Agreement

1.1. “Acceptable Identification” means an original form of identification that contains a photograph and that is legally recognized and accepted by the state government of the state in which Merchant is to use the Merchant Platform to submit the Loan Application, including a state-issued driver’s license or other state-issued identification. Acceptable Identification must validate that the Customer is at least 18 years of age. “Acceptable Identification” does not include identification issued by any military agency or US Citizenship and Immigration Services, or state-issued identification that is expressly limited to non-identification purposes (such as an AB—60 driver’s license, which entitles California residents to driving privileges, but does not constitute a valid form of identification). Program Administrator reserves the right to amend the type of identification which constitutes Acceptable Identification.

1.2. “Affiliate” is a person that, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, Merchant. For purposes of this definition of Affiliate, “control” shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract, or otherwise.

1.3. “Application” is the LendingUSA Program Application for Merchants.
1.4. “Business Day” is any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a federally recognized holiday observed in the state of California.

1.5. “Borrower” is a customer of Merchant who has applied for and has been approved for a Loan.

1.6. “Customer” is a qualifying consumer seeking to finance the purchase of certain goods or services offered and sold by Merchant.

1.7. “Funding Participants” are the federally insured financial institutions and other persons, together with their Affiliates, permitted assigns and permitted designees, including their respective servicers and Sponsors that originate Loans or holding title and/or economic rights to Loans originated through the LendingUSA Merchant Program and/or the Loan Program.

1.8. “Guidelines” are any program requirements, guidelines, instructions or procedures that Program Administrator communicates to Merchant and updates from time to time.

1.9. “Loan” is a loan to a Borrower created pursuant to the Loan Program.

1.10. “Loan Agreement” is a written agreement between a Funding Participant and a Borrower containing the terms and conditions of a Loan.

1.11. “Loan Documents” are the Loan Agreement, associated Truth-in-Lending Act disclosures and other documentation and communications from a Funding Participant (including documentation regarding online Borrower accounts and describing the rights of Program Administrator and Funding Participants, to collect from past due Borrowers).

1.12. “Merchant” is the person named as Merchant in the Application and, for purposes of Section 17 (Indemnification) and Section 18 (Limitation of Liability) with respect to a Merchant that is not publicly-traded, shall expressly include all persons who, directly or indirectly, have an ownership interest in Merchant (and, by participating in the LendingUSA Merchant Program, Merchant represents and warrants that all authorizations and approvals of any such persons necessary for them to be included in the definition of Merchant for such purpose have been obtained).

1.13. “Person” is an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

1.14. “Program Administrator” is LendingUSA, LLC, together with its Affiliates, permitted assigns and permitted designees, acting as program administrator for the LendingUSA Merchant Program, a Delaware limited liability company having a principal place of business at 15303 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 850, Sherman Oaks, California, 91403.

1.15. “Relevant Funding Participant” means, with respect to a Loan, the Funding Participant that originated the Loan, any purchaser of an economic interest in the Loan, and their Sponsor, if applicable.

1.16. “Request for Credit” is any application, request for credit, request for prequalification, or inquiry made by a prospective customer via the LendingUSA Merchant Program.

1.17. “Sponsor” means, with respect to any applicable Funding Participant, the servicer (including its affiliates, where applicable) who provides such Funding Participant Request for Credit processing services.
1.18. “Transaction Request” means evidence of a sale in paper or electronic form of products and services purchased from Merchant by a Borrower and shall include any and all information required by this Agreement.

2.1. Program Administrator, among other things, through its relationship with Funding Participants provides administrative, technical, and ministerial services to Funding Participants and facilitates the offering of certain consumer financing options, including but not limited to closed-end installment Loans (“Loan Program”).

2.2. Merchant agrees to participate in the LendingUSA Merchant Program in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including all Guidelines.

2.3. Merchant wishes to assist Customers obtain consumer financing options through Program Administrator’s proprietary platform (“Merchant Platform”) and related application programming interfaces (“APIs”) that are part of the LendingUSA Merchant Program.

2.4. Provided that Program Administrator approves the Merchant Application, Merchant will be authorized to participate in the LendingUSA Merchant Program by assisting Customers complete and submit a Loan Application or enter into Loan Agreement through the Merchant Platform.

2.5. Each Relevant Funding Partner is a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to any Loan Application submitted to, or Loan Agreement entered into by, such Funding Partner, including, where applicable it’s Servicers, successors and assigns. As such, each third-party beneficiary has, and may directly enforce, all rights and remedies of Program Administrator under this Merchant Agreement with respect to such Loan Applications or Loan Agreement, as if a party to this Agreement, regardless of whether such lending Funding Participant, including its designed servicer, successors or assigns are referenced in an applicable Merchant Agreement provision.

3.1. Merchant acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is contingent upon the evaluation and approval of Merchant by Program Administrator for participation in the LendingUSA Merchant Program, in Program Administrator’s sole discretion. Such evaluation may include, but is not limited to, evaluating any history of litigation and customer complaints, historic chargeback rates and losses, tax returns, legal status, the financial background of Merchant’s owner (including credit report or other background information), the overall financial health of Merchant, and any other information reasonably requested by Program Administrator. Program Administrator reserves the right, in its reasonable discretion, to periodically reassess Merchant eligibility for participation in the LendingUSA Merchant Program. Merchant agrees promptly to provide any information requested by Program Administrator to assess Merchant’s eligibility for participation in the LendingUSA Merchant Program, both initially and periodically, and to verify compliance with this Agreement.

3.2. Merchant acknowledges and agrees that Funding Participant is solely responsible for establishing (a) the credit criteria for evaluating and making approval or denial decisions on each Loan Application; (b) the interest rate(s), fees and all other terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement; and (c) any terms and conditions governing dispersal of Loan Proceeds (defined below) to Merchant, including applicable Funding Percentages.

3.3. Merchant acknowledges and agrees to:

3.4. In addition to Merchant’s other obligations, Merchant agrees that the following types of items are ineligible for financing through the LendingUSA Merchant Program (“Prohibited Items”):

3.5. Merchant shall not make any agreement or commitment to any Customer on behalf of Funding Participant without Funding Participant’s prior approval, nor shall Merchant misrepresent any of Funding Participant’s loan terms or requirements to a Customer or Borrower. Merchant shall make no misrepresentations to Customers regarding loan approval of denial, interest rates, fees, or other terms and conditions associated with the Loan Agreement or Funding Participant’s underwriting or approval process. Merchant has no authority to bind or obligate Funding Participant except as Funding Participant shall expressly authorize. Merchant will transmit to Funding Participant information received from an applicant in a timely and accurate manner and Merchant will inform an applicant in an accurate and timely manner of Funding Participant’s requests for information and other requirements of such applicant.

3.6. Merchant shall make available to its Customers Loan Applications for loans offered by Funding Participant(s). Merchant’s promotion services will include, but are not limited to, educating the Customer about the ability to finance the purchase of goods and services and the loan terms including promotional terms, if available, and the Loan Application process.

3.7. Upon the request of a Customer, Merchant will provide access to Funding Participant’s Loan Application through the Merchant Platform and assist Customer in completing the Loan Application and all other necessary forms to the extent that assistance may be required.

3.8. In the event that Program Administrator or a Funding Participant believes Merchant has failed to comply with this Agreement, Program Administrator may suspend Merchant’s participation in the LendingUSA Merchant Program and take such other action as it deems appropriate, including terminating this Agreement.

3.9. Merchant agrees to follow all of Program Administrator’s written instructions relating to the offering of the LendingUSA Merchant Program pursuant to this Agreement. Program Administrator may change the instructions from time to time upon advance notice to Merchant.

4.1. Program Administrator operates the Merchant Platform through its website, www.lendingusa.com, or other website(s) as may be in effect from time to time. The Merchant Platform manages the collection of Loan Applications, pre-screening, validation, and e-signing of Loan Agreements for Funding Participants interested in extending consumer credit to finance Customers’ purchase of eligible goods and services offered by Merchant.

4.2. During the Term and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Program Administrator hereby grants Merchant a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and integrate the Merchant Platform solely for the purpose of assisting Customers apply for financing to facilitate the purchase of eligible goods or services offered and sold by Merchant.

4.3. Merchant shall be provided with a hyperlink to the Merchant Platform access page and one or more unique identification name(s) and associated password(s) (a “Unique ID”) for use in accessing the Merchant Platform. Merchant shall designate employees authorized to use the Merchant Platform (each, an “Authorized User”). Each Authorized User will be permitted to access the Merchant Platform using Merchant’s Unique ID(s). Upon periodic request by Program Administrator, Merchant shall identify each Authorized User that has access to Merchant’s Unique ID. If any Authorized User leaves the employ of Merchant, or is otherwise removed as an Authorized User, Merchant shall immediately change all passwords that were provided to or used by the removed Authorized User.

4.4. Merchant shall not disclose its Unique ID(s) to any individual that is not an Authorized User except to the extent required to enable use of the Merchant Platform in accordance with this Agreement. If Merchant becomes aware of any access to the Merchant Platform through its Unique ID(s) by anyone who is not an Authorized User, Merchant shall immediately cease, and cause its Authorized Users to cease, using the Merchant Platform and shall notify Program Administrator of such unauthorized use. Further access to the Merchant Platform by Merchant and its Authorized Users shall recommence only upon the express written consent of Program Administrator. Merchant shall be entirely responsible for any loss or damage that results from the unauthorized use of the Merchant’s Unique ID.

4.5. Merchant shall only connect to the Merchant Platform through the hyperlink provided by Program Administrator (the “Merchant Link”). Merchant shall use the Merchant Link only in accordance with all applicable security and other policies and procedures which Program Administrator implements and may change from time to time that are provided or communicated to Merchant by Program Administrator. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Merchant may direct a Customer to Program Administrator’s website, which provides a mechanism for a Customer to submit a Loan Application without the assistance of the Merchant (the “Consumer Link”). In such case, Merchant shall make no representations regarding the Consumer Link other than to inform the Customer of the Consumer Link as an alternative to the Merchant Link.

4.6. Merchant shall use its best efforts to prevent all security breaches through the Merchant Link, by implementing stringent security procedures, including without limitation accessing the Program Administrator Systems through password protected systems, changing passwords on a regular basis (and no less frequently than every 30 days), and never accessing the Merchant Platform from a shared or public computer, device or network, and shall act immediately to address any unapproved methods of connection, security breach, or exposure to hacking attempts. The right to connect to the Merchant Platform may be revoked at any time.

4.7. Merchant shall ensure that no viruses, Trojan horses, disabling code, malware or similar hostile items are coded or introduced into the Merchant Platform. Merchant agrees that, in the event a hostile item is found to have been introduced by Merchant, Merchant shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Program Administrator in every possible way (at Merchant’s sole expense if such introduction is due to a breach of its obligations under this Section) in eliminating the hostile item, mitigating its effects and restoring any affected systems on the Merchant Platform to their prior state.

4.8. Any and all information entered into the Merchant Platform by or on behalf of a Customer (“Customer Data”) shall be collected and submitted only with the consent of the Customer. Customer Data shall be authenticated by Merchant and submitted with the authorization, pursuant to electronic signature of the Customer, where appropriate.

4.9. Program Administrator or the applicable Funding Participant are is the sole and exclusive owners of Customer Data, subject to compliance with applicable laws governing the protection of privacy of such data. Accordingly, Merchant disclaims any interest in Customer Data.

4.10. Customer Data may include data that is personal and confidential to each Customer and may, or may not, include information that is defined in state privacy statutes as personally identifiable information or sensitive personal information (“Confidential Customer Data”). Merchant and its Authorized Users may have access to Confidential Customer Data during the course of a purchase transaction including during the time that Merchant, its Authorized Users, or a Customer enters data into the Merchant Platform.

4.11. Except for entering data into the Merchant Platform, neither Merchant nor any Authorized User shall otherwise retain or record Confidential Customer Data, other than as necessary for facilitation of the purchase made by Customers and as necessary to verify the identity of the Customer as required by Subsection 6.6 of this Agreement (“Merchant Maintained Data”). Merchant shall be the owner of Merchant Maintained Data and as such, is obligated to protect Merchant Maintained Data pursuant to common law, and state and federal statutes and regulations.

5.1. If Merchant chooses to participate in the LendingUSA Merchant Program, Merchant agrees to promote the LendingUSA Merchant Program in a commercially reasonable manner and in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Any written material referring or this Agreement relating to the LendingUSA Merchant Program, including the fact that Merchant participates in the LendingUSA Merchant Program or specific Loan credit terms or credit products Merchant accepts, shall be prepared or furnished by Program Administrator or, if prepared by Merchant, shall be subject to review and approval by Program Administrator in advance of being used by Merchant. Any such review and approval shall be limited to the review and approval of LendingUSA Merchant Program-specific representations and statements and shall not be construed as a review or approval of any advertising or solicitation materials for any other purpose or for compliance with any other provisions of any local, state or federal laws not related to the LendingUSA Merchant Program.

5.2. Merchant shall not require, through a surcharge, an increase in price or otherwise, any Borrower to pay any fees as a consequence of Borrower applying for or using his or her Loan to pay Merchant. Specifically, Merchant may not charge the Borrower any part of any charge or fee imposed by the LendingUSA Merchant Program on Merchant, provided that Merchant may treat such fees as overhead to be distributed across all customers regardless of whether the customer uses a Loan to pay for his or her purchase from Merchant.

5.3. Merchant shall not use a Loan as a “bridge” loan or intend for the Borrower to use the proceeds of another loan to pay off a Loan under the LendingUSA Merchant Program.

6.1. Through the LendingUSA Merchant Program, a Funding Participant may offer Loan(s) to Merchant’s qualified Customers under a separate Loan Agreement between Funding Participant and such qualified Customer. As between the Parties, Program Administrator (i) has sole authority to prescribe the terms and conditions of the Request for Credit, the Loan Agreement and each Loan (including interest rate, maximum amount and term), (ii) may prospectively modify such terms and conditions with respect to Loans for which approval is granted subsequent to the time of the modification, (iii) may at any time change the credit standards without notice to Merchant, and (iv) may reject and accept Requests for Credit in its sole discretion. A Funding Participant shall not be obligated to take any action with respect to a Loan, including accepting the Request for Credit or making future credit available to a prospective Borrower or a Borrower, and has no obligation to approve any particular Loan or to approve Loans meeting any particular set of requirements. A Funding Participant may withdraw any previously issued Loan approval prior to funding of the Loan, which Loan approvals, unless earlier withdrawn, shall automatically expire at the end of the purchase window for the applicable credit product. Funding Participants may at any time suspend, and restart, any of the Loan products offered in connection with the LendingUSA Merchant Program.

6.2. Except as provided herein, Funding Participants shall own the Loans and shall bear the credit risk for the Loans. Merchant acknowledges and agrees that it shall have no ownership interest in the Loans.

6.3. Merchant agrees to submit all Requests for Credit in accordance with this Agreement and Guidelines.

6.4. Merchant agrees to provide its sales and finance employees with necessary training and equipment to submit Requests for Credit in accordance with this Agreement and Guidelines.

6.5. In addition, Merchant may, with a prospective Borrower’s prior written consent, (i) submit a completed Request for Credit to the LendingUSA Merchant Program by such means as are set forth in the Guidelines and (ii) receive and forward the Loan Documents to the prospective Borrower.

6.6. Merchant agrees that with respect to all Request for Credit or application information forms it shall provide all information requested and required by the LendingUSA Merchant Agreement, including obtaining all signatures, as applicable, on Requests for Credit, and to ensure all information requested is complete and legible. In addition, Merchant ages that it will verify the identification each individual applying for credit by obtaining Acceptable Identification (or another identification method authorized in any Guidelines).

6.7. Merchant agrees that it will not sign Requests for Credit or Loan Documents on behalf of its Customers.

7.1. Merchant acknowledges that payment for goods or services purchased by Customers who enter a Loan Agreement shall be made directly to Merchant by Funding Participant and not by Program Administrator. Merchant further acknowledges that Funding Participant shall be the creditor at origination. All transactions financed pursuant to this Agreement shall be for personal, family or household purposes unless otherwise authorized in writing by Program Administrator.

7.2. Merchant agrees that Program Administrator or the Relevant Funding Participants, have the sole right to receive payments on Loans. Merchant agrees not to attempt to collect on a Loan unless specifically authorized in writing by the Relevant Funding Participant, directly or indirectly by Program Administrator. Merchant agrees to hold in trust for the Relevant Funding Participant any payment received by Merchant in respect of such Loan and to deliver such payment to the Relevant Funding Participants, together with the Borrower’s name, account number, and any correspondence accompanying the payment, within five days of receipt by Merchant. Merchant agrees that Merchant shall be deemed to have endorsed, in favor of the Relevant Funding Participant to which any such payment relates, any Borrower payments by check, money order or other instrument made payable to Merchant that a Borrower presents to Program Administrator, and Merchant hereby authorizes the Relevant Funding Participants (or, if designated by such Relevant Funding Participants, Program Administrator, on their behalf) to supply such necessary endorsements on behalf of Merchant. Merchant agrees that it shall not, directly or indirectly, make any payment on a Loan on behalf of a Borrower without the prior written approval of Program Administrator, acting on behalf of Funding Participants, and Program Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to immediately (a) suspend Merchant’s right to submit new funding transactions on approved Loans or submit new Requests for Credit or (b) terminate this Agreement in the event that Merchant fails to comply with this provision.

8.1. Merchant agrees that the price being charged to a Customer for the purchase of goods and/or services as evidenced by the Loan Agreement (the “Financed Price”) is the same price that would be charged to the Customer if the Customer paid cash for the goods and/or services.

8.2. Merchant agrees that a Funding Participant’s offer to extend consumer financing or enter a Loan Agreement may be conditioned upon (among other things) Merchant accepting as payment in full a specified percentage (the “Funding Percentage”) of the Financed Price of the goods or services to be delivered by Merchant (“Payout Amount”). Merchant agrees that the Payout Amount shall equal the product of the Financed Price and the Funding Percentage. The terms and conditions of a Relevant Funding Participant’s offer to extend consumer financing, including any applicable Funding Percentage, and merchant discount fee (the “Merchant Discount Fee”), shall be set forth on a webpage accessible through the Merchant Platform, and at all times are contingent on the Funding Participant and Customer entering into a Loan under the LendingUSA Merchant Program. The amounts vary and may be amended from time to time.

8.3. Merchant acknowledges and agrees that, upon Merchant accepting the Payout Amount as payment in full, neither Program Administrator, the Relevant Funding Participant nor the Customer shall have any liability to Merchant for any sums other than the Payout Amount. In the event of noncompliance with the terms of this Section 8 Funding Participant may refuse to remit Loan Proceeds (as defined below) or require Merchant to timely reimburse previously remitted Loan Proceeds, or the disputed portion thereof, as applicable. A failure to timely provide reimbursement under this Subsection 8.3 may result in a Chargeback, pursuant to Section 10.4 of this Agreement.

8.4. Merchant agrees not to disclose to any Customer the Funding Percentage or Payout Amount, the proposed or actual amount of Loan Proceeds paid by Funding Participants to Merchant, or any difference between the Payout Amount or amount of Loan Proceeds and the Financed Price.

8.5. Merchant agrees not to impose the Merchant Discount Fee on any Customer either by charging the Customer directly for the Merchant Discount Fee or indirectly by charging a higher cost for its goods or services where the Customer finances the purchase of such goods or services pursuant to the Loan Program.

8.6. Merchant shall not charge to or receive from a Customer any fee, charge or other compensation of any kind in connection with any Loan Application or Loan Agreement.

9.1. Before Funding Participants receive or otherwise processes a Loan Application, each Customer must have agreed in the Loan Application that, if Funding Participant approves the Loan Application, Funding Participant will deliver the proceeds payable to Merchant by Funding Participant under the Loan Agreement (“Loan Proceeds”) directly to Merchant via the National Automated Clearing House Association (“ACH Network”) to an account designated to Program Administrator, on behalf of itself and Funding Participants (as applicable) by Merchant (“Settlement Account”). Merchant shall be solely liable for all fees and costs associated with the Settlement Account.

9.2. Provided that the Settlement Account designated by Merchant in the Merchant Application is verified to the satisfaction of Program Administrator, the Settlement Account shall be used to receive any Loan Proceeds, and for debiting Chargebacks, as provided by and in accordance with this Agreement. Merchant authorizes Program Administrator and Funding Participants, including any designated servicer (as applicable), to initiate credit entries for amounts that Program Administrator or Funding Participants may owe Merchant, to disburse any Loan Proceeds, or that may otherwise be due Merchant under this Agreement. Merchant authorizes Program Administrator and Relevant Funding Participant(s) to initiate debit entries for any credit entries in error or the amount which Merchant owes under this Agreement, which is more than the amount owed Merchant. Such credit and debit entries will be to the bank account identified by Merchant. Merchant and Program Administrator acknowledge that the origination of ACH transactions described in this Section 9 must comply with applicable law and NACHA rules.

9.3. The authorizations set forth in this Section 9 will remain in effect until the date on which no Loans remain outstanding and all Chargebacks and any other authorized debits have been processed, provided that in the event of termination of this Agreement, Merchant agrees to maintain the Settlement Account with sufficient funds until such time as Merchant on the one hand, and together Program Administrator and all Relevant Funding Participants on the other, agree that all Chargebacks and other adjustments are processed. Merchant shall not close the Settlement Account without first informing Program Administrator, the Relevant Funding Participant, or their designated Sponsor, as applicable, five (5) Business Days prior to the date of the closing of the Settlement Account and providing Program Administrator information for another bank account (the “Substitute Settlement Account”) which shall be used for the same purposes as the prior Settlement Account. Merchant shall not close a Settlement Account or Substitute Settlement Account until Program Administrator has confirmed that the Substitute Settlement Account is verified to Program Administrator’s satisfaction and that there are sufficient funds in the Substitute Settlement Account to cover pending, projected Chargebacks, or any other amounts owed under this Agreement. Merchant’s obligations under this Section 9.3 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

9.4. Neither Program Administrator nor Funding Participants shall be liable for any delays in the transmission of Loan Proceeds or errors in Settlement Account entries caused by third parties, including, but not limited to, a clearinghouse, Merchant’s financial institution, or any agent of Merchant. Program Administrator agrees to comply with written notifications from Merchant that alter Merchant’s bank account information (i.e., name and address of the bank or financial institution, transit/routing number or account number), provided that Program Administrator receives such notification in sufficient time and manner to give Program Administrator and the bank or financial institution reasonable opportunity to act on it.

9.5. Merchant agrees to be bound by the terms of the operating rules of the ACH Network, as in effect from time to time.

9.6. In the event Merchant fails to verify that the price charged for the relevant goods or services is the same as the Financed Price specified in the Customer’s Loan Agreement, as disclosed by Funding Participant on the final confirmation fax or other electronic notification of acceptance of the Loan Agreement prior to Funding Participant’s transmission of Loan Proceeds, Merchant is responsible for the difference and shall either: (a) if Relevant Funding Participant remits Loan Proceeds to Merchant in an amount that is greater than the actual cash purchase price offered by Merchant to its Customer, then Merchant shall remit the difference to Funding Participant via wire transfer in accordance with the procedures specified herein, so that Relevant Funding Participant may apply such amount to the Customer’s Loan account; or (b) if Relevant Funding Participant remits Loan Proceeds in an amount that is less than the sale, then Merchant is solely responsible for the difference.

10.1. Returns.

10.2. Disputes.

10.3. Fraudulent Conduct.

10.4. Chargebacks.

10.5. With respect to any Chargeback or refund:

10.6. Relevant Funding Participants are not required to disburse funds to Merchant for a Loan Agreement that is being charged back. If a Relevant Funding Participant has already disbursed funds to Merchant for such Loan Agreement, the Relevant Funding Participants, at their sole discretion, may deduct the amount to be charged back from the Settlement Account or offset such amount from a future payment to Merchant. Alternatively, the Relevant Funding Participants may demand that Merchant pay the Relevant Funding Participants the amount of the Chargeback (plus the amount of any related transfer or transaction fee and any Late Payment Fee), and Merchant shall make such payment with three (3) Business Days of such demand. Any Chargebacks that are not paid as described above shall be due and payable by Merchant promptly on demand.

10.7. In its reasonable discretion but upon prior notice to Merchant, the Relevant Funding Participants, as communicated by Program Administrator, may compromise and settle any claim made by any Borrower if such claim may give the Relevant Funding Participants a right to chargeback (or a right to a refund) in accordance with this Agreement. The Relevant Funding Participant, as communicated by Program Administrator, may settle such claim in an amount equal to the amount paid for the disputed good and services, not to exceed the face amount of any sale of good and services purchased by Borrower.

10.8. If a Funding Participant exercises its right of chargeback (or seeks a refund) in accordance with this Agreement, such Funding Participant may set off or recoup amounts charged-back or subject to refund against any sums due to Merchant under this Agreement and, if the amount of such chargeback or refund exceeds the sums due Merchant, such Funding Participant may demand payment from Merchant for such amount (or set off or recoup such amount up to the amount of sums due to Merchant and demand payment from Merchant for such excess amount).

10.9. If the full amount due with respect to any Loan is charged back or otherwise refunded by Merchant, Merchant shall be entitled to recover the unpaid amount of the face amount of any sale of good and services purchased by Borrower from the customer as if the financing had not occurred, although Merchant shall have no rights under the Loan Agreement or to the proceeds of the Loan. In such event, Merchant shall bear all liability and risk of loss associated with such Transaction Request without warranty by, or recourse or liability to, Program Administrator or any Funding Participant.

10.10. Contest of Compliance with Laws.

11.1. API License. During the Term and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Program Administrator hereby grants Merchant a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and integrate Program Administrator’s APIs in order to provide and to enable Merchant to access, use, perform and display (publicly or otherwise) the LendingUSA Merchant Program or Merchant Platform.

11.2. Trademark License. During the Term and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Program Administrator hereby grants Merchant a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license and right to use, reproduce, display, distribute and Program Administrator’s name, logo and any other trademarks, trade names, service marks, photographs, graphics, artwork, text and other content provided or specified by Program Administrator in any and all media formats, whether registered or unregistered, (collectively the “Marks”) solely in connection with and solely to the extent reasonably necessary for the purposes of this Agreement. Use of the Marks does not create in Merchant’s favor any right, title or interest in the Marks or any continuing rights to market or distribute the LendingUSA Merchant Program. Merchant shall not register or apply for registration of any of Program Administrator’s Marks (or any similar trademarks, service marks or logos) for itself, or any other party. Merchant agrees to cooperate with Program Administrator if Program Administrator seeks to proceed with any infringement action regarding such rights.

11.3. Program Administrator Intellectual Property. Merchant agrees and acknowledges that Program Administrator is the exclusive owner of and retains all right, title, and interest in any and all software, technology or tools used by Program Administrator to promote, market, sell, generate, or distribute the LendingUSA Merchant Program, including Program Administrator’s name, logo and any other trademarks or patented or copyrighted material (collectively, “Program Administrator IP”). Merchant may not, nor may Merchant allow any third party to (i) modify, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, otherwise attempt to derive source code from, or create derivative works based on, the Program Administrator IP; (ii) make unauthorized copies of the Program Administrator IP; (iii) distribute or market the LendingUSA Merchant Program and any Program Administrator IP, except to Customers, without Program Administrator’s prior written authorization; (iv) remove any proprietary notices, labels or Marks on or in any copy of the LendingUSA Merchant Program or Program Administrator IP; or (v) use the LendingUSA Merchant Program and Program Administrator IP in any manner or for any purpose other than for which the LendingUSA Merchant Program and Program Administrator IP have been incorporated or for which the LendingUSA Merchant Program and Program Administrator IP have been provided.

11.4. Notification Required. Merchant shall notify Program Administrator and any Relevant Funding Participant immediately upon receiving a cease and desist, or similar, letter with regard to any copyright, trademark or patent infringement related to or arising from a website or e-mail that includes any information regarding, or hyperlink to, Program Administrator’s or Funding Participant’s websites, products or services. Such notification shall include a copy of the cease and desist letter.

11.5. Restrictions on Use of LendingUSA Merchant Program. Merchant shall not: (i) offer for sale or lease, sell, resell, lease or in any way transfer the LendingUSA Merchant Program; (ii) attempt to create a substitute or similar service through use of, or access to, the LendingUSA Merchant Program; or (iii) perform any benchmark tests against a competing provider without the prior written consent of Program Administrator (any results of such permitted benchmark testing shall be deemed Confidential Information of Program Administrator and, other than as provided in Section 13 (Confidential Information), shall not be shared with any other party without Program Administrator’s prior written consent). Merchant will ensure that Customers and third parties do not access or use the LendingUSA Merchant Program in a way intended to avoid incurring fees, misrepresent usage or performance data, misrepresent transaction amount or item data, or misrepresent user information.

12.1. Due Organization and Good Standing. Merchant is duly formed, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation or formation and has all the right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and carry on its business as presently conducted and is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing (where such concept is recognized under applicable law) in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business or the ownership or operation of its properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary.

12.2. Duly Licensed. Merchant and each of its employees, as well as any agents, independent contractors or service providers, have and will maintain any licenses, registrations, or certifications required by applicable law to engage in the provision of goods or services offered and sold by Merchant and are in good standing with, and not subject to any disciplinary actions by, any authority that issues such licenses, registrations, or certifications.

12.3. Authority and Capacity. Merchant has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver, and perform its obligations under, this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

12.4. Origination of Loans and Loan Documents. As to each Request for Credit, evidence of sale of products and services purchased from Merchant by a Borrower, or other material presented or delivered in connection with the LendingUSA Merchant Program, and the transaction it evidences, Merchant represents and warrants the following:

12.5. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Merchant is in compliance with, and will continue to comply with all Program Administrator policies and procedures, the Agreement, including any addendum, Guidelines, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances and regulations.

12.6. No Fraud. Neither Merchant nor any of its agents or employees shall in any manner have been guilty of any civil or criminal fraud with respect to the creation of any sale of products or services or the funding of a Loan by Funding Participant and/or Program Administrator. No Customer was induced to enter into any of the Loan Application by any false or misleading statements, including those relating to privacy and data security and to its sale of products and services, point-of-sale practices and representations made by Merchant’s employees and representatives and that Merchant has retained and will retain all required licenses, permits, approvals, certifications and the like that are required under applicable law to conduct its business, to deliver its products and services, to participate in the LendingUSA Merchant Program and to perform its obligations under this Agreement, each of which remains and shall remain in full force and effect.

12.7. No Pending Litigation; Government Proceedings. There is no pending or, to Merchant’s knowledge, threatened civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, proceeding or investigation against or relating to Merchant or any of its Affiliates. Additionally, there is no litigation, proceeding or governmental investigation existing or pending or, to the knowledge of Merchant threatened, or any order, injunction or decree outstanding against or relating to Merchant or its Affiliates, that has not been disclosed by Merchant to Program Administrator or its counsel in writing prior to the execution of this Agreement, which could have a material adverse effect upon the loans or any of Merchant’s agreements or obligations hereunder, nor does Merchant know of any basis for any such litigation, proceeding, or governmental investigation. Merchant has not violated any Applicable Law which may materially affect any of the contracts with Customers or any of Merchant’s agreements or obligations hereunder.

12.8. Disclosure of Consent Order; Proceedings. Merchant has disclosed to Program Administrator in writing, prior to executing this Agreement, and agrees to promptly disclose in writing at any time after executing this Agreement, the existence of any past federal or state decrees, orders, or consent agreements, and any pending formal or informal government examinations, investigations or prosecutions by any federal or state governmental or regulatory body or agency, or any industry regulatory authority.

12.9. No Breach. Neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, shall conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, or require the consent of any person under the terms, conditions or provisions of any contract, notice, indenture, license, permit, lease or other instrument to which Merchant is a party or any judgment, decree, or order to which Merchant is subject.

12.10. Solvency. Merchant is solvent and not subject to insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, petition to initiate such proceedings, nor order issued in such proceedings, nor do legal grounds exist for such proceedings, petition, or order.

12.11. Authority Customer Data. Merchant has the right to provide to Program Administrator any Customer Data, free of any obligation of confidentiality to any third-party, and that such information is accurate and, if pertaining to any Customer, has been collected and submitted with such Customer’s consent.

12.12. No Authority to Act for Customer. Merchant is prohibited from accepting loan disclosures, providing consent, or executing any documents required under the LendingUSA Merchant Program on behalf of Customers without Program Administrator approval.

12.13. No Employee or Owner Financing. Merchant shall not apply for or obtain a Loan under the Loan Program to finance the purchase of goods or services offered or sold by Merchant. Merchant shall ensure that all of its agents, employees, owners, relatives of owners, and Affiliates, are prohibited from applying for or obtaining a Loan under the Loan Program to finance the purchase of goods or services offered or sold by Merchant.

12.14. Program Administrator No Duty to Verify, Validate, or Correct. Merchant understands, acknowledges and agrees that Program Administrator has no obligation to verify, validate, or correct information provided by Merchant or Customers in any way. Notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, Program Administrator may in its sole discretion review the information provided by Merchant or Customers and at any time and in its sole discretion, including without limitation, upon an inquiry or request from Funding Participant or federal or state governmental or regulatory body or agency, or any industry regulatory authority, either: (i) request any changes or amendments thereto, with which Merchant undertakes to comply, or (ii) remove the information provided by Merchant or Customers from the Merchant Platform. The Merchant shall have no claim against Program Administrator and shall not be entitled to any remedy from Program Administrator in connection with such actions.

12.15. Program Administrator is Not a Lender of Record. Merchant understands, acknowledges and agrees that the Funding Participant is the Lender of Record and Program Administrator is not a lender or loan broker, and does not make lending decisions, does not offer or make solicitations to lend, has no involvement with the underwriting of a financial transaction, makes no representation that any Customer will be approved for consumer financing or that a certain percentage of Customers will be approved for consumer financing, and does not have authority as an agent, representative or broker of any Funding Participant to extend credit on behalf of any Funding Participant, and that neither Merchant nor any Customer shall have any claim against Program Administrator or be entitled to any remedy from Program Administrator in connection with any rejection or denial of any Loan Application or failure by any Funding Participant to fund any amount required under a Loan Agreement.

12.16. Merchant Platform. Merchant understands, acknowledges and agrees that Program Administrator shall not be liable for the inadvertent disclosure of, or corruption or erasure of data (including but not limited to data provided by Merchant or Customer) transmitted or received or stored on the Merchant Platform, or any part thereof, except to the extent such disclosure, corruption or erasure can be attributed to a fault of the Merchant Platform, or the hardware on which the Merchant Platform, or the data transmitted through it, is hosted and stored.

12.17. Holder in Due Course Rule. All representations made by Merchant to Customers related to the goods and services sold and financed under this Agreement with loans are and will be complete and correct. The quality of the goods and services sold or to be sold meets or exceeds applicable standards sufficient to ensure that Customers (a) will have no claims against Merchant (i) for unfair or deceptive trade practices and (ii) under the FTC’s Rule Regarding Preservation of Consumers’ Claims and Defense (Holder in Due Course Rule) and its state law counterparts and, (b) Merchant has done and Merchant will do, no act or thing which may adversely affect the enforceability of the Loans.

12.18. Merchant Representations. Merchant understands, acknowledges and agrees that it is responsible for updating any disclosures it has made to Program Administrator, which, if not disclosed would make any of the above representations, warranties or covenants incorrect as of the date of submission of any Loan Application or funding of any Loan Agreement. No representation, warranty or written statement made by Merchant in its Application, this Agreement or in any exhibit, schedule, written statement or certificate furnished to Program Administrator or Funding Participant in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby by Merchant contains or will contain any untrue statement of material fact or omits or will omit a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading. Each of the foregoing representations and warranties by Merchant (i) shall be deemed to be repeated by Merchant at the time Loan Applications are submitted and at the time each loan is funded, (ii) shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of Loans, and (iii) shall continue in full force and effect until all terms and conditions of the last Borrower has repaid his or her loan, in full, and this Agreement has been fully performed. Program Administrator may rely upon the foregoing representations and warranties of Merchant irrespective of any information or knowledge obtained by Program Administrator of anything contrary to or inconsistent therewith.

12.19. Non Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Merchant and the consummation by Merchant of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Merchant and does not contravene any government or contractual restriction applicable to Merchant; and that it will not violate any agreement it has with third parties and will advise Program Administrator promptly of any event that may adversely affect its prospects or continued operations.

12.20. Binding Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Merchant and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Program Administrator, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Merchant enforceable against Merchant in accordance with its terms.

13.1. From time to time, in connection with the operation of this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, one party (“Discloser”) may disclose Confidential Information (defined below) to the other party (“Recipient”), whether in writing, orally, or by allowing inspection of tangible objects (i.e., documents, tapes disks, prototypes, samples, plans or equipment).

13.2. Recipient shall:

13.3. Merchant agrees to protect Non-Public Personal Information (“NPPI”) about the Customer as required by any applicable state laws, and related federal and state regulations, including the Privacy and Safeguards regulations, respectively (collectively, the “Safeguarding Rules”). Merchant warrants and represents to the other party that it has and agrees to maintain physical, electronic, and procedural controls and safeguards in compliance with the FTC and Funding Participant’s Regulatory Agency Safeguarding Rules to protect NPPI from unwarranted disclosure. Merchant will implement and maintain appropriate measures designed to meet the following objectives: (a) to ensure the security and confidentiality of Customer NPPI; (b) to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information; and (c) to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any Customer. Merchant agrees that it shall comply with the FTC and Funding Participant’s Regulatory Agency Safeguarding Rules and will promptly notify Program Administrator, of any breach of the Safeguarding Rules or the provisions of this Section 13.

13.4. Recipient may disclose Confidential Information belonging to Discloser to the extent required to be disclosed by applicable law, provided that Recipient: provides Discloser with written notice of such requirement to disclose as soon as practicable once learning of such requirement, if such notice is not prohibited by applicable law; consults with Discloser on the advisability of seeking confidential treatment for some or all of the Confidential Information at issue; and assists Discloser as reasonably requested by Discloser and at Recipient’s expense, in obtaining a protective order or otherwise securing confidential treatment for such Confidential Information.

13.5. Recipient shall return or destroy, as Discloser indicates, all Confidential Information belonging to Discloser, including without limitation all copies, compilations, summaries, analyses or other materials containing or reflecting Recipient’s use of Confidential Information, within ten (10) days after the earlier of: termination of this Agreement; or Discloser’s written request to Recipient for such return or destruction, as applicable. Recipient shall promptly send Discloser written certification of such destruction or return.

13.6. Except for Confidential Information related to Loan Applications or Loan Agreements (which is subject to Section 4.9), the Confidential Information (and related copies and materials) shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Discloser thereof. Recipient has no rights under any of Discloser’s patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets or with respect to any of Discloser’s other intellectual property, except if and as expressly set forth herein. Recipient may not use Confidential Information to apply for or secure any patents or any other intellectual property rights.

13.7. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means any proprietary information, technical data, demographic information, Customer data, trade secrets or know-how, including but not limited to research, product plans, products, services, customers, customer lists, markets, software, developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings, engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing, finances or other business information disclosed by either party either directly or indirectly in writing, orally or by drawings or inspection of parts or equipment but excludes any such information that: (a) was lawfully in a party’s possession before receiving it from the other party; (b) is provided in good faith to one party by a third party without, to such party’s knowledge, breaching any rights of the other party; (c) is or becomes generally available to the public other than through a violation of this Merchant Agreement; or (d) was or is independently developed without use of or reference to the Confidential Information.

14.1. Merchant shall satisfy all other requirements designated in any Guidelines or as otherwise may be required from time to time by Program Administrator, acting on behalf of Funding Participants, and communicated to Merchant. The terms of the Guidelines are incorporated by reference into this Agreement. In the event there is any inconsistency between any Guidelines and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern. Notwithstanding the provisions regarding notice in Section 24.9 (Notice), Merchant agrees that Program Administrator may post the Guidelines on the LendingUSA Merchant Program website and/or Merchant Platform and that doing so will constitute notice thereof to Merchant. Merchant agrees that it has an ongoing obligation to check the website on a monthly basis for any updates or changes to the Guidelines.

15.1. Merchant shall afford Program Administrator and Funding Participants and their authorized representatives, including internal and external auditors, and governmental entities with regulatory authority over either party (collectively, the “Auditors”), upon the giving of reasonable prior notice, access, during normal business hours, to the books and records and other information relating to the Loan Program, and permit such Auditors to make copies as may be necessary for the purposes of auditing the Loan Program and compliance with applicable law. Auditors’ activities shall be conducted in a manner which does not unreasonably interfere with the normal operations, customers and employee relations of Merchant. Program Administrator and Funding Participant are entitled to inspect Merchant’s Confidential Information and Customer NPPI compliance with the security requirements in Section 13 (Confidential Information). Such audits shall not materially interfere with Merchant’s business and shall be conducted during normal business hours, upon reasonable advanced written notice to Merchant.

16.1. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION (I) ANY WARRANTY THAT THE PROVISION OF THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM OR THE MERCHANT PLATFORM BY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, AVAILABLE, SECURE OR ERROR FREE; (II) ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE; (III) ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE; (IV) ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM OR THE MERCHANT PLATFORM; (V) ANY WARRANTY TO THE QUALITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, CONTENT OR PERFORMANCE OF THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM OR THE MERCHANT PLATFORM; OR (VI) THAT THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM OR THE MERCHANT PLATFORM WILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF MERCHANT, CUSTOMER OR THIRD PARTY. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM OR THE MERCHANT PLATFORM, OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM OR THE MERCHANT PLATFORM AVAILABLE TO MERCHANT ARE FREE OF COMPUTER VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. TO THE EXTENT THE ABOVE DISCLAIMERS ARE PROHIBITED BY LAW, THEIR APPLICABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE MINIMUM PERMITTED BY LAW.

17.1. Merchant agrees to indemnify, defend (at Merchant’s sole expense, and with counsel selected by and acceptable to the applicable LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person), and hold harmless Program Administrator, and any Relevant Funding Participant, and their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, managers, employees, representatives and agents) (each a “LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all losses, claims, investigations, litigation, proceedings, liabilities, damages, administrative charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of any kind whatsoever (collectively a “Loss”) directly or indirectly arising out of or related to Merchant’s breach of any obligation owed to Program Administrator or such other LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person, including: (i) breach of any representation, warranty or covenant of Merchant contained in this Agreement, including any addendum attached hereto; (ii) failure of Merchant to comply with any applicable federal, state or local law, rule, regulation or ordinance; (iii) any Loss sustained by or threatened against any LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person attributable in whole or in part to negligence, fraud, error (whether negligent or not), omission or misconduct of Merchant, its employees, subcontractors, representatives or agents; (iv) any Loss sustained by or threatened against any LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person by reason of, or attributable in whole or in part to, Merchant’s failure to perform any of its obligations, or discharge any of its responsibilities, to any person, including failure to pay Transaction Fees when due; (v) any defect in any products and services sold or provided by Merchant or any breach of any express or implied warranty in connection with such products and services; and (vi) any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding by or against Merchant; provided that Merchant shall have no obligations or liability under this Section 17 to the extent a Loss results solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person. Merchant further agrees to reimburse each LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person upon demand for all legal and other expenses (including expenses related to investigation, settlement, compromise or satisfaction) incurred by any such LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person in connection with any of the foregoing.

17.2. Merchant agrees that if it breaches any representation or warranty herein or if a Borrower asserts any claim or defense (regardless of the validity thereof) arising out of any transaction evidenced by any Request for Credit, Loan Agreement or Transaction Request or cancels any transaction evidenced by any Request for Credit, Loan Agreement or Transaction Request, Merchant will refund on demand the amount of any Loan affected, plus any finance or other charges related to such Loan. Merchant also agrees to indemnify and hold the LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Persons harmless for any and all breaches of warranties, damages and costs, including attorneys’ fees, which any LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person may sustain as a result of any such event. Program Administrator, on its own behalf or on behalf of Funding Participants (as applicable), may, at its option, deduct any amount Merchant owes Program Administrator or Funding Participants pursuant to this Section 17.2or any other provision of this Agreement from any amount Program Administrator or Funding Participants may owe Merchant.

17.3. In the event and for so long as any LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person actively is contesting or defending against any action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand in connection with (i) any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or (ii) any fact, situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction involving Merchant or any customer of Merchant, Merchant will cooperate with such LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person and its counsel with respect thereto, make available any personnel under its control, and provide such testimony and access to its books and records, including allowing copies to be made by such LendingUSA Merchant Program Indemnified Person or its representatives, as shall be reasonably necessary in connection therewith, all at the sole cost and expense of Merchant.

18.1. THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM AND THE MERCHANT PLATFORM ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, EACH FUNDING PARTICIPANT AND THEIR AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGES, INJURIES, ECONOMIC LOSSES, COMMERCIAL LOSSES OR OTHER CASUALTY OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES), OR BY WHOMSOEVER CAUSED, TO THE PERSON OR PROPERTY OF ANYONE ELSE INCLUDING THE MERCHANT, EACH FUNDING PARTICIPANT AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, MANAGERS, MEMBERS, OFFICERS, SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR WARRANTY, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORT OR ON ANY STRICT LIABILITY THEORY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE, OR IF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN REASONABLY FORESEEN. THE LIABILITY PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL SURVIVE ITS EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION UNTIL ALL CLAIMS CONTEMPLATED BY THESE PROVISIONS ARE FULLY, FINALLY AND ABSOLUTELY BARRED BY THE APPLICABLE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

18.2. The total aggregate liability of Program Administrator to Merchant or its respective agents, employees, managers, members, officers, successors or assigns, in respect of all claims, losses or damages, whether based on an action or claim in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, under an indemnity or otherwise, arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, or the use of the LendingUSA Merchant Program or the Merchant Platform, will be limited in aggregate to the total amount paid by Merchant to Program Administrator during the twelve (12) consecutive months preceding the date of the claim.

19.1. Within two (2) Business Days of receipt, Merchant shall provide Program Administrator with a copy of any written complaint or demands or a report of any verbal complaint or demand received from any Borrower or any third party, including any regulatory authority. Merchant agrees it will cooperate with Program Administrator and any the Relevant Funding Participant, in responding to complaints, which cooperation may include providing documents evidencing applicant or Borrower authorization to submit a Request for Credit or transaction.

20.1. This Agreement is effective in perpetuity, and LendingUSA Merchant Program will begin upon acceptance of Merchant by Program Administrator, unless and until terminated in accordance with this Section 20. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the rights of either party to recover for breaches occurring (or with respect to matters relating to Loans originated) prior thereto or with respect to provisions of this Agreement that by the nature of their terms continue after termination, including Section 17. Program Administrator may terminate this Agreement at any time, with or without cause. Merchant may terminate this Agreement upon providing at least thirty (30) days written notice to Program Administrator.

20.2. Notwithstanding termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect as to all Loan Applications accepted or approved by a Funding Participant under the LendingUSA Merchant Program prior to termination; provided, however, that for any pending transactions, neither Program Administrator nor any Funding Participant will be obligated to accept such transaction.

20.3. Termination will not release either party from financial obligations owed to the other party for services previously delivered or payments owed prior to termination and the parties shall cooperate with each other to complete all outstanding obligations to Customers in a mutually agreed fashion. Further, upon termination of this Agreement: (a) All authorizations and licenses granted by Program Administrator will terminate and all rights shall revert to Program Administrator; (b) Each party will immediately destroy or return to the other party, and upon request, certify such destruction of, all of the other’s materials, documentation, data, and Confidential Information, including all related materials that were derived from such materials, documentation, data, and Confidential Information, as provided for in Section 13; and (c) Merchant shall immediately cease to represent itself as participating in the LendingUSA Merchant Program and cease its use of any of the Program Administrator Marks. Program Administrator’s name, logo and any other proprietary information related to Program Administrator and the LendingUSA Merchant Program will be removed immediately from the Merchant’s website, e-mail signature, marketing and promotional materials, offices and demonstration labs.

20.4. No termination of this Agreement will release either party from any payment or other obligations owed to the other or affect any rights or liabilities of either party with respect to any breach of this Agreement. Merchant’s obligations under this Agreement shall survive in full force and effect until all the terms and conditions of this Agreement applicable to the last Borrower to repay his or her Loan in full, have been fully performed, and all Chargebacks and other adjustments have been paid under the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all of the expressly surviving terms of this Agreement, and all of the Merchant’s obligations under Section 8 (Fees), Section 9 (Merchant Settlement Account), Section 10 (Returns and Chargebacks), Section 11 (Intellectual Property), Section 12 (Representations and Warranties), Section 13 (Confidential Information), Section 16 (Disclaimer), Section 17 (Indemnification), Section 18 (Limitation of Liability), Section 21 (Governing Law; Remedies; Injunctive Relief, Attorney Fees), Section 23 (Waiver of Jury Trial; No Class Action), and Section 24 (General Terms) shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, repayment of the Loans, satisfaction of all Chargebacks and other adjustments, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, or the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

20.5. In the event of breach of this Agreement by either party, the non-breaching party will be entitled to exercise any and all rights and remedies as shall be available to it at law or in equity. The non-breaching party may exercise remedies concurrently or separately, and the exercise of one remedy will not be deemed either an election of such remedy or a preclusion of the right to exercise any other remedy

21.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

21.2. Injunctive Relief. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Program Administrator may seek injunctive or other relief in any state, federal, or national court of competent jurisdiction for any actual or alleged infringement of our or any other person or entity’s intellectual property or proprietary rights. Merchant further acknowledges and agrees that Program Administrator’s rights in the LendingUSA Merchant Program and Program Administrator IP are of a special, unique, extraordinary character, giving them peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be readily estimated or adequately compensated for in monetary damages.

21.3. Attorney Fees. Merchant agrees to reimburse Program Administrator for any reasonable attorney’s fees and costs Program Administrator incurs in successfully defending or prosecuting a claim against Merchant which results from any breach by Merchant of this Agreement.

22.1. The Parties to this Agreement understand and agree that either Party may, at its sole election, require that the sole and exclusive forum and remedy for resolution of a Claim be final and binding arbitration pursuant to this section 22 (the “Arbitration Provision”). For the purposes of this Arbitration Provision, “Claim” shall include any past, present, or future claim, dispute, or controversy involving you and us that is relating to or arising out of this Agreement, including any claim challenging the validity or enforceability of this Arbitration Provision, in whole or in part, or the validity or enforceability of this entire Agreement. Claims are subject to arbitration regardless of whether they arise from contract, tort (intentional or otherwise), statute, common law, principles of equity, or otherwise. Claims include matters arising as initial claims, counter-claims, cross-claims, third-party claims, or otherwise. The scope of this Arbitration Provision is to be given the broadest possible interpretation that is enforceable.

22.2. The Party requesting arbitration shall do so by engaging the Judicial Alternatives and Mediation Services (“JAMS”). The arbitration shall be conducted according to and the location of the arbitration shall be determined in accordance with the rules and policies of the administrator except to the extent the rules conflict with this Arbitration Provision or any countervailing law. You may call 1(800) 352-5267 or visit the JAMS web site at: www.jamsadr.com to find further information on JAMS and the arbitration process. In the case of a conflict between the rules and policies of the administrator and this Arbitration Provision, this Arbitration Provision shall control, subject to countervailing law, unless all Parties to the arbitration consent to have the rules and policies of the administrator apply.

22.3. If we elect arbitration, we shall pay the administrator’s filing costs and administrative fees (other than hearing fees). If you elect arbitration, filing costs and administrative fees (other than hearing fees) shall be paid in accordance with the rules of the administrator, or in accordance with countervailing law if in conflict with the administrator’s rules. We will pay the administrator’s hearing fees for one full day of hearings. Fees for subsequent hearing days will be paid by the Party requesting the hearing, unless the administrator’s rules or applicable law require otherwise, or you request that we pay them and we agree to do so. Each Party shall bear the expense of its own attorneys’ fees, except as otherwise provided by law or section 21.3 of this Agreement. If a statute gives you the right to recover any of these fees, these statutory rights shall apply in the arbitration notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein.

22.4. Within thirty (30) days of a final award by the arbitrator, any Party may appeal the award for reconsideration by a three-arbitrator panel selected according to the rules of the arbitrator administrator. In the event of such an appeal, any opposing Party may cross-appeal within thirty (30) days after notice of the appeal. The panel will reconsider de novo all aspects of the initial award that are appealed. Costs and conduct of any appeal shall be governed by this Arbitration Provision and the administrator’s rules, in the same way as the initial arbitration proceeding. Any award by the individual arbitrator that is not subject to appeal, and any panel award on appeal, shall be final and binding, except for any appeal right under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

22.5.  THE PARTIES (YOU AND WE) AGREE THAT EACH MAY ONLY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. Unless consented to in writing by all Parties to the arbitration, no Party to the arbitration may join, consolidate, or otherwise bring claims for or on behalf of two or more individuals or unrelated corporate entities in the same arbitration. Unless consented to in writing by all Parties to the arbitration, an award in arbitration shall determine the rights and obligations of the named Parties only, and only with respect to the claims in arbitration, and shall not (a) determine the rights, obligations, or interests of anyone other than a named Party, or resolve any Claim of anyone other than a named Party; nor (b) make an award for the benefit of, or against, anyone other than a named Party. No administrator or arbitrator shall have the power or authority to waive, modify, or fail to enforce this section 22.5., and any attempt to do so, whether by rule, policy, arbitration decision or otherwise, shall be invalid and unenforceable. Any challenge to the validity of this section 22.5. shall be determined exclusively by a court and not by the administrator or any arbitrator.

22.6. This Arbitration Provision shall survive (i) suspension, termination, revocation, assignments or amendments to this Agreement and the relationship of the Parties; and (ii) the bankruptcy or insolvency of any Party or other person. If any portion of this Arbitration Provision other than section 22.5. is deemed invalid or unenforceable, the remaining portions of this Arbitration Provision shall nevertheless remain valid and in force. If Section 22.5 is deemed invalid or unenforceable for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, in whole or in part, then this Arbitration Provision shall not apply and all disputes in that instance shall be litigated in a court of competent jurisdiction. In no event shall any invalidation be deemed to authorize an arbitrator to determine Claims or make awards beyond those authorized in this Arbitration Provision.

22.7. You understand that you may opt out of this Arbitration Provision for all purposes by mailing written notice to the following address: LendingUSA, LLC, 15303 Ventura Blvd, Suite 850 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Attention: Legal Department. To reject this Arbitration Provision, you must send written notice of your rejection to the above address within thirty (30) days of the date on which you entered into this Agreement.

22.8 This Section 21.4 (Arbitration) of this Agreement shall not apply to covered borrowers as defined in the Military Lending Act.

23.1. LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM INDEMNIFIED PERSONS AND MERCHANT HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR UNDER ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH, OR ARISING FROM ANY RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

24.1. Independent Contractors. The parties shall at all times be independent contractors with respect to each other, and nothing herein renders them partners, joint venturers nor employer and employee. Each of the Parties shall be solely responsible for its own employees in connection with performance under this Agreement, and all salary, wages, and benefits owed thereto.

24.2. Binding Effect; Assignment. Merchant may not assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of Program Administrator and any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. Program Administrator and Funding Participants may assign this Agreement and any of their rights or obligations hereunder at any time. In the event of such assignment, the assignee thereof shall have the same rights and remedies as any assignor under this Agreement, provided that such assignor shall not be relieved of its obligations hereunder arising prior to such assignment unless such assignment is part of an assignment of all or substantially all of its assets and the assignee assumes its obligations hereunder. Otherwise, this Agreement is binding upon the Parties and their successors and assigns.

24.3. Third Party Beneficiaries. Merchant acknowledges that Program Administrator will enter into agreements with Funding Participants to provide financing under the LendingUSA Merchant Program and that such persons will originate and own the Loans contemplated hereby. Each Funding Participant (or its successors and assigns as maker or owner of such Loans) shall be a third party beneficiary of the obligations of Merchant hereunder and shall have the benefit of such obligations and the right to enforce (but not to the exclusion of LendingUSA for its own account) such rights, obligations, and remedies with respect to any Loan(s), Loan Agreement, and Loan Application with respect to which it is the Relevant Funding Participant as if a party to this Agreement, regardless of whether Relevant Funding Participant (or its successors and assigns, or designated Sponsor) are referenced in a particular provision of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided for in Section 2 and Section 24.3, nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer on any person other than the parties specified hereto and their successors and assigns, any rights, obligations, remedies or liabilities.

24.4. Rights of Persons Not a Party. Except as expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall not create any rights on the part of any person not a party hereto, whether as a third party beneficiary or otherwise.

24.5. Insurance. During the term of this Agreement and thereafter for so long as Merchant has any obligations with respect to the LendingUSA Merchant Program, Merchant shall maintain at its expense insurance in such amount and against such risks as is customary for businesses of a comparable size in the industry in which Merchant operates. Insurance coverage shall be issued by a carrier rated “A VIII” or higher by A.M. Best or that otherwise is reasonably acceptable to Program Administrator, which acceptance will not be unreasonably withheld. If requested by Program Administrator or Funding Participants, Program Administrator and Funding Participants shall be named as additional insureds under each policy. If requested by Program Administrator acting on behalf of Funding Participants, Merchant shall provide Program Administrator with a certificate of insurance evidencing such insurance coverage and renewals thereof. Merchant shall notify Program Administrator if any required insurance policy is cancelled, not renewed or modified in any material respect within 15 days of any such cancellation, non-renewal or modification.

24.6. Employee Actions. Each party is responsible for the actions of its employees. In the event employment of an employee is terminated, the party that employed such former employee will take reasonable steps to ensure that such former employee no longer has access to the LendingUSA Merchant Program systems (including changing any passwords necessary to access such information or system or any confidential information relating to, or arising from, the LendingUSA Merchant Program).

24.7. Marks. Merchant hereby grants Program Administrator, on behalf of itself and Funding Participants, a nonexclusive license to use its name, trademarks, logos and other marks in connection with the administration and operation of the LendingUSA Merchant Program during and after the term of this Agreement.

24.8. Complete Agreement. This Agreement incorporates, and you agree to comply with, the most up-to-date version of all policies, appendices, specifications, guidelines, schedules, and other rules referenced in this Agreement or accessible on the LendingUSA Merchant Program Portal, through LendingUSA or the LendingUSA Program website (as applicable), including Guidelines (“Loan Program Policies”), including any updates of the Loan Program Policies from time to time. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and any Loan Program Policy, this Agreement will control. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and your agreement with Program Administrator under a separate affiliate marketing program that agreement will control with respect to such separate program. This Agreement (including the Loan Program Policies) is the entire agreement between you and us regarding the LendingUSA Merchant Program and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions.

24.9. Notices and Communication; Additional Provisions.

24.10. Non-Exclusive Activities. Merchant acknowledges and agrees that Program Administrator, and Funding Participants, including their respective Affiliates (a) may at any time (directly or indirectly) solicit consumers or other merchants (that may operate services that are similar or compete with Merchant) on terms that may differ from those contained in this Agreement, and (b) may at any time (directly or indirectly) operate services that are similar to or compete with Merchant.

24.11. Delay. With the exception of Merchant’s payment obligations, neither Party shall be liable for delay or failure to perform any of its obligations hereunder to the extent that such delay or failure arises from any cause beyond that Party’s reasonable control.

24.12. Construction. Paragraph captions in this Agreement are for ease of reference only and shall be given no substantive or restrictive meaning or significance whatsoever. Whenever used in this Agreement, the terms “include(s)”, “including”, and “for example” are used and intended without limitation.

24.13. Mutual Construction. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been drafted by both the Merchant and Program Administrator. Therefore, any ambiguities shall not be construed against either party.

24.14. Severability; No Waiver of Rights. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining provisions and the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. The failure of either party to exercise any right given to it under this Agreement or to insist on strict compliance of any obligation under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any right, including the right to insist on strict compliance in the future.

24.15. Modification. We reserve the right to modify any of the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement (including those in any Loan Program Policies) at any time and in our sole discretion by posting a change notice, revised Agreement, or revised Loan Program Policies on the LendingUSA Merchant Program website or by sending notice of such modification to you by email to the primary email address then-currently associated with your Merchant account (any such change by email will be effective on the date specified in such email but will in no event be less than two Business Days after the date the email is sent). YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF SUCH NOTICE OR A SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR CONSUMER FINANCING THROUGH LENDINGUSA MERCHANT PROGRAM AND THE FUNDING PARTICIPANT WILL CONSTITUTE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE MODIFICATIONS AND MERCHANT’S AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY THEM. IF ANY MODIFICATION IS UNACCEPTABLE TO YOU, YOUR ONLY RECOURSE IS TO TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 20.

Last updated: December 2019

Version number: 3.2 – website