GUARANTY
THIS GUARANTY (as amended, this "GUARANTY") is executed as of May 1,
1998, by the undersigned ("GUARANTOR") in favor of NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
("AGENT"), as Agent for the benefit of the Lenders ("LENDERS") now or
hereafter party to the Credit Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
A. NCI Building Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("BORROWER"),
Agent and Lenders have executed a Credit Agreement dated March 25, 1998 (as
amended, supplemented or restated, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), together with
certain other Loan Documents.
B. Guarantor is a Subsidiary of Borrower and, because of its ownership
by Borrower, expects to continue to receive business opportunities, financial
support and management support from Borrower. Guarantor has agreed to enter
into this Guaranty so that Borrower can receive the benefits of the
Guaranteed Debt (as defined below) and continue to provide these services to
Guarantor.
C. Guarantor's board of directors has determined that Guarantor may
benefit directly or indirectly from Borrower's execution of the Credit
Agreement as Guarantor may be the indirect recipient of funds advanced by
Lenders to Borrower under the Credit Agreement or the account party of LCs
issued by Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and as such the value of
the consideration received and to be received by it under the Loan Documents
is reasonably worth at least as much as its liability and obligation under
this Guaranty.
D. It is expressly understood among Borrower, Guarantor, Agent and
Lenders that the execution and delivery of this Guaranty is a condition
precedent to Lenders' obligations to extend credit under the Credit Agreement
and Agent's obligation to issue LCs under the Credit Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of
which are hereby acknowledged, Guarantor guarantees to Lenders the prompt
payment at maturity (by acceleration or otherwise), and at all times
thereafter, of the Guaranteed Debt, as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. UNLESS OTHERWISE DEFINED IN THIS GUARANTY, ANY
CAPITALIZED TERM USED IN THIS GUARANTY SHALL HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN THAT TERM
IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENT. The following terms shall have the following
meanings as used in this Guaranty:
1.1 "BORROWER" includes, without limitation, Borrower as a debtor-
in-possession, and any receiver, trustee, liquidator, conservator,
custodian, or similar party hereafter appointed for Borrower or all or
substantially all of Borrower's assets pursuant to any liquidation,
conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership,
insolvency, reorganization, or similar Debtor Relief Law from time to
time in effect affecting the Rights of creditors generally.
1.2 "GUARANTEED DEBT" means the Obligation as defined in the Credit
Agreement (including, without limitation, amounts that would become due but
for operation of any applicable provision of Title 11 of the U.S. Code
(including, without limitation, 11 U.S.C. Sections 502 and 506)), TOGETHER
WITH all pre- and post-
maturity interest thereon (including, without limitation, all post-petition
interest if Borrower or any Subsidiary voluntarily or involuntarily files
for bankruptcy protection) and any and all costs, attorneys' fees and
expenses reasonably incurred by Agent or any Lender to enforce Borrower's,
Guarantor's, or any other obligor's, payment of any of the foregoing
indebtedness.
1.3 "SUBORDINATED DEBT" means all obligations of Borrower to
Guarantor, whether direct, indirect, fixed, contingent, liquidated,
unliquidated, joint, several, or joint and several, now or hereafter
existing, due or to become due to Guarantor, or held or to be held by
Guarantor, whether created directly or acquired by assignment or otherwise,
and whether or not evidenced by written instrument.
2. GUARANTY. This is an absolute, irrevocable and continuing guaranty
of payment of the Guaranteed Debt which will remain in effect until the
Guaranteed Debt is completely paid and all commitments to lend under the
Credit Agreement have terminated. The circumstance that at any time or from
time to time all or any portion of the Guaranteed Debt may be paid in full
shall not affect the Guarantor's obligation with respect to the Guaranteed
Debt of Borrower to Agent and Lenders thereafter incurred. The Guarantor may
not rescind or revoke its obligations to Agent and Lenders with respect to
the Guaranteed Debt.
3. AMOUNT OF GUARANTY. In consummating the transactions contemplated
by the Credit Agreement, Guarantor does not intend to disturb, delay, hinder,
or defraud either its present or future creditors. Guarantor is familiar
with, and has independently reviewed books and records regarding, the
financial condition of Borrower and is familiar with the value of the
security and support for the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Debt.
Based upon such examination, and taking into account the fairly discounted
value of Guarantor's contingent obligations under this Guaranty and the
limitation of liability set forth in Section 4 hereof and the value of the
subrogation and contribution claims Guarantor could make in connection with
this Guaranty, and assuming each of the transaction contemplated by the
Credit Agreement is consummated and Borrower makes full use of the credit
facilities thereunder, the present realizable fair market value of the assets
of Guarantor exceeds the total obligations of Guarantor, and Guarantor is
able to realize upon its assets and pay its obligations as such obligations
mature in the normal course of business.
4. LIMIT OF LIABILITY. The obligations of Guarantor hereunder shall
be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not
render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable state
Law.
5. LIABILITY FOR OTHER INDEBTEDNESS OF BORROWER. If Guarantor becomes
liable for any indebtedness owing by Borrower to Agent or any Lender, by
endorsement or otherwise, other than under this Guaranty, such liability
shall not be, in any manner, impaired or affected hereby, and the Rights of
Agent or Lenders under this Guaranty shall be cumulative of any and all other
Rights that Agent or Lenders may ever have against Guarantor. The exercise
by Agent or Lenders of any Right or remedy under this Guaranty under the Loan
Documents, or other instrument, or at Law or in equity, shall not preclude
the concurrent or subsequent exercise of any other Right or remedy.
6. DEFAULT BY BORROWER. If a Default exists, Guarantor shall pay the
amount of the Guaranteed Debt then due and payable to Agent and Lenders on
demand and without (a) further notice of dishonor, to Guarantor, (b) any
prior notice to Guarantor of the acceptance by Agent or Lenders of this
Guaranty, (c) any notice having been given to Guarantor prior to such demand
of the creating or incurring of such indebtedness,
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or (d) notice of intent to accelerate or notice of acceleration to Guarantor
or Borrower. To enforce such payment by Guarantor it shall not be necessary
for Agent or Lenders to first or contemporaneously institute suit or exhaust
remedies against Borrower or others liable on such indebtedness, or to
enforce Rights against any security or collateral ever given to secure such
indebtedness.
7. SUBORDINATION. All Subordinated Debt shall be expressly
subordinated to the final payment in full of the Guaranteed Debt. Guarantor
agrees not to receive or accept any payment from Borrower with respect to the
Subordinated Debt at any time a Default exists; and, in the event Guarantor
receives any payment on the Subordinated Debt in violation of the foregoing,
Guarantor shall hold any such payment in trust for Agent and Lenders and
promptly turn it over to Agent, in the form received (with any necessary
endorsements), to be applied to the Guaranteed Debt.
8. SUBROGATION. Guarantor agrees that it will not assert, enforce, or
otherwise exercise (a) any right of subrogation to any of the rights or liens
of Agent or any Lender or any other beneficiary against Borrower or any other
obligor on the Guaranteed Debt or any Collateral or other security, or (b)
any right of recourse, reimbursement, subrogation, contribution,
indemnification, or similar right against Borrower or any other obligor or
other guarantor on all or any part of the Guaranteed Debt or any guarantor
thereof (whether such rights in CLAUSE (a) or CLAUSE (b) arise in equity,
under contract, by statute, under common law, or otherwise).
9. NO RELEASE. Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations under the
terms of this Guaranty shall not be released, diminished, impaired, reduced
or affected by the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:
(a) Agent's or Lenders' taking or accepting of any other security or
guaranty for any or all of the Guaranteed Debt;
(b) any release, surrender, exchange, subordination or loss of any
security at any time existing in connection with any or all of the
Guaranteed Debt;
(c) any full or partial release of the liability of any other obligor
on the Obligation;
(d) the insolvency, becoming subject to any Debtor Relief Law, or
lack of corporate power of Borrower, any of the undersigned, or any party
at any time liable for the payment of any or all of the Guaranteed Debt,
whether now existing or hereafter occurring;
(e) any renewal, extension or rearrangement of the payment of any or
all of the Guaranteed Debt, either with or without notice to or consent of
Guarantor, or any adjustment, indulgence, forbearance, or compromise that
may be granted or given by Agent or any Lender to Borrower, Guarantor, or
any other obligor on the Obligation;
(f) any neglect, delay, omission, failure or refusal of Agent or any
Lender to take or prosecute any action for the collection of all or any
part of the Guaranteed Debt or to foreclose or take or prosecute any action
in connection with any instrument or agreement evidencing or securing any
or all of the Guaranteed Debt;
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(g) any failure of Agent or any Lender to notify Guarantor of any
renewal, extension, or assignment of any or all of the Guaranteed Debt, or
the release of any security or of any other action taken or refrained from
being taken by Agent or any Lender against Borrower or any new agreement
between Agent, any Lender, and Borrower, it being understood that neither
Agent nor any Lender shall be required to give Guarantor any notice of any
kind under any circumstances whatsoever with respect to or in connection
with the Guaranteed Debt, other than any notice required to be given to
Guarantor elsewhere herein;
(h) the unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Debt
against Borrower by reason of the fact that the Guaranteed Debt exceeds the
amount permitted by Law, the act of creating the Guaranteed Debt, or any
part thereof, is ULTRA XXXXX, or the officers creating same exceeded their
authority or violated their fiduciary duties in connection therewith;
(i) any payment of the Obligation to Agent or Lenders is held to
constitute a preference under any Debtor Relief Law or if for any other
reason Agent or any Lender is required to refund such payment or make
payment to someone else (and in each such instance this Guaranty shall be
reinstated in an amount equal to such payment), or if there is more than
one person or entity signing this Guaranty or otherwise guaranteeing
payment of the Guaranteed Debt, the release of any one or more of them
hereunder; or
(j) any discharge, release, or other forgiveness of Borrower's
personal liability for the payment of the Guaranteed Debt.
10. WAIVER. Guarantor hereby waives all rights by which it might be
entitled to require suit on an accrued right of action in respect of any of
the Guaranteed Debt or require suit against Borrower or others, whether
arising pursuant to Section 34.02 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, as
amended (regarding Guarantor's right to require Agent or Lenders to xxx
Borrower on accrued right of action following Guarantor's written notice to
Agent or Lenders), Section 17.001 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, as amended (allowing suit against Guarantor without suit against
Borrower, but precluding entry of judgment against Guarantor prior to entry
of judgment against Borrower), Rule 31 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure,
as amended (requiring Agent or Lenders to join Borrower in any suit against
Guarantor unless judgment has been previously entered against Borrower), or
otherwise. Guarantor waives notice of acceptance of this Guaranty, notice of
any loan to which it may apply, and waives presentment, demand for payment,
protest, notice of dishonor or nonpayment of any loan, notice of intent to
accelerate, notice of acceleration, and notice of any suit or notice of the
taking of other action by Lender against Borrower, Guarantor or any other
person and any notice to any party liable thereon (including Guarantor).
11. RELIANCE AND DUTY TO REMAIN INFORMED. Guarantor confirms that it
has executed and delivered this Guaranty after reviewing the terms and
conditions of the Loan Documents and such other information as it has deemed
appropriate in order to make its own credit analysis and decision to execute
and deliver this Guaranty. Guarantor confirms that it has made its own
independent investigation with respect to Borrower's creditworthiness and is
not executing and delivering this Guaranty in reliance on any representation
or warranty by Agent or Lender as to such creditworthiness. Guarantor
expressly assumes all responsibilities to remain informed of the financial
condition of Borrower and any circumstances affecting (a) Borrower's ability
to perform under the Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party or (b) any
collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Debt.
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12. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Guarantor acknowledges that
certain representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement are
in respect of it, and Guarantor reaffirms that each such representation and
warranty is true and correct in all material respects. Furthermore,
Guarantor represents and warrants to Agent and Lenders that Guarantor's board
of directors has determined that its liability and obligation hereunder may
reasonably be expected to benefit it directly or indirectly.
13. CHANGE IN GUARANTOR'S STATUS. Should Guarantor become insolvent,
or fail to pay its debts generally as they become due, or voluntarily seek,
consent to, or acquiesce in the benefit or benefits of any Debtor Relief Law
or become a party to (or be made the subject of) any proceeding provided for
by any Debtor Relief Law (other than as a creditor or claimant) that could
suspend or otherwise adversely affect the Rights of Agent or Lenders granted
hereunder, then, in any such event, the Guaranteed Debt shall be, as between
Guarantor, Agent and Lender, a fully matured, due, and payable obligation of
Guarantor to Agent or Lender (without regard to whether Borrower is then in
Default or whether the Guaranteed Debt, or any part thereof is then due and
owing by Borrower to Lender), payable in full by Guarantor to Agent or Lender
upon demand, which shall be the estimated amount owing in respect of the
contingent claim created hereunder.
14. COVENANTS. Guarantor acknowledges that certain covenants set forth
in the Credit Agreement are in respect of it or shall be imposed upon it, and
Guarantor covenants and agrees to promptly and properly perform, observe, and
comply with each such covenant. Furthermore, Guarantor shall, jointly and
severally, indemnify, protect, and hold Agent and Lenders and their
respective parents, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees,
representatives, agents, successors, permitted assigns, and attorneys
(collectively, the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") harmless from and against any and
all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits, claims, and proceedings and all costs, expenses (including, without
limitation, all reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses whether or not
suit is brought), and reasonable disbursements of any kind or nature (the
"INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES") that may at any time be imposed on, incurred by,
or asserted against the indemnified parties, in any way relating to or
arising out of (a) the direct or indirect result of the violation by any
Company of any Environmental Law, (b) any Company's generation, manufacture,
production, storage, release, threatened release, discharge, disposal, or
presence in connection with its properties of a Hazardous Substance
(including, without limitation, (i) all damages from any use, generation,
manufacture, production, storage, release, threatened release, discharge,
disposal, or presence, or (ii) the costs of any environmental investigation,
monitoring, repair, cleanup, or detoxification and the preparation and
implementation of any closure, remedial, or other plans), or (c) the Loan
Documents or any of the transactions contemplated therein. However, although
each indemnified party has the Right to be indemnified under the Loan
Documents for its own ordinary negligence, no indemnified party has the Right
to be indemnified under the Loan Documents for its own fraud, gross
negligence, or willful misconduct. The provisions of and undertakings and
indemnification set forth in this paragraph shall survive the satisfaction
and payment of the Obligation and termination of this Guaranty.
15. OFFSET CLAIMS. The Guaranteed Debt shall not be reduced,
discharged or released because or by reason of any existing or future offset,
claim or defense (except for the defense of complete and final payment of the
Guaranteed Debt) of Borrower or any other party against Agent or Lenders or
against payment of the Guaranteed Debt, whether such offset, claim, or
defense arises in connection with the Guaranteed Debt or otherwise. Such
claims and defenses include, without limitation, failure of consideration,
breach of warranty, fraud, statute of frauds, bankruptcy, infancy, statute of
limitations, lender liability, accord and satisfaction, and usury.
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16. BINDING AGREEMENT. This Guaranty is for the benefit of Agent and
Lenders and their respective successors and assigns. Guarantor acknowledges
that in the event of an assignment of the Guaranteed Debt or any part thereof
in accordance with the Credit Agreement, the rights and benefits under this
Guaranty, to the extent applicable to the indebtedness so assigned, may be
transferred with such indebtedness. This Guaranty is binding on Guarantor
and its successors and permitted assigns.
17. LOAN DOCUMENT. This Guaranty is a Loan Document and, therefore,
this Guaranty is subject to the applicable provisions of SECTION 14 of the
Credit Agreement, all of which applicable provisions are incorporated into
this Guaranty by reference as if set forth verbatim.
18. NOTICES. All notices required or permitted to be given under this
Guaranty, if any, must be in writing and shall or may, as the case may be, be
given in the same manner as notice is given under the Credit Agreement as
follows:
If to Agent:
NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
Corporate Finance Group
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Vice President
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, L.L.P.
000 Xxxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: F. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
If to Borrower:
NCI Building Systems, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer
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with a copy to:
Gardere & Xxxxx, L.L.P.
Thanksgiving Tower
0000 Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
If to Guarantor:
A&S Building Systems, L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Gardere & Xxxxx, L.L.P.
Thanksgiving Tower
0000 Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, by giving at least 30 days
written notice, any party to this Guaranty shall have the right from time to
time and at any time while this Guaranty is in effect to change their
respective addresses or fax numbers and each shall have the right to specify
a different address or fax number within the United States of America.
Nothing in this SECTION 18 shall be construed to require any notice to
Guarantor not otherwise expressly required in this Guaranty.
19. GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY IS EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS AN
INCIDENT TO A LENDING TRANSACTION NEGOTIATED, CONSUMMATED, AND PERFORMABLE IN
XXXXXX COUNTY, TEXAS, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF TEXAS AND, AS APPLICABLE, THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
20. NO ORAL AGREEMENTS. THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
HERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED SOLELY FROM WRITTEN AGREEMENTS, DOCUMENTS, AND
INSTRUMENTS, AND ANY PRIOR ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES ARE SUPERSEDED
BY AND MERGED INTO SUCH WRITINGS. THIS GUARANTY (AS AMENDED
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IN WRITING FROM TIME TO TIME) AND THE OTHER WRITTEN LOAN DOCUMENTS EXECUTED
BY BORROWER, AGENT, LENDERS OR GUARANTOR (OR BY BORROWER OR GUARANTOR FOR THE
BENEFIT OF AGENT AND LENDERS) REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BORROWER,
GUARANTOR, AND LENDER AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BY THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. THIS SECTION IS INCLUDED
HEREIN PURSUANT TO SECTION 26.02 OF THE TEXAS BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE, AS
AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
This Guaranty is executed as of the date set forth above.
A&S BUILDING SYSTEMS, L.P.,
a Texas limited partnership
By: NCI Operating Corp.,
a Nevada corporation and its general
partner
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
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