thereunder, and to
the interest and charges thereon, and all renewals, replacements and
extensions thereon, provided the mortgagee or trustee named in any such
mortgages or trust deeds agrees to recognize and not disturb the lease
of Tenant in
14
the event of foreclosure if Tenant is not in default beyond any
applicable cure period allowed under this Lease. Tenant will execute
promptly any instrument or certificate that Landlord may reasonably
request to confirm such subordination. Landlord agrees to exercise its
best efforts to cause the holder of any mortgage affecting the Premises
to enter into a subordination non-disturbance and attornment agreement
with Tenant on the form customarily required by such holder.
21.02 Tenant, within fifteen (15) days after request (at anytime or times) by
Landlord, will execute and deliver to Landlord an estoppel certificate
identifying the Commencement Date and expiration date of the Term and
stating that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect or
is in full force and effect as modified, stating the modifications and
stating that Tenant does not claim that Landlord is in default in any
way or listing any such claimed defaults. The certificate also will
confirm the amount of monthly minimum net rental as of the date of the
certificate, the date to which the rent has been paid in advance and
the amount of any security deposit or prepaid rent. If Tenant fails to
deliver the executed certificate to Landlord within the fifteen (15)
day period, the accuracy of the proposed certificate will be deemed
conclusively confirmed.
SECTION 22: QUIET ENJOYMENT
22.01 Landlord agrees that at all times when Tenant is not in default (beyond
any applicable cure period) under the provisions and during the Term of
this Lease Tenant's quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the Premises will
not be disturbed or interfered with by Landlord or any person claiming
by, through or under Landlord.
SECTION 23: HOLDING OVER
23.01 If Tenant remains in possession of the Premises after the expiration of
this Lease without executing a new lease, it will be deemed to be
occupying the Premises as a tenant from month to month, subject to all
the provisions of this Lease to the extent that they can be applicable
to a month-to-month tenancy, except that the minimum net rental for
each month will be one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the last full
monthly installment of minimum net rental which Tenant was required to
pay under this Lease for the last full month preceding the month in
which this Lease expired or was terminated.
SECTION 24: REMEDIES NOT EXCLUSIVE; WAIVER
24.01 Each and every one of the rights, remedies and benefits provided by
this Lease are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other of said
rights, remedies and benefits, or of any other rights, remedies and
benefits allowed by law.
15
24.02 One or more waivers of any covenant or condition by Landlord will not
be construed as a waiver of a further or subsequent breach of the same
covenant or condition, and the consent or approval by Landlord to or of
any act by Tenant requiring Landlord's consent or approval will not be
deemed to waive or render unnecessary Landlord's consent or approval to
or of any subsequent similar act by Tenant.
SECTION 25: WAIVER OF SUBROGATION
25.01 Landlord and Tenant hereby waive any and all right of recovery against
each other for any loss or damage caused by fire or any of the risks
covered by the insurance policies carried or to be carried by them
under this Lease.
SECTION 26: RIGHT TO SHOW PREMISES
26.01 For a period commencing one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the
termination of this Lease or any extension thereof, Landlord may show
the Premises (at reasonable times after reasonable notice and may
display about the Premises signs advertising the availability of the
Premises.
SECTION 27: SECURITY DEPOSIT
27.01 Tenant shall pay to Landlord upon execution of this Lease the sum of
Fifteen Thousand One Hundred Forty Nine and 33/100 Dollars ($15,149.33)
("Security Deposit") which Landlord is to retain as security for the
faithful performance of all covenants, conditions and agreements of
this Lease. In no event shall Landlord be obligated to apply the same
upon rents in arrears or upon damages for Tenant's failure to perform
the said covenants, conditions, and agreements of this Lease; however,
Landlord may so apply the Security Deposit, as its option. Landlord's
right to bring a special proceeding to recover or otherwise to obtain
possession of the Premises before or after Landlord's declaration of
the termination of this Lease for nonpayment of rent or for any other
reason shall not in any event be affected by reason of the fact that
Landlord holds the Security Deposit. Such Security Deposit, if not
applied toward the payment of rents in arrears or toward the payment of
damages suffered by Landlord by reason of Tenant's default, is to be
returned to Tenant without interest, except as provided by law, when
this Lease is terminated according to its terms, but in no event is
such Security Deposit to be returned until Tenant has vacated the
Premises and delivered possession thereof to Landlord. In the event
that Landlord repossesses itself of the Premises, whether by special
proceeding or re-entry or otherwise, because of Tenant's default,
Landlord may apply such Security Deposit upon all damages suffered to
the date of said repossession and may retain the Security Deposit to
apply upon such damages as may be suffered or shall accrue thereafter
by reason of Tenant's default. In the event any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other creditor-debtor proceedings shall be instituted
by or against Tenant, or its successors or
16
assigns, such Security Deposit shall be deemed to be applied first to
the payment of any rents due Landlord for all periods prior to the
institution of such proceedings, and the balance, if any, of such
Security Deposit may be retained by Landlord in partial liquidation of
Landlord's damages. Landlord shall not be obligated to keep such
Security Deposit as a separate fund buy may commingle the Security
Deposit with its own funds. In the event Landlord applies the Security
Deposit in whole or in part, Tenant shall, upon demand by Landlord,
deposit sufficient funds to maintain the Security Deposit in the
initial amount. Failure of Tenant to deposit such additional amount
shall entitle Landlord avail itself of the remedies provided in this
Lease for nonpayment of rent by Tenant.
SECTION 28: MOVE-IN; MOVE OUT
28.01 All activities of Tenant in connection with either its move into the
Premises at the commencement of this Lease or its move out of the
Premises at any time (whether or not on the termination of this Lease)
will be subject to the following:
(a) Tenant will be responsible for the active supervision
(on-site) of all workmen and others performing the move and
will indemnify and hold harmless Landlord against and from all
liability for damage to property (whether belonging to
Landlord or any other person) and injuries to persons in
connection with the move and the actions or failure to act of
or by those performing the move.
(b) Tenant will be responsible for any damage to the Improvements,
the Premises or the premises and property of others caused by
or incurred in connection with the move or the activities
connected therewith. Landlord will perform such inspection(s)
as Landlord in its sole discretion determines to be
appropriate, and will invoice Tenant for the repair of all
such damage or the replacement, if necessary, of damaged
items. All determinations of the extent of damage and the
costs of repair or replacement will be made by Landlord in its
sole discretion. The invoiced sums will constitute amounts
included within and payable under Section 10 above.
SECTION 29: COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
29.01 Tenant shall promptly comply with all laws, statutes, ordinances and
governmental rules, regulations or requirements now in force or which
may hereafter be in force, with the requirements of any board of fire
underwriters or other similar body now or hereafter constituted, with
any occupancy certificate or directive issued pursuant to any law by
any public officer or officers, as well as the provisions of all
recorded documents affecting the Premises, insofar as any thereof
relate to or affect the condition, use or occupancy of the Premises.
17
SECTION 30: INDEMNIFICATION.
30.01 Tenant at its expense will defend, indemnify and save Landlord, its
licensees, servants, agents, employees and contractors, harmless from
any loss, damage, claim of damage, liability or expense to or for any
person or property, whether based on contract, tort, negligence or
otherwise, arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with
the condition of the Premises, the use or misuse thereof by Tenant or
any other person, the acts or omissions of Tenant, its licensees,
servants, agents, employees or contractors, the failure of Tenant to
comply with any provision of this Lease, or any event on the Premises,
whatever the cause; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be
construed to require Tenant to indemnify Landlord against Landlord's or
its agent's or contractor's negligence or willful misconduct.
30.02 Landlord, at its expense, will defend, indemnify and save Tenant, its
agents and employees harmless for any loss, damage, claim of damage,
liability or expense arising out of claims for personal injury, death
or property damage relating to occurrences in or about the Premises
caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord, its agents
or contractors.
30.03 Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 30.01 and 30.02, the
parties release each other from any claims either party ("Injured
Party") has against the other. This release is limited to the extent
the claim is covered by the Injured Party's insurance or the insurance
the Injured Party is required to carry under this Lease, whichever is
greater.
SECTION 31: DEFINITION OF LANDLORD; LANDLORD'S LIABILITY
31.01 The term "Landlord" as used in this Lease, so far as covenants,
agreements, stipulations or obligations on the part of the Landlord are
concerned, is limited to mean and include only the owner or owners of
fee title to the Premises at the time in question and, in the event of
any transfer or transfers of the title to such fee, the Landlord herein
named (and, in case of any subsequent transfers or conveyances, the
then grantor) will, upon the assumption by such transferee of
Landlord's obligations under this Lease automatically be freed and
relieved from and after the date of such transfer or conveyance of all
personal liability for the performance of any covenants or obligations
on the part of the Landlord contained in this Lease thereafter to be
performed. The foregoing limitation on Landlord's liability shall not,
apply with respect to claims made by Tenant against Landlord, in
writing, prior to such transfer unless the transferee specifically
assumes the obligation which forms the basis of Tenant's claim.
If Landlord fails to perform any provision of this Lease upon
Landlord's part to be performed and if, as a consequence of such
default, Tenant recovers a money judgment against Landlord, such
judgment may be satisfied only out of the proceeds of sale received
upon execution of such judgment and levied thereon against the right,
title and interest of Landlord in the Premises and out of rents or
other income from such property receivable by Landlord, and Landlord
shall not be personally liable for any deficiency.
18
SECTION 32: ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
32.01 (a) Landlord represents and warrants to Tenant that to Landlord's
actual knowledge the Premises is not subject to any liens,
actions or proceedings relating to "Hazardous Materials" (as
hereinafter defined) or "Environmental Laws" (as hereinafter
defined) and Landlord is not a party to any such action or
proceeding and Landlord has received no notice of any such
lien, action or proceeding that is pending or threatened.
Landlord shall notify Tenant of any subsequent lien, action or
proceeding which may hereafter be pending or threatened.
Landlord further represents and warrants to Tenant that to
Landlord's actual knowledge, no Hazardous Materials are or
have been located, stored or disposed of on or released or
discharged from the Premises in any manner or amount that
violates any Environmental Law or that would give rise to
liability under such law.
(b) Landlord shall, at no cost or expense to Tenant, take actions
necessary to comply with all Environmental Laws affecting the
Premises including, without limitation, removal, containment
and remedial actions required by any Environmental Laws or any
governmental agencies in the enforcement of Environmental Laws
affecting the Premises and shall indemnify and defend Tenant
from and against any and all costs, claims, expenses, damages,
liens, losses and judgments arising out of the breach of
Landlord's representations and warranties contained in this
Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord's covenants
and indemnification obligations with respect to environmental
matters shall not extend to (i) any claim arising out of any
Hazardous Materials which are brought to or introduced to the
Premises from and after the date of this Lease by persons or
entities other than Landlord, its agents, employees,
contractors or representatives, or (ii) any claim by Tenant
for lost profits, interruption of business activities or any
other claims for damage or losses of a consequential nature.
(c) Neither Tenant nor its agents, employees, or contractors shall
cause or permit Hazardous Materials to be brought upon, kept
or used in, on, or about the Premises except as permitted
under and in full compliance with all Environmental Laws. If
Tenant obtains knowledge of the acts or suspected release of a
hazardous material, then Tenant shall promptly notify Landlord
of such acts or suspected release. Tenant shall immediately
notify Landlord of any inquiry, test, investigation or
enforcement proceeding by or against Tenant involving a
release. If Tenant or its agents, employees, or contractors
shall cause or permit a release, then Tenant shall promptly
notify Landlord of such release and Immediately begin
investigation and remediation of such release as required by
all Environmental Laws. Tenant shall indemnify, defend and
hold Landlord, its affiliates, subsidiaries, employees,
agents, officers, directors, invitees, contractors and their
respective successors and assigns harmless from and against
all loss, liability, suits, fines, damages, judgments,
penalties, claims, charges, costs and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys fees) attributable to the introduction of
Hazardous Materials to the Premises from and after the date
hereof and during the term of this Lease or Tenant's occupancy
of the Premises by persons or entities other than Landlord,
its agents, employees, contractors or representatives.
19
(d) As used herein, Hazardous Materials shall mean any material or
substance (i) defined as a "hazardous substance" pursuant to
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act (42 USC Section 9601, et seq.), and all
amendments thereto and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(ii) containing gasoline, oil, diesel fuel or other petroleum
products; (iii) defined as a "hazardous waste" pursuant to the
Federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act (42 USC Section
6901, et seq.) and amendments thereto and regulations
promulgated thereunder; or (iv) the presence of which requires
investigation or remediation or which or becomes defined as a
"hazardous waste" or "hazardous substance" under any statute,
regulation or ordinance of any federal, state or local
governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Premises
("Applicable Laws"). The respective indemnification
obligations of Landlord and Tenant under this Section shall
survive the expiration or termination of this Lease.
(e) As used herein, Environmental Laws means those laws relating
to the storage, use, generation, manufacture, installation,
release, discharge, or disposal of "Hazardous Materials."
SECTION 33: ENTIRE AGREEMENT
33.01 This Lease and the Exhibits, attached hereto and forming a part hereof,
set forth all of the covenants, agreements, stipulations, promises,
conditions and understandings between Landlord and Tenant concerning
the Premises, and there are no covenants, agreements, stipulations,
promises, conditions or understanding, either oral or written, between
them other than herein set forth.
SECTION 34: GENERAL
34.01 Many references in this Lease to persons, entities and items have been
generalized for ease of reading. Therefore, references to a single
person, entity or item will also mean more than one person, entity or
thing whenever such usage is appropriate (for example, "Tenant" may
include, if appropriate, a group of persons acting as a single entity
or as tenants-in-common). Similarly, pronouns of any gender should be
considered interchangeable with pronouns of other genders.
34.02 Any waiver or waivers by Landlord of any of the provisions of this
Lease will not constitute a waiver of any later breach of that
provision, and any consent or approval given by Landlord with respect
to any act, neglect or default by Tenant will not waive or make
unnecessary Landlord's consent or approval with respect to any later
similar act, neglect or default by Tenant.
34.03 Topical headings appearing in this Lease are for convenience only. They
do not define, limit or construe the contents of any Paragraphs or
Clauses.
20
34.04 This Lease can be modified or amended only by a written agreement
signed by Landlord and Tenant.
34.05 All provisions of this Lease are and will be binding on the heirs,
executors, administrators, personal representatives, successors and
assigns of Landlord and Tenant.
34.06 The laws of the State of Michigan will control in the construction and
enforcement of this Lease.
SECTION 35: EXISTING CABLE
35.01 The parties acknowledge that there is currently running through the
Premises a cable which connects the buildings on either side of the
Premises. Tenant shall maintain the cable in good condition and repair
except for normal wear and tear and casualty damage (including the
replacement of parts and equipment, if necessary). Tenant shall not
remove or replace the cable without Landlord's prior written consent,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have executed this Lease as of the date
set forth at the outset hereof.
WITNESSES: LANDLORD:
PENOBSCOT LAND COMPANY, A MICHIGAN
CO-PARTNERSHIP
____________________________ By: ______________________________
Thomas T. Beeler
Its: Managing General Partner
TENANT:
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CORP., A MICHIGAN
CORPORATION
____________________________ By: ______________________________
N.F. Bradley
Its: President
21
____________________________
LEE ACCEPTANCE CORP., A MICHIGAN
CORPORATION
____________________________ By: ______________________________
N.F. Bradley
Its: President
____________________________
FINANCIAL CREDIT CORP., A MICHIGAN
CORPORATION
____________________________ By: ______________________________
N.F. Bradley
Its: President
____________________________
CITY FINANCIAL CORP., A MICHIGAN
CORPORATION
____________________________ By: ______________________________
N.F. Bradley
Its: President
____________________________
____________________________ By: ______________________________
Thomas T. Beeler
Its: Managing General Partner
____________________________
22
EXHIBIT A
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
City of Warren, County of Macomb, State of Michigan, described as:
Lots 14, 15 and 16, Denton Industrial Subdivision as recorded
in Liber 78, pages 24, 25 and 26 of Plats, Macomb County
Records, together with that certain building consisting of
approximately 22,000 square feet and all improvements located
thereon.
Commonly known as 6985 Miller Drive, Warren, Michigan.
A-1
EXHIBIT 10.8
LEASE
LANDLORD: WARREN TROY INVESTMENTS, a Michigan Co-Partnership
TENANT: ASSET ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION, a Michigan Corporation
Dated for reference purpose as of: June, 1999
ARTICLE A
DEFINED TERMS, EXHIBITS AND PREAMBLE
A-1. DEFINED TERMS. Each reference in this Lease to any of the terms described
in this Article A shall mean and refer to the following: other terms are as
defined in this Lease:
(a) LANDLORD: WARREN TROY INVESTMENTS, a Michigan Co-Partnership
21650 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Suite 200
Southfield, MI 48076
(b) TENANT: ASSET ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION, a Michigan Corporation
Harper Ave.
St. Clair Shores, MI 48080
(c) LOCATION OF DEMISED PREMISES: (Address) 7027 Miller Rd.
Warren, MI
(d) APPROXIMATE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF DEMISED PREMISES: 22,500
(e) TERM: Five (5) years. Three (3) months*(Expiring 8/31/04)
(f) FIXED RENT: $1,062,450 per total Rental Period.
Commencing 9/1/99
(g) RENT PER MONTH: $16,563.00 (1st Year) $17,970.00 (4th Year)
(k) LANDLORD'S ADDRESS: 21650 W. Eleven Mile Rd., Suite 200
Southfield, MI 48076
(l) TENANT'S ADDRESS: 23550 Harper Ave.
St. Clair Shores, MI 48080
(m) PERMITTED USES: Office
1
A-2. EXHIBITS. The following Exhibits, and Riders, if any, are attached to this
Lease after the signatures and are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Legal description of Parcel. Land located in the City of Warren, County
of Macomb and State of Michigan described as Lots 17, 18, and 19 Denton
Industrial Subdivision, as recorded in Liber 78, Page 24 of Plats,
Macomb County Records.
Rider Nos. 1 through 1, inclusive. (Option to Renew)
A-3. PREAMBLE. Landlord hereby leases to Tenant, and Tenant hereby leases and
accepts from Landlord, that certain real property more particularly described in
Exhibit A (the "Parcel") and the "Improvements," as hereinafter defined,
(together the "Demised Premises") for the Term and upon the covenants and
conditions hereinafter specified.
ARTICLE B
ARTICLE C
COMMENCEMENT OF TERM
The Term of this Lease shall commence upon the execution of the Lease
by Tenant and Landlord, but not later than June 18, 1999. Tenant shall pay -0-
Rent for June, $4,143.00 monthly rent for July and $8,285.00 monthly rent for
August, 1999.
C-1. DELAY OF POSSESSION. If Landlord shall be unable for any reason to give
possession of the premises on the date of the commencement of the term hereof,
Landlord shall not be subject to any liability for the failure to give
possession on such date but the rent to be paid herein shall not commence until
the premises are ready for occupancy by Tenant. No such failure to give
possession on the date of the commencement of the term shall affect tile
validity of this Lease or the obligations of Tenant hereunder. If permission is
given to Tenant to enter into possession of tile premises, or to occupy
premises, prior to the date specified as the commencement of the term of this
Lease, Tenant covenants and agrees that such occupancy shall be deemed to be
under all the terms, covenants, conditions and provisions of this Lease.
C-2. COMMENCEMENT DATE. On the commencement date or within a reasonable time
thereafter upon request by Landlord, Tenant shall execute a written instrument
confirming the Commencement Date and the date on which the term shall end, and
such other information as either Landlord or mortgagee of Leased property shall
request.
C-3. ACCEPTANCE OF PREMISES. Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that Tenant is
taking the Premises in "as is" condition. Tenant acknowledges that it has
inspected the Premises and is satisfied with the physical condition there of
apparent from said viewing. By accepting possession of the Premises, Tenant
acknowledges that it is satisfied with the physical condition
2
of the Premises at the time of accepting possession. Tenant acknowledges that no
representations or warranties concerning the condition of the Premises have been
made by Landlord or any agent, officer or employee of Landlord, other than those
expressed herein. Landlord shall have no obligations or responsibility to make
any repairs, renovations or improvements to the Premises whatsoever.
ARTICLE D
RENT
D-1. FIXED RENT. Tenant shall pay the Fixed Rent (which includes taxes and
insurance) to Landlord in advance upon the first day of each month of the Term,
at Landlord's address or at such other place designated by Landlord in a notice
to Tenant, without any prior demand therefore and without any deduction or
set-off whatsoever. If the Term shall commence on a day other than the first day
of a month or end on a day other than the last day of a month, then Tenant shall
pay, upon the commencement date of the Term and the first day of the last month,
a pro-rata portion of the Fixed Rent, prorated on a per diem basis, with respect
to the portions of the month included in the Term.
D-2. ADDITIONAL RENT. Tenant shall pay to Landlord as additional rent under this
Lease ("Additional Rent"), prorated on a monthly basis, (a) all amortization of
the costs, including financing costs, for capital expenditures required by a
governmental entity for energy conservation, life safety or other purposes; and
(b) all other charges required to be paid by Tenant to Landlord hereunder,
including, without limitation, payments for taxes and assessments as defined in
Section E-1, maintenance expenses, insurance and costs of repairs. Tenant shall
pay Additional Rent upon written demand by Landlord. "Rent" shall mean Fixed
Rent and Additional Rent.
ARTICLE E
TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS
E-1. PAYMENT OF TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS. Tenant agrees to pay as additional rental
all water rates, assessments. general or special, and other governmental levies
and charges general and special, ordinary and extraordinary, and any increase in
real estate taxes over and above $28,500.00 per tax year, and Tenant shall pay
such tax increase within ten (10) days of Landlord forwarding or evidence of
such tax increase to Tenant. Any property tax increase over $ 28,500.00 per tax
year, and assessments for the first and last year of the original term or any
extended terms as the case may tie shall be prorated between Landlord and Tenant
so that the Tenant will be responsible for any such tax or assessment
attributable to the period during which the Tenant has possession of the
premises in the year in which the Lease is terminated. Proration shall be on the
due date basis.
E-2. SUBSTITUTE TAX. In the event that during the term of this lease (i) the
real property taxes levied or assessed against the real property shall be
reduced or eliminated, whether the cause thereof is a judicial determination of
unconstitutionality, a change in the nature of the taxes imposed, or otherwise,
and (ii) there is levied, assessed or otherwise imposed upon the Landlord, in
substitution for all or part of the tax thus reduced or eliminated, a tax
(hereinafter called the
3
"Substitute Tax") which imposes a burden upon Landlord by reason of its
ownership of the real property, then to the extent of such burdens the
Substitute Tax shall be deemed a real estate tax and shall be paid by Tenant, or
any increase over the base tax year of such Substitute Tax shall be paid by
Tenant.
E-3. LANDLORD'S RIGHT. If any tax or assessment is not paid as required by this
Article E, then, at its sole option, Landlord may, but shall not be required to,
pay the same and shall be entitled to repayment by Tenant as Additional Rent.
E-4. CONTEST. Upon at least ten (10) days prior notice to Landlord, Tenant may
in good faith contest, seek to abate or otherwise challenge any tax or
assessment in either Tenant's name or Landlord's name, or both, and may take any
and all action with respect thereto as it may deem necessary or advisable.
Landlord shall not pay said tax or assessment or otherwise prejudice such
contest and shall cooperate with Tenant and execute such papers as may from time
to time be needed or desired by Tenant to bring, defend or facilitate such
proceedings; provided, however, that any such action shall be at Tenant's own
cost and expense and without cost or expense to the Landlord or the Demised
Premises. No such action shall be taken or maintained by Tenant without Tenant's
first delivering to Landlord an indemnity agreement from a solvent licensed
surety company, in an appropriate sum, guaranteeing to hold Landlord and the
Demised Premises free and harmless from loss, cost, expense or liability in
connection with or arising out of any such action. All refunds and abatements,
net of any costs or expenses incurred by Landlord in connection therewith, shall
belong to Tenant to the extent Tenant has paid such tax or assessment.
E-5. PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES. Tenant shall pay or cause to be paid, prior to
delinquency, any and all taxes and assessments levied upon all trade fixtures,
inventories and other personal property placed in and upon the Demised Premises
by Tenant.
ARTICLE F
INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY
FIRE INSURANCE AND EXTENDED COVERAGE
F-1. COVERAGE. Landlord and Tenant agree that Landlord shall obtain insurance
during the term of the Lease and any extension thereof in order to keep the
building and all other improvements to the Demised Premises insure; for the full
replacement cost thereof, as determined by Landlord against loss by fire with
standard extended risk coverage, excess liability coverage, vandalism and
malicious mischief and business interruption insurance to provide rental income
irrespective of any casualty or loss in an amount adequate to cover the
obligations of Tenant under the Lease. Such insurance carried by Landlord shall
have a $1,000.00 deductible clause and Tenant shall self insure to the extent of
said $1,000.00.
F-2. COST OF POLICY. Tenant shall be obligated to reimburse Landlord when a
total of all such insurance costs incurred by Landlord exceeds $1,500.00 per
year, and prorated if necessary for the first and last yea of the original term
or any extended term. Tenant shall pay the increase over $1,500.00 of invoiced
amount to Landlord within ten (10) days of Lessor furnishing notice to Lessee.
4
F-3. TENANT'S LIABILITY INSURANCE. Tenant agrees that it will obtain, at or
prior to the commencement of the Lease Term and maintain at all times thereafter
until the termination of this Lease, for the mutual benefit of Landlord,
Landlord's mortgagee, and of Tenants, and naming Landlord and Landlord's
mortgagee as insured parties, general public liability insurance including
blanket contractual coverage against claims for or arising out of personal
injury, death or property damage, occurring in, on, or about the Demised
Premises or property in, on, or about the streets, sidewalks or premises
adjacent to the Demised Premises, such insurance to afford protection to the
limit at the beginning of the term of not less than $500,000.00 Dollars with
respect to injury or death of a single person, and to the limit of not less than
$1,000,000.00 Dollars with respect to any one occurrence, and to the limit of
not less than $300,000.00 Dollars with respect to any one occurrence of property
damage and thereafter in such changed amounts as the Landlord may reasonably
require. Tenant shall furnish evidence suitable to Lessor that such insurance
policy or policies are in force at or prior to the commencement of the original
term of the Lease and shall continue to provide Landlord with such evidence with
respect to such policies as are from time to time in force until die termination
of this Lease. Such policy or policies shall provide for thirty (30) days prior
written notice to Landlord or cancellation.
F-4. TENANT'S PROPERTY INSURANCE. Tenant shall assume the risk of damage to any
fixtures, goods, inventory, merchandise, equipment, furniture and Tenant's
leasehold improvements, and Landlord shall not be liable for injury to Tenant's
business or any loss of income therefrom relative to such damage. Tenant shall
maintain the following coverage with respect to such items during the Term of
this Lease.
(a) Against fire, extended coverage, vandalism, malicious mischief and
all risks, upon property of every description and kind owned by Tenant and
located within the Demised Premises or for which Tenant is legally liable, or
installed by or on behalf of Tenant, including, without limitation, furniture,
fittings, installations, including Tenant improvements and betterment, fixtures
and any other personal property, in an amount not less than ninety percent (90%)
of the full replacement cost thereof. In the event that there shall be a dispute
as to the amount which comprises full replacement cost, the decision of Landlord
or Landlord's first mortgagee shall be conclusive;
(b) Broad form boiler and machinery insurance on a blanket repair and
replacement basis with limits per accident not less than the replacement cost of
all Tenant's leasehold improvements and of all boilers, pressure vessels,
air-conditioning equipment, miscellaneous electrical apparatus and all other
insurable objects owned or operated by the Tenant or by others (other than
Landlord) on behalf of Tenant in the Demised Premises, or relating to or serving
the Demised Premises;
(c) Loss of income and extra expense insurance in such amounts as will
reimburse Tenant for direct and indirect loss of earnings attributable to all
perils commonly insured against by prudent Tenants or attributable to prevention
of access to the Demised Premises as a result of such perils; and
(d) Worker's compensation insurance covering all Tenant's employees
working in the Demised Premises.
5
F-5. TENANT'S INSURANCE CERTIFICATES. Tenant shall furnish to Landlord, upon the
date of commencement of the Term of this Lease and thereafter within thirty (30)
days prior to the expiration of each such policy, a certificate of insurance
issued by the insurance carrier of each policy of insurance carried by Tenant
pursuant hereto. Said certificates shall) expressly provide that such policies
shall not be cancelable or subject to reduction of coverage or otherwise be
subject to modification except after thirty (30) days prior written notice by
registered mail to the parties named as insureds in this Section F-5. Landlord,
its successors and assigns, and any entities holding any interest in the Demised
Premises, including, without limitation, any ground lessor and the bolder of any
fee or leasehold mortgage, shall be named as insureds under each such policy of
insurance except worker's compensation insurance, maintained by Tenant pursuant
to this Lease.
F-6. TENANT'S FAILURE. If Tenant fails to maintain any insurance required in
this Lease, Tenant shall be liable for any loss or cost resulting from said
failure. This Section F-6 shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any of
Landlord's rights and remedies under any other provision of this Lease.
F-7. WAIVER OF SUBROGATION. All insurance as required by either party, shall
include provisions denying to the insurer acquisition by subrogation of rights
of recovery against the other party to the extent the rights have been waived by
the insured prior to occurrence of loss or injury. The other party shall be
entitled to have certificates of the policies containing either provisions.
Tenant shall not acquire as an insured under any insurance on the Building, or
as a payee of any such insurance proceeds, any right to participate in the
adjustment of loss or to receive the proceeds. Each party, notwithstanding any
provisions of this Lease to the contrary, waives any rights or recovery against
the other for loss or injury against which the waiving party is protected by
insurance containing provisions denying to the insurer acquisition of rights by
subrogation.
F-8. INDEMNIFICATION OF LANDLORD. Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord and
the Demised Premises harmless from and against (a) any and all liability,
penalties, losses, damages, costs and expenses, demands, causes of action,
claims or judgments arising from or growing out of any injury to any person or
persons or any damage to any property as a result of any accident or other
occurrence during the Term of this Lease occasioned by any act or omission of
the Tenant, its officers, employees, agents, servants, subtenants,
concessionaires, licensees, contractors, invitees or permittees, or arising frog
or growing out of the rue, maintenance, occupation or operation of the Demised
Premises during the Term of this Lease; and (b) from and against all legal costs
and charges, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred with respect to any
of such matters mind the defense of any action out of the same or in discharging
the Demised Premises or any part thereof from any and all liens, charges or
judgments which may accrue or be placed thereon by reasons of any act or
omission of the Tenant; provided, however, that Tenant shall not be required to
indemnify Landlord for any damage or injury of any kind arising as the result of
Landlord's willful acts or those of its agent or employees.
F-9. DISTRIBUTION OF AWARD. In the event of damage to or destruction of the
Demised Premises entitling Landlord to terminate this Lease pursuant to Article
K hereinbelow, and if Landlord terminates this Lease, Tenant will immediately
pay to Landlord all of its insurance proceeds, if any, relating to Tenant's
leasehold improvements and alterations (but not to Tenant's trade fixtures,
equipment, furniture or other personal property of Tenant) installed at
Landlord's
6
expense in the Demised Premises, or the portion of the insurance proceeds, if
any, relating to the amortized portion, amortized on a straight line basis. over
the Lease Term, of Tenant's leasehold improvements and alterations if not
installed at Landlord's expense.
ARTICLE G
REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE AND ALTERATIONS
G-1. TENANT REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. Landlord shall put in proper running
condition all HVAC equipment and make any repairs during the first 90 days of
the Lease, beginning September 1, 1999. Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost and
expense, keep, maintain, replace, and repair the Demised Premises including
without limitation, all floors, subfloors, floor coverings, windows, ceilings,
roofs (interior), walls (interior), fixtures, doors, electrical and lighting
equipment, plumbing, beating, air-conditioning (Tenant shall procure and
maintain, at Tenant's expense, an air-conditioning maintenance contract, a copy
of which shall be delivered to Landlord, which shall call for a minimum of two
service inspections per year, in the Spring and Fall, and changing all filters
four times per year), ventilating systems, driveways, walkways, parking lots,
loading areas, fences, signs, lawns and landscaping (including, but not limited
to watering, and also fertilizing lawns and trees at a minimum of four times per
year, maintaining and replacing when necessary any shrubbery or other
landscaping provided by Landlord) in all respects in good repair. Tenant shall,
at Tenant's own expense, immediately replace all glass in the Demised Premises
that may be broken during the Term with glass at least equal to the
specification and quality of the glass so replaced. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Landlord shall have the option at any time without cause to assume
any or all of the foregoing maintenance and repair responsibilities and to
require Tenant to reimburse Landlord, as Additional Rent, for the cost of all
such services, together with an accounting and management services fee of ten
percent (10%) of the cost of such repair or services.
G-2. LANDLORD'S RIGHTS. If Tenant fails to perform Tenant's obligations under
Section G-1, or under any other provision of this Lease or, if Landlord
otherwise deems it reasonably necessary to do so, Landlord shall have the option
to enter. upon the Demised Premises after ten (10) days prior written notice to
Tenant, or in the case of an emergency immediately without prior notice, in
order to perform such obligations on Tenant's behalf and put the Demised
Premises in good order, condition, and repair. The cost of such performance by
Landlord together with interest thereon at the maximum rate then allowable by
law shall become due and payable as Additional Rent to Landlord.
G-3. LANDLORD'S OBLIGATIONS. Except for the obligations of Landlord under
Article K (Damage or Destruction) and Article L (Eminent Domain), it is intended
by the parties to this Lease that Landlord has no obligation whatsoever to
repair and maintain the Demised Premises nor the equipment therein, whether
structural or nonstructural, all of which obligations are intended to be those
of the Tenant under Section G-1 except roof and four outer walls. Tenant
expressly waives the benefit of any statute or regulation which would otherwise
afford Tenant the right to make repairs Landlord's expense or to terminate this
Lease because of Landlord's failure to keep the Demised Premises in good order,
condition and repair. Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for injury or
damage that may result from any defect in the construction or condition of the
Demised
7
Premises. Tenant waives any right to make repairs at the expense of Landlord
under any law, statute or ordinance now or hereafter in effect.
G-4. ALTERATIONS.
(a) INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL. Tenant shall not, without Landlord's
prior written consent, make any alterations, improvements or additions,
including lighting fixtures, space beaters, air-conditioning, electrical
equipment, power panels, plumbing, carpeting, window covering, air lines and
fencing or change the exterior paint or type of exterior materials (collectively
"Alterations"), in, on or about the Demised Premises. In no event shall Tenant
be entitled to penetrate the exterior of the Building or roof with respect to
any alteration without Landlord's prior written approval. Landlord may require
that Tenant remove any or all of said Alterations at the expiration of the Term
and restore the Demised Premises to their prior condition. Should Tenant make
any Alterations without the prior approval of Landlord, Landlord may require
that Tenant remove any or all of the same.
(b) PLANS AND PERMITS. Any Alterations in or about the Demised Premises
that Tenant shall desire to make and which require the consent of the Landlord
shall be presented to the Landlord in written form, with proposed detailed
plans. If Landlord shall give its consent, the consent shall be deemed
conditioned upon Tenant's acquiring a permit to do so from appropriate
governmental agencies, the furnishing of a copy thereof to Landlord prior to the
commencement of the work and the compliance by Tenant of all conditions of said
permit in a prompt and expeditious manner. In considering whether or not to
issue Landlord's prior written consent to any Alteration, Landlord shall have
the right to require Tenant to take all seasonable necessary steps to avoid
potential mechanics or materialmen's liens, including requiring Tenant to obtain
a payment or performance bond, requiring that Tenant use only creditworthy
subcontractors, requiring that Tenant obtain lien releases during the progress
of construction and requiring that Tenant hold back a percentage of the cost of
construction until lien free completion has occurred. Tenant shall reimburse to
Landlord, on demand, Landlord's reasonable costs of review and approval of such
plans and permits, including any out-of-pocket costs incurred by Landlord for
any third party services contracted for by Landlord to assist Landlord in
connection with its work of review and approval.
(c) EXPIRATION OF TERM. Unless Landlord requires their removal, as set
forth in Subsection G-4(a), all Alterations which may be made on the Demised
Premises shall become the property of Landlord and remain upon tend be
surrendered with the Demised Premises at the expiration of the Term.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Subsection G-4(c), Tenant's machinery and
equipment, other than that which is affixed to the Demised Premises so that it
cannot be removed without material damage to the Demised Premises, shall remain
the property, of the Tenant and may be removed by Tenant.
*Landlord shall put in proper running condition all HVAC equipment and make an
repairs during the first 90 days of the Lease, beginning in September 1, 1999.
G-5. WORKMANLIKE QUALITY. All repairs, alterations, additions, and restoration
by Landlord or Tenant hereinafter required or permitted shall be done in a good
and workmanlike manner and in
8
compliance with all applicable laws and lawful ordinances, bylaws, regulations
and orders of governmental authority and of the insurers of the Building.
G-6. LIENS. Tenant shall promptly pay and discharge all claims for services,
supplies, labor or materials furnished or alleged to have been furnished to or
for Tenant at or for use in the Demised Premises, which claims tie or may be
secured by any mechanics' or materialmen's lieu against the Demised Premises or
any interest therein. Tenant shall give Landlord not less than ten (10) days
notice prior to the commencement of any work in the Demised Premises, and
Landlord shall have the right to post notices of non-responsibility in or on the
Demised Premises as provided by law. If Tenant shall, in good faith, contest the
validity of any such lien, claim, or demand, then Tenant shall, at its sole
expense, defend itself and Landlord against the same and shall pay and satisfy
any adverse judgment that may be rendered thereon before the enforcement thereof
against the Landlord or the Demised Premises, upon the condition that if
Landlord shall require Tenant shall furnish to Landlord a surety bond
satisfactory to Landlord in an amount equal to such contested lien, claim or
demand indemnifying Landlord against liability for the same and holding the
Demised Premises free from the effect of such lien or claim. If any such lien is
filed, Landlord may, but shall not be required to, take such action or pay such
amount as may be necessary to remove such lien; and Tenant shall pay Landlord as
Additional Rent any such amounts expended by Landlord together with interest
thereon at the highest legal rate from the date of expenditure.
G-7. SURRENDER. On the last day of the Term hereof, or on any sooner
termination, Tenant shall surrender the Demised Premises to Landlord in the same
condition as when received, broom clean, carpets steam cleaned, ordinary wear
and tear excepted. Tenant shall repair any damage to the Demised Premises
occasioned by the removal of Tenant's trade fixtures, furnishings and equipment
as more particularly provided in Article H hereinbelow, which repair shall
include the patching and filling of holes within the Demised Premises, repair of
structural damage, resurfacing of the parking areas if the parking areas require
the filling of holes or the patching of broken-up material, and the repair of
the roof surface including resurfacing if deemed reasonably necessary by
Landlord after inspection of the roof. All penetrations of the roof shall be
resealed and water-tight. In no event may Tenant remove from Demised Premises
any mechanical or electrical systems, including beating or ventilating, air
lines, power panels, electrical distribution system, lighting fixtures, space
beaters, air-conditioning, plumbing, window shades, blinds or drapes, unless
Landlord specifically permits such removal in writing.
ARTICLE H
TENANT'S FIXTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY
Except as may be otherwise provided in Section G-4 above, Tenant, at Tenant's
sole cost and expose, may install any necessary trade fixtures, equipment and
furniture in the Improvements, provided that such items are installed and
removable without damage to the structure of the Building. Landlord reserves the
right to approve or disapprove of curtains, draperies, shades, paint, wallpaper,
or other interior improvements on wholly aesthetic grounds. Such improvements
must be submitted for Landlord's written approval prior to installation, or
Landlord may remove or replace such items at Tenant's sole expense. Said trade
fixtures, equipment, and furniture shall remain Tenant's property and shall be
removed by Tenant upon
9
expiration of the Term, or earlier termination of this Lease. Upon Landlord's
prior written approval, Tenant may make structural alterations and may also
install temporary improvements in the Improvements, provided that such temporary
improvements are installed and are removable without damage to the structure of
the Building. Such temporary improvements shall remain the property of Tenant
and shall be removed by Tenant upon expiration of the Term, or earlier
termination of this Lease, unless Tenant is then in default hereunder in which
event Landlord hereby is granted a security interest in such property of Tenant
to secure the performance of Tenant's obligations hereunder. Tenant sill repair,
at its sole expense, all damage caused by the installation or removal of trade
fixtures, equipment, furniture or temporary improvements. If Tenant fails to
remove the foregoing items on termination of this Lease, Landlord may keep and
use them or remove any or all of them and cause them to be stored or sold in
accordance with applicable law. Landlord may require Tenant to execute on demand
any reasonable security agreement or UCC-I form to evidence said security
interest.
ARTICLE I
UTILITIES AND EASE
I-1. UTILITIES. Tenant shall be solely responsible for and pro pay all charges
for beat, water, gas, electricity, sewage disposal, telephone, and any other
utilities used or consume n the Demised Premises. Landlord shall not be liable
to Tenant for interruption in or curtailment of any utility service, unless
grossly negligent nor shall any such interruption or curtailment constitute a
constructive eviction or grounds for rental abatement in whole or in part
hereunder.
I-2. EASEMENTS. Landlord reserves the right to grant easements on the Parcel,
make boundary adjustments to the Parcel and dedicate for public use portions of
the parcel without Tenant's consent provided that no such grant or dedication
shall interfere with Tenant's use of the Demised Premises or otherwise cause
Tenant to incur cost or expense. From time to time upon Landlord's demand,
Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord in accordance with
Landlord's instructions any and all documents or instruments necessary to effect
Tenant's covenants herein.
ARTICLE J
USE OF PREMISES
J-1. GENERAL. The Demised Premises shall be used for the uses consistent with
the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and any supplement thereto. Tenant
shall, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, comply with all of the requirements of
the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, municipal, county, state, federal
and other applicable governmental authorities, now in force, or which may
hereafter be in force, pertaining to the Demised Premises shall not permit
outside storage, fences, heavy machinery of a pounding or vibrating nature, or
dumping of waste or refuse nor permit any harmful materials to be placed in any
drainage system or sanitary system, and shall secure all necessary permits for
the use of the Demised Premises and shall faithfully observe, in the use of the
Demised Premises, all municipal and county ordinances and state and federal
statutes now in force, or which may hereafter be in force. Tenant shall obtain,
at its expense, any required certificate of occupancy with respect to its use of
the Demised Premises
10
within thirty (30) days from the commencement of the Term hereof and shall
deliver a copy thereof to Landlord within said thirty (30) day period. Tenant in
its use and occupancy of the Demised Premises shall not commit waste, nor
overload the walls, ceilings, roof, floors or structure, nor subject the Demised
Premises to -any use which would tend to damage any portion thereof, nor permit
any nuisance therein or thereupon such as offensive sound, light, or odor.
J-2. HAZARDOUS WASTE.
(a) Tenant shall not spill, introduce, discharge or bury any toxic
chemical, substance or contaminant of any kind in, on, or under the Premises or
any portion thereof, or permit the discharge thereof into the sanitary or storm
sewer or water systems serving the Premises, or into any municipal or other
governmental water system or storm and/or sanitary sewer system without first
obtaining the written consent of Landlord (which may be withheld in Landlord's
sole and absolute discretion), and in any event without first obtaining the
written license, permit or other approval of all governmental agencies having
jurisdiction thereover. In any event, Tenant shall employ all safeguards and
procedures necessary or appropriate to protect such systems from contamination.
Tenant shall be solely responsible, at its expense, for the control and proper
handling of any toxic chemicals or other substances used or stored on the
Premises in connection with Tenant's business conducted therein. Tenant shall
undertake, at its expense, any necessary and/or appropriate clean-up process in
connection with any breach of the foregoing covenant, and without limiting
Tenant's other indemnity or insurance obligations under this Lease, Tenant shall
indemnify and hold harmless Landlord from and against all liability, whether
direct, indirect, consequential or otherwise, arising from any incident or
occurrence on or about the Premises attributable in whole or in part to Tenant
and pertaining to tonics. The obligation of Tenant under this paragraph,
including expressly but without limitation the foregoing indemnity, shall
survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease, anything to the
contrary contained herein notwithstanding.
(b) For purposes of this Section 1-2 and the indemnification herein
provided, "Hazardous Materials" includes, without limitation, any flammable
explosives, radioactive materials, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes,
hazardous or toxic substances or related materials defined in the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42
U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq. the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act as
amended (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq. and in the regulations adopted and
publications promulgated pursuant thereto, and any other present or future
federal, state or local and governmental law, ordinance, rule or regulations.
J-3. SIGNS. Any sign placed or erected by Tenant on the Demised Premises, except
in the interior of the Improvements, shall contain only Tenant's name or the
name of any affiliate of Tenant actually occupying the Demised Premises, and no
advertising matter. No such sign shall be erected until Tenant has obtained
Landlord's written approval of the location, material, size, design, and content
thereof and any necessary permit therefor. Tenant shall remove any such sign
upon termination of this Lease and shall return the Demised Premises to their
condition prior to the placement or erection of said sign.
11
ARTICLE K
DAMAGE BY FIRE OR OTHER CASUALTY
K-1. FIRE DAMAGE. It is understood and agreed that if the premises hereby Leased
be damaged or destroyed in whole or in part by fire or other casualty during the
term hereof, the Landlord will repair and restore the same to good tenantable
condition with reasonable dispatch after receipt by Landlord of insurance
proceeds, and that the rent herein provided for shall abate entirely in case the
entire premises are untenantable and pro rata for the portion rendered
untenantable, in case a part only is untenantable, until the same shall be
restored to a tenantable condition; provided, however, that if the Tenant shall
fail to adjust his own insurance or to remove his damaged goods, wares,
equipment or property within a reasonable time, and as a result thereof the
repairing and restoration is delayed, there shall be no abatement of rental
during the period of such resulting delay, and provided further that there shall
be no abatement of rental if such fire or other cause damaging or destroying the
lease premises shall result from the negligence or willful act of the Tenant,
his agents or employees, and provided further that if the Tenant shall use any
part of the leased premises for storage during the period of repair a reasonable
charge shall be made therefor against the Tenant, and provided further that in
case the lease premises, or the building of which they are a part, shall be
destroyed to the extent of more than one-half of the value thereof, the Landlord
may, at his option, terminate this Lease forthwith by a written notice to the
Tenant.
ARTICLE L
EMINENT DOMAIN
L-1. TAKING OF BUILDING. In the event, during the term of this Lease,
proceedings shall be instituted under the power of eminent domain which shall
result in the taking of any part of the building on the leased premises, or the
taking of a portion of the parking area if the dumber of spaces is thereby
reduced to such an extent that Tenants business is significantly and adversely
affected, and which shall result in an eviction total or partial of the Tenant
therefrom then at the time of such eviction, this Lease shall be void and the
term above demised shall cease and terminate; and if Tenant shall thereafter
continue possession of the premises or any part thereof, it shall be a lease
from month to month and for no longer term, anything in this instrument to the
contrary notwithstanding. If there is only a partial taking, not including a
portion of the building or reducing parking to the extent described in the
previous sentence, the Landlord shall restore the premises to the extent
necessary to permit Tenant to continue its use of the premises. Provided,
further, that the whole of any award for any portion of the leased premises
taken by reason of said condemnation proceedings shall be solely the property of
and payable to the Landlord; and provided further, that the whole of any award
for removal and relocation expenses in any such condemnation proceedings shall
be the sole property of, and be payable to the Tenant. It is further agreed that
in any such condemnation proceedings the Landlord and Tenant shall each seek its
own award and at its own expense.
12
ARTICLE M
BANKRUPTCY OR INSOLVENCY
M-1. CONDITIONS TO THE ASSUMPTION AND ASSIGNMENT OF THIS LEASE UNDER CHAPTER 7
OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. In the event that Tenant shall become a Debtor under
Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, and the Trustee or Tenant shall elect to
assume this Lease for the purpose of assigning the same or otherwise, such
election and assignment may only be made if all of the terms and conditions of
M-3 and M-4, hereof are satisfied. If such Trustee shall fail to elect to assume
this Lease within sixty (60) days after the filing of the Petition, this Lease
shall be deemed to have been rejected. Landlord shall be thereupon immediately
entitled to possession of the Demised Premises without further obligation to
Tenant or the Trustee, and this Lease shall be canceled, but Landlord's right to
be compensated for damages in such liquidation proceedings shall survive.
M-2. CONDITIONS TO THE ASSUMPTION OF THIS LEASE IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS. In
the event that a Petition for reorganization or adjustment of debts is filed
concerning Tenant under Chapter 11 or 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, or a proceeding
is filed under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code and is transferred to Chapter 11
or 13, the Trustee or Tenant, as Debtor-In-Possession, must elect to assume this
Lease within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the filing of the
Petition under Chapter 11 or 13, or the Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession shall be
deemed to have rejected this Lease. No election by the Trustee or
Debtor-In-Possession to assume this Lease, whether under Chapter 7, 11 or 13,
shall be effective unless each of the following conditions, which Landlord and
Tenant acknowledge are commercially reasonable in the context of a bankruptcy
proceeding of Tenant, have been satisfied, and Landlord has so acknowledged in
writing.
(1) The Trustee or the Debtor-In-Possession has cured, or has provided
Landlord adequate assurance (as defined below) that:
(a) Within ten (10) days from the date of such assumption, the
Trustee will cure all monetary defaults under this Lease; and
(b) Within thirty (30) days from the date of such assumption,
the Trustee will cure all nonmonetary defaults under this Lease.
(2) The Trustee or the Debtor-In-Possession has compensated, or has
provided to Landlord adequate assurance (as defined below) that within ten (10)
days from the date of assumption Landlord will be compensated for any pecuniary
loss incurred by Landlord arising from the default of Tenant, the Trustee, or
the Debtor-In-Possession as recited in Landlord's written statement of pecuniary
loss sent to the Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession.
(3) The Trustee or the Debtor-In-Possession has provided Landlord with
adequate assurance of the future performance of each of Tenant's, the Trustee's
or Debtor-In-Possession's obligations under this Lease; provided, however, that:
(a) The Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession shall also deposit
with Landlord, as security for the timely payment of rent, an amount equal to
three (3) months rent; and
13
(b) The obligations imposed upon the Trustee or
Debtor-In-Possession shall continue with respect to Tenant or any assignee of
(his Lease after the completion of bankruptcy proceedings.
For the purpose of this Section M-2, Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that, in
the context of a bankruptcy proceeding of Tenant, at a minimum "adequate
assurance" shall mean:
(1) The Trustee or the Debtor-In-Possession has and will continue to
have sufficient Unencumbered assets after the payment of all secured obligations
and administrative expenses to assure Landlord that the Trustee or
Debtor-In-Possession will have sufficient funds to fulfill the obligations of
Tenant under this Lease.
(2) The Bankruptcy Court shall have entered an Order segregating
sufficient cash payable to Landlord and/or the Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession
shall have granted a valid and perfected first lien and security interest and/or
mortgage is property of Tenant, the Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession, acceptable
as to value and kind to Landlord, to secure to Landlord the obligation of the
Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession to cure the monetary and/or nonmonetary defaults
under this Lease within the time periods set forth above.
M-3. LANDLORD'S OPTION TO TERMINATE UPON SUBSEQUENT BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS OF
TENANT. In the event that this Lease is assumed by a Trustee appointed for
Tenant or by Tenant as Debtor-In-Possession under the provisions of Section M-2
hereof and thereafter Tenant is liquidated or files a subsequent Petition for
reorganization or adjustment of debts under Chapter 11 or 13 of the Bankruptcy
Code, then, and in either of such events, Landlord may, at its option, terminate
this (.ease and all rights of Tenant hereunder, by giving Tenant written notice
of its election to so terminate, within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of
either of such events.
M-4. CONDITIONS TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF THIS LEASE IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS. If
the Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession has assumed this Lease pursuant to the terms
and provisions of Sections M-1 and M-2 hereof, for the purpose of assigning (or
elects to assign) Tenant's interest under this Lease or the estate created
thereby, to any other person, suck interest or estate may be so assigned only if
Landlord shall acknowledge in writing that the intended assignee has provided
adequate assurance as defined in this Section M-4 of future performance of all
of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease to be performed by Tenant.
For purposes of this Section M-1, Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that, in the
context of a bankruptcy proceeding of Tenant, at minimum "adequate assurance of
future performance" shall mean that each of the following conditions have been
satisfied, and Landlord has so acknowledged in writing:
(a) The assignee has submitted a current financial statement audited by
a Certified Public Accountant which shows a net worth and working capital in
amounts determined to be sufficient by Landlord to assure the future performance
by such assignee of Tenant's obligations under this Lease.
(b) The assignee, if requested by Landlord, shall have obtained
guarantees in form and substance satisfactory to Landlord from one or more
persons who satisfy Landlord's standards of creditworthiness.
14
(c) The Landlord has obtained all consents or waivers from any third
party required under any lease, mortgage, financing arrangement or other
agreement by which Landlord is bound to permit Landlord to consent such
assignment.
M-5. USE AND OCCUPANCY CHARGES. When, pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, the
Trustee or Debtor-In-Possession shall be obligated to pay reasonable use and
occupancy charges for the use of the Demised Premises or any portion thereof,
such charges shall not be less than the minimum rent as defined in this Lease
and other monetary obligations of Tenant for the payment of maintenance, real
estate taxes, insurance and similar charges.
M-6. TENANT'S INTEREST NOT TRANSFERABLE BY VIRTUE OF STATE INSOLVENCY LAW
WITHOUT LANDLORDS CONSENT. Neither Tenant's interest in this Lease, nor any
lesser interest of Tenant herein, nor any estate of Tenant hereby created, shall
pass to any trustee, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, or any
other person or entity, or otherwise by operation of law under the laws of any
state having jurisdiction of the person unless Landlord shall consent to such
transfer in writing. No acceptance by Landlord of rent or any other payments
from any such trustee, receiver, assignee, person or other entity shall be
deemed to have waived nor shall it waive the need to obtain Landlord's consent
or Landlord's right to terminate this Lease for any transfer of Tenant's
interest under this Lease without such consent.
M-7. LANDLORD'S OPTION TO TERMINATE UPON INSOLVENCY OF TENANT OR GUARANTOR UNDER
STATE LAW OR UPON INSOLVENCY OF GUARANTOR UNDER FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY CODE. In the
event the estate of Tenant created hereby shall be taken in execution or by the
process of law, or if any Tenant or Tenant's Guarantor shall be adjudicated
insolvent pursuant to the provisions of any present or future insolvency law
under state law, or if any proceedings are filed by or against the Guarantor
under the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar provisions of any future federal
bankruptcy law, or if a Receiver or Trustee of the property of Tenant, or the
Guarantor shall be appointed under state law by reason of Tenant's or the
Guarantor's insolvency or inability to pay its debts as they become due or
otherwise, or if any assignment shall be made of Tenant's or the Guarantor's
property for the benefit of creditors under state law; then and in such event
Landlord may, at its option, terminate this Lease and all rights of Tenant
hereunder by giving Tenant written notice of the election to so terminate within
thirty (30) days after occurrence of such event.
ARTICLE N
DEFAULT OF TENANT
N-1. RIGHT TO RE-ENTER. In the event of any failure of Tenant to pay any rental
due hereunder within ten (10) days after the same shall be due, or any failure
to perform any other of the terms, conditions or covenants of this Leas* to be
observed or performed by Tenant for more than thirty (30) days after written
notice of such default shall have been mailed to Tenant, or if Tenant or
guarantor shall become bankrupt or insolvent, or file any debtor proceedings, or
take or have taken against Tenant or guarantor to any court pursuant to any
statute either of the United States or any State a petition in bankruptcy or
insolvency or for reorganization or for the appointment of a receiver of trustee
of all or a portion of Tenant's or guarantor's property, or if Tenant or
guarantor makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or petitions for or
enters into an
15
arrangement, or if Tenant shall abandon the Demised Premises, or suffer this
Lease to be taken under any writ of execution, then Landlord, besides other
rights or remedies it may have, shall have the immediate right of re-entry and
may remove all persons and property from the Demised Premises and such property
may be removed and stored in a public warehouse or elsewhere at the cost of, and
for the account of Tenant, all without service of notice or resort to legal
process and without being deemed guilty of trespass, or become liable for any
loss or damage which may be occasioned thereby.
N-2. RIGHT TO RELET. Should Landlord elect to re-enter, as herein provided, or
should it take possession pursuant to legal proceedings or pursuant to any
notice provided for by law, it may either terminate this Lease or it may from
time to time without terminating this Lease, make such alterations and repairs
as may be necessary in order to relet the Demised Premises, and relet said
premises or any part thereof, for such term or terms (which may be for a term
extending beyond the term of this Lease) and at such rental or rentals and upon
such other terms and conditions as Landlord, in its sole discretion, may deem
advisable; upon each such reletting all rentals received by Landlord from such
reletting shall be applied, first, to the payment of any indebtedness, other
than rent due hereunder from Tenant, to Landlord; second to the payment of any
costs and expenses of such reletting, including brokerage fees and attorney's
fees and of costs of such alterations and repairs; third to the payment of rent
due and unpaid hereunder, and the residue, if any, shall be held by Landlord and
applied in payment of future rent as the same may become due and payable
hereunder. If such rentals received from such reletting during any month be less
than that to be paid during that month by Tenant hereunder, or if Landlord does
not relet the Demised Premises, Tenant shall pay any such rental deficiency to
Landlord. Such deficiency shall be calculated and paid monthly. No such re-entry
or taking possession of said premises by Landlord shall be construed as an
election on its part to terminate this Lease, unless a written notice of such
intention be given to Tenant or unless the termination thereof be determined by
a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any such reletting without
termination, Landlord may at any time thereafter elect to terminate this Lease
for such previous breach. Should Landlord at any time terminate this Lease for
any breach, in addition to any other remedies it may have, it may recover from
Tenant all damages it may incur by reason of such breach, including the cost of
recovering the Demised Premises, reasonable attorney fees incidental thereto and
including the work at the time of such termination of the excess, if any, of the
amount of the rent and charges equivalent to the rent reserved in this Lease for
the remainder of the stated term over the then reasonable rental value of the
Demised Premises for the remainder of the stated term, all of which amounts
shall be immediately due and payable by Tenant hereunder.
N-3. CURING OF TENANT'S DEFAULT BY LANDLORD. Notwithstanding anything herein
contained to the contrary, if Tenant shall be in default in the performance of
any of the terms or provisions of this Lease and if Landlord shall give to
Tenant notice in writing of such default, and if Tenant shall fail to cure such
default within the time provided under Section N-1 hereof, or immediately, if
such default requires emergency action, Landlord may, in addition to its other
legal and equitable remedies, cure such default for the account of and at the
cost and expense of Tenant and the sums so expended by Landlord shall be deemed
to be additional rent and shall be paid by Tenant on the day when rent shall
next become due and payable.
16
ARTICLE O
ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING
O-1. PROHIBITION. Tenant shall not assign, mortgage, pledge or otherwise
transfer this Lease, in whole or in part, nor sublet or permit occupancy by any
party other than Tenant of all or any part of the Demised Premises, without the
prior written consent of Landlord in each instance. Any purported assignment or
subletting contrary to the provisions hereof without consent shall be void. The
consent by Landlord to any assignment or subletting shall not constitute a
waiver of the necessity for such consent to any subsequent assignment or
subletting. As Additional Rent hereunder, Tenant shall reimburse landlord for
reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by Landlord in connection with any
request by Tenant for consent to assignment or subletting.
O-2. LANDLORD'S OPTION.
(a) SUBLESSEE OR ASSIGNEE DATA. In connection with any proposed
assignment or sublease, Tenant shall submit to Landlord in writing (i) the name
of the proposed assignee or sublessee; (ii) such information as to its financial
responsibility and standing as Landlord may reasonably require; and (iii) all of
the terms and conditions upon which the proposed assignment or subletting is to
he made. Landlord shall have an option to cancel and terminate this Lease, if
the request is to assign the Lease or to sublet all of the Demised Premises; or,
if the request is to sublet a portion of the Demised Premises only to cancel and
terminate this Lease with respect to such portion. Landlord may exercise said
option in writing within thirty (30) days after its receipt from Tenant of such
request, and in each case such cancellation or termination shall occur as of the
date set forth in Landlord's notice of exercise of such option, which shall be
not less than sixty (60) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days following
the giving of such notice.
(b) CANCELLATION. If Landlord shall exercise its option, Tenant shall
surrender possession of the entire Demised Premises, or the portion thereof
which is the subject of the option, as the case may be, on the date set forth in
such notice in accordance with the provisions of this Lease relating to
surrender of the Demised Premises at the expiration of the Term. If this Lease
is canceled as to a portion of the Demised Premises only, the Fixed Rate after
the date of cancellation than be reduced as reasonably determined by Landlord.
(c) NONCANCELLATION. If Landlord does not exercise its option to cancel
this Lease pursuant to the foregoing provisions, Landlord may withhold its
consent to such assignment or subletting, as long as the withholding is not done
unreasonably.
(d) ASSUMPTION. No assignment shall be binding upon Landlord, any
ground lessor or any mortgagee, unless Tenant shall deliver to Landlord an
assignment in recordable form which contains an assumption by the assignee, but
the failure or refusal of the assignee to execute such instrument or assumption
shall not release or discharge assignee from liability as Tenant hereunder,
provided that the terms and provisions of the assignment or subletting shall
specifically make applicable to the assignee or sublessee all of the provisions
of this Lease.
(e) INDUCEMENT. Tenant understands and acknowledges that the option to
terminate this Lease rather than approve the assignment thereof, or the
subletting of all or a portion of the
17
Demised Premises, as provided in this Section 0-2, is a material inducement for
Landlord's agreeing to lease the Demised Premises to Tenant upon the terms and
conditions herein set forth.
O-3. EXCESS SUBLEASE RENTAL OR ASSIGNMENT CONSIDERATION. If for any sublease or
assignment, Tenant receives rent or other consideration (to include cash payment
for assignment, etc.), either initially or over the term of the sublease or
assignment, in excess of the Rent called for hereunder, or in the case of the
sublease of a portion of the Demised Premises, in excess of such Rent fairly
allocable to such portion, after appropriate adjustments to assure that all
other payments called for hereunder are appropriately taken into account, Tenant
shall pay to Landlord, as Additional Rent hereunder, the excess of such payment
of rent or other consideration received by Tenant promptly after its receipt.
O-4. SCOPE. The prohibition against assigning or subletting contained in this
Article 0 shall be construed to include a prohibition against any assignment or
subletting by operation of law. If this Lease be assigned, or if the underlying
beneficial interest of Tenant be transferred, or if the Demised Premises or any
part thereof be sublet or occupied by anybody other than Tenant, Landlord may
collect rent from the assignee, subtenant or occupant and apply the net amount
collected to the Rent herein reserved and apportion any excess rent so collected
in accordance with the terms of Section 0-3 hereof, but rip such assignment,
subletting, occupancy or collection shall be deemed a waiver of this covenant,
or the acceptance of the assignee, subtenant or occupant as tenant, or a release
of Tenant from the further performance by Tenant of covenants on the part of
Tenant herein contained. No assignment of subletting shall affect the continuing
primary liability of Tenant (which, following assignment, shall be joint and
several with the assignee), and Tenant shall not be released from performing any
of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease.
O-5. WAIVER. Notwithstanding any assignment or sublease, or any indulgences,
waivers or extensions of time granted by Landlord to any assignee or sublessee,
or failure by Landlord to take action against any assignee or sublessee, Tenant
waives notice of any default of any assignee of sublessee and agrees that
Landlord may, at its option, proceed against Tenant without having taken action
against or joined such assignee or sublessee, except that Tenant shall have the
benefit of any indulgences, waivers and extensions of time granted to any suck
assignee or sublessee.
O-6. RELEASE. Whenever Landlord conveys its interest in the Parcel, Landlord
shall be automatically released from the further performance of covenants on the
part of Landlord herein contained, and from any and all further liability,
obligations, costs and expenses, demands, causes of action, claims or judgments
arising from or growing out of, or connected with this Lease after the effective
date of said release. The effective date of said release shall be the date the
assignee executes an assumption of such an assignment whereby the assignee
expressly agrees to assume all Landlord's obligations, duties. responsibilities
and liabilities with respect to this Lease. If requested, Tenant shall execute a
form of release and such other documentation as may be required to further
affect the provision of this Section.
18
ARTICLE P
OFFSET STATEMENT, ATTORNMENT AND SUBORDINATION
P-1. OFFSET STATEMENT. Within ten (10) days after request therefor by Landlord,
or, if on any sale, assignment or hypothecation by Landlord of its interest in
the Parcel or the Building, an offset statement shall be required from Tenant.
Tenant shall deliver. in recordable form, a certificate to any proposed
mortgagee or purchaser or to Landlord, certifying (if such be the case) that
this Lease is in full force and effect, the date of Tenant's most recent payment
of Rent, and that there are no defenses or offsets outstanding, or stating those
claimed by Tenant. Tenant's failure to deliver said statement in time shall be
conclusive upon Tenant that: (a) this Lease is in full force and effect, without
modification accept as may be represented by Landlord, (b) there are no uncured
defaults in Landlord's performance and Tenant has no right of offset,
counterclaim or deduction against Rent hereunder, and (c) no more than one
Rental Period's Fixed Rent has been paid in advance.
P-2. ATTORNMENT. Tenant shall, in the event any proceedings are brought for the
foreclosure of, or in the event of exercise of the power of sale under, any
mortgage or deed of trust made by the Landlord, its successors or assigns,
encumbering the Demised Premises, or any part thereof, or in the event of
termination of the ground lease, if any, and if so requested, attorn to the
purchaser upon such foreclosure or sale or upon any grant of a deed in lieu of
foreclosure and recognize such purchaser as the Landlord under this Lease.
P-3. SUBORDINATION. The rights of Tenant hereunder shall be at the election of
any mortgagee encumbering the Demised Premises, subject and subordinate to the
lien of any mortgage or mortgages, or the lien resulting from any other method
of financing or refinancing now or hereafter in force against the Parcel, and to
all advances made or hereafter to be made upon the security thereof; provided,
however, that, notwithstanding such subordination, so long as the Tent herein is
not in default under any of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease,
neither this Lease nor any of the rights of Tenant hereunder, upon Tenant's
covenanting that Tenant is not in default hereunder, shall be terminated or
subject to termination by any trustee's sale, by any action to enforce the
security, or by any proceeding or action in foreclosure. If requested, Tenant
agrees to execute whatever documentation may be required to further affect the
provisions of this Section P-3, and hereby irrevocably appoints Landlord the
attorney's fact of Tenant to execute in compliance with Section O-3 and deliver
any such instrument or instruments for and in the name of the Tenant.
ARTICLE Q
NOTICES
All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and mailed
postage prepaid by certified or registered mail. return receipt requested, or by
personal delivery, to the addresses indicated in Subsection A- I (M) and A- I
(N), or at such other place or places as either Landlord or Tenant may, from
time to time, respectively, designate m a written notice given to the other.
Notices shall be deemed sufficiently served four (4) days after the date of
mailing thereof.
19
ARTICLE R
MISCELLANEOUS
R-1. WAIVER. No waiver of any default or breach of any covenant by either party
hereunder shall be implied from any omission by either party to take action on
account of such default if such default persists or is repeated, and no express
waiver shall affect any default other than the default specified in the waiver,
and then said waiver shall be operative only for the time and to the extent
therein stated. Waivers of any covenant, term or condition. The consent or
approval by either party to or of any act by either party requiring further
consent or approval shall not be deemed to waive or render unnecessary their
consent or approval to or of any subsequent similar acts.
R-2. ACCORD AND SATISFACTION. No payment by Tenant or receipt by Landlord of a
lesser amount than the Rent payment herein stipulated shall be deemed to be
other than on account of the Rent, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any
check or any letter accompanying any check or payment as Rent be deemed in
accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept such check or payment without
prejudice to Landlord's right to recover the balance of such Rent or pursue any
other remedy provided in this Lease.
R-3. INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY. Anything in this Lease to the contrary
notwithstanding, Tenant agrees that the obligations of Landlord under this Lease
do not constitute personal obligations of the individual partners, directors,
officers, or shareholders of Landlord. and Tenant shall look solely to the real
estate that is the subject of this Lease subject to prior rights of mortgagee
and to no other assets of the Landlord for satisfaction of any liability in
respect of this Lease and will not seek recourse against the individual
partners, directors, officers or shareholders of Landlord or any of their
personal assets for such satisfaction.
R-4. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Lease sets forth all the covenants, promises,
agreements, conditions and understandings between Landlord and Tenant concerning
the Demised Premises, and there are no covenants, promises, agreements,
conditions or understandings, either oral or written, between them other than'
as are herein set forth. Except, as herein otherwise provided, no subsequent
alteration, amendment, change or addition to this Lease shall be binding upon
Landlord of Tenant unless reduced to writing and signed by them.
R-5. TIME. Time is of the essence hereof.
R-6. SHORT FORM LEASE. Concurrently herewith the parties may, at the option of
either party, execute a short form of Lease for recording. This Lease and any
such short form of Lease shall be construed together as one instrument. Neither
Landlord nor Tenant shall record this Lease nor permit the same to be recorded
without the written consent of the other, but shall have the right to record any
such short form.
R-7. PROFESSIONAL FEES. Tenant shall reimburse Landlord, upon demand, for any
costs or expenses incurred by Landlord in connection with any breach or default
of Tenant under this Lease, whether or not suit is commenced or judgment
entered. Such costs shall include professional fees such as accountants' fees,
appraisers' fees and attorneys' fees and costs incurred for the negotiation of a
settlement, enforcement of rights or otherwise. Furthermore, if
20
any action for breach of or to enforce the provisions of this Lease is
commenced, the court in such action shall award to the party in whose favor a
judgment is entered, the prevailing party's actual professional fees such as
accountants' fees, appraisers' fees and attorneys' fees and costs. Such
professional fees and costs shall be paid by the losing party in such action.
Tenant shall also indemnify Landlord against and hold Landlord harmless from all
costs, expenses, demands and liability incurred by Landlord if Landlord becomes
or is made a party to any claim or action (a) instituted by Tenant, or by any
third party against Tenant, or by or against any person holding any interest
under or using the Demised Premises by license of or agreement with Tenant; (b)
for foreclosure of any lien for labor or material furnished to or for Tenant or
such other person; (c) otherwise arising out of or resulting from any act or
transaction of Tenant or such other person; or (d) necessary to protect
Landlord's interest under this Lease in a bankruptcy proceedings under Title 11
of the United States Code, as amended. Tenant shall defend Landlord against any
suck claim or action at Tenant's expense with counsel reasonably acceptable to
Landlord or, at Landlord's election, Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for
Landlord's actual professional fees such as accountants' fees, appraisers' fees
and attorneys' fees or costs incurred by Landlord in any such claim or action.
R-8. CAPTIONS AND SECTION NUMBERS. The caption, section numbers, article numbers
and table of contents appearing in this Lease are inserted only as a matter of
convenience and in no way define, limit, construe or describe the scope or
intent of such sections or articles of this Lease nor in any way affect this
Lease.
R-9. SEVERABILITY. If any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Lease,
or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall to any extent be
held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable,
the remainder of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of this Lease,
or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated
thereby.
R-10. APPLICABLE LAW. This Lease, and the rights and obligations of the parties
hereto, shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the state
in which tile Demised Premises are located.
R-11. EXAMINATION OF LEASE. Submission of this instrument for examination or
signature by Tenant does not constitute a reservation of or option to Lease, and
it is not effective as a Lease or otherwise until execution and delivery by both
Landlord and Tenant.
R-12. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. At any time during the term of the Lease, Tenant
shall, upon ten (10) days prior written notice from Landlord, provide Landlord,
Landlord's lenders or-any prospective purchaser of tile Building or ]Parcel with
a current financial and financial statements for each of the two years prior to
the current financial statement year. Such statements shall be prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, if such is the
normal practice of tenant, shall be audited by an independent certified public
accountant.
R-13. SECURITY MEASURES. Tenant acknowledges that Rent payable to Landlord does
not include the cost of guard service or other security measures, and the
Landlord has no obligation
21
to provide such services or measures. Tenant assumes all responsibility for the
security of the Demised Premises and of Tenant, its agents or invitees.
R-14. LENDER'S REQUIREMENTS. Tenant hereby agrees to make any reasonable
revisions to this Lease which may be required in good faith by a bona fide
construction, interim or permanent lender in connection with the financing of
all or any portion of the Building or the Parcel, provided that no such revision
shall increase rental due and payable by Tenant under this Lease.
R-15. SECURITY DEPOSIT. Tenant has deposited with Landlord the Security Deposit
set forth in Section A-1 (i) above as security for Tenant's faithful performance
of Tenant's obligations hereunder. If Tenant fails to pay Rent or other charges
due hereunder. or otherwise defaults with respect to any provision of this
Lease. Landlord may use, apply or retain all or any portion of said Security
Deposit for the payment of any Rent or other charge in default or for the
payment of any other sum to which Landlord may become obligated by reason of
Tenant's default or to compensate Landlord for any loss or damage which Landlord
may suffer thereby. If Landlord so uses or applies all or any portion of said
Security Deposit, Tenant shall, within ten (10) days after written demand
therefore, deposit cash with Landlord in an amount sufficient to restore said
Security Deposit to the full amount stated m Section A-1 (i) hereinabove. The
Tenant's failure to do so shall be a material breach of this Lease. Landlord
shall not be required to keep said Security Deposit separate from its general
accounts. If Tenant performs all of Tenant's obligations hereunder, said
Security Deposit, or so much thereof as has not theretofore been applied by
Landlord, shall be returned, without payment of interest or other increment for
its use, to Tenant (or at Landlord's option to the last assignee of any of
Tenant's interest hereunder) at the expiration of the Term hereof, and after
Tenant has vacated the Demised Premises. If the Fixed Rent shall increase, for
any reason, and at any time during the Term of this Lease, Tenant shall
thereupon deposit with Landlord an addition to the Security Deposit so that the
total Security Deposit held by Landlord shall at all times bear the same
proportion to the current Fixed Rent as the original Security Deposit bears to
the original Fixed Rent.
R-16. ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES. Tenant shall pay to Landlord an overall
administrative charge of ten percent (10 %) of any charge which Tenant is
obligated to pay under this Lease and which Tenant fails to pay after notice
from Landlord and which Landlord pays on behalf of Tenant and for which Landlord
subsequently bills Tenant.
R-17. GUARANTORS. In consideration of the letting of the Premises in this Lease
to Tenant and the payment of One ($1.00) Dollar, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned guarantor(s) do hereby jointly and
severally become surety for the punctual payment of the rent and performance of
the covenants in said instrument mentioned, to be paid and performed by the
Tenant therein; and if any default shall at any time be made therein, the
guarantor(s) do hereby jointly and severally promise and agree to pay unto the
Landlord the said rent and arrears thereof that may be due, and fully satisfy
the condition of said instrument, and all damages that may occur be reason of
the nonfulfillment thereof, without requiring notice or proof of the demand
being made. The Landlord shall not be held to strict construction adopted in
eases of principal and surety. The surety shall not have the right to claim
discharge, or plead by way of defense any extension of time given by the
Landlord, failure of the Landlord to give notice of default, receipt by the
Landlord of securities from the Tenant, failure of the Landlord to pursue the
Tenant and his property with due diligence or to apply other remedies and other
22
securities which may possibly be available to the Landlord by any direct
release, unless it be in writing duly authorized and executed.
R-18. LATE PAYMENTS. If Tenant shall fail to pay before tenth (10th) day after
such Minimum Rent or Additional Rent is due and payable, Tenant agrees to pay
each day after such tenth (10th) day that the rent remains unpaid a charge (the
"Late Charge") which shall be the greater of $50.00 per day or 5% of the amount
of such unpaid rent divided by 30. The Late Charge shall accrue daily until the
unpaid rent (including the Late Charge), is paid. Tenant agrees that such
amounts are not a penalty, but are a reasonable amount to reimburse Landlord for
the loss of the use of the funds and the additional administrative costs
resulting from late payments.
R-19. HOLDING OVER. If Tenant retains possession of the Demised Premises or any
part thereof after the termination of this Lease, Tenant shall pay as rent a sum
equal to 150% of the amount, including Minimum Rent, additional rent and any
other charges hereunder, payable for the month preceding such holding over
computed on a daily basis for each day the Tenant remains in possession. In
addition thereto, Tenant shall be liable for and shall pay to Landlord, all
damages, consequential as well as direct, sustained by reason of Tenant's
holding over period. In the event that Tenant remains in possession without
executing a new lease, it will be deemed to be occupying the Demised Premises as
a Tenant from month-to-month, subject to all the provisions of this Lease to the
extent that they can be applicable to a month-to-month tenancy and except as
otherwise provided in this section.
R-20. REPRESENTATIONS BY LANDLORD. Except as expressly stated in this Lease,
Landlord makes no representations with respect to the Demised Premises or the
building and by taking possession of the Demised Premises, Tenant will be deemed
to have accepted the Demised Premises in the condition then existing. Neither
Landlord nor Landlord's agents have made any representations or promises with
respect to the physical condition of the building, the land, the Demised
Premises, the permissible uses of the Demised Premises, the rent, lease,
expenses of operation or any other matter or thing affecting or related to the
Demised Premises except as herein expressly set forth, and no rights, easements
or licenses are acquired by Tenant by implication or otherwise, except as
expressly set forth in the provisions of this Lease.
R-21. Landlord hereby discloses to Tenant that the managing partner of Landlord
is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Michigan.
R-22. AUTHORITY. If Tenant is a corporation, trust, or general or limited
partnership, Tenant shall, prior to the commencement of the Term of the Lease
but in no event later than thirty (30) days after execution of this Lease
deliver to Landlord satisfactory evidence of the authority of each individual
executing this Lease on behalf of such entity.
R-23. LANDLORD'S ACCESS. Landlord and Landlord's agents shall have the right to
enter the Demised Premises at reasonable times with reasonable advance notice
for the purpose of inspecting the same, showing the same to prospective
purchasers or lenders and making such alterations, repairs, improvements or
additions to the Demised Premises as Landlord may deem reasonably necessary a
desirable. Landlord may at any time during the last one hundred twenty (120)
days of the Term of this Lease place on or about the Demised Premises any
ordinary "For Sale" or "For Lease" signs all without rebate of rent or liability
to Tenant.
23
ARTICLE S
SUCCESSORS BOUND
This Lease and each of its covenants and conditions shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and legal representatives and their respective assigns, subject to
the provisions hereof. Whenever in this Lease a reference is made to the
Landlord, such reference shall be deemed to refer to the person in whom the
interest of the Landlord shall be vested, and Landlord shall have no obligation
hereunder as to any claim arising after the transfer of its interest in the
Parcel. Any successor or assignee of the Tenant who accepts an assignment of or
the benefit of this Lease and enters into possession or enjoyment thereunder
shall thereby assume and agree to perform and be bound by the covenants and
conditions thereof. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed in any manner to
give a right of assignment to Tenant without the written consent of Landlord.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lease as of the date first
above written.
LANDLORD:
___________________________ WARREN TROY INVESTMENTS, a Michigan
(Date of Execution) Co-Partnership
___________________________ By: _____________________________
Witness David G. Miles
Its: Managing Partner
TENANT:
___________________________ ASSET ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION, a
(Date of Execution) Michigan Corporation
___________________________ By: _____________________________
Witness
Its: President
24
GUARANTORS:
___________________________ LEE ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION, a Michigan
(Date of Execution) Corporation
FINANCIAL CREDIT CORPORATION, a Michigan
Corporation
By: _______________________________
Its: _______________________________
CITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Michigan
Corporation
By: _______________________________
Its: _______________________________
25
RIDER ATTACHED HERETO and made a part hereof of a Lease dated June 1, 1999
between WARREN TROY ASSOCIATES, a Michigan Co-Partnership, as Landlord, and
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION, a Michigan Corporation, as Tenant covering the
premises commonly known as 7027 Miller Rd., Warren, Michigan.
1. OPTION TO RENEW:
So long as Tenant is not in default of the terms and conditions of the Lease
herein, Tenant shall have the option of renewing this Lease for an additional
five (5) years commencing at the expiration of the original lease term on the
same terms and conditions as provided herein, save and except that the Rent for
the renewal term shall be as follows:
Tenant shall notify Landlord in writing one hundred eighty (180) days prior to
the expiration of the original term herein of its intent to renew the Lease.
2. Whenever Landlord's consent is required, Landlord agrees to not unreasonably
withhold such consent.
LANDLORD: WITNESS:
WARREN TROY INVESTMENTS, a
Michigan Co-Partnership
By: ___________________________
David G. Miles _____________________________
Its: Managing Partner
TENANT:
WARREN TROY INVESTMENTS, a
Michigan Co-Partnership
By: ___________________________
Its: ___________________________
26
10/20/03
EXHIBIT 10.9
INDUSTRIAL
LEASE AGREEMENT
THIS LEASE is executed this _____ day of _____________, 2000, by and
between DUKE-WEEKS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, an Indiana limited partnership
("Landlord"), and ASSET ACCEPTANCE CORP., a Michigan corporation ("Tenant").
WITNESSETH:
ARTICLE 1 - LEASE OF PREMISES
Section 1.01. Basic Lease Provisions and Definitions.
A. Leased Premises (shown outlined on Exhibit A attached hereto): 563 Lake
Kathy Drive, Brandon, Florida 33610 (the "Building"); located in
Regency Corporate Park (the "Park");
B. Rentable Area: approximately 10,000 square feet
The rentable square footage of the Leased Premises shall be subject to
final measurement based on the 1996 ANSI Standard Method of
Measurements adopted by BOMA. Landlord's determination of Rentable Area
using BOMA guidelines shall be deemed correct for all purposes
hereunder.
C. Tenant's Proportionate Share: 17.2%;
D. Minimum Annual Rent:
Year 1 $ 86,250.00 per year (nine months of rental)
Year 2 $118,450.00 per year
Year 3 $122,000.00 per year
Year 4 $125,700.00 per year
Year 5 $129,400.00 per year
Year 6 $133,300.00 per year
(Rent does not include applicable Florida State Sales Tax or Additional
Rent)
E. Monthly Rental Installments:
Months 01 -- 03 Abatement of Monthly Rental Installments
Months 04 -- 12 $ 9,583.33 per month
Months 13 -- 24 $ 9,870.83 per month
Months 25 -- 36 $10,166.66 per month
Months 37 -- 48 $10,475.00 per month
Months 49 -- 60 $10,783.33 per month
Months 61 -- 72 $11,108.33 per month
(Rent does not include applicable Florida State Sales Tax or Additional
Rent)
F. Intentionally deleted;
G. Lease Term: Six (6) years and zero (0) months;
H. Commencement Date: December 15, 2000;
I. Security Deposit: $11,858.14;
J. Guarantor(s): AAC Holding Corp.;
K. Broker(s): Carter & Associates, LLC, LC d/b/a Carter L.C. representing
Tenant;
L. Permitted Use: General office, warehousing and related purposes;
M. Address for notices:
Landlord: Duke-Weeks Realty Limited Partnership
10150 Highland Manor Drive, Suite 150
Tampa, FL 33610
With a copy to: Duke-Weeks Realty Limited Partnership
4497 Park Drive
Norcross, Georgia 30093
Attn: Legal Department
Tenant: Asset Acceptance Corp.
6985 Miller Road
Warren, MI 48092
(800) 505-5166
Attn: Mark Redman, VP - Finance
Exhibit "A": Site plan of Leased Premises
Exhibit "B": Tenant Improvements
Exhibit "C": Letter of Understanding
Exhibit "D": Special Stipulations
Section 1.02. Leased Premises. Landlord hereby leases to Tenant and
Tenant leases from Landlord, under the terms and conditions herein, the Leased
Premises.
ARTICLE 2 - TERM AND POSSESSION
Section 2.01. Term. The term of this Lease ("Lease Term") shall be for
the period of time and shall commence on the Commencement Date described in the
Basic Lease Provisions. If Landlord, for any reason whatsoever, cannot deliver
possession of the Leased Premises to Tenant on the Commencement Date, this Lease
shall not be void or voidable, nor shall Landlord be liable to Tenant for any
loss or damage resulting therefrom, but in that event there shall be a
proportionate reduction of rent covering the period between the Commencement
Date and the time when Landlord can deliver possession. If delay is longer than
three (3) months, Landlord will provide Tenant such space (not exceedin