EQUIPMENT LEASE AGREEMENT
This Equipment Lease Agreement (“Lease Agreement”) is being entered into by and between Merchant Lynx Services, Inc. and the Lessee identified in the signature panel of this Merchant Processing Application (“MPA”). In this Lease Agreement, the words “we”, “our” and “us” refer to Merchant Lynx Services, Inc. and its successors and assigns and the words “You” and “Your” refer to Lessee and its permitted successors and assigns.
Lessee hereby authorizes us or our designees, successors or assigns (hereinafter “Lessor”) to withdraw any amounts including any and all sales taxes now due or hereinafter imposed, owed by Lessee in conjunction with this Lease Agreement by initiating debit entries to the bank account designated by Lessee on the MPA (the “Settlement Account”). In the event of default of Lessee’s obligation hereunder, Lessee authorizes debit of its account for the full amount due under this Lease Agreement. Further, Lessee authorizes its financial institution to accept and to charge any debit entries initiated by Lessor to Lessee’s account. In the event that Lessor withdraws funds erroneously from Lessee’s account, Lessee authorizes Lessor to credit Lessee’s account for an amount not to exceed the original amount of the debit. This authorization is to remain in full force and effect until Lessor has received written notice from Lessee of its termination in such time and in such manner as to afford Lessor a reasonable opportunity to act. Lessee also authorizes Lessor from time to time to obtain investigative credit reports from a credit bureau or a credit agency concerning Lessee.
1. Equipment. We agree to lease to You and You agree to lease from us the equipment identified on the MPA or such other comparable equipment we provide You (the “Equipment”), according to the terms and conditions of this Lease Agreement. We are providing the Equipment to You “as is” and make no representations or warranties of any kind as to the suitability of the Equipment for any particular purpose. The term Equipment includes the Equipment initially deployed under the Lease Agreement and/or any additions, replacements, substitutions, or additions thereto.
2. Effective Date, Term and Interim Rent. (a). This Lease Agreement becomes effective on the earlier of the date we deliver any piece of Equipment to You (the “Delivery Date”) or acceptance by us. This Lease Agreement remains in effect until all of Your obligations and all of our obligations under it have been satisfied. We will deliver the Equipment to the site designated by You. (b) The term of this Lease Agreement begins on a date designated by us after receipt of all required documentation and acceptance by us (the “Commencement Date”), and continues for the number of months indicated on the MPA. THIS IS A NON-CANCELABLE LEASE FOR THE TERM INDICATED.(c) You agree to pay an Interim Lease Payment in the amount of one thirtieth (1/30th) of the monthly lease charge for each day from and including the Delivery Date until the date preceding the Commencement Date.(d) YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE EQUIPMENT AND/OR SOFTWARE YOU LEASE UNDER THIS LEASE AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH ANOTHER PROCESSOR’S SYSTEMS AND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO MAKE SUCH SOFTWARE AND/OR EQUIPMENT COMPATIBLE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ELECT TO USE ANOTHER SERVICE PROVIDER. UPON TERMINATION OF YOUR MERCHANT PROCESSING AGREEMENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE EQUIPMENT AND/OR SOFTWARE LEASED UNDER THIS LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SAID SERVICE PROVIDER.
3. Site Preparation. You will prepare the installation site(s) for the Equipment, including but not limited to the power supply circuits and phone lines, in conformance with the manufacturer’s and our specifications and will make the site(s) available to us by the confirmed shipping date.
4. Payment of Amounts Due. (a) The monthly lease charge is due and payable monthly, in advance. You agree to pay all assessed costs for delivery and installation of Equipment. (b) In addition to the monthly lease charge, You shall pay, or reimburse us for, amounts equal to any taxes or assessments on or arising out of this Lease Agreement or the Equipment, and related supplies or any services, use or activities hereunder, including without limitation, state and local sales, use, property, privilege and excise tax, tax preparation, compliance expenses, but exclusive of taxes based on our net income. Property taxes are calculated and charged based on the average of the estimated annual property taxes over the course of the term of the lease. You will also be charged an annual Tax Handling Fee, as set forth in the MPA and/or applicable Fee Schedule. (c) Your lease payments will be due despite dissatisfaction with the Equipment for any reason. (d) Whenever any payment is not made by You in full when due, You shall pay us as a late charge, an amount equal to ten percent of the amount due but no less than $5.00 for each month during which it remains unpaid (prorated for any partial month), but in no event more than the maximum amount permitted by law. You shall also pay to us an administrative charge of $10.00 for any debit we attempt to make against Your Settlement Account that is rejected, but in no event more than the maximum amount permitted by law. (e) In the event Your account is placed into collections for past due lease amounts, You agree that we can recover a collection expense charge of $50 for each aggregate payment requiring a collection effort, but in no event more than the maximum amount permitted by law.
5. Use and Return of Equipment; Insurance; Equipment Service Program. (a) You shall cause the Equipment to be operated by competent and qualified personnel in accordance with any operating instructions furnished by us or the manufacturer. You shall maintain the Equipment in good operating condition and protect it from deterioration, normal wear and tear expected. (b) You shall not permit any physical alteration or modification of the Equipment, or change the installation site of the Equipment, without our prior written consent. (c) You shall not create, incur, assume or allow to exist any consensually or judicially imposed liens or encumbrances on, or part with possession of, or sublease the Equipment without our prior written consent. (d) You shall comply with all governmental laws, rules and regulations relating to the use of the Equipment. You are also responsible for obtaining all permits required to operate the Equipment at Your facility. (e) We or our representatives may, at any time, enter Your premises for purposes of inspecting, examining or repairing the Equipment. (f) The Equipment shall remain our personal property and shall not under any circumstances be considered to be a fixture affixed to Your real estate. You shall permit us to affix suitable labels or stencils to the Equipment evidencing our ownership. (g) You shall keep the Equipment adequately insured against loss by fire, theft, and all other hazards and You shall provide proof of insurance. The loss, destruction, theft, or damage of or to the Equipment shall not relieve You from Your obligation to pay the full purchase price or total monthly lease charges hereunder. (h) You may choose not to insure the Equipment and participate in the Equipment Service Program. The Equipment Service Program provides a replacement of the Equipment for as long as You participate in the program during the Lease Term. The Equipment Service Program includes (i) free comparable replacement terminal (new or refurbished) in the event of a defect or malfunction (terminal defects or malfunctions caused by acts of God are not covered by this program), (ii) free shipping & handling on both the replacement terminal and return of defective terminal, (iii) free overnight shipping & handling on replacement terminal if requested by 3:00 pm ET (Monday-Thursday). If You don’t return Your damaged equipment, You will be charged the full purchase price of the replacement equipment sent to You. The monthly fee of $4.95 for the optional Equipment Service Program is a per terminal fee. You can choose to insure the Equipment and terminate Your participation in the program at any time by calling our Customer Service department.
6. Title to Equipment. The Equipment is, and shall at all times be and remain, our sole and exclusive property, and You shall have no right, title or interest in or to the Equipment except as expressly set forth in this Lease Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing. Except as expressly provided in Section 8, no transference of intellectual property rights is intended by or conferred in this Lease Agreement. You agree to execute and deliver to us any statement or instrument that we may request to confirm or evidence our ownership of the Equipment, and You irrevocably appoint us as Your attorney in-fact to execute and file the same in Your name and on Your behalf. If a court determines that the leasing Transaction contemplated by this Lease Agreement does not constitute a financing and is not a lease of the Equipment, then we shall be deemed to have a first lien security interest on the Equipment as of the date of this Lease Agreement, and You will execute such documentation as we may request to evidence such security interest. If this Lease Agreement is deemed a loan despite the intention of the parties, then in no contingency or event whatsoever shall interest deemed charged hereunder, however such interest may be characterized or computed, exceed the highest rate permissible under any law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto.
7. Return or Purchase of Equipment at End of Lease Period. Upon the completion of Your lease term or any extension thereof, you will have the option to (a) return the Equipment to us, or (b) purchase the Equipment from us for its then fair market value, calculated as a percentage of the Revision 0914 Page 60 of 64 aggregate lease payments in accordance with the following: If the term of this Lease is forty-eight (48) months or more, the buyout option as a percentage of the aggregate lease payments shall be ten percent (10%). If the term of this lease is thirty-six (36) to forty-seven (47) months, the buyout option as a percentage of the aggregate lease payments shall be fifteen percent (15%). If the term of this lease is twenty-four (24) to thirty-five (35) months, the buyout option as a percentage of the aggregate lease payments shall be twenty percent (20%); or (c) after the final lease payment has been received by FDGL, the Agreement will revert to a month by month rental at the existing monthly lease payment. If Client does not want to continue to rent the Equipment, then Client will be obligated to provide FDGL with 30 day written notice to terminate and return the equipment to FDGL. If we terminate the lease pursuant to Section 1.11(b) due to a default by you, then you shall immediately return the Equipment to us no later than the tenth business day after termination, or remit to us the fair market value of the Equipment as determined in good faith by us. We may collect any amounts due to us under this Section 1.7 by debiting your bank account, and to the extent we are unable to obtain full satisfaction in this manner, you agree to pay the amounts owed to us promptly upon our request.
8. Disclosure of Information. You acknowledge that Merchant Lynx Services Inc. and First Data Merchant Services Corporation may share information among each other regarding Your account including business and personal credit information.
9. Software License. We retain all ownership and copyright interest in and to all computer software, related documentation, technology, know-how and processes embodied in or provided in connection with the Equipment other than those owned or licensed by the manufacturer of the Equipment (collectively “Software”), and You shall have only a nonexclusive license to use the Software in Your operation of the Equipment.
10. Limitation on Liability. We are not liable for any loss, damage or expense of any kind or nature caused directly or indirectly by the Equipment, including any damage or injury to persons or property caused by the Equipment. We are not liable for the use or maintenance of the Equipment, its failure to operate, any repairs or service to it, or by any interruption of service or loss of use of the Equipment or resulting loss of business. Our liability arising out of or in any way connected with this Lease Agreement shall not exceed the aggregate lease amount paid to us for the particular Equipment involved. In no event shall we be liable for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages. The remedies available to You under this Lease Agreement are Your sole and exclusive remedies.
11. Warranties. (a) Leased equipment is warranted against material defects for the life of the lease. This warranty does not include damage to the equipment resulting from accident or misuse or any other breach of the Lease Agreement. If the equipment should become defective within the warranty period, First Data Merchant Services Corporation will replace it free of charge (except that appropriate shipping charges may apply); (b) All warranties, express or implied, made to you or any other person are hereby disclaimed, including without limitation, any warranties regarding quality, suitability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, quiet enjoyment, or non-infringement; (c) You warrant that you will only use the Equipment for commercial purposes and will not use the Equipment for any household or personal purposes.
12. Indemnification. You shall indemnify and hold us harmless from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages and expenses resulting from (a) the operation, use, condition, liens against, or return of the Equipment or (b) any breach by You of any of Your obligations hereunder, except to the extent any losses, liabilities, damages or expenses result from our gross negligence or willful misconduct.
13. Default; Remedies. (a) If any debit of Your Settlement Account initiated by us is rejected when due, or if You otherwise fail to pay us any amounts due hereunder when due, or if You default in any material respect in the performance or observance of any obligation or provision of this Lease Agreement or any agreement with any of our affiliates or joint ventures, any such event shall be a default hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, any default by You under a Merchant Processing Agreement (“MPA”) with us or with an affiliate or joint venture to which we are a party will be treated as a default under this Lease Agreement. Such a default would include a default resulting from early termination of the MPA. (b) Upon the occurrence of any default, we may at our option, effective immediately without notice, either (i) terminate this lease and our future obligations under this Lease Agreement, repossess the Equipment and proceed in any lawful manner against You for collection of all charges that have accrued and are due and payable, or (ii) accelerate and declare immediately due and payable all monthly lease charges for the remainder of the applicable lease period together with the fair market value of the Equipment (as determined by us), not as a penalty but as liquidated damages for our loss of the bargain. Upon any such termination for default, we may proceed in any lawful manner to obtain satisfaction of the amounts owed to us and, if applicable, our recovery of the Equipment, including entering onto Your premises to recover the Equipment. In any case, You shall also be responsible for our costs of collection, court costs, as well as applicable shipping, repair and refurbishing costs of recovered Equipment. You agree that we shall be entitled to recover any amounts due to us under this Lease Agreement by charging Your Settlement Account or any other funds of yours that come into our possession or control, or within the possession or control of our affiliates or joint ventures, or by setting off amounts that You owe to us against any amounts we may owe to You, in any case without notifying You prior to doing so. Without limiting the foregoing, You agree that we are entitled to recover amounts owed to us under this Lease Agreement by obtaining directly from an affiliate or joint venture to which we are a party and with which You have entered into an MPA any funds held or available as security for payment under the terms of the MPA, including funds available under the “Reserve Account; Security Interest” section of the MPA, if applicable.
14. Assignment. You may not assign or transfer this Lease Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, without our prior written consent. For purposes of this Lease Agreement, any transfer of voting control of You or Your parent shall be considered an assignment or transfer hereof. We will assign this Lease Agreement after its execution to First Data Global Leasing (FDGL), a business unit First Data Merchant Services Corporation. Upon any assignment, Merchant Lynx Services, Inc. shall be released from any further liability or obligation.
15. Lease Guaranty. No guarantor shall have any right of subrogation to any of our rights in the Equipment or this Lease Agreement or against You, and any such right of subrogation is hereby waived and released. All indebtedness that exists now or arises after the execution of this Lease Agreement between You and any guarantor is hereby subordinated to all of Your present and future obligations, and those of Your guarantor, to us, and no payment shall be made or accepted on such indebtedness due to You from a guarantor until the obligations due to us are paid and satisfied in full.
16. Governing Law; Venue; Miscellaneous. This Lease Agreement shall be governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without applying its conflicts of laws principles). The exclusive venue for any actions or claims arising under or related to this Lease Agreement shall be in the appropriate state of federal court located in Suffolk County, New York. If any part of this Lease Agreement is not enforceable, the remaining provisions will remain valid and enforceable.
17. Notices. All notices must be in writing, and shall be given (a) if sent by mail, when received, and (b) if sent by courier, when delivered; if to You at the address appearing on the MPA, and if to us at 4000 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33065 Attn: Lease Department. Customer Service toll free number 1-877-257-2094.
18. Entire Agreement. This Lease Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties with respect to the Equipment, supersedes any previous agreements and understandings and can be changed only by a written agreement signed by all parties. This Lease Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Lease Agreement by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Lease Agreement.
