FINANCING AGREEMENT
FINANCING
AGREEMENT
Financing
Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2008, by and among COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “Borrower”),
each
subsidiary of Borrower listed as a “Guarantor”
on
the
signature pages hereto (together with each other Person that executes a joinder
agreement and becomes a “Guarantor”
hereunder or otherwise guaranties all or any part of the Obligations, each
a
“Guarantor”
and
collectively, the “Guarantors”),
the
lenders from time to time party hereto (each a “Lender”
and
collectively, the “Lenders”)
and
ACF CTC, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, as agent for the Lenders
(in such capacity, together with any successor in such capacity,
the “Agent”).
RECITALS
The
Borrower has asked the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrower on an expedited
basis consisting of a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000.
The proceeds of the term loan shall be used (a) for general working capital
purposes of the Borrower as set forth in the Cash Forecast, and (b) to pay
fees
and expenses related to this Agreement. The Lenders are severally, and not
jointly, willing to extend such credit to the Borrower subject to the terms
and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
The
Loan
Parties have requested that the Lenders consummate this transaction and make
the
Loan on an expedited basis and before the Lenders and Agent are able to complete
appropriate due diligence. Accordingly, the Loan Parties recognize in particular
that the Agent and the Lenders will be relying extensively upon the
representations and warranties of the Loan Parties as set forth in the Loan
Documents in lieu of certain customary due diligence.
In
consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained herein,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS;
CERTAIN TERMS
Section
1.01 Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings
indicated below, such meanings to be applicable equally to both the singular
and
plural forms of such terms:
“Account
Debtor”
means
each debtor, customer or obligor in any way obligated on or in connection with
any Account Receivable.
“Account
Receivable”
means,
with respect to any Person, any and all rights of such Person to payment for
goods sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise deposed of and/or services
rendered or to be rendered, including accounts (as defined in the Uniform
Commercial Code), general intangibles and any and all such rights evidenced
by
chattel paper, instruments or documents, whether due or to become due and
whether or not earned by performance, and whether now or hereafter acquired
or
arising in the future, and any supporting obligations in respect of the
foregoing and any proceeds arising from or relating to the
foregoing.
“Action”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
12.12.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a
Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (i) vote 10% or more
of the Capital Stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors
of such Person or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
“Agent”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Agent
Advances”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
10.08(a).
“Agent’s
Account”
means
an account at a bank designated by the Agent from time to time as the account
into which the Loan Parties shall make all payments to the Agent for the benefit
of the Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
“Agreement”
means
this Financing Agreement, including all amendments, modifications and
supplements and any exhibits or schedules to any of the foregoing, and shall
refer to the Agreement as the same may be in effect at the time such reference
becomes operative.
“Assignment
and Acceptance”
means
an assignment and acceptance entered into by an assigning Lender and an
assignee, and accepted by the Agent, in accordance with Section
12.07
hereof
and substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto or such other form acceptable
to the Agent.
“Authorized
Officer”
means,
with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, chief financial
officer, president or executive vice president of such Person.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means
the
United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 101, et seq.),
as
amended, and any successor statute.
“Board”
means
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United
States.
“Board
of Directors”
means,
with respect to any Person, the board of directors (or comparable managers)
of
such Person or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of the
board.
“Borrower”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks
in
New York City are authorized or required to close.
“Cable
Critical Vendors”
means
the vendors identified on Schedule 1.01(B).
“Capital
Expenditures”
means,
with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of (i) the aggregate of
all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period that
in
accordance with GAAP are or should be included in “property, plant and
equipment” or in a similar fixed asset account on its balance sheet, whether
such expenditures are paid in cash or financed and including all Capitalized
Lease Obligations paid or payable during such period, and (ii) to the
extent not covered by clause (i) above, the aggregate of all expenditures by
such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period to acquire by purchase
or
otherwise the business or fixed assets of, or the Capital Stock of, any other
Person.
2
“Capital
Stock”
means
(i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether
or not voting) of corporate stock, and (ii) with respect to any Person that
is
not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests
of such Person.
“Capitalized
Lease”
means,
with respect to any Person, any lease of real or personal property by such
Person as lessee which is (i) required under GAAP to be capitalized on the
balance sheet of such Person or (ii) a transaction of a type commonly known
as a
“synthetic lease” (i.e., a lease transaction that is treated as an operating
lease for accounting purposes but with respect to which payments of rent are
intended to be treated as payments of principal and interest on a loan for
Federal income tax purposes).
“Capitalized
Lease Obligations”
means,
with respect to any Person, obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries
under Capitalized Leases, and, for purposes hereof, the amount of any such
obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance
with
GAAP.
“Cash
Forecast”
means
a
forecast of the sources and uses of cash by the Loan Parties on a weekly basis
for the succeeding 13 calendar weeks, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent. The initial Cash Forecast is attached hereto as
Exhibit
I.
“Change
in Law”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
4.05(a).
“Closing
Fee”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section 2.06.
“Change
of Control”
means
each occurrence of any of the following:
(a) the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or group (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership of more
than 30% of the aggregate outstanding voting power of the Capital Stock of
the
Parent;
(b) the
Borrower shall cease to have beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act) of 100% of the aggregate voting power of the Capital
Stock of each of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens (other than
Permitted Liens); or
(c) (i) Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries consolidates or amalgamates with or merges into
another entity or conveys, transfers or leases all or substantially all of
its
property and assets to another Person, or (ii) any entity consolidates or
amalgamates with or merges into any of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
in a
transaction pursuant to which the outstanding voting Capital Stock of such
entity is reclassified or changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or
other property, other than any such transaction described in this
clause (ii) in which either (A) in the case of any such transaction
involving Borrower, no person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act) other than a Permitted Holder has, directly or indirectly,
acquired beneficial ownership of more than 25% of the aggregate outstanding
voting Capital Stock of the Borrower or (B) in the case of any such
transaction involving a Subsidiary of Borrower, the Borrower has beneficial
ownership of 100% of the aggregate voting power of all Capital Stock of the
resulting, surviving or transferee entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
(i)
insolvency or winding up proceeding involving any of the Foreign Subsidiaries,
or (ii) any transaction expressly permitted by Section 7.02(c)(ii) shall be
deemed a Change of Control.
3
“Collateral”
means
all of the property and assets and all interests therein and proceeds thereof
now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person upon which a Lien is granted
or
purported to be granted by such Person as security for all or any part of the
Obligations.
“Collection
Account”
and
“Collection
Accounts”
have
the meanings specified therefor in Section
8.01(a).
“Commitment”
means,
with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Loan
to
the Borrower in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto, as the same
may
be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of
this
Agreement.
“Contingent
Obligation”
means,
with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or
intended to guarantee any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations
(“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, (i)
the
direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (other than for collection or deposit
in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with recourse or
sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of a primary obligor,
(ii) the obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments, if required,
regardless of nonperformance by any other party or parties to an agreement,
(iii) any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (A) to purchase
any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect
security therefor, (B) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or
payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital
or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth
or solvency of the primary obligor, (C) to purchase property, assets,
securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any
such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment
of
such primary obligation or (D) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the
holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided,
however,
that
the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include any product warranties
extended in the ordinary course of business or unsecured guarantees of any
trade
payables (other than trade payables owed to Cable Critical Vendors identified
on
Schedule 1.01(B), outstanding for more than the time periods described in the
definition of Indebtedness). The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall
be
deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary
obligation with respect to which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if
less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such Person may
be
liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Contingent
Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably
anticipated liability with respect thereto (assuming such Person is required
to
perform thereunder), as determined by such Person in good faith.
4
“Contribution
Agreement”
means
the Contribution Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Loan Parties,
substantially in the form of Exhibit G.
“Copyright
Office”
means
the United States Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress.
“Copyrights”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the Security Agreement.
“Control
Agreement”
means
a
control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, executed
and
delivered by the applicable Loan Party, the Agent and the applicable bank (with
respect to a deposit account) or securities intermediary (with respect to a
securities account).
“D&O
Insurance”
means
a
policy or policies of insurance protecting directors and officers of a juridical
entity from liability arising from actions connected to their corporate
positions.
“Default”
means
an event which, with the lapse of time, would constitute an Event of
Default.
“Disposition”
means
any transaction, or series of related transactions, pursuant to which any Person
or any of its Subsidiaries sells, assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes
of
any property or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to any other
Person, in each case, whether or not the consideration therefor consists of
cash, securities or other assets owned by the acquiring Person, excluding
any (i)
sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of business on ordinary business
terms, (ii) licenses of general intangibles by any of the Foreign Subsidiaries
in the ordinary course of such Foreign Subsidiary’s business on ordinary
business terms, (iii) sales or other dispositions by a Foreign Subsidiary of
obsolescent items of equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent
with such Foreign Subsidiary’s past practices, (iv) the sale of the Cuxhaven
Turbine owned by XxXxxx Turbines Limited, and (v) any transfer among the Foreign
Subsidiaries of assets related to any insolvency or winding up of any of the
Foreign Subsidiaries.
“Dollar,”
“Dollars”
and
the
symbol “$”
each
means lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic
Subsidiaries”
means
the Subsidiaries of the Borrower incorporated under the laws of any jurisdiction
in the United States. As of the date hereof, the Domestic Subsidiaries are
CTC
Cable Corporation, a Nevada corporation, CTC Towers & Poles, a Nevada
corporation, Transmission Technology Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and
XxXxxx Inc., a Nevada corporation.
“Effective
Date”
means
the date, on or before April __, 2008, on which all of the conditions precedent
set forth in Section
5.01
are
satisfied or waived and the Loan is made.
“Employee
Plan”
means
an employee benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) covered by Title
IV
of ERISA and maintained (or that was maintained at any time during the six
(6)
calendar years preceding the date of any borrowing hereunder) for employees
of
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its ERISA Affiliates.
5
“Environmental
Actions”
means
any complaint, summons, citation, notice, directive, order, claim, litigation,
investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding, or judgment from any
Person or Governmental Authority involving violations of Environmental Laws
or
Releases of Hazardous Materials (i) from any assets, properties or businesses
owned or operated by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor
in
interest; (ii) from adjoining properties or businesses; or (iii) onto any
facilities which received Hazardous Materials generated by Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries or any predecessor in interest.
“Environmental
Laws”
means
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42
U.S.C. § 9601, et seq.),
the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq.),
the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.),
the
Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.),
the
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.),
the
Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.)
and
the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.),
as
such laws may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time, and any other
present or future federal, state, local or foreign statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, order, judgment, decree, permit, license or other binding
determination of any Governmental Authority imposing liability or establishing
standards of conduct for protection of the environment or other government
restrictions relating to the protection of the environment or the Release,
deposit or migration of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment.
“Environmental
Liabilities and Costs”
means
all liabilities, monetary obligations, Remedial Actions, losses, damages,
punitive damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses
(including all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts
and consultants and costs of investigations and feasibility studies), fines,
penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand
by
any Governmental Authority or any third party, and which relate to any
environmental condition or a Release of Hazardous Materials from or onto
(i) any property presently or formerly owned by Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or (ii) any facility which received Hazardous Materials
generated by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Environmental
Lien”
means
any Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for Environmental Liabilities
and Costs.
“Equipment”
means
“equipment” (as that term is defined in the Uniform Commercial
Code).
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any
successor statute of similar import, and regulations thereunder, in each case,
as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be
construed also to refer to any successor sections.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
which is a member of a group of which such Person is a member and which would
be
deemed to be a “controlled group” within the meaning of Sections 414(b), (c),
(m) and (o) of the Internal Revenue Code.
6
“Event
of Default”
means
any of the events set forth in Section
9.01.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Excluded
Issuance”
means
(A) shares of Common Stock issued or deemed issued to employees, consultants,
attorneys, officers or directors (if in transactions with primarily
non-financing purposes) of the Borrower directly or pursuant to a stock plan
approved by the majority of the disinterested members of the Borrower’s Board of
Directors; and (B) shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the conversion
or
exercise of convertible or exercisable securities outstanding as of the date
hereof.
“Extraordinary
Receipts”
means
any cash received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not in the ordinary
course of business (and not consisting of proceeds described in Section
2.05(c)
(ii) or
(iii) hereof), including, without limitation, (i) foreign, United States,
state or local tax refunds other than refunds in an amount less than $1,000
in
each instance of sales or use taxes or VAT refunds, (ii) pension plan
reversions, (iii) proceeds of insurance, (iv) judgments, proceeds of
settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause
of
action, (v) condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof),
(vi) indemnity payments and (vii) any purchase price adjustment
received in connection with any purchase agreement; provided that “Extraordinary
Receipts” excludes any purchase price adjustment related to additional receipts
due under a Turbine Supply Agreement for additional consideration caused by
a
change in Foreign Exchange Rate adjustments or commodity price
increases.
“Final
Maturity Date”
means
the earliest of (i) November 3, 2008, (ii) the date on which the Loan shall
become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or
(iii) the payment in full of all Obligations and the termination
of all Commitments.
“Financial
Statements”
means
(i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
for the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2007, and the related consolidated
statement of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year
then ended, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the three (3) months ended December 31, 2007,
and the related consolidated statement of operations, statement of cash flows
for the three (3) months then ended.
“Fiscal
Year”
means
the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending on September 30
of
each year.
“Foreign
Subsidiaries”
means
the Subsidiaries of the Borrower incorporated under the laws of any foreign
jurisdiction. As of the date hereof, the Foreign Subsidiaries are XxXxxx
Turbines, Limited, XxXxxx Holding Limited, XxXxxx GmbH, XxXxxx Ltd., EU Energy
Windpower, EU Energy North America, Inc., EU Energy, Inc., and E Energy
Service.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the
United States, applied on a consistent basis.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any nation or government, any Federal, state, city, town, municipality, county,
local or other political subdivision thereof or thereto and any department,
commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, agency or other entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers
or
functions of or pertaining to government.
7
“Gross
Turbine Sales Proceeds”
means
the total contracted sales price for a D8.2 turbine (and any blade sets or
towers included therewith but excluding the Sweetwater Transaction, subject
to
the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the definition of Net Cash
Proceeds) but, so long as entered into in good faith at arm’s length and in the
ordinary course of business, excluding any funds designated for turbine service
contracts or for warranty periods greater than 2 years.
“Guaranteed
Obligations”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section 11.01.
“Guarantor”
means
(i) each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages
hereto, and each other Person that executes a Joinder Agreement and becomes
a
“Guarantor” hereunder, and (ii) each other Person that guarantees, pursuant to
Section 7.01(b) or otherwise, all or any part of the Obligations.
“Guaranty”
means
(i) the secured guaranty of each Guarantor party hereto contained in ARTICLE
XI
hereof, and (ii) any other guaranty, in form and substance satisfactory to
the
Agent, made by any Person in favor of the Agent and the Lenders, guaranteeing
all or any part of the Obligations.
“Hazardous
Material”
means
(a) any element, compound or chemical that is defined, listed or otherwise
classified as a contaminant, pollutant, toxic pollutant, toxic or hazardous
substance, extremely hazardous substance or chemical, hazardous waste, special
waste, or solid waste under Environmental Laws which is present in the
environment in such quantity or state that it contravenes or requires reporting
to any Governmental Authority or any response action pursuant to any
Environmental Law; (b) petroleum and its refined products;
(c) polychlorinated biphenyls; (d) any substance exhibiting a
hazardous waste characteristic, including, without limitation, corrosivity,
ignitability, toxicity or reactivity as well as any radioactive or explosive
materials; and (e) any raw materials, building components (including,
without limitation, asbestos-containing materials) and manufactured products
containing hazardous substances listed or classified as such under Environmental
Laws.
“Hedging
Agreement”
means
any interest rate, foreign currency, commodity or equity swap, collar, cap,
floor or forward rate agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designed
to
protect against fluctuations in interest rates or currency, commodity or equity
values (including, without limitation, any option with respect to any of the
foregoing and any combination of the foregoing agreements or arrangements),
and
any confirmation executed in connection with any such agreement or
arrangement.
“Highest
Lawful Rate”
means,
with respect to the Agent or any Lender, the maximum non-usurious interest
rate,
if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken,
reserved, charged or received on the Obligations under laws applicable to the
Agent or such Lender which are currently in effect or, to the extent allowed
by
law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which
allow
a higher maximum non-usurious interest rate than applicable laws now
allow.
8
“Indebtedness”
means,
with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness of such
Person for borrowed money; (ii) all obligations of such Person for the
deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables
or
other unsecured accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of such
Person’s business and not, with respect to trade payables owed to Cable Critical
Vendors identified on Schedule 1.01(B), outstanding for more than 10 days after
the date such payable was due and payable in accordance with the customary
trade
terms afforded such Person by such vendor); (iii) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments or
upon which interest payments are customarily made; (iv) all reimbursement,
payment or other obligations and liabilities of such Person created or arising
under any conditional sales or other title retention agreement with respect
to
property used and/or acquired by such Person, even though the rights and
remedies of the lessor, seller and/or lender thereunder may be limited to
repossession or sale of such property; (v) all Capitalized Lease Obligations
of
such Person; (vi) all obligations and liabilities, contingent or otherwise,
of such Person, in respect of letters of credit, acceptances and similar
facilities; (vii) all obligations and liabilities, calculated on a basis
satisfactory to the Agent and in accordance with accepted practice, of such
Person under Hedging Agreements; (viii) all monetary obligations under any
receivables factoring, receivable sales or similar transactions and all monetary
obligations under any synthetic lease, tax ownership/operating lease,
off-balance sheet financing or similar financing; (ix) all Contingent
Obligations; and (x) all obligations referred to in clauses
(i) through (ix) of this definition of another Person secured by (or for
which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or
otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien upon property owned by such Person, even
though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such
Indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness
of
any partnership of or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner
or
a joint venturer.
“Indemnified
Matters”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
12.15.
“Indemnitees”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
12.15.
“Initial
Tranche”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.02(b).
“Insolvency
Proceeding”
means
any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of the
Bankruptcy Code or under any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments
for
the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, or
extensions generally with creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization,
arrangement, or other similar relief.
“Inspections”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
4.01.
“Intercompany
Subordination Agreement”
means
an Intercompany Subordination Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory
to
the Agent, made by each Borrower in favor of the Agent, for the benefit of
the
Agent and the Lenders.
“Interest
Payment Date”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.04(c).
“Interest
Yield Protection Amount”
means,
as of any date of determination, the difference between (i) the aggregate cash
interest and PIK Amount which would have accrued and been due and payable on
the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loan prepaid on such date over
the
six (6) month term of the Loan and (ii) the aggregate cash interest and PIK
Amount actually paid prior to such date by Borrower on the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Loan prepaid on such date (excluding any amounts paid
by
Borrower at the Post-Default Rate).
9
“Internal
Revenue Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor statute thereto)
and the regulations thereunder.
“Inventory”
means,
with respect to any Person, all goods and merchandise of such Person, including,
without limitation, all raw materials, work-in-process, packaging, supplies,
materials and finished goods of every nature used or usable in connection with
the shipping, storing, advertising or sale of such goods and merchandise,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and all such other property the sale
or
other disposition of which would give rise to an Account Receivable or
cash.
“Joinder
Agreement”
means
a
Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed by
a Subsidiary of the Borrower made a party hereto pursuant to Section
7.01(b).
“Lease”
means
any lease of real property to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
is a
party as lessor or lessee.
“Lender”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.
“Lien”
means
any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), security
interest, charge or other encumbrance or security or preferential arrangement
of
any nature, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or title
retention arrangement, any Capitalized Lease and any assignment, deposit
arrangement or financing lease intended as, or having the effect of,
security.
“Loan”
means,
collectively, the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower on the Effective
Date pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Loan
Account”
means
an account maintained hereunder by the Agent on its books of account at the
Payment Office and, with respect to the Borrower, in which the Borrower will
be
charged with the Loan made to, and all other Obligations incurred by, the
Borrower.
“Loan
Document”
means
this Agreement, any Guaranty, any Security Agreement, any Pledge Agreement,
any
UCC Filing Authorization Letter, any Joinder Agreement, the Intercompany
Subordination Agreement, and any other agreement, instrument, certificate,
report and other document executed and delivered pursuant hereto or thereto
or
otherwise evidencing or securing the Loan or any other Obligation.
“Loan
Party”
means
the Borrower and any Guarantor.
“Lockbox
Bank”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section 8.01(a).
“Lockboxes”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section 8.01(a).
10
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect on any of (i) the operations, business, assets,
properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Loan Parties taken
as a
whole, (ii) the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform
any of their obligations under any Loan Document, (iii) the legality,
validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
(iv) the rights and remedies of the Agent or any Lender under any Loan
Document, or (v) the validity, perfection or priority of a Lien in favor of
the Agent for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders on any of the
Collateral.
“Material
Contract”
means,
with respect to any Person, (i) each contract or agreement in effect from time
to time to which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party involving
aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person or such Subsidiary of
$250,000 or more in any Fiscal Year (other than purchase orders in the ordinary
course of the business of such Person or such Subsidiary and other than
contracts that by their terms may be terminated by such Person or Subsidiary
in
the ordinary course of its business upon less than 60 days’ notice without
penalty or premium) and (ii) all other contracts or agreements in effect
from time to time that are material to the business, operations, condition
(financial or otherwise), performance, or properties of such Person and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means
a
“multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its ERISA Affiliates has
contributed to, or has been obligated to contribute, at any time during the
preceding six (6) years.
“Net
Cash Proceeds”
means,
(i) with respect to any Disposition by any Person or any of its
Subsidiaries, the aggregate amount of cash received (directly or indirectly)
from time to time (whether as initial consideration or through the payment
or
disposition of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of such Person or such
Subsidiary, in connection therewith after deducting therefrom only (A) the
amount of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by Section
7.02(a)
on any
asset (other than Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) which
is
required to be, and is, repaid in connection with such Disposition (other than
Indebtedness under this Agreement), (B) expenses related thereto incurred
by such Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith, (C) transfer
taxes paid or payable to any taxing authorities by such Person or such
Subsidiary in connection therewith, and (D) net income taxes to be paid in
connection with such Disposition (after taking into account any tax credits
or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (ii) with respect to the
issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness by any Person or any of its
Subsidiaries, or the sale or issuance by any Person or any of its Subsidiaries
of any shares of its Capital Stock, the aggregate amount of cash received
(directly or indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration
or
through the payment or disposition of deferred consideration) by or on behalf
of
such Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith, after deducting
therefrom only (A) reasonable expenses related thereto incurred by such
Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith, (B) transfer taxes paid
or
payable by such Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith and (C) net
income taxes to be paid in connection therewith (after taking into account
any
tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements); in each case of
clause (i) and (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that the amounts
so
deducted are (x) actually paid or payable to a Person that, except in the
case of out-of-pocket expenses, is not an Affiliate of such Person or any of
its
Subsidiaries and (y) properly attributable to such transaction or to the asset
that is the subject thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any cash received
by
a Loan Party in respect of the Sweetwater Transaction shall not constitute
Net
Cash Proceeds as long as (i) the aggregate cash proceeds thereof exceed
$1,000,000 and (ii) such proceeds are received within 90 days following the
Effective Date. If such conditions are not met, the Loan Parties shall effect
prepayment of the Loan with the Net Turbine Nacelle Sales Proceeds from the
Sweetwater Transaction in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(v).
11
“Net
Turbine Nacelle Sales Proceeds”
means
the Gross Turbine Sales Proceeds reduced by (i) any contractually required
cash
warranty reserves, (ii) any reasonable sales expenses or commissions for the
sale of the turbine, (iii) $450,000 if the Loan Party sells a D8.2 blade set
with the nacelle unit, and (iv) $300,000 plus shipping charges if the Loan
Party
sells a D8.2 turbine tower with the D8.2 turbine nacelle unit.
“New
Lending Office”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.08(d).
“Non-Consenting
Lender”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
12.07(j).
“Non-U.S.
Lender”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.08(d).
“Obligations”
means
all present and future indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities of each Loan
Party to the Agent and the Lenders arising under or in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not the right of payment in
respect of such claim is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed,
contingent, matured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, unsecured,
and whether or not such claim is discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by
any
proceeding referred to in Section
9.01.
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of each Loan Party
under the Loan Documents include (a) the obligation (irrespective of
whether a claim therefor is allowed in an Insolvency Proceeding) to pay
principal, interest, charges, expenses, fees, attorneys’ fees and disbursements,
indemnities and other amounts payable by such Person under the Loan Documents,
and (b) the obligation of such Person to reimburse any amount in respect of
any of the foregoing that the Agent or any Lender (in its sole discretion)
may
elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Person.
“Operating
Lease Obligations”
means
all obligations for the payment of rent for any real or personal property under
leases or agreements to lease, other than Capitalized Lease
Obligations.
“Other
Taxes”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.08(b).
“Participant
Register”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
12.07(g).
“Payment
Office”
means
the Agent’s office located at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, or at such other office
or offices of the Agent as may be designated in writing from time to time by
the
Agent to the Borrower.
12
“PBGC”
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
“Permitted
Indebtedness”
means:
(a) any
Indebtedness owing to the Agent or any Lender under this Agreement and the
other
Loan Documents;
(b) any
other
Indebtedness listed on Schedule 7.02(b),
and the
extension of maturity, refinancing or modification of the terms thereof;
provided,
however,
that
(i) such extension, refinancing or modification is pursuant to terms that are
not less favorable to the Loan Parties and the Lenders than the terms of the
Indebtedness being extended, refinanced or modified and (ii) after giving effect
to such extension, refinancing or modification, the amount of such Indebtedness
is not greater than the amount of Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior
to
such extension, refinancing or modification; and
(c) Indebtedness
evidenced by Capitalized Lease Obligations entered into by a Loan Party in
order
to finance Capital Expenditures made by the Loan Parties for additional
Equipment subsequent to the Effective Date (but not for replacement or
maintenance Capital Expenditures), which Indebtedness does not exceed $3,000,000
at any time outstanding.
“Permitted
Investments”
means
(i) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by
the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by
the
full faith and credit of the United States, in each case, maturing within one
year from the date of acquisition thereof; (ii) commercial paper, maturing
not more than 270 days after the date of issue rated P-1 by Moody’s or A-1
by Standard & Poor’s; (iii) certificates of deposit maturing not more
than 270 days after the date of issue, issued by commercial banking
institutions and money market or demand deposit accounts maintained at
commercial banking institutions, each of which is a member of the Federal
Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits
of
not less than $500,000,000; (iv) repurchase agreements having maturities of
not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition which are entered into
with major money center banks included in the commercial banking institutions
described in clause (iii) above and which are secured by readily marketable
direct obligations of the United States Government or any agency thereof,
(v) money market accounts maintained with mutual funds having assets in
excess of $2,500,000,000; and (vi) tax exempt securities rated A or higher
by Moody’s or A+ or higher by Standard & Poor’s.
“Permitted
Liens”
means:
(a) Liens
securing the Obligations;
(b) Liens
for
taxes, assessments and governmental charges the payment of which is not required
under Section 7.01(c);
13
(c) Liens
imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s and
other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing
obligations (not in excess of $250,000 at any time and other than Indebtedness
for borrowed money) that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and
diligently conducted, and a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any,
as
shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor;
(d) Liens
described on Schedule 7.02(a);
provided,
that
(i) no such Lien shall at any time be extended to cover any additional
property not subject thereto on the Effective Date and (ii) the principal
amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens shall not be extended, renewed,
refunded or refinanced other than in accordance with clause (b) of the
definition of Permitted Indebtedness;
(e) deposits
and pledges of cash securing (i) obligations incurred in respect of workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance
or
benefits, (ii) the performance of bids, tenders, leases, contracts (other
than for the payment of money) and statutory obligations or (iii) obligations
on
surety or appeal bonds, but only to the extent such deposits or pledges are
made
or otherwise arise in the ordinary course of business and secure obligations
not
past due;
(f) easements,
zoning restrictions and similar encumbrances on real property and minor
irregularities in the title thereto that do not (i) secure obligations for
the
payment of money or (ii) materially impair the value of such property or its
use
by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the normal conduct of such Person’s
business;
(g) Liens
on
real property or Equipment securing Indebtedness permitted by subsection (c)
of
the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;
(h) Liens
resulting from any judgment, order or award that does not give rise to an Event
of Default under Section
9.01(j);
(i) Liens
in
favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure
payments of custom duties in connection with the importation of goods;
and
(j) Liens
on
specified items of Inventory purchased after the Effective Date with the
proceeds of a customer deposit and under construction and being sold to such
customer; provided that the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Lien shall
not exceed the amount of customer deposit received from the purchaser benefited
by such Lien.
“Person”
means
an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture or other
enterprise or entity or Governmental Authority.
“PIK
Amount”
has
the
meaning specified therefore in Section 2.04(c).
“Plan”
means
any Employee Plan or Multiemployer Plan.
14
“Pledge
Agreement”
means
a
Pledge and Security Agreement made by a Loan Party in favor of the Agent for
the
benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit
B,
securing the Obligations and delivered to the Agent.
“Post-Default
Rate”
means
a
rate of interest per annum equal to the rate of interest otherwise in effect
from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement plus
5.0%.
“Pro
Rata Share”
means
the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Commitment, by
(ii) the Total Commitment, provided
that if
the Total Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Loan and the
denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loan.
“Register”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
12.07(d).
“Registered
Loan”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
12.07(d).
“Regulation
T”,
“Regulation
U”
and
“Regulation
X”
mean,
respectively, Regulations T, U and X of the Board or any successor, as the
same
may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Related
Fund”
means,
with respect to any Person, an Affiliate of such Person, or a fund or account
managed by such Person or an Affiliate of such Person.
“Release”
means
any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, seeping, migrating, dumping or disposing of
any
Hazardous Material (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels,
containers and other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material)
into
the indoor or outdoor environment, including, without limitation, the movement
of Hazardous Materials through or in the ambient air, soil, surface or ground
water, or property.
“Remedial
Action”
means
all actions taken to (i) clean up, remove, remediate, contain, treat, monitor,
assess, evaluate or in any other way address Hazardous Materials in the indoor
or outdoor environment; (ii) prevent or minimize a Release or threatened Release
of Hazardous Materials so they do not migrate or endanger or threaten to
endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; or
(iii)
perform pre-remedial studies and investigations and post-remedial operation
and
maintenance activities.
“Reportable
Event”
means
an event described in Section 4043 of ERISA (other than an event not subject
to
the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC under the regulations promulgated
under such Section).
“Required
Lenders”
means
Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares aggregate at least 50.1%.
“Responsible
Officer”
means
the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer,
controller, treasurer, vice president, division manager, or any other Person
performing comparable duties generally associated with any of the foregoing
titles, of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
15
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other similar or successor agency
of the Federal government administering the Securities Act.
“Second
Tranche”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.02(b).
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar Federal statute, and
the
rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect
from time to time.
“Security
Agreement”
means
a
Security Agreement made by a Loan Party in favor of the Agent for the benefit
of
the Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, securing
the Obligations and delivered to the Agent.
“Software”
means
any computer programs and computer systems (including
all databases, compilations, tool sets, compilers, higher level or proprietary
languages, related documentation and materials, whether in source code, object
code or human readable form)
sold,
marketed, distributed, licensed or maintained by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, and any computer programs necessary for the conduct of the
Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ business as currently conducted.
“Solvent”
means,
with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (i) the
fair value of the property of such Person is not less than the total amount
of
the liabilities of such Person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the
assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to
pay
the probable liability of such Person on its existing debts as they become
absolute and matured, (iii) such Person is able to realize upon its assets
and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other
commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (iv) such
Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or
liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities
mature, and (v) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction,
and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s
property would constitute unreasonably small capital.
“Standard
& Poor’s”
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx
Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Subordinated
Indebtedness”
means
Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries the terms of which are
satisfactory to the Agent and the Required Lenders and which has been expressly
subordinated in right of payment to all Indebtedness of such entity under the
Loan Documents (i) by the execution and delivery of a subordination
agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the Required
Lenders, or (ii) otherwise on terms and conditions (including, without
limitation, subordination provisions, payment terms, interest rates, covenants,
remedies, defaults and other material terms) satisfactory to the Agent and
the
Required Lenders.
16
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person at any date, any corporation, limited or general
partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, joint
venture or other business entity (i) the accounts of which would be
consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial
statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP
or
(ii) of which more than 50% of (A) the outstanding Capital Stock
having (in the absence of contingencies) ordinary voting power to elect a
majority of the Board of Directors of such Person, (B) in the case of a
partnership or limited liability company, the interest in the capital or profits
of such partnership or limited liability company or (C) in the case of a
trust, estate, association, joint venture or other entity, the beneficial
interest in such trust, estate, association or other entity business is, at
the
time of determination, owned or controlled directly or indirectly through one
or
more intermediaries, by such Person.
“Sweetwater
Transaction”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section 5.01(d).
“Taxes”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.08(a).
“Termination
Event”
means
(i) a Reportable Event with respect to any Employee Plan, (ii) any event that
causes Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates to incur liability under Section
409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA
or
Section 4971 or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Plan,
(iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate an Employee Plan or the
treatment of an Employee Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041
of ERISA, (iv) the institution of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate an
Employee Plan, or (v) any other event or condition which might constitute
grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment
of a trustee to administer, any Employee Plan.
“Total
Commitment”
means
the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Commitments.
“Transactions”
means
the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.
“Transferee”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
2.08(a).
“Transfer
Pricing Policy”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
6.01(jj).
“UCC
Filing Authorization Letter”
means
a
letter duly executed by Borrower authorizing the Agent to file appropriate
financing statements on Form UCC-1 without the signature of Borrower in such
office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Agent, desirable
to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the Security
Agreement, and the Pledge Agreement.
“Uniform
Commercial Code”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
1.03.
“WARN”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section
6.01(z).
“Warrants”
has
the
meaning specified therefor in Section 5.01(d)(xxiii).
17
Section
1.02 Terms
Generally.
The
definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural
forms
of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words
“include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same
meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise,
(a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other
document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument
or
other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
(subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications
set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed
to
include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof”
and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to
this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof,
(d)
all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be
construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules
to,
this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to
have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any right or interest in or
to
assets and properties of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed
and whether tangible or intangible. References in this Agreement to
“determination” by the Agent include good faith estimates by the Agent (in the
case of quantitative determinations) and good faith beliefs by the Agent (in
the
case of qualitative determinations).
Section
1.03 Accounting
and Other Terms.
Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, each accounting term used herein shall
have
the meaning given it under GAAP applied on a basis consistent with those used
in
preparing the Financial Statements. All terms used in this Agreement which
are
defined in Article 8 or Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect
from time to time in the State of New York (the “Uniform
Commercial Code”)
and
which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein
as
set forth therein, provided that terms used herein which are defined in the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof
shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or
amendment of such statute except as the Agent may otherwise
determine.
Section
1.04 Time
References.
Unless
otherwise indicated herein, all references to time of day refer to Eastern
Standard Time or Eastern daylight saving time, as in effect in New York City
on
such day. For purposes of the computation of a period of time from a specified
date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and
the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”; provided,
however,
that
with respect to a computation of fees or interest payable to the Agent or any
Lender, such period shall in any event consist of at least one full
day.
ARTICLE
II
THE
LOAN
Section
2.01 Commitments.
Subject
to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties
herein set forth,
each
Lender severally agrees to make the Loan to the Borrower on the Effective Date,
in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s
Commitment.
Any
principal amount of the Loan which is repaid or prepaid may not be
reborrowed.
18
Section
2.02 Making
the Loan.
i)
The
Loan
under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and
proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares of the Total Commitment, it being
understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other
Lender in that other Lender’s obligations to make the Loan requested hereunder,
nor shall the Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result
of
the default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligation to make the
Loan requested hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make the Loan
required to be made by it by the terms of this Agreement regardless of the
failure by any other Lender.
(b) In
the
event Borrower shall not have satisfied all conditions precedent to
effectiveness as set forth in Section
5.01,
Agent
shall effect the disbursement of the proceeds of the Loan in two tranches.
The
first tranche shall be in the amount of $2,500,001 (the “Initial
Tranche”)
and
the second tranche shall be in the amount of $2,499,999 (the “Second
Tranche”).
Provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, Borrower
may
request disbursement of and Agent will disburse the Second Tranche upon
satisfaction of the conditions subsequent set forth in Section
5.02
(except
for such conditions specifically identified to the contrary in Section 5.02
or
the letter identified in Section 5.02(d)). Funding of the Initial Tranche and
the Second Tranche by the Lenders shall be based on the Lenders’ Pro Rata Shares
thereof.
(c) At
Agent’s request, in the event Borrower intends to distribute any proceeds of the
Loan to any Subsidiary, Borrower shall so advise Agent and instruct Agent to
remit such funds directly to such Subsidiary.
Section
2.03 Repayment
of Loan; Evidence of Debt.
(a) The
outstanding principal of the Loan shall be due and payable on the Final Maturity
Date.
(b) Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting
from the Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and
interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.
(c) The
Agent
shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of the Loan
made
hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or
to
become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii)
the
amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders
and each Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The
entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of
this
Section shall be prima facie
evidence
of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided
that the
failure of any Lender or the Agent to maintain such accounts or any error
therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay
the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
19
(e) The
Loan
made by each Lender shall be evidenced by a promissory note in substantially
the
form of Exhibit
H.
The
Borrower shall execute and deliver to each Lender a promissory note payable
to
the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and
its registered assigns).
Section
2.04 Interest.
(a) Loan.
The
Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time
outstanding, from the date of the Loan until such principal amount becomes
due,
at a rate per annum equal to
17%.
(b) Default
Interest.
To the
extent permitted by law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of
an
Event of Default, the principal of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on,
the
Loan, fees, indemnities or any other Obligations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall bear
interest, from the date such Event of Default occurred until the date such
Event
of Default is cured or waived in writing in accordance herewith, at a rate
per
annum equal at all times to the Post-Default Rate, all of which shall be payable
in cash. The application of the Post-Default Rate shall relate back to the
date
the underlying Default first occurred.
(c) Interest
Payment.
Interest on the Loan at a per annum rate equal to 17% shall be payable in cash
(except as set forth below), monthly, in arrears, on the first day of each
month
(each an “Interest
Payment Date”),
commencing on the first day of the month following the month in which the Loan
is made and at maturity (whether upon demand, by acceleration or otherwise).
Interest at the Post-Default Rate shall be payable on demand. At the Borrower’s
option, Borrower may cause a portion of the cash interest otherwise payable
in
respect of the Loan to be capitalized and added to the principal amount of
the
Loan. Such option may be exercised by Borrower only at such times as no Event
of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the proper exercise of
such
option, interest on the Loan at a per annum rate equal to 12% shall be payable
in cash and interest on the Loan at a per annum rate equal to 5% shall be
capitalized and added as of each Interest Payment Date to the principal amount
of the Loan (the “PIK
Amount”).
Such
PIK Amount shall bear interest from the applicable Interest Payment Date at
the
same rate per annum and be payable in the same manner as in the case of the
original principal amount of the Loan and shall otherwise be treated as
principal for all purposes. From and after each Interest Payment Date, the
principal amount of the Loan shall, without further action on the part of
Borrower, Agent, or any Lender, be deemed to be increased by the PIK Amount
so
capitalized and added to principal in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
(d) General.
All
interest on the Loan shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days for
the actual number of days, including the first day but excluding the last day,
elapsed.
20
Section
2.05 Reduction
of Commitment; Prepayment of Loan.
(a) The
Total
Commitment shall terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the
Effective Date (subject to Section
2.02(b)).
(b) Optional
Prepayment.
The
Borrower may, upon at least 3 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Agent,
prepay, the principal of the Loan, in whole or in part. Each prepayment made
pursuant to this Section
2.05(b)
shall be
accompanied by the payment of accrued interest to the date of such payment
on
the amount prepaid together with Interest Yield Protection Amount (to be
allocated among the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share of the
outstanding principal amount of the Loan that is prepaid).
(c) Mandatory
Prepayment.
(i) Immediately
upon any Disposition by Borrower or its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section
7.02(c),
the
Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Loan in an amount
equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection
with such Disposition. Nothing contained in this subsection (i) shall permit
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to make a Disposition of any property other
than in accordance with Section
7.02(c).
(ii) Upon
the
sale or issuance by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any shares of its
Capital Stock other than the Excluded Issuances, the Borrower shall prepay
the
outstanding amount of the Loan in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash
Proceeds received by such Person in connection therewith. The provisions of
this
subsection (ii) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any such issuance,
incurrence or sale otherwise prohibited by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
(iii) Upon
the
receipt by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Extraordinary Receipts,
the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal of the Loan in an amount
equal to 100% of such Extraordinary Receipts, net of any reasonable expenses
incurred in collecting such Extraordinary Receipts.
(iv) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in connection with a receipt by Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of insurance proceeds constituting Extraordinary Receipts pursuant
to Section 2.05(c)(iii), up to $2,500,000, in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year,
in each case, such proceeds shall not be required to be applied to the
prepayment of the Loan on such date to the extent such proceeds are used to
replace, repair or restore the properties or assets subject to the casualty
event; provided
that (x)
no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date such
Person receives such proceeds or on the date such proceeds are to be released
to
the Loan Parties pursuant to this paragraph, (y) the Borrower delivers a
certificate to the Agent within 30 days after the date of such loss, destruction
or taking, stating that such proceeds shall be used to replace, repair or
restore any such properties or assets subject to the casualty event, within
a
period specified in such certificate not to exceed 120 days after the receipt
of
such proceeds (which certificate shall set forth estimates of the proceeds
to be
so expended), and (z) the Agent is notified in writing that such proceeds
will be delivered to the Agent and such proceeds are deposited in an account
subject to the sole dominion of the Agent until such time as such proceeds
are
used to replace, repair or restore the properties or assets subject to the
casualty event. If all or any portion of such proceeds not so applied to the
prepayment of the Loan are not used in accordance with the preceding sentence
within the period specified in the relevant certificate furnished pursuant
hereto, such remaining portion shall be applied to the Loan in accordance with
Section
2.05(c)(iii),
on the
last day of such specified period.
21
(v) Immediately
upon the sale by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any XxXxxx D8.2 wind
turbine nacelles, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount
of
the Loan as follows: (A) if the Net Turbine Nacelle Sales Proceeds are less
than
or equal to $1,000,000 per unit, such prepayment shall be in an amount equal
to
100% of the Net Turbine Nacelle Sales Proceeds received by such Person in
connection with such Disposition; or (B) if the Net Turbine Nacelle Sales
Proceeds are greater than $1,000,000 per unit, such prepayment shall be in
an
amount equal to 25% of the Net Turbine Nacelle Sales Proceeds received by such
Person in connection with such Disposition in excess of $1,000,000 per unit.
The
Borrower’s prepayment obligation under this Section 2.05(c)(v) shall be due and
payable on a pro rata basis relative to the amount of the proceeds actually
received by a Loan Party relative to the projected receipts from such sale
transaction. The Loan Parties shall not ship any XxXxxx D8.2 wind turbine
nacelles or related D8.2 turbine towers or blade sets without having received
at
least 90% of the aggregate purchase price therefor already paid in cash.
(d) Interest
and Fees.
Any
prepayment made pursuant to this Section
2.05
shall be
applied first to accrued interest on the principal amount being prepaid to
the
date of prepayment, and thereafter to the principal being prepaid and the
Interest Yield Protection Amount.
Section
2.06 Closing
Fee. On
or
prior to the Effective Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account
of the Lenders, in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares, a non-refundable
closing fee (the “Closing
Fee”)
equal
to $150,000, which fee shall be deemed fully earned when paid.
The
Agent acknowledges receipt of a non-refundable work fee in the amount of
$100,000, which will be credited towards fees, expenses and interest due in
respect of the Loan.
Section
2.07 Intentionally
Omitted.
Section
2.08 Taxes.
ii)
Any and
all payments by any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall
be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or
future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all
liabilities with respect thereto, excluding
taxes
imposed on the net income of the Agent or any Lender (or any transferee or
assignee thereof, including a participation holder (any such entity, a
“Transferee”)
by the
jurisdiction in which such Person is organized or has its principal lending
office (all such nonexcluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges
withholdings and liabilities, collectively or individually, “Taxes”).
If
any Loan Party shall be required to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of
any
sum payable hereunder to the Agent or any Lender (or any Transferee), (i) the
sum payable shall be increased by the amount (an “additional amount”) necessary
so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable
to
additional sums payable under this Section
2.08)
the
Agent or such Lender (or such Transferee) shall receive an amount equal to
the
sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Loan
Party shall make such deductions and (iii) such Loan Party shall pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.
22
(b) In
addition, each Loan Party agrees to pay to the relevant Governmental Authority
in accordance with applicable law any present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that
arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or
registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement (“Other
Taxes”).
Each
Loan Party shall deliver to the Agent and each Lender official receipts in
respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes payable hereunder promptly after payment
of
such Taxes or Other Taxes.
(c) The
Loan
Parties hereby jointly and severally indemnify and agree to hold each Agent
and
each Lender harmless from and against Taxes and Other Taxes (including, without
limitation, Taxes and Other Taxes imposed on any amounts payable under this
Section
2.08)
paid by
such Person, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally
asserted. Such indemnification shall be paid within 10 days from the date on
which any such Person makes written demand therefore specifying in reasonable
detail the nature and amount of such Taxes or Other Taxes.
(d) Each
Lender (or Transferee) that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other
than the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (a
“Non-U.S.
Lender”)
shall
deliver to the Agent and the Borrower two properly completed and duly executed
copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI,
or,
in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. Federal
withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to
payments of “portfolio interest”, a Form W-8BEN, or any subsequent versions
thereof or successors thereto (and, if such Non-U.S. Lender delivers a Form
W-8,
a certificate representing that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a bank for purposes
of Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, is not a 10-percent shareholder
(within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) of
the
Parent and is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Parent (within
the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code)), in each case
claiming complete exemption from U.S. Federal withholding tax on payments by
the
Loan Parties under this Agreement. Such forms shall be delivered by each
Non-U.S. Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement
(or,
in the case of a Transferee that is a participation holder, on or before the
date such participation holder becomes a Transferee hereunder) and on or before
the date, if any, such Non-U.S. Lender changes its applicable lending office
by
designating a different lending office (a “New
Lending Office”).
In
addition, each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver such forms or any other forms
required under applicable law within 20 days after receipt of a written request
therefor from the Borrower or the Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision
of
this Section
2.08,
a
Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver after the date hereof any
form
pursuant to this Section
2.08
that
such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.
23
(e) The
Loan
Parties shall not be required to indemnify any Non-U.S. Lender, or pay any
additional amounts to any Non-U.S. Lender, in respect of United States Federal
withholding tax pursuant to this Agreement to the extent that (i) the obligation
to withhold amounts with respect to United States Federal withholding tax
existed on the date such Non-U.S. Lender became a party to this Agreement (or,
in the case of a Transferee that is a participation holder, on the date such
participation holder became a Transferee hereunder) or, with respect to payments
to a New Lending Office, the date such Non-U.S. Lender designated such New
Lending Office with respect to the Loan; provided,
however,
that
this clause (i) shall not apply to the extent the indemnity payment or
additional amounts any Transferee, or Lender (or Transferee) through a New
Lending Office, would be entitled to receive (without regard to this clause
(i))
do not exceed the indemnity payment or additional amounts that the person making
the assignment, participation or transfer to such Transferee, or Lender (or
Transferee) making the designation of such New Lending Office, would have been
entitled to receive in the absence of such assignment, participation, transfer
or designation, or (ii) the obligation to pay such additional amounts would
not
have arisen but for a failure by such Non-U.S. Lender to comply with the
provisions of clause (d) above.
(f) The
Agent
or any Lender (or Transferee) claiming any indemnity payment or additional
payment amounts payable pursuant to this Section
2.08
shall
use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions)
to
file any certificate or document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower
or to change the jurisdiction of its applicable lending office if the making
of
such a filing or change would avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any
such indemnity payment or additional amount which may thereafter accrue, would
not require the Agent or such Lender (or Transferee) to disclose any information
the Agent or such Lender (or Transferee) deems confidential and would not,
in
the sole determination of the Agent or such Lender (or Transferee), be otherwise
disadvantageous to the Agent or such Lender (or Transferee).
(g) The
obligations of the Loan Parties under this Section
2.08
shall
survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loan and all
other amounts payable hereunder.
ARTICLE
III
TERM;
TERMINATION
Section
3.01 Term.
This
Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date and shall continue in
full force and effect for a term ending on the Final Maturity Date. The
foregoing notwithstanding, the Agent and the Lenders shall have the right to
terminate their obligations under this Agreement in accordance with ARTICLE
IX.
Section
3.02 Effect
of Termination.
On the
date of termination of this Agreement, all Obligations immediately shall become
due and payable without notice or demand. No termination of this Agreement,
however, shall relieve or discharge any of the Loan Parties of their duties,
Obligations, or covenants hereunder and the Agent’s Liens in the Collateral
shall remain in effect until all Obligations have been fully and finally
discharged (which for clarification purposes in this instance only, shall not
include indemnification obligations as to which Agent or a Lender has not made
a
claim against a Loan Party) and the obligations of the Agent and the Lenders
to
provide additional credit hereunder have been terminated. When this Agreement
has been terminated and all of the Obligations have been fully and finally
discharged and the obligations of the Agent and the Lenders to provide
additional credit under the Loan Documents have been terminated irrevocably,
the
Agent will, at the Borrower’s sole expense, execute and deliver any UCC
termination statements, lien releases, mortgage releases, re-assignments of
intellectual property, discharges of security interests, and other similar
discharge or release documents (and, if applicable, in recordable form) as
are
necessary or reasonably advisable to release, as of record, the Agent’s Liens
and all notices of security interests and liens previously filed by the Agent
with respect to the Obligations.
24
Section
3.03 Early
Termination by Borrower.
The
Borrower has the option, at any time upon 3 Business Days’ prior written notice
by the Borrower to the Agent, to terminate this Agreement by paying to the
Agent
in cash, the Obligations, in full, together with the Interest Yield Protection
Amount (to be allocated among the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata
Shares). If the Borrower has sent a notice of termination pursuant to the
provisions of this Section, then the obligations of the Agent and the Lenders
to
provide credit hereunder shall terminate and the Borrower shall be obligated
to
repay the Obligations, in full, together with the Interest Yield Protection
Amount (to be allocated among the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata
Shares) on the date set forth as the date of termination of this Agreement
in
such notice.
ARTICLE
IV
FEES,
PAYMENTS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
Section
4.01 Audit
and Collateral Monitoring Fees.
The
Borrower acknowledges that pursuant to Section
7.01(f),
representatives of the Agent may visit any or all of the Loan Parties and/or
conduct audits, inspections, appraisals, valuations and/or field examinations
of
any or all of the Loan Parties or any of the Collateral (all such audits,
inspections, appraisals, valuations and/or field examinations are hereinafter
referred to collectively as “Inspections”).
The
Borrower agrees to pay out of pocket costs and reasonable expenses incurred
in
connection with all such Inspections and the actual cost of all Inspections
conducted by a third party on behalf of the Agent.
Section
4.02 Payments
and Computations.
The
Borrower will make each payment under this Agreement not later than 3:15 p.m.
(New York City time) on the day when due, in lawful money of the United States
of America and in immediately available funds, to the Agent’s Account. All
payments received by the Agent after 3:15 p.m. (New York City time) on any
Business Day will be credited to the Loan Account on the next succeeding
Business Day. All payments shall be made by the Borrower without set-off,
counterclaim, deduction or other defense to the Agent and the Lenders. Except
as
provided in Section
2.02
and
Section
4.04,
after
receipt, the Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds
relating to the payment of principal ratably to the Lenders in accordance with
their Pro Rata Shares and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount
payable to the Agent or any Lender to the Agent or such Lender, in each case
to
be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, provided that the
Agent will cause to be distributed all interest and fees received from or for
the account of the Borrower not less than once each month and in any event
promptly after receipt thereof. Whenever any payment to be made under any such
Loan Document shall be stated to be 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 in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees,
as
the case may be. All computations of fees shall be made by the Agent on the
basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the
first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such
fees are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate or fees
hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes in the absence of
manifest error.
25
Section
4.03 Sharing
of Payments, Etc.
Except
as provided in Section
2.02
hereof,
if any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through
the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of any Obligation
in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of similar obligations
obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the
other
Lenders such participations in such similar obligations held by them as shall
be
necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably
with each of them; provided,
however,
that if
all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such
purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such
Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent
of
such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share
(according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required
repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender
of
any interest or other amount paid by the purchasing Lender in respect of the
total amount so recovered). The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing
a
participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section
4.03
may, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights (including
the
Lender’s right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if
such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation.
Section
4.04 Apportionment
of Payments. Subject
to Section
2.02
hereof
and to any written agreements among the Agent and/or the Lenders:
(a) all
payments of principal and interest in respect of the outstanding Loan, all
payments of fees (other than the fees set forth in Section
2.06
hereof
to the extent set forth in any written agreements among the Agent and the
Lenders and the audit and collateral monitoring fee provided for in Section
4.01)
and all
other payments in respect of any other Obligations, shall be allocated by the
Agent among such of the Lenders as are entitled thereto, in proportion to their
respective Pro Rata Shares or otherwise as provided herein or, in respect of
payments not made on account of the Loan, as designated by the Person making
payment when the payment is made.
(b) After
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent may,
and
upon the direction of the Required Lenders shall, apply all payments in respect
of any Obligations and all proceeds of the Collateral, subject to the provisions
of this Agreement, (i) first,
ratably
to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements,
indemnities and other amounts then due and payable to the Agent until paid
in
full; (ii) second,
ratably
to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees and indemnities then due and
payable to the Lenders until paid in full; (iii) third,
ratably
to pay interest then due and payable in respect of the Loan until paid in full;
(iv) fourth,
ratably
to pay principal of the Loan until paid in full; and (v) fifth,
to the
ratable payment of all other Obligations then due and payable.
26
(c) In
each
instance, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
Section
4.04(b)
shall
not be deemed to apply to any payment by the Borrower specified by the Borrower
to the Agent to be for the payment of any Obligations then due and payable
under
any provision of this Agreement.
(d) For
purposes of Section
4.04(b),
“paid
in full” means payment of all amounts owing under the Loan Documents according
to the terms thereof, including loan fees, service fees, professional fees,
interest (and specifically including interest accrued after the commencement
of
any Insolvency Proceeding), default interest, interest on interest, and expense
reimbursements, in each case, whether or not the same would be or is allowed
or
disallowed in whole or in part in any Insolvency Proceeding.
(e) In
the
event of a direct conflict between the priority provisions of this Section
4.04
and
other provisions contained in any other Loan Document, it is the intention
of
the parties hereto that both such priority provisions in such documents shall
be
read together and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert
with each other. In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that cannot
be resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of this Section
4.04
shall
control and govern.
Section
4.05 Increased
Costs and Reduced Return. iii) If
any Lender or the Agent shall have determined that the adoption or
implementation of, or any change in, any law, rule, treaty or regulation, or
any
policy, guideline or directive of, or any change in, the interpretation or
administration thereof by, any court, central bank or other administrative
or
Governmental Authority, or compliance by any Lender or the Agent or any Person
controlling any such Lender or the Agent with any directive of, or guideline
from, any central bank or other Governmental Authority or the introduction
of,
or change in, any accounting principles applicable to any Lender or the Agent
or
any Person controlling any such Lender or the Agent (in each case, whether
or
not having the force of law) (each, a “Change
in Law”),
shall
(i) subject such Lender or the Agent, or any Person controlling such Lender
or the Agent to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to this Agreement
or
the Loan made by such Lender or the Agent, or change the basis of taxation
of
payments to such Lender or the Agent or any Person controlling such Lender
or
the Agent of any amounts payable hereunder (except for taxes on the overall
net
income of such Lender or the Agent or any Person controlling such Lender or
the
Agent), (ii) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit
or similar requirement against the Loan or against assets of or held by, or
deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, such Lender or
the
Agent or any Person controlling such Lender or the Agent or (iii) impose on
such Lender or the Agent or any Person controlling such Lender or the Agent
any
other condition regarding this Agreement or the Loan, and the result of any
event referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall be to increase
the
cost to such Lender or the Agent of making or agreeing to make the Loan, or
to
reduce any amount received or receivable by such Lender or the Agent hereunder,
then, within 10 days of demand by any such Lender or the Agent, the Borrower
shall pay to such Lender or the Agent such additional amounts as will compensate
such Lender or the Agent for such increased costs or reductions in
amount.
27
(b) If
any
Lender or the Agent shall have determined that any Change in Law, either
(i) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to
be maintained by such Lender or the Agent or any Person controlling such Lender
or the Agent, and such Lender or the Agent determines that the amount of such
capital is increased as a direct or indirect consequence of the Loan made or
maintained, such Lender’s or the Agent’s or such other controlling Person’s
other obligations hereunder, or (ii) has or would have the effect of
reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Agent’s or such other
controlling Person’s capital to a level below that which such Lender or the
Agent or such controlling Person could have achieved but for such circumstances
as a consequence of the Loan made or maintained, or any agreement to make the
Loan, or such Lender’s or the Agent’s or such other controlling Person’s other
obligations hereunder (in each case, taking into consideration, such Lender’s or
the Agent’s or such other controlling Person’s policies with respect to capital
adequacy), then, within 10 days of demand by such Lender or the Agent, the
Borrower shall pay to such Lender or the Agent from time to time such additional
amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Agent for such cost of maintaining
such increased capital or such reduction in the rate of return on such Lender’s
or the Agent’s or such other controlling Person’s capital.
(c) All
amounts payable under this Section
4.05
shall
bear interest from the date that is 10 days after the date of demand by any
Lender or the Agent until payment in full to such Lender or the Agent at the
per
annum rate of seventeen percent (17%). A certificate of such Lender or the
Agent
claiming compensation under this Section
4.05,
specifying the event herein above described and the nature of such event shall
be submitted by such Lender or the Agent to the Borrower, setting forth the
additional amount due and an explanation of the calculation thereof, and such
Lender’s or the Agent’s reasons for invoking the provisions of this Section
4.05,
and
shall be final and conclusive absent manifest error.
ARTICLE
V
CONDITIONS
TO LOAN
Section
5.01 Conditions
Precedent to Effectiveness.
This
Agreement shall become effective as of the Business Day (the “Effective
Date”)
when
each of the following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied in a manner
satisfactory to the Agent:
(a) Payment
of Fees, Etc.
The
Borrower shall have paid on or before the date of this Agreement all fees,
costs, expenses and taxes then payable pursuant to Section
2.06
and
Section
12.04.
(b) Representations
and Warranties; No Event of Default.
The
following statements shall be true and correct: (i) the representations and
warranties contained in ARTICLE
VI
and in
each other Loan Document, certificate or other writing delivered to the Agent
or
any Lender pursuant hereto or thereto on or prior to the Effective Date are
true
and correct on and as of the Effective Date in all material respects as though
made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation
or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such
representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects
on
and as of such earlier date) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing on the Effective Date or would result from
this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents becoming effective in accordance with
its
or their respective terms.
28
(c) Legality.
The
making of the Loan shall not contravene any law, rule or regulation applicable
to the Agent or any Lender.
(d) Delivery
of Documents.
The
Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each
in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and, unless indicated otherwise,
dated the Effective Date:
(i) a
Security Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party;
(ii) a
Pledge
Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with the original stock
certificates representing all of the common stock of such Loan Party’s
subsidiaries and all intercompany promissory notes of such Loan Parties,
accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and other proper
instruments of transfer;
(iii) the
Intercompany Subordination Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party and
the
Agent;
(iv) a
UCC
Filing Authorization Letter, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with
(A)
appropriate financing statements on Form UCC-1 duly filed in such office or
offices as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent,
desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the
Security Agreement and the Pledge Agreement and (B) evidence satisfactory to
the
Agent of the filing of such UCC-1 financing statements;
(v) certified
copies of request for copies of information on Form UCC-11, listing all
effective financing statements which name as debtor any Loan Party and which
are
filed in the offices referred to in paragraph (iv) above, together with
copies of such financing statements, none of which, except as otherwise agreed
in writing by the Agent, shall cover any of the Collateral and the results
of
searches for any tax Lien and judgment Lien filed against such Person or its
property, which results, except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Agent,
shall not show any such Liens;
(vi) a
copy of
the resolutions of each Loan Party, certified as of the Effective Date by an
Authorized Officer thereof, authorizing (A) the borrowings hereunder and
the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party
is
or will be a party, and (B) the execution, delivery and performance by such
Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is or will be a party
and the execution and delivery of the other documents to be delivered by such
Person in connection herewith and therewith;
(vii) a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, certifying the names
and true signatures of the representatives of such Loan Party authorized to
sign
each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the other
documents to be executed and delivered by such Loan Party in connection herewith
and therewith, together with evidence of the incumbency of such authorized
officers;
29
(viii) a
certificate of the appropriate official(s) of the jurisdiction of organization
and each jurisdiction of foreign qualification of each Loan Party certifying
as
of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Effective Date as to the
subsistence in good standing of, and the payment of taxes by, such Loan Party
in
such states;
(ix) a
true
and complete copy of the charter, certificate of formation, certificate of
limited partnership or other publicly filed organizational document of each
Loan
Party certified as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Effective
Date by an appropriate official of the jurisdiction of organization of such
Loan
Party which shall set forth the same complete name of such Loan Party as is
set
forth herein and the organizational number of such Loan Party, if an organized
number is issued in such jurisdiction;
(x) a
copy of
the charter and by-laws, limited liability company agreement, operating
agreement, agreement of limited partnership or other organizational document
of
each Loan Party, together with all amendments thereto, certified as of the
Effective Date by an Authorized Officer of such Loan Party;
(xi) an
opinion of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, substantially
in
the form of Exhibit E;
(xii) a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, certifying as to the
matters set forth in subsection (b)
of this
Section
5.01;
(xiii) a
copy of
(A) the Financial Statements and (B) the financial projections described in
Section
6.01(g)(ii)
hereof,
certified as of the Effective Date by an Authorized Officer of Borrower as
complying with the representations and warranties set forth in Section
6.01(g)(ii);
(xiv) a
certificate of the chief financial officer of each Loan Party, certifying as
to
the solvency of such Loan Party after giving effect to the Loan, which
certificate shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Agent;
(xv) evidence
of the insurance coverage required by Section
7.01
and the
terms of the Security Agreement in each case, where requested by the Agent,
with
such endorsements as to the named insureds or loss payees thereunder as the
Agent may request and providing that such policy may be terminated or canceled
(by the insurer or the insured thereunder) only upon 30 days’ prior written
notice to the Agent and each such named insured or loss payee, together with
evidence of the payment of all premiums due in respect thereof for such period
as the Agent may request;
(xvi) a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, certifying the names
and
true signatures of the persons that are authorized to provide all notices under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(xvii) a
landlord waiver, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and which
may
be included as a provision contained in the relevant Lease, executed by each
landlord with respect to each of the Leases set forth on Schedule
6.01(o);
(xviii) copies
of
the Material Contracts as in effect on the Effective Date, certified as true
and
correct copies thereof by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, together with
a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower stating that, as of the
Effective Date, such agreements remain in full force and effect and that none
of
the Loan Parties has breached or defaulted in any of its obligations under
such
agreements;
30
(xix) such
depository account, blocked account, lockbox account and similar agreements
and
other documents, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, as the
Agent may request with respect to the Loan Parties’ management system;
(xx) the
Contribution Agreement duly executed by each Loan Party;
(xxi) information
regarding proceeds from the sale and installation of the Sweetwater prototype
at
Texas State Technical College (the “Sweetwater
Transaction”),
including, without limitation, the nature and amount of all Indebtedness or
other obligations secured by Liens on such assets and all benchmark dates for
installation, testing, approval and payment with respect thereto;
(xxii) a
bailee
letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, executed by TECO
Westinghouse Motor Company;
(xxiii) warrants
for 2,250,000 shares of the Borrower’s common stock (the “Warrants”),
which
Warrants shall have a term of three (3) years and be exercisable at a 5% premium
to the 20-day trailing volume weighted price as of the Effective Date (in the
event Lenders fund the Loan in two tranches, warrants for 1,125,000 shares
shall
be issued upon funding of the Initial Tranche); and
(xxiv) such
other agreements, instruments, approvals, opinions and other documents, each
satisfactory to the Agent in form and substance, as the Agent may
request.
(e) Material
Adverse Effect.
The
Agent shall have determined, in its sole judgment, that no event or development
shall have occurred since December 31, 2007, which could have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) Approvals.
All
consents, authorizations and approvals of, and filings and registrations with,
and all other actions in respect of, any Governmental Authority or other Person
required in connection with the making of the Loan or the conduct of the Loan
Parties’ business shall have been obtained and shall be in full force and
effect.
(g) Proceedings;
Receipt of Documents.
All
proceedings in connection with the Transactions and the making of the Loan
and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and all documents incidental hereto and thereto, shall be
satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, and the Agent and such counsel shall
have received all such information and such counterpart originals or certified
or other copies of such documents as the Agent or such counsel may reasonably
request.
(h) Management
Reference Checks.
The
Agent shall have received reference checks reasonably satisfactory to Agent
(and
all necessary consents with respect thereto) for, and shall have had an
opportunity to meet with, key management of each Loan Party.
31
(i) Due
Diligence.
The
Agent shall have completed its business, legal and collateral due diligence
with
respect to Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and the Collateral and the
results thereof shall be acceptable to the Agent, in its sole and absolute
discretion. Without limiting the foregoing, the Agent shall have received a
quality of earnings analysis of the Loan Parties and such quality of earnings
analysis and the results thereof shall be acceptable to the Agent, in its sole
and absolute discretion.
(j) Financial
Condition.
After
giving effect to the Loan to be made on the Effective Date, all material
liabilities of CTC Cable Corporation shall be current. The Borrower shall
deliver to the Agent a certificate of the chief financial officer of the
Borrower certifying as to the matters set forth above.
Section
5.02 Conditions
Subsequent to Effectiveness.
The
Loan Parties shall exercise good faith efforts to satisfy each condition
subsequent set forth below within the applicable time frame therefor. The
obligation of the Agent or any Lender to maintain the Loan after the Effective
Date is subject to the fulfillment, on or before the date applicable thereto,
of
each condition subsequent set forth below (it being understood that (i) the
failure by the Borrower to perform or cause to be performed any such condition
subsequent on or before the date applicable thereto shall constitute an Event
of
Default and (ii) to the extent that the existence of any such condition
subsequent would otherwise cause any representation, warranty or covenant in
this Agreement or any other Loan Document to be breached, the Required Lenders
hereby waive such breach for the period from the Effective Date until the date
on which such condition subsequent is required to be fulfilled pursuant to
this
Section
5.02):
(a) The
Borrower will use its reasonable best efforts to add, within 45 days of the
Effective Date, and thereafter to retain, a third independent member to its
board of directors, the selection of whom shall be satisfactory to the Agent
and
which director shall qualify as an “independent director” as defined by NASDAQ
Marketplace Rule 4350. This condition subsequent shall not be a condition to
the
disbursement of the Second Tranche;
(b) Concurrent
with the earlier to occur of (i) the disbursement of the Second Tranche, if
applicable, and (ii) the last day for satisfaction of the conditions to
disbursement of the Second Tranche set forth in the side letter referenced
in
(d) below, Borrower shall issue the warrants for 1,125,000 shares of common
stock of the Borrower on the terms described in Section 5.01(d)(xxiii);
(c) Within
10
days following the Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall establish the
Lockboxes and Collection Accounts required under Section 8.01(a);
and
(d) Such
other conditions subsequent as may be set forth in a side letter among the
Agent, the Lenders and the Loan Parties, of even date herewith.
32
ARTICLE
VI
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
Section
6.01 Loan
Party Representations and Warranties.
Each
Loan Party hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and each Lender as
follows:
(a) Organization,
Good Standing, Etc. Each
Loan
Party (i) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
state or jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and
authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently contemplated
and, in the case of the Borrower, to make the borrowings hereunder, and to
execute and deliver each Loan Document to which it is a party, and to consummate
the transactions contemplated thereby, and (iii) is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character
of
the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business
makes such qualification necessary except where the failure to be so qualified
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Authorization,
Etc.
The
execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document
to
which it is or will be a party, (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary
action, (ii) do not and will not contravene its charter or by-laws, its limited
liability company or operating agreement or its certificate of partnership
or
partnership agreement, as applicable, any applicable law, or any Material
Contract, (iii) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any
Lien (other than pursuant to any Loan Document) upon or with respect to any
of
its properties, and (iv) do not and will not result in any default,
noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal
of
any material permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to its
operations or any of its properties.
(c) Governmental
Approvals.
No
authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with,
any Governmental Authority is required (other than those already obtained)
in
connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party
of
any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party.
(d) Enforceability
of Loan Documents.
This
Agreement is, and each other Loan Document and other Transaction Document to
which any Loan Party is or will be a party, when delivered hereunder, will
be, a
legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable against such
Person in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable
principles.
(e) Capitalization;
Subsidiaries.
(i) On
the
Effective Date, the authorized Capital Stock of the Borrower and the issued
and
outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower are as set forth on Schedule
6.01(e).
33
(ii) Schedule
6.01(e) is
a
complete and correct description of the name, jurisdiction of incorporation
and
ownership of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Subsidiaries of the
Borrower
in
existence as of the Effective Date. All
of
the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of such
Subsidiaries
have
been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders
thereof are not entitled to any preemptive, first refusal or other similar
rights. Except as indicated on such Schedule, all
such
Capital Stock is owned by the Borrower
or one
or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other
than
Liens in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders. There are no
outstanding debt or equity securities of the Borrower
or any
of its Subsidiaries, and no outstanding obligations of the Borrower
or any
of its Subsidiaries, convertible into or exchangeable for, or warrants, options
or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from the Borrower
or any
of its Subsidiaries, or other obligations of any Subsidiary to issue, directly
or indirectly, any shares of Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower.
(f) Litigation;
Commercial Tort Claims.
Except
as set forth in Schedule 6.01(f),
(i) there is no pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party,
threatened action, suit or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any their
properties or any of their directors or officers before any court or other
Governmental Authority or any arbitrator that (A) if adversely determined,
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or
(B) relates to this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (ii) as
of the Effective Date, none of the Loan Parties holds any commercial tort claims
in respect of which a claim has been filed in a court of law or a written notice
by an attorney has been given to a potential defendant.
(g) Financial
Condition.
(i) The
Financial Statements, copies of which have been delivered to the Agent and
each
Lender, fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower
and
its
Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results
of
operations of the Borrower
and
its
Subsidiaries for the fiscal periods ended on such respective dates, all in
accordance with GAAP, and since December 31, 2007, no event or development
has
occurred that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(ii) Borrower
has heretofore furnished to the Agent and each Lender projected quarterly
balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flows of the Parent
and
its Subsidiaries for the fiscal period from the Effective Date through December
31, 2008, which projected financial statements shall be updated from time to
time pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(vi). Such projections, as so updated, shall
be
believed by the Borrower at the time furnished to be reasonable, shall have
been
prepared on a reasonable basis and in good faith by the Borrower, and shall
have
been based on assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the
time
made and upon the best information then reasonably available to the Borrower,
and the Borrower
shall
not be aware
of
any facts or information that would lead it to believe that such projections,
as
so updated, are incorrect or misleading in any material respect.
(h) Compliance
with Law, Etc.
No Loan
Party is in violation of its organizational documents, or in violation in any
material respect with (i) any material law, rule, regulation, judgment or order
of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or any of its property or assets,
or (ii) any other Material Contract, and no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing.
34
(i) ERISA.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 6.01(i),
(i)
each Employee Plan is in substantial compliance with ERISA and the Internal
Revenue Code, (ii) no Termination Event has occurred nor is reasonably
expected to occur with respect to any Employee Plan, (iii) the most recent
annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each Employee Plan, including
any required Schedule B (Actuarial Information) thereto, copies of which
have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and delivered to the Agent,
is
complete and correct and fairly presents the funding status of such Employee
Plan, and since the date of such report there has been no material adverse
change in such funding status, (iv) copies of each agreement entered into
with the PBGC, the U.S. Department of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service
with
respect to any Employee Plan have been delivered to the Agent, (v) no
Employee Plan had an accumulated or waived funding deficiency or permitted
decrease which would create a deficiency in its funding standard account or
has
applied for an extension of any amortization period within the meaning of
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code at any time during the previous
60 months, and (vi) no Lien imposed under the Internal Revenue Code or
ERISA exists or is likely to arise on account of any Employee Plan within the
meaning of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6.01(i),
no Loan
Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any withdrawal liability
under
ERISA with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, or is aware of any facts
indicating that it or any of its ERISA Affiliates may in the future incur any
such withdrawal liability. No Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates nor
any
fiduciary of any Employee Plan has, with respect to any Employee Plan, (i)
engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Sections 406 of
ERISA
or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) failed to pay any required
installment or other payment required under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue
Code on or before the due date for such required installment or payment, (iii)
engaged in a transaction within the meaning of Section 4069 of ERISA or
(iv) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other
than the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have
become due which are unpaid. There are no pending or, to the best knowledge
of
any Loan Party, threatened claims, actions, proceedings or lawsuits (other
than
claims for benefits in the normal course) asserted or instituted against (i)
any
Employee Plan or its assets, (ii) any fiduciary with respect to any Employee
Plan, or (iii) any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates with respect to
any
Employee Plan. Except as required by Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue
Code,
no Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates maintains an employee welfare
benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) which provides health or
welfare benefits (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for any
retired or former employee of any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates
or
coverage after a participant’s termination of employment.
(j) Taxes,
Etc.
All
Federal, state and local tax returns and other reports required by applicable
law to be filed by any Loan Party have been filed, or extensions have been
obtained, and all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed
upon
any Loan Party or any property of any Loan Party and which have become due
and
payable on or prior to the date hereof have been paid, except to the extent
contested in good faith by proper proceedings which stay the imposition of
any
penalty, fine or Lien resulting from the non-payment thereof and with respect
to
which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof on the
Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP.
35
(k) Regulations
T, U and X.
No Loan
Party is or will be engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose
of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T,
U or
X), and no proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin
stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
any margin stock.
(l) Nature
of Business.
No Loan
Party is engaged in any business other than as a manufacturer and vendor of
electrical transmission cable conductors and wind turbines.
(m) Adverse
Agreements, Etc.
No Loan
Party is a party to any agreement or instrument, or subject to any charter,
limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement or other corporate,
partnership or limited liability company restriction or any judgment, order,
regulation, ruling or other requirement of a court or other Governmental
Authority, which has, or has a substantial likelihood of having, a Material
Adverse Effect.
(n) Permits,
Etc.
Each
Loan Party has, and is in compliance with, all permits, licenses,
authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations required for such
Person lawfully to own, lease, manage or operate, or to acquire, each business
currently owned, leased, managed or operated, or to be acquired, by such Person,
except for such non-compliance and such permits, licenses, authorizations,
approvals, entitlements and accelerations, as to which (individually or in
the
aggregate) a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries’ failure to maintain or so comply
could not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. No condition exists or event has occurred
which, in itself or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would
result in the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal
of
any such permit, license, authorization, approval, entitlement or accreditation,
and there is no claim that any thereof is not in full force and
effect.
(o) Properties.
(i) Each
Loan Party has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in,
or
valid licenses to use, all property and assets material to its business, free
and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens. All such properties and assets
are in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear
excepted.
(ii) Schedule
6.01(o)
sets
forth a complete and accurate list, as of the Effective Date, of the location,
by state and street address, of all real property owned or leased by each Loan
Party and identifies the interest (fee or leasehold) of such Loan Party therein.
As of the Effective Date, each Loan Party has valid leasehold interests in
the
Leases described on Schedule 6.01(o)
to which
it is a party. True, complete and correct copies of each such Lease have been
delivered to the Agent prior to the Effective Date. Schedule 6.01(o)
sets
forth with respect to each such Lease, the commencement date, termination date,
renewal options (if any) and annual base rents. Each such Lease is valid and
enforceable in accordance with its terms in all material respects and is in
full
force and effect. No consent or approval of any landlord or other third party
in
connection with any such Lease is necessary for any Loan Party to enter into
and
execute the Loan Documents to which it is a party, except as set forth on
Schedule 6.01(o).
To the
best knowledge of any Loan Party, no other party to any such Lease is in default
of its obligations thereunder, and no Loan Party (or any other party to any
such
Lease) has at any time delivered or received any notice of default which remains
uncured under any such Lease and, as of the Effective Date, no event has
occurred which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would
constitute a default under any such Lease.
36
(p) Full
Disclosure.
Each
Loan
Party
has
disclosed to the Agent all agreements, instruments and corporate or other
material restrictions to which it is subject, and all other matters known to
it,
that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect. None
of
the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished
by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Agent in connection with the
negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or
supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material
misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make
the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made,
not misleading; provided
that,
with respect to projected financial information, each Loan Party represents
only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions
believed to be reasonable at the time prepared. There
is
no contingent liability or fact that may have a Material Adverse Effect which
has not been set forth in a footnote included in the Financial Statements or
a
Schedule hereto.
(q) Operating
Lease Obligations.
On the
Effective Date, none of the Loan Parties has any Operating Lease Obligations
other than the Operating Lease Obligations set forth on Schedule 6.01(q).
(r) Environmental
Matters.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 6.01(r),
(i) the operations of each Loan Party are in compliance in all material
respects with all Environmental Laws; (ii) there has been no Release at any
of
the properties owned or operated by any Loan Party or a predecessor in interest,
or at any disposal or treatment facility which received Hazardous Materials
generated by any Loan Party or any predecessor in interest which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) no Environmental
Action has been asserted against any Loan Party or any predecessor in interest
nor does any Loan Party have knowledge or notice of any threatened or pending
Environmental Action against any Loan Party or any predecessor in interest
which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) no
Environmental Actions have been asserted against any facilities that may have
received Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party or any predecessor
in
interest which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(v) no
property now or formerly owned or operated by a Loan Party has been used as
a
treatment or disposal site for any Hazardous Material other than in compliance
in all material respects with Environmental Laws; (vi) no Loan Party has
failed to report to the proper Governmental Authority any Release which is
required to be so reported by any Environmental Laws which could reasonably
be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect; (vii) each Loan Party holds all licenses, permits
and approvals required under any Environmental Laws in connection with the
operation of the business carried on by it, except for such licenses, permits
and approvals as to which a Loan Party’s failure to maintain or comply with
could not reasonably
be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect; and (viii) no Loan Party has received any notification
pursuant to any Environmental Laws that (A) any work, repairs, construction
or
Capital Expenditures are required to be made in respect as a condition of
continued compliance with any Environmental Laws, or any license, permit or
approval issued pursuant thereto or (B) any license, permit or approval
referred to above is about to be reviewed, made, subject to limitations or
conditions, revoked, withdrawn or terminated, in each case, except as could
not
reasonably
be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
37
(s) Insurance.
Each
Loan Party keeps its property adequately insured and maintains (i) products
liability insurance in an amount not less than $12,000,000, (ii) insurance
to
such extent and against such risks, including fire, as is customary with
companies in the same or similar businesses, (iii) workmen’s compensation
insurance in the amount required by applicable law, (iv) public liability
insurance, which shall include product liability insurance, in the amount
customary with companies in the same or similar business against claims for
personal injury or death on properties owned, occupied or controlled by it,
(v)
D&O Insurance in an amount not less than $10,000,000, and (vi) such other
insurance as may be required by law or as may be reasonably required by the
Agent (including, without limitation, against larceny, embezzlement or other
criminal misappropriation). Schedule 6.01(s)
sets
forth a list of all insurance maintained by each Loan Party on the Effective
Date.
(t) Use
of
Proceeds.
The
proceeds of the Loan shall be used to (i) pay fees and expenses in connection
with this Agreement and (ii) fund working capital of the Borrower in
accordance with the sources and uses described in the Cash
Forecast.
(u) Solvency.
Before
and after giving effect to the Loan, each of Borrower, CTC Cable Corporation,
and CTC Towers & Pole Corporation, is, and on a consolidated basis are,
Solvent.
(v) Location
of Bank Accounts.
Schedule 6.01(v)
sets
forth a complete and accurate list as of the Effective Date of all deposit,
checking and other bank accounts, all securities and other accounts maintained
with any broker dealer and all other similar accounts maintained by each Loan
Party, together with a description thereof (i.e.,
the
bank or broker dealer at which such deposit or other account is maintained
and
the account number and the purpose thereof).
(w) Intellectual
Property;.
(i) Set
forth
on Schedule 6.01(w)
is a
complete and accurate list as of the Effective Date of all material licenses,
permits, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications,
trademark registrations, service marks, tradenames, copyrights, copyright
applications, franchises, authorizations, non-governmental licenses and permits
and other intellectual property rights of each Loan Party.
(ii) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 6.01(w):
(A) Each
Loan
Party owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all licenses, permits,
patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks,
tradenames, copyrights, copyright applications, franchises, authorizations,
non-governmental licenses and permits and, other intellectual property rights
that are necessary for the operation of its business without infringement upon
or conflict with the rights of any other Person with respect thereto, except
for
such infringements and conflicts which, individually or in the aggregate, could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
38
(B) No
slogan
or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other
material, or, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, patent, now employed,
or
now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party infringes upon or conflicts
with any rights owned by any other Person, and no claim or litigation regarding
any of the foregoing is pending or threatened, except for such infringements
and
conflicts which could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(C) All
Software sold or licensed by a Loan Party to customers (1) was authored by
regular employees of such Loan Party within the scope of their employment and
such Loan Party was thus the original author pursuant to the work made for
hire
doctrine, (2) is Software that a Loan Party licenses from providers thereof
with appropriate rights to resell or sublicense to third parties, or (3) was
authored by third party contractors who have agreed in writing to assign all
of
their rights in such Software to such Loan Party.
(D) Each
Loan
Party has taken reasonable measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality
and
value of all its material proprietary information, trade secrets and know-how
(including, without limitation, entering into appropriate confidentiality
agreements with all officers, directors, employees, and other Persons with
access thereto), and none of such material proprietary information, trade
secrets and know-how has been disclosed to any Persons other than employees
or
contractors of the Loan Parties who had a need to know and use such material
proprietary information, trade secrets and know-how in the ordinary course
of
employment or contract performance and who executed appropriate confidentiality
agreements prohibiting unauthorized disclosure thereof.
(x) Material
Contracts.
Set
forth on Schedule 6.01(x)
is a
complete and accurate list as of the Effective Date of all Material Contracts
of
each Loan Party, showing the parties and subject matter thereof and amendments
and modifications thereto. Each such Material Contract (i) is in full force
and effect and is binding upon and enforceable against each Loan Party that
is a
party thereto and, to the knowledge of such Loan Party, all other parties
thereto in accordance with its terms, (ii) has not been otherwise amended
or modified (other than in accordance with Section
7.02(r)),
and
(iii) is not in default in any material respect due to the action of any Loan
Party or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any other party
thereto.
(y) Holding
Company and Investment Company Acts.
None of
the Loan Parties is
(i) a “holding company” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company” or
an “affiliate” of a “holding company”, as such terms are defined in the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, or (ii) an “investment
company” or an “affiliated person” or “promoter” of, or “principal underwriter”
of or for, an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(z) Employee
and Labor Matters.
There
is
(i) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the best knowledge of
any
Loan
Party,
threatened against any Loan
Party
before
any Governmental Authority and no grievance or arbitration proceeding pending
or
threatened against any Loan
Party
which
arises out of or under any collective bargaining agreement, (ii) no strike,
labor dispute, slowdown, stoppage or similar action or grievance pending or
threatened against any Loan
Party
or (iii)
to the knowledge of each Loan
Party,
no
union representation question existing with respect to the employees of any
Loan
Party and
no
union organizing activity taking place with respect to any of the employees
of
any Loan Party. No Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any
liability or obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
Act (“WARN”)
or
similar state law, which remains unpaid or unsatisfied. The hours worked and
payments made to employees of any Loan Party have not been in violation of
the
Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable legal requirements. All
material payments due from any Loan Party on account of wages and employee
health and welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid or accrued as
a
liability on the books of such Loan Party.
39
(aa) Customers
and Suppliers.
(i) There
exists no actual or threatened termination, cancellation or limitation of,
or
modification to or change in, the business relationship between (A) CTC Cable
Corporation, on the one hand, and any customer or any group thereof, on the
other hand, whose agreements with CTC Cable Corporation are individually or
in
the aggregate material to the business or operations of CTC Cable Corporation,
or (B) CTC Cable Corporation, on the one hand, and any supplier or any
group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements with CTC Cable Corporation
are individually or in the aggregate material to the business or operations
of
CTC Cable Corporation; and there exists no present state of facts or
circumstances that could reasonably give rise to or result in any such
termination, cancellation, limitation, modification or change.
(ii) Except
as
disclosed to Agent in a letter of even date herewith, there exists no actual
or,
to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened termination, cancellation or
limitation of, or modification to or change in, the business relationship
between (A) any Loan Party other than CTC Cable Corporation, on the one hand,
and any customer or any group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements
with
such Loan Party are individually or in the aggregate material to the business
or
operations of such Loan Party, or (B) any Loan Party other than CTC Cable
Corporation, on the one hand, and any supplier or any group thereof, on the
other hand, whose agreements with such Loan Party are individually or in the
aggregate material to the business or operations of such Loan Party; and there
exists no present state of facts or circumstances that could reasonably give
rise to or result in any such termination, cancellation, limitation,
modification or change.
(bb) Name;
Jurisdiction of Organization; Organizational ID Number; Chief Place of Business;
Chief Executive Office; FEIN.
Schedule 6.01(bb)
sets
forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of (i) the exact
legal name of each Loan Party, (ii) the jurisdiction of organization of
each Loan Party, (iii) the organizational identification number of each
Loan Party (or indicates that such Loan Party has no organizational
identification number), (iv) each place of business of each Loan
Party,
(v) the chief executive office of each Loan
Party and (vi) the federal employer identification number of each Loan
Party.
(cc) Tradenames.
Schedule 6.01(cc)
hereto
sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the Effective Date of all
tradenames, business
names or similar appellations used by each Loan Party, or any of its divisions
or other business units during the past 5 years.
40
(dd) Locations
of Collateral.
There
is
no location at which any Loan Party has any Collateral with a fair market value
in excess of $100,000 (except for Inventory in transit) other than (i) those
locations listed on Schedule 6.01(dd) and
(ii) any other locations in the continental United States for which such
Loan Party has provided notice to the Agent in accordance with Section
7.01(l)
and, if
necessary, a written subordination or waiver or collateral access agreement
in
accordance with Section
7.01(m).
Schedule 6.01(dd)
hereto
contains a true, correct and complete list, as of the Effective Date, of the
legal names and addresses of each warehouse at which Collateral of each
Loan
Party
is
stored. None of the receipts received by any Loan
Party
from any
warehouse states that the goods covered thereby are to be delivered to bearer
or
to the order of a named Person or to a named Person and such named Person’s
assigns.
(ee) Security
Interests.
The
Security Agreement creates in favor of the Agent, for the benefit of the Agent
and the Lenders, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the
Collateral secured thereby. Upon the Effective Date the filing of the UCC-1
financing statements described in Section
5.01(d)(iv)
and the
recording of the Collateral Assignments for Security referred to in the Security
Agreement in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States
Copyright Office, as applicable, such security interests in and Liens on the
Collateral granted thereby shall be perfected, first priority security interests
(subject only to Liens [in favor of Hilltop and Seawind as described on Schedule
7.02(a) and] Liens described in clause (j) of the definition of Permitted Liens,
and no further recordings or filings are or will be required in connection
with
the creation, perfection or enforcement of such security interests and Liens,
other than (i) the filing of continuation statements in accordance with
applicable law, and (ii) the recording of the Collateral Assignments for
Security pursuant to the Security Agreement in the United States Patent and
Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, with
respect to after-acquired U.S. patent and trademark applications and
registrations and U.S. copyrights.
(ff)
Schedules.
All of
the information which is required to be scheduled to this Agreement is set
forth
on the Schedules attached hereto, is correct and accurate and does not omit
to
state any information material thereto.
(gg) Representations
and Warranties in Documents; No Default.
All
representations and warranties of the Loan Parties, for themselves or any of
their Subsidiaries, set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
are
true and correct in all respects at the time as of which such representations
were made and on the Effective Date except to the extent that any such
representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in
which
case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct on and as of
such
earlier date in all material respects). No Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing and no condition exists which constitutes a Default or an Event
of
Default.
(hh) Directors
and Officers.
None of
the directors or officers of any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries:
(i) is currently or has been the subject of an investigation by the SEC or
any other Governmental Authority; (ii) has been charged with a felony of
any kind or nature whatsoever; or (iii) has filed, or commenced any action
in respect of a possible filing, for relief from creditors under the United
States Bankruptcy Code or any other insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization
act.
41
(ii) Inventory.
With
respect to any of the Inventory of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries:
(i)
the Borrower or such Subsidiary has good, indefeasible and merchantable title
to
such Inventory; (ii) such Inventory is of good and merchantable quality, free
from any defects that could materially adversely affect the market value of
such
Inventory (in the aggregate); (iii) such Inventory is not subject to any
licensing, patent, royalty, trademark, trade name or copyright agreements with
any third parties which would require any consent of any third party upon sale
or disposition of that Inventory or the payment of any monies to any third
party
upon such sale or other disposition, and (iv) the completion of manufacture,
sale or other disposition of such Inventory by Agent following an Event of
Default shall not require the consent of any Person and shall not constitute
a
breach or default under any contract or agreement to which Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries is a party or to which such property is subject.
(jj) Transfer
Pricing.
The
Borrower’s policy on transfers of assets among itself and its Subsidiaries is
attached as Schedule 6.01(jj) (the “Transfer
Pricing Policy”).
(kk) Inactive
Subsidiaries.
Transmission Technology Corporation, CTC Towers and Poles Corporation, EU
Energy, Inc., and EU Energy North America, Inc. are all inactive corporations,
and as such do not conduct any operations or business activity and have less
than $100,000 in assets in the aggregate.
(ll) Patriot
Act.
To the
extent applicable, each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects,
with the (i) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign
assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR,
Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or
executive order relating thereto, and (ii) Uniting and Strengthening America
by
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA
Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds of the Loan will be used, directly
or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee,
political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office,
or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or
direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United
States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
Section
6.02 Agent
and Lender Representations and Warranties.
Agent
and each Lender hereby represent and warrant to Borrower as
follows:
(a) Authorization.
The
execution, delivery and performance by Agent and each Lender of each Loan
Document to which it is or will be a party, (i) have been duly authorized by
all
necessary action, and (ii) do not and will not contravene its charter or
by-laws, its limited liability company or operating agreement or its certificate
of partnership or partnership agreement, as applicable, any applicable
law.
(b) Enforcement.
This
Agreement is, and each other Loan Document and other Transaction Document to
which Agent and each Lender is or will be a party, when delivered hereunder,
will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable
against such Person in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability
may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or
other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general
equitable principles.
42
(c) Organization.
Agent
and each Lender (i) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited
partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of the state or jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power
and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently
contemplated, and (iii) has the power and authority to make the investments
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) No
General Solicitation.
Neither
Agent nor any Lender learned of the investment in the Warrants as a result
of
any “general advertising” or “general solicitation” as those terms are
contemplated in Regulation D, as amended, under the Securities Act.
ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
OF THE LOAN
PARTIES
Section
7.01 Affirmative
Covenants.
So long
as any principal of or interest on the Loan or any other Obligation (whether
or
not due) shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder,
Borrower
and each of its Subsidiaries
will,
unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:
(a) Reporting
Requirements.
Furnish
to the Agent and each Lender:
(i) as
soon
as available and in any event within 30 days after the end of each fiscal
quarter of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries commencing with the first fiscal quarter of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries ending after the Effective Date, consolidated and consolidating
balance sheets, consolidated and consolidating statements of operations and
retained earnings and consolidated and consolidating statements of cash flows
of
Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and for the period commencing at
the
end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such
quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the
corresponding date or period set forth in (x) the financial statements for
the
immediately preceding Fiscal Year and (y) the projections delivered pursuant
to
clause (ix)
of this
Section
7.01(a),
all in
reasonable detail and certified by an Authorized Officer of Borrower
as
fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of
Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the results of operations and
cash flows of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries for such quarter, in accordance with GAAP applied in a manner
consistent with that of the most recent audited financial statements of
Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries furnished to the Agent and the Lenders, subject to the absence
of
footnotes and normal year-end adjustments;
(ii) as
soon
as available, and in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal
Year
of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries, consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, consolidated and
consolidating statements of operations and retained earnings and consolidated
and consolidating statements of cash flows of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case
in
comparative form the figures for the corresponding date or period set forth
in
the financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, all in
reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by
a
report and an unqualified opinion, prepared in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards, of independent certified public accountants of
recognized standing selected by Borrower
and
satisfactory to the Agent (which opinion shall be without (A) a “going
concern” or like qualification or exception, (B) any qualification or
exception as to the scope of such audit, or (C) any qualification which
relates to the treatment or classification of any item and which, as a condition
to the removal of such qualification, would require an adjustment to such item,
the effect of which would be to cause any noncompliance with the provisions
of
Section 7.03), together with a written statement of such accountants (1) to
the effect that, in making the examination necessary for their certification
of
such financial statements, they have not obtained any knowledge of the existence
of an Event of Default or a Default and (2) if such accountants shall have
obtained any knowledge of the existence of an Event of Default or such Default,
describing the nature thereof;
43
(iii) as
soon
as available, and in any event within 20 days after the end of each fiscal
month
of Borrower
and its Domestic Subsidiaries
and 25
days after the end of each fiscal month of its Foreign Subsidiaries commencing
with the first fiscal month of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries ending after the Effective Date, internally prepared consolidated
and consolidating balance sheets and consolidated and consolidating statements
of operations and retained earnings and consolidated and consolidating
statements of cash flows as at the end of such fiscal month, and for the period
commencing at the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and ending with
the end of such fiscal month, all in reasonable detail and certified by an
Authorized Officer of Borrower
as
fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of
Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal month and the results of operations,
retained earnings and cash flows of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries for such fiscal month, in accordance with GAAP applied in a manner
consistent with that of the most recent audited financial statements furnished
to the Agent and the Lenders, subject to normal year-end
adjustments;
(iv) as
soon
as available, and in any event: (i) within 15 days after the end of each fiscal
month of Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries and within 20 days after the
end
of each fiscal month of its Foreign Subsidiaries commencing with the first
fiscal month of Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending after the Effective Date,
(A) a detailed trial balance of each Loan Party’s Accounts Receivable aged per
invoice date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent including,
without limitation, the names and addresses of all Account Debtors of each
Loan
Party, and (B) a summary and detail of accounts payable (such Accounts
Receivable and accounts payable divided into such time intervals as Agent may
request), including a listing of any held checks; (ii) within 15 days after
the
end of each calendar month, the general ledger inventory account balance, a
perpetual inventory report in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Agent for each Loan Party (except XxXxxx, Inc.), and within 20 days for XxXxxx,
Inc. by each category of Inventory, together with a description of the monthly
change in each category of Inventory; and (iii) at Agent’s request, a report
detailing all affiliate and shareholders balances arising from affiliate and
shareholder transactions that occurred in the prior month’s period including,
without limitation, all intercompany loans, loans to other Affiliates, employees
and other Persons and sales and purchases to and from any
Affiliate;
44
(v) simultaneously
with the delivery of the financial statements of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries required by clauses (i),
(ii)
and
(iii)
of this
Section
7.01(a),
a
certificate of an Authorized Officer of Borrower
in substantially the form of Exhibit J
stating
that such Authorized Officer has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement
and
the other Loan Documents and has made or caused to be made under his or her
supervision a review of the condition and operations of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries during the period covered by such financial statements with a
view
to determining whether Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries were in compliance with all of the provisions of this Agreement
and
such Loan Documents at the times such compliance is required hereby and thereby,
and that such review has not disclosed, and such Authorized Officer has no
knowledge of, the existence during such period of an Event of Default or Default
or, if an Event of Default or Default existed, describing the nature and period
of existence thereof and the action which Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries propose to take or have taken with respect thereto;
(vi) as
soon
as available and in any event within 30 days after the end of each fiscal
quarter of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries commencing with the first fiscal quarter of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries ending after the Effective Date, reports in form and detail
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and certified by an Authorized Officer
of
the Borrower as being accurate and complete (A) listing all Accounts Receivable
of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries as of such day, which shall include the amount and age of each
such
Account Receivable, showing separately those which are more than 30, 60, 90
and
120 days old and a description of all Liens, set-offs, defenses and
counterclaims with respect thereto, and such other information as the Agent
may
request, and (B) listing all accounts payable of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries as of each such day which shall include the amount and age of
each
such account payable, and such other information as the Agent may
request;
(vii) promptly
after submission to any Governmental Authority, all documents and information
furnished to such Governmental Authority in connection with any investigation
of
Borrower
or any
of its Subsidiaries or any of their officers or directors other than routine
inquiries by such Governmental Authority;
(viii) as
soon
as possible, and in any event within 2 Business Days after any Responsible
Officer of any
Loan
Party
has
knowledge of the occurrence of an Event of Default or Default or the occurrence
of any event or development that could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, the written statement of an Authorized Officer of such
Loan
Party
setting
forth the details of such Event of Default or Default or other event or
development having a Material Adverse Effect and the action which the
affected Loan Party
proposes
to take with respect thereto;
(ix) (A)
as
soon as possible and in any event within 2 Business Days after any Loan Party
or
any ERISA Affiliate thereof knows or has reason to know that (1) any Reportable
Event with respect to any Employee Plan has occurred, (2) any other Termination
Event with respect to any Employee Plan has occurred, or (3) an accumulated
funding deficiency has been incurred or an application has been made to the
Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding
standard (including installment payments) or an extension of any amortization
period under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to an
Employee Plan, a statement of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower setting
forth the details of such occurrence and the action, if any, which Borrower
or
such ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto, (B) promptly and
in
any event within 2 Business Days after receipt thereof by Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate thereof from the PBGC, copies of each notice received by Borrower
or
any ERISA Affiliate thereof of the PBGC’s intention to terminate any Plan or to
have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan, (C) promptly and in any event
within 2 Business Days after the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue
Service if requested by the Agent, copies of each Schedule B (Actuarial
Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each
Employee Plan and Multiemployer Plan, (D) promptly and in any event within
2
Business Days after Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate thereof knows or has reason
to know that a required installment within the meaning of Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code has not been made when due with respect to an Employee
Plan, (E) promptly and in any event within 2 Business Days after receipt thereof
by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate thereof from a sponsor of a Multiemployer
Plan or from the PBGC, a copy of each notice received by Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate thereof concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability
under Section 4202 of ERISA or indicating that such Multiemployer Plan may
enter
reorganization status under Section 4241 of ERISA, and (F) promptly and in
any
event within 2 Business Days after Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate thereof
sends
notice of a plant closing or mass layoff (as defined in WARN) to employees,
copies of each such notice sent by Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate
thereof;
45
(x) promptly
after the commencement thereof but in any event not later than 2 Business Days
after service of process with respect thereto on, or the obtaining of knowledge
thereof by, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, notice of each action, suit
or
proceeding by or against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
officers or directors before any court or other Governmental Authority or other
regulatory body or any arbitrator which, if adversely determined, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(xi) as
soon
as possible and in any event within 2 Business Days after execution, receipt
or
delivery thereof, a copy of any notice that Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
executes or receives in connection with any Material Contract regarding the
occurrence of any event or development with respect to such Material Contract
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(xii) as
soon
as possible and in any event within 2 Business Days after execution, receipt
or
delivery thereof, copies of any material notices that Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries executes or receives in connection with the sale or other
Disposition of the Capital Stock of, or all or substantially all of the assets
of, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xiii) promptly
after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all statements, reports and
other
information Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries sends to any holders of its
Indebtedness or its securities or files with the SEC or any national (domestic
or foreign) securities exchange;
(xiv) promptly
upon receipt thereof, copies of all financial reports (including, without
limitation, management letters), if any, submitted to Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries by its auditors in connection with any annual or interim audit
of
the books thereof;
(xv) commencing
on second Business Day of the first calendar week after the Effective Date,
and
on the second Business Day of each week thereafter, an update of the Cash
Forecast in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent by no later
than 5:00 p.m. New York time on such date;
46
(xvi) as
soon
as possible and in any event within 5 Business Days of a Loan Parties’
acquisition of any item of Inventory encumbered by a Lien permitted under clause
(j) of the definition of Permitted Liens, a written statement of an Authorized
Officer of such Loan Party setting forth a description of such Inventory, which
description shall include the location of such Inventory, applicable serial
or
stock keeping unit numbers and such other information as shall be reasonably
necessary to enable Agent to identify such Inventory; and
(xvii) promptly
upon request, such other information concerning the condition or operations,
financial or otherwise, of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as the Agent
may
from time to time may request.
(b) Additional
Collateral Security.
Cause:
(i) each
Domestic Subsidiary of any Loan Party not in existence on the Effective Date,
to
execute and deliver to the Agent promptly and in any event within 3 days
after the formation or acquisition thereof (A) a Joinder Agreement, pursuant
to
which such Subsidiary shall be made a party to this Agreement as a Guarantor,
(B) a Security Agreement, (C) if such Subsidiary has any Subsidiaries, a Pledge
Agreement
together with (x) certificates evidencing all of the Capital Stock of any Person
owned by such Subsidiary, (y) undated stock powers executed in blank with
signature guaranteed, and (z) such opinion of counsel and such approving
certificate of such Subsidiary as the Agent may reasonably request in respect
of
complying with any legend on any such certificate or any other matter relating
to such shares, and
(D) such other agreements, instruments, approvals, legal opinions or other
documents reasonably requested by the Agent in order to create, perfect,
establish the first priority of or otherwise protect any Lien purported to
be
covered by any such Security Agreement, Pledge Agreement or otherwise to effect
the intent that such Subsidiary shall become bound by all of the terms,
covenants and agreements contained in the Loan Documents and that all property
and assets of such Subsidiary shall become Collateral for the Obligations;
and
(ii) each
owner of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of Borrower not in existence as
of
the Effective Date to execute and deliver promptly and in any event within
3
days after the formation or acquisition of such Subsidiary a Pledge Agreement,
together with (A) certificates
evidencing all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary, (B) undated stock
powers or other appropriate instruments of assignment executed in blank
with
signature guaranteed, (C) such opinion of counsel and such approving
certificate of such Subsidiary as the Agent may reasonably request in respect
of
complying with any legend on any such certificate or any other matter relating
to such shares and (D) such other agreements, instruments, approvals, legal
opinions or other documents requested by the Agent.
(c) Compliance
with Laws, Etc.
Comply,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply in all material respects, with
all
applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders (including, without limitation,
all
Environmental Laws), judgments and awards (including any settlement of any
claim
that, if breached, could give rise to any of the foregoing), such compliance
to
include, without limitation, (i) paying before the same become delinquent all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon
its income or profits or upon any of its properties, and (ii) paying all
lawful claims which if unpaid might become a Lien or charge upon any of its
properties, except, in each case, to the extent contested in good faith by
proper proceedings which stay the imposition of any penalty, fine or Lien
resulting from the non-payment thereof and with respect to which adequate
reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with
GAAP.
47
(d) Preservation
of Existence, Etc.
Maintain
and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve,
its
existence, rights and privileges, and become or remain, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it
or
in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected
to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Keeping
of Records and Books of Account.
Keep,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, adequate records and books of
account, with complete entries made to permit the preparation of financial
statements in accordance with GAAP.
(f) Inspection
Rights.
Subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 4.01, permit, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to permit, the agents and representatives of the Agent at any
time
and from time to time during normal business hours and subject to the
confidentiality requirements of Section 12.19, and, so long as no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon reasonable prior
notice, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from its records and books
of account, to visit and inspect its properties, to verify materials, leases,
notes, accounts receivable, deposit accounts and its other assets, to conduct
audits, physical counts, valuations, appraisals, Phase I Environmental Site
Assessments (and, if requested by the Agent based upon the results of any such
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, a Phase II Environmental Site
Assessment) or examinations and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts
with any of its directors, officers, managerial employees, independent
accountants or any of its other representatives. In furtherance of the
foregoing, Borrower, for itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby authorizes its
independent accountants, and the independent accountants of each of its
Subsidiaries, to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Person
(independently or together with representatives of such Person) with the agents
and representatives of the Agent in accordance with this Section
7.01(f).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, provided no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, Agent shall only exercise the inspection rights
set forth in this Section 7.01(f) with reasonable frequency; provided this
sentence shall not limit the frequency with which Agent may discuss the affairs,
finances and accounts of any such Person with any of its directors, officers,
managerial employees, independent accountants or any of its other
representatives.
(g) Maintenance
of Properties, Etc.
Maintain
and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve,
all
of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its
business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted,
and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with
the
provisions of all leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it
occupies property, so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or
thereunder.
The Loan
Parties shall not commingle any Inventory encumbered by a Lien permitted under
clause (j) of the definition of Permitted Liens with any other Inventory of
the
Loan Parties and shall segregate any Inventory so encumbered from other
Inventory of the Loan Parties such that Agent may readily identify
same.
48
(h) Maintenance
of Insurance.
Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, (i) products
liability insurance in an amount not less than $12,000,000, (ii) D&O
Insurance in an amount not less than $10,000,000, and (iii)
insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations
(including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent
and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including
all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and
covering such risks as is required by any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance
with
sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated
and in any event in amount, adequacy and scope reasonably satisfactory to the
Agent. All policies covering the Collateral are to be made payable to the Agent
for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, as its interests may appear,
in
case of loss, under a standard non-contributory “lender” or “secured party”
clause and are to contain such other provisions as the Agent may require to
fully protect the Lenders’ interest in the Collateral and to any payments to be
made under such policies. All certificates of insurance are to be delivered
to
the Agent and the policies are to be premium prepaid, with the loss payable
and
additional insured endorsement in favor of the Agent and such other Persons
as
the Agent may designate from time to time, and shall provide for not less than
30 days’ prior written notice to the Agent of the exercise of any right of
cancellation. If Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries fails to maintain such
insurance, the Agent may arrange for such insurance, but at the Borrower’s
expense and without any responsibility on the Agent’s part for obtaining the
insurance, the solvency of the insurance companies, the adequacy of the
coverage, or the collection of claims. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent shall have the sole right, in
the
name of the Lenders, Borrower and its Subsidiaries, to file claims under any
insurance policies, to receive, receipt and give acquittance for any payments
that may be payable thereunder, and to execute any and all endorsements,
receipts, releases, assignments, reassignments or other documents that may
be
necessary to effect the collection, compromise or settlement of any claims
under
any such insurance policies.
(i) Obtaining
of Permits, Etc.
Obtain,
maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain, maintain
and preserve, and take all necessary action to timely renew, all permits,
licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations which
are
necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business.
(j) Environmental.
(i) Keep any property either owned or operated by it or any of its
Subsidiaries free of any Environmental Liens; (ii) comply, and cause each
of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all Environmental Laws and provide to the
Agent any documentation of such compliance which the Agent may reasonably
request; (iii) provide the Agent written notice within 10 days of any
Release of a Hazardous Material in excess of any reportable quantity from or
onto property at any time owned or operated by it or any of its Subsidiaries
and
take any Remedial Actions required by applicable Environmental Laws to xxxxx
said Release; (iv) provide the Agent with written notice within 10 days of
the receipt of any of the following: (A) notice that an Environmental Lien
has been filed against any property of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(B) commencement of any Environmental Action or notice that an
Environmental Action will be filed against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
and (C) notice of a violation, citation or other administrative order which
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
49
(k) Further
Assurances.
Take
such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, at its
sole cost and expense, such agreements, instruments or other documents as are
necessary, or as the Agent may reasonably request, from time to time in order
(i) to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents, (ii) to subject to valid and perfected first priority
Liens (subject only to Permitted Liens) any of the Collateral or any other
property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (iii) to establish and maintain
the validity and effectiveness of any of the Loan Documents and the validity,
perfection and priority of the Liens intended to be created thereby, and
(iv) to better assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer and confirm unto the
Agent and each Lender the rights now or hereafter intended to be granted to
it
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. In furtherance of the
foregoing, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Borrower, for
itself and its Subsidiaries, (i) authorizes the Agent to execute any such
agreements, instruments or other documents in such Person’s name upon the
failure by such Person to execute the same promptly after the reasonable request
of the Agent and to file such agreements, instruments or other documents in
any
appropriate filing office, (ii) authorizes the Agent to file any financing
statement required hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and any
continuation statement or amendment with respect thereto, in any appropriate
filing office without the signature of such Person, and (iii) ratifies the
filing of any financing statement, and any continuation statement or amendment
with respect thereto, filed without the signature of such Person prior to the
date hereof.
(l) Change
in Collateral; Collateral Records.
(i)
Give the Agent not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of any change in
the location of any Collateral, other than to locations set forth on Schedule
6.01(dd)
and with
respect to which the Agent has filed financing statements and otherwise fully
perfected its Liens thereon, (ii) advise the Agent promptly, in sufficient
detail, of any material adverse change relating to the type, quantity or quality
of the Collateral or the Lien granted thereon and (iii) execute and
deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, to the
Agent
for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders from time to time, solely for
the
Agent’s convenience in maintaining a record of Collateral, such written
statements and schedules as the Agent may reasonably require, designating,
identifying or describing the Collateral.
(m) Landlord
Waivers; Collateral Access Agreements.
(2)
At any
time any Collateral with a book value in excess of $25,000 (when aggregated
with
all other Collateral at the same location) is located on any real property
of
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (whether such real property is now existing
or acquired after the Effective Date) which is not owned by Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries, obtain written subordinations or waivers, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, of all present and future Liens
to which the owner or lessor of such premises may be entitled to assert against
the Collateral; and
(ii) At
any
time any Collateral with a book value in excess of $25,000 (when aggregated
with
all other Collateral at the same location) is stored on the premises of a
bailee, warehouseman, or similar party, obtain written access agreements, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, providing for access
to
Collateral located on such premises in order to remove such Collateral from
such
premises during an Event of Default.
50
(n) Subordination.
Cause
all Indebtedness and other obligations now or hereafter owed by it to any of
its
Affiliates, to be subordinated in right of payment and security to the
Indebtedness and other Obligations owing to the Agent and the Lenders in
accordance with a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory
to
the Agent.
(o) Fiscal
Year.
Cause
the Fiscal Year of Borrower and its Subsidiaries to end on September 30 of
each
calendar year unless the Agent consents to a change in such Fiscal Year (and
appropriate related changes to this Agreement).
(p) Control
Agreements, Etc.
Take all
reasonable steps in order for the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent
to obtain control in accordance with Sections 8-106, 9-104, 9-105, 9-106, and
9-107 of the Uniform Commercial Code with respect to all of its securities
accounts, deposit accounts, electronic chattel paper, investment property,
and
letter of credit rights, except as otherwise provided in Section
8.01(a).
Section
7.02 Negative
Covenants.
So long
as any principal of or interest on the Loan or any other Obligation (whether
or
not due) shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder,
each Loan Party shall not, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent
in writing:
(a) Liens,
Etc.
Create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien upon or with respect to any of its
properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; file or suffer to exist
under the Uniform Commercial Code or any similar law or statute of any
jurisdiction, a financing statement (or the equivalent thereof) that names
it or
any of its Subsidiaries as debtor; sign or suffer to exist any security
agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file such financing
statement (or the equivalent thereof); sell any of its property or assets
subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase
such property or assets (including sales of accounts receivable) with recourse
to it or any of its Subsidiaries or assign or otherwise transfer, or permit
any
of its Subsidiaries to assign or otherwise transfer, any account or other right
to receive income; other than, as to all of the above, Permitted
Liens.
(b) Indebtedness.
(i) Create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist, or otherwise
become or remain liable with respect to, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to
create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist or otherwise become or
remain liable with respect to, any Indebtedness other than Permitted
Indebtedness, or (ii) redeem or otherwise make any cash payments of any kind
in
respect of the Borrower’s Senior Convertible 8% Notes due January 2010, other
than, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, scheduled payments of
interest on such notes.
(c) Fundamental
Changes; Dispositions.
Wind-up, liquidate or dissolve, or merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any
Person, or convey, sell, lease or sublease, transfer or otherwise dispose of,
whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, all or any
part
of its business, property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired
(or
agree to do any of the foregoing), or purchase or otherwise acquire, whether
in
one transaction or a series of related transactions, all or substantially all
of
the assets of any Person (or any division thereof) (or agree to do any of the
foregoing), or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing;
provided,
however,
that
51
(i) Borrower
and its Subsidiaries may (A) sell Inventory in the ordinary course of
business, (B) dispose of obsolete or worn-out Equipment in the ordinary course
of business, and (C) sell or otherwise dispose of other property or assets
for
cash in an aggregate amount not less than the fair market value of such property
or assets, provided
that the
Net Cash Proceeds of such Dispositions (x) in the case of clauses (B) and (C)
above, do not exceed $100,000 in the aggregate and (y) in all cases, are paid
to
the Agent for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the terms
of
Section
2.05(c)(ii); and
(ii) XxXxxx
Purchasing GmbH or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of XxXxxx Turbines, Limited
may
be merged into XxXxxx Turbines, Limited or another wholly-owned Subsidiary
of
XxXxxx Turbines, Limited, or may consolidate with another wholly-owned
Subsidiary of XxXxxx, Inc., so long as (A) no other provision of this Agreement
would be violated thereby, (B) Borrower gives the Agent at least 45 days’ prior
written notice of such merger or consolidation, (C) no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing either before or after giving
effect to such transaction, (D) the Lenders’ rights in any Collateral,
including, without limitation, the existence, perfection and priority of any
Lien thereon, are not adversely affected by such merger or consolidation, and
(E) the Capital Stock of which Subsidiary is the subject of a Pledge Agreement,
in each case, which is in full force and effect on the date of and immediately
after giving effect to such merger or consolidation.
(d) Change
in Nature of Business.
Make,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any change in the nature of its
business as described in Section
6.01(l)
or its
manner of operations as described in its annual report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 as filed with the SEC, or make any material
change in how it finances or structures its operations.
(e) Loans,
Advances, Investments, Etc.
Make or
commit or agree to make any loan, advance guarantee of obligations, other
extension of credit or capital contributions to, or hold or invest in or commit
or agree to hold or invest in, or purchase or otherwise acquire or commit or
agree to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of the Capital Stock, bonds,
notes, debentures or other securities of, or make or commit or agree to make
any
other investment in, any other Person, or purchase or own any futures contract
or otherwise become liable for the purchase or sale of currency or other
commodities at a future date in the nature of a futures contract, or permit
any
of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing, except for: (i) investments
existing on the date hereof, as set forth on Schedule 7.02(e)
hereto,
but not any increase in the amount thereof as set forth in such Schedule or
any
other modification of the terms thereof, (ii) loans and advances by it to
its Domestic Subsidiaries and by such Domestic Subsidiaries to it, made in
the
ordinary course of business and unsecured guarantees of the obligations thereof
in the ordinary course of business, (iii) loan and advances by it to its Foreign
Subsidiaries and by such Foreign Subsidiaries to it, made in the ordinary course
of business and not exceeding in the aggregate for Borrower and its Subsidiaries
at any one time outstanding $2,000,000 plus current intercompany balances at
the
Effective Date, and (iv) Permitted Investments.
52
(f) Lease
Obligations.
Create,
incur or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur
or
suffer to exist, any obligations as lessee (i) for the payment of rent for
any real or personal property in connection with any sale and leaseback
transaction, or (ii) for the payment of rent for any real or personal
property under leases or agreements to lease other than (A) Capitalized
Lease Obligations which would not cause the aggregate amount of all obligations
under Capitalized Leases entered into after the Effective Date owing by Borrower
and its Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year to exceed $3,000,000, and
(B) Operating Lease Obligations which would not cause the aggregate amount
of all Operating Lease Obligations owing by Borrower and its Subsidiaries at
any
one time outstanding to exceed $50,000.
(g) Restricted
Payments. (i) Declare
or pay any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of
any
Capital Stock of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter
outstanding, (ii) make any repurchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance,
sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct
or indirect, of any Capital Stock of any Loan Party or any direct or indirect
parent of any Loan Party, now or hereafter outstanding, (iii) make any payment
to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options
or
other rights for the purchase or acquisition of shares of any class of Capital
Stock of any Loan Party, now or hereafter outstanding, (iv) return any Capital
Stock to any shareholders or other equity holders of any Loan Party, or make
any
other distribution of property, assets, shares of Capital Stock, warrants,
rights, options, obligations or securities thereto as such or (v) pay any
management or consulting fees or any other fees or expenses (including the
reimbursement thereof by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) pursuant to any
management, consulting or other services agreement to any of the shareholders
or
other equityholders of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates
holding more than 1.0% of the outstanding Capital Stock of such Person, or
to
any other Subsidiaries or Affiliates of Borrower except, as long as no Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred, to the extent required under the
agreements identified on Schedule 7.02(g); provided,
however,
any
Subsidiary of the Borrower may pay dividends to the Borrower.
(h) Federal
Reserve Regulations.
Permit
any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan under this Agreement to be used for any
purpose that would cause such Loan to be a margin loan under the provisions
of
Regulation T, U or X of the Board.
(i) Transactions
with Affiliates.
Enter
into, renew, extend or be a party to, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to
enter
into, renew, extend or be a party to, any transaction or series of related
transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer
or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services
of
any kind) with any Affiliate, except (i) in the ordinary course of business
in a manner and to an extent consistent with past practice and necessary or
desirable for the prudent operation of its business, for fair consideration
and
on terms no less favorable to it or its Subsidiaries than would be obtainable
in
a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate
thereof, and (ii) transactions permitted by Section
7.02(e)
and
7.02(g).
53
(j) Limitations
on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Subsidiaries.
Create
or otherwise cause, incur, assume, suffer or permit to exist or become effective
any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any
Subsidiary of Borrower (i) to pay dividends or to make any other
distribution on any shares of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary owned by Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) to pay or prepay or to subordinate any
Indebtedness owed Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) to make loans
or advances to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) to transfer any
of its property or assets to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or permit
any
of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that
nothing in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section
7.02(j)
shall
prohibit or restrict compliance with:
(A) this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(B) any
agreements in effect on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule
7.02(j);
(C) any
applicable law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, applicable
currency control laws and applicable state corporate statutes restricting the
payment of dividends in certain circumstances);
(D) in
the
case of clause (iv) any agreement setting forth customary restrictions on the
subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is a lease,
license, conveyance or contract of similar property or assets; or
(E) in
the
case of clause (iv) any agreement, instrument or other document evidencing
a
Permitted Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) from restricting on
customary terms the transfer of any property or assets subject
thereto.
(k) Limitation
on Issuance of Capital Stock.
Permit
any of its Subsidiaries to issue or sell or enter into any agreement or
arrangement for the issuance and sale of, any shares of its Capital Stock,
any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for its Capital Stock or any
warrants.
(l) Modifications
of Indebtedness, Organizational Documents and Certain Other Agreements;
Etc.
(i) Amend,
modify or otherwise change (or permit the amendment, modification or other
change in any manner of) any of the provisions of any of its or its
Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness or of any instrument or agreement (including, without
limitation, any purchase agreement, indenture, loan agreement or security
agreement) relating to any such Indebtedness if such amendment, modification
or
change would shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity of, or
require any payment to be made earlier than the date originally scheduled on,
such Indebtedness, would increase the interest rate applicable to such
Indebtedness, would change the subordination provisions, if any, of such
Indebtedness in a manner adverse to the Lenders, or would otherwise be adverse
to the Lenders or the issuer of such Indebtedness in any respect;
54
(ii) except
for the Obligations, make any voluntary or optional payment, prepayment,
redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment or other acquisition for value
of
any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness (including, without limitation, by
way of depositing money or securities with the trustee therefor before the
date
required for the purpose of paying any portion of such Indebtedness when due),
or refund, refinance, replace or exchange any other Indebtedness for any such
Indebtedness (except, in the case of any refund, refinance, replacement or
exchange, to the extent such Indebtedness is otherwise expressly permitted
by
the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”), make any payment, prepayment,
redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment or repurchase of any Subordinated
Indebtedness in violation of the subordination provisions thereof or any
subordination agreement with respect thereto, or make any payment, prepayment,
redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment or repurchase of any Indebtedness
as a result of any asset sale, change of control, issuance and sale of debt
or
equity securities or similar event, or give any notice with respect to any
of
the foregoing;
(iii) make
any
payment of interest in respect of any other Indebtedness in cash that, at the
option of the issuer, may be paid in cash or in-kind, provided,
however,
that
the Borrower may make cash interest payments on its Senior Convertible 8% Notes
due January 2010 as long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred;
(iv) amend,
modify or otherwise change its name, jurisdiction of organization,
organizational identification number or FEIN, except that a Loan Party may
(A) change its name, jurisdiction of organization, organizational
identification number or FEIN in connection with a transaction permitted by
Section
7.02(c)
and (B)
change its name upon at least 30 days prior written notice by the Borrower
to
the Agent of such change and so long as, at the time of such written
notification, such Person provides any financing statements or fixture filings
necessary to perfect and continue perfected the Agent’s Liens;
(v) amend,
modify or otherwise change its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or other
similar organizational documents), including, without limitation, by the filing
or modification of any certificate of designation, or any agreement or
arrangement entered into by it, with respect to any of its Capital Stock
(including any shareholders’ agreement), or enter into any new agreement with
respect to any of its Capital Stock, except any such amendments, modifications
or changes or any such new agreements or arrangements pursuant to this
clause (v)
that
either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect;
or
(vi) amend,
modify or otherwise change its Transfer Pricing Policy.
(m) Investment
Company Act of 1940.
Engage
in any business, enter into any transaction, use any securities or take any
other action or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing,
that
would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to become subject to the registration
requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by virtue of
being an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment
company” not entitled to an exemption within the meaning of such
Act.
55
(n) Compromise
of Accounts Receivable.
Compromise or adjust any Account Receivable (or extend the time of payment
thereof) or grant any discounts, allowances or credits or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to do so other than, provided no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, in the ordinary course of its business and
consistent with past practice.
(o) Properties.
Permit
any property to become a fixture with respect to real property or to become
an
accession with respect to other personal property with respect to which real
or
personal property the Agent does not have a valid and perfected first priority
Lien or has not received a written subordination or waiver in accordance with
Section
7.01(m)(i).
(p) ERISA.
(i)
Engage, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to engage, in any transaction described
in
Section 4069 of ERISA; (ii) engage, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to
engage, in any prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of ERISA or
4975
of the Internal Revenue Code for which a statutory or class exemption is not
available or a private exemption has not previously been obtained from the
U.S.
Department of Labor; (iii) adopt or permit any ERISA Affiliate to adopt any
employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA which
provides benefits to employees after termination of employment other than as
required by Section 601 of ERISA or applicable law; (iv) fail to make any
contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan which it or any ERISA
Affiliate may be required to make under any agreement relating to such
Multiemployer Plan, or any law pertaining thereto; or (v) fail, or permit any
ERISA Affiliate to fail, to pay any required installment or any other payment
required under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code on or before the due
date for such installment or other payment.
(q) Environmental.
Permit
the use, handling, generation, storage, treatment, Release or disposal of
Hazardous Materials at any property owned or leased by it or any of its
Subsidiaries, except in compliance with Environmental Laws and so long as such
use, handling, generation, storage, treatment, Release or disposal of Hazardous
Materials does not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Certain
Agreements.
Agree
to
any amendment or other change to or waiver of any of its rights under any
Material Contract that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(s) Inactive
Subsidiaries.
(i) No
Loan
Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall effect any transfer of assets to
Transmission Technology Corporation, CTC Towers and Poles Corporation, EU
Energy, Inc., or EU Energy North America, Inc.
(ii)
Transmission Technology Corporation, CTC Towers and Poles Corporation, EU
Energy, Inc., and EU Energy North America, Inc. shall not commence any
operations or business activity other than as necessary to wind up the affairs
thereof in compliance with applicable law.
56
ARTICLE
VIII
MANAGEMENT,
COLLECTION AND STATUS OF
ACCOUNTS
RECEIVABLE AND OTHER COLLATERAL
Section
8.01 Collection
of Accounts Receivable; Management of Collateral. iv) On
or prior to the Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall assist the Agent in
(i) establishing, and, during the term of this Agreement, maintaining one
or more lockboxes in the name of the Agent and identified on Schedule
8.01
hereto
(collectively, the “Lockboxes”)
with
the financial institutions set forth on Schedule 8.01
hereto
or such other financial institutions selected by the Loan Parties and acceptable
to the Agent in its sole discretion (each being referred to as a “Lockbox
Bank”),
and
(ii) establishing, and during the term of this Agreement, maintaining an
account (a “Collection
Account”
and,
collectively, the “Collection
Accounts”)
in the
name of the Agent with each Lockbox Bank. The Loan Parties shall irrevocably
instruct their Account Debtors, with respect to Accounts Receivable of the
Loan
Parties, to remit all payments to be made by checks or other drafts to the
Lockboxes and to remit all payments to be made by wire transfer or by Automated
Clearing House, Inc. payment as directed by the Agent and shall instruct each
Lockbox Bank to deposit all amounts received in its Lockbox to the Collection
Account at such Lockbox Bank on the day received or, if such day is not a
Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day. Until the Agent has advised
the Loan Parties to the contrary after the occurrence and during the continuance
of an Event of Default, the Loan Parties may and will enforce, collect and
receive all amounts owing on the Accounts Receivable of the Loan Parties for
the
Agent’s benefit and on the Agent’s behalf, but at the Loan Parties’ expense;
such privilege shall terminate, at the election of the Agent, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default. All checks,
drafts, notes, money orders, acceptances, cash and other evidences of
Indebtedness received directly by the Loan Parties from any of their Account
Debtors, as proceeds from Accounts Receivable of the Loan Parties, or as
proceeds of any other Collateral, shall be held by the Loan Parties in trust
for
the Agent and the Lenders and upon receipt be deposited by the Loan Parties
in
original form and no later than the next Business Day after receipt thereof
into
a Collection Account. The Loan Parties shall not commingle such collections
with
the Loan Parties’ own funds or the funds of any of their Subsidiaries or
Affiliates or with the proceeds of any assets not included in the Collateral.
Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, all funds received in the
Collection Accounts shall be processed by the respective Lockbox Banks in
accordance with the instructions of officers or agents of the Borrower. After
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent
may
give notice to the respective Lockbox Banks that all funds received in the
Collection Account shall be sent by wire transfer or Automated Clearing House,
Inc. payment to the Agent’s Account for application at the end of each Business
Day to reduce the then outstanding Obligations, conditional upon final payment
to the Agent. No checks, drafts or other instruments received by the Agent
shall
constitute final payment to the Agent unless and until such checks, drafts
or
instruments have actually been collected.
(b) After
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent
or its
designee may send a notice of assignment and/or notice of the Lenders’ security
interest to any and all Account Debtors or third parties holding or otherwise
concerned with any of the Collateral, and thereafter the Agent
or its
designee shall have the sole right to collect the Accounts Receivable and/or
take possession of the Collateral and the books and records relating thereto.
The Loan Parties shall not, without prior written consent of the Agent,
grant
any extension of time of payment of any Account Receivable, compromise or settle
any Account Receivable for less than the full amount thereof, release, in whole
or in part, any Person or property liable for the payment thereof, or allow
any
credit or discount whatsoever thereon, except, in the absence of a continuing
Event of Default, as permitted by Section
7.02(n).
57
(c) Each
Loan
Party hereby appoints the Agent or its designee on behalf of the Agent as the
Loan Parties’ attorney-in-fact with power exercisable during the continuance of
an Event of Default to endorse any Loan Party’s name upon any notes,
acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating
to the Accounts Receivable, to sign any Loan Party’s name on any invoice or xxxx
of lading relating to any of the Accounts Receivable, drafts against Account
Debtors with respect to Accounts Receivable, assignments and verifications
of
Accounts Receivable and notices to Account Debtors with respect to Accounts
Receivable, to send verification of Accounts Receivable, and to notify the
Postal Service authorities to change the address for delivery of mail addressed
to any Loan Party to such address as the Agent or such designee may designate
and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out this Agreement.
All
acts of said attorney or designee are hereby ratified and approved, and said
attorney or designee shall not be liable for any acts of omission or commission
(other than acts of omission or commission constituting gross negligence or
willful misconduct as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction), or for any error of judgment or mistake of fact or law; this
power being coupled with an interest is irrevocable until the Loan and all
other
Obligations under the Loan Documents are paid in full and all of the Loan
Documents are terminated.
(d) Nothing
herein contained shall be construed to constitute the Agent as agent of any
Loan
Party for any purpose whatsoever, and the Agent shall not be responsible or
liable for any shortage, discrepancy, damage, loss or destruction of any part
of
the Collateral wherever the same may be located and regardless of the cause
thereof (other than from acts of omission or commission constituting gross
negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final judgment of a court
of
competent jurisdiction). The Agent shall not, under any circumstance or in
any
event whatsoever, have any liability for any error or omission or delay of
any
kind occurring in the settlement, collection or payment of any of the Accounts
Receivable or any instrument received in payment thereof or for any damage
resulting therefrom (other than acts of omission or commission constituting
gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final judgment of
a
court of competent jurisdiction). The Agent, by anything herein or in any
assignment or otherwise, does not assume any of the obligations under any
contract or agreement assigned to the Agent and shall not be responsible in
any
way for the performance by any Loan Party of any of the terms and conditions
thereof.
(e) If
any
Account Receivable includes a charge for any tax payable to any Governmental
Authority, the Agent is hereby authorized (but in no event obligated) in its
discretion to pay the amount thereof to the proper taxing authority for the
Loan
Parties’ account and to charge the Loan Parties therefor. The Loan Parties shall
notify the Agent if any Account Receivable includes any taxes due to any such
Governmental Authority and, in the absence of such notice, the Agent shall
have
the right to retain the full proceeds of such Account Receivable and shall
not
be liable for any taxes that may be due by reason of the sale and delivery
creating such Account Receivable.
58
(f) Notwithstanding
any other terms set forth in the Loan Documents, the rights and remedies of
the
Agent and the Lenders herein provided, and the obligations of the Loan Parties
set forth herein, are cumulative of, may be exercised singly or concurrently
with, and are not exclusive of, any other rights, remedies or obligations set
forth in any other Loan Document or as provided by law.
Section
8.02 Accounts
Receivable Documentation.
The
Loan Parties will at such intervals as the Agent may reasonably request, execute
and deliver confirmatory written assignments of the Accounts Receivable to
the
Agent and furnish such further schedules and/or information as the Agent may
require relating to the Accounts Receivable, including, without limitation,
sales invoices or the equivalent, credit memos issued, remittance advices,
reports and copies of deposit slips and copies of original shipping or delivery
receipts for all merchandise sold. In addition, the Loan Parties shall notify
the Agent of any non-compliance in respect of the representations, warranties
and covenants contained in Section
8.03.
The
items to be provided under this Section
8.02
are to
be in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and are to be executed and
delivered to the Agent from time to time solely for its convenience in
maintaining records of the Collateral. The Loan Parties’ failure to give any of
such items to the Agent shall not affect, terminate, modify or otherwise limit
the Agent’s Lien on the Collateral. The Loan Parties shall not re-date any
invoice or sale or make sales on extended dating beyond that customary in the
Loan Parties’ industry and consistent with the Loan Parties’ past practices, and
shall not re-xxxx any Accounts Receivable without promptly disclosing the same
to the Agent and providing the Agent with a copy of such re-billing, identifying
the same as such. If the Loan Parties become aware of anything materially
detrimental to the credit of any material customer of the Loan Parties’, the
Loan Parties will promptly advise the Agent thereof.
Section
8.03 Status
of Accounts Receivable and Other Collateral.
With
respect to Collateral of any Loan Party at the time the Collateral becomes
subject to the Agent’s Lien, each Loan Party covenants, represents and warrants:
(a) such Loan Party shall be the sole owner, free and clear of all Liens (except
for Permitted Liens), and shall be fully authorized to sell, transfer, pledge
and/or grant a security interest in each and every item of said Collateral;
(b)
to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, each Account Receivable shall be a
good
and valid account representing a bona fide indebtedness incurred or an amount
owed by the Account Debtor therein named; (c) none of the transactions
underlying or giving rise to any Account Receivable shall violate any applicable
state or federal laws or regulations, and all documents relating thereto shall
be legally sufficient under such laws or regulations and shall be legally
enforceable in accordance with their terms; (d) no agreement under which any
deduction or offset of any kind, other than normal trade discounts, may be
granted or shall have been made by such Loan Party at or before the time such
Account Receivable is created; (e) all agreements, instruments and other
documents relating to any Account Receivable shall be true and correct and
in
all material respects what they purport to be; (f) such Loan Party shall
maintain books and records pertaining to said Collateral in such detail, form
and scope as the Agent shall reasonably require; (g) such Loan Party shall
immediately notify the Agent if any Account Receivable with an invoice amount
in
excess of $25,000 arises out of contracts with any Governmental Authority,
and
will execute any instruments and take any steps required by the Agent in order
that all monies due or to become due under any such contract shall be assigned
to the Agent and notice thereof given to such Governmental Authority under
the
Federal Assignment of Claims Act or any similar state or local law; (h) such
Loan Party will, immediately upon learning thereof, report to the Agents any
material loss or destruction of, or substantial damage to, any of the
Collateral, and any other matters affecting the value, enforceability or
collectibility of any of the Collateral with a value in excess of $50,000;
(i)
if any amount payable under or in connection with any Account Receivable is
evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument, such promissory note or
instrument shall be immediately pledged, endorsed, assigned and delivered to
the
Agent for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders as additional Collateral;
(j)
such Loan Party shall conduct a physical count of its Inventory at such
intervals as the Agent reasonably may request and such Loan Party shall promptly
supply the Agent with a copy of such count accompanied by a report of the value
(based on the lower of cost (on a first in first out basis) and market value)
of
such Inventory; and (k) such Loan Party is not and shall not be entitled to
pledge the Agent’s or any Lender’s credit on any purchases or for any purpose
whatsoever.
59
Section
8.04 Collateral
Custodian.
Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Agent
or
its designee may at any time and from time to time employ and maintain on the
premises of any Loan Party a custodian selected by the Agent or its designee
who
shall have full authority to do all acts necessary to protect the Agent’s and
the Lenders’ interests. Each Loan Party hereby agrees to, and to cause its
Subsidiaries to, cooperate with any such custodian and to do whatever the Agent
or its designee may reasonably request to preserve the Collateral. All costs
and
expenses incurred by the Agent or its designee by reason of the employment
of
the custodian shall be the responsibility of the Borrower and charged to the
Loan Account.
ARTICLE
IX
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
Section
9.01 Events
of Default.
If any
of the following Events of Default shall occur and be continuing:
(a) the
Borrower shall (i) fail to pay any principal of the Loan or any Agent Advance
when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration,
demand or otherwise) or (ii) fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any Agent
Advance, or any fee, indemnity or other amount payable under this Agreement
or
any other Loan Document when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required
prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise);
(b) any
representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan
Party
or by any officer of the foregoing under or in connection with any Loan Document
or under or in connection with any report, certificate, or other document
delivered to the Agent or any Lender pursuant to any Loan Document shall have
been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made that is adverse
to Agent or Lender;
(c) Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to perform or comply with any covenant
or
agreement contained in Section
5.02,
Section
7.01(a),
(c),(d),(f),(h),(i),(j),(n),
Section
7.02
or
ARTICLE
VIII,
or
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to perform or comply with any
covenant or agreement contained in any Security Agreement to which it is a
party, any Pledge Agreement to which it is a party or
(ii)
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to perform or comply with any
other covenant or agreement contained in Section
7.01,(b),(e),(g),(k),(l),
or
(m),
and
such failure, if capable of being remedied, shall remain unremedied for a period
of 10 Business Days;
60
(d) Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to perform or comply with any other term,
covenant or agreement contained in any Loan Document to be performed or observed
by it and, except as set forth in subsections (a),
(b)
and
(c)
of this
Section
9.01,
such
failure, if capable of being remedied, shall remain unremedied for 15 days
after
the date a Responsible Officer of any Loan Party becomes aware of such
failure;
(e) Borrower
or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any of its Indebtedness
(excluding Indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement) in excess of $100,000,
or
any payment of principal, interest or premium thereon, when due (whether by
scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise)
and
such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified
in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness, or any other
default under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness,
or
any other event, shall occur and shall continue after the applicable grace
period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of
such
default or event is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the
maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to
be
due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled
required prepayment), redeemed, purchased or defeased or an offer to prepay,
redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made,
in
each case, prior to the stated maturity thereof;
(f) Borrower
or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries (i) shall institute any proceeding or
voluntary case seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking
dissolution, liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating
to
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the
entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
custodian or other similar official for any such Person or for any substantial
part of its property, (ii) shall be generally not paying its debts as such
debts
become due or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally,
(iii) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (iv)
shall take any action to authorize or effect any of the actions set forth above
in this subsection (f);
(g) any
proceeding shall be instituted against Borrower or any of its Domestic
Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking
dissolution, liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
protection, relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief
or
the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official
for
any such Person or for any substantial part of its property, and either such
proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 45 days or
any
of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the
entry of an order for relief against any such Person or the appointment of
a
receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any
substantial part of its property) shall occur;
61
(h) any
provision of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason (other than
pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or
enforceable against any Loan Party intended to be a party thereto, or the
validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto,
or a
proceeding shall be commenced by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to
establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or Borrower or any of
its
Subsidiaries shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation
purported to be created under any Loan Document;
(i) the
Security Agreement, any Pledge Agreement, or any other security document, after
delivery thereof pursuant hereto, shall for any reason fail or cease to create
a
valid and perfected and, except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof
or
thereof, first priority Lien in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Agent
and the Lenders on any Collateral purported to be covered thereby;
(j) one
or
more judgments, orders or awards (or any settlement of any claim that, if
breached, could result in a judgment, order or award) for the payment of money
exceeding $250,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against Borrower or any
of
its Domestic Subsidiaries and remain unsatisfied and either (i) enforcement
proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment,
order, award or settlement, or (ii) there shall be a period of 15
consecutive days after entry thereof during which a stay of enforcement of
any
such judgment, order, award or settlement, by reason of a pending appeal or
otherwise, shall not be in effect; provided,
however,
that
any such judgment, order, award or settlement shall not give rise to an Event
of
Default under this subsection (j) if and for so long as (A) the amount of such
judgment, order, award or settlement is covered by a valid and binding policy
of
insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering full payment thereof
and (B) such insurer has been notified, and has not disputed the claim made
for payment, of the amount of such judgment, order, award or
settlement;
(k) any
cessation of a substantial part of the business of Borrower or any of its
Domestic Subsidiaries for a period which materially and adversely affects the
ability of such Person to continue its business;
(l) the
loss,
suspension or revocation of, or failure to renew, any license or permit now
held
or hereafter acquired by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, if such loss,
suspension, revocation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to
have
a Material Adverse Effect;
(m)
the
indictment of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their officers
or
directors under any criminal statute, or commencement of criminal or civil
proceedings against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their officers
or directors, pursuant to which statute or proceedings the penalties or remedies
sought or available include forfeiture to any Governmental Authority of any
portion of the property of such Person in excess of $50,000 and, solely with
respect to indictments or proceedings against an officer or director, pertains
to a crime of moral turpitude;
62
(n) Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates shall have made
a
complete or partial withdrawal from a Multiemployer Plan, and, as a result
of
such complete or partial withdrawal, Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or
any
of their ERISA Affiliates incurs a withdrawal liability in an annual amount
exceeding $100,000; or a Multiemployer Plan enters reorganization status under
Section 4241 of ERISA, and, as a result thereof Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates’ annual contribution requirements
with respect to such Multiemployer Plan increases in an annual amount exceeding
$100,000;
(o) any
Termination Event with respect to any Employee Plan shall have occurred, and,
30
days after notice thereof shall have been given to Borrower by the Agent, (i)
such Termination Event (if correctable) shall not have been corrected, and
(ii)
the then current value of such Employee Plan’s vested benefits exceeds the then
current value of assets allocable to such benefits in such Employee Plan by
more
than $100,000 (or, in the case of a Termination Event involving liability under
Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4212
of
ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, the liability is
in
excess of such amount);
(p) a
Change
of Control shall have occurred;
(q) purchases,
sales or other transactions in respect of the Borrower’s common stock shall be
suspended or otherwise limited by the action of any Governmental Authority
or
self-regulatory organization; or
(r) any
of
the independent members of the Borrower’s board of directors shall resign,
withdraw, be removed from or otherwise not continue as a member of the
Borrower’s board of directors and shall not have been replaced with a new
independent member of the Borrowers board of directors who is satisfactory
to
the Agent in its sole and absolute discretion within 45 days of the date of
such
resignation, withdrawal, removal or discontinuance;
then,
and
in any such event, the Agent may, and shall at the request of the Required
Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, (i) terminate or reduce all Commitments,
whereupon all Commitments shall immediately be so terminated or reduced, (ii)
declare all or any portion of the Loan and other Obligations then outstanding
to
be due and payable, whereupon all or such portion of the aggregate principal
of
the Loan and other Obligations, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all
fees and all other amounts payable under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand,
protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived
by each Loan Party and (iii) exercise any and all of its other rights and
remedies under applicable law, hereunder and under the other Loan Documents;
provided,
however,
that
upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in subsection (f)
or
(g)
of this
Section
9.01
with
respect to any Loan Party, without any notice to any Loan Party or any other
Person or any act by the Agent or any Lender, all Commitments shall
automatically terminate and the Loan and other Obligations then outstanding,
together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other
amounts due under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall become
due
and payable automatically and immediately, without presentment, demand, protest
or notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by Borrower. Without
limiting the foregoing, in the event any of the foregoing Events of Default
shall occur and be continuing, all (i) PIK Amounts shall be immediately due
and
payable in cash; and (ii) all interest that would otherwise be payable as PIK
Amounts pursuant to Section 2.04(c) shall be paid in cash.
63
ARTICLE
X
AGENT
Section
10.01 Appointment.
Each
Lender (and each subsequent maker of any Loan by its making thereof) hereby
irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to perform the duties of the
Agent
as set forth in this Agreement including: (i) to receive on behalf of each
Lender any payment of principal of or interest on the Loan outstanding hereunder
and all other amounts accrued hereunder for the account of the Lenders and
paid
to the Agent, and, subject to Section
2.02
of this
Agreement, to distribute promptly to each Lender its Pro Rata Share of all
payments so received; (ii) to distribute to each Lender copies of all
material notices and agreements received by the Agent and not required to be
delivered to each Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, provided
that
the Agent shall not have any liability to the Lenders for the Agent’s
inadvertent failure to distribute any such notices or agreements to the Lenders;
(iii) to maintain, in accordance with its customary business practices,
ledgers and records reflecting the status of the Obligations, the Loan, and
related matters and to maintain, in accordance with its customary business
practices, ledgers and records reflecting the status of the Collateral and
related matters; (iv) to execute or file any and all financing or similar
statements or notices, amendments, renewals, supplements, documents,
instruments, proofs of claim, notices and other written agreements with respect
to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (v) to make the Loan and
Agent Advances, for the Agent or on behalf of the applicable Lenders as provided
in this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (vi) to perform, exercise,
and enforce any and all other rights and remedies of the Lenders with respect
to
the Loan Parties, the Obligations, or otherwise related to any of same to the
extent reasonably incidental to the exercise by the Agent of the rights and
remedies specifically authorized to be exercised by the Agent by the terms
of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (vii) to incur and pay such
fees necessary or appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its
functions and powers pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document;
and
(viii) subject to Section
10.03
of this
Agreement, to take such action as the Agent deems appropriate on its behalf
to
administer the Loan and the Loan Documents and to exercise such other powers
delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof or the other Loan Documents
(including, without limitation, the power to give or to refuse to give notices,
waivers, consents, approvals and instructions and the power to make or to refuse
to make determinations and calculations) together with such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto to carry out the purposes hereof and thereof.
As
to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the
Loan), the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any
action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be
fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions
of
the Required Lenders, and such instructions of the Required Lenders shall be
binding upon all Lenders and all makers of the Loan; provided,
however,
that
the Agent shall not be required to take any action which, in the reasonable
opinion of the Agent, exposes the Agent to liability or which is contrary to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law.
64
Section
10.02 Nature
of Duties.
The
Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth
in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents. The duties of the Agent shall
be mechanical and administrative in nature. The Agent shall not have by reason
of this Agreement or any other Loan Document a fiduciary relationship in respect
of any Lender. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, express
or
implied, is intended to or shall be construed to impose upon the Agent any
obligations in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except
as
expressly set forth herein or therein. Each Lender shall make its own
independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Loan
Parties in connection with the making and the continuance of the Loan hereunder
and shall make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Loan Parties
and
the value of the Collateral, and the Agent shall have no duty or responsibility,
either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender with any credit
or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession
before the initial Loan hereunder or at any time or times thereafter, provided
that, upon the reasonable request of a Lender, the Agent shall provide to such
Lender any documents or reports delivered to the Agent by the Loan Parties
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. If the
Agent
seeks the consent or approval of the Required Lenders to the taking or
refraining from taking any action hereunder, the Agent shall send notice thereof
to each Lender. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender any time that the
Required Lenders have instructed the Agent to act or refrain from acting
pursuant hereto.
Section
10.03 Rights,
Exculpation, Etc.
The
Agent and its directors, officers, agents or employees shall not be liable
for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by them under or in connection with
this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for their own gross negligence
or
willful misconduct as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent
(i) may treat the payee of any Loan as the owner thereof until the Agent
receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof, pursuant to
Section
12.07
hereof,
signed by such payee and in form satisfactory to the Agent; (ii) may
consult with legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Agent
or counsel to the Loan Parties), independent public accountants, and other
experts selected by any of them and shall not be liable for any action taken
or
omitted to be taken in good faith by any of them in accordance with the advice
of such counsel or experts; (iii) make no warranty or representation to any
Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements,
certificates, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (iv) shall not have any duty to
ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms,
covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on the
part of any Person, the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event
of Default, or to inspect the Collateral or other property (including, without
limitation, the books and records) of any Person; (v) shall not be
responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the
other
Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto
or
thereto; and (vi) shall not be deemed to have made any representation or
warranty regarding the existence, value or collectibility of the Collateral,
the
existence, priority or perfection of the Agent’s Lien thereon, or any
certificate prepared by Borrower in connection therewith, nor shall the Agent
be
responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain
any
portion of the Collateral. The Agent shall not be liable for any apportionment
or distribution of payments made in good faith pursuant to Section
4.04,
and if
any such apportionment or distribution is subsequently determined to have been
made in error the sole recourse of any Lender to whom payment was due but not
made, shall be to recover from other Lenders any payment in excess of the amount
which they are determined to be entitled. The Agent may at any time request
instructions from the Lenders with respect to any actions or approvals which
by
the terms of this Agreement or of any of the other Loan Documents the Agent
is
permitted or required to take or to grant, and if such instructions are promptly
requested, the Agent shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any
action or to withhold any approval under any of the Loan Documents until it
shall have received such instructions from the Required Lenders. Without
limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever
against the Agent as a result of the Agent acting or refraining from acting
under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with
the
instructions of the Required Lenders.
65
Section
10.04 Reliance.
The
Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any written notices, statements,
certificates, orders or other documents or any telephone message believed by
it
in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made
by
the proper Person, and with respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents and its duties hereunder or thereunder,
upon
advice of counsel selected by it.
Section
10.05 Indemnification.
To the
extent that the Agent is not reimbursed and indemnified by any Loan Party,
the
Lenders will reimburse and indemnify the Agent from and against any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses, advances or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever
which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent in any
way
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under this Agreement or any of
the
other Loan Documents, in proportion to each Lender’s Pro Rata Share, including,
without limitation, advances and disbursements made pursuant to Section
10.08;
provided,
however,
that no
Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, advances or
disbursements for which there has been a final judicial determination that
such
liability resulted from the Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as
determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The
obligations of the Lenders under this Section
10.05
shall
survive the payment in full of the Loan and the termination of this
Agreement.
Section
10.06 Agent
Individually.
With
respect to its Pro Rata Share of the Total Commitment hereunder and the Loan
made by it, the Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers
hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to
the
extent set forth herein for any other Lender or maker of the Loan. The terms
“Lenders” or “Required Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context
clearly otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity as
a
Lender or one of the Required Lenders. The Agent and its Affiliates may accept
deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking,
trust
or other business with the Borrower as if it were not acting as the Agent
pursuant hereto without any duty to account to the other Lenders.
Section
10.07 Successor
Agent.
v) The
Agent may resign from the performance of all its functions and duties hereunder
and under the other Loan Documents at any time by giving at least 30 Business
Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower and each Lender. Such resignation
shall take effect upon the acceptance by a successor Agent of appointment
pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) below or as otherwise provided
below.
66
(b) Upon
any
such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor
Agent. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor
Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with
all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the Agent, and the Agent shall
be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the
other
Loan Documents. After the Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Agent, the
provisions of this ARTICLE
X
shall
inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while
it was the Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
(c) If
a
successor Agent shall not have been so appointed within said 30 Business
Day period, the Agent shall then appoint a successor Agent who shall serve
as
the Agent until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
Agent as provided above.
Section
10.08 Collateral
Matters.
(a) The
Agent
may from time to time make such disbursements and advances (“Agent
Advances”)
which
the Agent, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or desirable to preserve,
protect, prepare for sale or lease or dispose of the Collateral or any portion
thereof, to enhance the likelihood or maximize the amount of repayment by the
Borrower of the Loan and other Obligations or to pay any other amount chargeable
to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, costs, fees and expenses as described in Section
12.04.
The
Agent Advances shall be repayable on demand and be secured by the Collateral
and
shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest then
applicable to the Loan. The Agent Advances shall constitute Obligations
hereunder which may be charged to the Loan Account in accordance with
Section
4.02.
The
Agent shall notify each Lender and the Borrower in writing of each such Agent
Advance, which notice shall include a description of the purpose of such Agent
Advance. Without limitation to its obligations pursuant to Section
10.05,
each
Lender agrees that it shall make available to the Agent, upon the Agent’s
demand, in Dollars in immediately available funds, the amount equal to such
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each such Agent Advance. If such funds are not made
available to the Agent by such Lender, the Agent shall be entitled to recover
such funds on demand from such Lender, together with interest thereon for each
day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to
the
Agent at the per annum rate of 17% (or, if then applicable, at the Post-Default
Rate).
(b) The
Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Agent, at its option and in its
discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Agent upon any
Collateral upon termination of the Total Commitment and payment and satisfaction
of the Loan and all other Obligations which have matured and which the Agent
has
been notified in writing are then due and payable; or constituting property
being sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of Borrower’s or any of its
Subsidiaries’ business or otherwise in compliance with the terms of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents; or constituting property in which
neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries owned any interest at the time
the
Lien was granted or at any time thereafter; or if approved, authorized or
ratified in writing by the Lenders. Upon request by the Agent at any time,
the
Lenders will confirm in writing the Agent’s authority to release particular
types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section
10.08(b).
67
(c) Without
in any manner limiting the Agent’s authority to act without any specific or
further authorization or consent by the Lenders (as set forth in Section
10.08(b)),
each
Lender agrees to confirm in writing, upon request by the Agent, the authority
to
release Collateral conferred upon the Agent under Section
10.08(b).
Upon
receipt by the Agent of confirmation from the Lenders of its authority to
release any particular item or types of Collateral, and upon prior written
request by any Loan Party, the Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized
by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the
release of the Liens granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Agent and
the
Lenders upon such Collateral; provided,
however,
that
(i) the Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which,
in the Agent’s opinion, would expose the Agent to liability or create any
obligations or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens
without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner
discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any Lien upon (or obligations
of
any Loan Party in respect of) all interests in the Collateral retained by
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) The
Agent
shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Lender to assure that the Collateral
exists or is owned by the Loan Parties or is cared for, protected or insured
or
has been encumbered or that the Lien granted to the Agent pursuant to this
Agreement or any other Loan Document has been properly or sufficiently or
lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or is entitled to any
particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under
any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of
the
rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Agent in this
Section
10.08
or in
any other Loan Document, it being understood and agreed that in respect of
the
Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, the Agent may act
in
any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion, given the Agent’s
own interest in the Collateral as one of the Lenders and that the Agent shall
have no duty or liability whatsoever to any other Lender, except as otherwise
provided herein.
Section
10.09 Agency
for Perfection.
Each
Lender hereby appoints the Agent and each other Lender as agent and bailee
for
the purpose of perfecting the security interests in and liens upon the
Collateral in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform
Commercial Code, can be perfected only by possession or control (or where the
security interest of a secured party with possession or control has priority
over the security interest of another secured party) and the Agent and each
Lender hereby acknowledges that it holds possession of or otherwise controls
any
such Collateral for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders as secured party.
Should any Lender obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such
Lender shall notify the Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Agent’s request
therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Agent or in accordance with the
Agent’s instructions. In addition, the Agent shall also have the power and
authority hereunder to appoint such other sub-agents as may be necessary or
required under applicable state law or otherwise to perform its duties and
enforce its rights with respect to the Collateral and under the Loan Documents.
Borrower by
its
execution and delivery of this Agreement hereby consents to the
foregoing.
68
ARTICLE
XI
SECURED
GUARANTY
Section
11.01 Guaranty.
Each
Guarantor hereby jointly and severally and unconditionally and irrevocably
guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter
existing under any Loan Document, whether for principal, interest (including,
without limitation, all interest that accrues after the commencement of any
Insolvency Proceeding of the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing
interest is allowed in such Insolvency Proceeding), fees, commissions, expense
reimbursements, indemnifications or otherwise (such obligations, to the extent
not paid by the Borrower, being the “Guaranteed Obligations”), and agrees to pay
any and all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred
by the Agent and the Lenders in enforcing any rights under the guaranty set
forth in this ARTICLE XI. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
each
Guarantor’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the
Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by the Borrower to the Agent and the
Lenders under any Loan Document but for the fact that they are unenforceable
or
not allowable due to the existence of an Insolvency Proceeding involving
the
Borrower.
Each
Guarantor’s obligations in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be
secured by Liens on the assets of such Guarantor in accordance with the Loan
Documents.
Section
11.02 Guaranty
Absolute.
Each
Guarantor jointly and severally guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations
will
be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, regardless
of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction
affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Agent or the Lenders with
respect thereto. Each Guarantor agrees that this ARTICLE XI constitutes a
guaranty of payment when due and not of collection and waives any right to
require that any resort be made by the Agent or any Lender to any Collateral.
The obligations of each Guarantor under this ARTICLE XI are independent of
the
Guaranteed Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and
prosecuted against each Guarantor to enforce such obligations, irrespective
of
whether any action is brought against any Loan Party or whether any Loan Party
is joined in any such action or actions. The liability of each Guarantor under
this ARTICLE XI shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective
of, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now or
hereafter have in any way relating to, any or all of the following:
(a) any
lack
of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any agreement or
instrument relating thereto;
(b) any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of,
all
or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or
any
consent to departure from any Loan Document, including, without limitation,
any
increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from the extension of
additional credit to any Loan Party or otherwise;
(c) any
taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral, or any taking,
release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other
guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
69
(d) the
existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that any Guarantor
may
have at any time against any Person, including, without limitation, the Agent
or
any Lender;
(e) any
change, restructuring or termination of the corporate, limited liability company
or partnership structure or existence of any Loan Party; or
(f) any
other
circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or
any
existence of or reliance on any representation by the Agent or any Lender that
might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan
Party or any other guarantor or surety.
This
ARTICLE XI shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may
be,
if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded
or
must otherwise be returned by the Agent or any Lender or any other Person upon
the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise,
all
as though such payment had not been made.
Section
11.03 Waiver.
Each
Guarantor hereby waives (i) promptness and diligence, (ii) notice of
acceptance and any other notice with respect to any of the Guaranteed
Obligations and this ARTICLE XI and any requirement that the Agent or any Lender
exhaust any right or take any action against any Loan Party, any other Person
or
any Collateral, (iii) any right to compel or direct the Agent or any Lender
to seek payment or recovery of any amounts owed under this ARTICLE XI from
any
one particular fund or source or to exhaust any right or take any action against
any other Loan Party, any other Person or any Collateral, (iv) any requirement
that the Agent or any Lender protect, secure, perfect or insure any security
interest or Lien on any property subject thereto or exhaust any right to take
any action against any Loan Party, any other Person or any Collateral, and
(v)
any other defense available to any Guarantor. Each Guarantor agrees that the
Agent and the Lenders shall have no obligation to marshal any assets in favor
of
any Guarantor or against, or in payment of, any or all of the Obligations.
Each
Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from
the financing arrangements contemplated herein and that the waiver set forth
in
this Section
11.03
is
knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. Each Guarantor hereby waives
any right to revoke this ARTICLE XI, and acknowledges that this ARTICLE XI
is
continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing
now or in the future.
Section
11.04 Continuing
Guaranty; Assignments.
This
ARTICLE XI is a continuing guaranty and shall (a) remain in full force and
effect until the later of the cash payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations
(other than indemnification obligations as to which no claim has been made)
and
all other amounts payable under this ARTICLE XI and the Final Maturity Date,
(b)
be binding upon each Guarantor, its successors and assigns and (c) inure to
the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Agent and the Lenders and their successors,
pledgees, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing clause (c), any Lender may pledge, assign or otherwise transfer
all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all or any portion of its Commitments and the
Loan) to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested
with all the benefits in respect thereof granted such Lender herein or
otherwise, in each case as provided in Section
12.07.
70
Section
11.05 Subrogation.
No
Guarantor will exercise any rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against
any Loan Party or any other guarantor that arise from the existence, payment,
performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under this ARTICLE
XI, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement,
exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in
any
claim or remedy of the Agent or any Lender against any Loan Party or any other
guarantor or any Collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises
in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without
limitation, the right to take or receive from any Loan Party or any other
guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off
or in
any other manner, payment or security solely on account of such claim, remedy
or
right, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts
payable under this ARTICLE XI shall have been paid in full in cash and the
Final
Maturity Date shall have occurred. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor
in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the
later of the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations and all
other
amounts payable under this ARTICLE XI and the Final Maturity Date, such amount
shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders and shall
forthwith be paid to the Agent and the Lenders to be credited and applied to
the
Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this ARTICLE XI,
whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
or
to be held as Collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other amounts payable
under this ARTICLE XI thereafter arising. If (i) any Guarantor shall make
payment to the Agent and the Lenders of all or any part of the Guaranteed
Obligations, (ii) all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts
payable under this ARTICLE XI shall be paid in full in cash and (iii) the
Final Maturity Date shall have occurred, the Agent and the Lenders will, at
such
Guarantor’s request and expense, execute and deliver to such Guarantor
appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty,
necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an
interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment by such
Guarantor.
ARTICLE
XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
12.01 Notices,
Etc.
All
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
and
shall be mailed (certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested),
telecopied or delivered by hand, Federal Express or other reputable overnight
courier, if to any Loan Party, at the following address:
Composite
Technology Corporation
0000
XxXxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Telecopier:
000-000-0000
71
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxx LLP
00000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Hong, Esq.
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Telecopier:
000-000-0000
if
to the
Agent, to it at the following address:
ACF
CTC,
L.L.C.
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxx
Telephone:
212-319-2775 ext. 31
Telecopier:
000-000-0000
with
copies to:
ACF
CTC,
L.L.C.
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Telecopier:
000-000-0000
and
to:
Xxxxx
Xxxx LLP
000
X.
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xx.
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Telecopier:
000-000-0000
or,
as to
each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a
written notice to the other parties complying as to delivery with the terms
of
this Section
12.01.
All
such notices and other communications shall be effective, (i) if mailed
(certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested), when received
or
3 days after deposited in the mails, whichever occurs first, (ii) if telecopied,
when transmitted and confirmation received, or (iii) if delivered by hand,
Federal Express or other reputable overnight courier, upon delivery, except
that
notices to the Agent pursuant to ARTICLE
II
shall
not be effective until received by the Agent.
72
Section
12.02 Amendments,
Etc.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall
in
any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Required Lenders or by the Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders,
and
then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and
for the specific purpose for which given, provided,
however,
that no
amendment, waiver or consent shall (i) increase the Commitment of any
Lender, reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loan payable to any Lender,
reduce the amount of any fee payable for the account of any Lender, or postpone
or extend any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest or fees
on, the Loan payable to any Lender, in each case without the written consent
of
any Lender affected thereby, (ii) increase the Total Commitment without the
written consent of each Lender, (iii) change the percentage of the Commitments
or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loan that is required for
the
Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder, (iv) amend the definition
of “Required Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share”, (v) release all or a substantial
portion of the Collateral (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents) or subordinate any Lien granted in favor of the Agent
for the benefit of the Lenders (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents), or release the Borrower or any Guarantor or
(vi) amend, modify or waive Section
4.04
or this
Section
12.02
of this
Agreement, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless
in
writing and signed by the Agent, affect the rights or duties of the Agent (but
not in its capacity as a Lender) under this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents.
Section
12.03 No
Waiver; Remedies, Etc.
No
failure on the part of the Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate
as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right
under
any Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right. The rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders
provided herein and in the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are in
addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law.
The
rights of the Agent and the Lenders under any Loan Document against any party
thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by the Agent and the
Lenders to exercise any of their rights under any other Loan Document against
such party or against any other Person.
73
Section
12.04 Expenses;
Taxes; Attorneys’ Fees.
The
Borrower will pay on demand, all costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf
of
the Agent (and, in the case of clauses (b) through (m) below, each Lender),
regardless of whether the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated,
including, without limitation, reasonable fees, costs, client charges and
expenses of counsel for the Agent, accounting, due diligence, periodic field
audits, physical counts, valuations, investigations, searches and filings,
monitoring of assets, appraisals of Collateral, title searches and reviewing
environmental assessments, miscellaneous disbursements, examination, travel,
lodging and meals, arising from or relating to: (a) the negotiation,
preparation, execution, delivery, performance and administration of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the
preparation of any additional Loan Documents pursuant to Section
7.01(b)
or the
review of any of the agreements, instruments and documents referred to in
Section
7.01(f)),
(b) any requested amendments, waivers or consents to this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents whether or not such documents become effective or are
given, (c) the preservation and protection of the Agent’s or any of the
Lenders’ rights under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (d) the
defense of any claim or action asserted or brought against the Agent or any
Lender by any Person that arises from or relates to this Agreement, any other
Loan Document, the Agent’s or the Lenders’ claims against any Loan Party, or any
and all matters in connection therewith, (e) the commencement or defense of,
or
intervention in, any court proceeding arising from or related to this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, (f) the filing of any petition, complaint,
answer, motion or other pleading by the Agent or any Lender, or the taking
of
any action in respect of the Collateral or other security, in connection with
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (g) the protection, collection,
lease, sale, taking possession of or liquidation of, any Collateral or other
security in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (h)
any
attempt to enforce any Lien or security interest in any Collateral or other
security in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (i)
any
attempt to collect from any Loan Party, (j) all liabilities and costs arising
from or in connection with the past, present or future operations of any Loan
Party involving any damage to real or personal property or natural resources
or
harm or injury alleged to have resulted from any Release of Hazardous Materials
on, upon or into such property, (k) any Environmental Liabilities and Costs
incurred in connection with the investigation, removal, cleanup and/or
remediation of any Hazardous Materials present or arising out of the operations
of any facility of any Loan Party, (l) any Environmental Liabilities and Costs
incurred in connection with any Environmental Lien, or (m) the receipt by the
Agent or any Lender of any advice from professionals with respect to any of
the
foregoing. Without limitation of the foregoing or any other provision of any
Loan Document: (x) the Borrower agrees to pay all stamp, document, transfer,
recording or filing taxes or fees and similar impositions now or hereafter
determined by the Agent or any Lender to be payable in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, and the Borrower agrees to save the Agent
and each Lender harmless from and against any and all present or future claims,
liabilities or losses with respect to or resulting from any omission to pay
or
delay in paying any such taxes, fees or impositions, (y) the Borrower agrees
to
pay all broker fees that may become due in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (other than broker
fees in connection with the exercise of the Warrants), and (z) if the Borrower
fails to perform any covenant or agreement contained herein or in any other
Loan
Document, the Agent may itself perform or cause performance of such covenant
or
agreement, and the expenses of the Agent incurred in connection therewith shall
be reimbursed on demand by the Borrower.
All fees
and expenses subject to reimbursement incurred prior to the Effective Date
shall
be no greater than $200,000 without Borrower’s written approval.
Section
12.05 Right
of Set-off.
Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Agent
or
any Lender may, and is hereby authorized to, at any time and from time to time,
without notice to any Loan Party (any such notice being expressly waived by
the
Loan Parties) and to the fullest extent permitted by law, set off and apply
any
and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final)
at
any time held and other Indebtedness at any time owing by the Agent or such
Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and
all
obligations of the Loan Parties either now or hereafter existing under any
Loan
Document, irrespective of whether or not the Agent or such Lender shall have
made any demand hereunder or thereunder and although such obligations may be
contingent or unmatured. The Agent and each Lender agrees to notify such Loan
Party promptly after any such set-off and application made by the Agent or
such
Lender provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such set-off and application.
The
rights of the Agent and the Lenders under this Section
12.05
are in
addition to the other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off)
which the Agent and the Lenders may have under this Agreement or any other
Loan
Documents of law or otherwise.
74
Section
12.06 Severability.
Any
provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions
hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any
other jurisdiction.
Section
12.07 Assignments
and Participations.
(a) This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of each Loan Party and the Agent and each Lender and their respective
successors and assigns; provided,
however,
that
none of the Loan parties may assign or transfer any of its rights hereunder
without the prior written consent of each Lender and any such assignment without
the Lenders’ prior written consent shall be null and void.
(b) Each
Lender may assign to one or more other lenders or other entities all or a
portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loan made by it);
provided,
however,
that
(i) such assignment is in an amount which is at least $1,000,000 or a multiple
of $100,000 in excess thereof (or the remainder of such Lender’s Commitment)
(except such minimum amount shall not apply to an assignment by a Lender to
(x) an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender or (y) a
group of new Lenders, each of whom is an Affiliate or Related Fund of each
other
to the extent the aggregate amount to be assigned to all such new Lenders is
at
least $1,000,000 or a multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof), (ii) the
parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for
its
acceptance, an Assignment and Acceptance, and such parties shall deliver to
the
Agent a processing and recordation fee of $5,000 (except the payment of such
fee
shall not be required in connection with an assignment by a Lender to an
Affiliate of such Lender or Related Fund of such Lender), and
(iii) no
written consent of the Agent shall be required in connection with any assignment
by a Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender.
Upon
such
execution, delivery and acceptance, from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment and Acceptance, which effective date shall be at least 3
Business Days after the delivery thereof to the Agent (or such shorter period
as
shall be agreed to by the Agent and the parties to such assignment), (A) the
assignee thereunder shall become a “Lender” hereunder and, in addition to the
rights and obligations hereunder held by it immediately prior to such effective
date, have the rights and obligations hereunder that have been assigned to
it
pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and (B) the assigning Lender
thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have
been
assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights
and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case
of
an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an
assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender
shall cease to be a party hereto).
Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in this Section
12.07(b),
a
Lender may assign any or all of its rights under the Loan Documents to an
Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender without delivering
an
Assignment and Acceptance to the Agent; provided, that (x) the Borrower and
the
Agent may continue to deal solely and directly with such assigning Lender in
connection with the interest so assigned until such Lender and its assignee
shall have executed and delivered an Assignment and Acceptance to the Agent
for
recordation and (y) the failure of such assigning Lender to deliver an
Assignment and Acceptance to the Agent or any other Person shall not affect
the
legality, validity or binding effect of such assignment.
75
(c) By
executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender
and
the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other
parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment
and Acceptance, the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and
assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or
representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished
pursuant hereto; (ii) the assigning Lender makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition
of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or the performance or observance
by
any Loan Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other
Loan
Document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it
has received a copy of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together
with such other documents and information it has deemed appropriate to make
its
own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance;
(iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the
assigning Lender, the Agent or any Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents; (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent
to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent by
the
terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
hereto and thereto; and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in
accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as
a
Lender.
(d) The
Agent
shall, on behalf of the Borrower, maintain, or cause to be maintained at the
Payment Office, a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and
accepted by it and a register (the “Register”)
for
the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitments
of, and principal amount of the Loan (the “Registered
Loans”)
owing
to each Lender from time to time. Other than in connection with an assignment
by
a Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender, the
entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall treat each
Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all
purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection
by
the Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
In the
case of any assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related
Fund of such Lender, and which assignment is not recorded in the Register,
the
assigning Lender shall maintain a register comparable to the
Register.
(e) Upon
its
receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and
an
assignee, together with any promissory notes subject to such assignment, the
Agent shall, if the Agent consents to such assignment and if such Assignment
and
Acceptance has been completed (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance and
(ii) record the information contained therein in the Register.
76
(f) A
Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may
be
assigned or sold in whole or in part only by registration of such assignment
or
sale on the Register (or in the case of any assignment by a Lender to an
Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender, and which assignment
is not recorded in the Register, a register comparable to the Register) (and
each registered note shall expressly so provide). Any assignment or sale of
all
or part of such Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing
the
same) may be effected only by registration of such assignment or sale on the
Register (or in the case of any assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate of such
Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender, and which assignment is not recorded
in
the Register, a register comparable to the Register), together with the
surrender of the registered note, if any, evidencing the same duly endorsed
by
(or accompanied by a written instrument of assignment or sale duly executed
by)
the holder of such registered note, whereupon, at the request of the designated
assignee(s) or transferee(s), one or more new registered notes in the same
aggregate principal amount shall be issued to the designated assignee(s) or
transferee(s). Prior to the registration of assignment or sale of any Registered
Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) on the Register,
the
Agent shall treat the Person in whose name such Registered Loan (and the
registered note, if any, evidencing the same) is registered as the owner thereof
for the purpose of receiving all payments thereon and for all other purposes,
notwithstanding notice to the contrary.
(g) In
the
event that any Lender sells participations in a Registered Loan, such Lender
shall maintain a register on which it enters the name of all participants in
the
Registered Loans held by it (the “Participant
Register”).
A
Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may
be
participated in whole or in part only by registration of such participation
on
the Participant Register (and each registered note shall expressly so provide).
Any participation of such Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any,
evidencing the same) may be effected only by the registration of such
participation on the Participant Register.
(h) Any
foreign Person who purchases or is assigned or participates in any portion
of
such Registered Loan shall comply with Section 2.08(d).
(i) Each
Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities in or
to
all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its
Commitments and the Loans made by it); provided, that (i) such Lender’s
obligations under this Agreement (including without limitation, its Commitments
hereunder) and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged; (ii) such Lender
shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance
of such obligations, and the Borrower, the Agent and the other Lenders shall
continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents; and (iii) a participant shall not be entitled to require such Lender
to take or omit to take any action hereunder except (A) action directly
effecting an extension of the maturity dates or decrease in the principal amount
of the Loan, (B) action directly effecting an extension of the due dates or
a
decrease in the rate of interest payable on the Loan or the fees payable under
this Agreement, or (C) actions directly effecting a release of all or a
substantial portion of the Collateral or any Loan Party (except as set forth
in
Section
10.08
of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document). The Loan Parties Agree that each
participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section
2.08
and
Section
4.05
of this
Agreement with respect to its participation in any portion of the Commitments
and the Loan as if it was a Lender.
77
(j) In
the
event (i) any Lender delivers to the Borrower any notice in accordance with
Section 2.08(c) or 4.05(b), (ii) any Lender defaults in its obligations to
fund
a Revolving Loan pursuant to this Agreement, or (iii) any Lender (a
“Non-Consenting
Lender”)
refuses to consent to an amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement
that, pursuant to Section 12.02, requires the consent of all of the Lenders
or
all of the Lenders directly affected thereby, then, provided that no Default
or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time, the Borrowers
may,
at their own expense (such expense to include any transfer fee payable to the
Agent under Section 12.07(b)), require such Lender to transfer and assign in
whole or in part, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the terms
and conditions of Section 12.07), all or part of its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement to any assignee which shall assume such
assigned obligations, provided that (A) such assignee shall be acceptable to
the
Agent, (B) such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation
or order of any court or other Governmental Authority, (C) the Borrowers or
such
assignee shall have paid to the assigning Lender in immediately available funds
the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the Loan
made by it hereunder and all other amounts owed to it hereunder (including,
without limitation, any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.08(c) or 4.05(b))
and (D) in the event such Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, each assignee
shall
consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which
such
Lender was a Non-Consenting Lender and the Borrowers also require each other
Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender to assign its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement.
Section
12.08 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
Delivery
of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier or electronic
transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed
counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart
of
this Agreement by telecopier or electronic transmission also shall deliver
an
original executed counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver
an
original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability,
and
binding effect of this Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Loan
Document mutatis mutandis.
Section
12.09 GOVERNING
LAW.
THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE
CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT) SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
78
Section
12.10 CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE.
ANY
LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN XXX XXXXXX XX XXX XXXXX XX XXX XXXX IN THE COUNTY
OF
NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
NEW
YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY,
THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.
EACH
LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE
OF
NEW YORK AS ITS AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION
OR
PROCEEDING AND FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF
ANY
OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS AND IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING
OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE
BORROWER AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 12.01
AND TO
THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME
EFFECTIVE 10 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. THE LOAN PARTIES AGREE THAT A FINAL
JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE
ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER
PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT AND THE
LENDERS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO
COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN ANY
OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES,
TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER
HAVE TO THE JURISDICTION OR 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. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY LOAN PARTY HAS OR
HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY
LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT,
ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS
PROPERTY, EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT
OF
ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
Section
12.11 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. EACH
LOAN
PARTY,
THE
AGENT AND EACH LENDER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM CONCERNING ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR UNDER ANY AMENDMENT, WAIVER, CONSENT, INSTRUMENT,
DOCUMENT OR OTHER AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH IN THE FUTURE MAY BE DELIVERED
IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH, OR ARISING FROM ANY FINANCING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDINGS
OR
COUNTERCLAIM SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY. EACH
LOAN
PARTY
CERTIFIES THAT NO OFFICER, REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE AGENT OR
ANY
LENDER HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER
WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM, SEEK TO
ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS. EACH
LOAN
PARTY
HEREBY
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE AGENT AND
THE
LENDERS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
79
Section
12.12 Consent
by the Agent and Lenders.
Except
as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any other Loan Document to the
contrary, if the consent, approval, satisfaction, determination, judgment,
acceptance or similar action (an “Action”)
of the
Agent or any Lender shall be permitted or required pursuant to any provision
hereof or any provision of any other agreement to which any Loan Party is a
party and to which the Agent or any Lender has succeeded thereto, such Action
shall be required to be in writing and may be withheld or denied by the Agent
or
such Lender, in its sole discretion, with or without any reason, and without
being subject to question or challenge on the grounds that such Action was
not
taken in good faith.
Section
12.13 No
Party Deemed Drafter.
Each of
the parties hereto agrees that no party hereto shall be deemed to be the drafter
of this Agreement.
Section
12.14 Reinstatement;
Certain Payments.
If any
claim is ever made upon the Agent or any Lender for repayment or recovery of
any
amount or amounts received by the Agent or such Lender in payment or on account
of any of the Obligations, the Agent or such Lender shall give prompt notice
of
such claim to each other Lender and the Borrower, and if the Agent or such
Lender repays all or part of such amount by reason of (i) any judgment,
decree or order of any court or administrative body having jurisdiction over
the
Agent or such Lender or any of its property, or (ii) any good faith
settlement or compromise of any such claim effected by the Agent or such Lender
with any such claimant, then and in such event each Loan Party agrees that
(A)
any such judgment, decree, order, settlement or compromise shall be binding
upon
it notwithstanding the cancellation of any Indebtedness hereunder or under
the
other Loan Documents or the termination of this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents, and (B) it shall be and remain liable to the Agent or such
Lender hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as
if
such amount had never originally been received by the Agent or such
Lender.
Section
12.15 Indemnification.
(a) General
Indemnity.
In
addition to each Loan Party’s other Obligations under this Agreement, each Loan
Party agrees to, jointly and severally, defend, protect, indemnify and hold
harmless the Agent and each Lender and all of their respective officers,
directors, employees, attorneys, consultants and agents (collectively called
the “Indemnitees”)
from
and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties,
fees, reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) incurred by such Indemnitees, whether prior
to or from and after the Effective Date, whether direct, indirect or
consequential, as a result of or arising from or relating to or in connection
with any of the following: (i) the negotiation, preparation, execution or
performance or enforcement of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or of
any
other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement, (ii) the Agent’s or any Lender’s furnishing of funds to the
Borrower under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, including, without
limitation, the management of the Loan, (iii) any matter relating to the
financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents or by any document executed in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or (iv) any
claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing,
whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto (collectively,
the “Indemnified
Matters”);
provided,
however,
that
the Loan Parties shall not have any obligation to any Indemnitee under this
subsection (a) for any Indemnified Matter caused by the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, as determined by a final judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction.
No
Indemnitee shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract,
tort or otherwise) to Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their
respective security holders or creditors, for or in connection with the
financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement or other Loan Documents,
except for direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or
punitive damages, including, without limitation, any loss of profits, business
or anticipated savings) determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a
court
of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnitee’s willful
misconduct.
80
(b) Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnitee hereunder of notice of the commencement of any
action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be
made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party
in
writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to such indemnified party other
than under this Section 12.13 and shall only relieve it from any liability
which
it may have to such indemnified party under this Section 12.13, except and
only
if and to the extent the indemnifying party is prejudiced by such omission.
In
case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it
shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate in [and, to the extent it shall wish,
to
assume and undertake the defense thereof] with counsel satisfactory to such
indemnified party, and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense
thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party
under this Section 12.13 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, provided, however,
that, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party
and the indemnifying party and counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying
party shall have reasonably concluded that the interests of the indemnified
party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the
indemnifying party, the indemnified parties, as a group, shall have the right
to
select one separate counsel and to assume such legal defenses and otherwise
to
participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and
fees
of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such participation to
be
reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. The indemnifying party shall
not be liable for any settlement of any action or claim under this Section
12.13
without its written consent which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed.
(c) The
indemnification for all of the foregoing losses, damages, fees, costs and
expenses of the Indemnitees are chargeable against the Loan Account. To the
extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in
this Section
12.15
may be
unenforceable because it is violative of any law or public policy, each Loan
Party shall, jointly and severally, contribute the maximum portion which it
is
permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law, to the payment and
satisfaction of all Indemnified Matters incurred by the Indemnitees. The
indemnities set forth in this Section
12.15
shall
survive the repayment of the Obligations and discharge of any Liens granted
under the Loan Documents.
81
Section
12.16 Records.
The
unpaid principal of and interest on the Loan, the interest rate or rates
applicable to such unpaid principal and interest, the duration of such
applicability, the Commitments, and the accrued and unpaid fees payable pursuant
to Section
2.06
hereof,
including, without limitation, the Closing Fee, and the Interest Yield
Protection Amount, shall at all times be ascertained from the records of the
Agent, which shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.
Section
12.17 Binding
Effect.
This
Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by each Loan
Party, the Agent and each Lender and when the conditions precedent set forth
in
Section
5.01
hereof
have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Agent, and thereafter shall
be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Loan Party, the Agent and each
Lender, and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Loan
Parties shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest
herein without the prior written consent of the Agent and each Lender, and
any
assignment by any Lender shall be governed by Section
12.07
hereof.
Section
12.18 Interest.
It is
the intention of the parties hereto that the Agent and each Lender shall conform
strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions
contemplated hereby or by any other Loan Document would be usurious as to the
Agent or any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the
United States of America and the State of New York or any other jurisdiction
whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to the Agent or such Lender
notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that event,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for
the
Obligations, it is agreed as follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration
which constitutes interest under law applicable to the Agent or any Lender
that
is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by the Agent or such
Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or agreements or
otherwise in connection with the Obligations shall under no circumstances exceed
the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, any excess shall be canceled
automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by the Agent or such
Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the
principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid
in
full, refunded by the Agent or such Lender, as applicable, to the Borrower);
and
(ii) in the event that the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated by reason
of any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event
of
any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes
interest under law applicable to the Agent or any Lender may never include
more
than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess interest,
if
any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be canceled automatically
by the Agent or such Lender, as applicable, as of the date of such acceleration
or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by the Agent or such
Lender, as applicable, on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the
extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would
thereby be paid in full, refunded by the Agent or such Lender to the Borrower).
All sums paid or agreed to be paid to the Agent or any Lender for the use,
forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted
by
law applicable to the Agent or such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated
and spread throughout the full term of the Loan until payment in full so that
the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loan hereunder does not exceed
the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law. If at any time and from
time
to time (x) the amount of interest payable to the Agent or any Lender on any
date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to the Agent or
such Lender pursuant to this Section
12.18
and
(y) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of
interest otherwise payable to the Agent or such Lender would be less than the
amount of interest payable to the Agent or such Lender computed at the Highest
Lawful Rate applicable to the Agent or such Lender, then the amount of interest
payable to the Agent or such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest
computation period shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate
applicable to the Agent or such Lender until the total amount of interest
payable to the Agent or such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest
which would have been payable to the Agent or such Lender if the total amount
of
interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section
12.18.
82
For
purposes of this Section
12.18,
the
term “applicable law” shall mean that law in effect from time to time and
applicable to the loan transaction between the Borrower, on the one hand, and
the Agent and the Lenders, on the other, that lawfully permits the charging
and
collection of the highest permissible, lawful non-usurious rate of interest
on
such loan transaction and this Agreement, including laws of the State of New
York and, to the extent controlling, laws of the United States of America.
The
right
to accelerate the maturity of the Obligations does not include the right to
accelerate any interest that has not accrued as of the date of
acceleration.
Section
12.19 Confidentiality.
The
Agent and each Lender agrees (on behalf of itself and each of its affiliates,
directors, officers, employees and representatives) to use reasonable
precautions to keep confidential, in accordance with its customary procedures
for handling confidential information of this nature and in accordance with
safe
and sound practices of comparable commercial finance companies, any non-public
information supplied to it by the Loan Parties pursuant to this Agreement or
the
other Loan Documents which is identified in writing by the Loan Parties as
being
confidential at the time the same is delivered to such Person (and which at
the
time is not, and does not thereafter become, publicly available or available
to
such Person from another source not known to be subject to a confidentiality
obligation to such Person not to disclose such information), provided
that
nothing herein shall limit the disclosure of any such information (i) to
the extent required by statute, rule, regulation or judicial process,
(ii) to counsel for the Agent or any Lender, (iii) in connection with
any litigation to which the Agent or any Lender is a party or (iv) to any
assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) so long as
such
assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) first agrees,
in writing, to be bound by confidentiality provisions similar in substance
to
this Section
12.19.
The
Agent and each Lender agrees that, upon receipt of a request or identification
of the requirement for disclosure pursuant to clause (iv) hereof, it will
make reasonable efforts to keep the Loan Parties informed of such request or
identification; provided
that
each Loan Party acknowledges that the Agent and each Lender may make disclosure
as required or requested by any Governmental Authority or representative thereof
and that the Agent and each Lender may be subject to review by regulatory
agencies and may be required to provide to, or otherwise make available for
review by, the representatives of such parties or agencies any such non-public
information.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, this Section 12.19 shall survive
the
disclosure of the confidential information described herein for a period of
one
year. Neither the Agent, any Lender nor any Affiliate of the Agent or any
Lender which
(x)
had knowledge of the transactions contemplated hereby, (y) has or shares
discretion relating to Agent or such Lender’s investments or trading or
information concerning Agent or such Lender’s investments, including in respect
of the Loan Parties' equity securities, or (z) is subject to Agent or such
Lender’s review or input concerning such Affiliate’s investments or trading
(collectively, “Trading
Affiliates”)
shall effect or agree to effect any transactions in the equity securities
of any of the Loan Parties (including, without limitation, any short sales)
upon
receipt of material, non-public confidential information of any of the Loan
Parties in violation of applicable securities laws.
83
Section
12.20 Integration.
This
Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, reflects the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by any other agreement, oral
or written, before the date hereof.
[REMAINDER
OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
84
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above
written.
BORROWER:
|
|||||
COMPOSITE
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
GUARANTORS:
|
|||||
CTC
CABLE CORPORATION
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
TRANSMISSION
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
CTC
TOWERS & POLES CORPORATION
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
XXXXXX,
INC.
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
EU
ENERGY INC.
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
EU
ENERGY NORTH AMERICA, INC
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Name:
|
|||||
Title:
|
|||||
AGENT
AND LENDER:
|
|||||
ACF
CTC, L.L.C.
|
|||||
as
Agent
|
|||||
By:
|
|||||
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
|
||||
Authorized
Representative
|
|
Dated
as of May 5, 2008
by
and among
EACH
SUBSIDIARY OF BORROWER LISTED AS A GUARANTOR ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES
HERETO,
as
Guarantors,
COMPOSITE
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION,
as
Borrower,
THE
LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
as
Lenders,
and
ACF
CTC, L.L.C.,
as
Agent
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS |
1
|
|||
Section
1.01
|
Definitions
|
1
|
||
Section
1.02
|
Terms
Generally
|
18
|
||
Section
1.03
|
Accounting
and Other Terms
|
18
|
||
Section
1.04
|
Time
References
|
18
|
||
ARTICLE
II THE LOAN
|
18
|
|||
Section
2.01
|
Commitments
|
18
|
||
Section
2.02
|
Making
the Loan
|
19
|
||
Section
2.03
|
Repayment
of Loan; Evidence of Debt
|
19
|
||
Section
2.04
|
Interest
|
20
|
||
Section
2.05
|
Reduction
of Commitment; Prepayment of Loan
|
21
|
||
Section
2.06
|
Closing
Fee
|
22
|
||
Section
2.07
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
22
|
||
Section
2.08
|
Taxes
|
22
|
||
ARTICLE
III TERM; TERMINATION
|
24
|
|||
Section
3.01
|
Term
|
24
|
||
Section
3.02
|
Effect
of Termination
|
24
|
||
Section
3.03
|
Early
Termination by Borrower
|
25
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
IV FEES, PAYMENTS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
|
25
|
|||
Section
4.01
|
Audit
and Collateral Monitoring Fees
|
25
|
||
Section
4.02
|
Payments
and Computations
|
25
|
||
Section
4.03
|
Sharing
of Payments, Etc
|
26
|
||
Section
4.04
|
Apportionment
of Payments
|
26
|
||
Section
4.05
|
Increased
Costs and Reduced Return
|
27
|
||
ARTICLE
V CONDITIONS TO LOAN
|
28
|
|||
Section
5.01
|
Conditions
Precedent to Effectiveness
|
28
|
||
Section
5.02
|
Conditions
Subsequent to Effectiveness
|
32
|
||
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
33
|
|||
Section
6.01
|
Loan
Party Representations and Warranties
|
33
|
||
Section
6.02
|
Agent
and Lender Representations and Warranties
|
42
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
VII COVENANTS OF THE LOAN PARTIES
|
43
|
|||
Section
7.01
|
Affirmative
Covenants
|
43
|
||
Section
7.02
|
Negative
Covenants
|
51
|
ARTICLE VIII MANAGEMENT, COLLECTION AND STATUS OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER COLLATERAL |
57
|
|||
Section
8.01
|
Collection
of Accounts Receivable; Management of Collateral
|
57
|
||
Section
8.02
|
Accounts
Receivable Documentation
|
59
|
||
Section
8.03
|
Status
of Accounts Receivable and Other Collateral
|
59
|
||
Section
8.04
|
Collateral
Custodian
|
60
|
||
|
|
|||
ARTICLE
IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
60
|
|||
Section
9.01
|
Events
of Default
|
60
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE
X AGENT
|
64
|
|||
Section
10.01
|
Appointment
|
64
|
||
Section
10.02
|
Nature
of Duties
|
65
|
||
Section
10.03
|
Rights,
Exculpation, Etc
|
65
|
||
Section
10.04
|
Reliance
|
66
|
||
Section
10.05
|
Indemnification
|
66
|
||
Section
10.06
|
Agent
Individually
|
66
|
||
Section
10.07
|
Successor
Agent
|
66
|
||
Section
10.08
|
Collateral
Matters
|
67
|
||
Section
10.09
|
Agency
for Perfection
|
68
|
||
|
|
|||
ARTICLE
XI SECURED GUARANTY
|
69
|
|||
Section
11.01
|
Guaranty
|
69
|
||
Section
11.02
|
Guaranty
Absolute
|
69
|
||
Section
11.03
|
Waiver
|
70
|
||
Section
11.04
|
Continuing
Guaranty; Assignments
|
70
|
||
Section
11.05
|
Subrogation
|
71
|
||
|
||||
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS |
71
|
|||
Section
12.01
|
Notices,
Etc
|
71
|
||
Section
12.02
|
Amendments,
Etc
|
73
|
||
Section
12.03
|
No
Waiver; Remedies, Etc
|
73
|
||
Section
12.04
|
Expenses;
Taxes; Attorneys’ Fees
|
74
|
||
Section
12.05
|
Right
of Set-off
|
74
|
||
Section
12.06
|
Severability
|
75
|
||
Section
12.07
|
Assignments
and Participations
|
75
|
||
Section
12.08
|
Counterparts
|
78
|
||
Section
12.09
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
78
|
||
Section
12.10
|
CONSENT
TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE
|
79
|
||
Section
12.11
|
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL, ETC
|
79
|
||
Section
12.12
|
Consent
by the Agent and Lenders
|
80
|
||
Section
12.13
|
No
Party Deemed Drafter
|
80
|
||
Section
12.14
|
Reinstatement;
Certain Payments
|
80
|
||
Section
12.15
|
Indemnification
|
80
|
||
Section
12.16
|
Records
|
82
|
||
Section
12.17
|
Binding
Effect
|
82
|
||
Section
12.18
|
Interest
|
82
|
||
Section
12.19
|
Confidentiality
|
83
|
||
Section
12.20
|
Integration
|
84
|
SCHEDULE
AND EXHIBITS
Schedule
1.01(A)
|
Lenders
and Lenders’ Commitments
|
Schedule
1.01(B)
|
Cable
Critical Vendors
|
Schedule
6.01(e)
|
Capitalization;
Subsidiaries
|
Schedule
6.01(f)
|
Litigation;
Commercial Tort Claims
|
Schedule
6.01(i)
|
ERISA
|
Schedule
6.01(o)
|
Real
Property
|
Schedule
6.01(q)
|
Operating
Lease Obligations
|
Schedule
6.01(r)
|
Environmental
Matters
|
Schedule
6.01(s)
|
Insurance
|
Schedule
6.01(v)
|
Bank
Accounts
|
Schedule
6.01(w)
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Schedule
6.01(x)
|
Material
Contracts
|
Schedule
6.01(bb)
|
Name;
Jurisdiction of Organization; Organizational ID Number; Chief Place
of
Business; Chief Executive Office; FEIN
|
Schedule
6.01(cc)
|
Tradenames
|
Schedule
6.01(dd)
|
Collateral
Locations
|
Schedule
6.01(jj)
|
Transfer
Pricing Policy
|
Schedule
7.02(a)
|
Existing
Liens
|
Schedule
7.02(b)
|
Existing
Indebtedness
|
Schedule
7.02(e)
|
Existing
Investments
|
Schedule
7.02(g)
|
Restricted
Payments
|
Schedule
7.02(j)
|
Limitations
on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions
|
Schedule
8.01
|
Lockbox
Banks and Lockbox Accounts
|
Exhibit
A
|
Form
of Security Agreement
|
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Pledge Agreement
|
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Joinder Agreement
|
Exhibit
D
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Opinion of Counsel
|
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Assignment and Acceptance
|
Exhibit
G
|
Form
of Contribution Agreement
|
Exhibit
H
|
Form
of Note
|
Exhibit
I
|
Initial
Cash Forecast
|
Exhibit
J
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
Schedule
1.01(A)
Lenders
and Lenders’ Commitments
Lender
|
Commitment
|
ACF
CTC, L.L.C.
|
$5,000,000
|
Total
Commitment
|
$5,000,000
|