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Sample Business ContractsHome: Sample Business Contracts: Sponsored LinksRECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT among TYSON FOODS, INC. THE SELLERS NAMED HEREIN, as Sellers and TYSON RECEIVABLES CORPORATION, as Purchaser Dated as of October 17, 2001
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RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of October 17, 2001 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, this "Agreement"), among TYSON FOODS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Tyson"), and the subsidiaries of Tyson identified as Sellers on Schedule I, all as sellers, (each, individually, a "Seller" and collectively, the "Sellers"), and TYSON RECEIVABLES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, as purchaser (in such capacity, the "Purchaser"). W I T N E S S E T H : WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase from time to time certain accounts receivable existing on the Closing Date and thereafter until the Purchase Termination Date; WHEREAS, the Sellers desire to sell and assign from time to time such certain accounts receivable to the Purchaser upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed by and among the Purchaser and the Sellers as follows: ARTICLE I Section 1.02 Other Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. All terms used in Article 9 of the Relevant UCC, and not specifically defined herein, are used herein as defined in such Article 9. Section 1.03 Computation of Time Periods. Unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, in the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but excluding," and the word "within" means "from and excluding a specified date and to and including a later specified date." 240
ARTICLE II Section 2.01 Sales. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and without recourse (except such limited recourse as is specifically provided for in Sections 5.01(q), 6.01 and 6.02), each of the Sellers hereby sells, assigns, transfers and conveys to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser hereby purchases from each of the Sellers, all of such Seller's right, title and interest, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and wherever located, in, to and under the Receivables outstanding on the Closing Date and thereafter owned by each of the Sellers, through any Purchase Termination Date, together with all Related Security and Collections with respect thereto (to the extent that such right, title and interest was not already purchased by the Purchaser) and all Proceeds of the foregoing. Such interest in the Receivables, expressed as a dollar amount, shall be equal to the aggregate unpaid balance of the Receivables from time to time. Any sale, assignment, transfer and conveyance hereunder does not constitute an assumption by the Purchaser of any obligations of the Sellers or any other Person to Obligors or to any other Person in connection with the Receivables or under any Related Security or any other agreement or instrument relating to the Receivables. (b) In connection with such sale, each Seller agrees to execute and deliver for filing on or prior to the Closing Date, at its own expense, a financing statement or statements (Form UCC-1) with respect to the Receivables and the other property described in Section 2.01(a) sold by such Seller hereunder meeting the requirements of applicable state law in such manner and in such jurisdictions as are necessary to perfect and protect the interests of the Purchaser created hereby in the Receivables under the Relevant UCC against all creditors of, and purchasers from, such Seller, and to deliver either the originals of such financing statements or a file-stamped copy of such financing statements or other evidence of such filings to the Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date. (c) Each of the Sellers agrees that from time to time, at its expense, it will promptly execute and deliver all instruments and documents and take all actions as may be necessary or as the Purchaser may reasonably request in order to perfect or protect the interest of the Purchaser in the Receivables purchased hereunder or to enable the Purchaser to exercise or enforce any of its rights hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, each Seller will, in order to accurately reflect this purchase and sale transaction, execute and file such financing or continuation statements or amendments thereto or assignments thereof (as permitted pursuant hereto) as may be requested by the Purchaser and mark its master data processing records (or related subledger) and other documents with a legend describing the purchase by the Purchaser of the Receivables and the interest transferred by the Purchaser to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Receivables Transfer Agreement and stating "Substantially all accounts receivable have been sold to Tyson Receivables Corporation and then transferred to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, for various lenders. Details are available from Treasurer, Tyson Foods, Inc., as Collection Agent, at telephone 501-290-4194." The Sellers shall, upon request of the Purchaser, obtain such additional search reports as the Purchaser shall request. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Purchaser shall be permitted to sign and file continuation statements and amendments thereto and assignments thereof without the Sellers' signatures. Carbon, photostatic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement shall be sufficient as a financing statement. 241
(d) It is the express intent of the Sellers (including Tyson) and the Purchaser that the conveyance of the Receivables by the Sellers to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement be construed as a sale of such Receivables by the Sellers to the Purchaser. Further, it is not the intention of the Sellers and the Purchaser that such conveyance be deemed a grant of a security interest in the Receivables by the Sellers to the Purchaser to secure a debt or other obligation of the Sellers. Except under the limited circumstances described in Sections 5.01(q), 6.01 and 6.02 hereof, the Sellers shall have no right or obligation hereunder to repurchase or otherwise reacquire any such Receivables. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5.01(q), 6.01 and 6.02 hereof, each sale of Receivables by the Sellers hereunder is made without recourse of any kind. However, in the event that, notwithstanding the intent of the parties, the Receivables are construed to constitute property of the Sellers, then (i) this Agreement shall be deemed to be, and hereby is declared to be, a security agreement within the meaning of the Relevant UCC; and (ii) the conveyances by each of the Sellers provided for in this Agreement shall be deemed to be, and each of the Sellers hereby grants to the Purchaser, a security interest in, to and under all of such Seller's right, title and interest in, to and under the Receivables outstanding on the Closing Date and thereafter owned by such Seller, together with all Related Security and Collections with respect thereto and all Proceeds of the foregoing, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and wherever located, to secure the rights of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement or as may be determined in connection therewith by applicable law. The Sellers and the Purchaser shall, to the extent consistent with this Agreement, take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that, if this Agreement were deemed to create a security interest in the Receivables, such security interest would constitute a perfected security interest in favor of the Purchaser under applicable law and will be maintained as such throughout the term of this Agreement. 242
ARTICLE III Section 3.01 Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Receivables and Related Property conveyed to the Purchaser by the Sellers under this Agreement (other than Receivables and Related Property contributed to the Purchaser pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Section 3.02(a))on any Business Day shall be a dollar amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of the Receivables sold on such Business Day and (ii) the then applicable Discount Percentage (the "Purchase Price"). Section 3.02 Payment of Purchase Price. (a) The Purchase Price for each Receivable sold hereunder on any Business Day shall be paid or provided for on the Business Day on which such sale occurred (i) by payment in immediately available funds to the extent the Purchaser has such funds available and (ii) to the extent such funds are not available, by increasing the amount due under the Subordinated Note by notation thereon; provided, however, that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Note on any Business Day (after giving effect to all repayments thereof on or before such Business Day) shall not exceed the lesser of (x) 30% of the Outstanding Balance of the Receivables purchased hereunder existing on such Business Day and (y) an amount that would cause the Purchaser's net worth (as defined in accordance with GAAP) to be less than $140,000,000. To the extent that the Purchaser does not have sufficient cash or availability under the Subordinated Note to pay the total Purchase Price for Receivables sold on any Business Day in full, Tyson may make or cause to be made a capital contribution of cash and/or Receivables and Related Security to the Purchaser. No sales of Receivables shall be made hereunder on and after the Purchase Termination Date.(b) All increases to the amount due under the Subordinated Note pursuant to Section 3.02(a)(ii) (each, an "Advance") shall be evidenced by a single subordinated note, duly executed on behalf of Purchaser, in substantially the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, delivered on the Closing Date and payable to Tyson, as agent for the Sellers (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the "Subordinated Note"). The Collection Agent is hereby authorized by Purchaser to endorse on the schedule attached to the Subordinated Note (or a continuation of such schedule attached thereto and made a part thereof) an appropriate notation evidencing the date and amount of each Advance, as well as the date and amount of each payment with respect thereto; provided, however, that the failure of any Person to make such a notation shall not affect any obligations of Purchaser thereunder. Any such notation shall be conclusive and binding as to the date and amount of such Advance, or payment of principal or interest thereon, absent manifest error. 243
(c) The terms and conditions of the Subordinated Note and all Advances thereunder shall be as follows: (i) Allocation of Advances. Advances shall be allocated among the Sellers pro rata according to the Purchase Price due to each Seller on the date such Advances are made. (ii) Repayment of Advances. All amounts paid by the Purchaser with respect to the Advances shall be allocated first to the repayment of accrued interest until all such interest is paid, and then to the outstanding principal amount of the Advances. Tyson shall apply and distribute all payments of principal pro rata among the Sellers according to the outstanding Advances of each Seller. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Purchaser may borrow, repay and reborrow Advances on and after the date hereof and prior to the termination of this Agreement, subject to the terms, provisions and limitations set forth herein. (iii) Interest. The Subordinated Note shall bear interest from its date on the outstanding principal balance thereof at an initial rate per annum equal to 8.50%, adjusted on each Interest Payment Date (as defined therein) to an amount equal to the Prime Rate (as defined therein) plus 2.00%. Interest on each Advance shall be computed based on the number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. (iv) Sole and Exclusive Remedy; Subordination. The Purchaser shall be obligated to repay Advances to Tyson, as agent for the Sellers, only to the extent of funds available to the Purchaser from Collections on the Receivables and, to the extent that such payments are insufficient to pay all amounts owing to the Sellers under the Subordinated Note, the Sellers shall not have any claim against the Purchaser for such amounts and no further or additional recourse shall be available against Purchaser. The Subordinated Note shall be fully subordinated to any rights of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the CP Conduit Purchasers and the Committed Purchasers pursuant to the Receivables Transfer Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement, and shall not evidence any rights in the Receivables or Related Property. (v) Offsets, etc. The Purchaser may offset any amount due and owing by the Sellers to the Purchaser against any amount due and owing by the Purchaser to Tyson, as agent for the Sellers, under the terms of the Subordinated Note. 244
Section 3.04 Transfer of Records. (a) In connection with the Purchase of Receivables hereunder, each of the Sellers hereby sells, transfers, and conveys to the Purchaser all of its right and title to and interest in the Records relating to all of its Receivables sold hereunder, without the need for any further documentation in connection with any Purchase. In connection with such transfer, each of the Sellers hereby grants to the Purchaser, the Collection Agent and the Administrative Agent an irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use without royalty or payment of any kind, all software used by such Seller to account for its Receivables, to the extent necessary to administer its Receivables, whether such software is owned by Tyson or is owned by others and used by Tyson under license agreements with respect thereto, but only to the extent permitted by such license; provided that should the consent of any licensor to such grant of license described herein be required, each Seller agrees that upon the earlier of the Termination Date or the replacement of Tyson as the Collection Agent, and upon the request of the Purchasers, the Collection Agent or the Administrative Agent, such Seller will use reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such third-party licensor. The irrevocable license hereby granted shall terminate on the date when the Net Investment has been reduced to zero, all other Aggregate Unpaids have been paid in full and the Commitments have been terminated. Each of the Purchaser, the Collection Agent and the Administrative Agent agree that such license shall be subject to such reasonable restrictions as the Sellers shall request for the purpose of protecting intellectual property rights of the owners of such software. (b) Each Seller shall take such action as requested by the Purchaser, from time to time hereafter, that may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that the Purchaser and its assignees have an enforceable right to use all Records and all software used to account for the Receivables and/or recreate such records. (c) The use of Records by the Purchaser is subject to Section 9.14 of this Agreement. Section 3.05 Payments and Computations. All amounts due to be paid or deposited by the Purchaser hereunder shall be paid or deposited in accordance with the terms hereof on the day when due in immediately available funds to the account designated from time to time by the Sellers or as otherwise directed by the Sellers. In the event that any payment owed by any Person hereunder becomes due on a day that is not a Business Day, then such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day. Except as otherwise provided in the Transaction Documents, any amount due hereunder that is not paid when due hereunder shall bear interest at the Base Rate as in effect from time to time until paid in full; provided, however, that such interest rate shall not at any time exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. All computations of interest payable hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the first, but excluding the last) elapsed.
ARTICLE IV Section 4.01 Sellers' Representations and Warranties. Each of the Sellers represents and warrants to the Purchaser as of the Closing Date and on each Business Day on which Receivables are sold hereunder: 245
(a) Corporate Existence and Power. The Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is now conducted except where the failure to have such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Seller is duly qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every other jurisdiction in which the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. (b) Corporate and Governmental Authorization; Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party are within the Seller's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Official Body or official thereof (except for the filing of UCC financing statements as required by this Agreement), and to the best of the Sellers' knowledge, do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation or of the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws or other organizational documents of the Seller or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, writ, decree or other instrument binding upon the Seller or result in the creation or imposition of any Adverse Claim on the assets of the Seller (except those created by this Agreement, the Receivables Transfer Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement). (c) Valid Sale; Binding Effect. Each purchase of Receivables and Related Security by the Purchaser hereunder shall constitute a valid sale and assignment by the Seller to the Purchaser, enforceable against creditors of, and purchasers from, the Seller. Each of the Transaction Documents to which the Seller is a party will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). (d) Quality of Title. Immediately preceding the sale of the Receivables and Related Security pursuant to this Agreement, the Seller was the owner of all of the Receivables, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, preferences or other security arrangement. On or prior to the date hereof, all financing statements and other documents required to be recorded or filed in order to perfect and protect the interest of the Purchaser in, to and under the Receivables against all creditors of and purchasers from the Seller will have been duly executed and delivered to the Purchaser or its representative for filing in each filing office necessary for such purpose and all filing fees and taxes, if any, payable in connection with such filings shall have been provided for in full. (e) Accuracy of Information. All written information heretofore furnished by the Seller to the Purchaser, the Collection Agent and the Administrative Agent for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is, and all such information hereafter furnished by the Seller to the Purchaser, the Collection Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Funding Agents, the CP Conduit Purchasers and the Committed Purchasers will be, true and accurate in every material respect, on the date such information is stated or certified. 246
(f) Tax Status. The Seller has filed all material tax returns (Federal, state and local) required to be filed and has paid or made adequate provision for the payment of all material taxes, assessments and other similar governmental charges other than taxes contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP and taxes which are not yet due and payable. (g) Litigation. Except as set forth in Exhibit F to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of the Seller threatened, against or affecting the Seller or any Affiliate of the Seller or their respective properties, in or before any court, arbitrator or other Official Body, which could reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (h) Place of Business. The state and form of organization, principal place of business and chief executive office of the Seller are located at the address specified on Schedule I, and the offices where the Seller keeps all its Records, are located at the address specified on Schedule I, or such other locations notified to the Purchaser in accordance with this Agreement in jurisdictions where all action required by the terms of this Agreement has been taken and completed. (i) Solvency. Tyson is, and Tyson and its Subsidiaries are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent. (j) Tradenames, Etc. As of the date hereof: (i) The Seller has only the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit I to the Receivables Transfer Agreement; and (ii) the Seller has, within the last four months, operated only under the tradenames identified on Exhibit I to the Receivables Transfer Agreement, and, within the last four months, has not changed its name, merged with or into or consolidated with any other corporation or been the subject of any proceeding under Title 11, United States Code (Bankruptcy), except as disclosed in Exhibit I to the Receivables Transfer Agreement. (k) Nature of Receivables. Each Receivable included in the calculation of the Net Receivables Balance in fact satisfies at such time the definition of "Eligible Receivable" and is an "eligible asset" as defined in Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not a Defaulted Receivable. (l) Credit and Collection Policy. Since the Closing Date, there have been no material changes in the Credit and Collection Policy other than as permitted hereunder. (m) Collections and Servicing. Since July 31, 2001, there has been no material adverse change in the ability of the Seller to service and collect the Receivables. (n) Binding Effect of Receivables and Contract. Each Receivable and related Contract constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Obligor, enforceable against the Obligor, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). 247
(o) Not an Investment Company. The Seller is not, nor is it controlled by, an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and it is exempt from all provisions of such Act. (p) ERISA. The Seller and its ERISA Affiliates are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA, except for any noncompliance which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no lien exists in favor of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on any of the Receivables. (q) Lockbox Accounts. The names and addresses of all the Lockbox Banks, together with the account numbers of the Lockbox Accounts at such Lockbox Banks, are specified in Exhibit B to the Receivables Transfer Agreement. All Obligors have been instructed to make payment to a Lockbox Account. (r) Bulk Sales. No transaction contemplated by this Agreement requires compliance with any bulk sales act or similar law. (s) Reasonably Equivalent Value. The Purchase Price constitutes reasonably equivalent value in consideration for the transfer by each Seller to the Purchaser of Receivables from such Seller pursuant to this Agreement and no such transfer has been made for or on account of an antecedent debt owed by such Seller to the Purchaser, and no such transfer is or may be voidable or subject to avoidance under any section of the Bankruptcy Code. (t) Regulations T, U and X. No proceeds of the sales of Receivables under this Agreement will be used by the Seller to acquire any security in any transaction which violates Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board. Section 4.02 Reaffirmation of Representations and Warranties by the Sellers; Notice of Breach. On the Closing Date and on each Business Day on which Receivables are sold hereunder, the Sellers, by accepting the proceeds of such sale, shall be deemed to have certified that all representations and warranties described in Section 4.01 are true and correct on and as of such day as though made on and as of such day. The representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.01 shall survive (i) the conveyance of the Receivables to the Purchaser, (ii) the termination of the rights and obligations of the Purchaser and the Sellers under this Agreement and (iii) the termination of the rights and obligations of the Transferor, the Sellers and the Funding Agent under the Receivables Transfer Agreement. Upon the coming to the knowledge of any Responsible Officer of the Purchaser or any of the Sellers of a breach of any of the foregoing representations and warranties, the party with knowledge of such breach shall give prompt written notice to the other within three (3) Business Days of such discovery.248
ARTICLE V (a) Conduct of Business. The Seller will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted and do all things necessary to remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization and will maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. (b) Compliance with Laws. The Seller will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, except to the extent that the failure to comply with such laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards would not materially adversely affect the ability of the Seller to perform its obligations under this Agreement. (c) Furnishing of Information and Inspection of Records. The Seller will furnish to the Purchaser from time to time such information with respect to itself or the Receivables as the Purchaser may reasonably request, including, without limitation, listings identifying the Obligor and the Outstanding Balance for each Receivable. The Seller will at any time and from time to time during regular business hours, upon reasonable notice (it being agreed that one Business Day's notice shall be reasonable when a Termination Event or Potential Termination Event has taken place and is continuing), and at the Purchaser's expense, permit the Purchaser, its agents or representatives or such other individuals as the Purchaser may reasonably request, (i) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from all Records and (ii) to visit the offices and properties of the Seller for the purpose of examining such Records, and to discuss matters relating to Receivables or the Seller's performance hereunder with any of the officers or employees of the Seller having knowledge of such matters. (d) Keeping of Records and Books of Account. The Seller will maintain a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, and will maintain and implement administrative and operating procedures (including, without limitation, an ability to recreate records evidencing Receivables in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof), and keep and maintain, or obtain, as and when required, all documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary or advisable for the collection of all Receivables (including, without limitation, records adequate to permit the daily identification of each Receivable and all Collections of and adjustments to each existing Receivable). The Seller will give the Purchaser prompt notice of any change in the administrative and operating procedures referred to in the previous sentence to the extent such change could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 249
(e) Performance and Compliance with Receivables and Contracts. The Seller at its expense will timely and fully perform and comply with all material provisions, covenants and other promises required to be observed by it under the Contracts related to the Receivables. (f) Credit and Collection Policies. The Seller will comply in all material respects with the Credit and Collection Policy in regard to each Receivable and the related Contract. (g) Collections. The Seller shall instruct all Obligors to cause all Collections to be deposited directly to a Lockbox Account. (h) Collections Received. The Seller shall hold in trust for the Purchaser, and deposit immediately (and in any event within one Business Day) after receipt thereof to a Lockbox Account all Collections received from time to time by the Seller. The Seller shall prevent the deposit of any funds other than Collections into any of the Lockbox Accounts and, to the extent that any such funds are nevertheless deposited into any of such Lockbox Accounts, promptly (and in any event within one Business Day) identify any such funds to the Collection Agent for segregation and remittance to the owner thereof. If such Seller or any of its agents or representatives of Affiliates shall at any time receive any cash, checks or other instruments constituting Collections, such recipient shall segregate such payments and hold such payments in trust for the Purchaser and shall, promptly upon receipt (and in any event within one Business Day following receipt), remit all such Collections, duly endorsed or with duly executed instruments of transfer, to a Lockbox Account, or with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Required Committed Purchasers, to a segregated account of the Transferor satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Committed Purchasers. (i) Sale Treatment. The Seller agrees to treat each conveyance hereunder for all purposes (including, without limitation, for financial accounting purposes) as a sale and, to the extent any such reporting is required, shall report the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on all relevant books, records, financial statements and other applicable documents as a sale of the Receivables to the Purchaser. For U.S. Federal, State and local income and franchise tax purposes, the transactions contemplated by the Receivables Transfer Agreement will be treated as a loan to the Transferor, secured by assets acquired by the Transferor pursuant to this Agreement. (j) No Sales, Liens, Etc. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Seller will not sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or create or suffer to exist any Adverse Claim upon (except for the filing of any financing statement as required under this Agreement) or with respect to, any Receivable, Related Security or Collections or upon or with respect to any Lockbox Account to which any Collections of any Receivable are sent, or, in each case, assign any right to receive income in respect thereof. (k) No Extension or Amendment of Receivables. The Seller will not extend, amend or otherwise modify the terms of any Receivable, or amend, modify or waive any term or condition of any Contract related thereto in a manner which adversely affects the amount or collectibility of any Receivable, except as provided in Section 2.02 or in the Receivables Transfer Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser. 250
(l) No Change in Character of Business or Credit and Collection Policy. Except as provided in the Receivables Transfer Agreement, the Seller will not make any change in the character of its business or in the Credit and Collection Policy, which change might impair the Seller's ability to collect the Receivables, considered as a whole, in any respect, or otherwise adversely affect the interests or remedies of the CP Conduit Purchasers or the Committed Purchasers. (m) No Mergers, Etc. The Sellers will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person, or (ii) sell, lease or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person; provided, that the Seller may merge with another Person if the Seller is the surviving entity and such merger or consolidation does not cause a Termination Event or Potential Termination Event under Section 7.01(h) of the Receivables Transfer Agreement. (n) Change in Payment Instructions to Obligors; Deposits to Lockbox Accounts. The Sellers will not add or terminate, or make any change to, any Lockbox Account, except in accordance with the Receivables Transfer Agreement. The Seller will not deposit or otherwise credit, or cause or permit to be so deposited or credited, to any Lockbox Account, cash or cash proceeds other than Collections of Receivables. (o) Change of Name, Etc. The Seller shall not change its name, jurisdiction of organization, form of organization, taxpayer identification number or state organizational number unless at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of any such change the Seller delivers to the Purchaser and the Administrative Agent (i) financing statements under the Relevant UCC, executed by the Seller, necessary to reflect such change and to continue the perfection of the Purchaser's interest in the Receivables and (ii) new or revised Lockbox Account Agreements which reflect such change and enable the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the CP Conduit Purchasers and the Committed Purchasers, to exercise its rights under the Transaction Documents. (p) Separate Existence. The Seller shall: (i) Maintain its deposit account or accounts, separate from those of the Purchaser and use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that its funds will not be diverted to the Purchaser and that its funds and assets will not be commingled with those of the Purchaser; (ii) To the extent that it shares any officers or other employees with the Purchaser, fairly allocate between it and the Purchaser the salaries of and the expenses related to providing benefits to such officers and other employees, and the Seller and the Purchaser shall bear their respective fair share of the salary and benefit costs associated with all such common officers and employees; (iii) To the extent that it jointly contracts with the Purchaser to do business with vendors or service providers or to share overhead expenses, fairly allocate between it and the Purchaser the costs incurred in so doing, and it and the Purchaser shall bear their fair shares of such costs; and to the extent that it contracts or does business with vendors or service providers where the goods and services provided are partially for the benefit of the Purchaser, the costs incurred in so doing shall be fairly allocated between it and the Purchaser in proportion to the benefit of the goods or services each is provided, and the Seller and the Purchaser shall bear their fair shares of such costs; 251
(iv) Enter into all material transactions with the Purchaser, whether currently existing or hereafter entered into, only on an arm's length basis, it being understood and agreed that the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents meet the requirements of this clause (iv); (v) Maintain office space separate from the office space of the Purchaser (but which may be located at the same address as the Purchaser). To the extent that it and the Purchaser have offices in the same location, there shall be a fair and appropriate allocation of overhead costs between them, and each shall bear its fair share of such expenses subject to a written sublease agreement; (vi) Conduct its affairs strictly in accordance with its certificate of incorporation and observe all necessary, appropriate and customary corporate formalities, including, but not limited to, holding all regular and special stockholders' and directors' meetings appropriate to authorize all corporate action, keeping separate and accurate minutes of its meetings, passing all resolutions or consents necessary to authorize actions taken or to be taken, and maintaining accurate and separate books, records and accounts, including, but not limited to, payroll and intercompany transaction accounts; (vii) Not assume or guarantee any of the liabilities of the Purchaser; (viii) Take, or refrain from taking, as the case may be, all other actions that are necessary to be taken or not to be taken in order (x) to ensure that the assumptions and factual recitations set forth in the Specified Bankruptcy Opinion Provisions remain true and correct with respect to it (and, to the extent within its control, to ensure that the assumptions and factual recitations set forth in the Specified Bankruptcy Opinion Provisions remain true and correct with respect to the Purchaser) and (y) to comply with those procedures described in such provisions that are applicable to it; (ix) Maintain its books of account, financial reports and corporate records separately from those of Tyson and each other Affiliate of the Seller; (x) Cause its accounting records and the published financial statements to clearly show that, for accounting purposes, the Receivables and Related Security have been sold to the Purchaser, except that Tyson shall disclose (in a footnote or otherwise) in all of its financial statements the existence and nature of the transaction contemplated hereby and by the Receivables Transfer Agreement and the interest of the Transferor, the CP Conduit Purchasers and the Committed Purchasers in the Receivables and Related Security, Collections and Proceeds with respect thereto; 252
(xi) Maintain its assets in a manner that facilitates their identification and segregation from those of Tyson, the other Sellers, the Purchaser and other Affiliates of Tyson; (xii) Not, directly or indirectly, name the Purchaser or enter into any agreement to name the Purchaser a direct or contingent beneficiary or loss payee or any insurance policy covering the property of the Seller; and (xiii) Not be, nor hold itself out to be, responsible for the debts of the Purchaser or the decisions or actions in respect of the daily business and affairs of the Purchaser, and immediately correct any known misrepresentation with respect to the foregoing. The Sellers, the Purchaser and their Affiliates will not operate or purport to operate as an integrated single economic unit with respect to each other or in their dealing with any other entity. (q) Indemnification. The Seller agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Purchaser harmless from and against any and all damages, losses, claims, liabilities, deficiencies, costs, disbursements and expenses, including, without limitation, interest, penalties, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable attorneys' fees to which the Purchaser may become subject insofar as such damages, losses, claims, liabilities, deficiencies, costs, disbursements and expenses arise out of or are based upon a breach by the Seller of its representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, or any information certified in any schedule or certificate delivered by any of the Sellers hereunder or in connection with the Transaction Documents, being untrue in any material respect at any time; provided that in no event shall this Section 5.01(q) be construed to include uncollectibility of any Receivable for credit-related reasons pertaining to the related Obligor. The obligations of the Seller under this Section 5.01(q) shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Purchaser and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the CP Conduit Purchasers, the Funding Agents and the Committed Purchasers, and shall survive the execution, delivery, performance and termination of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years following the Purchase Termination Date, regardless of any investigation made by the Purchaser or the Administrative Agent or on behalf of either of them. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties (i) that the foregoing indemnification is not intended to, and shall not constitute a guarantee of the collectibility or payment of the Receivables and (ii) that nothing in this Section 5.01(q) shall constitute recourse (except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement) for (a) uncollectible Receivables or other obligations hereunder or related costs or expenses resulting from such indemnified Person's gross negligence or wilful misconduct, (b) any franchise taxes owed by such indemnified Person or (c) any other taxes imposed against such indemnified Person on account of its ownership of the Receivables to the extent such taxes are measured by or against the gross or net income or receipts of such Person. 253
(r) ERISA. (i) The Seller will not (A) engage or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates to engage in any prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code and Section 406 of ERISA) for which an exemption is not available or has not previously been obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor; (B) permit to exist any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 302(a) of ERISA and Section 412(a) of the Code) or funding deficiency with respect to any Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan; (C) fail to make any payments to any Multiemployer Plan that the Seller or any ERISA Affiliate of the Seller is required to make under the agreement relating to such Multiemployer Plan or any law pertaining thereto; (D) terminate any Benefit Plan so as to result in any liability to the Pension Benefit Liability Corporation; or (E) permit to exist any occurrence of any reportable event described in Title IV of ERISA which represents a material risk of a liability to the Sellers, or any ERISA Affiliate of the Seller under ERISA or the Code, if such prohibited transactions, accumulated funding deficiencies, failure to make payments, terminations and reportable events occurring within any fiscal year of the Seller, in the aggregate, involve a payment of money or an incurrence of liability by the Seller or any ERISA Affiliate of the Seller, in an amount which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) the Seller shall promptly give the Purchaser written notice upon becoming aware that the Seller is not in compliance with ERISA if such noncompliance would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or that any ERISA lien on any of the Receivables exists and, promptly after the receipt or filing thereof, shall provide the Purchaser with copies of all reports and notices with respect to any reportable event (as defined in Article IV of ERISA) which the Seller or any ERISA Affiliate thereof files under ERISA with the Internal Revenue Service, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the U.S. Department of Labor or which the Seller or any ERISA Affiliate thereof receives from the Internal Revenue Service, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the U.S. Department of Labor.
ARTICLE VI
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