MASTER GUARANTEE AGREEMENT dated as of March 30, 2012, among SCHIFF NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC., THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO and ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Administrative Agent
Exhibit 10.3
dated as of
March 30, 2012,
among
THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO
and
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
as Administrative Agent
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01.
|
Credit Agreement
|
1
|
SECTION 1.02.
|
Other Defined Terms
|
1
|
ARTICLE II
THE GUARANTEES
SECTION 2.01.
|
Guarantee
|
3
|
SECTION 2.02.
|
Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee
|
3
|
SECTION 2.03.
|
No Limitations
|
4
|
SECTION 2.04.
|
Reinstatement
|
5
|
SECTION 2.05.
|
Agreement to Pay; Subrogation
|
6
|
SECTION 2.06.
|
Information
|
6
|
SECTION 2.07.
|
Payments Free of Taxes
|
6
|
ARTICLE III
INDEMNITY, SUBROGATION AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 3.01.
|
Indemnity and Subrogation
|
6
|
SECTION 3.02.
|
Contribution and Subrogation
|
7
|
SECTION 3.03.
|
Subordination
|
7
|
SECTION 3.04.
|
General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations
|
7
|
- i -
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; COVENANTS
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 5.01.
|
Notices
|
8
|
SECTION 5.02.
|
Waivers; Amendment
|
8
|
SECTION 5.03.
|
Administrative Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification
|
9
|
SECTION 5.04.
|
Successors and Assigns
|
10
|
SECTION 5.05.
|
Survival of Agreement
|
10
|
SECTION 5.06.
|
Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several Agreement
|
10
|
SECTION 5.07.
|
Severability
|
11
|
SECTION 5.08.
|
Right of Set-Off
|
11
|
SECTION 5.09.
|
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process; Appointment of Service of Process Agent
|
12
|
SECTION 5.10.
|
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
|
12
|
SECTION 5.11.
|
Headings
|
13
|
SECTION 5.12.
|
Termination or Release
|
13
|
SECTION 5.13.
|
Additional Subsidiary Guarantors
|
13
|
- ii -
MASTER GUARANTEE AGREEMENT dated as of March 30, 2012 (this “Agreement”), among SCHIFF NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. (“Holdings”), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS from time to time party hereto and ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Guaranteed Parties.
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 2012 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Holdings, Schiff Nutrition Group, Inc. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, Royal Bank of Canada, as an Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent. The Lenders and the Issuing Banks have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing
Banks to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors are affiliates of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Credit Agreement. (a) Capitalized terms used in this Agreement (including in the introductory paragraph hereto) and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the Credit Agreement.
(b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.03 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Claiming Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02.
“Collateral Agreement” means that certain Collateral Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2012, among Holdings, the Borrower, the other grantors from time to time party thereto and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent.
“Contributing Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.02.
“Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations” means the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of Holdings, each Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, credit card, purchasing card and cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds provided to Holdings and its Subsidiaries (whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor)) that are
(a) owed to the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, (b) owed on the Effective Date to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Effective Date, (c) owed to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the date such Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations were entered into or (d) owed to a Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, provided, that such obligations are represented by an agreement that designates such obligations as Secured Cash Management Obligations under the Collateral Agreement.
“Guaranteed Obligations” means (a) the Loan Document Obligations, (b) the Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations and (c) the Guaranteed Swap Obligations.
“Guaranteed Parties” means (a) each Lender, (b) each Issuing Bank, (c) the Administrative Agent, (d) the Lead Arranger and the Syndication Agent, (e) each Person to whom any Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations are owed, (f) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement the obligations under which constitute Guaranteed Swap Obligations, (g) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (h) the permitted successors, assigns and delegates of each of the foregoing.
“Guaranteed Swap Obligations” means the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of Holdings, each Intermediate Parent, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries under each Swap Agreement that (a) is with a counterparty that is the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, (b) is in effect on the Effective Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Effective Date, (c) is with a counterparty that was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the date such Guaranteed Swap Obligations were entered into or (d) is entered into with any counterparty that is a Lender
or an Affiliate of a Lender, provided, that, such Swap Agreement designates the obligations owed thereunder as Secured Swap Obligations under the Collateral Agreement.
“Guarantors” means Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
“Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.
“Loan Document Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.
“Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations” shall have occurred when (i) all Guaranteed Obligations (including all LC Disbursements, if any (other than in respect of any Terminated Letter of Credit Obligation), but excluding (x) contingent obligations for indemnification, expense reimbursement, Tax gross-up or yield protection as to which no claim has been made and (y) Secured Cash Management Obligations (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) and Secured Swap Obligations (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) as to which arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Secured Party (as defined in the Collateral
Agreement) have been made), have been paid in full in cash, (ii) all Commitments have terminated or expired and (iii) the LC Exposure has been reduced to zero (including in connection with any Terminated Letter of Credit Obligation) and the Issuing Banks have no further obligation to issue or amend Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement.
- 2 -
“Subsidiary Guarantors” means each Intermediate Parent and each direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.13; provided that if any such Subsidiary is released from its obligations as a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder as provided in Section 5.12(b), such Subsidiary shall cease to be a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder effective upon such release. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any contrary provision herein or in any other
Loan Document, absent a change in law permitting a guarantee without Tax consequences to the Borrower, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith with the Administrative Agent, a Foreign Subsidiary shall not be a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Supplement” means an instrument substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Terminated Letter of Credit Obligation” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.03(d).
ARTICLE II
The Guarantees
SECTION 2.01. Guarantee. Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each of the Guaranteed Parties, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, by way of an independent
payment obligation, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, or amended or modified, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal, or amendment or modification, of any of the Guaranteed Obligations. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.
SECTION 2.02. Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee. Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the
accrual of collection of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party to any security held for the payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party in favor of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Person. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder is continuing in nature and applies to all of its Guaranteed Obligations, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred.
- 3 -
SECTION 2.03. No Limitations. (a) Except for the termination or release of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 5.12, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject
to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for the termination or release of its obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 5.12 and Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (and each Guarantor hereby waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, any defense based on or arising out of):
(i) the failure of any Guaranteed Party or any other Person to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy under the provisions of any Loan Document or otherwise;
(ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment, restatement or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement;
(iii) the release of, or any impairment of or failure to perfect any Lien on, any security held by any Guaranteed Party for any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(v) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations);
(vi) any illegality, lack of validity or lack of enforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(vii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Loan Party, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Loan Party or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(viii) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights that any Guarantor may have at any time against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any other Guaranteed Party or any other Person, whether in connection with the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any unrelated transaction;
- 4 -
(ix) this Agreement having been determined (on whatsoever grounds) to be invalid, non-binding or unenforceable against any other Guarantor ab initio or at any time after the Effective Date;
(x) the fact that any Person that, pursuant to the Loan Documents, was required to become a party hereto may not have executed or is not effectually bound by this Agreement, whether or not this fact is known to the Guaranteed Parties;
; or
(xi) any other circumstance (including any statute of limitations), or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Administrative Agent, any Guaranteed Party or any other Person, that might otherwise constitute a defense to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other guarantor or surety (other than the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations).
Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Guaranteed Parties to take and hold security in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents for the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in their sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, other than the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Administrative Agent and the other
Guaranteed Parties may, at their election and in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Borrower or any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have occurred. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of
reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.
SECTION 2.04. Reinstatement. Each Guarantor agrees that, unless released pursuant to Section 5.12(b), its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part
thereof, of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Guaranteed Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization (or any analogous proceeding in any jurisdiction) of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.
- 5 -
SECTION 2.05. Agreement to Pay; Subrogation. In furtherance of the foregoing provisions of this Article II and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party has at law or in equity
against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the applicable Guaranteed Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Guaranteed Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article III.
SECTION 2.06. Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s and each other Loan Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing
upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Guaranteed Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.
SECTION 2.07. Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes on the same terms and to the same extent that payments by the Borrower are required to be so made pursuant to the terms of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement. The provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to each Guarantor, mutatis mutandis.
ARTICLE III
Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination
SECTION 3.01. Indemnity and Subrogation. In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 3.03) in respect of any payment hereunder, the Borrower
agrees that (a) in the event a payment in respect of any obligation of the Borrower shall be made by any Guarantor under this Agreement, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part any Guaranteed Obligations owed to any Guaranteed Party, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.
- 6 -
SECTION 3.02. Contribution and Subrogation. Each Guarantor (a “Contributing Party”) agrees (subject to
Sections 3.03 and 3.04) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor hereunder in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations or assets of any other Guarantor (other than the Borrower) shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy any Guaranteed Obligation owed to any Guaranteed Party and such other Guarantor (the “Claiming Party”) shall not have been fully indemnified as provided in Section 3.01, the Contributing Party shall indemnify the Claiming Party in an amount equal to the amount of such payment or the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as the case may be, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Party on the date hereof
(or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 5.13, the date of the Supplement executed and delivered by such Guarantor) and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 5.13, such other date). Any Contributing Party making any payment to a Claiming Party pursuant to this Section 3.02 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Party under Section 3.01 to the extent of such payment.
SECTION 3.03. Subordination. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Guarantors under Sections 3.01 and 3.02 and all other rights of the Guarantors of indemnity, contribution
or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations. No failure on the part of the Borrower or any Guarantor to make the payments required by Sections 3.01 and 3.02 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.
(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice from the Administrative Agent (provided that no such notice shall be required to be given in the case of any Event of Default arising under Section 7.01(h) or 7.01(i) of the Credit Agreement), all Indebtedness and other
monetary obligations owed by it to, any other Guarantor or any other Subsidiary shall be fully subordinated to the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 3.04. General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and each other Guaranteed Party, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such Persons
that this Agreement and the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor hereunder not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar foreign, federal or state law to the extent applicable to this Agreement and the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor hereunder. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Guaranteed Parties, and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the Guaranteed Obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement at any time shall be limited to the maximum amount as will result in the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor under this Agreement not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. Each Guarantor further agrees to contribute, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, such amounts to each other Guarantor and each other guarantor so as to maximize the aggregate amount paid to the Guaranteed Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents.
- 7 -
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties; Covenants
Each Subsidiary Guarantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties that (a) the execution, delivery and performance by such Subsidiary Guarantor of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and, if required, action by the holders of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Equity Interests, and that this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary Guarantor and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and (b) all representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement as to such Subsidiary Guarantor are true and correct in all material respects; provided that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language is true and correct in all respects. Each Subsidiary Guarantor covenants and agrees that until the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have occurred, such Subsidiary Guarantor will perform and observe, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform and observe, all of the terms,
covenants and agreements set forth in the Loan Documents on its or their part to be performed or observed or that the Borrower has agreed to cause such Subsidiary Guarantor or such Subsidiaries to perform or observe.
ARTICLE V
Miscellaneous
SECTION 5.01. Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 5.02. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 5.02, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
- 8 -
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Guarantor or Guarantors with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement;
provided that the Administrative Agent may, without the consent of any Guaranteed Party, consent to a departure by any Guarantor from any covenant of such Guarantor set forth herein to the extent such departure is consistent with the authority of the Administrative Agent set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” in the Credit Agreement or in Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 5.03. Administrative Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification. (a) Each Guarantor, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its fees and expenses incurred hereunder as
provided in Section 9.03(a) of the Credit Agreement; provided that each reference therein to the “Borrower” shall be deemed to be a reference to “each Guarantor.”
(b) Each Guarantor, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Indemnitees as provided for in Section 9.03(b) of the Credit Agreement; provided that each reference therein to the “Borrower” shall be deemed to be a reference to each Guarantor.
(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Guarantor shall assert, and each Guarantor hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee (i) for any direct or actual damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet) in connection with this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such direct or actual damages are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of, or a material breach of the Loan Documents by, such Indemnitee or its Related Parties (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment), or (ii) on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of this Agreement, any Loan
Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. In addition, no Guarantor shall be liable to an Indemnitee for any indirect, special, consequential or punitive damages, without limitation of such Grantor’s indemnification obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.
(d) The provisions of this Section 5.03 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of any Guaranteed Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, in the event that, in connection with the refinancing or repayment in full of the credit facilities provided for under the Credit Agreement, an Issuing Bank shall have provided to the Administrative Agent a written consent to the release of the Revolving Lenders from their obligations under the Credit Agreement with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (whether as a result of the obligations of the Borrower (and any other account party) in respect of such Letter of Credit having been collateralized in full by a deposit of cash with such Issuing Bank or being supported by a letter of credit that names such Issuing Bank as the beneficiary thereunder, or otherwise), then from and
after such time such Letter of Credit shall cease to be a “Letter of Credit” outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the obligations thereunder shall cease to be a Guaranteed Obligation for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (each a “Terminated Letter of Credit Obligation”). All amounts due under this Section 5.03 shall be payable not later than 10 Business Days after written demand therefor; provided, however, that any Indemnitee shall promptly refund an indemnification
payment received hereunder to the extent that there is a final judicial determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such payment pursuant to this Section 5.03. Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Guaranteed Obligations.
- 9 -
SECTION 5.04. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and
agreements by or on behalf of any Guarantor or the Administrative Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 5.05. Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in this Agreement or any other Loan Document and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection
with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Guaranteed Parties and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Guaranteed Party and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Guaranteed Party may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and, subject to Section 5.12(b), shall continue in full force and effect until the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 5.06. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Several Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all of which
when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Guarantor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Guarantor shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Guarantor and the Administrative Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Guarantor, the Administrative Agent and the other Guaranteed Parties and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Guarantor shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or
obligations hereunder or any interest herein (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as expressly provided in this Agreement and the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Guarantor and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Guarantor without the approval of any other Guarantor and without affecting the obligations of any other Guarantor hereunder.
- 10 -
SECTION 5.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 5.08. Right of Set-Off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time
to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by the Administrative Agent, such Lender, any such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Guarantor against any of and all the obligations of such Guarantor then due and owing under this Agreement held by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although (i) such obligations may be contingent or unmatured and (ii) such obligations are owed to a branch or office of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the
branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such Indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.22 of the Credit Agreement and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Guaranteed Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The
Administrative Agent, the applicable Lender and the applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower (on behalf of the applicable Guarantor) and the Administrative Agent of such setoff and application; provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such setoff and application under this Section. The rights of the Administrative Agent, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, such Lender, such Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates may have.
- 11 -
SECTION 5.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process; Appointment of Service of Process Agent. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the
parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in any Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to any Loan Document against any Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of
an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 5.01. Nothing in any Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(e) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers the Borrower as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any such action or proceeding.
SECTION 5.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO
ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
- 12 -
SECTION 5.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration
in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 5.12. Termination or Release. (a) Subject to Section 2.04, this Agreement and the Guarantees made herein shall automatically terminate upon the Payment in Full of the Guaranteed Obligations.
(b) The guarantees made herein shall also automatically terminate and be released at the time or times and in the manner set forth in Section 9.15 of the Credit Agreement.
(c) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release so long as the applicable Loan Party shall have provided the Administrative Agent such certifications or documents as the Administrative Agent shall
reasonably request in order to demonstrate compliance with this Section 5.12. Any execution and delivery of documents by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 5.12 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 5.13. Additional Subsidiary Guarantors. Pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, additional Subsidiaries may be required to become Subsidiary Guarantors after the date hereof. Upon execution and delivery by the
Administrative Agent and a Subsidiary of a Supplement, any such Subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as such herein. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Guarantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any Subsidiary as a party to this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
- 13 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Master Guarantee Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
SCHIFF NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
AIRBORNE, INC. | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, | |||
as Administrative Agent, | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: Manager, Agency | |||