JOINT AND SEVERAL GUARANTY
EXHIBIT 4.8(b)
THIS
JOINT AND SEVERAL GUARANTY, dated as of March 1, 2002 (as amended or restated from time to time, this “Guaranty”), by each of Xxxxx’x of Carolina LLC, Xxxxx’x Farms LLC, Xxxxxxx’x Foods LLC, Xxxxxxx’x
Foods of Virginia LLC, Xxxxxxx’x Realty, Inc., Xxxxxxx’x Realty Partnership, Central Plains Farms LLC, Circle Four LLC, Coddle Roasted Meats, Inc., Great Lakes Cattle Credit Company, LLC, Xxxxxxxx of Smithfield, Ltd., Xxxxxxx’x Old
Fashioned Country Ham, Inc., Iowa Quality Meats, Ltd., Xxxx Xxxxxxx & Co., Xxxxx Meat Group, Inc., Xxxxx Packing Company, Murco Foods, Inc., Xxxxxx-Xxxxx LLC, Xxxxxx Farms LLC, North Side Foods Corp., Packerland Holdings, Inc., Packerland
Processing Company, Inc., Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Incorporated, Premium Pork, Inc., Quarter M. Farms LLC, Quik-To-Fix Foods, Inc., SFFC, Inc., Smithfield-Xxxxxxx’x Farms, Smithfield Packing Real Estate, LLC, Xxxxxxx’x Country Hams, Inc., Sun Land
Beef Company, Sunnyland, Inc., The Smithfield Companies, Inc. and The Smithfield Packing Company, Incorporated (together with their respective successors and assigns, each, individually, a “Guarantor” and collectively, the
“Guarantors”), in favor of each of the Noteholders (as such term is hereinafter defined).
1. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
Smithfield Foods, Inc. (together with its
successors and assigns, the “Company”), a Virginia corporation, has authorized, pursuant to those certain Note Purchase Agreements (collectively, as may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Note Purchase
Agreement”), each dated as of March 1, 2002, entered into separately between the Company and, respectively, each of the purchasers of the Notes named on Annex 1 to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “Purchasers”),
the issuance of:
(a) $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its Reset Rate Series O 5/10
Year Senior Secured Notes (as said notes may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, together with any notes given in substitution for or replacement of said notes, the “Series O Notes”); and
(b) $30,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its Adjustable Rate Series P 5/10 Year Senior
Secured Notes (as said notes may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, together with any notes given in substitution for or replacement of said notes, the “Series P Notes”);
The Series O Notes and the Series P Notes are herein referred to, individually, as a “Note,” and collectively, as
the “Notes.”
1.1 As a condition to the issue and sale of
the Notes, the Company must cause each of its subsidiaries to execute this Guaranty, each unconditionally guaranteeing all of the obligations of the Company under or in respect of the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement pursuant to the terms and
provisions hereof.
1.2 The Guarantors and the Company are operated as
part of one consolidated business entity and are directly dependent upon each other for and in connection with their respective business activities and their respective financial resources. Each Guarantor will receive direct and indirect economic,
financial and other benefits from the indebtedness incurred under the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes by the Company, and under this Guaranty by such Guarantor, and the incurrence of such indebtedness is in the best interests of such
Guarantor.
1.3 All acts and proceedings required by law and by the certificates or
articles of incorporation, as the case may be, and bylaws (or other organizational or constitutive documents) of each Guarantor necessary to constitute this Guaranty a valid and binding agreement for the uses and purposes set forth herein in
accordance with its terms have been done and taken, and the execution and delivery hereof has been in all respects duly authorized by each Guarantor.
2. GUARANTY AND OTHER RIGHTS AND UNDERTAKINGS
2.1 Guarantied Obligations.
Each Guarantor, in consideration of
purchase of the Notes by the Purchasers, hereby irrevocably, unconditionally, absolutely, jointly and severally guarantees, on a continuing basis, to each Noteholder, as and for such Guarantor’s own debt, until final and indefeasible payment
has been made:
(a) the due and punctual payment by the Company of the
principal of, and interest, and the Make-Whole Amount (if any) on, the Notes at any time outstanding and the due and punctual payment of all other amounts payable, and all other indebtedness owing, by the Company to the Noteholders under the Note
Purchase Agreement and the Notes, in each case when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, pursuant to mandatory or optional prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise, all in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof
and thereof; it being the intent of each Guarantor that the guaranty set forth herein shall be a continuing guaranty of payment and not a guaranty of collection; and
(b) the punctual and faithful performance, keeping, observance, and fulfillment by the Company of all duties, agreements, covenants
and obligations of the Company contained in the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes.
All of the obligations set
forth in subsection (a) and subsection (b) of this Section 2.1 are referred to herein as the “Guarantied Obligations” and the guaranty thereof contained herein is referred to herein as the “Unconditional
Guaranty”. The Unconditional Guaranty is a primary, original and immediate obligation of each Guarantor and is an absolute, unconditional, continuing and irrevocable guaranty of payment and performance and shall remain in full force and
effect until the full, final and indefeasible payment of the Guarantied Obligations.
2.2 Performance Under the Note Purchase Agreement.
In the event the
Company fails to pay, perform, keep, observe, or fulfill any Guarantied Obligation in the manner provided in the Notes or in the Note Purchase Agreement, each of the
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Guarantors shall cause forthwith to be paid the moneys, or to be performed, kept, observed, or fulfilled each of such obligations, in respect of which such failure has occurred in accordance with
the terms and provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes. In furtherance of the foregoing, if an Event of Default shall exist, all of the Guarantied Obligations shall, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Note
Purchase Agreement for the acceleration of the maturity of the Notes, forthwith become due and payable without notice, regardless of whether the acceleration of the maturity of the Notes shall be stayed, enjoined, delayed or otherwise prevented.
2.3 Undertakings in Note Purchase Agreement.
Each of the Guarantors will comply with each of the undertakings of the Company in the Note Purchase Agreement in respect of which the
Company undertakes to cause the Guarantors (in their capacity as Guarantors and as Subsidiaries) to comply with such undertakings, as if such undertakings (as they apply to the Guarantors) were set forth at length herein as the undertakings of each
such Guarantor.
2.4 Releases.
Each of the Guarantors consents and agrees that, without any notice whatsoever to or by the Guarantors and without impairing, releasing, abating, deferring,
suspending, reducing, terminating or otherwise affecting the obligations of any of the Guarantors hereunder, each Noteholder, by action or inaction, may:
(a) compromise or settle, renew or extend the period of duration or the time for the payment, or discharge the performance of, or may
refuse to, or otherwise not, enforce, or may, by action or inaction, release all or any one or more parties to, any one or more of this Guaranty, the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, any other guaranty or any agreement or instrument related
thereto or hereto;
(b) assign, sell or transfer, or otherwise dispose of,
any one or more of the Notes;
(c) grant waivers, extensions, consents and
other indulgences of any kind whatsoever to the Company or any other guarantor in respect of any one or more of this Guaranty, the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, any other guaranty or any agreement or instrument related thereto or hereto;
(d) amend, modify or supplement in any manner whatsoever and at any time
(or from time to time) any one or more of the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement, any other guaranty or any agreement or instrument related thereto or hereto;
(e) release or substitute any one or more of the endorsers or guarantors of the Guarantied Obligations, whether parties hereto or
not; and
(f) sell, exchange, release, surrender or enforce, by action or
inaction, any Property at any time pledged or granted as security in respect of the Guarantied Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreements and instruments pursuant to
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which such Property was pledged or granted (as such agreements and instruments may be amended from time to time, and without any requirement of notice of such amendment to any Guarantor), whether
so pledged or granted by the Company, any Guarantor or another guarantor of the Company’s obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes, any other guaranty or any agreement or instrument related thereto or hereto.
2.5 Waivers.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Guarantors does hereby waive:
(a) any notice of
(i) acceptance of the Unconditional Guaranty;
(ii) any purchase of the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement, or the creation, existence or acquisition of any of the Guarantied Obligations, or the amount of the Guarantied Obligations, subject to
the Guarantors’ right to make inquiry of each Noteholder to ascertain the amount of the Guarantied Obligations owing to such Noteholder at any reasonable time, provided that the Guarantors will look solely to the Company for the
determination of the identities of the Noteholders;
(iii) any transfer of
Notes from one holder to another;
(iv) any adverse change in the financial
condition of the Company or any other fact that might increase, expand or affect any of the Guarantors’ risk hereunder;
(v) presentment for payment, demand, protest, and notice thereof as to the Notes or any other instrument;
(vi) any Default or Event of Default; and
(vii) any kind or nature whatsoever to which any of the Guarantors might otherwise be entitled, other than those specifically
required to be given to each of such Guarantors pursuant to the terms of this Guaranty;
(b) the right by statute or otherwise to require any Noteholder to institute suit against the Company, any Guarantor, or any other guarantor or to exhaust the rights and remedies of any Noteholder against the
Company, any Guarantor or any other guarantor, including, specifically (but not limited to) any rights such Guarantor might otherwise have had under Virginia Code Sections 49-25 and 49-26, et. seq. and N.C.G.S. Sections 26-7, et. seq. (and any
successor statute);
(c) the benefit of any stay (except in connection with
a pending appeal), valuation, appraisal, redemption or extension law now or at any time hereafter in force which, but for this waiver, might be applicable to any sale of Property of any Guarantor made under any judgment, order or decree based on
this Guaranty, and each Guarantor
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covenants that it will not at any time insist upon or plead, or in any manner claim or take the benefit or advantage of such law;
(d) any defense or objection to the absolute, primary, continuing nature, or the validity, enforceability or amount, of this
Unconditional Guaranty, including, without limitation, any defense based on (and the primary, continuing nature, and the validity, enforceability and amount, of the Unconditional Guaranty shall be unaffected by), any of the following:
(i) any change in future conditions;
(ii) any change of law;
(iii) any invalidity or irregularity with respect to the issuance or assumption of any obligations (including, without limitation,
the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes or any agreement or instrument related thereto or hereto) by the Company or any other Person;
(iv) the execution and delivery of any agreement at any time hereafter (including, without limitation, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes or any agreement or instrument
related thereto or hereto) of the Company or any other Person;
(v) the
genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Guarantied Obligations;
(vi) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any obligations by the Company or any Guarantor;
(vii) any creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, receivership or other insolvency proceeding of the Company or any Guarantor, or
sequestration or seizure of any Property of the Company or any Guarantor, or any merger, consolidation, reorganization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up or change in corporate constitution or corporate identity or loss of corporate identity of
the Company or any Guarantor;
(viii) any disability or other defense of
the Company or any Guarantor to payment and performance of all Guarantied Obligations other than the defense that the Guarantied Obligations shall have been fully and finally performed and indefeasibly paid;
(ix) the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the Company or any Guarantor in
respect of the Guarantied Obligations;
(x) impossibility or illegality of
performance on the part of the Company or any Guarantor under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes or this Guaranty;
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(xi) any change in the circumstances of
the Company, any Guarantor or any other Person, whether or not foreseen or foreseeable, whether or not imputable to the Company or any Guarantor, including, without limitation, impossibility of performance through fire, explosion, accident, labor
disturbance, floods, droughts, embargoes, wars (whether or not declared), civil commotions, acts of God or the public enemy, delays or failure of suppliers or carriers, inability to obtain materials, economic or political conditions, or any other
causes affecting performance, or any other force majeure, whether or not beyond the control of the Company or any Guarantor and whether or not of the kind hereinbefore specified;
(xii) any attachment, claim, demand, charge, Lien, order, process, encumbrance or any other happening or event or reason, similar or
dissimilar to the foregoing, or any withholding or diminution at the source, by reason of any taxes, assessments, expenses, indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of any character, foreseen or unforeseen, and whether or not valid, incurred by or
against any Person, or any claims, demands, charges, Liens or encumbrances of any nature, foreseen or unforeseen, incurred by any Person, or against any sums payable under the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes or any agreement or instrument
related hereto so that such sums would be rendered inadequate or would be unavailable to make the payment as herein provided;
(xiii) any change in the ownership of the equity securities of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Person liable in respect of the Notes; or
(xiv) any other action, happening, event or reason whatsoever that shall delay, interfere with,
hinder or prevent, or in any way adversely affect, the performance by the Company or any Guarantor of any of its obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes or this Guaranty.
2.6 Certain Waivers of Subrogation, Reimbursement and Indemnity.
Until the Guarantied Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid, none of the Guarantors shall have any right of subrogation, reimbursement, or indemnity whatsoever
in respect of the Guarantied Obligations, and no right of recourse to or with respect to any assets or Property of the Company or any other Guarantor.
2.7 Invalid Payments.
To the extent
the Company makes a payment or payments to any Noteholder, which payment or payments or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required, for any of the foregoing reasons or for any
other reason, to be repaid or paid over to a custodian, trustee, receiver or any other party or officer under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, state or
federal law, or any common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such payment or repayment, the obligation or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said payment had not been made
and each Guarantor shall be primarily liable for such obligation.
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2.8 Marshaling.
Neither any Noteholder nor any Person acting for the benefit of any Noteholder shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in
favor of any of the Guarantors or against or in payment of any or all of the Guarantied Obligations.
2.9 Subordination.
In the event that, for any reason whatsoever,
the Company, or a Person obligated in respect of the Guarantied Obligations pursuant to another agreement, is now or hereafter becomes indebted to any Guarantor in any manner (such indebtedness referred to as an “Affiliate
Obligation”), the amount of such Affiliate Obligation, interest thereon, and all other amounts due with respect thereto, shall, at all times during the existence of a Default or an Event of Default, be subordinate as to time of payment
and in all other respects to all the Guarantied Obligations, and such Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or receive payment thereof until all sums then due and owing to the Noteholders in respect of the Guarantied Obligations shall have been
paid in full, except that such Guarantor may enforce (and shall enforce, at the request of the Required Holders, and at such Guarantor’s expense) any obligations in respect of any such Affiliate Obligation owing to such Guarantor from the
Company or such indebted Person so long as all proceeds in respect of any recovery from such enforcement shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders, to be paid to the Noteholders as promptly as reasonably
possible. If any other payment, other than pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, shall have been made to any Guarantor by the Company or such indebted Person on any such Affiliate Obligation during any time that a Default or an Event of
Default exists and there are Guarantied Obligations outstanding, such Guarantor shall hold in trust all such payments for the benefit of the Noteholders, to be paid to the Noteholders as promptly as reasonably possible.
2.10 Setoff, Counterclaim or Other Deductions.
Except as otherwise required by law, each payment by any one or more of the Guarantors shall be made without setoff, counterclaim or other deduction.
2.11 Election by Guarantors to Perform Obligations.
Any election by any one or more of the Guarantors to pay or otherwise perform any of the obligations of the Company under the Notes, the
Note Purchase Agreement or any agreement or instrument related hereto shall not release the Company, any of the Guarantors or any other guarantor from such obligations or any of such Person’s other obligations under the Notes, the Note Purchase
Agreement or any agreement or instrument related hereto.
2.12 No Election of Remedies
by Noteholders.
To the extent provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, each Noteholder shall, individually or
collectively, have the right to seek recourse against each of the Guarantors to the fullest extent provided for herein for such Guarantor’s obligations under this Guaranty in respect of the Guarantied Obligations. No election to proceed in one
form of action or proceeding, or
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against any party, or on any obligation, shall constitute a waiver of such Noteholder’s right to proceed in any other form of action or proceeding or against other parties unless such
Noteholder has expressly waived such right in writing. Specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no action or proceeding by any Noteholder against the Company or any Guarantor under any document or instrument evidencing
obligations of the Company or any Guarantor to such Noteholder shall serve to diminish the liability of any Guarantor under this Guaranty, except to the extent that such Noteholder finally and unconditionally shall have realized payment by such
action or proceeding.
2.13 Separate Action; Other Enforcement Rights.
Each of the rights and remedies granted under this Guaranty to each Noteholder in respect of the Notes held by such Noteholder
may be exercised by such Noteholder without notice by such Noteholder to, or the consent of or any other action by, any other Noteholder. Each Noteholder may proceed to protect and enforce the Unconditional Guaranty by suit or suits or proceedings
in equity, at law or in bankruptcy, and whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained herein or in execution or aid of any power herein granted or for the recovery of judgment for the obligations hereby guarantied or
for the enforcement of any other proper, legal or equitable remedy available under applicable law.
2.14 Noteholder Setoff.
Each Noteholder shall have, to the fullest
extent permitted by law and this Guaranty, a right of set-off against any and all credits and any and all other Property of each or all of the Guarantors, now or at any time whatsoever, with or in the possession of, such Noteholder, or anyone acting
for such Noteholder, to ensure the full performance of any and all obligations of the Guarantors hereunder.
2.15 Delay or Omission; No Waiver.
No course of dealing on the part
of any Noteholder and no delay or failure on the part of any such Person to exercise any right hereunder shall impair such right or operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice such Person’s rights, powers and remedies hereunder.
Every right and remedy given by this Guaranty or by law to any Noteholder may be exercised from time to time as often as may be deemed expedient by such Person.
2.16 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If any Noteholder shall have instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Guaranty or under any Note held by such Noteholder, and such proceeding shall have been dismissed, discontinued or abandoned for any
reason, or shall have been determined adversely to such Noteholder, then and in every such case each such Noteholder, the Company and each of the Guarantors shall, except as may be limited or affected by any determination (including, without
limitation, any determination in connection with any such dismissal) in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to its respective former positions hereunder and thereunder, and thereafter, subject as aforesaid, the rights and
remedies of such Noteholders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
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2.17 Cumulative Remedies.
No remedy under this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, but each and
every remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any and every other remedy given pursuant to this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes or the other Financing Documents.
2.18 Limitation on Guarantied Obligations.
Notwithstanding anything in Section 2.1 or elsewhere in this Guaranty or any other Financing Document to the contrary, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall at each point in time
be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the greatest amount that would not result in such obligations being subject to avoidance, or otherwise result in such obligations being unenforceable, at such time under applicable law (including, without
limitation, to the extent, and only to the extent, applicable to each Guarantor, Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America and any comparable provisions of the law of any other jurisdiction, any capital preservation law of
any jurisdiction and any other law of any jurisdiction that at such time limits the enforceability of the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty).
2.19 Maintenance of Offices.
Each
Guarantor will maintain an office at its address specified in Section 5.3 where notices, presentations and demands in respect of this Guaranty may be made upon it. Each Guarantor will maintain its office at such address until such time as such
Guarantor shall notify the Noteholders of any change of location of such office.
2.20 Further Assurances.
Each Guarantor will cooperate with the
Noteholders and execute such further instruments and documents as the Required Holders shall reasonably request to carry out, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Required Holders, the transactions contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreement, the
Notes, this Guaranty and the documents and instruments related thereto.
3. INTERPRETATION OF THIS GUARANTY
3.1 Terms Defined.
As used in this Guaranty, capitalized terms have the meaning specified in the Note Purchase Agreement unless otherwise specified below or set forth in the section of this
Guaranty referred to immediately following such term (such definitions, unless otherwise expressly provided, to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
Affiliate Obligation—Section 2.9.
Company—has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preliminary Statement hereof.
Guarantied Obligations—Section 2.1.
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Guarantor—has the meaning assigned to such term in the first
paragraph hereof.
Guaranty, this—has the meaning assigned to such term in the first paragraph
hereof.
Note Purchase Agreement—has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preliminary
Statement hereof.
Noteholder—means, at any time, each Person that is the holder of any Note at
such time.
Notes—has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preliminary Statement hereof.
Purchasers—has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preliminary Statement hereof.
Series O Notes—has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preliminary Statement hereof.
Series P Notes—has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preliminary Statement hereof.
Unconditional Guaranty—Section 2.1.
3.2 Section Headings and Construction.
(a) Section Headings, etc. The titles of the Sections appear as a matter of convenience only, do not constitute a part hereof and shall not affect
the construction hereof. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and “hereto” refer to this Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision. Unless otherwise specified, references
to Sections are to Sections of this Agreement and references to Annexes are to Annexes to this Agreement.
(b) Construction. Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent an express contrary provision herein) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, and
compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with one or more other covenants.
4. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS
Each Guarantor represents and
warrants to each Purchaser, as of the date hereof, as follows:
4.1 Generally.
(a) Such Guarantor is fully aware of the financial condition of the
Company and is delivering this Guaranty based solely upon its own independent investigation and in no part upon any representation or statement of any Noteholder with respect thereto. Such Guarantor is in a position to obtain, and hereby assumes
full responsibility for obtaining, any additional information concerning the financial condition of the Company
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as such Guarantor may deem material to its obligations hereunder, and such Guarantor is not relying upon, nor expecting, any Noteholder to furnish it any information concerning the financial
condition of the Company.
(b) As of the date of the execution and delivery
of this Guaranty, the fair salable value of the assets of such Guarantor, taken as a whole, exceeds its liabilities, taken as a whole; such Guarantor is able to pay and discharge all of its debts (including, without limitation, its current
liabilities) as they become due and, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Guaranty, such Guarantor will not become unable to pay and discharge such debts as they become due; there are no presently pending material court or
administrative proceedings or undischarged judgments against the Guarantor; and no material tax Liens have been filed or threatened against such Guarantor, nor is such Guarantor in default or claimed default under any agreement for borrowed money.
(c) Such Guarantor is a corporation, limited liability company or
partnership duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Such Guarantor has the corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, power to own its Properties and
carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Such Guarantor has the valid authority and the corporate, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, power to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary action to
authorize the entry into, and the performance and delivery of, this Guaranty and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) This Guaranty has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Guarantor, has been duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of such Guarantor, and constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor.
(e) The entry into
and performance of this Guaranty and the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not conflict with any applicable law or regulation or official or judicial order, conflict with the articles or certificate of incorporation, other
constitutive document, or bylaws, of such Guarantor, conflict with any agreement or document to which such Guarantor is a party or that is binding upon it or any of its Properties, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its
Properties pursuant to the provisions of any agreement or document.
4.2 Nature of
Business of Company and Subsidiaries.
The Company, the Guarantors, and all of the other Subsidiaries are, and
will be, as to financing and capital raising activities, operated as part of one consolidated business entity and each Guarantor is directly or indirectly dependent upon each other Guarantor and each other Subsidiary and the Company for and in
connection with its business activities and its financial resources. The Company and the Subsidiaries have sought and obtained the sale of the Notes and the related transactions based on their consolidated financial position and the Company and the
Subsidiaries understand that the Purchasers are relying on the consolidated financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries in purchasing the Notes.
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4.3 Solvency.
The fair value of the business and assets of each of the Company and each of the Guarantors will be in excess of the amount that will be
required to pay its liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities on existing debts, as such liabilities may become absolute and matured), in each case after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated by this Guaranty and the other the Financing Documents. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Financing Documents, will be engaged in any business or transaction,
or about to engage in any business or transaction, for which such Person has unreasonably small assets or capital (within the meaning of applicable law, including, without limitation, Xxxxxxx 000 xx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Bankruptcy Code), and neither
the Company nor any Guarantor has any intent to
(a) hinder, delay or
defraud any entity to which it is, or will become, on or after the Closing Date, indebted, or
(b) incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as they mature.
5. MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Successors and
Assigns.
(a) Whenever any Guarantor or any of the parties to the Note
Purchase Agreement is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party, and all the covenants, promises and agreements contained in this Guaranty by or on behalf of any Guarantor shall bind the
successors and assigns of such Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of each of the Noteholders from time to time whether so expressed or not and whether or not an assignment of the rights hereunder shall have been delivered in connection with
any assignment or other transfer of Notes.
(b) Each of the Guarantors
agrees to take such action as may be reasonably requested by any Noteholder in connection with the transfer of the Notes of such Noteholder in accordance with the requirements of the Note Purchase Agreement in connection with providing an executed
copy of this Guaranty to the new Noteholder or Noteholders of such Notes, provided that no additional obligations of the Guarantors shall thereby be created but rather that the existing obligations of the Guarantors shall be more particularly
stated in respect of one or more future Noteholders that are the subject of this Guaranty.
5.2 Partial Invalidity.
The unenforceability or invalidity of any
provision or provisions hereof shall not render any other provision or provisions contained herein unenforceable or invalid.
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5.3 Communications.
(a) Method; Address. All communications hereunder shall be in
writing, shall be delivered in the manner required by the Note Purchase Agreement, and shall be addressed, if to the Guarantors, in care of the Company at its address as set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, and if to any of the Noteholders,
(i) if such Noteholder is a Purchaser, at the address set forth on Annex 1
to the Note Purchase Agreement for such Noteholder, and further including any parties referred to on such Annex 1 which are required to receive notices in addition to such Noteholder, and
(ii) if such Noteholder is not a Purchaser, at the address set forth in the register for the registration and transfer of Notes
maintained pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement for such Noteholder,
or to any such party at
such other address as such party may designate by notice duly given in accordance with this Section 5.3.
(b) When Given. Any communication so addressed and deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail (in each case, with return receipt
requested) shall be deemed to be received on the third (3rd) succeeding Business Day after the day of such deposit (not including the date of such deposit). Any communication so addressed and delivered otherwise shall be deemed to be received when
actually received at the address of the addressee.
5.4 Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, INTERNAL VIRGINIA LAW, EXCLUDING
CHOICE-OF-LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH JURISDICTION.
5.5 Effective Date.
This Guaranty
shall be effective as of the date hereof.
5.6 Benefits of Guaranty Restricted.
Nothing express or implied in this Guaranty is intended or shall be construed to give to any Person other
than the Guarantors, the Noteholders and the Security Trustee any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect hereof or any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; and all such covenants, conditions and provisions are
and shall be held to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Guarantors, the Noteholders and the Security Trustee.
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5.7 Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire
Agreement.
All representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing by the Guarantors in
connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof.
5.8 Expenses.
(a) The Guarantors shall pay when billed the reasonable costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Noteholders and the Security Trustee in connection with the consideration, negotiation, preparation or execution of any amendments, waivers, consents, standstill agreements and
other similar agreements with respect hereto (whether or not any such amendments, waivers, consents, standstill agreements or other similar agreements are executed).
(b) At any time when any one or more of the Company or the Guarantors and the Noteholders are conducting restructuring or workout
negotiations in respect hereof, or a Default or Event of Default exists, the Guarantors shall pay when billed the reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the reasonable fees of professional advisors) incurred by
the Noteholders in connection with the assessment, analysis or enforcement of any rights or remedies that are or may be available to the Noteholders.
(c) If any of the Guarantors shall fail to pay when due any principal of, or Make-Whole Amount or interest on, any Note, each of the
Guarantors shall pay to each Noteholder, to the extent permitted by law, such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by such Noteholder in collecting any
sums due on the Notes.
5.9 Amendment.
This Guaranty may be amended only in a writing executed by each Guarantor and the Required Holders.
5.10 Survival.
So long as the Guarantied Obligations and all payment obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall not have been fully and finally performed and indefeasibly paid, the obligations of the Guarantors
hereunder shall survive the transfer and payment of any Note and the payment in full of all the Notes.
5.11 Entire Agreement.
This Guaranty constitutes the final written
expression of all of the terms hereof and is a complete and exclusive statement of those terms.
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5.12 Duplicate Originals, Execution in Counterpart.
Two or more duplicate originals hereof may be signed by the parties, each of which shall be an original but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Guaranty may be executed in one or more counterparts and shall be effective when at least one counterpart shall have been executed by each party hereto, and each set of
counterparts that, collectively, show execution by each party hereto shall constitute one duplicate original.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Next page is signature page.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be executed
on its behalf by a duly authorized officer of such Guarantor.
| XXXXXXX’X REALTY PARTNERSHIP XXXXXXX’X REALTY, INC.
CODDLE ROASTED MEATS, INC. XXXXXXXX OF SMITHFIELD, LTD. THE SMITHFIELD COMPANIES, INC. XXXXXXX’X OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY HAM, INC. IOWA QUALITY MEATS, LTD. XXXX XXXXXXX
& CO. XXXXX MEAT GROUP, INC. XXXXX PACKING COMPANY, INC. MURCO FOODS, INC. NORTH SIDE FOODS CORP. PACKERLAND PROCESSING COMPANY, INC. PACKERLAND HOLDINGS,
INC. XXXXXXX XXXXXX INCORPORATED PREMIUM PORK, INC. QUIK TO FIX FOODS, INC. SFFC, INC. SMITHFIELD-XXXXXXX’X FARMS XXXXXXX’X COUNTRY HAMS, INC. SUN
LAND BEEF COMPANY SUNNYLAND, INC. THE SMITHFIELD COMPANIES, INC.
THE SMITHFIELD PACKING COMPANY, INCORPORATED |
XXXXX’X OF CAROLINA LLC XXXXXXX’X FOODS LLC
XXXXXXX’X FOODS OF VIRGINIA LLC CENTRAL PLAINS FARMS, LLC CIRCLE FOUR LLC XXXXXX FARMS LLC QUARTER
FARMS LLC, each a Delaware limited liability company By: XXXXXX-XXXXX LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as a sole member of each By: XXXX XXXXXXX & CO. a Delaware corporation, as its sole member By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Title: Vice President |
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
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| XXXXXX-XXXXX LLC, a Delaware limited liability company By: XXXX XXXXXXX & CO.
a Delaware corporation, as its sole member By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Title: Vice President |
GREAT LAKES CATTLE CREDIT COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company By: PACKERLAND HOLDINGS, INC. a Delaware corporation, as its sole member By: XXXXXX-XXXXX LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as its sole member By: XXXX XXXXXXX & CO. a Delaware corporation, as its sole member By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Title: Vice President | |
| SMITHFIELD PACKING REAL ESTATE, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company By: THE
SMITHFIELD PACKING COMPANY, INCORPORATED, a Virginia corporation, as its sole member By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Title: Vice President |
XXXXX’X FARMS LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company By: XXXXX’X OF CAROLINA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as is sole member By: XXXXXX-XXXXX LLC By: XXXX XXXXXXX & CO. By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Title: Vice President |
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