LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.23
This
LOAN
AND SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of March 22, 2007 (the “Agreement”), is executed
by and between Primoris Corporation, a Nevada
corporation (the
“Borrower”), which has its chief executive office located at 00000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, and LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
a
national banking association (the “Bank”), whose address is 000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
RECITALS:
A. The
Borrower desires to borrow funds and obtain other financial accommodations
from
the Bank.
B. Pursuant
to the Borrower’s request, the Bank is willing to extend such financial
accommodations to the Borrower under the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
C. It
is the
parties’ intent that the Borrower and its Affiliates and the Guarantors and
their Affiliates shall provide security for the Loans and any other borrowings
by the Borrower and its Affiliates from the Bank and its
Affiliates.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth herein, the Borrower agrees to borrow from the Bank, and
the Bank agrees to lend to the Borrower, subject to and upon the following
terms
and conditions:
AGREEMENTS:
Section
1. DEFINITIONS.
1.1. Defined
Terms.
For the
purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words and phrases shall
have the meanings set forth below.
“Account
or Accounts”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Affiliate”
of
any
Person shall mean (a) any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls
or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, (b) any officer
or director of such Person, and (c) with respect to the Bank, the foregoing
and
also any entity administered or managed by the Bank, or an Affiliate or
investment advisor thereof and which is engaged in making, purchasing, holding
or otherwise investing in commercial loans. A Person shall be deemed to be
“controlled by” any other Person if such Person possesses, directly or
indirectly, power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person whether by contract, ownership of voting securities,
membership interests or otherwise.
“Applicable
Margin”
shall
mean the rate per annum added to the Base Rate and/or LIBOR to determine the
Revolving Interest Rate as
determined by the ratio of Total Debt to Tangible Net Worth of the Borrower
as
of the last day of the prior fiscal quarter, as set forth below:
Total
Debt to Tangible Net Worth
|
LIBOR
Spread
|
Base
Rate Spread
|
Commitment
Fee
|
Non-Utilization
Fee
|
Letter
of Credit Fee
|
Greater
than 1.50 to 1:00
|
225
bps
|
25
bps
|
50
bps
|
50
bps
|
225
bps
|
Greater
than 1.00 to 1.00; less than or equal to
1.50
to 1.00
|
200
bps
|
25
bps
|
50
bps
|
50
bps
|
200
bps
|
Greater
than 0.50 to 1:00; less than or equal to
1.00:
1.00
|
175
bps
|
0
bps
|
37.5
bps
|
37.5
bps
|
175
bps
|
Less
than or equal to
0.50
to 1.00
|
150
bps
|
0
bps
|
37.5
bps
|
37.5
bps
|
150
bps
|
The
Applicable Margin as of the date hereof is Base Rate plus 0 bps or LIBOR plus
175 bps and shall be adjusted, upon receipt and verification of a compliance
certificate, on the first day of each quarter based on the Total Debt to
Tangible Net Worth of the Borrower as of the last day of the preceding
quarter.
“ARB
ARENDAL”
shall
mean ARB ARENDAL S. de X.X. de C.V.
“ARB
ECUADOR”
shall
mean ARB ECUADOR Cia Ltda.
“Bank
Product Agreements”
shall
mean those certain agreements entered into from time to time by the Borrower
or
any Subsidiary with the Bank or any Affiliate of the Bank concerning Bank
Products.
“Bank
Product Obligations”
shall
mean (i) all obligations, liabilities, contingent reimbursement obligations,
fees, and expenses owing by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Bank or any
Affiliate of the Bank, or (ii) all guarantees, fees and expenses owing by the
Borrower to the Bank with regard to foreign subordinated debt made available
to
the Borrower by any Affiliate of the Bank, pursuant to or evidenced by the
Bank
Product Agreements and irrespective of whether for the payment of money, whether
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing
or hereafter arising.
“Bank
Products”
shall
mean any service or facility extended to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by
the
Bank or any Affiliate of the Bank, including: (a) credit cards, (b) credit
card
processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions,
(f) cash management, including controlled disbursement, accounts or services,
or
(g) Hedging Agreements.
2
“Bankruptcy
Code”
shall
mean the United States Bankruptcy Code, as now existing or hereafter
amended.
“Base
Rate”
shall
mean a per annum rate of interest as announced by the Bank from time to time
which shall remain fixed during any Interest Period.
“Base
Rate Loan”
means
any Loan which bears interest at or by reference to the Base Rate.
“Born
Heaters Canada”
means
Born Heaters Canada, Ltd., an Alberta Unlimited Liability Company.
“Business
Day”
shall
mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which banks
are
authorized or required to be closed for the conduct of commercial banking
business in Chicago, Illinois.
“Capital
Expenditures”
shall
mean all expenditures (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) which, in
accordance with GAAP, would be required to be capitalized and shown on the
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower, but excluding expenditures made
in
connection with the replacement, substitution or restoration of assets to the
extent financed (i) from insurance proceeds (or other similar recoveries) paid
on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced or restored
or
(ii) with awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain
or
condemnation of the assets being replaced.
“Capital
Lease”
shall
mean, as to any Person, a lease
of
any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed,
or tangible or intangible, by such Person, as lessee, that is, or should be,
in
accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 13, as
amended from time to time, or, if such statement is not then in effect, such
statement of GAAP as may be applicable, recorded as a “capital lease” on the
financial statements of such Person prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
“Capital
Securities”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, all shares, interests, participations or
other
equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s
capital, whether now outstanding or issued or acquired after the date hereof,
including common shares, preferred shares, membership interests in a limited
liability company, limited or general partnership interests in a partnership
or
any other equivalent of such ownership interest.
“Capitalized
Lease Obligations”
shall
mean, as to any Person, all rental obligations of such Person, as lessee under
a
Capital Lease which are or will be required to be capitalized on the books
of
such Person.
3
“Cash
Equivalent Investment”
shall
mean, at any time, (a) any evidence of Debt, maturing not more than one year
after such time, issued or guaranteed by the United States government or any
agency thereof, (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year from
the
date of issue, or corporate demand notes, in each case (unless issued by the
Bank or its holding company) rated at least A-l by Standard & Poor’s Ratings
Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc. or P-l by Xxxxx’x
Investors Service, Inc., (c) any certificate of deposit, time deposit or
banker’s acceptance, maturing not more than one year after such time, or any
overnight Federal Funds transaction that is issued or sold by the Bank or its
holding company (or by a commercial banking institution that is a member of
the
Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided
profits of not less than Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars
($500,000,000)), (d) any repurchase agreement entered into with the Bank, or
other commercial banking institution of the nature referred to in clause
(c),
which
(i) is secured by a fully perfected security interest in any obligation of
the
type described in any of clauses
(a)
through
(c)
above,
and (ii) has a market value at the time such repurchase agreement is entered
into of not less than 100% of the repurchase obligation of the Bank, or other
commercial banking institution, thereunder, (e) money market accounts or mutual
funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the foregoing requirements,
(f) other short term liquid investments approved in writing by the Bank, (g)
cash held outside the United States to be deposited in a bank rated at least
A-l
by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx
Companies, Inc. or P-l by Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc., or any other bank
acceptable to the Bank; and (h) cash held within the United States to be
invested in short term instruments for periods of less than 270 days and rated
at least A-l by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The
XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc. or P-l by Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc., to be
held in an institution acceptable to the Bank.
“Cash
Proceeds”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Change
in Control”
shall
mean if Xxxxx Xxxxx shall
cease to own and control, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the
outstanding Capital Securities of the Borrower. For the purpose hereof, the
terms “control” or “controlling” shall mean the possession of the power to
direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of the Borrower
by contract or voting of securities or ownership interests.
“Chattel
Paper”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Closing
Fee”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
3.6
hereof.
“Collateral”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
6.1
hereof.
“Collateral
Access Agreement”
shall
mean an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Bank
pursuant to which a mortgagee or lessor of real property where the chief
executive office of the Borrower is located or where the chief executive office
of any Subsidiary is located acknowledges the Liens of the Bank and waives
any
Liens held by such Person on such property, and, in the case of any such
agreement with a mortgagee or lessor, permits the Bank reasonable access to
and
use of such real property following the occurrence and during the continuance
of
an Event of Default to assemble, complete and sell any collateral stored or
otherwise located thereon.
4
“Commercial
Tort Claims”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Control
Agreements”
shall
mean those agreements in form and substance acceptable to the Bank executed
by
the Borrower and any other banking institution(s) in favor of the Bank or any
Subsidiary and any other banking institution(s) which grants the Bank a security
interest in the Account(s) held by the Borrower at such other banking
institution(s) and any Subsidiary at such other banking
institution(s).
“Debt”
shall
mean, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) all borrowed money of such
Person (including principal, interest, fees and charges), whether or not
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments; and (b) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to the maximum face amount
of
all letters of credit (whether or not drawn), bankers’ acceptances and similar
obligations issued for the account of such Person (including the Letters of
Credit), and all unpaid drawings in respect of such letters of credit, bankers’
acceptances and similar obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Debt shall
not include trade payables and accrued expenses incurred by such Person in
accordance with customary practices and in the ordinary course of business
of
such Person.
“Default
Rate”
shall
mean a per annum rate of interest equal to the Base Rate plus
two
percent (2%).
“Deposit
Accounts”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Depreciation”
shall
mean the total amounts added to depreciation, amortization, obsolescence,
valuation and other proper reserves, as reflected on the Borrower’s financial
statements and determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Documents”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Electronic
Chattel Paper”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Employee
Plan”
includes any pension, stock bonus, employee stock ownership plan, retirement,
profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock option, bonus or other incentive
plan, whether qualified or nonqualified, or any disability, medical, dental
or
other health plan, life insurance or other death benefit plan, vacation benefit
plan, severance plan or other employee benefit plan or arrangement, including
those pension, profit-sharing and retirement plans of the Borrower described
from time to time in the financial statements of the Borrower and any pension
plan, welfare plan, Defined Benefit Pension Plans (as defined in ERISA) or
any
multi-employer plan, maintained or administered by the Borrower or to which
the
Borrower is a party or may have any liability or by which the Borrower is
bound.
“Environmental
Laws”
shall
mean all present or future federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law
duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all
administrative or judicial orders, consent agreements, directed duties,
requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any
governmental authority, in each case relating to any matter arising out of
or
relating to public health and safety, or pollution or protection of the
environment or workplace, including any of the foregoing relating to the
presence, use, production, generation, handling, transport, treatment, storage,
disposal, distribution, discharge, emission, release, threatened release,
control or cleanup of any Hazardous Substance.
5
“Equipment”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“ERISA”
shall
mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time
to time.
“Event
of Default”
shall
mean any of the events or conditions which are set forth in Section
11
hereof.
“Excess
Cash”
shall
mean Cash Equivalent Investments in excess of Five Million and 00/100 Dollars
($5,000,000.00).
“Federal
Funds Rate”
shall
mean, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate equal for each day during such
period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal
funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business
Day,
for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,
or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the
average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the
Bank
from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Bank.
The Bank’s determination of such rate shall be binding and conclusive absent
manifest error.
“Financial
Assets”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Fiscal
Year”
means
the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which period shall be
the
12-month period ending on Borrower’s Fiscal Year End of each year.
“GAAP”
shall
mean generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in
the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements
of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions
of
comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession), which
are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, provided,
however, that interim financial statements or reports shall be deemed in
compliance with GAAP despite the absence of footnotes and fiscal year-end
adjustments as required by GAAP.
“General
Intangibles”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Goods”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Guarantor”
and
“Guarantors”
shall
mean, respectively, each of and collectively, the following Persons: ARB, Inc.;
ARB Structures, Inc.; Cardinal Contractors, Inc.; Cardinal Mechanical, L.P.;
Onquest, Inc.; Pipeline Trenching, LLC; and any other Person signing a
Guaranty.
6
“Guaranties”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
3.1
hereof.
“Hazardous
Substances”
shall
mean (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials,
asbestos in any form that is or could become friable, urea formaldehyde foam
insulation, dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls,
radon gas and mold; (b) any chemicals, materials, pollutant or substances
defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous
waste”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous substances”, “restricted
hazardous waste”, “toxic substances”, “toxic pollutants”, “contaminants”,
“pollutants” or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law;
and (c) any other chemical, material or substance, the exposure to, or
release of which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any governmental
authority or for which any duty or standard of care is imposed pursuant to,
any
Environmental Law.
“Hedging
Agreement”
shall
mean any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, cap agreement
or
collar agreement, and any other agreement or arrangement designed to protect
a
Person against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or
commodity prices.
“Hedging
Obligation”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, any liability of such Person under any Hedging
Agreement.
“Indemnified
Party”
and
“Indemnified
Parties”
shall
mean, respectively, each of the Bank and any parent corporation, Affiliate
or
Subsidiary of the Bank, and each of their respective officers, directors,
employees, attorneys and agents, and all of such parties and
entities.
“Instruments”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Intellectual
Property”
shall
mean the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating
to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational
or
foreign laws or otherwise, including copyrights, patents, service marks and
trademarks, and all registrations and applications for registration therefor
and
all licensees thereof, trade names, domain names, technology, know-how and
processes, and all rights to xxx at law or in equity for any infringement or
other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and
damages therefrom.
“Interest
Charges”
shall
mean, for any period, the sum of: (a) all interest, charges and related expenses
payable with respect to that fiscal period to a lender in connection with
borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of assets that are treated as
interest in accordance with GAAP, plus
(b) the
portion of Capitalized Lease Obligations with respect to that fiscal period
that
should be treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, plus
(c) all
charges paid or payable (without duplication) during that period with respect
to
any Hedging Agreements.
7
“Interest
Period”
shall
mean successive one week, two week, one month, two month, three month or six
month periods, beginning and ending as provided in this Agreement.
“Inventory”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Investment”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, any investment in another Person, whether
by
acquisition of any debt or equity security, by making any loan or advance,
by
becoming obligated with respect to a Contingent Liability in respect of
obligations of such other Person (other than travel and similar advances to
employees in the ordinary course of business).
“Investment
Property”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Letter
of Credit”
and
“Letters
of Credit”
shall
mean, respectively, a letter of credit and all such letters of credit issued
by
the Bank, in its sole discretion, upon the execution and delivery by the
Borrower and the acceptance by the Bank of a Master Letter of Credit Agreement
and a Letter of Credit Application, as set forth in Section
2.7
of this
Agreement.
“Letter
of Credit Application”
shall
mean, with respect to any request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit, a
letter of credit application in the form being used by the Bank at the time
of
such request for the type of Letter of Credit requested.
“Letter
of Credit Commitment”
shall
mean, at any time, an amount equal to Ten Million and 00/100 Dollars
($10,000,000.00).
“Letter
of Credit Fee”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
2.6
hereof.
“Letter
of Credit Maturity Date”
shall
mean one year after the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.
“Letter
of Credit Obligations”
shall
mean, at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate of the original face amounts
of all Letters of Credit minus the sum of (i) the amount of any reductions
in
the original face amount of any Letter of Credit which did not result from
a
draw thereunder, (ii) the amount of any payments made by the Bank with respect
to any draws made under a Letter of Credit for which the Borrower has reimbursed
the Bank, (iii) the amount of any payments made by the Bank with respect to
any
draws made under a Letter of Credit which have been converted to a Revolving
Loan as set forth in Section
2.7,
and
(iv) the portion of any issued but expired Letter of Credit which has not been
drawn by the beneficiary thereunder. For purposes of determining the outstanding
Letter of Credit Obligations at any time, the Bank’s acceptance of a draft drawn
on the Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit shall constitute a draw on the
applicable Letter of Credit at the time of such acceptance.
“Letter
of Credit Rights”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Liabilities”
shall
mean at all times all liabilities of the Borrower that would be shown as such
on
a balance sheet of the Borrower prepared in accordance with GAAP.
8
“LIBOR”
shall
mean a rate of interest equal to (a) the per annum rate of interest at which
United States dollar deposits for a period equal to the relevant Interest Period
are offered in the London Interbank Eurodollar market at 11:00 a.m. (London
time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (or
three Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period if banks
in London, England were not open and dealing in offshore United States dollars
on such second preceding Business Day), as displayed in the Bloomberg
Financial Markets
system
(or other authoritative source selected by the Bank in its sole discretion),
divided by (b) a number determined by subtracting from 1.00 the then stated
maximum reserve percentage for determining reserves to be maintained by member
banks of the Federal Reserve System for Eurocurrency funding or liabilities
as
defined in Regulation D (or any successor category of liabilities under
Regulation D), or as LIBOR is otherwise determined by the Bank in its sole
and
absolute discretion. The Bank’s determination of LIBOR shall be conclusive,
absent manifest error.
“LIBOR
Loan”
or
“LIBOR
Loans”
shall
mean that portion, and collectively those portions, of the aggregate outstanding
principal balance of the Loans that bear interest at the LIBOR
Rate.
“LIBOR
Rate”
shall
mean a per annum rate of interest equal to LIBOR for the relevant Interest
Period, plus
175
basis points, which LIBOR Rate shall remain fixed during such Interest
Period.
“Lien”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, any interest granted by such Person in any
real or personal property, asset or other right owned or being purchased or
acquired by such Person (including an interest in respect of a Capital Lease)
which secures payment or performance of any obligation and shall include any
mortgage, lien, encumbrance, title retention lien, charge or other security
interest of any kind, whether arising by contract, as a matter of law, by
judicial process or otherwise.
“Loans”
shall
mean the Revolving Loans made
by
the Bank to the Borrower and all Letter of Credit Obligations, under and
pursuant to this Agreement.
“Loan
Documents”
shall
mean each of the agreements, documents, instruments and certificates set forth
in Section
3.1
hereof,
and any and all such other instruments, documents, certificates and agreements
from time to time executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Guarantors or
any
of their Subsidiaries
for the benefit of the Bank pursuant to any of the foregoing, and all
amendments, restatements, supplements and other modifications
thereto.
“Master
Letter of Credit Agreement”
shall
mean, at any time, with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, a Master
Letter of Credit Agreement in the form being used by the Bank at such
time.
“Material”
shall
mean the description of any claim which could, if determined adversely, result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
9
“Material
Adverse Effect”
shall
mean (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the
assets, business, properties, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise)
or
results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
(b)
a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to
perform any of the Obligations under any of the Loan Documents, or (c) a
material adverse effect on (i) any substantial portion of the Collateral, (ii)
the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries of any of the Loan Documents, (iii) the perfection or
priority of any Lien granted to the Bank under any Loan Document, or (iv) the
rights or remedies of the Bank under any Loan Document.
“Net
Income”
shall
mean, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period, the
net
income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period as
determined in accordance with GAAP excluding property, plant and equipment,
any
extraordinary gains outside the ordinary course and any gains from discontinued
operations.
“Noncash
Proceeds”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Non-Excluded
Taxes”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
2.7(a)
hereof.
“Non-Utilization
Fee”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
2.4
hereof.
“Note”
shall
mean the
Revolving Note.
“Obligations”
shall
mean the Loans, as evidenced by any Note, all interest accrued thereon
(including interest which would be payable as post-petition in connection with
any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, whether or not permitted as a claim
thereunder), any fees due the Bank hereunder, any expenses incurred by the
Bank
hereunder, including without limitation, all liabilities and obligations under
this Agreement, under any other Loan Document, any reimbursement obligations of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in respect of Letters of Credit,
all Hedging Obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which
are owed to the Bank or any Affiliate of the Bank, and all Bank Product
Obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, and any and
all
other liabilities and obligations owed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the
Borrower to the Bank or any Affiliate of the Bank from time to time, howsoever
created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, joint or several,
absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing, or due or to become due,
together with any and all renewals, extensions, restatements or replacements
of
any of the foregoing.
“Obligor”
shall
mean the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, any Guarantor, accommodation
endorser, third party pledgor, or any other party liable with respect to the
Obligations.
“Organizational
Identification Number”
means,
with respect to Borrower, the organizational identification number assigned
to
Borrower by the applicable governmental unit or agency of the jurisdiction
of
organization of the Borrower.
10
“Other
Taxes”
shall
mean any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or
property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from the execution,
delivery, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
“Payment
Intangibles”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Permitted
Liens”
shall
mean (a) Liens
for
Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not at the time delinquent
or
thereafter payable without penalty or being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP and in respect of which no Lien has been filed;
(b) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (such as (i) Liens of
carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and other similar Liens
imposed by law, and (ii) Liens in the form of deposits or pledges incurred
in
connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation and other types
of social security (excluding Liens arising under ERISA) or in connection with
surety bonds, bids, performance bonds and similar obligations) for sums not
overdue or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and not
involving any advances or borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of
property or services, which do not in the aggregate materially detract from
the
value of the property or assets of the Borrower or materially impair the use
thereof in the operation of the Borrower’s business and, in each case, for which
it maintains adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and in respect of which
no Lien has been filed; (c) Liens described on Schedule
9.2
as of
the Closing Date; (d) attachments, appeal bonds, judgments and other similar
Liens, for sums not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars
($500,000.00) arising in connection with court proceedings, provided
the
execution or other enforcement of such Liens is effectively stayed and the
claims secured thereby are being actively contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings and to the extent such judgments or awards do not
constitute an Event of Default under Section 11.8 hereof; (e) easements, rights
of way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar
Liens not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of
the
business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (f) Liens arising in
connection with Capitalized Lease Obligations (and attaching only to the
property being leased); (g) subject to the limitation set forth in Section
9.1(h),
Liens
that constitute purchase money security interests on any property securing
Debt
incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring
such property, provided
that any
such Lien attaches to such property within twenty (20) days of the acquisition
thereof and attaches solely to the property so acquired; (h) Liens
granted to the Bank hereunder and under the Loan Documents; (i) subject to
the
limitations set forth in Section
10.4,
Liens
arising in connection with the incurrence of Capital Expenditures; and (j)
Liens
for certain Equipment as approved by the Bank.
“Person”
shall
mean any natural person, partnership, limited liability company, corporation,
trust, joint venture, joint stock company, association, unincorporated
organization, government or agency or political subdivision thereof, or other
entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other
capacity.
“Pledge
Agreements”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
3.2
hereof.
11
“Proceeds”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Regulatory
Change”
shall
mean the introduction of, or any change in any applicable law, treaty, rule,
regulation or guideline or in the interpretation or administration thereof
by
any governmental authority or any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Bank or its lending
office.
“Revolving
Interest Rate”
shall
mean the Interest Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
“Revolving
Loan”
and
“Revolving
Loans”
shall
mean, respectively, each loan and all outstanding loans made by the Bank to
the
Borrower under and pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth in Section
2.1
of this
Agreement.
“Revolving
Loan Availability”
shall
mean, at any time, an amount equal to the Revolving Loan Commitment minus
the
Letter of Credit Obligations minus
outstanding Revolving Loans.
“Revolving
Loan Commitment”
shall
mean Thirty Million and 00/100 Dollars ($30,000,000.00).
“Revolving
Loan Maturity Date”
shall
mean March
20,
2010, unless extended by the Bank pursuant to any modification, extension or
renewal note executed by the Borrower and accepted by the Bank in its sole
and
absolute discretion in substitution for the Revolving Note.
“Revolving
Note”
shall
mean a revolving note in the form prepared by and acceptable to the Bank, dated
as of the date hereof, in the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment and
maturing on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, duly executed by the Borrower
and
payable to the order of the Bank, together with any and all renewal, extension,
modification or replacement notes executed by the Borrower and delivered to
the
Bank and given in substitution therefor.
“Securities”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Senior
Debt”
shall
mean all Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than Subordinated
Debt.
“Software”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Subordinated
Debt”
shall
mean that portion of the Debt of the Borrower which is subordinated to the
Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Bank, including right and time
of
payment of principal and interest.
“Subsidiary”
and
“Subsidiaries”
shall
mean, respectively, with respect to any Person, each and all such corporations,
partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, limited
liability partnerships, joint ventures or other entities of which or in which
such Person owns, directly or indirectly, such number of outstanding Capital
Securities as have more than fifty percent (50.00%) of the ordinary voting
power
for the election of directors or other managers of such corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity. Unless the context
otherwise requires, each reference to Subsidiaries herein shall be a reference
to Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
12
“Supporting
Obligations”
shall
have the meaning set forth in the UCC.
“Tangible
Assets”
shall
mean the total of all assets appearing on a balance sheet of the Borrower
prepared in accordance with GAAP (with Inventory being valued at the lower
of
cost or market), after deducting all proper reserves (including reserves for
Depreciation) minus the sum of (i) goodwill, patents, trademarks, prepaid
expenses, deposits, deferred charges and other personal property which is
classified as intangible property in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) any amounts
due from shareholders, officers or employees of the Borrower.
“Tangible
Net Worth”
shall
mean at any time the total of Tangible Assets minus
Liabilities plus
Subordinated Debt.
“Taxes”
shall
mean any and all present and future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions,
assessments, charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities (including
interest and penalties and other additions to taxes) with respect to the
foregoing.
“Total
Debt”
shall
mean all Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated
basis, excluding Debt of the Borrower to Subsidiaries and Debt of Subsidiaries
to the Borrower or to other Subsidiaries.
“UCC”
shall
mean the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the state of Illinois from time
to
time.
“Unmatured
Event of Default”
shall
mean any event which, with the giving of notice, the passage of time or both,
would constitute an Event of Default.
“Voidable
Transfer”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 13.21 hereof.
“Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary”
shall
mean any Subsidiary of which or in which the Borrower owns, directly or
indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Capital Securities of such
Subsidiary.
13
1.2. Accounting
Terms.
Any
accounting terms used in this Agreement which are not specifically defined
herein shall have the meanings customarily given them in accordance with GAAP.
Calculations and determinations of financial and accounting terms used and
not
otherwise specifically defined hereunder and the preparation of financial
statements to be furnished to the Bank pursuant hereto shall be made and
prepared, both as to classification of items and as to amount, in accordance
with sound accounting practices and GAAP as used in the preparation of the
financial statements of the Borrower on the date of this Agreement. If any
changes in accounting principles or practices from those used in the preparation
of the financial statements are hereafter occasioned by the promulgation of
rules, regulations, pronouncements and opinions by or required by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (or any successor thereto or agencies with similar functions),
which
results in a material change in the method of accounting in the financial
statements required to be furnished to the Bank hereunder or in the calculation
of financial covenants, standards or terms contained in this Agreement, the
parties hereto agree to enter into good faith negotiations to amend such
provisions so as equitably to reflect such changes to the end that the criteria
for evaluating the financial condition and performance of the Borrower will
be
the same after such changes as they were before such changes; and if the parties
fail to agree on the amendment of such provisions, the Borrower will furnish
financial statements in accordance with such changes, but shall provide
calculations for all financial covenants, perform all financial covenants and
otherwise observe all financial standards and terms in accordance with
applicable accounting principles and practices in effect immediately prior
to
such changes. Calculations with respect to financial covenants required to
be
stated in accordance with applicable accounting principles and practices in
effect immediately prior to such changes shall be reviewed and certified by
the
Borrower’s accountants.
1.3. Other
Terms Defined in UCC.
All
other capitalized words and phrases used herein and not otherwise specifically
defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in
the
UCC, to the extent the same are used or defined therein.
1.4. Other
Interpretive Provisions.
(a)
The
meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural
forms of the defined terms. Whenever the context so requires, the neuter gender
includes the masculine and feminine, the single number includes the plural,
and
vice versa, and in particular the word “Borrower” shall be so
construed.
(b)
Section
and Schedule references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The
words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used
in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement.
(c)
The
term
“including” is not limiting, and means “including, without
limitation”.
(d)
In
the
computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date,
the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean
“to but excluding”, and the word “through” means “to and
including”.
(e)
Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to agreements
(including this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) and other contractual
instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements,
supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent such
amendments, restatements, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited
by the terms of any Loan Document, and (ii) references to any statute or
regulation shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory
provisions amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute
or
regulation.
14
(f)
To
the
extent any of the provisions of the other Loan Documents are inconsistent with
the terms of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall
govern.
(g)
This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents may use several different limitations,
tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such
limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and each shall be performed
in accordance with its terms.
Section
2. COMMITMENT
OF THE BANK.
2.1. Revolving
Loans.
(a)
Revolving
Loan Commitment.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
and
in reliance upon the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth
herein and in the other Loan Documents, the Bank agrees to make such Revolving
Loans at such times as the Borrower may from time to time request until, but
not
including, the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, and in such amounts as the Borrower
may from time to time request, provided, however, that the aggregate principal
balance of all Revolving Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed the
Revolving Loan Availability. Revolving Loans made by the Bank may be repaid
and,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, borrowed again up to, but not
including the Revolving Loan Maturity Date unless the Revolving Loans are
otherwise accelerated, terminated or extended as provided in this Agreement.
The
Revolving Loans shall be used by the Borrower for the purpose of working capital
and general corporate purposes.
(b)
Revolving
Loan Interest and Payments.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Section
2.1(b),
the
principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding from time to time shall
bear
interest at the applicable Revolving Interest Rate. Accrued and unpaid interest
on the unpaid principal balance of all Revolving Loans outstanding from time
to
time which are Base Rate Loans, shall be due and payable on the last Business
Day of each month. Accrued and unpaid interest on the unpaid principal balance
of all Revolving Loans outstanding from time to time which are LIBOR Loans
shall
be payable on the last Business Day of each Interest Period, commencing on
the
first such date to occur after the date hereof, on the date of any principal
repayment of a LIBOR Loan and on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date. From and
after maturity, or after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event
of Default, interest on the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving
Loans, at the option of the Bank, may accrue at the Default Rate and shall
be
payable upon demand from the Bank.
15
(c)
Revolving
Loan Principal Payments.
(i)
Revolving
Loan Mandatory Payments.
All
Revolving Loans hereunder shall be repaid by the Borrower on the Revolving
Loan
Maturity Date, unless payable sooner pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement. In the event the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all
Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations hereunder exceeds the Revolving
Loan Availability, the Borrower shall, without notice or demand of any kind,
immediately make such repayments of the Revolving Loans or take such other
actions as are satisfactory to the Bank as shall be necessary to eliminate
such
excess.
(ii)
Optional
Prepayments.
The
Borrower may from time to time prepay the Revolving Loans which are Base Rate
Loans, in whole or in part, without any prepayment penalty whatsoever, provided
that any prepayment of the entire principal balance of the Base Rate Loans
shall
include accrued interest on such Base Rate Loans to the date of such
prepayment.
2.2. Additional
LIBOR Loan Provisions.
(a)
LIBOR
Loan Prepayments.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the principal balance
of any LIBOR Loan may not be prepaid in whole or in part at any time. If, for
any reason, a LIBOR Loan is paid prior to the last Business Day of any Interest
Period, whether voluntary, involuntary, by reason of acceleration or otherwise,
each such prepayment of a LIBOR Loan will be accompanied by the amount of
accrued interest on the amount prepaid and any and all costs, expenses,
penalties and charges incurred by the Bank as a result of the early termination
or breakage of a LIBOR Loan, plus the amount, if any, by which (i) the
additional interest which would have been payable during the Interest Period
on
the LIBOR Loan prepaid had it not been prepaid, exceeds (ii) the interest which
would have been recoverable by the Bank by placing the amount prepaid on deposit
in the domestic certificate of deposit market, the eurodollar deposit market,
or
other appropriate money market selected by the Bank, for a period starting
on
the date on which it was prepaid and ending on the last day of the Interest
Period for such LIBOR Loan. The amount of any such loss or expense payable
by
the Borrower to the Bank under this section shall be determined in the Bank’s
sole discretion based upon the assumption that the Bank funded its loan
commitment for LIBOR Loans in the London Interbank Eurodollar market and using
any reasonable attribution or averaging methods which the Bank deems appropriate
and practical, provided, however, that the Bank is not obligated to accept
a
deposit in the London Interbank Eurodollar market in order to charge interest
on
a LIBOR Loan at the LIBOR Rate.
(b)
LIBOR
Unavailability.
If the
Bank determines in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive, absent
manifest error) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period that (i) the
making or maintenance of any LIBOR Loan would violate any applicable law, rule,
regulation or directive, whether or not having the force of law, (ii) United
States dollar deposits in the principal amount, and for periods equal to the
Interest Period for funding any LIBOR Loan are not available in the London
Interbank Eurodollar market in the ordinary course of business, (iii) by reason
of circumstances affecting the London Interbank Eurodollar market, adequate
and
fair means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBOR Rate to be applicable to
the
relevant LIBOR Loan, or (iv) the LIBOR Rate does not accurately reflect the
cost
to the Bank of a LIBOR Loan, the Bank shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof
and, so long as the foregoing conditions continue, none of the Loans may be
advanced as a LIBOR Loan thereafter. In addition, at the Borrower’s option, each
existing LIBOR Loan shall be immediately (i) converted to a Base Rate Loan
on
the last Business Day of the then existing Interest Period, or (ii) due and
payable on the last Business Day of the then existing Interest Period, without
further demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Borrower.
16
(c)
Regulatory
Change.
In
addition, if, after the date hereof, a Regulatory Change shall, in the
reasonable determination of the Bank, make it unlawful for the Bank to make
or
maintain the LIBOR Loans, then the Bank shall promptly notify the Borrower
and
none of the Loans may be advanced as a LIBOR Loan thereafter. In addition,
at
the Borrower’s option, each existing LIBOR Loan shall be immediately (i)
converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last Business Day of the then existing
Interest Period or on such earlier date as required by law, or (ii) due and
payable on the last Business Day of the then existing Interest Period or on
such
earlier date as required by law, all without further demand, presentment,
protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the
Borrower.
(d)
LIBOR
Indemnity.
If any
Regulatory Change, or compliance by the Bank or any Person controlling the
Bank
with any request or directive of any governmental authority, central bank or
comparable agency (whether or not having the force of law) shall (a) impose,
modify or deem applicable any assessment, reserve, special deposit or similar
requirement against assets held by, or deposits in or for the account of or
loans by, or any other acquisition of funds or disbursements by, the Bank;
(b)
subject the Bank or any LIBOR Loan to any tax, duty, charge, stamp tax or fee
or
change the basis of taxation of payments to the Bank of principal or interest
due from the Borrower to the Bank hereunder (other than a change in the taxation
of the overall net income of the Bank); or (c) impose on the Bank any other
condition regarding such LIBOR Loan or the Bank’s funding thereof, and the Bank
shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error)
that the result of the foregoing is to increase the cost to, or to impose a
cost
on, the Bank or such controlling Person of making or maintaining such LIBOR
Loan
or to reduce the amount of principal or interest received by the Bank hereunder,
then the Borrower shall pay to the Bank or such controlling Person, on demand,
such additional amounts as the Bank shall, from time to time, determine are
sufficient to compensate and indemnify the Bank for such increased cost or
reduced amount.
2.4 Interest
and Fee Computation; Collection of Funds.
Except
as otherwise set forth herein, all interest and fees shall be calculated on
the
basis of a year consisting of 360 days and shall be paid for the actual number
of days elapsed. Principal payments submitted in funds not immediately available
shall continue to bear interest until collected. If any payment to be made
by
the Borrower hereunder or under any Note shall become due on a day other than
a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day
and
such extension of time shall be included in computing any interest in respect
of
such payment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
final payment due under any of the Loans must be made by wire transfer or other
immediately available funds. All payments made by the Borrower hereunder or
under any of the Loan Documents shall be made without setoff, counterclaim,
or
other defense. To the extent permitted by applicable law, all payments hereunder
or under any of the Loan Documents (including any payment of principal,
interest, or fees) to, or for the benefit, of any Person shall be made by the
Borrower free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for, or account
of, any taxes now or hereinafter imposed by any taxing authority. The
Borrower pay the Bank a
Non-Utilization
Fee
as
per the Applicable Margin, which Non-Utilization
Fee
shall
be (A) calculated on
the
basis of a year consisting of 360 days, (B) paid for the actual number of days
elapsed, and (C) payable
quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and
December, commencing on March 31, 2007, and on the Revolving Loan Maturity
Date.
Issued but undrawn Letters of Credit will count as utilization for the purposes
of calculating the Non-Utilization Fee.
17
2.5. Letters
of Credit.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and upon (i) the execution by
the
Borrower and the Bank of a Master Letter of Credit Agreement in form and
substance acceptable to the Bank (together with all amendments, modifications
and restatements thereof, the “Master Letter of Credit Agreement”), and (ii) the
execution and delivery by the Borrower, and the acceptance by the Bank, in
its
sole and absolute discretion, of a Letter of Credit Application, the Bank agrees
to issue for the account of the Borrower such Letters of Credit in the standard
form of the Bank and otherwise in form and substance acceptable to the Bank,
from time to time during the term of this Agreement, provided that the Letter
of
Credit Obligations may not at any time exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment
and provided further, that no Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date
later than the Letter of Credit Maturity Date. The amount of any payments made
by the Bank with respect to draws made by a beneficiary under a Letter of Credit
for which the Borrower has failed to reimburse the Bank upon the earlier of
(i)
the Bank’s demand for repayment, or (ii) five (5) days from the date of such
payment to such beneficiary by the Bank, shall be deemed to have been converted
to a Revolving Loan as of the date such payment was made by the Bank to such
beneficiary. Upon the occurrence of an Event of a Default and at the option
of
the Bank, all Letter of Credit Obligations shall be converted to Revolving
Loans
consisting of Base Rate Loans, all without demand, presentment, protest or
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. To the
extent the provisions of the Master Letter of Credit Agreement differ from,
or
are inconsistent with, the terms of this Agreement, the provisions of this
Agreement shall govern. The Borrower shall pay the Bank a Letter of Credit
Fee
as per the Applicable Margin.
2.6. Taxes.
(a)
All
payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and clear
of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present
or
future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees,
deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected,
withheld or assessed by any governmental authority, excluding net income taxes
and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed on the Bank
as
a result of a present or former connection between the Bank and the jurisdiction
of the governmental authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision
or
taxing authority thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising
solely from the Bank having executed, delivered or performed its obligations
or
received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document). If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges,
fees, deductions or withholdings (collectively, “Non-Excluded Taxes”) or Other
Taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the Bank
hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Bank shall be increased to the extent
necessary to yield to the Bank (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes and
Other Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates
or in the amounts specified in this Agreement, provided, however, that the
Borrower shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to the
Bank
with respect to any Non-Excluded Taxes that are attributable to the Bank’s
failure to comply with the requirements of subsection 2.7(c).
18
(b)
The
Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant governmental authority in
accordance with applicable law.
(c)
At
the
request of the Borrower and at the Borrower’s sole cost, the Bank shall take
reasonable steps to (i) contest its liability for any Non-Excluded Taxes or
Other Taxes that have not been paid, or (ii) seek a refund of any Non-Excluded
Taxes or Other Taxes that have been paid.
(d)
Whenever
any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly
as possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the Bank a certified copy
of
an original official receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof.
If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes when due
to
the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Bank the required
receipts or other required documentary evidence or if any governmental authority
seeks to collect a Non-Excluded Tax or Other Tax directly from the Bank for
any
other reason, the Borrower shall indemnify the Bank on an after-tax basis for
any incremental taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by the
Bank.
(e)
The
agreements in this Section shall survive the satisfaction and payment of the
Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
2.7. All
Loans to Constitute Single Obligation.
The
Loans shall constitute one general obligation of the Borrower, and shall be
secured by Bank’s priority security interest in and Lien upon all of the
Collateral and by all other security interests, Liens, claims and encumbrances
heretofore, now or at any time or times hereafter granted by the Borrower and/or
any Subsidiary to Bank.
19
Section
3. CONDITIONS
OF BORROWING.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Bank shall not be required to
disburse, make or continue all or any portion of the Loans, if any of the
following conditions shall have occurred.
3.1. Loan
Documents.
The
Borrower shall have failed to execute and deliver to the Bank any of the
following Loan Documents, all of which must be satisfactory to the Bank and
the
Bank’s counsel in form, substance and execution:
(a)
Loan
Agreement.
Two
copies of this Agreement duly executed by the Borrower.
(b)
Revolving
Note.
A
Revolving Note duly executed by the Borrower, in the form prepared by and
acceptable to the Bank.
(c)
Master
Letter of Credit Agreement.
A
Master Letter of Credit Agreement prepared by and acceptable to the Bank, duly
executed by the Borrower in favor of the Bank.
(d)
Guaranties.
Separate continuing unconditional joint and several Guaranties executed by
each
of the Guarantors to and for the benefit of the Bank.
(e)
Security
Agreements.
Security Agreements executed by each of the Guarantors to and for the benefit
of
the Bank.
(f)
Collateral
Access Agreements.
Collateral Access Agreements with respect to all properties with Xxxxxxxxx
Investment Group, Inc. as the landlord and commercially reasonable efforts
to
deliver by Closing a Collateral Access Agreement with respect to the Borrower’s
chief executive offices.
(g)
UCC
Financing Statements.
UCC
Financing Statements which grant to Bank, upon filing in the appropriate
locations, a first perfected security interest in the Collateral and UCC
Financing Statements which grant to Bank, upon filing in the appropriate
locations, a first perfected security interest in certain collateral, as
determined by the Bank, of the Guarantors.
(h)
Search
Results; Lien Terminations.
Copies
of UCC search reports dated such a date as is reasonably acceptable to the
Bank,
listing all effective financing statements which name the Borrower and any
of
its Subsidiaries under
their present names and any previous names, as debtors, together with (i) copies
of such financing statements, (ii) payoff letters evidencing repayment in full
of all existing Debt to be repaid with the Loans, the termination of all
agreements relating thereto and the release of all Liens granted in connection
therewith, with UCC or other appropriate termination statements and documents
effective to evidence the foregoing (other than Permitted Liens), (iii) such
other UCC termination statements as the Bank may reasonably request and (iv)
copies of tax lien and pending suit and judgment search
reports.
20
(i)
Organizational
and Authorization Document.
Copies
of (i) the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of
the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries; (ii) resolutions of the board of
directors of
the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries approving and authorizing such Person’s
execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is party
and the transactions contemplated thereby; (iii) signature and incumbency
certificates of the officers of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries,
executing any of the Loan Documents, each of which the Borrower hereby certifies
to be true and complete, and in full force and effect without modification,
it
being understood that the Bank may conclusively rely on each such document
and
certificate until formally advised by the Borrower of any changes therein;
and
(iv) good standing certificates in the state of incorporation of the Borrower
and each of its Subsidiaries and in each other state requested by the
Bank.
(j) Closing
Fee.
The
Borrower shall have failed to pay to the Bank the Closing Fee in the amount
of
Seventy-Five Thousand and
00/100 Dollars ($75,000.00) payable at Closing.
(k)
Insurance.
Evidence satisfactory to the Bank of the existence of insurance required to
be
maintained pursuant to Section
8.6,
together with evidence that the Bank has been named as a lender’s loss payee on
all related insurance policies.
(l)
Opinion
of Counsel to the Borrower.
An
opinion of counsel to the Borrower in form and substance acceptable to the
Bank.
(m)
Payoff
Letters.
Payoff
letters to other lenders of Borrower in form and substance acceptable to the
Bank.
(n)
Additional
Documents.
Such
other certificates, financial statements, schedules, resolutions, opinions
of
counsel, notes and other documents which are provided for hereunder or which
the
Bank shall require.
3.2. Conditions
Subsequent.
(a)
Pledge
Agreements.
(i)
Born
Heaters Canada.
Borrower shall use its best efforts to deliver as early as possible and in
no
event shall deliver no later than four months after the Closing, a Pledge
Agreement executed by Born Heaters Canada in form and substance acceptable
to
the Bank wherein Born Heaters Canada pledges its assets to the
Bank.
21
(ii)
Foreign
Subsidiaries.
Borrower shall use its best efforts to deliver as early as possible and in
no
event shall deliver later than nine months after the Closing, Pledge Agreements
executed by the Borrower in form and substance acceptable to the Bank pledging
Sixty-Five Percent (65%) of its interest in its foreign Subsidiaries (excluding
ARB ARENDAL) to and for the benefit of the Bank.
(b)
Local
Counsel Opinion.
Borrower shall use its best efforts to deliver as early as possible and in
no
event shall deliver no later than four months after the Closing, an opinion
of
local counsel to Born Heaters Canada in form and substance acceptable to the
Bank.
(c)
UCC
Termination Statements.
Borrower shall deliver UCC Termination Statements in form and substance
acceptable to the Bank terminating security interests not permitted hereunder
in
the Collateral of the Borrower and in collateral of the Guarantors shall be
filed within four weeks of the execution of this Agreement.
(d)
Control
Agreements.
Should
the Borrower fail to utilize the Bank as its primary bank of account and
depository as per Section
8.20
hereof,
then the Borrower shall provide the Bank with Control Agreements with respect
to
accounts held at other financial institutions as soon as possible.
3.3. Event
of Default.
Any
Event of Default, or Unmatured Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
3.4. Material
Adverse Effect.
The
occurrence of any event having a Material Adverse Effect upon the
Borrower.
3.5. Litigation.
Any
litigation or governmental proceeding shall have been instituted against the
Borrower or any of its officers or shareholders having a Materially Adverse
Effect upon the Borrower.
3.6. Representations
and Warranties.
Any
representation or warranty of the Borrower contained herein or in any Loan
Document shall be untrue or incorrect as of the date of any Loan as though
made
on such date, except to the extent such representation or warranty expressly
relates to an earlier date.
Section
4. NOTES
EVIDENCING LOANS.
4.1
Revolving
Note.
The
Revolving Loans shall be evidenced by the Revolving Note. At the time of the
initial disbursement of a Revolving Loan and at each time any additional
Revolving Loan shall be requested hereunder or a repayment made in whole or
in
part thereon, a notation thereof shall be made on the books and records of
the
Bank. All amounts recorded shall be, absent manifest error, conclusive and
binding evidence of (i) the principal amount of the Revolving Loans advanced
hereunder and the amount of all Letter of Credit Obligations, (ii) any accrued
and unpaid interest owing on the Revolving Loans, and (iii) all amounts repaid
on the Revolving Loans or the Letter of Credit Obligations. The failure to
record any such amount or any error in recording such amounts shall not,
however, limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under the
Revolving Note to repay the principal amount of the Revolving Loans, together
with all interest accruing thereon.
22
Section
5. MANNER
OF BORROWING.
5.1. Borrowing
Procedures.
Each
Revolving Loan may
be
advanced either as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan. Each Loan shall be made
available to the Borrower upon any written, verbal, electronic, telephonic
or
telecopy loan request which the Bank in good faith believes to emanate from
a
properly authorized representative of the Borrower, whether or not that is
in
fact the case. Each such request shall be effective upon receipt by the Bank,
shall be irrevocable, and shall specify the date, amount and type of borrowing
and, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, the initial Interest Period therefor. The
Borrower shall select Interest Periods so as not to require a payment or
prepayment of any LIBOR Loan during an Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.
The
final Interest Period must be such that its expiration occurs on or before
the
Revolving Loan Maturity Date.
A
request for a Base Rate Loan must be received by the Bank no later than 12:00
p.m. Chicago, Illinois time,
on
the day it is to be funded. A request for a LIBOR Loan must be (i) received
by
the Bank no later than 12:00 p.m. Chicago, Illinois time, three days before
the
day it is to be funded, and (ii) in an amount equal to One Hundred Thousand
and
00/100 Dollars ($100,000.00) or a higher integral multiple of One Hundred
Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($100,000.00). The proceeds of each Loan shall
be
made available at the office of the Bank by credit to the account of the
Borrower or by other means requested by the Borrower and acceptable to the
Bank.
The Borrower does hereby irrevocably confirm, ratify and approve all such
advances by the Bank and does hereby indemnify the Bank against losses and
expenses (including court costs, attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees) and shall hold
the Bank harmless with respect thereto.
5.2. LIBOR
Conversion and Continuation Procedures.
Each
LIBOR Loan shall automatically renew for the Interest Period specified in the
initial request received by the Bank pursuant to Section 5.1, at the then
current LIBOR Rate unless the Borrower, pursuant to a subsequent written notice
received by the Bank, shall elect a different Interest Period or the conversion
of all or a portion of such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan.
Each
Interest Period occurring after the initial Interest Period with respect to
any
LIBOR Loan shall commence on the same day of each applicable month as the first
day of the initial Interest Period. Whenever the last day of any Interest Period
with respect to any LIBOR Loan would otherwise occur on a day other than a
Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur
on
the next succeeding Business Day. Whenever an Interest Period with respect
to
any LIBOR Loan would otherwise end on a day of a month for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month, such Interest Period shall
end on the last day of such calendar month, unless such day is not a Business
Day, in which event such Interest Period shall be extended to end on the next
Business Day. Upon
receipt by the Bank of such subsequent notice, the Borrower may, subject to
the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, elect, as of the last day of the
applicable Interest Period, to continue any LIBOR Loan having an Interest Period
expiring on such day for a different Interest Period, or to convert any such
LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan. Such notice shall, in the case of a conversion
to a Base Rate Loan, be given before 12:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the proposed
date of such conversion, and in the case of conversion to a LIBOR Loan having
a
different Interest Period, be given before 12:00 p.m., Chicago time, at least
three Business Days prior to the proposed date of such conversion, specifying:
(i) the proposed date of conversion; (ii) the aggregate amount of Loans to
be
converted; (iii) the type of Loans resulting from the proposed conversion;
and
(iv) the duration of the requested Interest Period. The Borrower may not elect
a
LIBOR Rate, and an Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan shall not automatically
renew, with respect to any principal amount which is scheduled to be repaid
before the last day of the applicable Interest Period, and any such amounts
shall bear interest at the Base Rate Rate plus
Applicable Margin.
23
5.3. Letters
of Credit.
All
Letters of Credit shall bear such application, issuance, renewal, negotiation
and other fees and charges, and bear such interest as charged by the Bank or
otherwise payable pursuant to the Master Letter of Credit Agreement. In addition
to the foregoing, each standby Letters of Credit issued under and pursuant
to
this Agreement shall bear an annual issuance fee equal to the LIBOR spread
of
the Applicable Margin based on the
face
amount of such standby Letter of Credit, payable by the Borrower prior to the
issuance by the Bank of such Letter of Credit and annually thereafter, until
(i)
such Letter of Credit has expired or has been returned to the Bank, or (ii)
the
Bank has paid the beneficiary thereunder the full face amount of such Letter
of
Credit.
5.4. Automatic
Debit.
In
order to effectuate the timely payment of any of the Obligations when due,
the
Borrower hereby authorizes and directs the Bank, at the Bank’s option, to (a)
debit the amount of the Obligations to any ordinary deposit account of the
Borrower, or (b) make a Revolving Loan hereunder to pay the amount of the
Obligations.
5.5. Discretionary
Disbursements.
The
Bank, in its sole and absolute discretion, may immediately upon notice to the
Borrower, disburse any or all proceeds of the Loans made or available to the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement to pay any fees, costs, expenses or other
amounts required to be paid by the Borrower hereunder and not so paid. All
monies so disbursed shall be a part of the Obligations, payable by the Borrower
on demand from the Bank.
Section
6. SECURITY
FOR THE OBLIGATIONS.
6.1. Security
for Obligations.
As
security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, the Borrower does
hereby pledge, assign, transfer, deliver and grant to the Bank, for its own
benefit and as agent for its Affiliates, a continuing and unconditional first
priority security interest in and to any and all property of the Borrower,
of
any kind or description, tangible or intangible, wheresoever located and whether
now existing or hereafter arising or acquired, including the following (all
of
which property, along with the products and proceeds therefrom, are individually
and collectively referred to as the “Collateral”):
(a)
all
property of, or for the account of, the Borrower now or hereafter coming into
the possession, control or custody of, or in transit to, the Bank or any agent
or bailee for the Bank or any parent, Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Bank or
any
participant with the Bank in the Loans (whether for safekeeping, deposit,
collection, custody, pledge, transmission or otherwise), including all earnings,
dividends, interest, or other rights in connection therewith and the products
and proceeds therefrom, including the proceeds of insurance thereon;
and
24
(b)
the
additional property of the Borrower, whether now existing or hereafter arising
or acquired, and wherever now or hereafter located, together with all additions
and accessions thereto, substitutions, betterments and replacements therefor,
products and Proceeds therefrom, and all of the Borrower’s books and records and
recorded data relating thereto (regardless of the medium of recording or
storage), together with all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest in and
to all computer software required to utilize, create, maintain and process
any
such records or data on electronic media, identified and set forth as
follows:
(i)
|
All
Accounts and all Goods whose sale, lease or other disposition by
the
Borrower has given rise to Accounts and have been returned to, or
repossessed or stopped in transit by, the Borrower, or rejected or
refused
by an Account Debtor;
|
(ii)
|
All
Inventory, including raw materials, work-in-process and finished
goods;
|
(iii)
|
All
Goods (other than Inventory), including embedded software, Equipment
(excluding any Equipment subject to a Permitted Lien), and
furniture;
|
(iv)
|
Cash;
|
(v)
|
All
Software and computer programs;
|
(vi)
|
All
Securities, Investment Property, Financial Assets and Deposit
Accounts;
|
(vii)
|
All
Chattel Paper, Electronic Chattel Paper, Instruments, Documents,
Letter of
Credit Rights, all proceeds of letters of credit, Supporting Obligations,
notes secured by real estate, Commercial Tort Claims and General
Intangibles, including Payment Intangibles;
|
(viii)
|
All
Hedging Obligations;
|
(ix)
|
All
Proceeds (whether Cash Proceeds or Noncash Proceeds) of the foregoing
property, including all insurance policies and proceeds of insurance
payable by reason of loss or damage to the foregoing property, including
unearned premiums, and of eminent domain or condemnation awards;
and
|
25
provided,
however, that notwithstanding any of the other provisions set forth in this
Section 6, this
Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any property
to
the extent that such grant of a security interest is prohibited by an
requirements of any law, rule or regulation of a governmental authority;
provided, further, that in no event shall the Collateral include equity
securities in excess of shares or membership interest representing One Hundred
Percent (100%) of the nonvoting stock or membership interests and Sixty-Five
Percent (65%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or
membership interests entitled to vote of any foreign Subsidiary (excluding
ARB
ARENDAL), if such action would result in adverse, incremental tax liabilities
under Section 956 of the Internal Revenue Code; provided, further, that the
Collateral shall not include (i) any rights or interest in any contract, lease,
permit, license, charter or license agreement entered into by Borrower prior
to
the date of this Agreement and covering personal property of the Borrower if
under the terms of such contract, lease, permit, license, charter or license
agreement, or applicable law with respect thereto, the valid grant of a security
interest or lien therein to the Bank is prohibited as a matter of law or under
the terms of such contract, lease, permit, license, charter or license agreement
and such prohibition has not been or is not waived or the consent of the other
party to such contract, lease, permit, license, charter or license agreement
has
not been or is not otherwise obtained, or (ii) any intent-to-use trademark
or
service xxxx application contained in General Intangibles if granting a security
interest would result in an assignment of such applications to the Bank upon
an
Event of Default that would be deemed to invalidate, void, cancel or abandon
such applications, provided that, the foregoing exclusion shall in no way be
construed (a) to apply if any described prohibition is unenforceable under
Section 9-406, 9-407 or 9-408 of the UCC or other applicable law, or (b) so
as
to limit, impair or otherwise affect the Bank’s continuing security interests in
and liens upon any rights or interests of Borrower in or to monies due or to
become due under any described contract, lease, permit, license, charter or
license agreement (including any Accounts), or (c) to limit, impair or otherwise
affect the Bank’s continuing security interests in and liens upon any rights or
interest of the Borrower in and to any proceeds from the sale, license, lease
or
other dispositions of any such contract, lease, permit, license, charter or
license agreement, or stock, or (d) to include any intent-to-use trademark
or
service xxxx applications at such time as the same include an amendment or
allege use or statement of use.
(c)
Sixty-Five Percent (65%) of the Borrower’s interest in its foreign Subsidiaries
(excluding ARB ARENDAL) and up to Sixty-Five Percent (65%) of its interest,
at
the Bank’s discretion, in each foreign Subsidiary which Borrower acquires after
the date of this Agreement.
6.2. Other
Collateral.
In
addition, the Obligations are also secured by the Pledge Agreements and, to
the
extent required by the Bank per Section
8.20
and
Section
12.5(j)
hereof,
the Control Agreements.
6.3. Possession
and Transfer of Collateral.
Unless
an Event of Default exists hereunder, the Borrower shall be entitled to
possession or use of the Collateral (other than Instruments or Documents,
Tangible Chattel Paper, Investment Property consisting of certificated
securities and other Collateral required to be delivered to the Bank pursuant
to
this Section 6). The cancellation or surrender of any Note, upon payment or
otherwise, shall not affect the right of the Bank to retain the Collateral
for
any other of the Obligations. The Borrower shall not sell, assign (by operation
of law or otherwise), license, lease or otherwise dispose of, or grant any
option with respect to any of the Collateral, except that the Borrower may
sell
Inventory in the ordinary course of business and may sell property, plant and
Equipment in the ordinary course of business.
26
6.4. Financing
Statements.
The
Borrower shall, at the Bank’s request, at any time and from time to time,
execute and deliver to the Bank such financing statements, amendments and other
documents and do such acts as the Bank deems necessary in order to establish
and
maintain valid, attached and perfected first priority security interests in
the
Collateral in favor of the Bank, free and clear of all Liens and claims and
rights of third parties whatsoever, except Permitted Liens. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably authorizes the Bank at any time, and from time to time, to file
in
any jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto without
the signature of the Borrower that (a) indicate the Collateral (i) is comprised
of all assets of the Borrower or words of similar effect, regardless of whether
any particular asset comprising a part of the Collateral falls within the scope
of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the jurisdiction wherein such
financing statement or amendment is filed, or (ii) as being of an equal or
lesser scope or within greater detail as the grant of the security interest
set
forth herein, and (b) contain any other information required by Section 5 of
Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the jurisdiction wherein such
financing statement or amendment is filed regarding the sufficiency or filing
office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (i) whether
the Borrower is an organization, the type of organization and any Organizational
Identification Number issued to the Borrower, and (ii) in the case of a
financing statement filed as a fixture filing or indicating Collateral as
as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of the
real property to which the Collateral relates. The Borrower hereby agrees that
a
photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement is sufficient for filing
as a
financing statement and the Borrower authorizes the Bank to file this Agreement
as a financing statement in any jurisdiction. The Borrower agrees to furnish
any
such information to the Bank promptly upon request. The Borrower further
ratifies and affirms its authorization for any financing statements and/or
amendments thereto, executed and filed by the Bank in any jurisdiction prior
to
the date of this Agreement. In addition, the Borrower shall make appropriate
entries on its books and records disclosing the Bank’s security interests in the
Collateral.
6.5. Additional
Collateral.
The
Borrower shall deliver to the Bank immediately upon its demand, such other
collateral as the Bank may from time to time request, should the value of the
Collateral, in the Bank’s sole and absolute discretion, decline, deteriorate,
depreciate or become impaired, and does hereby grant to the Bank a continuing
security interest in such other collateral, which, when pledged, assigned and
transferred to the Bank shall be and become part of the Collateral. The Bank’s
security interests in all of the foregoing Collateral shall be valid, complete
and perfected whether or not covered by a specific assignment.
27
6.6. Preservation
of the Collateral.
The
Bank may, but is not required, to take such actions from time to time as the
Bank deems appropriate to maintain or protect the Collateral. The Bank shall
have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral
if the Bank takes such action as the Borrower shall reasonably request in
writing which is not inconsistent with the Bank’s status as a secured party, but
the failure of the Bank to comply with any such request shall not be deemed
a
failure to exercise reasonable care; provided, however, the Bank’s
responsibility for the safekeeping of the Collateral shall (i) be deemed
reasonable if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to
that
which the Bank accords its own property, and (ii) not extend to matters beyond
the control of the Bank, including acts of God, war, insurrection, riot or
governmental actions. In addition, any failure of the Bank to preserve or
protect any rights with respect to the Collateral against prior or third
parties, or to do any act with respect to preservation of the Collateral, not
so
requested by the Borrower, shall not be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable
care in the custody or preservation of the Collateral. The Borrower shall have
the sole responsibility for taking such action as may be necessary, from time
to
time, to preserve all rights of the Borrower and the Bank in the Collateral
against prior or third parties. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, where Collateral consists in whole or in part of securities, the
Borrower represents to, and covenants with, the Bank that the Borrower has
made
arrangements for keeping informed of changes or potential changes affecting
the
securities (including rights to convert or subscribe, payment of dividends,
reorganization or other exchanges, tender offers and voting rights), and the
Borrower agrees that the Bank shall have no responsibility or liability for
informing the Borrower of any such or other changes or potential changes or
for
taking any action or omitting to take any action with respect
thereto.
6.7. Other
Actions as to any and all Collateral. The
Borrower further agrees to take any other action reasonably requested by the
Bank to ensure the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability
of the Bank to enforce, the Bank’s security interest in any and all of the
Collateral, including (a) causing the Bank’s name to be noted as secured party
on any certificate of title for a titled good if such notation is a condition
to
attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of the bank to enforce, the
Bank’s security interest in such Collateral, (b) complying with any provision of
any statute, regulation or treaty of the United States as to any Collateral
if
compliance with such provision is a condition to attachment, perfection or
priority of, or ability of the Bank to enforce, the Bank’s security interest in
such Collateral, (c) obtaining governmental and other third party consents
and
approvals, including any consent of any licensor, lessor or other Person
obligated on Collateral, (d) obtaining waivers from mortgagees and landlords
in
form and substance acceptable to the Bank, and (e) taking all actions required
by the UCC in effect from time to time or by other law, as applicable in any
relevant UCC jurisdiction, or by other law as applicable in any foreign
jurisdiction. The Borrower further agrees to indemnify and hold the Bank
harmless against claims of any Persons not a party to this Agreement concerning
disputes arising over the Collateral.
6.8. Commercial
Tort Claims.
If the
Borrower shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim, the Borrower
shall immediately notify the Bank in writing signed by the Borrower of the
details thereof and grant to the Bank in such writing a security interest
therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement,
in
each case in form and substance acceptable to the Bank, and shall execute any
amendments hereto deemed reasonably necessary by the Bank to perfect its
security interest in such Commercial Tort Claim.
28
6.9. Electronic
Chattel Paper and Transferable Records.
If the
Borrower at any time holds or acquires an interest in any electronic chattel
paper or any “transferable record”, as that term is defined in Section 201 of
the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in
Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any
relevant jurisdiction, the Borrower shall promptly notify the Bank thereof
and,
at the request of the Bank, shall take such action as the Bank may reasonably
request to vest in the Bank control under Section 9-105 of the UCC of such
electronic chattel paper or control under Section 201 of the federal Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section
16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as so in effect in such
jurisdiction, of such transferable record. The Bank agrees with the Borrower
that the Bank will arrange, pursuant to procedures satisfactory to the Bank
and
so long as such procedures will not result in the Bank’s loss of control, for
the Borrower to make alterations to the electronic chattel paper or transferable
record permitted under Section 9-105 of the UCC or, as the case may be, Section
201 of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act
or
Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act for a party in control
to
make without loss of control.
Section
7. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES.
To
induce
the Bank to make the Loans, the Borrower makes the following representations
and
warranties to the Bank, each of which shall survive the execution and delivery
of this Agreement:
7.1. Borrower
Organization and Name.
The
Borrower is a corporation duly
organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada,
with full and adequate power to carry on and conduct its business as presently
conducted and
each
Subsidiary is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is duly
licensed or qualified in all foreign jurisdictions wherein the nature of its
activities require such qualification or licensing, except for such
jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Borrower’s Organizational Identification Number is C28746-2003. The
exact legal name of the Borrower is as set forth in the first paragraph of
this
Agreement, and the Borrower currently does not conduct, nor has it during the
last five (5) years conducted, business under any other name or trade name
other
than ARB, Inc.
7.2. Authorization.
The
Borrower has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement,
to
make the borrowings and execute and deliver the Loan Documents as provided
herein and to perform all of its duties and obligations under this Agreement
and
the other Loan Documents. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the
other Loan Documents will not, nor will the observance or performance of any
of
the matters and things herein or therein set forth, violate or contravene any
provision of law or of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of
the
Borrower. All necessary and appropriate action has been taken on the part of
the
Borrower to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Loan
Documents.
29
7.3. Validity
and Binding Nature.
This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance
with
their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting the
enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of
equity.
7.4. Consent;
Absence of Breach.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents
and any other documents or instruments to be executed and delivered by the
Borrower in connection with the Loans, and the borrowings by the Borrower
hereunder, do not and will not (a) require any consent, approval, authorization
of, or filings with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any
governmental authority or any other Person (other than any consent or approval
which has been obtained and is in full force and effect); (b) conflict with
(i)
any provision of law or any applicable regulation, order, writ, injunction
or
decree of any court or governmental authority, (ii) the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of
the
Borrower or
any of
its Subsidiaries,
or (iii)
any material agreement, indenture, instrument or other document, or any
judgment, order or decree, which is binding upon the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets; or (c) require,
or
result in, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of
Borrower or
any of
its Subsidiaries, other than Liens in favor of the Bank created pursuant to
this
Agreement.
7.5. Ownership
of Properties; Liens.
The
Borrower is the sole owner of all
of
its properties and assets, real and personal, tangible and intangible, of any
nature whatsoever (including patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks
and
copyrights), free and clear of all Liens, charges and claims (including
infringement claims with respect to patents, trademarks, service marks,
copyrights and the like), other than Permitted Liens.
7.6. Equity
Ownership.
All
issued and outstanding Capital
Securities of
the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries are duly authorized and validly issued,
fully paid, non-assessable, and free and clear of all Liens other than those
in
favor of the Bank, if any, and such securities were issued in compliance with
all applicable state and federal laws concerning the issuance of securities.
As
of the date hereof, except as set forth on Schedule
7.6
hereto,
there are no pre-emptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants,
conversion rights or other similar agreements or understandings for the purchase
or acquisition of any Capital
Securities of
the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries.
7.7. Intellectual
Property.
The
Borrower owns and possesses or has a license or other right to use all
Intellectual Property, as are necessary for the conduct of the businesses of
the
Borrower, without any infringement upon rights of others which could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect upon the Borrower, and no material
claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning
the use of any Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any
Intellectual Property nor does the Borrower know of any valid basis for any
such
claim.
7.8. Financial
Statements.
All
financial statements submitted to the Bank have been prepared in accordance
with
sound accounting practices and GAAP on a basis, except as otherwise noted
therein, consistent with the previous fiscal year and present fairly the
financial condition of the Borrower and the results of the operations for the
Borrower as of such date and for the periods indicated. Since the date of the
most recent financial statement submitted by the Borrower to the Bank, there
has
been no change in the financial condition or in the assets or liabilities of
the
Borrower having a Material Adverse Effect on the Borrower.
30
7.9. Litigation
and Other Liabilities.
There
is no litigation, arbitration proceeding, demand, charge, claim, petition or
governmental investigation or proceeding pending, or threatened, against the
Borrower, which, if adversely determined, which might reasonably be expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect upon the Borrower, except as set forth in
Schedule
7.9.
Other
than any liability incident to such litigation or proceedings, the Borrower
has
no Material guarantee obligations, contingent liabilities, liabilities for
taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term commitments,
including any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction
or
other obligation in respect of derivatives, that are not fully-reflected or
fully reserved for in the most recent audited financial statements delivered
pursuant to subsection 8.8(a) or fully-reflected or fully reserved for in the
most recent quarterly financial statements delivered pursuant to subsection
8.8(b) and not permitted by Section
9.1.
7.10. Event
of Default.
No
Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists or would result from
the
incurrence by the Borrower of any of the Obligations hereunder or under any
of
the other Loan Document, and the Borrower is not in default (without regard
to
grace or cure periods) under any other contract or agreement to which it is
a
party.
7.11. Adverse
Circumstances.
No
condition, circumstance, event, agreement, document, instrument, restriction,
litigation or proceeding (or threatened litigation or proceeding or basis
therefor) exists which (a) would have a Material Adverse Effect upon the
Borrower, or (b) would constitute an Event of Default or an Unmatured Event
of
Default.
7.12. Environmental
Laws and Hazardous Substances.
The
Borrower has not generated, used, stored, treated, transported, manufactured,
handled, produced or disposed of any Hazardous Substances, on or off any of
the
premises of the Borrower (whether or not owned by it) in any manner which at
any
time violates in any Material respect any Environmental Law or any license,
permit, certificate, approval or similar authorization thereunder. The Borrower
will comply in all Material respects with all Environmental Laws and will obtain
all Material licenses, permits certificates, approvals and similar
authorizations thereunder. To Borrower’s knowledge, there has been no
investigation, proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claim, citation or
notice by any governmental authority or any other Person, nor is any pending
or,
to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened, and the Borrower shall
immediately notify the Bank upon becoming aware of any such investigation,
proceeding, complaint, order, directive, claim, citation or notice, and shall
take prompt and appropriate actions to respond thereto, with respect to any
Material non-compliance with, or violation of, the requirements of any
Environmental Law by the Borrower or the release, spill or discharge, threatened
or actual, of any Hazardous Material or the generation, use, storage, treatment,
transportation, manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous
Material or any other environmental, health or safety matter against the
Borrower or its business, operations or assets or, to the Borrower’s knowledge,
any properties at which the Borrower has transported, stored or disposed of
any
Hazardous Substances. The Borrower has no Material liability, contingent or
otherwise, in connection with a release, spill or discharge, threatened or
actual, of any Hazardous Substances or the generation, use, storage, treatment,
transportation, manufacture, handling, production or disposal of any Hazardous
Material. Upon reasonable prior notice from the Bank, the Borrower further
agrees to allow the Bank or its agent access to the properties of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries to confirm compliance with all Environmental Laws, and
the
Borrower shall, following determination by the Bank that there is Material
non-compliance, or any condition which requires any action by or on behalf
of
the Borrower in order to avoid any Material non-compliance, with any
Environmental Law, at the Borrower’s sole expense, cause an independent
environmental engineer acceptable to the Bank to conduct such tests of the
relevant site as are appropriate, and prepare and deliver a report setting
forth
the result of such tests, a proposed plan for remediation and an estimate of
the
costs thereof.
31
7.13. Solvency,
etc.
As of
the date hereof, and immediately prior to and after giving effect to the
issuance of each Letter of Credit and each Loan hereunder and the use of the
proceeds thereof, (a) the fair value of the Borrower’s assets is greater than
the amount of its liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated
liabilities) as such value is established and liabilities evaluated as required
under the Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code, (b) the present fair saleable
value of the Borrower’s assets is not less than the amount that will be required
to pay the probable liability on its debts as they become absolute and matured,
(c) the Borrower is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other
liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as
they mature in the normal course of business, (d) the Borrower does not intend
to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond its
ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (e) the Borrower is
not
engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business
or
a transaction, for which its property would constitute unreasonably small
capital.
7.14. ERISA
Obligations.
All
Employee Plans of the Borrower meet the minimum funding standards of Section
302
of ERISA and 412 of the Internal Revenue Code where applicable, and each such
Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section
401
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is qualified. No withdrawal liability
has
been incurred under any such Employee Plans and no “Reportable Event” or
“Prohibited Transaction” (as such terms are defined in ERISA), has occurred with
respect to any such Employee Plans, unless approved by the appropriate
governmental agencies. The Borrower has promptly paid and discharged all
obligations and liabilities arising under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) of a character which if unpaid or unperformed
might result in the imposition of a Lien against any of its properties or
assets.
7.15. Labor
Relations.
Except
as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i)
there
are no strikes, lockouts or other labor disputes against the Borrower
or threatened,
(ii) hours worked by and payment made to employees of the Borrower have not
been
in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable law, and
(ii) no unfair labor practice complaint is pending against the Borrower or
threatened before any governmental authority.
32
7.16. Security
Interest.
This
Agreement creates a valid security interest in favor of the Bank in the
Collateral and, when properly perfected by filing in the appropriate
jurisdictions, or by possession or Control of such Collateral by the Bank or
delivery of such Collateral to the Bank, shall constitute a valid, perfected,
first-priority security interest in such Collateral.
7.17. Lending
Relationship.
The
relationship hereby created between the Borrower and the Bank is and has been
conducted on an open and arm’s length basis in which no fiduciary relationship
exists, and the Borrower has not relied and is not relying on any such fiduciary
relationship in executing this Agreement and in consummating the Loans. The
Bank
represents that it will receive any Note payable to its order as evidence of
a
bank loan.
7.18. Business
Loan.
The
Loans, including interest rate, fees and charges as contemplated hereby, (i)
are
business loans within the purview of 815 ILCS 205/4(1)(c), as amended from
time
to time, (ii) are an exempted transaction under the Truth In Lending Act, 12
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.,
as
amended from time to time, and (iii) do not, and when disbursed shall not,
violate the provisions of the Illinois usury laws, any consumer credit laws
or
the usury laws of any state which may have jurisdiction over this transaction,
the Borrower or any property securing the Loans.
7.19. Taxes.
The
Borrower has timely filed all Material tax returns and reports required by
law
to have been filed by it and has paid all Material taxes, governmental charges
and assessments due and payable with respect to such returns, except any such
taxes or charges which are being diligently contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with
GAAP
shall have been set aside on its books, are insured against or bonded over
to
the satisfaction of the Bank and the contesting of such payment does not create
a Lien on the Collateral which is not a Permitted Lien. There is no controversy
or objection pending, or, threatened in respect of any tax returns of the
Borrower. The Borrower has made adequate reserves on its books and records
in
accordance with GAAP for all taxes that have accrued but which are not yet
due
and payable.
7.20. Compliance
with Regulation U.
No
portion of the proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the Borrower, or any
Affiliate of the Borrower, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying any margin stock, within the meaning of Regulation U
as
adopted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor
thereto.
7.21. Governmental
Regulation.
The
Borrower,
its
Subsidiaries and any of the Guarantors are not,
or
after giving effect to any loan, will not be, subject to regulation under the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the ICC
Termination Act of 1995 or the Investment Company Act of 1940 or to any federal
or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur indebtedness for
borrowed money.
7.22. Bank
Accounts.
Other
than as allowed pursuant to Section
9.3(d)
hereof
and Section
9.3(h)
hereof
and except for the bank accounts held at Union Bank for a period not longer
than
four months after the Closing, all Deposit Accounts and operating bank accounts
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are located at the Bank.
33
7.23. Place
of Business.
The
principal place of business and books and records of the Borrower is set forth
in the preamble to this Agreement and the other permanently occupied locations
where the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct business, other than at such
principal place of business, is as set forth on Schedule
7.23
attached
hereto and made a part hereof, and the Borrower shall promptly notify the Bank
of any change in such locations. Upon reasonable request by the Bank, the
Borrower shall provide the Bank with a list of locations of
Collateral.
7.24. Complete
Information.
This
Agreement and all financial statements, schedules, certificates, confirmations,
agreements, contracts, and other materials and information heretofore or
contemporaneously herewith furnished in writing by the Borrower to the Bank
for
purposes of, or in connection with, this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby is, and all written information hereafter furnished by
or on
behalf of the Borrower to the Bank pursuant hereto or in connection herewith
will be, true and accurate in every material respect on the date as of which
such information is dated or certified, and none of such information is or
will
be incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such
information not misleading in light of the circumstances under which made (it
being recognized by the Bank that any projections and forecasts provided by
the
Borrower are based on good faith estimates and assumptions believed by the
Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of the applicable projections or
assumptions and that actual results during the period or periods covered by
any
such projections and forecasts may differ from projected or forecasted
results).
7.25. Subordinated
Debt.
The
subordination provisions of the Subordinated Debt are enforceable against the
holders of the Subordinated Debt by the Bank. The Obligations constitute Senior
Debt entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in
the
Subordinated Debt. The Borrower acknowledges that the Bank is entering into
this
Agreement and is making the Loans in reliance upon the subordination provisions
of the Subordinated Debt and this Section
7.25.
7.26. Guarantors. Every
domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower is a Guarantor and has executed a Guaranty
in favor of the Bank.
7.27. Ownership
of Foreign Subsidiaries. Subject
to Section
7.28
hereof,
the Borrower is the holder of at least Sixty-Five Percent (65%) of the issued
and outstanding equity interests of its foreign Subsidiaries.
7.28. Ownership
of ARB ARENDAL.
The
Borrower is the holder of Forty-Nine Percent (49%) of the issued and outstanding
equity interests of ARB ARENDAL.
Section
8. AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS.
8.1. Compliance
with Bank Regulatory Requirements; Increased Costs.
If the
Bank shall reasonably determine that any Regulatory Change, or compliance by
the
Bank or any Person controlling the Bank with any request or directive (whether
or not having the force of law) of any governmental authority, central bank
or
comparable agency has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return
on
the Bank’s or such controlling Person’s capital as a consequence of the Bank’s
obligations hereunder or under any Letter of Credit to a level below that which
the Bank or such controlling Person could have achieved but for such Regulatory
Change or compliance (taking into consideration the Bank’s or such controlling
Person’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by the
Bank or such controlling Person to be material or would otherwise reduce the
amount of any sum received or receivable by the Bank under this Agreement or
under any Note with respect thereto, then from time to time, upon demand by
the
Bank (which demand shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis
for such demand and a calculation of the amount thereof in reasonable detail),
the Borrower shall pay directly to the Bank or such controlling Person such
additional amount as will compensate the Bank for such increased cost or such
reduction, so long as such amounts have accrued on or after the day which is
one
hundred eighty days (180) days prior to the date on which the Bank first made
demand therefor.
34
8.2. Borrower
Existence.
The
Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to at all times (a)
preserve and maintain its existence and good standing in the jurisdiction of
its
organization, (b) preserve and maintain its qualification to do business and
good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business makes such
qualification necessary (other than such jurisdictions in which the failure
to
be qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect), and (c) continue as a going concern in the business
which the Borrower is presently conducting. If the Borrower does not have an
Organizational Identification Number and later obtains one, the Borrower shall
promptly notify the Bank of such Organizational Identification
Number.
8.3. Compliance
With Laws.
The
Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loans for working capital and other
general corporate or business purposes not in contravention of any requirements
of law and not in violation of this Agreement, and shall comply, and cause
each
Subsidiary to comply, in all respects, including the conduct of its business
and
operations and the use of its properties and assets, with all applicable laws,
rules, regulations, decrees, orders, judgments, licenses and permits, except
where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing sentence, the
Borrower shall (a) ensure, and cause each Subsidiary to ensure, that no person
who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls the Borrower or any
Subsidiary is or shall be listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and
Blocked Person List or other similar lists maintained by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control (“OFAC”), the Department of the Treasury or included in any
Executive Orders, (b) not use or permit the use of the proceeds of the Loans
to
violate any of the foreign asset control regulations of OFAC or any enabling
statute or Executive Order relating thereto, and (c) comply, and cause each
Subsidiary to comply, with all applicable Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) laws and
regulations, as amended.
8.4. Payment
of Taxes and Liabilities.
The
Borrower shall pay, and cause each Subsidiary to pay, and discharge, prior
to
delinquency and before penalties accrue thereon, all Material property and
other
taxes, and all Material governmental charges or levies against it or any of
the
Collateral, as well as claims of any kind which, if unpaid, could become a
Lien
on any of its property; provided that the foregoing shall not require the
Borrower or any Subsidiary to pay any such tax or charge so long as it shall
contest the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate proceedings and shall
set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance
with
GAAP and, in the case of a claim which could become a Lien on any of the
Collateral, such contest proceedings stay the foreclosure of such Lien or the
sale of any portion of the Collateral to satisfy such claim.
35
8.5. Maintain
Property.
The
Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to at all times
maintain, preserve and keep its plant, properties and Equipment, including
any
Collateral, in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear
excepted, and shall from time to time make all needful and proper repairs,
renewals, replacements, and additions thereto so that at all times the
efficiency thereof shall be fully preserved and maintained. The Borrower shall
permit the Bank to examine and inspect such plant, properties and Equipment,
including any Collateral, at all reasonable times subject to Section
8.12
hereof.
8.6. Maintain
Insurance.
The
Borrower shall at all times maintain,
and
cause
each Subsidiary to maintain,
with
insurance companies reasonably acceptable to the Bank, such insurance coverage
as may be required by any law or governmental regulation or court decree or
order applicable to it and such other insurance as is customarily maintained
by
companies similarly situated. The Borrower shall furnish to the Bank a
certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the nature and extent of all
insurance maintained by the Borrower, which shall be reasonably acceptable
in
all respects to the Bank. The Borrower shall cause each issuer of an insurance
policy to provide the Bank with an endorsement (i) showing the Bank as lender’s
loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance; and
(ii) providing that thirty (30) days notice will be given to the Bank prior
to
any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or
other material modification to such policy. The Borrower shall provide the
Bank
with an endorsement showing the Bank as lender’s loss payee on any business
interruption insurance policy maintained by the Borrower.
In
the
event the Borrower either fails to provide the Bank with evidence of the
insurance coverage required by this Section or at any time hereafter shall
fail
to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance required above, or to
pay
any premium in whole or in part relating thereto, then the Bank, without waiving
or releasing any obligation or default by the Borrower hereunder, may at any
time (but shall be under no obligation to so act), obtain and maintain such
policies of insurance and pay such premiums and take any other action with
respect thereto, which the Bank deems advisable. This insurance coverage (a)
may, but need not, protect the Borrower’s interests in such property, including
the Collateral, and (b) may not pay any claim made by, or against, the Borrower
in connection with such property, including the Collateral. The Borrower may
later cancel any such insurance purchased by the Bank, but only after providing
the Bank with evidence that the Borrower has obtained the insurance coverage
required by this Section. If the Bank purchases insurance for the Collateral,
the Borrower will be responsible for the costs of that insurance, including
interest and any other charges that may be imposed with the placement of the
insurance, until the effective date of the cancellation or expiration of the
insurance. The costs of the insurance may be added to the principal amount
of
the Loans owing hereunder. The costs of the insurance may be more than the
cost
of the insurance the Borrower may be able to obtain on its own.
36
8.7. ERISA
Liabilities; Employee Plans.
The
Borrower shall (i) keep in full force and effect any and all Employee Plans
which are presently in existence or may, from time to time, come into existence
under ERISA, and not withdraw from any such Employee Plans, unless such
withdrawal can be effected or such Employee Plans can be terminated without
liability to the Borrower; (ii) make contributions to all of such Employee
Plans
in a timely manner and in a sufficient amount to comply with the standards
of
ERISA; including the minimum funding standards of ERISA; (iii) comply with
all
material requirements of ERISA which relate to such Employee Plans; (iv) notify
the Bank immediately upon receipt by the Borrower of any notice concerning
the
imposition of any withdrawal liability or of the institution of any proceeding
or other action which may result in the termination of any such Employee Plans
or the appointment of a trustee to administer such Employee Plans; (v) promptly
advise the Bank of the occurrence of any “Reportable Event” or “Prohibited
Transaction” (as such terms are defined in ERISA), with respect to any such
Employee Plans; and (vi) amend any Employee Plan that is intended to be
qualified within the meaning of Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986
to the extent necessary to keep the Employee Plan qualified, and to cause the
Employee Plan to be administered and operated in a manner that does not cause
the Employee Plan to lose its qualified status.
8.8. Financial
Statements.
The
Borrower shall at all times maintain a standard and modern system of accounting,
on the accrual basis of accounting and in all respects in accordance with GAAP,
and shall furnish to the Bank or its authorized representatives such information
regarding the business affairs, operations and financial condition of the
Borrower, including:
(a)
promptly
when available, and in any event, within one hundred twenty (120) days after
the
close of each of its fiscal years, a copy of (i) the annual audited consolidated
and consolidating financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
including balance sheet, statement of income and retained earnings, statement
of
cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, work in process reports, accounts
receivable agings, accounts payable agings (if available), summary of litigation
and claims, financial forecast and budget and updates thereto and such other
information (including nonfinancial information) as the Bank may request, in
reasonable detail, prepared and certified without adverse reference to going
concern value and without qualification by an independent auditor of recognized
standing, selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the
Bank;
(b)
promptly
when available, and in any event, within forty-five (45) days following the
end
of each fiscal quarter, a copy of the management prepared consolidated and
consolidating financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
regarding such fiscal quarter, including balance sheet, statement of income
and
retained earnings, statement of cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended,
work in process reports, accounts receivable aging reports, summary of
litigation and claims and such other information (including nonfinancial
information) as the Bank may request, in reasonable detail, prepared and
certified as true and correct by the Borrower’s treasurer or chief financial
officer.
37
(c)
within
ten (10) days after the filing due date (as such date may be extended in
accordance with properly granted extensions) each year, a signed copy of the
complete income tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the
Borrower.
No
change
with respect to such accounting principles shall be made by the Borrower without
giving prior notification to the Bank. The Borrower represents and warrants
to
the Bank that the financial statements delivered to the Bank at or prior to
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and to be delivered at all times
thereafter accurately reflect and will accurately reflect the financial
condition of the Borrower. The Bank shall have the right at all times during
business hours to inspect the books and records of the Borrower and make
extracts therefrom.
8.9. Guarantor
Financial Statements.
The
Borrower shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Bank or its authorized
representatives such information regarding the business affairs, operations
and
financial condition of each Guarantor, including within ten (10) days after
the
filing due date (as such date may be extended in accordance with properly
granted extensions) each year, a signed copy of the complete income tax returns
filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the Borrower.
The
Borrower represents and warrants to the Bank that (i) each Guarantor shall
at
all times maintain a standard and modern system of accounting, on the accrual
basis of accounting and in all respects in accordance with GAAP, (ii) no change
with respect to such accounting principles shall be made by each Guarantor
without giving prior notification to the Bank, (iii) the financial statements
of
each Guarantor delivered to the Bank at or prior to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and to be delivered at all times thereafter accurately reflect
and will fairly and accurately reflect the financial condition of each
Guarantor, (iv) the Bank shall have the right at all times during business
hours
to inspect the books and records of each Guarantor and make extracts therefrom,
and (v) the Borrower agrees to advise the Bank immediately of any development,
condition or event that may have a Material Adverse Effect on each
Guarantor.
8.10. Supplemental
Financial Statements.
The
Borrower shall immediately upon receipt thereof, provide to the Bank copies
of
interim and supplemental reports if any, submitted to the Borrower by
independent accountants in connection with any interim audit or review of the
books of the Borrower.
8.11. Covenant
Compliance Certificate.
The
Borrower shall, contemporaneously with the furnishing of the quarterly financial
statements pursuant to Section
8.8(b),
deliver
to the Bank a duly completed compliance certificate, dated the date of such
financial statements and certified as true and correct by an appropriate officer
of the Borrower, containing a computation of each of the financial covenants
set
forth in Section
10
and
stating that the Borrower has not become aware of any Event of Default or
Unmatured Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if there
is
any such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default describing it and the
steps, if any, being taken to cure it.
8.12. Field
Audits.
The
Borrower shall permit the Bank to inspect the Inventory, other Tangible Assets
and/or other business operations of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, to perform
appraisals of the Equipment of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, and to inspect,
audit, check and make copies of, and extracts from, the books, records, computer
data, computer programs, journals, orders, receipts, correspondence and other
data relating to Inventory, Accounts and any other Collateral, the results
of
which must be satisfactory to the Bank in the Bank’s sole and absolute
discretion. All such inspections or audits by the Bank shall be at the
Borrower’s sole expense,
provided,
however, that so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default
exists, the Borrower shall not be required to
reimburse the Bank for inspections or audits more frequently than once each
fiscal year.
38
8.13. Other
Reports.
The
Borrower shall, within such period of time as the Bank may specify, deliver
to
the Bank such other schedules and reports as the Bank may require.
8.14. Collateral
Records.
The
Borrower shall keep full and accurate books and records relating to the
Collateral and shall xxxx such books and records to indicate the Bank’s Lien in
the Collateral, including placing a legend, in form and content acceptable
to
the Bank, on all Chattel Paper created by the Borrower indicating that the
Bank
has a Lien in such Chattel Paper.
8.15. Intellectual
Property.
The
Borrower shall maintain, preserve and renew all Intellectual Property necessary
for the conduct of its business as and where the same is currently located
as
heretofore or as hereafter conducted by it.
8.16. Notice
of Proceedings.
The
Borrower, promptly upon becoming aware, shall give written notice to the Bank
of
any litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding not
previously disclosed by the Borrower to the Bank which has been instituted
or,
to the knowledge of the Borrower, is threatened against the Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries or to which any of their
respective properties is subject which might reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
8.17. Notice
of Event of Default or Material Adverse Effect.
The
Borrower shall, immediately after the commencement thereof, give notice to
the
Bank in writing of the occurrence of any Event of Default or any Unmatured
Event
of Default, or the occurrence of any condition or event having a Material
Adverse Effect.
8.18. Environmental
Matters.
If any
Material release or threatened release or other disposal of Hazardous Substances
shall occur or shall have occurred on any real property or any other assets
of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall,
or
shall
cause the applicable Subsidiary to,
cause
the prompt containment and removal of such Hazardous Substances and the
remediation of such real property or other assets as necessary to comply in
all
Material respects with all Environmental Laws and to preserve the value of
such
real property or other assets. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Borrower shall,
and
shall
cause each Subsidiary to,
comply
in all Material respects with any Federal or state judicial or administrative
order requiring the performance at any real property of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of
activities in response to the release or threatened release of a Hazardous
Substance. To the extent that the transportation of Hazardous Substances is
permitted by this Agreement, the Borrower shall, and shall cause its
Subsidiaries to, dispose of such Hazardous Substances, or of any other wastes,
only at licensed disposal facilities operating in Material compliance with
Environmental Laws.
39
8.19. Further
Assurances.
The
Borrower shall take, and cause each Subsidiary to take, such actions as are
necessary or as the Bank may reasonably request from time to time to ensure
that
the Obligations under the Loan Documents are secured by substantially all of
the
assets of the Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries, in each case as the Bank may determine, including (a) the
execution and delivery of security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages,
deeds of trust, financing statements and other documents, and the filing or
recording of any of the foregoing, and (b) the delivery of certificated
securities and other collateral with respect to which perfection is obtained
by
possession.
8.20. Banking
Relationship.
Except
for payroll accounts, Cash Equivalent Investments permitted by Section
9.3
hereof
and certain other accounts held at other banking institutions not to exceed
an
aggregate amount of Two Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($200,000.00),
the
Borrower covenants and agrees that as of four months after the Closing it shall
utilize the Bank as its primary bank of account and depository for all financial
services, including all receipts, disbursements, cash management and related
services.
8.21. Payroll
Accounts.
The
Borrower covenants and agrees that it shall not keep funds on deposit in its
payroll account beyond what is necessary to fund one payroll period at a
time.
8.22. Cash
Equivalent Investments.
The
Borrower covenants and agrees that the first Five Million and 00/100 Dollars
($5,000,000.00) of Cash Equivalent Investments Borrower has shall be held at
the
Bank.
8.23. Proceeds
of Asset Sales.
Subject
to the restrictions for Permitted Liens, any proceeds from the sale of assets
must be paid to the Bank to reduce the outstanding Revolving Credit
Loan.
8.24. Domestic
Subsidiaries.
The
Borrower covenants and agrees that it shall cause any and each domestic
Subsidiary it acquires after the date of this Agreement to execute a Guaranty.
8.25. Foreign
Subsidiaries. Subject
to Section
3.2
hereof,
the Borrower covenants and agrees that it shall execute Pledge Agreements in
form and substance acceptable to the Bank pledging up to Sixty-Five Percent
(65%) of its interest to the Bank in its foreign subsidiaries (excluding ARB
ARENDAL) and further covenants and agrees that it shall execute a Pledge
Agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Bank, at the Bank’s
discretion, pledging up to Sixty-Five Percent (65%) of its interest to the
Bank
in each foreign Subsidiary it acquires after the date of this Agreement. Subject
to Section
3.2
hereof,
Borrower further covenants and agrees that it shall cause Born Heaters Canada
to
execute a Pledge Agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Bank wherein
Born Heaters Canada pledges its assets to the Bank.
40
Section
9. NEGATIVE
COVENANTS.
9.1. Debt.
Except
as permitted by Section
9.3
hereof,
the Borrower shall not, either directly or indirectly, create, assume, incur
or
have outstanding any Debt (including purchase money indebtedness), or become
liable, whether as endorser, guarantor, surety or otherwise, for any debt or
obligation of any other Person, except:
(a)
the
Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b)
obligations
pursuant to Permitted Liens;
(c)
obligations
of the Borrower for Taxes, assessments, municipal or other governmental
charges;
(d)
obligations
of the Borrower for accounts payable, other than for money borrowed, incurred
in
the ordinary course of business;
(e)
Hedging
Obligations incurred in favor of the Bank or an Affiliate thereof for bona
fide
hedging purposes and not for speculation;
(f)
Debt
described on Schedule
9.1
and any
extension, renewal or refinancing thereof subject to the prior written approval
of the Bank;
(g)
other
unsecured Debt, in addition to the Debt listed above, in an aggregate amount
outstanding at any time not to exceed One Million and 00/100 Dollars
($1,000,000.00);
(h)
Debt
for
Capital Expenditures subject to the limitations set forth in Section
10.4
hereof;
and
(i)
Subordinated
Debt in an amount outstanding at any time not to exceed Five Million and 00/100
Dollars ($5,000,000.00) on terms acceptable to the Bank.
9.2. Encumbrances.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
9.2
hereof,
the Borrower shall not, either directly or indirectly, create, assume, incur
or
suffer or permit to exist any Lien or charge of any kind or character upon
any
asset of the Borrower, whether owned at the date hereof or hereafter acquired,
except for Permitted Liens.
9.3. Investments.
The
Borrower shall not, either directly or indirectly, make or have outstanding
any
Investment, except:
(a)
contributions
by the Borrower to the capital of any Subsidiary or Guarantor which has granted
a first perfected security interest in all of its assets in favor of the Bank,
or by any Subsidiary to the capital of any other domestic Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary;
(b)
Investments
constituting Debt permitted by Section
9.1;
41
(c)
Cash
Equivalent Investments with the first Five Million and 00/100 Dollars
($5,000,000.00) Borrower has to be held at the Bank;
(d)
Payroll
accounts and certain other accounts held at other banking institutions not
to
exceed an aggregate amount of Two Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars
($200,000.00);
(e)
Investments
in securities of Account Debtors received pursuant to any plan of reorganization
or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such account
debtors;
(f)
Investments
in any Subsidiary, Affiliate or third party entity, which is not either (a)
Born
Heaters Canada or (b) a Guarantor, shall be limited to an aggregate amount
of
Twelve Million and 00/100 Dollars ($12,000,000.00) as reported on the balance
sheet of the Borrower. For purposes of this Section
9.3(f),
Section
9.3(g)
and
Section 9.3(h)
hereof,
investments shall include accounts receivable, loans, guarantees, letters of
credit or any contingent liability used to support obligations, equity
investments or advances;
(g)
Using
the
definition of investments set forth in Section
9.3(f)
hereof,
investments in Born Heaters Canada (subject to the pledge of the assets of
Born
Heaters Canada to the Bank per Section
3.2(a)(i)
hereof)
or any Guarantor.
(h)
Subject
to the aggregate limitations set forth in Section
9.3(f)
hereof
and using the definition of investments set forth in Section
9.3(f)
hereof,
investments in ARB ECUADOR shall be limited to Six Million and 00/100 Dollars
($6,000,000.00); investments, in ARB ARENDAL shall be limited to Eight Million
and 00/100 Dollars ($8,000,000.00); and investments in any new foreign entity
created after the Closing shall be limited to Five Million and 00/100 Dollars
($5,000,000.00);
(i)
Excess
Cash to be invested in instruments rated at least A-l by Standard & Poor’s
Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc. or P-l by
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.; and
(j)
Advances
and/or loans to employees or shareholders up to Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100
Dollars ($500,000.00).
provided,
however, that (i) any Investment which when made complies with the requirements
of the definition of the term “Cash Equivalent Investment” may continue to be
held notwithstanding that such Investment if made thereafter would not comply
with such requirements; and (ii) no Investment otherwise permitted by
subsections (b) or (c) shall be permitted to be made if, immediately before
or
after giving effect thereto, any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default
exists. If any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists, then
the
Borrower must return Excess Cash invested pursuant to Section
9.3(i)
to the
Bank at the request of the Bank.
42
9.4. Transfer;
Merger; Sales.
Excluding the pledge of assets of Born Heaters Canada to the Bank of Montreal
for a period of no longer than four months after the Closing and excluding
the
pledge of certain assets to secure certain letters of credit issued on behalf
of
Born Heaters Canada to other banks, the Borrower shall not and not permit any
Subsidiary to without the prior written consent of the Bank, whether in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, (a) be a party to any merger
or
consolidation, or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of
the
assets or any Capital Securities of any class of, or any partnership or joint
venture interest in, any other Person, except for (i) any such merger,
consolidation, sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or assignment of or by any
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary into the Borrower or into any other domestic
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; (ii) any such purchase or other acquisition by the
Borrower or any domestic Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the assets or equity
interests of any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, (b) except as permitted by
Section
6.3
hereof,
sell, transfer, convey or lease all or any substantial part of its assets or
Capital Securities (including the sale of Capital Securities of any Subsidiary),
except for sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business, or (c) sell
or
assign, with or without recourse, any receivables.
9.5. Issuance
of Capital Securities.
The
Borrower shall not and shall not permit any Subsidiary to issue any Capital
Securities other than, so long as a Change of Control has not occurred, (a)
any
issuance of shares in the ordinary course of business, or (b) any issuance
of
shares of the Borrower’s common Capital Securities pursuant to any employee or
director option program, benefit plan or compensation program, or (c) any
issuance of Capital Securities by a Subsidiary to the Borrower or another
Subsidiary in accordance with Section
9.6.
9.6. Distributions.
So long
as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists or would result
therefrom, the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may (a) make distributions
of dividends including stock dividends, whether in cash or otherwise, to any
of
its equityholders, (b) purchase or redeem any of its equity interests or any
warrants, options or other rights in respect thereof, (c) pay any management
fees or similar fees to any of its equityholders or any Affiliate thereof,
(d)
pay or prepay interest on, principal of, premium, if any, redemption,
conversion, exchange, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or any
other payment in respect of any Subordinated Debt, or (e) set aside funds for
any of the foregoing.
9.7. Transactions
with Affiliates.
The
Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any
transaction with any of its Affiliates or with any director, officer or employee
of the Borrower other than transactions in the ordinary course of, and pursuant
to the reasonable requirements of, the business of the Borrower and upon fair
and reasonable terms which are fully disclosed to the Bank and are no less
favorable to the Borrower than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length
transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower.
9.8. Unconditional
Purchase Obligations.
The
Borrower shall not and shall not permit any Subsidiary to
enter
into or be a party to any contract for the purchase of materials, supplies
or
other property or services if such contract requires that payment be made by
it
regardless of whether delivery is ever made of such materials, supplies or
other
property or services.
43
9.9. Cancellation
of Debt.
The
Borrower shall not,
and
not
permit any Subsidiary to, cancel any claim or debt owing to it, except for
reasonable consideration or in the ordinary course of business.
9.10. Inconsistent
Agreements.
The
Borrower shall not and shall not permit any Subsidiary to enter into any
agreement containing any provision which would (a) be violated or breached
by
any borrowing by the Borrower hereunder or by the performance by the Borrower
or
any Subsidiary of any of its Obligations hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, (b) prohibit the Borrower or any Subsidiary from granting to the
Bank
a Lien on any of its assets or (c) create or permit to exist or become effective
any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (i) pay
dividends or make other distributions to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary,
or pay any Debt owed to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, (ii) make loans
or
advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, or (iii) transfer any of
its
assets or properties to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, other than (A)
customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the
sale of all or a substantial part of the assets of any Subsidiary pending such
sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the
Subsidiary to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder,
(B) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to
purchase money Debt, Capital Leases and other secured Debt permitted by this
Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or
assets securing such Debt, and (C) customary provisions in leases and other
contracts restricting the assignment thereof.
9.11. Use
of
Proceeds.
Neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall use any portion
of
the proceeds of the Loans, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of
purchasing any securities underwritten by ABN AMRO Incorporated, LaSalle Bank
Financial Services, Inc., or any other Affiliate of the Bank.
9.12. Business
Activities; Change of Legal Status and Organizational Documents.
The
Borrower shall not and shall not permit any Subsidiary to (a) engage in any
line
of business other than the businesses engaged in on the date hereof and
businesses reasonably related thereto, (b) change its name, its Organizational
Identification Number, if it has one, its type of organization, its jurisdiction
of organization or other legal structure, or (b) permit its charter, bylaws
or
other organizational documents to be amended or modified in any way which could
reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the interests of the
Bank.
9.13. Domestic
Subsidiaries.
Except
as permitted pursuant to Section 9.4, the Borrower shall not sell, liquidate
or
dissolve any domestic Subsidiary without the prior written consent of the
Bank.
9.14. Foreign
Subsidiaries. Except
as
permitted pursuant to Section 9.4, the Borrower shall not sell, liquidate or
dissolve any foreign Subsidiary without the prior written consent of the Bank.
The Borrower shall not pledge any of its interest in its foreign Subsidiaries
to
any Person other than the Bank.
44
9.15. Permitted
Liens.
The
Borrower shall not incur any second lien against any Permitted
Lien.
Section
10. FINANCIAL
COVENANTS.
10.1. Tangible
Net Worth.
As of
the end of each of its fiscal quarters,
the
Borrower shall maintain Tangible Net Worth in an amount not less than Thirty
Million and 00/100 Dollars ($30,000,000.00). The Tangible Net Worth shall be
reset annually commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2007 to
increase by Twenty-Five Percent (25%) of the prior Fiscal Year’s Net Income.
Investments in any Subsidiary, Affiliate and third party entity, which is not
either (a) Born Heaters Canada or (b) a Guarantor, in excess of Ten Million
Dollars and 00/100 ($10,000,000.00) shall be deducted from Tangible Net
Worth.
10.2. Total
Debt to
Tangible Net Worth.
As of
the end of each of its fiscal quarters, the Borrower shall maintain a ratio
of
Total Debt to Tangible
Net Worth of not greater than 1.75 to 1.00.
10.3. Debt
Service Coverage.
On a
rolling four quarter basis, the Borrower shall maintain a ratio of (a) pre-tax
income from the Borrower’s operations for such period plus Interest Charges for
such period, plus the amount of noncash charges for Depreciation for such
period, to (b) Interest Charges for such period plus
the
aggregate amount of principal payments on Debt for such period, of not less
than
1.25 to 1.00.
10.4. Capital
Expenditure Limitations.
The
Borrower shall not incur Capital Expenditures in an amount greater than Five
Million and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000,000.00) in the aggregate in any one Fiscal
Year. The Borrower shall be allowed to rollover up to One Million Five Hundred
Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,500,000.00) of unused Capital Expenditure
limitations from the prior Fiscal Year into the following Fiscal Year provided
that Borrower shall not incur Capital Expenditures in excess of Six Million
Five
Hundred Thousand and 00/100 ($6,500,000.00) in any one Fiscal Year.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be permitted to incur
additional Capital Expenditures in excess of the permitted amount as set forth
herein for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008 in the total amount of Three Million
and
00/100 Dollars ($3,000,000.00) for the purchase of specialized pipeline
equipment.
Section
11. EVENTS
OF DEFAULT.
The
Borrower, without notice or demand of any kind, shall be in default under this
Agreement upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each an “Event of
Default”).
11.1. Nonpayment
of Obligations.
Any
principal amount due and owing on any Note or any of the Obligations, whether
by
its terms or as otherwise provided herein, is not paid when due and any interest
due and owing on any Note is not paid within five days after it is
due.
45
11.2. Misrepresentation.
Any
oral or written warranty, representation, certificate or statement of any
Obligor in this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other agreement
with
the Bank shall be false when made or at any time thereafter, or if any financial
data or any other information now or hereafter furnished to the Bank by or
on
behalf of any Obligor shall prove to be false, inaccurate or misleading in
any
material respect.
11.3. Nonperformance.
Other
than default for nonpayment of Obligations as set forth in Section
11.1
hereof,
any failure to perform or default in the performance of any covenant, condition
or agreement contained in this Agreement, or in the other Loan Documents or
any
other agreement with the Bank and such failure to perform or default in the
performance continues for 15 days.
11.4. Default
under Loan Documents.
Other
than default for nonpayment of Obligations as set forth in Section
11.1
hereof,
a default under any of the other Loan Documents, all of which covenants,
conditions and agreements contained therein are hereby incorporated in this
Agreement by express reference, shall be and constitute an Event of Default
under this Agreement and any other of the Obligations and such default under
any
of the Loan Documents continues for 15 days.
11.5. Default
under Other Debt.
Any
default by any Obligor in the payment of any Debt in excess of Two Hundred
Fifty
Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00) for any other obligation beyond any
period of grace provided with respect thereto or in the performance of any
other
term, condition or covenant contained in any agreement (including any capital
or
operating lease or any agreement in connection with the deferred purchase price
of property) under which any such obligation is created, the effect of which
default is to cause or permit the holder of such obligation (or the other party
to such other agreement) to cause such obligation to become due prior to its
stated maturity or terminate such other agreement.
11.6. Other
Material Obligations.
Any
default in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance of, any
material obligation of, or condition agreed to by, any Obligor with respect
to
any material purchase or lease of goods or services where such default, singly
or in the aggregate with all other such defaults, might reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
11.7. Bankruptcy,
Insolvency, etc.
Any
Obligor becomes insolvent or generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its
inability or refusal to pay, debts as they become due; or any Obligor applies
for, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or
other custodian for such Obligor or any property thereof, or makes a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or, in the absence of such application,
consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver or other custodian is appointed
for
any Obligor or for a substantial part of the property of any thereof and is
not
discharged within sixty (60) days; or any bankruptcy, reorganization, debt
arrangement, or other case or proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency
law,
or any dissolution or liquidation proceeding, is commenced in respect of any
Obligor, and if such case or proceeding is not commenced by such Obligor, it
is
consented to or acquiesced in by such Obligor, or remains undismissed for sixty
(60) days; or any Obligor takes any action to authorize, or in furtherance
of,
any of the foregoing.
46
11.8. Judgments.
The
entry of any final judgment, decree, levy, attachment, garnishment or other
process in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars
($250,000.00), or the filing of any Lien in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand
and 00/100 Dollars ($250,000.00) against any Obligor which is not fully covered
by insurance, and such judgment or other process shall not have been, within
thirty (30) days from the entry thereof, (i) bonded over to the satisfaction
of
the Bank and appealed, (ii) vacated, or (iii) discharged.
11.9. Change
in Control.
The
occurrence of any Change in Control.
11.10. Collateral
Impairment.
The
entry of any judgment, decree, levy, attachment, garnishment or other process,
or the filing of any Lien against, any Material portion of the Collateral or
any
Material portion of any other collateral under a separate security agreement
securing any of the Obligations and such judgment or other process shall not
have been, within thirty (30) days from the entry thereof, (i) bonded over
to
the satisfaction of the Bank and appealed, (ii) vacated, or (iii) discharged,
or
the loss, theft, destruction, seizure or forfeiture, or the occurrence of any
Material deterioration or impairment of any of the Collateral or any of the
collateral under any security agreement securing any of the Obligations, or
any
Material decline or depreciation in the value or market price thereof (whether
actual or reasonably anticipated), which causes the Collateral, in the sole
opinion of the Bank acting in good faith, to become unsatisfactory as to value
or character, or which causes the Bank to reasonably believe that it is insecure
and that the likelihood for repayment of the Obligations is or will soon be
impaired, time being of the essence. The cause of such deterioration,
impairment, decline or depreciation shall include, but is not limited to, the
failure by the Borrower to do any act deemed necessary by the Bank to preserve
and maintain the value and collectability of the Collateral.
11.11. Material
Adverse Effect.
The
occurrence of any development, condition or event which has a Material Adverse
Effect on the Borrower.
11.12. Guaranty.
There
is a discontinuance by any of the Guarantors of any of the Guaranties, or any
of
the Guarantors shall contest the validity of such Guaranty.
11.13. Subordinated
Debt.
The
subordination provisions of any Subordinated Debt shall for any reason be
revoked or invalid or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect. The
Borrower shall contest in any manner, or any other holder thereof shall contest
in any judicial proceeding, the validity or enforceability of the Subordinated
Debt or deny that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder, or
the
Obligations shall for any reason not have the priority contemplated by the
subordination provisions of the Subordinated Debt.
47
Section
12. REMEDIES.
Upon
the
occurrence of an Event of Default, the Bank shall have all rights, powers and
remedies set forth in the Loan Documents, in any written agreement or instrument
(other than this Agreement or the Loan Documents) relating to any of the
Obligations or any security therefor, as a secured party under the UCC or as
otherwise provided at law or in equity. Without limiting the generality of
the
foregoing, the Bank may, at its option upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, declare its commitments to the Borrower to be terminated and all
Obligations to be immediately due and payable, provided, however, that upon
the
occurrence of an Event of Default under Section
11.7,
all
commitments of the Bank to the Borrower shall immediately terminate and all
Obligations shall be automatically due and payable, all without demand, notice
or further action of any kind required on the part of the Bank. The Borrower
hereby waives any and all presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest,
and
all other notices and demands in connection with the enforcement of Bank’s
rights under the Loan Documents, and hereby consents to, and waives notice
of
release, with or without consideration, of any of the Borrower or any of the
Guarantors or of any Collateral, notwithstanding anything contained herein
or in
the Loan Documents to the contrary. In addition to the foregoing:
12.1. Possession
and Assembly of Collateral.
The
Bank may, without notice, demand or legal process of any kind, take possession
of any or all of the Collateral (in addition to Collateral of which the Bank
already has possession), wherever it may be found, and for that purpose may
pursue the same wherever it may be found, and may at any time enter into any
of
the Borrower’s premises where any of the Collateral may be or is supposed to be,
and search for, take possession of, remove, keep and store any of the Collateral
until the same shall be sold or otherwise disposed of and the Bank shall have
the right to store and conduct a sale of the same in any of the Borrower’s
premises without cost to the Bank. At the Bank’s request, the Borrower will, at
the Borrower’s sole expense, assemble the Collateral and make it available to
the Bank at a place or places to be designated by the Bank which is reasonably
convenient to the Bank and the Borrower.
12.2. Sale
of Collateral.
The
Bank may sell any or all of the Collateral at public or private sale, upon
such
terms and conditions as the Bank may deem proper, and the Bank may purchase
any
or all of the Collateral at any such sale. The Borrower acknowledges that the
Bank may be unable to effect a public sale of all or any portion of the
Collateral because of certain legal and/or practical restrictions and provisions
which may be applicable to the Collateral and, therefore, may be compelled
to
resort to one or more private sales to a restricted group of offerees and
purchasers. The Borrower consents to any such private sale so made even though
at places and upon terms less favorable than if the Collateral were sold at
public sale. The Bank shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare
the Collateral for sale. The Bank may apply the net proceeds, after deducting
all costs, expenses, attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees incurred or paid at any
time in the collection, protection and sale of the Collateral and the
Obligations, to the payment of any Note and/or any of the other Obligations,
returning the excess proceeds, if any, to the Borrower. The Borrower shall
remain liable for any amount remaining unpaid after such application, with
interest at the Default Rate. Any notification of intended disposition of the
Collateral required by law shall be conclusively deemed reasonably and properly
given if given by the Bank at least ten (10) calendar days before the date
of
such disposition. The Borrower hereby confirms, approves and ratifies all acts
and deeds of the Bank relating to the foregoing, and each part thereof, and
expressly waives any and all claims of any nature, kind or description which
it
has or may hereafter have against the Bank or its representatives, by reason
of
taking, selling or collecting any portion of the Collateral. The Borrower
consents to releases of the Collateral at any time (including prior to default)
and to sales of the Collateral in groups, parcels or portions, or as an
entirety, as the Bank shall deem appropriate. The Borrower expressly absolves
the Bank from any loss or decline in market value of any Collateral by reason
of
delay in the enforcement or assertion or nonenforcement of any rights or
remedies under this Agreement.
48
12.3. Standards
for Exercising Remedies. To
the
extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Bank to exercise remedies
in a
commercially reasonable manner, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it
is
not commercially unreasonable for the Bank (a) to fail to incur expenses
reasonably deemed significant by the Bank to prepare Collateral for disposition
or otherwise to complete raw material or work-in-process into finished goods
or
other finished products for disposition, (b) to fail to obtain third party
consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not
required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents
for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed
of,
(c) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other
Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove liens or encumbrances on or any
adverse claims against Collateral, (d) to exercise collection remedies against
Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through
the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (e) to
advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general
circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (f)
to
contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as the Borrower,
for
expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of the Collateral,
(g)
to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of
Collateral, whether or not the collateral is of a specialized nature, (h) to
dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction
of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable
capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (i) to
dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (j) to disclaim
disposition warranties, including any warranties of title, (k) to purchase
insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Bank against risks of loss,
collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Bank a guaranteed
return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (l) to the extent
deemed appropriate by the Bank, to obtain the services of other brokers,
investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Bank
in
the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. The Borrower
acknowledges that the purpose of this section is to provide non-exhaustive
indications of what actions or omissions by the Bank would not be commercially
unreasonable in the Bank’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that
other actions or omissions by the Bank shall not be deemed commercially
unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this section. Without
limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this section shall be
construed to grant any rights to the Borrower or to impose any duties on the
Bank that would not have been granted or imposed by this Agreement or by
applicable law in the absence of this section.
12.4. UCC
and Offset Rights.
The
Bank may exercise, from time to time, any and all rights and remedies available
to it under the UCC or under any other applicable law in addition to, and not
in
lieu of, any rights and remedies expressly granted in this Agreement or in
any
other agreements between any Obligor and the Bank, and may, without demand
or
notice of any kind, appropriate and apply toward the payment of such of the
Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, including costs of collection and
attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees, and in such order of application as the Bank
may, from time to time, elect, any indebtedness of the Bank to any Obligor,
however created or arising, including balances, credits, deposits, accounts
or
moneys of such Obligor in the possession, control or custody of, or in transit
to the Bank. The Borrower, on behalf of itself and each Obligor, hereby waives
the benefit of any law that would otherwise restrict or limit the Bank in the
exercise of its right, which is hereby acknowledged, to appropriate at any
time
hereafter any such indebtedness owing from the Bank to any
Obligor.
49
12.5. Additional
Remedies.
The
Bank shall have the right and power to:
(a)
instruct
the Borrower, at its own expense, to notify any parties obligated on any of
the
Collateral, including any Account Debtors, to make payment directly to the
Bank
of any amounts due or to become due thereunder, or the Bank may directly notify
such obligors of the security interest of the Bank, and/or of the assignment
to
the Bank of the Collateral and direct such obligors to make payment to the
Bank
of any amounts due or to become due with respect thereto, and thereafter,
collect any such amounts due on the Collateral directly from such Persons
obligated thereon;
(b)
enforce
collection of any of the Collateral, including any Accounts, by suit or
otherwise, or make any compromise or settlement with respect to any of the
Collateral, or surrender, release or exchange all or any part thereof, or
compromise, extend or renew for any period (whether or not longer than the
original period) any indebtedness thereunder;
(c)
take
possession or control of any proceeds and products of any of the Collateral,
including the proceeds of insurance thereon;
(d)
extend,
renew or modify for one or more periods (whether or not longer than the original
period) any Note, any other of the Obligations, any obligation of any nature
of
any other obligor with respect to any Note or any of the
Obligations;
(e)
grant
releases, compromises or indulgences with respect to any Note, any of the
Obligations, any extension or renewal of any of the Obligations, any security
therefor, or to any other obligor with respect to any Note or any of the
Obligations;
(f)
transfer
the whole or any part of securities which may constitute Collateral into the
name of the Bank or the Bank’s nominee without disclosing, if the Bank so
desires, that such securities so transferred are subject to the security
interest of the Bank, and any corporation, association, or any of the managers
or trustees of any trust issuing any of such securities, or any transfer agent,
shall not be bound to inquire, in the event that the Bank or such nominee makes
any further transfer of such securities, or any portion thereof, as to whether
the Bank or such nominee has the right to make such further transfer, and shall
not be liable for transferring the same;
50
(g)
vote
the
Collateral;
(h)
make
an
election with respect to the Collateral under Section 1111 of the Bankruptcy
Code or take action under Section 364 or any other section of the Bankruptcy
Code; provided, however, that any such action of the Bank as set forth herein
shall not, in any manner whatsoever, impair or affect the liability of the
Borrower hereunder, nor prejudice, waive, nor be construed to impair, affect,
prejudice or waive the Bank’s rights and remedies at law, in equity or by
statute, nor release, discharge, nor be construed to release or discharge,
the
Borrower, any guarantor or other Person liable to the Bank for the Obligations;
(i)
at
any
time, and from time to time, accept additions to, releases, reductions,
exchanges or substitution of the Collateral, without in any way altering,
impairing, diminishing or affecting the provisions of this Agreement, the Loan
Documents, or any of the other Obligations, or the Bank’s rights hereunder,
under any Note or under any of the other Obligations; and
(j)
advise
the Borrower whether to deposit cash as necessary into the Borrower’s account at
the Bank or whether to execute, within ten business days of such Event of
Default or Unmatured Event of Default, Control Agreements(s) with respect to
Cash Equivalent Investments.
The
Borrower hereby ratifies and confirms whatever the Bank may do with respect
to
the Collateral and agrees that the Bank shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistakes of fact or law with respect to actions taken in connection
with the Collateral.
12.6. Attorney-in-Fact.
Upon
the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Borrower
hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Bank (and any officer
of
the Bank or any Person designated by the Bank for that purpose) as the
Borrower’s true and lawful proxy and attorney-in-fact (and agent-in-fact) in the
Borrower’s name, place and stead, with full power of substitution, to (i) take
such actions as are permitted in this Agreement, (ii) execute such financing
statements and other documents and to do such other acts as the Bank may require
to perfect and preserve the Bank’s security interest in, and to enforce such
interests in the Collateral, and (iii) carry out any remedy provided for in
this
Agreement, including endorsing the Borrower’s name to checks, drafts,
instruments and other items of payment, and proceeds of the Collateral,
executing change of address forms with the postmaster of the United States
Post
Office serving the address of the Borrower, changing the address of the Borrower
to that of the Bank, opening all envelopes addressed to the Borrower and
applying any payments contained therein to the Obligations. The Borrower hereby
acknowledges that the constitution and appointment of such proxy and
attorney-in-fact are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable. The Borrower
hereby ratifies and confirms all that such attorney-in-fact may do or cause
to
be done by virtue of any provision of this Agreement.
12.7. No
Marshaling.
The
Bank shall not be required to marshal any present or future collateral security
(including this Agreement and the Collateral) for, or other assurances of
payment of, the Obligations or any of them or to resort to such collateral
security or other assurances of payment in any particular order. To the extent
that it lawfully may, the Borrower hereby agrees that it will not invoke any
law
relating to the marshaling of collateral which might cause delay in or impede
the enforcement of the Bank’s rights under this Agreement or under any other
instrument creating or evidencing any of the Obligations or under which any
of
the Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the Obligations is secured
or
payment thereof is otherwise assured, and, to the extent that it lawfully may,
the Borrower hereby irrevocably waives the benefits of all such
laws.
51
12.8. Application
of Proceeds.
The
Bank will within three (3) Business Days after receipt of cash or solvent
credits from collection of items of payment, proceeds of Collateral or any
other
source, apply the whole or any part thereof against the Obligations secured
hereby. The Bank shall further have the exclusive right to determine how, when
and what application of such payments and such credits shall be made on the
Obligations, and such determination shall be conclusive upon the Borrower.
Any
proceeds of any disposition by the Bank of all or any part of the Collateral
may
be first applied by the Bank to the payment of expenses incurred by the Bank
in
connection with the Collateral, including attorneys’ fees and legal expenses as
provided for in Section
13
hereof.
12.9. No
Waiver.
No
Event of Default shall be waived by the Bank except in writing. No failure
or
delay on the part of the Bank in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder
shall operate as a waiver of the exercise of the same or any other right at
any
other time; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power
or
remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power or remedy hereunder. There shall be no obligation on the
part
of the Bank to exercise any remedy available to the Bank in any order. The
remedies provided for herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies
provided at law or in equity. The Borrower agrees that in the event that the
Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its Obligations or
liabilities under this Agreement or any other agreements with the Bank, no
remedy of law will provide adequate relief to the Bank, and further agrees
that
the Bank shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in
any
such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.
12.10. Letters
of Credit.
With
respect to all Letters of Credit for which presentment for honor shall not
have
occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to this Section 12, the
Borrower shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral account opened by
the
Bank an amount equal to the Letter of Credit Obligations then outstanding.
Amounts held in such cash collateral account shall be applied by the Bank to
the
payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion
thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn
upon, if any, shall be applied to repay the Obligations, in such order of
application as the Bank may, in its sole discretion, from time to time elect.
After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon,
all commitments to make Loans hereunder have terminated and all other
Obligations have been indefeasibly satisfied and paid in full in cash, the
balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the
Borrower or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled
thereto.
52
Section
13. MISCELLANEOUS.
13.1. Obligations
Absolute.
None of
the following shall affect the Obligations of the Borrower to the Bank under
this Agreement or the Bank’s rights with respect to the Collateral:
(a)
acceptance
or retention by the Bank of other property or any interest in property as
security for the Obligations;
(b)
release
by the Bank of any of the Borrower or the Guarantors or of all or any part
of
the Collateral or of any party liable with respect to the
Obligations;
(c)
release,
extension, renewal, modification or substitution by the Bank of any Note, or
any
note evidencing any of the Obligations, or the compromise of the liability
of
any of the Guarantors of the Obligations; or
(d)
failure
of the Bank to resort to any other security or to pursue the Borrower or any
other obligor liable for any of the Obligations before resorting to remedies
against the Collateral.
13.2. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (i) are valid, binding and enforceable
against the Borrower and the Bank in accordance with their respective provisions
and no conditions exist as to their legal effectiveness; (ii) constitute the
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and thereof; and (iii) are the final expression of the intentions of the
Borrower and the Bank. No promises, either expressed or implied, exist between
the Borrower and the Bank, unless contained herein or therein. This Agreement,
together with the other Loan Documents, supersedes all negotiations,
representations, warranties, commitments, term sheets, discussions,
negotiations, offers or contracts (of any kind or nature, whether oral or
written) prior to or contemporaneous with the execution hereof with respect
to
any matter, directly or indirectly related to the terms of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the
result of negotiations among the Bank, the Borrower and the other parties
thereto, and have been reviewed (or have had the opportunity to be reviewed)
by
counsel to all such parties, and are the products of all parties. Accordingly,
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be construed more strictly
against the Bank merely because of the Bank’s involvement in their
preparation.
13.3. Amendments;
Waivers.
No
delay on the part of the Bank in the exercise of any right, power or remedy
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise
by
the Bank of any right, power or remedy preclude other or further exercise
thereof, or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. No amendment,
modification or waiver of, or consent with respect to, any provision of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall in any event be effective unless
the
same shall be in writing and acknowledged by the Bank, and then any such
amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
53
13.4. WAIVER
OF DEFENSES.
THE
BORROWER, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ANY GUARANTOR OF ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS,
WAIVES EVERY PRESENT AND FUTURE DEFENSE, CAUSE OF ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR SETOFF
WHICH THE BORROWER MAY NOW HAVE OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO ANY ACTION BY THE
BANK
IN ENFORCING THIS AGREEMENT. PROVIDED THE BANK ACTS IN GOOD FAITH, THE BORROWER
RATIFIES AND CONFIRMS WHATEVER THE BANK MAY DO PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THIS
AGREEMENT. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE BANK GRANTING ANY
FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION TO THE BORROWER.
13.5. FORUM
SELECTION AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.
ANY
LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED
EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OR IN THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS; PROVIDED THAT NOTHING
IN
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED OR OPERATE TO PRECLUDE THE BANK FROM BRINGING
SUIT OR TAKING OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER HEREBY
EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE
STATE
OF ILLINOIS AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT
OF
ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE. THE BORROWER
FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL,
POSTAGE PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
THE BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING
OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE
AND
ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT
FORUM.
13.6. WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
THE
BANK AND THE BORROWER, AFTER CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT
WITH COUNSEL, EACH KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE IRREVOCABLY,
ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND
ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, ANY NOTE, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, ANY OF
THE
OTHER OBLIGATIONS, THE COLLATERAL, OR ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR
AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION
HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY LENDING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT OR COURSE OF
DEALING IN WHICH THE BANK AND THE BORROWER ARE ADVERSE PARTIES, AND EACH AGREES
THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE
A JURY. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE BANK GRANTING ANY
FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION TO THE BORROWER.
54
13.7. Assignability.
The
Bank may at any time assign the Bank’s rights in this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents, the Obligations, or any part thereof and transfer the Bank’s rights
in any or all of the Collateral, and the Bank thereafter shall be relieved
from
all liability with respect to such Collateral; provided, however, that if an
Event of Default does not exist, the Bank shall not make such assignment without
the prior written consent of the Borrower. In addition, the Bank may at any
time
sell one or more participations in the Loans. The Borrower may not sell or
assign this Agreement, or any other agreement with the Bank or any portion
thereof, either voluntarily or by operation of law, without the prior written
consent of the Bank. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Bank and the
Borrower and their respective legal representatives and successors. All
references herein to the Borrower shall be deemed to include any successors,
whether immediate or remote. In the case of a joint venture or partnership,
the
term “Borrower” shall be deemed to include all joint venturers or partners
thereof, who shall be jointly and severally liable hereunder.
13.8. Confirmations.
The
Borrower and the Bank agree from time to time, upon written request received
by
it from the other, to confirm to the other in writing the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Loans then outstanding under such Note.
13.9. Confidentiality.
The
Bank agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts (equivalent to the efforts
the Bank applies to maintain the confidentiality of its own confidential
information) to maintain as confidential all information provided to it by
the
Borrower, including all information designated as confidential, except that
the
Bank may disclose such information (a) to Persons employed or engaged by the
Bank in evaluating, approving, structuring or administering the Loans; (b)
to
any assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant that has agreed
to comply with the covenant contained in this Section
13.9
(and any
such assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant may disclose
such information to Persons employed or engaged by them as described in clause
(a) above); (c) as required or requested by any federal or state regulatory
authority or examiner, or any insurance industry association, or as reasonably
believed by the Bank to be compelled by any court decree, subpoena or legal
or
administrative order or process; (d) as, on the advice of the Bank’s counsel, is
required by law; (e) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy
under the Loan Documents or in connection with any litigation to which the
Bank
is a party; (f) to any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access
to information about the Bank’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings
issued with respect to the Bank; (g) to any Affiliate of the Bank who may
provide Bank Products to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (h) that ceases
to
be confidential through no fault of the Bank.
13.10. Binding
Effect.
This
Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Borrower and the Bank.
If
this Agreement is not dated or contains any blanks when executed by the
Borrower, the Bank is hereby authorized, without notice to the Borrower, to
date
this Agreement as of the date when it was executed by the Borrower, and to
complete any such blanks according to the terms upon which this Agreement is
executed.
55
13.11. Governing
Law.
This
Agreement, the Loan Documents and any Note shall be delivered and accepted
in
and shall be deemed to be contracts made under and governed by the internal
laws
of the State of Illinois (but giving effect to federal laws applicable to
national banks) applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within
such state, without regard to conflict of laws principles.
13.12. Enforceability.
Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in
such
manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision
of this Agreement shall be prohibited by, unenforceable or invalid under any
jurisdiction, such provision shall as to such jurisdiction, be severable and
be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
13.13. Survival
of Borrower Representations.
All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower
herein shall, notwithstanding any investigation by the Bank, be deemed material
and relied upon by the Bank and shall survive the making and execution of this
Agreement and the Loan Documents and the issuance of any Note, and shall be
deemed to be continuing representations and warranties until such time as the
Borrower has fulfilled all of its Obligations to the Bank, and the Bank has
been
indefeasibly paid in full in cash. The Bank, in extending financial
accommodations to the Borrower, is expressly acting and relying on the aforesaid
representations and warranties.
13.14. Extensions
of Bank’s Commitment.
This
Agreement shall secure and govern the terms of (i) any extensions or renewals
of
the Bank’s commitment hereunder, and (ii) any replacement note executed by the
Borrower and accepted by the Bank in its sole and absolute discretion in
substitution for any Note.
13.15. Time
of Essence.
Time is
of the essence in making payments of all amounts due the Bank under this
Agreement and in the performance and observance by the Borrower of each
covenant, agreement, provision and term of this Agreement.
13.16. Counterparts;
Facsimile Signatures.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different
parties hereto on separate counterparts and each such counterpart shall be
deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same Agreement. Receipt of an executed signature page to this
Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall constitute
effective delivery thereof. Electronic records of executed Loan Documents
maintained by the Bank shall deemed to be originals thereof.
56
13.17. Notices.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower waives all notices and demands in
connection with the enforcement of the Bank’s rights hereunder. All notices,
requests, demands and other communications provided for hereunder shall be
in
writing and addressed as follows:
To
the Borrower:
|
Primoris
Corporation
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
|
With
a copy to:
|
Paul,
Hastings, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
To
the Bank:
|
LaSalle
Bank National Association
000
Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Construction
and Engineering Division
|
With
copy to:
|
X’Xxxxx
Xxxxx & Xxxxx, LLC
00
Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Esq.
|
or,
as to
each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a
written notice to each other party complying as to delivery with the terms
of
this subsection. All notices addressed as above shall be deemed to have been
properly given (i) if served in person, upon acceptance or refusal of delivery;
(ii) if mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) day following the day such notice is
deposited in any post office station or letter box; or (iii) if sent by
recognized overnight courier, on the first (1st) day following the day such
notice is delivered to such carrier. No notice to or demand on the Borrower
in
any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand
in
similar or other circumstances.
13.18. Release
of Claims Against Bank.
In
consideration of the Bank making the Loans, the Borrower and all other Obligors
do each hereby release and discharge the Bank of and from any and all claims,
harm, injury, and damage of any and every kind, known or unknown, legal or
equitable, which any Obligor may have against the Bank from the date of their
respective first contact with the Bank until the date of this Loan Agreement,
including any claim arising from any reports (environmental reports, surveys,
appraisals, etc.) prepared by any parties hired or recommended by the Bank.
The
Borrower and all other Obligors confirm to Bank that they have reviewed the
effect of this release with competent legal counsel of their choice, or have
been afforded the opportunity to do so, prior to execution of this Agreement
and
the Loan Documents and do each acknowledge and agree that the Bank is relying
upon this release in extending the Loans to the Borrower.
57
13.19. Costs,
Fees and Expenses.
The
Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Bank for all reasonable costs, fees and
expenses incurred by the Bank or for which the Bank becomes obligated in
connection with the negotiation, preparation, consummation, collection of the
Obligations or enforcement of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
all
other documents provided for herein or delivered or to be delivered hereunder
or
in connection herewith (including any amendment, supplement or waiver to any
Loan Document), or
during
any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect thereof, including
reasonable consultants’ fees and attorneys’ fees and time charges of counsel to
the Bank, which shall also include attorneys’ fees and time charges of attorneys
who may be employees of the Bank or any Affiliate of the Bank, plus costs and
expenses of such attorneys or of the Bank; search fees, costs and expenses;
and
all taxes payable in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents,
whether or not the transaction contemplated hereby shall be consummated. In
furtherance of the foregoing, the Borrower shall pay any and all stamp and
other
taxes, UCC search fees, filing fees and other costs and expenses in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Note and the other Loan
Documents to be delivered hereunder, and agrees to save and hold the Bank
harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting
from any delay in paying or omission to pay such costs and expenses. That
portion of the Obligations consisting of costs, expenses or advances to be
reimbursed by the Borrower to the Bank pursuant to this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents which are not paid on or prior to the date hereof shall be
payable by the Borrower to the Bank on demand. If at any time or times hereafter
the Bank: (a) employs counsel for advice or other representation
(i) with respect to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents,
(ii) to represent the Bank in any litigation, contest, dispute, suit or
proceeding or to commence, defend, or intervene or to take any other action
in
or with respect to any litigation, contest, dispute, suit, or proceeding
(whether instituted by the Bank, the Borrower, or any other Person) in any
way
or respect relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the
Borrower’s business or affairs, or (iii) to enforce any rights of the Bank
against the Borrower or any other Person that may be obligated to the Bank
by
virtue of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (b) takes any action
to protect, collect, sell, liquidate, or otherwise dispose of any of the
Collateral; and/or (c) attempts to or enforces any of the Bank’s rights or
remedies under the Agreement or the other Loan Documents, the costs and expenses
incurred by the Bank in any manner or way with respect to the foregoing, shall
be part of the Obligations, payable by the Borrower to the Bank on
demand.
13.20. Indemnification.
The
Borrower agrees to defend (with counsel satisfactory to the Bank), protect,
indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against
any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, claims, costs, expenses and distributions of any kind or
nature (including the disbursements and the reasonable fees of counsel for
each
Indemnified Party thereto, which shall also include, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees and time charges of attorneys who may be employees of
any Indemnified Party), which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted
against, any Indemnified Party (whether direct, indirect or consequential and
whether based on any federal, state or local laws or regulations, including
securities laws, Environmental Laws, commercial laws and regulations, under
common law or in equity, or based on contract or otherwise) in any manner
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents,
or
any act, event or transaction related or attendant thereto, the preparation,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Loan Documents, including
the
making or issuance and management of the Loans, the use or intended use of
the
proceeds of the Loans, the enforcement of the Bank’s rights and remedies under
this Agreement, the Loan Documents, any Note, any other instruments and
documents delivered hereunder, or under any other agreement between the Borrower
and the Bank; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not have any
obligations hereunder to any Indemnified Party with respect to matters
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable
judgment to have been caused
by
or resulting from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnified
Party. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify set forth in the
preceding sentence may be unenforceable because it violates any law or public
policy, the Borrower shall satisfy such undertaking to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law. Any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty,
cost or expense covered by this indemnity shall be paid to each Indemnified
Party on demand, and failing prompt payment, together with interest thereon
at
the Default Rate from the date incurred by each Indemnified Party until paid
by
the Borrower, shall be added to the Obligations of the Borrower and be secured
by the Collateral. The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction
and payment of the other Obligations and the termination of this
Agreement.
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13.21. Revival
and Reinstatement of Obligations.
If the
incurrence or payment of the Obligations by any Obligor or the transfer to
the
Bank of any property should for any reason subsequently be declared to be void
or voidable under any state or federal law relating to creditors’ rights,
including provisions of the Bankruptcy Code relating to fraudulent conveyances,
preferences, or other voidable or recoverable payments of money or transfers
of
property (collectively, a “Voidable Transfer”), and if the Bank is required to
repay or restore, in whole or in part, any such Voidable Transfer, or elects
to
do so upon the reasonable advice of its counsel, then, as to any such Voidable
Transfer, or the amount thereof that the Bank is required or elects to repay
or
restore, and as to all reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys fees of the
Bank, the Obligations shall automatically shall be revived, reinstated, and
restored and shall exist as though such Voidable Transfer had never been
made.
13.22. Customer
Identification - USA Patriot Act Notice.
The
Bank hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the
USA
Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001)
(the
“Act”), and the Bank’s policies and practices, the Bank is required to obtain,
verify and record certain information and documentation that identifies the
Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and
such other information that will allow the Bank to identify the Borrower in
accordance with the Act.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower and the Bank have executed this Loan and Security
Agreement as of the date first above written.
PRIMORIS
CORPORATION,
a Nevada corporation |
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
||
Title:
|
SVP |
||
|
Agreed
and accepted:
|
|||
LASALLE
BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
a national banking association |
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx |
||
Title:
|
Senior Vice President |
||
|
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