CREDIT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.17
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of March 17, 2004, by and between CORIO, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Borrower"), and XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank").
Borrower has requested that Bank extend or continue credit to Borrower as described below, and Bank has agreed to provide such credit to Borrower on the terms and conditions contained herein.
ARTICLE I
(a) Term Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Bank hereby agrees to make advances to Borrower from time to time up to and including September 30, 2004, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000.00) ("Term Commitment"), the proceeds of which shall be used to finance the purchase of new equipment and software acquired on or after July 1, 2003, and which shall be converted on October 1, 2004, to a term loan, as described more fully below. Borrower's obligation to repay advances under the Term Commitment shall be evidenced by a promissory note dated as of March 17, 2004 substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto ("Term Commitment Note"), all terms of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
(b) Limitation on Borrowings. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of each advance under the Term Commitment shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of each item of equipment to which such advance relates, as evidenced by the seller's invoice to be delivered to Bank as a condition of each advance.
(c) Borrowing and Repayment. Subject to all the limitations, terms and conditions contained herein, Borrower may from time to time during the period in which Bank will make advances under the Term Commitment borrow and partially or wholly repay its outstanding borrowings, provided that amounts repaid may not be reborrowed; provided however, that the total outstanding borrowings under the Term Commitment shall not exceed the maximum principal amount available thereunder, as set forth above. The outstanding principal balance of the Term Commitment shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Term Commitment Note.
(d) Prepayment. Borrower may prepay principal on the Term Commitment solely in accordance with the provisions of the Term Commitment Note.
SECTION 1.2. STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT A.
(a) Standby Letter of Credit A. Bank has issued or has caused an affiliate to issue a standby letter of credit for the account of Borrower and for the benefit of CA - Skyway Landing Limited Partnership in the principal amount of Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000.00) substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto ("Standby Letter of Credit A"), all terms of which are incorporated herein by this reference. The Standby Letter of Credit A has an expiration date of April 30, 2005, and is subject to the additional terms of all Letter of Credit agreements, applications and any related documents required by Bank in connection with the issuance thereof (collectively, the "Letter of Credit A Agreements"). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Bank hereby confirms that Standby Letter of Credit A remains in full force and effect.
(b) Repayment of Drafts. Each drawing paid under Standby Letter of Credit A shall be repaid by Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Letter of Credit A Agreements.
SECTION 1.3. STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT B.
(a) Standby Letter of Credit B. Bank has issued or has caused an affiliate to issue a standby letter of credit for the account of Borrower and for the benefit of Xxxxxxx Real Estate Company in the principal amount of Eight Hundred Fifty-Three Thousand Four Hundred Thirty Dollars ($853,430.00) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Standby Letter of Credit B"; collectively with Standby Letter of Credit A, the "Standby Letters of Credit"), all terms of which are incorporated herein by this reference. The Standby Letter of Credit B has an expiration date of November 1, 2004, and is subject to the additional terms of all Letter of Credit agreements, applications and any related documents required by Bank in connection with the issuance thereof (collectively, the "Letter of Credit B Agreements"; collectively with the Letter of Credit A Agreements, the "Letter of Credit Agreements"). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Bank hereby confirms that Standby Letter of Credit B remains in full force and effect.
(b) Repayment of Drafts. Each drawing paid under Standby Letter of Credit B shall be repaid by Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Letter of Credit B Agreements.
(a) Interest. The outstanding principal balance of the Term Commitment shall bear interest at the rates of interest set forth in the Term Commitment Note. The amount of each drawing paid under any of the Standby Letters of Credit shall bear interest from the date such drawing is paid to the date such amount is fully repaid by Borrower, at the rates of interest set forth in the applicable Letter of Credit Agreements or other documents executed in connection with the Standby Letters of Credit.
(b) Computation and Payment. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed. Interest shall be payable at the times and place set forth in each promissory note or other instrument or document required hereby.
(c) Letter of Credit Fees. Borrower shall pay to Bank (i) fees upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit and upon each anniversary thereof equal to forty-five hundredths percent (0.45%) per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) of the face amount thereof, and (ii) fees upon the payment or negotiation of each drawing under any Letter of Credit and fees upon the occurrence of any other activity with respect to any Letter of Credit (including without limitation, the transfer, amendment or cancellation of any Letter of Credit) determined in accordance with Bank's standard fees and charges then in effect for such activity.
As security for all indebtedness of Borrower to Bank subject hereto, Borrower hereby grants to Bank security interests of first priority in the following (hereafter, the "Collateral"): (i) Borrower's Market Rate account #7735-113990 maintained at Bank, or any replacement or substitution therefor, including any account resulting from a renumbering or other administrative re-identification thereof ("WFB Market Rate Account"); (ii) Borrower's Xxxxx Capital Management account #00000000 maintained at Bank; and (iii) all accounts receivable and other rights to payment, general intangibles, equipment and all other personal property more particularly described in the Security Agreements (as defined below) and all proceeds of the foregoing.
All of the foregoing shall be evidenced by and subject to the terms of such security agreements, financing statements, deeds of trust and other documents as Bank shall reasonably require, all in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, including, without limitation, the following security agreements: (i) that certain Continuing Security Agreement: Rights to Payment, dated as of the date hereof, and executed by Borrower in favor of Bank ("Rights to Payment Security Agreement"); (ii) that certain Security Agreement: Equipment, dated as of the date hereof, and executed by Borrower in favor of Bank ("Equipment Security Agreement"); (iii) that certain Security Agreement: Securities Account, dated as of the date hereof, and executed by Borrower in favor of Bank ("Securities Account Security Agreement"); and (iv) that certain Security Agreement: Specific Rights to Payment, dated as of the date hereof, and executed by Borrower in favor of Bank ("Specific Rights to Payment Security Agreement"; collectively with the Rights to Payment Security Agreement, the Equipment Security Agreement and the Securities Account Security Agreement, the "Security Agreements"). Borrower shall reimburse Bank immediately upon demand for all costs and expenses incurred by Bank in connection with any of the foregoing security, including without limitation, filing and recording fees and costs of appraisals, audits and title insurance.
SECTION 1.6. TERMINATION OF CREDITS.
(a) Termination of Credits. Borrower may terminate the Term Commitment, Standby Letter of Credit A or Standby Letter of Credit B at any time by delivering to Bank (i) written notice of such termination (in form and substance satisfactory to Bank), (ii) payment in immediately available funds of (1) all amounts outstanding under the terminated credit, i.e. the Term Commitment, Standby Letter of Credit A or Standby Letter of Credit B, (2) with respect to the Term Commitment, all amounts owed pursuant to the terms of the Term Commitment Note in connection with any prepayment of the Term Commitment obligations and (3) all other amounts then due and owing under Section 7.3 of this Agreement. Upon the effective termination of the Term Commitment, Standby Letter of Credit A or Standby Letter of Credit B and the payment of all amounts described in the foregoing sentence, any credit which has not been terminated, including without limitation, the Term Commitment, Standby Letter of Credit A or Standby Letter of Credit B, may remain in effect pursuant to their terms, subject to the terms and provisions of the Letter of Credit Agreements, this Agreement, the Security Agreements and all of the other Loan Documents.
(b) Cash Collateral for Credits. At any time during the term of this Agreement, Borrower may provide to Bank a perfected first priority security interests in cash and/or readily marketable securities acceptable to Bank (all of which are maintained at Bank or an affiliate of Bank and are subject to Bank's perfected first priority security interest and no other liens other than Permitted Liens) in an aggregate amount equal to not less than the Credit Agreement Indebtedness (or such higher percentage in the case of readily marketable securities as may be required by Bank) which cash and/or marketable securities collateral is also subject to control agreements and such other documents as Bank may require, all in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Bank (hereafter "Cash Collateral"). If Borrower substitutes Cash Collateral in an amount equal to not less than the Credit Agreement Indebtedness as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, then Bank shall take all reasonable actions necessary to terminate its security interests in the collateral described in Section 1.5 other than Bank's security interests in and rights to such required Cash Collateral.
(c) Definition of Credit Agreement Indebtedness. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Credit Agreement Indebtedness" shall mean the sum of: (i) all outstanding principal, interest and fees owing under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, all amounts owing under the Term Commitment and the Standby Letters of Credit; plus (ii) the remaining undrawn commitment under the Term Commitment; plus (iii) the remaining undrawn balances of the Standby Letters of Credit.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to Bank, which representations and warranties shall survive the execution of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect until the full and final payment, and satisfaction and discharge, of all obligations of Borrower to Bank subject to this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
(a) Approval of Bank Counsel. All legal matters incidental to the extension of credit by Bank shall be satisfactory to Bank's counsel.
(b) Documentation. Bank shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, each of the following, duly executed:
(i) This Agreement and the Term Commitment Note and each other instrument or document required hereby.
(ii) Corporate Resolution: Borrowing.
(iii) Certificate of Incumbency.
(iv) Specific Rights to Payment Security Agreement.
(v) Rights to Payment Security Agreement.
(vi) Equipment Security Agreement.
(vii) Securities Account Security Agreement.
(viii) Addendum to Security Agreement: Securities Account.
(ix) Securities Account Control Agreement.
(x) UCC-1 Financing Statement.
(xi) Such other documents as Bank may require under any other Section of this Agreement.
(c) Financial Condition. There shall have been no material adverse change, as determined by Bank, in the financial condition or business of Borrower, nor any material decline, as determined by Bank, in the market value of the Collateral or a substantial or material portion of the assets of Borrower as compared to the financial condition and business of Borrower and market value of the Collateral and other assets of Borrower that existed as of December 31, 2003.
(d) Insurance. Borrower shall have delivered to Bank evidence of insurance coverage on all Borrower's property, in form, substance, amounts, covering risks and issued by companies satisfactory to Bank, and where required by Bank, with loss payable endorsements in favor of Bank.
(a) Compliance. The representations and warranties contained herein and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be true on and as of the date of the signing of this Agreement and on the date of each extension of credit by Bank pursuant hereto, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of each such date, and on each such date, no Event of Default as defined herein, and no condition, event or act which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute such an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist.
(b) Documentation. Bank shall have received all additional documents which may be required in connection with such extension of credit.
ARTICLE IV
Borrower covenants that so long as Bank remains committed to extend credit to Borrower pursuant hereto, or any liabilities (whether direct or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated) of Borrower to Bank under any of the Loan Documents remain outstanding, and until payment in full of all obligations of Borrower subject hereto, Borrower shall, unless Bank otherwise consents in writing:
(a) not later than 120 days after and as of the end of each fiscal year, an audited consolidated financial statement of Borrower for such fiscal year and for the fourth fiscal quarter of Borrower, prepared by a certified public accountant acceptable to Bank, to include balance sheet, income statement, statements of cash flows, supporting schedules and footnotes;
(b) not later than 60 days after and as of the end of each fiscal quarter, other than Borrower's fourth fiscal quarter of each year, a consolidated financial statement of Borrower, prepared by a certified public accountant acceptable to Bank, to include balance sheet, income statement, statements of cash flows, supporting schedules and footnotes;
(c) not later than 45 days after and as of the end of each month, a consolidated financial statement of Borrower, prepared by Borrower, to include balance sheet and income statement, with such income statement to reflect both monthly and fiscal year-to-date data;
(d) not later than each November 30, Borrower-prepared projections for the upcoming fiscal year; and
(e) from time to time such other information as Bank may reasonably request.
In connection with the financial information provided pursuant to Section 4.3(c), (d) and (e) (to the extent that the information provided to Bank is Confidential Information (as defined in Section 7.5), Bank agrees to hold such information confidential subject to the terms and provisions of Section 7.5.
(a) Total Liabilities divided by Tangible Net Worth not at any time greater than 1.10 to 1.0, with "Total Liabilities" defined as the aggregate of current liabilities and non-current liabilities less subordinated debt, and with "Tangible Net Worth" defined as the aggregate of total stockholders equity plus subordinated debt less any intangible assets.
(b) Liquidity (defined as cash and readily marketable securities acceptable to Bank which are unencumbered except in favor of Bank and which are maintained at Bank or an affiliate of Bank, but excluding therefrom Borrower's Market Rate account #7735-113990 maintained at Bank) in amounts at all times in excess of $15,000,000.00 until the EBITDA Coverage Ratio (as defined below) is 1.50 to 1.00 or greater determined as of the end of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters, with each such determination made on a rolling four quarter basis. Thereafter, Borrower shall maintain an EBITDA Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.50 to 1.0, determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter on a rolling four quarter basis, with "EBITDA" defined as net profit before tax plus interest expense (net of capitalized interest expense), depreciation expense, amortization expense and non-cash restructuring expenses, and with "EBITDA Coverage Ratio" defined as EBITDA divided by the aggregate of total interest expense plus the prior period current maturity of long-term debt and the prior period current maturity of subordinated debt.
(c) EBITDA (as defined above) losses not greater than the following amounts as of the end of the following fiscal quarters: (i) $650,000 as of Borrower's fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2004; (ii) $1,000,000 as of Borrower's fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2004; (iii) $450,000 as of Borrower's fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2004; and (iv) $300,000 as of Borrower's fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2004. As of the end of each of Borrower's fiscal quarters, commencing with Borrower's fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2005 and continuing for each fiscal quarter thereafter, Borrower shall have EBITDA (as defined above) of not less than $1.00. Each of the foregoing calculations for any fiscal quarter of Borrower shall be determined as of the end of each such fiscal quarter. Borrower agrees that compliance with this covenant at a time when there exists a violation of the EBITDA Coverage Ratio requirement set forth above (after the same becomes effective) shall not imply or constitute a waiver of such violation of the EBITDA Coverage Ratio.
(d) If Borrower satisfies the EBITDA Coverage Ratio provided in Section 4.9(b) as of the end of any rolling four (4) quarter period and subsequent to the satisfaction of such provision Borrower fails to maintain an EBITDA Coverage Ratio of 1.50 to 1.00 or greater for any quarterly period, then so long as Borrower maintains cash and readily marketable securities acceptable to Bank (all of which are maintained at Bank or an affiliate of Bank and are subject to Bank's first priority perfected security interest and no other liens other than Permitted Liens) in an aggregate amount equal to not less than twice the sum of the Credit Agreement Indebtedness, then no breach of Section 4.9(b) shall be deemed to have occurred.
ARTICLE V
Borrower further covenants that so long as Bank remains committed to extend credit to Borrower pursuant hereto, or any liabilities (whether direct or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated) of Borrower to Bank under any of the Loan Documents remain outstanding, and until payment in full of all obligations of Borrower subject hereto, Borrower will not without Bank's prior written consent:
As used herein, the term "Swap Contracts" means and refers to (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, a "Master Agreement"), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
SECTION 6.1. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this Agreement:
(a) Borrower shall fail to pay when due any principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Loan Documents.
(b) Any financial statement or certificate furnished to Bank in connection with, or any representation or warranty made by Borrower or any other party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be incorrect, false or misleading in any material respect when furnished or made.
(c) Any default in the performance of or compliance with any obligation, agreement or other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document (other than those referred to in subsections (a) and (b) above or (j) and (k) below), and with respect to any such default which by its nature can be cured, such default shall continue for a period of twenty (20) days from its occurrence.
(d) Any defined event of default, under the terms of any contract or instrument (other than any of the Loan Documents) pursuant to which Borrower has incurred any debt or other liability in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) to any person or entity, including Bank, which default or defined event of default gives any person or entity the right to accelerate the obligations owing under such contract or instrument; provided however, that if any defaults or defined events of default exist (i) under more than one contract or instrument or (ii) under contracts or instruments in favor of more than one person or entity and the aggregate amount of such debts and liabilities owing to all parties with respect to those contracts or instruments pursuant to which a default or a defined event of default exists is in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), then such an occurrence shall be deemed an Event of Default hereunder.
(e) (i) The filing of a notice of judgment lien against Borrower; (ii) the recording of any abstract of judgment against Borrower in any county in which Borrower has an interest in real property; (iii) the service of a notice of levy and/or of a writ of attachment or execution, or other like process, against the assets of Borrower; or (iv) the entry of a judgment against Borrower; and the aggregate amount of any claims relating to (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) existing at any time represents an amount in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000);
(f) Borrower shall become insolvent, or shall suffer or consent to or apply for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of itself or any of its property, or shall generally fail to pay its debts as they become due, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; Borrower shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or seeking reorganization, in order to effect a plan or other arrangement with creditors or any other relief under the Bankruptcy Reform Act, Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended or recodified from time to time ("Bankruptcy Code"), or under any state or federal law granting relief to debtors, whether now or hereafter in effect; or any involuntary petition or proceeding pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable state or federal law relating to bankruptcy, reorganization or other relief for debtors is filed or commenced against Borrower or Borrower shall file an answer admitting the jurisdiction of the court and the material allegations of any involuntary petition; or Borrower shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or an order for relief shall be entered against Borrower by any court of competent jurisdiction under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable state or federal law relating to bankruptcy, reorganization or other relief for debtors.
(g) There shall exist or occur any event or condition which in Bank's good faith determination has materially and adversely impaired or is substantially likely to materially and adversely impair Borrower's ability to pay or perform its obligations to Bank under the Loan Documents.
(h) The dissolution or liquidation of Borrower; or Borrower, or any of its directors, stockholders or members, shall take action seeking to effect the dissolution or liquidation of Borrower.
(i) Any person or entity acquires twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the common stock of Borrower or, if such person or entity owns common stock of the Borrower as of the date of this Agreement such person or entity increases its ownership of common stock of Borrower by twenty-five percent (25%) more than the amount of such common stock held by such person or entity as of the date of this Agreement.
(j) Any impairment of the rights of Bank in any Collateral or any reduction in the funds on deposit in the WFB Market Rate Account which reduces the aggregate balance thereof to less than the lower of (1) $7,853,430.00 and (2) the Credit Agreement Indebtedness.
(k) Bank, in good faith, believes a material portion of the Collateral to be in danger of misuse, dissipation, commingling, loss, theft, damage or destruction, or otherwise in jeopardy or unsatisfactory in character or value.
ARTICLE VII
BORROWER: |
CORIO, INC. |
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer General Counsel |
BANK: |
XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
or to such other address as any party may designate by written notice to all other parties. Each such notice, request and demand shall be deemed given or made as follows: (a) if sent by hand delivery, upon delivery; (b) if sent by mail, upon the earlier of the date of receipt or three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail, first class and postage prepaid; and (c) if sent by telecopy, upon receipt.
For purposes of this Agreement, Borrower's trade secrets, source codes, customer lists and certain other items of intellectual property, and any financial statements provided pursuant to hereto, if and to the extent such information is marked as confidential by Borrower at the time of disclosure, shall constitute proprietary and confidential information of the Borrower ("Confidential Information"). Confidential Information does not include information that either: (x) is in the public domain or in Bank's possession when disclosed to Bank, or becomes part of the public domain after disclosure to Bank through no fault of Bank; or (y) is disclosed to Bank by a third party, if Bank does not know that the third party is prohibited from disclosing the information.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Bank or Borrower (and any employee, representative, or other agent of Bank or Borrower) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided, however, that such disclosure may not be made to the extent reasonably necessary to comply with any applicable federal or state securities laws. For the purposes of this Agreement, the "tax treatment" of a transaction means the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transaction and the "tax structure" of a transaction means any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transaction.
Borrower and Bank acknowledge and agree that the tax treatment and tax structure of any transaction does not include the name of any party to a transaction or any sensitive business information (including, without limitation, the name and other specific information about any party's intellectual property or other proprietary assets) unless such information may be related or relevant to the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transaction.
SECTION 7.11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
(a) Arbitration. The parties hereto agree, upon demand by any party, to submit to binding arbitration all claims, disputes and controversies between or among them (and their respective employees, officers, directors, attorneys, and other agents), whether in tort, contract or otherwise arising out of or relating to in any way (i) the loan and related Loan Documents which are the subject of this Agreement and its negotiation, execution, collateralization, administration, repayment, modification, extension, substitution, formation, inducement, enforcement, default or termination; or (ii) requests for additional credit.
(b) Governing Rules. Any arbitration proceeding will (i) proceed in a location in California selected by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"); (ii) be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code), notwithstanding any conflicting choice of law provision in any of the documents between the parties; and (iii) be conducted by the AAA, or such other administrator as the parties shall mutually agree upon, in accordance with the AAA's commercial dispute resolution procedures, unless the claim or counterclaim is at least $1,000,000.00 exclusive of claimed interest, arbitration fees and costs in which case the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the AAA's optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes (the commercial dispute resolution procedures or the optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes to be referred to, as applicable, as the "Rules"). If there is any inconsistency between the terms hereof and the Rules, the terms and procedures set forth herein shall control. Any party who fails or refuses to submit to arbitration following a demand by any other party shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by such other party in compelling arbitration of any dispute. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party that is a bank of the protections afforded to it under 12 U.S.C. 91 or any similar applicable state law.
(c) No Waiver of Provisional Remedies, Self-Help and Foreclosure. The arbitration requirement does not limit the right of any party to (i) foreclose against real or personal property collateral; (ii) exercise self-help remedies relating to collateral or proceeds of collateral such as setoff or repossession; or (iii) obtain provisional or ancillary remedies such as replevin, injunctive relief, attachment or the appointment of a receiver, before during or after the pendency of any arbitration proceeding. This exclusion does not constitute a waiver of the right or obligation of any party to submit any dispute to arbitration or reference hereunder, including those arising from the exercise of the actions detailed in sections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph.
(d) Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers. Any arbitration proceeding in which the amount in controversy is $5,000,000.00 or less will be decided by a single arbitrator selected according to the Rules, and who shall not render an award of greater than $5,000,000.00. Any dispute in which the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000.00 shall be decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and deliberations. The arbitrator will be a neutral attorney licensed in the State of California or a neutral retired judge of the state or federal judiciary of California, in either case with a minimum of ten years experience in the substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the dispute to be arbitrated. The arbitrator will determine whether or not an issue is arbitratable and will give effect to the statutes of limitation in determining any claim. In any arbitration proceeding the arbitrator will decide (by documents only or with a hearing at the arbitrator's discretion) any pre-hearing motions which are similar to motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or motions for summary adjudication. The arbitrator shall resolve all disputes in accordance with the substantive law of California and may grant any remedy or relief that a court of such state could order or grant within the scope hereof and such ancillary relief as is necessary to make effective any award. The arbitrator shall also have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees, to impose sanctions and to take such other action as the arbitrator deems necessary to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the California Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable law. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial relief.
(e) Discovery. In any arbitration proceeding discovery will be permitted in accordance with the Rules. All discovery shall be expressly limited to matters directly relevant to the dispute being arbitrated and must be completed no later than 20 days before the hearing date and within 180 days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA. Any requests for an extension of the discovery periods, or any discovery disputes, will be subject to final determination by the arbitrator upon a showing that the request for discovery is essential for the party's presentation and that no alternative means for obtaining information is available.
(f) Class Proceedings and Consolidations. The resolution of any dispute arising pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be determined by a separate arbitration proceeding and such dispute shall not be consolidated with other disputes or included in any class proceeding.
(g) Payment Of Arbitration Costs And Fees. The arbitrator shall award all costs and expenses of the arbitration proceeding.
(h) Real Property Collateral; Judicial Reference. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no dispute shall be submitted to arbitration if the dispute concerns indebtedness secured directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by any real property unless (i) the holder of the mortgage, lien or security interest specifically elects in writing to proceed with the arbitration, or (ii) all parties to the arbitration waive any rights or benefits that might accrue to them by virtue of the single action rule statute of California, thereby agreeing that all indebtedness and obligations of the parties, and all mortgages, liens and security interests securing such indebtedness and obligations, shall remain fully valid and enforceable. If any such dispute is not submitted to arbitration, the dispute shall be referred to a referee in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure Section 638 et seq., and this general reference agreement is intended to be specifically enforceable in accordance with said Section 638. A referee with the qualifications required herein for arbitrators shall be selected pursuant to the AAA's selection procedures. Judgment upon the decision rendered by a referee shall be entered in the court in which such proceeding was commenced in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 644 and 645.
(i) Miscellaneous. To the maximum extent practicable, the AAA, the arbitrators and the parties shall take all action required to conclude any arbitration proceeding within 180 days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA. No arbitrator or other party to an arbitration proceeding may disclose the existence, content or results thereof, except for disclosures of information by a party required in the ordinary course of its business or by applicable law or regulation. If more than one agreement for arbitration by or between the parties potentially applies to a dispute, the arbitration provision most directly related to the Loan Documents or the subject matter of the dispute shall control. This arbitration provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of any of the Loan Documents or any relationship between the parties.
CORIO, INC. |
XXXXX FARGO BANK, |
By:___/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXX |
By: ___/s/ XXXX X. TA____ |